Huode was a fellow who loved a lively scene. Coupled with the fact that Su Hua had once saved his life, now that the Immortal was going to deliver a Dao lecture at the Taixuan Platform, Huode naturally wouldn't miss it. He absolutely had to go and show his support. As for things like sudden enlightenment or guidance out of confusion, he didn't care, nor did he mind. What he truly cared about was that feeling of 'the bright mirror is not a platform' during the lecture.
He had heard the Immortal lecture many times, and each time he could feel that ethereal sensation. It was as if all worries vanished without a trace, and one floated quietly in the void, just drifting, making one feel deeply relaxed and comfortable from the depths of the heart to the very soul.
He had lived for most of his life, a full eight hundred years. He had experienced great storms and waves, enjoyed food, drink, and pleasure, and had no great pursuit for the so-called Immortal Dao. He just wanted to live happily one day at a time.
Huode was going for Su Hua. That was his reason, but it didn't mean Gu Qingfeng was the same.
To be honest, Gu Qingfeng had not a shred of interest in Su Hua's lecture. He was too lazy to even contemplate his own Dao, so why would he go listen to someone else lecture? Furthermore, even if he wanted to listen to a lecture, he'd listen to the Demonic Dao, the Demonic Path, the Buddhist Dao, but not the so-called Immortal Dao. Having cultivated the Immortal Dao for several hundred years, he was utterly sick of it. Only someone with nothing better to do would go listen to that stuff.
The reason he was sitting in this four-horse grand carriage was entirely because Huode had practically dragged him onto it.
Of course, Huode didn't just want someone to accompany him to the lecture. Even if he did, he wouldn't have chosen Gu Qingfeng. He dragged Gu Qingfeng along simply because he wanted Gu Qingfeng to see that Immortal Su Hua was truly kind-hearted, that she was sincerely lecturing for everyone's benefit, and not some 'preaching shamaness' as the kid had said.
His meaning was simple.
Su Hua's existence was a true pure land in this world. He hoped Gu Qingfeng wouldn't cause trouble for her for no reason. At the same time, he also hoped that if the young lady really did offend him, he could be magnanimous and let her off.
Huode knew that Gu Qingfeng had always been prejudiced against the Immortals of the Nine Heavens. He was almost certain that if Su Hua really accidentally provoked Gu Qingfeng, this kid wouldn't show any mercy just because she was a beauty.
As for what Gu Qingfeng had said earlier, about Su Hua's existence being special and that moving against her would bring great trouble... Others might not understand Gu Qingfeng, but Huode knew very well. There was nothing in this world this kid didn't dare to do. Special or not, trouble or not—if you pissed him off, he'd even dare to poke a hole in the heavens themselves. What trouble would he fear?
Of course, Huode's reason for dragging Gu Qingfeng to the lecture wasn't just that.
He also hoped that through Su Hua's lecture, Gu Qingfeng's heart could be purified a little. He hoped this kid wouldn't remain as violent and bloody as before, and that Gu Qingfeng would behave himself in the future and stop causing trouble. Having barely escaped with his life from the heavens, he should just live peacefully from now on.
Gu Qingfeng had been violent and bloody back then, and Huode had always felt guilty. In his view, if he had risked his life to keep Gu Qingfeng at the Yunxia Sect back then, then none of it would have happened, and he wouldn't have faced Immortal Dao Judgment.
That was how it was back then.
Now that Gu Qingfeng had returned to the Yunxia Sect, even if Huode wanted to keep him, he couldn't. Persuasion was useless. He just wanted to take this opportunity to let Gu Qingfeng see how kind and benevolent Su Hua, as an envoy of the Immortal Dynasty, truly was. At the same time, he wanted to tell Gu Qingfeng that the Immortal Dynasty after the Calamity was much, much better than the one back in the day. He especially hoped Gu Qingfeng wouldn't oppose the Immortal Dao in the future.
"She's just a woman. Aren't these brats being a bit too exaggerated? Do they have to be this excited?"
Sitting in the grand carriage, Gu Qingfeng had originally planned to enjoy the scenery or something. But along the way, there was no scenery to speak of. Everywhere were carriages charging recklessly, everywhere were people flying on swords. There were truly so many that Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but sigh. No matter the era, no matter the place, women were always the focus, especially peerless beauties. Whenever they appeared, it was always with a huge entourage.
That's why they say beauties are disasters. Throughout history, who knows how many great powers survived the Three Disasters, Six Difficulties, Nine Tribulations, even the judgment of the heavens, only to fall because of a woman.
"Kid Gu, how many times have I told you? Maybe some people are going for Immortal Su Hua herself, but more are going for the lecture. Her lectures are truly profound. They can not only make one suddenly see the light, achieve enlightenment in the consciousness sea, but also purify the heart, cultivate one's nature, and soothe the spirit. With a temper like yours, you're the one who should go listen the most."
"Is that so?"
Gu Qingfeng raised his cup to drink, smiling as he said, "I say, Huode, if you want to suddenly see the light or achieve enlightenment in your consciousness sea, why go listen to a lecture? With one slap from me, not only would I make you see the light and achieve enlightenment, I could even slap your Golden Core directly into a Nascent Soul."
Huode couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Slap out a Nascent Soul for me? Why don't you say one slap could make this old man directly undergo Feather Transformation and become an Immortal?"
"Don't mention it. Making you undergo Feather Transformation and become an Immortal would also be a one-slap matter."
"Get lost!"
"What? You don't believe me?"
"I believe you. I'd be a big fool if I believed you!"
"Hahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed heartily. Saying one slap could make Huode undergo Feather Transformation and become an Immortal was indeed a bit boastful and exaggerated, but only slightly so. With his abilities, if he was willing, although one slap couldn't make Huode undergo Feather Transformation, giving him a few days to make Huode become an Immortal wouldn't be difficult.
But becoming an Immortal was one thing; it would only be an Immortal in name.
Forget the Nine Tribulations; he probably couldn't even withstand the Three Disasters and Six Difficulties.
When it came to cultivation, one could only rely on oneself.
Taking shortcuts would only lead to failure in the end. The so-called Three Disasters, Six Difficulties, and Nine Tribulations existed precisely to verify one's cultivation realm.
If one tried to force growth, seeking quick success and instant benefits, there was only a dead end.
Gazing at the crowds on the road, Gu Qingfeng suddenly asked, "When does the Taixuan Stele of the Nine-Hua Alliance open?"
"Soon, this month. There are still about ten days or so."
Hearing Gu Qingfeng ask about the Taixuan Stele's opening time, Huode was quite curious. In his mind, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't care about these trivial matters at all. As he was wondering, he suddenly remembered that Gu Qingfeng had been looking for the Yanyang Heart all along.
Thinking of this, Huode said, "Right, kid Gu, I heard some news a few days ago and kept forgetting to tell you."
"What news?"
"Didn't I tell you? The person who borrowed our Yunxia Sect's Yanyang Heart back then was Elder Rong of the Nine-Hua Alliance. I thought that old fellow had been in seclusion all this time, but now most of the Nine-Hua Alliance's elders have come out of seclusion, yet there's no news of Elder Rong. I wonder if that old fellow might already be dead."
"Whether he's dead or not is completely unimportant."
"What do you mean unimportant? Aren't you, kid, always looking for the Yanyang Heart?"
"Yes, I have been looking all along. At first, I didn't think much of it, but now, heh... I'm increasingly suspecting that someone took the Yanyang Heart and is waiting for me..."