Xiao Zhe Manor.
Qian Shan, Ouyang Ye, and Han Dong stood nearby, unsure whether to stand or sit.
Liu Qingyan, Qingxi, and the others from Wuse Mountain were in the same predicament.
Feng Hua, Feng Lie, and the other ancestors from Yaoyue Palace were even more uneasy in their hearts. Although Daozun Feiyan had stood up, he kept his head bowed, his body bent, standing obediently to the side, not daring to look up or speak.
None of them spoke.
Nor did they know what to say.
Yes.
They didn't know.
Facing a fellow of unclear origin, unknown identity, mysterious and bizarre.
Facing a fellow who, despite being surrounded by all the major sects of the Great Northwest, remained fearless and carefree, leisurely drinking wine.
What could anyone say?
Right now, they didn't want to say anything; they only wanted to know what gave this fellow the audacity to act so freely, and they wanted even more to know whether he was truly the Young Lord Chiyan who had turned to dust and smoke at the Tai Xuan Monument three years ago, and whether he was truly the Heir of the Monarch.
Within the grounds.
Gu Qingfeng lay reclined in his chair, one hand holding a wine pot, taking occasional sips. His legs were propped up on the table, his eyes closed as if resting his spirit, looking somewhat weary.
He was indeed a bit tired.
To help Old Man Ku Mu rebuild his primordial spirit, he had been at it continuously for several days, thoroughly exhausting himself.
The business of rebuilding a primordial spirit required the use of some forbidden formations. Without suitable resources to arrange these forbidden formations, Gu Qingfeng could only rely on his own spirit to sustain them.
Ever since being judged by the myriad Daos, his spirit had been in a withered state. Although it had been slowly recovering, the recovery was always limited. Now, expending a large amount of spirit to arrange the forbidden formations had made his already withered spirit even weaker. While it wasn't on the verge of exhaustion, that feeling of spiritual depletion left him completely devoid of energy.
"Big Brother, you look very tired. Are you alright? Does Jin'er need to help you with anything?"
Xiao Jinr was probably the only one unaffected by the solemn, murderous atmosphere within the grounds. She stood beside Gu Qingfeng, diligently pouring wine. Seeing how weary Gu Qingfeng looked, she said with concern, "Big Brother, helping Old Senior Ku Mu rebuild his primordial spirit must have worn you out. How about... you go rest first?"
Xiao Jinr's words left Qian Shan, Ouyang Ye, Qingxi, and the others utterly speechless, inwardly sighing at her adorable innocence.
Rest?
Now, all the major sects, plus the Immortal Office, and the Chixiao Faction—virtually all the experts of the Great Northwest—had arrived, and they were all here for him. Would he dare to rest?
Gu Qingfeng was also amused by Xiao Jinr's words. He glanced at Xiao Jinr and smiled helplessly, saying, "I'd like to rest, but the key is, these people have to let me, don't they?"
"Then, Big Brother, what are you going to do... are you going to kill these bad people?"
"Killing people..." Gu Qingfeng's brow furrowed slightly. He raised a hand to tap his forehead, looking very troubled.
"Jin'er still clearly remembers Big Brother saying that in this lifetime, you've killed countless people, killed until you've grown numb, killed until you've even felt sick of it... Since that's the case, Big Brother, please don't kill anyone anymore, okay?"
Xiao Jinr's words gave everyone present a ridiculous feeling.
What did she mean by 'killed many people'?
Killed until numb?
Even felt sick of it?
Was that possible?
He was neither a reincarnated soul nor a body-snatcher reborn. Even if he were truly the Heir of the Monarch, he would only be in his early twenties. How many people could he kill even if he killed someone every day?
'Countless people'?
Who did he think he was? Did he think he was the Chixiao Monarch himself!
"Hey, all of you listen! My Big Brother is tired and wants to rest. And my Big Brother really doesn't want to kill anyone anymore. All of you, leave, okay?" Xiao Jinr shouted at the crowd. "Jin'er doesn't know why you're looking for trouble with my Big Brother, and Jin'er doesn't want to know. But Jin'er knows my Big Brother is very powerful. Killing you would be as easy as crushing ants. So please don't come looking for trouble with my Big Brother. You can't beat my Big Brother. While my Big Brother isn't angry yet, you should leave quickly. If he really gets angry later, you won't be able to leave even if you want to."
No one believed Xiao Jinr's words. Everyone treated what she said as a joke, and a colossal one at that.
"Where did this little girl come from, daring to spout such nonsense here!"
"A little girl who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
"'Kill us like crushing ants'? Ha! What big talk!"
The direct disciples of the various major sects initially stepped forward, but they were all thunder without rain—only shouting, none daring to act rashly. At the very least, Cao Hongyun of Hunyuan Gate, Zhong Yulong of Yaoyue Palace, Wang She of the Huwei Wang Family, Young Master Zhu Chi of Heifeng Cave, and the other so-called Ten Great Prodigies of the Great Northwest, though they stepped forward, did not take action.
Next, Murong Tian, leading Shen Tu Hao, Han Feng, and the other Twenty-Four Pride Immortals of the Immortal Office, also stepped forward, but similarly did not act.
At the same time, Wan Dongfang, leading Gao Yuan, Lei Guang, Qi Hang, and the other Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants, also stepped forward, yet still did not act.
They were all prominent figures among the younger generation of the Great Northwest. Although arrogant and conceited by nature, and confident in themselves, confidence was not the same as arrogance. Facing a mysterious and bizarre individual, none of them dared to act rashly.
Of course.
Not daring to act rashly did not mean not daring to act at all.
Their purpose in stepping forward now was to show their stance to the others.
As long as someone dared to take the lead, they would follow without hesitation.
But who would take this lead?
The direct disciples of the major sects were waiting for the Immortal Office and the Chixiao Faction, while the Immortal Office and the Chixiao Faction were waiting for the other to take the lead.
At that moment, a voice like a great bell rang out within the grounds.
"Junior! Just who are you!"
Everyone looked over. The one who stepped forward was an elder—Xue Feng, one of the three incense masters stationed at the Changhong Branch, and also the maternal grandfather of Wu Hen, who had his cultivation crippled by Gu Qingfeng at Wuse Mountain. Standing with him was Chi Yu's grandfather, Hong Wen.
However, the Chixiao members who had come this time were not limited to these two. There were over ten other old Chixiao members stationed at other branches.
Both men dearly loved their grandson and maternal grandson. Now that they had been crippled, the two naturally could not tolerate it. If not for this, they would not have broken their seclusion today and come in person with such a massive show of force.
If it were anyone else, given their tempers, they would have taken action immediately to avenge their grandsons!
But facing someone who might be the Heir of the Monarch, they hesitated.
The vengeance must be carried out!
They would definitely take action.
But before seeking vengeance, before taking action, they had to determine whether the person before them was truly the Heir of the Monarch.
Opposite them.
Gu Qingfeng, still reclined in his chair, took a cup of wine handed to him by Xiao Jinr, took a light sip, glanced at Xue Feng, Hong Wen, and the other dozen or so Chixiao members, and said softly and indifferently, "You are all Chixiao members from the Black Nether Banner of the former Chixiao Sect. If I recall correctly, you were even the incense master of the Black Nether Banner, with the Daoist title Xue Feng, and the nickname Xue Three Blades!"