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

Chapter 64: The Great Battle Begins (8k)

The county town lies at the foot of Qingtai Mountain.

At this time, it was dusk, and wisps of smoke rose from chimneys throughout the county town.

In the backyard of an unassuming inn, a middle-aged woman, still possessing a certain charm, was sitting in a wicker chair, resting with her eyes closed.

If Gou Liu were here, he would surely recognize this person as Duo Yu, the previous generation's Holy Maiden who died thirty years ago in the Gu God Sect's torture of being devoured by ten thousand snakes.

"Holy Maiden!"

A middle-aged man in a brown robe walked in. He had a hooked nose and a somewhat gloomy look in his eyes. A pouch hung from his waist, and inside, a small red snake was sticking its head out and flicking its tongue.

The middle-aged man walked up to Duo Yu, cupped his hands and said, "I just received news that Gu Guanqi, the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingyun and Liangzhou, has escorted Guangwu to Qingtai Temple. You have probably been exposed."

Duo Yu slowly opened her eyes, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face. She said, "Guangwu is truly a good-for-nothing. No wonder the Miao village has such a strong foundation, yet it can only remain confined to a corner of the world for generations. They are all mindless fools. I sent him to get close to Gu Guanqi and wait for an opportunity to strike, but he thought he was being clever and tried to control Gu Guanqi with a love potion."

The middle-aged man chuckled, "Holy Maiden, upon closer examination, Guangwu's idea is still feasible. However, he hasn't fully grasped that Lin Yourong is no fool. Although she deeply loves Gu Guanqi, she won't let love cloud her judgment!"

Duo Yu's gaze sharpened as she looked at the middle-aged man, and she said coldly, "Are you subtly mocking me?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare," the middle-aged man quickly said. "I had no such intention. I spoke without thinking. Please forgive me, Holy Maiden!"

"Hmph," Duo Yu snorted coldly and said, "It doesn't matter if you make sarcastic remarks, I am the kind of stupid ingrate who would do anything for love."

But I don't think I was wrong. In my opinion, love is the purest and most sacred thing in the world. That Lin Yourong was willing to share a husband with another woman. Such a person is despicable and doesn't deserve to be a woman. And that Gu Guanqi has even more defiled love. That kind of philanderer deserves to die a horrible death!

The middle-aged man gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond. After all, in this world, it was perfectly normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. Even he himself had quite a few concubines, so he couldn't possibly agree with Duo Yu's words.

Duo Yu glanced at the middle-aged man and said, "Guangwu's stupidity lies not in the fact that he found Lin Yourong, but in the fact that he is too narrow-minded. Although the Love Gu and Love Gu are very effective, they are completely ineffective against someone with Gu Guanqi's cultivation level."

Even if Lin Yourong really did use Gu on Gu, those two types of Gu worms would be instantly destroyed by Gu Guanqi's true energy upon entering his body. To deal with someone like Gu Guanqi, the only way is to proceed gradually, slowly planting the Gu worms. That's why I had him infiltrate Gu Guanqi's circle, gain his trust, and control him step by step.

The middle-aged man asked in surprise, "The Love Gu and Affection Gu are useless against Gu Guanqi? Then what happened to Xuan Xin back then? I heard he died from being devoured by the Love Gu?"

Duo Yu said coldly, "That's just a fabricated story by the Miao village to intimidate and scare people. Miao women are naive and easily deceived. When the Nirvana Gu was stolen, many people in the martial arts world had wicked intentions. So, after my husband died, they claimed that he died from a love Gu devouring his heart, just to scare those with wicked thoughts. If love Gu were really that powerful, the Gu God Sect wouldn't need to do anything; they could dominate the world just by refining love Gu!"

"I see!" The middle-aged man nodded and flattered, "Then it seems that with Master Xuanxin's cultivation level back then, and with the Nirvana Gu in his possession, he must have been harmed by someone's evil scheme and died unjustly."

"No one used any underhanded tactics," Duo Yu said. "My husband was killed in a direct confrontation!"

"Well……"

The middle-aged man choked for a moment, then said, "However, it is perfectly reasonable for the Holy Maiden to avenge her husband. Those people went too far back then. You and Master Xuanxin did nothing wrong; it was all for love, yet you were forcibly separated. They killed both you and Master Xuanxin—it was truly excessive. Now that you have come for revenge, it is a matter of divine justice and karmic retribution. I admire the Holy Maiden's devotion to love!"

Duo Yu pondered for a moment and said, "You don't need to find any high-sounding reasons for me. The Gu God Sect raised me to adulthood, regarded me as a saintess, and their kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. For my husband, I stole the Nirvana Gu and was captured and tortured by the Gu God Sect. It is only reasonable."

As for my husband, he took advantage of my naivety back then, bewitched me, and stole the sacred treasure of the cult; he deserved to die. But he was also soft-hearted; he originally came to deceive me, but he actually fell in love with me, and in the end, his scheme failed, and he was killed. He has no one to blame but himself.

Middle-aged man: "..."

I just wanted to speak up for you!

Duo Yu looked at the embarrassed middle-aged man and said, "Actually, I've always been quite curious about your Heavenly Demon Sect..."

The middle-aged man quickly said, "Heavenly God Sect, Holy Maiden, it's the Heavenly God Sect!"

Duo Yu rolled her eyes and said, "The Heavenly Demon Sect is the Heavenly Demon Sect. Why do you have to pat yourself on the back? That's what I've always wondered. You're all demonic, you're bad people, so why do you have to find a reason for your bad deeds?"

Whether you want to kidnap someone or kill someone, why do you have to find a legitimate reason? You're the demonic path, shouldn't you do things because you want to?

Take me for example. I'm a scoundrel, I admit it myself. The reason I cooperated with your Heavenly Demon Sect is because I wanted to destroy the Gu God Sect. As for why I want to destroy the Gu God Sect that raised me, I don't need any grand reasons. They're blocking my way. Now I'm here to steal the Nirvana Gu, not to avenge my beloved, but because I need the Nirvana Gu to help me break through to a higher realm.

Since they're all bad people anyway, wouldn't it be better for them to be bad in a clear and thorough way?

The middle-aged man chuckled awkwardly and said, "Holy Maiden, we are different. We, the Heavenly God Sect, still hope that one day we can clear our names and go ashore."

Over a hundred years ago, our Heavenly God Sect was a renowned and leading martial arts sect in Hongzhou. We lost a battle to the Shaking Mountain Sect, and in order to restore the Heavenly God Sect, we were forced to descend into the demonic path.

"Is that so?" Duo Yu said, "Then it seems that your Heavenly Demon Sect still has ideals."

"That's only a portion. Many have already forgotten the blood feud of yesteryear," the middle-aged man sighed. "Forget it, let's not talk about that anymore. Holy Maiden, now that Gu Guanqi has arrived, the Nirvana Gu hasn't appeared yet. When we start fighting over it, things might get a bit complicated!"

"It's no trouble at all," Duo Yu said. "If it were anywhere else, I really wouldn't be confident in winning over Gu Guanqi, but it's different at Qingtai Temple."

Because I miss my beloved, I have been secretly active at Qingtai Temple all these years. Also, to guard against the Gu God Cult coming to collect Gu, which would arrange a large number of experts, I secretly set up a Gu formation at Qingtai Temple. With my current cultivation level, even my beloved's cultivation level back then would not be my match.

It must be said that although Guangwu did something foolish, the result was actually quite good. He inadvertently lured Gu Guanqi to Qingtai Temple, allowing me to take him down once and for all!

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then said, "Holy Maiden, when we return to Hongzhou and deal with Gu Guanqi, please don't tell anyone that I was involved with you."

Duo Yu asked in confusion, "Why?"

The middle-aged man was silent for a while before saying, "My young master of the Heavenly God Sect has a connection with Gu Guanqi. He has received great kindness from Gu Guanqi and is deeply in love with her. In turn, our Heavenly God Sect has received great kindness from our young master."

So, if she knew I was working with you against Gu Guanqi, I wouldn't be able to explain it to her!

"Gu Guanqi deserves to die!" Duo Yu gritted her teeth and said, "I hate philandering bastards more than anything in my life. Humph, I won't kill him, but I will turn him into a puppet and control him. Once he's useless, I'll give him to your young sect leader, and I guarantee he'll love only your young sect leader for the rest of his life!"

The middle-aged man said, "That's good, but I don't know if the young sect leader can accept it!"

Duo Yu said coldly, "Don't push your luck. If your young sect leader wants to avenge her lover, she can come to me. But think it over. If she doesn't know what's good for her and comes looking for trouble, I won't hold back."

The middle-aged man quickly replied, "No, no, I absolutely will not allow her to disturb you."

"That would be best," Duoyu said.

The middle-aged man asked again, "Holy Maiden, how long until the Nirvana Gu reappears?"

"At most two days."

"Alright," the middle-aged man said, "I'll go down and make some preparations."

After all,

The middle-aged man turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask, "By the way, Holy Maiden, I didn't see the innkeeper and the waiters when I came back today. Where did they go? Could there be something wrong with them?"

"Don't worry," Duo Yu waved her hand and said, "They're all dead, they won't betray us."

The middle-aged man asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

Duo Yu said, "That shopkeeper's gaze made me very uncomfortable, so I killed him. But then I was worried that others would find out, so I simply killed them all. Anyway, it's only for a day or two, and having my men impersonate him temporarily won't cause any problems!"

"this……"

The middle-aged man was stunned.

Duo Yu waved her hand and said, "Go out, don't disturb my rest. Oh, and tell your people to behave themselves too. I might kill someone if I'm in a bad mood."

"I understand, I understand!"

The middle-aged man quickly retreated.

……

At noon that day, the sky was terribly overcast.

The leaden-gray clouds hung low, as if they might collapse at any moment. The mountain wind, carrying damp, cold air, blew through the eaves of Qingtai Temple, making the iron gates under the eaves clang, the sound particularly quiet in the empty courtyard.

Gu Guanqi had just finished lunch when he heard footsteps coming from the courtyard gate. He looked up and saw Xuan Bei standing outside the gate.

"Alliance Leader Gu." Xuan Bei clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

Gu Guanqi stood up, walked to the door, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master, why the rush? Is there some movement from the Nirvana Gu?"

"Indeed," Xuanbei said. "High Priest Gou Liu has been guarding the formation for the past few days. Today there was movement, and the feeling is getting stronger now. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be about to appear. This humble monk is worried that Saintess Duoyu is probably waiting in the dark and will take this opportunity to snatch him. Therefore, this humble monk has come to invite Alliance Leader Gu to go and oversee the situation."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly: "Master, please lead the way."

Xuan Bei stepped aside, gesturing for him to come: "Alliance Leader Gu, please follow me."

The two left the courtyard one after the other and walked along a small blue stone path towards the back mountain. The trees on both sides of the mountain path became increasingly dense, their branches and leaves intertwining, blocking out most of the sunlight and making the light dim.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a temple that had been sealed off for many years came into view.

Xuanbei pushed open the palace door, and a musty smell hit him.

The hall was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering in through the gaps in the high windows, illuminating every detail of the dust particles in the air.

Gu Guanqi stepped across the threshold, his gaze sweeping across the hall.

The design of this temple is very unique.

The ground was not paved with ordinary square bricks, but rather with intricate patterns carved outwards from the center of the hall, spreading outwards in all directions like a spider web or a blooming lotus flower. Dark red stone was inlaid between the patterns, gleaming faintly in the dim light.

At each of the four corners of the main hall stands a bronze pillar, its body engraved with intricate runes. The top of the pillars is inlaid with dense iron chains, which are linked together to form a huge runic array, echoing the patterns on the ground.

In the very center of the main hall, at the very center of the rune array, there was a coffin, half of which was inserted into the ground.

At this moment, the coffin lid has been removed.

A shriveled corpse sat cross-legged inside the coffin.

It was draped in a faded robe, its hands clasped on its knees, its head bowed, and its skin a withered grayish-brown, clinging tightly to its skeleton.

Xuan Bei stopped beside Gu Guanqi and whispered, "That is Junior Brother Xuan Xin. Back then, the old leader of the Gu God Sect used a special method to turn Junior Brother Xuan Xin's body into a dried corpse and placed it here. This hall itself is a grand formation, using Junior Brother Xuan Xin's body as a container and the spiritual energy of Qingtai Temple's earth veins as a guide, it took thirty years for the Nirvana Gu to be reborn."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

Master Xuanbei had already told him about this a few days ago.

But seeing it with my own eyes now, I still feel that it is somewhat eerie and strange.

Inside the hall, High Priest Gou Liu sat at the eye of a formation, his eyes slightly closed, chanting obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations.

Her voice was deep and resonant, echoing in the empty hall.

Lanlan stood quietly beside Gou Liu, waiting. When she heard the noise, she turned her head and saw Gu Guanqi. Her eyes lit up immediately.

She carefully slipped out from behind Gou Liu, jogged to Gu Guanqi, looked up at him, and whispered with a smile, "Brother, you're here! The High Priest said your martial arts are extremely high. If there's any danger, you'll protect me, right?"

Gu Guanqi chuckled, "With the High Priest and Master Xuanbei here, Miss Lanlan doesn't need to worry too much."

Lanlan covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "But I just hope it's my brother who protects me."

As she spoke, she tilted her head, sized up Gu Guanqi, then looked at the corpse in the coffin, and said, "Brother, I heard that Master Xuanxin was exceptionally handsome back then, more handsome than all the princes in the Miao village combined. You were also exceptionally handsome, the most handsome prince I've ever seen. I wonder who was more handsome, you or Master Xuanxin!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Appearances aren't important. Whether someone is good-looking or not, it's all the same."

Lanlan shook her head and said, "I don't have such a high level of cultivation. I just like good-looking people!" As she spoke, she glanced at Xuanxin's corpse again, "If Master Xuanxin hadn't been handsome, there wouldn't have been the story of Saintess Duoyu betraying the Divine Sect for him."

As she spoke, she looked up and sized up Gu Guanqi again, saying, "However, I guess you're definitely more handsome, Brother. I can't think of anyone more handsome than you!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled lightly: "There's no need for comparison then."

Lanlan said with a smile, "It's a pity you're too much of a flirt, brother. Otherwise, I really wanted you to be my grandmaster. My master is also very beautiful. If she stood next to you, they would definitely look like a pair of immortals descended to earth."

Gu Guanqi had heard Xuan Bei mention a couple of days ago that Mu Jianjia, the current leader of the Gu God Sect, was only around thirty years old.

The Gu God Sect has a method of inheritance called "enlightenment," so Mu Jianjia's cultivation is extremely profound, making her the youngest grandmaster in Hongzhou.

Gu Guanqi had considered that if he were to go on a blind date with Mu Jianjia, considering her identity and martial arts skills, she might be a five-star blind date and he could offer her the first five-star reward.

So, upon hearing Lanlan's words, he chuckled and said, "It's not impossible for me to introduce you to your master!"

"Oh, brother, you really are a womanizer," Lanlan said seriously, holding up a finger. "But that's not allowed. We Miao people are all monogamous, a rule passed down from our ancestors. With your flirtatious nature, I wouldn't dare bring you to my master. Of course, if you're willing to undergo the love potion treatment, then I might consider it."

Gu Guanqi chuckled and was about to speak when a strange fluctuation suddenly came from the center of the hall.

Gou Liu's voice suddenly rose, and the incantation she chanted became rapid and sharp. True energy surged from her palms, pouring into the runes on the ground like a tide.

The dark red patterns began to light up, first as a faint glow, then quickly spreading like lamps, casting an uncertain light throughout the hall.

The iron chains on the bronze pillar also lit up at the same time, and the soft light intertwined to form a curtain of light that enveloped the corpse in the center.

Xuanxin's corpse began to change.

The originally dry and withered skin gradually became plump up at a speed visible to the naked eye. The grayish-brown epidermis faded away, replaced by a warm, slightly rosy glow.

The muscle contours reappeared, and the loose skin tightened.

In a short while, the original mummified corpse had disappeared, replaced by the face of a middle-aged monk with ruddy complexion and handsome features.

Lanlan covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise, and exclaimed, "No wonder Saintess Duoyu fell in love with him back then, he's so handsome..."

As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Guanqi, thought for a moment, and whispered, "You're on par with me, Brother! I suddenly understand Saintess Duoyu. If you were to tempt me, even knowing it's a lie, I'd probably be willing to be deceived!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled lightly but did not reply.

At this moment, Xuanxin's body had completely returned to its appearance before death. He sat cross-legged in the center of the main hall, his robe hanging down, his hands folded, his face serene, no different from a living person.

Gou Liu slowly finished his practice, stood up, placed one hand on his abdomen, bowed slightly to the corpse, and said, "Master Xuanxin, from today onwards, your grudges with my Gu God Sect are settled!"

After saying that, she raised her right hand, her five fingers slightly spread, her palm facing Xuanxin's chest.

A gentle surge of true energy flowed from her palm, slowly seeping into the corpse's chest cavity. She narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing the dormant aura within her body, and uttered a low chant, a Miao incantation.

As she slowly chanted the incantation...

Xuanxin's sense of being alive grew stronger and stronger.

suddenly,

Xuanxin opened her eyes.

Those eyes were empty and devoid of pupils or luster; they were just a deathly gray-white.

Gou Liu was suddenly startled.

Immediately afterwards, Xuanxin's mouth suddenly split open, his jaw detaching downwards at an impossible angle, revealing a dark, gaping mouth. The next instant, countless white threads shot out from his mouth.

Those silk threads were as thin as a hair, yet they carried a sharp whistling sound as hundreds of them shot out simultaneously, like a vast white net, aimed directly at Gou Liu's face.

Gou Liu's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively leaned back, simultaneously striking out with his palm. The palm wind, carrying a powerful burst of true energy, met the spider web head-on.

But just as her palm was about to touch the spider web, her eyes caught a glimmer of light within the silk.

Crystal clear, like morning dew, like condensed moonlight.

It is the Nirvana Gu.

A thought flashed through her mind like lightning—if she used her palm force to forcefully break the silk net, the Nirvana Gu would also be destroyed by this palm strike.

Without hesitation, she immediately withdrew her hand.

Her palm strike dissipated at the last moment before it touched the spider web, turning into a gentle breeze.

She quickly retreated, avoiding the silk threads.

But the white silk threads that gushed from Xuanxin's mouth spread out and surged in the hall, like a giant living net, rolling and enveloping Gou Liu.

When Gou Liu retreated three zhang, the golden tip of her cane suddenly stopped on the ground, and a light blue true energy spread out from her palm, heading towards the overwhelming silk net.

The threads froze in mid-air for a moment, then retreated back into Xuanxin's mouth like a tide, as if they had their own will.

At the same time, the iron chains around the main hall trembled and emitted a piercing buzzing sound. Then, like snakes, they coiled up and protected Xuanxin's body layer by layer, tightly wrapping him in the cage woven from iron chains.

Gou Liu looked down at her palm, which was now covered with countless bloody holes, shrouded in black mist.

She shook her hand, circulated her inner energy to force out the poison, and said in a deep voice, "Thousand Spider Silk Gu..."

Just then, the door on the side of the main hall creaked open, and a figure slowly walked in. It was a middle-aged woman who still retained her charm, with fair skin, a touch of gentleness in her eyes, and elegant clothes, her steps unhurried.

Behind her followed seven or eight martial arts practitioners wielding weapons. Each of them had a cold gaze and a steady gait, clearly not ordinary fighters.

When Gou Liu saw the middle-aged woman, a look of shock welled up in his cloudy eyes: "Duo Yu... you're actually still alive. I saw you suffer the torture of being devoured by ten thousand snakes with my own eyes, and you actually survived!"

Duo Yu slightly raised her hand and performed a gesture of respect to Gou Liu, saying, "High Priest, I did indeed nearly die from the jaws of ten thousand snakes during that punishment. But you have all forgotten one thing: the martial art created by my husband was called the Zen of Life and Death, a martial art that allows one to survive by putting oneself in a life-or-death situation."

The essence of that martial art lies in facing death to live. Therefore, the day I was devoured by ten thousand snakes actually helped me, allowing me to understand life and death and ultimately achieve my goal!

Xuanbei's pupils contracted slightly at the entrance of the main hall.

He was the one who knew the martial art of Life and Death Zen best. Once it was perfected, one could enter the realm of facing death and living, and achieve the legendary state of entering the Dao.

If Duoyu really succeeds in her cultivation...

That means we're in trouble today.

Thirty years ago, he witnessed the battle between the old leader of the Gu God Sect and Xuan Xin. Both of them were martial artists who had reached the Dao Realm. Even after thirty years, he still felt lingering fear when he thought about the power of that battle!

"Alliance Leader Gu!" Xuan Bei whispered, "If things are hopeless, find a chance to leave!"

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly.

Although he held the so-called Dao Realm in awe, in the battles of the martial world, one cannot judge solely by realm; only through combat can one determine who is stronger or weaker.

For example, many grandmasters have also been defeated by ordinary martial artists.

After all, according to the rules of the martial arts world, whoever wins is considered to be of a higher level!

at this time,

Gou Liu looked at Duo Yu with great emotion and said, "When I heard that you were still alive a few days ago, I couldn't quite believe it. I never thought it was true."

After saying that, Gou Liu sighed, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and said, "Duo Yu, can you still turn back?"

Duo Yu shook her head slightly and said, "High Priest, I respect you. You have dedicated your life to the Gu God Sect and have been fair to everyone in the sect, including me. I am also grateful to you for giving me chances again and again back then. However, I am a heartless and ungrateful person by nature. I cannot be moved and I will never turn back."

"Sigh," Gou Liu sighed, "If you hadn't taken the wrong path back then, you would probably be the sect leader by now. Now... sigh, since that's how it is, I have nothing more to say. Let's see who's the best!"

Duo Yu nodded slightly and said, "You deserve my respect, so I will definitely give you face today." Then, she looked at Gu Guanqi and the others and said, "I will also give face to the others except for Gu Guanqi."

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, and asked in confusion, "Why can't I give you face?"

Duo Yu gritted her teeth and said, "Because I hate philanderers like you the most. You're a scumbag who takes advantage of your good looks to trample on women's feelings. You deserve to be skinned alive, tortured to the point of being boiled alive, torn apart by five horses, and especially deserve to be castrated!"

Gu Guanqi: "..."

As he spoke,

Duo Yu grew increasingly agitated, pointing at Gu Guanqi and cursing, "Scumbag, rotten man, you're the most deserving dog to die..." Then, she said to the people behind her, "You hold off the High Priest and the others, I'll kill that rotten man first!"

As soon as he finished speaking,

Duo Yu suddenly waved her right hand, and a dense swarm of black flying insects suddenly poured out from her sleeve, sweeping out like a bursting dark cloud.

The flying insects were entirely black, their carapaces gleaming with a cold, eerie light. When their wings trembled, they emitted a chilling buzzing sound, and on Duo Yu's palm, they gathered into a black torrent vortex.

Then, she walked towards Gu Guanqi.

Upon seeing this, Gou Liu immediately stepped forward to stop him.

But just as she moved, a figure flashed out from behind Duo Yu, blocking her way like a ghost.

It was a middle-aged man wearing a brown robe, with a hooked nose, and a small red snake coiled around his arm.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "High Priest, I am your opponent today."

Gou Liu looked at the middle-aged man, squinted at him for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "Fang Shiming, the Left Protector of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "It is my honor that the High Priest recognizes me."

"The Heavenly Demon Sect dares to meddle in the affairs of my Gu God Sect!"

Gou Liu snorted coldly, and the golden cane in his hand suddenly stopped.

At this moment, Fang Shiming's figure shot out like an arrow, and he struck out with his right palm.

The palm strike carried a pungent, fishy odor, and the red snake shot out like a red lightning bolt, aiming straight for Gou Liu's face.

Gou Liu neither dodged nor evaded, but swept out with his golden cane, the cane wrapped in powerful true energy, and collided fiercely with Fang Shiming's palm wind.

"Bang--"

With a muffled thud, a surge of air erupted, and the blue bricks beneath their feet shattered, sending debris flying everywhere.

The two then engaged in battle.

On the other side, Master Xuanbei, seeing this, put his hands together, chanted a Buddhist mantra, and his gray monk's robe fluttered without wind, his body circulated with true energy, and he was about to step forward to fight Duoyu.

However, in that very instant,

Gu Guanqi reached out and placed a hand on Xuan Bei's shoulder, saying, "Master, leave this man to me."

Xuan Bei paused, then said, "Alliance Leader Gu, let me sound him out for you..."

"Need not,"

Gu Guanqi stepped forward and said, "You just need to protect Miss Lanlan!"

With this remark,

Lanlan, who was feeling nervous, suddenly turned her head to look at Gu Guanqi.

Then Gu Guanqi, holding the Autumn Water Sword, walked towards Duo Yu. His white clothes were spotless, his back was aloof, and his profile was handsome.

Lanlan was momentarily stunned, murmuring, "Brother, he... he's still thinking about protecting me even now?"

at this time,

Gu Guanqi drew his Autumn Water Sword with a clang, its light flashing like a bolt of lightning, creating a cold arc in the dim light of the hall.

His figure appeared like a wisp of green smoke, drifting out gracefully. With his clothes fluttering, he had already passed the oncoming swarm of insects and was heading straight for Duo Yu.

Duo Yu snorted coldly, her eyes filled with even more killing intent.

With a wave of her hands, the swirling insects suddenly gathered, surged, and entangled, instantly coalescing into a huge insect shadow. It was a black phantom formed by countless insects overlapping each other, standing over ten feet tall, like a ferocious beast spreading its wings, opening its huge mouth full of sharp teeth, and biting down fiercely at Gu Guanqi.

"Go to hell!"

Duo Yu roared, and the insect shadows crashed down, carrying a strong stench and corrosive smell, as if they wanted to swallow Gu Guanqi whole.

Gu Guanqi remained expressionless, his pupils reflecting the overwhelming black insect shadows, and he slightly turned the Autumn Water Sword in his hand.

Then, he drew his sword.

Fifteen Deadly Swords.

The moment the sword was thrust out, it seemed as if all the light in the hall was sucked away. The already dim hall became even more gloomy, and even the eerie glow emanating from the carapaces of the flying insects seemed to dim further.

The sword flashed, but it was black.

The blackness was so deep it seemed to devour everything, like nothingness itself, like the color at the end of all things.

The black light burst forth from the tip of the sword, silent and still, yet carrying a chilling, soul-deep tremor that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

this moment,

Time seemed to stand still in the main hall.

The black sword light swept past the insect shadows.

The moment the enormous insect-like shadow touched the black light, it melted, dissipated, and vanished into nothingness, just like snow under the scorching sun.

Before the flying insects could struggle, flap their wings, or even utter a final buzz, they turned into wisps of grayish-white powder, fluttering down like a silent snowfall.

The insect's shadow disappeared.

The sword light had not yet faded.

The black sword mark spread towards Duoyu like a crack, and everything in its path lost its vitality in front of it, as if bricks, air, and dust all fell silent the moment it passed.

In the next instant, the tip of the Autumn Water Sword had already grazed across Duo Yu's neck.

A very soft, almost imperceptible "hiss".

It was like tearing a piece of thin silk.

A very thin, almost invisible crack appeared on Duo Yu's neck.

But the next moment,

An extremely bizarre scene unfolded.

Instead of blood, what gushed from the crack in the neck was a dense mass of white threads, which then gushed out in an instant, like a torrent bursting its banks. Instantly, they wrapped around the sword in Gu Guanqi's hand and then around his arm.