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

Chapter 211 Acquisition of the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill (1-word long chapter)
It was early March when Gu Mo and Gu Chudong returned to Cangyuan City from Tongjiang County. After discussing it, the siblings decided to wait until after Qian Duoduo's funeral before returning to Yunzhou. After the funeral, they learned that the Lin family's compensation payment was almost here, and the bounty on Ye Xiao from the Six Doors was also about to be issued.

Gu Mo decided to wait for the money to arrive before returning to Yunzhou, so that the Qian family wouldn't have to send someone on the trip, which would be dangerous and waste other people's time.

Before long, it was late March.

The Jianghu (martial arts world) in Cangzhou was in turmoil recently, quite different from what Gu Mo had anticipated. He had thought that with the Lin family's power, he could easily control public opinion, but unexpectedly, the Lin family's reputation plummeted. The assassination attempt on Qian Duoduo not only failed to be suppressed but escalated, putting the Lin family in the eye of the storm.

This actually made Gu Mo a minor celebrity in Cangzhou, letting more people know the name of the great hero of Yunzhou.

this day,
The reward money from the Lin family and the government's bounty have arrived.

The Qian family went to exchange their money for banknotes issued by the imperial court and accepted throughout the country, and handed them to Gu Mo.

Gu Mo planned to take a boat back to Yunzhou the next day, but that very night, a distinguished guest from the Qian family came to see Gu Mo.

……

Under the night sky, the stars shone brightly.

In a small courtyard room of the Qian family, Qian Yue found Gu Mo and said, "Great Hero Gu, Miss Yun Xiu of the Yun family requests an audience with you!"

"Cloud Sleeves?"

Gu Mo recognized this person; she was the eldest daughter of the Yun family, one of the seven great families. She was a famous and talented woman in Cangzhou, and as a woman, she became a strong contender for the next head of the Yun family, making the younger generation of the Yun family unable to hold their heads high.

This woman is accomplished in both literature and martial arts. She is highly accomplished in poetry and prose, and is a renowned talented woman in Cangzhou. In terms of martial arts, she is the only martial arts genius in the Yun family's history who has the potential to cultivate the Yun family's inherited martial art, Flying Cloud Nine Heavens, to the ninth level. Even more remarkably, she is also very good at business and has already taken charge of many of the Yun family's businesses on her own.

"Did she say what she wanted to talk to me about?" Gu Mo asked.

Qian Yue nodded and said, "She said she had news of the lecherous demon Shangguan Shang."

"welcome."

Gu Mo immediately became interested.

Shangguan Shang, the most notorious lecher in the Qian Kingdom, is one of the most wanted criminals Gu Mo currently desires to kill. A master of light-body martial arts, his bounty is currently displayed on the system page.

[Wanted Target - The Sex Demon]

[Mission Level—Four Stars]

[Quest Reward - Max Level Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill]

……

Gu Mo is building an internal energy restoration system, but he is currently missing four internal skills, one of which is the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill, an extremely exquisite martial art.

Cultivators must first face certain death to survive, ultimately undergoing a complete transformation and greatly increasing their power. Once mastered, they can spin silk like a silkworm, using the silk to bind themselves and repair their bodies after being defeated. They breathe through their skin within the cocoon, healing injuries and enhancing their power. Their martial arts realm will also enter a state of ethereal emptiness, like "ascending to immortality," free from weight and constraints.

In Gu Mo's Guiyuan System, this acts as a protector, protecting or reshaping the meridians during conflicts of multiple true energies. This is because a fully upgraded Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill can repair broken meridians, and is even powerful enough to regenerate necrotic internal organs, and can also cleanse the marrow and develop a person's potential.

……

Before long, led by Qian Yue, a woman in a red dress walked in. The old trees in the courtyard suddenly shook off their leaves, as if to make way for the woman.

The woman's jade pendant at her waist jingled softly, tied with a simple hemp rope that made a light, clear sound with each step. She wore no makeup, and a white plum blossom glistening with morning dew adorned her temple. Her hair was casually tied up with a bamboo hairpin, which accentuated her snow-white neck even more than gold hairpins and jade ornaments.

This woman wasn't particularly stunning; in terms of looks alone, she could only be described as pretty, and her appearance was only above average in the martial arts world. However, the charm she exuded when she raised her eyebrows was as if she had trampled the entire martial arts world of Cangzhou under her embroidered shoes.

"Yunxiu greets Master Gu."

Yunxiu bowed respectfully to Gu Mo, then slightly raised her eyes to sized him up, inwardly praising his regal bearing. She then bowed again to Gu Chudong, saying, "Greetings, Miss Gu..."

As she finished speaking, she looked up at Gu Chudong. Upon that glance, she felt that the female knight-errant before her, though also a woman, possessed a unique charm. It was a blend of heroism and gentleness, with the liveliness in her brows and eyes revealing the free spirit of a chivalrous heroine. She had a unique temperament that made her unconsciously want to look at her a few more times.

Gu Chudong noticed Yun Xiu's gaze, a simple smile appeared on his face, and he called out, "Miss Yun."

Upon seeing Gu Chudong's honest smile, Yunxiu's fondness for Gu Chudong grew even stronger. She felt that Gu Chudong was the purest of girls. She chuckled and said, "Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, you two are extraordinary people. Your temperament is so lofty that it is like that of immortals or gods. Just meeting you has filled me with admiration. Please forgive my rudeness!"

Looking at Yun Xiu, Gu Chudong suddenly felt that this Miss Yun had excellent taste and was a very good person.

“Miss Yun,” Gu Mo gestured for Yun Xiu to sit down and said, “Do you know Shangguan Shang’s whereabouts?”

Yunxiu nodded and said, "To be honest, Master Gu, I didn't have any news, but rather I received news that Shangguan Shang intends to harm me."

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "If Shangguan Shang isn't insane, he probably wouldn't dare to go to the Yun family to cause you trouble. Even if he's blinded by lust and has the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard, he probably wouldn't dare to go to the Yun family to do anything improper! Moreover, as far as I know, this lecherous demon Shangguan Shang is only good at light footwork, his martial arts are average. If you take precautions and are vigilant, he can't cause you any harm!"

Yunxiu shook her head slightly and said, "In a few days, I will be holding a clothing exhibition in Tongtai City. This is a very important event for me, and I must go."

"More important than life itself?" Gu Mo asked in surprise.

"More or less," Yunxiu pondered for a moment and said, "I know that Master Gu is a straightforward person, so I will speak the truth. This clothing exhibition is something I have been planning for many years, and I have invited cloth merchants from Cangzhou, Yunzhou and other places, as well as famous families from all over Cangzhou."

This clothing exhibition will directly determine whether I can become the next head of the Yun family. Because I'm a woman, there have always been many objections within the clan to me taking over businesses in various regions; there are many who oppose me. I must achieve results far exceeding those of others. This clothing exhibition is my opportunity, so it's truly more important than my life.

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "The Yun family is one of the seven great families in the martial arts world, with a profound foundation and countless experts. Can't they guarantee their safety?"

Yunxiu said helplessly, "Because I am a woman, the clan has never given me much support. If I make a bigger request to the clan at this time, I am afraid that people will take advantage of the situation and even seize my achievements. They may even use my safety as a reason to prevent me from attending my clothing exhibition."

Gu Mo didn't ask why he didn't report the case to the Six Doors.

After all, Yunxiu valued this clothing exhibition more than her own life, so naturally she wouldn't allow it to be ruined. Once the Six Doors intervened, the matter would inevitably be exposed, and once word got out, who would dare to attend the exhibition? Yunxiu's years of painstaking preparation would be wasted.

Therefore, Gu Mo also understood.
Yunxiu was not actually afraid of Shangguan Shang, but rather that the clothing display would be ruined.

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "So, you want me to be your bodyguard? Rather than being afraid that Shangguan Shang will do something to you, you're more afraid that he will ruin your clothing exhibition? If it's just that he'll do something to you, you can strengthen your guards, and in broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it's unlikely that you will still be kidnapped."

Yunxiu hurriedly said, "Yes, I originally dared not disturb you, Master Gu, but I received definite news that the lecherous Shangguan Shang was going to take advantage of me at the clothing exhibition. I heard that you, Master Gu, are looking for clues about Shangguan Shang, so I dared to come and pay my respects!"

Gu Mo asked, "Is the information reliable?"

Yunxiu said, "Master Gu, I only found out about this through some channels in the black market, among all sorts of people, so I can't confirm its authenticity. Besides, even if it were true, Shangguan Shang is still a living person, and his mind could change at any time, so I really can't guarantee it."

However, I certainly won't let you come for nothing. Regardless of whether Shangguan Shang shows up or not, I will prepare a reward for you after the clothing exhibition. Hmm... I heard that the Qian family head previously offered you ten thousand taels for your services, and I am willing to offer ten thousand taels for your services as well... I can even raise the price!"

Another ten thousand taels.

Gu Mo sighed. Ten thousand taels was more money than an ordinary person could earn in a lifetime, and now people were willing to spend that much just to ask him to do it once. The ghostwriter industry was really lucrative.

However, upon closer reflection, Gu Mo realized that the ghostwriting industry wasn't inherently lucrative. Ghostwriting was a high-risk profession where people risked their lives, and most never even caught a wanted criminal worth more than a hundred taels of silver in their entire lives.

Many of the ghostwriters, however, ultimately died at the hands of wanted criminals.

It seems his income is very high.

He has already made tens of thousands of taels of silver by killing wanted criminals.

But if you think about it carefully, he is the number one ghostwriter in the world. Every one of the wanted criminals he killed had a lot of ghostwriters on his hands.

So it's just that he has a high income, not that the ghostwriting industry itself has a high income.

Thinking about it this way,
Ten thousand taels, it's really not that much!

Furthermore, strictly speaking, Gu Mo isn't actually that interested in money these days. Although ten thousand taels is a lot, if it weren't for the clues about the wanted criminal Shangguan Shang, he wouldn't have been very interested in doing anything for just ten thousand taels.

Yunxiu cautiously inquired, "Master Gu, if you are not satisfied with the conditions, you can make your suggestions..."

"Fifteen thousand taels!"

Just then, Gu Chudong, who had been grinning, suddenly spoke up, his gaze towards Yunxiu becoming very eager. He said, "My brother is the number one ghostwriter in the world, one of the top ten grandmasters in Yunzhou. Fifteen thousand taels is a friendly price. The reason Qian Duoduo was able to hire my brother for ten thousand taels was because our Flying Fish Gang leader, Master Chang, did him a favor. Master Chang is Qian Duoduo's elder and also happens to be my friend. My brother owes him a huge favor. Initially, Qian Duoduo offered twenty thousand taels, but my brother, considering Master Chang's favor, returned ten thousand taels."

"Yes, Miss Yun, from what you just said, it's truly not easy for you. I'm also a woman, and I know how difficult it is for you to have come this far as a woman. Outsiders don't understand, and no one in your family supports you. I admire you very much, so I've made the decision to give you a discount of five thousand taels of silver, and only charge you fifteen thousand taels!"

Yunxiu quickly replied, "Thank you, Miss Gu!"

Gu Chudong smiled憨厚ly, quickly took out a pen, ink, paper and inkstone from her book box, wrote a note, and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Miss Yun, please pay the deposit here. Don't worry, 15,000 taels will hire the number one ghostwriter in the world to escort you. You've made a fortune! You really have good taste!"

Yunxiu suddenly realized that she had misjudged the situation; this Lady Gu seemed to be anything but simple-minded.

Encouraged by Gu Chudong's enthusiasm, Yunxiu readily signed the document and then paid five thousand taels of silver as a deposit.

Then, Gu Chudong sat there counting the silver notes Yunxiu had given him, his mouth practically splitting open in a wide grin.
"One North, Two Norths..."

Gu Mo: “…”

Indeed, entering the Dao can change a person's realm, but it can never change a person's essence.

A money-grubber will always be a money-grubber!
……

Gu Mo's plan to return to Yunzhou was disrupted once again.

That night, he and Gu Chudong left the Qian family with Yunxiu and headed straight for Tongtai City.

Tongtai City is a county town, but it is one of the largest waterway hubs in the entire Cangzhou, making transportation extremely convenient. This is why Yunxiu Association chose Tongtai City for its clothing exhibition.

They arrived at Tongtai City three days before the start of the clothing exhibition.

Yunxiu took Gu Mo and Gu Chudong directly to stay at a manor called Caiyun Manor, where the clothing exhibition was being held, so that they could get to know the environment.

Gu Mo was no nobody. Even in Cangzhou, he was quite well-known. And recently, because of the assassination of Qian Duoduo, this great hero of Yunzhou and one of the ten grandmasters became a minor sensation in Cangzhou.

Therefore, when Gu Mo arrived in Tongtai City, the news quickly spread throughout the city. However, the news was all about how the hero of Yunzhou and Yunxiu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, were friends and that he had come specifically to support Yunxiu.

There are no rumors about Gu Mo taking money.

This was naturally Yunxiu's intention, ensuring that Gu Mo's reputation was not negatively affected. After all, it wouldn't sound good if word got out that Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou, was helping people for money. This was different from when Qian Duoduo paid Gu Mo 10,000 taels of silver to kill the notorious bandit Ye Xiao. In that case, Gu Mo was simply doing his job as a ghostwriter, and accepting the money was only natural.

But Yunxiu is different this time.
Yunxiu deliberately concealed the news of the lecherous demon Shangguan Shang, because if it got out, it would definitely affect the normal holding of the clothing exhibition.

Furthermore, publicizing that Gu Mo was there to help would not only promote the safety of the clothing exhibition but also allow Yun Xiu to borrow some of Gu Mo's influence. After all, the titles of one of the Ten Grandmasters and the Great Hero of Yunzhou, while not as prestigious in Cangzhou as they were in Yunzhou, were still far beyond the reach of ordinary martial arts figures.

In just one day,
Almost all the martial arts forces within Tongtai City knew that Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou, had arrived in Tongtai City.

As the clothing exhibition draws near...
Tongtai City is becoming more and more lively. Yunxiu is busy every day directing her subordinates to receive merchants and representatives of famous families from all over the country who come to participate in the clothing exhibition.

Until the eve of the clothing exhibition,

Yunxiu still couldn't find Shangguan Shang's whereabouts.

……

Night falls at Caiyun Manor.

Yunxiu arrived at a small courtyard. As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Chudong squatting in a horse stance, holding a knife in her hands and standing motionless in the air. Gu Mo, on the other hand, was sitting under the eaves by the door, carving a wooden puppet with a small knife.

"Miss Yun, please have a seat." Gu Mo put down the willow-leaf knife.

Yunxiu walked up to Gu Mo and slowly sat down, but her gaze remained fixed on Gu Chudong. She asked, "Miss Gu, are you... practicing swordsmanship? Comprehending swordsmanship?"

Gu Mo nodded and said, "Yes, Enlightenment Blade."

Yunxiu exclaimed in surprise, "It's all because you, Master Gu, are too dazzling. At such a young age, you, Miss Gu, have already forged your own path. With such talent, if you hadn't always been by your side, you would definitely be famous throughout the martial arts world and be a leading figure among the younger generation..." At this point, Yunxiu suddenly smiled again and said, "Being able to follow a grandmaster and receive one-on-one instruction is already the most outstanding opportunity in the world. It's truly enviable!"

Gu Mo said, "Miss Yun's internal strength is already close to the balance of Yin and Yang. Given time, another master of internal strength will emerge in the martial arts world. Why envy others? Your future appreciation will become an opportunity that others long for!"

Yunxiu said, "Master Gu has keen eyes and can see my strength at a glance. To be honest, I have been cultivating my family's Flying Cloud Nine Heavens Skill since I was a child, and everything has been going smoothly. However, I reached the peak of the sixth level five years ago, but I have been unable to break through to the seventh level and reach the realm of Yin and Yang in harmony."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "There's no need to be fixated on the cultivation method itself. Most cultivation methods in the world are singular, either Yin or Yang or the Five Elements, etc. Unless it's a cultivation method that inherently connects Yin and Yang, then you can simply follow the instructions. But if it's not, then don't be fixated on it. When you can break free from the limitations of the cultivation method one day, then you'll have the opportunity to find the point of Yin and Yang harmony. Yin and Yang harmony is not internal energy, but a special state of being!"

Yunxiu pondered for a while, then stood up, cupped her hands, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Gu. Your words are more valuable than ten years of cultivation for me."

Gu Mo chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "Some things are better understood than explained. Miss Yun, please figure it out for yourself!"

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Master Gu."

Yunxiu bowed deeply in gratitude. Although it was just a few casual words to Gu Mo, it was a rare and precious opportunity for Yunxiu.

"Have you found any trace of Shangguan Shang?" Gu Mo asked.

Yunxiu shook her head and said, "No, I speculate there are two possibilities: either Shangguan Shang didn't come, or he is hiding among the guests I invited. If Shangguan Shang is really determined to harm me tomorrow, the most likely scenario is that he is hiding among the guests and suddenly strikes to catch me off guard, which would be the most successful way to succeed."

At this moment,
Gu Chudong walked over, poured a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "With Miss Yun's status, everyone knows that you would definitely be heavily guarded. Moreover, everyone in the martial arts world knows that you are a great master. It would be too risky for Shangguan Shang to attack you. Why bother?"

Yunxiu sighed and said, "There are always some perverted people in this world, and Shangguan Shang is one of them. Has Chudong ever heard of the 'Hundred Beauties Painting'?"

Gu Chudong shook her head and asked, "What is this?"

Yunxiu said, "It was that pervert Shangguan Shang who created this picture album. He's been kidnapping women who are famous, highly skilled in martial arts, or of high status in the martial arts world. He then feeds them aphrodisiacs, and once the drugs take effect, he paints pictures of their alluring poses and spreads them throughout the martial arts world. He calls it the 'Hundred Beauties Picture Album.'" Gu Chudong's face turned cold, and she said angrily, "That man is too hateful!"

Yunxiu continued, "Those who are kidnapped by him will not only lose their lives and have their innocence ruined, but even after death, their nude photos will be circulated and they will not be able to rest in peace... However, this person's lightness skill is unparalleled in the world, and his escape techniques are rare in the world. Many people in the martial arts world want to kill him, including martial arts masters who are chasing after him, but he has been able to get away with it for so many years, and every year many women are harmed by him!"

"That man deserves to die!" Gu Chudong said angrily. "I just don't know if he's really in Tongtai City?"

at the same time,

A bustling inn in Tongtai City was filled with the sounds of people from all walks of life drinking and chatting in the lobby downstairs.

This inn was one of the inns contracted by the Yun family to accommodate guests from all over the country. The Lin family delegation from Cangzhou was also staying at this inn.

Of course, it was also because the people from the Lin family who came were just ordinary deacons from collateral branches of the clan responsible for business. They didn't come under the Lin family's name, but rather under the name of their trading company, so no one noticed that these people were from the Lin family. That's why they were squeezed together with others. If it were the direct descendants of the Lin family, not just high-ranking members, but even ordinary people, they would definitely have had to stay in separate inns.

Meanwhile, upstairs in a room, eight members of the Lin family delegation were gathered together. No one knew that these people had been replaced; the real Lin family representatives had been intercepted and their bodies disposed of on the way here, and these new people were disguised individuals wearing human skin masks.

Sitting at the head of the table was none other than Shangguan Shang, the infamous lecher in the martial arts world.

Shangguan Shang said, "Gentlemen, we will take action tomorrow. However, before we do, I must tell you again that I will only make one move tomorrow. If it fails, I will leave immediately without any hesitation."

A middle-aged man next to him chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Shangguan, you only need to make a move once."

Shangguan Shang nodded and said, "It's not that I'm being presumptuous, but since I've already agreed to help, I naturally don't mind helping a few more times. However, as you all know, the great hero Gu Mo from Yunzhou will be at Caiyun Manor. I only have one chance to act. If I fail the first time, given Gu Mo's strength, he won't give me a second chance. If I force my way in, I'm afraid my life will be in danger."

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "We understand."

Shangguan Shang was still somewhat worried and said, "Are you really sure? Don't forget, Yunxiu herself is also a martial arts master, and the guards at Caiyun Manor tomorrow will not be weak either."

The middle-aged man said, "Mr. Shangguan, rest assured, we know the weaknesses of the Flying Cloud Nine Heavens Technique, and we also know the specific procedures for our clothing exhibition tomorrow. Everyone thought that Yunxiu would be the last to perform, but that's not actually the case. Yunxiu has no intention of performing at all."

Our opportunity will come during the clothing viewing at the back. The men and women will be separated, and we'll take advantage of the chaos to disguise ourselves as women and enter the women's exhibition hall. Gu Mo can't possibly be there. We'll severely injure Yun Xiu as quickly as possible, while simultaneously creating confusion. That will be your chance, Mr. Shangguan. With your lightness skill, are you confident you can take Yun Xiu away before Gu Mo arrives?

Shangguan Shang nodded and said, "Then there is no problem."

……

The next day, early in the morning.

As soon as it was light, Caiyun Manor began to bustle with activity. People from all sides arrived one after another, and everyone in Caiyun Manor was busy, especially Yunxiu, who was constantly welcoming guests.

To avoid trouble, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong kept an eye on Yun Xiu's safety, but they remained at a distance, pretending to be ordinary guests.

Time flew by, and the clothing exhibition ended at noon. However, the merchants and people from prominent families did not leave, because the next part, the viewing session, was the main event and the time to really do business.

The clothing exhibition hall is divided into men's and women's halls.

Yunxiu moved between the two halls. Of course, she couldn't be alone. She had quite a few male and female managers under her, and she needed to shuttle between the two halls. It wasn't to introduce them, but simply to entertain the guests. After all, the people who came here today were here because of her.

The clothing exhibition went very smoothly.

The building was bustling with people and very noisy.

At one point, in the women's clothing showroom, Yunxiu was smiling and introducing the fabric and embroidery of the dress she was wearing to the businesswoman. Her words were gentle and her demeanor was friendly.

She gently raised her hand and lightly stroked the embroidered patterns on her dress, unaware that several female guests had quietly gathered around her.

In an instant, a sudden change occurred. The businesswoman in front of them raised her eyebrows and launched an attack, gathering strength in her palm. A powerful palm wind, like a tidal wave, struck towards Yunxiu. At the same time, the female guests surrounding the two also drew their small weapons, their cold glints flashing, and sword and saber shadows aimed at Yunxiu's vital points.

Yunxiu's delicate brows furrowed, a hint of alarm in her heart, yet she remained composed. With a light touch of her jade-like feet, she gracefully retreated several feet, like a willow catkin, dodging the fierce palm strike. At the same time, she extended her arms, her sleeves fluttering like two flying clouds, with subtle internal energy flowing within them. This "Flying Cloud Sleeves" was a unique technique from the Yun family's Flying Cloud Nine Heavens Skill; when mastered to a high level, the sleeves could transform into blades, combining softness with strength.

At this moment, she channeled her inner strength, and an invisible force seemed to surge from her sleeves, deflecting the incoming weapons with clanging sounds and sparks flying. With graceful, lotus-like steps, her movements were delicate and seemingly boneless, yet she found openings amidst the barrage of attacks, skillfully responding and making it difficult for the assassins to get close.

However, she never expected that there was a master in the crowd who knew her technique inside and out. He targeted the weakness of her "Flying Cloud Sleeves" and struck suddenly when her old strength was exhausted and her new strength had not yet been generated. Yunxiu could not dodge in time. She felt a pain in her chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

At this critical moment, a figure shot out from the corner like a ghost. Because of the speed, the human skin mask on his face fell off. It was Shangguan Shang, who was dressed as a woman and hidden in the crowd.

He moved with incredible speed, arriving in front of Yunxiu in the blink of an eye. He reached out with a hook-like hand, grabbing Yunxiu's shoulder, intending to abduct her.

Yunxiu's face was ashen, and she couldn't muster any strength to resist. She could only watch helplessly as Shangguan Shang charged towards her.

But then, something unexpected happened!
In an instant, the air seemed to be sliced ​​by a sharp blade, and countless cross-shaped blade energies appeared out of thin air, crisscrossing and attacking Shangguan Shang like a net from heaven. Wherever the blade energies passed, the air hissed.

Shangguan Shang's expression changed slightly, but he remained calm. He moved with strange footwork, his body twisting like an eel, dodging left and right amidst the dense sword energy, managing to avoid all the sharp sword energy. Then, he once again extended his palm into a claw and grabbed at Yunxiu.

Seeing that his hand was less than half an inch away from Yunxiu's neck, Yunxiu felt a tightness behind her as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her slender waist.

She turned her head and saw that Gu Chudong had a cold and stern face, and his eyes were cold and ruthless, completely different from his usual cunning.

Gu Chudong touched the ground with her toes and flew backwards with her cloud-like sleeves.

At the same moment, Gu Chudong swung his sword with one hand. In an instant, the sword flashed, and dozens of cross-shaped sword energies surged out like a raging sea of ​​fire, spreading in all directions. Wherever the sword energies reached, space seemed to be torn apart. Several assassins were unable to dodge in time and were instantly killed by the sword energies, their blood splattering on the spot.

Seeing this, Shangguan Shang knew he wouldn't succeed today. He gave Gu Chudong a deep look, then lightly touched the ground with his toes, turned and left. His figure vanished like a ghost, leaving only a few tattered pieces of cloth swirling in place—afterimages left by his footsteps as he crushed the blue bricks. In an instant, he disappeared from everyone's sight, leaving behind a loud laugh: "I never imagined that Miss Gu would be so stunningly beautiful! She could easily be in the top ten of my Hundred Beauties Picture! Hahaha!"

Before he finished speaking, Shangguan Shang had already appeared on the top of the seven or eight-story pavilion. However, as soon as he came up, he trembled because he saw a young man with his eyes covered by a black cloth standing on the other side.

He knew perfectly well that this was the legendary hero of Yunzhou.

"hold head high"

Just then, a dragon's roar resounded.

The sound was like the roar of an enraged dragon, carrying the immense power of thunder, piercing straight down from the heavens to the mortal realm.

Immediately afterwards, everyone saw Shangguan Shang, who had already flown away and disappeared, being slammed down from the clouds as if by an invisible hand, plummeting in a sorry state from the rooftop of a seven or eight-story building. Behind him, a giant dragon engulfed in raging crimson flames seemed to burst forth from the clouds, baring its fangs and claws as it chased after him.

The giant dragon, carrying scorching heat and earth-shattering power, crashed into the ground. In an instant, earth and rocks flew everywhere, dust obscured the sun, and a huge crater several meters square was created by the impact.

Shangguan Shang floated into the courtyard, looked at the huge pit, his face as pale as paper, his body disheveled, his toes lightly touching the ground, and he landed gracefully. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and large beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.

He looked up slightly and saw Gu Mo leap down from the seventh-floor rooftop.

Gu Mo moved with agility, like a celestial being detached from the world, his every move exuding a carefree spirit. Although his speed could not match Gu Mo's, it was still unparalleled in the world, each step leaving behind wisps of afterimages.

"Humph!"

Gu Mo let out a cold snort, his voice booming like a thunderclap from a clear sky—it was his unique Lion's Roar technique. This roar contained boundless rage and powerful internal energy, causing the onlookers from all directions to stagger and lose their footing.

Even Shangguan Shangyi staggered suddenly, his blood surging, and when he felt Gu Mo's palm reaching out, there was a suction force trying to pull him in.

Instantly, he flashed away like a leaf swaying in a gale, drifting lightly into the distance. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a wisp of green smoke and flew away, his speed so fast that no one could catch a trace of him.

And at this moment,
Gu Chudong steadily placed Yunxiu on the ground, took a step forward with one hand holding the knife, and flew out, instantly flying from the exhibition hall pavilion to the balcony, where he slashed out with his knife.

Suddenly, the Gouchen Demon Blade in his hand burst into flames. The flames were crimson, with a faint, eerie purple glow within. As it burned fiercely, it emitted rolling heat waves, distorting and deforming the surrounding air.

In that instant, the Gouchen Demon Blade seemed to be torn apart by a mysterious force, its blade instantly shattering into one hundred and twenty-eight fragments. Each fragment was engulfed in raging flames, resembling shooting stars streaking across the night sky, trailing long fiery tails.

Each fragment, upon being launched, unleashed several, even dozens, of incredibly sharp cross-shaped blade energies. In an instant, thousands of blade energies transformed into a cage. These blade energies crisscrossed, piercing and shooting through the air at extremely high speeds. Wherever they passed, the air seemed to be cut by sharp blades, emitting a "hissing" sound, instantly covering the entire courtyard.

Shangguan Shang, who was soaring into the air, was in a panic. No matter how strong his lightness skill was, he could not completely avoid the net formed by thousands of sword energies.

Immediately, he could only fly backwards.

Just as Shangguan Shang's figure rapidly descended, a dragon's roar was heard rising from below.

Shangguan Shang indeed displayed the demeanor of a master. As he fell like a meteor crashing to the ground, suddenly the sound of clothes tearing was heard, and his clothes bulged like a pufferfish inhaling air, rising three feet against the current.

Before Gu Mo's palm strike even arrived, his waist twisted unpredictably, like a snake shedding its skin in spring, and he darted several feet away like a night owl. At the point where their energies clashed, the blue bricks shattered into dust, which then condensed into ice crystals in the air, reflecting the sunlight like a shower of flower petals.

This one exquisite skill in lightness of movement alone is enough to earn him the title of a master of lightness of movement.

However, just as Shangguan Shang turned around and looked up, he saw a scene that horrified him.
Gu Mo was actually standing in mid-air, floating and hovering, his clothes fluttering in the sunlight.

Shangguan Shang believed that, in the entire Qian Kingdom, he could rank among the top ten in terms of lightness skill alone, but he still couldn't achieve this level.

At that moment, he even wondered if he was seeing things.
Then, Gu Mo extended six fingers from a distance, and before he could even blink, six invisible sword energies pierced the air with a sound like tearing silk. Shangguan Shang hurriedly twisted his body to dodge, but saw that the green light had already pierced through his limbs, and blood droplets splattered on the blue bricks. Then, he fell to the ground.

Gu Mo descended from the sky, stomping on Shangguan Shang's stomach with a "bang," destroying his lower dantian. Then, he pointed with two fingers, sending two sword energies to the space between his eyebrows and the Shenque acupoint, destroying his upper and lower dantian respectively, completely crippling this lecherous demon Shangguan Shang.

With all four of Shangguan Shang's limbs severed, he was now completely crippled.

This was one of the few wanted criminals he didn't kill directly.

There are two reasons. First, Shangguan Shang is truly one of the few wanted criminals that Gu Mo feels shouldn't have died so easily. Second, the group with Shangguan Shang clearly used the Qingye Hall's bone-shrinking and flesh-melting disguise technique.

However, Shangguan Shang was not used, which may mean he was only cooperating with Qingye Hall. Perhaps we can find relevant clues about Qingye Hall from him.

……

All of this, which seemed very complicated, actually happened in the blink of an eye.

Gu Chudong, who was on the attic balcony, had just landed on the floor. She gripped the hilt of her knife with one hand and slashed at the other two assassins in the exhibition hall who were preparing to take hostages.

In a daze, the 128 blades seemed to streak through the void like a meteor shower, flying towards them and whistling past quickly.

The two assassins had no time to react before they were engulfed by the overwhelming barrage of blade energy and fiery fragments. Before they could even utter a cry of pain, their bodies were riddled with holes by the fierce attack. Blood splattered everywhere, and bits of flesh flew about, leaving only four skeletons standing upright.

The next instant, the two skeletons scattered.

Gu Chudong then floated into the hall, helped Yunxiu who was about to lose her balance, and quietly transferred some true energy to her to prevent her from falling.

Yunxiu cast a grateful glance at Gu Chudong, then quickly took out a small jade jar from her bosom, poured out a few pills and swallowed them. Then, she forced herself to shout to the chaotic guests, "Please calm down, everyone. As you have all seen, Hero Gu and Heroine Gu are here. You can rest assured about their safety. Please move downstairs to the exhibition hall!"

After managing to escort all the guests to the exhibition hall downstairs, Yunxiu finally coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Gu Chudong channeled another stream of true energy into Yunxiu's body. The Mingyu True Energy had a remarkable effect on healing injuries, and it quickly allowed Yunxiu to catch her breath.

Immediately, Gu Chudong said to Yunxiu, "Miss Yun, your clothing exhibition is not over yet, and we need you to take charge. Also, you need to send someone to inform the Six Doors that the lecherous demon has been arrested!"

“Okay!” Yunxiu nodded.

Gu Chudong quickly flew downstairs and headed towards Gu Mo. Together they stared at Shangguan Shang, who was wailing in pain but unable to move an inch. Hearing the hysterical screams, Gu Chudong walked over, his brows furrowed, and said, "Brother, how could you destroy his dantian? That's his entire life's cultivation. For a martial artist, it's better to die than to have their dantian destroyed and their cultivation ruined."

Gu Mo said, "There's nothing we can do. This guy has a very high level of lightness skill. If we don't cripple his cultivation, there's no guarantee that some accidents won't happen."

Looking at Shangguan Shang groaning on the ground, Gu Chudong said, "We shouldn't have destroyed his dantian... With his internal energy, he would have been able to withstand more pain. He might have been able to endure thousands more cuts during the slow slicing before dying!"

Shangguan Shang: "??"

I thought you were just feeling sorry for me!

……

Not long after, the officials from the Tongtai County government and the Six Doors arrived. After the official handover document was given to Gu Mo, a system notification sounded in his mind:

[Apprehend a four-star wanted criminal]

[Received a four-star reward - Max level Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill]

[Whether to receive it]

……

The moment Gu Mo received the reward, his insights into the cultivation of the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art and the essence of its techniques flashed through his mind like lightning. Every obscure acupoint and every complex meridian became clear at that moment.

This feeling had become second nature to him. In just a few breaths, his Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill had been perfected, and his martial arts had entered another realm, known as the Realm of Emptiness.

Each martial art has a different level of mastery. For example, after mastering the Mingyu Gong, one can reach the levels of Wuji Shura, Yijin Nirvana, and Danmeng Xiaoyao. For example, the Dugu Nine Swords is the level of defeating moves without moves, while the Tiancan Divine Art is the level of ethereal emptiness.

The so-called ethereal realm is actually a state of transcendence in Taoism.

The Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill originated from the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation and is an unparalleled martial art of the Wudang School, one of the ancestral homes of Taoism. Naturally, it cultivates the Taoist realm, which is characterized by ascension and etherealness, meaning the absence of weight and constraints, somewhat similar to the transcendence pursued by Qi practitioners in this world.

Of course, transcendence is just a concept, but the state of emptiness is real, which in combat manifests as the ability to overcome strength with gentleness and deflect heavy blows with minimal effort. However, it is more of a spiritual realm of understanding.

However, Gu Mo desperately wanted the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill because it was part of his plan to integrate multiple internal energies into the Returning to Origin System. The Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill's healing properties, including the ability to regenerate flesh and blood, reshape the heart meridian, and regenerate the five internal organs, could act as a protector within the Returning to Origin System to prevent damage to the meridians and dantian when multiple internal energies conflict.

Other than that,

Another unexpected gain was that when he used the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill, he could launch silkworm silk from any part of his body to attack the enemy. The strength of the Heavenly Silkworm Silk was related to his internal force. In other words, when he used his internal force, the hardness of the silkworm silk could exceed that of steel, which was equivalent to his whole body being covered with hidden weapons. Moreover, if he used his full strength, the silkworm silk could shoot out dozens of feet.

(End of this chapter)