Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 57: Jade in the Right Hand, Wedding Dress in the Left

As soon as Gu Guanqi spoke,

Everyone in the hall was shocked.

Lu Lin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaned against the wall, and asked, "Master Gu, are you saying that this zombie is Yuan Guangkai?"

"good."

Immediately, Gu Guanqi called out in a deep voice, "Youniang, bring her in!"

At this time,

Outside the main hall,

Han Youniang dragged Peng Yu, whose pressure points had been sealed, into the room and then threw him on the ground.

Peng Yu collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

Gu Guanqi said, "Just now, Youniang sensed the corpse aura, and the two of us chased after it immediately. As it turned out, it happened to be the courtyard where Yuan Guangkai lived. Then, I discovered that this eldest disciple of Yuan Guangkai was wearing a human skin mask and impersonating Yuan Guangkai."

At that moment, everything I hadn't understood before became clear. Why did that zombie know martial arts when Senior Han fought it? Why was Chen Changyun, the leader of the Meishan Sect, drained of his blood without any resistance? And why could that zombie always appear suddenly and then disappear just as suddenly?

Zhao Lingyuan said, "Because that zombie can freely switch between human and zombie modes."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and then said, "Previously, at the Tingchao Sword Sect, Commander Lu speculated that there was an evil cultivator who knew the Bloodsucking Divine Skill and a zombie. In fact, the two were the same person, Yuan Guangkai. However, no one could have imagined that someone would cultivate the Corpse Scroll of the Zombie Skill and even succeed!"

Doing bad things makes him a zombie. After he's done it, he returns to human form. To avoid being suspected of his blood-sucking skills, he deliberately leaves two blood holes every time he sucks blood. No one notices or suspects anything. Who would have thought that someone could turn themselves into a zombie?

Today at the martial arts tournament, he deliberately and desperately injured Master Fayuan. Firstly, to weaken Master Fayuan and prepare for the decisive battle against all the masters. Secondly, to ensure his own absurdity and prevent anyone from suspecting him of the zombies. Afterwards, with everyone in Yunzhou qualified to be the alliance leader dead, he can rightfully become the new leader!

Lu Lin said in a deep voice, "It's killing two birds with one stone: my martial arts have broken through, and I've become the leader of the alliance!"

Gu Guanqi looked at the zombie and said, "Right, Yuan Guangkai!"

Blood mist swirled in the zombie's eyes as it stared at Gu Guanqi and slowly spoke: "Gu Guanqi, you're about to be wanted by the entire nation. Why aren't you running away? What are you doing here getting involved in this mess? What's the point of you showing up today? It doesn't change the fact that you killed an official and rebelled. Instead, it exposes yourself!"

What good will it do you to save these people? Not only will they not save your life, but they might also betray you and help the authorities arrest you, a wanted criminal!

The zombies spoke, uttering human language.

Everyone was stunned.

Then they all realized that what Gu Guanqi said was true.

This zombie is Yuan Guangkai.

Tang Yu clutched her chest, utterly incredulous, "Yuan Guangkai, it really is you...you...you actually stooped to such a low level..."

Yuan Guangkai said, "How could I have fallen into depravity? If Gu Guanqi hadn't suddenly appeared, none of you would have known it was me, that I would become the leader of the martial arts alliance, that I would become the number one martial artist in the world, and that I would lead the Yunzhou martial arts world to prosperity. How have I fallen into depravity?"

Tang Yu pointed at Yuan Guangkai, too angry to speak for a moment.

Yuan Guangkai looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Gu Guanqi, there is no enmity between us. I don't want to fight you. Can you do me a favor?"

"You let me absorb these people's power, and I'll become the leader of the martial arts world. I promise I'll find a way to protect you. At least, with me covering for you, you won't have to flee to distant lands. I will become the number one in the world, and my power will grow ever greater. At that time, I'll help you get out of trouble and continue being a great hero. How about it?"

For a time,

The expressions on everyone's faces changed.

After all, they all knew that Gu Guanqi's current identity was that he would become a top-level wanted criminal and be hunted down throughout the martial arts world.

In this situation, she might actually be swayed by Yuan Guangkai's words.

At this time,

Tang Yu hurriedly shouted, "Master Gu, don't listen to him! If he becomes the number one in the world, the first person he'll kill is the one who knows his secret. He can't beat you now, but if he becomes stronger, he'll never let you go. Don't be misled by him!"

"Yes, Guanqi, don't listen to him!" Su Qingxing quickly shouted as well.

"No,"

Yuan Guangkai roared and knelt down in front of Gu Guanqi with a "plop," saying with tears streaming down his face, "Hero Gu, believe me, really, believe me, I can give you my lifeblood."

"It's true, every zombie has a drop of life blood. If it's destroyed, its consciousness will be completely destroyed. I'll give you my life blood, so you don't have to worry about me betraying you. If you really don't want to hide, I'll go with you to the northern frontier, to the southern regions. The two of us working together can build a vast empire anywhere. I'll serve you as my master, I'll be your dog!"

Yuan Guangkai's reaction

This completely stunned everyone present; no one expected Yuan Guangkai to react so strongly.

Gu Guanqi was taken aback by Yuan Guangkai's sincerity and said, "Yuan Guangkai, you... this... it doesn't have to be this serious, does it?"

"No, no, no, you don't understand."

Yuan Guangkai knelt on the ground, extremely excited. Even in his zombie state, his face was contorted with emotion as he hysterically cried out, "I...I want to be number one in the world so badly! I...I...I'm just one step away! I..."

He became increasingly agitated, his voice trembling, and his hands began to gesticulate wildly as he said, "I... if I absorb these people's essence right now, I'll be the best in the world! Master Gu, I beg you, please let me absorb their essence! I beg you, if you let me absorb their essence, if you let me become the best in the world, I'll obey you in everything from now on. You'll be my master, and I'll be your dog. I'll never disobey you in the slightest!"

He looked at Gu Guanqi with pleading eyes and said, "Please, Master Gu, don't stop me. Let me absorb their essence. I really can't miss this opportunity. I really don't want to miss it!"

Think about yourself. There's no point in you stopping me. You'll only expose yourself, right? You'll be hunted down by the imperial court all over the land, right?

"You're overthinking it!"

At this moment, Lu Lin shouted again: "Hero Gu was never a wanted criminal. He was invited by Governor Kou to help investigate the mole within the Six Doors. He didn't kill Tie Jinglan at all. He killed an assassin from the Four Extremes Hall disguised as Tie Jinglan."

Soon, the official letter from the prefectural government will be issued. "Master Gu has always been a chivalrous hero of the martial world. Why would he abandon his promising future to collude with a heretical cultivator like you?"

Yuan Guangkai suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes filled with disbelief, and said, "Impossible, he's lying to me, isn't he? Master Gu, he's lying to you, isn't he?"

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "No, Commander Lu is telling the truth. Otherwise, why do you think I didn't leave?"

Yuan Guangkai trembled, then hurriedly said, "Not wanted...not wanted? That's perfect! We don't have to leave, it's a promising future, isn't it? I will become the best in the world, and I will assist you then. Your future is limitless!"

Lu Lin continued, "With Master Gu's potential, he himself has the potential to become the number one in the world. Why does he need someone like you who is neither human nor demon? Besides, you say you are the number one in the world? You are just a frog in a well!"

Furthermore, regarding his future, Master Gu will be the leader of the Qingzhou martial arts alliance. What future does he have to offer? Why would he need your assistance?

at this time,

Zhao Lingyuan leaned against a pillar, wiped the sweat from her brow, and said, "The capable should be given more responsibilities. With Hero Gu's strength and character, and now that he has saved the martial arts world of Yunzhou from a crisis, I personally think that he should be invited to be the leader of the martial arts alliance of Yunzhou. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing Zhao Lingyuan's words, the renowned martial arts masters present were all slightly taken aback.

No one has ever considered this aspect of the matter.

It's not that Gu Guanqi's martial arts skills are not high enough.

After the battle with the Tingchao Sword Sect, no one in Yunzhou believed that Gu Guanqi was a match for him.

The reason no one thought of making Gu Guanqi the leader of the martial arts alliance is because Gu Guanqi is not from Yunzhou.

but,

Now that Zhao Lingyuan has said this, many people have realized that there doesn't seem to be a rule that only people from Yunzhou can become the leader of the alliance in Yunzhou.

It's just that everyone assumes that only a person of high moral standing and prestige can become the leader of the martial arts alliance.

But given the current situation...

Whether we live or die depends on Gu Guanqi. What high moral standing? He's like a second parent!

At this moment,

Some quick-witted and astute individuals had already grasped Zhao Lingyuan's meaning.

If Gu Guanqi is truly moved by Yuan Guangkai's terms, they will indeed be doomed to die today.

What's appropriate or inappropriate? What are the rules?

Nothing is more important than staying alive!

Immediately, someone shouted:

"I believe that Master Gu possesses superb martial arts skills and impeccable character. I, Zhao Tai, am the first to support him as the leader of the alliance!"

"Our Medicine King Valley supports Hero Gu as the leader of the Yunzhou martial arts alliance!"

"The Mechanical Gate is willing to accept Master Gu as its leader!"

"..."

At this moment, Lu Lin's pupils contracted as he looked at Zhao Lingyuan. His heart sank, and he thought to himself, "As expected of the Prince of Rong, his skill in using others to curry favor is truly masterful."

"He beat me to it! How could I not have thought of that!" Lu Lin cursed inwardly, then channeled his inner energy and shouted:

"The Six Doors of Yunzhou support Hero Gu as their leader. Hero Gu is highly capable; leading the martial arts alliances of two states is no problem at all!"

"I, Zhou Wenyuan, on behalf of the martial arts community of Yunzhou, sincerely invite Master Gu to serve as the leader of our martial arts alliance in Yunzhou!"

"..."

Inside the main hall,

Yuan Guangkai slowly stood up, his aura of death growing increasingly intense. He looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Hero Gu, is there really no room for negotiation?"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Do you think I believe them or you? Zombies have lifeblood, but that old Taoist priest in the back mountain of the Tingchao Sword Sect, wasn't he the one you turned on? Even a professional like him couldn't control you, let alone me?"

Besides, how could someone who aspires to be number one in the world willingly submit to being controlled by others?

Yuan Guangkai twisted his neck slightly, making a series of crisp "crack, crack" sounds, and said, "Don't force me, Gu Guanqi. I've been begging you for so long not because I'm afraid of you, but because I really don't want to live in this zombie-like state from now on!"

Do you know that I'm actually the best in the world now? But I need the blood of these masters to help me fully transform into a human. I don't have much time left; I must complete this step as soon as possible, otherwise, I'll be like this for the rest of my life.

He slowly exhaled a puff of murky mist.

He let out a strange groan and said, "So, please don't force me, okay? Leave now, and I'll let bygones be bygones."

The reason I've made things so complicated isn't because I'm afraid of these people. It's not that I can't kill them head-on; it's just that I can't use my full strength. Otherwise, even at the peak of Fayuan's power, I could suppress them with one hand.

Because if I go all out now, I'll be a zombie forever. Then, not only will I kill all of you today, but I'll also need a constant supply of blood to sustain myself. I really don't want a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​bones!

Gu Guanqi chuckled, "I'd really like to see just how much weight you're carrying with you when you say you're the best in the world!"

Yuan Guangkai said, "You will regret this, Gu Guanqi. I'll give you one last chance. If you retreat now, I won't pursue the matter. I know your swordsmanship is very strong. Not many people can withstand your Death Sword move."

But ultimately, it's all about mental suppression. However, I am both a zombie and a human, possessing dual consciousness within one body—a state of supreme selflessness. Your sword is useless against me; it can't harm me in the slightest!

Gu Guanqi slowly raised his sword and calmly said, "Come and fight!"

……

At that very moment—

Yuan Guangkai let out a roar.

The sound wave was so real that it exploded in the hall, causing the already dilapidated walls to shed brick fragments.

A terrifying blood mist swirled around him, thick as ink and almost black, instantly spreading out and enveloping the entire hall.

A chill permeated the air, as if winter had suddenly arrived.

The martial arts masters who were slumped on the ground were startled by the chill and their lips turned blue.

Yuan Guangkai's fingernails disappeared, but the tips of his fingers gleamed with a dark red sheen, as if coated with blood. His skin was permeated with a bloody light, changing from bluish-gray to dark red, as if it had been soaked in blood.

He stood there, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

Gu Guanqi did not hesitate.

The Autumn Water Sword was drawn from its sheath, its light as sharp as a bolt of lightning, blasting a cold arc through the blood mist.

A celestial being descends from the heavens.

He moved like a streak of light, rushing forward to kill, his clothes fluttering in the blood mist, the gleaming white light on his Autumn Water Sword contrasting sharply with the surrounding blood mist.

Sword energy crisscrossed, churning within the blood mist and emitting a hissing sound.

But the blood mist, as if alive, quickly gathered again after being dispersed by the sword energy, layer upon layer, wrapping around, devouring, and dissolving the sword energy.

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly, but his swordplay remained undiminished.

The Autumn Water Sword pierced through layers of blood mist, heading straight for Yuan Guangkai's throat.

Yuan Guangkai raised his right arm, spread his five fingers, and blocked the tip of the sword with his palm.

"when--"

A deafening clang, like metal clashing, rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.

The dense sword light erupting from the Autumn Water Sword collided fiercely with the blood mist, producing a hissing sound. However, the blood mist continued to surge in, layer upon layer covering the sword, gradually engulfing the sword energy of the celestial being descending from the heavens.

Gu Guanqi felt that the true energy on the sword was being devoured by a strange force, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, getting deeper and deeper.

At that moment, Yuan Guangkai suddenly kicked out with his right foot.

That kick, carrying a terrifying blood mist and a sharp whistling sound, went straight for Gu Guanqi's chest.

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted slightly. With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved the Autumn Water Sword, and with a light step, his body floated backward, avoiding the kick.

Yuan Guangkai's kick missed its mark, and the force of the blow, carrying a cloud of blood, shattered several pillars, causing tiles to fall in a shower. Immediately afterward, the entire hall began to tilt, beams and pillars broke, walls cracked, and dust filled the air.

"Boom!"

The main hall tilted violently and nearly collapsed.

The martial arts masters who were paralyzed on the ground were so frightened that their faces turned ashen, and they hurriedly ran outside.

Gu Guanqi landed gracefully on the ground, ignoring the martial arts masters. As soon as he landed, he rushed towards Yuan Guangkai, leaving a trail of afterimages.

Then, he drew his sword.

Fifteen Deadly Swords.

The moment the sword was thrust out, it was as if all the light in the courtyard was sucked away.

The moonlight was still there, the torches were still there, but all the light seemed to have lost its color, turning into a grayish-white, lifeless hue.

The flowers, plants, and trees in the yard lost their vitality at that moment. The leaves withered, curled, and fell off the branches at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning to ashes before they even hit the ground.

In an instant, the leaves of a clump of green bamboo in the corner turned completely yellow, the bamboo stalks cracked and made a crackling sound, and then the whole clump of bamboo collapsed with a crash, breaking into a pile of dry debris.

The will to die has arrived.

Those martial arts masters who were slumped in the courtyard felt a chill rise from the bottom of their hearts. It was not the cold they felt in their bodies, but an irresistible despair that surged from the depths of their souls.

Some people began to tremble, and some closed their eyes.

A black sword light shone from the Autumn Water Sword.

The blackness was so deep it seemed to devour everything. Wherever the sword light passed, the blood mist melted, dissipated, and vanished into nothingness, like ice and snow encountering raging fire.

Under the pressure of the will to die, the blood mist on Yuan Guangkai's body began to surge violently, like a flag being torn apart by a gale, constantly being torn apart and then constantly gathering together again.

In an instant, the sword tip pierced Yuan Guangkai's forehead.

Yuan Guangkai did not dodge.

He can't escape it.

The tip of the sword touched his forehead.

"bite--"

A crisp sound.

A layer of blood-red light appeared on Yuan Guangkai's forehead. The blood-red light was solidified, like a thin blood-red crystal shield, blocking the tip of the Autumn Water Sword.

The sword tip struck the blood-red light, producing a sound like metal clashing, and the sword energy surged.

The will to die surged forth like a tidal wave, flowing along the sword tip and through the layer of bloody light, rushing towards Yuan Guangkai's sea of ​​consciousness.

But Yuan Guangkai did not react at all.

His eyes remained cloudy, still shrouded in bloodshot mist, without the slightest fluctuation.

"I told you," Yuan Guangkai's voice was hoarse and low, "your sword is useless against me. I am an existence existing between life and death!"

As he spoke, he quickly raised his right arm, clenched his fist, and punched Gu Guanqi.

That punch was so fast it seemed to tear through space; the wind from the punch carried a thick mist of blood, like a blood-red dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced.

Gu Guanqi lightly touched the ground with his foot, his body flying backward quickly, avoiding the punch.

The force of the punch grazed his chest and struck a stone wall behind him.

"boom--"

The stone wall collapsed with a roar, sending countless flying stones flying.

Yuan Guangkai withdrew his fist and said in a deep voice, "I told you, your sword can kill people, but it can't kill me. I am a zombie, my spiritual realm transcends death. If you insist on attacking, you will only regret it!"

In the courtyard, the renowned martial arts masters all looked pale, their breaths were weak, and their hearts were heavy.

Even Gu Guanqi's sword couldn't kill Yuan Guangkai.

Then today, this place will truly be a river of blood!

At this moment,

Gu Guanqi retreated to stand at the entrance of the main hall.

Then, he threw the sword away.

The Autumn Water Sword tumbled twice in the air before piercing the bluestone ground in the courtyard with a clang, its blade vibrating and humming.

"Since the sword can't kill you, then I won't use the sword."

"Then you shall die!"

Yuan Guangkai shouted loudly, and the sound wave shook the hall.

Immediately, he pushed off with his feet, and his figure vanished in an instant.

Only wisps of blood mist continued to churn.

The next moment, he seemed to break through space and appeared in front of Gu Guanqi.

His right palm, enveloped in a thick mist of blood, struck out.

Wherever the palm wind passed, the air was compressed into a visible blood-red wave of energy. Even before the palm arrived, the overwhelming sense of pressure was already overwhelming.

Gu Guanqi neither retreated nor avoided.

Within her dantian, the true energy of the wedding dress suddenly erupted.

A blazing and powerful force surged from his body, like a volcanic eruption or the blazing sun. That true energy was extremely yang and intense, forming a faint golden halo around him.

Then, he raised his hands in a gesture.

Left hand on top, right hand on the bottom, palms facing each other.

Flame Blade.

A blazing flame appeared out of thin air between his palms. It was no ordinary flame, but rather the manifestation of the wedding dress's true energy condensed to its extreme, intense and dazzling, with an oppressive heat wave.

He crossed his palms, and the ball of flame suddenly expanded, transforming into a huge fiery palm print.

The palm print was over ten feet wide, entirely crimson, with fine, flowing golden patterns on its surface, like lava in motion.

Even more terrifying was that the fiery palm print was actually wrapped with immense lightning power.

Blue arcs of electricity leaped and danced amidst the crimson flames, crackling and intertwining with the fire to create a devastating spectacle.

Gu Guanqi pushed out with both palms.

A flaming blade wielded using the lightning power of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill.

This palm strike was as powerful as thunder and fire!

It crashed head-on into Yuan Guangkai's palm strike.

The two palms collided.

"boom--"

A deafening roar, like a thunderbolt from the sky, shook the entire courtyard.

Intense lightning and flames collided violently in mid-air with thick blood mist, the crimson and dark red colors intertwining and bursting out with dazzling light.

The light was so dazzling that the martial arts masters in the courtyard all closed their eyes, some covered their ears, and some instinctively stepped back.

The lightning power on the flaming palm print suddenly erupted, and blue arcs of electricity, like hundreds of electric snakes, pierced through the blood mist and struck Yuan Guangkai.

Yuan Guangkai's body stiffened abruptly.

The electric arcs struck him, crackling and popping, leaving charred marks on his dark red skin.

At the same time, the intense true energy from the flaming palm print penetrated the blood mist and solidly imprinted itself onto Yuan Guangkai's palms.

The two forces combined, one fire and one thunder, extremely powerful and domineering.

Yuan Guangkai felt an overwhelming force surge towards him, so powerful that it sent his feet off the ground and his whole body flying backward.

"boom--"

He crashed through the courtyard wall behind him and landed in a side room behind it. The walls of the side room cracked, and he was buried underneath in rubble.

Gu Guanqi used the recoil to leap into the air, somersaulted in mid-air, and landed steadily on a crumbling wall.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

The martial arts masters stared blankly at the direction Gu Guanqi had landed, then at the collapsed ruins, their mouths agape, speechless.

"This...this palm technique..."

"Aren't sword immortals supposed to use swords? How come their palm techniques are so terrifying...?"

"That palm strike just now was probably even more powerful than Master Fayuan's Prajna Palm!"

"..."

next moment,

A sound came from the ruins in the courtyard.

"Splash—"

The broken bricks and stones were blasted away by a tremendous force, flying in all directions.

Yuan Guangkai flew out of the ruins and stood on the pile of rubble.

The blood mist on his body had noticeably thinned, and several charred marks appeared on his dark red skin. The robe on his chest had been burned through, revealing the dry flesh underneath.

He stood there, his cloudy eyes fixed on Gu Guanqi, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone says you're a sword immortal, your strongest skill being swordsmanship. I never expected your overall strength to be no less than your swordsmanship!"

Gu Guanqi remained expressionless, merely lowering his eyes slightly as he looked at Yuan Guangkai and said, "I understand. Martial willpower is useless against you. It seems I'll have to rely on brute force to deal with you!"

"You think you can fight me with brute force? You're simply overestimating yourself..."

Yuan Guangkai grinned and let out a low growl.

The next moment, the blood mist on his body suddenly contracted and condensed tightly on him. The blood mist contracted tighter and tighter, and finally formed a layer of dark red aura on his body, like armor.

The armor clung tightly to his body, completely covering his torso, limbs, and head, leaving only a pair of blood-red eyes exposed. Dark red light swirled across the armor's surface, like solidified magma, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

With a stomp of his foot, his figure vanished once more, rushing towards Gu Guanqi like a streak of light.

With a light tap of his foot, Gu Guanqi leaped into the air and soared through the sky.

The two met in the air.

Fists and palms collided.

"boom--"

True energy surged, and a powerful wind spread in all directions.

The night was torn apart by two completely opposite forces, half of the sky turned dark red, and the other half was covered in frost.

A terrifying chill erupted from Yuan Guangkai's fist. The chill was as thick as ink and surged out along with the force of his fist, condensing into countless tiny ice crystals in the air, crackling and spreading towards Gu Guanqi.

Wherever the ice crystals passed, the air seemed to freeze, making a crisp "crackling" sound.

Gu Guanqi neither dodged nor avoided.

Within his dantian, Mingyu's true qi suddenly began to circulate.

Extremely yin and cold true energy surged from his body, instantly forming a layer of almost transparent frost around him. The frost appeared as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it contained a coldness even purer than Yuan Guangkai's corpse-chilling energy.

Two streams of cold air collided in mid-air.

A series of dense cracking sounds rang out, like ice cracking or countless fine needles piercing solid ice at the same time.

Yuan Guangkai's corpse-chilling aura began to dissipate the moment it touched Mingyu's true energy.

The thick, black, chilling aura seemed to have met its nemesis, melting and disintegrating layer by layer, turning into wisps of grayish-white mist that were dispersed by the night wind.

"How is that possible!"

A surge of blood mist appeared in Yuan Guangkai's pupils, followed by a hint of surprise.

Then he used his other hand to slap Gu Guanqi.

The palm strike whistled, carrying a thick blood mist, like a crimson meteor, heading straight for Gu Guanqi's face. At the same time, the Blood-Sucking Divine Skill was unleashed, and the blood mist instantly enveloped Gu Guanqi, covering his body, intending to suck out his blood.

Gu Guanqi did not dodge, but instead reached out with her left hand to meet the attack directly, and the true energy of the wedding dress instantly erupted.

The most powerful and yang true energy condensed on his fist, golden light intertwined with blue arcs of electricity, blazing and dazzling, as if he were holding a ball of lightning.

The two fists collided.

"boom--"

A loud bang, like a thunderclap exploding in the night sky.

Golden lightning and dark red blood mist collided violently in mid-air, bursting forth with blinding light. The supremely yang power of the Wedding Dress True Qi, like a red-hot iron hammer, slammed heavily onto Yuan Guangkai's fist.

Blue-purple arcs of electricity spread along his fist, crackling and striking his arm, leaving charred marks on his dark red skin.

Yuan Guangkai's pupils dilated in shock, filled with panic.

Because he discovered that his blood-sucking skill had completely failed, and he couldn't suck a single drop of blood from Gu Guanqi's body at all.

Before he could figure out why his vampire technique had failed, his body began to tremble.

Because Gu Guanqi's Mingyu True Qi in his right hand was still suppressing the attack, while the Wedding Dress True Qi in his left hand surged forth.

Two completely opposite forces, one yin and one yang, acted simultaneously on Yuan Guangkai.

Yuan Guangkai felt as if half of his body had fallen into an ice cave and the other half had been thrown into a furnace.

The clash of ice and fire created a violent contrast that caused the corpse energy within his body to quickly become disordered, making it impossible for him to control it.

Yuan Guangkai's body trembled violently, and the flowing light on his blood-red armor flickered erratically.

He immediately wanted to abandon the situation and leave.

"Too late!"

Gu Guanqi snorted coldly.

The suction force of Mingyu Gong suddenly erupted.

Yuan Guangkai felt a tremendous suction force surging from Gu Guanqi's fist. The suction force was like a deep-sea whirlpool, firmly fixing his body in place. The suction force was so strong that it was comparable to the suction force of his Blood-Sucking Divine Skill, and he was unable to break free for a while.

Immediately, his expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with bloodshot mist, and he quickly searched for a solution in his mind.

However, Gu Guanqi did not give him time to come up with a solution.

In her right hand, she held a bright jade pendant; in her left, a wedding dress.

With one yin and one yang, the two streams of true energy suddenly intensified, continuously surging into Yuan Guangkai's body. The icy power of Mingyu True Energy froze his corpse energy, while the lightning and flames of Jiayi True Energy burned and pounded Yuan Guangkai's armor.

The corpse energy on Yuan Guangkai's body was directly suppressed and sealed inside, and cracks immediately appeared in the blood-red armor attached to his body.

First the arms, then the chest, and then the waist and abdomen. Cracks spread in all directions like a spider web, and the dark red light flickered a few times within the cracks before completely extinguishing.

"boom--"

There was a loud noise,

The blood-red armor shattered.

Dark red fragments, like shattered glass, fell from Yuan Guangkai's body, turning into wisps of blood mist in mid-air before being dispersed by the night wind.

Yuan Guangkai was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground with a "bang," kicking up a cloud of dust.

Gu Guanqi followed closely behind, leaped up, and then descended from the sky, stepping on Yuan Guangkai's chest.

"boom--"

Yuan Guangkai's body stiffened abruptly, and he roared, "You can't kill me! My body is impervious to blades and spears, indestructible!"

Gu Guanqi said in a deep voice, "Isn't this a coincidence? I'm also indestructible!"

After saying that, he raised his fist.

One punch.

Two punches.

Three punches.

It fell like raindrops.

Gu Guanqi had previously taken the Golden Scale Spirit Eel Blood Pill, which modified his physique and increased his strength by more than a thousand jin. Now, he has reached the Vajra Indestructible, Unbreakable King, and Tathagata Protector levels of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill.

Therefore, even though Yuan Guangkai practiced the Zombie Technique, a martial art that strengthens the body, he didn't think Yuan Guangkai's body was much stronger than his.

In fact,

Just as Gu Guanqi had guessed, Yuan Guangkai's body was indeed as hard as steel, but it wasn't so ridiculous that he was invincible.

As Gu Guanqi's fists continued to fall...

Yuan Guangkai's head began to deform under the impact of the fists, and the dark red skin on his face cracked, revealing the dry, bluish-gray flesh underneath.

Then, several more punches landed.

Yuan Guangkai's head finally succumbed to the immense force and shattered with a "crack".

Black liquid oozed from the cracks in the skull, emitting a strong, putrid stench. The black liquid gleamed in the moonlight, slowly flowing down the cracks in the ground.

Gu Guanqi pounded it a few more times.

Yuan Guangkai's body twitched a few times, then became completely still. His head collapsed, leaving him lifeless.

However, a chill still lingered in his chest.

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly, lifted Yuan Guangkai's shirt, and found a slightly yellowed book placed close to his body - "The Supreme Ming King's Merit".

The biting cold came from inside the chest.

Gu Guanqi carefully put away the secret manual.

Then he punched down.

Yuan Guangkai's chest split open.

Inside was a spherical ice crystal the size of a pigeon's egg.

"This must be the Ice Soul that Han Youniang was stolen from, right?"

Gu Guanqi reached out and took out the ice crystal. He felt a terrifying chill penetrate straight to his head. He quickly circulated his Mingyu True Qi to cover it, then put it in his pocket and slowly stood up.

The bright moon hung in the night sky, its light as clear as water.

The light shone on the ruins. Gu Guanqi looked down at Yuan Guangkai, who had been smashed to pieces. He was still a zombie and had not returned to human form.

He felt a slight pang of emotion.

Yuan Guangkai has turned himself into something neither human nor ghost, thinking he's the best in the world, but in reality he's completely ignorant.

Don't even mention being the best in the world.

Even if he didn't have the Wedding Dress Divine Skill today, relying mainly on the Bright Jade Skill, combined with the Innate Skill, Purple Cloud Divine Skill, and One Yang Finger True Qi, he could still defeat Yuan Guangkai. However, he might not be able to kill him, giving Yuan Guangkai a chance to escape.

but,

Yuan Guangkai, however, proclaimed himself the best in the world!

"No matter what kind of martial art it is, once mastered, everyone thinks they are the best in the world!"