Could it be that Gu Changge was foolish enough to not understand the situation?
Elder Xianyun didn't believe it. After all, she had lived for hundreds of epochs. Although she couldn't determine Gu Changge's exact cultivation level, she was absolutely certain that his calm and composed demeanor was due to his immense confidence and certainty.
Just as Elder Xianyun's thoughts raced and she was about to answer, Elder Jiulin spoke first, smiling as he said, "This is the eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field. He has been in seclusion for a long time, rarely appearing in public. Even I am seeing him for the first time, so it's normal for the Palace Master to find him unfamiliar."
Hearing this, Ling Qiuhan nodded in understanding.
Elder Xianyun also nodded, explaining further.
"It seems that our Imperial Immortal Palace is truly a place where dragons and tigers hide. Not only do we have a prodigy like Yuxian, but now even the eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field is so extraordinary."
"Truly, the heavens bless our Imperial Immortal Palace."
The elders, now noticing Gu Changge, were also quite amazed. Even they couldn't see through his cultivation level.
Their first reaction was that Gu Changge must possess some treasure that concealed his aura and destiny, and that he carried great fortune.
Such disciples were not uncommon in the long history of the Imperial Immortal Palace. In the past, they might have been more interested in uncovering the secrets of such disciples.
But over time, they had stopped prying into such matters.
After all, everyone had their own secrets. The Imperial Immortal Palace was already in decline. If even the elders coveted the treasures and secrets of their disciples, the Imperial Immortal Palace would inevitably collapse.
Take, for example, the Immortal Chu Dynasty, which had risen rapidly to become one of the top powers in the Prime-Origin Civilization in just over a hundred epochs.
This was largely due to the fact that Chu Gucheng, the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, valued individuals with great fortune and was willing to invest heavily in their cultivation.
The eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field.
Ling Yuxian had also been paying attention when Palace Master Ling Qiuhan asked about Gu Changge's identity.
Upon learning that he was the eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field, she felt somewhat relieved, but she still wasn't entirely at ease.
She planned to find an opportunity to approach and test him privately to uncover his true identity.
Gu Changge, as if unaware of Ling Yuxian's thoughts, followed behind Elder Xianyun and the others, leisurely leaving the council hall after the meeting.
Elder Xianyun walked gracefully at the front, leading the way to a floating immortal island where she intended to have her disciples stay temporarily.
Elder Jiulin, on the other hand, took Jing Xiao and the others to another mountain range of palaces.
During this period, all the elders would remain in the Imperial Immortal Palace, awaiting further arrangements from the Palace Master. Naturally, Elder Jiulin was no exception.
Elder Jiulin and the others were particularly concerned and attentive to the matter of rescuing the Ancestor.
It seemed that he had noticed his disciple Jing Xiao still had some cultivation insights she wanted to discuss with Gu Changge.
However, Gu Changge had left quickly with Elder Xianyun, not giving her a chance to speak.
"During this time, Elder Xianyun and I will be staying in the Imperial Immortal Palace. If you want to exchange more insights with that eldest senior brother, you should seize the opportunity," Elder Jiulin said with a smile, stroking his beard.
Jing Xiao, however, blushed at his words, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
It felt as though Elder Jiulin was trying to bring her and that senior brother together.
But the two had only just met. At most, they had had a pleasant conversation, but they were still far from being familiar with each other.
Moreover, she didn't even know the senior brother's name or background.
Seeing the rare blush on Jing Xiao's face and how she quickly ran off, Elder Jiulin couldn't help but smile and stroke his beard.
Perhaps this could make up for the regret of his own unrequited pursuit in the past.
However, such matters couldn't be rushed. Since they would be staying in the Imperial Immortal Palace for a while, there would be plenty of opportunities for the two to interact.
---
Meanwhile, on another immortal island shrouded in mist and glowing with radiant light, within a quiet courtyard.
Gu Changge sat casually on a stone stool, idly playing with an empty teacup in front of him.
Elder Xianyun stood before him, her hands hanging at her sides, looking somewhat nervous.
Compared to her dignified and elegant demeanor in front of the elders and disciples, she now appeared completely different.
Hearing Gu Changge's question, she could only shake her head, indicating that she didn't know.
Ling Yuxian's matters were rarely mentioned by the Palace Master, and the elders had always tactfully avoided asking about them.
Otherwise, rumors that Ling Yuxian might be Palace Master Ling Qiuhan's descendant wouldn't have spread within the Imperial Immortal Palace.
Gu Changge didn't press her further.
Earlier in the hall, he had sensed that Elder Xianyun had considered exposing his identity but had ultimately held back.
Gu Changge wasn't particularly concerned about this.
He didn't expect Elder Xianyun to have no ulterior motives, but as long as she was smart, she would understand what she could and couldn't do.
As long as her life was in his hands, she would know her limits.
Elder Xianyun felt utterly out of place in front of Gu Changge, as if she had no secrets from him.
When she had brought her disciples to this immortal island earlier, she had received a message from Gu Changge, instructing her to come alone later.
Elder Xianyun's heart had been in turmoil, fearing that her thoughts in the hall had been guessed by Gu Changge. She felt anxious and uneasy.
But she didn't dare to disobey Gu Changge's orders, even within the Imperial Immortal Palace.
So, after settling her disciples, she used the excuse of needing to speak with Gu Changge to come alone.
Now, the disciples of the Xianyun Dao field would never imagine their master in such a state.
"Do you know how to make tea?" Gu Changge asked, looking at Elder Xianyun, who had lowered her head in fear. He chuckled lightly, then reached out a finger to lift her chin.
"I do," Elder Xianyun replied, her voice trembling. She felt immense humiliation and indignation at his casual and disrespectful gesture.
Before becoming an elder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, she had always been a dazzling prodigy, excelling in both cultivation and talent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have achieved her current status through her own efforts.
Now, she was only one step away from the True Dao Realm.
Yet, who could have imagined that she, the master of the Xianyun Dao field and a powerful elder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, would be reduced to such a humiliating state, forced to make tea for someone?
"Good, I'm a bit thirsty," Gu Changge said with a faint smile, withdrawing his finger. Naturally, he wouldn't do anything to Elder Xianyun—she still had her uses.
If she were to seek death, it would only bring him unnecessary trouble.