Wen Yansheng's Purple Cloud Longevity Pill.
Tian Xiangyue's Ancient Spiritual Treasure.
Luo Wenzhenghao's three thousand fragments of Five-Colored Crystal.
Everyone present knew these three men wished to form a dual-cultivation partnership with Leng Yanqiu, and that they would certainly use today's celebration to curry favor with the Ice Profound Ancestor. However, no one expected them to present such precious gifts. Luo Wenzhenghao, in particular, had truly opened everyone's eyes by gifting a full three thousand fragments of Five-Colored Crystal.
Subsequently, Young Lord Jingtao also stepped forward to offer congratulations and a gift. Although his gift wasn't as precious as those of the other three, his words were surprisingly unexpected.
"Taking advantage of your esteemed sect's celebration today, this junior also wishes to inform you of some good news," Young Lord Jingtao said with elegant bearing and refined speech as he walked beside Yu Dingxing, leader of the Nine Sons, smiling. "Just a few days ago, my father formally adopted Dingxing as his foster son."
It was well known that Jingtao was one of the Nine Young Masters of the Fire Cloud Branch Hall of the Red Gang. His father was not only a Hall Elder of the Fire Cloud Branch Hall but also a renowned Transcendent True Person in the surrounding region, a Grandmaster who commanded awe far and wide. To be adopted as a foster son by Jingtao's father was no ordinary stroke of luck for Yu Dingxing.
"Several elders from our Fire Cloud Branch Hall, as well as the Hall Master himself, were present at the time," Jingtao continued with a smile. "From now on, the affairs of the Ice Profound Sect are the affairs of our Fire Cloud Branch Hall. My father also said that if you, Senior, were to betroth Leng Yanqiu to Dingxing, he would personally approach the Nine-Hua Alliance to demand the Flaming Sun Heart!"
After speaking, Jingtao deliberately gave Yu Dingxing a meaningful look. Understanding the cue, Yu Dingxing immediately knelt on the ground, beseeching Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia to betroth Leng Yanqiu to him.
"What boastful nonsense!" Luo Wenzhenghao stepped forward disdainfully. "To think your Fire Cloud Branch Hall dares dream of demanding the Flaming Sun Heart from our Alliance? Utterly overestimating yourselves!"
Then, Luo Wenzhenghao added, "Senior Zhu Xia, I need not elaborate on the strength of our Luo Wen family and our weight within the Alliance. I can responsibly tell you that I, Luo Wenzhenghao, will definitely obtain the Flaming Sun Heart!"
Immediately after, Wen Yansheng and Tian Xiangyue, not wanting to be left behind, each raised their own family backgrounds, declaring they would certainly obtain the Flaming Sun Heart.
To all this, Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia paid no heed. She didn't even glance their way. Whether it was Wen Yansheng's Purple Cloud Longevity Pill, Tian Xiangyue's Ancient Spiritual Treasure, or even the three thousand fragments of Five-Colored Crystal Luo Wenzhenghao had placed before her, she never once looked at them. Upon hearing that Yu Dingxing had been adopted as a foster son by Jingtao's father, she acted as if she hadn't heard, completely ignoring it.
Ever since arriving at the venue, Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia's expression had been extremely grave. She kept looking around, as if searching for something. After searching for a long time without success, she finally spoke up and asked, "This old woman heard that Young Lord Gu has arrived. Why is his figure not to be seen?"
The surrounding crowd seemed taken aback that Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia would suddenly ask such a question.
Young Lord Gu?
Could it be Gu Qingfeng?
"Reporting to the Ancestral Patriarch, that Gu Qingfeng was here earlier...
But...
It seems he left again."
"Left?"
Hearing that Gu Qingfeng had left, Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia's expression suddenly changed drastically, and she asked anxiously, "When did he leave?"
"Just...
A moment ago."
"Senior Zhu Xia, this junior saw Gu Qingfeng sitting in the pavilion at the foot of the mountain when I arrived earlier," someone offered.
Upon hearing this news, Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia wasted no words and immediately strode out.
Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia's abrupt departure left everyone present somewhat bewildered. The three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance had presented such grand congratulatory gifts, yet the old ancestor hadn't even glanced at them. Young Lord Jingtao had declared that the Ice Profound Sect's affairs were now the Fire Cloud Branch Hall's affairs, and she had similarly paid no mind. Instead, she had inquired about the whereabouts of Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng.
Moreover, many could see that Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia seemed very anxious.
Why?
No one knew.
Because Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia's departure was so sudden, by the time everyone reacted, they too immediately followed, wanting to see what matter had the Ancestral Patriarch so urgently seeking Gu Qingfeng.
At the foot of Ice Profound Sect's mountain.
Inside a pavilion.
A man in white robes leaned against a pavilion pillar, one leg crossed over the other, sipping wine. Beside him, a short, rotund, and portly man stood bowed, holding an exquisite wine pot as he poured for the white-robed man.
The white-robed man was none other than Gu Qingfeng.
The short, fat man was Fei Kui.
Gu Qingfeng's earlier departure from the celebration hall wasn't for any complicated reason; he had simply seen Fei Kui looking for him.
As for Fei Kui, he had been waiting at the foot of the mountain for Huode and the others. After waiting and waiting with no sign of Huode, he had no choice but to inform Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng, also fearing something might have happened, directly released his divine sense and shot like an arrow towards Yunxia Sect.
He didn't find them at Yunxia Sect.
Fortunately, he found Huode along the way.
And he found the old fellow on an extremely luxurious and majestic spirit beast carriage.
It was a giant, opulent carriage pulled by a single Ice Cloud White Elephant. Inside, besides Huode, sat two other elders. Upon inquiry, Gu Qingfeng learned that these two elders, like Zhu Xia, were also Ancestral Patriarchs of the Ice Profound Sect. Originally, they had gone to welcome Gu Qingfeng, but since Gu Qingfeng had arrived first, Huode had gotten the benefit.
Gu Qingfeng told Huode to hurry up, but Huode insisted that having come all this way to the Ice Profound Sect, and being personally welcomed by two of its Ancestral Patriarchs, he simply had to put on a full display of airs. This was to repay the humiliation he had suffered years ago at the hands of Ice Profound Sect's Elder Yu Hua and other elders.
He even specifically instructed Gu Qingfeng to wait outside so they could enter together later.
One had to admit Huode was a capable man. He knew the Ice Profound Sect was putting on such a grand show—the luxurious carriage, the Ancestral Patriarchs' welcome—entirely for Gu Qingfeng's sake. He clearly understood that only by entering with Gu Qingfeng could he enjoy the highest level of ceremony.
To all this, Gu Qingfeng could only feel helpless.
Since Huode wanted to put on airs, let him.
Let him have his fun.
"Young Master, is Elder Huode alright over there?" Fei Kui asked with some concern.
"He's fine. He'll be here soon, probably any moment now."
Gu Qingfeng wasn't in a hurry either. The Ice Profound Sect's celebration hadn't officially begun yet, and people were still continuously arriving and ascending the mountain. He sat in the pavilion, drinking wine and enjoying the surrounding scenery.
Beside him, Fei Kui diligently poured the wine.
Suddenly.
Fei Kui sensed something was amiss.
He looked up and suddenly noticed a large crowd rushing down from the mountain.
Looking closer, it was precisely those from the celebration.
The leaders of various major sects, gangs, and families.
The Ice Profound Sect's elders led by Elder Yu Hua, and the Nine Sons and Eighteen Chiefs led by Yu Dingxing and Xu Xingchen.
The three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance—Luo Wenzhenghao, Wen Yansheng, Tian Xiangyue—along with nearly two hundred commanders from various branches.
Young Lord Jingtao of the Red Gang's Fire Cloud Branch Hall, Shui Yunruo, and others were also there.
Good heavens.
Almost everyone from the celebration had come out.
What had happened?
For some reason, upon seeing so many people suddenly descending the mountain, Fei Kui's first suspicion was whether the Young Master had caused trouble again at the celebration. That suspicion soon vanished, replaced by certainty, because he realized the people coming down the mountain were headed straight for the Young Master!