The man in white, the demonic cultivator, stood with one hand behind his back and the other pressed against Old Master Shi Tong's crown, continuously forming one spiritual art after another.
The Twelve Chixiao People knelt on one knee.
Huode squatted nearby, head bowed as he smoked his large pipe.
Not far away lay the unconscious Jiangzhu Ancestor.
This scene was utterly bizarre.
Especially since the demonic cultivator was scolding the Twelve Chixiao People as if they were children. Even more bizarre was that the Twelve Chixiao People, being scolded, dared not even lift their heads or look at him.
"You were all heroes who crawled out of a sea of blood back then, each of you having walked through the halls of the King of Hell several times. What were you fighting for? What were you striving for? What were you seeking?
You fought for dignity, strived for freedom, sought ease and contentment."
Gu Qingfeng's tranquil voice caused the long-sealed hearts of the Twelve Chixiao People kneeling on one knee to tremble violently.
These words were far too familiar to them, so familiar it stirred their emotions.
Why?
No reason.
Because these were the very words the Chixiao Monarch had once spoken to them.
The Twelve Chixiao People looked up with complex expressions, only to find Gu Qingfeng had already turned around at some point. He now stood with his hands behind his back, his expression stern, his eyes deep and calm as he gazed at them.
When the Twelve Chixiao People met Gu Qingfeng's dark, profound, and calm gaze, their already trembling hearts shook even more violently. Even their souls, tempered through blood-drinking and Dragon-Elephant trials, shuddered.
This gaze—tranquil yet domineering, arrogant and untamed.
It felt achingly familiar to the Twelve Chixiao People, as if they had returned to the past.
It was too similar.
Whether it was the gaze or the tone, it was far too similar to a certain person.
"After the Great Calamity, all things recovered, and peace returned. Whether you enjoy honors or cultivate in freedom, not seeking to rule over immortals and demons, but only seeking happiness in this life—that is perfectly understandable. Since this world is the mundane world, one naturally becomes a mundane person. This is an eternal truth, unshakable even if the heavens themselves descended. Even if the Lord of Heaven descended, he would have no right to reprimand you."
Gu Qingfeng spoke in a deep voice, then suddenly shifted his tone, continuing, "So why must you shoulder the banner of 'eradicating demons and defending the Dao'? Why must you uphold some damn underground order? What demons are you eradicating? What Dao are you defending? And what kind of underground order are you upholding?
Can you even bear the weight of the title 'Demon-Eradicator, Dao-Defender'?
Is the underground order something you should be upholding?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice seemed to grow even harsher as he berated them, "If you wish to rule over immortals and demons, then devote yourselves to the Dao. If you wish for happiness, then indulge in it to your heart's content. If you truly have ambitions as high as the heavens and willingly shoulder the responsibility of eradicating demons and defending the Dao, that's also acceptable. But since you've taken it up, why do you stand aloof? Do you expect these little brats to eradicate demons and defend the Dao?
To uphold order?"
Gu Qingfeng pointed at the people from the Fire Cloud and Wind-Cloud Branch Halls, scolding the Twelve Chixiao People, "Have they ever seen a demon?
Do they even know what a demon is?
Waving the banner of justice, randomly pinning the accusation of demonic cultivator—is this the demon you eradicate and the Dao you defend?"
The Twelve Chixiao People knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads or even breathe. Their hearts palpitated, their souls trembled, and the expressions on their faces had long since frozen. The people from the Wind-Cloud and Fire Cloud Branch Halls exchanged glances, furious but not daring to speak.
"We...
We..." The Twelve Chixiao People kneeling on the ground trembled, not daring to refute.
"Lift your heads!"
Gu Qingfeng's sharp shout startled the Twelve Chixiao People into jerking their heads up.
"Open your eyes and take a good look at these brats."
Gu Qingfeng pointed at the people from the Wind-Cloud and Fire Cloud Branch Halls, roaring angrily, "Are you harming them?
Or are you harming all under heaven?"
The faces of the Twelve Chixiao People turned ashen and pale, their eyes filled with remorse and self-reproach.
Gu Qingfeng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then shook his head as if somewhat helpless. When he spoke again, his tone had softened considerably. "Enough. Let's leave this matter here for now. I have a question for you."
"What matter does the Young Lord wish to ask?"
"Do you know about Old Master Shi Tong's situation?"
The Twelve Chixiao People shook their heads, indicating they did not know, and asked, "Dare we ask, Young Lord, what exactly has happened to Old Master Shi Tong?"
"A Gu Insect has been planted in the Old Master's mind."
Hearing this, the Twelve Chixiao People were all shocked. However, Gu Qingfeng's next words left them utterly astounded.
"The Gu Insect controls the mind, and within it lies the breath of the Dragon-Elephant."
"What!"
The Twelve Chixiao People abruptly stood up, their faces filled with horror. The presence of Dragon-Elephant breath on the Gu Insect meant what?
It meant the person who refined the Gu Insect must possess the Dragon-Elephant. And in all the world, only Chixiao People carried the breath of the Dragon-Elephant. As if realizing something, the Twelve Chixiao People who had just stood up instantly knelt back down, saying, "Young Lord, since Old Master Shi Tong was the benefactor of the Chixiao Monarch, he is naturally the benefactor of all us Chixiao People. We have always held the Old Master in the highest esteem. How could we harm him?"
Gu Qingfeng did not speak. Instead, he pressed his single hand against Old Master Shi Tong's head. Light shimmered in his palm, like a lotus blooming, slowly rising upward. Immediately after, a wisp of golden light emerged from the Old Master's crown. The light squirmed, looking exactly like a golden ant.
The Twelve Chixiao People, being well-traveled, recognized at a glance that this wisp of golden light was indeed a Gu Insect. Upon careful examination, they confirmed the Gu Insect truly contained the breath of the Dragon-Elephant.
"This..." Sen Lao, Ziyang, Wei Xuan, and the others exchanged glances, all utterly shocked and horrified.
"However, this Dragon-Elephant breath is neither pure nor clear. It was not done by any of you."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the Gu Insect in his palm and said calmly, "It seems someone has grown skilled, using the Dragon-Elephant Totem to nurture something."
With that, Gu Qingfeng shouted sharply: "Get out!"
His five fingers clenched, instantly crushing the Gu Insect to powder. At the same moment, a person in the crowd suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. That person seemed to have suffered a mental blow. Without a moment to be shocked, he tried to flee.
He was fast, but Gu Qingfeng was faster. Just as he leaped into the air, Gu Qingfeng's figure had already appeared. His hand rose, his palm fell, pressing down with immense force.
*Bang!*
The spiritual power surrounding that person instantly dissipated.
Gu Qingfeng lifted his foot and kicked. Blood spurted from the man's seven orifices as he was sent flying sideways.
The crowd looked over and finally saw the man's appearance clearly. He was a gaunt middle-aged man, and many present recognized him.
He was the deputy hall master of the Lightning Cloud Branch Hall, Zhou Cheng.
As was well known, the Crimson-Letter Sect's Branch Halls were spread across the world, with one hall guarding each major domain. The Fire Cloud Branch Hall guarded the Flaming Sun Great Domain, the Wind-Cloud Branch Hall guarded the Glazed Great Domain, and the Lightning Cloud Branch Hall guarded the Fengde Great Domain.
As the deputy hall master of the Lightning Cloud Branch Hall, Zhou Cheng was naturally known to many.