Chapter Seventeen: Suppressing Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva

"So it's Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva. What a coincidence," Gu Changqing said with a smile. "What happened?"

"Imperial Preceptor, you've come at just the right time!" The armored guard pointed at Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva and replied, "He killed our Marquis!"

Upon seeing Gu Changqing, the armored guard was no longer afraid.

Even though the other party was Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, a high-ranking and powerful figure in the Western Sect.

The Imperial Preceptor was not only the Imperial Preceptor of Great Shang but also a master of the Intercepting Sect, whose status was no lower than the Bodhisattva's.

The armored guard leaned close to Gu Changqing and recounted what had just happened.

Gu Changqing frowned and asked, "Is that true?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva gave a wry smile. "If I said it was just a misunderstanding, would Junior Brother Changqing believe me?"

Gu Changqing said helplessly, "In principle, I should believe the Bodhisattva. But Chong Heihu is a disciple of my Intercepting Sect and a Marquis of Great Shang. How can you expect me to believe you?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva chuckled bitterly. "Would I, Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect, need to sneak attack an Earth Immortal?"

Gu Changqing retorted, "Is the Precious Flower that killed him yours?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva nodded.

Gu Changqing continued, "Would the Precious Flower run off and kill someone by itself?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva nodded again.

In fact, his own Precious Flower had inexplicably flown out and killed Chong Heihu.

"Heh heh," Gu Changqing sneered. "Do you think the Two Sages of the West would believe that?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva smiled bitterly and shook his head. This time, he was truly in an impossible situation.

Killing an Earth Immortal was nothing. Even killing an unknown disciple of the Intercepting Sect was nothing.

But Chong Heihu was sealed as the Caozhou Marquis, one of the Seventy-Two Route Lords of the North Sea.

Even if one wanted to kill him, it couldn't be done openly, much less in front of Gu Changqing.

The problem was, he was truly wronged!

Unfortunately, only he knew he was wronged. Chong Heihu was dead, killed by his unique magical artifact, the Precious Flower!

Gu Changqing pressed on, "Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, shouldn't you give me an explanation, give the world an explanation?"

"Explanation? What explanation?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva felt bitter. He really hadn't killed anyone. He truly hadn't expected to encounter such a troublesome situation on his first visit to the North Sea.

"Under the wide heavens, every land is the King's land; to the furthest shores, every person is the King's subject," Gu Changqing declared righteously. "You entered my North Sea, and here at the foot of Vulture Peak Mountain, you killed a trusted minister of my Great Shang and a loyal disciple of my Intercepting Sect. You don't need to give an explanation?"

"What do you take my Great Shang for? What do you take my Intercepting Sect for?!"

Gu Changqing's aura was imposing, and the armored guards were also united in their indignation.

"I... I really didn't kill anyone!"

Under Gu Changqing's questioning, Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's momentum faltered. The Precious Flower in his hand told him that his explanation seemed rather weak and powerless.

"You did it but won't admit it?"

"I..."

"Considering our acquaintance, and out of respect for the two Martial Uncles of the West, if you surrender, I can still show leniency."

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva had long since lost his imposing aura and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Changqing, I truly didn't kill anyone. Why are you pressing so hard?"

Gu Changqing smiled wryly. "It's not that I'm pressing hard, but that justice resides in people's hearts! If Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva cannot realize his mistake, don't blame me for being merciless."

"Is Junior Brother Changqing going to make a move?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva frowned slightly, not out of fear of Gu Changqing, but because he already owed Gu Changqing a karmic debt.

Making a move against Gu Changqing now was very inappropriate, but circumstances forced his hand.

Gu Changqing said helplessly, "Since justice does not reside in people's hearts but in cultivation, Senior Brother, please forgive my rudeness."

With that, Gu Changqing reached out and grabbed at Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva.

Infinite Creation Laws surged forth, forming an Azure Sky-Covering Giant Hand that reached for Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva.

"Creation Laws? Aren't you a disciple of the Intercepting Sect?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's expression changed in surprise. He had never seen such pure Creation Laws.

In terms of the Creation Dao, perhaps only Nüwa, who had already attained enlightenment, could compare with Gu Changqing.

Could this guy be a disciple of Tong Tian on the surface, but actually a successor of Nüwa?

Thinking about that now was useless. He needed to get through this immediate crisis first.

"Amitabha!"

A Buddhist Seal grew against the wind, instantly becoming as large as a small mountain, and slammed into the Azure Giant Hand.

Boom!

The golden Buddhist Seal instantly collapsed, and the Azure Giant Hand continued to grasp through the air.

How is this possible?

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's heart thumped. Before, he had only thought Gu Changqing possessed many magical treasures, but he had never imagined his personal strength was so monstrous.

How many years has this guy been cultivating?

A hundred years?

Or ten?

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva didn't have time to ponder as the Treasure Vase above his head flew out.

Bang!

Facing the rapidly shrinking Azure Sky-Covering Giant Hand, the Treasure Vase was crushed directly before it could even unleash its power.

Pfft!

His treasure was destroyed, and his mind suffered the backlash.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

So monstrous!

An Innate Spiritual Treasure was actually crushed with a single grip. It was unbelievable.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva raised one hand, and the Precious Flower in his palm scattered.

Five hundred Precious Flowers formed an array, colliding with the Azure Sky-Covering Giant Hand once more.

Bang!

The array shattered, and the Precious Flowers scattered across the ground.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva opened his mouth and spat out a sword, precisely the Mid-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure Gu Changqing had given him earlier.

Bang!

Though the sword wasn't shattered, its spiritual light was dim.

No matter what resistance Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva offered, it was all in vain.

Is this what it feels like to overcome all with pure strength?

This was the first time Gu Changqing had purely overwhelmed someone with his cultivation.

He hadn't expected his first move to directly crush Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, who was at Peak Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The Primordial Creation True Scripture truly hadn't disappointed him.

System-produced, indeed amazing!

"Don't try to resist anymore."

Gu Changqing said coldly, "All your resistance is futile."

Hearing this, Mahāsthāmaprāpta truly gave up resisting.

Gu Changqing was too monstrous; he was simply not someone Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva could oppose.

"You... what is your cultivation level, exactly?"

At this point, Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva had been suppressed by the Azure Sky-Covering Giant Hand and asked with a face full of shock.

"Great Luo Golden Immortal!"

Gu Changqing didn't hide it from him.

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva refused to believe that Gu Changqing was only at the Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation level.

He himself was a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and a Peak Great Luo Golden Immortal at that.

Looking across the entire Great Luo circle, he wouldn't claim to be invincible, but he was certainly among the small handful of top-tier cultivators.

Yet, he was ruthlessly suppressed. He could tell that Gu Changqing hadn't used his full strength, at least not yet resorting to his magical treasures.

Thinking of magical treasures made his liver tremble even more.

Which Great Luo Golden Immortal could crush an Innate Spiritual Treasure with bare hands?

It had never happened since Heaven-Opening!

"Whether it's possible or not no longer matters," Gu Changqing chuckled. "What matters is, you lost."

"Yes, I lost."

"So, whether I killed someone or not also doesn't matter."

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's heart was bitter, knowing the tide had turned.

He hadn't expected that not only would he be inexplicably maligned on this trip, but he would also be suppressed by a single hand.

This was more than just bad luck.

It was simply...

Unbelievable!

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva looked up at the sky, speechless.

Gu Changqing raised his hand, sealing Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's Three Flowers on the Head and Five Qi in the Chest, then tossed him to a soldier.

"Take him away!"

Seeing the soldier hadn't moved, Gu Changqing added, "Take him back to Great Camp, and bring the Caozhou Marquis's body back to Great Camp as well."

"Y-yes!"

The soldier finally snapped out of it.

He hadn't expected the Imperial Preceptor to be so formidable; the renowned Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect had been suppressed with a flick of the wrist.

Is this truly our Imperial Preceptor?

With the Imperial Preceptor stationed in the North Sea, what was there to fear!