Gu Qingfeng's visit to the old master was simply to check on him. Learning that the old master was living well and in good health put his mind at ease. He chatted until sunset before taking his leave.
In the garden of Liuren Manor, Elder Shi Tong sat upright in the pavilion, holding a teacup. He took occasional sips, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought.
"Master, just who is this Chiyan Young Master?"
While Gu Qingfeng and the old master had been chatting casually, Feihe had stood to the side, silently observing. He felt Gu Qingfeng exuded an indescribable, mysterious, and eerie aura—mysterious to the point of being elusive and vague, eerie enough to inspire caution and wariness.
He didn't understand and couldn't see through him.
If this was how Feihe felt, Elder Shi Tong was no different. He shook his head, offering no response.
"Master, this person is so mysterious and eerie. Moreover, he agreed to join the alliance almost without consideration. This disciple feels something is amiss... I worry he might..."
"There is no need for worry."
Elder Shi Tong set down his teacup and said gravely, "Although this master cannot see through him, nor do I know exactly who Chiyan Young Master is... I can say with certainty that Chiyan Young Master is not an evil person."
"Master, how can you be sure?"
Elder Shi Tong did not reply immediately. He took a sip of the bitter tea, pondered for a moment, then spoke: "Chiyan Young Master has always given this master a certain feeling. That feeling is... quite marvelous. Perhaps it's detachment, perhaps indifference, perhaps free-spiritedness... yet not entirely. It's more like following one's heart. Very peculiar..." After another pause, he added, "This master has cultivated for nearly two thousand years and have never encountered someone like this..." Elder Shi Tong thought for a long time but couldn't find the words to describe or evaluate Gu Qingfeng. He only said very seriously, "The existence of Chiyan Young Master is likely far, far more complex than this master can imagine."
"This..." As Elder Shi Tong's head disciple, Feihe had followed the old master for many years. This was the first time he had heard the old master evaluate a stranger in such a manner. Even when faced with those reincarnated great powers from the Nine-Hua Alliance, the old master had never been so perplexed.
"In the future, if you encounter Chiyan Young Master, you must treat him with the utmost courtesy. Do not slight him in any way. This especially applies to the disciples of our Liuren Mountain; they must be told."
Mentioning the disciples of Liuren Mountain, Elder Shi Tong couldn't help but sigh with regret.
A great calamity had left him severely injured, forcing him into seclusion for many years. Although he had recovered, he had neglected the instruction of his disciples and grand-disciples. As a result, the disciples under his banner had grown accustomed to comfort and privilege, becoming arrogant, conceited, and tyrannical, relying on the name of the Monarch.
"'Teacher of the Monarch'—such a weighty title. This master cannot bear it. No one in this world can bear it." Elder Shi Tong sighed. "This master has always advised you all that when venturing out to gain experience, do not mention the name of the Monarch. Our Liuren Mountain cannot bear that burden."
Alas.
"If this matter with the Nine-Hua Alliance can be resolved smoothly, Liuren Mountain must seal the mountain and retreat from the world. Otherwise... these arrogant and ignorant disciples will eventually bring about a great disaster."
...
The sun set in the west, dusk fell, and night gradually descended.
A seemingly ancient carriage drawn by four horses slowly traveled westward after leaving Wei City.
Fei Kui sat at the front, lost in thought, when suddenly, a small carriage appeared directly ahead without warning. Startled, he quickly tightened the reins. The four fine horses seemed equally frightened, rearing up with whinnies.
It was an exquisite fox-drawn small carriage.
A young girl in a green silk dress alighted from the small carriage.
"Hey there, little fatty. How are you?"
The girl was not tall, her figure petite, with a pair of large, cunning eyes.
"Little girl, what are you doing?"
"Looking for your Chiyan Young Master, of course. What else?"
Fei Kui responded solemnly, "Little girl, the Young Master is resting."
"Resting?" The girl was taken aback, then rolled her eyes. "Really, what's there to rest for in broad daylight?"
This was a question Fei Kui also wanted answered. Having followed Gu Qingfeng for so many days, he noticed that apart from never being without his little jug of wine, Gu Qingfeng kept a very regular schedule: basking in the morning sun and resting at dusk.
Very regular.
Whenever he was idle, it was basically like this.
Why?
He didn't know either.
In that moment of distraction, the girl had somehow already walked over and directly lifted the curtain of the large carriage. Inside, she saw a man in white lying leisurely, hands behind his head, one leg crossed over the other, eyes slightly closed, taking a nap.
This dead nouveau riche sure knows how to enjoy himself.
The girl curled her lip, feeling deep disdain in her heart.
"Little sister, don't you know it's very impolite to disturb someone's rest?"
Gu Qingfeng didn't open his eyes, merely offering a lazy tease.
"Aiya, Young Master, my mistake, my fault for disturbing your rest. Sorry, alright?" The girl's pretty face was full of contempt. "Hey, Chiyan Young Master, my elder sister asked me to give this to you."
As she spoke, the girl took out a crystal fragment and placed it on the carriage, then turned to leave.
Gu Qingfeng sat up, yawned, stretched, glanced at the sunset glow, shook his head slightly, and sighed. Only then did he pick up the crystal fragment to examine it. The fragment was about the size of a finger, entirely crimson-black, shimmering with a faint layer of black mist.
This was not a good thing.
It was a rather malevolent spiritual breath.
And its level of malevolence was not low. If memory served, this thing should be called Black-Glory Breath. In his recollection, it was extremely ancient, rarely encountered even in the Primordial Era.
Could it be that after the great calamity, with the revival of all things, even this Black-Glory Breath has appeared?
No.
It didn't seem so.
This thing wasn't naturally formed; it seemed more like it had been artificially refined through sacrifice.
"Hey, Chiyan Young Master, my elder sister asked me to tell you: if you're interested in the fragment, she'll be waiting for you in the Black-Raven Secret Realm."
The girl's voice came from afar as the fox-drawn small carriage swiftly vanished.
Gu Qingfeng had seen this fox-drawn carriage in Wei City and knew the little lady inside was somewhat interesting. To be honest, he wasn't particularly interested in this so-called Black-Glory fragment, but he was quite curious about the Black-Raven Secret Realm the girl mentioned.
The so-called secret realms, their full name being Small Natural Secret Realms.
As the name implied, these were unique spaces accidentally formed when the laws of the Natural Order underwent abnormal distortions and chaos.
Similar to grotto-heavens.
But different.
Grotto-heavens were artificially opened, while small secret realms were formed by nature. Their internal environments were also very unique.
Some were like fairyland paradises, but more were like demonic domains, with extremely harsh environments, a chaotic mix of demons, ghosts, monsters, dragons, and snakes.
"Young Master, the Black-Raven Secret Realm is just ahead. Do you wish to go?"
Ahead?
Gu Qingfeng was rather puzzled. "You mean it's within the Glazed Territory?"
"That's right."
Gu Qingfeng had often roamed the Glazed Territory in the past but had never heard of any Black-Raven Secret Realm. Not just the Glazed Territory, nor the Great Northwest Frontier—back in the Primordial Era, the secret realms in this world could be counted on one hand.
"Did this Black-Raven Secret Realm also appear after the great calamity?"
"Yes."