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

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Five-Star, Compassionate Sword Manual

Early the next morning,

Gu Guanqi and his group set off again. On the third day at noon, they arrived at the banks of a large river.

The river was wide and the water was muddy yellow. The green mountains on the opposite bank stretched out in layers in the sunlight, seemingly without end.

A river breeze carrying moisture rushed towards my face.

Lanlan stood by the river, stretched, let out a long breath, turned around, and smiled brightly at Gu Guanqi: "Brother, once we cross this river, we'll reach Miao territory!"

Gu Guanqi rode his horse to the riverbank, gazing at the rolling mountains on the opposite bank with some confusion.

This is a large river, and the current is not rapid. In theory, it is a very good waterway, and it is also enough to support many fishermen.

But the river was deserted, with very few boats.

"Is no one fishing?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Lanlan shook her head and said, "This river serves as a barrier separating the Miao villages because our Miao customs are very different from those of the Central Plains. In the past, some people fished here, but later conflicts frequently occurred, leading to tribal wars."

About a hundred years ago, the conflict reached its peak, triggering a bloody tribal war that killed many people. Later, the Hongzhou government intervened and completely allocated this section of the river, which was about a hundred miles long, to the Miao people.

Neither we Miao people nor fishermen from the Central Plains are allowed to fish in this area; only merchant ships can pass. Therefore, over time, this section of the river has become increasingly deserted, with even fewer merchant ships.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I see. That's good, it can reduce conflict."

At this point, Gou Liu said, "We Miao people have lived in Miao territory for generations, self-sufficient, and rarely venture into other areas. However, if we do not prohibit it, many people will go to Miao territory."

Not to mention the differences in faith, which could easily lead to conflict. In our various Miao villages, there are many snakes, insects, rats, ants, and miasma. Sometimes, if someone trespasses accidentally enters forbidden territory and dies, the blame is placed on us Miao people.

"Let alone the people of the Central Plains," Lanlan said, "within our Miao region alone, there are thirty-two Miao villages. Friction and conflict often arise between these villages due to differences in customs. Sometimes, even the Miao King can't mediate, and we, the Gu God Sect, have to step in to quell the conflict."

Gu Guanqi asked, "So, the Gu God Sect has more power and prestige than the Miao King?"

"Of course," Lanlan said. "How many years has the Miao King existed? It was after a great battle a hundred years ago, which I just mentioned. The government, in order to facilitate contact with us Miao people, discussed with our Gu God Sect and that's how the Miao King came to be."

"Well, according to your court's terminology, they're called Tusi, equivalent to officials appointed by the court. But even the Miao King was chosen by our Gu Shen Sect before being appointed by the court, and the leaders of the thirty-two Miao villages were all decided by the Gu Shen Sect."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly, having gained a basic understanding of the power structure in Miao territory. The Miao King was merely a figurehead, while the leader of the Gu God Sect was essentially the local emperor of Miao territory.

Lanlan chuckled, about to say something more, when suddenly a long, drawn-out horn sound came from the river.

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw two large ships slowly approaching from the middle of the river.

The boat was wide and had a deep draft. Blue flags embroidered with insect patterns fluttered in the river wind at both the bow and stern. A dozen or so men dressed in the attire of the Gu God Cult stood at the bow.

Two large boats docked, their planks were laid on the riverbank, and a group of Miao people quickly disembarked.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, with dark skin, a sharp face, a curved knife hanging at his waist, and a steady gait.

He strode up to Gou Liu, placed one hand on his stomach, bowed deeply, and said respectfully, "High Priest!"

Gou Liu nodded slightly and gestured for him to stand up.

The middle-aged man straightened up, took out a letter from his robes, and presented it to Gou Liu with both hands, saying, "I am here on the orders of the sect leader to await the High Priest. This letter is in the sect leader's own handwriting, and he specifically instructed that it be given to you for your perusal upon your arrival."

Gou Liu took the letter, broke the wax seal, unfolded the letter, and slowly scanned the surface of the paper with his eyes.

A moment later, Gou Liu folded the letter and put it in her bosom, her previously grave expression easing slightly. She turned to Lan Lan and Gu Guanqi, and slowly said, "Alliance Leader Gu, the Sect Leader said in his letter that the matter of the Miao King's replacement has been resolved."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and asked, "What exactly happened?"

Gou Liu said, "It was done by Gong Yang, the Grand Elder of the Miao King's Palace, and Duo Yu. Gong Yang secretly imprisoned the real Miao King and found someone who looked very similar to the Miao King to impersonate him."

But the person was young, and although they looked similar, their behavior and habits were different, which is why Guangwu noticed something was amiss.

She paused, then continued, "However, with Gong Yang and Duo Yu working together from the inside, although many people noticed something was wrong with the Miao King, they were unable to cause any real trouble. When the truth came out some time ago, several elders and village chiefs had already been controlled by them using Gu worms."

Lanlan's eyes widened, and she eagerly asked, "And now? What about the elders and the chieftain who were being controlled?"

Gou Liu shook his head slightly, his voice lowering: "Several died. Although the sect leader personally came down from the mountain and captured Gong Yang immediately, preventing any unrest, three elders and four village chiefs, who were under his control, were too deeply afflicted by the Gu poison and, like Guang Wu, could not be saved."

As she spoke, she sighed again: "Fortunately, the real Miao King has been found. He was imprisoned in the underground chamber of the Miao King's Palace, but he was already old and had suffered this ordeal. Now he was exhausted and passed away seven days ago after passing on the position of chieftain to his son, Wu Qingyuan."

The sect is now preparing for the selection of a new Miao king, and the chieftains of each village are heading to the sacred mountain to participate in the selection process.

Lanlan nodded and explained to Gu Guanqi, "The Miao King is chosen from among the thirty-two village chiefs, the one with the highest martial arts skills. The Miao King who just passed away was the chief of Wuzhai Village."

If a normal power were to select a leader, the best choice would definitely not be martial arts skills, but ability, as long as they could balance the power of all parties.

But the Miao region is different.

The true leader is the Gu God Cult leader, and the Miao King only needs one representative characteristic, so it is reasonable to prioritize martial arts skills.

Soon, everyone began to board the ship.

One boat was for carrying people, and the other boat was for carrying horses.

Then, the large ship slowly left the shore and headed towards the opposite bank.

The green mountains on both sides of the river receded slowly as the boats moved, and sunlight streamed through the mountains, turning the entire river surface into a golden hue.

The boat sailed along the riverbank.

Along the way, Gu Guanqi saw many villages whose architecture was significantly different from that of the Central Plains.

However, it never stopped.

After traveling rapidly on the river for about two hours, we finally reached the shore.

The riverbank was still covered with verdant mountains, and a winding path stretched from the riverbank into the depths of the dense forest.

Everyone disembarked, mounted their horses, and rode along the path into the mountains.

After walking for about an hour, they arrived at a valley.

The valley is not large, with several palaces scattered in a well-organized manner. They have green tiles and white walls, and copper bells hanging from the eaves, which make a crisp sound when the wind blows.

The open spaces between the palaces are planted with all sorts of exotic flowers and herbs, filling the air with their fragrance. Deep in the valley, a tall stone palace is built against the mountain, with two stone sculptures of insects and beasts standing in front of the entrance, their shapes strange and lifelike.

They arrived at the Gu God Cult.

Subsequently,

Gou Liu then arranged for someone to take Gu Guanqi and his group of martial arts alliance members to rest, while she took Lanlan to pay her respects to the leader of the Gu God Sect.

……

Inside a grand hall of the Gu God Cult.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, and several bronze lamps were arranged along the walls, illuminating the entire hall.

The hall was furnished in a simple and ancient style. In the center was a bronze insect statue about half the height of a person, with a strange shape and dark red gemstones embedded in its eyes, which gleamed faintly in the firelight.

As Gou Liu and Lan Lan entered the main hall, they saw a woman sitting at a table, flipping through a book.

The woman was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with skin as smooth as jade and features as beautiful as a painting. She wore a deep purple brocade robe, the hem of which trailed to the ground like a blooming dark purple flower.

She sat there, dignified and composed, slowly raising her head, her gaze calmly falling on Gou Liu and Lan Lan. She didn't speak, yet she possessed an aura of authority that made people afraid to look directly at her.

This person is Mu Jianjia, the current leader of the Gu God Sect.

Gou Liu and Lan Lan quickly bowed with one hand over their stomachs, saying in unison, "Greetings, Master!"

Mu Jianjia said calmly, "High Priest, you've had a long journey."

Gou Liu quickly replied, "It's no trouble at all; it's my duty."

After all,

Gou Liu took out a jade bottle radiating cold air from his bosom and quickly presented it to Mu Jianjia, saying, "Master, this is the Nirvana Gu."

Mu Jianjia slightly raised her hand and easily sucked the jade bottle into her hand from a distance of two or three zhang.

She sensed it briefly and said, "The High Priest deserves much credit for the church's ability to bring back the sacred object this time."

Gou Liu hurriedly said, "This subordinate dares not take credit. The successful return of the sacred artifact is entirely thanks to Gu Guanqi, the martial arts alliance leader of Qing and Yun states. If it weren't for his help, not only would the sacred artifact have been lost, but Lanlan and I would also have been unable to return."

Mu Jianjia said calmly, "You have already explained this matter in your previous letter. Alliance Leader Gu has indeed done a great favor for our Gu God Sect, and the Gu God Sect should be grateful."

During the time he escorted you, did he learn anything about this person's preferences or what he lacked? The Gu God Sect will certainly find a way to repay this kindness.

Gou Liu shook his head slightly and said, "I've been observing Alliance Leader Gu closely during my time with him. Putting aside the rumors about his conduct in the martial world, he is a very chivalrous person with noble character, neither greedy for wealth nor fame. His martial arts skills are superb, and his medical skills are also excellent. Most of the treasures of our sect are meaningless to him. If you want to express my gratitude, I really don't know how to do it right now!"

"This is troublesome," Mu Jianjia said. "We Miao people rarely interact with the outside world. If we don't find a way to repay this favor this time, it may be difficult to find another opportunity to do so in the future."

Gou Liu remained silent, unable to think of a solution.

at this time,

Lanlan's eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "Master, I do know a way to repay a debt of gratitude."

Gou Liu glanced at Lan Lan, her lips twitching slightly.

She naturally knew what Lanlan was going to say.

However, this method can easily lead to misunderstandings if one is not careful, making it seem as if the Gu God Cult is sending its leader to use a honey trap to repay a debt of gratitude.

Mu Jianjia looked at Lanlan and said, "Lanlan, what do you want to say?"

Lanlan chuckled and said, "Master, my brother has created a cultivation path called the Path of Passion. Whenever he comes into contact with a woman, his cultivation level will increase greatly if he falls in love. He really wants you to help him cultivate, as this is what he needs most."

On the way here, I heard him say that he has an enemy whose martial arts skills are extremely high, among the top ten in the world. He is far from being a match for him, so what he needs most is help with his cultivation. Why don't you help him?

Mu Jianjia frowned slightly and said, "How could there be such a method of cultivation in this world? I've heard a little about Alliance Leader Gu's behavior; this is probably just an excuse he's using to justify his womanizing!"

"No, that's not true," Lanlan said. "Master, if you don't believe me, ask the High Priest."

Gou Liu quickly said, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, this matter is indeed true; I witnessed it with my own eyes. Lan Lan didn't believe it at the time, so she tried to go on a blind date with Gu Guanqi, and then Gu Guanqi actually entered a state of enlightenment, which was quite miraculous."

As for his conduct, it's actually quite good. Although he has a reputation for being a womanizer, he is an upright person. During this period of time, he has never been rude to Lanlan. Including his speech, he has always been polite and has never overstepped his bounds.

Although this person has a reputation for being a womanizer in the martial arts world, he has never been known for being lecherous. However, if the leader of the sect were to meet him, he would understand why this person has a reputation for being a womanizer.

"What do you mean?" Mu Jianjia asked.

Gou Liu thought for a moment and said, "His attraction is only to cultivation, but the person who helps him cultivate is very likely to be attracted as well, because this person is exceptionally handsome, the most handsome I have ever seen in my life, and has superb martial arts skills, elegant temperament, and is well-educated and reasonable. If he takes the initiative even a little, I'm afraid it will be difficult for any woman to resist him."

Mu Jianjia looked at Lanlan suspiciously.

Lanlan smiled and said, "Master, it's hard for me not to be tempted, but," Lanlan pouted unhappily, "my brother isn't proactive with me at all. If only he were just a little bit rude to me. Even if I knew he was lying to me, I would willingly be fooled. But he clearly doesn't want to lie to me!"

Mu Jianjia frowned slightly and asked, "Is he a succubus?"

Lanlan said, "If succubi truly exist, they must look just like him!"

Mu Jianjia pondered for a moment and said, "Since you've put it that way, then I'll go see him. I'll also see what a succubus looks like. I don't believe anyone can bewitch someone without using seductive arts."

"Hehe!" Lanlan chuckled, "You'll see when you go and meet her."

Mu Jianjia nodded slightly and said, "Then let's do it tomorrow. However, we should still express our gratitude. Here's what we'll do: High Priest, go to the treasury and fetch three Everlasting True Pills. Although you said his medical skills are superb and his martial arts are unparalleled, perhaps we won't need them."

However, regardless of the circumstances, the Changchun True Pill, as a top-tier healing medicine in the world, is a suitable gift. As for the debt of gratitude, it cannot be repaid in a short time; one can only wait for fate to unfold it.

Gou Liu bowed slightly and said, "Your subordinate understands."

Mu Jianjia then said, "Take another one and consume it yourself."

Gou Liu quickly replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. However, my injury is not serious. I will recover after some rest."

Mu Jianjia said calmly, "There's no need to refuse, High Priest. You still have a heavy burden on your shoulders, and the election of the new Miao King is just around the corner. I also need you to keep an eye on things in all aspects. You can't afford to fall ill. A mere Everlasting True Pill is no match for the High Priest's health."

Gou Liu understood that Mu Jianjia was giving her a way out, and she was very touched. She said, "Thank you, Master!"

Mu Jianjia said, "Alright, you must be tired from your journey, go and get some rest!"

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

"This disciple takes his leave!"

Immediately, Gou Liu and Lan Lan bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew.

In the empty hall,

Only Mu Jianjia remained sitting. She slowly picked up the jade bottle on the table, feeling the energy of the Nirvana Gu emanating from it. Her pupils contracted slightly, and she softly murmured, "Nirvana Gu, Zen of Life and Death, a perfect match made in heaven."

She stared at the Nirvana Gu for a long while, then whispered, "The Zen of Life and Death, living towards death, dying and being reborn, invincible under heaven, don't disappoint me!"

immediately,

She carefully put away the Nirvana Gu and turned her gaze to the book on the table. Just then, a gust of wind blew in from the main hall, causing the book to flip open. Then, the pages closed, revealing five large characters on the cover—"The Divine Art of Life and Death Zen!"

……

The Gu God Cult, in a stone courtyard.

Gu Guanqi had dinner with Pang Mao and several other guards.

However, it didn't have the Miao regional characteristics he had imagined. It must have been specially instructed by Gou Liu or Lan Lan that they were making dishes from the Central Plains region.

After the group finished eating,

Gu Guanqi strolled around the stone courtyard.

The architectural style of this stone courtyard is quite different from that of the Central Plains region, which Gu Guanqi found quite novel.

at this time,

A system notification suddenly sounded in his mind:

[Blind date event concluded]

[Reward: Max level Five Poison Palm, already issued]

Do you want to claim the reward?

Gu Guanqi immediately understood.

It must have been after arriving at the Gu God Sect that Lanlan felt the matter was over, or for some other reason.

The blind date between the two ended there.

Without hesitation, Gu Guanqi silently said in his heart, "Receive it."

in an instant,

The profound meaning of the Five Poison Palm appeared in his mind.

It is indeed a rather insightful poison-based martial art, and its quality is considered quite high in the martial arts world.

However, for him now, this level of martial arts is no longer of much use.

He didn't take it too seriously, and continued to stroll around the stone courtyard before going to rest.

……

The next day, early morning.

The sacred mountain where the Gu God Cult was located was shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist, and sunlight streamed in from the mountains on the east side.

Gu Guanqi had just finished breakfast and was sitting under the osmanthus tree in the stone courtyard drinking tea. Pang Mao and Xu Sheng were chatting inside the house, and he was the only one in the courtyard.

Just then, a clear and cheerful voice came from outside the courtyard: "Brother! Brother!"

Gu Guanqi put down his teacup and looked in the direction of the sound.

At the courtyard gate, a figure in light green quickly walked in; it was Lanlan.

Behind Lanlan, there was another figure.

Gu Guanqi's gaze passed over Lanlan and landed on that person.

She was a woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, tall and slender, dressed in traditional Miao clothing: a light blue short-sleeved blouse with a dark blue pleated skirt, and a silver chain around her waist with several small silver bells that made a clear and melodious sound when she walked.

She wore a silver headband, which accentuated the sharp features of her face. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, with long, slender eyebrows and a high, straight nose.

Her eyes were calm and still, as if no storm could stir her emotions. She stood there, exuding a cool, aloof, and unapproachable air, with an air of quiet authority.

Gu Guanqi immediately guessed that this person must be Lanlan's cult leader master.

He thought to himself, "As expected of the leader of a sect, his demeanor is truly extraordinary."

Immediately, Gu Guanqi stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Good morning, Lanlan!"

Lanlan chuckled, stepped aside, and extended her right hand toward the woman behind her, saying with a smile, "Brother, let me introduce you. This is my master, the one I told you about, the leader of our Gu God Sect, named Mu Jianjia."

Mu Jianjia's gaze fell on Gu Guanqi, then she bowed slightly, placed one hand on her stomach, and performed a Miao greeting, her voice clear and cold, saying, "Alliance Leader Gu, I have long admired your name!"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "So you are Master Mu. Please come in."

Subsequently,

The three of them sat down at the stone table.

Gu Guanqi poured tea for Mu Jianjia and Lanlan.

Mu Jianjia expressed her gratitude, saying, "Alliance Leader Gu, we are extremely grateful for your help this time. You helped our Gu God Sect protect the sacred artifact and saved the lives of the High Priest and Lanlan. The Gu God Sect is deeply grateful!"

Gu Guanqi said softly, "Master Mu, you're too kind."

At this moment, Mu Jianjia took out two small wooden boxes from her sleeve, gently placed them on the stone table, and then opened them.

The first box contained three pills, and the second box contained three golden embroidery needles.

"Alliance Leader Gu," Mu Jianjia slowly pushed the two wooden boxes toward Gu Guanqi, saying, "This is the Everlasting Spring True Pill, the sacred healing medicine of our Gu God Sect. In addition, these three golden needles are my personal tokens. Whoever holds these golden needles will be fully assisted by the entire Gu God Sect in any request."

"The High Priest's safe return and the recovery of the Nirvana Gu are all thanks to Alliance Leader Gu's intervention. The Gu God Sect has no way to repay this kindness and gratitude. We hope Alliance Leader Gu will not refuse this small gift."

Gu Guanqi had heard An Yi mention the name Changchun Zhendan when he was in Medicine King Valley. It was a rare and precious healing medicine, especially effective for internal injuries. Even in Medicine King Valley, only one or two top-tier pills could surpass Changchun Zhendan.

Gu Guanqi glanced at the Changchun True Pill, then waved his hand and said, "Sect Leader Mu, my assistance at Qingtai Temple was merely out of chivalry, and I had no ulterior motives!"

As he spoke, he gently pushed the wooden box back, saying, "I appreciate Master Mu's kindness. Please take the item back."

Mu Jianjia's brows twitched slightly, and she said, "Alliance Leader Gu, I had no intention of humiliating you, but merely wished to express my gratitude. Please do not refuse!"

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll take one of the golden needles as a souvenir. If I ever need the Gu God Sect's help in the future, even without the golden needles, I'm sure they won't stand idly by, right?"

Mu Jianjia quickly replied, "If Alliance Leader Gu has any instructions, the Gu God Sect will not refuse! However, these things..."

Gu Guanqi closed the box, pushed it in front of Mu Jianjia, and said, "Master Mu, there's no need to say more. If you were after profit, I would have been the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, and seized the Nirvana Gu at Qingtai Temple."

At this moment, Lanlan, who was standing to the side, tried to smooth things over, saying, "Oh, Master, since Brother has already said that, please take it back! Besides, Brother doesn't lack these things. What he really needs is someone to help him cultivate. Aren't you planning to help Brother cultivate? This is just repaying a favor!"

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Mu Jianjia's expression was cold, and her voice was calm as she said, "Yesterday, Lanlan told me about Alliance Leader Gu's 'Path of Passion.' If we truly understand it, it can help Hero Gu improve his cultivation. I am willing to help."

Gu Guanqi was moved.

One of his purposes in coming to Hongzhou was to see if he could arrange a marriage with Mu Jianjia. After all, given Mu Jianjia's status, martial arts skills, and influence, she was likely to offer a five-star reward.

Therefore,

He didn't bother with feigned reluctance, and said directly, "Then thank you very much, Sect Leader Mu!"

"Alliance Leader Gu, there's no need for you to be so polite," Mu Jianjia said. "According to Lanlan's words, I don't need to contribute anything in this matter. I also want to see for myself just how wondrous Alliance Leader Gu's so-called 'Path of Passion.' However, I wonder if I can win Alliance Leader Gu's heart?"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Although it is a small favor for Sect Leader Mu, it is an opportunity and a great opportunity for me to cultivate."

Mu Jianjia nodded slightly and said, "Then let's start from this moment and proceed according to the blind date model you require."

I am twenty-nine years old this year. Since childhood, I have been designated as the Holy Maiden of the Gu God Sect, so I have never considered marriage and have never been betrothed. However, since I became the sect leader three years ago, I have started to think about marriage.

However, firstly, I'm getting old; secondly, the affairs of the church are too complicated; and thirdly, I haven't met a suitable man. So, even now, I'm still alone, and I basically have no interest in that kind of thing anymore.

She spoke with complete candor, without any shyness or hesitation on her face, as if she were stating a fact that had nothing to do with her.

Just then, that familiar electronic voice suddenly rang in Gu Guanqi's mind—

[Player has started the matchmaking event]

[Blind date potential partner detected - Mu Jianjia]

Rating – Five Stars

[Blind Date Reward: Max Level "Compassionate Sword Manual"]

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

It truly lives up to its five-star rating.

The reward, the Cihang Sword Manual, is the ultimate martial art of the Cihang Jingzhai sect, created by Di Ni. It takes "Sword Heart Clarity" as the highest realm and is divided into progressive sword states of mind, such as "Telepathic Connection" and "Sword Heart Clarity," ultimately leading to the final breakthrough.

This sword manual is no ordinary sword technique; it is the supreme method of entering the Dao through the sword and controlling the sword with the mind.

Those who reach the pinnacle of their skill can achieve perfect harmony between mind and sword, and communion with the heavens. Their sword strikes are like moonlight pouring down, or the will of heaven descending. Swordsmanship is not about displaying one's sharpness, but about using stillness to control movement, striking after the opponent has moved, and arriving first. Every blade of grass and every tree can be a sword, and every thought and movement contains the intent of the sword.

Practicing the Compassionate Sword Manual will cleanse your mind of distractions and purify your character, giving off an ethereal and peaceful aura that is untouched by worldly dust. Your posture and spirit will be refined in every way, giving you a strong sense of "sanctity" that easily evokes feelings of inferiority and longing in others.

Its essence lies in taking stillness, guarding, emptiness, and nothingness as the general principles of cultivation, and its core is to refine the state of mind and spirit, rather than simply piling up techniques. The method uses the five key principles of Qi, mastery, spirit, mind, and heart as a progressive framework.

The final, deadly realm can even touch the shattered void.

of course,

Gu Guanqi understood that the so-called "shattering the void" was unique to that world. In this world, he probably wouldn't be able to touch the threshold of shattering the void, but his realm would definitely reach the level of entering the Dao, and he wouldn't be low even within the realm of entering the Dao.