Chapter 875: Snatch

When the dust settled, the entire cavern was a wreck. Gu Yue slumped on the ground, her body, now in jade‑dragon form, was slowly reverting. Her complexion was as pale as paper, and blood kept spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Daoist Nanguo..." she whispered, gazing toward the spot where the vortex vanished, tears silently sliding from her eyes.

Yan Buji finally stepped out of the shadows, the Dao patterns on his bronze arm flickering faintly. He scanned the surroundings and saw that the Gu family Elder had been wiped out, with only a few severely wounded disciples still struggling.

Gu Yue lifted her head, startled at first when she recognized the newcomer, then gave a wry smile: "You really are still here."

Yan Buji stood before the blood‑red vortex; he did not rush in, but turned his head toward Gu Yue, his gaze as cold as a blade.

"Gu Yue, it's time to tell the truth now," his voice was low and dangerous, "What is the relationship between Tianling Daoist and the Gu Tribe?"

Gu Yue's complexion shifted slightly, and she instinctively stepped back half a pace: "Brother Yan, this matter involves our tribe's secrets..."

"Secrets?" Yan Buji sneered, an invisible pressure enveloping the surroundings, "Did you think I was negotiating with you?"

Gu Yue felt the almost tangible murderous intent, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead. She clenched her teeth and finally spoke: "Fine, I'll tell you."

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, when Tianling Daoist roamed the Nan Ting Mountain Region, he happened upon a powerful Immortal Gu, the embryonic form of the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu.

At that time the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu was only at six turns, yet its potential was astounding. Tianling Daoist, recognizing its rarity, sought out the Gu Tribe and found the then Gu Tribe ancestors, Gu Qianqiu and Yuan Chongsheng.

Gu and Yuan were rare prodigies in Gu Tribe history, and pioneers of Gu Dao!

The two parties felt an instant kinship and decided to jointly study the refinement method of the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu.

"If the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu can be refined to nine turns, perhaps humanity could wield the power of the Dragon People," Gu Qianqiu once said.

After centuries of research, the two finally succeeded in refining the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu to the pinnacle of eight turns, just one step short of entering the nine‑turn realm.

However, at that moment, Tianling Daoist encountered the Blood Daoist.

The Blood Daoist was already a giant of the Demonic Path, and he was extremely interested in Tianling Daoist's "Dragon People transmutation method". The two reached an agreement: the Blood Daoist would provide ancient Dragon blood, and Tianling Daoist would, after the matter was settled, help him steal the twelve Human Emperor corpses.

"The Human Emperor corpses contain Human Dao fortune; if refined, they might help me break through my bottleneck," the Blood Daoist said.

Tianling Daoist agreed.

He and Gu Qianqiu continued their research and ultimately succeeded in creating the "Dragon Human Transmutation Secret Technique" using the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu.

With the power of the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu, humanity can briefly obtain a Dragon People's body, causing combat power to surge.

However, just as Tianling Daoist was about to fulfill his pact with the Blood Daoist, he sensed an anomaly: the consciousness of the Heavenly Demon King lurking within him was awakening.

"If this continues, I will eventually be completely devoured by the Heavenly Demon King..." Tianling Daoist realized the gravity of the problem.

Thus, he devised a golden cicada shedding‑shell scheme.

Gu Yue's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Senior Tianling used himself as bait, sealing part of the Heavenly Demon King's consciousness within his own body, then, with the Blood Daoist's help, suppressed himself here. His true purpose was to wait for a suitable moment..."

"What moment?" Yan Buji narrowed his eyes.

"A moment that would let him completely break free from the Heavenly Demon King while retrieving the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu," Gu Yue whispered, "The Dragon Dao Immortal Gu is in our tribe's possession, but its true master has always been Senior Tianling."

Yan Buji listened, fell silent for a moment, then sneered, "So your Gu Tribe has guarded this place for generations, ostensibly to prevent Tianling Daoist's resurrection, but actually to... wait until he truly awakens, then return the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu to him?"

Gu Yue shook her head: "Not entirely. Our tribe does fear that Senior Tianling, if revived, would seize the Immortal Gu, but the more important reason is..."

Before she could finish, Yan Buji suddenly struck!

Clang!

His bronze arm transformed into a streak of azure light, lashing straight at Gu Yue's chest!

Gu Yue gasped, hastily summoning the Jade Dragon Immortal Gu, instantly cloaking herself in a layer of jade dragon scales.

Bang!

The azure light collided with the dragon scales, erupting a dazzling glare. Gu Yue was knocked back several steps, a strand of blood spilling from her mouth.

"Yan Buji! You..." she glared angrily.

Yan Buji's face remained expressionless: "Hand over the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu."

Gu Yue gritted her teeth: "No way!"

She pressed her fingers into a seal, the Jade Dragon Immortal Gu's light flared, and a jade dragon illusion formed behind her! The dragon's majestic aura roared, shaking the entire cavern.

Yan Buji snorted coldly, raised the Swallow Desire Pot into the air, its mouth swirling with black mist that turned into countless chains lashing toward Gu Yue.

"You think a seven‑turn Immortal Gu can block me?"

Gu Yue gave no reply; the jade dragon illusion roared, its tail sweeping horizontally, shattering all the black‑mist chains!

"Dragon Chant·Pierce Heaven!"

She chirped sharply, the jade dragon illusion opened its mouth and spewed a brilliant pillar of light straight at Yan Buji!

Yan Buji neither flinched nor dodged; the Dao patterns on his bronze arm fully activated, unleashing a crushing punch!

Boom!

The two forces collided, erupting a terrifying energy wave. The cavern's ceiling began to collapse, massive stones raining down.

Gu Yue seized the chance to leap back, intending to flee. Yet as she turned, she found Yan Buji already blocking her path!

"You..." her pupils contracted sharply.

A flash of cold intent crossed Yan Buji's eyes: "One last time, hand over the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu."

Gu Yue realized there was no hope today, and with a resolute heart said: "How could the Dragon Dao Immortal Gu be so important that it could possibly be on me?!"

"Then summon your Jade Dragon Immortal Gu!"

"No way!"

She violently bit her tongue, spitting a mouthful of refined blood onto the Jade Dragon Immortal Gu. The Gu's light surged instantly, and Gu Yue's body began to transform: her skin turned fully jade, dragon horns sprouted atop her head, and faint dragon wings emerged on her back!

Fully dragonified?!

This surpasses even the Dragon People's dragonification, almost indistinguishable from a true dragon beast.

Yan Buji's gaze sharpened: "Interesting."

He ceased holding back; the Dao patterns on his bronze arm turned into countless tiny runes encircling his body. The Swallow Desire Pot hovered above his head, its black mist coalescing into a jet‑black long blade.

Slash!

The blade light cut like ink, tearing the air!

Gu Yue's dragon wing flapped, narrowly dodging, then a claw snapped back toward Yan Buji's throat!

Yan Buji sidestepped, and at the same time his fist slammed into her abdomen!

Puff!

Gu Yue spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and her jade-like body suddenly cracked!

She lowered her head in disbelief.

Yan Buji said calmly, "Though the Jade Dragon Immortal Gu is powerful, you are not truly of the dragon race."

He reached out and grabbed, piercing straight through Gu Yue's chest, ripping the crystal-clear Jade Dragon Immortal Gu out with brute force!

Gu Yue let out a mournful wail, her draconic transformation instantly ceased, and she collapsed, limp on the ground.

Yan Buji stared at the struggling Immortal Gu in his hand, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Finally in my grasp."

He turned and walked toward the blood-colored vortex, ignoring the gravely wounded Gu Yue.

However, just as he was about to step into the vortex, Gu Yue's weak voice came: "Yan Buji... you think that obtaining the Immortal Gu lets you control everything?"

Yan Buji's steps halted.

Gu Yue coughed up blood and sneered, "The Dragon Dao Immortal Gu... has already recognized its master... taking it away does nothing..."

Yan Buji looked down at the Immortal Gu in his hand and indeed saw it gradually losing its luster.

"Recognize a master?" he squinted.

"You don't think I'm going to use this Gu Worm myself, do you?" Yan Buji gave a cold smile.

He looked at Gu Yue and said, "Thank you for your gift."

Gu Yue's face turned ashen, realizing she had been utterly defeated.

Yan Buji did not delay; a flash of blood light sliced off Gu Yue's head, shattering her Nascent Soul and spirit!