This was especially true for Su Hua.
She had previously sought out the twelve Chixiao People and questioned them carefully, being absolutely certain they could not confirm Gu Qingfeng's identity.
Given that, wouldn't it be better to ask clearly now?
Why was it that upon seeing Gu Qingfeng now, they didn't mention a word of it?
Actually, she didn't know.
It wasn't that Ziyang and the other twelve Chixiao People didn't want to ask, but that they dared not.
Yes.
Dared not.
Their purpose in guarding Gu Qingfeng was indeed to ask for clarification, but facing him now, none of them dared to speak up.
Because when they had just summoned the Dragon-Elephant spirits earlier, they had clearly sensed the reverence emanating from those spirits.
The Chixiao People and the Dragon-Elephant spirits were inseparable; the Dragon-Elephant spirits were the Chixiao People, and the Chixiao People were also the Dragon-Elephant spirits.
If the Dragon-Elephant spirits revered him, so did they.
Every one of them could clearly feel the reverence coming from the Dragon-Elephant spirits.
That reverence was particularly complex, akin to submission, familiarity, and even excitement.
For the Chixiao People, it felt deeply ingrained, as if innate.
This feeling made the twelve Chixiao People both immensely excited and filled with nostalgia. For a moment, it was as if they had returned to the ancient era three hundred years ago, reminding them of a person—one who had also commanded their reverence and submission.
As for whether it was him or not, the twelve Chixiao People dared not ask, much less presume to speculate.
"Big Brother—" When Gu Qingfeng arrived at the sole remaining garden of the Fengyun Branch, Xiao Jinr broke free from Su Hua's embrace and ran towards him.
"Ha!
Little Jin'er!"
Gu Qingfeng scooped Xiao Jinr up in his arms and asked with a smile, "So, has anyone bullied you?"
"Mhm, mhm! With Grandpa Ziyang and Sister Hua and the others here, no one dared bully Jin'er."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng, Xiao Jinr was also very excited, chattering happily, "They all said Big Brother wouldn't come, but Jin'er knew that since Big Brother promised Jin'er, he would definitely come. Hee hee!"
"Of course."
Gu Qingfeng looked at Su Hua, Lan Feier, Ouyang Ye, and the others, grinning. "I say, ladies, you all keep calling me a big liar. What exactly have I cheated you out of? Your gold and silver treasures?
Or your feelings and chastity?
I'm a man of my word. How did I become an unforgivable swindler in your eyes? Even if I offended you before, you don't have to slander me like this, do you?"
Su Hua and the others were shamed into silence by his words, their expressions turning awkward. They wanted to retort but couldn't find any grounds.
"Big Brother, Sister Hua said you failed to form your Golden Core. Is that true?"
"No way, nothing of the sort. Didn't I tell you not to listen to others' nonsense?"
"But...
But why can't Jin'er sense any Spiritual Breath on you?"
"My Golden Cores are too special, and a bit disobedient, so I've temporarily sealed them away. Of course you can't sense any Spiritual Breath."
"Them?
Big Brother, how many Golden Cores do you have?"
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, smiling. "Hard to say. A whole lot, as many as the stars in the sky."
"Big Brother is so amazing! Jin'er wants to cultivate as many Golden Cores as the stars someday too."
"Hahaha!"
Watching Gu Qingfeng and Xiao Jinr chatting casually like this, Lan Feier, Shui Yunruo, and the others felt it was almost too much to bear.
They had seen liars before, but never one who could tell such blatant lies with such utter composure.
Everyone knew his Golden Core formation had failed, that he had no Spiritual Breath whatsoever. Yet this guy not only stubbornly refused to admit it but even claimed his Golden Cores were sealed, hence the lack of Spiritual Breath.
This was the very definition of lying through one's teeth.
And it was the naked, shameless kind.
It wasn't that Golden Cores couldn't be sealed, but even if sealed, Spiritual Breath would still be present. It was like wearing the thickest clothes—others could still smell your scent.
Even more shameless was this guy claiming he had more Golden Cores than stars in the sky...
This wasn't just a lie anymore; it was treating Jin'er like a three-year-old to be humored.
Cultivate as many Golden Cores as the stars?
Heavens!
Why not just claim you're the legendary Chixiao Monarch who dominated the ancient era?
Even the Chixiao Monarch back then only cultivated eighty-one Golden Cores. Yet you dare boast about having as many as the stars.
You really dare to spin tales. Why don't you just fly up to the heavens?
Su Hua was the only one present who knew Gu Qingfeng had formed a Taiji Golden Core. Hearing him say his Golden Cores were as numerous as the stars filled her with profound embarrassment—not for herself, but on his behalf.
Forming one Taiji Golden Core made one a dragon among men.
Forming eighty-one Taiji Golden Cores meant one wouldn't need to inherit the True Fate or vie for the Human King title; you would *be* the True Fate, you would *be* the Human King.
And as for as many Taiji Golden Cores as the stars?
That wasn't human. That was a God.
This guy really had a big mouth, spouting such utterly absurd lies without a second thought.
What made Su Hua sigh was that Xiao Jinr actually believed him, forcing her to lament the girl's innocent naivety.
"Alright, Jin'er, be good. I need to deal with the trouble here."
Gu Qingfeng handed Xiao Jinr to Su Hua. "Take care of Jin'er."
Xiao Jinr obediently returned to Su Hua's side. Su Hua asked, "How do you plan to resolve this?"
"Violence is the most direct and effective way to solve problems. What else?"
Su Hua wanted to say something, glanced at Xiao Jinr, and immediately sent a secret voice transmission: "I know about your situation, so you don't need to put on an act for me. If you're willing, I can help you..."
"No need."
"Your aura is very weak right now..."
"That's what *you* think. I don't see it that way...
I actually feel my aura is quite robust."
"Gu Qingfeng!
I'm not joking with you, and I'm not Xiao Jinr. You don't need to lie to me...
I feel guilty towards you, and I don't want Xiao Jinr to be sad, so..."
Before Su Hua could finish, Gu Qingfeng cut her off. "Enough. Just take good care of Xiao Jinr."
Su Hua was seething with frustration. She simply couldn't understand why Gu Qingfeng, even at this point, was still clinging to his pride and putting on a brave face. Gritting her teeth, she transmitted, "Fine!
I'll just watch and see what you plan to fight them with."
"Then watch closely."
Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and drained the wine from his cup in one gulp. He then leaped into the air, soaring upwards. Simultaneously, Ziyang and the other Chixiao People followed him aloft.
"Did you not understand what I said earlier, or what?"
Ziyang and the other Chixiao People froze, unsure how to respond.
"This is my own private matter. You don't need to get involved. Go back down."
Ziyang and the others exchanged glances. Not daring to delay or disobey, they flashed back down to the garden of the Fengyun Branch.