Chapter 309: I

"Sword Mastery!"

Gu Qing formed the incantation with his fingers; the Zhanlong Sword drifted aloft, and before the stunned eyes of the Longshou Peak disciples, Gu Qing clutched Lin Jingyu under one arm and rode the sword through the sea of clouds toward Dazhu Peak.

"Sword Mastery! The fourth realm of Taiji Xuanqing Dao!"

"He's only been in the sect for less than a month!"

"Fine, you're good!"

The Longshou Peak disciples murmured among themselves, deeply impressed by Gu Qing's rapid cultivation; originally resentful that Lu Xueqi had sought out Gu Qing, they now suddenly felt the two were a perfectly matched pair—talented youth and beautiful maiden, destined for each other.

Only Qi Hao's hand trembled slightly at the sight of Gu Qing's swordlight.

Thick clouds enveloped Dazhu Peak; Gu Qing's swordlight pierced through mist and haze with a howl, startling barks from the mountain's dogs. By the time Gu Qing landed, all the senior disciples and the peak's head had emerged.

"Gu Qing of Longshou Peak, Lin Jingyu of Longshou Peak, pay respects to Master Tian!"

Gu Qing and Lin Jingyu bowed together; Zhang Xiaofan, watching from here, met Lin Jingyu's gaze with intense warmth.

Tian Buyi was short and stout, his face dark as he gazed at Lin Jingyu's delicate features and recalled his failure to claim him at Tongtian Peak—his expression grew even darker. When his eyes shifted to Gu Qing, they instinctively fell upon the Zhanlong Sword.

"You are Gu Qing."

Tian Buyi said gravely: "I heard Cang Song took a disciple from Caomiao Village—Tongtian Peak refused him, yet he was sent straight to Longshou Peak. That's you?"

Gu Qing nodded.

Tian Buyi's face darkened further. "How long have you been cultivating Taiji Xuanqing Dao?"

"A little over a month."

Gu Qing spoke plainly.

Tian Buyi rubbed his forehead, silently cursing Cang Song: that man already had a prodigy like Gu Qing, yet still dragged Lin Jingyu off to Tongtian Peak.

To achieve Sword Mastery after only a month—this talent might surpass even Qingye Ancestor.

"I've long heard of your great name, Master Tian. Today I came with Lin Jingyu to meet our fellow villager, and I took the opportunity to pay my respects."

Gu Qing spoke to Tian Buyi with utmost courtesy.

You came to pay respects? You came to cause trouble!

"Talk among yourselves!"

After greeting Gu Qing, Tian Buyi forced a smile and turned away, muttering curses under his breath about Cang Song.

"So this is Master Gu?"

No sooner had Tian Buyi left than the other disciples crowded forward to greet Gu Qing.

Among Dazhu Peak's disciples were Song my lord, Wu Dayi, Zheng Dali, He Dazhi, Lü Daxin, Du Bishu, and Tian Linger; Zhang Xiaofan, still chopping wood and ignorant of outside affairs, heard Song my lord lean in and say: "I heard Master Gu's skills are extraordinary—so much so that Lu Xueqi, the most beautiful disciple of Xiaozhu Peak in five hundred years, flew all the way to Longshou Peak to find you..."

Song my lord's eyes sparkled with gossip.

"This concerns Miss Lu's reputation—please, don't spread it."

Gu Qing clarified: "Lu Xueqi and I are merely friends."

"Xueqi?"

Song my lord and the others teased.

Gu Qing fell silent immediately.

"Gu Qing."

Tian Linger, though young, was already strikingly beautiful; she stared at Gu Qing with bright curiosity. "I heard ever since you joined, you've been clashing with Master Qi Hao every day—fighting constantly?"

Gu Qing glanced at Tian Linger; seeing only innocent curiosity, no hidden intent, he thought of how unlucky Qi Hao had been lately, and decided to offer him some defense. After a pause, he said: "Master Qi Hao is magnanimous and humble, while I am petty—my own narrow-mindedness is what escalated this conflict."

At this, Song my lord and the others all murmured, "Oh."

Tian Linger pondered aloud: "Is this one of those opera plots where you're stuck with a secret you can't reveal?"

Gu Qing stayed silent... I didn't say a thing—it was all your own assumption. But I've already defended Qi Hao. My conscience is clear. Whether Qi Hao is annoyed or not? That's his problem.

"I'm here today to catch up with my junior brother Lin Jingyu."

Gu Qing steered the conversation toward Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan, finally gaining a moment's peace. He walked up the mountain toward Dazhu Peak's rear slopes, gazing at the rolling green waves, searching among the treetops for the monkeys.

Zhang Xiaofan had many strange encounters; one was finding the three-eyed spirit monkey in the rear slopes, another was merging the Blood-Sucking Pearl and Soul-Siphon Rod in a valley below. Gu Qing now sought the Soul-Siphon Rod.

After circling the rear slopes, Gu Qing leapt downward, gliding swiftly as he scoured cliffs and deep gorges for the Soul-Siphon Rod's whereabouts.

Previously, Gu Qing had promised Lu Xueqi he would seal the Blood-Sucking Pearl. The demonic energy within the Soul-Siphon Rod and the Blood-Sucking Pearl oppose each other; when fused, they become a powerful artifact—but the Soul-Siphon Rod carries a side effect: it corrupts the mind.

Gu Qing feared no such corruption. He intended to quietly complete this task, claim the Soul-Siphon Rod, and make Lu Xueqi feel indebted—thus keeping her hooked.

With Dazhu Peak as his anchor, and recalling Zhang Xiaofan's low cultivation at the time, Gu Qing searched left and right. Through his sense of malevolent energy, he arrived at a secluded valley.

"This is it."

Gu Qing drew out the Blood-Sucking Pearl and tossed it gently; its glow spread, releasing waves of ferocious malevolence that drew the Soul-Siphon Rod soaring upward to collide with it!

"Clang!"

The two artifacts resonated, merging into one. Crimson and black light entwined, radiating immense malevolent energy capable of reversing blood flow in the heart.

Gu Qing reached out, sprinkling his blood upon them. As the blood fell, the two artifacts fused instantly. A dark rod fell before him, the Blood-Sucking Pearl embedded atop it—its malevolent energies colliding and merging into a single artifact.

Once, the Old Heart Elder used Tianya Sword to break the Blood-Sucking Pearl. Now, with the rod fused to it, the Blood-Sucking Pearl had become an artifact equal to Tianya Sword.

Gu Qing extended his hand; the blood-energies connected, and the Soul-Siphon Rod naturally landed in his grasp. He summoned it into his sleeve, leapt upward, and headed back toward Dazhu Peak.

Before Dazhu Peak, dusk approached.

When Gu Qing arrived, he saw Su Ru, the beautiful mistress of Dazhu Peak, and immediately paid his respects.

"You're Gu Qing?"

Su Ru studied him up and down, smiling sweetly: "You'd better not go to Xiaozhu Peak anytime soon."

She had just returned from Xiaozhu Peak and knew Master Shuiyue held strong ill will toward Gu Qing.

"How unfortunate."

Gu Qing sighed: "I was just planning to visit Xiaozhu Peak."

Time to give Shuiyue some trouble.

(End of Chapter)