Chapter 365: What Does It Mean That a Strong Dragon Can

Gu Qing has a Solar Golden Core, so using the Solar Fist is only natural.

But to Wang Daoling, this fist technique was blindingly brilliant—and even worse, Gu Qing made him look closely before striking.

"Bang!"

Gu Qing's punch hooked under Wang Daoling's chin; dazed, Wang Daoling felt his body float away, unsure how far he'd been blasted—then he realized Gu Qing was relentless, swinging fists and kicking legs, either smashing his head or his groin, forcing Wang Daoling to clutch his head and flee in panic until his vision cleared and he found himself standing on a street.

It seemed Gu Qing had held back during the strike, ensuring he landed only on the street, sparing the houses.

"Watch me deal with you, Daoist!"

Wang Daoling leapt upward, aiming for the clouds—but mid-air, a crushing force slammed down; he looked up and saw Bai Suzhen already standing atop the clouds, having anticipated him, knocking him back to earth. He rolled and sprang up again, but Xiao Qing struck instantly, raining blows upon Wang Daoling.

Caught off-guard, Wang Daoling was surrounded by Gu Qing, Xiao Qing, and Bai Suzhen; two fists couldn't block six arms. Each defensive move left him struck by four or five blows; as he absorbed the punishment, he saw Gu Qing's fists and kicks whistling like bellows, each impact heavy and forceful, flowing seamlessly like driving piles, hammering Yang True Fire into his body, steaming his blood and qi.

"Bang!"

After several more punches, Wang Daoling rolled away, crouched, and sprang free for a moment—he pulled out a talisman and shouted at Gu Qing, Bai Suzhen, and Xiao Qing: "You brat, consorting with demons and spirits! Watch me summon a deity to crush you!"

The talisman flashed, and four golden-armored divine soldiers appeared in the midst.

Daoists, after receiving their talismanic ordination, become celestial officials, each protected by divine spirits listed in their talismans.

The four golden-armored generals appeared, and Bai Suzhen immediately moved to strike—but Gu Qing, beside her, waved a hand to stop her. He stepped forward with a smile and said: "Aren't these a few brothers from the Sensory Bureau?"

The Sensory Bureau is one of the twenty-four bureaus of the City God Temple.

Though the current supreme City God resides in Bianliang, Hangzhou has Zhao Gou here, so its City God Temple is fully equipped and most spiritually responsive. Seeing Gu Qing, the four Sensory Bureau generals quickly bowed and asked with smiles: "Daoist Gu, what brings you to summon us?"

"I summoned you," Wang Daoling hurriedly said.

The four generals glanced at him.

"This man poisoned my clove incense to harm the people and build his own reputation."

Gu Qing pointed at Wang Daoling and briefly explained to the four generals.

The four generals looked at Wang Daoling and said: "This is a wicked petition—we refuse to serve it!" Then they vanished in a flash of light.

Gu Qing chuckled at Wang Daoling and said: "What other divine tricks do you have? Use them all."

In Hangzhou, Gu Qing didn't know every minor deity—but he'd cultivated relationships with nearly all of them, burned the proper incense without fail, and since Marshal Ma left, the gods of Hangzhou treated him very differently.

Wang Daoling could never overpower the local spirits here—he was a dragon from afar trying to crush the earthbound snakes.

Wang Daoling looked at Gu Qing, raised his hand, chanted a spell, then spat water into the air.

Gu Qing, Bai Suzhen, and Xiao Qing watched nearby, saw nothing happen after the spit—and all three burst out laughing.

Daoist magic may seem mysterious, but most of it relies on ghostly servants; Wang Daoling's trick was meant to summon clouds to obscure the moon—but the Cloud-Pushing Boys and Mist-Dispensing Gentlemen all belonged to the City God Temple's Dragon Bureau. They knew Gu Qing, not Wang Daoling, and knew the reason for the fight—so naturally, they refused to help.

This Daoist spell may seem mysterious, but most of it is carried out by clerks and spirits—just like Wang Daoling's recent rite, which sought to summon clouds to obscure the moon, yet the Cloud-Pushing Boys and Mist-Deploying Gentlemen all belong to the City God's Dragon King Bureau; they know Gu Qing well but not Wang Daoling, and since the reason for their duel is clear, these spirits naturally refuse to assist.

Seeing this, Wang Daoling clutched his talisman, chanted a spell, and the paper ignited without fire, flying toward the Eastern Peak Emperor Temple.

Hangzhou had five Eastern Peak Emperor Temples, large and small, all spiritually potent—but the talisman flew toward the largest: the Linping Eastern Peak Emperor Temple.

The City God Temple's deities ignored Wang Daoling, which violated Daoist principles—so filing a complaint was only natural.

The talisman's fire flared, and instantly, a deity arrived.

Where the talisman's fire pointed, immortals arrived in an instant.

Gu Qing smiled and stepped forward to greet him. Inside the Eastern Peak Emperor Temple, there was a supporting deity called "The Loyal, Benevolent, and Peaceful Prince of the Resonant Spirit." Both father and son served under the Eastern Peak Emperor; Gu Qing had met this deity several times through the Well Spirit's introduction.

When Gu Qing saw this immortal, he stepped forward with a smile and greeted him; within the Dongyue Emperor's temple, there was a supporting deity called "Xie Yingling Xian An Zhen Zhong Hui Wang," whose father and son both worked under the Dongyue Emperor, and through the Well God's introduction, Gu Qing had met this immortal several times.

Lord Liu stepped forward, smiling, and greeted Gu Qing, asking the reason.

Gu Qing pointed at Wang Daoling and briefly recounted the events. Lord Liu listened, then turned sharply and scolded Wang Daoling: "Do business properly. Poisoning people to gain fame? You're wrong no matter where you go. Don't bother us again."

Gu Qing pointed at Wang Daoling and briefly recounted the matter; upon hearing it, Lord Liu immediately turned and scolded Wang Daoling: "Do business properly—if you resort to poison and deceit, you're wrong no matter where you go; don't summon us again."

Wang Daoling, rebuked again, turned pale—he finally realized Gu Qing was a local snake, that every deity here respected him, meaning in Hangzhou, he couldn't call upon heaven or earth.

Gu Qing smiled at Wang Daoling and said: "What other Daoist tricks do you have? Spit them out."

Wang Daoling, humiliated, stepped forward cautiously to apologize.

Gu Qing glanced at Bai Suzhen, saw her compassionate expression, and knew she was about to spare Wang Daoling's life.

"I know your cultivation is hard," Gu Qing said directly. "But your fight with me has stirred the gods. To spare you, I need their approval."

Wang Daoling nodded, feeling this was reasonable.

Gu Qing spoke directly: "But your fight with me has stirred the gods—whether I release you depends on whether the gods agree."

Gu Qing ordered Wang Daoling to stand still at a distance, then formed a sword seal, stepped the Nine Stars Pace, and ascended into the void. The sword seal's aura unfolded instantly—the seven stars of the Big Dipper blazed brightly in the sky. This phenomenon was visible not only in Lin'an but also in Bianliang.

"Seven-Star Sword Form!"

As Gu Qing unleashed the sword form, Wang Daoling seemed to see the Seven Stars themselves standing behind Gu Qing, guiding his technique.

"Wang Daoling, I've reported everything to the Divine Lords."

Gu Qing stood in the void, draped in starlight, as the Seven-Star Sword Form churned like a divine mechanism. He glared coldly at Wang Daoling: "The Seven Star Lords know your deeds—and they are furious."

Bai Suzhen had already helped Gu Qing set up the altar and introduced him to these deities. Now, hearing Wang Daoling targeted Bai Suzhen, each deity erupted in rage—making Gu Qing's Seven-Star Sword Form stronger than ever before!

Gu Qing stood in the void, cloaked in starlight; as the Seven-Star Sword Form activated, it seemed to command the gods themselves, and he gazed coldly at Wang Daoling and said: "The Seven Star Lords have learned of your deeds—and they are furious."

As Gu Qing spoke, the Seven-Star Sword Form poured down upon Wang Daoling!

(End of Chapter)

Gu Qing unleashed the Seven Stars Sword Form upon Wang Daoling as he spoke!

(End of Chapter)