Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's identity was too mysterious, or perhaps his strength was too bizarre, or perhaps his very existence was too unknown.
No one inside the courtyard made any rash moves.
The proud, talented direct disciples of the major sects, who relied on their gifts and looked down on others, had all originally intended to take action.
They were young and hot-blooded, arrogant and prideful of their talents. Even though Gu Qingfeng's identity was mysterious and his strength bizarre, in their eyes, that was all it was. Wariness was one thing, but they were far from being too afraid to make a move.
However, while they thought this way, the sect masters and elders of the major sects would not.
They had deep experience and had been through all sorts of major and minor events. They understood very well that impulsiveness came with a price. Some impulsive actions might carry a small price, but others might carry a cost from which there was no chance of recovery.
Therefore, when they saw these young men about to act, they stopped them at the first opportunity.
The sect masters and elders of the major sects were all old, seasoned veterans who had cultivated for many years. They all knew that when facing an opponent whose identity and depth of strength were unknown, one must remain calm and absolutely must not be the first to strike. Their rich experience told them that often, the one who sticks their neck out dies the fastest and suffers the most.
The best course of action now was to wait.
Wait for the Immortal Office, and wait for the Crimson-Letter Sect.
These two entities were giants in the current world. In other words, no matter how high the opponent's cultivation, how great their status, or how powerful their background, they could afford to provoke them.
But just at that moment, a group of five or six people rushed into Xiao Zhe Manor.
It was the Ancestral Patriarchs Fenghua, Feng Lie, and others from the Demon Moon Palace, along with the current palace master, Feiyan.
What shocked everyone present beyond measure was that the moment Feiyan stepped into Xiao Zhe Manor, she immediately knelt on the ground, cupping her hands in a grand salute. "This old woman... this old woman pays her respects to Chiyan... to Young Lord Chiyan."
Feiyan's kneeling salute truly horrified everyone in the courtyard. They couldn't understand why Feiyan would show such reverence to Gu Qingfeng, reverence to the point of performing a kneeling salute.
Why?
Was it because of the identity of the Monarch's heir?
The key point was that this identity wasn't even confirmed yet.
Even if he really was the Monarch's heir, as a senior, Feiyan shouldn't need to kneel like this, should she?
If this Gu Qingfeng truly was the Monarch's heir, it should be him performing the salute. Everyone knew that the Monarch had once lived in seclusion at the Demon Moon Palace and had that past affair with Lady Zhuyue. While Feiyan's status wasn't exactly Lady Zhuyue's master, she was more like a master. With her status, not to mention meeting the Monarch's heir, even meeting the Monarch himself, she shouldn't need to kneel.
Especially Han Dong and Ouyang Ye—this wasn't the first time they had seen Feiyan kneel to Gu Qingfeng; it was already the second time. But as for why Dao Venerable Feiyan was so reverent towards Gu Qingfeng, none of them had any idea.
Fenghua, Feng Lie, and the others exchanged glances, stunned on the spot. Despite their many years of cultivation and rich experience, faced with this scene, they too were at a loss for how to respond.
What was even more astonishing was that in the face of Dao Venerable Feiyan's salute, Gu Qingfeng remained seated in his chair. He didn't look like he was enjoying Feiyan's obeisance, nor was he overwhelmed by the honor, nor did he show any humility. There was only a kind of helplessness—a very plain, matter-of-fact helplessness.
"You are both a senior to Feng Zhuyue and a senior to Gu Tianlang. I am merely here representing Gu Tianlang. There is absolutely no need for you to perform such a salute. Gu Tianlang cannot bear it, and neither can I."
"The Monarch is the Monarch, the Monarch of all the common people under heaven. This old woman cultivates within this realm of heaven and earth. Kneeling to the Monarch of this realm is only natural and proper."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head but didn't say anything more.
However, the dialogue between the two, falling upon the ears of the crowd, made the already mysterious and unknown Gu Qingfeng seem even more mysterious, even more unknown.
He came representing the Monarch?
What did that mean?
Was the implication of his words that he claimed to be the Monarch's heir?
If that were truly the case, why would he directly utter the Monarch's personal name?
That was a grave act of disrespect.
Just what was going on?
"You... esteemed sir... Young Lord, just who are you?"
Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie, having received Gu Qingfeng's enlightening guidance, had originally come to believe in his heart that Gu Qingfeng was the Monarch's heir. But the utterly reverent attitude Feiyan displayed had left him somewhat bewildered, and for a moment, he didn't know how to address Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng looked at Ancestral Patriarch Feng Lie with a smiling expression, not answering but instead asking, "Oh? Awake already? That was quick! Not bad at all! You've even condensed a Dao-heart, hmm... a bit better than I imagined. Good, good."
"This matter... this old man... hasn't yet thanked..." Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's existence was too bizarre, to the point that Feng Lie's speech became somewhat halting.
"Thank me for what? It's what I should have done."
Gu Qingfeng said indifferently, "Back when Gu Tianlang was condensing his Nascent Soul, you helped a great deal. Since I am here representing Gu Tianlang, naturally, I must repay your kindness on his behalf."
Having said that, he looked at Fenghua and the others. "The same goes for you few. You all helped a lot back then. It was thanks to you that Gu Tianlang successfully condensed his Nascent Soul. As for me, I originally planned to find an opportunity to see you all in a few days, to personally visit and express my thanks. But since you've all come today, we can't just stand here staring at each other. Let's drink and chat."
Gu Qingfeng poured several cups of wine, gesturing for them to sit and drink together.
However.
Fenghua looked at Feng Lie, Feng Lie looked back at Fenghua. The several Ancestral Patriarchs all stared wide-eyed at each other. None of them stepped forward.
None of them were traditionally conservative types. If Gu Qingfeng really were the Monarch's heir, they might have stepped forward to drink without hesitation. But the problem was, Feiyan's attitude towards Gu Qingfeng was far too reverent, so reverent it made all of them feel uneasy. They truly couldn't figure out Gu Qingfeng's identity, so naturally, they didn't dare step forward to drink.
"Back in the day, all of you were people who didn't stand on ceremony. How have you all become so awkward and hesitant now?"
Gu Qingfeng smiled, extending his hand in an inviting gesture. Yet, Ancestral Patriarchs Fenghua, Feng Lie, and the others still didn't dare step forward to accept the cup of wine.
"Fine, fine."
Gu Qingfeng could only drink a cup by himself, looking utterly helpless.
Within the crowd.
The proud talents of the major sects had been itching to make a move, especially the Immortal Office's Twenty-Four Pride Immortals led by Murong Tian.
Others might fear and be wary of Gu Qingfeng's mysterious identity and bizarre strength, not daring to act. But as members of the Immortal Office's Twenty-Four Pride Immortals, they neither feared nor were wary.
The identity of the Monarch's heir?
With the Immortal Court backing them, they didn't take it seriously at all.
Bizarre, supremely powerful strength?
So what?
Even if they weren't a match themselves, today the Immortal Office had brought so many experts—dozens of powerful Office Attendants with high cultivation, plus over a dozen reincarnated Guest Elders holding the line. Were they still afraid of him?
But for some reason, the Immortal Office's Chief Steward Li Fu absolutely refused to allow them to act.
"Steward Li, what exactly are you afraid of? Why won't you let us make a move?"
"Exactly! Others might be afraid, but are we, the Immortal Office, afraid of him?"
"Never mind if he isn't the Monarch's heir; even if he were, so what!"
The Twenty-Four Pride Immortals were already champing at the bit. Arrogant and backed by the Immortal Court, they looked down on everyone.
At that moment, Murong Tian, hailed as the leader of the Twenty-Four Pride Immortals, spoke up. "Steward Li is not someone who hesitates and holds back, and he is definitely not someone who is timid and afraid of trouble. For him to stop you from acting, there must be another reason."