The wisps of blood mist that permeated the grand hall were none other than...
They were the remnants of Flying Ghost's Dharma Aspect, the last traces left after being utterly annihilated.
Flying Ghost was dead?
Yes.
Dead.
Completely extinguished.
Not only had the body he had possessed and refined for many years been torn to shreds, but even his Dharma Aspect, cultivated for who knows how many years, had been reduced to ashes.
He died cleanly, thoroughly.
How did he die?
No one knew.
Everyone in the hall only knew that this young man impersonating Lord Chixiao had casually uttered the words "roll out," and then...
Flying Ghost had inexplicably perished, his soul scattered.
Silence.
A deathly stillness.
The people present seemed unable to believe this scene was real, because they all knew how powerful Flying Ghost's strength was. It was no exaggeration to say that among those present—whether it was Elder Fengxu, Tan Tong, and those fierce Earth Immortal Chixiao people, or Fated Prodigies like Lian Hao, Shang Gong, and Zhong Xing—their strength might surpass Flying Ghost's, but only surpass it. None had the confidence to be able to slay Flying Ghost.
Even the unfathomable Liu Yue had no absolute certainty.
At this moment, her beautiful face was filled with shock as she stared incredulously at Gu Qingfeng.
She knew this fellow was the imposter who had pretended to be the Monarch at Linglong Mountain Villa.
She had also heard that this person had kicked the Immortal Court noble Peng Jia into a cripple with one foot at Linglong Mountain Villa, and even heard that with one furious shout, he had shattered the mental focus of hundreds present, including powerful ancient Earth Immortals like Elder Wei.
But rumors were just rumors. She hadn't been there at the time and didn't know what had really happened. In her mind, such rumors must have been exaggerated, especially after meeting Gu Qingfeng. She became even more convinced the rumors were overstated, because this imposter had no cultivation, no destiny, and looked utterly frail—impossible to be that powerful.
Not just her. When Elder Fengxu and the others heard about this matter, they also believed it was just exaggerated hearsay.
However.
When they witnessed Flying Ghost being reduced to ashes before their very eyes, they realized they were wrong.
And gravely mistaken at that.
The stories about this imposter at Linglong Mountain Villa were true—not only were they not exaggerated, they even felt this imposter might be more mysterious, more bizarre, and even more powerful than the rumors suggested.
Inside the hall.
The dozens of Earth Immortals from the Mingyu Branch were badly frightened. They immediately activated their Dharma Aspects and summoned their flying swords and spiritual treasures. Those arrogant Fated Prodigies didn't dare hesitate either; even the usually proud and conceited Lian Hao encased himself in protective ice.
Not just them.
The more than ten Chixiao people led by Tan Tong instantly summoned their Bloodsha Dragon-Elephants to protect themselves.
Similarly.
Elder Fengxu of the Mountain-River Branch, Great Elder Luo Yi, Heng San, and everyone else summoned their Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant spirits. Liu Yue's body also shimmered with faint, elusive radiance.
After all, they didn't know what this imposter pretending to be Lord Chixiao intended by coming here, nor whether he was friend or foe.
Everyone from both the Mountain-River Branch and the Mingyu Branch had their Dharma Aspects guarding them, their spiritual power circulating. Their expressions grew increasingly shocked, their eyes more and more horrified.
Only Fei Kui remained from start to finish, bowing his body, head lowered, standing there obediently like a loyal servant, holding the wine pot and carefully pouring wine. Everything that had just happened seemed to him utterly commonplace, nothing to marvel at.
That white-robed man, that Gu Qingfeng, still sat in his chair.
Leaning to one side, resting against the left armrest, legs crossed, his handsome face wore an exceptionally placid expression—neither sorrowful nor joyful, nor anything else. His dark eyes were like silent abysses, mysterious and panic-inducing.
"Tan Tong, didn't you just say you wanted to kill me?"
Gu Qingfeng gazed indifferently at Tan Tong, speaking in a light, casual tone. "I'll give you another chance."
Opposite him.
Tan Tong was afraid.
Truly afraid, to the marrow of his bones, to the depths of his soul.
So afraid his face turned ashen, his body trembled, and even his mental focus was on the verge of collapsing.
Even now, having summoned his proud Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant, it not only provided no comfort but made the fear in his heart grow even stronger.
What alarmed him even more was that his usually fierce, exceptionally domineering Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant had, for some reason, become extremely docile. No matter how he called to it, there was no response—not even a flicker. The Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant seemed to have fallen asleep.
And it wasn't just him.
The Bloodsha Dragon-Elephants of the other Chixiao people, even Elder Fengxu's and Great Elder Luo Yi's, were the same. They exchanged glances, all finding it extremely strange. In their memory, this was the first time such a situation had occurred.
"You!"
"Just who are you!"
Tan Tong's voice clearly carried panic and unease. He tried to suppress the fear in his heart, but it was useless. The more he suppressed it, the more fearful he became, so fearful he didn't even dare meet Gu Qingfeng's gaze.
"Who I am, I already told you just now. Do I need to repeat myself?"
As Gu Qingfeng's voice reached him, Tan Tong grew even more afraid, even more terrified. That fear seemed like an innate instinct, making his breathing grow ragged.
"Master!"
Lian Hao noticed something was off with Tan Tong and the other Chixiao people. He shouted, "This person is just putting on a show! He's not Gu Tianlang at all!"
No one believed that this ordinary man with nothing to his name could be Lord Chixiao.
Tan Tong didn't believe it either, though he told himself over and over in his heart, yet he couldn't stop the fear.
"Hmph!"
Lian Hao simply couldn't understand why these so-called Chixiao people were so terrified of Gu Tianlang. Usually, just hearing the name Gu Tianlang made them uneasy. Today, encountering a charlatan putting on a show, it was even worse—they were scared out of their wits.
Although he had just witnessed Flying Ghost being reduced to ashes before his eyes, and Lian Hao was also quite wary of Gu Qingfeng's mysterious and bizarre nature, it was only wariness. He was far from afraid, let alone terrified. Moreover, since birth, he had never known what fear felt like.
"This young master doesn't care if you're Gu Tianlang or not. Even if you were the real one, this young master wouldn't fear you in the slightest."
Lian Hao stepped forward. The frigid light radiating from his body instantly enveloped the hall, the bone-chilling cold assaulting them once more. He shouted, "I advise you not to meddle in matters that don't concern you. Otherwise, today you'll regret ever getting involved!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him and said mildly, "I heard that among those who injured Fengxu three years ago, you were one of them."
"So what if I was!"
Lian Hao took a step forward, transforming into an ice-sculpture figure, frigid light radiating from him, imposing and majestic.
"In that case, come over here and accept your death."
"With just you?"
Whoosh!
Lian Hao roared, raising a hand, intending to strike down Gu Qingfeng with a finger.
He was fast, flashing to appear directly in front of Gu Qingfeng. But he was fast, and Gu Qingfeng was faster. The moment he flashed into position and raised his arm, Gu Qingfeng suddenly grabbed and yanked—Crack!
He ripped off one of Lian Hao's arms on the spot.
And it wasn't over!
Gu Qingfeng slapped down with his palm—Bang! Lian Hao knelt on the ground, his legs shattered into a bloody pulp, letting out a heart-rending scream.