"Since Di Xin sent you, I'll give Di Xin this courtesy."
Gu Changqing agreed. Kong Xuan was merely an independent cultivator, yet with the strength of his roots, he had forcibly cultivated to the peak of the Quasi-Sage realm, with few rivals beneath the Saints.
Whether in talent or perseverance, he surpassed ordinary people.
"This disciple, Kong Xuan, greets Master."
Kong Xuan immediately knelt in salute.
The scene made Qiong Xiao, standing nearby, feel rather awkward.
Kong Xuan had originally been of the same generation as her, and his cultivation even surpassed hers. A former fellow Daoist had become her martial nephew?
"Kong Xuan greets Martial Aunt Qiong Xiao."
Kong Xuan properly paid his respects to Qiong Xiao.
"This... well... no need for formalities."
Qiong Xiao was somewhat unaccustomed to it. To ease the awkwardness, she asked Gu Changqing, "Since Sect Leader Junior Brother has returned to Golden Turtle Island, why didn't you say anything? I could have handed the Intercepting Sect over to you."
Gu Changqing smiled. "The three senior sisters have managed the Intercepting Sect very well in my stead. I don't think there's any need to disturb them."
"But you are the Sect Leader."
"It's nothing." Gu Changqing smiled. "The position of sect leader is but floating clouds to me. If I find someone suitable, I can hand it over at any time."
The Primordial World was only a beginning, after all. Gu Changqing could not remain in the Primordial World forever.
It was simply that, at present, no one in the Intercepting Sect could truly shoulder the burden.
Dobao was smooth enough but lacked fire. Zhao Gongming had loyalty enough but lacked strategy.
Gu Changqing turned to look at Kong Xuan, and a plan formed in his heart.
"Kong Xuan, since you have taken me as your master, I happen to lack a Sword Attendant. Would you feel wronged by it?"
"To attend Master's sword is this disciple's honor."
It was only a Sword Attendant. Kong Xuan readily agreed.
He was not familiar with Gu Changqing, nor had he expected to be so highly valued the moment he entered the sect.
"Mm."
Gu Changqing took out the Four Swords of Zhuxian and handed them to Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan was slightly stunned, but he did not think much of it.
A Sword Attendant was someone who attended a sword, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian were swords as well.
Gu Changqing smiled faintly, then took out the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation Diagram and handed it to Kong Xuan. "Study this formation diagram when you have time."
The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation Diagram!
The moment the diagram appeared, not only Kong Xuan but even Qiong Xiao's expression changed drastically.
Being a Sword Attendant was nothing much, but attending the Four Swords of Zhuxian and comprehending the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation Diagram gave the role an entirely different meaning.
Today's Sword Attendant, tomorrow's Sect Leader!
Everyone trusted Kong Xuan's ability and character, but he had only entered the sect today!
"This disciple dare not accept!"
Kong Xuan held the formation diagram in both hands and knelt before Gu Changqing.
How could he not know what the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation meant to the Intercepting Sect?
Earlier, he had thought Gu Changqing did not trust him. Who would have expected that Gu Changqing trusted him too much instead?
Gu Changqing asked curiously, "You dared to take me as your master, yet you can't accept the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation?"
"This..."
"Thank you, Master!"
Kong Xuan no longer put on airs and carefully stored away the formation diagram.
There was no doubt about Gu Changqing's strength. Yet in the Primordial World, no one dared take him as their master.
Everyone wanted to cling to a powerful thigh, but this particular thigh was not stable.
Gu Changqing had swept away the Human and Chan Sects in one stroke and driven the Saints from the Primordial World. Such a feat was unprecedented throughout the ages.
But behind the Saints stood the Dao Ancestor. Once the Dao Ancestor returned, Gu Changqing would be finished in an instant.
Gu Changqing patted Kong Xuan on the shoulder. "Keep it up!"
Then he walked out of Biyou Palace.
Kong Xuan hesitated briefly before following him out.
By the time Qiong Xiao reacted, the two had already vanished from where they stood.
Qiong Xiao could only shake her head with a bitter smile.
This Sect Leader Junior Brother was unreliable.
Cultivation required more than cultivation. It also required experience.
Kong Xuan did quite well in that regard.
The two walked through the streets of the Human Race, drawing countless gazes.
Gu Changqing glanced back at Kong Xuan. Seeing four massive swords stuck behind his back, he frowned. "Could you put those things away? You look like Zuo Qianhu."
Zuo Qianhu?
Kong Xuan was slightly taken aback. He would have to spar with Zuo Qianhu another day.
Anyone who could enter Master's Dharma Eye was certainly no ordinary person. He might even be a master of the sword Dao.
Though he thought this, Kong Xuan still stored the Four Swords of Zhuxian within his Purple Mansion.
After walking a little farther, the two remained the center of everyone's attention.
The women in particular all looked at Kong Xuan with eager expressions.
Gu Changqing rubbed his forehead and said again, "Could you tone down that face of yours a little?"
Gu Changqing was one hundred percent certain that Kong Xuan was the ancestor of all peacock men.
"My face?"
Kong Xuan looked utterly baffled.
Gu Changqing pointed at his own face, then at the surrounding crowd. "Do you think this counts as traveling incognito?"
The two found a secluded place, and Kong Xuan toned down his looks by a hundredfold.
But...
But he was still ridiculously handsome.
Gu Changqing pointed at himself again. "Can't you be more like me?"
Kong Xuan gave an awkward smile. "I can't help it. I was born this way."
Gu Changqing: Heh. Are you mocking me?
Gu Changqing shook his head and fled into the distance with Kong Xuan.
They could not stay in this place. Kong Xuan was like a moving beacon.
Helpless, Kong Xuan toned down his looks another hundredfold, becoming so "ugly" that even he wanted to vomit.
Seeing that Kong Xuan still had a handsome face, Gu Changqing sighed inwardly. He truly was the patriarch of peacock men.
Though his looks were still first-rate, they were at least no longer as exaggerated as before. Others probably would not recognize him as Kong Xuan.
No one would think that the Primordial World's ultimate heartthrob could become an ugly handsome man.
When they reached a mountain village, they saw everyone in the village performing rites of worship.
The deity they worshipped was not the Human Ancestor Nüwa, but a statue wreathed in demonic qi.
Gu Changqing frowned slightly. Great Shang had established an immortal dynasty. It worshipped neither heaven and earth nor ghosts and gods, only the Human Ancestor.
Yet these mountain folk were worshipping a demon god.
"Let's go down and take a look."
Gu Changqing and Kong Xuan blended into the crowd. When the villagers saw them staring directly at the demon god statue, they shouted angrily:
"Where did these uncouth peasants come from? How dare they stare directly at Lord Demon God?"
"Drive them out and beat them to death!"
Countless villagers surged toward the two, intending to beat Gu Changqing and Kong Xuan to death.
The demon god statue curled its lips into a smile.
"Haha... Gu Changqing, I never thought you would have a day like this!"
Only Gu Changqing and Kong Xuan could hear the demon god's words.
Kong Xuan's sword-like brows furrowed as he pointed a finger at the demon god.
A mere Earth Immortal dared act so arrogantly!
The demon god shattered at once.
Yet black light flashed, and the demon god revived once more.
Its destruction and revival happened in an instant, before the villagers could even react.
"An immortal body?"
Kong Xuan waved a hand, sending out a streak of mystical light that blocked the villagers outside.
Gu Changqing smiled. "It cannot really be considered an immortal body. His True Spirit simply isn't here. As long as his True Spirit remains intact, he will not die."
"So that's how it is."
Kong Xuan frowned slightly. He had not expected that, as a peak Quasi-Sage, he would be troubled by a mere Earth Immortal.
"Haha... you can't kill me!"
"Gu Changqing, being besieged by the people you protect feels quite nice, doesn't it?"
"Hmph!"
Gu Changqing pointed a finger at the demon god, and the Creation Profound Light evolved into the power of karma.
"Impossible!"
The demon god cried out and exploded once again.
The power of karma severed karma.
Following that thread of karma to slay his True Spirit was nothing more than the flick of a finger.
After eliminating a mere Earth Immortal, Gu Changqing's mood instead grew heavy.
Only two treasures in the Primordial World could contain True Spirits.
One was the Investiture of the Gods List, and the other was the Myriad Spirits Illustrated Book.
The Myriad Spirits Illustrated Book was known only by name, while the Investiture of the Gods List was widely familiar.
The Investiture of the Gods List contained orthodox disciples of the Mystic Gate. It was impossible for it to possess such demonic qi.
The Myriad Spirits Illustrated Book?
Gu Changqing sent his divine sense into the system, but there was no Myriad Spirits Illustrated Book there.
Could it be the Investiture of the Gods List?
Impossible!
As the lord of the Heavenly Court and a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, how could Haotian collude with the demonic path!
"Let's go."
Gu Changqing led Kong Xuan away from the mountain village for the time being.
"Kong Xuan, go investigate. Faith does not arise out of nowhere."
"Yes."
After Kong Xuan left, Gu Changqing used his Dharma Eye to look upon the Primordial World once more.
The entire Primordial World was crimson!
Calamity qi?
Could it be that the calamity had not ended?
The Investiture of the Gods List had already returned to the Heavenly Court, so why had the Investiture of the Gods Calamity not ended?
Gu Changqing could not make sense of it.
Before you continue