Jingtao Gongzi had mistakenly believed that Liu Piaopiao and the other two were paying respects to him, causing him to lose all face.
He had thought that by exposing Gu Qingfeng's identity, he could salvage his dignity.
But that was only what he thought.
Liu Piaopiao's single icy word, "Get lost," instantly sent him plummeting from heaven to hell, plunging him, who had wanted to recover his face, into an even more awkward situation. The last shred of his dignity vanished completely along with that cold command.
He stood there dumbfounded, his complexion shifting unpredictably—now ashen like death, now pale and livid, then flushed with shame and anger. The muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
He couldn't understand, couldn't comprehend. He had clearly told everyone that Gu Qingfeng was not a member of Crimson-Letter Sect, and Gu Qingfeng himself had admitted it. So why were Liu Piaopiao and the other two still showing him such respect, performing such a grand salute?
He couldn't figure it out.
Of all the people present, not a single one could figure it out, nor could anyone understand. Everyone was plunged into deep confusion, staring with peculiar eyes at the white-robed man casually sitting on a chair, legs crossed, pouring and drinking wine by himself.
If Wei Qing and the other two weren't saluting Gu Qingfeng because of his Crimson-Letter Sect identity...
Then why?
He didn't seem to have high cultivation!
So what if his physical body was strong?
Besides, in today's world, no one saluted others just because they were powerful.
Just who was he?
What was his identity?
Shui Yunruo had been quietly probing the spiritual aura naturally emanating from Gu Qingfeng.
She could confirm with absolute certainty that this fellow had neither the turbid aura of a body-snatcher nor the pure aura of a reincarnated soul.
In other words, he was neither someone who had seized a body for rebirth nor a reincarnated person.
Nor was he a Heaven-Blessed individual.
No imperial decree, no bloodline, no treasure physique—not even the aura of a Great Natural Order Color Spirit. The spiritual aura on him was extremely pure, containing only the aura of his true body. That meant this fellow's cultivation was merely at the True Body realm, with nothing else beyond that.
Between heaven and earth, any being with spirituality possessed a spiritual aura.
Humans had human aura, immortals had immortal aura, demons had demonic aura, monsters had monstrous aura. Body-snatchers and reincarnated souls had turbid aura; Heaven-Blessed individuals had pure aura. Bloodlines had bloodline aura, treasure physiques had treasure physique aura, and Color Spirits had Color Spirit aura.
The existence of spiritual aura was a person's characteristic.
It could neither be seen nor touched; only divine sense could detect it.
At the same time, spiritual aura could not be concealed. No one was an exception—this was its defining trait.
Shui Yunruo truly couldn't imagine why Wan Wei, Wei Qing, and the others would perform such a grand salute to someone who had nothing to his name.
"Benefactor Big Brother, what are you? Why did they perform the Venerator's Salute to you?"
Mu Xiaoyou, who had been standing beside Gu Qingfeng all along, blinked her big eyes and asked the question everyone wanted answered.
The little girl was innocent and guileless, without so many complicated thoughts.
She said whatever was on her mind.
Shui Yunruo knew this was personal privacy, especially in such a situation. Asking this question could even be considered taboo. But Mu Xiaoyou had already spoken, and she had no time to stop her. Most importantly, she herself was extremely curious about the answer.
"What am I?"
Perhaps feeling a bit weary from sitting, Gu Qingfeng stretched lazily. Looking at the curious Mu Xiaoyou, he chuckled, "I am a god. They have to show me some respect..." Having said that, Gu Qingfeng himself seemed to find it somewhat laughable and couldn't help shaking his head with a smile.
"What audacious words!"
A sharp, furious voice rang out. It was none other than Jingtao Gongzi, who had lost face twice in a row.
His expression was one of great anger, eyes glaring as he pointed at Gu Qingfeng and shouted harshly, "You?
How dare you arrogantly claim to be a god!"
"So what?"
Gu Qingfeng still appeared utterly languid, as if he couldn't muster any energy. He picked up the wine jug, poured himself a cup, took a sip, then looked at Jingtao with a faint smile. "Is that not allowed?"
"Daring to act so insolently before me, Jingtao! You must be tired of living!"
Whoosh!
Brilliant light erupted around Jingtao, burning like flames. With one step forward, the radiance around him instantly bloomed into a dazzling, variegated color—Illusory Color.
Another step, another burst of variegated color.
Three steps out, and his body shimmered with three particularly awe-inspiring Great Natural Order Color Spirits.
Illusory Color Foundation.
Illusory Color True Body.
Illusory Color Violet Palace.
Whoosh!
By the time he stood opposite Gu Qingfeng, his body radiated a resplendent, colorful light. This light was even more profound and powerful than Illusory Color—it was Blazing Color.
Great Natural Order Color Spirits had nine tiers of profundity: the first was Common, the second Violet, the third Gold, the fourth Cyan, the fifth Illusory, the sixth Blazing.
Each tier of the Great Natural Order Color Spirit's nine profundities was more mysterious, more wondrous, and more powerful than the last.
Possessing a Color Spirit alone already marked one as a Color Spirit genius favored by the Great Natural Order. If not one in ten thousand, they were certainly extraordinary.
Common Color was plentiful, Violet Color was also numerous, Gold Color less so, while the existence of Cyan Color was already rare. One must know that Xu Xingchen, the top Chief Disciple among Bingxuan Sect's eighteen chiefs, possessed only four Cyan Colors. Even the Color Spirit geniuses meticulously selected from over a hundred territories across the four great regions within the Nine-Hua Alliance's eighty-one branches were merely at the Cyan Color level.
As for Illusory Color, it was even rarer. Those who attained Illusory Color were without exception geniuses renowned across the four great regions and hundred territories.
Such as Yu Dingxing, the leader of Bingxuan Sect's Nine Prodigies.
Or Leng Yanqiu, Bingxuan Sect's new sect master.
Within the hall, the three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance—Wen Yansheng, Tian Xiangyue, Luo Wenzhenghao—as well as the six deputy commanders, all possessed Illusory Color.
Yet, this Jingtao not only possessed three Illusory Colors, his Golden Core also contained one Blazing Color.
While it was shocking, one couldn't help but marvel that Jingtao Gongzi truly lived up to being one of the Fire Cloud Branch's Nine Young Masters of the Red Gang.
With three Illusories and one Blazing, plus the strength of a ninth-revolution Golden Core, among the leaders of the various sects, gangs, and families present, those qualified to fight him were absolutely few and far between.
When Jingtao Gongzi unleashed his formidable strength, powerful spiritual energy erupted from him like a tidal wave, immensely fierce. The surrounding crowd didn't dare delay, hastily retreating for fear of drawing trouble upon themselves.
At this moment, only Wen Yansheng, Tian Xiangyue, Luo Wenzhenghao, the six deputy commanders, and some unfathomable old men stood motionless nearby. Shui Yunruo had also risen at some point, retreating slightly to shield Mu Xiaoyou and Bai Yunfei behind her.
However, just as Jingtao Gongzi manifested his Great Natural Order Color Spirits, Bingxuan Sect's Nine Prodigies and eighteen Chief Disciples rushed over, swiftly surrounding Gu Qingfeng until he was completely sealed off. Clearly, they all stood on Jingtao Gongzi's side.
At this moment.
The eyes of everyone in the entire hall fell upon that white-robed man.
What left everyone utterly astonished was that, even surrounded by Jingtao Gongzi and Bingxuan Sect's Nine Prodigies and eighteen Chief Disciples, that white-robed man remained as leisurely as ever, sitting on the chair with legs crossed, his expression calm. He showed no fear, no terror, no apprehension, no worry.
Nothing at all.
It was as if Jingtao Gongzi and Bingxuan Sect's Nine Prodigies and eighteen Chief Disciples weren't surrounding him, but someone else. With the ease of a gentle breeze and light clouds, he drained the wine in his cup, then finally raised his head. He glanced at Jingtao Gongzi opposite him, then at the Nine Prodigies and eighteen Chief Disciples behind him, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking his head. "Alright, enough. Take it all back. I know you're all quite impressive. Today, we're all here to attend Bingxuan Sect's celebration—their happy occasion. Let's just eat, drink, and be merry. Why must we resort to violence..."