Chapter 43: Another Slaughter, Colorful Treasure Carriage

Seeing that Gu Xiu was not threatened by their words at all, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao looked fearful and looked at each other, as if discussing something.

The two's little movements were all seen by Gu Xiu.

"I originally gave you a way to live, but you chose a dead end. You want to discuss using the Money of Falling Treasures to deal with me, right?"

Xiao Sheng's body trembled. He didn't know how Gu Xiu knew their thoughts and tried to pretend to be calm: "Fellow Daoist, there

Gu Xiu shook his head. He wanted to save the Jie Sect from the hands of the Heavenly Dao and protect the Three Xiao sisters, yet he was being lectured about heavenly retribution; it was simply laughable.

A powerful pressure erupted from his body, making Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao almost unable to breathe.

"Treasures belong to those capable of holding them. Today, I am determined to have this Treasure-Falling Golden Coin! I will send you both on your way while I'm at it. Die!"

Just based on the fact that the two might scheme against Zhao Gongming in the future, even without a system mission, Gu Xiu could not let them go.

Even if he didn't kill them, he would cripple them. Now that there was a system mission, there was no reason to keep them; he had no choice but to start a slaughter again.

A nail appeared in his hand, and he shot it out toward Xiao Sheng; it streaked across the void like a meteor.

Seeing this, Xiao Sheng's pupils suddenly constricted, and alarm bells rang in his heart.

Believing this must be a magic treasure of peerless power, he dared not show the slightest negligence and immediately offered up his own trump card, the Treasure-Falling Golden Coin, attempting to knock it down in one fell swoop.

However, the moment the Treasure-Falling Golden Coin touched the nail, Xiao Sheng's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant.

He discovered with horror that this nail was completely unaffected by the Treasure-Falling Golden Coin. Before he could even react, the flying nail pierced through Xiao Sheng's brow with lightning speed.

"Puff!"

With a muffled thud, the nail pierced in from Xiao Sheng's brow. The powerful impact carried his body flying backward, and the nail, stained with blood, burst out from the back of his head, bringing with it a spray of blood mist.

Xiao Sheng fell to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief. His life force dissipated rapidly, and he soon became a cold corpse. He never imagined that he would lose his life to an ordinary nail because of a misjudgment.

Seeing Xiao Sheng killed by Gu Xiu with such ease.

Cao Bao was by now so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, losing his wits: "The Treasure-Falling Golden Coin can knock down all treasures below an innate spiritual treasure; why was it useless?"

Gu Xiu said indifferently: "Because that was just an ordinary nail."

"What!" Cao Bao was shocked. The Treasure-Falling Golden Coin could knock down treasures, but it could not knock down weapons. Who would have thought that a disciple of a Saint would not be holding a magic treasure, but an ordinary nail?

Following this, Cao Bao's voice carried a sobbing tone: "Fellow Daoist, Xiao Sheng has already been killed by you. You can just take the Treasure-Falling Golden Coin; can you spare my life?"

Gu Xiu looked down at the other man, his expression indifferent.

"Too late!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Bao's eyes suddenly widened in anger: "Since you refuse to leave me a path to survival, then even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"

Cao Bao brandished the long sword in his hand and charged toward Gu Xiu.

Gu Xiu's expression remained calm, his eyes undisturbed: "A mayfly shaking a tree, overestimating its own strength!"

As he spoke, golden light flowed within his eyes, and then two divine rays shot out from them. That light contained endless power and majesty, as if it could pierce through all falsehoods in the world.

It pierced through Cao Bao's body, and immediately after, amidst an expression of disbelief, Cao Bao's body began to disintegrate, turning into countless fragments that dissipated in the wind, leaving not even a trace behind.

"Ding!"

"Mission complete, congratulations to the host for obtaining the Phantom Color Treasure Carriage!"

Having received the reward, Gu Xiu was very satisfied with the Phantom Color Treasure Carriage.

"Finally, I have my own treasure carriage."

Then, he took the Treasure-Falling Golden Coin from beside Xiao Sheng's corpse and left Mount Wuyi.

This trip could be considered a full harvest.

At this time.

Zhaoge.

Wen Zhong had already returned to the outskirts of Zhaoge City as scheduled.

With banners blocking the sun and military horns blaring, Wen Zhong led his victorious army, marching toward Zhaoge City in a grand procession.

Riding on the Ink Qilin, Wen Zhong's expression was majestic, and the armor on his body shone brilliantly under the sunlight, looking awe-inspiring.

The soldiers behind him were all in high spirits, flags fluttering and snapping to the rhythm of the horses' hooves.

At the city gate, the common people had long been craning their necks in anticipation.

Drums and music played in unison, flowers danced in the sky, and the people cheered and jumped for joy.

Ever since hearing what Gu Xiu had told him, and having been schemed against by the Chan Sect on the way back from the campaign, Wen Zhong had been extremely anxious on the return journey.

Seeing the situation in Zhaoge, it looked normal enough, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation did not seem to be that bad yet.

Arriving at the Noon Gate, the ministers and officials welcomed them, their faces filled with joy.

"Congratulations to the Grand Preceptor on your triumphant return!"

"The Grand Preceptor has worked hard. For our Cheng Tang to have the Grand Preceptor, it is truly the fortune of Cheng Tang!"

Seeing that Bi Gan and Huang Feihu were both there, Wen Zhong dismounted and walked forward.

"My lords, I, Zhong, have fortunately not failed my mission and have returned in triumph. But the expedition to the North Sea lasted for over three years; I wonder if the situation in Zhaoge is well?"

Bi Gan hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said: "The Grand Preceptor has worked hard in suppressing the rebellion. Although quite a few things have happened in Zhaoge over these three years, the city has remained generally stable."

Huang Feihu also walked up: "Grand Preceptor, over these three years, although treacherous people have occasionally made small moves, fortunately, we have tried our best to maintain the court order, so there have been no major issues."

"That is good." Hearing the words of Bi Gan and Huang Feihu, the heart that Wen Zhong had been holding up finally settled down. Although there were setbacks, they had not yet damaged the foundation of the Yin Shang.

Huang Feihu let out a sigh: "Grand Preceptor, you may not know, but in the years you went to the North Sea to suppress the rebellion, feudal lords from various regions have raised armies in revolt."

Wen Zhong's expression tightened slightly. He had kept Gu Xiu's warning firmly in his heart, wondering if this was related to the Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth.

"How is the King?"

Both Bi Gan and Huang Feihu shook their heads.

"The King now has no heart for state affairs. Rumors outside say that the Su beauty is a demon, and it is she who has bewitched the King, leading to this state. Grand Preceptor Du dared to remonstrate, asking the King to execute the Su beauty, but the King killed Grand Preceptor Du, and the old Prime Minister Shang Rong resigned."

Wen Zhong's expression was grave: "My lords, rest assured. I, Zhong, will naturally supervise the King and assist him in stabilizing the court and the situation."

Once these words were spoken, the officials were overjoyed.

Di Xin did not fear them, but Wen Zhong was a veteran of three generations, a minister entrusted with the late king's will, holding the King-Beating Whip, capable of striking a foolish king above and treacherous ministers below; Di Xin would have some misgivings.

Wen Zhong asked: "Where is the King now?"

"Grand Preceptor, the King should be at the Holy Mother Temple now, repenting to the Holy Mother."

Wen Zhong also knew from the letters he received about Di Xin offering incense and writing a poem at the Nuwa Temple, which angered Nuwa.

He immediately headed to the Nuwa Temple to see Di Xin.

He saw that beside Di Xin, Su Daji was smiling sweetly.

Wen Zhong looked up, and that Su Daji was indeed as the rumors described, stunningly beautiful and charmingly moving.

Every smile and every frown radiated endless charm, as if it could hook a person's soul away.

Her beauty was too bewitching, too seductive; it simply did not look like the appearance a mortal woman should have.

Moving his gaze away, Wen Zhong cupped his hands and saluted: "Your Majesty, your old subject Wen Zhong has returned to report."

Di Xin nodded: "The Grand Preceptor has traveled far to the North Sea, working hard and achieving great merit. Now that you have returned in triumph, I am very gratified."

"Your Majesty, that I could return so quickly is thanks to the help of my fellow sect junior."

"Fellow sect junior? There seemed to be someone who claimed to be a fellow sect member of the Grand Preceptor who came to Zhaoge before. I wonder if the Grand Preceptor knows him?"

After the description by Di Xin and Daji, Wen Zhong was very certain that the person was Gu Xiu.

"Your Majesty, the person who came to Zhaoge before is indeed my fellow sect junior."

Di Xin nodded: "In that case, that Daoist really did not lie to me."

"Your Majesty, are you here seeking the forgiveness of the Holy Mother?"

Di Xin sighed: "I don't know what possessed me at the time to write that poem. This matter started because of me. I do not seek the Holy Mother's forgiveness; I only seek peace of mind. If I don't come here for a day, it always makes me feel uneasy, and I keep having nightmares seeing Cheng Tang destroyed because of me."