Zi Luo Heaven, the first Heaven Level plane Gu Nan came into contact with, was actually a very special existence.
As the largest neutral trading plane in the Myriad Heavens, Zi Luo Heaven was filled with the shadows of all major organizations, many of which had set up their headquarters here or were even created here.
Everyone was used to Zi Luo Heaven's current appearance, but few people ever wondered who the Star Ruler of Zi Luo Heaven really was.
It was only after Gu Nan made such a big commotion this time and the old man slumbering in Zi Luo Heaven suddenly woke up and spoke that comment that many people realized there was such an existence.
"Zi Luo Elder? To think that even he returned." Duan Wenqi was also from that era, so of course he heard rumors of this person.
But those were merely rumors, because by the time he and Lu Wen became cultivators, Zi Luo Elder had long since fallen into a deep slumber.
In a rare occurrence, no smile could be seen on Lu Wen's face this time. Instead, it was full of seriousness. "Zi Luo Elder… He lived in an era much earlier than even Dream Immortal, yet he awakened at this juncture. It can't possibly be a coincidence."
Duan Wenqi couldn't be more familiar with the name Dream Immortal. This woman, who was older than both he and Lu Wen by a little over half a generation, was none other than Lou Wanying's mother. She was a powerhouse who once buried herself.
Duan Wenqi was silent for a moment before saying, "Zi Luo Elder's cultivation realm fell a hundred thousand years ago, and now even his astral world has become public domain, so what can he use to recover his strength?"
"Perhaps the reason he awakened now is also the same reason he might be able to recover his strength in the future," Lu Wen answered lightly.
Duan Wenqi couldn't help but freeze upon hearing those words as a figure immediately sprang into his mind.
By now, he no longer dared to underestimate Gu Nan at all—Wu Tian was stronger than himself, and the fact that Wu Tian couldn't do anything to Gu Nan meant that he would end up the same way.
To think that a weakling Star Ruler who just acquired his own astral world could actually wreak havoc in Realm Level planes at will. This surpassed Duan Wenqi's expectations.
...
Like Lu Wen, many others also pondered the reason behind Zi Luo Elder's awakening, because the first words he spoke after his slumber were way too targeted.
Thus, Gu Nan's reputation, almost like an inflated balloon, flew to every corner of the Myriad Heavens.
He'd gone from a junior with a rising reputation to a big shot with an infamous reputation that no organization dared to underestimate.
This was, after all, a vicious character who could force the Star Ruler of a Realm Level plane to bow his head in apology, all while Gu Nan never once showed his face.
On the other hand, it was also because Gu Nan's name was tied to this legendary figure, Zi Luo Elder.
Almost overnight, this old man who'd been forgotten by the times was once again remembered by all the forces. They remembered his former glory, but they also remembered his fall.
Zi Luo Heaven was one of the most ancient astral worlds. In the earliest days, there were only four planes on the level of the current Thirteen Heavens, and Zi Luo Heaven was one of them.
Furthermore, Zi Luo Elder was widely known by his title, "peach and plum all over the world," which referred to how his students and direct disciples were everywhere in the Myriad Heavens.
Even the law with which he achieved Unified Dao was related to this point. But this also laid the groundwork for his fall.
Zi Luo Elder's law was related to "teaching," so he became an obstacle for Song Fei, the ruler of Academic Heaven, when he gradually drew closer to Unified Dao Realm.
Although the two's laws didn't completely overlap, as long as Zi Luo Elder existed, Song Fei's chances of breaking through to Unified Dao were pitifully small. No matter how much self-confidence Song Fei possessed, he still refused to take any risks with his own foundation.
So it wasn't a surprise that Song Fei eventually teamed up with Jiu Po Heaven, which was already at Unified Dao Realm, to set a trap for Zi Luo Elder, making his cultivation realm fall.
Next, before anyone else had time to react, Song Fei entered Unified Dao in one fell swoop. No matter how dissatisfied Zi Luo Elder's disciples and grand-disciples were, there was nothing much they could do.
This was a very dishonorable tactic, but then again, honor wasn't ever a consideration when someone's path to the great Dao was blocked.
"Nonsense, utter nonsense! Grandpa Song is such a kindhearted person. How could he ever do such a thing?!" Inside Academic Heaven, Yu Shuyun had bandages wrapped around her chest, but her face was filled with anger.
Yu Shuyun, who should've died in Heavenly Mansion World after being impaled through the chest by Gu Nan's fist, was saved by her senior brother.
"Of course Grandpa Song couldn't have done that. It's just baseless slander by some villains." Chu Mingxuan walked into the room with disdain on his face. "Nevermind that, though. The most important thing right now is to recuperate. Don't pay attention to outside matters."
Yu Shuyun was still a bit indignant, but she sat down peacefully under her senior brother's persuasion.
Song Fei stepped into Unified Dao Realm too early, so not many people remembered what happened almost 100,000 years ago.
Moreover, after Song Fei's ascension to the ranks of the Thirteen Heavens, plenty of people were willing to help whitewash him. Plus, he himself wasn't really a wicked or evil person, so the secrets from back then were covered up. At least, not many people in Academic Heaven knew the truth.
From the bottom of her heart, Yu Shuyun didn't believe in this kind of nonsense. Instead, it was very easy for her to cast those thoughts aside.
When she sat down again, Chu Mingxuan continued, "We may have found the person who hurt you earlier."
"Who is it?!" Yu Shuyun immediately stood up again, grimacing in pain when she instantly aggravated the injury on her chest.
Chu Mingxuan helplessly pushed her back down and took out a scroll and handed it to her. On it was a painting of Gu Nan's saint clone from the battle in White Bones Realm.
Yu Shuyun had seen Gu Nan fight, and his abilities were quite recognizable. Plus, with Gu Nan's current reputation, it really wasn't hard to recognize him.
"That's right! That's him… Wait a minute, he's that Gu Nan?" Yu Shuyun also paid attention to this recent battle and instantly recognized the background in the scroll.
Chu Mingxuan nodded with a dark expression. "Yes."
His mood was somewhat heavy. If the person who injured his junior sister was Gu Nan, then it wouldn't be that simple for himself and the others to take revenge.
'Even if Master makes a move, there's still no guarantee… No, Master likely won't be able to kill him either.'
Even Daoist Monarch Wu Tian could only watch Gu Nan come and go in his own astral world. As long as Gu Nan himself didn't court death by running into certain large astral worlds, then who could capture him?
But Yu Shuyun didn't care about all that. She immediately grabbed Chu Mingxuan's sleeve. "Senior Brother, you have to avenge me! He killed Ah Bu and almost killed me!"
As she said this, Yu Shuyun's eyes almost spewed flames.
But Chu Mingxuan was slightly taken aback, then his eyes lit up. "That's right! Qi Bu also died at Gu Nan's hands! Let's tell the Graceful Academy about this matter and have them go after Gu Nan!"
The Graceful Academy was also the Confucian Academy where Qi Bu studied. Yu Shuyun stared blankly, then asked, "Will they… actually help?"
"Of course!" Chu Mingxuan's face was full of confidence. "Do you know what those foolish bookworms value the most?"
"…Loyalty and righteousness?"
"Wrong, it's face!"