Chapter 335: Ghost King: Bide Your Time!

Mount Mount Qingyun, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.

All seven peak masters of Mount Mount Qingyun gathered here, staring at Gu Qing with varied expressions, among whom Master 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 Wan Jianyi's expedition to the Wildlands.

But!

The troubles Gu Qing stirred up were equally thorny.

Master 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 Mount 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 Mount 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 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…"

Master 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 Mount 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."

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

Gu Qing paused briefly. What in the Mount 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 Mount Qingyun Sect. 【33】 When Wan Wan Jianyi and others returned from the Wildlands, the Mount 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 Master Daoxuan and Wan Wan Jianyi. Afterwards, the former peak masters of Xiao Zhu Peak and Da Zhu Peak came demanding that Tianchengzi's reputation be preserved—Wan Wan Jianyi bore the blame of patricide.

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

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

Gu Qing spoke.

!!!

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

"…"

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

"Yet…"

Master Daoxuan recalled the past murder of his master.

When Wan Wan Jianyi and others returned from the Wildlands, the Mount 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 Master Daoxuan and Wan Wan Jianyi. Afterwards, the former peak masters of Xiao Zhu Peak and Da Zhu Peak came demanding Tianchengzi's reputation be preserved—Wan Wan Jianyi bore the blame of patricide.

"Enough…"

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

Wan Wan Jianyi might not think so…

Gu Qing smiled inwardly.

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

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

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

How did I save you?

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

Master 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…"

Master Cangsong confessed before Wan Wan Jianyi, explaining his faults. The more Wan 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 Master Cangsong's version changed?

Was Gu Qing lying?

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

"Sister Shuiyue."

Wan 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 Wan Jianyi sensed danger, pressed for details, and learned that Gu Qing and Lu 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 Wan Jianyi's name to clear obstacles from his own path.

"He also spread rumors about your affair with Zhu Que."

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

"…"

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

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

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

Wan Wan Jianyi felt he had been tricked.

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

Gu Qing gently took Lu Lu Xueqi's hand, studying her peerless face… If this were another girl, he'd already begun his turtle tactics—but Lu 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 Mount Qingyun had become a dead end.

"Lord, what should we do?"

Uncle Qinglong asked.

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

(End of Chapter)