There were not many people in this life whom Gu Qingfeng respected.
Master Zhenjue was definitely one of them.
Back in the days when Gu Qingfeng was at the Shangqing Sect, Zhenjue had never taught him a single cultivation technique—not even one. He had only taught him two words: human nature. It was only later that Gu Qingfeng came to understand that the 'human nature' his Master taught him referred to 'the true nature of humanity'.
And precisely because Zhenjue had imparted to Gu Qingfeng the true nature of humanity, Gu Qingfeng was able to adhere to his fundamental nature during his subsequent descents into demonic paths, never losing himself.
To this day, he still vividly remembered the eight characters his Master Zhenjue had constantly instilled in him: 'Adhere to your fundamental nature, do not forget your original intent.'
These eight characters had a profound influence on Gu Qingfeng.
One could even say that without these eight characters, the Gu Qingfeng of today would likely no longer be Gu Qingfeng.
Throughout his journey, he had contended with the Immortal Dao, with the Heavenly Dao, with the Three Thousand Great Daos, with Heaven and Earth, with karma, and with fate. He had fought until now, fighting until he had become both the deepest Original Sin-bearer and the truest illusory self—the greatest variable between the Ancient and Present Eras.
If it were anyone else, even if they hadn't lost themselves, they would likely have long since collapsed into madness.
Gu Qingfeng knew that if not for his Master's teachings—those eight characters of 'adhere to your fundamental nature, do not forget your original intent'—he would have probably drowned long ago in the swirling, muddy waters of the Karma Black Hole.
As for who Master Zhenjue truly was, why he had taken Gu Qingfeng as his disciple back then, and why he had taught him the true nature of humanity...
To be honest.
Gu Qingfeng did not know.
Perhaps it was karma. Perhaps it was fate.
Or perhaps his Master had long ago deduced that Gu Qingfeng would become deeply entangled in Original Sin and illusion, and might even trigger the Ancient-Present Cataclysm. Therefore, for the sake of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and all living beings, his Master had taught him the true nature of humanity to prevent him from straying onto the wrong path and truly causing the Ancient-Present Cataclysm.
In truth.
Gu Qingfeng didn't care about any of that.
Even if his Master, like others, had forcibly grafted karma onto him for the sake of the Great Dao and all living beings, even if his Master was arranged by fate to stop him, or even to erase him, it didn't matter to Gu Qingfeng.
To Gu Qingfeng, his Master had saved him and taught him back then, and that was enough.
Everything else—be it karma or fate—was unimportant.
And so.
After leaving the Yunxia Sect, Gu Qingfeng set out directly for the Shangqing Sect.
Fortunately.
Although this world had undergone earth-shattering changes over the ten thousand years of the Present Era, the Shangqing Sect remained the Shangqing Sect of old. Just as Huode had said, the Shangqing Sect had powerful backing and deep connections. It was both under the protection of the renowned Thirty-Six Cave Heavens and connected to the Nine Heavens. As long as the Immortal Dao did not perish, the Shangqing Sect would not decline.
On the way to the Shangqing Sect, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He sighed at how immense the changes were.
He recalled that back in the Ancient Era, resources were scarce, spiritual energy was thin, and cultivating to the Nascent Soul stage could make one a king or overlord in the world.
Now, in the Present Era of ten thousand years, so-called Nascent Soul experts had almost become rare curiosities. Immortals were everywhere—flying in the sky, running on the ground, all uniformly 'immortals.' Although their cultivation wasn't high, merely at the Upper Immortal level, this alone was enough to make Gu Qingfeng sigh repeatedly.
In his memory, only the great immortal clans and families with ancient legacies in the Great Desolate had uniformly been composed of immortals. Yet now, even the mortal world was filled with immortals everywhere.
Not long after.
Gu Qingfeng arrived at the Shangqing Sect.
Compared to the old days, the Shangqing Sect had become even more solemn and majestic.
Gu Qingfeng did not linger to admire the scenery of the Shangqing Sect. He directly infiltrated the sect. He still remembered that his Master had always lived in seclusion within the Shangqing Pagoda of the Shangqing Sect.
The Shangqing Pagoda was the sect's supreme treasure. This item was not kept within the sect itself, but in the hands of the successive sect masters.
In other words, to enter the Shangqing Pagoda, one must first find the current sect master of the Shangqing Sect.
According to Huode, the current sect master of the Shangqing Sect was Ye Tianlan's disciple, Yun Wan.
Gu Qingfeng only vaguely remembered that there seemed to be such a person, with no deep impression. Fortunately, Huode had mentioned that Yun Wan bore the Mandate of Heaven Decree. With such a distinctive characteristic, she shouldn't be too hard to find.
After unleashing his divine sense, every rustle of grass within the entire Shangqing Sect was present in his mind. All auras of living beings, whether demon, ghost, monster, or otherwise, were laid bare before Gu Qingfeng.
Soon.
He sensed the aura of the Mandate of Heaven Decree.
In the blink of an eye as he vanished, he appeared within a cave dwelling.
This was a cave dwelling concealed within the Shangqing Sect. Inside, it resembled a beautiful immortal realm, complete with lofty mountains and flowing waters, small bridges and homesteads, a tranquil clear-water lake, and verdant grassy plains. Immortal cranes soared in the sky, white elephants ambled among the clouds, lions and tigers ran through the forests, and immortal deer played in the lake.
Perhaps the appearance of Gu Qingfeng, an uninvited guest, disturbed them. Those immortal cranes, white elephants, lions, tigers, and immortal deer all swarmed toward Gu Qingfeng.
"Roar!"
At that moment, a fierce roar sounded. A silver-white flood dragon suddenly surged out from the tranquil clear-water lake. The flood dragon soared up from the lake, coiling and rising. Swinging its dragon head, it glared at Gu Qingfeng with furious hostility, let out a dragon's roar, and charged forward with claws bared.
"How dare you!"
A light shout rang out as a woman descended as if from the heavens.
The woman's appearance was elegantly beautiful, her aura transcendent and otherworldly, akin to a celestial immortal.
Upon appearing, she swept a glance at the white dragon and shouted, "Go back."
Roar!
The white flood dragon let out a dragon's roar, then obediently returned to the clear-water lake. Following that, the charging immortal cranes and white elephants also obediently went back to whatever they were doing.
Turning around.
The woman stared intently at Gu Qingfeng, as if trying to see through him from head to toe. However, no matter how she looked, she couldn't discern anything. The more she looked, the deeper her frown became, and the more bewildered her expression grew. Her eyes were filled with shock, horror, and extreme caution.
Indeed.
Because the Shangqing Sect was protected by layer upon layer of formations, and her cave dwelling was concealed within the sect.
Even if someone intruded into the Shangqing Sect, she would know immediately. Yet now, someone had not only intruded into the Shangqing Sect but had also silently entered her cave dwelling. How could this not shock the woman?
She had initially thought the other party would be a Great Dao expert, but when she discovered Gu Qingfeng and carefully probed him, she was dumbfounded. Gu Qingfeng's body showed neither any cultivation nor any destiny. This made her utterly unable to believe her own eyes.
Without hesitation, the woman asked in a grave voice, "May I ask who Your Excellency is, and why have you intruded into this humble one's cave dwelling?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced at her and asked nonchalantly, "Are you Yun Wan?"
The woman nodded and said, "Who are you, sir?"
"My surname is Gu, given name Qingfeng, Daoist title Chixiao."
Surname Gu?
Given name Qingfeng?
Daoist title Chixiao?
Upon hearing Gu Qingfeng announce his name, Yun Wan was immediately greatly shocked, standing there as if struck by lightning. Her complexion changed repeatedly. After a moment, she cautiously asked, "Your Excellency is the Chixiao Monarch?
No!
You are... the Nine Nethers Emperor?"