Jingcheng had naturally come to talk about matters related to Immortal Medicine Valley. The report should have been made the next day, but some things were a knot in Jingcheng’s heart, so he came ahead of time to confirm them with Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli.
“Are you certain that there are no longer any mixed-bloods alive within Immortal Medicine Valley?”
Seeing Jingcheng’s expression, completely different from before, Gu Baiqing’s feelings were truly hard to put into words.
Baili Jingcheng was a responsible person, open-minded and amicable, tolerant and friendly, yet he harbored an extreme hatred toward the existence of mixed-bloods, almost to the point of obsession.
At the mention of mixed-bloods, Jingcheng’s entire aura changed.
Gu Baiqing was certain that if Jingcheng were to know right now that the Mo Xuanli standing before him was a mixed-blood, he would without hesitation draw his sword and exterminate the mixed-blood.
So in the face of Jingcheng’s question, Gu Baiqing could only nod and say, “Yes.”
Jingcheng seemed to let out a breath of relief as he said, “That’s good, so as not to leave behind hidden dangers. Mixed-bloods should never appear in this world.”
Gu Baiqing’s heart tightened. He truly hated hearing words like that. Thinking that Mo Xuanli was still listening beside him, his brows couldn’t help but knit slightly as he reached out below and held Mo Xuanli’s hand.
Mo Xuanli’s slightly cold hand was quickly warmed. He turned his head to look at Gu Baiqing, his eyes full of calm indifference.
But Jingcheng noticed Gu Baiqing’s expression.
“I know you won’t like hearing this, but in the past your attitude toward this matter wasn’t very serious,” Jingcheng said, rarely arguing with Gu Baiqing. “You have to know, the existence of mixed-bloods is the result of despicable demon clans hiding their identities, deceiving cultivators’ feelings, and giving birth to abominable offspring. To cultivators, this is proof of being deceived and betrayed, a humiliation, let alone the dangers they themselves inherently carry.”
Jingcheng spoke earnestly and sternly, the resentment in his eyes almost impossible to conceal, as if he had recalled some unbearable secret from the past.
Gu Baiqing, however, didn’t want to argue with him. After all, even in the fanfiction, Jingcheng’s stance had never changed from beginning to end.
When views don’t align, insisting on arguing further would only hurt people.
So Gu Baiqing directly changed the topic. Jingcheng, meanwhile, remembered another matter and said, “Oh right, Xuanli and I previously had an agreement regarding the fragments. Now that you’re here, do you want to….”
Mo Xuanli shook his head. “Not for now.”
Jingcheng said, “If you don’t need them now, you’ll probably have to wait until the entire incident has settled before you can access the fragments.”
Gu Baiqing asked, “What do you mean?” His and Mo Xuanli’s plan was definitely to collect them all and then try to change his physique.
Jingcheng revealed a bitter expression. “Actually, among all the immortal sects in the alliance, half of them have some objections to everyone moving here to guard Tianyuan Sect’s fragment.”
Gu Baiqing naturally knew whom he was referring to, it had to be those led by Tianzhao Sect.
Sure enough, as Jingcheng explained, the undercurrents here surfaced. Tianzhao Sect and Tianyuan Sect were at odds. Now that the alliance had moved to Tianyuan Sect, in their eyes it might be seen as boosting Tianyuan Sect’s momentum, so many people were dissatisfied, fearing that Tianyuan Sect would dominate alone in the future.
Thus, many people proposed that since they were to guard it, their sects’ protective formations should also be added to the fragment, with everyone sharing the responsibility together.
Gu Baiqing truly didn’t know what kind of mindset this was. He had originally thought their focus would all be on the disciples carrying out missions outside; he hadn’t expected them to still have the energy to think about power struggles.
Although he knew that wherever there were many people, things would inevitably be like this, Gu Baiqing still felt rather disappointed.
“You agreed?” Gu Baiqing asked.
“People were arguing about it again today. With things trending this way, even if I don’t agree, it won’t work,” Jingcheng said.
Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli exchanged a glance. If those people really added their formations, it would be troublesome for Mo Xuanli to make use of the fragment later.
But just as Jingcheng said, this was unavoidable. Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli could only temporarily acquiesce to the situation and think of a solution later.
Before long, Jingcheng left, and Fu Zhiyi came to find the master and disciple.
Fu Zhiyi had arranged everything and would first go check the two spies.
Arriving at the place of detention, Mo Xuanli went in to confirm and soon came out, drawing the conclusion that both were normal demon clan members, not mixed-bloods.
This conclusion was not good news, it meant that Zixiao Sect might still have a spy. Whether that spy was currently staying within the sect, had already mixed into various mission teams, or had taken the opportunity to escape was hard to determine.
Fu Zhiyi’s expression grew even more bitter.
They couldn’t possibly have Mo Xuanli return to the sect and identify people one by one, there was simply no way to start.
Gu Baiqing, however, felt there was no need to worry too much. After all, the important matters were all held in the hands of people they trusted. Even if there was a spy, the interference wouldn’t be great. The urgent task right now was still collecting the fragments.
“Now the entire alliance is here guarding a fragment. At the very least, it ensures the demon clan can’t snatch it away,” Fu Zhiyi sighed.
This counted as the last trump card firmly held in their hands.
Speaking of this, Gu Baiqing discussed with Fu Zhiyi the situation he had heard earlier from Jingcheng.
Fu Zhiyi gave a cold laugh and said, “After all, Li Xiuran is now recognized by everyone as the only one who can control the God-Slaying Sword fragment. If the fragments are gathered and forged into the God-Slaying Sword, such a divine weapon, who would it belong to? Wouldn’t He Jingyuan of Tianzhao Sect have to plan something for his own sect? This is just his first step.”
“Wasn’t his son captured by the demon clan?” Gu Baiqing’s implication was naturally that this father still had the mind to think about other things.
“The people who infiltrated the demon realm sent back news that that group is merely being detained and imprisoned, with no threat to their lives. Naturally, one can’t spend all day fretting over just this one matter,” Fu Zhiyi said. “In any case, Tianzhao Sect, with Li Xiuran, has become tough, openly and secretly battling Tianyuan Sect fiercely. Yet Sect Master Baili is still in seclusion. Baili Jingcheng is still considered a junior before He Jingyuan, so he’s somewhat constrained.”
As the three were talking and about to go see the incubus, someone suddenly came to find Fu Zhiyi, saying that an urgent matter had arisen on the alliance’s side.
Sure enough, just what they feared came to pass. He Jingyuan had brought people and gotten into an argument with Baili Jingcheng, because they had just received news that the demon realm seemed to be making movements different from before. This made them extremely uneasy. No one knew who started it, but using this as a pretext, they wanted to push through the matter of adding formations.
With a posture of wanting it done immediately, no delays.
By the time Fu Zhiyi brought the two of them over, some people had already begun questioning why Jingcheng didn’t agree, and whether there was some problem.
Up to now, they didn’t even know where the fragment was hidden, no one had seen it, and some even doubted whether this fragment truly existed.
Something related to the safety of the entire cultivation world couldn’t be left so muddled.
Everyone had to witness it together, only then would it truly be joint protection. Otherwise, everyone being called here, living under others’ roofs, what exactly was it all for?
Jingzhan and Xie Qingrong were also present. Jingzhan, having a more impatient temper, said, “Our sect’s sealing formation for the fragment has always been extremely perfect. Adding others, if it breaks the balance and instead gives the demon clan an opportunity, wouldn’t that be lifting a stone only to smash our own feet? And you’re all already here, would adding formations really make you feel more at ease than guarding it yourselves?”
What Jingzhan said of course made sense, but basically no one was willing to listen.
Until everyone saw Fu Zhiyi arrive, the contradiction instantly shifted onto Fu Zhiyi, pushing him to say something.
Fu Zhiyi put on the air of a good old man, “I think everyone doesn’t need to be so anxious. Acting impulsively easily leads to wrong decisions. Let’s discuss it for another two days.”
Fu Zhiyi was essentially helping Baili Jingcheng delay for time, to see if there was a more prudent solution.
But clearly the faction led by He Jingyuan wanted to press forward in one go. It was also a way of forcing Baili Jingcheng to bow his head and establish their authority. After all, back at Taixu Hall, they had suspected Mo Xuanli, only to suffer a backlash instead and lose the best opportunity to compete for power, so this time they were constantly looking for a chance to reclaim their prestige.
In the end, Baili Jingcheng could only agree.
Seeing this scene, Gu Baiqing only felt that when encountering conflicts, those who don’t reason indeed have the advantage over those who do.
Since matters had developed to this point, the master and disciple pair followed everyone to the place where Tianyuan Sect stored the fragments.
That was the deepest forbidden ground of Tianyuan Sect. It was surrounded by a bamboo forest, and from the outermost perimeter there were formation guards, but soon someone saw an independent courtyard.
Someone said in surprise, “You even arranged for people to live here to guard it? Are you sure the person chosen is safe? If you’ve arranged people, shouldn’t our sects also select some people to come here and guard it together?”
Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli looked over, always feeling that courtyard was especially quiet and serene.
Jingzhan accompanied Jingcheng and couldn’t stand hearing this. “That’s my little uncle’s former residence. There are no living people inside anymore. What, do you want to live in there?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the person who spoke shut his mouth. After all, the title of Immortal Baili Jin was still extremely intimidating, and no one dared to be disrespectful.
And Immortal Baili Jin had once been the owner of this fragment, so placing the fragment beside his former residence was perfectly reasonable.
Gu Baiqing’s gaze toward that courtyard shifted slightly, turning to look at Mo Xuanli beside him. He thought he would see some emotion, but only saw Mo Xuanli’s gaze pause for a moment before he withdrew it.
In fact, Mo Xuanli’s behavior in this regard had always been quite strange, completely different from the scene Gu Baiqing had imagined he should have. But knowing this was a wound in Mo Xuanli’s heart, Gu Baiqing didn’t dare to ask lightly, and could only press all his doubts deep down.
Very soon, they followed the group to the deepest part of the forbidden ground.
At last, amid the interlacing lights of various barriers, they saw a fragment.
Because it was a God-Slaying Sword fragment that had already been developed, it itself was releasing energy, unlike other fragments that, when found, were just a piece of broken stone.
Mo Xuanli clearly felt the excitement of God Nine Transformations and knew that this fragment was real, and moreover this fragment seemed especially large, almost three times the size of the other pieces they had found.
Everyone was deeply awed by the power overflowing from the fragment through the barrier, but the God-Slaying Sword fragment was not something just anyone could use. So aside from envy, the only thing they could do was restrict others from using it. Perhaps this was why they insisted on coming to add barriers.
The one with the deepest obsession toward this fragment was He Jingyuan. After all, Tianyuan Sect and Tianzhao Sect were originally one family; after splitting off, the fragment remained in Tianyuan Sect, and naturally they were unwilling to accept that.
“Martial nephew, open the outer barrier, then let the other immortal sects take turns setting up barriers. Only then can it be truly safe,” He Jingyuan said arrogantly.
Baili Jingcheng’s expression was cold and stern, but in the end he still stepped forward and removed the outer barrier.
At that moment, a figure flashed past from the crowd. Those who had come were all representatives of the major immortal sects, and no one had expected that someone here would have a problem.
So when the sudden change occurred, everyone was caught off guard. Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli were already far away, and by the time they reacted, that person had already passed through layer upon layer of barriers and taken the fragment.
Everyone exclaimed in shock. That person turned out to be the sect master of a certain sect. They saw the sect master’s eyes split wide, his expression crazed, the area around his eyeballs covered in red blood vessels, dark circles under his eyes, looking completely like someone who hadn’t slept well at all.
At a glance, it was obvious he had been invaded by a dream demon. Those invaded by dream demons are unable to distinguish reality from dreams, and naturally their personal actions are entirely guided by the dream.
Everyone struck out together, and Baili Jingcheng also began setting up a defensive formation, giving the other party no chance to escape.
But this person was somewhat special. His strongest techniques were Earth Escape and Divine Movement Speed. One could say that when combined, they were the ultimate escape techniques.
Before everyone’s attacks could even reach him, he had already shrunk into the ground and fled.
Everyone continuously launched attacks at the ground. In an instant, the entire forbidden ground’s surface cracked and overturned as if struck by a massive earthquake. But they still couldn’t catch up to the speed of that person’s escape.
Fu Zhiyi anxiously looked in the direction of Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli, only to find that the two were already gone, clearly having gone to pursue him.
The surface of Tianyuan Sect was calm, but underground someone was using Divine Movement Speed. Yet very quickly, a bolt of lightning pierced directly through the ground and struck in front of the fleeing person. A whip, like a sharp blade, plunged into the soil. The person wanted to run, but was still entangled by the whip around his leg and instantly dragged out.
Perhaps in order to take a shortcut where there were fewer people, the direction in which that person fled happened to be toward the courtyard where Gu Baiqing and the others had previously stayed.
When everyone rushed over, they saw the master and disciple dragging the person out of the ground. The person used a spiritual artifact to knock back God Nine Transformations and still wanted to run. Everyone hurriedly reached out to grab him.
But at that moment, someone shouted loudly to be careful of an ambush.
In an instant, powerful demonic qi appeared out of nowhere. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen high-level demon clan members appeared before everyone.
Even Baili Jingcheng was stunned by this sight. How could their dignified Tianyuan Sect be casually invaded by demon clans? After the experience at Taixu Hall, they had already implemented defenses on all fronts, unless there was an internal traitor.
Could it also have been orchestrated by this sect master controlled by a dream demon?
In an instant, everyone began fighting with the demon clans.
“Baiqing, Xuanli, guard the fragment!” Fu Zhiyi shouted, telling them not to worry about anything else, no matter what, the fragment could not be lost.
But just as Mo Xuanli was about to use the bow-and-arrow form to shoot and injure that person’s legs, preventing him from escaping again.
A figure that should not have appeared showed up here.
Jingcheng and Jingzhan were both stunned upon seeing this scene and shouted one after another.
Pei Dai, who had originally been supported by a maid and was strolling, seemed to also hear the commotion. She thought it was someone sparring again, but when she turned her head to look, a figure instantly rushed toward her.
So frightened that she retreated again and again, suddenly her abdomen hurt, and her body stiffened.
That person also successfully took Pei Dai hostage, and the maid was struck flying.
Mo Xuanli did not dare to act rashly and could only aim at the other party. After all, Pei Dai was currently a pregnant woman, and actions that might injure someone could not be attempted lightly.
Gu Baiqing dared even less to make a move. Once he acted, it would inevitably implicate Pei Dai.
Suddenly Pei Dai let out a scream, and blood actually flowed from beneath her skirt, it seemed she was about to give birth.
“Wife!” Jingcheng shouted loudly, his face already twisted in shock.
All of their movements froze, and that person instantly took Pei Dai hostage and fled.
Most people immediately chased after them. The others stayed behind to clear out the demon clans.
For these demon clans to dare enter was essentially courting death, which showed that the other party’s goal was to snatch the fragment, regardless of the cost.
Because there was a hostage in hand, no one dared to attack. They could only chase while thinking of ways, but very quickly that person, holding Pei Dai hostage, disappeared without a trace, relying entirely on someone opening spiritual vision to track that sect master’s spiritual energy.
“He’s about to get far away, attack. The young madam is a cultivator, she should be able to endure it.”
“No, my sister-in-law’s cultivation is very low, and after becoming pregnant her body hasn’t been good. If you make a move, you’ll be taking my sister-in-law’s life!”
“But we can’t let the fragment be stolen.”
Jingzhan anxiously looked toward Jingcheng. Jingcheng said, “We can’t let him escape, otherwise Dai’er’s life will also be lost. First, think of a way to block him.”
At this moment, Mo Xuanli spoke up, “I’ll do it!” Immediately afterward, he wrapped an arm around Gu Baiqing and used the Void Spirit Space to instantaneously teleport. In the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of the fleeing person.
Because they appeared directly, that sect master seemed to be stunned for a moment and stopped his steps.
The pursuing figures from behind also gradually drew near.
Just as both Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli were on guard against this person being controlled and resorting to desperate measures, suddenly the two people before them twisted.
When everyone arrived, they stared in shock as the two people gradually turned into two enormous worms, that was the famous imitation gu worms of the demon realm.
Had that little girl, the Gu Demon, also come?
When had the exchange happened? They had clearly been chasing the whole time.
Baili Jingcheng instantly looked toward the person who had just opened spiritual vision.
That person said in panic, “No, I’ve only ever seen the two of them the whole time. How could they be substitutes!”
Gu Baiqing saw that Baili Jingcheng’s emotions were clearly off and hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Dao-companion contract?”
“Because spells seem to affect the child, I blocked all techniques on Dai’er. I can’t sense her.” Jingcheng clenched his teeth so hard it was as if he were biting out blood, filled with regret. Thinking of his wife being about to give birth yet being taken hostage, Jingcheng’s heart went cold, so panicked that he couldn’t even make a calm judgment.
And at this moment, someone suddenly rushed over. It turned out Fu Zhiyi had invited over the controlled sect master’s wife and disciple, thinking that bringing more people might help awaken that sect master. They arrived just in time, and there were contracts on them that could be used to search.
They quickly found a direction, but when everyone rushed over, an hour had already passed.
When Jingcheng descended and heard the baby’s crying in that instant, his entire body trembled.
In that area, they found Pei Dai unconscious while holding the child, as well as the sect master, also unconscious, but the fragment was already gone.
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