Chapter 315: Heavenly God Meeting

Gu Mo immediately said, "Let's go say hello to Elder Master Qi first, then we'll find Wang Dongli shortly."

Gu Mo definitely needed to investigate Wang Dongli. Not only did Hong Yi suggest a possible connection between Wang Dongli and Tietou's disappearance, but the mere fact that he might belong to the Peacock Spirit Clan warranted an investigation from Gu Mo.

The Peacock Spirit Clan was the guardian spirit clan of the Seven-Colored Peacock, one of the Thirteen Taboos, similar to the relationship between the Yu Clan in Mobei and the Fire Qilin.

Gu Mo's bounty registry contained the bounty information for the Seven-Colored Peacock:Bounty Target: Seven-Colored PeacockMission Level: Seven StarsMission Reward: All Limitless Elixirs

The Limitless Elixirs, originating from "The Divine Swordsman of Shenzhou," comprised fourteen top-tier medicinal pills. Each elixir could increase internal energy by sixty years, break through martial arts bottlenecks, resolve conflicts between different martial arts, and possessed the miraculous effects of making one immune to all poisons and healing the injured.

For Gu Mo, the fourteen Limitless Elixirs offered almost no enhancement anymore, but they would be of great help to Gu Chudong.

The fourteen Limitless Elixirs would not only increase one's cultivation by over eight hundred years but, more importantly, could harmonize martial arts and break through bottlenecks to elevate one's realm. Gu Mo speculated that once all fourteen elixirs were refined, one could directly reach the Physical Ascension Realm.

At that moment, Mount Tianqin was chaotic. However, Qi Tianshu had already left, leaving Shang Buyu, the contemporary sect master of Canglan Sword Sect, to organize people from various sects to head towards Canglan Sword Sect's main mountain.

Seeing Qi Tianshu leave, Gu Mo and the others quickly departed as well, heading directly to the peak of Canglan Mountain above the Cloud Cliff Skywalk. Upon their arrival, they saw Ye Liuyun and Chen Shu, two other veteran grandmasters of the Canglan Sword Sect, standing in front of a thatched hut. It was clear they were guarding Qi Tianshu during his recovery.

"Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, Miss Hong Yi!"Ye Liuyun and Chen Shu stepped forward, bowing respectfully with cupped hands.

Gu Mo and the others returned the salute. Gu Mo asked, "How is Elder Master Qi doing now?"

Ye Liuyun and Chen Shu, knowing Gu Mo's good relationship with Qi Tianshu, did not hide anything. Ye Liuyun directly replied, "The situation is not very good..."

Just then,The door of the thatched hut opened, and Qi Tianshu's voice came from within: "Come in!"

Immediately, Gu Mo and his group entered the hut and saw Qi Tianshu, pale-faced, sitting cross-legged on a large block of ice, circulating his energy to heal. White mist permeated the entire room.

Gu Mo walked forward and chuckled, "You certainly fought impressively on Mount Tianqin just now, but such impressiveness comes at a considerable cost!"

Qi Tianshu smiled helplessly and said, "I didn't expect Wang Dongli to possess such a spirit-body technique. If not for that one sword strike, I wouldn't have had to use my Sword of Life in Death.No one has ever learned this Sword of Life in Death of mine. It's a life-risking sword technique, but so far, I haven't truly staked my life with it, so I don't even know how strong it is myself."

Gu Mo asked in surprise, "You weren't using your full strength just now?"

Qi Tianshu chuckled lightly, "If I had used my full strength, you wouldn't be talking to me right now; you'd be saying goodbye to my corpse. I only used thirty percent of my power just now.The reason this sword technique is called a life-risking one is because it adheres to the principle of harming the enemy a thousand while incurring eight hundred self-damage. The more power I use, the greater the injury I sustain. Once I use more than fifty percent of its strength, I will suffer irreparable damage. Internal and external injuries below fifty percent generally recover after three to five months of recuperation.However, if the power used exceeds fifty percent, the injuries become irreversible, and if used at full strength, I would die on the spot, beyond saving even by immortals."

Gu Mo curled his lips, took out silver needles, and inserted them into Qi Tianshu's acupoints. He then circulated his internal energy to help him heal, all while complaining, "No wonder Su Qianqiu and Zhang Daoyi both think your sword path is skewed, yet they both speak very highly of your sword. It's just that this kind of sword technique of yours is a bit like a 'chicken rib' – useful but not essential – you can barely use it a few times in your life!"

Qi Tianshu chuckled lightly, "It is indeed somewhat 'chicken rib-like,' but its effect is significant. I have used it five times in total. The first time was against Jiang Ruoxu, using forty percent of my power. Afterwards, against Zhang Daoyi and Su Qianqiu, I only used thirty percent each. Although I lost both times, these three no longer dared to provoke me, and that is the significance. Today marks the fifth time, defeating a powerful enemy, and that too is significant.Due to my experiences in youth, I've always lacked a sense of security. Later, my master took me in, but it wasn't long before I learned she was getting married. During those years I followed her, I continuously felt insecure.Precisely for this reason, I don't believe there can be a permanent 'greatest under heaven.' Therefore, I don't strive for that title, but I must possess the ability to perish together with anyone in the world. Thus, the Sword of Life in Death came into being."

"Impressive!" Gu Mo praised. "But didn't you say on Mount Tianqin earlier that you had only used it four times in your life? How did it become five times now, and you didn't mention when you used it the fourth time."

Qi Tianshu said, "Weren't you by my side when I used it the fourth time? Have you forgotten, last year in Qingyi Village, when my master's spiritual body became demonic and was possessed by evil thoughts? Although it was just a tiny fragment of a spiritual body, it was still primal spirit energy. Without using this Sword of Life in Death, I couldn't have killed the evil thoughts."

"So that's how it was."Gu Mo suddenly understood.

The wisp of divine consciousness left by Yu Jinghong in Qingyi Village last year was indeed replaced by evil thoughts and ultimately perished by Qi Tianshu's sword.At that time, Gu Mo himself had only recently achieved the Primal Spirit Realm and didn't fully understand such matters, so he didn't find it strange. Now, reflecting on it, Qi Tianshu's true caliber is remarkably high; even Su Qianqiu and Zhang Daoyi couldn't kill a primal spirit with an ordinary sword.

However, recalling that incident,Gu Mo felt it was a pity for Yu Jinghong, that extraordinary woman.

She had actually detected the issues with Bai Yujing decades ago and preemptively split off a primal spirit to await the reincarnation's memory recovery.Unfortunately, Bai Yujing wasn't truly using primal spirits for reincarnation; instead, it archived and controlled primal spirits, then created fake copies.

If Bai Yujing had truly allowed primal spirits to reincarnate, then Xiaobai on Penglai Island back then would genuinely have been Yu Jinghong's second life, and by now, she could have certainly reached the complete Ascension Realm.

At this point, Qi Tianshu added, "That young man Wang Dongli is truly formidable. His sword strike utilized primal spirit power, a level of strength that, in our era, only Jiang Ruoxu ever touched.If it weren't for someone like you appearing in this era, I believe he would very likely become the greatest under heaven of this age. What a pity he was born at the wrong time. Oh, by the way, weren't you observing? Is that young man a born saint?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "I didn't see anything. I'm here now to bid you farewell. I need to investigate this Wang Dongli."

"Is there a problem?" Qi Tianshu asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo said, "Didn't I tell you a couple of days ago that I'm here to investigate a case? But I had no clues, so I'm relying on Hong Yi's divination to solve it. Now, the divination seems to be linked to Wang Dongli, so I need to go find him."

Qi Tianshu nodded and said, "Alright then, go quickly!"

"Then let me stabilize your injuries first!"Immediately, Gu Mo quickly inserted a few more needles into Qi Tianshu, channeling vast true energy into his body to complete one full cycle before withdrawing his energy. He then said, "You won't need to wait three to five months; you'll recover in half a month at most."

Qi Tianshu subtly assessed his physical condition and exclaimed in surprise, "Your medical skills are remarkable! I didn't expect that besides being such a high-level martial artist, your medical expertise is also unparalleled!"

"It's alright. If you encounter any difficult illnesses in the future, you can also come to me. Don't worry, I'll charge you a friend's price!"Gu Mo smiled, collecting his silver needles, and then advised, "However, I still need to remind you that your body isn't as young as it used to be. Previously, you might have been able to use fifty percent of its power, but now, even forty percent might cause irreparable damage.Also, I've noticed two very strange streams of energy within your body... Well, just try not to use your Sword of Life in Death, you should understand. I'm leaving!"

With that,Gu Mo put away his silver needles, waved his hand, and departed with Gu Chudong and Hong Yi.

Shen Bai hastily saw them off.

In the thatched hut, Qi Tianshu, Ye Liuyun, and Chen Shu, the three sworn brothers, remained.

Until Gu Mo and his group completely disappeared into the wind and snow, Ye Liuyun turned to Qi Tianshu and asked doubtfully, "Senior Brother, did Hero Gu discover something? His last remark seemed to carry a hidden meaning!"

Qi Tianshu chuckled slightly and said, "He just said he detected two streams of energy within me and advised me not to use the Sword of Life in Death, so he must have realized those two streams came from the Sword of Life in Death. As for his last remark that seemed to carry a hidden meaning, it might simply be a reminder that the Sword of Life in Death has drawbacks.However, it's not impossible that he knows I cultivate the Great Sun Demonic Art, but chose not to expose it.After all, he is the greatest under heaven, capable of defeating the First and Second Island Masters on Penglai Island. He operates at a very high level, with access to profound information, so many things that seem remarkable to us might just be ordinary to him."

On the other side,Shen Bai accompanied Gu Mo and the others all the way down the mountain.

Shen Bai was somewhat reluctant to part, and he held onto Gu Mo, chattering on and on for a long time before finally letting him go.

"Come again next time!"Gu Mo waved his hand, mounted his horse, and rode off.

Hong Yi and Gu Chudong rode on either side of Gu Mo. Hong Yi suddenly said, "Master, I just remembered something; there's something off about Qi Tianshu."

Gu Mo asked, "What's wrong?"

Hong Yi said, "The Sword of Life in Death has no record in Bai Yujing's archives. Qi Tianshu visited Bai Yujing on Penglai Island twice. Theoretically, Bai Yujing would certainly detect his strongest martial art and deduce it. I used to be able to check, but both times Qi Tianshu met Bai Yujing, what was deduced was his Canghai Heavenly Sword. This means Bai Yujing's detection was either obstructed or deceived, and theoretically, Qi Tianshu shouldn't possess that ability."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "I understood it clearly when I was treating Elder Master Qi's injuries just now. His Sword of Life in Death has formed two streams of energy: one of death and one of life, one apparent and one hidden, coexisting and complementing each other."

Gu Chudong asked curiously, "Isn't that just like Ye Chen's bad luck and good fortune?"

Gu Mo chuckled, "Precisely. Then, when I applied the needles to him, I discovered that his ribs were tightly fused into a single solid piece. For us ordinary people, there are 12 pairs of independent ribs, symmetrically arranged on the left and right, with each rib separated by intercostal spaces, forming a movable ribcage structure. But Qi Tianshu's were one complete piece."

Gu Chudong asked, puzzled, "Brother, what does that indicate?"

Gu Mo said, "This is the legendary 'linked ribs' (Pian Xie)."

"A born saint?" Gu Chudong exclaimed in surprise.

Gu Mo nodded, "Indeed. Elder Master Qi's rib structure perfectly matches the description of 'linked ribs' (Pian Xie) in the legends of born saints. Combined with the coexistence of his life and death energies, it's essentially confirmed that he cultivates the Great Sun Demonic Art.Previously, Saint Monk Huineng mentioned that the book spirit of the Great Sun Demonic Art has always been searching for born saints. It's very reasonable that Elder Master Qi, being a Pian Xie saint, would obtain the Great Sun Demonic Art. Therefore, his ability to kill a primal spirit with an ordinary sword is also perfectly logical."

"Is that so," Gu Chudong said, "Then, Brother, aren't you also a born saint? Has the Great Sun Demonic Art come looking for you?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "Not yet."

At this point, Gu Mo harbored some doubts. Although his situation perfectly aligned with the world's legends of a 'born-wise' saint, and he had indeed awakened innate wisdom, he truly wasn't certain if he was a genuine born saint.

The clamor of the Canglan Mountains was left behind as Wang Dongli, supported by his disciple, silently traversed the vast mountain range.

The May sun already held a scorching intensity, piercing through dense forest foliage to cast dappled light spots on the ground, raising a dry, earthy, and grassy scent.

His face was ashen, and the front of his robe was soaked with dark red bloodstains. Every step he took aggravated the terrifying internal injuries left by Qi Tianshu's "Sword of Life in Death" sword qi.

It was not merely a physical wound; it also carried a sword intent that destroyed vitality, wreaking havoc through his meridians and internal organs like maggots clinging to bone.

As they walked to a desolate mountain hollow, an old, dilapidated mountain god temple lay half-hidden among overgrown wild grass and vines. Broken walls and crumbling ruins, dusty and cobweb-covered, with only a fragmented deity statue standing silently in the shadows.

The disciple quickly cleared a space and spread out some dry grass."Master, please rest." The disciple looked anxiously at Wang Dongli's faltering figure.

Wang Dongli nodded, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and whispered to his disciple, "Guard the entrance well. Don't let anyone disturb me."

The disciple assented, nervously guarding the crumbling temple entrance.

Wang Dongli, meanwhile, took a deep breath and began to circulate his energy to heal his wounds. His internal injuries were far more severe than they appeared. Qi Tianshu's destructive "Sword of Life in Death" sword intent had not only severely damaged his meridians but also injured his very essence.

However, as Wang Dongli circulated his energy, the blood seeping from his wound instantly crystallized into tiny ice crystals upon contact with the air.

Immediately afterwards, with a soft hiss, clusters of almost transparent white flames ignited from the ice crystals!

The ice flames burned silently, lacking the usual heat of fire, instead emitting a bone-chilling coldness.

They adhered to the wound, leaping and licking as if alive.

A strange scene unfolded: where the hideous sword wound was covered by the ice flames, muscles, blood vessels, and even fractured bone fragments visibly grew and mended at an astonishing rate.

Where the ice flames burned, charred dead skin peeled away, revealing tender new flesh underneath. Even the destructive sword intent was gradually devoured and neutralized by these ice flames.

The entire process was eerie and silent, with only the subtle sizzling sound of the ice flames burning distinctly audible in the quiet of the dilapidated temple.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, most of Wang Dongli's fatal chest wound had healed, leaving only a faint red mark.

Although his face was still pale, his breathing had stabilized significantly, and the sluggishness caused by the destructive sword intent had subsided by seventy to eighty percent. He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of icy blue light briefly appearing in them before they returned to their usual gentle and reserved appearance.

Just then,Wang Dongli suddenly let out a cold snort: "Who's there, hiding in the shadows!"

Immediately, he picked up a tile from the ground and threw it. The tile sliced through the air with immense power, effortlessly piercing through a large tree outside the dilapidated temple.

At that moment, a clear voice came from behind the tree: "Sect Master Wang, please don't misunderstand, I mean no harm."

Then, a middle-aged man in scholar's robes emerged from behind the large tree. His appearance was quite refined. He smiled slightly, revealing stark white teeth, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "I am Ji Wuguo, the Yellow Rank Protector of the Heavenly God Society. Seeing that you are injured, I have come to offer you some sacred healing medicine and make a friend!"

Ji Wuguo took out a jade bottle and said, "This is the Evergreen Elixir, personally refined by the Divine Physician Wei Wuwei. It can bring the dead back to life and regenerate flesh and bone, a priceless treasure difficult to obtain even with a myriad of gold. Please accept it, Sect Master Wang!"

Wang Dongli's gaze was calm and unwavering. He merely glanced at him indifferently and said, "I cannot accept a reward without merit. This Wang has no dealings with your Heavenly God Society, and thus dares not accept such a significant gift!"

"If there were no dealings before, wouldn't there be now if we become friends?" Ji Wuguo chuckled sinisterly, his voice like sandpaper rubbing, and said, "Sect Master Wang, our Heavenly God Society is very eager to befriend you. Please accept this Evergreen Elixir..."

"No need," Wang Dongli waved his hand directly and said, "Although your Heavenly God Society has only been established for a little over a year, I have heard of your methods. We are not on the same path. Please leave."

Ji Wuguo chuckled, "Very well, then I won't talk about friendship. How about cooperation?"

"I have nothing to cooperate with you on," Wang Dongli said.

Ji Wuguo said, "Then, is Sect Master Wang not interested in joining forces to deal with the Canglan Sword Sect? Although you narrowly lost your battle with Qi Tianshu today, you made him suffer considerably. It's the perfect opportunity for us to unite and uproot them! The Heavenly God Society is willing to lend Sect Master Wang a hand to reclaim Canglan Mountain and restore the glory of the Ethereal Sword Sect!"

Wang Dongli stood up, calmly dusting off his robes. His gaze settled on Ji Wuguo's face, utterly serene. "The Wang family and the Canglan Sword Sect have no grievances. Since you witnessed my battle with Elder Master Qi today, you should also have heard what I said to him before the fight.My grandfather lost to Elder Master Qi back then because his skill was inferior, and losing Canglan Mountain was also a mutually agreed-upon wager. Elder Master Qi also staked his martial arts manuals and peerless divine weapons at the time. As for my grandfather eventually dying of melancholy, that was a personal matter; it cannot be called a grudge."

Ji Wuguo let out a "haha" laugh and said, "Sect Master Wang, there's no one else here, so you don't have to be so secretive. The Ethereal Sword Sect of your Wang family once held such prestige; how could there be no animosity when Qi Tianshu reduced it to ashes? Those words of yours are enough to earn a good reputation in the martial world, but surely you haven't spoken them so much that you've started believing them yourself?"

Wang Dongli scoffed coldly, "A petty person's heart measures a noble person's belly... Our paths diverge, so we cannot conspire together. Please leave."

Wang Dongli's refusal was decisive and left no room for negotiation.

The smile on Ji Wuguo's face gradually froze, and his tone became a few shades colder. He said, "Sect Master Wang, are you truly determined not to make friends or discuss cooperation?"

Wang Dongli said in a deep voice, "I already said, 'those whose paths differ cannot work together.' Your society's style of constantly stirring up martial world disputes does not align with my own."

Ji Wuguo chuckled lightly, "Since Sect Master Wang knows the style of our Heavenly God Society, then you should also know that those who are unwilling to be our friends can only become tools for our discord.Sect Master Wang, you are as timid as a mouse, scared witless by Qi Tianshu and not even daring to seek revenge. But that doesn't mean everyone in your Dongli Sect is such a good-for-nothing. As long as you die here today, the Dongli Sect will naturally settle new and old scores with the Canglan Sword Sect."

With that, Ji Wuguo waved his hand.Instantly, a dozen masked figures, all dressed in dark robes and exuding a sinister aura, silently emerged from the woods, completely surrounding the small, dilapidated temple. Their gazes were all fixed firmly on Wang Dongli.

"Form the array!" Ji Wuguo roared.The dozen Heavenly God Society cultists simultaneously let out low growls, forming strange hand seals. In an instant, a massive and malevolent suction force materialized out of thin air.An invisible, gigantic vortex seemed to appear in the air, swirling madly with Wang Dongli and his disciple at its center.Stones, dead leaves on the ground, and even light itself were pulled and distorted.

"Taotie Divine Art!"Wang Dongli's pupils constricted. He pulled his disciple to the side and said coldly, "No wonder the Heavenly God Society destroys bodies and only leaves heads when they kill; they're destroying evidence to hide their tracks!"

At this moment,Wang Dongli's disciple's face turned pale. He felt his qi and blood churning throughout his body, and his internal energy uncontrollably leaking out in wisps, as if he were being drained dry by the vortex. He looked at his master in terror, struggling to say, "Master, save me... I..."

Wang Dongli stood unmoving like a reef. He reached out and passed a stream of true energy, which seemed to transform into ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, sealing his disciple's true energy.

The terrifying suction of the Taotie Grand Formation landed on the master and disciple, yet it was like a clay ox entering the sea. Not only did it fail to draw out even a speck of his essence, blood, or internal energy, but it was instead met with an extreme icy backlash!

"Hmm?"The cultists forming the array simultaneously groaned, their faces flushing unnaturally before turning purplish-blue.

They felt as if their internal energy had collided with a moving iceberg; not only could they not absorb it, but the bone-chilling coldness reversed into their meridians, instantly freezing their qi and blood.

"This... what martial art is this? When did your Dongli Sect acquire such a martial art?" Ji Wuguo was utterly horrified.

"I originally didn't want to be your enemy, but you insist on seeking death!"Wang Dongli's voice was as cold as ice.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, his long sword was already out of its sheath.

The sword's edge trembled lightly, seemingly without any worldly aura, and with a casual stroke, it cut towards the center of the invisible vortex where the suction force converged!

"Hiss—"A soft sound, like tearing silk or melting ice. The Taotie suction, powerful enough to devour essence, was abruptly severed in half by this seemingly casual sword strike.

The qi-mechanism connection suddenly disintegrated. The remnant devouring vortex in the air let out a reluctant whimper, then immediately dispersed.

Wang Dongli tapped his toes on the ground, his body darting swiftly close to the ground like a phantom, leaving a trail of afterimages.

His long sword cut through the air, and even before the clear dragon's cry dissipated, a strange phenomenon emerged.Several extremely condensed sword qi materialized out of thin air.They were as thin as cicada wings, almost transparent, yet their edges gleamed with chilling, stark white light. Silent yet faster than lightning, they seemed to cleave the very air, emitting faint, sharp "hissing" sounds as they tore through space!

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump..."The dull thud of sharp blades cutting into flesh was piercingly clear in the dead silence.The dozen Heavenly God Society cultists surrounding them suddenly froze. A faint crimson line quietly appeared around each of their necks, then rapidly expanded and spread, finally—"Thud! Thud!"Heads, with expressions of frozen astonishment, rolled into the dust.Hot blood, like long-suppressed scarlet fountains, burst violently from the severed necks, spurting several feet high. A nauseatingly strong smell of blood instantly exploded and permeated the hot air, forming a ghastly blood mist.

Ji Wuguo touched the stinging bloodstain on his neck, his soul nearly leaping out of his body.If he had dodged even a fraction of a second slower, his head would have already fallen.He couldn't comprehend how Wang Dongli, despite being severely injured, still possessed such terrifying combat power.That strange icy power had actually completely counteracted the Taotie Divine Art.

Immediately, he dared not linger any longer. With a strange cry, his internal energy erupted frantically, and he transformed into a blurry black shadow, fleeing desperately towards the dense forest outside the temple!

His lightness skill was excellent, like a startled owl weaving through the forest, but Wang Dongli's lightness skill was also formidable, and he pursued relentlessly.

Ji Wuguo's heart was in a panic. Just then, three figures slowly approached him on the forest path ahead.One man and two women.

The man, dressed in plain blue robes, had a handsome face and deep, calm eyes, as if he had come for a spring outing. A large object was strapped to the back of his horse.

The woman on the left, dressed in fiery red, was exquisitely beautiful, yet her eyes were hollow and indifferent, as if untouched by the ways of the world.

The woman on the right, dressed in black, was dashing and heroic, carrying a large book satchel on her back, with a bold and valiant air about her brows.

All three had fair skin, appearing to be pampered young masters and ladies at first glance.

Upon seeing them, Ji Wuguo felt as if he had grasped a lifeline.A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and his heart swelled with wild joy. He thought to himself, "Heaven helps me! It's the perfect chance to seize a hostage!"

Instead of slowing down, his speed increased. His withered right hand, like a ghostly claw, was enveloped in a sinister wind, fingers hooked, and with a sharp tearing sound through the air, ruthlessly shot straight towards the shoulder of the black-clad woman, who appeared the most "harmless."

He intended to capture this woman in one swift move and use her to threaten Wang Dongli, who was pursuing him from behind.

But just as he flew in front of the black-clad woman, a sudden bad premonition arose in his heart.In the next instant, he didn't even see how the other party moved, yet a long blade was drawn from the book satchel on her back.

At that moment, Ji Wuguo felt his vision suddenly brighten!It wasn't sunlight, but a dazzling, swift flash of blade light, carrying the resolute intent to sever all constraints.

The blade light flashed and vanished, so fast that it surpassed the limits of sight, appearing only as a fleeting, dazzling reflection that momentarily flickered through the summer forest.

Ji Wuguo's forward momentum abruptly ceased, and he instantly crashed to the ground.He lowered his head in shock.His two withered arms, severed at the shoulders, fell with a soft "thud" onto the leaf-strewn ground.The cuts were smooth as a mirror. Blood hesitated for a moment before gushing out like a waterfall.

Excruciating pain, like a tsunami, overwhelmed his consciousness. His body became unstable, and he slumped to the ground."Ah!"

Ji Wuguo's eyes were filled with fear and disbelief. He couldn't fathom how this seemingly clean, delicate young girl, who appeared to have never done a day's work, could wield such a fast blade. Panicked, he asked, "Who are you?"

The hot mountain wind swept through the forest, dispersing the strong scent of blood.Wang Dongli, who had been pursuing, also stopped, holding his long sword and looking at Gu Mo and the others with full vigilance.

Gu Chudong lightly shook her Gouchu Demonic Blade, which instantly vaporized the blood. She said coldly, "I am Gu Chudong!"

"You're Gu Chudong!" Ji Wuguo was utterly terrified. He looked at Gu Mo and said, "Then you... you are Gu Mo!"

"That's right."Gu Mo slowly looked at Wang Dongli and said, "Sect Master Wang, this is the person you were chasing. I'll leave him to you!"

Wang Dongli cupped his hands and said, "I wondered who possessed such extraordinary bearing; it turns out Hero Gu and Heroine Gu have graced us with their presence. I am Wang Dongli, long an admirer. It is truly fortunate to meet you here by such a coincidence; I am thrice blessed!"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "It's not a coincidence; I came specifically for you."

Wang Dongli asked curiously, "May I ask what Hero Gu seeks from me?"

Gu Mo said, "I have a friend, a Qianhu of the Six Doors in Yunzhou, named Tietou. He is currently missing. The clues I've found indicate he's in Qingyang Commandery, so I'm preparing to go there to find him. As Qingyang Commandery is the territory of your Dongli Sect, I'd like to ask for Sect Master Wang's assistance!"

"Of course." Wang Dongli agreed readily.

At that moment, Gu Chudong transmitted her voice: "Brother, is there any problem?"Gu Mo replied: "I haven't detected any issues. I'll look for another opportunity to probe deeper."

Gu Mo directly stated his purpose of searching for Tietou because he wanted to see if Tietou's disappearance was connected to Wang Dongli. While speaking, he had employed the Dao Heart Demonic Seed Grand Art, but he couldn't detect any abnormality in Wang Dongli.

He suspected Wang Dongli because Wang Dongli could wield primal spirit power, fitting the criteria for the crime.

Immediately,Gu Mo pointed at Ji Wuguo and asked, "Who is this person?"

Wang Dongli said, "Ji Wuguo, a protector of the Heavenly God Society."

Gu Mo asked in confusion, "What kind of organization is the Heavenly God Society?"

Wang Dongli said, "It's a mysterious organization that only appeared a little over a year ago. Currently, it's quite active throughout Yunzhou, stirring up martial arts conflicts everywhere, but they hide themselves very deeply and generally don't show their faces.I only realized when I acted just now that these people all cultivate the Taotie Divine Art. I'm afraid this so-called Heavenly God Society is formed by the remnants of the Ghost Messenger Gongsun Jue's subordinates, whom you, Hero Gu, killed two years ago. Back then, during the Grand Dao Ceremony at Longhu Mountain, Gongsun Jue arranged for his subordinates who practiced the Taotie Divine Art to absorb people everywhere, causing quite a commotion!"

Gu Mo walked over, touched Ji Wuguo, and immediately sensed Ji Wuguo's internal energy. He said, "It really is the Taotie Divine Art."

Immediately, Gu Mo tapped Ji Wuguo's forehead again, directly influencing Ji Wuguo's consciousness with the Dao Heart Demonic Seed Grand Art. He said, "I ask, you answer. Confess honestly, and I can give you a quick end. Where is your headquarters? How many people are there?"

Ji Wuguo replied calmly, "I don't know. Our Heavenly God Society operates on a single-line contact system. One protector leads fifteen envoys, and one elder leads ten protectors. There is no private contact between them.Envoys cannot contact each other, nor do they know each other's identities; they only recognize their protector. Protectors do not know each other either; they only receive orders from elders. Only superiors contact their subordinates; subordinates have no way of knowing their superior's identity or whereabouts."

Gu Mo chuckled slightly. This was the same operational method as the Green Leaf Hall he had encountered in Cangzhou back then.

"What does your Heavenly God Society intend to do?" Gu Mo asked.

"To help the Venerable One revive," Ji Wuguo said. "After the Venerable One was killed by you on Longhu Mountain, we scattered and fled. Later, the elders reassembled us, merely stating that the Venerable One was about to revive and would soon become a Heavenly God. We just follow orders."

"The 'Venerable One' you speak of is Gongsun Jue?" Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

Ji Wuguo said, "Yes."

Gu Mo frowned slightly and asked again, "Where will he revive?"

"I don't know."

Wang Dongli asked, "Then what was your purpose in seeking me out today?"

"To try and win you over to join us against the Canglan Sword Sect. If you refused, we would kill you and frame the Canglan Sword Sect, thereby inciting martial world conflict," Ji Wuguo replied.

"What is your goal then? What is the Heavenly God Society's purpose in constantly instigating martial world disputes?" Wang Dongli asked.

Ji Wuguo said, "I don't know that either. In any case, the ultimate goal is always to revive the Venerable One."

Wang Dongli asked no further questions.

"What else do you know?" Gu Mo asked again.

Ji Wuguo said, "I don't know much. I just follow orders; I don't inquire about anything else."

Gu Mo knew that under the influence of his Dao Heart Demonic Seed Grand Art, Ji Wuguo was already speaking the truth, and there was no possibility of him lying.

So, he stopped asking questions and looked at Wang Dongli, asking, "Sect Master Wang, how do you suggest we deal with this person?"

"Those who cultivate the Taotie Divine Art are a scourge to the martial world if left alive. Kill him!" Wang Dongli said. "I'll send my disciple to inform the Canglan Sword Sect to come and handle the body later."

Immediately,Gu Mo pointed a finger at Ji Wuguo's forehead. Ji Wuguo instantly lost all signs of life and collapsed onto the ground.