Although this luxurious and imposing Two-Headed Lion-Tiger Grand Carriage was now Fei Kui's exclusive vehicle, he was not riding inside it at this moment. Instead, he stood respectfully at the front, handling the reins.
The one truly riding within this Two-Headed Lion-Tiger Grand Carriage was someone else—a young master dressed in white.
This young master in white reclined casually inside, leaning against the backrest, one leg crossed over the other, a wine jug in his hand. It was none other than Gu Qingfeng.
However, the Gu Qingfeng of this moment lacked his usual leisure and laziness. His handsome face was marked more by a kind of solitary chill, a quiet, desolate coldness.
It wasn't the setting sun, nor the dusk of twilight.
It was the sun plunging down, the descent of darkness.
He lay there, taking occasional sips of wine, his eyes slightly closed. Having just listened to Fei Kui recount Old Master Fengxu's misfortunes, his already low spirits sank even further.
Throughout his life, his path had been extremely rugged. He had experienced countless brushes with death, undergone several cycles of reincarnation. One could say he had experienced everything life had to offer, and even things it shouldn't. Without exaggeration, the events he had experienced in his mere five hundred years of life were richer and more varied than those of some old monsters who had lived for millennia, tens of millennia, or even millions of years.
He was absolutely a man of vast experience, one who had seen great storms and waves.
Coupled with his cultivation of the supreme Buddhist Great Freedom.
By all accounts, his heart should be like still water, and worldly matters should hardly affect his mood.
For others, perhaps that would be the case.
But this person was Gu Qingfeng.
He was a mundane man.
Always had been.
And he was a very mundane, emotional man at that.
He was in the past, he is now, and he will not change in the future.
If the world fell into chaos, he might not bother to care.
If an Immortal-Demon war broke out, he would also pay it no mind.
Even if the heavens collapsed and the earth cracked, he wouldn't so much as frown.
However, if anyone dared to bully the Chixiao brothers who had once fought alongside him through life and death, he would absolutely not remain indifferent, nor would he stand idly by.
This was his principle, his bottom line.
He would not allow, nor could he tolerate, anyone trampling on the dignity of his brothers.
The Two-Headed Lion-Tiger Grand Carriage passed through Shanhe City, heading towards a mountain range outside the city.
The mountain was named Fengxu Mountain, named after Old Master Fengxu. This mountain was once just a barren hill. In ancient times, after quelling the calamities, the Old Master established the Mountain-River Branch Hall on this barren hill. To allow the disciples of the branch to cultivate better, the Old Master even planted his most precious, rare Blue-Yun Crystal in the mountain, nurturing it into a fairly decent Blue-Yun Spirit Vein.
With the end of the ancient era and the dawn of the modern era, nature nourished the earth, and all things revived.
The Blue-Yun Spirit Vein of Fengxu Mountain benefited from nature, sublimating into a Blue-Yun Seed. Not only did this make the Blue-Yun spiritual energy more refined, but the mountain also began to give birth to numerous Blue-Yun crystals and various Blue-Yun flowers and fruits.
Nine years ago, when the Heaven's Mandate descended and nature bloomed with overflowing colors.
The Blue-Yun Seed of Fengxu Mountain sublimated once again, ascending into a Blue-Yun Essence.
The existence of Essence could absolutely be considered rare. Even in this modern era of reviving all things, even with nature's radiant bloom nine years ago, Blue-Yun Essence was undoubtedly a rare treasure among Mystic-grade resources.
Fengxu Mountain transformed from a barren mountain range into a famous mountain within the Jinxiu Grand Domain and even Yanluo Kingdom. Everyone knew this was the result of Old Master Fengxu's meticulous care.
In the past, as long as one's character wasn't bad, they could cultivate on Fengxu Mountain.
Now that Fengxu Mountain contained rich Blue-Yun spiritual energy, as long as one's character passed muster, they could still join the Mountain-River Branch Hall and cultivate on Fengxu Mountain.
"Is that Fengxu Mountain?"
Gu Qingfeng stood up, lifted the curtain, and stood outside the Grand Carriage, gazing at the mountain range not far away as he asked softly.
"Yes, Young Master. The Mountain-River Branch Hall is up on that mountain."
Fei Kui's voice came. Gu Qingfeng looked over. The entire Fengxu Mountain was enveloped by layer upon layer of formations. The mountain was covered with various structures and seemed very lively, with many people. Even the foot of the mountain was bustling with people coming and going.
"So many people?"
"The Mountain-River Branch Hall has many disciples. Old Master Fengxu sets no entry barriers, so disciples come and go up the mountain quite freely."
"I see these people look hurried, each seemingly preoccupied with worries. Moreover, all the protective formations enveloping the mountain are activated, and there are so many disciples guarding the foot of the mountain. Has something happened?"
"This...
This humble one isn't too clear either."
Although Fei Kui managed business for the Black Buddha Lord, he only handled business matters. He himself was not a member of the Red-Zi faction and had never interfered in Red-Zi affairs. Precisely because he managed business for the Black Buddha Lord, he came into contact with many people and knew members from various branch halls of the Red-Zi faction.
With a glance, he couldn't help but feel a secret shock.
Something might have really happened on Fengxu Mountain. Not only were all the protective formations activated, but there were also many disciples guarding the mountain gate, led by various branch hall stewards, including several Elders.
When the Two-Headed Lion-Tiger Grand Carriage appeared at the foot of the mountain, it immediately attracted the attention of the group guarding the mountain gate. Upon seeing the carriage, they were first startled. Clearly, they recognized the origin of this Two-Headed Lion-Tiger Grand Carriage and knew that Fei Kui was now the chief steward managing business for the Black Buddha Lord.
Immediately, a group of over ten people hurried over. The leader was an Elder Huang, whom Fei Kui also recognized—an Elder from the Mountain-River Branch Hall.
"Chief Steward Fei, what brings you here?"
Elder Huang cupped his hands in salute, treating Fei Kui with courtesy.
Fei Kui also returned the salute, saying, "I came hoping to see Old Master Fengxu."
"See the Old Hall Master?"
Elder Huang's expression showed some confusion and hesitation. Fei Kui cautiously inquired, "Elder Huang, is it inconvenient at the moment?"
"To be frank, the entire branch hall is under full lockdown. The Old Hall Master, the senior Chixiao predecessors, and a group of Elders are currently discussing matters."
Fei Kui asked, "Has something happened at the branch hall?"
Elder Huang nodded, his expression quite serious.
Fei Kui was not a member of the Red-Zi faction, so it wasn't appropriate for him to inquire in detail. However, Elder Huang didn't seem to mind the question. He trusted Fei Kui, given that Fei Kui served under the Black Buddha Lord, and said, "Steward Fei may not know, but today the Mingyu Branch Hall sent a messenger with an oral message, saying they will come to our Mountain-River Branch Hall tomorrow to pay a visit to the Old Hall Master."
The Mingyu Branch Hall was one of the largest and most powerful major branch halls among the more than fifty branch halls within Yanluo Kingdom, reputed to be one of the Seven Tyrant Branch Halls under the Blackheart Lord.
Although its number of disciples was not as high as the Mountain-River Branch Hall's, it was rich in talent and experts. It had both ancient-era senior Chixiao members overseeing it and modern-era prodigies blessed by destiny. There were over ten Earth Immortals alone, and countless Dharma Idol Great Venerables.