"Ancestral Patriarch, why are you doing this?"
After Yu Dingxing and Jingtao Gongzi revealed that Gu Qingfeng was not from the Crimson-Letter Sect, Zhu Xia remained with her head bowed, performing the Sage's Salute. The entire Bingxuan Sect, from top to bottom, rushed forward to ask for the reason. They simply could not comprehend what was happening before their eyes.
If that Gu Qingfeng were a reincarnated person, it might be acceptable.
But he was not.
If he were some senior expert, it might be acceptable.
But his cultivation level was clearly only at the True Body realm; he could not possibly be a senior.
If he were a Heaven-Bestowed person, it might count as one.
But he was not.
If he were a person of noble status, it might be acceptable.
But he still was not.
More importantly, this person was from the Yunxia Sect, whom they had always looked down upon. Under these circumstances, for their own Ancestral Patriarch to perform the Sage's Salute to a young man in front of so many people was simply a joke. If word got out, what face would the Bingxuan Sect have left to operate in the surrounding territories?
This was something all the disciples of the Bingxuan Sect found unacceptable.
However, the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia paid no heed to their inquiries and persuasions. She remained with her head bowed, body bent, and hands cupped, her attitude one of utmost reverence. "This old one was unaware of Young Lord's grand arrival and failed to welcome you properly. I beg Young Lord's forgiveness."
Grand arrival?
Failed to welcome properly?
Forgiveness?
Heavens!
The Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch was a three-thousand-year-old senior! Who in the surrounding territories could possibly deserve her bow? Who could make this venerable senior so reverently and proactively beg for forgiveness?
Why?
No one knew.
"This old one has already prepared a feast of the finest delicacies. I implore Young Lord to grace the inner hall with your presence."
Opposite her.
Gu Qingfeng did not respond immediately. He did not even glance at her. Casually seated in a chair, he poured himself a drink and said, "You've been pulling me along to perform this grand show for so long, all just to tell that bunch about my connection to your Bingxuan Sect's trivial affairs. Since that's the case, why bother with the inner hall? Wouldn't staying right here suit your purposes even better?"
Gu Qingfeng was not one who enjoyed putting on airs.
Nor did he ever consider himself particularly remarkable.
He was not ignorant of hierarchy either.
In his eyes, regardless of the other party's cultivation strength or background, anyone older than him was a senior.
If it were any other three-thousand-year-old person today, even if Gu Qingfeng accepted their salute, he would absolutely reciprocate with proper courtesy.
But with this particular Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch, he did not.
It wasn't because of Yun Nishang. Rather, he could see that this old woman had been pulling him along to perform a grand show from the very beginning—a show for the ears of the Nine-Hua Alliance and for those who had received the imperial decree. The celebration, the grand salutes—it was all just to tell that bunch that he was connected to the Bingxuan Sect. Even though the old woman hadn't revealed his identity, it no longer mattered. These actions had already successfully shifted the matter of Yun Nishang onto his shoulders.
Moreover, from the moment Gu Qingfeng arrived at the Bingxuan Sect, he knew there were two groups of people attending their celebration.
One group was the people before him now.
The other group was those hidden nearby—all sorts of mysterious individuals, more of them than there had been at the Crimson-Letter Manor.
The matter of Yun Nishang was far too complicated. Gu Qingfeng did not wish to get involved, at least not for now.
Yet this old woman kept stirring the pot from behind.
If that were all, it might not have been enough to truly displease Gu Qingfeng.
The real issue was that this old woman had also had the other two Ancestral Patriarchs kidnap Old Man Huode.
Yes.
Kidnap.
The luxurious palanquin, the personal welcome by the Ancestral Patriarchs—it was all nonsense.
In reality, it was a kidnapping.
The one thing Gu Qingfeng detested most in his life was being threatened, especially when the threat involved people close to him.
Within the venue.
The crowd stared wide-eyed, because no one could understand Gu Qingfeng's words.
What grand show?
And trivial affairs of the Bingxuan Sect?
They didn't understand.
No one did.
However.
There was one person present who understood: the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch, Zhu Xia.
Her head bowed, body bent, and hands cupped, she dared not look up, dared not straighten her posture, dared not lower her hands. When Gu Qingfeng spoke those words, her body trembled imperceptibly. After a moment, she said in a quavering voice, "I beg... Young Lord to grace the inner hall with your presence."
"What's this?"
Gu Qingfeng shifted his posture, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch, his expression impassive. "It seems if I don't agree today to form a cultivation partnership with that Miss Leng, you still intend to threaten me?"
The crowd might not have understood Gu Qingfeng's earlier words, but they understood this sentence perfectly.
What did it mean?
Could it be that the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch had even threatened him to make him agree to form a cultivation partnership with Leng Yanqiu?
Was that possible?
Leng Yanqiu was a favored daughter of nature, having fused with a rare treasure like the Bingxuan Heart. Her future prospects were immeasurable; achieving immortality was not out of the question. The number of people who wanted to form a dual cultivation partnership with her was beyond counting. And now the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch was actually offering Leng Yanqiu to Gu Qingfeng?
And it seemed Gu Qingfeng was unwilling?
The Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch was threatening him to make him agree?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
At this moment, everyone present felt their minds were insufficient, because they simply could not comprehend the scene unfolding before them. Even the usually rational Shui Yunruo was no exception. Her beautiful face was etched with deep confusion, her eyes filled with endless bewilderment.
"Young Lord, you misunderstand... you misunderstand!"
Although the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch kept her head bowed, preventing anyone from seeing her expression, everyone could hear a note of panic and fear in her voice, as if she were afraid of something.
"This old one knows full well that Yanqiu is utterly unworthy of Young Lord. She doesn't even qualify to be Young Lord's maidservant. How could this old one dare to hope for Yanqiu to become Young Lord's cultivation partner... This old one merely... merely... wishes to beg Young Lord to engage in dual cultivation with Yanqiu..." The Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch's voice was weak, filled with trepidation and trembling. Yet when these words reached the ears of the crowd, they struck like thunderbolts. The entire venue erupted in an uproar, shocking everyone present into a stupor. They stood there dumbfounded, stunned, bewildered, their chaotic minds filled with the Ancestral Patriarch's words: "utterly unworthy of Young Lord... doesn't even qualify to be Young Lord's maidservant..."
Earlier.
Wen Yansheng, in pursuit of Leng Yanqiu, had presented the priceless Purple Cloud Myriad Longevity Pill.
Tianxiang Yue had presented an Ancient Spiritual Treasure.
Luo Wenzhenghao had gone even further, producing a whole chest containing three thousand Crystal Shards of the Five-Light Stone.
Although Yu Dingxing couldn't compare to these three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance, he had already acknowledged Jingtao's father as his sworn father, with the Crimson-Letter Sect as his backing. Thus, he was not inferior to the three Nine-Hua young masters. Moreover, Jingtao Gongzi had said his father would personally approach the Nine-Hua Alliance to demand the Yanyang Heart.
Yu Dingxing, Jingtao Gongzi, and the three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance—Wen Yansheng, Tianxiang Yue, Luo Wenzhenghao.
These individuals had cultivation, strength, status, and background.
Yet the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch paid them no mind. Instead, she was begging Gu Qingfeng to engage in dual cultivation with Leng Yanqiu.
Yes.
Begging.
And it was only for dual cultivation.
Because everyone heard clearly and distinctly: the Bingxuan Ancestral Patriarch said Leng Yanqiu was utterly unworthy of Gu Qingfeng, not even qualifying to be his maidservant. She was begging, merely for Leng Yanqiu to engage in dual cultivation with Gu Qingfeng. And for this, she had even threatened...