188: Chapter 188 The Feast at Hongmen?

However, to their great disappointment, the Immortal Cave was empty; even the tables and chairs had vanished without a trace.

Guard Qiu turned back, ignoring their expressions of disappointment, and instead drove them away.

"The Immortal City is conducting business. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from approaching."

After speaking, he pasted two Tier 2 Restriction Talismans on the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

Everyone had no choice but to leave in disappointment.

"What a pity. I didn't get to see this Senior Xu. I really wanted to take him as my master."

"Save it. With your pathetic look and those dark circles under your eyes, even if you saw Senior Xu, he wouldn't take you as a Disciple."

"That's because I haven't slept for a day and a night! Sigh, it's all the fault of that naked picture of the Demonic Path Golden Core True Person you all gave me; it was too tempting."

"You're right about that. I've lived for over a hundred years, and it's the first time I've seen the actual body of a Golden Core True Person, especially the angle from below—it really gets the blood pumping."

"Don't even get me started. My own Yuan Yang body, which I've maintained for decades, was broken because of that Demonic Path Immortal Master's portrait."

"Hahaha, we are all fellow travelers in the Dao..."

As the prestige of Xu Changsheng spread, the 'seductive reputation' and the 'nude painting' of Gu Lingye also began to circulate.

Cultivators are often people of pure hearts and few desires; it is extremely difficult for them to be moved by a woman, but that is not the case if the woman is powerful.

In the Chu Kingdom Cultivation World, the highest combat power on the surface is the Golden Core Stage.

And they are all Elders of major Sects or City Lords like Yellow Ox.

It is not that there are no female Cultivators, but they generally live reclusively and can only be viewed from afar, not approached.

Now that a vivid, authentic, full-body portrait has appeared, it has ignited the deepest desires within their hearts.

Some brothels have even specifically had female Cultivators transform their faces to match the portrait, paired with a cold and indifferent makeup style, and business has increased significantly.

As for Gu Lingye, who is tens of thousands of miles away, she will only know about this matter after several years.

...

City Lord's Mansion.

In just half a day, the Immortal City guards drove away the Loose Cultivators who wanted to pry for information.

In the morning, the area outside the City Lord's Mansion was as bustling as a vegetable market.

At this moment, it was already being guarded by two layers of guards, one inside and one outside.

Crossing over the high walls, one finds the main hall with wooden pillars and plain beams.

The main hall is built entirely with green bricks and grey tiles; looking at it from afar, it gives a feeling of ancient grandeur, yet it is also simple and peaceful.

But today is different.

Inside the outwardly peaceful main hall, Huang Jinglong sat solemnly on the Dragon Throne.

Below, two rows of people stood in a dense crowd.

On the left were his direct Disciples, including Jin Chuan, Chu Linger, and Fourth Disciple, among others.

On the right were the heads of the various agencies of the Immortal City, including the Guard Department, the Punishment Department, the Supply Department, and so on.

Chu Linger looked left and right, feeling that the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Huang Shaotian stood by her side, and seeing this, quietly moved two steps closer to her.

She immediately frowned and stepped two paces in the same direction, maintaining the distance between the two of them.

Huang Shaotian wanted to speak but hesitated.

Whispers echoed throughout the hall.

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Xu was taken away by Yellow Ox late at night. We'll be able to see him in a moment."

"I have a slight impression of this person. He made quite a scene for a few days a few years ago."

"What? There's something I don't know? Please enlighten me."

"I heard that when this person was undergoing Foundation Establishment, he caused a misunderstanding that coincided with the celestial phenomena, leading to the rumor of a Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment."

"Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment? That's impossible. I've only read about it in ancient texts; it's said that only the Genius Disciples of external Immortal Sects can achieve that."

"Hmm, it is said that True Person Jin Niu was also shocked at the time and personally went to take him as a Disciple, but in the end, nothing came of it, which shows the rumors were inaccurate."

"That's a bit strange. I truly felt that aura last night that surpassed Yellow Ox."

"Of course I felt it too, but it might not necessarily be this Xu Changsheng."

"You mean there is someone else?"

"Yes. After all, a Cultivator who hasn't been at the Foundation Establishment stage for long possessing the strength of a Golden Core or even higher the moment he strikes—no one would dare to believe that."

"I feel that Elder Qian does not think highly of this Fellow Daoist Xu; his tone is so mocking."

One of the people in the conversation was Shopkeeper Qian of the Talisman Tower, who was whispering to the Chief Alchemist of the Medicinal Pill Hall.

"Hey, it's not that I, Qian, am mocking him, but based on my decades of experience in the Dao, I've seen a lot, and I've seen plenty of similar tricks."

Just at this moment.

"Fellow Daoist Xu has arrived!"

A loud shout came from outside the hall, and everyone's gaze turned toward the hall entrance.

It wasn't just the Loose Cultivators outside; these prominent figures in the Immortal City also wanted to see the true appearance of Xu Changsheng.

With an ordinary face and a tall stature, Xu Changsheng, dressed in a green robe, walked in, following Shen Chong, the Department Head of the East City Guard Department.

Just as he stepped into the hall.

All eyes were focused on him, and the heavy, murderous aura in the air was also concentrated on him.

The two rows of people stood close together, leaving a passage that could barely accommodate two people walking side by side.

Shen Chong led him from the front left.

Behind him to the right, another powerful guard was watching him.

It felt very crowded.

Xu Changsheng appeared calm on the surface, but inside, he was beginning to feel that something was not right.

He gave an awkward smile: "Wasn't it said that this was just a simple inquiry? Why is there such a huge display?"

Before coming, Shen Chong had indeed told him exactly that, saying that Yellow Ox just wanted to understand some things about him and that it would be a relaxed and simple conversation.

Until he walked in, he hadn't felt that anything was wrong.

Until after he came in...

Shen Chong did not speak, just leading him forward regardless, and the guard behind him, seeing that he was walking slowly, even shoved him.

"You all..."

Xu Changsheng said no more, knowing that today's situation was likely ominous. Fortunately, he still had a trump card—the Ten Thousand Mile Image Transmission Talisman given to him by Crimson Rainbow.

If Yellow Ox truly dared to have even the slightest intention of making a move against him, he could immediately activate this talisman.

A mere Yellow Ox Immortal City was like a child in front of the Crimson Sun Sect, which possessed a Nascent Soul True Lord. Unless Yellow Ox did not want to live anymore and did not want to stay in the Chu Kingdom Cultivation World, he would not dare to truly harm him.

Thinking of this, he ignored the gazes of the people around him, held his head high, and walked proudly through the middle.

Upon being delivered in front of Yellow Ox, Shen Chong cupped his hands and withdrew.

The latter once again carefully looked Xu Changsheng up and down from top to bottom, then said slowly: "You are Xu Changsheng?"

Hearing this, he stepped forward and cupped his hands: "This Junior is untalented, but that is indeed my name."

"Do you know what happened last night?"

He did not hide it: "Naturally, I am aware of it."

"Good. Then let this old man ask you: what grudge do you have with that Demonic Path Immortal Master? Why did she travel thousands of miles to come here to seek revenge on you!"

The words carried a tone of interrogation that could not be refuted.

He sneered inwardly: "Interrogating me? You old fart aren't qualified enough!"

His expression remained calm: "This matter would be better told by another Fellow Daoist!"