Chapter 318: Old Immortal Appears

Early morning at Dongli Sect. Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Hongyi were having breakfast when Wang Dongli's voice came from outside: "Great Hero Gu, are you available?"

"Sect Leader Wang, please come in," Gu Mo replied.

Only after receiving Gu Mo's permission did Wang Dongli push the door open and enter.

However, upon seeing Wang Dongli, all three of them were a bit surprised. Wang Dongli looked utterly haggard, as if he hadn't fully recovered from a severe illness, appearing even more listless than he had two days prior at the funeral.

Previously, it was understandable that Wang Dongli hadn't slept for several days due to keeping vigil, leading to his lethargy and poor state. But since Elder Wang's funeral, Wang Dongli had been resting. In fact, he had spent the entire previous day and night resting without leaving the house. By all accounts, he should have recovered his strength by now.

One must remember that Wang Dongli was a martial arts grandmaster, whose physical constitution far surpassed ordinary people. With the innate ability of the Peacock Spirit Clan, his recovery speed should have been exceptionally fast. Even a common person, after two full days and nights of proper rest, should have largely recovered.

"Sect Leader Wang, have you eaten?" Gu Mo asked courteously.

Wang Dongli entered the room and said, "Not yet, I don't have much appetite." As he spoke, Wang Dongli took out a book and said, "Great Hero Gu, this is our family's genealogy, which I retrieved from our old family home this morning. It's the only record we've been able to find regarding our ancestors."

Gu Mo asked, "What did you find? Does it record the origins of your Wang family's Peacock Spirit Clan?"

Wang Dongli shook his head slightly and said, "This was recorded by my great-great-grandfather's generation. It only states that we came from Changping Prefecture in the State of Yong."

Gu Chudong asked, puzzled, "What is the State of Yong?"

Wang Dongli explained, "The current State of Chu was called the State of Yong over 190 years ago. However, the emperor was unrighteous, and the people suffered greatly. Grand Ancestor Chu then raised the banner of rebellion, overthrew the tyranny, and established the State of Chu.

"However, I don't know where Changping Prefecture is. I'm not familiar with the State of Chu, so I'll need to slowly inquire about it later."

As he spoke, Wang Dongli opened the genealogy book and continued, "This record is based on my ancestor's oral accounts. Our Wang family originated two hundred years ago, when the emperor of Yong was incompetent, powerful officials held sway, and the martial arts world was in chaos, plagued by rampant burning, killing, and looting.

"Our clan was afflicted by bandits and almost completely wiped out. Our ancestor, Wang Qingping, fled at that time, enduring countless hardships until he drifted to the State of Qian. At that time, the State of Qian was at the peak of its power and very stable, so our ancestor settled there. Later, with the help of a benefactor, he was taken in as a disciple, settled in Qian, changed his name, and became a citizen of Qian.

"Later, the State of Yong was destroyed, and by then, our ancestor had already taken root in the State of Qian, becoming a respected hero. He settled with his wife and children in Qingyang Prefecture, Yunzhou, establishing the Wang family. The Wang family reached its peak by my grandfather's generation, founding a sect on Canglan Mountain."

Gu Mo frowned slightly. "So, you only know a general location, and your clan no longer exists. If you can't trace your origins, you won't be able to find the whereabouts of the Seven-Colored Peacock."

Wang Dongli replied with great disappointment, "It appears so, for now."

Gu Chudong comforted him, "Sect Leader Wang, you shouldn't worry too much. Take your time searching. Moreover, according to your genealogy, when your clan suffered from bandits, your ancestor only mentioned that most were killed or wounded; he didn't know the exact situation.

"He never returned later, so perhaps your clan has returned to its old land and rebuilt? You can slowly investigate when the time comes; you're bound to find something."

Wang Dongli took a deep breath and said, "I'm afraid... I'm running out of time!"

Gu Chudong asked, puzzled, "Why do you say that?"

Wang Dongli said in a low voice, "The curse has already begun. To be frank with you all, I'm already starting to lose my mind. I'm serious; even though I'm speaking to you now, I'm not sure if you're real, or if I'm even awake!"

Gu Mo asked, confused, "Sect Leader Wang, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Dongli slowly lifted his pale face, his eye sockets deeply sunken, giving him a look of utter exhaustion. He spoke slowly: "Great Hero Gu, yesterday... no, the day before yesterday, during my father's funeral, the reason I was so agitated and attacked the Six Gates was because I truly couldn't control myself. I was starting to confuse reality with dreams.

"At that time, I was in a daze. I suspected that the Du Sha I saw was fake, that I was dreaming. I kept trying to wake up but couldn't, constantly plagued by nightmares. I really couldn't control my emotional state. I finally understand why my father would inexplicably hit people back then, why he would be lucid one moment and irritable the next.

"Ah, I'm going crazy. I can't distinguish, I really can't distinguish. It's like a ghost! I want to sleep, but I don't dare to. I can't sleep, and I can't wake up..."

The more Wang Dongli spoke, the more agitated he became. He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot as his emotions grew volatile.

Immediately, Gu Mo inserted a silver needle into Wang Dongli's head while simultaneously channeling a stream of true qi.

Wang Dongli calmed down, took a deep breath, and said, "My apologies, Great Hero Gu. I truly couldn't control myself."

Gu Mo asked, "What exactly is happening?"

Wang Dongli explained, "It's the dreams. They're becoming more and more frequent, and more and more real. It started the day my father passed away. At first, it was just two or three layers of dreams within dreams, and they weren't so easy to fall into.

"But later, the dreams became more numerous and vivid. Sometimes I'd experience twenty or thirty layers of dreams, and I simply couldn't tell if I was dreaming or in reality. Like now, I'm actually not entirely sure if I'm still dreaming.

"Furthermore, I'm falling into dreams more frequently now. Even sitting for a moment can make me drift off. And once I fall asleep, I don't know if I'll be able to wake up. These past few days, keeping vigil for my father, I don't even know when I went to the mourning hall. I just woke up there, and everyone thought I was overcome with grief, but in reality, I'm being driven mad by these dreams."

Gu Mo asked, "What do you dream about?"

Wang Dongli said, "I often see my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and even my ancestor in my dreams. They're all calling for me, they're all waiting for me!"

Gu Mo asked, confused, "You even recognize your ancestor?"

"No," Wang Dongli said, "but in my dreams, I do. My father introduces them, my grandfather introduces them, there's nothing to doubt. They all look the same, just like my father when he died—nothing but skin and bones.

"It's a nightmare. Not only do I see them, but I also see my deceased self. Sometimes I'm back in my childhood, sometimes I'm back in my youth, sometimes I'm in the mourning hall, but they're always there, haunting me. Sometimes I think I've woken up, but I'm still in a dream, layer after layer, never truly waking.

"Sometimes I think I'm still dreaming, but then it's reality; I can't distinguish at all. Sometimes everyone wants to kill me, sometimes everyone protects me. I simply don't know what's real and what's illusory..."

As Wang Dongli spoke, his emotions began to escalate again.

Gu Mo quickly channeled another wisp of true qi to help him regain his composure.

"Great Hero Gu," Wang Dongli said, "I'm afraid there isn't enough time. I can feel it; the curse is urgent, and it won't let me go."

Just then, Hongyi said, "Master, this doesn't sound like a curse. It sounds more like someone is being controlled by mental illusions."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I think so too."

Immediately, Gu Mo cast the Devil Cultivation Method of Dao Heart to investigate.

However, Wang Dongli's Sea of Consciousness wasn't controlled. There were no abnormal mental or primordial spirit energies from others. Yet, strangely, Wang Dongli's primordial spirit energy was growing at an alarming rate.

"What's going on?" Gu Mo asked. "Sect Leader Wang, you're almost ready to ascend!"

Wang Dongli asked, confused, "What does Great Hero Gu mean?"

Gu Mo explained, "Ascension means cultivating a primordial spirit and shedding the mortal body. You originally had only a tiny bit of primordial spirit energy, barely enough to perform the Primordial Spirit Sword. But now, you're on the verge of cultivating a complete primordial spirit. At this rate, you could ascend in ten days at most."

"Huh?" Wang Dongli looked utterly bewildered.

Gu Mo corrected himself, "No, that's not quite right. It can't be called true ascension. The primordial spirit born from the Ascension Realm is extremely solid, but your current primordial spirit is rather ethereal. While it is a primordial spirit, it's still a bit inferior compared to one truly cultivated."

Wang Dongli asked, "But this couldn't have just appeared out of nowhere. Even internal energy requires essence and qi for conversion, right? Primordial spirit energy couldn't just manifest randomly, could it?"

Gu Mo replied, "It's not appearing out of nowhere; it has a source. As I told you before, the qi from the Peacock Spirit Clan within you is strongly linked to both your primordial spirit and your physical body. Right now, it's continuously drawing power from your physical body and converting it into primordial spirit energy."

Wang Dongli's pupils widened. "So, that's why my father, my grandfather, and others slowly withered away and their qi and blood failed after they became delirious."

Gu Mo nodded. "Exactly. Only, your speed is quite extreme. Your father took thirty years to completely wither and pass away, but at your rate, your body will be drained in half a month at most."

Wang Dongli despaired, "Heaven wants to destroy me..."

Gu Mo waved his hand. "It's not that dire. There's still a chance."

Wang Dongli quickly cupped his hands and bowed, "Please, Great Hero Gu, teach me!"

Gu Mo said, "The Sword God of Southern Jin, Su Qianqiu, possesses a supreme treasure called the Seven-Colored Divine Craft Spirit Cage Robe. It's made from the feathers of a Seven-Colored Peacock and, theoretically, can be used as a medium to extract the Peacock spiritual qi from your body."

Wang Dongli's newfound hope was immediately crushed. "I have no connection to the Sword God of Southern Jin; there's no way I could borrow such a treasure. Besides, Southern Jin is thousands of miles away from here. Even if I could borrow it, it wouldn't arrive in time."

Gu Mo chuckled, "I have a friendship with Su Qianqiu, so I can borrow the Spirit Cage Robe. And I have my own methods to retrieve the robe in time."

Wang Dongli immediately knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said, "Great Hero Gu, I beg you, save me and save my son. From now on, my Wang family will serve you as slaves and servants for generations, honoring your immense benevolence."

Gu Mo raised a hand to help Wang Dongli up. "There's no need for servitude. However, I reside in Yunzhou, and your Dongli Sect is also in Yunzhou, practically neighbors with me. In the future, there will inevitably be times when I might need your assistance."

"Any command, I will not shrink from, even if it means death!" Wang Dongli quickly affirmed.

Immediately, Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "You should return for now. Remember, do not remove the silver needle from your head; it will keep you calm and prevent you from falling asleep. Once the Spirit Cage Robe arrives, I will come find you."

"Many thanks, Great Hero Gu, many thanks!"

Wang Dongli bowed repeatedly in thanks as he slowly departed.

Once Wang Dongli was out the door, Gu Mo called out, "Chudong, prepare the writing materials. I'm going to write a letter to Elder Su, asking to borrow his Spirit Cage Robe."

Gu Chudong immediately went into the inner room to get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. She wasn't puzzled about how Gu Mo would retrieve the Spirit Cage Robe so quickly, as she was well aware of the power of his flying sword technique.

"Brother," Gu Chudong asked, puzzled, "Didn't you say before that Elder Su and Wang Dongli had no connection, so it would be difficult?"

Gu Mo chuckled, "Wang Dongli is actually a decent person. Although he had a nasty dispute with Du Sha a couple of days ago, Du Sha still praised him generously, saying that the Dongli Sect he established truly practices chivalry in Qingyang Prefecture, protecting the common people, and significantly reducing banditry there.

"Secondly, have you forgotten the divination Hongyi performed for me? To find Ironhead, we still need to rely on Wang Dongli. We can't let him die."

Gu Chudong nodded. "That's true."

Immediately, Gu Mo quickly wrote a letter, tied it to the Tai Xu Sword, and formed a hand seal. The Tai Xu Flying Sword instantly shot out, piercing the air as it left the courtyard and quickly vanished into the clouds.

The Tai Xu Flying Sword had now maximized the abilities of the Profound Heaven Floating Stone. Gu Mo had also forcibly inserted a Primordial Spirit Realm Sword Spirit into it, and later, enhanced his sword manipulation techniques through the War God's Illustrated Record. To say he could take an enemy's head from a thousand miles away was no exaggeration.

As he was in the State of Qian, sending the flying sword to Southern Jin was naturally effortless.

Just as the flying sword tore through the air and sped away, Gu Mo suddenly paused slightly. "The Heavenly Gods Society has been located," he said.

Gu Chudong quickly asked, "You found them?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I placed a primordial spirit restriction in the Sea of Consciousness of those two ruthless individuals. What they see, I also see. Right now, those two are meeting with a Heavenly Gods Society elder."

With that, Gu Mo took a step, instantly tearing through the air and vanishing.

At this moment, in an inconspicuous small village outside Qingyang City, the two Heavenly Gods Society Protectors who had hidden in a cesspit for two days and a night to evade searches were now disguised as peddlers, arriving at a humble farmhouse to ask for water.

In the courtyard, a hunched old man led the two into a room.

As he turned and entered the kitchen, the two ruthless individuals, disguised as peddlers, immediately knelt on one knee and said in unison, "Greetings, Elder."

The hunched old man turned around. At this moment, his stooped back straightened, his cloudy eyes instantly sharpened like an eagle's, and the aura of decrepitude around him vanished, replaced by a profound, blood-tinged sense of oppression.

He coldly scanned the two kneeling Protectors, his voice flat yet imbued with undeniable authority: "You two have been incompetent. Not only did you lose men, but you also attracted the Six Gates' investigation, nearly exposing our stronghold and almost disrupting the Lord's great plan of resurrection!"

One of the Protectors, whose face still showed the pallor and exhaustion from two days in the cesspit, quickly defended himself: "Elder, please calm your anger! Although our brothers were lost, before their capture, they transferred all the internal energy they had absorbed and converted to us two. We fought our way out, risking our lives, precisely to bring this power back and offer it to the Lord!"

"Oh?" The elder's eyelids barely lifted. "If that's the case, then present the 'offerings' you've brought."

The two Protectors' hearts tensed, but they dared not hesitate for a moment. They immediately sat cross-legged, circulated their energy, and concentrated the internal energy within them—energy that was not originally theirs, but was heterogeneous yet profound—preparing to transfer it to the elder.

This was what they had been doing for some time, a routine they were accustomed to.

The elder slowly extended his withered hand, his palm seemingly generating an invisible vortex. A powerful suction instantly enveloped the two.

The Gluttonous Divine Art activated!

At first, everything proceeded as usual.

The accumulated, heterogeneous internal energy, derived from dozens of deceased martial artists, surged into the elder's body like a breached floodgate.

The elder narrowed his eyes, feeling the influx of power, and air currents rippled around him.

However, this torrent did not stop.

When the 'offered' internal energy was fully absorbed, the terrifying suction not only didn't weaken but abruptly intensified. It latched onto the Protectors' own foundational internal energy, cultivated through years of arduous practice, like a greedy python!

"Aargh..." One Protector was the first to feel that something was wrong. His true qi, like water from an opened dam, uncontrollably gushed out. His body shriveled at a visible rate; his skin lost its luster, and his muscles atrophied. He stared in horror at the elder: "Elder... what... what are you doing? This is our own internal energy!"

The other Protector also reacted instantly, his face paling with fright, struggling to sever the connection: "Elder, spare our lives! We may have been incompetent, but our crime isn't punishable by death!"

The hunched old man remained expressionless, his gaze as cold as abyssal ice, completely deaf to their pleas. The suction from his palm grew increasingly violent, as if intent on completely draining the two, extracting even the last trace of vital essence from their very bones.

"Elder..." The first Protector's words died in his throat as his entire body, like a skin puppet drained of its stuffing, limply collapsed to the ground, nothing but skin stretched over bones, his eye sockets deeply sunken. He was completely lifeless.

"Why..." The second Protector only managed to utter half of a venomous curse before following his companion's fate, turning into the second horrifying dried corpse on the ground.

The elder slowly retracted his palm, a faint, blood-tinged glow seeming to linger around his withered fingertips.

He closed his eyes, sensing the surging, yet strongly repulsive, heterogeneous power within him. He frowned slightly and muttered to himself:

"Don't blame me. It's all Ji Wujiu's incompetence that led to our exposure. Now the Six Gates are chasing us like mad dogs, forcing us to expose ourselves directly and act comprehensively. But time is too short. I had no choice but to absorb you both. Everything is for the Lord's resurrection. Our lives were granted by the Lord; sacrificing for him is a worthy death. I just don't know if this is enough!"

His tone carried a hint of uncertain anxiety, coupled with an almost fanatical anticipation.

He no longer looked at the two desiccated corpses on the ground, as if they were merely two piles of useless refuse.

He straightened the old coarse linen robe on his body, and the deliberately suppressed grandmaster aura once again receded, making him appear like an ordinary old farmer.

He turned, preparing to push open the creaking wooden door of the kitchen to make the next, more important arrangements.

"Creak—" He pulled the wooden door open a crack.

However, just as he lifted his foot to step out, his movement abruptly froze.

Outside the door stood a young man in a green robe, who had appeared unnoticed.

It was Gu Mo, who had tracked them here by following the primordial spirit restriction!

The Heavenly Gods Society elder's cloudy pupils suddenly contracted to pinpricks. "Huh, how could this be?" he murmured. "I made sure there were no pursuers behind these two before I brought them here!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "Then you weren't looking carefully enough."

"It seems I'm getting old," the Heavenly Gods Society elder slowly walked out, closing the door behind him. He chuckled, his face a mass of wrinkles, and said, "I hear the Six Gates of Yunzhou has produced six famous constables in recent years, each of them a standout among the younger generation of the martial arts world. Young man, which one are you?"

Gu Mo smiled slightly. "It seems your eyesight really isn't good, to not even recognize me. My name is Gu Mo, known in the martial arts world as the Number One Under Heaven."

The Heavenly Gods Society elder trembled, a chill shooting from his soles straight to the top of his head. His mind immediately raced to search for images of Gu Mo, comparing them as thoroughly as possible.

The portrait drawing techniques of this era were somewhat abstract, but with careful comparison, one could still identify individuals.

Immediately, the Heavenly Gods Society elder confirmed Gu Mo's identity, his expression instantly turning solemn. He cupped his hands and bowed, "So it is Great Hero Gu in person. This old man is Zhu Zixiong, greetings!"

Gu Mo smiled faintly. "Since you didn't run at the first opportunity, it seems you know your place. Once I'm done asking questions, I'll give you a quick end."

Zhu Zixiong looked bitter. "May this old man be allowed to say a few words?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Zhu Zixiong said, "Great Hero Gu, you are the Number One Under Heaven, you have reached the peak of the mortal realm. Your next step should be to seek ascension to immortality, and our Lord has already taken that step.

"Although you destroyed his physical body on Dragon Tiger Mountain, as long as you are willing to cooperate now, he can let bygones be bygones. But if you insist on being relentless, you will regret it in the future. The day the Lord resurrects will be the day he becomes an immortal. What will you do then?"

Gu Mo chuckled, "First, Gongsun Jue cannot be resurrected; you've certainly been misled. Second, even if Gongsun Jue could be resurrected, I'll just kill him again."

As soon as Gu Mo finished speaking, he pointed a finger towards Zhu Zixiong, his movement casual yet piercing the void with sharpness.

A wisp of pure, condensed mental energy lingered at his fingertip—the Soul-Probing Finger of the Devil Cultivation Method of Dao Heart—intended to instantly invade the opponent's Sea of Consciousness, control their mind, and directly extract the truth.

However, just as that wisp of mental energy was about to touch Zhu Zixiong's glabella, a sudden change occurred!

In Zhu Zixiong's cloudy eyes, an inhuman, frenzied, and greedy light suddenly erupted. A low roar, unlike any human sound, escaped his throat, resembling the death throes of a beast or the sinister grin of an abyssal fiend.

"Roar—!" His hunched body suddenly straightened. An absorption force far more terrifying and wicked than when he drained the two Protectors erupted. This suction didn't target internal energy but formed a visible, distorted field covering the entire courtyard.

The Gluttonous Divine Art—Devouring Domain!

The air seemed to be instantly sucked dry. Fallen leaves, dust, and even light in the courtyard subtly collapsed inwards.

Gu Mo felt an overwhelming, irresistible pulling force surge from all directions, acting not only on his body but seemingly trying to forcibly strip away and devour his true qi, spirit, and even life force.

At the same time, the wisp of soul-probing mental energy Gu Mo projected, the instant it touched the outer perimeter of Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness, was like striking an invisible, thorny wall of brass and iron!

"Rip!" A strange power, cold, domineering, and imbued with a supreme will, violently counterattacked from deep within Zhu Zixiong's Sea of Consciousness. This power, carrying the primordial spirit force of an Ascension Realm cultivator, instantly shattered Gu Mo's probing mental energy!

For the first time, Gu Mo's eyes showed a noticeable change, filled with doubt. He said in a low voice, "The complete Gluttonous Divine Art?"

Zhu Zixiong's state at this moment was exceptionally bizarre.

His originally withered body slightly inflated as if being blown up, and blue veins bulged and wriggled beneath his skin, as if countless living things were crawling beneath.

Seeing Gu Mo's puzzled expression, he laughed loudly: "Gu Mo... what good is being the Number One Under Heaven now? You've still fallen into my domain! So arrogant and conceited, you deserve to die here today. You didn't expect me to have the complete Gluttonous Divine Art, did you? I told you the Lord would resurrect, but you didn't believe me. Good, you're a grandmaster of internal martial arts, perfect to be an offering for the Lord's resurrection. You alone can be worth dozens, even hundreds of people!"

As he laughed heartily, Zhu Zixiong furiously activated his Devouring Domain, surging it towards Gu Mo, attempting to absorb Gu Mo's true qi.

However, in that instant, Gu Mo raised his hand, and *smack* – a slap landed on Zhu Zixiong's face.

Instantly, a bright red handprint swelled on Zhu Zixiong's face, and he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth. He exclaimed, "How can you still move?" Then, in horror, he added, "Why can't I absorb you?"

Gu Mo curled his lip. "Your brain is broken. No matter how strong your Gluttonous Divine Art is, can it be stronger than Gongsun Jue's? I killed him. What makes you think you can deal with me?"

Zhu Zixiong argued, "The Lord is invincible under heaven. The only reason he died by your hand was because you used cunning schemes. Otherwise, how could you possibly be his match?"

Gu Mo: "..." Brain-dead fans are truly hopeless.

Zhu Zixiong said, unconvinced, "Then why did you look so shocked just now? Weren't you frightened by my Gluttonous Divine Art?"

"I was only wondering why the primordial spirit in your Sea of Consciousness, which could clearly control you as a puppet, chose to impersonate Gongsun Jue instead," Gu Mo replied.

Zhu Zixiong asked, confused, "What nonsense are you talking about? You—"

*Smack*. Gu Mo slapped Zhu Zixiong across the face again.

"Gu Mo, you're going too far!" Zhu Zixiong cried out, filled with grief and indignation.

*Smack*. Gu Mo delivered another slap.

"Gu Mo, don't be so excessive!"

*Smack*.

"Gu Mo, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"

*Smack*, *smack*, *smack*...

Gu Mo's slaps grew faster and faster until all of Zhu Zixiong's teeth were knocked out. He fell to his knees, crying, "I was wrong... Great Hero Gu, I was wrong... Just kill me... Please stop hitting me, really stop. If you hit me anymore, my head will explode..."

"No, that won't do," Gu Mo said. "I rarely slap people. If I'm going to do it, I have to make sure I get enough in one go!"

"Enough!" Just then, a voice suddenly appeared from the void: "Youngster, that's enough!"

Immediately after, Zhu Zixiong directly fainted. Then, a wisp of primordial spirit energy floated out of his Sea of Consciousness, slowly coalescing into a human form—that of a middle-aged man.

To Gu Mo's surprise, the human form condensed by this primordial spirit bore a striking resemblance to Wang Dongli.

For a moment, Gu Mo suddenly thought of Wang Dongli's ancestor, who had once visited Penglai Island and created the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Art, a technique somewhat similar to the Devil Cultivation Method of Dao Heart.

"Are you, Wang Qingping?"

"Young people nowadays are truly remarkable; to think you could actually discover me. Young man, you truly live up to the title of Number One Under Heaven. I imagine you'll be ascending soon. Not bad at all, not bad!"