The 13 powerhouses of the Thirteen Heavens were known and praised for many qualities, but the most famous characteristic of Academic Heaven's Song Fei had always been his overprotective nature.
Song Fei had a gentle demeanor, spoke politely, and often gave people the refreshing feeling of a spring breeze. He almost perfectly fit the standard scholar template, except… he loved to stand up for his disciples a little too much.
He was already famous for this back when he wasn't even a Unified Dao bigshot yet, and he caused a lot of trouble for himself because of this.
But Song Fei still continued acting the same way even after ascending to Unified Dao, frequently bullying those weaker than him without any regard to his status.
In Song Fei's words, "You can curse me; I will not lower myself to your level. But if my disciple has been wronged, then I will seek justice without any regard to face."
Red Candle Heaven's Green Lantern Fairy had a deep grudge against Fang Chaoyun.
But she never targeted Fang Chaoyun and merely watched him walk all the way to this point because of Song Fei's existence.
Gu Nan also didn't expect Song Fei to actually help his Tier 10 disciple, even with his status. This was already akin to throwing his face on the ground and stomping on it a few times.
But in the face of a shameless Thirteen Heavens level figure, did Gu Nan have any way to resist?
Of course he did.
Gu Nan smiled. "I've no explanation to give. But whatever losses I suffer today, your disciples might just suffer the exact same losses two days later."
After a pause, he narrowed his eyes and added, "If worst comes to worst, I'll just abandon my astral world and start all over again. It hasn't even been 50 years since I walked from an ordinary person all the way here. What's there to fear?"
Song Fei was still smiling gently. "That means there's someone who will stand up for you? Let me guess, is it Yu Lian, or is it that meddlesome old man?"
Song Fei's voice didn't sound unnatural at all when mentioning that old man, as if he wasn't the one who screwed Zi Luo Elder over back then.
Gu Nan's expression remained unchanged and had no intention of replying, merely revealing an odd smile.
From Xue Ren sending invitations far and wide to Gu Nan trying to find ways to stall for time, it was now almost time.
Song Fei was a very intelligent person. Just from Gu Nan's attitude alone, he immediately associated Gu Nan's plans with the matter of someone ascending to Unified Dao soon.
But with the way Xue Ren fought earlier, he didn't look like someone who was about to enter Unified Dao.
Song Fei's thoughts resembled the myriad curves of the Yellow River, housing a thousand schemes in his mind. He smiled at this time and said, "Ultimately, Xue Ren has yet to take that final step. If matters turn sour, it's not impossible for this one to destroy his path to the great Dao."
"Amazing." Gu Nan gave him a sincere thumbs up. To decide to ruin a powerful Tier 10 Star Ruler's path with a mere sentence; this was indeed very awe-inspiring.
It's just that there was something mocking about how that word sounded when coming from Gu Nan's mouth.
Since he failed to sound out any useful information from Gu Nan, Song Fei's interest also faded slightly. With his status, there really was no need to speak so much with a child like Gu Nan.
However, at this time, a mysterious aura rose out of thin air, bringing the entire Myriad Heavens to a boil.
Song Fei's expression turned a little grave, and, no longer caring about Gu Nan's matter, his gaze seemed capable of piercing through planes, landing directly on a certain small plane.
Xue Ren, on the other hand, remained under the sword testing platform, his gaze likewise looking towards that small plane as the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. "Don't let me down…"
Beside him, the Green Lantern Fairy, Wang Li, and the others were all astonished.
Because this was clearly a sign that someone was about to enter Unified Dao, but Xue Ren was still standing right in front of them…
'Then who's the one breaking through to Unified Dao? And what does Xue Ren hope to accomplish by making such a scene?'
There was no need for them to ponder this further, because the aura that practically triggered a change in the laws of heaven and earth was becoming more and more intense.
By this time, anyone could discover the source of the aura.
"What is that place?"
"I don't recognize it. It seems to be a small plane."
"That plane doesn't even have a Star Ruler. Not even that, it hasn't even been discovered before… How can such a small plane possibly produce a Unified Dao powerhouse?"
The Star Rulers were bewildered, unable to understand what they were seeing. After all, it was a matter of course for Star Rulers to break through to Unified Dao Realm from inside their own astral worlds. Why would anyone run to an obscure plane?
"It's too late." In Void Grotto Heaven, Yu Lian was naturally also paying attention to that plane. At this time, she gave a light sigh.
"Blood and flowers." Zou Jiming frowned slightly, but he was able to determine the meaning contained in this aura and judge this Unified Dao cultivator's law inclination.
But a judgment was just a judgment. This result puzzled him greatly. Because in his impression, there had never been a major Star Ruler who used those laws.
'This person can't have appeared out of thin air, right?'
Under countless gazes, a red light suddenly emerged from that small plane and shot straight to the sky.
The red pillar broke through the clouds, and lotuses emerged on the horizon, as if countless rituals and music were being played, and the whole plane was filled with a festive mood.
This was the phenomenon that accompanied a cultivator's successful ascension to Unified Dao, carrying the congratulations of heaven and earth—like Yu Lian said, they were too late to stop it.
But ever since the red pillar appeared, the special power that surrounded it—which had a strong sense of worship and sublimity—was finally recognized at a glance.
"The power of faith?" Song Fei's expression finally darkened completely, and there were no longer any hints of a smile in his gaze when he looked at Gu Nan.
Fang Chaoyun likewise knew what this meant and immediately pointed angrily at Gu Nan. "You guys actually invited foreign gods into our world and blocked the paths of Myriad Heaven's cultivators from attaining the great Dao, you traitors!"
Wordlessly, Song Fei waved his hand and threw out a green light that headed straight for Gu Nan.
Faced with an attack from one of the Thirteen Heavens, by all rights, Gu Nan should be entirely powerless to resist.
And he very straightforwardly didn't resist—judging which situations could be fought and which couldn't was the player's job.
However, at the same time Song Fei made his move, the red pillar of light that broke through the clouds in that small plane seemed to have grown eyes, falling straight into Gu Nan's Divine Kingdom.
The red light collided with the green light and dissipated simultaneously. After the red light flickered slightly, Rolensia's figure appeared in front of Gu Nan.
The current Rolensia's appearance had undergone a great change. She wore a red mantle outside. The mantle was painted with strange patterns, and even her hair turned entirely crimson.
Gu Nan was familiar with this appearance, because in the player's extremely rare quest lines where Rolensia advanced to a greater god, she donned exactly this outfit.
There was no mistake. After over two years of seclusion, Rolensia finally took that most crucial step in the Myriad Heavens.
Now, instead of being called the God of Luxuriant Blossoms, it would be more accurate to call Rolensia the Ruler of Luxuriant Blossoms.
After Rolensia blocked Song Fei's blow, she first nodded at Gu Nan and said, "Many thanks."
Then she turned to Song Fei and Fang Chaoyun. "My name is Rolensia."
Song Fei nodded a little but didn't speak. If this Unified Dao expert from the World of Gods was very determined to protect Gu Nan, then there was no need to fall out with her.
Or rather, her foundation was in the World of Gods, so there was no such thing as mutual restraint. Here in the Myriad heavens, she could act without the slightest scruple.
Rolensia was the first ever greater god who could enter the Myriad Heavens.
Although Song Fei was shrewd, his disciple, Mr. Fang Chaoyun, was not the same.
This old gentleman had been upright all his life. Not even living for tens of thousands of years managed to change his nature, so he immediately spoke righteously.
"Nonhuman races will not have humanity's best interests at heart!" Fang Chaoyun bowed to Song Fei. "Teacher, that such barbaric foreigners entered our Myriad Heavens must mean they harbor wicked ulterior motives. Why not gather all the seniors—"
Before he could finish, a red light lit up on his body.
Song Fei's gaze turned slightly cold, but it was too late to stop it, so he casually pointed a finger, and a green light directly pierced Gu Nan's heart.
The two Unified Dao figures struck, and Gu Nan and Fang Chaoyun were hit almost simultaneously.
Gu Nan's heart shattered, while Fang Chaoyun's veins also burst. These injuries weren't fatal for them, but they definitely weren't light either.
Song Fei supported his own disciple's body with a light smile on his face, but he had no intention of backing down.
"Your Excellency Rolensia, both sides will only suffer more losses if we continue like this. Why don't we each take a step back?"
"Don't bother." Before Rolensia could respond, Gu Nan had already patted his chest, as if the gaping hole in his chest didn't exist, and replied with a calm expression, "Let's continue. Whoever gives in is a wimp."