Chapter 335: Ghost King: Bide Your Time!

Mount Qingyun, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.

All seven peak masters of Mount Qingyun gathered here, staring at Gu Qing with varied expressions, among whom Daoxuan Zhenren's face was the most grim.

This journey down the mountain, Gu Qing infiltrated the Ghost King Sect, lost the Fulong Ding, and then traveled a thousand li to assassinate the Poison God, causing chaos within the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate—his achievements were immense, nearly rivaling Wan Jianyi's expedition to the Wildlands.

But!

The troubles Gu Qing stirred up were equally thorny.

Daoxuan Zhenren stared at the Xuanhuo Mirror in Gu Qing's hand—this divine weapon of the Burning Incense Valley now rested in the hands of the Qingyun Sect. If the Daoist sect controlled this treasure, its power would surge, but it might also prove too hot to handle.

"Heaven's will shifts; divine artifacts change hands, passing to those of virtue—this is the natural order."

Gu Qing calmly returned the Xuanhuo Mirror to his possession and said: "In ancient times, the Holy Maiden Linglong of the Southern Frontier possessed boundless power, capable of creating life from emptiness and wielding the Xuanhuo Mirror with unrivaled dominance. Yet after several transitions, the mirror fell into the hands of the Burning Incense Valley. Now, how many still remember Linglong?"

"If the Xuanhuo Mirror changes names and forms, and rests within Qingyun Sect, how many will recognize it in a few decades?"

Gu Qing was clearly planning to keep it.

The seven peak masters of Mount Qingyun were stirred, but their lifelong education forbade them from agreeing to such an act.

"The Dao De Jing says: To take something, you must first give it."

Gu Qing said: "I've already shown Li Xun respect. Taking the Xuanhuo Mirror is only right."

"Cough, cough…"

Daoxuan Zhenren cleared his throat and said: "A state's sharpest tools must not be displayed to others!"

His meaning: Keep it hidden.

Seeing this, the Qingyun peak masters felt it was unscrupulous, yet saw no better solution.

They couldn't truly return it.

The Burning Incense Valley would only feel humiliated—such a treasure would never be returned to them; they'd never feel gratitude.

"Gu Qing."

Daoxuan Zhenren spoke: "Your achievements are great. Name whatever you desire."

Gu Qing paused briefly. What in the Qingyun Sect was worth his pursuit? One was the fifth scroll of the Tian Shu hidden in the Illusory Moon Ancient Cave; another was the deployment of the Zhuxian Sword Array; beyond that, only two other sword forms of the Qingyun Sect. 【33】 When Wan Jianyi and others returned from the Wildlands, the Qingyun Sect's patriarch, Tianchengzi, had been corrupted by the backlash of the Zhuxian Sword, cultivating Yin Ghost Qi. In his madness, he was reluctantly slain by Daoxuan and Wan Jianyi. Afterwards, the former peak masters of Xiao Zhu Peak and Da Zhu Peak came demanding that Tianchengzi's reputation be preserved—Wan Jianyi bore the blame of patricide.

But these things required entry into Qingyun's true core.

"I want the person in the Ancestral Hall to be freed."

Gu Qing spoke.

!!!

The Qingyun peak masters' eyes gleamed with emotion, sincerely grateful to Gu Qing—years of lingering burdens vanished in an instant.

"…"

What could Daoxuan Zhenren say? Gu Qing had already pointed out the exact location.

"Yet…"

Daoxuan recalled the past murder of his master.

When Wan Jianyi and others returned from the Wildlands, the Qingyun Sect's patriarch, Tianchengzi, had been corrupted by the Zhuxian Sword's backlash, cultivating Yin Ghost Qi. In his madness, he was reluctantly slain by Daoxuan and Wan Jianyi. Afterwards, the former peak masters of Xiao Zhu Peak and Da Zhu Peak came demanding Tianchengzi's reputation be preserved—Wan Jianyi bore the blame of patricide.

"Enough…"

The former peak masters of Da Zhu and Xiao Zhu were both dead; Wan Jianyi's name had long been erased. At this moment, Daoxuan Zhenren silently nodded, looked at Gu Qing, and said: "You truly are Wan Jianyi's finest disciple."

Wan Jianyi might not think so…

Gu Qing smiled inwardly.

The six peak masters bowed to Daoxuan and hurried toward the Ancestral Hall.

There, Wan Jianyi, restored to youth, clad in white robes, stood calmly, watching the approaching figures.

Those like Shang Zhengliang, Tian Budi, and Ceng Shuchang, seeing Wan Jianyi unharmed, naturally felt their burdens lift. After they departed, Cangsong Daoist rushed into Wan Jianyi's arms, weeping bitterly: "Master Wan, you saved me again…"

How did I save you?

Wan Jianyi felt baffled—had his rescue of Cangsong left such a deep impression?

Cangsong, glancing around and seeing no one, whispered: "Master Wan, thank you for sending Gu Qing to my side—it kept me from further mistakes…"

Cangsong confessed before Wan Jianyi, explaining his faults. The more Wan Jianyi heard, the more astonished he became—in his mind, he had met Gu Qing only when Gu Qing, responding to the Zhanlong Sword's resonance while serving on Tongtian Peak, came to the Ancestral Hall.

How had Cangsong's version changed?

Was Gu Qing lying?

Wan Jianyi watched Cangsong leave, then a shadow instantly appeared outside the Ancestral Hall. He turned and saw Shuiyue of Xiao Zhu Peak.

"Sister Shuiyue."

Wan Jianyi greeted her with a smile; they gazed at each other, as if transported back to the past.

But Su Ru, once between them, was now married.

"Master Wan, you need not carry so many burdens."

Shuiyue's expression was gentle, unusually tender: "I am willing."

Willing what?

Wan Jianyi sensed danger, pressed for details, and learned that Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi of Xiao Zhu Peak were close—and in angering Shuiyue, had casually claimed that his master had feelings for her.

Clearly, he was using Wan Jianyi's name to clear obstacles from his own path.

"He also spread rumors about your affair with Zhuque."

Shuiyue said gently: "I believe you had no illicit relationship."

"…"

Wan Jianyi stared at Shuiyue before him, already planning how to deal with Gu Qing.

Gu Qing was truly the greatest rogue disciple Wan Jianyi had ever encountered.

"How many truths has this brat told since entering Qingyun?"

Wan Jianyi felt he had been tricked.

Meanwhile, Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi stood side by side on the Rainbow Bridge, watching the magnificent transformations of Mount Qingyun. Along this journey, no matter how many lies Gu Qing had told, Lu Xueqi's companionship was real.

Gu Qing gently took Lu Xueqi's hand, studying her peerless face… If this were another girl, he'd already begun his turtle tactics—but Lu Xueqi's coldness and tradition kept him from succeeding.

But soon…

A thousand li away, the Eastern Sea.

The Ghost King still clung to the Fulong Ding, ordering the Fishermen Clan to dive into the sea to retrieve it, when suddenly he received a message. After reading the intelligence, he saw: the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate had been attacked, the Poison God slain…

"Sigh…"

The Ghost King slapped himself in frustration—if only he hadn't trusted "Tong Mr.," things would never have reached this state!

The Joyful Sect was fracturing; the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate was crippled; the Long Life Hall had no ties to the Ghost King. With this, the demonic sect's dream of uniting to attack Qingyun had become a dead end.

"Lord, what should we do?"

Qinglong asked.

The Ghost King clutched his face, his eyes filled with hidden hatred: "Bide your time!"

(End of Chapter)