Because everyone knew that in his youth, the Chixiao Monarch had cultivated at the Yunxia Sect, only to be ruthlessly expelled.
And the location of the Yunxia Sect was precisely the Qingyang territory of the Yanyang Great Region.
Was that all?
No.
Far from it.
Back then, because the foundation the Chixiao Monarch built, the true body he established, and even the Violet Palace he opened were all rather peculiar, he was branded with the label of a heretical demonic path. He had once been hunted by all the sects and gangs of the Yanyang Great Region, pursued and encircled dozens of times, nearly losing his life on several occasions.
Therefore, many people looked upon the Yanyang Great Region with utter contempt.
Some said that if not for the kindness Elder Huode of the Yunxia Sect had shown the Chixiao Monarch, the Yunxia Sect would have been annihilated countless times over.
Others said that if the Yanyang Great Region were not the Chixiao Monarch's homeland, the entire Great Region would have been razed to the ground eight hundred times.
Compared to the Yanyang Great Region, the Liuli Great Region was much better off.
Not only were its resources more abundant, but it was also a land blessed with outstanding talents. Especially after the Great Calamity, all sorts of colorful spirit geniuses had sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, more and more each year. Beyond that, there were also many with precious physiques and rare bloodlines.
There were both the Three Caves and Five Mountains where recluses cultivated in seclusion, and the seven great sects with ancient legacies. Powerful families and influential gangs were numerous, and there were countless highly respected senior experts and masters of extraordinary attainment.
As the century-mark of the new year approached, the various Great Regions were making significant efforts and loud calls to resist the Jiuhua Alliance.
But if one were to speak of the loudest calls and the greatest actions, it undoubtedly belonged to the Liuli Great Region.
The reason was simple: over a dozen of the Liuli Great Region's publicly acknowledged, highly respected grandmasters had all stepped forward.
Especially Senior Shi Tong of Liuren Mountain. Since this old master had stepped forward and publicly declared resistance against the Jiuhua Alliance, various major sects, families, and gangs had actively come forward to offer their support. It was no exaggeration to say that nearly half the forces of the Liuli Great Region had stood up. One could imagine just how formidable Senior Shi Tong's prestige and power of rallying were.
And indeed, the facts were just so.
Among the over ten highly respected grandmaster seniors of the Liuli Great Region, Senior Shi Tong might not have been the one with the highest cultivation, nor the most powerful in strength, nor the one with the deepest background, but he was the most famous.
First, the old senior was virtuous and noble in character, amiable towards others, and always willing to help. Not only did he often help people set up formations without charging a single coin, but he also regularly held public teachings on formations. He had long enjoyed a reputation for great virtue.
Second, the old senior's attainment in formations was exceptionally profound. He was the Liuli Great Region's publicly acknowledged grandmaster of formations. Over the centuries, many ancient cave mansions had appeared in the Liuli Great Region, and more than half of them had been presided over by the old senior.
However, what truly made Senior Shi Tong's name resound far and wide was neither his noble character nor his mastery of formations, but the fact that everyone knew he had once given guidance to the legendary Chixiao Monarch, who had shaken both immortals and demons, earning him the title of 'Monarch's Teacher'.
Although Senior Shi Tong had always shied away from this title and insisted he was unworthy, many people still called him that.
The name of the Chixiao Monarch was known to everyone in this world.
His deeds were known to all under heaven. The story of Senior Shi Tong guiding the Monarch in formations had long since become a celebrated tale.
With this identity, even members of the Red Gang's four major branch halls had to respectfully address Senior Shi Tong as 'Old Master' when they met him. Even the formidable Blackwater Old Fiend Lord, one of the former seventy-two Earth Fiends of the Chixiao Sect who now guarded the Great Northwest Frontier, had to call Shi Tong 'Old Senior' when they met.
Given this, who would dare not give the old senior face?
Who would dare to slight him?
Now that Senior Shi Tong had stepped forward to resist the Jiuhua Alliance, it was only natural that his call was met with a hundred responses.
And so it was.
Upon hearing that the old senior had been staying in Wei City these past few days, many people had traveled from afar to pay him a visit.
Wei City was an ancient, old city.
At least, that was how it was in Gu Qingfeng's memory.
In his youth, after being expelled from the Yunxia Sect and hunted by the various sects of the Yanyang Great Region, he had begun to wander and make his way in the Liuli Great Region. His memories of Wei City were very deep, because back then, for the sake of cultivation, he had engaged in all sorts of deceitful and fraudulent schemes. The first thing he did after obtaining spirit treasures was to enter the city to eat well and drink fine.
He still vaguely remembered a tavern in the city that served a delicious dish called 'Morning Fire Crispy Beef'. It was fragrant, spicy, tender, and crispy, paired with top-quality wine... it was truly...
Even now, the thought made his mouth water.
Walking on the streets of Wei City, Gu Qingfeng felt quite emotional.
The Wei City of the past had been very shabby, with few shops and trading houses, and far fewer pedestrians.
After so many years, revisiting Wei City, the entire city now appeared dazzling and abundant. All kinds of shops, trading houses, and taverns were available in plenty, especially the endless stream of pedestrians on the streets.
Gu Qingfeng strolled along the streets, examining the various shops, occasionally stepping inside to look at the spirit treasures and resources. After an hour, his eyes were practically dazzled.
Back at the Yunxia Sect, he hadn't felt much about the changes brought by the revival of all things after the Great Calamity. It was only after wandering Wei City for an hour or two that he truly sensed how miraculous the revival of all things was for the world. Many rather unremarkable spirit treasures and resources—not only had he never seen them before, he hadn't even heard of them in the past.
It was high noon, under a blazing sun.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the great sun hanging in the sky and asked, "Where did you say Senior Shi Tong is staying again?"
Fei Kui had been silently following behind Gu Qingfeng. Hearing the question, he hurriedly replied, "In the east of the city, at the Liuren Mansion."
Gu Qingfeng nodded and headed towards the east of the city.
As he was walking, a spirit beast grand carriage came driving down the street.
There were four spirit beasts, and surprisingly, they were all foxes.
The foxes weren't large, each one delicate and petite, looking especially adorable as they pulled a white jade grand carriage, running along happily. At the front of the grand carriage sat a petite young girl, humming a little tune, seeming quite cheerful.
Gu Qingfeng moved to the inner side of the street to make way, squinting his eyes as he watched this passing spirit beast grand carriage, his expression showing some surprise. It wasn't because the grand carriage was pulled by four foxes—to be honest, foxes pulling a grand carriage wasn't strange at all. He'd even seen ones pulled by mice.
Nor was it because of the girl sitting at the front. What truly surprised him was the person sitting inside the grand carriage.
They were... extraordinary.
Perhaps sensing Gu Qingfeng's gaze, or for some other reason, the swiftly passing spirit beast grand carriage suddenly came to a halt.
Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but smile inwardly, thinking the little lady inside was quite sensitive. He shook his head slightly, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Just as he turned to leave, the young girl sitting at the front of the grand carriage asked in confusion, "Sister, what's wrong?"
"Do you know who that man in white just now was?"
A rather serious and full of surprise voice came from inside the grand carriage.
Man in white?
The young girl stood up and looked back, gazing at the retreating figure of the man in white. She laughed, "Sister, are you talking about that fellow in white? I took a glance too when we passed by. How should I put it... he might not be considered dashingly handsome, but he looks quite refined. Fair and clean, very pleasant to look at. Especially when he smiles, it feels quite charming... he's my type..."
"You silly girl, why are you always thinking about such messy things? I'm asking if you know him!"
"Ah... that's what you meant. No, I don't know him. No impression at all."
"Turn around. Follow him."