Chapter 337

Qingyun Gate, Tongtian Peak.

Daoxuan Zhenren and the chief elders of Qingyun Gate were all present, waiting for Yun Yilan of Fuxiang Valley to arrive and demand justice, hoping to negotiate over the Xuanhuo Mirror; but on Qingyun Gate's own mountain, Daoxuan Zhenren and the others waited and waited, yet received no word of Yun Yilan ascending the mountain—until noon, when Xiao Yicai brought news.

"There's been internal chaos inside Fuxiang Valley."

Xiao Yicai said: "It's said the Xuanhuo Mirror, lost for three hundred years, has reappeared within Fuxiang Valley, triggering a great upheaval."

The Xuanhuo Mirror returned to Fuxiang Valley?

The chief elders of Qingyun Gate all turned to Xiao Yicai.

Xiao Yicai continued: "The people of Fuxiang Valley have already reached the foot of Qingyun Mountain; upon hearing this news, they hurriedly returned to Fuxiang Valley."

Upon hearing this, Daoxuan Zhenren wanted to exile Gu Qing.

This matter truly harms the unity of the righteous path.

"Observe and wait."

Daoxuan Zhenren said.

Southern Frontier, outside Fuxiang Valley.

Gu Qing stood calmly, watching in the pool before him a flawless, naked woman stretch her body, then turn back openly, meeting his gaze, and speaking plainly: "Thank you for saving me."

This woman was the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, Xiao Bai.

She was also the mother of the Six-Tailed Demon Fox, the supreme being of the fox spirit lineage.

Yet back then, the fox spirit Xiao Bai led the foxes of Fox Ridge in an assault on Fuxiang Valley, suffering heavy losses; now, as Xiao Bai looked back, few of those she once knew remained.

"A mere trifle."

Gu Qing said casually.

Upon hearing that Yun Yilan and others intended to go to Qingyun Mountain to demand justice, Gu Qing had come to Fuxiang Valley and unceremoniously rescued Xiao Bai.

It wasn't that Gu Qing coveted beauty—he merely wished to trouble Fuxiang Valley.

"You seem very concerned about the Southern Frontier."

Gu Qing suddenly asked.

Xiao Bai pursed her lips in a faint smile, gazing directly at Gu Qing: "What do you want to ask?"

"The cultivation methods of the Southern Frontier."

Gu Qing answered plainly.

Back then, the witch Linglong created the Beast God from nothing and shaped it with her own flesh and blood—such methods were truly terrifying; and in the Southern Frontier, there were even arts capable of reviving the dead.

Just thinking of it made him envious.

Xiao Bai smiled faintly, then gazed thoughtfully at the vast heavens and earth; three hundred years of imprisonment filled her with countless thoughts, past memories surging forth one by one.

"What if I obtain the Southern Frontier's cultivation methods?"

Xiao Bai turned her gaze back to Gu Qing: "What other method do you want?"

Gu Qing's gaze paused slightly, and he thought again of the Ghost King.

Fox Ridge, where the Ghost King Sect was based, was named after Xiao Bai; she also knew the Ghost King's wife, Xiao Chi—so Gu Qing thought of the Ghost King again, and again.

I examine myself three times daily: Has the Ghost King given up? Has the Beast God been assimilated? Has Xueqi vacated the harem?

"After I obtain the Southern Frontier's methods, I—I want to go back with you."

Gu Qing's ears turned bright red; he felt awkward.

Hearing this, Xiao Bai was stunned; after escaping Fuxiang Valley, she had come to this pool and bathed openly, and Gu Qing had watched the entire scene without shame—now he was being shy?

"Let's go find Xiao Liu first."

Gu Qing said: "He's my friend."

Friend?

Xiao Bai rolled her eyes slightly—was this how a friend spoke, in the tone of an elder?

It's because you've met me, his mother, that you've decided this friendship is set!

Heyang City.

Several Qingyun Gate disciples entered Heyang; the townsfolk, seeing their immortal swords and noble bearing, stepped aside respectfully.

After the Battle of Liubo Mountain, the demonic sects retreated and the righteous path flourished; Qingyun Gate disciples flew on swords like immortals, and many who admired their power joined them—Qingyun Gate grew ever stronger, and its disciples grew ever more arrogant.

"Senior brother."

One disciple bowed to the man beside him: "I need to go to the fabric shop first…"

After the lead senior brother nodded, the disciple hurried toward the fabric shop; just as he was about to enter, an old man blocked his path.

"Your face is extraordinary."

Zhou Yixian studied the young man carefully: "Someone with your destiny should have been cursed to destroy all six kin—no peace at all… Boy, someone altered your destiny."

Altered my destiny?

Zhang Xiaofan's eyes went blank—he didn't understand how anyone could alter his destiny.

"You were meant to have the Chaos Demon destiny."

Zhou Yixian studied Zhang Xiaofan: "That destiny would have ensured your first half-life was never peaceful; yet at every critical moment, someone obscured fate—once or twice—allowing you to escape. Think: who could that be?"

Zhang Xiaofan's gaze drifted, recalling the day he became Master Puzhi's disciple, the blood pearl that vanished without a trace, and during the Seven Sects Competition, when he held the Chiyan Sword and should have succeeded—but Tian Ling'er's "Bing Secret" directly seized his treasure.

"Why did that person alter my destiny?"

Zhang Xiaofan asked.

What would I have become if my destiny hadn't been changed?

"Perhaps to save you."

Zhou Yixian said.

Save me?

Zhang Xiaofan pondered how he might have been saved.

"If your destiny hadn't been altered, you'd have no peace now."

Zhou Yixian said.

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head, feeling bitter; after entering Dazhu Peak of Qingyun Gate, he had fallen for Senior Sister Tian Ling'er—they had grown up together—but somehow, Tian Ling'er's lips began mentioning "Senior Brother Gu."

And now this Senior Brother Gu was widely known as the Demon Among Demons.

It was said Senior Brother Gu wielded the Blood-Sucking Pearl and the Soul-Siphoning Rod.

It was said Senior Brother Gu stormed into Fuxiang Valley, slaughtered indiscriminately, and released demonic creatures.

It was said Senior Brother Gu had murky ties with the Three Marvels Lady of the Joyful Sect.

In one night, Senior Brother Gu seemed to have fallen into the demonic path, reviled by all; the many Qingyun Gate disciples descending the mountain now sought to meet with the monks of Tianyin Temple to discuss Senior Brother Gu's case.

Zhou Yixian patted Zhang Xiaofan's shoulder and walked away.

Zhang Xiaofan lingered in the fabric shop briefly, then hurried to rejoin the Qingyun Gate disciples—but as he turned suddenly, he saw the monk Puzhi in Heyang City.

"Master… Master…"

Zhang Xiaofan's lips trembled—he had indeed taken Puzhi as his master back then.

"Xiaofan."

Puzhi immediately stopped him, then asked: "The Blood-Sucking Pearl was placed in your chest back then—how did it end up in Gu Qing's hands?"

Blood-Sucking Pearl?

Senior Brother Gu?

Altered destiny?

(End of Chapter)