Chapter 320: The Possibility of Immortality

Su Ru arrived at Xiao Zhu Peak and was astonished to see Master Shuiyue, usually cold and aloof, now with gentle features and tender glances; before she could ask, she spotted a man among the female disciples, his demeanor elegant, drawing the girls into a cluster, laughing and clamoring.

And Master Shuiyue did nothing about it!

"Is that Gu Qing?"

Su Ru recognized the man mingling with the Xiao Zhu Peak disciples.

"Yes."

As Master Shuiyue gazed at Gu Qing, her eyes held a touch of tenderness: "He is born with an immortal body and possesses vast knowledge—truly remarkable."

I think his greatest feat is making you change your attitude.

Su Ru well remembered how much resentment Master Shuiyue once held toward Gu Qing.

Master Shuiyue was lost in thought, so Su Ru stepped into the courtyard and saw Gu Qing, beneath the emerald bamboo shade, speaking wittily as he taught the disciples the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, occasionally weaving in sword techniques; she had intended to listen casually, but grew increasingly absorbed, realizing Gu Qing expressed profound cultivation truths in simple terms—some insights deeply moved her.

As Gu Qing taught, the female disciples of Xiao Zhu Peak eagerly poured tea and called out enthusiastically, offering ample emotional value; only as dusk approached did they reluctantly depart.

Deep within the courtyard, Su Ru still stood, watching as the disciples dispersed; Gu Qing stepped forward, bowed, and addressed her as "Auntie."

"Gu Qing, you're quite impressive."

Su Ru herself was from Xiao Zhu Peak and greatly admired Gu Qing's method of teaching the Taiji Xuanqing Dao: "I have a disciple on Da Zhu Peak with sluggish talent—would you mind teaching him for a couple days? Of course, I won't let you go empty-handed."

Zhang Xiaofan?

"Forget it."

Gu Qing declined: "All the senior brothers on Da Zhu Peak have already achieved cultivation—I won't go show off."

Longshou Peak and Da Zhu Peak have always been at odds.

Moreover, Gu Qing believed he had already done Zhang Xiaofan a great favor by saving Cao Miao Village and taking the Bloodsucking Pearl—two favors were enough; more would be excessive.

Upon hearing this, Su Ru felt a pang of regret, but she had memorized the teachings Gu Qing had just imparted; she planned to relay them to Da Zhu Peak later, to see if they might awaken Zhang Xiaofan's stubborn mind.

Feng Hui Peak.

Gu Qing arrived riding his sword, observing how the peak jutted from the clustered mountains, crimson and verdant in harmony; the wind here naturally reversed, swirling back and forth among the peaks.

"I'm starting to miss Wind's Wings…"

Gu Qing landed on the mountain, announced his name, and a disciple named Peng Chang immediately rushed inside to report; soon after, a handsome young disciple hurried out, bowed to Gu Qing, and said: "I'm Zeng Shushu—are you the top disciple of Longshou Peak?"

Learning knows no order; the one who attains mastery comes first.

Gu Qing had defeated Qi Hao, and this news had spread within a small circle of Qing Yun Mountain; Zeng Shushu had heard of it, and thus, as a disciple from another peak, he addressed Gu Qing as "Senior Brother."

"I am Gu Qing."

Gu Qing bowed, studying Zeng Shushu—the immortal sword he wore was Xuan Yuan, which had performed brilliantly in Zhuxian, and he was one of the four finalists in the Seven Peaks Competition.

"Senior Brother Gu, why have you come to me?"

Zeng Shushu was the son of Zeng Shuchang, head of Feng Hui Peak, and the most outstanding disciple there—virtually guaranteed to become the next head. Yet he was intelligent, well-read, witty, and humorous, beloved by all, on good terms with every senior and junior, and met with no resentment from the disciples.

"I want to look at some miscellaneous books."

Gu Qing smiled: "I heard you have the most miscellaneous books on Qing Yun Mountain, so I've come uninvited."

At these words, Zeng Shushu's face fell: "So I've already gained a bad reputation?" With a wry smile, he led Gu Qing into Feng Hui Peak, first showing him its scenery, then introducing him to various disciples along the way, until they reached the library.

"Senior Brother Gu, I have tales of the strange and marvelous, myths and monsters—all miscellaneous books."

Zeng Shushu probed: "What kind of book are you seeking? I can fetch it for you directly."

Zeng Shushu truly knew how to handle things.

Gu Qing smiled: "Lately I've become interested in ancient legends and rare treasures—but you needn't go out of your way to find them; I read quickly."

Gu Qing hoped to uncover the immortal history of the Zhuxian world from these ancient accounts.

The Three Pure Ones venerated by Qing Yun Mountain, the Buddha revered by Tianyin Temple, the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury… in this world, gods and immortals might truly exist.

"Then Senior Brother Gu must stay here for several days."

Zeng Shushu hurriedly offered tea and cautiously asked: "Senior Brother Gu, did you really defeat Qi Hao?"

Qi Hao was the strongest disciple on Qing Yun Mountain, after Xiao Yicai.

"Actually, when I fought Qi Hao, I held back a bit."

Gu Qing whispered to Zeng Shushu.

Zeng Shushu's eyes widened in shock—such words, even Xiao Yicai would never dare say.

"Senior Brother Gu…"

Zeng Shushu fetched books for Gu Qing and quietly inquired about the Taiji Xuanqing Dao; Gu Qing, not withholding anything, shared his deep insights on it. Having cultivated the first scroll of the Heavenly Book and possessing numerous martial arts manuals, Gu Qing had amassed vast martial knowledge, and when explaining the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, he often cut straight to the heart of the matter—Zeng Shushu listened intently and gained much.

"The Yellow Emperor and Chiyou waged war; thick fog arose for three days and three nights, then a divine being descended, refining them with strange fire, sealing them within a cauldron…"

"Above the Nine Heavens, in the Palace of Greatness, the Three Pure Ones…"

"The Buddha, through five hundred lifetimes of practicing the Paramita of Patience, attained the non-arising of the Four Phases…"

As Gu Qing read through these records, he realized that while cultivation in this Zhuxian world originated from the Five Heavenly Scrolls, Tianyin Temple's founding patriarch was a wandering monk, and records of the Buddha had long existed in the world.

Qing Yun Mountain's founding patriarch, Qingyunzi, was a wandering fortune-teller, and legends of the Three Pure Ones had already been widely circulated before Qingyunzi's time.

As for the battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, the cauldron that sealed Chiyou's soul was almost certainly the Fulong Ding of the Ghost King Sect; after removing all seals, the Ghost King lost his original nature, and the strange fire that refined Chiyou's body was likely "Heavenly Fire," possibly triggered by the Xuanhuo Jian.

After reading through these texts, Gu Qing felt this world might truly hold the path to immortality and ascension.

"By the way, the Xuanhuo Jian is currently in the hands of the Six-Tailed Demon Fox and the Three-Tailed Demon Fox…"

Gu Qing thought of Zhang Xiaofan's other divine artifact—the Xuanhuo Jian, originally belonging to the Burning Incense Valley.

The Six-Tailed and Three-Tailed Demon Foxes are now being hunted by the Burning Incense Valley, wandering aimlessly until years later, when they settle in the Black Stone Cave; when Zhang Xiaofan arrives, he will effortlessly seize the Xuanhuo Jian.

"Hmph…"

In Zeng Shushu's library, Gu Qing pulled out a map of Shenzhou, laid it on the table, and studied it intently.

Zhang Xiaofan is the one who follows Heaven's will and enjoys ease; Gu Qing is the one who defies Heaven and toils.

In short, Little Fan, you can't hold onto the Xuanhuo Jian…

(End of Chapter)