"Huode Zhenren, Gu Qingfeng... he..."
"Don't worry, that Gu kid won't be in any trouble."
Huode took a fierce drag from his large tobacco pipe and said, "The ones who should really be in trouble are them. That bunch of ignorant little brats who don't know what's good for them. When Gu kid was at the Taixuan Platform, he spared their lives out of respect for their ancestors. Not only do they not know how to cherish that mercy, now they even come knocking on his door looking for trouble. Do they really think Gu kid has a good temper?
Today, it's hard to say if they won't all end up dead here."
Huode understood Gu Qingfeng, just as Gu Qingfeng understood him.
He knew very well that Gu Qingfeng hadn't killed anyone at the Taixuan Platform solely because most of these brats were descendants of old acquaintances, which was why he showed leniency.
He knew even more clearly that Gu Qingfeng's forgiveness would only ever be granted once—there would never be a second chance.
Huode knew this, but that didn't mean others did.
Other people who didn't know the truth, upon hearing his words, doubted whether they had heard correctly—especially Lan Feier and the other two women, who simply couldn't comprehend it.
What did he mean, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't be in trouble?
What did he mean, the ones who should really be in trouble were them?
What did he mean, it was hard to say if they wouldn't all end up dead here today?
If Huode had said this back at the Taixuan Platform, none of the three women would have doubted it. But now, Gu Qingfeng had failed to form his Golden Core and was so weakened he might not even be able to continue cultivating in the future. How could he possibly fight?
Yes.
His True Body had indeed been formidable before.
But the key point was that he had now failed to form his Golden Core.
Everyone knew that the Golden Core was the essence of a cultivator. Not only did it complement the Purple Mansion and foundation, it was also intrinsically linked to one's vital energy, essence, and spirit. Once the Golden Core shattered, the Purple Mansion would inevitably wither, the foundation would inevitably decay, one's vital energy, essence, and spirit would absolutely weaken, and the True Body would absolutely suffer severe damage. Even the most powerful True Body could not withstand the severe consequences brought by the shattering of a Golden Core.
This was a law of the Immortal Dao, a rule of the Immortal Dao. No one could be an exception.
What everyone found incomprehensible was that, even so, Huode still confidently declared that if these people dared to make a move, they would definitely die here.
Was that possible?
No!
Absolutely impossible!
The young masters of the Thirty-Six Hua Pavilions didn't believe it. The Ten Little Hidden Dragons didn't believe it. The people present, including Lan Feier and the other two women, also didn't believe it. They exchanged glances, all thinking Huode was being deliberately mysterious and bluffing. Looking over, it seemed Huode's bluff was quite effective—at the very least, the three women could see that after Huode finished speaking, the arrogant postures of Huo Dong, Tu Gao, Ma Zhengtian, and the others all noticeably receded. Each of their faces bore expressions of deep suspicion, and their eyes revealed unconcealed apprehension.
Indeed.
Suspicion.
Apprehension.
Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's existence was too mysterious and too bizarre. His mystery had left a deep impression on everyone, and his bizarreness had cast a shadow over many. So much so that the originally supremely confident Ten Little Hidden Dragons and others, upon hearing Huode's words, all became somewhat uncertain.
If it were anyone else, they wouldn't harbor such doubts.
But this person was precisely Gu Qingfeng—an existence both unfathomably mysterious and bizarrely unknown.
To be honest, although all of them verbally called Gu Qingfeng an Evil Demon and believed it in their hearts, it was just a belief. They didn't have one hundred percent certainty, especially regarding Gu Qingfeng's peerless mastery of the Musical Arts.
A formidable True Body, violent Spiritual Power, and everything else might possibly be obtained through Evil Demon methods. But peerless mastery of the Musical Arts alone could not be achieved through any Evil Demon means. Mastery of the Musical Arts offered no tricks to exploit, no shortcuts to take.
Their calling Gu Qingfeng an Evil Demon was merely to save face for themselves and to find a reason to eliminate him.
However, now that they heard Huode say this, those who were already apprehensive of Gu Qingfeng's mystery and bizarreness immediately lost their confidence.
Even though they knew Gu Qingfeng's Golden Core had shattered, even though they could see clearly at this very moment that Gu Qingfeng's face was deathly pale and his aura weak, they still felt some apprehension.
What was even more terrifying was that they discovered Gu Qingfeng, who had been sitting cross-legged in the ruins, had opened his eyes at some unknown time. This made Huo Dong and the others' hearts leap with fear.
Lan Feier and the others also noticed Gu Qingfeng had awakened and stared wide-eyed.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the people around him, his brow slightly furrowed as if somewhat impatient. Just now, to suppress the mysterious heart, the Nine Nethers Fire, and the Asura killing intent, he had expended a great deal of mental energy. He was mentally exhausted and physically drained. When he stood up, he trembled unsteadily, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, nearly losing his balance.
Instantly, Huode rushed over in a flash, supporting Gu Qingfeng, and asked with concern, "Gu kid, you... are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Beside them, when Lan Feier and the other two heard Gu Qingfeng say he was fine, their expressions turned strange.
Fine?
You could barely stand just now, and you call that fine?
Your voice is even a bit hoarse when you speak, and you call that fine?
Your aura is this weak, and you call that fine?
Even if you're bluffing, at least make it somewhat believable! Everyone can see you're utterly exhausted. If you say you're fine, who would believe you!
What made the three women even more incredulous was that the utterly exhausted Gu Qingfeng actually told Huode to open a wine jar. Then he reached both hands in, scooped up the fine wine, and washed his face with it.
This scene truly stunned Lan Feier and the other two.
Right now, so many people were calling this guy an Evil Demon, all clamoring to kill him. And this guy? Clearly utterly exhausted, yet he stubbornly insists he's fine, and even washes up as if no one else is around?
Even if you're bluffing, you don't bluff like this!
Gu Qingfeng washed his face a few times with the wine, shook his somewhat muddled head, and cursed, "Damn, haven't been through such a hassle in a long time. Really not used to it."
With that, he opened another jar of wine and began gulping it down in large mouthfuls.
This time, Lan Feier simply couldn't hold back anymore and said with concern, "Gu... Gu Qingfeng, you're utterly exhausted right now, you shouldn't... shouldn't drink wine."
"It's precisely because I'm exhausted that I need to drink some wine to replenish myself."
Drink wine to replenish himself?
What a joke.
Golden Core shattered, Purple Mansion withered, foundation decayed, spirit weakened, True Body severely injured—at a time like this, you shouldn't do anything. What you need most is quiet rest. Forget drinking wine, even eating spirit fruits might accelerate death.
"You're seriously injured right now. Drinking wine will... will worsen your injuries..."
"Seriously injured?"
Gu Qingfeng downed the entire jar of wine in one go, let out a hearty sigh of satisfaction, glanced at Lan Feier, and laughed, "Big sister, who told you I'm seriously injured?"
"You... your Golden Core shattered..."
"And who told you that a shattered Golden Core necessarily means you're seriously injured?"