Chapter 184: The True Face of the Bootlicker

184. Chapter 184: The True Face of the Bootlicker

The mysterious cultivator's sudden departure left Xiao Zhangqing completely bewildered.

His current use of the Dragon Chant Technique performed even better than he imagined; its power truly reached third‑tier superior, capable of threatening late Golden Core cultivators.

But this person was clearly not an ordinary late Golden Core—he was a top among them, not as high as Character: Liyang True Immortal, yet not far off.

Under the Dragon Chant attack, this person paid a heavy price to break free from the spiritual perception restriction technique, but he was far from the state of the former Blood Crow True Immortal, who had reached the end of a powerful crossbow.

Xiao Zhangqing could clearly sense that this person's Soul Transformation was injured, yet he still possessed battle strength.

Even his combat power remained not weak.

But now he seemed as if his courage had been shattered, fleeing in panic.

Xiao Zhangqing did not consider this his merit.

On the contrary, he still had reserves, such as third‑tier puppets, third‑tier body cultivation, and the barely usable Great Roc riding the wind.

But these means could hardly contend with a late Golden Core cultivator; they were only for self‑preservation.

If the opponent hadn't chosen to flee, Xiao Zhangqing might have had to slip away himself.

After all, he had already risked his life for Character: Liyang Zhenren City, unleashing his trump cards, and if he still couldn't win, fleeing would leave his conscience clear.

What he hadn't expected was that the other side ran away first.

"It seems the Dragon Chant not only gravely wounded his Soul Transformation, but also nullified his illusion, instantly revealing his true Soul Transformation aura…"

"The gaunt old man's appearance is indeed not his original form; just like the initial Character: Liyang True Immortal's looks, it was a disguise as well."

"However, I have encountered too few Golden Core cultivators; even if I memorized this person's Soul Transformation aura, I cannot identify who he is."

Xiao Zhangqing stared at the red flash that vanished on the horizon, his mind filled with curiosity about this person's identity.

Who exactly is he, and why is he so terrified of his true identity being exposed? A top‑tier late Golden Core big shot fleeing in panic? Even if, as Gu Zongyuan guessed, he is a master from the Seven Star Sword Sect or the Dan Dao Alliance, there's no need to be so fearful after being unmasked.

After all, his scheme this time failed; he didn't actually kill Su Wushuang nor cause trouble for Character: Liyang Zhenren City. Being exposed would at most be embarrassing—no need to look so disheveled.

Xiao Zhangqing shifted his gaze, intending to ask Gu Zongyuan whether he had sensed the moment the mysterious cultivator's true face was revealed and recognized who he was.

But Gu Zongyuan only wore a look of having survived a calamity, grateful, apparently having noticed nothing unusual or simply not recognizing the person.

When his peripheral gaze fell on Su Wushuang's face, he happened to catch the other's bewilderment and uncertainty.

It seemed he had noticed something? "Brother Gu, can you identify who this person is? Which sect's cultivator?" Xiao Zhangqing asked aloud.

"That treacherous fellow first disguised himself as my master, then the gaunt old man's look was probably also a fake; how could I recognize him?" Gu Zongyuan shook his head, then his eyes brightened with relief: "Brother Xiao, has your Soul Transformation secret method grown stronger? Even a late Golden Core cultivator is so affected! But did this person flee because he feared your spiritual perception secret technique, or for some other reason?"

Although Gu Zongyuan didn't grasp the situation as well as Xiao Zhangqing, he could still sense something amiss.

Xiao Zhangqing gave no reply.

It seemed Gu Zongyuan hadn't paid attention earlier.

"Valley Master Su, do you recognize this person?" Xiao Zhangqing asked Su Wushuang in a casual tone.

Su Wushuang inhaled deeply, stared intently at the direction where the mysterious cultivator vanished, and as he withdrew his gaze, all the complex emotions on his face subsided, saying, "I don't know."

Xiao Zhangqing asked, "Is it that you don't know, or that you don't want to say?"

Su Wushuang slightly frowned, not lying, and said truthfully, "I only have some speculation, cannot be certain, so I say I don't know."

Gu Zongyuan at this moment turned back to inspect the injuries of his eighteen Character: Liyang Guards.

The situation was much better than he imagined; of the eighteen Character: Liyang Guards, most were in comas, but only one had truly perished.

Of course, even those who survived the other Character: Liyang Guards were in a grim state; whether they could recover to their prime was uncertain.

"Valley Master Su, do you recognize him? Tell me quickly, who exactly is this person? Is he from the Seven Star Sword Sect or the Dan Dao Alliance?" Gu Zongyuan turned his head, his voice raging as he demanded.

Even if he now knew the opponent's true identity, he still lacked the strength to take revenge.

But he still needed to make a note in his little ledger.

When his master returns in the future, this vengeance can be settled.

Su Wushuang's eyes held a complex expression, even a slight pain—not from his wounds, but from inner shock, perhaps disappointment, feeling betrayed.

"I told you, I still can't be sure who he is. Just now, under Brother Xiao's spiritual perception attack, his illusion was shattered in an instant and he fled immediately; my sensing was not clear." Su Wushuang's face remained cold and aloof, unwilling to say more.

"Even if it's just speculation, we must perceive it. As for the truth of the identity, we will judge ourselves and gradually verify it later!" Gu Zongyuan's tone was firm.

Su Wushuang said coldly, "I don't want to speak. Until things are certain, I don't want to slander… a friend!"

When the word "friend" left his lips, Su Wushuang's expression didn't change, but the disappointment and painful sorrow in his eyes were unmistakable.

"Oh, a friend?" Xiao Zhangqing heard that answer, his interest grew even more.

It seemed this person had a very close relationship with Su Wushuang.

So, today this person impersonated Character: Liyang True Immortal to assassinate Su Wushuang—was it a double‑edged plot? Not only to frame Character: Liyang Zhenren City and tarnish its reputation, but also to silently eliminate Su Wushuang?

"I don't know which late Golden Core friends or enemies Valley Master Su has, yet someone would hide a knife in the dark and use Character: Liyang Zhenren City's hand to get rid of you?" Xiao Zhangqing asked, while his mind began sifting through Da Yu's late Golden Core cultivators in the Cultivation World for those with deep ties to Su Wushuang.

Such as love, hatred, grudges, or profit conflicts… Xiao Zhangqing hadn't met many Golden Core cultivators, so his knowledge was admittedly shallow.

But regarding Baihua Valley and Su Wushuang's general history, he had investigated and knew the basics.

Thus the circle was actually quite small.

Only a handful—three or five—cultivators met the criteria.

"What if I don't speak?" Su Wushuang said, lowering her eyes.

"Valley Master Su, if you don't speak, today you probably won't be able to leave!" Gu Zongyuan was furious.

Today it wasn't just Su Wushuang who almost lost her life; Gu Zongyuan also nearly died! And his eighteen Character: Liyang Guards—some have already lain here forever! The survivors are all wounded! Yet Su Wushuang still refuses to name the culprit? It's absurd!" Su Wushuang's brows furrowed.

She turned her gaze toward Xiao Zhangqing, wanting to see his reaction.

Whether she can leave today doesn't depend on Gu Zongyuan, but on that man who, like her, came from the Southwest Region, yet is even more unfathomable and stronger than she is.

Unfortunately, Xiao Zhangqing is certainly on Gu Zongyuan's side.

He still has to reside in Character: Liyang Zhenren City for thirty years, sharing its fortunes and misfortunes.

If Character: Liyang Zhenren City has any hidden dangers or enemies, it's best to clarify them in advance.

"Valley Master Su, you'd better just state your speculation," Xiao Zhangqing slowly descended in front of Su Wushuang.

Although he didn't make a move, his deterrent power was complete.

Su Wushuang was silent for a moment, then, with a calm expression, spoke: "If my earlier sensing wasn't an illusion, this person is Zhu Qingyun, an elder of Xingyue Palace."

"Zhu Qingyun? Da Yu's number one deep affection? This person pursued Valley Master Su for decades, even broke the engagement with the fiancée of the Nascent Soul True Lord for you—how could he possibly want to kill you..." Gu Zongyuan stared with wide eyes, looking incredulous, suspecting Su Wushuang of lying.

But Xiao Zhangqing inwardly sighed, indeed it was this Da Yu's number one deep affection? In fact, after seeing Su Wushuang's demeanor and her refusal to reveal the other's identity, Xiao Zhangqing, while tallying suspects in his mind, thought of Zhu Qingyun and considered him the most likely culprit.

There are bootlickers everywhere.

Even the Cultivation World is no exception.

It's just like the former occupant of this body—also a bootlicker.

The bootlicker behavior mostly occurs in the lower strata of society (the lower levels of the Cultivation World); it's rare among the upper echelons.

Of course, that doesn't mean the upper echelons have none at all.

Some high-ranking individuals, or those with extraordinary cultivation, may also experience unrequited love.

Occasionally they also become bootlickers in the pursuit.

But such instances are few!

At least not like Zhu Qingyun, who has maintained his pursuit for dozens or even hundreds of years! Because those in high positions have far more options; with a mere flick of a finger, countless beautiful female cultivators will gladly fall onto them.

What kind of mindset would pursue an unattainable female cultivator for decades, becoming a joke throughout the Cultivation World? Even more absurd is abandoning a fiancée who possesses higher talent, deeper background, and would ultimately become the Nascent Soul True Lord, all for a single female cultivator.

Even picture books couldn't craft such a plot!

With such a mindset, how could one survive so long in this ruthless Cultivation World, step by step, and raise one's cultivation to the late stage of Golden Core? To Xiao Zhangqing, this is utterly unreasonable.

There must be some trick involved.

"Valley Master Su, you wouldn't be bringing up Xingyue Palace and Zhu Qingyun's name to scare us because you're afraid we'll hunt down the killer, would you? Xiao brother and I aren't that foolish; I urge you to honestly disclose who the real killer is!"

Unlike Xiao Zhangqing, Gu Zongyuan thought over and over that Su Wushuang's statements were absurd, believing such a situation could never occur, and considered Su Wushuang's lying more likely.

Su Wushuang inhaled deeply again, her face cold.

Since the matter has been aired, she decided not to hide anything any longer, and, with a hint of anger, said coldly: "What I speak of is what I sensed myself; believe it or not, it's up to you. Moreover, I already said I'm not even sure my sensing is accurate; you asked me to speak it out."

"Also, it's true that Zhu Qingyun pursued me. But as for him breaking off his engagement with his fiancée, that has nothing to do with me; I hope the Ancient City Lord doesn't spread falsehoods."

Gu Zongyuan reflexively asked: "Then why would he break the marriage contract with a Heavenly Spirit root, a highly promising candidate for a Nascent Soul, the pride of heaven?"

Su Wushuang shot him a sideways glance and said coldly: "Naturally because the other party didn't favor him, wanting to break the contract. But to save face for the man, they let the man bring it up himself."

"......" Gu Zongyuan was at a loss for words and asked: "So the title 'Da Yu's number one deep affection' is entirely false, a fantasy of the world? Then Zhu Qingyun never liked Valley Master Su at all?"

With her own words exposed, Su Wushuang at this moment had already emerged from loss and shock.

To mourn secretly for such a so-called 'friend' is far too unworthy.

The fault isn't hers; why must she be heartbroken?

The master was right; there isn't a single good man in the world!

When Baihua Valley was first established, the original purpose of setting various rules was also because of this! She was momentarily blinded, even thinking that Zhu Qingyun was a decent man.

"Whether he ever liked me, I don't know. But I, Su Wushuang, never liked him."

Su Wushuang said coldly. (End of chapter)