Chapter 54: Undercurrents Surging

At the foot of Mount Xuanling, a restless energy, heavy and stifling like a summer afternoon thunderstorm, pressed down so hard that it was difficult to breathe.

Gu Liuyun and his party had just arrived when they were instantly taken aback by the scene before them, which resembled nothing less than an arena of the Asura.

Cultivators, who were usually rarely seen under normal circumstances, were now packed densely into the area like discounted merchandise at a supermarket sale.

"Good grief, is this some kind of Immortal Cultivators' Convention?" Chen Jiaojiao could not help dropping an oath, her bright eyes wide with curiosity as she scanned her surroundings.

Ye Manman appeared much more vigilant. Frowning slightly, she swept her gaze across the area, sensing the subtle and delicate currents vibrating through the air.

"These people certainly aren't here for a sightseeing trip," she said softly, a trace of solemnity weighting her tone.

Gu Liuyun narrowed his eyes slightly, his formidable divine sense casting out like an invisible, massive net that instantly enveloped the entire foot of the mountain.

He could clearly perceive the spiritual power fluctuations radiating from this crowd—some strong, some weak, yet all imbued with an undeniable ambition.

This was no "Immortal Cultivators' Convention"; it was clearly a feast of wolves, with everyone harboring greedy designs on something hidden away.

A playful, teasing smirk curved the corner of his lips as he thought to himself: It seems Mount Xuanling is about to get quite lively.

Just then, Gu Liuyun's gaze locked onto a specific spot, and the figure of Ye Qingqing drifted into view.

She was standing beneath an ancient tree, surrounded by several strange cultivators dressed in eccentric attire.

They exchanged glances from time to time, their brows betraying malicious expressions as though plotting some unspeakable scheme.

"Tch, isn't this the Ye family's 'white lotus'? What's this, found herself a new backer?" Chen Jiaojiao curled her lip, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

She had never held any affection for Ye Qingqing, and seeing her mingling with a bunch of strangers only fueled her irritation.

"Be careful, they are not simple," Gu Liuyun said indifferently, a hint of warning underlying his words.

He could sense that the aura emanating from those strange cultivators was noticeably stronger than that of ordinary practitioners; they were definitely not amiable characters.

Ye Manman nodded lightly. Feeling the increasingly tense atmosphere closing in around them, a touch of unease began to rise within her heart.

Gu Liuyun glanced once more in Ye Qingqing's direction, the corners of his mouth lifting into a meaningful smile. Turning to Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao, he said, "It's time we went over and said hello."

With a casual, effortless wave of Gu Liuyun's hand, an invisible wave of spiritual energy radiated outward from him as its center, sweeping across the surroundings.

In an instant, a dazzling and brilliant radiance, akin to the rising sun at dawn, illuminated the entire foot of Mount Xuanling, casting the surrounding terrain in a bright, daylight glow.

"What the hell is going on?"

"This... what kind of power is this?!"

"I feel like my own spiritual power is about to be suppressed!"

The surrounding cultivators instantly erupted into an uproar, gasping and exclaiming in shock. The previously noisy scene fell dead silent in a split second, leaving only a chorus of staggered gasps.

They stared with wide eyes, looking at the scene before them in sheer disbelief as if witnessing a divine miracle.

This was a grand spectacle comparable to a high-end light show, with the visual impact cranked all the way up to the maximum!

Gu Liuyun felt the surging spiritual energy rushing through his meridians, his lips curling upward into a confident smile.

What he had casually cast was merely the most basic celestial art from his previous life's cultivation, yet it was more than enough to leave these small fries utterly dumbfounded.

Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao's eyes lit up with absolute adoration. Clinging closely to Gu Liuyun's side like a pair of devoted little fan-girls, they gazed at his straight, towering back as if looking up to an omnipotent deity.

Feeling their dependent and trusting gazes, a gentle warmth bloomed within Gu Liuyun's heart, soft as a spring breeze.

He gently tousled their hair.

The surrounding cultivators, watching the intimate interaction between Gu Liuyun and the two young women, could not help casting looks burning with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

The single men among them, in particular, wished they could swap places with him on the spot, wailing inwardly: Why is it that this big shot always has beauties surrounding him?

Could this be what they called "the winner takes all"?

Gu Liuyun paid no mind to the gazes of the crowd. He strolled forward leisurely, every step seemingly falling directly upon the hearts of the onlookers, carrying an undeniable aura of oppression.

He was like a sovereign enveloped in his own halo, walking as the absolute focal point wherever he went.

Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao acted like two personal bodyguards, trailing closely behind Gu Liuyun.

Feeling the awe-filled gazes directed at them from all around, their hearts swelled with pride and self-satisfaction.

"Let's go. The good show is only just beginning," Gu Liuyun said calmly, a playful smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He halted his steps, turned around, and cast a profound, starry gaze toward Ye Qingqing.

Then, he strode forward, heading deeper into Mount Xuanling.

Watching Gu Liuyun surrounded by crowds and shining with boundless radiance, Ye Qingqing felt as miserable inside as if she had swallowed a fly.

Her meticulously made-up face twisted slightly with jealousy.

"Hmph, he's just playing to the crowd for attention. What's so great about that?" Ye Qingqing muttered under her breath, her tone saturated with sour envy. The sycophants around her immediately chimed in to agree: "Exactly, exactly! Miss Ye is right; he must have used some underhanded methods."

A corner of Ye Qingqing's mouth lifted as a plot hatched in her mind. Feigning carelessness, she raised her voice and began spreading rumors all around, claiming that Gu Liuyun had only reached where he was today by relying on his family's influence and possessed no real skill whatsoever.

"Don't let his current grand facade fool you; he's just an embroidered pillow—all show and no substance!" Pointing at Gu Liuyun's retreating back, Ye Qingqing said with utter disdain, "I heard he used to be nothing more than a good-for-nothing who couldn't even cultivate! He must have resorted to some crooked, heterodox ways to suddenly become strong."

Hearing this, the surrounding cultivators began to whisper amongst themselves, and those ignorant of the truth started pointing fingers at Gu Liuyun.

In an instant, an oppressive atmosphere spread around Gu Liuyun, as if he truly were a heinous villain.

Hearing these slanders, Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao felt their arched brows bristle with anger, and they prepared to rush forward to argue the matter with them.

"Don't be impulsive, I have a way," Gu Liuyun stopped them, a mysterious smile gracing his lips.

Ignoring the defamatory remarks entirely, he leisurely retrieved a projection stone from his spatial ring. With a gentle toss, the surface of the stone instantly projected the footage of his previous battles.

In the projection, Gu Liuyun was shown moving with agile grace. With every casual wave of his hand, mighty spiritual power surged like a roaring river, instantly crushing and routing ferocious vicious beasts.

Every movement he made was filled with a sense of raw power and aesthetic grace, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the "embroidered pillow" Ye Qingqing had described.

Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators widened their eyes in shock. Their initial skepticism vanished instantly without a trace, replaced entirely by admiration and awe.

"Holy cow, is that really him? That is insanely strong!"

"With this kind of strength, he must at least be in the Foundation Establishment stage?!"

"So the rumors were all fake! That eldest miss of the Ye family is truly despicable!"

Seeing the sudden shift in public opinion, Ye Qingqing's face turned instantly pale. She stamped her feet in rage, never expecting Gu Liuyun to be so cunning as to dismantle her scheme with such ease.

"Hh, truly reaping what you sow," Gu Liuyun sneered coldly. He had long since seen through Ye Qingqing's petty tricks; such low-level tactics were completely unworthy of his attention.

Turning his head away to ignore Ye Qingqing entirely, Gu Liuyun sharpened his gaze, locking it onto the strange, uniquely dressed cultivators standing beside her.

He could sense a chilling, sinister aura emanating from those few individuals; they were certainly no benevolent figures.

He decided he would investigate these people thoroughly; perhaps he might uncover some valuable clues from them.

"These people probably aren't as simple as they look," he muttered softly, a note of solemnity in his voice.

"What is it?" Ye Manman noticed the change in Gu Liuyun's demeanor and asked gently.

"I have a feeling things aren't quite as straightforward as they seem." Gu Liuyun narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at the cultivators before glancing toward the depths of Mount Xuanling, a creeping sense of unease welling up inside him.

Leading Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao, he walked deeper into Mount Xuanling, treading with utmost caution at every step as though exploring an unknown secret.