Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Seeds of Doubt
"Rise."
Gu Chenfeng smiled faintly, signaling everyone to stand up.
"Thank you, Ancestral Patriarch!" The crowd at Medicine God Hall shouted respectfully and excitedly.
The resounding voices echoed throughout the Ancient Celestial Mountain, continuously reverberating through the ranges.
Yao Xuan glanced at the two disciples who dared not rise and were trembling all over, his old brows slightly furrowed, and a hint of killing intent flashed through his deep old eyes.
Although Yao Xuan didn’t know what had happened, he also guessed that the two disciples had offended Gu Chenfeng.
The terrifying spiritual pressure enveloped the two disciples, Yao Xuan asked in a deep voice, "Did you offend the Ancestral Patriarch?"
"Vice Hall Master, spare us! We didn’t know he was the Ancestral Patriarch!" The two disciples were so frightened that they kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Qinghe, what exactly happened?" Yao Xingchen asked aloud.
Yao Qinghe then recounted the events.
After listening, Yao Xuan and several elders instantly erupted in fury, their old faces grotesque like ferocious tigers, longing to tear the two disciples to pieces.
Yao Xingchen, barely restraining his immense anger, said respectfully, "Ancestral Patriarch, these two beasts violated the hierarchy and offended you; this is a capital offense."
"Great Elder, we didn’t know he was the Ancestral Patriarch, it was not intentional," the two disciples explained fearfully.
"You are audacious! Daring to violate the hierarchy and speak insolently to the Ancestral Patriarch! You’ve grown tired of living! Even if you unintentionally offended the Ancestral Patriarch, I, the Hall Master, will kill you!" Yao Xuan shouted in exasperation, raising his hand to strike the two disciples down.
"Hold on!" Gu Chenfeng quickly intercepted.
"Ancestral Patriarch, spare us! We know our mistake! We beg the Ancestral Patriarch to spare our lives!" The two disciples desperately kowtowed and pleaded for forgiveness, having reached the peak of fear and despair.
Gu Chenfeng looked towards Yao Xuan and the others, and said indifferently, "The disciples of Medicine God Hall are arrogant and disregardful, ignorming the hall’s rules, which partly reflects your discipline."
"Ancestral Patriarch, it’s all because of my ineffective discipline; I beg for your punishment!" Yao Xuan promptly knelt down on both knees.
"As an elder of Medicine God Hall, I am likewise responsible; I plead for the Ancestral Patriarch’s punishment," Yao Xingchen followed suit, kneeling on both knees.
"We beg for the Ancestral Patriarch’s punishment," the other elders also knelt on both knees one after another.
Seeing the Vice Hall Master and elders kneeling in succession, the disciples of Medicine God Hall were so terrified that their hearts were pounding, cold sweat poured, and their eyes were filled with fear.
The Ancient Celestial Mountain suddenly fell silent.
No one dared to speak as Gu Chenfeng remained silent.
"Rise for now," Gu Chenfeng said calmly.
"Yes, Ancestral Patriarch." It was only then that Yao Xuan and the elders dared to rise.
Looking at the two disciples, Gu Chenfeng said coldly, "Being contemptuous of Medicine God Hall’s rules, you’re unfit to be its disciples. I won’t kill you; pack up and leave the mountain."
"Thank you, Ancestral Patriarch, for sparing our lives! Thank you!" The two disciples kept kowtowing in gratitude, feeling utterly relieved.
The two did not dare to linger, even if reluctant; they hastily flew away, fearing Gu Chenfeng might change his mind.
The greatest regret they had in their lives was offending Gu Chenfeng.
Countless cultivators in the Cultivation Realm dream of joining Medicine God Hall, yet they were expelled due to offending Gu Chenfeng, ruining their bright future.
Watching as they disappeared into the sky, Gu Chenfeng ordered, "Candle Dragon, go erase their memories; considering they were once disciples of Medicine God Hall, do not harm their lives."
"Yes, Master!" Candle Dragon respectfully accepted the command, shrinking its enormous form before vanishing.
"Ancestral Patriarch, this way, please." Yao Xuan said respectfully, gesturing a welcoming posture.
"I haven’t been back in many years, I wonder what changes Medicine God Hall has undergone. I’ll check your alchemy skills soon; I hope you won’t disappoint me. Let’s go." Gu Chenfeng smiled faintly, flapping his Ice Wings, swiftly flying toward the deep mountain.
"Yes, Ancestral Patriarch!" Yao Xuan and Yao Xingchen responded respectfully, their old faces all displaying ecstatic smiles.
Overwhelmed with joy, Yao Xuan immediately ordered, "Qinghe, return and prepare a feast, to welcome the Ancestral Patriarch!"
"As ordered! I will prepare the feast right away!" Yao Qinghe, full of excitement and enthusiasm, promptly led a group of brethren back swiftly to prepare.
A few minutes later.
Gu Chenfeng arrived at Medicine God Hall.
Looking at the grand palaces standing atop the mountain peaks, a familiar feeling surged within him, brightening his mood instantly.
However.
When Gu Chenfeng saw the collapsed mountain peak, he frowned and asked, "Is sparring between disciples destructive enough to ruin a mountain peak? Yao Xuan, who attacked Medicine God Hall?"
Yao Xuan bowed respectfully, "Ancestral Patriarch, it was the Soul-Devouring Sect."
"I suspected as much." Gu Chenfeng nodded slightly.
Yao Xuan continued respectfully, "Years ago, you defeated the Sect Master of the Soul-Devouring Sect; he didn’t die. After reviving using Devouring Worm, recovering his peak strength, he led the Soul-Devouring Sect in attacking Medicine God Hall."
Gu Chenfeng took a glance at Yao Xuan and the others, saying, "If his strength is restored to the peak, you wouldn’t be his match, even with Candle Dragon, that old thing can’t be handled."
"Ancestral Patriarch is right," Yao Xuan answered respectfully, "In that battle years ago, even with our joint efforts, we couldn’t overcome the Sect Master of the Soul-Devouring Sect; but in the critical moment, the Ice and Snow Phoenix arrived just in time, forcing the Soul-Devouring Sect to retreat."
"It was her." Gu Chenfeng smiled faintly, "Her Ice Attribute is the sect’s nemesis."
Yao Xingchen continued respectfully, "Ancestral Patriarch, the Ice and Snow Phoenix has been waiting for your return in the Frozen World."
"Hm." Gu Chenfeng nodded.
Exerting the domineering Ice Attribute, Gu Chenfeng formed a Sword Point with his right hand. The Sword Point trembled violently, before he coldly shouted: "Divine Dao Soul-Breaking Array! Open!"
"Early Stage of Golden Core!"
"No way? Did I see wrongly? Is the Ancestral Patriarch only at the Early Stage of the Golden Core?"
"What’s going on? Why has the Ancestral Patriarch’s cultivation reverted to the Early Stage of the Golden Core?"
Feeling Gu Chenfeng’s Ice Attribute Spiritual Power, Yao Xuan and the five elders, along with everyone at Medicine God Hall, were all deeply astonished.
No one dared to believe the Ancestral Patriarch’s cultivation was only at the Early Stage of the Golden Core.
Such feeble strength, any disciple at Medicine God Hall could effortlessly defeat.
Is Gu Chenfeng truly their Ancestral Patriarch?
Countless doubts surfaced in the hearts of disciples.
"Buzz Buzz!"
As Gu Chenfeng’s words fell, the mountain peak where Medicine God Hall was located trembled abruptly, revealing a gigantic, somewhat damaged white array faintly.
"The Early Stage of Golden Core can activate the array!" The disciples’ faces all showed a shocked expression.
After all, ever since the array at Medicine God Hall was breached, even Yao Xuan couldn’t activate it.
Looking at the damaged array, Gu Chenfeng said indifferently, "The array was indeed destroyed."
Yao Xuan’s old face revealed a bit of embarrassment, respectfully saying, "The strength of the Soul-Devouring Sect was overwhelming; numerous strong entities collaborated to break the array. At the time, we truly couldn’t withstand it, especially the Sect Master of Soul-Devouring Sect, who alone could suppress Medicine God Hall."
"That old entity’s strength is indeed formidable; after so many years, he’s likely nearing ascension." Gu Chenfeng smiled faintly, then activated Celestial Emperor’s Blood, unleashing an even more tyrannical Ice Attribute Spiritual Power.