The one who answered was a gray-robed elder.
This elder appeared tall and thin, not only somewhat slovenly but also seemingly quite drunk. When he appeared, he was holding a gourd, tilting his head back to pour fine wine into his mouth.
Seeing this person, everyone on the lawn—whether seniors or disciples of Yunxia Sect—without exception lowered their heads in salute, respectfully and quietly addressing him as Elder Huode.
Upon hearing "Elder Huode," Gu Qingfeng was extremely surprised. Looking at the slovenly old man before him, his eyes were filled with amusement. What truly astonished him was that this old man seemed to have hardly changed compared to five hundred years ago—still just as slovenly, just as wretched, and just as fond of drinking.
However, like Elder Mude, he too had aged considerably. Whether in appearance or in vitality and spirit, he was far from what he had been in the past.
Although cultivating a Golden Core could supposedly grant eternal youth, that was merely talk. It wasn't true eternal youth in the literal sense, let alone immortality. At most, it just slowed the aging of the physical body.
Perhaps because he had little connection with Elder Mude, Gu Qingfeng hadn't felt much upon seeing him earlier. But now, seeing Elder Huode, he truly felt a surge of emotion in his heart.
After Elder Huode appeared, he smiled and said, "I say, Second Blind Man, after all these years, how come you still haven't learned your lesson? Why do you still place so much importance on aptitude and Spiritual Roots? Have you forgotten how you got the nickname 'Blind Man'?"
In the entire Yunxia Sect, only one person dared to call Elder Mude "Second Blind Man" to his face, and that was Elder Huode. While those present might not say it aloud, they all knew in their hearts how Elder Mude had earned that nickname.
This matter dated back five hundred years. It was said that Lord Chixiao had once participated in Yunxia Sect's entrance assessment. Although he passed the assessment, he was rejected by Elder Mude due to his aptitude and Spiritual Roots. Later, as Lord Chixiao's fame spread across the world, Elder Mude became the butt of jokes in everyone's eyes, called the blindest blind man in history.
Elder Mude had nursed a grudge over this matter, and it was the shame he least wanted mentioned in his life. Now that Elder Huode had brought it up publicly, Elder Mude's face immediately changed. He responded word by word, "I've long said that Gu Tianlang is a sinner of the Immortal Dao!"
"Whether he's a sinner or not, let's not discuss that for now. But it's true that Gu Tianlang successfully transcended his tribulation in the end, right? And that he ascended to become an Immortal Dao Monarch, right?"
"That was because he took a crooked path! He was a demon! Otherwise, with his aptitude and Spiritual Roots, he couldn't have cultivated to immortality even in ten thousand years, let alone ascend to become an Immortal Dao Monarch. If it weren't so, why would the Immortal Dao Tribunal have judged him?"
"Gu Tianlang fell into demonhood after transcending his tribulation. Others might not know, but I know clearly—that kid transcended his tribulation and achieved immortality relying on his own genuine abilities, all earned through risking his life."
Seeing Elder Mude about to retort, Elder Huode couldn't be bothered to argue further. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. I've been arguing this point with you for so many years. Can't be bothered to waste more breath. Go do whatever you need to do."
"You!"
Elder Mude snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.
Elder Huode walked over, looked at Gu Qingfeng, scrutinized him up and down, and then, without even greeting him, directly grabbed Gu Qingfeng's wrist to carefully examine him. His expression shifted accordingly—first surprise, then delight. He exclaimed, "Good! Good! Good!"
No one knew why Elder Huode said "good" three times in a row. Even Gu Qingfeng was somewhat puzzled, unsure what trick this old man was up to now. He asked, "What's so good about it?"
"Hehe!"
Elder Huode grinned, rubbed his chin, and said, "Kid, although you have a Foundation Establishment Crippled Body, it's not impossible for you to cultivate again. I have a method. Do you want to give it a try?"
Oh?
Gu Qingfeng truly hadn't expected this old man to come up with such a statement. If it were a Foundation Establishment Crippled Body, it wasn't a hundred percent impossible to cultivate—at least Gu Qingfeng himself had a way. Hearing Elder Huode say this now, he was curious to hear what method he had in mind. But when he asked, the old man just smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry about the method for now. Just tell me if you want to try it."
"There's such a good thing?"
Just as Gu Qingfeng was puzzled, he noticed an interesting phenomenon: when Elder Huode mentioned "trying," the expressions of the surrounding disciples grew increasingly strange, and then they all fled—truly fled, as if they had encountered something terrifying. Not only the disciples, but even some of the sect's stewards hurriedly excused themselves.
At that moment, a secret voice transmission from Ouyang Ye reached Gu Qingfeng's ears.
You absolutely must not believe Elder Huode's words! Absolutely do not agree to him! The old man has been researching formations recently and often asks disciples to help him test them. Many disciples came back having nightmares for months afterward, and one even went mentally unstable. You must not agree!
Hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Gu Qingfeng felt utterly speechless. He truly hadn't expected that after all these years, Elder Huode still had this bad habit. Back when he was a laborer at Yunxia Sect, he had been tricked by this old man into testing formations for him, nearly losing half his life in the process. Who would have thought that after over five hundred years, the old man still hadn't changed his ways.
Yes! An old habit.
Gu Qingfeng was almost certain that this old man must have found some ancient cave dwelling again, probably unable to unlock the mechanisms or formations inside, so he had been thinking of ways to crack them.
This old fellow had always liked digging holes and robbing tombs back in the day. Damn it, after five hundred years, this guy was still at it!
"Kid, what do you say? This is a rare opportunity! Seeing how you dared to reprimand that idiot Mude to his face today, I think you're a decent kid. That's why I want to help you."
Looking at Elder Huode's feigned kindly expression and his coaxing tone, Gu Qingfeng was inwardly overjoyed. This scene not only reminded him of the past situation but also how this old man had tricked him into testing formations back then. Thinking carefully, it seemed this fellow hadn't even changed his lines much. Suppressing his laughter, he nodded and said, "Alright! Such a good opportunity—only a fool would refuse."
Hearing Gu Qingfeng agree, Ouyang Ye immediately grew anxious and hurriedly tried to persuade him via voice transmission. But before her secret message could be sent, Elder Huode's crafty eyes swept over. He chuckled and said, "Little Ouyang girl, what words can't you say in front of me? Why resort to secret transmissions?"
"Ah..." Ouyang Ye hadn't expected Elder Huode to detect her secret transmission. Lowering her head, she stammered, "Elder Huode, he is... my friend... Could you... please don't..."
"Don't what! Little girl, I've always treated you well... Besides, do you really think I'm tricking him into testing some formation?"
"Then... then you're not?"
"I just carefully examined his condition. The situation inside this kid's body is very peculiar—definitely not as simple as a Foundation Establishment Crippled Body. I need to take him back for a closer look."
"Really... or fake?" Ouyang Ye was somewhat skeptical.
"What do you mean 'really or fake'? Do I need to trick a little girl like you?" Elder Huode waved his hand. "Alright, come find me in three days. I promise to return this kid to you safe and sound."
With that, Elder Huode led Gu Qingfeng away.
Next chapter to be updated soon!