Chapter 397

Cough cough, the Fang family's young lady, not bad not bad.

Wuxiang Jianjun kept his gaze straight, gulped a mouthful of wine.

Fang Qiuyu pursed their lips.

However, Wuxiang Jianjun also stopped paying attention to her, instead looking at Yunhe; after a brief ponder, he waved his hand, and the surrounding mists enveloped the two.

It was merely a simple concealment of aura, so Yunhe didn't mind much.

He cupped his hands toward Wuxiang Jianjun and said, "I was influenced by Jihuan Lao Zu; I momentarily lost control of my strike; I hope Jianjun won't mind."

In their earlier exchange, neither had used their true techniques; Yunhe could be certain that if Wuxiang Jianjun had led with that seemingly rust‑streaked iron sword, he would definitely not be a match, possibly only able to flee without any chance to counterattack.

Even among Late Yuan Ying Stage cultivators there are differences, and Wuxiang Jianjun is undoubtedly outstanding among them.

As for that iron sword, judging from the aura it displayed just now, Yunhe even suspected it might not be merely a Fourth Level treasure.

Wuxiang Jianjun's mouth twitched.

Moreover, he actually still had some things left unsaid.

He resumed his lazy demeanor, shook his head and said, "Unlikable, Yun Xiaozi, you're just like that purple‑clad girl of mine—unlikable. If it were that Rakshasa old coot, you'd probably already be hunted down."

Yunhe's expression was extremely solemn; he nodded and said, "Exactly, Heavenly Corpse Gu."

This time Wuxiang Jianjun gave a straightforward answer: "I came for you, Daoist Yun; I merely happened to see something and casually confirmed my suspicion."

But he did not pursue it further, merely muttering under his breath:

"If that's the case, it's not that a large number of traitors have appeared among human cultivators, but that some cultivators have unknowingly been infected by this gu; I said the foreign races are so formidable, able to guess so much."

Then he saw.

When he arrived and found that the one making things difficult for the three pearl maidens was Ji Huan Lao Zu, he had not lacked the idea of resolving it peacefully.

Thus, the earlier "maneuver" by the human cultivator alliance that made Yunhe seem doubtful might not be anything other than these old monsters laying out a plan.

After all, who among those who have cultivated to Yuan Ying Stage isn't a crafty person?

Moreover, for Wuxiang Jianjun and those other Late Yuan Ying Stage great cultivators, they must have discovered some cat grease.

Although he said he was unlikable, from his behavior it seemed he actually appreciated Yunhe somewhat.

Yunhe silently thought, "As expected," pursed his lips, and slowly raised his hand.

Seeing Yunhe dare to clash head‑on with a Mid Yuan Ying Stage cultivator for the sake of three Foundation Establishment female cultivators let him see Yunhe's "true nature," which is what he values most.

Yunhe blinked in surprise.

In his palm lay several struggling black insects, wrapped in a strange corpse‑qi that cut off perception.

To be frank, during the assembly he received a distress call from Pearl; after all, his divine sense imprint remained in Pearl's sea of consciousness, so as long as she was within a certain distance he could sense her location.

Although Ji Huan Lao Zu appeared not to be controlled by the offspring of the Heavenly Corpse Gu, the fact that he pursued the three pearls made Yunhe disbelieve that there was no Heavenly Corpse Gu involved.

Indeed, Wuxiang Jianjun had come to invite Yunhe to join this mission.

"As for why I have come, Daoist Yun, don't you know?"

Seeing his expression, Wuxiang Jianjun laughed, took a gulp of wine, smacked his lips, and said, "Daoist Yun, don't underestimate us old fogeys."

Although neither had gone all out, there is no doubt that he was injured by Yunhe.

These several offspring of the Heavenly Corpse Gu were obtained by Yunhe from Ji Huan Lao Zu's corpse.

Wuxiang Jianjun looked at Yunhe with the gaze one reserves for an idiot, his expression seemingly saying, "What are you thinking?"

Soon he continued, "I had originally hesitated whether to invite Daoist Yun to this mission, but now it seems completely unnecessary worry."

Yunhe silently pondered.

Huh?

Wuxiang Jianjun's expression turned serious: "I have never seen an Early Yuan Ying Stage cultivator capable of slaying a Mid Yuan Ying Stage one, and moreover, Yunhe, your escape speed is renowned; aside from us old fogeys, there should be no one who can surpass you in self‑preservation."

He even suspected that if the offspring of the Heavenly Corpse Gu were allowed to linger and act within Ji Huan Lao Zu's body for a while longer, Ji Huan Lao Zu might possibly become a Heavenly Corpse Gu's "Celestial Capital Corpse"!

"Heavenly Corpse Gu?" Wuxiang Jianjun showed a thoughtful look, but try as he might he could recall no information about this kind of gu.

Infiltrate the ancient alien race secret realm of Cangmo Mountain or Bikong Island!

"I am merely a lowly Early Yuan Ying Stage cultivator," Yunhe said with a wry smile.

Even.

But when he truly saw Ji Huan Lao Zu, the corpse‑soul gu inside him became agitated, and this agitation was precisely due to the Heavenly Corpse Gu!

That is why he harbored murderous intent toward Ji Huan Lao Zu.

No.

"Oh?" Yunhe narrowed his eyes, roughly guessing what Wuxiang Jianjun was about to say.

Jianjun came here.

"Daoist Bai, do you think there are no traitors among our human cultivators?"

"This is." Wuxiang Jianjun put away his gourd, flashed to Yunhe's side, stared at the insects in his palm for a moment, then probed, asking, "Gu insects?"

Yunhe smiled helplessly and then asked, "Daoist Bai, did you also come for Ji Huan Lao Zu?"

As for the Rakshasa old devil, he is notorious for taking revenge at the slightest grudge.

"It seems that those who have become aware of the problems within our human cultivators are not just me."

This actually let him relax a little.

Wuxiang Jianjun waved his hand and said, "I am surnamed Bai, Bai Zhan; there's no need to keep calling me Jianjun."

Don't bring up the sore spot.

If Yunhe were to find out what he was thinking, he would certainly try to explain himself.

Because he truly couldn't possibly risk his life for those three girls; it was merely a coincidence that his opponent was Ji Huan Lao Zu, whom he counters, and that Ji Huan Lao Zu was under the influence of the Heavenly Corpse Gu, which led him to act this way.

If Ji Huan Lao Zu were replaced by the Rakshasa old devil, he would definitely turn and run, waiting until he grew stronger to take revenge.

Hearing Wuxiang Jianjun say that, Yunhe's expression also grew solemn: "Let me say something unpleasant; perhaps our plan this time has already been known to the foreign races, making this journey extremely dangerous."

Since the offspring gu of the Heavenly Corpse Gu could afflict Extreme Joy Old Ancestor, it is possible that it could also afflict other mid Nascent Soul cultivators.

The contents discussed at the Artifact Alliance meeting could very well already be known to the foreign race.

However, Formless Sword Lord appeared more composed than Yunhe.

Even if they know, so what? The purpose of this expedition is an open scheme; our human cultivator army presses forward, and if the foreign race does not want to be driven back to the Black Abyss or the depths of the Endless Sea, they must muster large numbers to resist. Moreover, the foreign race's Fourth Level late-stage cultivators also have a few of our old fellows to oppose them.

What you may need to face is possibly just a few mid Fourth Level cultivators of the foreign race.

He wasn't wrong about that.

Since the foreign race's exploration of this ancient secret realm has already been known to humanity, this is a direct confrontation.

Formless Sword Lord continued, "With your escape speed, Fellow Daoist Yun, I suppose safety should be assured, right?"

"What absolute safety is there?" Yunhe gave a helpless smile.

But he also could not deny that this was indeed an open scheme.

"If Fellow Daoist is willing to go, I can transmit a sword art to you." Formless Sword Lord said this, which was what Yunhe cared about most—the reward.

"Formless Sword Formation?" Yunhe asked with a hint of jest.

Who would have thought, Formless Sword Lord actually pondered seriously and then said, "It's not impossible."

"Huh?"

Yunhe was stunned.

The Formless Sword Formation is a hereditary sword art of the Formless Sword Sect; how could it be casually passed outward?

Yet Formless Sword Lord stuffed the wine gourd into his bosom.

After a slight hesitation, Yunhe still took a sip.

Of course, it was drawn out directly using magical power.

As the liquor entered his mouth, an intensely stimulating spiciness instantly filled his nasal passages; even with his cultivation base, he almost choked.

'This liquor.'

And on Formless Sword Lord's disheveled face appeared a strange smile; he leaned close to Yunhe and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Yun, what do you think of our Purple Robe?"

"Pfft——"

A mouthful of wine directly sprayed Formless Sword Lord's face.

In return for Formless Sword Lord's resentful and pained expression, he snatched the gourd back in one grab.

"Don't waste my wine!"

Having said that, he then wiped his face, as if to him the wine mattered more than his face.

However, given his sloppy and disheveled appearance, there was nothing wrong with that.

But that previous remark was overly 'sloppy'.

What does that mean?

If one were to become dao companions with Purple Robe True Lord, could one learn the Formless Sword Sect's 'Formless Sword Formation'?

"How about it? Fellow Daoist Yun, consider it?"

At this moment, Formless Sword Lord resembled a lecherous old man hawking to a neighbor's widow.

"Cough cough." Yunhe coughed a few times to dispel the embarrassment, then straightened his face and said seriously, "Fellow Daoist Bai, let's get back to the matter at hand."

Formless Sword Lord showed a 'so boring' expression and spoke listlessly:

"Nothing much, just one of my sword arts, Refining Sword into Silk."

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's eyes lit up.

Although Formless Sword Lord spoke as if it were no big deal and he didn't care much, Yunhe well knew the great power of the ability 'Refining Sword into Silk'.

This also explains from the side why the title 'Number One Sword Cultivator of the Eastern Realm' belongs to Formless Sword Lord.

When speaking of swords, Formless Sword Lord also showed a bit more interest.

"Your sword set is not bad, especially its artifact spirit; if you can cultivate this sword art, the artifact spirit will surely gain unexpected benefits."

"As for whether you have any other needs, you can mention them as well."

Yunhe pursed his lips, falling into thought.

After a brief moment, he said, "This matter is not trivial; I need to consider it carefully."

Formless Sword Lord was not surprised by this, waving his hand and saying, "No problem, come find me once you've decided, or you could look for those few old fellows, Xuan Xu and Luocha. But I believe that when you return this time, they will soon come looking for you."

After all, Yunhe's deed of slaying Extreme Joy Old Ancestor this time cannot be hidden.

And the impact it brings will surely be greater than the previous moniker 'Running Old Devil'.

Formless Sword Lord let out a long yawn, "Well, my 'task' is also completed. I have truly worried myself sick for humanity."

Having said that, he yawned again, fully demonstrating 'worried himself sick' to the utmost.

He then transformed into a sword light, flying toward Tai Xuan City.

Only after Formless Sword Lord departed did Ji Liuyun and the others finally approach.

Seeing Yunhe's solemn expression, Ji Liuyun cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Yun, what happened?"

He guessed that Formless Sword Lord's visit had probing as one purpose, and more importantly, perhaps to draw Yunhe and the forces he represents into the Artifact Alliance.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe shook his head, a strange flush rising on his cheeks again; he turned his head and said coldly to Ji Liuyun:

"Fellow Daoist Ji, the title 'Old Devil'—I have earned it."

These words caused Ji Liuyun, Cold Sword True Lord, and the others to have their expressions tighten.

The implication is that Extreme Joy Old Ancestor's Extreme Joy Sect will face a heaven-overturning catastrophe!

Everyone calls him 'Old Devil'; if he doesn't wipe out a sect or two, how can he deserve the title 'Old Devil'?

Of course, the real reason——

Since even Extreme Joy Old Ancestor was affected by the offspring gu of the Heavenly Corpse Gu, the entire Extreme Joy Sect is likely no better off.

"Just leave it to me to handle."

Feng Qingdan's vermilion lips slightly opened.

Yunhe gave the respectful Feng Qingdan a glance, nodded slightly, and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

Afterward.

The group headed toward Grand Mystery City.

The matter of the mid Nascent Soul cultivator, Old Ancestor Jihuan, being slain by the "Pao Lao Mo" quickly spread throughout Grand Mystery City.

(End of chapter)