Gu Qingfeng's voice was not loud, but as it fell, it was like a thunderclap exploding, a bolt from the blue, shaking the surrounding marsh violently and causing all manner of evil auras to scatter and vanish.
Within the area.
Fenglie Old Monster, slumped on the ground, had no idea what had happened. With a deafening boom, two miserable screams rang out, followed by two figures crashing down from the air as if they had fallen from the sky, landing on the ground. They were none other than the Hei Feng Twin Fiends!
What was even more terrifying was that the Hei Feng Twin Fiends, now sprawled on the ground, were disheveled and in a wretched state, bleeding from all seven orifices, their faces deathly pale, their eyes filled with sheer terror, twitching uncontrollably as they lay there.
Seeing this scene.
Not to mention Fenglie Old Monster, nor Daozun Xuanxin, even Immortal Official An Ran and that mysterious reincarnated woman couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, feeling their scalps tingle and a chill run down their spines.
The Hei Feng Twin Fiends were Daozuns who had cultivated for thousands of years, with Primordial Spirits at the Great Perfection of the Eighty-One Evolutions!
Moreover, they had been steeped in evil auras for many years, making their strength exceptionally formidable.
And now.
They had been made to bleed from all seven orifices by a single shout from this white-robed man, unable to even stand up!
If not seen with their own eyes, no one would dare believe this was true.
Even having witnessed it, it remained hard to believe.
"Daring to harbor killing intent against me."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the Hei Feng Twin Fiends and barked, "It seems you two brats are truly tired of living!"
The Hei Feng Twin Fiends lay twitching on the ground, their minds shattered, their Primordial Spirits thrown into chaos by the shock.
Seeing this, Granny Qinghua dared not delay any longer. With a thud, she knelt on the ground, trembling as she begged for mercy: "This lowly one was unaware of Young Lord's divine might and offended unintentionally. I beg Young Lord for forgiveness!"
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Granny Qinghua began kowtowing loudly!
At this moment, status and dignity no longer mattered; what mattered was life!
Gu Qingfeng paid her no mind. He hadn't intended to kill anyone anyway, merely wanting to teach a lesson to those who had just harbored killing intent.
Cultivation is not easy; staying alive is even harder.
As long as his bottom line wasn't crossed.
He couldn't be bothered to kill.
However, his little lesson had thoroughly frightened everyone else present.
Especially Daozun Xuanxin.
He no longer dared to remain standing in mid-air, having long since landed on the ground. He dared not run, dared not move, dared not even speak.
Run?
What a joke.
A single shout from this Young Lord Chiyan had nearly killed the Hei Feng Twin Fiends. How could he possibly have the courage to flee now?
He regretted it.
And he was terrified.
He regretted coming along to join in this commotion.
Although he had done nothing—while he had initially considered seizing the beast, he had given up after learning the Mystic Tortoise Beast had an owner.
All members of Wuse Mountain are forbidden from being tainted by evil auras, from seizing possessions that have owners, and from killing for plunder. This is the ancient rule of Wuse Mountain.
Daozun Xuanxin had always adhered to this.
He believed he had a clear conscience, yet facing the mysterious and eerie Gu Qingfeng here, he was still deeply afraid.
Especially when Gu Qingfeng's eyes fell upon him. Daozun Xuanxin couldn't help but shudder, hurriedly lowering his head, not daring to meet his gaze. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Young Lord Chiyan, this lowly one truly did not know earlier that the Mystic Tortoise Beast was a pet raised by you. For any offense, I beg Young Lord's magnanimous forgiveness."
"You are from Wuse Mountain."
Gu Qingfeng sat back down on the stone, looking at Xuanxin as he spoke softly, "I wish to inquire about someone from you."
"May I ask whom Young Lord wishes to know about?"
"Senior Ku Mu. Do you know of him?"
Gu Qingfeng's purpose in coming to the Great Northwest this time was not only to repay a debt of gratitude from the past but more so to return a kindness.
Back then, because he had cultivated eighty-one Golden Cores, he was branded with the label of a demonic cultivator.
He was denounced and hunted by everyone.
Even so, there were still those who stood up to help him.
Feng Zhuyue was one.
Another was Senior Ku Mu, one of the Nine Solitaries of Wuse Mountain.
Back then, when he was besieged by the Seven Major Sects at Daqing Mountain, it was Old Senior Ku Mu who stepped forward, vouching with his personal integrity that Gu Qingfeng was not a demon. Unfortunately, Gu Qingfeng was still besieged in the end. In helping him escape, Old Senior Ku Mu was severely injured by the Seven Major Sects of Daqing Mountain.
After recuperating for half a month, before his injuries had fully healed, Gu Qingfeng stormed Daqing Mountain, wiping out the Seven Major Sects in one go and slaughtering over ten thousand people.
That was the first time in his life he had gone on a massive killing spree, the first time he had bathed the land in blood.
Afterwards, he went into hiding. He only heard that Senior Ku Mu was seriously injured and that Wuse Mountain had suffered repercussions because of it, which weighed heavily on his conscience.
He had always wanted to visit Senior Ku Mu, but back then, he was mired in trouble. While in the Great Northwest, he was pursued relentlessly. Even after finally ascending to the Immortal Monster King's throne, he was still hunted by the Immortal Court. Wherever he went, he would only bring trouble to others. In the end, he left without ever getting to visit, something for which he had always felt guilty and deeply regretful.
"Young Lord Chiyan…
you know my master?"
Daozun Xuanxin had thought Gu Qingfeng would attack him; he never expected him to inquire about Wuse Mountain, and about his own master at that.
"Your master?"
Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow, finding it quite unexpected. He asked, "Senior Ku Mu is your master?"
"He is indeed my master."
"Ha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed. "What a coincidence. How is your master's health now?"
"My master's body is still quite robust. Although he remains somewhat immobile due to old injuries, he is much better than before…"
"Old injuries?
Are they still from the incident at Daqing Mountain back then?"
Daozun Xuanxin nodded.
"Alright, I understand. Go back and inform your master for me. I will visit him in a couple of days."
Visit?
Daozun Xuanxin was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Forgive my presumption, but why does Young Lord wish to visit my master?"
"Your master was injured back then for the sake of my master. Your master is my master's benefactor, and thus mine as well. Naturally, I must pay a visit."
His master was injured for the sake of Young Lord's master?
Daozun Xuanxin was momentarily confused. Thinking carefully, he seemed to realize something, his heart beginning to pound uncontrollably. He asked in astonishment, "Is Young Lord truly the successor of the Crimson Sky Monarch?"
"Of course."
"This…" Daozun Xuanxin didn't know how to respond. In this world, impostors claiming to be successors of Young Lord Chiyan were too numerous to count. Although Gu Qingfeng's mysterious and eerie nature left him bewildered, that was all. It didn't necessarily prove he was the Crimson Sky Monarch's successor.
"Young Lord, rest assured. After returning, this lowly one will certainly convey your message to my master."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and said, "Might Young Lord be able to wait some days before visiting?"
"Why?"
"Young Lord, please do not misunderstand. My master has recently been preoccupied with the immortal arts texts of Wuse Mountain. What I mean is, after my master finishes with this busy period…"
"Fine, no problem. Let the old gentleman attend to his matters first. I'm in no hurry; I can wait as long as needed."