Ever since reincarnating into this world, Su Hua had spent these years investigating everything about Monarch Chixiao. Naturally, she understood the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant far better than others. Back then, in order to determine what kind of existence the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant truly was, she had even crossed hands with it. It was during that encounter that she learned just how terrifying the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant could be.
When that violent, ferocious killing aura erupted, it crushed your mind and soul like a collapsing mountain, instilling absolute terror from which you could not extricate yourself.
And this was merely the spirit of the Dragon-Elephant. Su Hua dared not imagine how horrifying the true Chixiao Dragon-Elephant must have been. She couldn't fathom what kind of existence it was, nor did she know how Monarch Chixiao had managed to tame such an utterly ferocious being back in the day.
She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it further, and said, "With the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant, Ma Zhengtian's grandfather could have absolutely ensured his survival. Yet, his grandfather's spiritual will did not do so. Instead, it knelt and kowtowed to Gu Qingfeng before ending itself..."
Qian Shan seemed to realize something. "Miss, are you suggesting that you believe Gu Qingfeng might truly be the heir of Monarch Chixiao?"
"A few days ago, I visited the Fengyun Branch. I met several Chixiao veterans there, like Ziyang and Wei Xuan. They said Gu Qingfeng can manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token."
Upon hearing 'Chi-Shang Seal Token,' Qian Shan's expression stiffened. "I've heard of the Chi-Shang Seal Token. Isn't that the supreme seal token of the Chixiao Sect? They say that under heaven, only Monarch Chixiao knew how to manifest it, which is why it's also called the Monarch's Seal Token. Within the Chixiao Sect, seeing this token was like seeing the Monarch himself. If the Monarch personally bestowed a mandate, the recipient would necessarily be able to manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token. Similarly, issuing commands by manifesting the Chi-Shang Seal Token was equivalent to a direct order from the Monarch himself. Hence, the saying spread in this world: 'Chi-Shang Seal, token supreme; its command, none dare contravene.' After Monarch Chixiao was judged by the Immortal Dao and turned to ashes, when demons and monsters threw the world into chaos, the Old Master manifested the Chi-Shang Seal Token to recall the scattered Chixiao veterans from across the world."
Qian Shan seemed to grasp the implication. "If Gu Qingfeng truly can manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token, then even if he isn't Monarch Chixiao's direct heir, he must have received a mandate from the Monarch."
"We cannot yet be certain whether the Chi-Shang Seal Token Gu Qingfeng manifests is the genuine article."
"The Chi-Shang Seal Token is profoundly mysterious. Under heaven, only Monarch Chixiao understood its intricacies. It seems others could not comprehend its mysteries."
"Perhaps only Monarch Chixiao could manifest the real one. As for fakes... that's hard to say."
"Fakes? That seems unlikely. Those Chixiao veterans all followed Monarch Chixiao through countless campaigns for years. They shouldn't mistake the Chi-Shang Seal Token, should they?"
"It's not that strange. Wang Fu, who declared himself emperor and founded a kingdom on the islands of the Southern Sea, enshrines three figures of uncertain authenticity who all claim to be Monarch Chixiao, and all are said to be able to manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token. Think about it—Wang Fu was the one who followed Monarch Chixiao the longest in the entire sect. If even he cannot distinguish the real from the fake, how much less can the other Chixiao veterans?"
Su Hua seemed rather helpless. "Chixiao veterans like Ziyang and Wei Xuan, who oversee the Fengyun and Huoyun branches, are merely the lowest-level disciples of the Chixiao Sect. They likely never spoke directly to Monarch Chixiao. As for the Chi-Shang Seal Token, they probably haven't seen it more than a handful of times. How could they possibly tell the real from the fake?"
"This..." Qian Shan felt a headache coming on. She simply couldn't understand why, no matter where you went in this world, you'd run into people impersonating someone connected to Monarch Chixiao—be it heirs, descendants, or even the Monarch himself. They were everywhere.
Then, Su Hua spoke again. "However, I've always felt that Gu Qingfeng might genuinely be connected to Monarch Chixiao. Otherwise, the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant within Ma Zhengtian wouldn't have shown him such reverence, nor would the spiritual will of Ma Zhengtian's grandfather have kowtowed to him. Both the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant and that spiritual will possess no consciousness or independent thought. In other words, the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant's reverence upon encountering Gu Qingfeng was purely an instinctive reaction. The same likely applies to the spiritual will of Ma Zhengtian's grandfather."
"Therefore, I conclude that Gu Qingfeng must be connected to Monarch Chixiao. He is either a descendant of Monarch Chixiao, carrying the Monarch's blood within him, or he is the Monarch's heir, bearing a blessing bestowed by the Monarch. There's another possibility—that he is Monarch Chixiao himself—though that likelihood is virtually zero..." Qian Shan said, "If you say Gu Qingfeng is a descendant or heir of Monarch Chixiao, that might seem somewhat plausible. But if you say he is Monarch Chixiao himself... I doubt anyone would believe that. He isn't a reincarnated soul; he can't be Monarch Chixiao. Moreover... his demeanor is worlds apart from Monarch Chixiao's."
Having said that, she shook her head and sighed. "Although I personally am not too fond of Monarch Chixiao, I must admit he was a man of towering stature, a legendary, formidable hero who shook the heavens, and a peerless genius. Throughout the ancient era, across the three thousand mortal realms, the legendary great powers of the Immortal Sin and Heavenly Sin were legion. Monarch Chixiao might not have been the most formidable or the most powerful, but he was absolutely the most arrogant, domineering, and unrestrained one."
"I heard he was aloof and sinisterly charming in character, wildly unrestrained in his actions, with an unyielding, proud backbone that feared neither heaven nor earth. His aura of dominance awed all living beings... Now look at that Gu Qingfeng—with his frivolous, playboy demeanor, lazy and flippant in character, he's practically a spoiled young master. Compared to Monarch Chixiao, one is in the heavens, the other in the dirt. There's simply no comparison."
Remembering that Gu Qingfeng, who couldn't sit or stand properly, lacking any imposing demeanor or remarkable blessings, seemingly worthless except for his considerable physical strength, Qian Shan couldn't help but sigh. "If he really is Monarch Chixiao's heir, then I can only say Monarch Chixiao's judgment was truly lacking. If he is Monarch Chixiao's descendant, then I can only say the sins he has committed in this life are too many..."
Facing Qian Shan's assessment, Su Hua did not respond.
Initially, she too had thought Gu Qingfeng was a lazy, casual fellow who didn't know his own limits. At least, that was her first impression. However, after several subsequent encounters, she discovered Gu Qingfeng was genuinely lazy—lazy to the bone. He was also truly casual, doing whatever he pleased on a whim. And he genuinely did not know his own limits, daring to kill anyone.
At first glance, he indeed seemed unremarkable. But one must not ponder it too deeply, for the more you think, the more terrifying it becomes.
No matter how lazy or casual a person is, they would usually show some restraint in dangerous situations. Gu Qingfeng was different. He remained lazy and casual in any setting, whether facing the joint assault of the Ten Little Hidden Dragons and the Thirty-Six Huage Young Masters, or confronting the Five-Direction Dao Tribulation Sources. He showed no restraint, continuing to act as he pleased.
Such a person is either truly ignorant or truly fearless.
A person whose mastery of musical artistry is peerless cannot be an ignorant person.
In other words, he is truly fearless.
Yet, Su Hua couldn't understand. Gu Qingfeng's fearlessness when facing the joint assault of the Little Hidden Dragons and others might stem from his confidence. But his fearlessness when confronting the Five-Direction Dao Tribulation Sources—did he have confidence then too?
Is that possible?
What gives him that confidence?
This was a question Su Hua still could not figure out.