The Undying Old Monster Appears

Early morning, Dongli Sect.

Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Red Clothes were having breakfast when Wang Dongli's voice came from outside. "Great Hero Gu, may I come in?"

"Sect Leader Wang, please come in," Gu Mo answered.

Only after receiving Gu Mo's permission did Wang Dongli push open the door and enter.

Yet when they saw Wang Dongli, Gu Mo and the other two were all somewhat surprised. Wang Dongli's face was haggard, as though he had yet to recover from a serious illness. His aura was even more listless than it had been during Old Master Wang's funeral two days ago.

Previously, Wang Dongli had gone several days without sleep while mourning, so everyone could understand why he was listless and in poor condition. But ever since Old Master Wang had been buried, Wang Dongli had begun resting. Yesterday, he had rested for a full day and night without leaving his room. By all reason, he should have recovered by now.

After all, Wang Dongli was a Martial Dao Grandmaster. His physical constitution far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and he possessed the Peacock Spirit Race's innate talent. His recovery speed should have been extremely fast. Besides, even an ordinary person should have mostly recovered after resting soundly for two days and nights.

"Have you eaten, Sect Leader Wang?" Gu Mo asked in polite exchange.

Wang Dongli entered the room and said, "Not yet. I have no appetite." As he spoke, he took out a book. "Great Hero Gu, this is the family tree I retrieved from my family's ancestral home this morning. It is currently the only record we can find concerning my ancestors."

Gu Mo asked, "How was it? Did it record the origins of your Wang family's Peacock Spirit Race?"

Wang Dongli shook his head slightly and said, "This was recorded by my great-grandfather's generation. It only says that we came from Changping Commandery in Yong Country."

Gu Chundong asked in confusion, "What country was Yong Country?"

Wang Dongli said, "What is now Chu Kingdom was called Yong Country a hundred and ninety-odd years ago. But the emperor was immoral, and the people could barely survive. Chu Taizu raised the banner of rebellion, overthrew the tyranny, and founded Chu Kingdom.

"As for this Changping Commandery, I do not know where it is either. I do not understand Chu Kingdom, so I will need to investigate it slowly afterward."

As Wang Dongli spoke, he opened the family tree. "These records were dictated by my ancestors. Two hundred years ago, the Yong Country emperor was foolish and incompetent, powerful ministers ruled the court, and the martial world was in chaos. Everywhere, there was arson, murder, plunder, and rape.

"Our clan encountered bandits and was almost completely slaughtered. Our ancestor Wang Qingping escaped during that time. After enduring countless hardships, he drifted to Gan Country. Gan Country was then at the height of its national strength and very stable, so our ancestor settled there. Later, with the help of a benefactor, he was accepted as a disciple, established his household in Gan Country, changed his name and identity, and became a Gan Country citizen.

"Later on, Yong Country was destroyed. By then, our ancestor had already put down roots in Gan Country and become a great hero of his region. He settled in Qingyang County, Yunzhou, with his wife and children, and established the Wang family there. By my grandfather's generation, the Wang family had reached its peak and founded a sect on Azure Wave Mountain."

Gu Mo frowned slightly. "So you only know a rough location. And your clan no longer exists, making it impossible to trace your origins. That means you cannot find the whereabouts of the Seven-Colored Peacock."

"It seems so for now," Wang Dongli said dejectedly.

Gu Chundong comforted him, "Sect Leader Wang, you need not worry too much. Take your time searching. Besides, according to the records in your family tree, when your clan encountered the bandits, your ancestor escaped, and it only said that there were almost no survivors. He did not know the exact situation himself.

"Later, he never returned either. Perhaps your clan returned to its homeland and rebuilt itself? You can investigate it slowly when the time comes. You will surely find them."

Wang Dongli drew a deep breath and said, "I am afraid... I do not have time!"

Gu Chundong asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Wang Dongli said gravely, "The curse has already begun. To be honest with you all, my mind has begun to grow unclear. I mean it—I am talking to you right now, yet I cannot even be sure whether you are real. I do not know whether I am dreaming!"

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, Sect Leader Wang?"

Wang Dongli raised his pale face slightly. His eye sockets were deeply sunken, making him look like a man ruined by excessive indulgence. Slowly, he said, "Great Hero Gu, yesterday... no, the day before yesterday, during my father's funeral, the reason I became so irritable and attacked Six Doors was because I truly could not control myself. I am nearly unable to distinguish reality from dreams.

"At the time, I was in a daze. I suspected that the Du Sha I saw was fake, that I was dreaming. I kept being unable to wake up, constantly entangled in all kinds of nightmares. I truly could not control my emotional state. Now I finally understand why my father would inexplicably hit people, why he would sometimes be lucid and sometimes violently restless.

"Ah, I am going mad! I cannot tell, I truly cannot tell! There are ghosts! I want to sleep, but I dare not sleep. I cannot fall asleep, I cannot wake up..."

The more Wang Dongli spoke, the more agitated he became. He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging as his eyes instantly bloodshot. His emotions began to spiral into violence.

At once,

Gu Mo inserted a silver needle into Wang Dongli's head and sent a stream of true qi into him.

Wang Dongli calmed down and took a deep breath. "My apologies, Great Hero Gu. I truly cannot control myself."

Gu Mo asked, "What exactly is happening?"

Wang Dongli said, "Dreaming. It is becoming more frequent and more real. Since the day my father died, I have begun dreaming. At first, there were only two or three layers of dreams within dreams, and I did not dream so easily.

"But afterward, there were more and more dreams, and they became increasingly real. Sometimes there are twenty or thirty layers of dreams. I have no way of telling whether I am dreaming or awake. Just like now, I am not even sure whether I am still dreaming.

"And I enter dreams more and more often now. I might fall asleep merely from sitting for a little while. Once I fall asleep, I do not know whether I will wake again. These past few days, while keeping vigil for my father, I myself do not know when I went to the mourning hall. Whenever I woke up, I was already there. Everyone thought I was overwhelmed with grief, but in truth, the dreams had nearly driven me mad."

Gu Mo asked, "What do you dream of?"

Wang Dongli said, "I often see my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on in my dreams. Even my ancestors appear in my dreams. They are all calling me. They are all waiting for me!"

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "You even know your ancestors?"

"I do not," Wang Dongli said. "But I know them in the dreams. My father introduces them, my grandfather introduces them. There is nothing to doubt. They all look the same, just as my father did when he died—nothing but skin and bones.

"They are nightmares. Not only do I see them, I even see my dead self. Sometimes I return to my childhood, sometimes to my youth, and sometimes I am in the mourning hall. Yet they are all there, all tangling themselves around me. Sometimes I think I have awakened, but I am still dreaming. Layer after layer, never able to wake up.

"Sometimes I think I am still dreaming, but it is reality instead. I cannot tell them apart at all. Sometimes everyone wants to kill me, sometimes everyone cherishes me. I have no idea which is real and which is illusion..."

As Wang Dongli continued speaking, his emotions began escalating once more.

Gu Mo hurriedly sent another thread of true qi into him to stabilize his emotions.

"Great Hero Gu, I fear I will not make it in time. I can feel that the curse is urgent. It will not let me go," Wang Dongli said.

At that moment,

Red Clothes said, "My lord, this does not sound like a curse. It sounds more like someone has controlled him with a spiritual illusion technique."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I think so too."

At once,

Gu Mo used the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique to inspect him.

However,

There was no sign that Wang Dongli's Sea of Consciousness had been controlled. There was no foreign spiritual power or Nascent Soul Power, nor any other abnormality. Yet strangely, Wang Dongli's Nascent Soul Power was growing wildly, at an extremely rapid rate.

"What is going on?" Gu Mo asked. "Sect Leader Wang, you are about to ascend!"

Wang Dongli asked in confusion, "What do you mean, Great Hero Gu?"

Gu Mo said, "Ascension means cultivating a Nascent Soul and casting aside the physical body. You originally possessed only a trace of Nascent Soul Power, barely enough to use the Nascent Soul Sword. But now, you are about to cultivate a complete Nascent Soul. At this rate, you will ascend in ten days at most."

"Ah?" Wang Dongli looked utterly bewildered.

Gu Mo continued, "No, that is not quite right. It cannot be called ascension. The Nascent Soul born in the Ascension Realm is extremely solid, while your Nascent Soul is rather ethereal. It is indeed a Nascent Soul, but it falls short of one truly cultivated through practice."

Wang Dongli asked, "But it could not possibly have appeared for no reason. Even internal energy needs vital essence to be transformed, does it not? This Nascent Soul Power could not have emerged out of nowhere, could it?"

"It did not emerge for no reason. There is a source," Gu Mo said. "I told you before that the qi from the Peacock Spirit Race within your body is firmly connected to your Nascent Soul on one side and firmly connected to your physical body on the other. Now, it is continuously extracting your physical strength and transforming it into Nascent Soul Power."

Wang Dongli's pupils widened. "So this is why, after my father, grandfather, and the others lost their minds, their bodies gradually withered and their qi and blood collapsed."

Gu Mo nodded. "Correct. But your speed is outrageously fast. Your father took thirty years to completely collapse and die. At your current pace, your body will be drained dry in half a month at most."

Wang Dongli slumped. "Heaven wants me dead..."

Gu Mo waved his hand. "There is no need to be so despairing. There is still a chance."

Wang Dongli hurriedly cupped his hands. "Please teach me, Great Hero Gu!"

Gu Mo said, "Southern Jin Sword God Su Qianqiu possesses a supreme treasure called the Seven-Colored Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage Treasure Robe, made from the feathers of a Seven-Colored Peacock. In theory, it can be used as a medium to extract the Peacock spiritual energy from your body."

The hope that had just arisen in Wang Dongli's heart was extinguished again. "I have neither affection nor connection with that Southern Jin Sword God. It would be impossible to borrow such a treasure from him. Besides, Southern Jin is thousands of miles from here. Even if I could borrow it, there would not be enough time."

Gu Mo chuckled. "I have some friendship with Su Qianqiu. I can borrow the Spirit Cage Robe, and I have my own way to retrieve it in time."

Wang Dongli immediately dropped to one knee and cupped his hands. "Great Hero Gu, I beg you to save me, save my son. From this day onward, my Wang family will serve you as slaves and servants for generations, repaying your immense kindness and virtue."

Gu Mo raised a hand and lifted Wang Dongli up. "There is no need to become slaves or servants. However, I live in Yunzhou for the long term, and your Dongli Sect is also in Yunzhou. We are practically neighbors across my doorstep. There will inevitably be matters in the future where I may need your assistance."

"If you have any command, I will not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!" Wang Dongli hurriedly said.

At once,

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Go back first. Remember, do not remove the silver needle from your head. It will keep you calm and prevent you from falling asleep. Once the Spirit Cage Robe arrives, I will come find you."

"Thank you, Great Hero Gu! Thank you, Great Hero Gu!"

Wang Dongli bowed repeatedly in thanks as he slowly departed.

After Wang Dongli left, Gu Mo called out, "Chudong, bring brush and ink. I will write a letter to Old Master Su and borrow his Spirit Cage Robe."

Gu Chundong immediately went into the inner room and brought out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. She was not puzzled about how Gu Mo could retrieve the Spirit Cage Robe in such a short time, for she knew best just how powerful his flying sword technique was.

"Brother, did you not say earlier that Old Master Su had no ties with Wang Dongli, making this difficult?" Gu Chundong asked doubtfully.

Gu Mo chuckled. "Wang Dongli is a decent man. Though he and Du Sha had an unpleasant clash two days ago, Du Sha still praised him generously. He said the Dongli Sect Wang Dongli established in Qingyang County truly carried out acts of chivalry and protected the common people. The banditry plaguing Qingyang County had decreased greatly.

"That was why, even when Wang Dongli provoked Six Doors again and again that day, Du Sha did not pursue the matter. He believed Wang Dongli must have had a reason. And now it seems that he truly did have one.

"Secondly, have you forgotten the divination Red Clothes performed for me? To find Tie Tou, we still need to rely on Wang Dongli. We cannot let him die."

Gu Chundong nodded. "That is true."

Then,

Gu Mo swiftly wrote a letter, tied it to the Grand Void Sword, and formed a hand seal. The Grand Void Flying Sword instantly shot out. Once it reached the courtyard, it tore through the air and vanished into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

The Grand Void Flying Sword had now developed the Profound Heaven Floating Stone's capabilities to their utmost limit. Gu Mo had also forcibly stuffed a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Spirit into it. Later, after strengthening his Sword Riding Technique through the God of War Catalog, Take Enemy Head from a Thousand Miles Away was an effortless feat.

He was in Gan Country, so sending a flying sword to Southern Jin was naturally no challenge.

Just as the flying sword pierced through the air and sped away,

Gu Mo suddenly froze slightly. "There is news of the Heavenly God Society."

Gu Chundong hurriedly asked, "You found them?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I placed Nascent Soul Restrictions in those two ruthless men's Seas of Consciousness. What they see, I see. Right now, those two are meeting an Elder of the Heavenly God Society."

With that said,

Gu Mo took a single step and instantly vanished through the air.

At that moment,

In an inconspicuous small village outside Qingyang City, the two Heavenly God Society protectors who had hidden in a cesspit for two days and nights to evade pursuit were disguised as peddlers. They had arrived at a farmhouse courtyard to ask for water.

A hunched old man in the courtyard led the two into a room.

When they turned into the kitchen,

The two ruthless men disguised as peddlers immediately dropped to one knee and said in unison, "Greetings, Elder."

The hunched old man turned around. At that moment, his bent back straightened, and his murky eyes instantly became as sharp as a hawk's. The aura of approaching death around him was swept away, replaced by a deep, oppressive presence reeking of bloody smell.

He swept a cold glance over the two kneeling protectors. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. "You two failed to handle affairs properly. Not only did you lose men, you also drew Six Doors' investigation and nearly exposed our stronghold. Worse still, you nearly disrupted Esteemed One's grand plan of resurrection!"

One protector still bore the pallor and exhaustion of having soaked in a cesspit for two days. Hearing this, he hurriedly defended himself. "Elder, please calm your anger! Although our subordinate brothers were lost, before their capture, they transferred all the internal energy they had absorbed and converted to us two. We fought desperately to break out solely to bring this power back and offer it to Esteemed One!"

"Oh?" The Elder raised his eyelids slightly. "If that is so, then offer up the 'tribute' you brought."

The two protectors' hearts tightened, but they did not dare hesitate in the slightest. They immediately sat cross-legged, circulated energy to regulate their breathing, and gathered the impure yet abundant internal energy within their bodies that did not belong to them, preparing to transfer it to the Elder.

This was what they had been doing all this time. They were accustomed to it.

The Elder slowly stretched out his withered hand. An invisible vortex seemed to form in his palm, and a powerful suction force instantly enveloped the two men.

The Taotie Divine Skill activated!

At first, everything was as usual.

The gathered, impure internal energy originating from dozens of murdered martial artists surged into the Elder's body like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

The Elder narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling the power enter him as turbulent currents formed around his body.

However, the torrent did not stop.

Once the internal energy offered as "tribute" had been drained, that terrifying suction not only did not weaken—it abruptly intensified. Like a greedy giant python, it viciously sank its teeth into the foundational internal energy the two protectors had painstakingly cultivated for years!

"Urgh, ah..."

One protector was the first to sense that something was wrong. The true qi within him poured out wildly and uncontrollably like water from an opened reservoir gate. His body shriveled at a visible rate, his skin lost its luster, and his muscles atrophied. He stared at the Elder in terror. "Elder... what... what are you doing? This is our own internal energy!"

The other protector also realized what was happening in an instant. His face went pale as he struggled to cut off the connection. "Elder, spare us! We failed to handle affairs properly, but our crimes do not warrant death!"

The hunched old man remained expressionless, his gaze as cold as ice from a bottomless abyss. He turned a deaf ear to their pleas. The suction in his palm grew increasingly violent, as though he intended to squeeze them completely dry and draw out even the final trace of vital essence from their marrow.

"Elder..."

Before the first protector could finish speaking, his entire body had already become like a leather doll with all its stuffing pulled out. He crumpled limply to the floor, nothing remaining but skin wrapped around bones, his eye sockets deeply sunken. He was completely silent.

"Why..."

The second protector only managed half a venomous curse before following his companion's path and becoming the second horrifying dried corpse on the ground.

The Elder slowly withdrew his hand. A faint blood-colored glow seemed to linger around his skeletal fingertips.

He closed his eyes and sensed the turbulent, surging, impure power within his body, along with its intense rejection. His brow furrowed as he murmured,

"Do not blame me. It is all because Ji Wujiu failed to handle affairs properly and exposed us. Now Six Doors is investigating everywhere like mad dogs. We had no choice but to expose ourselves and act openly on all fronts. But there is still too little time. I could only absorb the two of you as well. Everything is for Esteemed One's resurrection. Our lives were bestowed by Esteemed One. To sacrifice ourselves for him is to die in the right place. I only wonder whether it is enough now!"

There was a trace of uncertain anxiety in his tone, along with an almost fanatical anticipation.

He no longer looked at the two dried corpses on the ground, as though they were merely two piles of useless rubbish.

He adjusted his tattered coarse hemp clothes, and the Grandmaster's aura he had deliberately restrained once again became that of an ordinary old farmer.

He turned around, preparing to push open the creaking wooden kitchen door and make the next, more important arrangements.

"Creak—"

The wooden door opened a crack.

Yet just as he lifted his foot to step out, his movement suddenly froze.

Outside the door stood a young man in blue robes, who had arrived at some unknown time.

It was Gu Mo, who had tracked him here through the Nascent Soul Restriction!

The Heavenly God Society Elder's murky pupils abruptly contracted to pinpoints. He said softly, "Eh, how could this be? I made certain there were no pursuers behind those two fellows before bringing them here!"

Gu Mo chuckled. "Then you did not look carefully enough."

"It seems I am getting old," the Heavenly God Society Elder said as he slowly walked out, casually closing the door behind him. Smiling, his face was full of deep wrinkles. "I heard that Yunzhou Six Doors has produced six Famous Constables in recent years, each an outstanding figure among the younger generation of today's martial world. Young man, which one are you?"

Gu Mo smiled slightly. "It seems your eyesight truly is poor. You cannot even recognize me. My name is Gu Mo. The martial world calls me Number One Under Heaven."

The Heavenly God Society Elder trembled from head to toe. A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head, and he immediately searched his memories for Gu Mo's portrait, comparing it as closely as possible.

Portraiture in this era was somewhat abstract, but if one compared carefully, it could still be recognized.

At once,

The Heavenly God Society Elder confirmed Gu Mo's identity. His expression instantly turned grave as he cupped his hands. "So it is Great Hero Gu himself. This old man is Zhu Zixiong. Greetings!"

Gu Mo smiled. "Since you did not run at first sight, it seems you know your place. After I finish questioning you, I will grant you a quick death."

Zhu Zixiong wore a bitter expression. "May this old man be permitted to say a few words?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Zhu Zixiong said, "Great Hero Gu, you are Number One Under Heaven and have already reached the Human World Peak. Your next step should be to seek ascension and become an Immortal. My Esteemed One has already taken that step.

"Though you killed his physical body on Dragon Tiger Mountain, if you are willing to cooperate now, he can still let bygones be bygones. But if you insist on pursuing this without mercy, you will regret it in the future. The day Esteemed One revives will be the day he becomes an Immortal. When that time comes, how will you handle yourself?"

Gu Mo chuckled. "First, Gongsun Jue cannot be revived. You were definitely deceived by someone. Second, even if Gongsun Jue can revive, I can simply kill him again."

The moment Gu Mo finished speaking, he pointed a finger at Zhu Zixiong. The movement was casual, yet it carried a sharpness capable of piercing through the void.

A thread of pure, condensed spiritual power coiled around his fingertip. It was the soul-probing finger of the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique, intended to invade the other party's Sea of Consciousness in an instant, control his mind, and directly uncover the truth.

However,

At the instant that thread of spiritual power was about to touch Zhu Zixiong's center of forehead.

A sudden change erupted!

In Zhu Zixiong's murky eyes, an inhuman, frenzied, greedy light suddenly burst forth. A deep roar unlike any human sound rose from his throat, like the dying howl of a beast and the savage sneer of an evil ghost from the abyss.

"Roar—!"

The hunched body abruptly straightened. A suction force far more terrifying and evil than when it had drained the two protectors exploded forth. It was not aimed at inner energy, but formed a visibly warped force field that covered the entire courtyard.

Taotie Divine Skill—Devouring Domain!

The air seemed to be sucked dry in an instant. Falling leaves, dust, even the light itself faintly collapsed inward.

Gu Mo felt an irresistible pulling force surge madly at him from every direction. It acted not only upon his body, but seemed intent on forcibly stripping away and devouring his true qi, Spiritual Power, and even his vitality.

At the same time,

The thread of Soul Probing Spiritual Power Gu Mo had sent forth crashed into an invisible Bronze Wall and Iron Barrier bristling with thorns the instant it touched the outer edge of Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness!

"Screech!"

A strange power, icy, tyrannical, and carrying a supreme will, suddenly surged back from the depths of Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness. It bore the Nascent Soul Power of the Ascension Realm and instantly shredded Gu Mo's probing thread of Spiritual Power to pieces!

For the first time, Gu Mo's expression visibly changed. His eyes filled with puzzlement as he said in a low voice, "The Complete Taotie Divine Skill?"

Zhu Zixiong's current state was exceedingly bizarre.

His once withered body swelled slightly as though inflated. Veins twisted and writhed beneath his skin, as if countless living things were crawling underneath.

Seeing the puzzled look on Gu Mo's face, he threw back his head and laughed. "Gu Mo... so what if you're Number One Under Heaven? Haven't you still fallen into my domain? So arrogant and conceited—you deserve to die here today! You never expected me to possess the Complete Taotie Divine Skill, did you? I told you Esteemed One would return to life, but you refused to believe me! Fine, then. You're a Great Grandmaster of Inner Energy, perfect to serve as an Attendant for Esteemed One's resurrection. You alone are worth dozens, even hundreds of people!"

As he laughed,

Zhu Zixiong urged the Devouring Domain toward Gu Mo, driving it into a frenzied whirl as he tried to suck away Gu Mo's true qi.

However,

In that very instant,

Gu Mo raised a hand.

"Smack!"

A slap landed across Zhu Zixiong's face.

In an instant, a swollen scarlet handprint rose on Zhu Zixiong's cheek. He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth and cried in shock, "How can you still move?" Then terror flashed across his face. "Why can't I suck you in?"

Gu Mo curled his lip. "Is something wrong with your brain? No matter how strong your Taotie Divine Skill is, can it be stronger than Gongsun Jue's? I killed even him. What makes you think you can deal with me?"

Zhu Zixiong said, "Esteemed One was Invincible Under Heaven. The only reason he died at your hands was because you used Schemes and Tricks. Otherwise, how could you possibly have been his match?"

Gu Mo: "..."

Braindead fans really were the worst.

Zhu Zixiong said indignantly, "Then why did you look so shocked just now? Weren't you frightened by my Taotie Divine Skill?"

"I was only wondering why that Nascent Soul in your Sea of Consciousness, when it could clearly control you directly and turn you into a puppet, still chose to impersonate Gongsun Jue," Gu Mo said.

Zhu Zixiong said in confusion, "What nonsense are you talking about? You..."

"Smack!"

Gu Mo slapped Zhu Zixiong across the face again.

"Gu Mo, you're going too far!" Zhu Zixiong cried in grief and indignation.

"Smack!"

"Gu Mo, don't push things too far!"

"Smack!"

"Gu Mo, a warrior may be killed, but never humiliated!"

"Smack! Smack! Smack..."

Gu Mo's slaps came faster and faster, until Zhu Zixiong had been beaten clean of teeth. He dropped to his knees and shouted, "I was wrong... Great Hero Gu, I was wrong... Just kill me outright... Stop hitting me, please stop, really stop... If you keep going, my head's going to explode..."

"That won't do," Gu Mo said. "I rarely slap people. If I do, I have to get my fill in one go!"

"Enough!"

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the void. "Junior, know when to stop!"

Right afterward, Zhu Zixiong fainted. Then a strand of Nascent Soul Power floated out from his Sea of Consciousness, slowly gathering into the shape of a middle-aged man.

What surprised Gu Mo somewhat was that the human figure condensed from this Nascent Soul bore a certain resemblance to Wang Dongli.

For a moment,

Gu Mo suddenly thought of Wang Dongli's ancestor, who had once visited Penglai Island and created the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art, a technique somewhat similar to the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique.

"You are Wang Qingping?"

"Young people these days really are impressive. You actually managed to discover me. Young man, you truly deserve the title of Number One Under Heaven. I imagine you'll ascend soon enough. Not bad, not bad!"