Chapter 307: The Whole Person Is Tainted

Mount Sumeru, Tianyin Temple.

The temple halls here are grand and the incense is thick; above Tianyin Temple lies a smaller Tianyin Temple, where monks practicing the true Dharma reside—morning bells and evening drums, chanting sutras, cultivating the true path, nurturing their true nature—all is serene.

"Crack!"

A wooden fish was shattered outright; the fiercest-tempered Pu Fang roared: "You taught the Great Brahma Sutra to an outsider—and someone overheard it?"

In the original story, Pu Zhi, after teaching Zhang Xiaofan the Great Brahma Sutra, slaughtered two hundred and forty-seven people in Caomiao Village, swallowed the Three-Day Death Pill, returned to Tianyin Temple, confessed his sins to the monks, and revealed every detail; the monks, upon learning of Pu Zhi's transgression, protected Zhang Xiaofan.

But now Pu Zhi did not kill anyone, did not take the Three-Day Death Pill; upon returning to Tianyin Temple, he merely reported being ambushed in Caomiao Village—and only now, sensing the gravity of the matter, dared not conceal it.

Pu Zhi's face was filled with shame.

The monks within this smaller Tianyin Temple were equally troubled; in just these few days, how many people might the Great Brahma Sutra have reached?

"You took Zhang Xiaofan as your disciple—then simply bring him into Tianyin Temple."

The abbot of Tianyin Temple, Pu Hong, turned his prayer beads and looked at Pu Zhi: "The question is, do you know the identity of the one who overheard?"

Pu Zhi shook his head: "I only know he had an extraordinary appearance—he was a local."

Pu Zhi truly felt careless—he had been ambushed by a young man who played no fair play; during their conversation, Pu Zhi had even thought the man was virtuous, had been reminded of the principle that a gentleman guards his solitude, that outer demons easily invade when one is alone.

That young man was the outer demon all along!

"I suspect he possesses the art of foreseeing the future."

Pu Zhi recalled the events of that day: "He had already set up that trap, and appeared before me precisely when I wavered."

Now Pu Zhi was utterly ashamed—he no longer called himself "this old monk" or "this humble servant"; he referred to himself only as "I," feeling unworthy to be a monk.

Inside Tianyin Temple, the senior masters exchanged glances.

"Find him! Dig down three feet if you must!"

The monks of Tianyin Temple were in dire straits; equally shattered in spirit was Lu Xueqi on Xiao Zhu Peak of Qingyun Sect.

In the deep stillness of night, she cultivated according to the unnamed ancient scroll taught by Gu Qing—and in this silent practice, golden Buddhist light suddenly appeared within her body!

Lu Xueqi froze in place, gazing at the bright moon overhead and the dense shadows below, silent for a long while; she pondered and pondered, unable to fathom where she had gone wrong.

As dawn broke, Lu Xueqi rose gracefully, mounted Tianya Sword, and arrived before Longshou Peak.

"Who is that?"

"You don't recognize her? She's Qingyun Sect's most beautiful disciple in five hundred years."

"Why is she here at Longshou Peak?"

Longshou Peak had many disciples; Lu Xueqi stood quietly before it, and soon a crowd of Longshou disciples surrounded her—Qingyun Sect kept male and female disciples too strictly apart, so these disciples, repressed and starved for attention, would stare at any female disciple, let alone one as stunning as Lu Xueqi.

This was Lu Xueqi's first time at Longshou Peak; she observed the jagged rocks, sharp and poised to fall, truly resembling a dragon's head. When a male disciple boldly stepped forward to ask, she coldly spoke: "I'm looking for Gu Qing."

"You're looking for Brother Gu?"

The disciple, speaking before Lu Xueqi, instinctively lowered himself, addressing her as "you."

"Brother Gu?"

Lu Xueqi's gaze flickered—this disciple's cultivation was far below Gu Qing's.

"He only joined a few days ago."

The answering disciple, Wei Yuan, explained: "And Brother Gu is unruly—he's been causing trouble on Longshou Peak…" As he spoke, Wei Yuan kept glancing at Lu Xueqi; seeing her expression darken slightly, he hurriedly added: "Brother Gu has terrible relations here—he somehow insists on antagonizing Brother Qi."

Listening to the surrounding voices, Lu Xueqi pieced together a rough picture of Gu Qing.

A few days ago, Cangsong Daoist took Gu Qing as his disciple in Caomiao Village and brought him to Longshou Peak, nurturing him earnestly and granting him Zhanlong Sword; Gu Qing's cultivation advanced at astonishing speed—in just a few days, he seemed to have completed the first several levels of Taiji Xuanqing Dao, and on Longshou Peak, he was a troublemaker, fighting daily.

"Joined only a few days ago…"

Lu Xueqi recalled Gu Qing's calm, casual address of her as "Sister Lu," and his brawling on Longshou Peak; she remembered their previous sparring.

Lu Xueqi was now at the peak of Jade Clear Level Eight, striving to break through to Level Nine; in cultivation, she ranked among Qingyun Sect's top disciples—but Gu Qing had defeated her with ease.

Piecing this together, Lu Xueqi sensed Gu Qing was shrouded in mystery.

Wei Yuan led Lu Xueqi to Longshou Peak's sparring ground, where she saw Gu Qing standing alone, holding Zhanlong Sword.

"Brother Yu Hong, if you want to spar, follow the rules."

Gu Qing's voice was calm: "You don't ask me—I won't fight you."

Yu Hong's face flushed; he gripped his broadsword, bowed earnestly to Gu Qing, and said: "Then please, Brother Gu, instruct me!"

Hearing this, Gu Qing was satisfied; he drew Zhanlong Sword and aimed it remotely at Yu Hong.

Yu Hong gestured, and his broadsword slashed forward—but Gu Qing's blade shot up; their sword lights intertwined in an instant, Taiji Xuanqing Dao flowing in opposite directions, emerald light swirling; Yu Hong's sword suddenly flipped, pressing against his own throat.

The outcome was clear.

"Again!"

The surrounding disciples sighed.

Wei Yuan had been watching Lu Xueqi; now, before she could ask, he said at once: "This is Brother Gu's creation—a technique called 'Turning Stars and Constellations.' Its principle is reversing Taiji Xuanqing Dao, sensing the opponent's force direction, and striking with a single sword to use their own force against them—often causing fellow disciples' flying swords to turn and cut themselves."

Lu Xueqi's eyes widened—this technique had not been shown when Gu Qing fought her.

"In my opinion, Brother Gu is targeting Qingyun Sect!"

Another disciple, watching Lu Xueqi's expression, openly disparaged Gu Qing: "This technique only works against our Taiji Xuanqing Dao—it'd be useless against outside styles. I think Brother Gu's winning streak here is only because Brother Qi and others haven't stepped in—they're not bullying the newcomer."

"True—few days ago, Brother Gu mocked someone by saying 'internal warfare is divine.' I think he himself fits the description."

"Just good at internal brawling."

Listening to the chorus, Lu Xueqi stepped forward, standing before Gu Qing, her voice cold: "Explain."

She, a pure and untainted Qingyun disciple, was suddenly tainted!

Gu Qing saw Lu Xueqi's cold, proud, yet wounded expression—and laughed naturally; only when he saw her growing more impatient did he speak: "Ask me."

(End of Chapter)