Late at night, in the Dongli Sect's main courtyard.
Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Red Clothes were sitting in the courtyard. Red Clothes sat before Gu Mo, her finger lightly touching his forehead as she drew out strands of Nascent Soul Power. After quite a while, she slowly withdrew her hand and said, "My lord, these are the cultivation verses of the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art."
The Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art was the martial art Wang Dongli used to wield Nascent Soul methods with a mortal body.
Red Clothes said, "This martial art was created by someone named Wang Qingping. He was invited to Penglai Island during the opening of the island more than a hundred and eighty years ago. He received that invitation because he was exceptionally outstanding in the path of Qi refinement.
"Later, when he met White Jade Capital, he indeed presented it with an extraordinary martial art. Before reaching the Ascension Realm, one could already wield Nascent Soul Power. White Jade Capital also refined and perfected it upon its original foundation. But by the next opening of the island, Wang Qingping had already died, so there was no way to know whether he had further improved this martial art."
Gu Mo asked, "Then how did you know he was from the Peacock Spirit Race?"
Red Clothes said, "White Jade Capital has existed for many years, and its consciousness has grown ever more complete. It has seen many people over the years, including members of the Peacock Spirit Race. So long as White Jade Capital has come into contact with something, it will leave a trace forever and never be forgotten."
Gu Mo nodded slightly.
At that moment, Gu Chundong said, "This Wang Qingping should have been Wang Dongli's ancestor, right?"
Red Clothes said, "Most likely. Wang Qingping received his invitation in Yun Province back then, and Wang Dongli now cultivates the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art as well. It can basically be confirmed that Wang Qingping was Wang Dongli's ancestor."
Gu Mo said, "We'll know once we ask Wang Dongli later."
After that, Gu Mo began studying the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art.
Red Clothes had directly transmitted the complete secret manual into Gu Mo's consciousness through Nascent Soul methods. With Gu Mo's current realm, absorbing the information from a manual was naturally effortless.
"Eh!"
After reading through the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art, a wave of amazement rose in his heart.
"Brother, what is it?" Gu Chundong asked doubtfully.
Gu Mo said, "This Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art actually shares the same ingenious approach as one of my martial arts. In terms of intricacy, they are hard to rank above or below each other. Even if this one falls slightly short, the gap is not great."
He was referring to the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique.
The Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique first cultivated the Dao Heart, then sought out a furnace vessel in which to plant a Demon Seed. Finally, it nurtured the Demon Seed until it gradually formed a Demon Immortal, achieving an Ascension Nascent Soul.
The Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art, meanwhile, used one's own body as the furnace vessel to nurture a Nascent Soul. Their principles were similar. In fact, the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art was somewhat more convenient, and its cultivation requirements were not as harsh and twisted as those of the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique.
However, Gu Mo considered the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique slightly superior because the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art relied too heavily on the Peacock Spirit Race's unique innate talent. The basic requirement for cultivating it was that one had to possess Nascent Soul Power from the outset, using it as a medium for cultivation.
Yet martial artists of the world only gradually separated body and Nascent Soul after approaching the Ascension Realm. Only then could they slowly cultivate Nascent Soul Power, and upon reaching the Ascension Realm, successfully separate the Nascent Soul from the flesh.
Thus, the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art created a paradox.
One had to possess Nascent Soul Power before one could cultivate it, while Nascent Soul Power could only be gained after touching upon the Ascension Realm. But if one had already reached the threshold of the Ascension Realm, no one would switch to another martial art and start again from the beginning.
Therefore, although the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art was a divine skill capable of leading directly to the Ascension Realm, even if it spread through the martial world, it would be of little use. It was hardly better than a martial art found everywhere, because no one could cultivate any results from it.
But for the Peacock Spirit Race, this martial art was a secret martial arts manual tailored precisely for them—an incomparable divine skill, a perfect fit.
"This Wang Qingping was truly a capable man!"
Gu Mo praised him sincerely.
Gu Chundong said, "It's just a pity. If he cultivated to the Ascension Realm back then, he must have become food for the inner demons."
Gu Mo said, "..."
"Oh, right, Brother," Gu Chundong suddenly asked, "wasn't Old Master Su Su Qianqiu's Seven-Colored Treasure Robe made from Seven-Colored Peacock feathers? Could it be used as a medium to extract Wang Dongli's Peacock Spiritual Energy?"
Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "In theory, yes. But the Wang family has no relationship with Old Master Su, so it would be difficult."
"That's true!"
Gu Mo and the others had arrived at the Dongli Sect at an unfortunate time. They had happened upon Old Master Wang's passing, so their original plan to investigate the Wang family's ancestral history could only be put aside until Wang Dongli finished arranging Old Master Wang's funeral.
Thus, Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Red Clothes could only stay at the Dongli Sect.
As the sect leader of a sect and a Grandmaster whose reputation was currently soaring through Yun Province, Wang Dongli's father's funeral was naturally no ordinary affair. The various sects of the Yun Province Martial World all sent people to offer condolences, making the place extremely lively.
Wang Dongli had also invited a renowned feng shui master to determine the burial date, setting it for the morning of May twentieth. However, he had not asked the feng shui master to choose a burial site, because Old Master Wang had already hired someone to select one and build himself a living tomb while he was alive. Once he died, he could simply be buried there.
Very soon, the day of the funeral arrived.
The Dongli Sect laid out a grand feast, and the atmosphere was bustling.
Gu Chundong painfully gave a hundred taels in condolence money, then began stuffing herself at the table, determined to eat back as much of her loss as possible.
Just as the banquet was nearing its end and they were preparing for the funeral procession, a sudden burst of noisy fighting erupted from the front courtyard. It came with the shrill sounds of tables and chairs overturning, bowls and plates shattering, and furious, startled shouts.
"What happened?" Gu Chundong abruptly raised her head.
Gu Mo and Red Clothes both looked bewildered as well.
There were many martial artists at the Dongli Sect that day. Gu Mo did not wish to reveal himself and draw the various sects over to pay their respects, so he and the others had not attended the banquet. They had remained in the courtyard where they were staying and thus did not know what had happened in the front courtyard.
"From the sound of it, people from the Six Doors have clashed with the Dongli Sect," Red Clothes said.
"What are the Six Doors doing here?"
Gu Mo and the others were all deeply skilled experts. If they deliberately listened, they could naturally distinguish useful information amid the uproar from the front courtyard.
"Let's take a look."
Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Red Clothes exchanged glances, then rose and headed out.
The plaza was in complete disarray.
The neatly arranged tables and chairs had toppled in every direction. Wine and food had spilled all over the ground, and a strange smell of mixed food and dust hung in the air.
Many guests who had come to offer condolences were fleeing in panic. Some Dongli Sect disciples, guests, and Six Doors Constables were lying on the ground groaning, clearly injured, and there were quite a few of them.
In the center of the plaza, the atmosphere was taut as a drawn bow.
Several dozen Six Doors Constables clad in black martial attire, standard sabers at their waists, faced off against Dongli Sect disciples holding weapons and glaring angrily at them.
The constables had formed a semicircular formation, their expressions cold and stern. At their head stood none other than Du Sha, Chief Constable of the Yunzhou Six Doors!
Du Sha was currently facing Wang Dongli from afar.
Du Sha kicked a Dongli Sect disciple flying and said coldly, "Wang Dongli, is your Dongli Sect trying to rebel?"
Wang Dongli wore heavy mourning clothes, his face cold and detached. He stared fixedly at Du Sha and said in a frosty voice, "My father is about to be buried. Do not bully people beyond all reason, Six Doors. I'll say this one last time: whatever it is, wait until after the burial!"
Du Sha was expressionless, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His voice was equally icy. "This is no longer about whether you are holding a burial. It is about so many of my Six Doors Constables being injured!"
Wang Dongli remained expressionless. "I said it already. Everything can wait until after the burial."
With that, Wang Dongli called for the people responsible for carrying the coffin and prepared to have them lift it.
Du Sha stepped forward. "Wang Dongli, you may proceed with the burial, but you must guarantee—"
"Get lost!"
Before Du Sha could finish speaking, Wang Dongli's eyes became webbed with bloodshot veins as he roared.
In the next instant, he shot forward like a blood-red arrow loosed from the bow, carrying an utterly reckless and frenzied momentum. The longsword in his hand erupted with blinding cold light. Man and sword became one as he thrust straight for Du Sha's throat!
Du Sha's pupils contracted slightly. He knew Wang Dongli's strength well and naturally did not dare be careless. With a fierce clang, the saber at his waist flew from its sheath. The saber light was like a bolt of white silk, carrying a chilling killing intent as it met the attack head-on without yielding an inch.
Two Grandmaster-level experts clashed violently in front of the mourning hall, beneath countless watching eyes!
"Boom!"
Violent True Qi exploded with a crash. The shockwave swept outward, plowing through the already ruined ground again as shattered stones flew in every direction.
The two separated at first contact, then immediately transformed into two blurred shadows. Saber light and sword shadows twisted together in a savage exchange. The clanging of metal was endless, and every collision made the blood and Qi of those with weaker cultivation churn violently.
"The Dongli Sect is rebelling! Take them down!"
"Fight these court lapdogs to the death!"
Seeing Du Sha and Wang Dongli fighting, the Six Doors Constables became enraged and roared as they charged toward the Dongli Sect disciples. The Dongli Sect disciples were no lacking in heroic passion either, and they rushed at the constables.
A large-scale bloody conflict was about to erupt!
"Stop!"
At that moment, a clear, cold shout rang out like thunder from the ninth heavens, instantly drowning out every cry of battle and clash of weapons!
A figure in green appeared above the fiercely battling Du Sha and Wang Dongli like a ghost, without the slightest warning.
It was Gu Mo, who had just rushed over from the rear courtyard.
He descended swiftly and appeared at the center of the battle. Both hands shot out like lightning, one grabbing toward the flat of Wang Dongli's sword and the other brushing toward the back of Du Sha's saber.
His movements seemed casual and unhurried, yet they contained a terrifying force that could not be resisted.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
Two muffled impacts rang out almost simultaneously.
The force of Wang Dongli's sword and Du Sha's Blade Aura struck Gu Mo's hands and seemed to collide with an invisible Bronze Wall and Iron Barrier. Their violent power was forcibly halted and diverted.
Gu Mo drew and guided with both hands, and a supple yet irresistible tremendous force surged forth.
Wang Dongli only felt an unmatched soft force coil around his longsword. He was helplessly dragged into a stagger and sent flying backward several zhang. Du Sha likewise felt a vast force travel up through his saber. His tiger's mouth shook violently, and his blade nearly flew from his grip. His body was also blasted backward, sliding a great distance before he barely managed to steady himself.
Immediately afterward, Gu Mo landed and stamped his right foot heavily upon the ground.
"Rumble!"
From the point where he landed, a visible circular shockwave burst outward. Like ripples raised by a boulder cast into a tranquil lake, it swept across the entire plaza in an instant. It was not a destructive impact, but it carried an overwhelmingly tyrannical suppressive force.
Whether they were the hot-blooded Dongli Sect disciples or the hardened Six Doors Constables, both sides who had been about to charge at one another were struck by the shockwave and felt as though an invisible giant hand had shoved them fiercely. Their forward momentum stopped abruptly, and they all staggered backward unsteadily, crowding together as their weapons clanged against one another. Yet neither side could form an effective charge formation again.
The entire plaza fell silent in an instant. Only heavy breathing remained, along with shocked gazes focused on the green figure standing in the center with his hands behind his back.
"Great Hero Gu!" Du Sha steadied himself. When he recognized the newcomer, surprise flashed across his face. He then withdrew his killing intent, cupped his hands, and said, "Great Hero Gu, why are you here?"
On the other side, Wang Dongli, who had been forced back, also suppressed his churning blood and violent fury. Upon seeing Gu Mo, the redness in his eyes faded somewhat, though his gaze was still filled with savage violence.
"Chief Constable Du, I came here to investigate Tie Tou's disappearance," Gu Mo said calmly, cupping his hands. "Chief Constable Du, today is Old Master Wang's burial day. Bringing people to storm the mourning hall, fighting fiercely, and disturbing the peace of the deceased—neither sentiment nor reason can justify it."
Du Sha said angrily, "Great Hero Gu, this is not my fault. I tracked Heavenly God Society fiends here. When I saw the Dongli Sect holding a funeral, I originally thought the dead deserved respect and had no intention of searching the place immediately.
"But I was worried that people from the Heavenly God Society might use the opportunity to slip away in secret, so I planned to discuss it with Wang Dongli and have him arrange for Dongli Sect disciples to seal off the surrounding area and prevent anyone from leaving. There was nothing wrong with that, was there? Yet while we were talking, Wang Dongli suddenly injured people because one of my men accidentally kicked over a brazier for burning paper offerings. He did not even give us a chance to apologize.
"Just now, I still considered the dead deserving of respect. Even though my men were injured, I endured it and agreed to let him hold the burial first. But he attacked me before I could even finish speaking. Great Hero Gu, it is not that I lack principles and wanted to disturb the departed soul. It is Wang Dongli who is acting like a mad dog!"
Gu Mo turned to look at Wang Dongli.
At that moment, Wang Dongli looked exhausted. His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, and weakness seeped from his entire body. He even staggered back two steps and leaned against a pillar, saying nothing.
Then Wang Dongli's son, Wang Xiuyuan, hurried over. He bowed to Gu Mo, then bowed to Du Sha and said, "Great Hero Gu, Chief Constable Du, I am truly sorry. My father was deeply attached to my grandfather. Ever since my grandfather passed away, my father has been heartbroken beyond measure and has fainted several times from excessive grief.
"These past few days, he has missed my grandfather so much that he has neither eaten nor drunk all day. Other than when he fainted, he has not closed his eyes to rest. He has been in a daze the entire time, and it was inevitable that his emotions would lose control. Just now, with my grandfather about to be buried, grief overwhelmed him and he could not control his temper, which led to all this. I apologize on my father's behalf."
With a thump, Wang Xiuyuan knelt before Du Sha and said, "Chief Constable Du, the injuries suffered today by the Six Doors Constables are the responsibility of our Dongli Sect. The Dongli Sect will cover all medicine costs, lost wages, and compensation for their distress, and further compensation will be provided afterward. I beg you, sir, to overlook the faults of lesser men!"
Although Du Sha was an official, he had dealt with martial artists all year round and had picked up the air of the martial world. He also shared the habits of most martial artists: he yielded to softness but not to hardness.
Seeing Wang Xiuyuan's attitude, the anger in his heart instantly faded by more than half. He pulled Wang Xiuyuan to his feet and said, "I did not come today to fight your Dongli Sect. I came to capture Heavenly God Society fiends. We can discuss compensation later. For now, you must do two things. First, as I said, seal off the Dongli Sect and do not allow anyone to leave without permission. Second, immediately have the sect's physicians treat the wounded."
Wang Xiuyuan hurriedly said, "No problem, no problem!"
Afterward, Wang Xiuyuan immediately began making arrangements. At the same time, he sent people to explain the situation to the various guests, lest unnecessary conflicts arise.
What surprised Gu Mo and the others was that while Wang Xiuyuan bustled about making arrangements, Wang Dongli actually sat down against a pillar and fell asleep. He was clearly exhausted beyond endurance.
Gu Mo knew about what Wang Dongli had gone through over the past few days. Overwhelmed by grief, he had knelt in the mourning hall until he fainted several times and had not rested at all for six or seven days.
Before long, the funeral procession began.
"Great Hero Gu, why not come with us?" Du Sha invited Gu Mo. "The Dongli Sect has been sealed off, so the two Heavenly God Society fiends hiding here cannot escape. There is a good chance they will mix into the funeral procession and look for an opportunity to flee."
Gu Mo immediately agreed. Following behind the funeral procession, he asked as they walked, "Have you investigated the Heavenly God Society clearly?"
Du Sha said, "Ten days ago, the Azure Wave Sword Sect sent word to our Six Doors that the people in the Heavenly God Society were remnants left behind by Gongsun Jue. With you as a witness as well, our Six Doors immediately joined forces with the Azure Wave Sword Sect to investigate.
"We had not paid attention before. After all, strange organizations emerge in the martial world every year. The Heavenly God Society was neither the first nor the last. So long as they did not commit murder or arson and merely moved about within the martial world, our Six Doors did not pay them much mind.
"Now that we deliberately investigated, it was naturally easy to uncover some Spider Silk traces and confirm that the Heavenly God Society was that group of remnants left behind by Gongsun Jue. We immediately issued wanted notices throughout the martial world. Yet as though provoking us, the Heavenly God Society, which had always hidden itself and acted furtively before, began committing crimes openly everywhere once they were wanted. In only a few days, more than four hundred people have already died beneath the Taotie Divine Skill."
"You haven't caught anyone?" Gu Mo asked in confusion.
"We caught more than twenty," Du Sha said. "But they were all the lowest-ranking envoys. We could get nothing out of them. We only learned that there is a Sect Master—Gongsun Jue—one Elder, and ten protectors. Each protector commands fifteen envoys.
"However, based on the Six Doors' current analysis, the reason the Heavenly God Society fabricated the slogan of resurrecting Sect Master Gongsun Jue was likely a deliberate lie created by that Elder in order to control the members of the Heavenly God Society, exploiting their loyalty to Gongsun Jue."
At that moment, Gu Mo's expression changed slightly.
Because he had received system notifications:
New target detected Wanted target—Heavenly God Society Elder Mission level—Five stars Mission reward—Divine Blade Slash at maximum level New target detected Wanted target—Heavenly God Society Sect Master Mission level—Six stars Mission reward—Mighty Dragon Divine Palm at maximum level
Gu Mo did not care much about these two martial arts. It was not that they were weak, but rather that they offered little enhancement to him now.
The Divine Blade Slash came from The Sword and the Chess of Death. It had eight forms, each containing thirty-six moves, with every move holding a hundred and eight variations—a total of thirty-one thousand, one hundred and four variations. Its changes were endless, and each slash was certain death, its power tyrannical.
A Cultivator had to first master every variation, then ultimately merge more than thirty thousand variations into a single slash to reach the realm of Divine Blade Slash. This realm was known as "Non-Human," and under a single slash, nothing was indestructible. It was the ultimate form of blade techniques.
This martial art could be called the pinnacle of all martial arts forms in the world. But Gu Mo's realm had long surpassed the level of techniques and forms, so this martial art would not help him much. It would merely add flowers to brocade.
As for the second martial art, the Mighty Dragon Divine Palm came from The Sword and the Chess of Death. This palm technique was supremely hard and yang, incomparably fierce, and could be called a top-tier divine skill among the hard-striking school. It could release Dragon-shaped Qi from afar and was known as the "Number One Under Heaven palm technique."
It was similar to the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. It often exerted force through both palms, could manifest dragon shadows to attack enemies, and could also release Dragon-shaped Qi from afar to tear enemies apart. It was essentially an enhanced version of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.
For Gu Mo now, it would likewise mostly serve to add flowers to brocade, providing only some direction for martial arts principles.
What truly moved Gu Mo were the two pieces of information in the system notifications, indicating that the Heavenly God Society Elder and Sect Master were two separate people.
But the Heavenly God Society Sect Master had not been identified as Gongsun Jue, which meant that person was someone else entirely and was not truly resurrecting Gongsun Jue. Yet being rated at six stars meant he had committed great evils in the past.
After checking the system notifications, Gu Mo withdrew his attention and asked, "Then why did you come here today?"
Du Sha said, "Although we could not pry any useful information from the people we captured, based on the tracks and traces exposed by the Heavenly God Society's widespread crimes these past few days, they have been continually gathering toward Qingyang County.
"That means the Heavenly God Society headquarters is most likely in Qingyang County. So I personally came to investigate. Sure enough, I made a major discovery here. I found two groups of Heavenly God Society members and caught them all in one net while they were gathering.
"But those Heavenly God Society people were too fierce. The envoys actually did not hesitate to die in order to win an opportunity for the two protectors to escape. We pursued and killed them all the way here. The Dongli Sect was holding a funeral, with all sorts of people mixed together, making it suitable for hiding. The two men then mixed into the Dongli Sect."
"So that's how it was."
Gu Mo nodded. "Keep a close watch on the funeral procession and see whether anyone escapes later. As for the Dongli Sect, you can rest assured. Even if the Dongli Sect fails to handle things properly, it does not matter. My sister and Red Clothes are there."
Du Sha nodded. "With you here, I am greatly relieved."
The two chatted casually as they followed the funeral procession out of the Dongli Sect. After walking for more than an hour, they arrived halfway up a great mountain outside Qingyang City. At the foot of the mountain lay a large lake. It had formed beside an embankment built to manage flooding from the rivers, where water flowed year-round and gradually gathered into a vast lake.
Old Master Wang's burial ground had been chosen beside that great lake, amid green mountains. Viewed from afar, it was precisely where five veins converged. According to feng shui, it was a place that would bestow blessings upon one's descendants.
Old Master Wang's tomb had been built with tremendous grandeur. It was even larger than the courtyard of an ordinary household. There were twelve coffin bearers in total, and all of them could enter the burial chamber without it seeming crowded.
However, until the tomb was sealed and the funeral procession returned to the Dongli Sect, not a single person left the group.
Wang Dongli remained listless throughout the entire journey.
After dragging his exhausted body back to the Dongli Sect, he said to Du Sha, "Chief Constable Du, if you wish to search for someone, search now. The Dongli Sect will fully cooperate!"
Immediately, Du Sha did not stand on ceremony. He instantly ordered his constables to begin investigating.
At that moment, Red Clothes suddenly transmitted her voice to Gu Mo. "My lord, this servant has already found those two Heavenly God Society members. An hour ago, the two used Turtle Breathing Art. They are currently feigning death and hiding in the latrine pit in the eastern courtyard."
Gu Mo silently thought, They are ruthless people indeed.
Then Gu Mo transmitted his voice to Du Sha. "Chief Constable Du, they are in the latrine pit in the eastern courtyard. Have your men act more convincingly. Pretend you did not find them and let them escape."
Du Sha's expression did not change as he transmitted his reply. "Great Hero Gu, your idea coincides with mine. I was also planning to lure the snake from its hole. After pursuing them for so long, I have been looking for an opportunity to place some Tracking Powder on those two, but I never had the chance, which is why I kept chasing them relentlessly.
"But now that those two are hiding in a latrine pit, it will not be easy to use tracking methods."
Gu Mo said, "You need not worry about that. I have my own way."
Du Sha said nothing further.
In the end, the Six Doors and the Dongli Sect worked together to search the Dongli Sect for half a day. They turned the place upside down and checked everyone, yet found nothing. They left in frustration.
While the two men were in their feigned-death state, Gu Mo planted a strand of Nascent Soul Power into each of their Seas of Consciousness.
He then paid them no further attention.
Those two were truly ruthless people. To avoid being caught, they remained hidden in the latrine pit without moving for the entirety of the next day.
It was not until midnight on the following day that the two quietly crawled out of the latrine pit. They then silently slipped into a room, stole and changed into Dongli Sect disciples' clothing, and quietly left the Dongli Sect.
Before you continue