Yunxia Sect was a cultivation sect with a relatively long heritage in the Qingyang Region. Although it had declined slightly after enduring the Cataclysm of the Heavens, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. Whether in terms of reputation or other aspects, it still ranked among the top of the many cultivation sects in the Qingyang Region.
The events of the Trial Assessment quickly spread throughout the Qingyang Region. Almost overnight, everyone knew that Yunxia Sect had an extremely bizarre, exceptionally powerful, and terrifyingly mysterious disciple.
The Wind-Shadow Li Clan gathered a large force, numbering over ten thousand, intending to charge up to Yunxia Sect and tear that fellow surnamed Gu to pieces.
It was said that the families and factions backing the other threatened stewards and elders had also gathered many people.
What puzzled everyone, however, was that after one night passed, both the Wind-Shadow Li Clan and the other families and factions disbanded their forces.
The renowned Wind-Shadow Li Clan of the Qingyang Region did not storm Yunxia Sect.
The other threatened families and factions also chose to remain silent.
Even Yunxia Sect itself was as quiet as if nothing had happened.
Strangely, the Nine-Hua Alliance side also showed no movement.
Were they afraid?
Whether they were afraid or not was unknown, but everyone understood that the strength displayed by that fellow surnamed Gu during the Trial Assessment was something one had to be wary of. After all, Elder Mu De was a Golden Core True Being who had cultivated for over seven hundred years, and he had been crippled by a single kick from him. Even more terrifying was that a single roar from that fellow surnamed Gu had sent over a hundred True Beings crashing to the ground.
Given this, who wouldn't be wary?
His immense physical strength, unleashing twenty Great Perfection Immortal Arts in an instant—everything about him seemed unbelievable.
The facts were exactly as Huode had said: Yunxia Sect had suddenly produced a person of mysterious identity and formidable strength, completely disrupting the plans of Jin De and Shui De.
At this very moment.
In a hall within a manor in the Qingyang Region, a crowd had gathered. These people were all prominent figures in the Qingyang Region—either heads of major families or leaders of factions. There were over a hundred of them, each capable of gathering a large force in a short time with a single command.
"Are we just going to let this matter rest?"
A middle-aged man paced angrily back and forth in the hall. Everyone knew him—he was the head of the Li Clan, Li Changxin. His expression was ugly, extremely ugly. He roared, "Li Can, Li Sen, Li Zheng, and Li Wang were beaten, and we don't even know if Li Ziheng and the others will ever be able to stand again! Our Wind-Shadow Li Clan has never suffered such a massive loss of face in the Qingyang Region!"
He stopped.
Li Changxin shouted, "Jin De, you say something! Our Li Clan has supported you for so long. Are we just supposed to swallow this?"
In the hall, Elder Jin De was also seated in a chair. His expression was equally unpleasant, his face ashen. He said in a deep voice, "I've said this matter requires careful consideration. Before we clarify that fellow surnamed Gu's identity, it's best not to act rashly."
"Careful consideration? You can wait, but our Wind-Shadow Li Clan cannot! If we don't tear that fellow surnamed Gu to pieces, what face will our Li Clan have left to operate in the Qingyang Region!"
"Changxin, you need to calm down!"
Li Changxin glared furiously, shouting, "How can you expect me to calm down!"
*Bang!*
Jin De also slammed the table, standing up abruptly. He barked, "Then what do you want to do? He crippled Mu De with a single kick. A single roar from him sent over a hundred True Beings crashing to the ground. Although your Li Clan has experts as numerous as clouds and no shortage of Golden Core masters, who among them dares claim they are confident they can kill that fellow surnamed Gu!"
"We..." Li Changxin was immediately left speechless.
Indeed, although the Li Clan was a renowned major family with many experts within its ranks, at best they were on par with Elder Mu De, or even inferior. Forget about having the confidence to kill that fellow surnamed Gu; it was unknown whether they could even withstand a single kick from him.
"Hmph!" Li Changxin snorted coldly. "I'll go invite our Patriarch out of seclusion right now. I refuse to believe that with his cultivation, he can't deal with that fellow surnamed Gu!"
The Li Clan Patriarch was a Golden Core True Being who had survived his longevity tribulation. He had cultivated for a thousand years and had dominated the Qingyang Region for a millennium. He single-handedly founded the Wind-Shadow Li Clan, which had been passed down to this day. He was once known as one of the Nine Great Masters of the Qingyang Region, alongside the Three Elders of Yunxia and Old Master Hong.
"Do not disturb Senior Wind-Shadow now, Changxin. Don't forget our plan."
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Watch and wait."
Jin De took a deep breath, toying with two crystal orbs in his hand. He said, "We're not in a hurry, because someone is more anxious than we are."
"You mean the Nine-Hua Alliance?"
"Exactly. The Nine-Hua Alliance has always wanted to annex Yunxia Sect. Now that a mysterious and bizarre kid has suddenly popped up, I don't believe the Nine-Hua Alliance won't make a move. We just need to watch and wait."
...
Within the Nine-Hua Alliance, in a manor.
At this moment, several dozen people were gathered in the manor, including some stewards and elders from Yunxia Sect, among them Shui De.
Not far away stood a cold, stern man.
The man wore a sneer at the corner of his mouth, his eyes like those of a venomous snake as he looked at Shui De and the others. He mocked, "A bunch of trash!"
"Mo Long! You..." Shui De pointed at the man, furious beyond measure, yet dared not act out.
The sinister man was named Mo Long. He was also a direct disciple of Yunxia Sect's Nine Halls. He and another direct disciple, Wen Jingshan, were known as the Twin Stars of Yunxia.
This Mo Long had established a colored foundation, condensed a colored true body, and opened a colored dantian—truly blessed with the protection of the Three-Colored Great Nature. His strength was exceptionally formidable. He was once Shui De's most prized disciple, but that was only in the past.
Mo Long was arrogant and domineering. Relying on the protection of the Three-Colored Great Nature, he acted without restraint, looking down on everyone, even his master Shui De. He had even once taught Shui De a lesson, and Shui De could do nothing about it, forced to endure it because he was no match for Mo Long. He couldn't even shake Mo Long's Three-Colored Great Nature protection.
"Old fool! Weren't you always pushing Zhong Tianying to be the Heir Apparent? Where is he now?" Mo Long sneered contemptuously. "I heard he was defeated in a single move by a waste named Gu Qingfeng? Is this the Heir Apparent you chose?"
"Mo Long, don't forget, I am your master!" Shui De's face flushed red. He was about to say more when suddenly, a sword flashed with lightning speed, resting horizontally against his neck.
It was a flying sword shimmering with cold mist, its body a deep jade-green, radiating a chilling light that was quite terrifying.
The one holding the sword was none other than Mo Long.
He looked at Shui De and sneered, "If I wish, I can kill you at any moment. What qualifications does this old fool have to be Mo Long's master?"
"You..." Shui De was seething with anger but dared not speak.
At that moment, a calm voice suddenly sounded. "Mo Long, step back."
The voice was very mild, without any hint of intimidation. Yet, upon hearing it, Mo Long snorted coldly, withdrew his flying sword, and retreated to the side.
In response, a young man appeared. He was handsome, dressed in a light cyan robe, appearing exceptionally elegant. He walked over slowly, like a gentle breeze, his expression utterly composed. When he appeared, the stewards and elders led by Shui De all bowed their heads and called out, "Young Master." Even the arrogant Mo Long did the same.
"I am already aware of the matters at Yunxia Sect..." The young man addressed as Young Master walked to the pavilion, looking at the black and white chess pieces arranged on the stone table. He said indifferently, "You may return. Act as if this never happened. Do not act rashly. As for that Gu Qingfeng..." He paused, then raised his hand and gently placed a black chess piece on the board. He continued, "I will handle it personally."