Beat Qi Miaoxuan, Kill Plague God

Although Qi Miaoxuan wore a smile on his face, appearing calm and composed, his body was actually starting to show cracks, with sword intent on the verge of exploding from him at any moment.

Facing Qi Miaoxuan's question, Gu Mo did not answer that it was because his conversation with Yu Shijiu had revealed inconsistencies between Qi Miaoxuan's and the Plague God's accounts, which led him to realize Qi Miaoxuan was not right.

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "You and the Plague God cooperate too seamlessly. This doesn't look like enemies as you claim, but rather like friends who have long cooperated."

Many things are like this; when you don't realize a problem, everything seems normal. Once you start to suspect, everything feels wrong.

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Isn't this very normal? I've fought with the Plague God for hundreds of years. Although we are enemies, we are definitely the ones who understand each other best. It's normal for us to cooperate well!"

"It is normal," Gu Mo said. "But, the moment I started suspecting you, all your actions that couldn't withstand scrutiny were magnified in my eyes. For example, over three hundred years ago, you chased the heavily injured Fire Kirin to He Xu Ancient City and were stopped by the Plague God. But back then, the Plague God was just a Guardian of the Fire Spirit Race. How could he possibly stop an ancient monster like you who has lived for hundreds or thousands of years? Even the Fire Kirin was no match for you, so how could a Fire Spirit Race Guardian?"

Qi Miaoxuan replied, "I was injured at the time."

Gu Mo laughed, "The situation afterwards is also unreasonable. You let the Plague God snatch half of the Kirin Egg and absorb the Kirin Power to become a forbidden existence step by step. Then, every time the He Xu Ruins appear, you have to come here, etc. There are many unreasonable points.

Of course, you have explanations for everything. But when I already suspected you, any reason you gave seemed far-fetched. However, I still can't quite figure it out: what was your purpose in acting in front of us?"

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled and asked, "Aren't you afraid you'll guess wrong and kill the wrong person?"

"Then that's your bad luck!" Gu Mo said.

Qi Miaoxuan laughed heartily and said, "Gu Mo, I increasingly want you to accompany me now. You truly, definitely can make my boring and dull days interesting.

I'll tell you my purpose. Because I find you very interesting, and you also have immense potential. You are a person with more talent and potential than Yu Shier... well, that is, the Plague God. You are a person with more talent and potential than him. I want you to become like him, a servant to help me achieve the supreme great dao!"

Qi Miaoxuan beckoned slightly, and the Plague God instantly disappeared, turning into a wisp of smoke that floated to Qi Miaoxuan's side, slowly condensing back into a human form.

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Gu Mo, I'll give you a chance to choose. I can satisfy whatever you want, and then I can also grant you the ability of eternal life and longevity, and in the future, I will lead you to achieve the great dao and become a god in this world!"

Gu Mo did not answer but asked, "So, the Plague God cooperated with you back then?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "You are absolutely right. A mere Guardian of the Fire Spirit Race, even if I was injured, would not have had the ability to stop me. However, I didn't kill him back then. Instead, I gave him a choice: to live, to fulfill his wish, and grant him longevity, so that he would be of use to me.

This was a choice that required no decision at all. Naturally, he wouldn't choose to die. And his wish was to lift the curse placed upon the Fire Spirit Race by the Fire Kirin, allowing the people of the Fire Spirit Race to live like normal people. Coincidentally, I also valued his unparalleled medical talent. Thus, I handed him the Kirin Egg worshipped by the Fire Spirit Race to research.

I granted him abilities, gave him any secret manuals, wealth, and Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures he needed. He did not disappoint my expectations. Through the path of medicine, he forged an unprecedented path of ascension and became the forbidden Plague God. In the following hundreds of years, he researched the power of the Kirin more and more thoroughly. Finally, my experiment on Ye Jinglan succeeded."

Gu Mo asked, "So, every time the He Xu Ruins opened, your and the Plague God's purpose for coming was to confirm the whereabouts of the Fire Kirin?"

Qi Miaoxuan nodded and said, "After all, if this beast hides somewhere else, it would be truly difficult to find. Yu Shier can use his identity to contact the people of the Fire Spirit Race and confirm whether the Fire Kirin has awakened or left."

Gu Mo said, "Then why go through such a roundabout way? The Plague God is your servant, couldn't you two just join forces and break in directly?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Having Ye Jinglan lead the army was a contingency plan. The Plague God carries the energy of the Fire Kirin. If he entered the He Xu Ruins, he would certainly be detected. Therefore, we could only have the Fire Spirit Race help him control the Void Array to deal with the Fire Kirin's domain barrier.

However, there was no guarantee that accidents wouldn't happen. So, I had Ye Jinglan bring an army as a backup. Battle Qi could also temporarily confront the fire realm. Otherwise, if the Plague God and I had to go head-to-head with the Fire Kirin within the fire realm, although we could still kill it, we couldn't guarantee we wouldn't be injured."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "So that's how it is."

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Originally, I had the Plague God and I put on a show, and I didn't intend to expose myself to you at this time. I was still thinking of playing with you for a while, but you, kid, had to be so sharp-eyed and see the problem. What a pity, you've robbed me of a lot of fun. Kid, the identity of Qi Miaoxuan has brought me quite a lot of fun. I was originally thinking of getting along with you as a friend of the Old Undying for twenty to thirty years, you... alas, you really shouldn't have exposed me!"

A smile suddenly appeared on Qi Miaoxuan's face again, but it looked very weird, because his face was already covered with cracks, like fragments about to fall off. He stared at Gu Mo and said, "But, you are still a very cute pet in my eyes, so even though you did something wrong, I will forgive you. You won't make the same mistake again, will you? You will make a wise choice, right?"

Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "I'm sorry, Old Undying, I can't be a dog!"

"How can it be called being a dog?" Qi Miaoxuan said, "I will only place a small restriction in your Nascent Soul. Don't worry, just like Yu Shier, as long as you are obedient, you will always be free!"

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "Then why didn't you do anything tricky when you treated my eyes?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "I have requirements for finding pets, okay? Do any cats and dogs have that qualification? However, I have to say, I misjudged you back then!"

Gu Mo said, "So, Ye Jinglan, you towards him..."

"He is not worthy."

Gu Mo: "...I thank you on behalf of Ye Jinglan!"

Qi Miaoxuan slowly spread his hands and said, "Gu Mo, it's time for you to make your choice. Will you choose to be my slave and live forever, or... die!"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "I choose the third option - to kill you!"

As Gu Mo's words fell, "Pfft—"

A very faint but air-tearing sharp sound exploded from Qi Miaoxuan's body. Countless silver-white sword qi as fine as cow hair suddenly burst out of his body. They did not slash in all directions, but in a posture of near self-destruction, they madly slaughtered within him.

This was the sword intent left by Gu Mo's previous sword, which was now completely detonated, and Qi Miaoxuan could no longer suppress it.

As the sword qi flowed, it carried the sharp cry of shattering Geng metal. It spread like a fine spider web all over Qi Miaoxuan's limbs and bones, not only slicing his black robes inch by inch but also grinding his bones and flesh into powder.

That was not the slash of ordinary sword qi, but a disintegration from the inside out—in the visible silver light flashes, Qi Miaoxuan's body, like snow foam scattered by a strong wind, turned into thousands of white powder that rustled down, without even a trace of blood mist splashing out.

However, the moment the powder touched the ground—

"Jie jie..."

A chilling, eerie laugh echoed from all directions. The Plague God dispersed into surging smoke. Within the smoke, countless twisted and deformed ghost faces and heads appeared one after another. Each face was frozen in extreme pain and resentment. Dark pus flowed from their eye sockets, and their gaping, fanged mouths let out ghostly wails and shrieks.

They were like mosquitoes that had smelled blood, turning into streams of black smoke, carrying bone-chilling corpse rot cold energy, and pouncing towards Gu Mo's neck and chest from different angles. The sky was filled with darkness, as if it had come alive. Countless ghost faces appeared and disappeared in the dark background, forming a terrifying picture that could make ordinary people lose their souls.

"Hmph!"

Gu Mo snorted lightly, and the clear light in his pupils surged.

In an instant, within three feet of him, visible moon-white airflow suddenly condensed into form. The Innate Protective Qi, empowered by Nascent Soul force, was unleashed, wrapping around him like a layer of warm yet tough jade membrane. The surface of the airflow had a watery luster, and faint phantom stars flickered as it flowed.

Facing the oncoming ghost face smoke, the protective qi did not attack proactively. With a mere thought from Gu Mo, the moon-white light membrane suddenly expanded outwards, emitting a "buzzing" vibration. The ghost faces that touched the protective qi instantly let out piercing screams, melting into wisps of black energy like snow being doused with boiling oil, while more ghost faces rushed forward, only to be shattered by the moon-white light wall the moment they approached.

The surging Innate Protective Qi centered on Gu Mo, like a rising bright moon, its radiance growing, its range rapidly expanding.

The moon-white airflow surged like a tide, striking the surrounding dark domain with "kaka" sounds. The ink-black void rippled like waves, as if it could be torn apart by this fierce and unparalleled power at any moment. The edge of the protective qi even touched the barrier of the dark domain, forcing back the viscous, ink-like darkness by several feet, revealing faintly visible cracks deep within.

Just as this protective qi was about to tear through the poisonous fog domain, A light scoff came from the depths of the darkness, carrying an unspeakable leisureliness.

Qi Miaoxuan, who had originally turned to dust, materialized out of thin air about ten feet behind Gu Mo, a faint smile on his face.

He bore no scars, and the scene of him being shredded by sword qi moments ago seemed like an illusion. He looked at Gu Mo and said, "Gu Mo, you've made a very unwise decision. I don't like you anymore."

He extended his index finger and pointed at the moon-white protective qi that had expanded to its limit. Before his fingertip even touched the surface of the protective qi, a faint golden halo spread from his fingertip.

"Pop--"

A light sound like a bursting bubble.

The invincible, flawless Innate Protective Qi cracked inch by inch the moment Qi Miaoxuan's fingertip touched it.

The moon-white light membrane shattered like a spider web, and the flowing protective qi instantly turned into scattered airflow, dissipating with "chiching" sounds into specks of fluorescent light.

The originally surging energy field suddenly collapsed. Gu Mo took a slight step back, his Protective True Qi rapidly leaking out like a punctured airbag. Even the dark ground beneath his feet trembled violently due to the energy imbalance.

"You, oh you," Qi Miaoxuan sighed and said, "Kid, why are you so tactless? Did you think I only had that much strength after seeing you kill that Fire Kirin beast earlier? I was just playing with you, child!

Never mind, I'll teach you a lesson first. It's rare to find a pet with your potential, so I should give you another chance!"

A helpless bitter smile emerged at the corner of Qi Miaoxuan's lips. The ink-black hem of his robe remained still, but he had already approached half a step.

He raised his fingertip lightly and pointed casually. Where his finger wind passed, the void was silently pierced like old silk, and strands of spatial ripples exploded at his fingertip. An invisible pressure like an abyss or the sea pressed down, and the surrounding air instantly solidified like lead.

Gu Mo's pupils contracted sharply. He clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and a moon-white protective qi barrier instantly rose around him, flowing with true qi like glazed glass. This was his Innate Protective Qi unleashed with all his might. At the same time, his blood and qi boiled like a furnace, and the Great Vajra Divine Strength surged from his Dantian, condensing into a mysterious golden Dharma Image phantom within the protective qi.

Immediately, the Grand Void Sword hummed, its white light surging, forming a dense sword net across his chest.

However, in the very next moment, With a soft "puff," Qi Miaoxuan's finger landed on the Innate Protective Qi, shattering inch by inch like window paper meeting fire. The moon-white light extinguished without leaving even a ripple. The Great Vajra Divine Strength phantom that followed was like snow foam thrown into boiling oil, disappearing into nothingness with a "chiching" sound, turning into specks of golden light.

Before Gu Mo could even react, the finger wind that pierced space landed unobstructed on the ridge of the Grand Void Sword.

"Hum--!"

The clear sword hum suddenly became hoarse, like a mournful cry. The Grand Void Ancient Sword, which could cut through iron like mud, bent inward with a speed visible to the naked eye. The sword body curved into a full moon shape, its white light flashing violently, and the bent part heavily struck Gu Mo's chest.

An immense, irresistible force exploded within him along the sword body. Gu Mo was sent flying backward like a broken string kite, his back slamming heavily against the barrier of the poisonous fog domain ten feet away. Poisonous fog rustled down, corroding his Protective True Qi.

Qi Miaoxuan did not press his advantage. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and slowly pointed, "Gu Mo, you haven't escaped the common fate. You've fallen into a dead end of martial arts. Your martial arts seem brilliant and magnificent, your methods extraordinary, but you've forgotten the essence of martial arts is to kill the opponent. No matter how flashy the methods are, if they can't kill the opponent, they are useless."

Your martial arts are many, and their effects are not bad, but they haven't returned to their essence. For example, just now, if I had used a little more strength, I could have killed you with a single finger. What good are your many marvelous methods? What use is it if you can fight a nation alone? I can't kill an entire nation, but I can easily kill you!"

Gu Mo slowly stood up and chuckled, "Is that so?"

The moment Gu Mo stepped forward with a smile, the already ink-dark world suddenly faded to plain white. The bizarre, surging black mist instantly solidified, unfolding like a landscape scroll painted on Xuan paper—mountain ranges drawn with dry brushstrokes outlined in light ink, dilapidated pavilions sketched in the blank spaces seeming to ripple, and a broken moon slowly rising from the ink-blurred sky.

As the clear moonlight poured down like shattered jade, the surrounding poisonous fog domain collapsed with a roar.

The Plague God's body, severely wounded, shattered inch by inch in the dissipating grey mist, only to reform amidst the surging ink. He looked at Gu Mo's figure under the moon, his voice emerging deeply from the cracks in the smoke: "Esteemed One, this Gu Mo is too demonic. Don't play anymore..."

"It's fine, he can't escape."

Qi Miaoxuan's smile didn't fade. As he lightly twisted his fingers, a majestic suction force, like a whale swallowing rivers, drew in all the moonlight pouring down. As his pale fingertips flipped, the entire ink-wash world was like shattered Xuan paper, ink and silver light condensing into a vortex in his palm.

"Gu Mo, this isn't enough," Qi Miaoxuan said.

Gu Mo hovered beneath the moon, his sleeves billowing in the flowing wind.

"Then—let's go again!"

The moment he flicked his fingers, mad thunder split the sky, silver snakes danced wildly, and a torrential downpour descended from the Nine Heavens—each raindrop carried the force of a thousand pounds, and dense lightning like a raging waterfall smashed towards the earth.

However, just as the raindrops and lightning were about to touch the ground.

Qi Miaoxuan lightly raised his hand, and the rain and lightning in the sky were frozen as if by an invisible frame. Thousands of silver threads and water droplets hung suspended in the air, and even the cracking thunder seemed to be sealed within the ink-wash blank spaces.

"You still haven't listened," Qi Miaoxuan said, shaking his head slightly. "I'm very disappointed. I think your talent should be one of a kind in hundreds of years, yet you make mistakes even when I've given you the correct answer. I don't like you much anymore."

As he spoke, Qi Miaoxuan clenched his fist, and in an instant, the rain and lightning shattered and exploded.

He said in a deep voice: "I told you, these flashy things are useless. Return to simplicity, the Great Dao is simple. Martial arts are not for performance, they are for killing enemies. What use is your flashiness? If this is all your Comprehension, you don't deserve my second chance. You..."

Just then—

Gu Mo's pupils suddenly contracted to a needle point. A strand of bizarre will wrapped around like spider silk. The energy, flowing with a dark blue, strange light and carrying an eerie aura that was neither immortal nor demonic, firmly locked onto Qi Miaoxuan.

A bright spark of interest emerged in Qi Miaoxuan's eyes, his laughter laced with irrepressible excitement: "This is finally getting interesting. Gu Mo, don't disappoint me..."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Mo suddenly sprinted forward, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracking into spider web patterns.

"Roar..."

A clear dragon's roar exploded from his chest cavity, like the booming of a divine bell from the Nine Heavens. A blinding white light erupted from his body, and a phantom divine dragon, its scales shimmering with a cold jade luster, burst forth—its dragon head held high, with mad thunder as its scales and downpour as its claws. Amidst the surging dark clouds and exploding lightning, it transformed into a White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, pouncing on Qi Miaoxuan with World-Destroying might.

The moment Gu Mo transformed into a dragon, Qi Miaoxuan's face instantly turned pale, his smile stiffened, and he exclaimed in panic: "Why are you a dragon... Holy shit..."

At the same instant, Qi Miaoxuan's body stiffened abruptly. A blade tip protruded from his chest, emanating a surge of Dragon Might.

"Get back in!"

Qi Miaoxuan let out a hysterical roar. He grabbed the blade tip with one hand, blood instantly soaking it. Two fingers broke off and fell to the ground. At the same time, he grabbed the Plague God with his other hand and threw (him) towards the giant dragon Gu Mo had transformed into.

At this moment, a roar erupted from the blade tip: "Bitch slave, how dare you be so presumptuous!"

"Screw your mother..."

Qi Miaoxuan yanked the blade tip from his chest. It was like a palm-sized scale, yet also like a peculiar dagger.

"Roar..."

In that instant, the giant dragon Gu Mo had transformed into sent the Plague God flying and lunged directly at Qi Miaoxuan. In that fleeting moment, Qi Miaoxuan's palm, dripping with blood, gripped the peculiar dagger. With a gentle slash forward, he instantly tore open Gu Mo's domain.

Qi Miaoxuan took a step forward, appearing above He Xu Ancient City. He spat out a mouthful of blood, a massive blood hole on his chest gushing blood wildly. He sucked forward with one hand, lifting the Fire Kirin's huge body.

Instantly, a dragon's roar split the sky!

The illusory divine dragon broke through the air, its silver scales rolling, stirring up clouds of sand dust. Its dragon tail swept across like a thousand-pound iron whip, the air cracking with a sharp shriek as it struck Qi Miaoxuan's neck and shoulder.

"Pfft—"

Blood foam mixed with broken teeth sprayed out. Qi Miaoxuan flew out like a puppet with a broken string. His spine shattered a three-zhang-away bluestone archway, his bones cracking like dry wood snapping. Fine cracks instantly spread across his entire body along his spine. But Qi Miaoxuan couldn't bother with anything else; he immediately got up and dodged, looking utterly disheveled.

The divine dragon's claw missed, and a voice sounded: "Old Undying, what are you hiding from?"

Before the voice faded, the divine dragon extended its dragon claw covered in frost-white scales. As its five fingers opened, they blotted out the sun and covered the sky. Where the claw wind passed, even space rippled like water.

Qi Miaoxuan raised his hand and threw the inch-long dagger.

Deep purple cold light burst from the blade tip. The moment the dagger tore through the void, the surrounding air split open with ferocious cracks like torn silk. He casually pulled the Fire Kirin, flames swirling beside him, into the cracks. The giant beast's body erupted in a vortex of firelight, instantly disappearing into the rift.

However, just as Qi Miaoxuan was about to enter, the white giant dragon charged over. Its dragon head slammed into Qi Miaoxuan's chest, instantly pulverizing the already wounded area. The dragon then shoved him into the sky, then slammed him back into the ground, creating a massive deep pit.

Qi Miaoxuan swung the dagger in his hand, intending to slash at the giant dragon. But in that instant, the giant dragon transformed into Gu Mo. He reached out, the Grand Void Sword flew over, and with a direct chop, severed Qi Miaoxuan's wrist, instantly cutting off his palm.

But, strangely, the moment Qi Miaoxuan's palm fell to the ground, it disappeared. Then, Qi Miaoxuan grew a new palm, and the peculiar dagger reappeared on his blood-soaked chest.

"Kid, you're asking for death..."

Qi Miaoxuan was furious and slammed his palm towards Gu Mo.

Gu Mo gripped the Grand Void Sword with both hands and thrust it down. As palm met sword, Qi Miaoxuan's shattered chest instantly healed. He glared at Gu Mo and roared: "Kid, you're actually the third dragon. I'll make you wish you were dead and couldn't die..."

Just then, Qi Miaoxuan's chest once again bore a wound, the tip of the peculiar dagger emerging from his chest again. An enraged roar erupted from within: "Bitch slave, how dare you scheme against me!"

"Get back!"

Qi Miaoxuan slammed his other hand towards the dagger tip. At the same time, the Plague God transformed into a wisp of black mist, coiling around Qi Miaoxuan's palm. A magic array materialized on Qi Miaoxuan's chest, slowly pushing the dagger back.

"Bitch slave, bitch slave, when this venerable one awakens, I will grind you to dust!"

"Bitch slave..."

Frenzied roars came from the dagger.

Gu Mo simultaneously kicked Qi Miaoxuan in the stomach, sending him flying. Then, gripping the Grand Void Sword, he teleported into the air and slashed down, sneering, "No wonder you old undying ones need slaves, it's to salvage your pathetic pride. What Long Life Being, turns out you're just a Longevity Slave!"

"Gu Mo, you deserve to die, you bastard..."

Qi Miaoxuan's thoughts were pierced, his defenses broken, and he cursed loudly.

Gu Mo's sword slashed down. Qi Miaoxuan immediately prepared to meet it, but at that instant, the struggle within his chest intensified. He had to use his other hand to press down on the dagger as well.

In that instant, Gu Mo's sword cleaved down, directly severing Qi Miaoxuan's head. A furious sword qi erupted, blasting Qi Miaoxuan's body into pieces. The Plague God also instantly turned into smoke, preparing to dissipate.

Gu Mo let out a cold snort and beckoned with his hand.

Instantly, the heavens and earth abruptly changed to Black and White Color. The city below transformed into a surging Great Sea. A bright moon rose from the seabed, and under its moonlight, the Great Sea churned and surged.

Qi Miaoxuan reappeared in the air, his hands tightly gripping the dagger. Both his hands were stripped down to bloody bones by the dagger's mysterious power. On the other side, the Plague God, enveloped and suppressed by moonlight, could no longer maintain its human form.

Gu Mo made a slight gesture with his hand.

The sea waves and moonlight surged forth, directly causing Qi Miaoxuan's body to begin shattering. However, Qi Miaoxuan's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Kid, you're lucky today to have awakened the beast within me. Next time we meet, you will surely die!"

Before his words even fell, Qi Miaoxuan's bone-bare hands, gripping the dagger, made a slight slash. A Spatial Rift appeared.

"Roar..."

Gu Mo transformed into a divine dragon, letting out a dragon's roar as he swooped down. But he was still a moment too late. The Spatial Rift had already closed, and Qi Miaoxuan's aura was completely undetectable.

However, the divine dragon did not hesitate. It abruptly spun its huge body and looked towards the Plague God.

At this moment, the Plague God, unable to move due to the moonlight's restriction, watched Qi Miaoxuan break through space and escape. It couldn't help but curse, "Old Ghost Qi, I'll fuck your mother..."

The Plague God instantly dissolved into wisps of smoke.

However, At that very instant, The divine dragon arrived in an instant. Its body spun, forming a tornado that sucked in the dissipating poisonous fog. Then, as it circled, its head struck, and Yu Shier's Nascent Soul Body was knocked out of the poisonous fog, becoming very ethereal and falling to the ground.

The divine dragon swooped down, instantly transforming back into Gu Mo's figure. He beckoned, and the Grand Void Sword flew to his hand. He thrust the sword into Yu Shier's chest.