Chapter 16

But in truth, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen had not died.

Instead, he had hidden himself in Gan Dong City.

He lived in a small courtyard not far from Baili Manor, where he had survived until now and even taken Baili Dongjun as his disciple.

He had taught him the Western Chu Sword Song.

However, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen had also suffered severe injuries in his battle with the Po Feng Army years ago.

His meridians had been shattered.

He had long since lost the strength he possessed at his peak. Even if he forcefully recovered that strength, it would exhaust all his vitality.

It would cost him his life!

According to the original plot, Baili Dongjun exposed the Western Chu Sword Song, attracting people from the imperial court and Beyond Heaven.

The person sent by the imperial court was none other than Young Master Fenghua Xiao Ruofeng, one of the Eight Princes of Northern Li.

But Beyond Heaven sent two of the Four Great Envoys.

Lawless and Unrestrained!

Both possessed Great Carefree cultivation!

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen had forcefully restored his peak cultivation during that battle, defeating the two envoys with a single sword and preventing them from recovering their inner force for several years.

But he himself had fallen in the process.

This was naturally not something Jiang Mu Ming wished to see.

The life-saving favor from years ago had to be repaid now!

Meanwhile, Yu Sheng Mo pondered for a while and realized that she had nowhere to go.

Rather than randomly finding somewhere to stay and comprehend the Sunflower Manual, she might as well travel with Jiang Mu Ming. They could discuss the Dao and test their swordsmanship against each other in their spare time. Perhaps that would prove more effective than bitter cultivation alone.

After making up her mind, she agreed.

She set off for Gan Dong City with Jiang Mu Ming.

Several days later.

Gan Dong City.

A small courtyard not far from Marquis Zhenxi's Manor.

Its exterior looked utterly ordinary.

But in truth, it contained profound mysteries.

This was where Confucian Immortal Gu Chen lived in seclusion. An illusion formation had been laid throughout the courtyard, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter.

However, to Jiang Mu Ming and Yu Sheng Mo,

although Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's illusion technique was superb, it was not impossible to break.

At the very least,

entering the illusion formation

was no difficult feat.

After all, compared to Confucian Immortal Gu Chen, who was barely clinging to life, Yu Sheng Mo was a genuine Half-step Profound Spirit.

Even if Confucian Immortal Gu Chen recovered his peak strength,

the outcome between them would still be evenly matched.

As for Jiang Mu Ming, there was even less to say. He had already entered the Profound Spirit Realm. Under Heaven, there were scarcely any places left that could keep him out.

Jiang Mu Ming merely raised his hand and waved.

The dense fog that had refused to disperse immediately parted, and he stepped toward the courtyard.

Yu Sheng Mo was secretly astonished.

Although she also had a way to enter the courtyard,

she could never do so as effortlessly as Jiang Mu Ming. Was this the might of the Profound Spirit Realm?

It was as if nothing in the world was difficult for them!

Inside the courtyard,

Gu Chen, who had been playing the qin beneath the Phoenix Tree, suddenly stopped.

He looked ahead.

Within his own illusion formation, he could clearly sense an unknowable existence approaching him.

"Finally... have I been discovered?"

Gu Chen's heart remained largely undisturbed.

He merely wondered who had come.

Could it be Eunuch Zhuo Qing, the chief of the Five Great Supervisors?

Or perhaps the unfathomable Academy Mister Li?

But what Gu Chen had not expected was

that the person standing before him would be a young man! A young man holding a scroll, who looked every bit like a frail scholar!

Behind him

stood a valiant woman holding an umbrella.

Her face was cold, and her heart was cold.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen could sense that no matter how much the woman restrained herself, she still could not conceal that soaring sword intent.

It even made his own sword tremble faintly.

As if it yearned for a thrilling battle!

"This aura... is it the Demon Immortal Sword?" Gu Chen was startled. He already knew that the woman before him was Southern Jue's First Sword Immortal, Yu Sheng Mo!

A Half-step Profound Spirit!

Her swordsmanship was no weaker than his own!

Yet the woman had merely stopped outside the formation, showing no intention of entering.

Only the young man holding the book

continued forward.

Although he was clearly not yet twenty, he gave Confucian Immortal Gu Chen an unfathomable feeling.

Gu Chen could not see through his cultivation!

"A distinguished guest has arrived. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen waved his hand, and in an instant, falling flowers filled the sky.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Jiang Mu Ming cupped his hands in greeting.

"My name is Jiang Mu Ming. Greetings, Confucian Immortal."

"In the past, Ruxian and Jianxian defeated nine thousand Po Feng Army soldiers outside Luosang City in a single battle. Your reputation was truly illustrious."

"Your mastery of the Art of Medicine People even allowed Northern Li to besiege Luosang City for two full years without taking it."

"It is only a pity that of Ruxian and Jianxian, only Confucian Immortal remains alive in this world."

"It is truly lamentable."

At the mention of old friends and bygone events, a trace of remembrance flashed through Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's eyes.

Back then,

the two immortals had done everything they could to preserve their homeland, Western Chu.

They had even defied Heaven itself.

But in the end, they had still failed to save Western Chu. Jianxian Gu Mo had even sacrificed himself to save Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

Whenever he recalled the past,

a sorrow that could not be dispelled filled Gu Chen's eyes.

But now was not the time for reminiscing.

Gu Chen looked at Jiang Mu Ming and asked, "Who are you? And what is your purpose in telling me all this?"

"Could it be that you are from Southern Jue?"

Behind the young man stood Southern Jue's First Sword Immortal, Yu Sheng Mo.

Perhaps this young man had close ties to Southern Jue as well!

Could it be that Southern Jue wanted to restore its kingdom?

Countless guesses flashed through Gu Chen's mind.

But Jiang Mu Ming merely shook his head and paced forward.

"No, no."

"I am not from Southern Jue."

"To explain my origins, I must begin with the great battle between Ruxian and Jianxian and the Po Feng Army."

A look of remembrance appeared in Jiang Mu Ming's eyes as he slowly began, "No one knows that when the great battle took place outside Luosang City, a baby was being born in the Imperial Palace."

"He was the Western Chu Prince, but the moment he was born, his country had already fallen and his family had already perished."

"It was Confucian Immortal Gu Chen who carried him out of Luosang City and entrusted him to soldiers he could trust."

"That was how he escaped Western Chu."

After saying this,

Jiang Mu Ming bowed deeply, drew a deep breath, and said, "Thank you for saving my life all those years ago, Confucian Immortal!"

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's expression turned blank.

He had never imagined that the young man standing before him, whose cultivation he could not discern,

would actually be the Western Chu Royal Orphan he had desperately protected back then!

The last surviving trace of Western Chu's royal bloodline in the world!

After realizing Jiang Mu Ming's identity, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen became more agitated than ever before.

His hand began to tremble uncontrollably.

As though asking for confirmation, or perhaps simply trying to make certain,

he asked in a trembling voice, "You are that baby?"

Jiang Mu Ming nodded.

The next moment,

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen flashed to Jiang Mu Ming's side.

He gripped Jiang Mu Ming's hand excitedly.

"I never thought... I never thought... that a bloodline of the Western Chu royal family had survived!"

"Child, you came looking for me."

Gu Chen suddenly stared into Jiang Mu Ming's eyes and asked, "Is it because you want to restore your kingdom?"

P.S. Thank you, handsome readers and beautiful readers, for your five-star reviews and support. I'm really excited, and I'll update more to repay everyone. Three chapters are here—could I trouble you for some more five-star reviews? (/w＼)