Meanwhile.
Deep beneath Kunlun Mountain, within its earth veins.
Gu Changqing put away the Wine God Gourd and finally turned to look at Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi.
That glance revealed Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi's rigid, stern face alternating between livid and pale. Veins bulged on his forehead, his lips trembled slightly, and his eyes brimmed with fury and humiliation suppressed to the utmost.
He still held the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, his knuckles white around it.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but swallowed the words back down before they could leave his lips.
Say what?
You can't take it?
He already had.
You've gone too far?
The other man didn't care at all.
I'll fight you to the death?
He couldn't win.
Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi had lived for countless epochs, yet never had he felt as stifled as he did at this moment.
Even his previous fair and square defeat at Gu Changqing's hands had never driven him so close to madness with rage.
After all, a Sage could be defeated, but never humiliated!
Today, however, was different.
Today, someone had barged into his cultivation grounds, dug out his foundations, drained his spirit veins, and then walked away openly right before his eyes.
And he could do nothing.
It felt like a mortal watching his own home being torn down, yet having no choice but to stand there, unable even to reach out a hand.
Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi's breathing grew heavier, his chest heaving violently.
His reason told him he could not attack again.
That last strike had already proven that the gulf between him and Gu Changqing was greater than he could imagine.
Attacking again would only bring greater disgrace.
Yet his pride, his dignity, his pride as a Profound Gate Sage born of Pangu's primordial spirit,