Just as Murong Tian had said, Li Fu, as the chief steward of the Immortal Office, had never feared anyone since the opening of the modern era. Especially with more and more reincarnated individuals taking up residence in the Immortal Office, he had even less understanding of what fear was. Moreover, with major figures continuously arriving from the Immortal Court, he felt even more fearless.
This time, he personally led the team here to avenge the death of Wei Chaoqun and also to obtain the Mystic Tortoise in Gu Qingfeng's possession that was as solid as bedrock.
He hadn't acted at Yaoyue Palace because Gu Qingfeng's whereabouts were unknown; taking action would have been futile.
Now that Gu Qingfeng was right before his eyes, he still hadn't acted. It wasn't because he feared Gu Qingfeng's possible identity as the heir of Lord Chixiao, nor was it because he dreaded Gu Qingfeng's bizarre and supremely powerful strength. It was because one person had forbidden him from acting.
A woman.
A woman named An Ran.
When he informed the Twenty-Four Pride Immortals about this, Murong Tian and the others were very surprised, seemingly not expecting that the one who had stopped them from acting would be An Ran.
An Ran was also a chief steward of the Immortal Office.
Everyone in the Immortal Office knew that An Ran's status and position were not as simple as just being a chief steward. Her father, grandfather, master, grandmaster, and even her entire family were all significant figures of great importance within the Immortal Office, also constituting one of the three major powers that governed the Immortal Office.
"An Ran, why won't you allow us to act?"
The question came from Murong Tian. From his tone, it wasn't hard to hear that he seemed very displeased with An Ran.
Indeed.
Murong Tian had always been very displeased with An Ran.
The reason was simple: he had pursued An Ran but was rejected, and not just once.
Naturally, he viewed An Ran with great displeasure.
The Twenty-Four Pride Immortals of the Immortal Office all looked to him as their leader and were aware that An Ran had rejected Murong Tian's advances, so they were all very displeased with her as well.
Similarly,
Li Fu was also displeased with An Ran, not because of Murong Tian, but due to factional reasons.
The Immortal Office had three lords. An Ran's grandfather was one of them, while Li Fu followed another lord—also Murong Tian's great-grandfather, Old Master Murong.
Although the three major factions of the Immortal Office had always been engaged in covert and overt struggles, the Immortal Office was still under the authority of the Immortal Court. Therefore, the three factions did not dare to act too recklessly.
Just as Murong Tian's words fell, a figure suddenly flickered into view—a beautiful and dignified woman, dressed in holy, magnificent robes. It was An Ran.
Upon appearing, An Ran first furrowed her willow-leaf eyebrows and took a deep look at Gu Qingfeng, who was located at Xiao Zhe Manor. After a long while, she then turned around to look at Li Fu, Murong Tian, and the others, speaking softly, "This person's origins are mysterious, his identity unknown, and his strength is unfathomable. I advise you not to act on impulse and regret it for the rest of your lives."
Before Li Fu could speak, An Ran continued her persuasion, "Whether this person is truly the heir of Lord Chixiao, I am not clear for now, and presumably you don't care about that either. But there is one point we must admit: this person's methods are truly too profound. Whether it's his indestructible Bedrock Physique or his absolute, unyielding power, we cannot gauge their depths. Coupled with his feats at Wuse Mountain—a single mighty shout annihilating dozens, a single move killing Young Master Chanchu, and enlightening Ancestor Fenglie in the swamp lands—this person's existence is definitely extraordinary. Before we have investigated thoroughly, do not act against him."
"Oh? An Ran, do you think I am not his match?"
Murong Tian sneered, his words brimming with arrogance and disdain.
"That is not what I mean. I am only saying his strength is unfathomable. I hope everyone can calm down and think."
At this moment, Li Fu said, "Calm down and think? Chief Steward An, you should know that Wei Chaoqun and many others from our Immortal Office were killed by him, right? How can you ask us to calm down? If we do not annihilate him today, where will the dignity of our Immortal Office be? Where will our face be? How will we establish ourselves in the Great Northwest in the future?"
"I believe this matter should wait until the three lords and the various elders return from the Immortal Court before a decision is made."
As she spoke, An Ran glanced at Li Fu and said, "Moreover, Steward Li, did you personally lead the team here this time truly just for the dignity of our Immortal Office?"
"If not, then why?"
An Ran ignored Li Fu and looked at the dozens of elders nearby, saying, "Seniors, you are all experienced, well-traveled seniors who have cultivated for thousands of years. You have seen far more instances of people losing their lives fighting over spiritual treasures and resources than a junior like me. I hope you will not act on impulse and let thousands of years of bitter cultivation go to waste."
Aside from the Twenty-Four Pride Immortals, the Immortal Office had also sent several dozen stewards this time. As An Ran said, they were all seniors who had cultivated for thousands of years, each a Daozun at the Nascent Soul realm. Old Daoist Tuofeng and Old Freak Heiling were even experts who had forged their Dao-hearts. They had indeed seen far too many instances of people losing their lives fighting over spiritual treasures.
The principle that humans die for wealth as birds die for food was something they understood better than anyone.
But today, they had still come.
Aside from being unable to defy the orders of Li Fu and Murong Tian, they all wanted to obtain that Mystic Tortoise as solid as bedrock.
Old Daoist Tuofeng, Old Freak Heiling, and the others exchanged glances and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Chief Steward An. This old man knows what he is doing."
An Ran shook her head helplessly. She knew these people were all coveting the Mystic Tortoise in Gu Qingfeng's possession and would not listen to anyone's advice.
Although the three major factions of the Immortal Office had always been engaged in covert and overt struggles, and An Ran did not belong to the same faction as these people, they were all still members of the Immortal Office. An Ran did not want to stand by and watch them fight fiercely over the Mystic Tortoise.
She tried her best to persuade them, but alas, no one would listen.
These people were determined to seize that Mystic Tortoise.
Not to mention them, even the reincarnated individuals stationed at the Immortal Office had come this time—ten or twenty of them—and the one leading them was Old Senior Zhuo.
There were many reincarnated individuals in the Immortal Office, over a hundred in total.
Old Senior Zhuo could be considered one of considerable reputation. At the very least, other reincarnated individuals showed him some deference. It was said that before his reincarnation, he had once been a senior Immortal in the Heavenly Realm with deeper insights into the Immortal Dao than other reincarnated individuals.
What surprised An Ran was that even a great expert like Old Senior Zhuo had been unable to resist the temptation of the Mystic Tortoise.
She knew she was not qualified to persuade reincarnated individuals led by Old Senior Zhuo, so she had specifically invited two helpers this time.
They were also two reincarnated individuals.
One named Wan Huaiyu, and one named Qin Hao.
Whether it was Wan Huaiyu or Qin Hao, both were relatively low-key reincarnated experts. But being low-key did not mean they lacked capability. On the contrary, in An Ran's view, the abilities of Wan Huaiyu and the other were far more profound than those of other reincarnated experts. Most importantly, Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao had always had a good relationship with Old Senior Zhuo. She hoped they could step forward to persuade him.
When they came, the three had arrived together. What puzzled An Ran was that after reaching Xiao Zhe Manor, while she was busy persuading Li Fu and the others, Wan Huaiyu and the other had gone somewhere unknown. Lifting her eyes to scan the surroundings, she discovered that the two were still lingering over ten thousand meters away. An Ran was puzzled and flashed over to them.