"I thought Second Master Hai would have arranged for some real experts to come today, but it turns out to be just a fake Gu Tianlang."
Before this, Tan Tong might have harbored some degree of apprehension towards Gu Qingfeng. After all, he knew nothing about Gu Qingfeng's existence and dared not act rashly, fearing the other might possess some terrifying background or fortune beyond his perception. However, when he learned this person claimed to be Lord Chixiao Gu Tianlang, the apprehension in his heart actually lessened.
In his mind, if this person truly had some terrifying background or fortune he couldn't perceive, there would be no need to impersonate Gu Tianlang at all—it would be completely superfluous. He felt as if he had seen through Feng Xu's purpose and sneered coldly.
"Finding an ordinary person with no cultivation and no fortune, sitting here nonchalantly, pretending to be mysterious, and calling himself Gu Tianlang? Ha! I must say, it's quite a clever tactic. At first, I, Tan, truly didn't dare to act recklessly. But do you really think you can intimidate me, Tan Tong, by just randomly finding someone to impersonate Gu Tianlang?"
"He is not a member of our Mountain-River Branch, nor did I find him to scare you!"
Since the ruse was already exposed, Feng Xu couldn't be bothered to explain further. "You should be glad he's just a fake. If he were the true Monarch, your head would have already rolled!"
"My head would roll? Hahaha! What a joke! Do you really think Gu Tianlang is a god? Let me tell you, he's dead. He was annihilated by the judgment of the Immortal Dao three hundred years ago, without even a chance for reincarnation."
Tan Tong laughed disdainfully and shouted, "Even if he did miraculously survive, even if he were standing right before me at this very moment, I, Tan Tong, would dare to obliterate him on the spot!"
"What a coincidence. I did miraculously survive, and I am indeed standing right before you at this very moment. In that case, come and kill me then."
At that moment, Gu Qingfeng's voice suddenly rang out. He looked at Tan Tong and said indifferently, "Let me see just how much skill you've gained over these years to make you so swollen with arrogance."
"You ignorant little fool!"
Tan Tong stood with his hands behind his back, glaring furiously at Gu Qingfeng. "Do you really think I, Tan, wouldn't dare to kill you?"
"It's not that I look down on you," Gu Qingfeng said, picking up a cup of wine and taking a casual sip. "You truly don't dare to kill me."
"You!"
Under normal circumstances, given Tan Tong's nature, he would have long since struck and obliterated this fool before him. But for some reason, facing this calm and composed man in white, his mind was always unsettled. Especially when stared at by those tranquil, abyss-like eyes, the feeling was as if Death itself had fixed its gaze upon him, making his already flustered mind tremble with fear and dread.
Why?
This person clearly had no cultivation and no fortune. He was definitely someone Feng Xu had found to impersonate Gu Tianlang to intimidate him—a mere trick, a bluff! Why was he afraid? So afraid he didn't even have the courage to strike! Why exactly?
He didn't know. But it was precisely this inexplicable fear that kept Tan Tong from ever daring to make a move.
"Well? Didn't you say you were going to kill me? Why aren't you moving?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice was low and indifferent, as if speaking to a stranger, his tone utterly placid. "Is that all the courage you have?"
Across from him, Tan Tong tried to suppress the fear in his heart, but it was useless. No matter how he tried, it wouldn't work. Instead, the more he suppressed it, the stronger the fear grew. He took a deep breath, feigning composure, and waved his hand, shouting, "Flying Ghost! Kill him!"
A gloomy old man from the Mingyu Branch stepped forward. He was an Earth Immortal, and moreover, an Earth Immortal from the Ancient Era who had undergone Possession Rebirth.
Possession Rebirth was an evil method. Once reborn through possession, one embarked on a path of evil cultivation. To maintain the vitality of the Nascent Soul and Dharma Form, one had to continuously refine the possessed Physical Body. The methods of refinement were not only cruel but also exceptionally bloody. Therefore, those who underwent Possession Rebirth were considered evil cultivators in both the Ancient and Present Eras.
Many people feared those who had undergone Possession Rebirth. Because these people treated their Physical Bodies as cauldrons to refine, the power of their bodies was immensely strong. Moreover, since the body wasn't originally theirs, they naturally had no scruples. Even more terrifying were their Nascent Soul Dharma Forms, which were absolutely evil and blood-soaked existences.
Those who resorted to possession were never good people to begin with; good people didn't possess others.
And indeed, this was true. This Flying Ghost had been an evil cultivator Earth Immortal in the Ancient Era. However, during the chaos of demons and monsters, his original Physical Body was destroyed by the Chixiao people. To survive, he had no choice but to undergo Possession Rebirth. After years of secluded cultivation, he joined the Crimson-Letter Sect in the Present Era—more precisely, he entered the Mingyu Branch and pledged allegiance to Tan Tong. Over the years, he had been handling some unsavory tasks for Tan Tong.
His strength was formidable. Relying on his Physical Body, refined over many years, and his evil Nascent Soul Dharma Form, even Heng San of the Mountain-River Branch's Chixiao people couldn't do anything to him. Even Elder Luo Yi, who was also an Earth Immortal, had clashed with him but ultimately failed to kill him.
No sooner said than done. The moment Tan Tong's words fell, Flying Ghost's figure vanished.
When Flying Ghost disappeared, Elder Feng Xu, Grand Elder Luo Yi, and the others immediately used their divine abilities and Immortal Arts to protect the others in the hall. They all knew that Flying Ghost was not only powerful but also highly skilled in assassination techniques. Even they weren't absolutely confident they could block Flying Ghost's assassination attempt.
However, what puzzled them was that the man in white impersonating the Monarch still sat in his chair with an air of nonchalance.
This not only surprised Tan Tong and his group but also struck Elder Feng Xu and the others as odd. They couldn't figure it out, couldn't see through it. Was this person simply ignorant, or was he truly unafraid? If unafraid, what was his basis? What was he relying on?
No one knew. Everyone was puzzled.
"Such petty tricks dare to show off before me? Get out here!"
Gu Qingfeng held his wine cup, lowered his head for a sip, not even looking, and just uttered these words lightly.
Before anyone knew what was happening, a scene that left them dumbstruck unfolded. As Gu Qingfeng's words fell, the vanished Flying Ghost was suddenly forced out—truly forced out, as if he had been severely wounded and plummeted from the void.
No! Not severely wounded! He had been blasted apart, limbs and flesh scattering across the hall floor.
Witnessing this, everyone couldn't believe their eyes. No one understood how this person impersonating Lord Chixiao had merely spoken a sentence—without any imposing aura, not even a sonic attack—and yet Flying Ghost's Physical Body had inexplicably been shattered to pieces.
One must know, this Physical Body of Flying Ghost's was one he had possessed and refined for many years! The power of this body alone had left many helpless. How could it now be blasted into a bloody pulp by this man's casual, offhand remark?
Wait! Where was Flying Ghost's Nascent Soul Dharma Form?
No one knew. No one saw it. All they knew was that when Flying Ghost's bloody limbs and flesh scattered down, a faint mist of blood still lingered in the hall.
Could it be...?
Everyone hurriedly released their divine sense to investigate. And this investigation sent a shock through everyone present, their faces paling with horror!