"I heard he was invited, though I don't know if it's true. But even if it is, I doubt that Nouveau Riche surnamed Gu would dare to show up. He beat Young Lord Renxu right outside the Six Ren Manor the other day. Even if you gave him a thousand times the courage today, he wouldn't dare to come."
He beat Young Lord Renxu?
And right outside the Six Ren Manor?
Heavens!
Lan Feier was both shocked by Gu Qingfeng's audacity and relieved that the fellow hadn't come. Otherwise, how awkward would it be to run into him!
Just then, some onlookers who had stopped to watch the commotion chimed in, "I heard that Nouveau Riche surnamed Gu came today."
Hmm?
Hearing this, Lan Feier, Kang Zhengqi, and Zhuo Feng were all startled. Lan Feier immediately pressed, "He... he really came?"
"That's right. I heard he's over at the Starlight Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Lan Feier's delicate face completely lost its composure, filled with panic.
"A Nouveau Riche is just a Nouveau Riche. Gets one stroke of luck and thinks he's invincible under heaven. Truly doesn't know the meaning of death."
Zhuo Feng straightened his collar, his brow brimming with arrogance. "I was planning to settle accounts with him after I finished my business here. Since he's come today, all the better."
The events in the Black-Raven Secret Realm had somewhat tarnished his reputation. Zhuo Feng had been thinking of a way to salvage it, and now someone had delivered themselves right to his doorstep. This was a perfect opportunity to restore his honor, and an even better chance to perform in front of the one he admired.
"Fei'er, since that Nouveau Riche surnamed Gu is at the Starlight Pavilion, shall we go take a look together?"
Zhuo Feng's mind was wholly occupied with reclaiming his reputation, completely oblivious to the complex emotions on Lan Feier's face. He turned to Kang Zhengqi and continued, "Kang Zhengqi, today I'll let you witness with your own eyes the dignity of our Fire Cloud Branch. I said I would make that Nouveau Riche surnamed Gu kneel and kowtow to Jingtao in apology. And for how he injured Jingtao, I will exact tenfold repayment upon his body!"
With that, Zhuo Feng waved his hand and led the other eight Young Masters of the Fire Cloud Branch, charging off with great fanfare.
Not to be outdone, Kang Zhengqi led the people from the Wind-Cloud Branch and followed.
The surrounding crowd, seeing the situation, knew there was a spectacle to behold and also trailed after them.
Only Lan Feier remained rooted to the spot, her expression shifting unpredictably—panic, awkwardness, shyness, and anger all flickering across her face.
That fellow was here too!
What should I do?
Damn it!
If I see him, it'll be so awkward.
Should I leave?
Upon hearing that Gu Qingfeng was here, Lan Feier's first instinct was to flee, because she truly felt too embarrassed to face him.
But then she thought, if she left, what if that fellow went around blabbing about what happened in the Black-Raven Secret Realm?
How could I ever show my face again after that?
Heavens!
What to do?
Lan Feier's heart was in turmoil. Finally, she steeled herself and chased after them.
As awkward as seeing that fellow would be, it was still better than having the... incident from the Black-Raven Secret Realm exposed.
The Starlight Pavilion was one of the scenic spots on Liuren Mountain, already surrounded by a fair number of people. With the arrival of the Nine Spirits of the Wind-Cloud Branch and the Nine Young Masters of the Fire Cloud Branch, the place became even more lively.
Jingtao walked at the forefront, full of aggressive momentum, his eyes also sparkling with excitement.
Indeed.
After the Bingxuan incident, his reputation had plummeted. He couldn't even hold his head up. He had always wanted to crush Gu Qingfeng underfoot to restore his honor, but his Cultivation Level wasn't high enough, and with Old Sen's influence, he hadn't dared act rashly. He had been waiting, waiting for an opportunity.
And now that opportunity was about to arrive. Naturally, he was thrilled.
Arriving at the Starlight Pavilion, he spotted Gu Qingfeng at a glance.
As the saying goes, enemies see red when they meet. Moreover, in Jingtao's eyes, Gu Qingfeng had always been the enemy of enemies. The moment he saw Gu Qingfeng, the excitement in his eyes vanished, replaced by anger—boundless anger. He blurted out, "That's the Nouveau Riche called Gu Qingfeng!"
A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow.
Gu Qingfeng's name had already spread throughout the Four Regions Alliance since the Bingxuan celebration.
The onlookers around the Starlight Pavilion had only heard his name, never seen the man. Hearing Jingtao's angry shout, they all turned to look.
It was a young man, dressed in simple white cloth robes.
His features couldn't be called exceptionally handsome, but they were pleasant enough. He wore no spirit treasures or ornaments, only a very plain storage pouch hanging at his waist.
His expression was calm. His brow held neither the arrogance expected of a heaven-favored prodigy, nor the noble air of someone with an extraordinary background, nor even the transcendent, carefree demeanor. He didn't even possess the passionate vigor a young man should have.
A very ordinary person.
Unremarkable.
Truly unremarkable.
He just sat there in the pavilion, leaning against a stone pillar at an angle. His complexion seemed a bit off, beads of sweat dotted his forehead. His eyes were closed, as if he were resting.
Most of the people present were seeing Gu Qingfeng for the first time, and they found it hard to believe.
According to rumors, Young Lord Chiyan Gu Qingfeng was arrogant, domineering, and tyrannical. He had intimidated the Three Elders at Yunxia Sect, annihilated the Murong family in a mysterious cave abode, and at Chixu Manor, with a single shout, had forced over a thousand experts to vomit blood from their mouths and noses. At the Bingxuan celebration, he had killed the seven-hued jade talent Long Fei with one move, frightening the reincarnated expert Si Qianhua so badly he didn't dare lift his head. And then he had beaten Young Lord Renxu right outside the Six Ren Manor.
All along, the rumors about Gu Qingfeng spoke of a mysterious background and identity, bizarre Cultivation Level and strength, and a person who was wildly arrogant and unruly.
But the white-robed man sitting in the pavilion...
No matter how you looked at him, he seemed ordinary. The kind of person you'd lose in a crowd, the kind who leaves no impression after a single glance.
This fellow had a mysterious background and identity?
Bizarre Cultivation Level and strength?
Wildly arrogant?
Unruly?
Impossible.
The people present stared wide-eyed at each other, utterly unable to connect the seemingly frail, pale-skinned white-robed man before them with the rumored Nouveau Riche who didn't know his own limits. The gap was simply too vast, like trying to link an innocent youth with a murderous demon king.
"Jingtao, you... what did you say? He's that Nouveau Riche surnamed Gu?"
At this moment, Zhuo Feng stared at Gu Qingfeng, his expression flustered, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"That's right!" Jingtao also glared fixedly, his voice tense. "I'd recognize him even if he turned to ash!"
As these words fell, the last shred of hope in Zhuo Feng's heart completely crumbled. No matter what, he had never imagined that the terrifying person inside the ancient pagoda in the Black-Raven Secret Realm was actually Gu Qingfeng!
That person in the pagoda was neither Innate nor Color Spirit, yet his true body was inexplicably and abnormally powerful—so powerful that even Bai He's display of nine-hued flowing colors hadn't shaken him in the slightest. His Cultivation Level wasn't high, but his spiritual power was savage and terrifying—so terrifying that when released, it had crushed him on the spot.
And according to rumors, Gu Qingfeng, due to a failed Foundation Establishment, possessed a mutated body with an exceptionally strong true form. His Cultivation Level wasn't high, but his spiritual power was abnormally terrifying.
It really was him!
I should have realized it was him sooner!
At this moment, Zhuo Feng finally realized he had made an extremely grave mistake.