Qiu Shou Xian glared with furious eyes, the aura surging around his entire body soul-shattering.
In his view, this act by Gu Changqing was simply a provocation against him.
As an Attendant Immortal, Qiu Shou Xian had long since grown accustomed to riding the coattails of tigers to make a mighty show.
Walking within the Interception Sect, even personal disciples had to show him a modicum of respect.
Yet Gu Changqing actually dared to treat his words with indifference.
Qiu Shou Xian abruptly felt that he was losing face.
All around, a crowd of disciples also wore astonished expressions, finding it inconceivable.
"It's over, Junior Brother Gu Changqing really drank himself stupid."
"Facing Senior Brother Qiu Shou Xian, to still dare to ignore him like this is truly asking for trouble."
"Wine intoxicates the eyes; once this fellow sobered up from his drunkenness, he would regret it to the depths of his soul."
Qiu Shou Xian's appearance drew even more Outer Sect disciples' attention to the standoff between the two.
For a time, the atmosphere was taut as a drawn bow.
Everyone's complexion was stern.
Could it be that amidst a sage's discourse on the Dao, a struggle among fellow disciples would erupt?
Right under everyone's gaze, however, Qiu Shou Xian did not make a ferocious move.
If it were ordinary times, sparring between disciples was common enough.
Today, though, was the day of the sage's discourse.
Once the sage was disturbed, the crime would be enormous.
Qiu Shou Xian did not dare to act rashly.
He coldly looked at Gu Changqing, who was already five or six parts drunk, and said in a deep voice:
"Gu Changqing, if you are fond of fine wine, you could well wait until the discourse on the Dao ends."
"Return to your cave dwelling, and even if you get roaring drunk, no one will mind you."
"Today, however, you have already affected other junior brothers and junior sisters in comprehending the Dao, which is truly improper."
"If you continue like this, and anyway you possess no heart to comprehend the Dao, then leave this place and cease ruining the Interception Sect's grand matter of the Dao discourse because of a single person."
Qiu Shou Xian's words were cold and sharp.
Hearing these words, Gu Changqing retorted without a moment's hesitation.
"No heart to comprehend the Dao? Who said so?"
"Haha... A single drink drains rivers and seas, another drink swallows the sun and moon, a thousand cups cannot knock me down, none other than the Wine Sword Immortal."
"One man, one sword, one jug of wine, able to sever all the eternal sorrows of the mortal world!"
"These... are all the Dao I have comprehended, how can you say I have no heart to comprehend the Dao?"
Gu Changqing argued eloquently, debating with Qiu Shou Xian.
Expel him from the ranks of those listening to the Dao?
You must be joking!
Gu Changqing was drunk in appearance but sober in heart; how could he possibly follow Qiu Shou Xian's every word?
Drinking wine while listening to the sage's discourse on the Dao could make his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.
Of course Gu Changqing would not leave.
Gu Changqing's gaze suddenly burst forth with two piercing rays, abruptly adding an awe-inspiring and grandiose momentum.
He truly possessed some of the peerless bearing and peerlessly domineering style of the Wine Sword Immortal.
These few sparse words also revealed a magnificent spirit, youthful vigor surging, causing some disciples to stare in a daze.
Before Qiu Shou Xian could say anything more this time, however.
Within Biyou Palace, the sound of the discourse on the Dao leisurely ceased.
Immediately, a deafening Immortal Proclamation resounded across Golden Ao Island.
"Who is this Wine Sword Immortal?"
"Why not listen closely to the Dao, yet make such a din?"
Although these words were without wave or ripple, showing neither joy nor anger.
Hearing them, however, every disciple felt their scalp go numb and their heart tremble.
This was the voice of Saint Tongtian.
Clearly, Gu Changqing's previous drunken words, showing not the slightest restraint, had already disturbed Saint Tongtian.
Obstructing the Dao discourse was an unforgivable grave crime.
Even Qiu Shou Xian shrank his neck, revealing a look of terror.
Immediately after, a thought occurred to him. He sneered coldly and said to Gu Changqing,
"Gu Changqing, you disturbed Master's sermon and remain unrepentant. Your crime is unforgivable!"
Pausing, Qiu Shou Xian turned back toward Biyou Palace and said with utmost respect,
"Reporting to Master, Outer Sect disciple Gu Changqing is hopelessly addicted to alcohol and disturbed the sermon."
"This disciple went to discipline him, yet he refuses to restrain himself and boastfully calls himself some Wine Sword Immortal."
"I beg Master to punish Gu Changqing, to uphold the integrity of our Interception Sect."
Since he had already drawn Saint Tongtian's attention, Qiu Shou Xian simply poured oil on the fire and lodged a further complaint.
He wanted to let Gu Changqing know that for a mere Outer Sect disciple to dare provoke an Attendant Immortal was nothing more than a mayfly trying to shake a tree—utterly devoid of self-awareness.
Hearing Qiu Shou Xian's words, Tongtian's gaze shifted, and he instantly lost interest.
The supreme bearing and demeanor revealed in Gu Changqing's earlier words had piqued Tongtian's curiosity.
He had even assumed some supremely talented disciple had comprehended profound and marvelous principles.
Yet now, judging by what Qiu Shou Xian said, those were merely the words of an Outer Sect disciple.
It seemed they were nothing more than the arrogant rantings of an ignorant and audacious kid.
Tongtian had always paid no attention to Outer Sect disciples, nor did he harbor any expectations for them.
After all, the Interception Sect professed to teach all without discrimination, which inevitably resulted in a mixed bag of disciples.
Some people were simply destined never to attain the Dao.
Tongtian spoke as if offhand,
"Gu Changqing, this seat permits our Interception Sect disciples to each excel in their own way."
"If you have no heart to listen to the sermon, return to your cave dwelling."
As the sage and sect master, Tongtian's words were decree-like edicts that the Interception Sect disciples dared not disobey.
With this single sentence, Gu Changqing would surely not dare to say anything more and would obediently return to his cave dwelling.
Therefore, his words finished, Tongtian paid him no further mind and immediately prepared to resume his sermon.
Yet the moment his voice fell, outside Biyou Palace, Gu Changqing's "eloquent and forceful" words rang out in response.
"Master, this disciple will not leave!"
"I stated earlier that while others are cultivating the Dao, this disciple is cultivating it just the same."
"Yet Qiu Shou Xian claims that this disciple possesses no heart for enlightenment, which is merely imposing a trumped-up charge."
Saying this, Gu Changqing gulped down another large mouthful of wine and continued,
"Who is to say... that Qiu Shou Xian is even as good as this disciple?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Interception Sect erupted in an uproar.
This Junior Brother Gu Changqing was simply too wild!
Not only did he talk back to Master, but now he questioned whether Qiu Shou Xian was inferior to him?
Such words were truly heaven-shaking and earth-shattering.
Throughout the entire Interception Sect, this was unprecedented.
This kid had truly stirred up a massive trouble.
Next, even if Master Tongtian expelled him from the Interception Sect, no one would find it surprising.
Gu Changqing's words, though laced with a hint of drunkenness, rang out powerfully.
Tongtian listened in a daze, shook his head with a chuckle, and did not grow angry over it.
As a cultivator, one ought to be just like this-possessing a firm Dao heart that refused to fall behind others.
Instead, Gu Changqing's words brought Tongtian a measure of gratification.
However, Qiu Shou Xian at the side flew into a sudden rage.
As a proud member of the Seven Attendant Immortals who constantly attended the Saint's side, he was actually being looked down upon?
If such words had been spoken by Duobao and the others, Qiu Shou Xian might not have dared to harbor any objections.
Yet a mere Gu Changqing clearly did not qualify!
"I... I am not as good as you?"
"If that is so, do you dare to spar with me?"
"I want to see what qualifications you have to spout such nonsense here!"
Furious, Qiu Shou Xian hopped in anger and directly demanded to cross swords with Gu Changqing.
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