To be honest, whether Young Lord Chiyan was truly the Heir of the Monarch, even Qian Shan did not know.
She couldn't even be sure if Old Jiu was Young Lord Chiyan.
However, today, in order to help Han Dong and Ouyang Ye resolve their urgent crisis, she had no choice but to weave a tale that was half-truth and half-lie, claiming that Young Lord Chiyan was indeed the Heir of the Monarch. She hoped to use Young Lord Chiyan's identity to extricate Han Dong and the other from their predicament.
Qian Shan clearly understood that no matter how eloquently she spoke, no matter how abundant the evidence, these people would never fully believe her.
Of course.
She didn't expect them to believe completely.
In her mind, the series of events surrounding Young Lord Chiyan—his previous 'Drunken Chant of the Azure Sea,' 'Wind Rises Over Great Green Mountain,' 'Youth's Journey,' along with turning to ashes and reviving from death, and condensing the Crimson Supreme Seal Command—all added together might not make them absolutely certain, but it would at least leave them half-convinced and half-doubting.
And that was precisely the effect Qian Shan wanted.
As long as they were half-convinced, even if they believed just a little, it would make some people wary.
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
The prestige of Monarch Chixiao went without saying; everyone knew it.
If he truly was his heir, forget killing a few direct disciples of the major sects—even if he wiped out these sects, others wouldn't dare utter a single word of protest.
Perhaps some arrogant young geniuses, as well as reincarnated great powers, might not take the identity of the Monarch's heir seriously. In their eyes, they might not even regard Monarch Chixiao with respect.
Moreover, Qian Shan also knew that if Old Jiu really was Young Lord Chiyan and truly the Heir of the Monarch, things might become even more troublesome. It would inevitably shake the world, alert the Immortal Court, and even draw the attention of mighty beings from all corners of the realm.
However, troublesome as it might be,
and earth-shattering as it might be,
the trouble would be Young Lord Chiyan's trouble, the uproar would be his uproar. Those were matters for later. Besides, whether Old Jiu was truly Young Lord Chiyan remained unknown. For now, the most important thing was to help Han Dong and Ouyang Ye get through this crisis.
It must be said that Qian Shan's words truly had an effect.
After she finished speaking, the seasoned veterans and influential figures from the various major sects present all wore thoughtful expressions and began to hesitate.
They were all people who had lived through the end of the ancient era. Naturally, they knew what the name 'Monarch Chixiao' represented. If Young Lord Chiyan really was the Monarch's heir, they wouldn't dare make a sound even if given three times the courage.
Although many didn't believe it, and they knew that the world was full of frauds claiming to be the Monarch's heir—the incident with Gu Tiansheng fifty years ago was still fresh in their memories.
But...
Who could guarantee that Young Lord Chiyan was a fraud?
What if he wasn't a fraud, but truly the Heir of the Monarch?
The consequences of that...
Who would bear them?
And who could possibly bear them?
Just as they were lost in thought, a voice rang out.
"Turned to ashes?
Revived from death?
Young Lord Chiyan?
Heir of the Monarch?
Hahahaha!"
Everyone looked over. The one laughing heartily was none other than Second Elder Feilu Daozun of Yao Yue Palace. With a smile on his face, he looked at Qian Shan and asked unhurriedly, "Miss Qian Shan, dare you confirm that Young Lord Chiyan is the Heir of the Monarch?"
Qian Shan looked at Feilu, pondered for a moment, and replied, "He claims to be, and various pieces of evidence also suggest he is. As for whether it's true or false, I cannot guarantee."
"So, you also cannot guarantee that the man surnamed Gu is definitely the Heir of the Monarch?"
"I only said it's a possibility. Whether it's true or false, I believe everyone has their own judgment."
"Ha!
Whether the real Young Lord Chiyan is the Heir of the Monarch, I don't know. But I do know that a fake Young Lord Chiyan absolutely cannot be the Monarch's heir."
Looking at Feilu's confident demeanor, Qian Shan felt rather puzzled and somewhat worried inside. She responded, "Others who turn to ashes might not be able to revive from death, but if Young Lord Chiyan is the Monarch's heir, reviving after being reduced to ashes is not strange. After all, the Monarch himself possessed such heaven-defying ability back in the day."
"I don't know if Miss Qian Shan is kept in the dark like everyone else, or if you are colluding with Han Dong and the other to deceive us."
Feilu stared at Qian Shan, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing more pronounced. "I hope Miss Qian Shan has been deceived by these two little girls just like the rest of us. Otherwise...
Fairy Su Hua's lifelong reputation will be utterly ruined by you!"
"What do you mean?"
Qian Shan showed no trace of panic, asking very calmly, "Make yourself clear."
"What do I mean?
Hmph!"
Daozun Feilu suddenly took a step forward, glaring at Han Dong and Ouyang Ye, and shouted, "Han Dong, out of respect for your former status as the heir apparent of our Yao Yue Palace, I'll give you a chance today to admit your mistake. If you know what's good for you, tell us the truth."
The truth?
What truth?
Everyone present felt confused, not knowing what truth Feilu was referring to.
Opposite them.
When Han Dong and Ouyang Ye heard Feilu mention the word 'truth,' their faces both changed dramatically. Despite their best efforts to conceal it, how could they hide it from the many sharp-eyed experts present?
The two exchanged a glance, both feeling afraid. They didn't know if Feilu was bluffing them or if he truly knew the so-called truth.
"Han Dong!
Now, your master, several of our Yao Yue Palace's Ancestral Patriarchs, and even the various senior experts of the Great Northwest are all present. Do you dare, in front of everyone, personally admit that Gu Qingfeng is the Young Lord Chiyan who turned to ashes on the Tai Xuan Platform three years ago?"
Faced with Feilu's aggressive questioning, perhaps due to a guilty conscience, Han Dong immediately panicked.
"Han Dong, is that Gu Qingfeng really Young Lord Chiyan or not?"
Ancestral Patriarch Fenghua of Yao Yue Palace demanded.
"I..." Han Dong looked at Fenghua and the other Ancestral Patriarchs, then at her master, and the senior experts present. Her cold, beautiful face was utterly pale, seeming both ashamed and self-reproachful.
"You don't dare, do you?
Hmph!
I knew you wouldn't dare!"
Elder Feilu immediately roared, "You have truly immense audacity, daring to find someone to impersonate Young Lord Chiyan, not only deceiving our Yao Yue Palace but also deceiving our entire Great Northwest!"
Feilu's words instantly caused an uproar.
What did he mean?
Could Young Lord Chiyan really be fake?
Impossible, right?
He possessed both a Bedrock Physique and Absolute Power, and his mastery of music was peerless in the world, even capable of playing the Monarch's 'Youth's Journey.' How could a fake Young Lord Chiyan accomplish all that?
No one knew.
No one was clear.
But judging from Han Dong's reaction, it seemed she had indeed lied.
"Feilu, do you have evidence for what you say?"
Qian Shan asked cautiously.
"Miss Qian Shan, do you think I would speak recklessly if I didn't have evidence?"
Looking at Feilu's brimming confidence, Qian Shan was deeply suspicious inside. She couldn't figure it out either. Even she, who knew the truth, couldn't be sure if Gu Qingfeng was Young Lord Chiyan. Where did Feilu get his evidence?
"Yu Long, bring the person out, let everyone see!"
After Feilu spoke, Zhong Yulong stepped forward. He also wore a smile and said nothing, simply waving his hand and tossing a person out from his storage bag.