Chapter 325: The Liuhex Mirror Is Still Yours

The mountain forest lay Youyou, the moonlight scattered in fragments.

The white-robed woman walked ahead, leading two goats, her steps light and swift, touching the ground without sound, like a wandering spirit drifting through the mountains; had any mortal been watching now, he would have thought he'd encountered a ghost—but to the white-robed woman, Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi behind her were the ghosts she had stumbled upon.

All around, silence reigned.

The white-robed woman suddenly stopped, tied up the two goats, turned around, and said in a mournful voice: "These two goats, I bought with my own money."

Under the moonlight, the white-robed woman's figure was slender, her hair neatly arranged, radiating the innate allure of the fox spirit clan.

"Payment made, transaction complete—fair and reasonable."

Gu Qing looked at the white-robed woman and said: "We didn't come for these two goats."

"Then are you here to kill me?"

The three-tailed fox spoke softly.

"Not necessarily."

Gu Qing said: "Perhaps I can cure your cold poison."

The three-tailed fox's slender frame trembled.

Three hundred years ago, the fox clan of Fox Ridge stormed the Incense Burner Valley and seized the Xuanyuohuan; the only six-tailed demon fox to escape it was struck by Shangguan Ce's Nine-Cold Ice Needle, and since then, the cold poison had invaded her meridians, tormenting her for three centuries.

The three-tailed fox sought out livestock to draw their blood, using it to ease the six-tailed demon fox's pain.

"You'd help us?"

The three-tailed fox's eyes held a trace of shock.

In this world, the divide between orthodox, demonic, and Yaomo was immense; the orthodox had always spoken only of slaying demons and exterminating evil, never of aiding them.

"Why not help?"

Gu Qing said calmly: "You too are sentient beings."

The three-tailed fox was stunned; she had always despised the Incense Burner Valley disciples, so when she heard Gu Qing mock Li Xun's impotence, she had laughed—and afterward, she regretted it, feeling she shouldn't have laughed, for it had drawn the Qingyun disciples here.

Yet she never expected Gu Qing to be so open-minded.

Still, the three-tailed fox remained wary; though foxes are cunning, human hearts are more treacherous.

"We're here primarily for the Xuanyuohuan."

Gu Qing revealed his true purpose.

Lu Xueqi turned back in surprise; she had merely followed Gu Qing, never imagining he sought the Heaven-Shattering Divine Artifact, the Xuanyuohuan—something to the Incense Burner Valley disciples as vital as the Zhuxianjian.

The three-tailed fox fell silent for a long while, then decided to take the gamble; she first sent word to the six-tailed demon fox, waited for her decision, then led Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi to meet her.

"My body is filled with cold energy—can you truly save me?"

For all these years, the cold energy Shangguan Ce had implanted within the six-tailed demon fox had continued to erode her body, even merging with her innate demonic qi, rendering it impossible to fully expel.

"I can…"

Gu Qing had intended to address her as "brother," but reconsidered her status; as for her cold poison, he thought of Zhang Wuji and the Nine Yang Divine Art, and of Su Xin's cold poison, when Zhu Wushi had drawn it into his own body using the Absorbing Power Technique.

In short, Gu Qing had a way.

Qingyun Sect.

Lu Xueqi carried Gu Qing, both of them Yidaojianguang returning to Qingyun Mountain.

"Master Gu has returned!"

Upon seeing Gu Qing return, the Qingyun disciples gathered around him; they had heard of his divine prowess, and now they looked upon him with reverence, barely holding back cheers.

"The Sect Master summons you to Tongtian Peak."

Chang Jian, a disciple of Tongtian Peak, stepped forward and led Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi toward the Yuqing Hall on Tongtian Peak.

As the three passed the Rainbow Bridge, the water qilin guardian before the Yuqing Hall rose suddenly, shook its body, fixed its cartwheel-sized eyes on Gu Qing, studied him intently, then lay down again.

In that instant, Cangsong Daoist of Longshou Peak, Tian Buyi of Dazhu Peak, Ceng Shuchang of Fenghui Peak, Shuiyue Master of Xiaozhu Peak, Tianyun Daoist of Chaoyang and Luoxia Peaks, and Shang Zhengliang all arrived; they gathered within the Yuqing Hall as Daoxuan, clad in his Daoist robes, greeted the heads of the seven peaks, then smiled warmly at Gu Qing: "Back from your mountain strolls?"

"Mountain strolls" was the excuse Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi had given for leaving the group; Daoxuan's voice was deep and kind, as if he approved of their actions.

His words warmed the air, drawing everyone closer.

Lu Xueqi glanced at Gu Qing; after helping the six-tailed demon fox purge the cold poison, they had indeed wandered the mountains together.

"Is Brother Xiao Yicai well now?"

Gu Qing steered the conversation back.

Daoxuan nodded naturally: "With Brother Tian's pills, he's fine."

"Gu Qing, you taught the Heavenly Giant Seven-Star Formation, studied the Taiji Qingqing Dao, aided Xiao Yicai, and thwarted the demonic sect's conspiracy—each deed is a merit to Qingyun… Today, shall I promote you to Elder of Longshou Peak?"

Daoxuan suddenly said.

The seven peak heads exchanged glances, then fixed their eyes on Gu Qing; now, Gu Qing was a young man in fine robes and proud spirit, brimming with vigor.

This promotion would affect Gu Qing.

"What effect would this promotion have?"

Gu Qing asked; he had never inquired closely about the elders' affairs.

"You're not a disciple of Tongtian Peak—this affects you not at all."

Daoxuan said.

"Only if you were on Tongtian Peak would failing to become Chief mean becoming an Elder—the Sect Master's position always passes to his direct disciple."

Cangsong Daoist added darkly.

Daoxuan was shielding Xiao Yicai.

Gu Qing looked at the Master and asked: "Is that true?"

Daoxuan fell silent, avoiding the topic.

"What about the Seven Peaks Competition?"

Lu Xueqi asked.

Becoming an Elder would bar one from participating.

"Your strength is nearly Shangqing—entering the Seven Peaks Competition would be bullying the disciples."

Daoxuan smiled: "You needn't attend."

Daoxuan gestured; a disciple immediately brought forward a artifact and presented it. Gu Qing glanced and saw a small mirror, its rim engraved with runes.

"This is the artifact of Qingyunzi, our sect's first ancestor."

Daoxuan took the mirror and placed it in Gu Qing's hands: "This treasure, the Liuhex Mirror, can, in theory, deflect all attacks—if the user's cultivation is deep enough."

This was the prize for the champion of the Seven Peaks Competition; since Gu Qing had already become king without a crown, Daoxuan now gifted him the Liuhex Mirror.

Gu Qing stared at the Liuhex Mirror, and suddenly a phrase surfaced in his mind: Everyone is in Qingyun Sect, constantly crossing paths—if you don't compete, the championship prize is still yours.

(End of Chapter)