"It has been over a year since I, Gu Qingfeng, arrived in the Four Great Regions. During this time, I have offended many people, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Consequently, there have always been those who wish to kill me."
Gu Qingfeng's voice carried through the air.
"This is understandable. After all, this is a world of cultivation. Apart from cultivating themselves, what else do practitioners do but fight and kill? You kill me, or I kill you—it's normal, utterly normal."
"Today, it seems all who should have come are here, and even those who shouldn't have are present. So let's settle this matter once and for all. Whether you dislike me, whether I have offended you, or whether I have killed someone dear to you—if you seek revenge, if you want my life, feel free to make your move."
Gu Qingfeng flicked his wrist, producing an exquisite wine flask. He poured a cup from the Voidless Cup, threw his head back, and drained it in one gulp. He continued, "However, let me state something unpleasant upfront. Wanting to kill me is not impossible. Go ahead, kill me. If you have the skill, chop me into a thousand pieces. But..." He poured another drink, consumed it, and went on, "As the saying goes, 'those who live by the sword die by the sword.' If you seek to kill me, you must also be prepared to be killed by me."
"Don't harbor any illusions of luck. Don't think you can attack and then flee. My memory is poor, but I remember clearly, and will never forget for the rest of my life, who has harbored killing intent towards me and who has actually made a move against me. Similarly, I am not accustomed to being beaten, nor will I let the tiger return to the mountain, creating trouble for myself later. Therefore, today, whoever makes a move, I will kill them without hesitation, to eliminate future troubles!"
"In my lifetime, I have killed many people—so many I've lost count. I've long grown numb to it. Don't hold onto any hope of mercy. Don't attack and then beg for my forgiveness. I won't grant it. I can't be bothered to. There's no need, because your lives are worthless in my eyes, as insignificant as blades of grass."
"Believe my words or not, as you will. I tell you this not out of any goodwill in my heart, but only because you are all people of the Four Great Regions. That is all."
"One sentence: Those who don't want to die, get lost. Those tired of living, stay and await your death!"
Having said this, he drank another cup of wine. Then Gu Qingfeng put away the Voidless Cup and rolled up his sleeves.
In the distance, the Twelve Kings of the Nine-Hua Alliance and the Twenty-Four Great Virtue Dao Zun were also watching Gu Qingfeng with grave expressions.
"Just who is he?" Perhaps because Gu Qingfeng was too mysterious and bizarre, even Jingyun, the elegant and confident Head King, was uncertain. "Could he truly be the successor of Monarch Chixiao?"
"This..." Dao Zun Bai Xuan also wore a heavy expression, equally unsure.
"So what if he is real? Are we, the Immortal Dynasty, afraid of him?" Li Feng sneered disdainfully.
"Fourth Young Master, if he truly is the successor of Monarch Chixiao, then this matter becomes troublesome."
"What's so troublesome about it?"
"Think about it. If he really is Monarch Chixiao's successor and dies here today, once this news spreads and angers all the Chixiao people under heaven, every single person present—every last one—will not survive!" Ma Qian, standing nearby, urgently interjected, "Senior Bai Xuan, I've already told you, he absolutely cannot be the real one!"
Dao Zun Bai Xuan looked at Huo Wu Hengsheng, the Four Elders of Cloud-Heart Hall, and the Five Elders of Little Immortal Valley, who were still kneeling on the ground, and said gravely, "Judging from the current situation, the possibility cannot be ruled out... Young Master, in my humble opinion, it would be best to wait until Ma Qian's master arrives. His master was once the Incense Master of the Black Ming Banner in the Chixiao Sect. He will surely be able to distinguish the truth."
The more Jingyun looked, the more apprehensive he felt inwardly. He asked, "Ma Qian, when will your master arrive?"
"He should be here soon!"
"Excellent!" Seeing the hesitant, timid manner of the various sect heads and elders, Dao Zun Bai Xuan said, "Ma Qian, go and inform everyone that your master is about to arrive."
Ma Qian nodded and flashed out.
"Huo Wu Old Monster! And you, Four Elders of Cloud-Heart! Five Elders of Little Immortal Valley! Shame on you all, esteemed Dao Zun masters who have cultivated for thousands of years! To think you are all blind fools!"
Ma Qian pointed angrily at Gu Qingfeng suspended in midair and shouted loudly to the crowd, "This Gu-named demonic fiend is neither the successor of Monarch Chixiao nor a descendant of Monarch Chixiao! He is a reckless, death-seeking imposter!"
With the backing of the Immortal Dynasty's Nine-Hua Alliance, Ma Qian was fearless. "You all are suspicious simply because you've seen Ziyang, Wei Xuan, Wan Sen, and the others treat this imposter with utmost reverence. Hmph! Let me tell you! Among those twelve, only Wan Sen alone claims to have witnessed this imposter condense the Crimson Supremacy Seal Token!"
Ma Qian's face flushed red, his expression turning rather ferocious as he sneered, "Don't be fooled just because Wan Sen is also a Chixiao man with a Blood Fiend Dragon-Elephant Spirit. He was merely a menial laborer in the Black Ming Banner of the Chixiao Sect back then, running errands for my master! He has never even laid eyes on the genuine Crimson Supremacy Seal Token in his entire life! This Gu-named demonic fiend condensed a fake seal token and has them all fooled, running around in circles!"
"Ma Qian! You traitorous beast who has forsaken your ancestors!" Ziyang roared in fury. He summoned his Glaive Moon Blade, the Blood Fiend aura instantly flashing. He leapt up, intending to charge over and slay Ma Qian. But at that moment, Gu Qingfeng waved his hand, and Ziyang immediately retreated.
"And who are you?" Gu Qingfeng looked Ma Qian up and down.
"I am Ma Qian, Hall Master of the Crimson-Letter Sect's Leiyun Branch!" Ma Qian glared at Gu Qingfeng with murderous intent, shouting sharply, "Demonic fiend! Don't think just because you've fooled Ziyang and the others, you can fool me! Let me tell you, my master will be here shortly. Then we'll see how you continue this impersonation!"
"Hall Master of the Leiyun Branch... You mentioned your master just now... Who is he again?"
"He is none other than the former Incense Master of the Black Ming Banner of the Chixiao Sect, Elder Fang Qing! Ziyang, Wan Sen, and the others have never seen the Crimson Supremacy Seal Token, but my master has seen it many times!"
"So Fang Qing is your master." Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since you are a Hall Master of the Crimson-Letter Sect, why do you have the Immortal Dynasty's Ring of Light within you?"
"Young Master!" Ziyang said respectfully, "This Ma Qian has betrayed his ancestors and sworn allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty."
"Hahaha! Betrayed my ancestors?" Ma Qian laughed uproariously and shouted, "Ziyang, I've told you! The Chixiao Sect is the Chixiao Sect, and the Crimson-Letter Sect is the Crimson-Letter Sect! Your Chixiao Sect are sinners against the Immortal Dao! Our Crimson-Letter Sect refuses to be sinners against the Immortal Dao! Your Chixiao Sect defied the Immortal Dao in the Ancient Era, while our Crimson-Letter Sect submits to the Immortal Dao in the Current Era!"
"Ziyang, don't think I don't know what you're plotting! Back then, Monarch Chixiao was judged by the Immortal Dao and reduced to ashes! Your Chixiao Sect was left leaderless! Now, in the Current Era, the Immortal Dynasty has descended once more. You fear being eradicated by the Immortal Dynasty, so you deliberately found a counterfeit, claiming he's Monarch Chixiao's successor? Tsk tsk... Do you think our Immortal Dynasty will be intimidated by this? Let me tell you! Even if he were the genuine successor of Monarch Chixiao, our Immortal Dynasty would not fear him! Not to mention if he were merely the Monarch's successor—even if Monarch Chixiao himself had not been reduced to ashes back then, even if he had reincarnated and returned, our Immortal Dynasty would make him wish he were dead!"