The dissipation of the Golden Core inevitably leads to severe injury to the true body.
This is a fact, an immutable law, a fundamental principle.
Who among cultivators does not know this?
Is there even a need to say it?
Lan Feier didn't know whether Gu Qingfeng was truly putting on a false show of strength. If he was, she really wanted to award him a big word of admiration.
Everyone present knew his Golden Core had dissipated. They could all see he was severely injured, mentally depleted, his complexion terrible, his aura weak. Yet, he stubbornly insisted that although his Golden Core had dissipated, he wasn't injured. If this was truly a bluff, it was far too forced.
"A bunch of brats, back at the Taixuan Platform, I already showed mercy for the sake of old acquaintances."
Gu Qingfeng drank his wine, his dark eyes sweeping over the faces of Huo Dong, Ma Zhengtian, Tu Gao, the other Little Hidden Dragons, and the Hua Pavilion Young Masters. He spoke softly, "I gave you face, yet you don't know how to keep it. Are you truly ignorant and fearless, or do you think I'm easy to bully?
Good-tempered?
Afraid to do anything to you?"
"Gu! At death's door, you still dare to bluff! Do you think we fear you?" Ma Zhengtian roared, though a trace of apprehension remained.
"Bluffing?" Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back for a drink, a faint smile touching his lips. "I am bluffing. So what?"
"Evil Demon!" True Being Longsheng, standing nearby with his hands behind his back, exuding the air of a grandmaster, shouted righteously. "Our Crimson-Letter Sect takes vanquishing demons and defending the Dao as its duty, maintaining peace, guarding the world. This old man advises you, a petty Evil Demon, not to struggle pointlessly."
"The Crimson-Letter Sect takes vanquishing demons and defending the Dao as its duty, maintaining peace, guarding the world..." Gu Qingfeng looked at True Being Longsheng. "Which eye of yours sees me as an Evil Demon? And on what grounds do you conclude I must be one?"
"On the grounds that my grandfather is True Being Longsheng, the Great Elder of the Leiyun Branch Hall! My grandfather has cultivated for over a thousand years! What kind of demons and monsters hasn't he seen? If the venerable says you're an Evil Demon, then you are an Evil Demon, whether you are or not!" The arrogant and domineering Wei Jiaojiao stepped forward, shouting insolently.
Gu Qingfeng was momentarily speechless. "Those words truly open my eyes."
"This old man joined the Crimson-Letter Sect during the chaotic era of demons and monsters in ancient times, following the Old Master, campaigning north and south. Countless demons and monsters have died by this old man's hand." True Being Longsheng stroked his beard, speaking with authority. "With this, am I not qualified to judge you an Evil Demon?"
"Qualified?" Gu Qingfeng picked up the wine pot and poured himself a cup, speaking dismissively. "In front of me, you have no qualifications whatsoever."
"How dare you!"
Whoosh!
True Being Longsheng had cultivated for thousands of years, a renowned Nascent Soul senior known throughout the Four Great Regions. He was not only a founding elder of the Crimson-Letter Sect but also the sworn brother of Elder Fang, the presiding incense master of the Leiyun Branch Hall. Ordinarily, no one dared disrespect him.
Now, a young man with a dissipated Golden Core, putting on a false front, insulted him to his face. True Being Longsheng flew into a rage on the spot. A fierce shout erupted from him, formidable and grand, its sonic might powerful, like a thunderclap.
When any immortal art in the world is executed, it requires the use of spiritual sense to lock onto the target. This not only allows for more accurate attacks but also ensures the art unleashes its maximum power.
This holds true for martial arts, for magic techniques, and for sound-based domains as well.
The same sonic might domain technique, if locking onto one Nascent Soul expert, might be able to shake them. But if it simultaneously locks onto two Nascent Soul experts, the power of the sonic might domain technique would relatively weaken.
Although True Being Longsheng was at the Nascent Soul realm, his Nascent Soul had been cultivated for a full several thousand years. His Nascent Soul power was vast and boundless, the might of a single shout incredibly potent.
Everyone present sensed that True Being Longsheng's sonic might had locked onto Gu Qingfeng. Even so, the powerful sonic might caused Old Master Huode, standing behind Gu Qingfeng, to grunt. Lan Feier and the others were also affected by the sonic might, their complexions slightly changing. Not daring to be negligent, they immediately circulated their spiritual power.
As the three women resisted, they couldn't help but freeze. Because they discovered that Gu Qingfeng seemed completely unaffected by True Being Longsheng's powerful sonic might.
He truly wasn't.
He just stood there, holding a wine pot, pouring and drinking by himself. Although his face was slightly pale, although his aura seemed weak, although he looked mentally exhausted, that was all. When True Being Longsheng's powerful sonic might enveloped him, it had absolutely no effect on him.
Not a single strand of his hair was disturbed.
This scene left Lan Feier and the other two women utterly astonished and bewildered.
They had merely been affected by the sonic might and felt their blood and qi churn. But Gu Qingfeng was the one True Being Longsheng had locked onto!
His Golden Core had clearly dissipated!
He was clearly severely injured!
His aura was clearly weak!
How could he be completely unaffected?
Wait!
Could it be that he wasn't bluffing earlier? That he truly wasn't severely injured?
That's impossible!
Bizarre!
As bizarre as could be, even more bizarre than witnessing with their own eyes at the Taixuan Platform the combined assault of the Ten Little Hidden Dragons and the Thirty-Six Hua Pavilion Young Masters failing to budge him an inch.
No one knew what was happening!
Especially the Little Hidden Dragons, Hua Pavilion Young Masters, and the others. Seeing Gu Qingfeng completely unaffected, all of them turned ashen with fear.
"Cultivating for thousands of years, and this is all you've achieved? It seems your millennia of cultivation truly went to the dogs!"
Gu Qingfeng's voice came. True Being Longsheng stared wide-eyed, his aged face filled with terror and horror. Pointing at Gu Qingfeng, as if unable to believe it, he stammered, "You... this Evil Demon... how... how is this possible..."
Gu Qingfeng casually tossed the Taixu Cup back into the wine jar. His slightly pale face wore an indifferent expression, his lonely eyes mercilessly fixed on True Being Longsheng. In a low, intense voice, he said, "Priding yourself on your long cultivation, presuming on your seniority, relying on your Crimson-Letter Sect status to throw your weight around, waving the banner of justice while engaging in sinister deeds. Back at the Taixuan Platform, I had no time and couldn't be bothered with you. Today, since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, prepare to die!"
What!
Hearing this, True Being Longsheng was greatly alarmed. Perhaps sensing Gu Qingfeng's killing intent, he was scared out of his wits, trembling in horror as he said, "This old man is the Great Elder of the Crimson-Letter Sect's Leiyun Branch Hall! If you dare harm a single hair on this old man's head today, our Leiyun Branch Hall will ensure you die without a burial place..."
True Being Longsheng was still speaking when he suddenly stopped. Because Gu Qingfeng opposite him took a single step, shrinking the ground to an inch, instantly appearing before him.
"Don't say you're just a Great Elder of the Leiyun Branch Hall. Even if you were a Great Elder of the Crimson-Letter Sect itself, I'd still kill you without hesitation. Kneel!"
Gu Qingfeng slapped his palm down onto True Being Longsheng's head. Bang!
Crack!
True Being Longsheng's legs were instantly shattered into a bloody mess of flesh and bone. Throwing his head back, he screamed, "Ah! Evil Demon! You will die a terrible death! Elder Fang, the Incense Master of the Chixiao Sect, is my sworn brother! How dare you..."
"Even if he were your own father, it wouldn't matter!"