Ming Hui was the hall master of the Changhong Branch Hall and a disciple of the old banner master, Elder Hong, who presided over the branch. His cultivation had even forged a Dao-heart, making his status and position exceptionally distinguished. In the Great Northwest, he was a truly formidable figure. For the past hundred years of the modern era, no one had ever dared to speak to him in such a manner. Even Li Fu, the Grand Steward of the Immortal Estate, held him in some apprehension. Yet now, he was being berated so harshly by an ignorant young man who didn't know his place. Ming Hui was utterly enraged.
"How dare you!"
A single roar of intimidation erupted, its power vast and rolling like a thunderclap, akin to a dragon's roar or a tiger's roar, shaking the venue and leaving many dizzy and disoriented.
However.
The Gu Qingfeng opposite seemed completely unaffected. He still lay reclined in his chair, not even bothering to glance over. Holding his wine cup, he said disdainfully, "How dare I?
Hah!
You haven't even seen me when I'm truly daring."
Discovering that his intimidating roar hadn't shaken Gu Qingfeng in the slightest, Ming Hui was inwardly horrified. He was about to circulate his Nascent Soul to probe the other's depths when Gu Qingfeng's wild and dismissive voice came again.
"You are Huo Toutuo's disciple and the current hall master of the Changhong Branch Hall. Today, out of respect for your master Huo Toutuo, I don't want to embarrass you. Don't be ungrateful!"
"What did you say!"
Ming Hui's expression changed repeatedly. For some reason, when Gu Qingfeng's words reached him, his mind inexplicably began to panic—a panic that made him somewhat afraid, even fearful. Yet he had no idea why he was afraid or what he feared.
"Seeking death!"
Whoosh!
Someone from the Changhong Branch Hall charged out. It was Gao Yuan, the leader of the Eighteen Elephants and also one of the Ten Proud Sons of the Great Northwest. His cultivation was truly imposing, having reached the pinnacle of perfection. Even more terrifying, he possessed three Dragon-Elephant guardians.
"Today, I want to see just what ability you have to be so arrogant before us of the Crimson-Head!"
Roar!
Three illusory yet substantial Dragon-Elephant spirits roared forth. The majestic power of the eighty-one layers of nature's Color Spirit enveloped his body. Wielding a flying sword, Gao Yuan unleashed a mighty sword technique, charging straight at him.
"With just you, you want to see what ability I have?"
Gu Qingfeng still didn't look, merely draining his cup of wine. "You're not qualified. Get back!"
As his words fell, with a *bang*, Gao Yuan, not knowing what happened, let out a muffled grunt as if struck by lightning. His three Dragon-Elephant spirits inexplicably dissipated and vanished. He was sent flying sideways like a kite with its string cut.
Witnessing this scene, everyone present was greatly shocked.
Gao Yuan was one of the Ten Proud Sons of the Great Northwest. His Nascent Soul had reached perfection, he possessed the eighty-one layers of transcendent Color Spirit of nature, and he already had three Dragon-Elephant guardians. Yet now, without even exchanging a single blow, he was sent flying by Gu Qingfeng's light, casual words?
"How dare you injure someone from our Changhong Branch Hall!
Everyone, attack together and kill him!"
"Attack together!"
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Over a dozen old Chixiao members and a group of elders from the Changhong Branch Hall were checking Gao Yuan's injuries. Meanwhile, Lei Guang, Qi Hang, and over twenty others from the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants charged forward first, each enveloped in the Color Spirit of nature, with Dragon-Elephant guardians.
"A bunch of overconfident brats!"
Gu Qingfeng picked up the wine pot and poured himself another cup. "With your meager Cultivation Levels, you dare to shout about killing? Seeking death!"
Bang!
There was no powerful aura, no rolling sound waves.
Nothing at all.
Just a very pure sound. Though the tone was a bit sharp, that was all. Aside from sharpness, there was nothing else.
However.
It was precisely this sound that, in an instant, caused Lei Guang, Qi Hang, and all the others from the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants to let out muffled grunts and be sent flying sideways without exception.
No one knew what had happened. Everyone felt it was exceptionally bizarre—so bizarre it was hard to believe this scene was real.
Who didn't know how formidable the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants of the Changhong Branch Hall were? They occupied six or seven of the Ten Proud Sons and Daughters of the Great Northwest, all leading figures among the younger generation. Their Nascent Souls were either spirit-transformed or god-transformed, their fortunes were the transcendent Color Spirit of nature, and they all possessed divine guardians like the Dragon-Elephant spirits. Yet now, they couldn't even withstand a perfectly ordinary sound from Gu Qingfeng.
This couldn't help but make people wonder: were the Crimson-Head's Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants too weak, or was this Gu Qingfeng truly too strong—strong to such an unbelievable degree?
"Considering you're all descendants of the old Chixiao members, I'll let you off today. Don't be ungrateful. If you attack again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Gu Qingfeng's slightly angry voice came through. The people of the Changhong Branch Hall were all furious, circulating their Nascent Souls, wanting to charge forward and fight Gu Qingfeng to the death. However, they were all stopped by Xuefeng and over a dozen other Chixiao members.
The reason Xuefeng and the others stopped them wasn't out of fear.
As Chixiao members, they never knew what fear was and had never feared anyone.
They didn't act because, after checking the injuries of the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants, they found they had only suffered mental shock; there were no physical injuries anywhere. They knew this must be the other party showing mercy.
That wasn't the important part.
The important part was that Gu Qingfeng could both manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token and knew the old banner master's nickname. His every word and action was extremely wild and unrestrained, strikingly similar to a certain person. Additionally, Daozun Feiyan had said he bore the surname Gu and represented the King. This series of events left Xuefeng and the others uncertain and unwilling to act blindly.
"Just who are you? Please tell us truthfully!"
Xuefeng, his face flushed red, stared intently at Gu Qingfeng.
"I've already said what needs to be said. You all should take care of yourselves. If you believe me, go back and wait quietly. I'll come find you when I have time. If you don't believe me, that's fine too. Just stay here and wait for death!"
"You!"
Xuefeng, Hongwen, and the others exchanged glances. Though they were all seething with anger, their hearts grew even more uneasy.
"Such arrogant words!
Do you truly think our Crimson-Head is easy to bully!"
The speaker was none other than Wan Dongfang, the leader of the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants.
He was the strongest among the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants and an absolute leading figure among the younger generation of the Great Northwest. He alone possessed four Dragon-Elephant guardians, and his cultivation had already forged a Dao-heart. It was said his nature's Color Spirit was not only transcendent but had even broken through the eighty-one layers, though whether this was true remained unknown.
Even so, he still felt deep apprehension towards Gu Qingfeng's presence.
Of course, it wasn't apprehension towards Gu Qingfeng's identity, but towards his strength.
Especially after witnessing with his own eyes how Gu Qingfeng's ordinary sound had sent over twenty people from the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants scattering and flying, Wan Dongfang felt immense apprehension. Otherwise, he wouldn't have held back from acting until now.
However, now that Gu Qingfeng was so arrogant as to disregard even the Chixiao members, and in front of so many people, Wan Dongfang's dignity and pride wouldn't allow him to remain silent any longer.