Grandmaster Takes Action?

At the brink of life and death, how could Gu Yuanqing still care whether Qin Baijun had someone backing him? The instant he realized it, he struck.

All his cultivation and insights became his most instinctive sword strike beneath the threat of death. Wooden sword in hand, feet treading the Big Dipper, he launched Sword Pointing at Tian Shu straight at his foe.

Qin Baijun's pupils contracted slightly. He too was a swordsman, and coming from a prestigious clan, he recognized the embryonic form of Sword Intent. Yet every one of Gu Yuanqing's movements lay plainly in his eyes; compared to his own True Martial seventh level, Gu Yuanqing's cultivation was simply far too lacking.

"To be the first to die beneath my Profound Martial Phenomenon is a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes!" A flicker of jealousy passed through Qin Baijun's eyes. With a cold snort, he formed a sword seal, ready to activate his cultivation technique and cut Gu Yuanqing down with one stroke, thereby ending his inner demon.

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. The Profound Martial Phenomenon formed outside his body through the convergence of heaven and earth abruptly vanished like smoke, while boundless pressure sealed off his mind's perception of the outside world.

Upon entering the Profound Martial Realm, one's Profound Martial Secret Treasure opened and consciousness transformed, allowing one to sense heaven and earth with the mind.

Though one could not directly draw upon the Vital Energy of heaven and earth for personal use, one could gather the Qi of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha to nurture the True Martial Secret Realm. When the world within the Secret Treasury converged with heaven and earth, it could form a Profound Martial Wonderland outside the body.

Cultivators of the Profound Martial Realm borrowed the power of heaven and earth through their Profound Martial Phenomena. This was the symbol of their departure from the mortal world.

But at this moment, all of it disappeared from Qin Baijun. It was as though a cover had cut off his connection with the outside world.

No—there was another sensation. He vaguely felt the boundless malice of this heaven and earth toward him! It was as if he had become the target of a thousand accusing fingers, abandoned by heaven and earth alike.

A five-inch sword radiance shot from Gu Yuanqing's wooden sword. Sword Intent merged with Vital Energy, and the sword radiance swelled tenfold.

In the blink of an eye, the strike had reached Qin Baijun. Gu Yuanqing had already considered every possible follow-up change to his sword technique, yet Qin Baijun simply stood there stupidly. Only when the Sword Qi fell upon him did he seem to jolt awake, scrambling back in panic. In his fluster, Qin Baijun even tried to unleash a sword move to force Gu Yuanqing back.

But Qin Baijun's movements were now panicked and slow. In Gu Yuanqing's eyes, every movement was riddled with openings. With a shift of his Movement Technique, he used Stars Shift, and Sword Qi slipped through an opening and slashed down.

Sshhk! Sword Qi tore Qin Baijun's upper arm to pieces, severing it at the shoulder as blood sprayed forth.

"Grandfather, save me!" Qin Baijun cried out in utter terror.

Not far away, the White-Haired Elder, who had been casually exchanging blows with the Imperial Guards, turned back in shock and fury.

A Void Great Hand Seal forced back Chen Chuanshan and the others. Taking several strides in succession, he crossed a hundred zhang in an instant. He pressed down through the air, and a gigantic palm appeared above Gu Yuanqing's head.

Seeing the Void Great Hand Seal from the sidelines and experiencing it firsthand were entirely different matters!

The overwhelming aura was suffocating. Gu Yuanqing felt the entire space freeze solid, leaving his body unable to move. Every hair on his body stood on end as the shadow of death enveloped his heart.

Am I going to die?

Gu Yuanqing was unwilling—unwilling to be inexplicably killed when he had the system and such a bright future ahead of him!

Vital Energy surged madly through his body. All one hundred and eight Acupoints shone, while winds and clouds churned within his True Martial Secret Treasure. Under the force of his powerful will, its transformation accelerated as well.

It was as though Gu Yuanqing had broken through his shackles and regained the ability to move. The sword radiance in his hand slashed upward.

At that very instant, the Void Great Hand Seal above him vanished like smoke. Farther away, Elder Qin of the Lingxu Sect plummeted headfirst from the air, smashing into a tree before rolling onto the ground in a sorry state.

He climbed to his feet, his face filled with alarm. Looking around, he called out loudly, "Which esteemed Grandmaster is this?"

Chen Chuanshan and the others, who had been pursuing in this direction, landed on the ground and looked around. They wondered whether one of the Grandmasters enshrined by the Imperial Court had arrived.

Under the moonlight, North Spring Mountain was utterly silent. Other than startled birds taking flight, there was no response.

Not far away, the old man watching the outside through a window also wore a grave expression. A Grandmaster? Was there a Grandmaster hidden within North Spring Mountain? Then wouldn't everything I had done have been under someone's watchful eyes? No wonder I had occasionally felt wary these past days.

By then, Qin Baijun had scrambled more than ten zhang away. He sealed the blood vessels in his arm and looked around in terror.

"Gu Yuanqing actually has a Grandmaster protecting him? No, why would a Grandmaster protect a mere bastard son? Is it because of this Forbidden Ground on North Spring Mountain? But I have never heard of a Grandmaster being here!"

A Grandmaster had come? Gu Yuanqing flipped onto the roof. Having survived the disaster, he secretly rejoiced, then sank his consciousness slightly and entered Mountain Observation.

Yet aside from the Imperial Guards heading toward the mountaintop, he found no one else.

"Could it be that a Grandmaster's methods are beyond even what I can 'see' through Mountain Observation? Or can a Grandmaster affect North Spring Mountain while remaining far outside it?" Gu Yuanqing felt somewhat puzzled.

Elder Qin was uncertain, but he clasped his fists and called out, "Since the esteemed master is unwilling to reveal himself, Qin shall not disturb you further!"

In several strides, he reached Qin Baijun's side. Seeing his grandson's miserable state, one arm severed, he cast a dark look at Gu Yuanqing on the roof.

"Jun'er, I'll take you away!"

"Grandfather, my right hand!" Qin Baijun's face was deathly pale.

With a flash, Elder Qin appeared before the severed arm. Seeing that its cut had been shredded beyond repair by Sword Qi, making reattachment impossible, he cast Gu Yuanqing another killing look. He picked up the arm, returned to Qin Baijun, tucked him under one arm, and swiftly departed using his Movement Technique.

At this moment, he too could not release his Profound Martial Phenomenon. His consciousness was suppressed within his body, unable to connect with heaven and earth. This meant the Grandmaster was still present, and he did not dare act rashly.

Watching the grandfather and grandson leave, Gu Yuanqing let out a long breath. Lowering his guard, he clasped his fists toward the surroundings in full courtesy.

"Gu Yuanqing thanks Senior for your assistance!"

The Imperial Guard Commander, Chen Chuanshan, also clasped his fists toward the surroundings. "Thank you, Senior."

Their words spread through North Spring Mountain, but there was no response.

After a while, Chen Xuanshan and the others arrived before the small courtyard where Gu Yuanqing lived.

Gu Yuanqing clasped his fists again in thanks.

But neither Chen Xuanshan nor the soldiers spoke to him. They merely surveyed the scene, swept their gazes over Gu Yuanqing, gave a slight nod, and led the troops away.

Gu Yuanqing shook his head helplessly.

North Spring Mountain returned to quiet. The old man observing from afar lay back down as well; tonight, he no longer dared dig a hole into the cliff.

Gu Yuanqing looked at the wrecked courtyard and gave a bitter smile.

"Fortunately, there are plenty of rooms and few people here, so I needn't worry about a place to stay."

Not expecting anyone to help clean up, he retrieved his bedding from the collapsed house, found the various books and notes buried beneath it, and carried them into a side room. After washing the dust from his body with clean water from the stone vat outside the courtyard, he finally sat down to rest.

"What an eventful night. That man said he had a grudge against me and mentioned his junior sister. Could he have meant the Imperial Family girl with whom I had shared a night of intimacy?"

This was the only reason Gu Yuanqing could think of. Though born in a princely residence, he had never done anything like forcibly abducting women. Other than that matter, he had lived his life with a clean conscience.

"Among the Imperial Family, Grand Princess Li Miaoxuan cultivates at the Lingxu Sect. Could it have been her?"

The thought flashed through Gu Yuanqing's mind before he dismissed it. Li Miaoxuan was such a prodigy that she had entered the True Martial Realm at ten years old. By now, her cultivation was likely at the high levels of the True Martial Realm. How could Gu Yuanxuan have abducted her?

He then thought of the Grandmaster who had appeared tonight. What a pity that he had not been fated to meet them!

Yet he put it aside moments later. To others, Grandmasters stood high above like divine dragons, their heads and tails impossible to glimpse. But for him, that realm was within reach.

The contract has been signed, so rest assured and enjoy reading, everyone. If you're in a good mood, feel free to send some monthly votes or recommendation votes~