Chapter 339 The Best Scapegoat
At this moment, in the shadows, Zhang Chen and Qin Xiang were in different positions, but their expressions were equally grim.
What on earth is going on?!
The surge of spiritual power just now seemed to vanish in an instant, and what was even more unbearable was that the space around them seemed to be locked, completely preventing them from moving even an inch.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have come to join the fun."
Qin Xiang snorted coldly. By now, he had already guessed what had happened. Gu Yun must have completed his breakthrough. Since that was the case, those who had been attracted by that scoundrel were probably already in trouble.
It was clearly a pipe dream for him to try and pick up scraps. Now that the space around him was locked, it must have been that guy's doing.
Qin Xiang didn't understand why Gu Yun had to target him, but he knew that if he were to face Gu Yun now, he would definitely not have a good outcome.
He had clearly been told to find the Heavenly Demon's successor, but he had been slacking off until now. If he met that guy again, he definitely wouldn't be able to account for himself!
With that thought, Qin Xiang's eyes narrowed slightly, and a Space-Breaking Talisman appeared in front of him at some unknown point.
The talisman flashed, and his figure vanished with it.
At the same time, Gu Yun naturally sensed this spatial fluctuation.
"Ding! The host forced the Child of Destiny, Qin Xiang, to waste a life-saving trump card. Destiny Value decreased by 500 points."
Hearing the system's prompt, Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. As expected of an old schemer, he didn't want to take any risks.
However, Gu Yun didn't intend to stop him. With this period of probing, he had basically grasped the personalities of these Children of Destiny.
When dealing with Qin Xiang, it was important to avoid overdoing it.
Moreover, there were already arrangements made by Eternal Day Emperor of Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace and Luo Tiange over there. If another Chaos Imperial Dynasty were to appear, the script would be too chaotic, and it would be difficult to control later on.
Unless he personally intervened, the Children of Destiny would not perish under the encirclement of these forces.
Constantly applying pressure would only cause the Children of Destiny to increase their strength for no reason.
With Qin Xiang already excluded, it was clear who the unlucky one was.
At this moment, Zhang Chen's expression was still gloomy. He was hidden in the shadows, wanting to observe the situation and seize an opportunity.
But he didn't expect to encounter a spatial lock again before even seeing the treasure.
"Damn it, why am I so unlucky?!"
After his rebirth, he had a smooth journey and even joined the extremely mysterious Chaos Immortal Pavilion. He thought this was another opportunity given to him by the heavens. With his experience from his previous life and his talent in this life, Zhang Chen would suppress everything and ascend to immortality, unrivaled.
Before entering the Ancient Continent, things had always happened this way.
With the memories of his previous life, Zhang Chen's cultivation was like a fish in water. Not only did he break through several extreme realms and complete his former deficiencies, but he also gained a deeper understanding of impacting the Emperor Realm, his future was bright.
But all of this seemed to have completely changed after entering the Ancient Continent!
Zhang Chen felt extremely frustrated.
He didn't even know which scoundrel had been secretly plotting against him. If he knew, he would...
The Reborn Quasi-Emperor thought fiercely in his heart, suddenly suffering a heavy blow to the back of his head.
Vermilion Bird had appeared in this place at some unknown time.
She scrutinized the sneaky Zhang Chen, and somewhat disdainfully curled her lips: "His strength isn't much, but his heart is quite evil."
After despising the Child of Destiny, Vermilion Bird could only follow Gu Yun's command.
She brought the unconscious Zhang Chen to Gu Yun's side.
Vermilion Bird's sudden appearance made Luo Tiange's eyes light up, and he couldn't help but be excited.
The woman was tall and slender, her bare feet stepping into the void. When her snow-white toes touched the ground, not even a speck of dust dared to stir.
Her red dress was like fire, carving a dazzling, vibrant streak in the dim cave.
Her skin was like white jade, glowing with a lustrous sheen in the dim light, yet her phoenix eyes were terrifyingly cold, their outer corners slightly upturned, carrying an arrogant disdain for all beings.
"Master, I have not failed you!"
The red-dressed Yu Jie's red lips parted slightly, her voice alluring and bone-numbing, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
She bowed slightly, saluting Gu Yun. Luo Tiange hurriedly composed himself, not daring to even glance at her again.
Gu Yun nodded faintly, only casually saying, "You've worked hard, Vermilion Bird."
"Then, Master, do you have any rewards?!"
Vermilion Bird's beautiful eyes were lively, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, full of anticipation.
"I'll tell you later."
Gu Yun glared at her.
Vermilion Bird pouted: "I know, Master..."
"Why are you so fierce? I didn't do anything bad..."
Wu Ling covered her mouth and chuckled from the side, earning a roll of the eyes from the beautiful Yu Jie.
Luo Tiange, however, was greatly shocked!
Vermilion Bird?
This name... could it be the legendary Ancient Immortal Beast?!
The ancient texts of Da Luo Dao Academy should be among the most complete in the Three Thousand Dao Domains. Apart from the mysterious Immortal Ancient Gu Family, no one dared to claim that their collection of books surpassed that of Da Luo Dao Academy.
Yet, even so, the information Luo Tiange knew was that the Vermilion Bird had already become extinct in the Immortal Ancient Era.
But now...
He glanced at Vermilion Bird again in disbelief. This time, he could clearly feel that inexplicable sense of oppression.
This was a leap in life level; the woman's eyes didn't even place him on the same level as her.
High above, untouchable!
Yet such a terrifying existence called Gu Yun... Master...
"Gulp."
Luo Tiange swallowed with difficulty, his back already drenched in cold sweat.
At this moment, he finally knew how wise his choice had been back then.
Indeed, the more ignorant, the less fearful!
Gu Yun lifted Zhang Chen, looking at the Child of Destiny who was still unconscious with an unwilling expression on his face, and calmly spoke: "If I transfer the Chaos Ripples to his head, what do you think the Chaos Imperial Dynasty will do?"
Gu Yun looked at Luo Tiange and smiled faintly.
Luo Tiange's heart trembled, then he complimented, "Your Highness, the Emperor's plan is excellent."
"It's just that this person's strength is only at the Dao Body Realm. Of course, I don't mean to look down on this realm, but besides Your Highness, I really can't imagine a Dao Body Realm cultivator being able to counter a third-level Immortal Platform."
"The Chaos Imperial Dynasty might... not believe it."
He analyzed the situation clearly and did not make a decision for Gu Yun.
This made Gu Yun look at him with a hint of admiration. It seemed that Luo Tiange was not a brainless villain from ordinary novels. That made sense, after all, he was dealing with someone like Qin Xiang.
If he were forcibly made foolish, it would be less effective.
Gu Yun smiled faintly: "You think the Chaos Imperial Dynasty might see that someone tampered with this behind the scenes?"
"Precisely!"
Luo Tiange was a bit worried. He had been branded with a slave mark by Gu Yun, and now he was completely in the other party's hands, so to speak.
If Gu Yun died, he would also die.
He had no choice but to consider Gu Yun's well-being.
Gu Yun chuckled softly: "Don't worry, this won't happen."
"Better safe than sorry..."
"Then let them come."
Gu Yun smiled faintly: "My Second Uncle recently acquired a new immortal artifact, and I imagine he would very much like to discuss the Dao with a master like the Chaos Emperor."
//340//
Chapter 340: Poetry Dance
Luo Tiange's pupils constricted at the words, and a huge wave surged in his heart.
Immortal, Immortal Artifact...
His Adam's apple bobbled, and he trembled, unable to speak.
An Emperor with an Immortal Artifact and an Emperor without an Immortal Artifact were two completely different concepts.
A One-Tribulation Great Emperor wielding an Immortal Artifact was enough to contend with a Seven-Tribulation Great Emperor, which showed how terrifying it was.
In the past, a single Gu Changqing could suppress the Three Thousand Dao Domains to the point of breathlessness, but fortunately, Great Emperor Changqing had a gentle temper and never bullied others.
But what kind of person was the Gu Family's second son? He actually had an Immortal Artifact!!
Luo Tiange couldn't help but feel a cold sweat for the forces that had offended Gu Yun. Good heavens, this Gu Family was truly deeply hidden.
"Alright, Tiange, this matter has nothing to do with you anymore."
"Take him and leave."
Gu Yun spoke calmly.
"Also, this is a Demonic Dao Inheritor."
"You must be extremely careful. If you are contaminated by the Demonic Dao aura on him, don't blame me for cleaning house."
"Yes!"
Luo Tiange's body trembled, and his expression towards Zhang Chen changed.
A Demonic Dao Inheritor?!
This was someone who was hunted by everyone in the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains.
He grabbed Zhang Chen by the collar, ready to leave.
Before leaving, he still had some doubts: "Your Highness, this person is a Demonic Dao Inheritor. Do I need to..."
As he spoke, he made a gesture of slitting a throat.
"No need."
Gu Yun said indifferently: "You can't kill him, and you'll only alert the enemy."
"Instead of that, think of a way to build a good relationship with him. Perhaps he can become a great helper for you in the future."
"After all, you still have a Qin Xiang in your Da Luo Dao Academy, and he is truly ambitious."
"What?!"
"Junior Brother Qin Xiang?!"
Luo Tiange's eyes suddenly widened: "But Junior Brother Qin Xiang's talent is quite different from ours. He has an innate disadvantage, not to mention compared to Senior Brother, even I can easily suppress him."
"So what?"
Gu Yun sneered: "Since when did the Three Thousand Dao Domains rank people by seniority?"
That was all he said.
Gu Yun was unwilling to say more. He would let Luo Tiange handle the rest, and he also wanted to see what extent this fellow could achieve.
"Tiange bids farewell."
Luo Tiange cupped his hands. Gu Yun had already provided him with a lot of information. If he still didn't take it seriously, then he might as well lie in a coffin now and wait for Qin Xiang to bury him. As he left with Zhang Chen, he also silently recited—
"Junior Brother Qin, I didn't expect you to be so timid normally, but actually hide so deeply."
"After all, you are the youngest Dao Child in the history of my Da Luo Dao Academy. As expected, you cannot be underestimated."
After Luo Tiange left, Gu Yun no longer paid attention. This was a villain who occupied a significant portion of Qin Xiang's script and had a certain ability to contend with the Child of Destiny.
With his help, concealing his aura, and building a good relationship with Zhang Chen, causing trouble, he would surely be able to watch a good show.
As for Zhang Chen, a Quasi-Emperor reborn, arrogant by nature, with Luo Tiange's ability, they should get along well.
Now, Gu Yun's target should be the young girl in front of him.
Gu Yun's eyes looked at Shi Qingwu beside him.
The xuan qing treasure mirror slowly opened.
[xuan qing treasure mirror Page Eight]
[Name: Shi Qingwu]
[Age: 50]
[Cultivation: Saint Realm (Celestial Altar Fourth Layer)]
[Identity: Heroine of "True Immortal Reincarnation, How Did I, a Pendant, Become the World's Strongest?", Heroine of "Proud World Pill Emperor" (Pseudo)]
[Physique: Clear Wind Immortal Body (Immortal World Physique, specific quality unknown)]
[Aura: Child of Destiny Aura (Red)]
[Destiny Value: 150000]
[Associated Male Lead: None]
"Oh?"
Gu Yun's eyebrows slightly raised. He originally thought this Shi Qingwu was just an ordinary little heroine, but he didn't expect her to be a Heavenly Destiny Daughter, an immortal reincarnated.
Not simple.
The corners of his lips curved into a slight smile.
This smile, however, made Shi Qingwu feel as if she had fallen into an abyss.
"As expected, he's still eyeing me."
Shi Qingwu's emotions were a little flustered, but she quickly calmed down.
"Qingwu greets Gu Emperor Son."
Shi Qingwu bowed slightly to Gu Yun. He had already proven his ability with spatial means.
Without using her trump cards from her previous life, Shi Qingwu could not escape from Gu Yun's hands.
Of course, she didn't intend to do that either.
Feng Wuhen was already dead, and she urgently needed to bind to someone else now.
Once successful, Gu Yun would no longer harbor killing intent towards her, and she would not need to waste her trump cards.
"I killed Feng Wuhen, and you don't hate me?"
Gu Yun smiled charmingly, stepped forward, and reached out to lift Shi Qingwu's chin, his face full of teasing.
"This pervert!"
The sudden action not only left Shi Qingwu stunned but also made Wu Ling extremely jealous.
"Oh, oh, oh, who are you? You're even meddling in the Master's affairs?"
Vermilion Bird rolled her eyes at Wu Ling and spoke unhappily.
Wu Ling put her hands on her hips and gritted her teeth: "I, I, Gu Yun said he would marry me with nine dragons pulling the palanquin."
"You should call me Mistress!"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Vermilion Bird teased: "My dear one, two, three... oh, I can't count anymore, perhaps Little Thirteenth Mistress, greetings..."
"You!!"
Wu Ling's pretty face flushed red, and she turned her head away: "I'm not talking to you anymore."
"Bad Gu Yun, stinky Gu Yun!!"
Shi Qingwu apparently hadn't expected Gu Yun to suddenly make a move. As the reincarnation of the Clear Wind Immortaless from her previous life, she was once a strong True Immortal Realm expert. Although her memories had not fully recovered yet, that ethereal and proud aura had not disappeared.
"The dignified Gu Family Emperor Child, is he just a scoundrel!"
Shi Qingwu slapped away Gu Yun's unrestrained hand, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes.
She could bow to Gu Yun, but she also had her bottom line!
If Gu Yun went too far, even if she had to use all her previous life's foundation, she would never let Gu Yun succeed.
She still wanted to bind Gu Yun, and then she would let this bastard know what it meant to try with all your might and still be unable to win!
Upon thinking of this, a smile couldn't help but curve on Shi Qingwu's lips.
Her greatest foundation was not those memories from her previous life, but the mysterious treasure she had awakened.
[Strongest Pendant System]!
Binding a cultivator would synchronize the other party's cultivation achievements, and the first person she chose was naturally Feng Wuhen, the number one genius of Xuanfeng Immortal Palace, who was similar in age to her.
After binding, all of the other party's cultivation would be synchronized with her.
It was precisely because of this that Shi Qingwu was able to reach the Saint Realm at this age, crossing the most difficult threshold of the Xiantai Realm.
Now... Feng Wuhen was dead, and she just happened to have a better choice.
"System, bind Gu Yun for me!"
///341//
Chapter 341 Anti-binding
"Ding! Detecting an external system invading the host's consciousness. Automatic defense mode has been activated."
"External system is being parsed. Parsing successful—"
"Name: Strongest Pendant System"
"Quality: Gold"
"Effect: Binds a cultivator as a binding target. During the binding period, the host can synchronize the cultivation obtained by the bound cultivator. Current binding slots (0/2)."
"Ding! Detecting that the target wants to bind the host—"
"Danger Level: Low"
"Severity Level: Low"
"Consuming 30,000 Villain Points allows for reverse binding."
The system prompts rang out one after another, causing Gu Yun to slightly raise his eyes, looking at the proud and stubborn girl in front of him, a faint smile playing on his lips.
It seemed she already believed she could have her way with him.
Was her reliance this system?
"A Gold quality system?"
"Is it high-grade? Can you deal with it?"
"Replying to host, in front of this Heavenly Destiny Great Villain System, it's just a small fry."
"Then can I snatch it?"
Gu Yun said playfully.
"Ding! Detecting that the target's Heavenly Destiny value is too high. Forcibly snatching it requires consuming 150,000 Villain Points."
"150,000?"
Hearing such an astronomical figure, Gu Yun, who considered himself wealthy, was still choked by the amount.
Consuming two-thirds of his Villain Points for such a useless system… it wasn't worth it.
For Shi Qingwu, the system's effect might be very strong, because among the Three Thousand Dao Domains, geniuses were as numerous as carps crossing a river. She could find Heavenly Talents to bind and synchronize cultivation.
This included Lin Wuya, who had already died by his hand, and now Qin Xiang, who were likely her potential targets.
However, in reality, these Children of Destiny were merely laborers for Shi Qingwu, this high-quality Heavenly Destiny Daughter.
In the end of their story, Shi Qingwu didn't form any deep connections with either of them.
Pure unrequited love.
It's a pity there's no follow-up Immortal Realm plot; who knows what it would be adjusted into.
But if this thing fell into Gu Yun's hands, its effect wouldn't be as strong. After all, his innate talent was already the best in the Three Thousand Dao Domains. Even with a few bound targets, it might not even double his cultivation.
Thinking of this, Gu Yun lost interest.
"Proceed with reverse binding."
Gu Yun silently chanted in his mind.
At the same time.
Shi Qingwu, with a smile on her lips, was also waiting quietly.
Silently awaiting the system's voice.
The Strongest Pendant System, with the help of such a terrifying system, was enough to allow her to lie back and reach the peak of strength.
In her previous life, she was besieged and killed because she was too prominent. In this life, Shi Qingwu had learned her lesson. As the saying goes, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
She, Shi Qingwu, started from humble beginnings, intending to hide under the most brilliant sun, and then step by step ascend to the supreme.
Even—to devour that great sun and replace it!
She, Shi Qingwu, was destined to become the ruler of this world!
Hia! Hia! Hia!
"Ding! Detecting target object—Gu Yun. Beginning binding…"
"Warning! Warning!"
"Detecting that the target object's quality is too high, exceeding the system's detection limit. Forcible binding mode is now activated."
"Huh?!"
The smile on Shi Qingwu's face instantly froze.
What are you saying, you damn system?
What does 'exceeding the system's detection limit' mean?
This is just the Three Thousand Dao Domains, just the Three Thousand Dao Domains, not the Immortal Realm!
Unfortunately, her system was brainless, with only the most basic system prompts, utterly lacking the ability to communicate with Shi Qingwu.
At this moment, she could only wait.
After a good while, the system's prompt finally rang out.
"Ding! Forced binding successful. All future binding slots of the host have been consumed."
"Current bound target: Gu Yun"
"Binding progress: 3%"
"Cultivation sharing ratio: 3%"
"3%?"
Shi Qingwu stared at the numbers on the system panel, her delicate face filled with disbelief.
She blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating.
"Ding! Bound target Gu Yun's talent is too high. The system is operating under overload. The current synchronization limit is 3%."
The cold system prompt mercilessly shattered her illusion.
No…
Shi Qingwu's slender fingers trembled slightly. She took a deep breath, forcing down the tumultuous waves in her heart.
This was her system, her cultivation artifact that had been invincible since her rebirth, and now…
"System, how can I increase the binding progress?"
"Binding progress is related to Gu Yun's favorability towards you."
"For the host's future happy cultivation life, please work harder!"
Perhaps out of too much sympathy for Shi Qingwu, even the system's voice became somewhat human-like.
"Favorability?!"
Shi Qingwu murmured to herself, still not recovering from this thunderbolt. Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Gu Yun, who stood with his hands behind his back not far away.
…
At the same time, Gu Yun received a completely different system prompt.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully binding the target: Shi Qingwu."
"The host will receive 100% feedback from Shi Qingwu's cultivation, including any bonuses the host provides to Shi Qingwu."
As the system prompt sounded, Gu Yun's lips couldn't help but curl up.
Didn't this mean his cultivation speed would double from now on?
After all, it was a system, and it was quite good.
This time, the collision between the systems also raised Gu Yun's trust in the Heavenly Destiny Great Villain System to a new level.
And, his favorability towards Shi Qingwu also increased significantly.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, progress has increased. Current progress: 3.1%"
"3.1%!!"
Shi Qingwu was going crazy. She looked up and met Gu Yun's gaze, her whole being feeling unwell.
"What's wrong, Miss Shi? Your complexion doesn't seem so good?"
"Weren't you quite assertive just now?"
Gu Yun said with a half-smile, his fingertip gently caressing her chin, his tone playful.
In Shi Qingwu's eyes, that smile was clearly that of a cat who had caught a mouse but wasn't in a hurry to eat it, full of mockery and playfulness.
What's going on? Does he know something?
Her body was also controlled by this hateful guy.
Most importantly, this damn system actually wanted her to increase Gu Yun's favorability?!
She now wished she could dismember this scoundrel, how could she possibly show him favor?
Forcing down the surging emotions in her heart, Shi Qingwu tried hard to maintain her composure.
She knew her previous actions had been a bit extreme, and now she had to act more cautiously.
She slightly tilted her head, dodging Gu Yun's light fingers, and said in a cool voice: "Gu Emperor Son is joking. It's just that Qingwu has never had such close contact with a man before, so I'm a little nervous."
"Oh, so that's it. I thought your Excellency, the Profound Wind Divine Maiden, was very confident in her strength and believed she wouldn't follow in Feng Wuhen's footsteps."
"After all… you are already a Saint Realm cultivator, much stronger than that Feng Wuhen."
//342//
Chapter 342: Shi Qingwu's Mentality Changes
Gu Yun forcefully turned Shi Qingwu's face to meet his gaze, his eyes shining like stars, causing any woman who saw them to feel her heart sway.
"Damn it…"
Shi Qingwu was deeply entranced, her chest rising and falling uncontrollably.
At the same time, her heart was filled with shock; how did he know her true strength?!
She possessed a concealment method from her previous life, always displaying only a cultivation of the second level of the Immortal Platform in public. She knew this would greatly satisfy Feng Wuhen's vanity and also put some pressure on him, encouraging him to continuously improve and cultivate diligently.
Otherwise, he might inadvertently be surpassed by his junior sister. But now… Gu Yun had seen through her with a single glance.
"How could this be, Imperial Son, Qingwu would never dare to disrespect Imperial Son. I was truly just overly agitated just now."
Forcibly suppressing the disgust and dissatisfaction in her heart, Shi Qingwu knew very well that she was now bound to Gu Yun.
She took a deep breath, the pressure Gu Yun exerted on her was simply too intense.
However, that breath was not just any breath; the most important thing was that she felt as if she had been sublimated.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"Th-this… how is this possible?!"
"System, what kind of cultivation talent does this Gu Yun possess?"
"Ding! Exceeded the system's detection limit, at least equivalent to one hundred Feng Wuhen."
The Strongest Attachment System spoke thus.
Upon hearing this, Shi Qingwu's pupils constricted violently, and her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.
One hundred Feng Wuhen?!
One must know that Feng Wuhen was already a peerless genius, rarely seen in Xuanfeng Immortal Palace for a hundred thousand years, hailed as having the potential of an Emperor. So, how terrifying must Gu Yun's talent be?
Even in the Immortal Realm, it would be difficult for such a terrifying prodigy to appear, right?!
"Oh? Do you really not want to avenge Feng Wuhen?"
"Or—"
Gu Yun's finger gently traced her smooth cheek: "Have you discovered something?"
Shi Qingwu chuckled softly: "Imperial Son is a heaven-blessed genius. Feng Wuhen provoking Imperial Son was simply seeking his own demise. What reason do I have to avenge him?"
"On the contrary, I should thank Imperial Son for removing a major hidden danger for my Xuanfeng Immortal Palace."
"Bah, you fickle hussy."
Wu Ling stood in the distance, seeing Shi Qingwu's sudden change from arrogant to submissive, and felt utterly disdainful.
Vermilion Bird stood nearby, arms crossed, a slight curve on her lips: "Naturally, when common women like you see Imperial Son's charm, you naturally fall deeply and inextricably in love, with no room left for independent thought."
"Who are you calling brainless!!"
Wu Ling was furious. Indeed, compared to Shi Qingwu, she still disliked the wicked woman in front of her even more.
And now she was even here, indirectly scolding her.
"Isn't it obvious to whoever I'm talking about?"
"Your own Imperial Son is about to be snatched away by another woman, yet you just stand here doing nothing."
"I don't know what you're thinking."
Vermilion Bird shook her head helplessly.
"Hmph, aren't you the same?"
"Gu Yun doesn't even want to bother with you!"
Wu Ling knew that Vermilion Bird was most likely trying to stir up trouble and would not play into her hands.
"Oh my, oh my."
Vermilion Bird came smilingly to Wu Ling's side, hugging her tightly from behind.
The two proud soft mounds on her chest pressed unceremoniously against Wu Ling's back, the warm sensation transmitting through the thin fabric, making Wu Ling stiffen all over, her fair cheeks instantly flushing crimson.
"You, what are you doing!"
Wu Ling exclaimed, feeling a surprising soft and elastic sensation against her back, making her whole body stiffen.
She instinctively tried to break free, but it was useless.
Vermilion Bird's red lips curved slightly, deliberately resting her chin on Wu Ling's shoulder, exhaling like orchids: "I'm just worried for you, little silly~"
The deliberately drawn-out ending carried a hint of teasing, intoxicatingly charming: "The intimacy between me and Master is beyond your imagination, isn't it?"
The warm breath brushed past her ear, and Wu Ling trembled violently as if electrocuted, turning her head indignantly to glare at Vermilion Bird, only to meet those smiling phoenix eyes.
"Sister can be by Imperial Son's side anytime, anywhere. Doing whatever I want is simply effortless."
"He's merely comforting you two in front of others. You wouldn't actually think you have the absolute advantage, would you?"
"You…"
Wu Ling's voice caught in her throat. At such close proximity, even she had to admit that Vermilion Bird's beauty was captivating, truly a masterpiece of heaven, and possessed a heart-stopping allure that she herself lacked.
Compared to her, she felt like a mere little girl.
"What…"
"Do you want Sister to teach you how to please Master?"
Seeing this, Vermilion Bird smiled even more charmingly, her slender fingers slowly moving up along Wu Ling's waistline.
"This slender waist, this perfect figure, even I can't bear to let go. If you were a little more proactive, perhaps Master…"
Wu Ling felt her whole body burning, and Gu Yun's handsome face involuntarily appeared in her mind.
She bit her lower lip and slapped Vermilion Bird's hands away.
"Don't touch me… I, what should I do?"
Vermilion Bird's eyes flashed with cunning as she subtly exchanged glances with Gu Yun in the distance, thinking to herself how brilliant Master's methods were. Then, she looked at Wu Ling and said softly in an alluring tone: "It's very simple…"
"You know, the one thing Master never lacks is beautiful women."
"If Miss Wu continues to be so reserved, others might have already devoured Master, while you're still here babbling."
"Impossible, Gu Yun said he would marry me, and… and such things, how can they be done without marriage? That would make me a fickle hussy!"
Wu Ling retorted, her neck stiff with indignation.
"That's for ordinary people…"
Vermilion Bird's finger traced over Wu Ling's body, looking towards Shi Qingwu.
"Look, that Shi Qingwu's status and position are no less than yours."
"If you continue to be so reserved, she'll get ahead of you."
Wu Ling followed her gaze and indeed saw Shi Qingwu, after the spatial seal was lifted, seemingly making up her mind, actively moving closer to Gu Yun.
"Thank you, Imperial Son, for sparing my life."
Shi Qingwu had already thought it through. Compared to the feedback from such terrifying cultivation speed, so what if she had to increase her favorability? At only 3% progress, it was already comparable to five Feng Wuhen.
If the progress was higher, wouldn't she truly soar?
Gu Yun smiled faintly: "Miss Shi overstates it. I am not a bloodthirsty person."
Shi Qingwu couldn't help but shiver. Damn it… if it weren't for the Strongest Attachment System, she would have already been killed by Gu Yun.
Of course, she only dared to think these words in her heart and dared not actually say them aloud.
"Imperial Son is magnanimous; Qingwu is truly ashamed."
Shi Qingwu slightly curtsied, her slender fingers gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a section of her snow-white neck.
As an Immortal from her previous life, when had she ever done such things to curry favor with a man?
But now, even if she didn't know how, she could only try with a stiff upper lip.
"Actually, my Xuanfeng Immortal Palace also has ways to track enemies."
"Although Qingwu's clarification will certainly resolve many troubles, after all, in such a large Xuanfeng Immortal Palace, there will definitely be loyal followers of Feng Wuhen."
"For Imperial Son's safety, why not let Qingwu help Imperial Son…"
"Eliminate some of them."
As her eyes shifted, they carried three parts shyness, three parts charm, and four parts of feigned resistance.
//343//
Chapter 343 First Attempt (Two in One)
Shi Qingwu grasped the situation perfectly, neither being overly intimate nor appearing distant.
Her shyness, tinged with a hint of feigned refusal, perfectly showcased her exquisite figure.
Her eyes, moreover, were filled with a subtle worry, a sight that would undoubtedly touch any man's heart.
"Foxy vixen!"
Wu Ling was fuming. As a woman herself, she understood Shi Qingwu's intentions all too well.
"So what if she's a foxy vixen?"
"Look at her progress; it's a thousand times faster than yours."
Little Queer said with a teasing smile, having some understanding of her master's character.
Gu Yun's eyes flashed with amusement, and his long fingers gently lifted Shi Qingwu's chin: "Miss Shi, how do you plan to help me remove it?"
Being in such close proximity to Gu Yun,
Shi Qingwu's heart pounded, but she knew this was absolutely the most crucial opportunity, and she had to leave a good impression on Gu Yun from the start.
She clearly understood why Gu Yun's favorability towards her was currently only three points. It was because she had appeared with Feng Wuhen, which immediately deepened Gu Yun's prejudice against her.
What she needed to do now was to work hard to reverse this situation.
Since that was the case, she had to abandon her inner modesty.
She could simply treat all of this as cultivation to restore her cultivation base.
The former Clear Wind Immortal Maiden thus persuaded herself, steeling her resolve. Her slender fingers gently rested on Gu Yun's sleeve, her fingertips subtly caressing the fabric.
She slightly raised her face, her beautiful eyes looking earnestly at Gu Yun.
As her fingertips slid down his sleeve, she deliberately hooked his wrist lightly.
Strands of clear wind seemed to be drawn out by her fingertips, swirling in the air, following like a shadow.
"Your Highness, look, this is the hidden trick left by Xuanfeng Immortal Palace. Currently, you are within the Ancient Continent, so there isn't much impact yet."
"But once you step out, this item will instantly erupt, and someone in Xuanfeng Immortal Palace will know."
"Although most elders will not act against Your Highness for the sake of the bigger picture, Feng Wuhen's lineage still has some troublesome old fellows..."
"Oh?"
"Then what solution do you have?"
Gu Yun suddenly clasped Shi Qingwu's wrist, which was about to withdraw, and leaned in to whisper into her ear.
Shi Qingwu trembled all over, her ear tips instantly flushing crimson.
She forced herself to remain calm and said softly, "I only need to let the power of Clear Wind flow through Your Highness's entire body to help you remove the mark."
"I knew you, you cheap woman, had no good intentions!"
Just then, Wu Ling walked out and said sharply, "Who doesn't know that letting someone else's power enter one's body is a great taboo?"
"At that time, if you want to do something, who can stop you?!"
"Gu Yun, don't listen to her! This woman definitely has no good intentions. Hmph, what Xuanfeng Immortal Palace? If you have the guts, come! My Tianhuo Immortal Palace will advance and retreat with the Gu Family from now on!"
"I'd like to see what waves you can stir up!!"
The young girl's face was flushed crimson, clearly angered beyond measure.
But Gu Yun stopped her: "Wu Ling!"
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the seemingly trembling Shi Qingwu. A woman at the fourth stage of the immortal platform, yet she put on such a pitiful act in front of Wu Ling, a cultivator who had just entered the Dao Body Realm. Even a fool could tell she had a problem.
But Gu Yun just wanted to see what she was trying to do.
"Is it that simple?"
"You don't really have any bad intentions, do you?"
He grabbed Shi Qingwu's mouth, his eyes coldly looking at her.
"O-of course..."
Shi Qingwu stammered, her voice trembling slightly, while secretly cursing the scoundrel in her heart, who had no idea how to cherish women.
"Gu Yun, don't be fooled by her!!"
Wu Ling stomped her foot in frustration from the side. From her perspective, Gu Yun was clearly captivated by this foxy vixen.
In other aspects, this man never caused worry, but when it came to women, he truly made one's heart ache.
It was a pity that Gu Yun seemed truly enchanted by Shi Qingwu at the moment, completely disregarding Wu Ling's attitude.
Instead, he chuckled softly and released Shi Qingwu's hand: "Alright then, let's try it."
"I also don't want to needlessly add such an enemy to the Gu Family."
"Yes..."
"How can a mere Feng Wuhen destroy the friendship between my Xuanfeng Immortal Palace and the Gu Family? As the Xuanfeng Divine Maiden, I will never allow such a thing to happen."
Shi Qingwu suppressed the glee in her heart, and a faint green light once again appeared on her fingertips.
This time, her movements were exceptionally gentle.
Favorability... come on!!
"Your Highness, please relax..."
She whispered softly, her fingertips slowly pointing towards Gu Yun's chest.
The green light flowed like water, gradually forming a thin mist around Gu Yun.
Wu Ling watched from the side, gritting her teeth, yet helpless.
She couldn't forcefully interfere with Gu Yun's decision. She turned to look at Little Queer, only to find her also staring thoughtfully at Shi Qingwu, but making no move.
"Aren't you worried?"
Wu Ling couldn't help but ask.
Little Queer's lips curved slightly: "Don't worry, Master knows what he's doing."
"Instead of worrying about this, you should think more about how to get closer to Master."
"This..."
"How else should I get closer?"
Wu Ling no longer worried. Indeed, since Little Queer and Gu Yun himself weren't anxious, she, the weakest one, was being a bit overly concerned.
But when it came to attracting Gu Yun, she found herself in a predicament again, feeling that this scoundrel had already taken advantage of her in every way, from head to toe, every inch of her skin bearing Gu Yun's traces.
In such a state, how else could she get closer?!
Even her parents were like this on a daily basis...
On the other side.
Shi Qingwu's jade fingers began to slide over Gu Yun's body, and strands of Clear Wind Power emerged from her body and entered Gu Yun's.
It made one feel refreshed and invigorated.
Gu Yun had thought the other party might have some small tricks up her sleeve, and had already prepared the Myriad Transformation Power, but he didn't expect Shi Qingwu to be so serious.
Taking advantage of this lull, he began to read Shi Qingwu's own Destiny Script.
It wasn't a big deal not to read it, but once he did, a smile couldn't help but appear on his lips.
"System, how did you manage this anti-binding?"
"To the host, nothing much, I just bound Shi Qingwu's system."
"What?!"
"That's right, Host, you heard correctly. Now Shi Qingwu's system is equivalent to your sub-system."
"Damn it, what about the Destiny Value then?"
Gu Yun felt a pang of heartache. This Shi Qingwu was no ordinary person; she had a full 150,000 Destiny Value on her.
"Don't worry... Host, the system has already regenerated Shi Qingwu's Destiny Script, guaranteeing that the Host will be thrilled."
"The host only needs to quietly wait for the plot to unfold."
"Alright, show me the script."
"Ding, detected Host's request to view the script. Do you wish to consume 50,000 Villain Points to view?"
...
"System, are you trying to extort me?"
"It's a misunderstanding, Host. Once you see the script, those 150,000 Destiny Points and Villain Points will be within your grasp. For this, the system charging 50,000 Villain Points as an intermediary fee shouldn't be too much, right...?"
"It's too much, very much so."
Gu Yun didn't want to bother with this money-grubbing system.
It actually wanted to trick him in this regard?
A business that could be done with no capital, now he had to invest some cost, and the final profit remained unchanged?
Only a fool would make such a deal!
He just didn't know what Shi Qingwu's current system task was. She was being so attentive and gentle towards him now; he always felt there might be something behind it.
Gu Yun pondered in his heart.
Then he felt Shi Qingwu's movements suddenly stop.
Slightly opening his eyes, Gu Yun looked at Shi Qingwu and asked indifferently, "Why did you stop? Is it over?"
Shi Qingwu's expression was a bit awkward, and she was frantically complaining in her heart.
"Why haven't I made any progress even though I've been trying so hard to be attentive?!"
Looking at the progress value that was still 3.1%, she almost doubted her life.
What on earth did this man want...
And now...
Shi Qingwu's fingertips hovered at Gu Yun's waist, the green light on them flickering on and off.
She bit her lip, secretly glancing at the defined lines of his abdominal muscles, her ears so hot they could fry an egg—three inches further down from this position would be...
"Your Highness, there's, there's still one more place..."
"Oh?"
"Miss Shi, there's no need to worry. My body is temporarily at your disposal. You can do as you please."
Gu Yun's voice was very calm, an indifferent posture.
But Shi Qingwu was so embarrassed that her earlobes turned crimson, and her gaze involuntarily darted downwards.
She swallowed hard.
"System, I've tried so hard, why hasn't Gu Yun's favorability increased?"
There was nothing she could do but ask the system.
But the system's reply made her even more furious.
"People cannot be generalized; please redouble your efforts, Host."
"You..."
Shi Qingwu was speechless, but for the sake of her future cultivation speed, she stared fixedly...
Finally, she took a deep breath and extended her slender jade hand.
"This, this!!!"
Wu Ling watched from the side, her eyes wide, simply unable to believe it.
What did this mean?!
What did this mean!!
"Pfft..."
Little Queer on the side couldn't help but laugh: "See? I told you someone could come from behind."
"Shameless!"
Wu Ling, unable to bear the humiliation, quickly left the place. She didn't want to see this scene, and the person in that position wasn't her.
Little Queer, however, felt nothing. She stood with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed, for he was her master, and she naturally had to observe him carefully, lest she become unfamiliar with him later.
Although Shi Qingwu was focused at the moment, she still inevitably heard these voices.
She wished she could find a hole to crawl into right now.
But to increase the binding progress, she could only bite the bullet and go for it: "Your Highness, Qing, Qingwu is coming..."
"Come on..."
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. Could she actually do this?
He wondered what Shi Qingwu's system had been adjusted to by his own system.
...
"She has some talent."
Seeing that Shi Qingwu had already touched little Gu Yun's head, Little Queer couldn't bear to miss even the slightest detail.
This was a good way to please her Master, and she definitely had to learn it completely.
...
Three hours later.
Shi Qingwu was drenched in sweat, leaning in Gu Yun's embrace, one hand suspended in the air, the other rubbing her swollen and sore palm muscles.
"Ding! Binding progress has increased to 3.5%. Please continue your efforts, Host."
This time, it was Shi Qingwu's turn to be utterly bewildered.
No... that's it? That's it?!
She had gone all out, and it only increased by 0.4%?!
Gu Yun looked at Shi Qingwu's ever-changing expression and chuckled inwardly.
He didn't know what she was planning, but from this reaction, it was clear that things were not going as she wished.
"Thank you, Miss Shi, for this time."
Gu Yun stood up, lifting Shi Qingwu with him.
Little Queer stepped forward at the right time and tightened the sash around Gu Yun's waist.
"I will definitely visit Xuanfeng Immortal Palace another day to express my gratitude."
"Little Queer, let's go."
Gu Yun said.
Little Queer smiled sweetly: "Yes~ Master."
With that, she linked her arm with Gu Yun's and disappeared from the spot.
Leaving the exhausted Shi Qingwu in disarray.
Soon, their figures had disappeared into the distance.
Shi Qingwu pushed away the strands of hair stuck together by sweat, her entire face filled with disbelief.
"Gone?!"
"He just left like that?!"
"This Immortal Maiden put in so much effort? And the progress only increased by so little, and he just left without any expression of gratitude?!"
Shi Qingwu was about to go completely insane.
"Pah!"
Completely disregarding her immortal maiden demeanor, Shi Qingwu uncontrollably spat to the side.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"
"Ding, detected Host's aversion towards the bound target. Binding progress has decreased to 3%."
Shi Qingwu: "..."
"Ah—!!"
...
On the other side, Gu Yun, who had long since applied a listening talisman, couldn't help but smile. He didn't know what state the other party was in.
But the Seven Emotions Tribulation Classic had provided him with roughly 3000 Villain Points.
The Villain Points spent on Shi Qingwu, he would earn back one day, sooner or later.
"Master, I don't think Shi Qingwu's technique was that great."
"How about Little Queer also tries it on Master? Little Queer guarantees to do better than anyone else."
Little Queer looked at Gu Yun, a smile playing on her lips as she spoke.
But this time, Gu Yun didn't refuse. Instead, he pulled Little Queer into his embrace: "Alright, you said it. Next time if there's an opportunity, you're not allowed to refuse."
"Master..."
Caught off guard, Little Queer's lips were already captured by Gu Yun, who plundered them wantonly.
She didn't know why her Master, who had always shown no interest in her, suddenly became so fervent.
But this perfectly aligned with her wishes, and soon Little Queer adjusted her state and began to respond wholeheartedly.
Just then, a voice rang out: "Gu Yun, are you finally done?"
"..."
"You two!!"
Looking at the scene before her, Wu Ling, tormented by the double dose, felt like she was going crazy.
Little Queer was right; when they were alone, they really did...
Gu Yun and Little Queer only then noticed Wu Ling's appearance and released each other's lips.
A shimmering bridge of saliva lingered, a hint of lingering desire.
Little Queer's lips were hotter than any of his other women's; it was an unusual experience.
"Wu Ling, you're here."
"Let's go, we should head deeper into this secret realm."
Gu Yun looked at Wu Ling, acting as if no one else was present, as if nothing had happened.
He stepped forward and directly took her hand.
Wu Ling froze completely.
She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Gu Yun held it even tighter.
"You, you let go..."
//344//
Chapter 344: Unlocking the Martial Spirit's Heart Knot, All Parties Gather, Nine Swords Gather (Two in One)
Wu Ling's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, her cheeks flushed like the evening sky.
She wanted to break free, yet she was melted by the warmth of Gu Yun's palm.
"Then I'll let go?"
Seeing this, Gu Yun curved his lips into a smile, intending to release Wu Ling's hand.
Little Que'er also leaned closer to Gu Yun, licking her lips, savoring the lingering taste.
This scene was perfectly caught by Wu Ling.
Little Que'er even gave Wu Ling a provocative look.
"No!!"
Wu Ling's voice suddenly rose, startling even herself.
Her pretty face was flushed, and seeing Gu Yun about to release her hand, she quickly flipped her hand and tightly gripped Gu Yun's large hand.
"Holding is not allowed, letting go is not allowed."
"What exactly do you want?"
Gu Yun looked at Wu Ling and asked with a smile.
Seeing this, Little Que'er's eyes flashed with mischief, and she deliberately leaned close to Gu Yun's ear, her red lips slightly parted, her breath like orchids: "Sister Wu Ling is jealous."
"Watching me and His Highness being intimate without a care in the world, she's so envious, but she just can't say it…"
"N-Nonsense!"
"Who's envious? You feathered bird, stop spouting nonsense!!"
Wu Ling was furious and embarrassed, raising her hand to hit Little Que'er.
"Master… look at her, her secret has been revealed, and now she's screaming and jumping, so scary…"
Little Que'er naturally softened into Gu Yun's embrace, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears, looking like a frightened little bird.
Gu Yun grabbed Wu Ling's raised wrist, pulled her whole body into his embrace, and chuckled: "Ling'er, you're trying to make my backyard restless."
"In my Supreme Divine Dynasty, that would mean being cast into the cold palace."
"Understand?"
"N-No!!"
Wu Ling's face was filled with terror.
"I don't want to be cast into the cold palace."
"Then don't bully Little Que'er…"
"O-Okay…"
"Wait!"
Wu Ling was firmly held in Gu Yun's embrace, unable to struggle, and due to Gu Yun's words, her mind had crashed, but now she immediately reacted.
She was both angry and anxious, ashamed and annoyed: "She, she's so much stronger than me, how can I bully her?!"
"W-w-w, she's the one who's always bullying me."
"Every time she says no one wants me, my figure isn't good, my temper is bad…"
"Now she's even trying to snatch you away right in front of me, and you still want to cast me into the cold palace."
"W-w-w…"
The more Wu Ling spoke, the more wronged she felt, her eyes reddening, and large tears welling up.
She hit Gu Yun's chest hard: "You're biased! You all bully me!"
"You said you'd come to Tianhuo Immortal Palace to propose marriage, that was a lie too, w-w-w…"
That past promise, the seven years of pain she endured being burned by the Burning Heaven Immortal Flame by forcibly entering the secret realm to find Gu Yun—all of it surged like a tide, threatening to completely engulf Wu Ling. At this moment, she was like the most helpless little boat, about to be swallowed by the great waves.
"How could that be?"
Gu Yun quickly hugged Wu Ling even tighter.
He lowered his head and kissed away the tears from the corner of her eyes, softly saying: "You are the wife I will formally marry, how could I cast you into the cold palace?"
"Quick, aren't you going to apologize to Ling'er?"
Gu Yun gently scratched Little Que'er's bottom, causing the latter to let out a soft hum.
"Little Ling'er, Master spoils you the most. Didn't he send me to protect you before? Doesn't that show your status in his heart?"
Little Que'er said with a smile: "Besides, if he were to cast you into the cold palace, he'd have to run to the cold palace every day, and that place would be warmed up by then."
"How could that be? Really? How could any emperor be willing to go to the cold palace?"
Wu Ling sniffled and looked up, her eyes red.
"Well, you never know, it depends on who's in the cold palace."
Gu Yun pinched her small nose, his smile radiant.
"If Little Ling'er were in there, I'd be heartbroken to death even if it was just for a day."
"Hmph!"
Wu Ling quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, feigning a fierce look: "Don't think I'm easy to fool, you're just teasing me!"
"Yes, yes, it's all our fault."
Little Que'er covered her lips and chuckled.
As she spoke, she suddenly leaned close to Wu Ling's ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear: "But, Sister Wu Ling, look, isn't a woman who acts spoiled the most fortunate?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Ling's face, which had just returned to normal, flushed crimson again.
She glared at Little Que'er in annoyance, but saw the other party wink at her, her eyes full of teasing.
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you."
She turned her head away, ignoring that bad woman.
But what she was thinking in her heart remained unknown.
"Alright."
"We should continue forward, we've delayed too long, the opportunities inside won't wait for anyone."
Gu Yun, with one arm around Wu Ling's waist and the other holding Little Que'er's soft hand, quickened his pace deeper into the cave.
He had already obtained three of the nine rusty swords. Next, he would see which Child of Destiny would claim the opportunities here.
"Could it be Xiao Xuan, the male protagonist of 'Sword Sovereign'?"
Gu Yun mused, leading the two women forward quickly.
…
"This is already the second rusty sword, Brother Xinghe, it seems both you and I should be able to inherit the Sword Immortal's legacy this time!"
Somewhere in the cave, a valiant young cultivator spoke proudly.
Beside him was Su Xinghe, an acquaintance of Gu Yun from Fenghua Academy.
Not long after entering this place, he met the sword cultivator before him—Xiao Xuan. As both were sword cultivators, a discussion of the Dao was naturally unavoidable when they met.
And during their battle, under Xiao Xuan's pressure, he successfully awakened his Star Sword Body, and his cultivation also rose to the first level of the Xiantai Realm.
However, even so, he was ultimately half a step short. But as the saying goes, 'no discord, no concord,' the two not only did not become enemies but instead admired each other's talent in the way of the sword, agreeing to have another battle after breaking through to the Saint Realm!
They then journeyed together through this cave.
Su Xinghe was at the first level of the Xiantai Realm, and Xiao Xuan was at the Dao Body Realm Peak. Their strength among the participants was naturally not weak.
But their luck was even more explosive; not only was there no one to contend with them when they obtained the first rusty sword, but they later discovered the whereabouts of another rusty sword.
"No, Brother Xiao Xuan, look, the patterns on this second rusty sword seem to fit together with the first one."
Looking at the two rusty swords in Xiao Xuan's hand, Su Xinghe was also very excited, but then, with his keen insight, he quickly noticed the difference between the two swords.
"Indeed!"
Xiao Xuan examined them, his eyes also sparkling with excitement.
But then, both of them couldn't help but fall silent.
What this represented was self-evident: perhaps only one person would truly receive the Sword Immortal's legacy in the end.
"Brother Xiao."
"Brother Su, there's no need to say more. When it comes to sword cultivation, one must naturally rely on the sword in hand to reveal the truth!"
Xiao Xuan looked at Su Xinghe, raised the rusty sword in his hand, and said with a smile.
"Good!"
Su Xinghe took it from Xiao Xuan's hand.
Then the two laughed heartily, full of spirit!
…
At the same time, Shi Qingwu was still standing in place.
The three figures had already completely departed.
"System, get out of here!"
She roared in her heart: "What exactly is going on?"
"I've already tried so hard, and it's fine that the progress is so low, but why is it regressing?"
"Then what were all my experiences for?!"
Recalling her sticky hands, Shi Qingwu couldn't help but feel a chill, and her face also burned.
She, a dignified Immortal reincarnated, was actually doing such things for a mortal, it was simply…
"Ding! Detected that the host's disgust value towards the bound target is still increasing. Please note, host, and control it. There is a risk of further decline in binding progress."
"What?!"
Shi Qingwu was shocked. She was already fascinated by the cultivation feedback Gu Yun brought her. The feeling of vast spiritual energy cleansing her entire body with every breath was simply too wonderful; once experienced, it was unforgettable.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
She couldn't go back; she absolutely would not allow the binding progress to decrease.
With this in mind, she forcibly calmed herself and asked: "System, quickly give me a hint, what should I do?"
"This guy's favorability just won't increase!"
"The bound target's grade is too high. Please explore on your own, host."
Shi Qingwu: "…"
The young girl was truly miserable, as if even the system couldn't bear to watch.
The cold, mechanical voice still sounded stiffly.
"Host can start with physical contact and emotional teasing. You will surely gain something."
"What?"
"System, are you kidding me? Who am I, Shi Qingwu?"
"How could I possibly debase myself to do such a thing? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"Even if the binding progress becomes zero percent, I will absolutely not demean myself like this."
"I am the Clear Wind Immortal…"
Facing Shi Qingwu's words.
The system chose silence.
Finally, the atmosphere became extremely awkward.
Shi Qingwu finally asked: "Which direction has Gu Yun gone now?"
"Southeast."
…
"Ahead is where the Sword Stele is located."
"Little Que'er, you go into the Great Luo Dao Pagoda first."
Gu Yun spoke calmly. Little Que'er's essence was his spirit beast; it was impossible for her to receive the inheritance.
She might even be attacked by the means left by the Sword Immortal. Although Gu Yun was not afraid, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Incidentally, he also summoned Lǜ Luó from within.
Seeing Gu Yun's miraculous methods once again, Wu Ling's mouth hung open in astonishment.
"I've been wanting to ask, where did you hide Lǜ Luó?"
"Gu Yun, how did you do that?"
"Lǜ Luó is about to break through to the Xiantai Realm, so I found a secluded spot for her to break through."
Gu Yun explained.
"That amazing?"
"Then why don't you go there to break through?"
Wu Ling, after her admiration, looked suspicious again.
"Uh… this…"
"Aha, are you specifically setting a trap for that Shi Qingwu?"
"Good heavens, you're still thinking about a married man, and you even killed his original wife, you're something else…"
"What are you saying?!"
Gu Yun unhappily patted Wu Ling's bottom.
She really was like a child who, if not disciplined for three days, would try to climb onto the roof and remove the tiles.
The pitiful, teary-eyed appearance from before was completely gone, and now she had reverted to her lawless, blabbering self, Little Wu Ling.
However, this also made Gu Yun feel much more relaxed; he didn't want to see a so-called 'backyard on fire' situation occur.
As for the talkative Little Que'er, he had also taken her into the Great Luo Dao Pagoda and severely lectured her.
Eventually, he made her unable to utter those outrageous words.
Later, she naturally received strong support from Wu Ling, and after that, the situation basically returned to normal.
Now she dared to provoke him again.
"Ouch."
Wu Ling covered her little bottom, discontentedly saying: "What did I say wrong?"
"I think you're just lusting after her body."
"Whether I'm lusting after her body is unknown, but I'm quite lusting after yours right now."
"Little Ling'er, we've known each other for so long, how about…"
"N-No."
Wu Ling continuously retreated, like a little white rabbit encountering a big bad wolf.
But she was still caught in Gu Yun's embrace.
"Don't…"
Feeling the wanton caresses, doing as he pleased.
Wu Ling's cheeks involuntarily flushed crimson.
"I, I want to save it for our wedding night."
She looked at Gu Yun with wide eyes, her beautiful eyes shimmering with flowing light: "Okay…?"
Gu Yun: "…"
"What are you two doing?"
At this moment, Lǜ Luó suddenly woke up and, seeing the two of them, felt an inexplicable pang of guilt.
"Cough, cough, nothing."
Gu Yun released Wu Ling, not continuing the previous topic.
Wu Ling also quickly went to Lǜ Luó's side, took her good friend's soft hand, and gave her a big hug.
"That's great, Sister Lǜ Luó, you finally succeeded in breaking through."
"I was so worried."
"Really? But I just saw."
Lǜ Luó teased.
"No, nothing at all, you didn't see anything."
Wu Ling's face turned bright red. Being in front of Lǜ Luó was different from being in front of Little Que'er.
After all, one was family, and the other was an annoying love rival!!
"Lǜ Luó, was your breakthrough smooth?"
Gu Yun lightly coughed and looked at Lǜ Luó, speaking seriously.
The latter couldn't help but roll her eyes at Gu Yun, then detached from Wu Ling's embrace, bowed slightly, and said: "Thank you for your help, Your Highness. My cultivation has reached the second level of Xiantai Realm."
"What?!!"
Lǜ Luó's breakthrough speed truly shocked Wu Ling.
How long had it been?
Breaking through two realms consecutively?
One must know that at this realm, it was common to have no progress for fifty consecutive years.
How long had Lǜ Luó been cultivating?
Not even a day, right?
"It's all thanks to His Highness's help."
Lǜ Luó's pretty face was slightly red.
"What?"
Wu Ling looked suspiciously at the two: "Why don't I understand? Are you two hiding something from me?"
"There's nothing. It's just that the place where Lǜ Luó broke through had a tiny bit more spiritual energy, that's all."
"How much more?"
"Hmm, not much, a few thousand times more, perhaps…"
"What?!!"
"Gu Yun~~~, let me go too, I also want to cultivate in that place…"
"Depends on your performance…"
The three moved very quickly, then arrived at their final destination for this trip.
After passing through the cave, it suddenly opened up.
Nine towering, terrifying sword steles instantly appeared before their eyes, majestically standing tall, piercing the clouds.
Each sword stele was covered with ancient sword art runes, emanating heart-pounding Sword Qi fluctuations.
As the three walked in, countless gazes almost simultaneously converged on them.
A deep voice sounded in the void.
"The nine swords are complete. The trial begins!"
///345/
Chapter 345: Excalibur Trial (Two-in-One)
As that voice faded, the nine Sword Tablets simultaneously burst forth with dazzling light.
Almost all the cultivators present were stimulated by this sudden strong light and couldn't open their eyes.
"Gu Yun!!" x2
Luoluo and Wu Ling both exclaimed almost simultaneously, then one on each side, they hurriedly grabbed Gu Yun's arms, their cheeks deeply buried in his embrace.
Sandwiched between two soft bodies, Luoluo's hair, carrying a fresh scent of plants, brushed against his chin, and Wu Ling's hurried breath sprayed on his neck.
The fragrant scent of both a young girl and a young woman assailed him almost simultaneously.
On his left was Luoluo's taut waistline, and on his right was Wu Ling's soft curves.
Gu Yun welcomed them, embracing both women tightly.
His body slightly ascended, because he could feel that—
The originally hard stone walls and ground began to ripple like water, as if the entire space had lost its substance, becoming illusory and unreal.
However, everyone was powerless to resist, going with the flow of the spatial fluctuations.
Only Gu Yun remained calm from beginning to end; holding the Script of Destiny, he already knew what would happen here.
At this moment, his pair of divine twin pupils trembled slightly, his gaze penetrating the void like a substance, sweeping over the cultivators present.
The subsequent trial was directed at the person holding the rusty sword, so... to confirm their identity, there must be some arrangements made on these people.
As expected, soon some cultivators emitted a strange fluctuation, which Gu Yun keenly captured.
"Ximen Qingyun, Young Master of the Ximen Family, Xiantai Realm third layer."
"Ling Xiaoyao, Sword Son of the Purple Heavens Sword Sect, Xiantai Realm second layer."
"Chu Fengyun, First Divine Son of Han Bing Immortal Palace, Xiantai Realm third layer."
"Mo Xuan, Young Sect Master of the Netherworld Sword Sect, Xiantai Realm second layer."
Gu Yun quickly identified his opponents, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Indeed, those who can obtain the rusty sword are quite strong."
"But where did Zhang Chen and Qin Xiang go? Why are there no traces of them?"
"It can't be that they left this space because of my intimidating presence, could it?"
At this moment, Gu Yun did not know that his guess was coincidentally accurate; the two, who originally didn't have many opportunities in this Dragon Blood space, were currently having their own fortuitous encounters and were about to leave this space for another place.
This place of inheritance was now the main stage for Xiao Xuan, the Child of Destiny; how could his Heavenly Father allow other sons to come and steal his thunder?
"Oh?"
Gu Yun quickly locked onto the person he was looking for.
"Su Xinghe."
He had kept an eye on this kid early on, and sure enough, he found him here.
Then, next to him...
Gu Yun quickly noticed that ordinary but incredibly confident man.
[Name: Xiao Xuan]
[Age: Twenty-eight]
[Cultivation: Dao Body Realm Peak]
[Identity: Male Lead of "Sword Sovereign"]
[Physique: Tian Yan Sword Body]
[Aura: Child of Destiny Aura (Gold)]
[Destiny Value: 40000]
[Associated Female Lead: Water Flowing Clouds]
"Indeed, it's a Child of Destiny!"
Gu Yun was satisfied; he couldn't go a day without a Child of Destiny to exploit.
He had thought that losing Zhang Chen and Qin Xiang, his two good homies, would significantly reduce his gains from this secret realm trip, but fortunately, another good homie, Xiao Xuan, had come to take over.
"Trash-to-riches?"
After checking Xiao Xuan's Script of Destiny,
Gu Yun felt a loss of interest. Xiao Xuan was originally the young master of a small family, with a fiancée from another large family in the same city, Miss Shui.
Before he was sixteen, his sword dao talent was outstanding, and his reputation soared.
Countless cultivators admired him, but when he participated in the outer sect assessment of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he was found to have a Waste body (waste body), making him unable to become a sword cultivator.
He was then immediately repudiated; Miss Shui considered Xiao Xuan a good-for-nothing, unworthy of her, and wanted her maid, Water Flowing Clouds, to marry him instead.
Xiao Xuan felt extremely humiliated, but Miss Shui had already become a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, so Xiao Xuan dared not refuse and could only marry Water Flowing Clouds.
However, on the day of the wedding, he was taken away by another major power, Guang Han Palace, who declared that a mortal was unworthy of marrying a celestial fairy, thus interrupting the marriage and separating them.
Xiao Xuan was utterly enraged and swore an oath of "thirty years of prosperity east of the river, thirty years of decline west of the river"!
His Tian Yan Sword Body was fully activated, allowing him to deduce all kinds of sword techniques and cultivate sword arts at a speed far exceeding ordinary people.
From then on, he transformed!
Regarding this, Gu Yun could only say, "Classic, too classic."
Divorce trope, trash-to-riches, showing off and slapping faces—all the elements were complete, making it a classic template for a Child of Destiny.
However, Gu Yun's lips curved slightly upwards—
Classic meant easy to manipulate.
This Xiao Xuan was just a slightly older Lin Xiao, who simply had the advantage of starting later.
"After chasing for so long, he still hasn't caught Water Flowing Clouds?"
However, after carefully examining this chunk of the Script of Destiny, Gu Yun couldn't help but curl his lips and complain, "Guang Han Palace has already been destroyed by Xiao Xuan, and Water Flowing Clouds is missing again?"
But Gu Yun didn't have time to continue reading; he would savor it later.
The divine light of the Sword Tablets had already receded.
After a dizzying spin, everyone was surprised to find themselves in a vast and boundless starry sky!
Above them were countless twinkling stars, beneath them an endless dark abyss, and all around them boundless cosmic dust and nebulae.
"So, so beautiful!!"
Wu Ling looked around curiously, a little excited.
But then she immediately noticed a familiar face beside her.
Two small faces were close at hand, their eyes met, and their cheeks flushed.
"Sister Luoluo, why are you here too?"
Wu Ling was puzzled; wasn't this Gu Yun's embrace?
Luoluo's pretty face was flushed with embarrassment, at a loss for what to do.
Oh no, oh no, what should I do? How did Wu Ling catch me red-handed? I need to think of an excuse. Oh no, it's over, I can't face anyone anymore.
Luoluo was brainstorming.
The experienced Gu Yun had already thought of an excuse: "That was a spatial fluctuation just now. Did you want Luoluo to get separated from us?"
He pulled Wu Ling into his embrace, face to face with her.
Her stunning beauty instantly magnified in his pupils, Wu Ling's heart rate suddenly accelerated, and her breathing became rapid.
She turned her head away, huffing, "Don't stare at me like that, it's too unfair!"
The trace of doubt in her heart about Luoluo being in Gu Yun's embrace vanished.
Luoluo took the opportunity to leave Gu Yun's embrace.
Just then, the scene suddenly became chaotic, and someone exclaimed, "The void? Is this the void?!"
In an instant, countless people were in a state of panic.
The regions of the Three Thousand Dao Domains were separated by the void; even Saint Realm and Saint Ruler Realm cultivators dared not claim to be safe within it, and only Great Saint Realm experts could truly traverse it.
Much less the cultivators present, who were at most Xiantai Realm third layer; fear was inevitable.
However, the Sword Son of the Purple Heavens Sword Sect, Ling Xiaoyao, quickly recognized the situation: "Everyone, there's no need to panic. The void here is not real; it's just a simulated virtual world and doesn't pose the dangers of the real void!"
Only then did everyone calm down. Seeing his appearance, they all gasped.
This was Ling Xiaoyao, the current Sword Son of the Purple Heavens Sword Sect, the young generation's sword dao leader in the Purple Heavens Dao Domain, a peerless prodigy at the Xiantai Realm second layer!
He wore a purple robe, carried an ancient long sword on his back, had sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, and an extraordinary demeanor.
At this moment, he stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like lightning, scanning his surroundings, clearly having a good understanding of this void illusion.
"Brother Ling is right." Ximen Qingyun, the Young Master of the Ximen Family, also stepped forward and said loudly, "Since this is a Sword Tablet trial, it naturally won't put us in a death trap. In my opinion, this void illusion is most likely related to the upcoming challenge."
Ximen Qingyun wore a white robe and held a folding fan, appearing gentle and refined, but with a hidden sharpness in his eyes.
Sword Qi subtly flowed around him, clearly indicating he was also a master of the sword dao.
In terms of cultivation, he was stronger than Ling Xiaoyao, but he kept it hidden.
However, everyone dared not underestimate him and cast respectful gazes at him.
"No matter what the trial, Han Bing Immortal Palace wants a share of the opportunities here today. Does anyone have any objections?"
Chu Fengyun, the First Divine Son of Han Bing Immortal Palace, sneered, casting a disdainful glance at the two.
Cold air swirled around him, as if even the surrounding void was frozen, forming tiny ice crystals.
Among those present, in his eyes, Han Bing Immortal Palace was paramount. If he didn't show off, who would?!
Mo Xuan, the Young Sect Master of the Netherworld Sword Sect, remained silent, merely standing quietly in a corner, as if he had merged with the darkness, his aura cold and eerie.
"Hmph, putting on an act."
In the crowd, Xiao Xuan contemptuously curled his lips.
Su Xinghe, beside him, quickly tugged at his sleeve: "Brother Xiao, these forces are not ones we can provoke!"
"Tch, they're just dandies relying on their sect's resources."
His gaze swept over the four cultivators being guarded by the crowd, and Xiao Xuan's lips curved into a cold sneer: "In terms of sword dao talent, you and I are definitely not inferior to them!"
Su Xinghe's heart jolted; although he thought the same, he dared not say it aloud!
It would lead to trouble!
As expected, before his words even fell, a cold Sword Qi had already locked onto the two of them!
Xiao Xuan's expression suddenly changed.
He hurriedly drew his long sword to block, a cold sweat breaking out on his body.
"Such powerful Ice Sword Qi!"
Chu Fengyun's disdainful snort came from the void.
Looking up, he saw the young man with his sleeves fluttering, standing with his hands behind his back.
Ice Sword Qi swirled around him, as if it would freeze everything for thousands of miles.
He looked at Xiao Xuan with a sidelong glance, as if looking at an ant.
This gaze was exactly the same as how those hateful bastards looked at him when he was young!
How could Xiao Xuan endure such humiliation? His fists clenched, his nails almost digging into his flesh.
"Brother Fengyun, why bother with such an unknown person?"
Ximen Qingyun smiled, fanning himself, "Looking at his cultivation, he's only at the Dao Body Realm. There's no need to get worked up over such a person."
"Exactly, does this good-for-nothing even deserve to discuss the four Sword Sons?"
"He's simply ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth!!"
Someone immediately chimed in.
Xiao Xuan's face was ashen, and his right hand unconsciously touched the seemingly ordinary iron sword at his waist.
Seeing this, Su Xinghe was greatly alarmed and quickly pressed down on Xiao Xuan's hand: "Xiao Xuan, don't be hasty. If you act now, you might become a target for everyone."
"Heh, a mere clown."
Chu Fengyun saw that Xiao Xuan not only lacked strength but also courage, and instantly lost interest.
"You...!"
Xiao Xuan was furious; what was more infuriating than contempt was being ignored!
"Oh?!"
Seeing this, Chu Fengyun finally showed a slight hint of interest.
The Sword Qi of both sides collided in the void.
Just as the tension was rising, a majestic voice suddenly echoed in the void: "The Sword Dao Trial, begins now!!"
In an instant, nine brilliant sword lights descended from the sky, intertwining in the void to form a massive sword array.
Each sword light contained a different Sword Qi, some sharp, some profound, some ethereal, some domineering.
"First stage, Sword Qi Resonance!"
As the voice fell, the swords of all the cultivators present began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Zhan Tian Divine Sword, Dragon Spring Divine Sword, Mountain and Sea Divine Sword."
Gu Yun's heart stirred, and then the three divine swords appeared one after another, hovering beside him, emitting clear sword cries.
"Is that Dragon Spring Divine Sword?!"
Wu Ling exclaimed in surprise; she had coveted it greatly and had previously sought to see it from Gu Yun at Hidden Sword Villa.
"Daddy!!"
Dragon Spring leaped out from among them, very naturally throwing herself into Gu Yun's embrace.
"Daddy?!!"
Wu Ling and Luoluo, at this moment, couldn't care less about the buzzing of the treasured swords at their waists; they all looked at Gu Yun in disbelief.
"Gu... Gu Yun, I didn't expect you to be into this."
Wu Ling said with some disdain, "Dragon Spring is so young, and you actually..."
"Slap!"
Gu Yun directly gave Wu Ling a rap on the head.
"Ow, why did you hit me?!"
"Dragon Spring lost all her memories. The first person she saw was me, so it's natural for her to be close to me. You can't be jealous."
"Pfft, who's jealous."
"Sister Wu Ling is mean! Daddy is Dragon Spring's Daddy! Daddy is the best!"
Dragon Spring waved her little pink fists in front of Wu Ling.
"Hey, well, I'll be..."
How could Wu Ling's fiery temper endure that?
"Alright, stop messing around."
Gu Yun held Wu Ling down and asked Zhan Tian Divine Sword, "Yao Yu, what do you say, can you devour them?"
"Piece of cake!"
Yao Yu's body also slowly emerged. Besides Shan Hai, who was out on a mission, both great Sword Spirits were present.
Gu Yun summoning them was not without purpose.
This first stage of the Sword Qi trial was centered around the nine Sword Tablets of the Sword Immortal, allowing sword cultivators to resonate with their swords and unleash their Sword Qi.
Nine different Sword Qi; such an experience was an invaluable treasure for sword cultivators.
But... what Gu Yun wanted to do was not just simple resonance.
"Alright, Yao Yu, Dragon Spring, when these people start activating their Sword Qi, you two will directly begin to devour them. Don't hold back."
"Devour... all of them!"
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Huh? Devour all of them?"
Dragon Spring blinked her big eyes, a little bewildered.
Yao Yu, however, immediately understood and licked her lips: "I've been waiting for you to say that."
Being compatible with Gu Yun's Myriad Transformation Power also gave the two great Sword Spirits some unique characteristics that others did not possess.
"Since I'm here, I can't leave empty-handed."
Gu Yun sneered; although he did not cultivate the sword dao, he could strengthen the treasured swords in his hand, so he naturally wouldn't waste the opportunities here.
"These nine Sword Qi contain the essence of the Sword Tablet's inheritance. If you can absorb all of them, it will be of great benefit to you."
Wu Ling and Luoluo were dumbfounded listening from the side.
Luoluo couldn't help but tug at Gu Yun's sleeve.
"Gu Yun, won't this be a bit too risky?"
"Risky?"
"Then that's right!"