That night.
First-Class Villa.
After regulating her breathing, Su Hua's complexion had improved considerably, but it was only her complexion. Her heart-mind had suffered a setback, and her essence, energy, and spirit were all affected. Recovery would not come in a short time. At this moment, she sat in a chair, looking utterly weary and drained.
"Young Lady, just what is the deal with that fellow named Gu?"
With many people present earlier, Qian Shan hadn't been able to inquire in detail. Only now, after Su Hua had finished regulating her breathing, did she finally speak up.
Su Hua closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. During her earlier breathing regulation, she had been pondering this very question. Yet, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out. Many aspects were far too bizarre and illogical, contradicting the common sense of cultivation as she understood it.
And what drove her most maddening was that she had nowhere to vent this foul anger.
How could she?
If that fellow was truly innocent, then she could only blame herself for her own misfortune and couldn't resent others.
If that fellow was pretending to be innocent and deliberately toying with her, then that only proved he was even more terrifying. Seeking him out to vent her anger would likely make things worse.
Thus.
Su Hua now had a terrible headache.
"Young Lady, that man named Gu seems very strange. Why don't I go to Yunxia Sect now to test his depths?"
"That won't do. There are many aspects of this matter I cannot figure out, and Gu Qingfeng's existence is far too bizarre. If you rashly go, it might cause unnecessary trouble. Let's just drop this matter for now."
Su Hua let out a sigh, somewhat exhausted, and said, "In a couple of days, I have to go to the Tai Xuan Platform to expound the Dao for everyone. I must prepare in advance."
Qian Shan knew Su Hua bore heavy responsibilities, and the matter of expounding the Dao was of utmost importance. Therefore, she tactfully refrained from saying anything more.
Suddenly, Qian Shan remembered something else. "Young Lady, there's one matter. I don't know if I should mention it."
"What is it?"
"The hundred-year period between the Nine-Hua Alliance and the major sects of the Four Great Regions has arrived. The Nine-Hua Alliance has decided to activate the Tai Xuan Stele this month, inviting the major sects to come and absorb the Tai Xuan spiritual energy, thereby negotiating unification with them. Just now, while chatting with Miss Ouyang and the others, I learned that many sects in the Four Great Regions reject the Nine-Hua Alliance. Some esteemed seniors of the Four Great Regions have even joined forces to establish the Four Regions Association to contend with the Nine-Hua Alliance. If the negotiations fail to reach an agreement, it will inevitably trigger a not insignificant war."
"I know."
"Young Lady knows?"
"The Immortal Dynasty has already notified me, wanting me to mediate."
"Young Lady, haven't you always stayed out of the Immortal Dynasty's affairs? Why this time..."
"I don't want to get involved either. It's just that the one who sent me the letter was Granny Tong. In the letter, she earnestly pleaded with me to come here."
"Granny Tong of the Immortal Dynasty? Why would she concern herself with a minor place like the Four Great Regions?"
"The Tai Xuan Stele of the Nine-Hua Alliance is not simple. Moreover, many reincarnated experts are hidden within the Nine-Hua Alliance. For the sake of the Tai Xuan Stele and to win over these reincarnated experts, the Immortal Dynasty has always valued the Four Great Regions and has been secretly supporting the Nine-Hua Alliance, wanting to use it to first occupy the Four Great Regions and then extend their influence throughout the entire Great Northwest."
Su Hua spoke calmly, "From what I know, the Great Northwest frontier has been chaotic since ancient times. Before the Cataclysm, the Immortal Dynasty attempted to occupy it but failed. Coupled with the Immortal Dynasty's past actions, they truly lost the people's support. Even many in the Nine Provinces reject the Immortal Dynasty, let alone the Great Northwest."
Qian Shan nodded and added, "The Immortal Dynasty in this world is truly outrageous. I heard that before the Cataclysm, they monopolized all the spiritual veins of this world, causing widespread resentment."
"If not for that, how could Monarch Chixiao be revered as a god in this world?"
Mentioning Monarch Chixiao seemed to slightly revive Su Hua's weary spirit. She smiled and said, "I heard that back then, many sect masters of this world knelt together before the gates of the Chixiao Sect, begging Monarch Chixiao to take action and destroy the Immortal Dynasty. In the eyes of the Immortal Dynasty, Monarch Chixiao is a criminal. But in the eyes of many in this world, Monarch Chixiao is a hero."
Perhaps because she had deduced that her own karma was tied to Monarch Chixiao, or perhaps because over the years she had learned more and more about Monarch Chixiao's deeds, Su Hua felt as if she were under a spell, sinking deeper into it, unable to extricate herself. Her heart yearned intensely to meet Monarch Chixiao.
Seeing Su Hua's expression, Qian Shan sighed inwardly.
She noticed that every time Young Lady mentioned Monarch Chixiao, she would, intentionally or not, reveal a somewhat girlish demeanor. That infatuated look in her eyes was truly reminiscent of the young girls in this world who worship Monarch Chixiao.
Qian Shan couldn't bear to watch any longer and couldn't help but remind her, "Young Lady, you must not forget that when Monarch Chixiao annihilated the Immortal Dynasty back then, he not only killed many immortals who descended from the Nine Heavens but also severed the Milky Way of the Lesser Nine Heavens. For this, his soul was judged to scatter. If he is still alive, he would inevitably be an enemy of the Nine Heavens."
"I have never believed that Monarch Chixiao's soul scattered. I have a feeling he is still alive."
Here we go again...
Qian Shan had lost count of how many times Su Hua had said this. She had said all there was to say and advised all she could, yet Young Lady remained unchanged. This left her feeling helpless. Knowing that Young Lady was deeply interested in Monarch Chixiao and would chatter endlessly whenever he was mentioned, Qian Shan, fearing Su Hua would start again, quickly changed the subject.
"Young Lady, since Granny Tong has asked you, what do you plan to do?"
"We'll see. Strive to maximize everyone's interests and ensure the major sects are satisfied."
"The Nine-Hua Alliance may not be willing to concede. After all, the most powerful forces in the Four Great Regions have already joined the Nine-Hua Alliance. They joined for their own interests. Satisfying the major sects means making the Nine-Hua Alliance concede. Making the Nine-Hua Alliance concede is equivalent to making them concede. Moreover, the masterminds behind the Nine-Hua Alliance are Hua Xiong and his ilk. Their abilities may not be great, but their backgrounds are all significant, and their ambitions are even greater, each surpassing the last."
After a pause, Qian Shan continued, "That was the case before. Now, the Nine-Hua Alliance has gathered so many forces and has many reincarnated experts relying on the Tai Xuan Stele. One can imagine how arrogant Hua Xiong and the others must be. Young Lady, getting them to concede will likely be very difficult."
Su Hua responded, "I will try my best to persuade them."
"And if persuasion fails?"
Su Hua, who had at some point taken out a painting, gazed at it while saying calmly, "I am only responsible for persuasion. Whether they listen or not, whether they concede or not, is their business. There are many ways to resolve matters. Persuasion is merely one method. If the Nine-Hua Alliance wants to establish itself in the Great Northwest frontier, winning the people's hearts is the only viable path. Any other method will not work. If Hua Xiong and the others don't even understand such a simple principle, even if they suppress the Four Great Regions by force, it will certainly not last."
"In the Ancient Era, this world's resources were so barren, yet it produced an earth-shattering Monarch Chixiao. In the Current Era, resources are abundant, and various fortunes are countless. If Hua Xiong and the others do not learn from the precedent of the Immortal Dynasty's destruction, then a second, a third Monarch Chixiao will inevitably appear sooner or later."