Qian Shan had followed Su Hua for many years. In order to ascertain whether Lord Chixiao had reincarnated, Su Hua had not only retraced every path the Monarch had once walked and visited every place he had been, but she had also collected as much as possible—the people the Monarch had met, the immortal arts he had created, even the objects he had used.
As for the Monarch's piece "Journey of Youth," Su Hua had studied and contemplated it countless times, yet she had never been able to play it with its true artistic conception.
Qian Shan clearly remembered one thing Su Hua had once said: because "Journey of Youth" carried the weight of the Monarch's youth, in this world, perhaps only he himself could ever play it with its intended meaning.
But why could this Lao Jiu also play it with such profound conception?
Could he be Lord Chixiao?
No!
Could he truly be the Monarch's Successor?
But...
He wasn't Young Lord Chiyan!
Although his physical body was similarly formidable and his musical mastery was also peerless, he did not possess the spiritual aura of the twin Taiji Golden Cores!
She didn't understand!
Qian Shan was genuinely bewildered.
No matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out what was going on. The more she thought about it, the more confused and chaotic her mind became. Originally, she hadn't believed Lao Jiu was Young Lord Chiyan, but now her heart was beginning to waver.
The crowd buzzed with discussion, seemingly debating the authenticity of this "Young Lord Chiyan" and whether he was the Monarch's Successor.
From their chatter, it seemed many not only believed Young Lord Chiyan was real but also believed he was the Monarch's Successor.
Wuhen, Chiyu, Feiying, and others from the Changhong Branch were also discussing it. Chiyu whispered, "Could he really be Young Lord Chiyan? And truly the Monarch's Successor?"
Wuhen wore a thoughtful expression. He did not respond, because he wasn't sure about this question either.
Originally, he had believed neither that this person was the Monarch's Successor nor that Young Lord Chiyan was still alive. But one performance of "Wind Rises Over Great Green Mountain" and the artistic conception of "Journey of Youth" forced him to reconsider. He couldn't imagine anyone in this world, aside from the Monarch's Successor, who could play those two pieces with such profound meaning. Nor could he imagine anyone, aside from the Monarch's Successor, who could return from annihilation after being reduced to ashes.
All the evidence pointed to the possibility that the man before them was not only Young Lord Chiyan but also the true Monarch's Successor.
"Brother Wuhen, if this person really is Young Lord Chiyan, then we..." Feiying understood clearly in his heart: if this man was truly Young Lord Chiyan and the Monarch's Successor, then everyone from their Changhong Branch would likely have to perform grand bows of respect whenever they encountered Young Lord Chiyan in the future.
Wuhen was not unaware of this problem. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and transmitted his voice in response, "Regardless of whether this person is the real Young Lord Chiyan or the Monarch's Successor, even if he truly is, today we must make him a fake—at the very least, we must make everyone believe he is a fake."
"This..." Feiying understood the implication in Wuhen's words, but he felt some inner trepidation.
"That Xuanwu turtle in his hand is said to be indestructible unless... drinking its blood can turn one's flesh into a Bedrock Physique. No matter what, we cannot let him leave here alive today."
"But... this person's strength is bizarrely powerful and unfathomable. We may not be his match."
"Heh!" Wuhen chuckled. "Don't worry. As I said, among the people at this flower festival today, there are those who desire that Xuanwu more than we do, and there are those who want even less for him to be the real Young Lord Chiyan. Moreover, experts from the major sects have almost all arrived by now. No matter how powerful he is, he cannot withstand so many. What's more, there are quite a few reincarnated experts in the crowd who came specifically for that Xuanwu."
"Young Lord Chiyan? Monarch's Successor?"
At that moment, Wei Chaoqun stepped forward and sneered, "Everyone, don't be deceived by him. The real Young Lord Chiyan was reduced to ashes three years ago. It is impossible for someone who has been reduced to ashes to return from death. This is a law, a principle of the Dao that no one can defy. Lord Chixiao might have been able to, but that doesn't mean his successor necessarily can."
"Furthermore, in the Ancient Era, the reason the Monarch could defy the heavens and act against the natural order was because it was the end of that era, when the laws were already in chaos. The Present Era has only just begun; the laws are stable now. I dare say not even the Monarch's Successor, perhaps not even Lord Chixiao himself, could return from death in the Present Era."
"It's just one piece, 'Journey of Youth'!" Li Qianhua also stepped forward and said, "Although he played it with artistic conception, who's to say he didn't use some mental technique to simulate that conception? Don't forget, many of the frauds impersonating the Monarch's Successor in the world today use this very trick. Even that Gu Tiansheng fifty years ago used the same method."
Indeed.
Whether it was Wei Chaoqun or Li Qianhua, both of their words held some reason.
The Monarch being able to defy the heavens did not mean his successor necessarily could.
As for using mental techniques to simulate artistic conception, as Li Qianhua said, many frauds impersonating the Monarch's Successor used this trick. Fifty years ago, Gu Tiansheng had used mental techniques to simulate conception, deceiving not only Wuse Mountain but also Lord Heishui.
"There's one more thing I'm afraid many of you are unaware of."
Ding Rui also stepped forward, smiling. "Everyone should know that back when the Monarch was in seclusion at Yao Yue Palace, he received help from several of its Ancestral Patriarchs, which allowed him to successfully nurture his Heavenly Fiend Nascent Soul. Yet, just a few days ago, this person personally killed Yao Yue Palace's Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie. If he were truly the Monarch's Successor, how could he deal such a ruthless hand to one of the Monarch's benefactors?"
A commotion erupted!
Ding Rui's words caused an uproar in the crowd!
Especially Han Dong. Hearing Ding Rui's words, she could hardly believe her ears.
Lao Jiu killed Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie?
Was that possible?
Wait!
Lao Jiu had once said he had met Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie...
Could it be...
Thinking of this, Han Dong didn't dare to continue.
"Ding Rui, is what you say true?" Leng Yefei and others from Yao Yue Palace asked with dark expressions. "Did he truly kill our Yao Yue Palace's Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie?"
"That's right!"
The one who spoke was not Ding Rui, but Heifeng Cave's Li Qianhua. He said, "I can testify to this. Our Heifeng Cave's Heifeng Twin Fiends were present at the time and were also injured by him. If you don't believe me, you can ask the two seniors."
The crowd looked over and indeed saw the figures of the Heifeng Twin Fiends and the Heifeng Eight Monsters among the people. The Heifeng Twin Fiends said, "It is indeed so. We two witnessed with our own eyes this person cruelly kill that old fiend Feng Lie. His methods were extremely sinister. And not only were we present, but the Green Flower Granny of Hunyuan Sect was also there!"
"This old woman was indeed present."
At that moment, an old woman stepped forward. Many recognized her—she was Hunyuan Sect's Elder, Green Flower Granny. Leaning on her cane, she said, "I can also testify. This person did kill that old fiend Feng Lie. Moreover, he used ten thousand ants gnawing on bones, leeches drinking blood, and maggots devouring flesh to torture Feng Lie to death bit by bit!"