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

Chapter 63: Living Towards Death and Entering the Dao Realm (9k)

With the experience from Yunzhou,

When Gu Guanqi took over the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance, the process went much more smoothly. This was because he had experience, and because Qingzhou was much smaller than Yunzhou, so it was relatively less complicated, and the various forces were not as complex as in Yunzhou.

The pattern is the same.

The Martial Arts Alliance headquarters was established at Tianjun Mountain, with a branch headquarters in each of the nine prefectures of Qingzhou. Within the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters, eight halls were established, including those for discipline and logistics, each headed by a renowned martial arts master.

Of course, Lin Yourong had already been chosen as the elder of the first powerful hall, the Discipline Hall, and Jiang Baili had also been chosen as the vice leader.

but,

It is somewhat different from Yunzhou.

In Yunzhou, the vice leader An Yi is in charge of the martial arts alliance, while in Qingzhou, Jiang Baili is simple-minded. Her main role as vice leader is to suppress the enemy with her powerful force when Gu Guanqi is not in Qingzhou.

The person who truly manages the Martial Arts Alliance is Lin Yourong.

Lin Yourong's management skills are similar to An Yi's, but their methods are quite different. An Yi's style is relatively moderate and peaceful, while Lin Yourong is relatively domineering.

After the establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance,

Gu Guanqi immediately put Lin Yourong in charge of management.

Just like the trust placed in An Yi,

Gu Guanqi also trusted Lin Yourong.

Lin Yourong did not disappoint Gu Guanqi; in just a few days, she got the Martial Alliance into full operation.

Subsequently,

Gu Guanqi then led a team of martial arts alliance guards to escort the group of Miao people to Qingtai Temple.

With Jiang Baili and Lin Yourong in the martial arts alliance, he felt completely at ease.

However, with so many people, getting around becomes quite inconvenient.

The journey from Tianjun Mountain to Qingtai Temple would have taken Gu Guanqi at most five or six days if he had been traveling alone, but with a group, it took him a full ten days.

That afternoon, as the sun began to set, the group finally arrived at Qingtai Mountain, a very ordinary little mountain.

Although Qingtai Temple has the Grandmaster Xuanbei in charge, it has always been in a semi-secluded state and basically does not participate in the conflicts of the martial arts world. Therefore, Qingtai Temple is not a famous mountain or ancient temple, and the temple buildings are not grand. It is just an ordinary temple with blue bricks and gray tiles.

When we reached the mountainside,

Gu Guanqi then saw two people standing at the fork in the road.

The first man, dressed in a gray monk's robe, with kind eyes and gentle features, was none other than Abbot Xuanbei of Qingtai Temple.

Standing beside him was another monk, who was about forty years old and thin.

Gu Guanqi recognized the man at a glance; it was none other than Lin Yourong's seventh uncle, Lin Changqing, one of the eight heroes of Qingzhou, also known as the Finger Vajra.

When the Lin family suffered a misfortune, Lin Changqing was seriously injured and his cultivation was destroyed. He then entered Qingtai Temple and became a disciple of Master Xuanbei.

this matter,

Gu Guanqi knew this.

Seeing you again today fills me with emotion; life truly is unpredictable.

At this time, Lin Changqing had already shaved his head and become a monk. He was wearing a gray robe and holding a string of prayer beads in his hand. His demeanor was less sharp and more serene than before.

"Amitabha! We respectfully welcome Alliance Leader Gu to Qingtai Temple!" Master Xuanbei bowed deeply.

Gu Guanqi dismounted, stepped forward a few paces, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master Xuanbei, I apologize for disturbing you."

Xuanbei clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: "Amitabha, it is an honor for Qingtai Temple that Alliance Leader Gu has come. Alliance Leader Gu must be tired from your journey. This humble monk has prepared a vegetarian meal. Please, Alliance Leader Gu!"

"You're too kind, Master!"

Gu Guanqi then turned to Lin Changqing, who was standing to the side, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Uncle Lin, it's been a long time!"

Lin Changqing quickly returned the greeting, pressing his palms together: "Alliance Leader Gu, this humble monk has already entered the Buddhist order, my Dharma name is Jiechen. You are of the same generation as my master, so I am unworthy of being called 'Uncle'."

That being said,

But Lin Changqing was still filled with emotion.

In less than a year, when they met again, Gu Guanqi had become the leader of the martial arts alliance in two states!

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Lin Changqing and said, "Uncle Lin, let's stick to our own ways. You know my relationship with You Rong. If the seniority is messed up, I won't be able to explain it to her."

Lin Changqing smiled slightly but did not reply.

Xuanbei stepped aside to lead the way: "Alliance Leader Gu, everyone, please follow this humble monk up the mountain."

Immediately,

The group climbed the stone steps. The mountain path was narrow, with ancient trees towering on both sides, their shade blocking out the sun. Occasionally, birdsong would drift from the woods, further emphasizing the tranquility of the place.

Xuanbei walked ahead, saying as he went, "A few days ago, after I returned to the temple, I immediately told the High Priest of the Gu God Sect about the Guangwu incident."

After listening, the High Priest stated that the Miao Village and the Gu God Sect had been established in Hongzhou for a thousand years, never participating in the conflicts of the Central Plains martial arts world, nor harboring any ambition for external expansion. Furthermore, the current leader of the Gu God Sect was a woman who had only been in office for three or four years, making it impossible for her to have such ambitions. Moreover, the current Miao King was already over seventy years old, nearing the end of his life, and therefore even less likely to have such ambitions.

Gu Guanqi asked in surprise, "But that Guangwu said that the current Miao King's cultivation is unparalleled in the thousand-year history of the Miao village, and his ambition is even more awe-inspiring!"

Xuanbei said, "So this is the strange thing. Logically speaking, people who practice Gu techniques, because they are accompanied by poisonous snakes and insects all year round, even if their cultivation is profound, rarely live long lives."

The current Miao King is over seventy years old, which is indeed among the longest-lived in the world of Gu cultivation. He should be nearing the end of his life, yet he still has such lofty ambitions; it is truly strange.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly, then asked, "Then, are the identities of that group of Miao people fake?"

Master Xuanbei said, "The High Priest does acknowledge that Guangwu is indeed one of the twelve elders of the Miao village."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly: "So, according to the High Priest, Guangwu acted on his own initiative?"

Xuanbei said, "The High Priest suspects that Guangwu may have been controlled or deceived. Miao witchcraft has many insidious methods, and techniques to control people's minds and souls are very common. She also needs to see Guangwu and confront him face to face to understand the root of the problem."

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "Then let's confront each other face to face."

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group arrived at the mountain gate.

After entering the mountain gate, passing through the front courtyard, and going around a stone pagoda, Xuanbei led everyone to a side courtyard.

The courtyard gate was open, and inside were several early-blooming silver osmanthus trees with lush foliage. A layer of fine osmanthus blossoms had fallen to the ground, emitting a delicate fragrance.

Several people, all dressed in Miao ethnic clothing, were standing in the courtyard. There were men and women, young and old. They had been talking quietly, but when they heard footsteps, they all looked over.

Gu Guanqi glanced around and saw a familiar face. It was Lanlan, whom he had met in Lishan Town that day. She was squatting under the osmanthus tree, holding a leaf in her hand, as if she was teasing a small insect on the ground.

Hearing the noise, Lanlan looked up at the doorway and saw Gu Guanqi. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she jumped up and ran towards the courtyard gate, her voice clear and joyful: "Handsome brother, we meet again!"

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Miss Lanlan!"

Lanlan said, "Brother, I know you came here because of Guangwu. I swear in the name of the Gu God, our Gu God Sect and Miao Village are absolutely not bad people who want to harm you. Please believe me, okay? I..."

Before Lanlan could finish speaking, a hoarse voice came from the courtyard: "Lanlan, don't be rude."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small, elderly woman with a golden cane slowly walking out of the main room.

Gu Guanqi also recognized the man; he was the high priest of the Gu God Cult whom she had seen that day in Lishan County.

Lanlan stood next to the high priest and grinned foolishly at Gu Guanqi.

"Alliance Leader Gu, we meet again." The High Priest, with one hand over his stomach, bowed and said, "I am Gou Liu, the High Priest of the Gu God Sect."

Gu Guanqi returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Senior Gou Liu."

The high priest straightened up and said, "I dare not accept the title of Senior Alliance Leader Gu."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over the guards and the prison carts outside the courtyard. Her expression remained unchanged, but her tone was more solemn than before: "I have already heard from Master Xuanbei about the purpose of Alliance Leader Gu's visit. This matter has caused trouble for Alliance Leader Gu because of our Miao village, and I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Alliance Leader Gu in advance!"

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "I just hope this is a misunderstanding!"

Gou Liu said, "Let me ask Guang Wu."

Gu Guanqi turned to the side and waved to his back.

Immediately, a group of guards from the Alliance Leader's Mansion escorted more than a dozen people forward from the back of the procession. These people were all wearing shackles, and the one leading them was Guangwu, one of the twelve elders of the Miao village.

Guangwu was no longer the dignified and otherworldly figure he had been in front of Lin Yourong. His hair was disheveled, his Taoist robe was tattered and stained with blood, and his face was ashen. He was being held down by two guards, his head was hanging low, and he did not say a word.

Gou Liu's gaze fell on Guang Wu, and she slowly said, "Guang Wu, raise your head."

Guangwu slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting Gou Liu's, and said, "High Priest, there's no need to say more. This matter was due to my incompetence; I was captured. I have failed the Miao King, and I deserve to die!"

Gou Liu didn't speak, but stared at Guang Wu. After a while, she reached out and gently stroked Guang Wu's head, and a wisp of true energy rippled slightly.

Guangwu remained silent.

After a moment, Gou Liu withdrew his hand.

Then he looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, this person is indeed Guangwu, but he is currently under the influence of our Miao Jiang's Bewitching Illusion Gu."

This Gu is made from a type of soft aquatic worm. It is extremely small and can hide in the ear. It releases a unique aura over a long period of time, which unknowingly invades the mind and continuously weaves a false illusion.

This Gu technique, when cultivated to its highest level, can even alter memories, making someone see their enemy as a benefactor, and imprinting non-existent events into their mind, thus distorting their perception.

Gu Guanqi said, "So, senior, you mean that Guangwu has been bewitched?"

Gou Liu nodded slightly and said, "The Miao people have lived in this corner for generations and have long developed the habit of being self-sufficient and content in their own territory. This understanding is engraved in the subconscious of all Miao people. It has been more than a thousand years now, and no generation has ever thought of leaving Miao territory."

This mindset will not change because of the will of any one person. Even if the other party is the Miao King, or even the leader of our Gu God Sect, if their belief is to protect the Miao territory and their people, anyone who proposes to expand outwards will be met with opposition from all the Miao people.

Gu Guanqi said, "This doesn't prove anything!"

Gou Liu slowly said, "I can undo the Gu worm in Guangwu, but he is too deeply afflicted. Once it is removed, his consciousness will surely perish, and he will die."

However, the person behind the scenes is able to control Guangwu, which means that this person has profound cultivation and intends to harm the Miao village, thus endangering the safety of the Miao village. I must also remove the Gu worm from Guangwu.

However, if Guangwu dies in the future, please don't misunderstand and think I'm killing him to cover it up.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Please, senior, demonstrate your divine power!"

Gu Guanqi took a small half-step back.

Gou Liu slowly walked up to Guang Wu, raised his right hand, spread his five fingers slightly, and placed his palm down three inches above Guang Wu's head.

A faint sheen emanated from her aged palms, and the lines on her palms seemed to come alive, the fine lines undulating slightly, as if countless tiny lives were moving beneath her skin.

A wisp of pale blue true energy overflowed from her palm, like silk threads, and slowly seeped into Guangwu's head.

"puff--"

Guangwu spat out a mouthful of blood.

Immediately afterwards, his body began to tremble violently, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood.

Gou Liu's true energy slowly surged out, like waves crashing one after another. With each surge, Guang Wu's expression twisted more, veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat dripped down his chin.

"ah--!"

At one point, Guangwu suddenly let out a piercing scream, clutched his head with both hands, curled up into a ball, and rolled around on the ground.

He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the empty courtyard, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present.

Gou Liu remained calm, stepped forward, and used his left hand to press Guang Wu's shoulder down, pinning him to the ground. He then replenished his true energy with his right hand once more.

Her cloudy eyes remained completely still, showing intense focus.

Time passed little by little.

Guangwu's screams gradually subsided, and the rolling motions became smaller and smaller, as if he had exhausted his last bit of strength.

then,

Something began to crawl out of Guangwu's ears.

First, there was one.

Then two, three, ten...

Countless tiny white insects, even smaller than ants, were milky white with a faint sheen. They slowly emerged from Guangwu's ear canal, like a thin white stream flowing down his cheek.

After the insects left Guangwu's body, they all struggled for a few moments before curling up into a ball, becoming extremely shriveled and motionless.

As dozens of white worms emerged, thick, dark red blood began to flow from Guangwu's ears again.

At this moment, Gou Liu withdrew his hand, and his true energy slowly dissipated.

She looked down at the curled-up white worms on the ground, sighed, and said, "This is the Bewitching Illusion Gu... its aura has penetrated deep into his consciousness. This didn't happen overnight; it has been lurking within him for at least several months. He's beyond saving!"

Guangwu was curled up on the ground, soaked to the bone, his face as pale as paper, his lips cracked, and bloodstains remained at the corners of his mouth.

His gaze gradually focused, like a lamp that was about to go out being refilled with oil, swaying and struggling, until it finally lit up.

He struggled to lift his head, his gaze falling on Gou Liu, and slowly began to speak:

"High...High Priest..."

His voice was very weak.

Gou Liu crouched down, reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, her tone softening slightly: "Guangwu, are you lucid now?"

Guangwu's eyes still held a hint of daze.

After a long while, his vision gradually cleared, and he stammered, "High Priest, the Miao King... the Miao King is an imposter..."

As soon as he said that,

The Miao people's expressions all changed.

Gou Liu's pupils contracted slightly, and he said, "Tell me in detail."

Guangwu swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and said, "Six months ago, one day, I suddenly noticed that the Miao King's habits were a little different from before. He didn't go to get his pair of walnuts that he had been playing with for more than 20 years as soon as he got up."

At that time, I didn't suspect anything, but later I noticed more and more strange things, mostly small details in his daily life. For example, he would forget to use his cane and only realize it after taking two steps. For example, he hadn't had sex for many years, but during that period he started hiring people to serve him in bed.

Guangwu took a breath and continued, "What's even stranger is that his physical condition is getting better and better. In just a few months, he no longer needs a cane, but he still deliberately carries one."

But many things cannot be hidden, such as his increasingly agile movements, especially... his eyes...

Guangwu's pupils contracted slightly as he said, "His eyes are completely different from before. The Miao King's eyes used to be gentle and calm, like a still pool of water."

During that time, his eyes seemed to conceal knives; when he looked at people, it always sent chills down their spines. Moreover, his lust grew increasingly intense; even the way he looked at the cult leader was filled with lust!

Gou Liu frowned deeply and said, "He dares to blaspheme the sect leader!"

Guangwu nodded slightly and continued, "The more I thought about it, the more I felt something was wrong, so I went to find Elder Gong Yang and told him about it. After that, we decided to sneak into the Miao King's residence at night."

That night, we sneaked into the Miao King's residence. We encountered an unexpected person: the previous Holy Maiden, Duoyu.

With this remark,

Lanlan suddenly looked up, surprised, and said, "Duoyu? Didn't she die thirty years ago?"

Guangwu nodded and said, "Yes, Duoyu betrayed the Gu God Sect back then and was captured by the old sect leader and subjected to the torture of being devoured by ten thousand snakes, which is now thirty years ago."

So I was shocked too, but before I could react, Gong Yang suddenly made his move. I didn't even have time to think, and then I knew nothing more.

"When I woke up again..."

Guangwu took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, forced himself to stay awake, and continued, "When I woke up, my memories started to get messy. I couldn't remember sneaking into the Miao King's mansion at night. Instead, I remembered a memory of the Miao King's breakthrough in cultivation, a momentous event that has been passed down through the ages."

My ambition was to assist the Miao King in conquering mountains and rivers, leading the Miao people to expand their territory and establish an immortal dynasty. Those thoughts were firmly planted in my mind, and with Gong Yang's guidance, my memories were completely altered within a few days.

Guangwu's voice grew weaker and weaker as he spoke: "The High Priest... the Miao King... was truly replaced... that wasn't the Miao King at all... and Duoyu... she's come back for revenge. The replacement of the Miao King must be related to her; she's definitely back for revenge... she..."

Speaking of which,

Guangwu's lips were still moving, as if he still had something to say, but he couldn't make a sound.

Then, his eyes suddenly glazed over, his head lolled to the side, and his whole body went limp.

The people in the courtyard fell silent.

Gou Liu's expression was solemn. He cupped his hands towards Gu Guanqi and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, that's how things are. It seems that there's a big problem within our Miao village. The situation is urgent, and I really can't offer any more explanations."

If Alliance Leader Gu still has doubts, he may go to Miao territory to investigate. I swear in the name of the Gu God that I absolutely did not use any methods against Guangwu. What he just said should all be what he witnessed with his own eyes.”

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Senior, you flatter me. This matter has nothing to do with the Gu God Sect or the Miao Village. It's a good thing for everyone. However, there are problems within the Miao Village now. I wish the Gu God Sect and the Miao Village can quell the internal strife soon!"

Gou Liu bowed slightly.

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands in greeting and then left with his men.

"Amitabha," Xuan Bei said softly, following beside Gu Guanqi, "Alliance Leader Gu, do you still have any doubts?"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Master, are you asking me whether I believe it or not?"

Xuanbei nodded slightly and said, "Qingtai Temple has a history with the Gu God Sect, and you are the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingzhou. This humble monk naturally hopes that there will be no misunderstanding."

Gu Guanqi said, "Master, rest assured, I believe you. If Senior Gou Liu had used tricks to deceive me, he wouldn't have fabricated a lie about the Miao King being replaced and the Holy Maiden who should have died thirty years ago reappearing in the world. It would be too easy to expose."

Furthermore, such a major event has occurred within the Miao village; it's bound to cause a great commotion, which can be easily observed with a little attention. After all, if the Miao king has truly been replaced, the village couldn't remain peaceful forever. Surely they wouldn't deliberately create unrest within the village just to deceive me?

Xuan Bei nodded slightly and said, "Alliance Leader Gu is absolutely right. However, if the Miao King is indeed replaced, and the other side has already shown hostility towards you and covetousness towards the martial arts alliances of Qingyun and Liangzhou, what are your plans, Alliance Leader Gu?"

"I will go to Hongzhou. There is no such thing as a thousand days to catch a thief, but a thousand days to guard against a thief," Gu Guanqi said. "The other party has made it clear that they intend to attack me, so I naturally have to deal with the matter, especially since they are practicing the strange art of Gu Dao. If we don't deal with it soon, there will be endless troubles."

Besides needing to resolve the issue of the Gu God Cult,

Gu Guanqi had one more thing that required him to go to Hongzhou: to visit Zhao Lingyuan at the Rong Prince's Mansion. After all, he and Zhao Lingyuan still had an advanced matchmaking event to settle, the reward of which was a fully upgraded Little Li Flying Dagger.

After learning about the cultivation level of Left Chancellor Zhang Jiexi from Governor Xu He, Gu Guanqi felt a sense of urgency.

The opponent is simply too strong.

With his current martial arts skills, he is definitely no match for the opponent. If he waits for the opponent to free himself to kill him, then things will get complicated.

Therefore,

He naturally wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to enhance his strength.

"Amitabha!" Xuanbei clasped his hands together and said, "When does Alliance Leader Gu plan to go to Hongzhou? This humble monk is willing to go with you. Although my martial arts skills are low, I can still assist Alliance Leader Gu."

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "Let's see when Senior Gou Liu and his group plan to return to Hongzhou. I'll go after them."

Xuanbei understood Gu Guanqi's meaning: he wanted Gou Liu and the others to return to the Miao village first, observe the village's reaction, and assess the situation to formulate a plan.

"The High Priest will probably send someone back to the Gu God Sect first. As for herself, she should have to wait a few more days before she can leave," Xuan Bei said.

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "Is Senior Gou Liu's matter at Qingtai Temple that important? More important than the internal strife in the Miao village and the replacement of the Miao King?"

"It's not that important," Master Xuanbei shook his head slightly and said, "If the Miao King is really replaced, High Priest Gou Liu can inform the Gu God Sect. Whether she can get back as quickly as possible is not that important. But the matter at Qingtai Temple cannot be delayed."

Speaking of which,

Master Xuanbei hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "The reason why High Priest Gou Liu came to Qingtai Temple is because of a scandal from thirty years ago."

While speaking,

Master Xuanbei extended his hand to invite Gu Guanqi into a nearby pavilion.

Immediately, Gu Guanqi gave a few instructions to the guard commander, signaling them to go and rest with the guest monk.

then,

Gu Guanqi then went to the pavilion with Master Xuanbei.

Master Xuanbei poured Gu Guanqi a cup of tea and slowly said, "Thirty years ago, Qingtai Temple produced an unparalleled martial arts genius. Before he was thirty, he had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts, similar to your current martial arts level, Alliance Leader Gu. He was my junior brother, and his Dharma name was Xuanxin."

Knowing that the path of martial arts had not ended there, he went to Qizhou, entered the Great Bright Temple, visited the Lotus Pond Saint Monk, and received guidance from the Lotus Pond Saint Monk. He realized that martial arts is divided into martial arts and the Way. He had only reached the peak of martial arts, but had not yet stepped into the level of the Way.

He sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree for seven days and seven nights, finally attaining enlightenment. He returned to Qingtai Temple, integrated all the temple's martial arts manuals, and created a martial art that embraced death to achieve life.

Speaking of which,

Master Xuanbei's eyes flashed with a hint of reminiscence as he said, "Junior Brother Xuanxin is the most talented person I have ever met in my life. Even thirty years later, when I saw you again, Alliance Leader Gu, I was still somewhat dazed, as if I were seeing Junior Brother Xuanxin from back then."

Like you, he possesses unparalleled talent, an ethereal and Buddha-like demeanor, and even his appearance is as handsome and extraordinary as yours, Alliance Leader Gu.

"I will never forget that day, the day he created that martial art. A strange phenomenon occurred: a golden lotus bloomed in the sky, and he emerged from it. At that moment, I believed that Buddha truly existed in this world."

Gu Guanqi became extremely interested in this monk Xuanxin and quickly asked, "And then what happened?"

"Alas," Master Xuanbei sighed and said, "It's a pity that my junior brother ultimately chose the wrong path. Although his martial art is extremely powerful, it has a paradox: the final state of 'living towards death' requires actual death to break through, but if one truly dies, the breakthrough is meaningless."

So, after much deliberation, he made a wrong decision, embarking on a path of no return. That one step ultimately led to the complete destruction of his talent and martial arts skills.

Gu Guanqi asked, "Is it related to the Gu God Cult?"

"Yes," Xuanbei said, "The Gu God Sect has been passed down for thousands of years and has many mysterious and wonderful methods, among which the Nirvana Gu is the most prominent."

Three hundred years ago, the Gu God Sect had a leader who was unparalleled in history. He created a Nirvana Gu, which, when combined with the Nirvana Gu technique, could be reincarnated nine times. Each time it was reincarnated, its cultivation level would double. It was said that after nine reincarnations, one could become a Gu Immortal, immortal and indestructible!

At that time, the cult leader was revered in the martial arts world as the Gu Master. However, during his sixth reincarnation, he encountered a powerful figure surnamed Tang, who suppressed and killed him with overwhelming force.

The Gu Master perished, leaving behind three Nirvana Gu. For the next several centuries, the Gu God Sect never produced another genius of such extraordinary talent. Instead, due to various reasons, they gradually consumed two Nirvana Gu, leaving only the last one, which was sealed within the Gu God Sect and is considered a supreme treasure.

Junior Brother Xuanxin then set his sights on the Nirvana Gu, because even a single one possesses the miraculous effects of bringing the dead back to life and undergoing a phoenix-like rebirth, which could help him break through to the Daoist realm of facing death and being reborn.

However, the Nirvana Gu is a supreme treasure of the Gu God Sect and cannot be given to outsiders. Brother Xuanxin, blinded by desire in his pursuit of the Nirvana Gu, actually used his beauty to seduce and deceive the then-Holy Maiden of the Gu God Sect, Duoyu, into falling in love with him.

Master Xuanbei sighed and said, "Duoyu is deeply in love with Junior Brother Xuanxin and cannot extricate herself. She actually betrayed the Gu God Sect for Junior Brother Xuanxin and stole the Nirvana Gu."

But the Gu God Sect would not let it go so easily. They mobilized all their forces to hunt down Saintess Duoyu and Junior Brother Xuanxin. In the end, Saintess Duoyu was captured and brought back to the Gu God Sect, where she was tortured to death by being devoured by ten thousand snakes.

Although Junior Brother Xuanxin obtained the Nirvana Gu, at the last moment, due to his guilt towards Saintess Duoyu, he developed a demon in his heart and decided to give up the Nirvana Gu in exchange for Duoyu's life.

Just then, the old leader of the Gu God Cult led his experts to Qingtai Temple. Upon learning of Duo Yu's death, Junior Brother Xuanxin was utterly devastated and completely controlled by his inner demons. He immediately swallowed the Nirvana Gu and forcibly entered the Dao, attempting to unleash a massacre.

The old leader of the Gu God Sect was also a powerful cultivator, but because Junior Brother Xuanxin had swallowed the Nirvana Gu, he was immune to Gu techniques, making him no match for Junior Brother Xuanxin. Fortunately, at the critical moment, our Abbot of Qingtai Temple activated the Qingtai Temple's Demon-Subduing Formation, sacrificing his own life to buy the old leader the opportunity to subdue the demon.

Finally, the old abbot passed away, and the old sect leader was severely injured, barely managing to kill Junior Brother Xuanxin. However, the Nirvana Gu was not completely refined and still had a chance to revive. The old sect leader and High Priest Gou Liu joined forces to use a secret technique, using Junior Brother Xuanxin's body as a Gu vessel, and with the help of Qingtai Temple's magic array, to raise the Gu anew.

Gu Guanqi suddenly realized, "So, Senior Gou Liu came to Qingtai Temple this time to retrieve the Gu poison?"

Xuan Bei nodded and said, "Now is the time for the Nirvana Gu to be reborn. The Nirvana Gu is the supreme treasure of the Gu God Sect, which has saved the Gu God Sect from the brink of extinction twice. Therefore, this is why High Priest Gou Liu will definitely take the Nirvana Gu first and then return to the Gu God Sect."

Gu Guanqi asked doubtfully, "Can this Nirvana Gu really bring the dead back to life?"

Xuanbei said, "It's hard to be certain whether this is true or false, but I personally witnessed Junior Brother Xuanxin ingesting the Nirvana Gu thirty years ago, and it was indeed extremely powerful. However, everything has its own destiny. Alliance Leader Gu, you are young and have a bright future ahead of you. Please don't follow my Junior Brother Xuanxin's example and fall into greed!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Master, rest assured, I will not covet what belongs to others. Hmm, Master, could you elaborate on what the realm of entering the Dao is?"

Xuanbei thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I don't really understand this realm either. After all, my cultivation is far from enough to come into contact with that realm. What I know is only what I heard Junior Brother Xuanxin say back then."

He said that martial arts have their limits. No matter how strong one's true energy is, even if one possesses a thousand or ten thousand years of internal strength, it can only be used to drive martial arts techniques through the human body. Therefore, once true energy becomes powerful enough, a hundred years of internal strength is no different from a thousand or ten thousand years. It's just that those with profound internal strength can fight for a longer period of time.

However, martial arts have limits, but the Way has no limits.

Because, the so-called entry into the Tao is to understand the laws governing the operation of heaven and earth, which are infinite and limitless!

My junior brother Xuanxin once told me that he divided all martial artists in the world into four levels. The first level is the technique realm. Martial artists at this level use martial arts based on techniques.

Secondly, there is the state of mind. At this level, martial artists have transcended ordinary moves and can use momentum to execute their martial arts, such as the momentum of the wind, the momentum of the water, the momentum of people, the momentum of height, the momentum of left, right, east, and west, and so on.

In the martial arts world, this level is also considered a mark of a grandmaster.

Third is the Willpower Realm. Martial artists at this level can not only borrow momentum at will, but also imbue their martial arts with their own unique spiritual will, controlling their enemies under their mental pressure.

This level was defined by Junior Brother Xuanxin as the ultimate, the pinnacle of martial arts.

The fourth is the Dao Realm. At this level, when you use martial arts, you borrow and control the power of heaven and earth. When you use martial arts, you no longer simply borrow momentum, but see the essential laws of their operation through the momentum of wind and water.

"Riding the wave is about seeing where the wind comes from and where it's going; but understanding the true path is about seeing why the wind comes from there and why it's going there in the first place!"

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow slightly.

I basically already have a plan in mind.

His current Fifteen Deadly Swords, Wedding Dress Divine Skill, and Bright Jade Skill have indeed reached the limit of martial arts. He himself can feel that if he were to cultivate martial arts normally, no matter how he cultivates, he can basically only reach this level at most.

Gu Guanqi also basically understood.

The highest level of martial arts in the four-star system represents the limit of martial arts.

As for that so-called level of entering the Tao...

That should be a five-star level martial art.

Xuanbei then said, "Alliance Leader Gu, if one wishes to explore the Dao Realm, generally speaking, only the Eight Great Sects possess the necessary resources. My Qingtai Temple and Daguangming Temple have a long-standing relationship, so I can introduce you to them!"

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Master, but I don't need it for the time being."

Xuan Bei nodded slightly and said, "That's true. Alliance Leader Gu has achieved so much at such a young age. His master must have a powerful background. I suppose your master had his own plan, so he didn't tell Alliance Leader Gu about entering the Dao."

Gu Guanqi chuckled lightly, offering no explanation, but instead asked, "Was that Saintess Duoyu from back then also at the same level as Master Xuanxin? According to Guangwu, that Saintess Duoyu has come back to life; could she have already reached the Dao Enlightenment realm?"

Xuan Bei shook his head slightly and said, "That's impossible to know!"

Gu Guanqi continued, "Actually, I'm also thinking about another issue. If that Saintess Duoyu is really still alive, and has replaced the Miao King, and is even more ambitious to lead the Miao Village to expand outwards, then the first thing she will deal with is the Gu God Cult."

So, could she be plotting to obtain a treasure as precious as the Nirvana Gu? Furthermore, the High Priest, a powerful figure in the Gu God Cult, leaving the sect alone, is the easiest opportunity to deal with her. Would she let such an opportunity slip by?

"this……"

Xuan Bei's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Alliance Leader Gu is absolutely right. I will go and remind the High Priest to take precautions now."

Immediately,

Master Xuanbei bowed respectfully to Gu Guanqi before quickly departing.