Chapter 1164

Gai Nie's strength was rapidly increasing.

"I know…"

Bai Feng looked at the resolve on Gai Nie's face and knew that if she truly tried to stop him, he would probably show no mercy.

It was just that Bai Feng's ostensible mission here was indeed to block outsiders who came to this place.

But more importantly, he was actually waiting for Gai Nie.

"Knowing is good enough…"

Seeing that Bai Feng had no intention of blocking him, Gai Nie once again prepared to vanish into the shadows and leave.

"But don't you care about Wei Zhuang anymore?"

Bai Feng said again at this moment.

"What do you mean?"

The moment he heard Wei Zhuang's name, despite his urgency, Gai Nie reappeared once more.

He could see that when Bai Feng mentioned Wei Zhuang, there was some worry, and even a hint of heartache.

Could it be that something happened to Xiao Zhuang?

Although Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang belonged to the two schools of the Guigu — the Vertical and the Horizontal.

Ever since entering the Rushi Sect, they had been destined to be adversaries for life.

Yet Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang were, unlike the Guigu disciples of the past.

Between them, there was competition, yes, but what was more was a kind of extraordinary bond of senior and junior brothers.

For each other, they could stake their very lives!

Now seeing that something was amiss, Gai Nie's heart also sank.

942 Who should he save?

"Hero Gai!"

This form of address from Bai Feng was, in fact, one he had never used before.

At this moment, however, Bai Feng spoke with genuine feeling, even somewhat agitatedly,

"Please save Wei Zhuang!"

"What exactly happened to Xiao Zhuang?"

Gai Nie asked.

"Do you know what Wei Zhuang's true purpose was in helping the Shanzhuang open this seal?"

Bai Feng did not answer directly, but instead asked.

"What? Wasn't it for the Bing Mo Shen…"

Gai Nie answered first, then immediately felt something was off and stopped.

A demonic treasure like the Bing Mo Shen was indeed terrifying to hear of.

Throughout the Nine Provinces, such a demonic treasure was indeed coveted by many great powers and lords.

Even Hearing Ying Zheng, if he learned of the Bing Mo Shen, would surely be eager to claim it for himself!

But the Bing Mo Shen held no attraction whatsoever for Wei Zhuang.

Judging from what Tian Yan had just said, and from the portrait of the Bing Mo Shen that Gai Nie had seen, he deduced.

This Bing Mo Shen was, after all, nothing more than a demonic statue.

For one's own faction, it would bring an immense boost.

But for one's own strength, especially martial cultivation, it offered little improvement.

Given Wei Zhuang's martial-obsessed nature, the Bing Mo Shen held almost no appeal for him.

But judging from Wei Zhuang's various actions before, his opening of the seal and coming here was not simply for the Bing Mo Shen.

Rather, this sealed place contained something that Wei Zhuang needed.

Combined with what Wei Zhuang had said earlier at the Sand Dunes, that he would have a decisive battle with him here,

Gai Nie immediately realized,

"Wait, could there be some Chi You-related demonic weapons or demonic cultivation manuals here? The kind that can rapidly boost one's cultivation?"

"Yes…"

Bai Feng gave a bleak smile, nodded, and pointed to the passage on the left,

"Going down from here will lead into the belly of the mountain.

There is an altar there, said to be one of Chi You's altars.

In that place, there is a treasured sword, said to be Chi You's demonic weapon.

Obtaining this demonic weapon will cause one's strength to undergo earth-shattering changes."

It really was Chi You's demonic weapon.

Gai Nie's heart jolted, and he immediately understood,

"You mean… Xiao Zhuang has already gone to seek this demonic weapon?"

"Not seek…"

Bai Feng shook her head and said,

"He has already found it…

That demonic weapon is, in truth, extremely sinister.

Ever since obtaining that demonic weapon, Wei Zhuang seems to have become a different person.

Not only does he wield the demonic weapon to indiscriminately slaughter the innocent, he even uses it to absorb the essence and blood of innocents to boost his own strength.

From what I see, he has most likely already gone astray into demonic cultivation…"

"What… how could Xiaozhuang have become like this?"

Gai Nie was greatly shaken within; he had never imagined that what Wei Zhuang called becoming stronger, what he called a decisive showdown, would be like this.

Martial artists do indeed set their sights on climbing to higher peaks — say, reaching the Shattered Realm — as their goal.

But among all the martial artists under heaven, how many can truly reach the Earthly Immortal Realm, let alone the Shattered Realm?

Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang, by chance encounter and decent talent, were able to enter the Guigu Sect and study the two schools of sword arts — the Vertical and the Horizontal.

In terms of opportunity, they had long since surpassed countless wanderers of the jianghu.

All along, Gai Nie had kept benevolence and kindness in his heart, holding fast to the righteous path.

Even for the sake of raising his strength, he would never commit such a deed as wantonly slaughtering the innocent.

Wei Zhuang, though somewhat unscrupulous in his methods, had likewise never shown any sign of wanton slaughter.

Now that he had entered this sealed ground, how had he changed into this?

"I don't know either, Hero Gai. I'm afraid now only you can — and only you are willing to — save him."

Bai Feng said, almost on the verge of tears,

"Please, go save him…"

In truth, before Bai Feng even spoke, upon hearing of Wei Zhuang's state, Gai Nie had at once prepared to go and see for himself.

If Wei Zhuang had truly walked the demonic path, he would drag him back no matter what.

Only just as he was about to move, he suddenly recalled the purpose of his own coming here.

He could not help but ask Bai Feng,

"Is that altar also where the Bing Mo Shen is located?"

The Bing Mo Shen is Cheng Jiao's great killing weapon for rebelling against Ying Zheng and the great Qin; once such a demonic treasure is activated, the world shall suffer catastrophe.

Gai Nie held great righteousness in his heart, yet could not bear to see such a tragedy unfold.

"No, the Bing Mo Shen is reached by going up from here.

Only when you reach the very top of the palace can you enter the control hub of the Bing Mo Shen.

Right now, the Master and those others are researching it there.

The mountain just shook — clearly they are almost about to succeed."

Bai Feng pointed to another passage, which happened to run in the exact opposite direction from where Wei Zhuang was.

At this, Gai Nie truly hesitated.

Who should he save?

If he went for Wei Zhuang, it would plainly give Cheng Jiao and the others time.

If they truly activated the Bing Mo Shen, then when he tried to stop them afterward, it would likely be too late.