Sword Maniac was so frightened that he couldn’t help but take two steps back and hurriedly explained, "No, Sect Master, you’ve misunderstood. Second Uncle Gu isn’t dead."
"Not dead? Then was he captured as a hostage?" Dugu Wei’s face darkened.
Sword Maniac: "..."
Can’t you wish Second Uncle Gu something good?
"That’s not it either. Second Uncle Gu is fine—not just fine, but he even single-handedly wiped out the Netherworld Sect!" Sword Maniac spoke rapidly, afraid that if he slowed down even a little, Dugu Wei would charge out and fight Wang Yan and the others to the death.
Dugu Wei fell into silence, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Sword Maniac, making the latter’s hair stand on end.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Someone! Take Sword Maniac away for a mental examination. He’s likely under the influence of demonic sorcery."
Sword Maniac’s face instantly paled. Seeing the situation turn sour, the others also rushed forward, hastily explaining in a clamor of voices.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, they finally managed to clarify the situation.
Dugu Wei and the seven peak masters fell into silence once more.
A long time passed.
"So, what you’re saying is that the Netherworld Old Monster broke the Seven Swords Immortal-Slaying Formation with the Ten Billion Soul Banner, and then Second Uncle Gu took action, annihilating the entire Netherworld Sect single-handedly? Not only that, but he also took control of the Soul Banner and stuffed all the Netherworld Sect disciples into it as ‘brothers’?" Dugu Wei said gravely.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" The six juniors nodded vigorously.
Dugu Wei studied their earnest expressions, then after a moment of contemplation, declared, "Someone! Take all six of them away for a mental examination."
The six juniors’ faces twisted in horror as they desperately tried to explain, but no one believed them.
After all, the story was simply too fantastical.
What kind of joke was this? The seven of them had lost even with the Seven Swords Immortal-Slaying Formation, yet Gu Qingfeng alone had wiped out the entire Netherworld Sect?
And he defeated the Netherworld Old Monster, who wielded the Ten Billion Soul Banner?
That was the Ten Billion Soul Banner—a treasure comparable to a Heavenly Monarch’s power! What was Gu Qingfeng’s cultivation level? Just the Earthly Origin Realm!
The fact that an early-stage Earthly Origin cultivator could instantly kill Sword Heavenly Emperor, a peak Earthly Origin expert, was already shocking enough. Now, he was supposedly slaying a Five Tribulation Heavenly Being?
A Five Tribulation Heavenly Being wielding the Ten Billion Soul Banner, no less! Even Dugu Wei himself couldn’t achieve such an instant kill—it would take some effort. And Gu Qingfeng could do it?
This was like telling a ghost story inside another ghost story!
If these six weren’t possessed by vengeful spirits, what else could it be?
However, the six juniors were soon brought back, their heads hanging low, looking utterly drained.
Clearly, the mental examination had taken its toll.
"Sect Master, there are no signs of vengeful spirit possession in these six," the elder in charge of the examination reported, his face filled with shock.
Dugu Wei fell completely silent. After a moment, he ordered, "Someone! Take the examining elder away for an examination as well."
The elder’s face instantly turned ashen before he was dragged away.
Some time later.
"Sect Master, I’ve checked three times. The examining elder truly shows no signs of possession."
Dugu Wei stared at the speaker for a long time, until the man was drenched in sweat, before finally relenting.
No signs of possession meant that the six juniors were telling the truth!
Gu Qingfeng really had annihilated the Netherworld Sect alone!
"What kind of monster is our Sword Sect’s Imperial Son?" Dugu Wei finally accepted the truth, his expression shifting.
"You six, recount the events in detail once more."
The six juniors had no choice but to repeat the story meticulously.
After listening, Dugu Wei’s expression turned utterly bizarre. "Second Uncle Gu said he would return only after exterminating all the major sects?"
"Yes, that’s what Second Uncle Gu said."
......
Peerless Mansion.
Nestled atop an ethereal immortal mountain, the Peerless Mansion was a place of serenity—lush greenery, pavilions and towers dotting the landscape, flowing springs and cascading waterfalls, cranes dancing in the air, all shrouded in mist and bathed in rainbow light, like a paradise on earth.
Yet on this day, the tranquil Peerless Mansion welcomed an unwelcome guest.
Suddenly, a chilling wind rose, accompanied by the wails of ghosts. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the air pressure plummeted.
The abrupt change alarmed the disciples of Peerless Mansion, who looked up to see an enormous bone-and-blood ship slowly approaching from the horizon.
Surrounding the ship were countless terrifying wraiths, their resentment coalescing into a vast, sun-obscuring cloud.
"It’s the Netherworld Sect’s Bone-Blood Ship!"
"What’s going on? Didn’t the Netherworld Sect join forces with us to attack the Sword Sect? Why are they here now?"
"Are you all blind? Look at the wraiths on that ship—there must be at least a million of them! This doesn’t bode well."
At that moment, several streaks of light shot out from the depths of Peerless Mansion, intercepting the Bone-Blood Ship. Leading them was a Five Tribulation Heavenly Being—a white-robed elder with a youthful face, wielding a horsetail whisk, exuding an air of immortal grace.
Clearly, while the major sects had mobilized their forces to attack the Sword Sect, they had all left behind some power to guard their own territories, wary of potential threats.
"May I ask which esteemed elder of the Netherworld Sect has come to visit our Peerless Mansion, and for what purpose?" the white-robed elder asked courteously.
"Kekeke... I’ve long heard that Peerless Mansion’s scenery is unparalleled in the world. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation—a veritable paradise. What a pity that after today, such a wonder will cease to exist."
A sinister laugh echoed from the Bone-Blood Ship, causing the five Heavenly Beings of Peerless Mansion to pale with anger.
"Who are you? Does the Netherworld Sect intend to wage war against Peerless Mansion?"
Tap, tap, tap...
Light footsteps sounded as a strikingly handsome young man slowly emerged from the ship, his demeanor transcendent, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm.
Yet, surrounded by wraiths and standing atop the Bone-Blood Ship, he seemed less like an immortal and more like a demonic god.
The Heavenly Beings of Peerless Mansion froze at the sight of him. "The Sword Sect’s Imperial Son, Gu Qingfeng! How is it you?!"
"Hmph. A few ants dare to address this sovereign by name? You seek death!"
Without another word, Gu Qingfeng struck.
"Infinite Law Domain! Eight Directions Seal! Heaven and Earth Reversed! Nine Dragons Shackle the Heavens!!"
Boom!
The world darkened as eight colossal pillars of light erupted from the earth, their radiance intertwining to form an impenetrable barrier.
The very fabric of space twisted, rendering teleportation impossible.
Nine ethereal dragon roars echoed as invisible dragons coiled in the sky, their divine might sealing the entire Peerless Mansion in an inescapable prison!
Faced with such overwhelming sealing formations, the people of Peerless Mansion panicked.
"Gu Qingfeng, what do you think you’re doing? A mere Heaven Origin Divine Pill cultivator dares to cause trouble in our Peerless Mansion?" one of the five Heavenly Beings, a woman, snapped.
Gu Qingfeng hadn’t concealed his cultivation, so she easily saw through it.
"Oh?" Gu Qingfeng turned his head and his eyes instantly lit up, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the only woman among the five Heavenly Beings.
This woman possessed unparalleled beauty, an extraordinary aura, and a captivating figure. Even someone as worldly as him couldn't help but feel a flicker of desire.
Her charm was on par with that of Nangong Xue and Ling Fei'er.
"Who are you?"
The woman snorted coldly. "Duan Wushuang!"
Gu Qingfeng greedily eyed Duan Wushuang's alluring form and said, "So you're Duan Changsheng's daughter—the peerless Holy Maiden, Duan Wushuang. I’ve heard that whether it’s your beauty or your talent, you truly live up to your name as 'peerless.' Seeing you today, the rumors do not disappoint."
At this, Gu Qingfeng took a deep breath, his face twisting into an intoxicated expression. "Such a potent Frostblood lineage! Truly worthy of the legendary Glacial Moon Divine Body—you are the perfect dual cultivation vessel for this venerable one!
Keh keh keh..."
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
