Chapter 481: Murderous Aura of Heaven and Earth

Duan Rong stared blankly at the starry night sky, Gu Daoling's words still echoing in his heart.

"When the earth has a murderous aura, dragons and snakes rise from the land; when the heavens have a murderous aura, the constellations undergo strange changes."

"Suddenly a madman grinds his blade in the night, the Emperor Star wavers and Mars hangs high."

Duan Rong's gaze was deep and flickering, and he thought to himself: "Does Gu Daoling mean that the murderous aura of heaven and earth is connected as one? Therefore, when the earth emits a murderous aura and those grassroots dragons and snakes rise in rebellion, the celestial phenomena show signs, and a murderous aura also manifests?"

In the history books of his previous life on Blue Star, there were often similar records, but after humanity entered modern civilization, such records were often regarded as mere superstition.

Now it seems that the surging murderous aura between heaven and earth, echoing each other, likely contains profound mysteries that are difficult for ordinary people to perceive.

Chu Qiushan sighed: "The nature of the Dao is elusive and vague. In its vagueness and elusiveness, there are images. The celestial phenomena are complex, the Heavenly Machine is laid out; ethereal and remote, the profound meaning is like an abyss. Disciple Gu, you seek the Dao with a direct heart, neither retreating nor avoiding, neither twisting nor clever; I am not your equal."

"Sect Master, you flatter me! Daoling is merely practicing Wild Fox Zen, just a wandering charlatan." Gu Daoling knew Chu Qiushan was praising him sincerely, yet he still spoke humbly.

Chu Qiushan smiled slightly and said: "Disciple Gu, since you have already broken through the Mysterious Barrier and advanced to the late stage of the Dongming Realm, if you have time, you may return to the Sect to see the Ancestor. He often speaks of you!"

Gu Daoling was slightly stunned, then immediately cupped his hands and said: "Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master."

Hearing this, Zhu He glanced at Gu Daoling. He had often urged this disciple of his to return to see the Ancestor, but the brat always brushed him off with excuses. Today, when Chu Qiushan urged him, his attitude was actually quite good; it was hard to tell if he truly intended to return to the mountain.

Chu Qiushan nodded, then turned to look at Zhu He and said: "Elder Zhu, this play you invited me to watch is quite mediocre. These worldly trifles are nothing more than petty disturbances of gain and loss. I will give Elder Zhu a piece of advice: calculating every move too cleverly goes against the harmony of heaven and is disadvantageous to oneself."

There was a faint warning in Chu Qiushan's words, and having previously called him 'Old Zhu' and now 'Elder Zhu', the address had also grown distant.

Zhu Hexin felt anxious and immediately cupped his hands, saying: "Zhu is ashamed! To damage our relationship over a petty dispute, I am truly mortified!"

Zhu He did not argue with a glib tongue but admitted his mistake directly.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiushan's expression shifted, and he smiled slightly: "Although the first act of the play was average, being able to see Disciple Gu break through the Mysterious Barrier and advance to the late stage of the Dongming Realm, and hearing him discuss the Dao of celestial phenomena, this second act was finally quite spectacular! I did not come in vain!"

"Very well! I shall take my leave!"

Suddenly, like a ghost, Chu Qiushan stood before Ge Rusong, grabbed his shoulder, and transformed into a black streak of light, flying away toward the high sky.

"Respectfully sending off the Sect Master!" Zhu He and Gu Daoling immediately cupped their hands and said loudly.

Duan Rong followed suit from behind, but by then, Chu Qiushan's figure had already completely vanished. With the bright moon and sparse stars, the clear late-autumn night sky was silent and still, the dim light of the stars and moon hanging low.

Zhu He stood there, looking at the place where Chu Qiushan had disappeared, his gaze deep; after this battle alone, Ge Rusong was surely doomed.

Unexpectedly, because of the Mani Bead, the old affair of Ge Rusong killing Elder Chu had been unearthed. The debts on this Ge Rusong were truly too many.

Beneath the high sky, amidst the flowing light of the stars and moon, Chu Qiushan carried Ge Rusong, walking through the void. At such high speed, Chu Qiushan's robes and hair remained motionless, as if frozen in place.

Ge Rusong suddenly said: "Sect Master Chu, I would like to make a deal with you..."

His words were only half-finished when Chu Qiushan's gaze sharpened, and the ripples floating around his body shifted, creating a void wall like a soundproof barrier between himself and Ge Rusong. Although Ge Rusong's lips were still moving, Chu Qiushan could hear nothing at all.

At this moment, Chu Qiushan's heart was churning; how could he have the mind to pay attention to Ge Rusong?

Gu Daoling's breakthrough had given him a tremendous shock and stimulus.

The method of comprehending celestial phenomena was a cultivation technique Gu Daoling had devised himself; he naturally found it hard to fathom its mysteries, nor did he have the heart to covet it.

But the shock and stimulus Gu Daoling gave him lay in his single-minded Dao Heart.

If he were in his shoes, if the Ancestor strongly opposed his cultivation method, would he still dare to persist?

Chu Qiushan asked himself, he would not dare to persist, because he relied too much on the Ancestor.

Perhaps, this was the core reason why he found it difficult to break through!

The Ancestor's shadow was too large; he was deeply trapped within it, losing his own original heart.

Because Chu Qiushan had successfully ascended the platform back then, he had the honor of following the Ancestor Lv Yinlin, practicing in seclusion for twenty years. These twenty years had left a deep mark on his cultivation.

It was precisely because of the foundation and guidance of those twenty years that he had cultivated to the middle stage of the Dongming Realm without any obstruction.

But when it came to this hurdle of the late stage, he had been stuck for decades, unable to break through, and had even lost his direction.

Seeing Gu Daoling's success today suddenly allowed him to see his own flaws; it turned out he had been cultivating in the Ancestor's shadow all along.

Chu Qiushan felt it was time to step out of that shadow.

He decided that one year later, after handing over the position of Sect Master, he would bid farewell to the Ancestor and travel the world...

If he could not break through to the late stage of the Dongming Realm, he would never enter Qingzhou again!

Watching Chu Qiushan leave as soon as he said he would, disappearing in a flash, Duan Rong's thoughts were also churning. If he hadn't been quick-witted just now and stood by Chu Qiushan's side in time, he would have been left outside when Ge Rusong used the Mani Bead to trap Chu Qiushan and Zhu He.

At that time, he would have had to face the unscrupulous Ge Rusong alone.

Although Gu Daoling said he was lurking in the dense forest, waiting for an opportunity to act, he might not necessarily have intervened for a junior like him. And the Yinlu Cicada on his body could only withstand one strike from Ge Rusong.

Whether he would have lived or died in that situation was truly hard to say.

A lingering fear rose in Duan Rong's heart. Remembering that all this was thanks to Zhu He, he couldn't help but glare at Zhu He's back, cursing inwardly: "You old thief, I really want to pluck that beard of yours out, strand by strand..."

Just then, Zhu He withdrew his gaze from the clear, distant night sky and turned to look at Duan Rong behind him.

As master and disciple locked eyes, Duan Rong immediately changed his expression, putting on a respectful smile.

Although he held resentment toward Zhu He in his heart, this experience had allowed him to witness the confrontation and discussion of the Dao by these Dongming Realm powerhouses. Although the battle between them left Duan Rong dazzled and mesmerized, and that Mani Bead, according to Ge Rusong, was obtained by that Elder Chu from the ruins of the Ancient God-Demon Battlefield—all these things had greatly broadened Duan Rong's horizons.

He also saw his own insignificance; if he hadn't had that Yinlu Cicada on him, or if he had been even slightly slower, he would have been wiped out. Dead without even a trace left.

At that point, Zhu He would have merely lamented that a talented disciple of his had been killed. But compared to the grief of his disciple's tragic death, Zhu He would likely have been more pleased with this move to topple his great enemy, Ge Rusong.

Once Ge Rusong fell, his position as Sect Master would basically be secure.

It was precisely because Duan Rong saw his own insignificance that he understood even better that while his cultivation might be top-tier in the secular world, in the eyes of these powerhouses, he was still no different from an ant.

From now on, he should cultivate even harder; Qi Cyclone, Dongming, and even Nascent Soul—he had to step through them one by one... If he didn't want to be a pawn, he had to have the strength.

And if he wanted to cultivate, the Sect's support and the allocation of resources were indispensable, and the further he went, the more obvious this influence would become.

One should look forward and not bind one's own hands and feet because of a momentary resentment in one's heart.

Zhu He would likely become the next Sect Master; at that time, wouldn't he, as his disciple, also rise with the tide? Various cultivation resources would naturally be tilted toward him. Looking at it this way, he should build a better relationship with Zhu He. This wasn't just an old man; this was clearly a fragrant, golden thigh to cling to!

Zhu He looked at the smile on Duan Rong's face and was slightly stunned; when this brat first met him, he was still glaring at him with his eyes.

Zhu He coughed lightly and said: "Duan Rong, you have made a significant contribution in toppling Ge Rusong this time. Work hard; your master has his own account in his heart. Go back today and finish what needs to be done regarding your affairs in Shenyun Prefecture."

"Yes, Master!" Duan Rong replied obediently, then turned and used his movement technique, darting into the darkness.

The moment Duan Rong's figure disappeared into the darkness, the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer.

Last time in the dense forest, you said you would compensate me, and this time you say you have an account in your heart; not a single word has fallen into practice.

This technique of painting cakes is truly pure and perfect!

What a good boss!?

No wonder they can be a Sect Master!?

Gu Daoling glanced at Duan Rong; just by looking at his movement technique and speed, he already knew he had achieved the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer, but he was still lacking some heat to reach the Origin Qi Realm Great Perfection.

Gu Daoling looked at Zhu He and said, "If I remember correctly, this kid has only been in Yunfu Peak for a little over half a year, and he has already achieved the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer?! This speed is faster than I was back then!"

Zhu He chuckled and said with a rather proud expression, "What is achieving the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer! This kid has even comprehended an Artistic Conception, do you believe it?"

Gu Daoling was slightly stunned and said, "What nonsense are you spouting?! He hasn't even achieved the Origin Qi Realm Great Perfection, how could he comprehend an Artistic Conception?"

Zhu He said, "When have I ever spouted nonsense? Have I?"

Gu Daoling was slightly taken aback. Although he felt some aversion to Zhu He's cunning and changeability, for so many years, this Senior Brother of his had always been blunt and straightforward in front of him.

Gu Daoling said, "Did he really comprehend an Artistic Conception?"

"Believe it or not, I'm too lazy to argue with you." Zhu He waved his hand and said, "Let's go, I'm a bit tired, I'll go to your Guanxing Ge to beg for a cup of tea."

After Zhu He finished speaking, without waiting for Gu Daoling to reply, he transformed into a black streak of light and headed toward the horizon.

"Sigh~" Gu Daoling shook his head secretly; how could this guy just leave like that? He had no choice but to transform into a black streak of light and chase after Zhu He.

Meanwhile, in the dense forest, Duan Rong was displaying his movement technique when suddenly two black streaks of light flashed across the high sky.

In normal times, Duan Rong would have thought it was a shooting star falling, but at this moment, Duan Rong knew that those were the figures of Zhu He and Gu Daoling.

While Duan Rong's figure flickered within the dense forest, his thoughts were churning.

He was wondering when Zhu He had chosen him to be that core piece in this game of chess.

Was it during the test in the Yougu, when he was half a step away from stepping onto the platform?

Duan Rong secretly shook his head; that probably didn't have much to do with it. Cultivation talent, in this chess game, likely played a negligible role.

Then when was it?

Duan Rong's eyes suddenly moved; was it when he was transferred to Shenyun Prefecture to assist in the investigation of the Zhu Shizhong case?

No! It was even before that. It was before that that he had already entered Zhu He's field of vision as a candidate piece, which was why he was transferred to Shenyun Prefecture to participate in the Zhu Shizhong case.

And the reason he could enter Zhu He's field of vision and become a candidate piece, besides his cultivation talent, was likely more importantly his name as a master detective in the Southeast Four Prefectures.

Zhu He letting him participate in the Zhu Shizhong case was to personally see his quality.

Following this line of thought, everything fell into place.

When he first arrived at Shenyun Prefecture to handle the case, Zhu Zhengfu had already begun to win him over in the name of Zhu He.

And when he became a Disciple in the Longyu Hall, the first sentence Zhu He said at that time dug a pit for him. "That phrase 'Fish Dragon Diving and Leaping' is not as good as 'Flying Dragon in the Sky'." If Duan Rong had been even slightly slow, he probably wouldn't have understood it at the time.

And upon that first meeting, Zhu He was still examining him, to see if he could truly be the core piece of this chess game.

After repeated examination, it should have been when he became a Disciple in the Longyu Hall that Zhu He had already chosen him in his heart. That was why when he entered Yunfu Peak, Zhu He treated him with a generosity far exceeding that of a normal personal disciple; he gave him two bottles of Origin Beast Bone Marrow Gray Matter upon their first meeting, and for the more than half a year since, he had never let him run out.

This was naturally related to his cultivation talent, but it was likely also laying the groundwork for this grand chess game to kill Ge Rusong.

In this way, actually, he became a piece first, and a disciple later.

As Duan Rong thought this, he had already climbed over the high city wall and returned to Shenyun Prefecture. Regardless, this night was more mentally exhausting for him than that night in the dense forest; he decided to return to the Separate Courtyard and get a good sleep first.

Over here, Zhu He and Gu Daoling transformed into two black streaks of light and landed in the Guanxing Ge.

The Star Observation Platform in the center of the Guanxing Ge's courtyard appeared even more ancient and weathered under the starlight and moonlight.

At this time, it was already late at night; the two young attendants in the Guanxing Ge had long since fallen asleep, and a lantern in the corridor on the first floor of the pavilion was emitting a dim, orange-yellow light.

The two figures stopped within that dim orange-yellow light.

Zhu He said, "Junior Brother, you go boil the tea first, I'll be back in a moment."

"Where are you going?" Gu Daoling's eyes moved as he asked.

Zhu He said, "I'm going to find a place to relieve myself."

Gu Daoling glanced at Zhu He and said, "Lazy people have many excuses."

He knew that Zhu He was just looking for an excuse to leave for a while. Cultivation to their level, the Void of the dantian could dissolve all impurities in the body, and they were immune to all diseases, so how could there be the trouble of excrement and urine?

However, Gu Daoling had never been willing to ask much about Zhu He's many worldly affairs. Since Zhu He said so, he just muttered a sentence along with him.

Gu Daoling suddenly reached out his hand and said, "Hand it over!"

Zhu He was slightly stunned and said, "What?"

"The tea!" Gu Daoling said, "Didn't you say you wanted to drink tea?"

"Where would I have brought tea?!" Zhu He patted his robe and said, "Junior Brother, you are too stingy. Senior Brother is only drinking a cup of your tea, do I still have to bring my own tea?"

Gu Daoling, however, said, "Senior Brother, you order me around every day, and I still have to boil tea for you to eat, and in the end, you don't even bring tea. It turns out you just brought your mouth when you went out!?"

Zhu He was rendered speechless by Gu Daoling and said, "When have I ordered you around every day? I haven't ordered you around once in eight hundred years, and it becomes ordering you around every day!? I'll owe you the tea first, I'll bring it to you next time."

After Zhu He finished speaking, he transformed into a black streak of light and flashed out of the Guanxing Ge.

Gu Daoling stood there and shook his head secretly.

This cheap Senior Brother, how dare he call me stingy? Guarding such a large Yunfu Peak, with endless Qingling Tea to drink, he never thought of bringing more for his Junior Brother. Not bringing it is one thing, but he also sponges off my tea every day. How can there be such logic?!

Although Gu Daoling said this, he still pushed open the door, preparing to go boil the tea.

(End of this chapter)