The Collapsed Image

In the center of the city.

Gu Ling'er watched Gu Qingfeng, who was simultaneously helping three Great Luo Golden Immortals through their tribulations. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and joy.

What shocked her was that he truly hadn't been boasting. No matter how ferocious the heavenly tribulation, under the influence of that hand, all the heavenly thunder vanished without a trace.

From Loose Immortals to Earth Immortals, Celestial Immortals, and even Great Luo Golden Immortals—without a single exception!

Her joy, naturally, was because her Imperial Father was now saved. To be able to help three Great Luo Golden Immortals simultaneously through their tribulations meant that even if he couldn't guarantee a perfect passage through the Immortal King Tribulation, with such ability, he could at least be of assistance, significantly increasing the odds.

"No! I must notify Imperial Father immediately, to make him abandon the idea of facing the tribulation alone," Gu Ling'er murmured to herself, but then her expression instantly turned bitter.

"Imperial Father won't listen to me. He has been proud and unyielding all his life, possessing his own arrogance. He values the heart of a strong cultivator above all else and would never lower his head to ask for help. What should I do?"

Gu Ling'er turned her gaze towards Gu Qingfeng, who stood in the field like a heavenly deity.

His expression was serene, one hand raised towards the sky, the other held behind his back, leaving only a figure for people to look up to.

The flickering lightning cast his body in alternating light and shadow. The terrifying heavenly tribulation transformed into ferocious thunder-dragons that crashed down upon him, only to be completely blocked by that single pale palm.

In the end, Gu Ling'er gritted her silver teeth and decided she would personally plead with Gu Qingfeng later. For her Imperial Father's sake, even if he proposed the most excessive, the most humiliating conditions, she would agree!

Soon, the heavenly tribulation ended, and the clear sky returned over Seven Stars Ancient City.

By now, the streets around the city center were already packed with people.

Their gazes were fervent as they looked at the center of attention, Gu Qingfeng, erupting in shouts.

"Master Gu! I'm next!"

"Bullshit! I've waited three days, it's clearly my turn!"

"Master Gu, this old one is willing to offer a million catties of immortal jade, let me go first!"

"Esteemed Seniors, please have mercy. This junior's Calamity Tribulation is today. Without Master Gu's help, I truly won't survive. Please let me go first."

The crowd clamored and argued chaotically, giving Gu Qingfeng a headache.

"Silence! This Emperor decides who's next! Don't you dare fight over it!"

Nowadays, Gu Qingfeng's words carried immense weight. The people immediately stopped arguing and quieted down.

This was also thanks to his days and nights of diligent work.

Ever since he helped General Li through his Calamity Tribulation in the city center last time, which drew countless onlookers, his reputation had been established.

But customers were slow to come.

He knew people had reservations. After all, entrusting your heavenly tribulation to someone whose background and motives are unknown carried significant risk.

Even with one successful example before their eyes, people still harbored worries.

Faced with this situation, Gu Qingfeng's approach was simple: he had General Li find a few close subordinates or colleagues from the army, starting with familiar connections.

He then took on a few Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals, conducting each session in the city center for public viewing. Finally, some who were about to face their tribulations could no longer resist.

Many among them had been using various secret techniques to desperately suppress and delay their tribulation times, planning to acquire some treasures at the Seven Stars Dharma Assembly before facing them.

Others, seeing that Gu Qingfeng could help people through tribulations, feared missing this unique opportunity. They did not hesitate to damage their cultivation and prematurely induced their Calamity Tribulation to descend.

This matter was like a dam breaking; once a breach opened, it became unstoppable.

As more and more immortals successfully transcended their tribulations, each time in the city center with countless spectators, the queue snowballed, growing larger and larger. It even attracted several Golden Immortals and Great Luo Golden Immortals.

In the end, Gu Qingfeng became too busy to handle everyone, having to select some each day based on who offered the highest price for priority.

This hard work was not in vain. Besides accumulating a measly bit of insignificant wealth, the most important gain was the family within the Prison Demon Sword.

The seal on the sword had already weakened by a full ten-thousandth!

Continuing like this, the family would be saved!

In fact, even if Gu Ruochen never came in the end, it wouldn't matter. With this reputation spread, those wanting to transcend tribulations would come in an endless stream; it would just take a bit more time.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, thank you so much this time."

"Indeed, this poor Daoist offers his thanks here."

"Fellow Daoist Gu, besides the agreed-upon reward, this old one owes you a personal favor. In the future, if you have any orders, I will not refuse."

The three Great Luo Golden Immortals who had successfully transcended their tribulations expressed their gratitude to Gu Qingfeng, their faces filled with joy and a trace of gratitude whose sincerity was hard to gauge.

Gu Qingfeng understood these people's motives. They not only paid a hefty price in wealth but also offered a promise, mainly to forge a connection with him.

After all, Calamity Tribulations were many, but there was only one person who could help others transcend them.

Wealth lost could be regained, but a life lost was truly gone.

"Easy enough, easy enough," Gu Qingfeng said. After exchanging communication jade tokens with the three, he let them leave.

After they left, he glanced at the several dozen communication jade tokens on his person and sighed with emotion, "This is what connections are."

He understood clearly: in the future, once he had a need for people, he could simply call for them. If these people were still alive, they would surely come.

In just these few short days, he had accumulated these connections. One could imagine that continuing like this, having tens of thousands respond to his call in the future was no mere dream.

Gu Ling'er watched Gu Qingfeng, surrounded by the crowd like the moon amidst stars, wanting to push her way in. Yet, she worried he might make some excessive demand of her in front of everyone, leaving her frozen in place.

Suddenly.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

A sharp, clear voice rang out. Immediately after, a large troop of soldiers came to clear the way, followed by a golden, cast-gold imperial carriage coming into view.

Next, Gu Ruochen's figure emerged from the carriage.

The aura of a Quasi-Immortal King spread across the scene. The previously bustling crowd instantly fell silent and consciously made way for him.

Witnessing this, Gu Ling'er, standing to the side, was stunned. Why was Imperial Father here?!

Was he here to ask Gu Qingfeng for help?

No, probably not. Imperial Father said he never asks for help, that he would face the tribulation alone.

However, just as she was thinking this, the first words Gu Ruochen spoke completely dumbfounded her.

"Young Friend Gu, previously, this Emperor failed in teaching his son properly. Today, I have specially brought him here to apologize. Hurry up and get over here!"

Gu Minghao crept out timidly from the ranks behind. Seeing so many people around, with countless gazes shooting towards him, he felt his face grow hot, overwhelmed by shame and indignation.

After learning of Gu Qingfeng's miraculous abilities, Gu Ruochen had initially been excited to summon him. But upon further thought, it seemed lacking in sincerity, given his own fault in the matter. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride.

So, he devised a compromise: have Gu Minghao, who had offended Gu Qingfeng before, apologize to ease the relationship, and then make his request.

Gu Qingfeng watched the father and son pair with great interest, inwardly chuckling. After all this busy work these past days, he could finally make a hefty profit.

As for Gu Ling'er standing nearby, she felt as if something had collapsed within her heart.

Looking closely, it was the glorious and lofty image of her father.