Old Undying Appears

In the early morning, at the Dongli Sect.

Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Hongyi were eating breakfast when Wang Dongli's voice came from outside the door: "Great Hero Gu, is it convenient?"

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

With Gu Mo's permission, Wang Dongli pushed the door open and entered.

However, upon seeing Wang Dongli, all three of them were surprised. Wang Dongli's face was haggard, as if he had not recovered from a serious illness, looking even more listless than he had two days ago at the funeral.

Previously, due to mourning, Wang Dongli hadn't slept for days, and his listless state was understandable. But after Old Master Wang's funeral, Wang Dongli had begun to rest. Yesterday, he had rested for a full day and night without leaving his room. By all accounts, he should have recovered by now.

After all, Wang Dongli was a Martial Dao Grandmaster, with physical fitness far exceeding that of ordinary people. Coupled with the talent of the Peacock Spirit Race, his recovery speed should have been very fast. Moreover, even an ordinary person, after a good two days and two nights of rest, should have mostly recovered.

"Sect Leader Wang, have you eaten?" Gu Mo asked politely.

Wang Dongli walked into the room and said, "Not yet, I don't have much appetite." As he spoke, Wang Dongli took out a book and said, "Great Hero Gu, this is the family tree I retrieved from my old family home this morning. It's the only record currently available about my ancestors."

Gu Mo asked, "How is it? Does it record the origin of your Wang family's Peacock Spirit Race?"

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

Gu Chundong asked doubtfully, "What country is Yong Country?"

Wang Dongli replied, "The current Chu Kingdom was called Yong Country over a hundred and ninety years ago. But the emperor was tyrannical, the people suffered, and Chu Taizu raised an army, overthrew the tyranny, and established Chu Kingdom.

However, I don't know where this Changping Commandery is. I don't know much about Chu Kingdom and will need to inquire slowly later."

As Wang Dongli spoke, he flipped open the family tree and said, "This family tree records what my ancestors recounted. Our Wang family's origin dates back two hundred years. At that time, the Yong Country emperor was incompetent, powerful officials were in charge, and the martial world was chaotic, filled with robbery and murder.

Our clan was almost wiped out by bandits. My ancestor, Wang Qingping, fled at that time. After enduring hardships, he ended up in Gan Country. Gan Country was at the peak of its national strength and was very stable. My ancestor settled down in Gan Country, and with the help of a benefactor, he was taken in as a disciple, settled in Gan Country, changed his name, and became a Gan Person.

Later, Yong Country was destroyed. By then, my ancestor had already taken root in Gan Country, becoming a renowned hero. He settled in Qingyang County, Yunzhou, with his wife and children, thus establishing the Wang family. It wasn't until my grandfather's generation that the Wang family reached its peak and established a sect on Azure Wave Mountain."

Gu Mo frowned slightly and said, "So, you only know a general location, and your clan no longer exists. It's impossible to trace the origin, and thus impossible to find the whereabouts of the Seven-Colored Peacock."

Wang Dongli said with great disappointment, "It seems so for now."

Gu Chundong comforted him, "Sect Leader Wang, you shouldn't worry too much. Take your time to search. Moreover, according to your family tree, when your clan encountered bandits back then, your ancestor escaped, but it only said that most were killed or injured. He didn't know the specific situation.

He never went back afterward. Perhaps your clan has already returned to its homeland and rebuilt? You can investigate slowly later, and you'll find it eventually."

Wang Dongli took a deep breath and said, "I'm afraid... I don't have much time!"

Gu Chundong asked doubtfully, "Why do you say that?"

Wang Dongli said solemnly, "The curse has already begun. To be honest with you all, I'm already starting to lose my mind. I'm serious. Although I'm talking to you now, I'm not sure if you are real, or if I'm dreaming!"

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "What does Sect Leader Wang mean by that?"

Wang Dongli slightly raised his pale face. His eye sockets were sunken, making him look like he had indulged too much. He slowly said, "Great Hero Gu, yesterday... no, it was the day before yesterday. During my father's funeral, the reason I was so irritable and attacked the Six Doors was because I truly couldn't control myself. I'm finding it hard to distinguish between reality and dreams.

I was in a daze then. I suspected that the Du Sha I saw was fake, that I was dreaming. I always couldn't wake up, always plagued by all sorts of nightmares. I really couldn't control my emotional state. I finally understood why my father would inexplicably hit people back then, why he would be lucid at times and agitated at others.

Ah, I'm going crazy. I can't tell. I really can't tell. There are ghosts! I want to sleep, but I don't dare to. I can't sleep, and I can't wake up..."

Wang Dongli became more and more agitated as he spoke, clenching his fists tightly, veins bulging, his eyes instantly bloodshot, his emotions starting to flare up.

Immediately, Gu Mo inserted a silver needle into Wang Dongli's head, simultaneously channeling a stream of true qi.

Wang Dongli calmed down and took a deep breath, saying, "My apologies, Great Hero Gu. I really can't control myself."

Gu Mo asked, "What exactly is happening?"

Wang Dongli said, "It's about dreaming. It's becoming more frequent and more real now. Ever since my father passed away, I started having dreams. At first, it was just two or three layers of dreams within dreams, and I didn't fall asleep that easily.

But later, the dreams became more numerous and more real. Sometimes there could be twenty to thirty layers of dreams. I had no way of distinguishing whether I was dreaming or in reality. Just like now, I'm actually not very sure if I'm still dreaming.

Moreover, I'm falling asleep more frequently now. I might doze off just by sitting for a bit. And once I fall asleep, I don't know if I'll be able to wake up. These past few days, while keeping vigil for my father, I don't even know when I went to the mourning hall. Anyway, I woke up in the mourning hall. Everyone thought I was overcome with grief, but in reality, I was being driven crazy by dreams."

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

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

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

"No, I don't recognize them," Wang Dongli said. "But I recognize them in my dreams. My father introduces them, my grandfather introduces them. There's nothing to doubt. They all look the same, just like my father when he died, with nothing but skin and bones.

Those are nightmares. It's not just me who sees them. I even see my dead self. Sometimes I'm back in my childhood, sometimes I'm back in my youth, sometimes I'm in the mourning hall, but they are all there, all pestering me. Sometimes I think I've woken up, but I'm still in a dream, layer after layer, never waking up.

Sometimes I think I'm still dreaming, but then it's reality. I can't tell at all. Sometimes everyone wants to kill me, sometimes everyone cherishes me. I have no idea which is real and which is illusory..."

As Wang Dongli spoke, his emotions began to stir again.

Gu Mo hurriedly channeled another wisp of true qi to help him recover his emotions.

"Great Hero Gu, I'm afraid I don't have much time. I can feel it. The curse is urgent. It won't let me go," Wang Dongli said.

Just then, Red Clothes said, "Master, this doesn't sound like a curse. It sounds more like someone is controlling you with mental illusions."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "I think so too."

Immediately, Gu Mo cast the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique to investigate.

However, Wang Dongli's Sea of Consciousness was not under control. There was no abnormal spiritual power or Nascent Soul Power from anyone else. But, weirdly, Wang Dongli's Nascent Soul Power was growing at an incredibly fast rate.

"What's going on?" Gu Mo asked, "Sect Leader Wang, you're almost at Ascension Realm!"

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

Gu Mo said, "Ascension means cultivating a Nascent Soul and discarding the physical body. You originally only had a sliver of Nascent Soul Power, barely enough for you to use the Nascent Soul Sword. But now, you're almost cultivating a complete Nascent Soul. At this rate, you'll ascend in ten days at most."

"Ah?" Wang Dongli looked completely bewildered.

Gu Mo added, "Actually, it's not quite ascension. The Nascent Soul born in the Ascension Realm is very solid, but yours is rather ethereal. While it is a Nascent Soul, it's still a bit lacking compared to a truly cultivated one."

Wang Dongli asked, "But this can't just appear out of nowhere. Even internal energy requires the conversion of vital essence, right? Nascent Soul Power can't just be born inexplicably!"

Gu Mo said, "It's not born out of thin air; it has a source. I told you before, the energy from the Peacock Spirit Race within you is firmly connected to your Nascent Soul on one side and your physical body on the other. It's currently continuously drawing power from your physical body and converting it into Nascent Soul Power."

Wang Dongli's pupils widened. "So, this is why my father and grandfather, after losing their senses, slowly withered away and their vital energy collapsed."

Gu Mo nodded. "Precisely. It's just that your speed is ridiculously fast. It took your father thirty years to completely collapse and pass away. At your current speed, your body will be drained in half a month at most."

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

Gu Mo waved his hand. "It's not that dire. There's still a chance."

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

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

The hope that had just risen in Wang Dongli was dashed again. "I have no connection to that Southern Jin Sword God. I can't possibly borrow such a treasure. Besides, Southern Jin is thousands of miles away from here. Even if I could borrow it, there wouldn't be enough time."

Gu Mo chuckled lightly. "I have a connection with Su Qianqiu. I can borrow the Spirit Cage Treasure Robe, and I have my own ways to get it here in time."

Wang Dongli immediately knelt on one knee, cupping his hands. "Great Hero Gu, please save me and my son. My Wang family will forever be your slaves and servants, repaying your great kindness."

Gu Mo raised his hand to help Wang Dongli up. "There's no need for servitude. However, I reside in Yunzhou, and your Dongli Sect is also in Yunzhou, practically neighbors. There may be times in the future when I'll need your assistance."

"At your command, I would face death without regret!" Wang Dongli quickly replied.

Immediately, Gu Mo nodded slightly. "You should return for now. Remember, do not remove the silver needle from your head. This needle will help you maintain composure and prevent you from falling asleep. Once the Spirit Cage Treasure Robe arrives, I will come find you."

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

Wang Dongli bowed gratefully as he slowly walked away.

After Wang Dongli left the room, Gu Mo called out, "Chudong, prepare the brush and ink. I'm writing a letter to Old Master Su now to borrow his Spirit Cage Treasure Robe."

Gu Chundong immediately went into the inner room to get writing materials. She wasn't surprised Gu Mo managed to get the Spirit Cage Robe so quickly; after all, she knew best how powerful Gu Mo's flying sword techniques were.

"Ge, didn't you say Old Master Su and Wang Dongli had no connection, making it difficult?" Gu Chundong asked doubtfully.

Gu Mo chuckled, "Wang Dongli is a decent person. Although he had an unpleasant encounter with Du Sha a couple of days ago, Du Sha still praised him, saying that the Dongli Sect he established in Qingyang County truly practices acts of chivalry, protecting the common folk. Qingyang County has seen much less banditry because of it. That's why, even when Wang Dongli provoked the Six Doors repeatedly that day, Du Sha didn't pursue the matter in the end, believing Wang Dongli had his reasons. Now, it seems he indeed had his reasons. Secondly, you forgot the divination Red Clothes gave me. To find Tie Tou, we still need Wang Dongli. We can't let him die."

Gu Chundong nodded. "That's true."

Immediately, Gu Mo quickly wrote a letter, tied it to the Grand Void Sword, and performed a hand seal. The Grand Void Flying Sword shot out instantly. By the time it reached the courtyard, it pierced the void and quickly disappeared into the clouds.

The current Grand Void Flying Sword had developed the abilities of the Profound Heaven Floating Stone to their extreme. Gu Mo had also forcibly imbued the Grand Void Flying Sword with a Nascent Soul stage Sword Spirit. Later, the Sword Riding Technique was further strengthened by the God of War Catalog. To say one could "Take Enemy Head from a Thousand Miles Away" was now effortless.

This person was in Gan Country; sending a flying sword to Southern Jin was naturally no problem.

Just as the flying sword pierced the void and flew far away, Gu Mo suddenly paused slightly. "The Heavenly God Society has been located."

Gu Chundong hurriedly asked, "Found them?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I placed Nascent Soul Restrictions in the Sea of Consciousness of those two ruthless individuals. What they see, I see. Right now, those two are meeting with an elder of the Heavenly God Society."

With that said, Gu Mo took a step forward and instantly vanished, piercing the void.

At this moment, In an inconspicuous small village outside Qingyang City, the two Heavenly God Society protectors who had hidden in a manure pit for two days and one night to evade pursuit were now disguised as two peddlers, arriving at a farmhouse courtyard to ask for water.

A hunched elder in the courtyard led the two inside.

When they turned into the kitchen, The two ruthless individuals disguised as peddlers immediately knelt on one knee and said in unison, "Greetings, Elder."

The hunched elder turned around. At this moment, his hunched back straightened, his turbid eyes instantly became sharp as a falcon's, and the aura of twilight surrounding him vanished, replaced by a deep, bloody pressure.

He coldly scanned the two protectors kneeling on the ground, his voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. "You two have handled affairs poorly. Not only did you lose men, but you also attracted the attention of the Six Doors, nearly exposed our stronghold, and almost disrupted the Esteemed One's resurrection plan!"

One of the protectors, his face still pale and weary from being soaked in the manure pit for two days, hurriedly defended himself, "Elder, please calm your anger! Although our subordinates were lost, they transferred all the absorbed and converted inner energy to us two before they were captured. We fought desperately to break out precisely to bring this power back and offer it to the Esteemed One!"

"Oh?" The elder raised his eyelids slightly. "In that case, present the 'offerings' you brought."

The two protectors' hearts tightened, but they dared not hesitate. They immediately sat down cross-legged, circulated their energy to regulate their breathing, and condensed the foreign, mixed but thick internal energy within their bodies, preparing to transfer it to the elder.

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

The elder slowly extended his withered palm. An invisible vortex seemed to form in his palm, and a powerful suction instantly enveloped the two.

The Taotie Divine Skill was activated!

At first, everything was as usual.

The mixed internal energy gathered from dozens of victimized warriors poured into the elder's body like a surging flood from a breached dam.

The elder squinted, feeling the influx of power, and the air around him churned.

However, this torrent did not stop.

After the internal energy of the "conscripts" was drained, the horrific suction not only did not weaken but suddenly intensified. It was like a greedy giant python, fiercely biting into the original internal energy that the two protectors had cultivated for many years!

"Ugh..."

One protector was the first to sense something was wrong. The true qi in his body was like water from a reservoir with its gates opened, leaking out uncontrollably. His body shriveled at a visible rate, his skin lost its luster, and his muscles atrophied. He stared at the elder with terrified eyes: "Elder... what... what are you doing? This is our own internal energy!"

The other protector also reacted instantly, his face turning pale with horror. He struggled, trying to sever the connection: "Spare us, Elder! We failed to handle affairs properly, but our crimes are not punishable by death!"

The hunched elder's expression was blank, his eyes as cold as abyssal ice. He paid no attention to their pleas for mercy. The suction in his palm grew more violent, as if wanting to completely drain them, sucking out the last trace of vital essence from their marrow.

"Elder..."

Before the first protector could finish speaking, his entire body collapsed softly onto the ground like a deflated puppet, leaving only skin and bones. His eye sockets were sunken, and he was completely silent.

"Why..."

The second protector only managed to utter half a curse filled with resentment before following his companion's fate, turning into the second horrific dried corpse on the ground.

The elder slowly withdrew his palm. A faint trace of blood-red light seemed to linger on his withered fingertips.

He closed his eyes and felt the surging, yet strongly repulsive, mixed power within his body. He frowned slightly and muttered in a low voice:

"Don't blame me. It's all Ji Wujiu's fault for his incompetence, which led to our exposure. Now the Six Doors are chasing us like mad dogs. We had no choice but to reveal ourselves and act fully, but time is too short. I could only absorb you all as well. It's all for the resurrection of the Esteemed One. Our lives were bestowed by the Esteemed One, so sacrificing ourselves for him is a worthy death. I just don't know if it's enough now!"

His tone carried a hint of uncertain anxiety and a near-fanatical anticipation.

He no longer looked at the two dried corpses on the ground, as if they were just two piles of useless trash.

He tidied his worn, coarse linen clothes, and the deliberately restrained Grandmaster aura once again became like that of an ordinary old farmer.

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

"Creak--"

The wooden door was pulled open by him, revealing a sliver of the room.

However, the moment he lifted his foot to step out, his movement froze abruptly.

Standing outside the door was a youth in a green robe, who had arrived at some unknown time.

It was Gu Mo, who had tracked them here following the Nascent Soul Restriction!

The Heavenly God Society elder's turbid pupils suddenly contracted to the size of needle tips. He said softly, "Eh, how could this be? I made sure there were no pursuers behind these two before I led them here!"

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, "It seems you weren't looking carefully enough."

"It seems I'm getting old," the Heavenly God Society elder said as he slowly walked out, closing the door behind him. A light laugh escaped him, his face a mask of old wrinkles. "I heard that Yunzhou Six Doors has produced six famous constables in recent years, each one a top talent among the younger generation of the Jianghu. Young man, which one are you?"

Gu Mo smiled slightly, "It seems your eyesight is indeed poor if you can't even recognize me. My name is Gu Mo, known in the Jianghu as Number One Under Heaven."

The Heavenly God Society elder trembled all over, a chill shooting from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. His mind immediately searched for images of Gu Mo, comparing them as best as he could.

The portrait techniques of this era were somewhat abstract, but if one made a conscious effort to compare, they could still make out the likeness.

Immediately, The Heavenly God Society elder confirmed Gu Mo's identity. His face instantly turned grave, and he cupped his hands in salute. "So it is Great Hero Gu himself. This old man is Zhu Zixiong, greetings!"

Gu Mo smiled, "Since you didn't run immediately, it seems you're a sensible person. I'll give you a quick end after I'm done asking questions."

Zhu Zixiong's face was filled with bitterness. "May I 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 reached the Human World Peak. Your next step should be to seek ascension to immortality. My Esteemed One has already taken that step.

Although you killed his physical body on Dragon Tiger Mountain, as long as you are willing to cooperate now, he will let bygones be bygones. But if you insist on pursuing this, you will regret it in the future. The day my Esteemed One revives will be the day he becomes an immortal. How will you position yourself then?"

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, "Firstly, Gongsun Jue cannot be revived. You've clearly been deceived. Secondly, even if Gongsun Jue can be revived, I'll just kill him again."

As soon as Gu Mo finished speaking, he pointed a finger at Zhu Zixiong. His movement was casual yet carried a sharpness that could pierce the void.

A wisp of pure, condensed Spiritual Power coiled around his fingertip. This was the Soul Searching Finger of the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique, intended to instantly invade the opponent's Sea of Consciousness, control their mind, and directly extract the truth.

However, The moment that wisp of Spiritual Power was about to touch Zhu Zixiong's forehead.

An unforeseen change occurred!

In Zhu Zixiong's clouded eyes, a wild, greedy, inhuman light suddenly erupted. He let out a low growl from his throat, not human, like the roar of a dying beast, or the sinister laughter of an evil ghost from the abyss.

"Roar--!"

The hunched body suddenly straightened. A suction force far more terrifying and evil than when he had just drained two protectors erupted. This suction force wasn't targeting inner energy, but instead formed a visible, twisting force field that covered the entire courtyard.

Complete Taotie Divine Skill—Devouring Domain!

The air seemed to be instantly sucked dry. The falling leaves, dust, and even light in the courtyard faintly collapsed inward.

Gu Mo felt a powerful, irresistible pulling force surging from all directions. It not only acted on his body but also seemed to want to forcibly strip and devour the true energy, spirit, and even vitality within him.

At the same time, The strand of Soul Probing Spiritual Power that Gu Mo had pointed out, upon contact with the outer edge of Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness, struck an invisible, thorn-covered Bronze Wall and Iron Barrier!

"Screech!"

A cold, domineering, strange power with an supreme will fiercely counterattacked from the depths of Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness. This power carried the Nascent Soul Power of the Ascension Realm, instantly shredding Gu Mo's probing spiritual power into pieces!

Gu Mo's eyes changed noticeably for the first time, filled with doubt. He said in a deep voice, "Complete Taotie Divine Skill?"

Zhu Zixiong's current state was extremely weird.

His originally emaciated body seemed to inflate like a balloon. Veins writhed and bulged beneath his skin, as if countless living creatures were crawling.

Seeing Gu Mo's confused expression, he laughed heartily, "Gu Mo... what if you are Number One Under Heaven? You still fell into my domain. So arrogant and conceited, you deserve to die here today. You didn't expect me to have the Complete Taotie Divine Skill, did you? I told you the Esteemed One would be resurrected, and you didn't believe me. Fine, you are a Great Grandmaster of Inner Energy, perfect for becoming an offering to resurrect the Esteemed One. You alone can replace dozens or even hundreds of people!"

While laughing, Zhu Zixiong activated the Devouring Domain and surged it towards Gu Mo, operating it frantically, attempting to absorb Gu Mo's true energy.

However, In that instant, Gu Mo raised his hand.

"Slap!"

A slap landed on Zhu Zixiong's face.

Instantly, a red handprint swelled on Zhu Zixiong's face. He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with a few teeth and exclaimed in shock, "How can you still move?" Then, he said in terror, "Why can't I absorb you?"

Gu Mo curled his lips and said, "Your brain is broken. No matter how strong your Taotie Divine Skill is, can it be stronger than Gongsun Jue? I killed him, so why do you think you can deal with me?"

Zhu Zixiong said, "The Esteemed One is Invincible Under Heaven. The reason he died by your hand is because you used Schemes and Tricks. Otherwise, how could you possibly be his opponent?"

Gu Mo: "..."

Fanatics are truly troublesome.

Zhu Zixiong said indignantly, "Then why were you shocked just now? Weren't you scared by my Taotie Divine Skill?"

"I'm just wondering why the Nascent Soul Power in your Sea of Consciousness, which could directly control you as a puppet, would impersonate Gongsun Jue?" Gu Mo said.

Zhu Zixiong asked doubtfully, "What nonsense are you talking about? You..."

"Slap!"

Gu Mo slapped Zhu Zixiong's face again.

"Gu Mo, you're going too far!" Zhu Zixiong was filled with grief and indignation.

"Slap!"

Gu Mo slapped him again.

"Gu Mo, don't be excessive!"

"Slap!"

"Gu Mo, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"

"Slap! Slap! Slap..."

Gu Mo's slaps became faster and faster. Zhu Zixiong's teeth were all knocked out. He directly knelt on the ground and shouted, "I was wrong... Great Hero Gu, I was wrong... Just kill me... Stop hitting me, please stop, my head will explode if you hit me again..."

"That won't do," Gu Mo said. "I rarely slap people. If I'm going to slap, I have to do it enough in one go!"

"Enough!"

Just then, a voice suddenly appeared in the void: "Junior, know when to stop!"

Immediately after, Zhu Zixiong directly fainted. Then, a Nascent Soul Power floated out from his Sea of Consciousness, slowly condensing into a human form – a middle-aged man.

To Gu Mo's surprise, the human form condensed by this Nascent Soul Power bore some 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, which bore some similarities to the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique.

"Are you Wang Qingping?"

"Young people nowadays are truly formidable. To think you could actually discover me. Young man, you truly live up to the name Number One Under Heaven. You must be about to ascend soon. Not bad, not bad!"