"Old Incense Master, this is Young Lord Chiyan! Gu Qingfeng!"
Ziyang, fearing that Old Incense Master might offend Gu Qingfeng, hurriedly spoke up to remind him.
Young Lord Chiyan?
Gu Qingfeng?
Upon hearing this, Fang Qing was momentarily stunned. The name felt very familiar, and upon further thought, he immediately recalled that a few days ago, Ziyang had mentioned that the heir to Monarch Chixiao was called Young Lord Chiyan Gu Qingfeng.
Since this world was filled with countless frauds impersonating Monarch Chixiao himself or his descendants, when Fang Qing had heard this news back then, he hadn't even bothered to think about it before directly concluding that the so-called descendant heir was undoubtedly another imposter.
But now, gazing at the white-robed man before him and sensing the genuine, palpable reverence emanating from the Dragon-Elephant Spirit, Fang Qing and the others couldn't help but sink into deep suspicion and shock.
They all knew very well that perhaps the Chishang Seal Token could be forged, even forged well enough to pass for the real thing.
But this kind of reverence from the Dragon-Elephant Spirit absolutely could not be faked.
The Dragon-Elephant Spirit feared neither heaven nor earth, neither deities nor immortals. It could shake demons above and intimidate ghosts below. Under the vast heavens, there was only one person who could command the reverence of the Dragon-Elephant Spirit: the Monarch Chixiao of old.
And this person was neither a reincarnated soul nor a body-snatcher reborn. He couldn't be the Monarch.
Could he truly be the heir or descendant of Monarch Chixiao?
Only the heir of Monarch Chixiao, having received the Monarch's legacy, or perhaps a descendant of the Monarch, with the Monarch's blood flowing in his veins, would the Dragon-Elephant Spirit revere him.
Thinking it over carefully, this seemed to be the only possibility.
For the sake of caution, Fang Qing looked towards Ziyang again, as if inquiring.
Ziyang shook his head, also unsure how to respond.
Although it could be confirmed that Gu Qingfeng was definitely related to Monarch Chixiao, that was all. Since Gu Qingfeng had never explicitly stated his identity, Ziyang dared not speculate recklessly.
"I asked you a question. Why aren't you attacking?"
Gu Qingfeng's dark, tranquil eyes swept over the faces of Fang Qing and the other Chixiao people one by one. "Afraid?"
Afraid?
Yes.
Truly afraid.
Especially when their gazes met Gu Qingfeng's eyes, Fang Qing and the Chixiao people felt their hearts racing. A peculiar feeling, not quite fear yet more intense than fear, rose in their hearts. At that moment, the Dragon-Elephant Spirit coiled around their crescent-moon blades ceased its violent, ferocious writhing, becoming exceptionally docile and emitting whimpering sounds of fright.
"Why aren't you attacking!"
Gu Qingfeng's calm voice suddenly turned heavy with anger as he sternly rebuked, "Speak!"
As the word 'speak' fell,
the Dragon-Elephant Spirits coiled around their crescent-moon blades seemed startled, uncontrollably retreating back into their bodies. Fang Qing and the others felt their minds tremble, their Blood-Fiery Auras instantly extinguishing as they plummeted from mid-air.
"Young Lord! Old Incense Master and the others do not know your identity and have offended you momentarily. We beg Young Lord, for the sake of... for the sake of the words 'Chixiao,' please do not hold it against them!"
Ziyang clasped his fists and bowed in apology, while also shooting meaningful glances at Old Incense Master and the others. Understanding the signal, Fang Qing and the others dared not delay, all bowing deeply, clasping their fists, and lowering their heads in apology.
"You've all grown quite capable, daring to raise your hands against me!" Gu Qingfeng's voice condensed into a reprimand. "You've rebelled!"
Hearing these words, Ziyang, Fang Qing, and the others below reacted almost instinctively, involuntarily dropping to their knees, their bodies trembling.
This trembling was not from fear, but from reverence, and even more so, from an inexpressible excitement.
To them, this rebuke from Gu Qingfeng, both in tone and manner, sounded far too similar to one person. This reprimand transported them back to the ancient era hundreds of years ago, when they, full of youthful vigor, had rashly gone to seize the spirit veins of the Immortal Dynasty, only to fall into an ambush and nearly lose their lives. In the end, it was Monarch Chixiao who had intervened, allowing them to return safely. Afterwards, Monarch Chixiao had reprimanded them with precisely this same tone and manner.
"Fang Qing, I ask you, are you aware of Ma Qian's dealings?"
"Ma Qian? My disciple, he..." Clearly, Fang Qing did not know what dealings Gu Qingfeng was referring to. He asked blankly, "I don't know what matter Young Lord is asking about?"
Ziyang explained for Fang Qing, "Young Lord, ever since the Great Cataclysm, we have all been in seclusion, especially Old Incense Master. He simply doesn't know about Ma Qian's actions."
"Brother Ziyang, what exactly has Ma Qian done?"
"That beast betrayed his ancestors, nurtured a Radiant Seed, and pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty."
"What!"
Fang Qing was shocked, asking in astonishment and fury, "When did this happen?"
"I also only learned of it today, and... that beast also... also used Old Ma's blood to refine the Dragon-Elephant Seed."
As these words fell, Fang Qing shot to his feet. His face turned deathly pale, his expression completely twisted, his eyes seeming about to spew blood. His entire body trembled violently—a trembling born of rage, an uncontrollable fury. He asked, word by word, "You... are these things you've said... true?"
Ziyang did not speak, merely pointing at Ma Qian, who was neither human nor ghost. Before Ma Qian lay a milky-white, pure seed and two blood-red seeds. Fang Qing walked over, glanced at the pure seed, then stretched out a trembling hand to pick up the two blood-colored Dragon-Elephant Seeds. He stared at them, staring for who knows how long, before slowly closing his eyes.
His face grew paler, his expression more twisted, his body trembling even more violently. When he opened his eyes again, they were a pair of blood-red orbs.
"Beast!"
Raising his hand, he unleashed a Blood-Fiery Palm, striking Ma Qian with a single blow that shattered his body into dust, scattering flesh and blood across the ground.
After executing Ma Qian with his palm, Fang Qing thudded to his knees on the ground, shouting towards the heavens, "Brother Ma! Before your death, you entrusted Ma Qian to me. It's all my fault for being in seclusion for so long, neglecting the guidance of this beast Ma Qian, allowing him to commit such a heinous, treasonous act. I have wronged you! This beast betrayed his ancestors and pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty. I am ashamed before the spirit of the Monarch in heaven! I, Fang Qing, am unworthy as a friend, unworthy as a teacher, unworthy as a Chixiao man!"
Whoosh!
His Blood-Fiery Aura erupted into furious flames. Raising his hand, he aimed to strike his own heavenly spirit cap. Ziyang and the others seemed to realize his intent and rose to stop him, only to discover, to their shock, that the emotionally agitated Fang Qing had suddenly frozen motionless, like a statue.
At the same moment, a white shadow flashed by.
White robes, black hair, a solitary figure with dark eyes—who else could it be but Gu Qingfeng.
He looked at the motionless Fang Qing, shook his head slightly, a trace of helplessness flickering in his dark, elegant eyes. Then he raised his hand, his five fingers condensing and manifesting power. A flash of turbid energy enveloped Fang Qing, whereupon Fang Qing lost consciousness and collapsed softly to the ground.
"His emotions are too agitated right now. Let him sleep for a while to calm down."
"Thank you, Young Lord, for intervening and saving him. Otherwise, Old Incense Master..." Recalling the scene just now, Ziyang and the others felt a lingering fear. If Gu Qingfeng hadn't acted in time, Old Incense Master would likely have perished on the spot.
"Enough. Take him away first."
Ziyang and the others exchanged glances, but none of them left.
"What? Is there something else?"
Ziyang and the other Chixiao people, with remarkable synchronization, knelt on the ground. Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow and asked, "When did you all learn this habit of kneeling?"
Ziyang and the Chixiao people chorused, "We beseech Young Lord to reveal your identity."