Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 206 The Method of Returning Internal Energy to its Origin (9.6k long chapter)

The Spring Festival seems to pass by very quickly; the festive atmosphere disappears in just a few days. But when asked to define exactly what the festive atmosphere is, it's hard to say.

Gu Chudong indulged himself for two days after New Year's Eve and did not practice martial arts seriously, but he resumed normal practice on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year because Qu Xiao went with her parents to visit relatives and pay New Year's visits.

As for Gu Mo and Gu Chudong here, besides Qu Heng's family, they only exchanged gifts and visited Chu Yuan. Both families finished their business on the second and third days of the Lunar New Year. In addition, the old knife-wielder of the Big Knife Gang, who had helped Gu Mo find this courtyard, also paid a visit.

Therefore,
Gu Chudong began her cultivation on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

It wasn't until the tenth day of the first lunar month that Tang Buyi, who had gone back to Zhushan County for the New Year, returned.

Inside the Gu family compound, Gu Chudong was wielding a knife, while Gu Mo sat on a chair to the side, carving a wooden sculpture with a small knife in his hand.

Tang Buyi placed the gifts on the table, found a chair, and lay down, saying, "I admire Chu Dong's martial arts skills, but I don't like how hard she works. So, Brother Gu, is there any way for me to become a master without having to practice so diligently?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Tang Buyi exclaimed with delight, "It really is! Brother Gu, tell me quickly!"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "When you sleep, prop your pillow up a bit, and you'll have all sorts of dreams."

Tang Buyi: "..."

"Aren't there many legends in the martial arts world? Some people accidentally ate a fruit and became peerless masters overnight, while others inexplicably received enlightenment from senior masters. Isn't there any chance for me?"

Gu Mo joked, "Why don't you go ask those martial arts masters and see if anyone knows the method of enlightenment and is willing to pass on their skills to you?"

"I'm afraid of being beaten to death."

Gu Mo smiled slightly and asked, "Didn't you talk about marriage when you went back this time? Didn't you find a girl you liked through a blind date last year?"

“We talked about it,” Tang Buyi said with a hint of resentment, “but the girl is still in mourning for another year. If I want to get married, I’ll have to wait until next year.”

"Weren't you not in a hurry before? Why do you sound anxious now?" Gu Mo asked.

“I was ignorant before,” Tang Buyi explained. “Now that I’m out here building my own career, I understand how hard my father worked. I am the young master of the Tang family, but I’m not young anymore. The fact that I haven’t married and had children yet is causing unrest among the family members, which is not good for the family’s development.”

Gu Mo nodded and said, "You're much more mature now."

Tang Buyi gave a wry smile and said, "By the way, when are we setting off for the Canglan Sword Sect?"

"Anytime is fine, I'd like to get there as soon as possible."

Gu Mo wanted to go to the Canglan Sword Sect as soon as possible for two reasons. First, he was good friends with Shen Bai, and arriving early would show his respect. Second, he wanted to go to the Canglan Sword Sect to discuss the Dao with senior experts like Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun, hoping to gain some inspiration and find a way to fuse the five types of true energy within his body.

Tang Buyi said, "Alright, let's set off tomorrow!" Tang Buyi pondered for a moment, then said, "Speaking of which, my father is going too, hehe, he's going on behalf of the Tang family, and I'm going on behalf of the Changfeng Escort Agency. Do you think that when they arrange seating, I, Linjiang Timely Rain, might be ranked ahead of my father? Hahaha, if that really happens, what kind of expression will my father have?"

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "I don't know what your dad's expression is, but if your seat is really ahead of your dad's, you'd better not show off, because you definitely can't beat your dad."

Tang Buyi's face instantly stiffened, looking embarrassed. He glanced around, changed the subject to cover his embarrassment, and pointed at Gu Chudong, asking, "What's going on? Is Chudong bewitched? I've been here for so long today, and she hasn't even glanced at me once?"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Practicing diligently!"

"Are you that serious?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. This is the state of being free from self and other, where one can concentrate on anything. To those who don't understand, it might seem like foolishness or stupidity, but those who do know that this is true talent – ​​focus.

……

Early the next morning.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong went to Qu Heng's house to say hello, and then set off with Tang Buyi's group.

Tang Buyi is a second-generation rich kid. Although he has started his own business, he still can't shake his habit of prioritizing quality of life wherever he goes. So, he brings a lot of people with him, most of whom are responsible for taking care of his daily life.

As a result, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong also benefited, making it their most comfortable trip yet. However, because of this, their journey was much slower than Gu Mo had anticipated, and they didn't arrive at the Canglan Sword Sect's territory until the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

On the second day after arriving in Canglan County, Shen Bai personally came to the county to welcome Gu Mo to the Canglan Sword Sect.

……

The Canglan Sword Sect is located on Canglan Mountain in Canglan County, Yunjun Prefecture.

Canglan Mountain is one of the three great mountains of Yunzhou. Ever since Qi Tianshu founded the Canglan Sword Sect here, Canglan Mountain has become the number one mountain in Yunzhou.

The peaks are steep and reach into the clouds, with sheer cliffs and jagged rocks that resemble swords piercing the sky. The mountain path winds through the area, like a ribbon wrapped around a green screen, making it exceptionally dangerous.

along the way,

Shen Bai personally acted as a guide, leading Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Tang Buyi to appreciate the scenery of Canglan Mountain. They passed through the famous scenic spots of Canglan Mountain, such as "Jueyunzhan" and "Wenjianya", and crossed several mountains before finally reaching the summit and arriving at the gate of Canglan Sword Sect. It was as if they were in the clouds, hundreds of feet above the ground, with snow still flying and the snow piled up all over the mountain.

The Canglan Sword Sect is grand in scale, with its buildings featuring flying eaves and brackets arranged in a well-organized manner. Vermilion beams and pillars support carved beams and painted rafters, while stone railings meander around the complex with exquisite carvings.

From afar, Gu Chudong spotted Qi Tianchu and quickly said to Gu Mo, "Brother, Sect Leader Qi is ahead."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. Not only Qi Tianshu, but he also sensed a person with exceptional sword intent. The sword aura emanating from this person was of the same origin as Shen Bai's, but the strength of his sword intent far surpassed that of Shen Bai.

Gu Mo was pretty sure that the person next to Qi Tianshu was Ye Liuyun, one of the three grandmasters of the Canglan Sword Sect, who was also Shen Bai's master.

Just as Gu Mo had predicted,
Shen Bai quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Sect Leader and Master."

Shen Bai then turned around and introduced himself to Gu Mo and the others.

Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Tang Buyi quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Normally, Qi Tianchu and Ye Liuyun would simply nod in response to the greetings from these young martial artists. However, Gu Mo's situation was different. Although he was also young, his status in the martial arts world was already that of a Grandmaster, on par with Qi Tianchu. Naturally, the two of them dared not accept the greetings lightly and returned the greetings with clasped hands.

After exchanging greetings, Qi Tianshu instructed Shen Bai to take good care of the guests, and then Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun left.

Tang Buyi and Gu Chudong both looked bewildered, unable to understand what Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun meant by this. It seemed as if they had come specifically to say hello.

Gu Chudong asked Shen Bai in a low voice.

Shen Bai smiled slightly after hearing this and said, "You two, one is Brother Gu's good friend and the other is Brother Gu's younger sister. Naturally, you overlooked Brother Gu's status as a Grandmaster when you were with him."

"Given Brother Gu's status, for him to personally attend the wedding of a second-generation disciple of the Canglan Sword Sect is already a great honor, especially considering he arrived so far in advance. Brother Gu and I are friends, that's another matter. But if my master and sect leader don't personally greet him upon his arrival at the Canglan Sword Sect, then the Canglan Sword Sect would be lacking in etiquette and disrespecting a Grandmaster like Brother Gu."

Tang Buyi and Gu Chudong then realized what was going on.

……

At this moment, in a large courtyard,

Ye Liuyun and Qi Tianshu walked side by side.

Ye Liuyun sighed, "Senior brother, I had only heard of him before but never seen him. I always thought that the rumors in the martial arts world might be exaggerated. After all, that Master Gu is only in his early twenties. But after meeting him today, I realize that there really is such a genius in this world. He is so young, yet his cultivation is so profound."

"Can you sense how profound his internal strength is?" Qi Tianchu asked in confusion.

Ye Liuyun shook his head and said, "I can't feel it at all, and it is precisely because I can't feel it at all that I can know that his skill has reached the pinnacle of creation."

Qi Tianchu laughed and said, "The key is that, as far as I know, not only is his internal strength profound, but his swordsmanship, palm techniques, knife techniques, lightness skills, and even hidden weapons are also very strong. It's simply unbelievable. Rumor has it that he has the potential to become the number one in the world. But in my opinion, if he focuses on one path, it will only take him ten years to surpass Su Qianqiu."

Ye Liuyun asked in surprise, "Senior brother, Su Qianqiu is also a genius who was born with divine favor. He is not necessarily weaker than Gu Mo in terms of talent. He has cultivated for decades. Do you really think that Gu Mo can catch up with and surpass him in ten years?"

Qi Tianchu nodded slightly.

Ye Liuyun asked, "Then where do you think he ranks in the world right now?"

Qi Tianchu shook his head slightly and said, "He is still far from it. In the Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, from fourth to ninth, he can challenge anyone, and the outcome should be 50/50. However, he has no chance of winning against the top three. Therefore, he definitely cannot be ranked in the top ten of the world."

Ye Liuyun then asked, "And what about you, Senior Brother?"

Qi Tianchu thought for a moment and said, "It depends on whether it's a friendly spar or a life-or-death struggle. If it's a friendly spar, like Gu Mo, I can try to beat anyone from fourth to tenth in the Qian Kingdom; the outcome will be about 50/50. I have no chance against the top three. But, if it's a life-or-death struggle..."

Ye Liuyun asked curiously, "How was it?"

"The top three are also evenly matched."

Ye Liuyun said in a deep voice, "There are two Grandmasters on the Heavenly Ranking here now. I really want to see you spar with Gu Mo. One is a Grandmaster of Internal Energy, and the other is a Grandmaster of Swordsmanship."

"Let's skip the sparring," Qi Tianshu said. "He's a guest. However, it would be a pity to miss the opportunity to discuss the Dao with such a grandmaster. We met last time in Dongping County, but unfortunately the timing wasn't right. I was busy wiping out the Baiyue Cult at the time. This time, we can't miss the opportunity again. Strangers can benefit the most from discussing the Dao with each other."

……

Early the next morning.

Shen Bai invited Gu Mo and the others to have dinner together.

After dinner, Shang Buyu, who had now been promoted to acting sect leader and had basically taken full control of the Canglan Sword Sect, rushed over to meet Gu Mo. He repeatedly explained to Gu Mo that he had been busy with Shen Bai's wedding arrangements and hadn't had a chance to meet him yesterday.

Shang Buyu was extremely polite and respectful to Gu Mo. To be precise, the entire Canglan Sword Sect, despite being one of the top three sects and four factions in the Qian Kingdom's martial arts world, was exceptionally protective of the title of "Great Hero of Yunzhou," to the point that almost the entire sect was full of Gu Mo's admirers.

After chatting with Shang Buyu for a while, Shang Buyu took his leave because he had other matters to attend to. As the main protagonist of this Canglan Sword Sect incident, Shen Bai was naturally even busier. After having dinner with Gu Mo, he left as well.

Just as Gu Mo was thinking of finding someone to take him to see Qi Tianshu, Qi Tianshu unexpectedly sent someone to invite him.

The person sent was also an old acquaintance, known in the martial arts world as Sangtugong, the Laughing Arhat.

Gu Mo and Sang Tugong walked and chatted along the way.

As the last rays of twilight lingered on the cliffside walkway in late spring, Gu Mo stepped onto the snow-covered steps and suddenly saw a thatched hut with bamboo beams rising from the depths of the clouds. Wind chimes made of icicles hung from the eaves, tinkling in the mountain breeze like jade chimes left behind by immortals.

The moment I pushed open the door, a warm fragrance wafted out. The floor was paved with smooth, warm sandalwood, and shimmering light peeked through the gaps—the entire thatched cottage was built on an amber-colored crystal lake. Under the ice, the occasional silvery fish swam by, shattering the shimmering light that filled the room.

Qi Tianchu sat on the side corridor, casting his line into a meditative pose, the line piercing the ice and reaching the lake bottom. A pot of aged Shaoxing wine simmered in the stone stove, its aroma mingling with pine smoke, casting a flowing ink-like hue on his dark robes. Snowflakes drifted outside the window, landing on his temples; he remained motionless, as if asleep.

The snow falls silently, the frozen lake remains silent, only the four characters "Cold Moon Boiled in the Cold" on the wine flag are turned into eternal lines of poetry by the mountain wind.

Sang Tugong stepped forward and whispered, "Master, Master Gu has arrived."

Qi Tianchu suddenly woke up, slowly got up and put on his shoes, asking as he did so, "Does Master Gu like fishing?"

"Can you catch anything in this weather?" Gu Mo asked.

“Yes,” Qi Tianshu said, “the fish in this cold pool are best caught because they are so rare. The colder it is, the more active they become.”

"Let's fish for a couple of rounds!" Gu Mo walked over and sat down on a chair.

"You should have said so earlier, Xiao Sang. Go get a pole for Master Gu," Qi Tianshu said, taking off the shoes he had just put on, his hair disheveled, and his clothes in disarray as he sat down on the recliner. "Outside, I always have to pretend to be a wise and virtuous immortal. Only in my thatched hut can I be completely uninhibited."

As Qi Tianchu spoke, he crossed his legs and started picking at his toes, saying, "I heard you like to drink, so I've brewed some for you here, aged Shaoxing wine, the real deal. I like to pick at my toes, so you probably don't like me pouring your wine, so pour it yourself, haha!"

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, not at all surprised by Qi Tianchu's appearance. That's how people are in this world; they act one way in public and another way in private. Even a martial arts master like Qi Tianchu is no exception. After all, he represents the entire Canglan Sword Sect, and he certainly can't live according to his personal preferences outside.

However, although she could understand it, Gu Mo was still a little speechless about Qi Tianshu's habit of picking his toes.

However, considering that Shaoxing wine is indeed a top-quality wine, let's just pretend we don't know.

After a while

Sang Tugong brought Gu Mo a fishing rod and even thoughtfully baited it for him.

Gu Mo caught the fishing rod, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the hook pierced the ice and fell into the lake.

Qi Tianchu slowly said, "Fishing is actually a form of cultivation, and ultimately it all leads to the Great Dao."

Gu Mo took a sip of wine and chuckled, “Everything in the world follows a law. A fish biting the hook is a law, being caught by me is a law, and me sitting here fishing is also a law. To follow the law is to achieve harmony between man and nature.”

"..."

The two then began to discuss fishing as a starting point, taking turns to exchanging ideas.

Seeing this, Sang Tugong prepared to leave, but Qi Tianshu stopped him, saying, "If you leave, who will brew the wine, and who will pour it for me? Are you suggesting that Master Gu do it?"

Sang Tugong understood perfectly well that Qi Tianshu was giving him a chance to hear the Dao. However, he was also worried that it would displease Gu Mo. After all, although it was not a transmission of the Dharma, but just listening to the Dao, it was a rare opportunity for two grandmasters to discuss the Dao.

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Sect Leader Qi's hands are picking at his feet, and mine are grabbing fish bait. Neither of us is very suitable for brewing or pouring wine. Elder Sang, yes, I'll trouble you."

Sang Tu Gong then sat respectfully to the side and listened quietly.

However, Sang Tugong never expected that this debate would last for four days and three nights, with two more grandmasters from the Canglan Sword Sect, Ye Liuyun and Chen Shu, joining in the middle, making a total of four grandmasters discussing the Dao.

It didn't stop until the eve of Shen Bai's wedding.

They had to stop now, after all, Ye Liuyun was the groom's master, Qi Tianshu was the bride's father, Grandmaster Chen Shu was the officiant, and Gu Mo was the groom's friend and honored guest.

They were all still feeling unsatisfied.

Gu Mo is a grandmaster of internal energy cultivation, and a newly promoted grandmaster. This is very new to Qi Tianshu and the other two. All his theories are unfamiliar to them, making him very valuable for in-depth study. He is also the most rare grandmaster of the internal energy cultivation path.

Similarly, the martial arts philosophies of Qi Tianshu and the other two were also very unfamiliar and new to Gu Mo. Most importantly, these three were all knowledgeable and experienced, which greatly helped him, especially in his current predicament of trying to integrate multiple internal energies. He has now completely found his direction.

His previous thinking was too limited.

He was completely absorbed in figuring out how to integrate the five types of internal energy: the Blazing Sun Internal Energy, the Bright Jade True Qi, the Nine Yang Internal Energy, the Frosty True Qi, and the Profound Void Internal Energy. However, this time, after discussing the Dao with Qi Tianshu and the others for several days, he suddenly gained a clear understanding.

Although he currently only possesses five types of internal energy, it doesn't mean he'll always only have five. Even if he successfully fuses all five types now, he'll have more in the future. He can't keep trying to fuse every new type of internal energy that appears. He needs to achieve a permanent solution once and for all.

And in these past few days, the discussion...
The specific methods gradually became clearer.

The Tao Te Ching says, "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Three gives birth to all things." Conversely, we can infer that all things are One, and all things are inherently a whole.

Whether there are five, fifty, or five hundred types of internal energy, if we consider them as a whole and find a central point, it's like the moon in the sky, while the other internal energy types are like stars, forming a pattern of stars orbiting the moon. This way, we can unify the internal energy while maintaining their individual characteristics.

simply put,
It utilizes the characteristics of various internal skills to form a unified energy system, just like Xiong Ba's Three-Part Returning Qi, which integrates the three completely different martial arts attributes of Heavenly Frost Fist, Cloud Dispelling Palm, and Wind God Leg into a unified energy system that can both accommodate and infinitely cycle, unleashing extremely powerful force.

What Gu Mo wants to do now is a high-end version, because Xiong Ba only has three types of internal energy, while he has five, and there will be more and more in the future. Although for the time being, his martial arts and internal energy combined may not be able to compare with the Three-Part Return to Origin Qi, in the future, he may have fifty or a hundred types, which will be enough to defeat Xiong Ba.

After these few days of discussion
He gradually pieced together the outline of that Guiyuan system.

First, a system needs an internal skill that can harmonize the clashes of Yin and Yang and the opposition of the Five Elements as a harmonizer.

The second is a converter that can simulate and transform various internal forces, allowing them to freely transform and merge.

Thirdly, it is a stabilizer that can maintain a balance of multiple elements, requiring extremely precise and subtle control of internal energy to prevent the true energy from colliding and going out of control.

Fourthly, it is a protector that can safeguard or reshape the meridians in the face of multiple conflicts.

Fifth is a power source that can continuously replenish internal energy.

The sixth is an upgrade device that can fuse various types of true energy into "attributeless primordial energy," breaking through the limitations of martial arts moves.

These six martial arts do not need to be very profound. They only need to possess the six required characteristics. By integrating internal skills with these six characteristics, a composite martial arts system can be formed, which is based on attribute differentiation, pivoted by balance regulation, and ends with dimensional ascension cycle, perfectly integrating "internal force philosophy" and "energy wonder".

No matter how vast or profound the internal energy acquired later may be, it can be integrated into this Guiyuan system, just like the Three-Part Guiyuan Qi. No matter how vast the three internal energies of Tian Shuang Jin, Xu Yun Jin, and Shen Feng Jin may be, they can all be integrated.

For ordinary people

Creating such a system of returning to the origin is simply impossible, but for Gu Mo, it is something that can be accomplished.

The ghostwriter system is all-encompassing.
He only needs to find six martial arts techniques that possess the above characteristics.

……

After leaving Qi Tianchu's thatched cottage,

Gu Mo kept searching for wanted information in the system.

Because Gu Chudong would collect information on wanted criminals in her spare time, and Gu Mo's system would collect, rate, and reward information as long as it detected relevant information about wanted criminals, with all rewards explained by the system.

Currently, Gu Mo's system contains information on thousands of wanted criminals.

After a night of searching,

Gu Mo finally found all the martial arts skills he needed.

The first harmonizer can be the Tai Chi Divine Skill. The second converter can be the Lesser Formless Skill. The third stabilizer can be the Four Illuminations Divine Skill. The fourth protector can be the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill. The fifth power source already has the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Bright Jade Skill, two internal energy cultivation techniques that generate endless vitality. The sixth dimension ascender can be the Tai Xuan Scripture.

The combination of these seven martial arts perfectly meets Gu Mo's requirements and can form a Returning Origin System. From now on, no matter how many types of internal energy there are, they can all be unified through this system. At the same time, it doesn't affect the individual; whenever needed, all internal energy can be merged to unleash a super move.

……

After returning to his small courtyard, Gu Mo told Gu Chudong about the five wanted criminals he needed to capture and kill.

"Brother, I don't remember any of these wanted criminals you mentioned." After listening, Gu Chudong said with a troubled look, "I only remember one, Tie Mole, nicknamed Iron Corpse. He used to be active in Yunzhou, so I remember him. I don't remember the others at all. I'll go back and look for them slowly!"

Gu Mo smiled slightly, not taking it too seriously.

It's normal that Gu Chudong didn't remember it. After all, Gu Chudong wasn't a genius with a photographic memory. She had seen thousands of wanted posters, so it was impossible for her to remember them all. Moreover, before this, Gu Chudong had been paying special attention to wanted criminals in Yunzhou.

He brought it up simply to give Gu Chudong an impression.

“You don’t need to look for it,” Gu Mo said. “There are so many wanted criminals, you can’t possibly remember them all. For professional matters, you should find professionals.”

Gu Chudong quickly asked, "Brother, are you planning to join another Chasing Wind Pavilion?"

"No," Gu Mo said. "I won't join the Wind Chaser Pavilion, but we can cooperate. I don't need to join the Wind Chaser Pavilion; it would only restrict me."

“That’s true,” Gu Chudong said. “Joining a particular Chasing Wind Tower would grant you preferential access to information, but with your current reputation, it’s completely unnecessary. If you don’t join, you can cooperate with any Chasing Wind Tower in your personal capacity. While you won’t get firsthand intelligence, you can still gather information!”

Gu Mo nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Gu Chudong quickly said, "Brother, for Brother Shen Bai's wedding this time, all the sects and factions in Yunzhou will send people to attend the ceremony. The major sects, such as Zhuifeng Tower, will definitely send gifts as well. We can ask them for information and get a share of the profits!"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

……

The following day was the 25th day of the first lunar month.

The Canglan Sword Sect was bustling with activity, with drums and gongs beating loudly. People came in droves to offer their congratulations, and basically all the respectable forces from all over Yunzhou sent people. Many sect leaders even came in person.

It's not that Shen Bai has the face, but that Qi Tianshu has the face, because today is not only Shen Bai's wedding, but also Qi Tianshu's daughter's wedding.

People come and go at the entrance of the Canglan Sword Sect.

As a Grandmaster, Gu Mo was naturally seated in the VIP section. People from various martial arts sects came to greet him. There were many familiar faces among them. After all, during the battle between the righteous and the demonic forces in Dongping County last year, the top figures in the Yunzhou martial arts world had met Gu Mo, and many of them had even been defeated by him.

In the past, being beaten by Gu Mo might have felt shameful. Therefore, they vigorously promoted the name of the Yunzhou hero in an attempt to cover up their embarrassment. However, as Gu Mo's reputation in the martial arts world has grown, and he is now ranked among the top ten grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom, on par with Qi Tianchu, those who were beaten by Gu Mo before not only no longer feel ashamed but also boast about it.
"Back in Fengming Ferry, I went head-to-head with Gu Mo," that one sentence is enough to brag about for a lifetime.

Gu Mo also took Gu Chudong to catch up with the representatives of various factions and greet them. He also made a special trip to meet with the representatives of Dongyang Zhuifenglou, Fuwei Zhuifenglou, and Xinyixing Zhuifenglou. These three Zhuifenglou are the largest Zhuifenglou in Yunzhou. When Gu Mo first became famous, they all tried to recruit him.

However, things have changed now.
They had initially been interested in recruiting Gu Mo, but now, with just a simple greeting from him, the owners of the three Chasing Wind Pavilions were trembling with fear. Upon learning that Gu Mo intended to capture several wanted criminals, they all quickly wrote it down, promising to help him gather intelligence on these criminals, without even considering money; it was purely about making friends.

Of course, Gu Mo wouldn't take such a small advantage. He proposed paying the market price, with the top-tier ghostwriter and Zhuifenglou splitting the profits 70/70. However, considering that Gu Mo wasn't joining Zhuifenglou, he only wanted 60%, giving an extra 10% to Zhuifenglou for providing the information. Alternatively, they could sell the information directly, which was also a way for Zhuifenglou to make a profit.

The owners of all three Zhuifeng Towers readily agreed.

Subsequently,

Under Gu Chudong's guidance, Gu Mo met with representatives or leaders from other factions who came to greet him.

At the end of the day,
Gu Mo reaped considerable rewards. In addition to the few Chasing Wind Pavilions, all the major sects, upon learning that Gu Mo was going to capture several wanted criminals, expressed their willingness to mobilize their forces and channels to help gather information.

……

Shen Bai's wedding was a very lively affair.

The banquet on Canglan Mountain also lasts for seven days.

However, Tang Buyi had urgent business at the Changfeng Escort Agency and needed to leave early, so he bid farewell to Shen Bai on the third day. Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, wanting a ride, also said goodbye to Shen Bai and left with Tang Buyi.

Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun's appearance and personal escort of Gu Mo to the mountain gate caused quite a stir on Canglan Mountain.

Mount Canglan is very high, but fortunately there is a main road leading directly to the mountain gate.

Gu Mo and his group quickly descended the mountain in a carriage, but they traveled very slowly and did not leave the territory of Canglan County until the afternoon of the next day.

Just as a fork in the road appeared, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Tang Buyi lifted the curtain and asked, "What happened?"

The guard hurriedly replied, "Master, there are people blocking the road ahead. They are from the Flying Fish Gang."

Tang Buyi frowned. The Flying Fish Gang was the largest gang in Yun County and one of the six major forces in Yunzhou. Its official background was particularly deep, which was why it had been able to establish itself in Yuncheng, the capital of Yunzhou, for many years.

Their leader, Master Chang, is a top-tier martial arts master, second only to the Ten Grandmasters of Yunzhou. He has roamed the martial arts world for decades, and his claw technique can split gold and shatter stone. His power and reputation far surpass those of the Tang family, let alone the Changfeng Escort Agency.

Therefore, upon hearing that it was the Flying Fish Gang blocking the road, Tang Buyi did not dare to be negligent and quickly got out of the car, worried that a misunderstanding might occur.

As soon as he got out of the car, he saw a large group of Flying Fish Gang disciples in uniform blocking his way. Before Tang Buyi could go and ask, the Flying Fish Gang disciples made way for an old man who strode out. It was none other than Chang Siye, the leader of the Flying Fish Gang.

Tang Buyi hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects, but Master Chang preemptively burst into laughter, walked over, grabbed Tang Buyi's arm, and said, "Boss Tang, I'm truly sorry for blocking your way. Please forgive me!"

Tang Buyi was surprised that Fourth Master Chang would be so polite and even knew him. He was flattered and said, "Fourth Master, you recognize this junior?"

Master Chang said, "Tang Buyi, the Timely Rain of Linjiang, is someone who is now known to almost everyone in the martial arts world of Yunzhou."

Upon hearing this, Tang Buyi was very pleased and couldn't help but straighten his back. He wished he could drag his father here right now and show him what reputation really meant.

"Does Fourth Master have any instructions?" Tang Buyi asked.

Master Chang cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask if Master Gu is traveling with you?"

Although he was pleased by the compliments from Master Chang, Tang Buyi was no fool and wouldn't lose his bearings. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Does Master Chang need to see Brother Gu?"

Master Chang hurriedly said, "A few days ago on Canglan Mountain, I heard Master Gu say that he wanted to capture several wanted criminals, one of whom was the scholar Ye Xiao. I happened to have some relevant clues, so I sent someone to Canglan Mountain. I learned that Master Gu had already gone down the mountain, so I chased after him here overnight."

"Fourth Master."

Just then, Gu Mo lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, saying, "You've got news so quickly?"

Upon seeing Gu Mo appear, Master Chang quickly cupped his hands and said, "As you commanded, Master Gu, I dared not neglect my duty. I immediately sent a message back to the gang, instructing my disciples to spare no effort in investigating the five wanted criminals you designated. Fortunately, I did not fail in my mission and received news of the scholar Ye Xiao. I then rushed here to inform you, Master Gu."

"Thank you for your hard work, Fourth Master. I am deeply grateful!" Gu Mo bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"What are you saying, Master Gu?" Master Chang said, "Master Gu is a man of great righteousness and hates evil as if it were his enemy. He is wholeheartedly dedicated to eliminating evil from the martial arts world. I, Master Chang, cannot compare to Master Gu's chivalry, but I am willing to do my part to help the martial arts world! This Scholar Tianji is utterly wicked and deserves to die!"

Gu Mo chuckled.
Although I know Chang Si is just spouting high-sounding platitudes, this is precisely the meaning of the distinction between good and evil in the martial arts world. No matter what, as long as it is a reputable sect, it must maintain justice and uphold its bottom line on the surface, so that ordinary people always have some hope.

While it cannot be ruled out that there are righteous and benevolent individuals among those in the demonic path, most of them are unscrupulous, killing whenever they want without any rules, leaving ordinary people with no hope or light.

There will always be some "rational" people in the martial arts world who criticize the righteous path as hypocritical and say the demonic path is true to its nature. These "rational" people are simply insane.

Gu Mo asked, "Where is Ye Xiao?"

“Cangzhou,” Master Chang said, “I need to introduce you to someone from Cangzhou, a wealthy merchant. He discovered the whereabouts of the Heavenly Mystery Scholar, and coincidentally, he has a business relationship with our Flying Fish Gang, so the information led us to capture him. Is it convenient for Master Gu to meet with him now?”

"please."

Gu Mo naturally wanted to meet him; he was determined to get this scholar of heavenly secrets.

[Wanted Target - The Scholar of Heavenly Secrets]

[Mission Level—Four Stars]

[Quest Reward - Max Level Four Illuminations Divine Skill]

The Four Illuminations Divine Skill is a top-tier Taoist internal skill. Once mastered, its power reaches the level of "crossing the void on water," allowing one to break any martial art in the world with a mere gesture, achieving a state of "no moves are better than moves," and maintaining the same speed of true energy circulation throughout life. It is considered one of the pinnacles of internal skills, along with the Bright Jade Skill.

This martial art was carefully selected by Gu Mo to serve as a stabilizer for his Guiyuan System.

When the Four Illuminations Divine Skill is in operation, the internal energy is extremely pure and the speed remains constant. It can maintain a multi-dimensional balance with minimal loss. Its "extremely precise and subtle" control can prevent the collision of various true energies from causing the internal energy to go berserk.

……

After a while

Led by several Flying Fish Gang disciples, a plump man in his thirties walked over. He was dressed very extravagantly, adorned with gold and silver, and walked with a swaying gait, which was somewhat comical. He had a big smile on his face and cupped his hands, saying, "Qian Duoduo from Datong Money Shop greets Heroine Gu, Heroine Gu, and Boss Tang!"

"You run a money exchange?" Tang Buyi exclaimed in surprise, "Then you must be very rich!"

"Just a little bit, just a tiny bit, nothing more than small-scale operations," Qian Duoduo said with a smile.

Gu Mo cupped his hands and asked, "Boss Qian, where is the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets?"

"Cangyuan City, Cangzhou." Qian Duoduo cupped his hands and said, "Hero Gu, you don't know, this guy is extremely ruthless. Just last year, in one month, he robbed my silver cart three times and killed dozens of my men. They were all unfortunate people. Oh, they were all the pillars of their families. The death of one is equivalent to the collapse of an entire family."

Unfortunately, the Six Doors (a government agency) couldn't solve the case, and I was at my wit's end. I had no choice but to ask martial arts practitioners for help, but several escort agencies I hired to help transport the silver carts were robbed, and now no one dares to take my job anymore. I then sought help from the Chasing Wind Pavilion to hire ghostwriters, but two top-tier ghostwriters died, and no one from the Chasing Wind Pavilion would take the job either. I was so worried that I overheard a disciple of the Flying Fish Gang searching for the whereabouts of the Heavenly Mystery Scholar. Upon inquiring, I discovered that the world's number one ghostwriter, Master Gu, was willing to take my case.

"Master Gu, if you can help me kill that cunning scholar, I'm willing to offer ten thousand taels of silver... no, I'll just give you a branch of Datong Money Exchange!"

With Qian Duoduo having asked Master Chang to act as guarantor, Gu Mo wasn't worried about being scammed. Of course, he was more confident in his own abilities and wasn't afraid of anyone trying to cheat him.

“I can make the sale. You can discuss the price with my sister. But first, it’s clear that you have to provide me with all the information, including travel details and government oversight,” Gu Mo said.

"That's nature, that's nature!"

……

P.S.: Brothers, I'm starting to post longer chapters today. As I mentioned yesterday, although it's only one chapter at a time, the word count will be much higher.

Well, this word count is also free; it hasn't reached the point where it's supposed to be charged.

(End of this chapter)