Chapter 40

In the room of Qing Yi, the head of the Hu family and the Great Elder You Ming, five people harbored their own ulterior motives.

"Alright, then we'll leave first." Hu Gao felt that the entire situation was not as he had originally anticipated. In his view, Qing Zhi, who should have been interrogated by the Dark Knight, instead appeared completely like a host, giving off a sense of everything being under control. He did not know where the problem lay, but his keen sense of danger told him that he should leave first.

However, just as Hu Gao was about to step back, he noticed that Ji Le's expression was off. He quickly moved forward to pull him, saying, "Ji Le, since Qing Lian is not here, let's go first."

To his surprise, Ji Le shook off Hu Gao's hand and loudly questioned, "Hu Gao! When I came in, I didn't see the current Dark Knight. Where are the three Dark Knights from before? This one's hair is the green of your Hu family's Qing Yi lineage! The High Priest would never send him to participate in this investigation!"

As Ji Le spoke, his voice began to tremble. By the time he finished, his legs were also shaking, filled with fear and anger.

Ji Le was not stupid. After pointing out the discrepancy, he immediately realized that he was in extreme danger. However, the words were already out, and the mistake could not be undone.

"Ji Le! This is Ningcheng! Our Hu family's territory, don't be paranoid!" Hu Gao shouted at Ji Le, who was already on the verge of losing his mind.

"No! Hu Gao, you idiot, look at the eyes of Elder Qing Zhi and the others! We won't be able to leave today!" Ji Le grabbed Hu Gao and pointed at Qing Zhi and the Dark Knight, "As a descendant of the Hu family, can't you even recognize the eyes of an enemy?"

Hu Gao did not want to look and did not dare to look. He grabbed Ji Le's hand and rushed toward the door. His only regret was bringing Ji Le here. He suddenly remembered the fat boss's parting words, "Am I a blessing or a curse to the Hu family?" Could it be that the invisible hand stirring up internal strife in the Hu family was really him?

Elder Qing Zhi sighed. Today, he seemed like a different person. He raised his right hand, and an invisible force like a cage enveloped Hu Gao and Ji Le. "Hu Gao, little guy, have you really forgotten what blood flows through your veins?"

"Great Elder, why do you have to do this? I know you must have your reasons. The Fifth Elder wasn't killed by you, right? No matter what, if you really do this, the Hu family will surely fall into chaos." Hu Gao knew the gap in their realms was too great, so he did not struggle. Instead, he turned his head and looked at the grim-faced Qing Zhi, saying helplessly.

"Ha ha, are you talking about Hu Wushang, that arrogant guy from the Northern Branch? Killing him was as easy as crushing an ant. Since you chose to oppose me, you will die. I want to see if you really have a guardian spirit inside you!" Qing Zhi suddenly raised both hands, moved them in the air, and shouted, "Thunderbolt!"

As soon as he spoke, the energy in the air above Hu Gao and Ji Le surged wildly, forming a colorful rain cloud. Countless lightning bolts flickered within it. After a brief buildup, the lightning struck down like a torrent, pouring down on Hu Gao and Ji Le.

Hu Gao's face changed. Without another word, he immediately pressed Ji Le to the ground and covered him with his own thin body.

Although the power of Elder Qing Zhi's technique was earth-shattering, possibly even a high-level Earth Rank technique, Hu Gao believed that as long as one bolt of lightning did not kill him, he could survive using the healing power of the jade pendant. No matter what, he could not let Ji Le suffer this fatal pain.

However, reality was more cruel than Hu Gao imagined. Despite his belief in his physical resilience, he was immediately knocked unconscious by the first wave of lightning. Even a single strike from Bai Xiao's sword was too much for him to withstand, let alone the full force of the Great Elder's technique. It was too naive to think he could endure it.

"Great Elder, isn't this a bit too much?" Dark Shadow, watching the situation change, could not help but frown. Although he knew the cause of everything, Hu Gao's sudden appearance was something even the mastermind did not expect.

Could Elder Qing Zhi really be using this opportunity to kill Hu Gao? This was impossible! If it were Great Elder Huang Quan, it might be believable, but Elder Qing Zhi... Dark Shadow looked at his distorted face and felt a sense of foreboding.

"Qing Li, haven't you noticed? If they were ordinary Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists, would they still be lying there?" Elder Qing Zhi slowly approached Hu Gao, his eyes wide and fixed on him.

The scene was bizarre. Although Hu Gao was unconscious, the intense lightning did not tear his body apart or reduce him to ashes. Ji Le, who was under him, was only knocked unconscious and did not suffer the burning that would come from the lightning.

Just as Elder Qing Zhi was three steps away from Hu Gao, Hu Gao slowly stood up. His legs swayed, and his hands dangled, controlling his balance. It seemed as if there was an insulating layer on his body, and the lightning had no effect on him.

Dark Shadow was stunned. Thunderbolt was a genuine Hu family secret technique, a complete high-level Earth Rank technique never shown to outsiders. Even a Burst Essence Realm martial artist standing there would face almost certain death. He was speechless.

"Why do you have to bully a junior?" After standing up, Hu Gao seemed to exude a natural aura of authority. His voice was filled with a mysterious sense of沧桑 (沧桑 means "沧桑" in Chinese, which can be translated as "沧桑" in English, but in this context, it means "aged" or "weathered").

"Playing tricks, I know you are Qing Gao! There is no guardian spirit!" Qing Zhi said disdainfully, "Do you still want to pretend in front of me?"

"Ha ha, this body is really weak." Hu Gao slowly extended his hand and waved it lightly. The powerful thunderclouds vanished like the wind.

"It's really the guardian spirit!" Dark Shadow shouted in joy. No matter how incredible the disguise, it could not produce such a technique. The ability to so easily neutralize a high-level Earth Rank technique unleashed by a late-stage Burst Essence Realm martial artist proved everything!

"Cough, cough, my dimensional wound cannot withstand such折腾 (折腾 means "折腾" in Chinese, which can be translated as "折腾" in English, but in this context, it means "torture" or "trouble"). I didn't have time to tell you before my last slumber. This time, I'm not the only one descending to this world. Take care of yourselves." Hu Gao lifted his head and said calmly.

Elder Qing Zhi, who had been stunned by Hu Gao's display of power, was even more devastated by these words. He said weakly, "The successor is the core of the family. We must test him, even at the cost of our lives. Does the guardian spirit have any other words to say?"

"Find them quickly!" Hu Gao said, then closed his eyes and collapsed backward.

Elder Qing Zhi quickly rushed forward to catch him. He now fully believed that Hu Gao was the successor. Looking at Hu Gao's pale face, he thought, "This unexpected encounter will likely accelerate all our actions..."

"Dark Shadow, take Hu Gao to Hu Feng. I will handle the rest. From now on, the Hu family in Ningcheng will no longer have the Qing Yi lineage!" As Elder Qing Zhi said this, his youthful face suddenly aged by ten years!

"Great Elder, you cannot act on your own." Dark Shadow rushed forward and knelt at Elder Qing Zhi's feet, saying sadly.

"Go, I'm fine. Trust the family!" Elder Qing Zhi waved his hand, "Our Qing Yi lineage is not skilled in battle. This is the best choice!"

Dark Shadow carried Hu Gao on his back for the second time. He could not understand why he had such a connection with the successor. Looking back at Elder Qing Zhi, he said, "We will meet up successfully!" and quickly left the head's room.

"Great Elder, what do we do now?" The young guard in the room, who knew he had seen something he should not, was at a loss.

"Take Ji Le to the Northern Branch. He is a promising talent. Even for the family's revival, there is no need for unnecessary sacrifice." Elder Qing Zhi said wearily, knowing that his actions had already left a terrifying impression on the guard, but he was also acting out of necessity.

...

Although Hu Gao was knocked unconscious, his soul was strangely completely awake. Oddly, Xiao Wu, who usually talked non-stop, was completely silent. He felt as if his mind was floating with many strange symbols.

Finally, he found his soul had left his body. He saw himself stand up and speak, the tone completely that of a stranger. He opened his mouth to call for help but found he could not speak.

Could there really be someone else in his body? Was the guardian spirit real? What did he mean by a dimensional wound? Were there other beings descending to this world?

What the fuck, is my body really the so-called perfect vessel? Do you all want to live in it?

Where is the fellow townsman? Where are you, fellow townsman? Hu Gao tried to call out to the strange fellow townsman he somewhat liked, but received no response. Xiao Wu? Come out quickly!

Hu Gao was completely despairing. What the hell is going on?