Chapter 440: Heavenly Gu

Yunhe's divine sense swept out immediately, trying to locate the speaker's figure.

This place is none other than the Heavenly Insect Sect, which has been destroyed for thousands of years!

Besides the Heavenly Corpse Gu, what other existence could survive here to this day?

Moreover, from the other's words and tone, they seem to have once been a great cultivator of the Heavenly Insect Sect?

While using his divine sense to search for the other, Yunhe also took in the general scene of this stone chamber.

The stone chamber is not large.

Apart from the stone entrance, the surroundings are completely enclosed rock walls, with a faint light flowing on them, as if containing some special power.

In the middle of the stone chamber lies a pit about a zhang deep; based on Yunhe's knowledge of the Heavenly Insect Sect and gu worms, this pit should be a special gu-breeding ground where many gu worms are thrown in to fight each other, and the sole survivor that triumphs and lives on is the cultivated gu worm.

Of course, this is the most basic and simplest method of breeding gu.

Besides this pit, opposite the stone gate, about twenty zhang away from Yunhe stands a five-chi-high platform.

On this platform sits a young cultivator in his early twenties, wearing a green robe, smiling as he looks at Yunhe.

Clearly, the speaker just now is him.

This is Yunhe's confidence in communicating with the other.

If they truly fought, even if he couldn't win, he could still manage to escape.

Now he is at least a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator; his mana, cultivation base, secret arts, magic treasures, and divine abilities are all quite formidable—even against a Late Nascent Soul great cultivator, he is confident he could engage them for a round or two.

The Heavenly Corpse Gu said much, yet also concealed much.

The other merely glanced at him; he didn't even feel any divine sense or other ability sweep over him, yet in that glance they revealed most of his background.

At worst, he could employ a few demonic path secret arts learned by his external incarnations, such as the Blood Shadow Evasion Technique and the Severed Arm Technique—though after using them he might need to hide for several years or longer.

Seeing Yunhe's demeanor, the young man seemed to understand that if he didn't respond, Yunhe would no longer be so easy to talk to.

Although the other stood right before his eyes, Yunhe's divine sense could not lock onto them at all, as if they were merely a mass of air—having form but no substance.

Yunhe grew increasingly wary, yet he continued:

What most caught Yunhe's attention was undoubtedly the purple-gold incense burner, only palm-sized, held in the person's both hands, from which threads of white smoke drifted, as if something was occurring inside.

If the other truly is at least a Late Nascent Soul great cultivator, or even a Transformation Spirit True Person above Nascent Soul, why would they be trapped here?

Especially the Cloud Evasion Technique he recently mastered, which can be seen as a weakened version of the Instant Transmission Technique, ignoring spatial barriers, and which has greatly boosted his confidence and courage.

Apparently seeing Yunhe's doubts and worries, the young man gave a light laugh and said:

When the Heavenly Corpse Gu first found Yunhe and proposed cooperation, what it most wanted was the gu furnace inside this stone chamber!

After such a long time, a Transformation Spirit cultivator who hasn't ascended should have died out.

However, Yunhe also noticed that this youth, though handsome in appearance, had an extremely pallid complexion, eyes gleaming with light, and his whole body seemed shrouded in a faint, flickering glow.

But having said that, the fact that the other did not immediately attack or try to seize him upon seeing him indicates they certainly have some reservation or constraint.

More importantly.

"Senior, you overpraise me." Yunhe replied calmly, then fell silent, merely staring at the other.

Before Yunhe could speak, the young man, seeing the magic treasure Yunhe had produced, the released mana, and the emanating divine sense, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:

"The Great Five Elements Sect's art, 'Thousand Gu Myriad Insects Technique,' cultivated to the Fourth Level—excellent. And there's also a Fourth Level Gu worm—not bad. What's its name?"

For example, this young cultivator holding a gu furnace—he didn't mention it at all.

"This ancestor observes that you're not old—at most four hundred years—and yet you've already reached Mid Nascent Soul; truly extraordinary talent." The other seemingly understood Yunhe was probing him, but he paid no heed, gave no answer, and changed the subject: "At this age, let alone future Late Nascent Soul, even attaining Transformation Spirit is promising."

He then smiled slightly and said: "What this ancestor is called isn't really important; according to the passage of time, at least several thousand years must have passed outside. Those old friends who knew this ancestor, even if their cultivation broke through further, would likely all be dead by now."

"Junior, I didn't know you were cultivating here in seclusion; may I ask your esteemed name?"

At the same time, Yunhe also detected no fluctuation of spiritual energy, nor even of mana.

But it's quite obvious.

Furthermore, afterward the Heavenly Corpse Gu repeatedly reminded, hinted, and even guided Yunhe to re-enter the Heavenly Insect Sect—all for the sake of this gu furnace.

Yunhe's heart jolted.

Several thousand years!

Even a Transformation Spirit cultivator has at most a little over two thousand years of lifespan; even if long-lived, the limit is only three thousand years.

Lacking legs, even lacking feet, with an empty lower garment, they are actually a half-crippled person.

Upon closer look, one can see that this person is not seated cross-legged on the platform; rather, the portion below his waist simply does not exist!

How could the other still be alive to this day?

However, he showed no outward sign, remained vigilant inwardly, yet felt no panic.

"Corpse Soul Gu." Yunhe said lightly.

But the problem is.

Gu furnace!

He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was filled with vigilance.

This indicates that the other's cultivation base is not vastly superior to his; rather, they are concealing it with some magic treasure or divine ability.

Judging by the other's appearance, either possibility could be true.

But right after, doubt rose again in his heart.

Such ability made his heart feel a slight chill.

Indeed.

"This ancestor's survival to the present naturally came at a considerable cost; one of the greatest costs is being confined to this platform."

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's eyes narrowed slightly.

Trapped on the platform?

This formation here is indeed strong; Yunhe also has no way to break it.

But the person targeted by this formation is targeted.

As long as one cultivates the Heavenly Insect Sect's 'Thousand Poisons Myriad Insects Technique', cultivates to four layers or above, and possesses a fourth-level insect, one can smoothly enter and exit.

Moreover, if they are seniors or high-ranking members of the Heavenly Insect Sect, it is impossible for them not to cultivate the 'Thousand Poisons Myriad Insects Technique', and even more impossible for them to have no insects.

Wait.

Actually, there is still one condition.

It cannot be a Heavenly Corpse Insect!

Therefore, although the Heavenly Corpse Insect needs this insect furnace, it can only choose to cooperate with Yunhe, asking him to help retrieve the insect furnace.

Of course.

Although Yunhe could not fully believe the Heaven Corpse Gu's words, this still gave him a direction to suspect the young man's identity.

After all, he had not yet seen that Heaven Corpse Gu in this place.

At this moment, the youth spoke again, his expression gradually turning serious, saying:

"Junior, you came here to seek the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique, right?"

Yunhe clasped his hands and said, "Please, senior, impart your guidance."

The youth sighed, "Nowadays, my Heaven Insect Sect must have been destroyed long ago, right?"

Yunhe nodded slightly, "I only know that one or two branches have been passed down."

He actually still wanted to ask the true reason behind the Heaven Insect Sect's downfall.

But after thinking, he still did not ask.

For him, the most important thing now was still to obtain the continuation of the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique.

He had searched everywhere in this place but found nothing; instead, he again found two copies of the first four layers of the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique, yet the latter three layers remained unfound.

If this person does not have it either, he would not know where else to look.

The higher his Cultivation Base, the more Yunhe could feel the importance of the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique to him.

"In that case," the youth's expression darkened a bit, "it's a matter of time and fate."

However, he quickly composed himself and said slowly, "This ancestor indeed possesses the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique from layer one to seven; as for what comes after, it is not something this realm should have."

Afterward?

Yunhe blinked in surprise.

"Isn't the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique only seven layers?"

"This realm?"

"Could it be that the Myriad Gu and Myriad Insects Technique is a technique passed down from the upper realm?"

"This ancestor can also give you the technique you need, in exchange for hoping you can help this ancestor with one matter." The youth finally stated his condition.

Yunhe was not surprised by this, but he asked warily:

"What is it?"

"It's simple." The youth said with a smile, "Naturally, to help this ancestor escape his predicament."

He did not hide it at all, directly stating his purpose.

In fact, a cultivator trapped for thousands of years would naturally think first of escaping; this is a reasonable request.

He raised his hand and pointed to the depression before him, "This was the Heaven Insect Sect's former Gu breeding chamber, the very core of the entire sect, but just like the formations outside, this Gu breeding chamber likewise has a formation blocking it."

He cannot leave this place because he cannot solve the formation, and thus cannot enter the Gu breeding chamber.

"Moreover, the core of the Heaven Insect Sect's mountain-guarding grand formation and the formation here are both within the Gu breeding chamber; if you help this ancestor break it, this ancestor can escape."

From his words, one could detect no emotional fluctuation; he seemed extremely composed.

But the more composed he was, the more abnormal it seemed.

How could a normal person remain so composed after being trapped for thousands of years?

Faced with the sole means of escape, and the sole person who could help him escape, how could he remain so calm?

Put yourself in his shoes.

If it were Yunhe, he would surely strive to stay as composed as the youth, yet he could not guarantee he would feel nothing unusual.

To be frank, after being trapped for thousands of years, whatever should go mad has gone mad, and what shouldn't have also gone mad.

Yunhe did not answer immediately; he simply began walking around the depression.

"How?"

However, seeing his demeanor, the youth seemed to finally become impatient, pressing for an answer.

Upon hearing that, Yunhe stopped his steps.

Looking at the youth, he spoke seriously, "Senior, forgive my offense; if you wish me to go down, please first give me the technique."

Upon hearing Yunhe's blunt words, the youth was taken aback, then laughed, "If I give you the technique and you just leave, wouldn't this ancestor be suffering a loss for nothing?"

Yunhe suddenly smiled, "Senior, you have no choice."

The youth's eyes narrowed.

The temperature in the entire stone chamber suddenly dropped, and the aura turned stern.

"How daring!"

With an explosive shout, the youth seized the Gu furnace and struck it with his hand; accompanied by a crack, a grayish-white mist flew out of the furnace, sweeping toward Yunhe.

Yunhe seemed to have long been prepared; with one hand forming a seal, his spiritual power surged, and five-colored splendid light suddenly appeared.

Layers of Five Elements spiritual power instantly condensed into a Five Elements armor, emitting five-colored splendid light to resist the erosion of the grayish-white mist.

For a moment.

The aura within the stone chamber surged.

But the next moment, their spiritual power almost simultaneously withdrew, returning to its original state.

One moment they were still swords drawn and bows bent, the next the youth broke into a smile, flicked his finger, and an ancient-looking metal plate shot toward Yunhe.

This ancestor cannot possibly give you all of it; among it is the fifth layer of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret. Once you help this ancestor escape confinement, I will naturally give you the subsequent techniques. This ancestor can swear an inner demon oath.

Yunhe carefully wrapped the metal plate with his spiritual energy, swept his divine sense back and forth, and only after confirming three times that there was no problem did he grasp it in his hand.

He impatiently infused his divine sense into it; a simple sweep was enough to confirm without doubt that it was indeed the fifth layer of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret.

This let Yunhe relax a little.

No matter what, he had finally obtained the fifth layer of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret.

As for the latter part,

The youth said that this technique had been passed down from the upper realm, indicating it was not exclusive to the Heavenly Insect Sect; he also wasn't without opportunity to seek it elsewhere, it would just possibly take more time.

Having stored the technique, Yunhe remained still, but suddenly asked:

Senior, I am still curious about your name. Although your old friends and acquaintances have either ascended or passed away, knowing your name would not really matter much to me, would it?

Huh?

The youth narrowed his eyes.

Under his gaze, Yunhe crouched down, as if beginning to inspect beside the pit.

Seeing this, the youth's eyes flickered between bright and dark.

In the end he still said, "This ancestor is Heavenly Insect."

Heavenly Insect?

Yunhe's movement froze.

He slowly turned his head.

He looked at the youth with some astonishment.

Heavenly Insect Ancestor!

The one who cultivated the Heavenly Corpse Insect, formerly the Supreme Grand Elder of the Heavenly Insect Sect, a great cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage!

He is actually still alive?

Looking at you like this, you seem to know this ancestor?" the youth asked, seeing Yunhe's expression, unable to hold back.

Yunhe's mouth twitched slightly.

Having cultivated the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret, even up to the fourth layer, coming to seek the subsequent techniques, not knowing the name of the Heavenly Insect Ancestor would also be difficult, wouldn't it?

In that case, you should also know the Heavenly Corpse Insect, right?

The youth spoke again, only his voice gradually turned cold, with no detectable emotional fluctuation.

Seeing Yunhe not respond, he asked again: "So, is it the Heavenly Corpse Insect that sent you here?"

At this point the youth also finally realized that the person before him knew far more than he had imagined.

Yunhe patted his robe, rose from the ground, and looked at the youth, saying calmly: "It's not because of the Heavenly Corpse Insect, but I do indeed know it and have had dealings with it."

"So, senior, I am filled with doubts and hope to get answers. At the same time, senior, you no longer need to pretend with me; we might as well be completely open and honest."

Speaking, he curled his finger and withdrew, and the three flying swords circling his person hovered to a stop before him.

"My meaning is simple: if you want me to go down, merely the fifth layer of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret."

"Not enough."

(End of chapter)