Deputy Sect Leader Jiang

The corners of Gu Chengyin's mouth curled up into a minuscule arc.

The arc was so small that absolutely no one noticed it.

But Lin Qingyan, who was closest to him, saw it.

Looking at the slight curl of Gu Chengyin's lips and the fleeting gleam deep in his eyes, she suddenly understood.

This was all part of Gu Chengyin's plan.

From taking out the Qingyun Token, to the accidental manifestation of the Dao patterns, to his feigned confusion about the unclear inheritance.

Every single step had been calculated by him.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered gently.

She didn't speak, just quietly watched Gu Chengyin as the Dao patterns on his body slowly faded away.

She watched the azure light on him dissipate bit by bit, watched him return to normal, and watched him resume that calm and collected expression.

The corners of Lin Qingyan's mouth also curled up slightly.

The arc was similarly small, so small that again, no one noticed.

But Lin Qingyan knew why she was smiling.

Because she liked this side of Gu Chengyin.

Strategizing within a command tent.

Calculating without missing a single detail.

Possessing a spirit that could swallow mountains and rivers.

Playing everyone in the palm of his hand.

These Golden Core consecrators from the Heavenly Master Mansion, which of them wasn't an old fox who had cultivated for decades?

Which of them wasn't a shrewd individual accustomed to weathering storms?

Yet in front of Gu Chengyin, they were like marionettes on strings, walking step by step into the trap he had laid out, completely oblivious.

They thought they were scrutinizing Gu Chengyin, speculating on Gu Chengyin, evaluating Gu Chengyin.

Little did they know, from the moment they arrived at the Qingjian Sect, they had already fallen into his snare.

The Dao patterns faded completely, and the azure light on Gu Chengyin entirely vanished. He reverted to being an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Standing there with a calm expression, he showed no abnormalities whatsoever.

But everyone present knew.

Gu Chengyin was no longer ordinary.

From this day forward, he was the only person in the entire cultivation world to possess a complete Immortal Dao.

The gazes of the several Golden Core consecrators were extremely complex.

There was shock, envy, jealousy, longing, and...

Greed.

Of course, they wanted a complete Immortal Dao.

They wanted even more to split open Gu Chengyin's brain and extract the complete Qingyun Art.

Having cultivated for decades, who wouldn't want to take a step further?

Who wouldn't want to touch that threshold? Who wouldn't want to step into the Nascent Soul realm and see that legendary scenery?

But they could do nothing, and they were allowed to do nothing.

Because they were cultivators of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Because standing beside Gu Chengyin was Lin Qingyan.

Ever since the Dao patterns were revealed just now, faint golden lightning had been flashing around Fairy Jingzhe.

This was a declaration, and also a warning.

Telling everyone present.

Gu Chengyin was under her protection.

The gazes of the Golden Core consecrators lingered on Lin Qingyan for a moment before silently shifting away.

Elder Qiu took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and looked at Gu Chengyin.

As the person in charge of the Luodu Heavenly Master Mansion, after learning that Gu Chengyin might have obtained the inheritance of the Qingyun Art.

He knew that they wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.

In truth, Elder Qiu wasn't particularly surprised.

Even when he was still in Luodu and had to set off for the Qingjian Sect to act as a Dharma Protector, he had already prepared himself mentally for this.

"Junior Preceptor Gu, it seems we need to have a good talk."

Gu Chengyin looked at Elder Qiu and nodded with a serious expression:

"This junior has the exact same intention."

The other Golden Core consecrators did not speak further, implicitly deferring to Elder Qiu's lead.

This was very normal.

Although the Shendu Heavenly Master Mansion and the Luodu Heavenly Master Mansion each had their own affairs and responsibilities.

In major matters like this, they naturally had to follow Elder Qiu, the leader of the Luodu Heavenly Master Mansion.

And after the pleasant surprise, what the Heavenly Master Mansion had to consider now.

Was what kind of storm this matter would trigger once it spread.

That was why Elder Qiu said he needed to have a good talk with Gu Chengyin.

No matter how big the storm it stirred up, it had to remain within the Heavenly Master Mansion's control.

This was the Heavenly Master Mansion's bottom line.

It was also the Heavenly Master Mansion's duty.

Gu Chengyin showed a cooperative attitude.

He didn't make excuses, didn't hesitate, and didn't even try to bargain.

This attitude left Elder Qiu very satisfied, and then his gaze swept over everyone present.

Himself, Gu Chengyin, Lin Qingyan, Jiang Qingshan, and the four Golden Core consecrators of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Eight people in total.

These eight people were all the personnel who knew about this matter.

Elder Qiu's tone was calm as he spoke slowly:

"Swear a blood oath."

Every word was clear, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

The four Golden Core consecrators of the Heavenly Master Mansion, whether from Luodu or Shendu.

Upon hearing these words, they did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately began to swear a blood oath.

Voices rang out one after another, carrying the solemnity of the Great Dao's witness.

Every word and sentence was carved into their Dao hearts.

Jiang Qingshan stood to the side, watching these four Golden Core consecrators swear their oaths one by one.

A trace of hesitation flashed through his eyes, but ultimately, he also chose to swear the blood oath.

When the brand on his Dao heart settled, Jiang Qingshan felt the ethereal restraint and smiled bitterly in his heart.

Now they were truly tied together.

Lin Qingyan slightly parted her lips, and just as she was also about to swear the oath.

A hand reached over from the side and stopped her.

Lin Qingyan was startled and turned her head to look at Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin's gaze was incredibly gentle and full of trust.

"Auntie, you don't need to. I trust you."

A simple sentence.

A simple four words.

I trust you.

Lin Qingyan froze completely.

She just stood there blankly, staring unblinkingly at Gu Chengyin.

She couldn't look away for even a moment.

After Gu Chengyin finished speaking, he turned back to look at Elder Qiu:

"Elder Qiu, this junior shouldn't need to, right?"

"After all, this life is my own."

Elder Qiu remained silent for a breath, and then he looked at Lin Qingyan.

Lin Qingyan was still standing there blankly, still staring unblinkingly at Gu Chengyin.

Elder Qiu suddenly understood something. He looked back at Gu Chengyin and nodded:

"Mm, this old man still believes in Junior Preceptor Gu's sense of the bigger picture."

These words were true. Although Elder Qiu found Gu Chengyin a bit annoying, he still approved of his view of the overall situation.

He acted with a sense of propriety, advanced and retreated with measure, and knew what should be done and what shouldn't.

He was not the kind of person who couldn't distinguish the severity of matters, much less someone who ignored the greater good.

Gu Chengyin might scheme, and he might play tricks.

But he was clear-headed when it came to the big picture, and that was enough.

Elder Qiu's gaze swept over everyone present.

Except for Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan, except for himself.

Including Jiang Qingshan, everyone else who knew about the inheritance had sworn a blood oath, which was equivalent to a gag order.

The news was temporarily sealed, which was exactly what Gu Chengyin wanted.

The Heavenly Master Mansion couldn't touch him, so they had to protect him.

But while protecting him, they couldn't let the news leak, so naturally, all relevant personnel had to swear a blood oath.

As for Elder Qiu himself, as the leader of the Luodu Heavenly Master Mansion, he had to go and report to the Shendu Heavenly Master Mansion.

Therefore, he couldn't swear the oath right now, because he still had to report this matter upwards.

After confirming everything once more, Elder Qiu said in a deep voice:

"Everyone, disperse."

Without a word, the several Golden Core consecrators turned and left, their footsteps brisk.

Jiang Qingshan did not turn around. Instead, he took a step forward, cupped his hands in a salute to Gu Chengyin, and said:

"Sect Master Gu, this sect master will take his leave."

This title made Gu Chengyin freeze for a moment, but he quickly realized that Jiang Qingshan was quite tactful after all.

He immediately nodded and said, "I will leave the Azure Sword Sect in your care."

Jiang Qingshan, however, shook his head slightly. With an earnest expression, he replied,

"Sect Leader Gu, what are you saying?"

"Managing the Azure Sword Sect is my duty as the Vice Sect Leader to begin with."

A knowing smile appeared on Gu Chengyin's face:

"Then I will have to trouble Vice Sect Leader Jiang."