The Immortal Dynasty Nobles stared at the blood-drenched heads scattered across the ground, their faces growing increasingly grim. Anger was present, but it was overshadowed by panic and fear.
The expressions of the twenty-four Earth Immortals were also poor, each one frowning deeply, lost in thought.
Standing before them was another figure—a noble young lord with a silver crown and white robes, whose handsome appearance was extraordinary.
However, the handsome face of this noble young lord was shifting between shades of gloom and fury. He stared fixedly at the heads on the ground, his complexion alternating between green and pale. After a long while, he drew a deep breath, as if suppressing the rage in his heart.
This person was none other than Young Master Long, the holder of the Immortal Edict.
"Tell me!" Young Master Long's eyes snapped open, murderous intent exploding within them as he snarled viciously, "Where is that Gu Qingfeng!"
"Y-Young Master Long," responded Lord Xun, who was kneeling on the ground with disheveled hair and a dirty face. "That Gu Qingfeng's strength is unfathomable. Before we clarify his identity, I advise you not to act impulsively for now..."
"How dare you!"
As Lord Xun was speaking, Young Master Long roared, the sound instantly causing Lord Xun and the seven or eight Nebula Immortal Officials to feel dizzy. He glared at Lord Xun with murderous aura, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up, his eyes blazing with fury. "I don't care who that Gu Qingfeng is! Even if he is the Dao-criminal Gu Tianlang, this Young Master will tear him to pieces!"
At that moment, an elderly Earth Immortal stepped forward to advise, "Young Master Long, setting aside for now who Gu Qingfeng truly is, the fact that he could cripple the cultivation of over a thousand Dharma Idol Great Venerables with a wave of his hand and annihilate Immortal Dynasty Nobles with a flick of his finger is enough to prove his strength is not simple."
"So what? This Young Master holds the Immortal Dynasty's edict. Am I supposed to fear him?"
Suddenly.
A laugh rang out, and in response, five or six figures appeared. Leading them was an exceptionally handsome man clad in black.
The black-clad man's features were truly as if carved from fine jade, breathtakingly beautiful to the point where it was hard to tell if he was a handsome man or a stunning woman.
Seeing this black-clad man, everyone present—whether the twenty-four Earth Immortals or the dozens of Immortal Dynasty Nobles—was momentarily stunned. Not daring to be negligent, they quickly bowed in greeting, for they all knew the newcomer was the Purple-Gold Cloud Noble, Bei Changqing.
Among the Immortal Dynasty Nobles, the status of a Cloud Noble was far more exalted than that of the nobles present here.
And this was merely a Cloud Noble. The existence of a Purple-Gold Cloud Noble was even more incomparable, far beyond what these Immortal Dynasty Nobles could match.
Moreover, Bei Changqing's status was not limited to being a Purple-Gold Cloud Noble; he was also the Immortal Edict Envoy for this expedition to the Northwest.
Although Young Master Long was also honored as an Immortal Edict Envoy, the twenty-four Earth Immortals present knew that Young Master Long's title was merely nominal. The one truly in full command of the Northwest expedition was Bei Changqing.
Of course, this did not mean Young Master Long's status as an envoy was fake.
Not only was it not fake, it was very real.
He simply held no real authority.
While others needed to bow upon seeing a Purple-Gold Cloud Noble like Bei Changqing, Young Master Long did not do so.
Was his noble rank higher than Bei Changqing's?
No.
Not at all.
On the contrary, Young Master Long wasn't even considered an Immortal Dynasty Noble. Yet, many still regarded him with immense awe and reverence. At the very least, the Immortal Dynasty Nobles present dared not defy his will, and the twenty-four Earth Immortals obeyed his words without question. The reason was none other than his identity: he was from the Yunshang Long Family, which, in a sense, made him 'imperial kin'.
"Bei! Chang! Qing! What are you doing here!" Young Master Long threw Lord Xun back to the ground and glared at Bei Changqing. It was evident he held great displeasure toward Bei Changqing.
And indeed, that was the case.
According to the original plan, he should have arrived at the Northwest Immortal Estate several days prior. Unexpectedly, he had been intercepted midway by Bei Changqing. What made him even more furious was that Bei Changqing had offered no explanation whatsoever for doing so.
At this moment.
Bei Changqing stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips. He glanced at the blood-drenched heads on the ground, his gaze sweeping over each person present before finally settling on Young Master Long. With a playful smile, he said, "Young Master Long, I know you're in a foul mood right now."
"If you hadn't intercepted me a few days ago, I would have already torn that man surnamed Gu to pieces!"
"On the contrary," Bei Changqing replied with a light chuckle. "You should thank me. If I hadn't stopped you, it would be your head lying here today."
"How dare you! What did you say!" Young Master Long was greatly enraged.
Whoosh!
A tyrannical sun condensed and manifested, hanging above his head. Immediately after, a dragon's roar exploded forth. As what seemed like a golden holy dragon appeared, it coiled around a wheel of eight suns, circling them like a dragon playing with pearls—a truly spectacular sight.
However, no one was in the mood to appreciate such a magnificent scene. When Young Master Long's golden holy dragon began circling atop his Great Sun Radiance Dharma Idol, a powerful imposing aura erupted, terrifying the dozens of Immortal Dynasty Nobles present. They immediately retreated in a flash. Simultaneously, the twenty-four Earth Immortals also changed expressions and swiftly retreated.
"Canglong Ba Ri! I must say, the Immortal Dynasty's Great Sun Radiance Dharma Idol truly is a perfect match for your Yunshang Illusory Dragons."
Bei Changqing stood opposite Young Master Long, seemingly unaffected—not even the slightest bit. What was even more astonishing was that he simply stood there without summoning any of his own divine abilities. It appeared as though he was relying solely on his physical body to withstand the formidable imposing aura of Young Master Long's famous Canglong Ba Ri.
Bei Changqing.
A low-profile Purple-Gold Cloud Noble, so low-profile that no one knew the extent of his strength, nor what his divine abilities were. He was even so low-profile that no one was sure if he was male or female. All that was known was that his power was profound and unfathomable, capable of annihilating an Earth Immortal with a snap of his fingers. Witnessing him now, not summoning any divine abilities yet able to withstand the imposing aura of Young Master Long's Canglong Ba Ri, only added to the sense of astonishment.
"Young Master Long, why don't you put away your Canglong Ba Ri? Let's discuss some serious matters."
"You!" Although Young Master Long felt his pride wounded and was extremely unwilling, facing the unfathomable Bei Changqing, he could only swallow his anger.
"The Immortal Dynasty ordered us to test the Chixiao Sect. We tested them, and everyone has seen the result. Therefore, let this matter end here. No one is to bring it up again."
"That Gu Qingfeng killed so many Immortal Dynasty Nobles. Are we just going to let it go?"
"Otherwise? What do you plan to do? Kill him?"
"Why not?"
"Young Master Long, let me say this once more, and for the last time. Listen clearly. You are no match for him. If you go looking for him, aside from delivering yourself to death, you will accomplish nothing."
"What a joke! This Young Master..." As Young Master Long was speaking, Bei Changqing suddenly moved. He grabbed Young Master Long by the throat and slammed him fiercely to the ground. Young Master Long struggled violently but couldn't move at all. It was only then that he realized how terrifying Bei Changqing truly was.
"Little one, believe me. If it weren't for the fact that you're from the Yunshang Long Family, I wouldn't care in the slightest whether you lived or died."