To be honest.
When Gu Qingfeng heard that all the branch halls of the Chixiao Sect in this world had been facing internal and external troubles in recent years, he wasn't surprised, nor was he particularly shocked.
Whether it was a major sect, a school, or even just a small family wanting to pass down its legacy, it wasn't as simple as just talking about it. This required not only a far-sighted leader but also the assistance of many experienced talents to carry on from generation to generation and avoid being eliminated.
Take the Chixiao Sect.
It sounded impressive.
Its branch halls were spread all over the world, but what use was that without even the most basic unity? It was completely scattered like loose sand. Even without the Immortal Dynasty secretly causing trouble, it would inevitably collapse within a hundred years at most, or a few decades at least. The old-timers were conservative, the young were radical, and with external temptations, irreconcilable conflicts were bound to arise sooner or later.
The only thing that made Gu Qingfeng sigh was that Old Master Feng Xu and the dozen or so other Chixiao People still retained the unyielding pride they had in the past. However, what made him rather helpless was that these people placed far too much weight on the title 'Chixiao People,' seemingly valuing it more than dignity or even life itself.
This completely went against Gu Qingfeng's original intentions back then.
He had taken on the judgment alone, borne all the blame himself, and personally buried the Chixiao Sect, not so that these people could live for the sake of the title 'Chixiao People,' but so that they could live for themselves. Unfortunately, these people didn't understand this principle.
If these people had all abandoned their identities as Chixiao People back then and hadn't created any Chixiao branch halls, how could these messy affairs have happened today?
They had good days to live but refused to.
They insisted on stirring up trouble like this.
How could their lives ever be peaceful?
With a silent sigh, he withdrew his Divine Sense and returned to the guest room. Gu Qingfeng glanced at Fei Kui and asked, "Who are the people in the Mingyu Branch Hall?"
"It's pretty much the predecessor of the Mingyu Banner under Old Master Blackhearted Lord back then. The one overseeing the Mingyu Branch Hall is Tan Tong, the former banner leader of the Mingyu Banner, along with twenty or thirty old Chixiao People."
Back in the day, the famously renowned seventy-two Earth Fiend Masters of the Chixiao Sect each commanded numerous war banners, and under these banners were sub-halls with many members. Although Gu Qingfeng was honored as the sect master of the Chixiao Sect, he might have some impression of some banner leaders, but not of others. For instance, he had no impression of Tan Tong, the so-called banner leader of the Mingyu Banner, and couldn't recall such a person. As for the hall masters under the banners, he couldn't remember them clearly either.
"Tan Tong of the Mingyu Banner..." Gu Qingfeng murmured the name but couldn't recall it no matter how hard he tried, having no real impression. He asked again, "Are all these people following Zhou Taihe?"
Fei Kui nodded and added, "They were originally under Old Master Blackhearted Lord Zhou Taihe and obeyed his commands."
"Good. Will all these people come tomorrow?"
"This...
This humble one guesses they probably will. Regardless of the Mingyu Branch Hall's purpose, Old Master Feng Xu of the Shanhe Branch Hall was, after all, a banner leader of the Chixiao Sect back then. If the Mingyu Branch Hall sends people to discuss anything with him, they would certainly need someone of equal status to Old Master Feng Xu to qualify for negotiations. However..." Fei Kui remained standing respectfully, bowing slightly as he spoke cautiously, "The Mingyu Branch Hall is a highly renowned Chixiao branch hall within the Yanluo Kingdom. Besides the old Chixiao People from the Mingyu Banner, there are also quite a few Earth Immortals in the Chixiao Sect, as well as many young talents of various sizes among the younger generation. One of them, a Fated Prodigy, is in the Mingyu Branch Hall. He is Tan Tong's grand-disciple, surnamed Lian, named Hao. I've heard this young man has astonishing fortune. Despite his young age, only seventeen or eighteen, he is already a Dharma Aspect Great Venerable. Relying on his fate-born fortune, even Earth Immortals are no match for him. Three years ago..." He paused, glanced at Gu Qingfeng, and continued, "Three years ago, among the prodigies who injured Old Master Feng Xu, he was one of them."
"Oh?
Is that so?
That's just perfect."
Gu Qingfeng stood up, stretched lazily, patted Fei Kui on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, you rest first. This master is going out for a stroll."
Hearing this, Fei Kui couldn't help but be stunned and asked in surprise, "Young Lord, you...
Aren't you going to meet Old Master Feng Xu?"
"I've already seen him just now. You can go over there yourself later."
"But..." Fei Kui's face fell, not knowing how to respond.
Earlier, it was Gu Qingfeng who said he wanted to meet Old Master Feng Xu, which was why Fei Kui had rushed over without stopping. Now Gu Qingfeng said he had already met him and wanted Fei Kui to go instead. Fei Kui truly didn't know what to say when meeting Old Master Feng Xu, nor did he know which words were appropriate and which were not.
What should he say?
Should he truthfully say that his Young Lord wanted to meet the old master?
If Old Master Feng Xu asked about the Young Lord's identity, how should he introduce him?
Fei Kui really didn't know how to introduce him because he himself didn't know who Gu Qingfeng really was.
So far, regarding Gu Qingfeng's identity, he knew that in the Great Northwest, he called himself Young Lord Chiyan, and now he called himself the Chixiao Monarch.
Which one was real, and which was false?
He couldn't figure it out either.
Moreover, no matter which of these two identities he introduced, it was likely no one would believe him. Not only would they not believe him, but if he spoke of it, it might even anger Old Master Feng Xu.
After all, this was the Shanhe Branch Hall, and there were over a dozen old Chixiao People in the main hall. To say in front of them that there was a Chixiao Monarch who wanted to meet them, especially at this critical juncture, was just asking for trouble. Fei Kui didn't need to think to know what consequences that would bring.
Seeing that Gu Qingfeng was about to leave, Fei Kui hurriedly asked, "Young Lord, what should this humble one say when meeting Old Master Feng Xu later?
And how should I introduce you? If I say you are..."
"No need to introduce me. Say whatever you want. Just find any excuse and stay there."
"Alright...
Alright then."
Although Fei Kui didn't know what Gu Qingfeng intended to do, he didn't dare to ask more. In his mind, since the Young Lord only wanted to stay, everything else would be easy to handle.
With nothing better to do, Gu Qingfeng casually strolled around Fengxu Mountain.
Perhaps because they all realized that the Mingyu Branch Hall's visit tomorrow was not with good intentions, the disciples of the Shanhe Branch Hall were all diligently cultivating. Some were consolidating their immortal arts, others were refining magical treasures and flying swords. As the saying goes, sharpening your spear just before battle might not make it sharp, but it will make it shine.
There were many disciples cultivating on the mountain. Gu Qingfeng observed them; their overall cultivation levels were quite decent. Most had cultivated Dharma Aspects, and even the least accomplished had cultivated Nascent Souls.
After this awakening, Gu Qingfeng had truly and keenly felt the flourishing cultivation era brought to this world by the Heavenly Destiny nine years ago.
Nine years ago in the Great Northwest, seeing Golden Core Adepts everywhere had already made him sigh at the modern era.
Nine years later today, within the Yanluo Kingdom, there were hardly any Golden Core Adepts left. Dharma Aspect Daozuns were everywhere. Not to mention Golden Core Adepts, even Nascent Soul Adepts were hard to come by. It was as if he had woken up after a thousand years, as if everyone's cultivation had improved.