Qian Shan's words left many of the Immortal officials present feeling incredulous.
Although none of them had ever seen that Gu Qingfeng, they all knew that Gu Qingfeng had killed dozens of Immortal officials from the Northwest Immortal Estate. As for Gu Qingfeng's cultivation and strength, it seemed to be at the Golden Core level, merely possessing a slightly more robust physical body—likely just an upstart who had stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter.
Such individuals might be rare in the Great Northwest, but in the Divine Land, upstarts who had chanced upon strange encounters and possessed strong physiques were a dime a dozen, nothing special at all.
How could he possibly be a match for the Immortal Dynasty's nobles?
Putting aside other factors.
It must be known that every single Immortal Dynasty noble possessed the supreme and unrivaled Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Form. Moreover, aside from the Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Form, each Immortal Dynasty noble also had Immortal Root protection, a hundred layers of Natural Colored Spirits, and other powerful blessings. How could they possibly not be a match for that criminal upstart?
Furthermore, there wasn't just one Immortal Dynasty noble here, but a full thirty-four of them, including outstanding figures among the Immortal nobles like Liuguang Qinghong, Liuguang Jiaoying, and Xingyao. To say that they were no match for that criminal upstart would be utterly laughable.
Originally, many of the Immortal officials present had doubts about Fairy Su Hua sheltering the criminal. Now, it seemed this matter was almost certainly true—Fairy Hua might genuinely be protecting the criminal.
Considering that Fairy Hua was now openly opposing the Immortal Dynasty for the sake of the Chixiao Sect, everyone knew she had always favored the Chixiao Sovereign. And since that criminal Gu Qingfeng claimed to be the Sovereign's successor, it wasn't impossible for Fairy Hua to shelter him.
But doing so really compromised the dignity of a fairy!
Many Immortal officials present felt quite disappointed.
Liuguang Qinghong wore a cold, arrogant smile at the corner of his mouth and said, "Fairy Hua, if you truly wish to shelter that criminal Gu Qingfeng, we have nothing to say. But for you to fabricate such a ridiculous excuse to protect him shows you look down on us too much."
"He's nothing but an upstart who chanced upon some blessings and underwent a physical mutation. What capability could he possibly have?"
Liuguang Jiaoying said disdainfully, "And he claims to be the successor of the Dao criminal Gu Tianlang? Even if he were Gu Tianlang himself, this noble would surely make him kneel and kowtow within three moves."
As soon as the words fell, a sharp slap landed on Liuguang Jiaoying's cheek.
The slap instantly caused Liuguang Jiaoying's cheek to swell. What was even more unexpected was that the one who struck him was actually Fairy Su Hua, who had never laid hands on anyone before.
"Su Hua, you..." Liuguang Jiaoying, unwilling to accept this, flew into a rage from shame and was about to retaliate when Liuguang Qinghong stopped him.
At this moment, Su Hua was no longer the gentle, moving, celestial beauty known as Fairy Hua. Instead, she had transformed into an imposing, ice-cold woman whose aura made one's heart tremble. Staring at Liuguang Jiaoying, her beautiful eyes flickered with a silent, murderous intent as she said coldly, "If you dare spout such arrogant nonsense again, I will kill you!"
Seeing this, Liuguang Qinghong hurriedly apologized, "Jiaoying is young and ignorant, and has offended the Fairy. I hope the Fairy will not stoop to his level."
Just then, a burst of laughter rang out. "Well struck! Excellently struck! Marvelously struck! These ignorant brats who don't know their own mortality really need a good lesson."
"Who is it!"
Liuguang Jiaoying, his anger already burning fiercely after being slapped by Fairy Su Hua, became even more enraged upon hearing such mocking laughter. He leaped up and roared, "Show yourself!"
"What are you shouting for? This old man is already out."
An old man walked out from the crowd. He wore a tattered gray robe, with a gourd hanging from his waist. His unkempt, bearded appearance was somewhat slovenly. Many people didn't recognize this old man, but that didn't mean no one did. At the very least, Qian Shan recognized him—he was Huode, a minor elder from the Cloud Mist Sect in the Four Directions Great Domain.
"What kind of thing are you! Seeking death!"
Swoosh!
Liuguang Jiaoying flashed forward, intending to strike Huode dead with a single palm. His speed was fast, but someone was faster. Just as he made his move, a figure had already appeared in front of Huode.
Seeing this figure, Liuguang Jiaoying's expression changed drastically. At the same time, Liuguang Qinghong pulled him back, because the person who had appeared before Huode was none other than Fairy Su Hua.
"Heh heh, Fairy Hua, you actually don't need to protect this old man."
Huode chuckled and patted the gourd at his waist. "This old man has a treasure given by that kid Gu. These little brats can't harm me."
Fairy Su Hua glanced at the wine gourd on Huode's waist, but only for a moment. Compared to the gourd, she was more eager to know Gu Qingfeng's whereabouts. She asked again, "Old sir, were you with Gu Qingfeng? Where is he now?"
"Fairy, this old man wanted to ask you the same question."
Huode also furrowed his brow and asked, "Weren't you with that kid Gu? Haven't you seen him?"
"No..." Su Hua shook her head. "After he left Little Fold Manor, I never saw him again."
"So you don't know that kid Gu's whereabouts either..." Huode rubbed his chin and then looked toward the Chixiao people. Cupping his hands, he asked, "Several old sirs, have you seen where that kid Gu went?"
The three Banner Masters of the Chixiao Sect, including Scar-face Kui and the other Chixiao people, all knew of Huode's relationship with the Sovereign. Therefore, they had always regarded him as one of their own—not just that, they held Huode in great respect. Because they all remembered the Chixiao Sovereign once saying that Huode was both a teacher and a friend to the Sovereign. As members of the Chixiao Sect, they naturally treated Huode very courteously.
"We are also looking for that Gu Qingfeng."
Indeed.
After the incident at Little Fold Manor erupted and they heard that their own Dragon-Elephant Spirits revered Gu Qingfeng, this matter had alarmed not only the three Banner Masters but also Blackwater Mountain. After discussing it, they had originally planned to personally find Gu Qingfeng to verify the truth, but unexpectedly encountered this matter with the Immortal Dynasty.
"You don't know either..." Huode then looked into the crowd and asked, "Feiyan, Kumu, you old fellows... have you seen that kid Gu?"
The Palace Master Feiyan of Yaoyue Palace, Kumu of the Five Colors Mountain, and others had also come. However, the conflict between the Immortal Dynasty and the Chixiao Sect was no longer something they could intervene in, so they hadn't dared to say much.
Feiyan stepped forward and said, "We do not know the whereabouts of Gu... Young Master Chiyan."
Following that, Kumu also stepped forward and replied, "This old man does not know either..."
"No one knows? Where could that kid have gone? Did he leave the Great Northwest?"
Huode muttered to himself, his brow deeply furrowed. "If that kid Gu has left the Great Northwest, then so be it. But if he hasn't left... then this matter is going to be huge..."
Beside him, Su Hua felt puzzled and asked, "Old sir, why are you so urgently looking for Gu Qingfeng?"
"With such a huge incident happening, how can I not be urgent?"
Huode glanced at Elder Hong and the other Chixiao people, then at Liuguang Qinghong and the other Immortal Dynasty officials. He then said to Su Hua, "Fairy, while that kid Gu still doesn't know about this matter, you should quickly make these Immortal Dynasty brats leave the Great Northwest. The faster, the better."