He left.
Gu Qingfeng left, heading up the mountain.
Yet the shock, astonishment, terror, and fear he had instilled in everyone did not fade; instead, it grew even stronger.
For a long time, rumors about the existence of Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng, had been rather bizarre. It was said that although he possessed no precious physique, his physical body was incredibly formidable; though his cultivation was not high, his Spiritual Power was extremely peculiar; though his realm was not deep, his strength was exceptionally terrifying; though his identity was mysterious, he was someone people revered and feared upon sight.
Many had believed these were mere rumors, and even if not entirely false, they were certainly exaggerated.
Only today did everyone realize a terrifying truth.
That was: Gu Qingfeng's physical body truly was that formidable, his Spiritual Power truly was that peculiar, his strength truly was that terrifying, his identity truly was that mysterious—more formidable, more terrifying, more mysterious, and more peculiar than the rumors suggested.
Yu Dingxing, possessing the Three Greens and One Illusion of Nature, plus the Bingxuan Seed, with an eighth-rotation Golden Core cultivation, could not withstand a single move from him.
Jingtao Gongzi, possessing the Three Illusions and One Flame of Nature, with a ninth-rotation Golden Core cultivation, was utterly defeated by him with one move.
The six powerful, battle-hardened Vice Hall Masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance were struck unconscious, life and death unknown, by a single spell from him.
Luo Wenzhenghao, with his great status and background, was so terrified he lost control of his bladder and couldn't even stand up.
Even Elder Hong, the renowned Transcendent True Person of the Red Gang with a sixteenth-rotation Golden Core, was rendered motionless by a mere gesture from him.
Earlier, at the Bingxuan Sect celebration.
When Gu Qingfeng left midway, many thought he was afraid.
Only now did everyone realize he was not afraid at all.
When Gu Qingfeng said he would not form a Dao companion bond with Leng Yanqiu, many thought he did not dare.
Only now did everyone realize it was not that he did not dare, but that he did not want to—truly did not want to, even when the Bingxuan Ancestor knelt on the ground begging and threatening him.
"Heavens!
Benefactor Big Brother...
Just what kind of person is he...
He's so...
So powerful, so amazing...
So awe-inspiring!"
Mu Xiaoyou tilted her little head, blinking her large eyes, staring dumbfounded at Gu Qingfeng's gradually receding figure up the mountain.
Beside her.
Shui Yunruo, who seemed lost in a fog, was even more so. Though not dumbfounded, her beautiful face was also etched with boundless shock, within which swirled endless curiosity and bewilderment.
Standing beside the two was a young man—none other than Bai Yunfei.
He stood, but only stood; his legs trembled, his heart pounded uncontrollably. He tried to calm himself, but it was useless. Closing his eyes, his mind was filled with nothing but fear.
"Young Master Jingtao, how are you?"
Not far away, Elder Hong and the two other senior members of the Red Gang's Fire Cloud Branch were examining Jingtao's injuries.
At this moment.
Jingtao Gongzi was no longer the dashing, handsome Ninth Young Master of the Fire Cloud Branch. Disheveled and utterly wretched, he lay paralyzed on the ground, blood seeping from his mouth, nose, and ears. His face was ashen, devoid of color, his eyes dull and lifeless, his expression numb.
Shui Yunruo and the other two approached. "Senior Hong, how are Young Master Jingtao's injuries?"
"His meridians are severed, but fortunately, that Young Master Gu showed mercy. Otherwise...
Jingtao would likely have..." Elder Hong had carefully examined Jingtao's injuries. Over half his meridians were broken, his Dantian was in chaos, his Golden Core was damaged, and his Spiritual Power was extremely unstable. He could tell Gu Qingfeng had held back; otherwise, that palm strike would have certainly taken Jingtao's life.
"Brother Jingtao, are you alright..." Seeing Jingtao unresponsive, Mu Xiaoyou asked worriedly, "Senior Hong, why is Brother Jingtao..." "Jingtao has never suffered such a massive setback before. I'm afraid he simply cannot accept it right now...
His spirit has been severely crushed."
"Wah...
Brother Jingtao..." Seeing the despondent Jingtao, Mu Xiaoyou's eyes immediately reddened. "Brother Jingtao, don't be like this..." "Wah... back at the Bingxuan Sect, both Senior Sister and I tried to warn you...
Why didn't you listen?"
"Wah... I told you long ago that Benefactor Brother left not because he was afraid of you all, why didn't you believe me?"
"Senior Sister also said that Benefactor Brother never regarded any of you from the start, why didn't you listen..." "Senior Sister warned you several times not to provoke Benefactor Brother, how could you just..." "Wah... that Benefactor Brother is so scary, didn't you see Young Master Luo Wen? He was so scared he wet his pants! Even the Bingxuan Ancestor, Senior Zhuxia, didn't dare breathe loudly in his presence, bowing and kneeling to him...
You must never, ever provoke him again..."
Mu Xiaoyou cried, worried, and tried to comfort him, but the little girl really didn't know how to offer comfort. Every word of consolation was like a sharp dagger stabbing into Jingtao Gongzi's heart, making his whole body tremble and stirring such rage that he coughed up a great mouthful of blood.
"Ah...
Brother Jingtao, what's wrong with you!"
Mu Xiaoyou was frantic with worry and tried to step forward, but Shui Yunruo stopped her, shooting the little girl a glare and urging her to say no more, lest Jingtao be angered to death.
Jingtao continued to cough up blood violently. As Elder Hong was about to intervene, Shui Yunruo stepped forward and said softly, "Senior Hong, let me."
With that, Shui Yunruo slowly raised her arm. A white radiance flowed gently between her slender, jade-like fingers. The light was pure, utterly devoid of impurity. Her elegant fingers danced, and one spiritual seal after another condensed and manifested. It was unclear what spell she was casting, but in an instant, a glow brimming with vital life force enveloped Jingtao.
This sight left Elder Hong in awe. He recognized Shui Yunruo and knew she came from the reclusive Taixing Cave.
He knew the existence of Taixing Cave was somewhat special, and he knew Shui Yunruo's existence was extraordinary.
But he never expected her Spiritual Power to be so pure, nor that the spell she cast would be one even he, a Transcendent True Person, could not comprehend. He only knew this spell contained an extremely potent life force. Moments later, Jingtao's complexion clearly improved significantly.
"Thank you, Ruo'er."
Feeling much better, Jingtao immediately expressed his gratitude. Shui Yunruo merely shook her head slightly and replied, "No need," then said, "You are injured. You should return and rest quickly."
"Ruo'er, don't worry, I will definitely prove it to you! I will definitely make that bastard surnamed Gu pay a heavy price!"
Shui Yunruo, who had been about to leave, couldn't help but frown slightly upon hearing this. She turned to look at Jingtao and said calmly, "You don't need to prove anything to me, nor do I need you to prove anything."
"No!
I will definitely prove it to you!
I will definitely defeat that bastard surnamed Gu!
Definitely!"
Looking at the determined Jingtao, Shui Yunruo felt utterly helpless. "I warned you, not just once, but three times. You didn't listen. I don't wish to warn you a fourth time. Take care of yourself."
With that, she turned to leave. But after walking only a short distance, as if still somewhat uneasy, she turned back and said to Elder Hong, "Senior Hong, you should take Young Master Jingtao back. Do not let him come out. I do not know what Gu Qingfeng is, nor have I ever had contact with him, but since childhood I have cultivated the Heart-Observation Art. I can see from his eyes his attitude towards life is very..." She paused, unsure how to describe it. After a moment of contemplation, she murmured, "He has no attitude towards life...
Not the slightest bit. I don't know why he has no attitude towards life, nor have I ever met such a person. But one thing is certain: if a person has no attitude whatsoever towards life, should he ever stir with killing intent...
It would be a disaster no one could foresee, no one could imagine, and no one could stop..."