Ghost Hand Void Form

Ghost Hand Void Form, seventh on Great Qian's Black List.

Great Qian had three lists, all compiled by the Heavenly Policy Mansion.

The Heavenly List ranked the greatest experts in the world below Grandmaster.

The Earthly List, also known as the Hidden Dragon List, admitted cultivators under thirty.

The Black List, also called the Wanted List, consisted entirely of major fugitives wanted by the Imperial Court. To enter its top ten meant that one had escaped the Twelve Heavenly Catchers of the Heavenly Policy Mansion at least once.

Rumor had it that he had stolen treasures from the Imperial Palace and escaped a Grandmaster with his life. Whether that was true or not, his seventh-place ranking alone was enough to prove his skill.

Today, however, he was especially cautious, for a Grandmaster had reportedly intervened in the tale of the North Spring Legend. But the North Spring Sword Sect's Secret Sword was far too tempting. If he could obtain it, even without reaching Beyond Grandmaster, unraveling the secret to breaking into that realm would be a tremendous gain!

Void Form passed through the forest without making a sound, despite the thorns everywhere. A thin, dark phantom veil shrouded his body. Beneath its shade, ordinary people would never spot him even if they stared with their eyes wide open. This was the Concealment Art he had cultivated in conjunction with his own Profound Martial Wonderland.

He was confident that even a Grandmaster could not detect him from thirty zhang away unless deliberately keeping watch.

Before long, Void Form reached North Spring Peak without a sound. He seemed extremely familiar with the terrain; after just two glances, he headed toward Gu Yuanqing's little courtyard.

His movement was swift as lightning, yet stirred not the slightest whisper of wind. Using the shadows of the trees, he moved like a ghost.

Even the insects on the ground never paused their chirping as he passed. His Profound Martial Phenomenon locked all traces of his aura within his body. When he stood motionless, he seemed no different from an inanimate object.

Relying on these uncanny concealment and lightness arts, he had spent more than fifty years as a master thief and almost never failed.

Soon, he arrived outside Gu Yuanqing's little courtyard, clinging to a tree as he watched for any activity nearby.

At the slightest sign of a Grandmaster's presence, he would turn and flee immediately.

Treasures were fine things, but he had to stay alive to claim them!

Only after waiting for roughly an incense stick's worth of time did he descend like a wisp of smoke. He easily found the room where Gu Yuanqing slept and slipped a slender bamboo tube inside.

Specially prepared Mist Smoke slowly drifted into the room. He had great confidence in it: even someone at the Profound Martial Ninth Layer would sleep like a dead pig after inhaling the slightest trace. As for its effect on Grandmasters, he had yet to have a chance to test it.

He hid to one side, listening for changes in the breathing within. If the person inside noticed anything, he would surely hold his breath.

Another half an incense stick passed. Void Form detected no movement inside; instead, the breathing grew increasingly heavy. At last, a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

Still, his movements remained light, and he did not grow careless. He extended his true essence, easily lifted the window latch, and slipped inside.

A young man lay sound asleep on the bed. He surveyed the room. If Gu Yuanqing really possessed the Secret Sword, he would surely keep it here.

He began searching with practiced ease. Suddenly, his eyes lit up: he had found a Secret Manuals for the Heart Zen Unity Art.

He had heard of this cultivation method before. It led straight to the Grandmaster Realm. Though he could no longer switch to practicing it himself, a Secret Manuals of this caliber would surely offer insights he could draw upon.

With that thought, he moved to tuck it into his robes.

"Ah, I wanted to watch a little longer and see just what you intended to do. But you shouldn't have taken that."

Void Form froze. Turning his head, he saw that Gu Yuanqing had already sat up.

His true qi burst forth, and with a flick of his hand, he sent out more than a dozen needles as fine as ox hair, glinting blue.

At the same time, he used his movement art to rush toward the window, not forgetting to tuck the Secret Manuals into his robes.

But then he heard a metallic ring, as though a sword had left its sheath. Suddenly, heaven and earth seemed to become a cage. Boundless pressure sealed all the true qi in his body, and an invisible force snatched away the Secret Manuals in his hand. Before him, a sword hovered in midair, pointed directly at his face.

Void Form used every ounce of strength to halt himself. Beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. The sword tip had already pierced the skin between his brows, drawing blood.

Had he taken another half step, no one would have needed to strike him. He would have rammed his own head onto the sword and died.

The needles flying toward Gu Yuanqing slowed as though sinking into a mire, then fell to the floor with a series of crisp chimes.

"Tell me, what's your name? Your movement and concealment arts are rather interesting."

Gu Yuanqing leisurely put on his shoes and returned the Secret Manuals to their original place. He wore a smile, and his voice was gentle, as though he were speaking to a friend.

Yet this very composure made Void Form's heart sink further and further. People like this were often harder to deal with, and far more terrifying.

It also showed that the other man did not consider him a threat at all. And that made sense: anyone capable of immobilizing him, a Profound Martial Ninth Layer cultivator, had to be at least a Grandmaster.

This is a trap set by the Imperial Court! Void Form had already reached his conclusion.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Relax. If I wanted to kill you now, I would have done it just then. Visitors to North Spring Mountain are rare. Let's have a chat first." Gu Yuanqing's tone remained calm. He even picked up the clothes beside him and put them on.

Void Form slowly retreated half a step. He moved very carefully, afraid of causing Gu Yuanqing to misunderstand.

Amused, Gu Yuanqing lightly raised his hand, and the Kunwu Sword flew back into his grasp.

Horror flashed through Void Form's eyes at the sight. Even with his mental perception of the outside world sealed off, he could tell by sight alone that this was certainly not controlling a sword with qi. This was unmistakably a feat of legend!

The rumors circulating through the martial world might not have been wrong. The North Spring Secret Sword might indeed be in Gu Yuanqing's hands. What they had gotten wrong was that the man before him was already at least a Grandmaster!

He abandoned any thought of forcing his way out. Steadying himself, he turned around, cupped his fist, and forced out a faint smile. "I am Void Form. Tonight, I had eyes but failed to recognize a true master and rashly sneaked inside. Please forgive me, Young Master Gu."

Gu Yuanqing sat down in a chair, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and took a light sip before saying with a smile, "So you're Void Form, seventh on the Black List. Forgive you? Right now, all the martial world has is rumors. But you've seen me act with your own eyes. If I let you go, wouldn't that expose my circumstances?"

"Please rest assured, Young Master Gu. I, Void Form, am certainly not a man who breaks his word. If you spare me, I swear I'll keep my lips sealed like a bottle."

"Someone once said that only the dead can truly keep a secret."

Void Form felt as though he had plunged into an ice cellar. His forced smile grew even uglier. "What would it take for you to spare me, Young Master Gu? Money, treasures, martial arts Secret Manuals—anything within my power."

"You're asking the wrong question. You should be thinking about what you can do to make me spare you."

Gu Yuanqing was rather curious to see how Void Form would answer.

Void Form's expression froze. Whether this was an Imperial Court trap or not, if their positions were reversed, he probably would never spare someone who had sneaked into his room, released a sleeping drug with the intention of stealing from him, and discovered his secret.