It was a massive sword, fully two meters long, its entire body a deep emerald green. The blade was carved with profound patterns, and its edge gleamed with a sharp, chilling light.
As this great sword descended, a figure appeared, streaking through the air like a meteor.
The man wore a feathered crown and was dressed in a set of azure cloud-patterned robes. A faint, colorful radiance shimmered around his entire body. He stood upon the hilt of the great sword, his expression incomparably gloomy and cold. His eyes blazed with a fierce, murderous light, fixed unwaveringly on Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng did not know who this person was. Of course, he didn't care who it was either. He remained reclined on his rocking chair, leisurely sipping his wine.
However, both Fei Kui, who stood bowed beside him like a servant, and the gorgeously dressed, enchantingly beautiful Ouyang Feiyue recognized this man. He was none other than Li Wang, one of the Nine Halls Direct Disciples of Yunxia Sect. He was also the most famous, the most accomplished in cultivation, and the most formidable in strength among the four Li brothers.
True Body, sixth level.
Colorful Foundation, Color True Body, dual-colored guardians.
He cultivated the Yellow-rank Great Wind-Thunder Sword Art. It was said that half a year ago, with a single sword strike unleashing the power of the ninth level of the Great Wind-Thunder Sword Art, he had cut three True Persons who had established their True Bodies clean in half on the spot. His strength was exceptionally fierce.
Soon, many disciples arrived. There were Li Can and Li Sen, Yun Hong, Ye Hong, and even Mu Zibai, Huang Yao, and the other chiefs of the Twelve Courtyards—all of whom had suffered beatings from Gu Qingfeng and could be said to hate him to the bone. Hearing that Li Wang had emerged from seclusion to trouble Gu Qingfeng, they naturally looked forward to this scene.
Following them, several chief deacons led by Guang Yuan also arrived.
"Li Wang, this is the Rear-Mountain Spirit Seclusion Garden, Elder Huode's garden. Do not act recklessly here."
Guang Yuan's implication was clear: this kid currently had Elder Huode's protection. For the time being, no one could touch him, at least not within Yunxia Sect.
Li Wang did not respond. He merely stared fixedly, his eyes like venomous snakes seemingly wishing to tear Gu Qingfeng to pieces. Then, he pulled a letter of challenge from his bosom, flung it out with a flick of his hand, and declared in a cold, condensed voice, "Tomorrow at high noon, the Wind-Cloud Platform. I'll be waiting for you."
Gu Qingfeng did not move. It was Fei Kui who caught the challenge letter. He opened it and handed it over. Gu Qingfeng looked at it with interest.
"If you come, I might spare your life. If you do not, I, Li Wang, swear you will not leave Yunxia Sect alive."
Li Wang turned to leave, then added, "I know Elder Huode protects you within Yunxia Sect, but that's only within Yunxia Sect. Unless you plan to stay here your entire life, I will definitely make you regret ever coming to this world."
With those words, Li Wang flew away.
Guang Yuan and the other deacons glanced at Gu Qingfeng, then at Fei Kui and Ouyang Feiyue, before quickly departing as well.
Brothers Li Can and Li Sen left after uttering a few harsh threats.
"Youngsters these days are quite rule-abiding...
They even know to issue formal challenges."
Gu Qingfeng chuckled and placed the challenge letter on the table.
"Qingfeng, little brother, it's only because it's you. If it were any other disciple, Li Wang would have already barged in to kill them. Why would he bother with a challenge letter?"
Ouyang Feiyue knew that Li Wang's reason for issuing a challenge had nothing to do with following rules; it was entirely due to his fear of Elder Huode.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng's utterly unconcerned expression, Ouyang Feiyue said, "Qingfeng, little brother, you must be extra careful tomorrow... That Li Wang not only established a Colorful Foundation, but also a Color True Body... He's terribly formidable."
Hearing about the Colorful Foundation and Color True Body, Gu Qingfeng felt rather surprised.
Back in his day when he cultivated, although there were people who established Colorful Foundations and Color True Bodies, they were pitifully few. The entire world didn't have many. Those who both established a Colorful Foundation and achieved a Color True Body were even rarer. He never imagined that now, in this small Yunxia Sect, there were so many. Moreover, according to Ouyang Feiyue, it seemed almost all nine Direct Disciples were like this.
"Truly, one dynasty's ministers, one cataclysm's gods..." Recalling the past, when the Ancient Era ended, it was also a Heavenly Cataclysm. After the cataclysm, it was also a revival of all things. Back then, all sorts of geniuses sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain—various thrones, various true destinies, various legacies...
Now, with the end of the Primordial Era and another cataclysm passing, things like thrones, true destinies, and legacies seemed fewer. Instead, things like bloodlines, treasure bodies, Colorful Foundations, and Color True Bodies had popped up...
Gu Qingfeng pondered, feeling he was somewhat falling behind the times. He asked, "Are there any books on this subject?"
"Which subject?"
His question left both Fei Kui and Ouyang Feiyue bewildered. They were just discussing Li Wang, and suddenly this guy was asking about books.
"About these foundations and True Bodies derived from colored spiritual roots..."
"Why read books? Whatever you want to know, sister can tell you directly."
"You?"
Gu Qingfeng looked her up and down.
"Sister herself established a Colorful Foundation and a Color True Body, and opened a Colorful Purple Mansion. When it comes to understanding colored spirits, probably no one in the entire Yunxia Sect knows more than sister. Qingfeng, little brother, how about this: let's find a quiet place, have some wine, and sister will explain it to you, alright?"
"Alright."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng agree without a second thought, Fei Kui beside him hurriedly said, "Young Master, perhaps I should go with you."
As he spoke, he glanced at Ouyang Feiyue, seeming somewhat worried.
"Oh my, little mouse, what's this? Are you afraid sister will eat your Young Master?"
Fei Kui opened his mouth, then closed it, seeming to have something to say but holding back. It appeared his wariness of Ouyang Feiyue was no ordinary matter.
"Enough, stay here. I'll be back soon."
Watching Gu Qingfeng leave, Fei Kui wore a miserable expression and secretly transmitted a message: *Young Master, you must be extremely careful. It's not that this humble one lacks confidence in you, but that Ouyang Feiyue woman has too many wicked schemes. Even the old master has been tricked by her several times. Don't fall into her trap.*
*Even someone as sharp as the old master has been tricked by her?*
Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh silently, thinking he'd have to see this for himself.
The two chatted as they followed Ouyang Feiyue to a secluded courtyard filled with the songs of birds and fragrance of flowers.
Ouyang Feiyue said that as an honored guest elder of Yunxia Sect, she naturally had her own garden within the sect.
Gu Qingfeng waited in the pavilion for a while. Not long after, the enchanting woman returned carrying several jars of fine wine and some fresh, delicious-looking fruits. Gu Qingfeng didn't stand on ceremony either; he was a lover of good wine, and with wine, everything was negotiable.
Ouyang Feiyue did not probe or play any tricks. While drinking, she very earnestly explained to Gu Qingfeng about colored spirits.
So-called colored spirits typically referred to colored spiritual roots.
And this 'color' represented the natural world.
The stronger the colored spiritual root, the better the aptitude, and the more it could resonate with the natural world. It also meant a higher compatibility with the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, making cultivation speed much faster than with ordinary spiritual roots.
Foundation Establishment established the foundation.
If one established a Colorful Foundation, it was a foundation of the natural world. This kind of foundation was far more solid than an ordinary foundation.
However, the benefits of a Colorful Foundation were not limited to being more solid than an ordinary foundation. At the same time, one's Spiritual Power would gradually transform into colored Spiritual Power, and this colored Spiritual Power was far more formidable than ordinary Spiritual Power.
With equal cultivation level and equal immortal arts, if one possessed a Colorful Foundation, their strength could absolutely easily annihilate a party without a Colorful Foundation. This was because after establishing a Colorful Foundation, Spiritual Power would gradually become colored Spiritual Power, also known as natural world Spiritual Power.
If one opened all the body's acupoints, they could undergo a metamorphosis and establish a True Body. Not only would the physical body become robust, it would also be immune to disease. Most importantly, lifespan would increase; living one to two hundred years was not a problem.
Establishing a Colorful Foundation also gave a chance to achieve a Color True Body.
If one did not establish a Colorful Foundation, it was almost impossible to achieve a Color True Body.
Just as, if one did not have a colored spiritual root, it was impossible to establish a Colorful Foundation.
If one established a Colorful Foundation and then achieved a Color True Body, the colored Spiritual Power within their body would become even more formidable, hailed as dual-colored natural world Spiritual Power. Its might was unparalleled.
Relying on this dual-colored natural world Spiritual Power, even without using any immortal arts, its destructive power was astonishing.
It was no exaggeration to say that a True Person who possessed a Colorful Foundation and had achieved a Color True Body had strength so great they could not only sweep through all ordinary True Persons, but even face True Persons who had opened their Purple Mansions in battle.
Because their colored Spiritual Power was not only formidable, they also possessed colored spirit guardians.
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but recall something Huode had said.
Huode said that in their day, battles depended on cultivation level and emphasized the level of immortal arts. Now, battles depended on various colored spirits and emphasized the strength of magical treasures. No matter how high your cultivation or how strong your immortal arts, they couldn't withstand someone's natural world colored Spiritual Power.
That old master also seemed to say that Color True Bodies were extremely formidable. Someone could just stand there without moving, and you couldn't even hurt them.
This made Gu Qingfeng somewhat puzzled. Was that so-called colored spirit guardian really that powerful?
Upon inquiry, Ouyang Feiyue replied, "Establishing a True Body itself is a metamorphosis; the physical body naturally becomes robust. And a Color True Body is more than ten times more robust than an ordinary True Body. That's not the important part. The important part is that establishing a Colorful Foundation grants colored spirit guardians. If one then achieves a Color True Body, they possess dual-colored spirit guardians."
"Dual-colored spirit guardians?"
Gu Qingfeng had fought both Mu Zibai and Li Zheng. They both had Colorful Foundations, hailed as having colored spirit guardians. In his view, there wasn't much difference.
"You established a Colorful Foundation, achieved a Color True Body, and I heard you also opened a Colorful Purple Mansion. That being the case, your Spiritual Power is not only triple-colored natural world power, but you also possess triple-colored natural world guardians?"
"Of course."
Ouyang Feiyue shrugged her shoulders and said with a charming laugh, "Qingfeng, little brother, would you like to see it for yourself?"
"Alright..."
"Come on then, Qingfeng, little brother. Sister will give you three moves."
Gu Qingfeng felt momentarily speechless. So this lady was waiting for him here. He picked up a cup of fine wine and smiled. "Fine. First, manifest your triple-colored natural world guardians for me to see."