Ever since the Nine Radiance Alliance was destroyed three years ago, most of the reincarnated experts who had been cultivating in seclusion within it have joined the Immortal Estate.
Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao were no exception.
The two had always kept a low profile.
Even among the over one hundred reincarnated mighty beings in the Immortal Estate, they rarely interacted with others, focusing solely on closed-door cultivation. It wasn't until they recently heard the news of Young Lord Chiyan's death and resurrection that they lost all interest in seclusion.
Three years ago at the Tai Xuan Stele, they had personally witnessed Young Lord Chiyan turn to dust and smoke.
Although they didn't know the reason.
The fact that Young Lord Chiyan had turned to dust and smoke was undeniable.
They didn't know exactly who Young Lord Chiyan was, only that his existence was incredibly powerful, even beyond their imagination. If not for that, they wouldn't have shown him such profound respect back in the Four Directions Great Domain.
They thought Young Lord Chiyan had simply died like that.
Though his death was baffling, he was truly dead.
But what they never could have imagined was that in recent months, rumors had been spreading throughout the Great Northwest about Young Lord Chiyan's death and resurrection.
Upon hearing this news, their first reaction was disbelief, thinking it must be an imposter.
To turn to dust and smoke meant both body and soul disintegrated, returning to dust and merging with nature.
No one could die and come back to life.
This was the law, the natural order.
Whether immortal, demon, monster, human, ghost, or spirit, none could defy the laws of heaven and earth.
Even if one acted against the heavens, defying the natural order, they couldn't fathom how someone who had turned to dust and smoke could possibly return to life.
They originally didn't believe it and paid no heed to the matter.
However, after later hearing that this Young Lord Chiyan also possessed the Bedrock Physique and Absolute Power, they found it incredible. Then they heard that this person had played "Wind Rises Over the Great Green Mountains" and "Youth's Journey" at Wuse Mountain, killed dozens with a single mighty shout, and obliterated Young Lord Toad with one move. Their doubts grew deeper, so they decided to come and see for themselves whether this Young Lord Chiyan was real or fake.
Standing beside them was an old man, none other than Elder Jin, also a reincarnated expert.
Elder Jin hadn't taken action at Wuse Mountain, so he remained uninjured.
However.
Regarding whether that person was truly Young Lord Chiyan, he genuinely didn't know.
He himself didn't believe someone who had turned to dust and smoke could possibly return to life.
But a living, breathing Young Lord Chiyan appearing before his eyes made him dare not disbelieve entirely.
He could only pin his hopes on Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, hoping they could tell him whether this person was the terrifying Young Lord Chiyan from three years ago.
"You two... look, is he real or not?"
Elder Jin hid a distance of ten thousand meters away. Regardless of whether that person was the real Young Lord Chiyan, he didn't dare get too close, fearing he might bring disaster upon himself.
At this moment.
Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao stared intently at Gu Qingfeng within Xiao Zhe Manor. The longer they looked, the deeper their frowns became; the longer they looked, the greater the shock in their eyes; the longer they looked, the more peculiar their expressions grew.
Similar!
Too similar!
The face was the same, with no signs of disguise.
The cultivation level was the same—Golden Core realm.
The spiritual aura was the same—a very pure spiritual aura.
The temperament was the same—dusk-like and somber.
The impression he gave was the same—casual and free-spirited, so casual it was unconstrained, so free-spirited it was utterly unrestrained, as if nothing concerned him, yet also as if nothing was worthy of his attention.
Could it be...
Had he truly died and come back to life?
Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao couldn't believe it, nor were they entirely certain. They only felt he was similar and couldn't find any reason to refute it.
"Three Seniors!"
An Ran flashed into appearance. She knew Wan Huaiyu and the other two had interacted with Gu Qingfeng back in the Four Directions Great Domain. She also wanted to know whether this person was the Young Lord Chiyan from three years ago. She had asked Elder Jin earlier, but Elder Jin wasn't sure. When she asked Wan Huaiyu,
Both shook their heads, responding in unison: "We don't know."
"Even you two dare not confirm it?"
Yes.
They dared not confirm it.
Wan Huaiyu said gravely, "If I hadn't personally witnessed Young Lord Chiyan turn to dust and smoke three years ago, I might believe this person is Young Lord Chiyan. But three years ago, he clearly turned to dust and smoke... How could he..." In the end, Wan Huaiyu couldn't believe someone who had turned to dust and smoke could return to life.
To be precise, he couldn't accept it.
Although he knew Young Lord Chiyan's existence surpassed imagination, and that nothing in this world was absolute, he still couldn't believe it. He couldn't convince himself.
"Miss An Ran, if this person isn't Young Lord Chiyan, then so be it. But if he truly is, do not interfere in today's events. Otherwise, not even a god could save you!"
After Qin Hao spoke, Wan Huaiyu added with profound solemnity, "Not only should you not participate in today's affairs, but you should also avoid involvement in any of his matters in the future."
As if surprised by Wan Huaiyu's words, An Ran's expression stiffened, her beautiful face turning somewhat unnatural. "Is the real Young Lord Chiyan truly that terrifying?"
She simply couldn't imagine what kind of existence the real Young Lord Chiyan was. Why would even Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao—these two unfathomably deep reincarnated mighty beings—fear him so? Was it fear of Young Lord Chiyan's status as the heir of the Monarch?
Or fear of his strength?
Logically, reincarnated experts wouldn't care about a status like 'heir of the Monarch.' Could it be fear of Young Lord Chiyan's strength?
That shouldn't be the case either. No matter how powerful, even if Wan Huaiyu couldn't defeat him, he shouldn't fear him to the point of being terrified at the mere mention of his name, right?
Why exactly?
When she asked for the reason,
Qin Hao said, "I don't fear his status, nor do I fear his strength. What truly makes me wary is his unknown nature. The unknown is the most frightening thing. And his existence is the most mysterious, most unknown person I've encountered since my reincarnation."
"Mystery and the unknown are indeed terrifying, because you simply cannot imagine what truth lies hidden behind that mystery and unknown."
Wan Huaiyu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if calming the turmoil in his heart.
"Miss An Ran, you went to persuade them earlier, but they wouldn't listen?"
An Ran shook her head helplessly. "Li Fu and Murong Tian seem determined to seize that Mystic Tortoise. Tuofeng, Senior Hei Ling, and the others are the same. Even Senior Zhuo and his group... I hope you can step in and persuade them. As long as Senior Zhuo gives up the idea of seizing it, the others won't dare act recklessly."
"Senior Zhuo is a good man, but he's rather stubborn."
Qin Hao said worriedly, "I'm afraid even if we go to persuade him, it might not work."
"We should still try to persuade him. Otherwise, he will definitely die here."
Listening to the conversation between Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, An Ran felt a chill run down her spine. Nothing had even happened yet, so how could they be so certain that Senior Zhuo would die here?
Wan Huaiyu gave An Ran a deep look and said, "If the person inside Xiao Zhe Manor is truly Young Lord Chiyan, then not only will Senior Zhuo die, but everyone here—every single one—will likely not survive."