Chapter 306: Pulling Lu Xueqi Into the Water

Deep within a secluded valley, surrounded by towering peaks.

Gu Qing pretended to dig a pit and attempted to lay out an array, fully absorbed in his work, when a graceful shadow fell gently upon him.

Gu Qing spun around sharply and saw, against the clear sky, a white-robed beauty standing atop a brilliant azure sword, her skin like snow and jade, her eyes clear as autumn water, cold as dark ice—unlike Xiaolongnu's ethereal detachment born of twelve few and twelve many disciplines, this woman's chill was innate, perfectly natural.

"Are you a junior sister from Xiao Zhu Peak?"

Gu Qing bowed to the white-robed beauty.

Lu Xueqi observed Gu Qing's clear gaze and composed demeanor, unlike ordinary men, and nodded slightly, her eyes fixed on the glowing red pearl.

The hum of Tianya Sword arose because of this pearl.

"This is the most malevolent treasure of the Demon Cult, called the Blood-Sucking Pearl."

Gu Qing stared at the Blood-Sucking Pearl and volunteered: "A thousand years ago, a demon cultivator named Black Heart Elder used the Blood-Sucking Pearl to unify the Demon Cult. During my travels, I once met an elder who was gravely wounded by this artifact; he entrusted me to discard it into a secluded valley."

Gu Qing spoke without hesitation.

Lu Xueqi watched the Blood-Sucking Pearl's fluctuations, and Tianya Sword responded in kind—their energies resonated like sworn enemies bound by deep hatred.

"So you wield Tianya Sword."

Gu Qing's expression turned understanding. "The Ten Treasures Treatise records that Tianya Sword is Tianya's archenemy. The ancient immortal Ku Xin Shangren once shattered Black Heart Elder's Blood-Sucking Pearl with Tianya Sword, eliminating a great threat to the righteous path. Now that the Blood-Sucking Pearl has appeared, Tianya has come."

The Blood-Sucking Pearl originally radiated violent malevolence; only after Zhang Xiaofan accidentally fused it with the Soul-Sucking Rod did its evil energy subside.

"I see."

Lu Xueqi's voice was cold, cutting like ice and snow.

Gu Qing bowed again, turned, and resumed digging and laying the array.

"Throw it somewhere far from Xiao Zhu Peak!"

Lu Xueqi said coldly.

No one would willingly discard such a malevolent object near their own home.

Gu Qing turned silently, looked up at Lu Xueqi, studied her for a moment, then suddenly said: "You must be Lu Xueqi of Xiao Zhu Peak. I've heard you're a prodigy with astonishing progress—how about we spar?"

Lu Xueqi's brows flickered in surprise at Gu Qing's sudden challenge; mid-air, she formed a divine hand seal, and beneath her feet, Tianya Sword became a streak of light, hurtling toward Gu Qing.

"Hit!"

Gu Qing reached out, and Zhanlong Sword leapt from its sheath, its emerald glow blazing as it clashed violently with Tianya Sword in midair.

Instantly, sword qi crisscrossed, the earth trembled, and surrounding rocks tumbled chaotically down.

Lu Xueqi floated effortlessly in midair, unharmed; but at that moment, Gu Qing shot upward, spun his sword, and unfolded a dark azure Taiji diagram before him. Lu Xueqi's thrust met the diagram's resistance, while behind it, Gu Qing's sword subtly gathered, his body like carved jade, brimming with Daoic grace—he swept his left hand across Zhanlong Sword, and the world dimmed.

He was no longer merely a man; the sword was no longer merely a blade. In that instant, Gu Qing's sword heart was perfectly clear—he transcended all mortals. With a simple technique, the Return-to-Origin Sword Art, Zhanlong Sword circled Tianya Sword three times, draining its qi dramatically, then accelerated straight toward Lu Xueqi.

"Taiji Xuanqing Dao!"

Lu Xueqi's voice was icy; she formed a hand seal, drew a circle with one hand, and a Taiji diagram bloomed before her—but Zhanlong Sword struck, shattered it instantly, its emerald tip halting mere inches from her brow.

She had lost.

Lu Xueqi's beautiful eyes stared blankly, her face pale.

Since entering Xiao Zhu Peak, all praised her as a genius; she trained relentlessly, day and night, never slackening, determined to prove Xiao Zhu Peak's worth at the Seven Peaks Tournament—but now, she had been defeated by an unknown Qingyun disciple.

Gu Qing sheathed his sword with ease, reversed Tianya Sword, and offered its hilt back to Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi remained still for several breaths, lowered her gaze to the hilt Gu Qing held—observing his long, slender fingers, strong yet clean, skin radiant and flawless, utterly free of dust—then slowly extended her hand to take Tianya Sword. As their hands brushed, she faintly caught a strange fragrance, cool and pure, penetrating her soul.

"Which peak are you from?"

Lu Xueqi suddenly asked.

"Longshou Peak, Gu Qing."

Mid-air, Gu Qing channeled Taiji Xuanqing Dao along the path of the Absorbing Power Technique; Lu Xueqi saw his hand spin a blue Taiji, and the falling rocks naturally rolled aside, while the crimson Blood-Sucking Pearl flew into his grasp.

Lu Xueqi watched the blue light swirl and the blood-red aura recede, realizing Gu Qing intended to bury the Blood-Sucking Pearl elsewhere; she asked: "Why could my Taiji diagram not block your sword?"

Lu Xueqi had many questions, but what puzzled her most was the Taiji diagram.

In her view, Gu Qing's Taiji Xuanqing Dao cultivation was inferior to hers—yet when she struck with Tianya Sword, his diagram held; but when he struck, his sword shattered her diagram outright.

"Oh…"

Gu Qing said calmly: "The elder who gave me the Blood-Sucking Pearl taught me a nameless secret technique that stabilized my meridians far beyond ordinary cultivators—thus, the power of my methods naturally exceeds others."

So it was another stroke of fortune…

Lu Xueqi nodded slightly.

"Lu junior sister, would you like to learn it?"

Gu Qing smiled warmly at Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi's gaze was icy as she studied Gu Qing, suspecting ill intent.

"Immortals are uniquely endowed with extraordinary qi, in harmony with nature."

Gu Qing began reciting without pause—he was originally from Quanzhen Sect, a school that unified the Three Teachings; though he had little deep understanding of Daoist scriptures, he had absorbed much by osmosis. Now, he expressed the vocabulary of Dafan Banruo through Daoist phrasing.

"The Dao is boundless; how could immortality have limits…"

"Metal and stone hold resonance, awaiting strike to sound…"

Lu Xueqi had no intention to listen—but after three or four lines, she sensed the scripture's profundity rivaled even Taiji Xuanqing Dao; she immediately shed her condescension, listened solemnly, and when finished, felt her heart still shaken.

"This cultivation method requires special attention at the outset…"

Gu Qing explained the conflicts between Dafan Banruo and Taiji Xuanqing Dao, then said: "Lu junior sister, I impart this secret to you because you are Tianya's master. You, too, bear responsibility for sealing the Blood-Sucking Pearl. Since you won't let me seal it here, next time I seal it, I hope you will hold Tianya and guard me."

Lu Xueqi nodded solemnly and accepted the arrangement.

Gu Qing smiled brightly.

Tianyin Temple.

Monk Pu Zhi held two bamboo tubes connected by cotton thread—he had, upon leaving Cao Miao, unable to resist curiosity, followed the thread to its end, and now, as he studied it, Fa Xiang suddenly pulled the thread taut; the distant sound traveled along the bamboo tubes and reached him.

"Squeak…"

In that moment, Pu Zhi's composure shattered—he felt his experiment had collapsed.

(End of Chapter)