Different people have different opinions.

The expression of the Guardian Spirit changed instantly, as if someone had touched its reverse scale: "What do you mean by that?"

"You're saying that Qiu Yulong is someone who isn't purely good or evil? I think he's purely evil. Do you really think he gave up refining the Ageless Pill out of a guilty conscience?" Gu Qingfeng suddenly laughed.

"Don't you dare slander my master!"

"Oh? It seems Qiu Yulong did a pretty good job brainwashing you. Then again, he managed to deceive the world for over a century, and even now, he still has countless followers. That alone shows how skilled he is at manipulation."

"You can kill me, but you must not defame my master. Although he resorted to deceit, he was also a man who upheld his principles and dared to sacrifice himself for his ideals. He spent his entire life pursuing his dreams. What's wrong with that?

If he were truly irredeemably evil, when his lifespan was nearing its end, he could have easily extended it by slaughtering innocents. But he didn't. He chose to wait for death instead!" the Guardian Spirit argued urgently.

Gu Qingfeng's expression remained calm, a stark contrast to the Guardian Spirit's agitation.

He spoke in a composed tone, analyzing: "Let's not even discuss whether he was pursuing dreams or fame—that's beside the point. Can't your single-minded brain consider another possibility?

What are the odds that a man who, even after death, sought to immortalize his name and leave a legacy for eternity, would suddenly have a change of heart?

You say he woke up to the truth after accidentally killing bandits, but I think it's more likely that he had already killed so many people that it became impossible to ignore. He had to stop because if he were discovered, it would mean the Heavenly Demon Scroll might be exposed, and he would lose his title as the world's greatest alchemist.

An entire region was practically devoid of bandits because of his killings. How could that not draw attention?"

"You're twisting the facts!" the Guardian Spirit roared in anger.

"Not at all. I'm simply analyzing this from the perspective of human nature being inherently selfish. Besides, his later decision to use his own lifespan to refine pills can also be explained. He was imprisoned and couldn't go out to kill.

To avoid exposing the secret of the Heavenly Demon Scroll and protect his reputation, he chose to deplete his own lifespan rather than reveal the truth to his captors.

As you said, he was indeed someone who valued his reputation more than his life.

This also explains why he chose to die of old age rather than kill to extend his life. By then, he had already achieved his life's ambition and had no regrets. Killing to prolong his life would only increase the risk of exposure and serve no purpose. Moreover, staying alive might have meant being captured by other powerful figures.

So, rather than risk being exposed, he chose to end his life on a high note, completing the circle of his existence."

"Nonsense! This is all just your speculation. What evidence do you have?" The Guardian Spirit was now visibly flustered.

Gu Qingfeng calmly looked at the Guardian Spirit: "Evidence? Every five years, at least a thousand people die in the Jade Dragon Secret Realm, all in pursuit of the legacy. Among them, there are certainly those driven by greed, but there are also admirers who come with a sense of reverence. A century-long deception turned into a century-long slaughter. Don't you find that interesting?"

"Their deaths are their own fault. It's not like my master forced them to come!"

"True, they came of their own will, and their deaths are their own doing. Neither of us cares about these people, but what about the so-called benevolent Qiu Yulong you speak of?

Would he care about those vibrant, admiring young talents?

Would he care about those who could have shone brightly in the path of alchemy but..."

"Enough! Stop talking!" the Guardian Spirit screamed hysterically. "Couldn't it just be that my master didn't think of these things when he set up the secret realm?

He was nearing the end of his life. Isn't it normal for him to overlook some details?"

Gu Qingfeng looked at the distraught Guardian Spirit and suddenly smiled: "You're right. It's possible he didn't think of it. A hundred years have passed, and there's no way to verify the truth. Both of us are just speculating. As the saying goes, 'The benevolent see benevolence, and the wise see wisdom.' Everyone has their own interpretation.

Whether Qiu Yulong was good or evil has nothing to do with me. All that matters to me is that the Heavenly Demon Scroll is real."

The Guardian Spirit was stunned for a moment, then angrily retorted: "If it has nothing to do with you, why are you slandering my master?"

Gu Qingfeng shrugged: "I'm merely presenting another possible truth. It's not slander. What matters isn't what I say, but what you believe to be the truth in your heart."

"What I believe to be the truth..."

The Guardian Spirit was momentarily lost in thought, muttering to itself. But the more it muttered, the more its expression turned to one of despair. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it quickly takes root and grows.

"It seems you already have your answer."

"I..." The Guardian Spirit paused, then suddenly raised its voice: "I am my master's most loyal servant. Of course, I believe in him!"

Gu Qingfeng chuckled: "Have you ever considered that you might not be as loyal as you think?"

"Don't you dare..."

"Don't rush to deny it. The Heavenly Demon Scroll in my hand is the best evidence. Just now, in a life-or-death situation, you instinctively handed over the scroll to save your own life, completely disregarding the reputation your master spent a lifetime building. Do you call that loyalty?"

"That's because... because... of the secret realm's rules!" the Guardian Spirit stammered, shouting.

"My master set the rules of the secret realm a long time ago. Whoever enters this legacy space will obtain the divine refining method. That's the purpose of the secret realm! As the Guardian Spirit, I must follow the rules! I am absolutely loyal!" The Guardian Spirit spoke more and more confidently, its eyes growing firmer.

"Oh, I see," Gu Qingfeng replied dismissively, then turned to leave the legacy space.

But the Guardian Spirit grew anxious: "What do you mean by 'oh'? Don't you believe me?"

Gu Qingfeng stopped in his tracks, glanced at it calmly, and said in a composed tone: "Whether you're loyal or not has nothing to do with me. All disputes in the world are subjective, after all. It's just a matter of perspective."

Gu Qingfeng's indifferent words left the Guardian Spirit feeling hollow, as if something important and long-held had vanished, though it couldn't quite grasp what it was.

However, after taking just two steps, Gu Qingfeng suddenly stopped again, his gaze fixed on the entrance of the space.

In the next moment, a small, white-haired figure darted in.

It was Qiu Xiaocui.

When Qiu Xiaocui saw Gu Qingfeng inside the legacy space, her expression changed dramatically: "With the soul power of a mere grandmaster, there's no way you could erase the text on the stone tablet. How did you get in here?"