On the street opposite Liuren Manor, a small fox-drawn carriage was parked.
A petite, delicate young girl stood on the carriage, blinking her eyes as she gazed at Liuren Manor, letting out a surprised and doubtful sigh.
"So this guy is the Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng who's been making such a big name for himself lately."
The girl pouted, sounding somewhat disappointed. "Ever since I came out of seclusion, his name is the one I've heard the most. 'Mysterious identity, unfathomable strength'—I thought he'd be something special. But he doesn't seem all that impressive, does he?
He looks like a very ordinary person. He doesn't even have Great Nature Chromatic Spirit Breath..." The girl murmured, then asked, "Elder Sister, what do you think?"
From within the carriage came a grave voice, heavy with confusion. "I can't read him. I can't see through him. I can't understand him. I can't see anything at all..."
"Huh?"
This was the first time the girl had heard her elder sister evaluate someone like this. "Could it be you're overthinking it, Elder Sister? It's perfectly normal you can't see anything—it's because he has nothing."
She paused, then continued, "For someone like him with no special spiritual aura yet such bizarrely powerful strength, there's only one possibility: he got lucky and stumbled upon some incredible opportunity. He might really be just like the rumors say—a little upstart who happened upon a stroke of fortune. After the Cataclysm, with all things reviving, opportunities are everywhere. There are plenty of these little upstarts who got lucky in the Four Great Regions."
"He's different. And he's not that either."
"Hmm?"
This time, the girl was truly puzzled. "Why do you say that, Elder Sister? I don't see how he's different. He has no presence, no bearing. You saw him yourself earlier in the tavern—the guy had no proper posture, slouching and slacking off. His every move reeked of frivolous laziness, worse than your average spoiled young master. If he's not a little upstart, then what is he?"
Recalling the figure of the man in white, the girl went on, "But there is one thing that sets him apart from those lucky upstarts. Most of them love to deck themselves out in all sorts of expensive, rare spirit treasures to show off. But he doesn't seem to have a single one on him, not even an ordinary jade pendant...
That kind of little upstart is indeed rare."
"Xiaolian, I've told you many times—never judge a person by their surface."
The voice from within the carriage was somewhat cool, but more than that, it was filled with bewilderment. "Some frivolity is not truly frivolous. Some laziness is not truly laziness. Perhaps it is a state of following one's heart's desire. Those whose state of mind has transcended worldly concerns will ultimately return to simplicity, to their original essence. They simply do not care about the eyes of the mundane world."
"Elder Sister, you're not saying that guy's state of mind has already transcended the mundane world, are you?"
"Whether it has or hasn't, we'll know if we find an opportunity to test him."
...
Inside Liuren Manor, in the garden.
Old Master Shi Tong repeatedly expressed his apologies regarding the Renxu incident, sighing deeply at his own failure in teaching, his words filled with self-reproach and helplessness.
In response, Gu Qingfeng merely smiled, indicating his understanding.
He had seen this sort of thing many times. It was common in this world, and even in the Celestial Realm—many senior experts were of noble character, yet their descendants not only failed to inherit these fine traditions but instead grew arrogant and domineering.
Cultivation knew no time. A single session of closed-door cultivation could last a few years, or several decades, even a century.
By the time one emerged, one's son might already have grandchildren. Having missed the chance to guide them in their formative years, once their character was set, it became difficult to change later. There were also some old-timers who, having suffered too much hardship in their youth, didn't want their descendants to endure the same, so they spoiled them from the start, raising a generation of proud and arrogant offspring.
Why did ancient, inherited families and sects easily produce outstanding descendants?
It was because of their profound heritage and long history. They knew how to nurture and teach their descendants to pass on their legacy generation after generation.
Without that deep foundation, whether it was a sect or a family, it was difficult to sustain the inheritance.
Gu Qingfeng and Old Master Shi Tong sat in the garden pavilion, drinking tea and conversing.
Compared to over four hundred years ago, the old master didn't seem to have changed much. He was still just as upright, just as kind-hearted, and his sense of responsibility seemed even heavier now. Especially when mentioning the Nine-Hua Alliance's hundred-year deadline, the old master's face was full of worry, and he sighed repeatedly.
"I heard the old master established the Four Regions Alliance to resist the Nine-Hua Alliance?"
Gu Qingfeng held his teacup, took a light sip, and shook his head. He preferred wine, not tea. In five hundred years of cultivation, he had drunk tea only a handful of times. No particular reason—he just didn't like it.
"The Four Regions Alliance does exist, but I did not found it. I merely serve as a temporary Elder. As for resisting..." Old Master Shi Tong stroked the white beard on his chin, speaking very seriously. "It wouldn't be wrong to say the Four Regions Alliance exists to oppose the Nine-Hua Alliance, but that is not its true purpose."
Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Now that the hundred-year deadline is approaching, the Nine-Hua Alliance will certainly make its move. To be honest, the Great Northwest Territory has never been truly peaceful. It has always been this way. Even without the Nine-Hua Alliance, other major powers would want to rule the Four Great Regions. This is unavoidable."
Old Master Shi Tong made a gesture with his hand, inviting Gu Qingfeng to drink his tea, then continued, "If the Nine-Hua Alliance wishes to rule the Four Great Regions, it's not impossible. But they must guarantee the safety of the Four Great Regions—that is the prerequisite. Moreover, the resources they demand cannot be too excessive, and they must not interfere in the affairs of the various sects. That is the true purpose of the Four Regions Alliance."
Gu Qingfeng nodded, beginning to understand. From the old master's meaning, the Four Regions Alliance was prepared to represent the various sects of the Four Great Regions in negotiations with the Nine-Hua Alliance. If these conditions were met, they would permit the Nine-Hua Alliance's rule. If not, the Four Regions Alliance would certainly fight to protect their homeland.
"Alright. Count me in, then."
When he had come, Huo De had mentioned that the old master wanted to invite him to join the Four Regions Alliance. During their conversation just now, Gu Qingfeng could also tell the old master had this intention. Since that was the case, he agreed.
"This..." Old Master Shi Tong was momentarily stunned. He had personally gone to the Yunxia Sect some days ago precisely to invite Gu Qingfeng to join the Four Regions Alliance. But he hadn't expected Gu Qingfeng to agree before he could even broach the subject.
Although the old master couldn't see through Gu Qingfeng, based on his nearly two thousand years of experience, he knew this young man before him was definitely not simple. He might even be more incredible than imagined.
That was why he had made the trip personally, and even then, he hadn't been absolutely confident he could persuade him. He was worried Gu Qingfeng might be recruited by the Nine-Hua Alliance. In his mind, even if he couldn't convince Gu Qingfeng to join the Four Regions Alliance, he at least had to persuade him to remain neutral.
But the old master never imagined that before he could even finish speaking, Gu Qingfeng would agree outright.
"Young Lord, please don't be hasty in agreeing. This matter is of great importance and may even involve life-threatening danger. I hope you will consider it carefully."
"No need to consider."
"This..." The old master's expression froze for a moment, then he immediately stood up and clasped his hands in salute. "Young Lord, you truly possess great virtue. On behalf of the various sects of the Four Great Regions, I thank you."
"Great virtue?
Heh heh..." Gu Qingfeng suddenly burst into loud laughter. After laughing, he simply raised his teacup in a toast to the old master.
He laughed because of the words 'great virtue.'
Because he felt that he and those two words were like two parallel lines—they could never possibly intersect.
The reason he agreed had nothing to do with the Four Regions Alliance fighting for the various sects. Even if the Four Regions Alliance were fighting for the entire world, Gu Qingfeng couldn't be bothered.
Usually, as long as something didn't involve him personally, even if the sky were falling, he couldn't be bothered to glance at it.
He had been orphaned since childhood, wandering the streets as a boy. Growing up, he lived each day with his head in his hands, keenly aware of how difficult it was just to stay alive. In this world, he had been judged by immortals and demons; ascending to the Celestial Realm, he was judged by the Heavenly Dao. What lofty morals did he have?
What awareness of sacrificing himself for the greater good?
None. From the very beginning, he had none.
Gu Qingfeng was just a common man. A man so common he couldn't be more common. Forget lofty morals—he never even considered himself a good person. More often than not, he saw himself as a bad one.
The reason he agreed this time was simply because Old Master Shi Tong had invited him. That was all. Nothing more.