Su Hua released her divine sense and carefully probed once more, confirming that she truly detected no Spiritual Power whatsoever on Gu Qingfeng.
She was certain.
Yet without Spiritual Power, it should be impossible to ride the wind and fly.
Hmm?
Wait!
He wasn't riding the wind to fly at all; it was more like he was strolling and wandering through the air.
Indeed, it was exactly so. Su Hua saw it clearly: at that moment, Gu Qingfeng was toying with a bronze-colored wine cup, treading the empty air as if it were solid ground. When he lifted his foot, myriad scenes passed by like fleeting clouds, vanishing in a flash. When his foot landed, time seemed to accelerate, as if years were slipping by, shrinking the earth to inches—and he had already arrived.
What kind of footwork was this?
How could it be so miraculous, so absurd, and so unbelievable?
Shrinking the earth to inches was no great feat; Su Hua could do it too, but the prerequisite was that it had to be maintained with Spiritual Power.
Without Spiritual Power to support it, forget riding the wind or shrinking the earth to inches—one couldn't even stand in the air for long.
How could he...
Su Hua couldn't figure it out, couldn't understand it at all. She only felt it was mysterious and eerie.
In the distance.
Young Lord Jing Yun of the Nine-Hua Alliance also seemed to have noticed the oddity, asking in a grave voice, "He has no Spiritual Power on his person at all, and his aura is extremely weak. Why can he ride the wind and fly?"
"This..." Dao Venerable Bai Xuan had long since noticed the bizarre point, but he was utterly perplexed, also finding it extremely eerie. He said solemnly, "He doesn't seem to be riding the wind to fly..."
"Hmph! Putting on a mysterious act! I'll go meet him!"
Li Feng and several other Lords spoke up, about to charge over, but were stopped by Dao Venerable Bai Xuan.
"Fourth Young Master, that Gu Qingfeng is mysterious and eerie. You must not act impulsively. Since he has already come, we are in no hurry."
Li Feng looked at Jing Yun. Jing Yun was staring fixedly at Gu Qingfeng, his brows furrowed deeply like mountain ridges. He said, "The Grand Elder is right. Since he has already come, we are in no hurry. Fourth Brother, stand down!"
With Dao Venerable Bai Xuan persuading and restraining them on the Nine-Hua Alliance's side, no one made any rash moves.
However, the gathering wasn't limited to the Nine-Hua Alliance; nearly all the experts from every sect in the entire Four Great Regions were present.
As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury. Gu Qingfeng had slaughtered the Ten Little Hidden Dragons and the Thirty-Six Huage Young Masters cleanly at the ruins of Yunxia Sect. The giants and big shots of the Four Great Regions hated Gu Qingfeng to the bone. Having previously turned the Four Great Regions upside down without finding a trace of him, the fury in their hearts had already spread to every inch of their skin. Now, seeing Gu Qingfeng, the giants and big shots of the major sects could no longer restrain themselves. They swarmed forward in a rush.
"Evil demon! You dare to kill our Jade Purity Sect's Heir Apparent! Today I will tear you to pieces!"
"Evil demon! Prepare to die!"
"Gu! Give up your life!"
"Kill! Everyone, kill this evil demon to avenge our Heir Apparent!"
Countless people charged toward Gu Qingfeng. Looking out, it was a dark, dense mass of people everywhere. Flying swords filled the sky, Immortal Arts filled the sky, profound mysteries filled the sky—all sorts of martial skills, spells, sword techniques, and forces, too numerous to count, swept toward him from all directions like a violent storm.
In the air.
Gu Qingfeng remained unmoved. One hand was behind his back, the other toying with the wine cup. He continued to stroll leisurely through the void, his sleeves rustling slightly in the wind, his hair flying wantonly across his handsome face. The corners of his mouth still held that gentle, lazy smile, as if the dense, countless Immortal Arts attacking him weren't aimed his way. He showed no reaction whatsoever, as if he didn't even see them.
Roar—
In an instant.
The roar of dragons shook the heavens, causing the clouds to scatter continuously. The angry trumpeting of elephants shook the earth, causing mountains to tremble incessantly.
Ziyang, Wei Xuan, and the other seven Chixiao People flashed into position around Gu Qingfeng from all directions. Without a word, their Bloodsha Auras instantly enveloped them. Holding their crescent moon blades, entwined with the Chixiao Dragon-Elephant Spirits, the nine Bloodsha Auras enveloped Gu Qingfeng. Nine Chixiao Dragon-Elephant Spirits crisscrossed and circled within, forming the Great Hidden Dragon-Elephant Array!
The Bloodsha Auras boiled and burned. The nine Chixiao Dragon-Elephant Spirits emitted waves of dragon-elephant fury, shaking their heads, splitting open their bloody maws, baring claws and fangs, devouring and tearing apart the various Immortal Arts that assaulted them. Even if any slipped through the net and struck the Bloodsha Aura, they would dissipate and vanish.
"Chixiao is here! Who dares to act recklessly!"
Nine Chixiao People radiating murderous intent!
Nine crescent moon blades that had slain countless!
Nine ferocious and sharp Bloodsha Auras!
Nine violent and savage Dragon-Elephant Spirits!
Nine voices roared in unison, shaking the hearts and minds of the ten thousand.
Facing this scene—the nine Chixiao People holding crescent moon blades, enveloped in Bloodsha Aura, entwined with Dragon-Elephant Spirits—who would dare act recklessly?
The answer was certain.
No one dared. Everyone's minds echoed with the eight words: 'Chixiao is here! Who dares to act recklessly!'
They all knew that behind these eight words lay the meaning of 'kill without mercy.'
They also knew what these eight short words represented, how terrifying and dreadful they were.
Because these eight words were enough to summarize that most insane period of history from the Ancient Era.
Fear, terror—these were the expressions on the faces of those in the air who had charged forward and unleashed their Immortal Arts at this moment.
No one had expected the nine Chixiao People to suddenly rush over to protect Gu Qingfeng, and even shout out the eight-word Chixiao killing deterrent that everyone had once feared.
What was even more unexpected was that Gu Qingfeng had shown no reaction from beginning to end. He hadn't even paused his steps for half a moment. Even when the nine Chixiao People flashed into position to protect him, his feet had not stopped. He continued strolling forward leisurely.
The various Immortal Arts attacked him; he remained indifferent.
The nine Chixiao People flashed in to protect him; he was similarly indifferent.
It was as if all of this had nothing to do with him.
He hadn't even glanced at it, just continued walking forward through the void.
As for Gu Qingfeng's aloofness, the nine Chixiao People showed no discomfort, as if it were only natural.
"Ziyang pays his respects to the Young Master."
"Wei Xuan pays his respects to the Young Master..."
The nine Chixiao People bowed one by one in greeting. Even Wan Sen and the other three Chixiao People stepped forward to bow and offer their greetings.
Gu Qingfeng's feet still did not stop, only his pace was no longer shrinking the earth to inches. He glanced at the twelve Chixiao People, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and said lightly, "You're all not young anymore, long past the age of fighting and killing. In the future, try to do less of this kind of business. Such fine times shouldn't be wasted like this. Living a leisurely life is better than anything."
The twelve Chixiao People exchanged glances. Though they had many doubts and confusions in their hearts, none dared to be negligent. They responded in unison, "Thank you for the Young Master's instruction. We will certainly remember it."
This scene, falling into the eyes of the crowd, was truly somewhat incomprehensible.
Many people knew that Gu Qingfeng was a fraud impersonating the Monarch's heir. Even Elder Xiang, who oversaw the Thundercloud Branch, had personally admitted it. So why were Ziyang and the other twelve Chixiao People still showing such respect to Gu Qingfeng?