A scene of pure absurdity was unfolding before the mountain gates of the Taixuan Holy Land.
The various sects and ancient families, who had arrived moments ago with killing intent surging like a tidal wave, were now the picture of amiability.
Even the notoriously hot-tempered Old Emperor of the Great Sun Dynasty was being physically restrained by his advisors to prevent him from ruining the mood.
To an uninformed observer, it would look like a friendly family reunion.
“This is the beauty of absolute power,” the Taixuan Holy Lord mused, watching the invaders squirm.
As long as Qingge remained in Young Lord Gu’s favor, who in the Eastern Wilderness would not get out of his way?
The thought sent a jolt of excitement through his veins.
On the surface, he maintained his arrogant, smug facade. But internally, his mind was crystal clear.
He knew that without Gu Changge sitting in the palace like a living god, the Taixuan Holy Land would be nothing more than a pile of rubble by now, carved up by these hungry wolves.
His gratitude—and fear—toward Gu Changge were boundless.
He understood the rule of the game: What Gu Changge gives, Gu Changge can take away.
“If you wish to pay your respects to Young Lord Gu, you must demonstrate sincerity,” the Holy Lord announced, his voice dripping with condescension. “He is not someone just anyone can meet.”
With a cold laugh, he turned into a streak of divine light and shot back toward the sect’s interior, leaving the leaders of the major powers standing awkwardly at the gate.
He had to ask permission first. He couldn’t just use the Young Lord’s name to posture forever without checking in.
…
Inside the palace.
The Taixuan Holy Master came to the palace to ask whether Gu Changge would meet the visitors.
It was a trivial matter that did not interest him.
He simply let the Holy Master deal with it as he saw fit.
Right now, he was waiting for the real show to begin.
I just hope Su Qingge doesn’t disappoint me.
…
Outside the mountain gate.
“Damn it! Look at Su Taixuan’s face… I want to rip it off!”
“He just got lucky. What is so impressive about that?”
The gathered cultivators gritted their teeth in envy and rage. Yet, not a single one dared to cross the threshold.
Everyone understood the implication. For the Taixuan Holy Lord to be this arrogant, the “Young Lord” backing him must be a monster. One wrong move could bring annihilation upon their entire lineage.
Curiosity began to bubble up.
Who is this Young Lord?
The young talents accompanying the holy lands and dynasties were especially curious. There were both men and women, all accomplished cultivators with divine light surrounding them. They normally considered themselves among the best of the Eastern Wilderness’s younger generation, but today’s sight had shocked them.
A single young man, without even showing his face, had forced their elders to bow their heads?
“Unbelievable,” a young man with hair like spun gold muttered. “Could he be a genius from the Central State?”
He was the Holy Son of the Yangxu Holy Land and had come with the elders to take part in the battle and broaden his experience. He had not expected to witness such a dramatic scene.
He instinctively assumed the visitor was a young cultivator from Central State. Compared with the remote Eastern Wilderness, Central State was rich in talent and resources. Some of its traditions even bordered the legendary Upper Realm; their ancestors had ascended there, leaving unimaginably deep foundations.
“It’s not that simple,” Zhao Tian, the Supreme Elder of the Yangxu Holy Land, said with a bitter smile.
Despite his sage-like appearance, he looked defeated. “Even the great powers of the Central State wouldn’t make Su Taixuan this confident. I fear… it is something far beyond that.” Get faster updates on novelping(.)com.
He sighed, resigning himself to wait obediently at the gate like a common petitioner.
…
Meanwhile, inside the Sect.
Su Qingge returned to her personal palace, her expression troubled.
Gu Changge had left abruptly, without explanation.
What had she done to displease him?
She racked her brain but found no answer.
Truly… accompanying a monarch is like accompanying a tiger.
She sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness. Gaining the favor of such an unpredictable man was harder than ascending to the heavens.
She had never worried about the invading powers. Knowing Gu Changge’s origins, she understood that unless they were fools, they would not dare attack while he was staying here. Perhaps they would not dare do so afterward, either.
Suddenly, her expression sharpened.
“Someone is here.”
As the Holy Maiden, her cultivation was top-tier among the younger generation. She sensed the fluctuation in the air instantly.
A figure emerged from the shadows of the hall.
“Qingge…”
The man was disheveled. His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, his hair a tangled mess. He looked like a beggar who had crawled out of a grave.
But his eyes burned with an intense, frantic emotion.
“Ye Chen?”
Su Qingge frowned, barely recognizing him.
Since Ye Chen had been imprisoned, she had not asked about him, much less visited him. She had told Gu Changge she would no longer involve herself in his affairs, and she intended to keep that promise.