Elder Jin had indeed met the real Chiyan Young Lord.
And not just once.
Not only had he met him, but he had nearly died at the hands of the Chiyan Young Lord back then.
However, he had never spoken of this matter to outsiders, keeping it buried deep within his heart. He could never forget the terrifying killing intent the Chiyan Young Lord had revealed that year inside a temple within a secret realm. Though it had only flashed for an instant, it had penetrated to the very marrow of his bones. That solitary, arrogant, domineering, and utterly contemptuous killing intent that looked down upon heaven and earth—even now, just thinking of it made his heart tremble with lingering fear.
He did not know who the real Chiyan Young Lord truly was.
Nor could he imagine what kind of person could possess such a terrifying killing intent.
But one thing he was absolutely certain of: he could not afford to provoke him.
To be honest.
His reason for attending the Wuse Flower Festival this time was also to seize that Mystic Tortoise rumored to make one's physical body indestructible.
He simply did not believe that the Chiyan Young Lord, who had been reduced to ashes three years ago, could possibly return from the dead.
Therefore, from the very beginning, he was convinced that this Chiyan Young Lord was absolutely fake.
However, after arriving at the Wuse Flower Festival and personally laying eyes on Gu Qingfeng, he fell into deep hesitation once more.
The same white robes, the same handsome features.
The same Golden Core cultivation, the same Bedrock Physique.
The same carefree and indifferent demeanor, the same unrestrained and unconventional air.
The same arrogance that looked down upon the world, the same lazy leisureliness.
Elder Jin looked and looked, probed and probed, examined and examined. No matter how he looked at it, this person seemed to be the very Chiyan Young Lord from three years ago.
Yet, he truly could not believe that someone reduced to ashes could return from the dead.
Because he had been present three years ago when Gu Qingfeng was reduced to ashes beneath the Tai Xuan Monument.
But if this wasn't the Chiyan Young Lord, then who was he?
Elder Jin secretly drew a deep breath, feigning calm as he asked in a low, grave voice, "Does Your Excellency recognize this old man?"
"I do not."
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him and said with a light smile, "However, it seems we have met a few times."
Hearing this, Elder Jin's heart jolted in shock, and he immediately pressed, "May I ask, does Your Excellency recall where you met this old man?"
"Where?"
Gu Qingfeng stroked the guqin with his left hand while his right hand lifted the wine pot to continue pouring, not even raising his head as he replied, "If my memory serves me correctly, it should have been in a temple within a secret realm, right?"
Boom!
As these words fell, Elder Jin trembled all over as if struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale and ashen with fright. Pointing at Gu Qingfeng, his eyes wide, he looked as if he had seen a ghost or a god. His mouth gaped, wanting to say something, but not a single word could come out.
Seeing this, everyone around was greatly astonished.
For all could see that Elder Jin seemed both terrified and fearful—so fearful his face was ghastly pale, unable even to speak.
They truly could not comprehend why a reincarnated being like Elder Jin would be frightened to such an extent.
Leaving aside whether this Chiyan Young Lord was real or fake, even if he were real, Elder Jin shouldn't have been scared into such a state, should he?
"It's been a few years. Your cultivation has improved quite a bit. What's the matter? Don't tell me you also want to snatch this master's Mystic Tortoise?"
Gu Qingfeng's tone as he spoke was as casual as if chatting with an old friend, relaxed and at ease. Yet, when these words reached Elder Jin's ears, they frightened him so much that he bowed deeply, cupped his hands in salute, and shook his head in explanation: "No!
Please do not misunderstand, this humble one...
This humble one absolutely has no such intention, absolutely none!
Truly none!"
He was afraid, he was panicked.
So afraid he dared not show the slightest neglect, so panicked he actually began using honorifics and referred to himself with the extremely humble term "this humble one."
"This humble one can swear to the heavens, this humble one truly...
truly has no intention of seizing the Young Lord's possession."
As he spoke, Elder Jin actually dropped to one knee and truly began to swear an oath.
This scene genuinely shocked the onlookers, frightening many to the point their scalps tingled and a chill ran down their spines.
They could not understand. A mighty reincarnated being, now a lofty guest elder of the Immortal Mansion, someone even Wei Chaoqun, one of the Immortal Mansion's Twenty-Four Immortal Prodigies, had to curry favor with—how could he be so terrified of a Chiyan Young Lord of unknown authenticity that he knelt on one knee and swore an oath?
Wei Chaoqun, Wuhen, and the others exchanged glances, all utterly shocked, unable to believe or comprehend it.
Not only did they not believe or understand, even the expression of Young Master Chanchu beside them, another reincarnated being, changed repeatedly, unable to fathom why Elder Jin would be so afraid.
Meanwhile, Liu Qingyan, Qing Xi, and the other Wuse Mountain people nearby were all dumbfounded, completely stunned.
They had originally been hoping these two reincarnated beings would step in to help. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that not only would Young Master Chanchu not dare to make a move, but even in the face of the Chiyan Young Lord's provocation and humiliation, he didn't dare to breathe heavily. And Elder Jin was even worse—perfectly fine at first, yet after just a few sentences, he was so frightened he trembled all over, and now he was even kneeling on one knee swearing an oath?
Why!
Just why!
They were both mighty reincarnated beings! In their past lives, they were immortals who had ascended to the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao!
Even after reincarnation, they stood high above, with none daring to provoke them, and even the Immortal Mansion had to treat them with reverence.
Why would they be so afraid of the Chiyan Young Lord?
Why on earth?
No one knew.
But everyone understood that Elder Jin would not be afraid for no reason. They just couldn't imagine what that reason was.
The Chiyan Young Lord?
The heir of Lord Chixiao?
Even if both were true, there was no need to be this afraid.
Not only that, as a mighty reincarnated being, even facing Lord Chixiao himself, he shouldn't be this terrified, should he?
Just as everyone was feeling shocked and suspicious, a powerful, majestic voice thundered forth.
"Junior! How dare you act so wantonly at the foot of my Wuse Mountain! Today, you shall not be spared!"
Whoosh!
A white pillar of light bloomed atop Wuse Mountain, shooting straight into the sky. An elder appeared within the white light before everyone's eyes.
It was an elder with hair and beard as white as snow, with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes.
Seeing this elder, everyone's expressions stiffened, especially Liu Qingyan, Qing Xi, and the other Wuse Mountain people, whose faces showed particular excitement. For this elder was none other than the sect head of Wuse Mountain, the leader of the Jiu Jue Gu Lao—Ku Yu.
This name had been like thunder in the ears throughout the great northwest frontier in ancient times.
Everyone knew Ku Yu was a Daozun who had cultivated for thousands of years. His Primordial Spirit had been nurtured and refined for a full two thousand years, long ago reaching the legendary realm of perfection. His martial arts attainments were even more remarkable, rumored to have reached the level of divine abilities.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four more pillars of light bloomed atop Wuse Mountain, and four more elders appeared.
They were the other members of Wuse Mountain's Jiu Jue Gu Lao, all renowned experts of great fame in ancient times. Each had refined their Primordial Spirit for over a thousand years, their cultivation all at the Nascent Soul Transformation realm, and their immortal arts were exceptionally formidable.
Five of Wuse Mountain's Jiu Jue Gu Lao appearing at once filled everyone present with immense excitement.
The Wuse Mountain disciples flushed with excitement, shouting one after another.
"Sect Head, quickly save Grand-Uncle Master!"
"Sect Head, Grand-Uncle Masters, you've finally emerged from seclusion!"
"Quickly stop that Chiyan Young Lord!!"