Chapter 5

Cultivating qi and practicing breathing techniques, one absorbs the spiritual essence of heaven and earth.

But what exactly is the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, and where does it originate? No one knows.

It is only known that this mysterious power is related to the soul.

When millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of living beings gather, the spiritual essence of heaven and earth becomes more active, making it easier to absorb.

Conversely, in deep mountains and old forests where people rarely tread, the efficiency of cultivation through breathing techniques is significantly reduced.

This has been felt throughout history.

In the deep mountains and old forests, he found that even the recovery of true qi was slower, and he could only maintain his state by consuming large amounts of food to refine essence into qi.

"The more powerful sects are established in the most prosperous cities, and the more cultivators there are in a city, the lower the cultivation efficiency becomes."

Therefore, the Great Dry Empire has always encouraged childbirth.

Therefore, despite the relatively abundant resources due to the existence of cultivators, the lower classes remain impoverished due to overpopulation.

Therefore, many sects hope to dominate a city.

The Orthodox Dao Sect is a native sect of Changjun City.

However, the power in Changjun City is not limited to the Orthodox Dao Sect alone.

The Hellfire Demon Sect has established a branch in Changjun City, with "Gujinlai" in charge.

In addition, the Cold Moon Demon Sect, one of the Ten Demon Sects, and the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, one of the Six Immortal Sects, have also established branches.

Furthermore, the City Lord's Mansion and the Demon Subduing Hall, which are somewhat transcendent, add to the complex situation in Changjun City.

At present, there is an opportunity to make the Hellfire Demon Sect withdraw, and the Cold Moon Demon Sect and the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect are not averse to pushing from behind.

Unfortunately...

The current Gujinlai is no longer the same as before.

...

At this moment, in a forest a hundred miles from Changjun City, several people knelt on the ground, their faces full of fear, begging for mercy.

"Spare my life! Please spare my life, Senior!"

"Call me Lord Gu!"

Gujinlai, now dressed in a new silk robe, slowly emerged from the forest.

He strolled as if in a leisurely walk, his long hair casually tied back, his clothes fluttering, exuding an extraordinary air, a stark contrast to his wretched state of the previous day.

"Lord Gu, spare my life! Lord Gu, spare my life!"

These people quickly changed their tune.

"Scram."

Gujinlai shook his sword: "Killing you insignificant pawns would dirty my sword."

"Thank you, Lord Gu!"

The few people kowtowed repeatedly and quickly fled.

Gujinlai looked at the faint red glow on their bodies and tightened his grip on the sword.

In the end...

He held back.

Shallow red name.

What about the promise to make these pursuers feel the terror?

A group of Blood Transformation Realm novices dared to come after him, a Spirit Refinement Realm expert?

They truly had no sense of the vastness of heaven and earth, not even considering him, the ancient demon!

But he could not kill.

Killing would add another layer of karma buff.

His fists clenched.

"Those who come to kill me, do they have names redder than mine? Isn't the world in chaos now? Where are the great demons? The supreme demons!?"

Gujinlai stared at the retreating figures: "Once I cleanse myself... I will slaughter the world! I will kill ten thousand demons!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed something and shouted: "Who's there!"

A figure flew through the forest ahead.

Upon seeing Gujinlai, the person trembled and bowed: "Master, please calm down, please calm down. The world is not worth your slaughter."

"..."

Gujinlai's expression stiffened.

He...

His venting was heard?

Embarrassing.

But... Master?

Gujinlai looked at the man in his early twenties, his heart stirred.

He had lived as "Gujinlai" for over a month and knew he had four disciples.

The eldest disciple, Su Nanxing; the second disciple, Gu Xiangyang; the third disciple, Ran Tianxing; the fourth disciple, Xie Xiaowan.

He knew this so clearly because of a piece of gossip at the time.

The fourth disciple, Xie Xiaowan, had fallen in love with a true disciple of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, Fang Yuchen, and defected. He quickly went to the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect's Changjun City branch, abducted the true disciple Li Muqing, and forced her to marry the second disciple, Gu Xiangyang.

The reason for choosing Gu Xiangyang...

Because Gu Xiangyang was his junior.

Gujinlai had no children but had an elder brother, Gu Changfeng, who was also a Core Formation expert. He established a family in Chizhou, which branched out to the third generation.

Gu Xiangyang was the fourth son of Gu Changfeng's eldest son, Gu Haoran.

He showed a talent for cultivation from a young age and had already reached the Core Formation realm before the age of thirty.

This man in his early twenties, calling him Master, should be the third disciple, Ran Tianxing.

If it's a disciple, there's no problem.

Gujinlai, with a solemn face, ordered: "I have it in mind. Today's words must not reach a third person, understood?"

"Disciple understands, disciple understands."

Ran Tianxing nodded repeatedly: "Seeing Master unharmed is a great relief. I knew those Orthodox Dao Sect clowns couldn't harm Master."

Gujinlai had read some letters left by the original body. Although he was cruel and evil, he was extremely protective of his disciples.

It was said that the reason he fell out with Lin Xiao was to protect the eldest disciple, Su Nanxing.

Putting himself in their shoes.

Seeing his disciples come to his aid from Chizhou upon hearing of his crisis, even if the original "Gujinlai" was dead, it was a comfort.

"Master, Master..."

Ran Tianxing looked at the cold-faced Gujinlai, as if making a decision: "I finally found you. The eldest disciple has also come, but he is being held by an Orthodox Dao Sect Core Formation elder and several true disciples. Should we go to his aid?"

"Su Nanxing has come."

This was his only disciple to reach the Core Formation realm, whom he had adopted from a young age and treated as a son. From the letters, it was clear that this disciple respected him greatly.

Having such a Core Formation realm enforcer by his side, he could have the disciple deal with those who angered him but were only shallow red or red-named.

"The Orthodox Dao Sect has a lot of nerve."

Gujinlai's expression turned cold.

But soon, he felt something was off.

This scene...

Why does it seem so familiar?

After a moment's thought, he said directly: "Rescuing is like putting out a fire. I will go ahead, and you follow."

With that, he strode forward.

After running a few dozen meters, he heard Ran Tianxing's voice from behind: "Master, you're going the wrong way."

Gujinlai's expression changed.

Looking back at Ran Tianxing...

This disciple's movement was quite agile, not much slower than him?

"One elder can't handle Su Nanxing. The Orthodox Dao Sect has clearly mobilized all their forces to deal with me. I will directly attack Changjun, slaughter the Orthodox Dao Sect, and in doing so, rescue Su Nanxing using the strategy of surrounding Wei to save Zhao."

Gujinlai said.

"Master, the ones surrounding the eldest disciple are not just Orthodox Dao Sect elders but also several true disciples."

"A few true disciples, that's all. The true disciples of the Orthodox Dao Sect are only at the Qi Refinement realm. With Su Nanxing's abilities, even if he can't win, he can retreat gracefully."

"But Master, more Orthodox Dao Sect experts might arrive, putting the eldest disciple in danger."

Ran Tianxing said quickly.

Gujinlai stopped: "Third disciple, you seem nervous."

"I..."

Ran Tianxing, under Gujinlai's scrutinizing gaze, broke into a sweat.

"Third disciple, I told you, with the old demon's cunning, you can't deceive him."

At this moment, a cold voice came from the distant forest: "He has lost control and his powers are greatly diminished. We can directly kill him without wasting words to lure him into a trap."

The leaves rustled.

Four people quickly approached.

Two middle-aged men and a young man and woman.

The one who spoke was a woman in her early twenties, with a graceful appearance and a long dress.

Seeing the "sun" emblem on their clothes and the way the woman addressed Ran Tianxing, Gujinlai guessed her identity.

"Fourth disciple? You dare to show your face to me?"

"Why not? Evil and heresy, everyone has the right to punish! As a true disciple of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, I must follow the sect's principles and slay demons to uphold the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect's rule!"

The woman, Xie Xiaowan, the fourth disciple of "Gujinlai," raised her white chin, speaking righteously.

"Slay demons and uphold the rule?"

Gujinlai's gaze turned to the two middle-aged men beside her.

Both were Core Formation experts.

But that's not the point!

The point is, one of them had a shallow red aura, and the other, a blood-red aura, almost dripping with blood!

The Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, claiming to be one of the six immortal sects, had elders with such overwhelming karma?

But it's not surprising.

Hasn't he seen similar scenarios on Earth?

"Can they do it?"

"The Yellow Heaven Dao Sect's outer sect elders, Zhang Buyi and Ma Zheng, pay respects to Elder Gu."

The two men gave a slight bow.

"So, Third disciple, you have also betrayed me?"

Gujinlai looked at Ran Tianxing.

Though it's common for a demon to be betrayed by disciples, having two out of four disciples betray him is a bit too much.

"Good birds choose their perches. When I became your disciple, I didn't know your true nature. I never imagined you would be so depraved, and now, due to being pursued by the Orthodox Dao Sect, you have the idea of slaughtering the world. Any person with a conscience would not help you in your evil deeds!"

Ran Tianxing said solemnly.

"Slaughtering the world?"

Xie Xiaowan gritted her teeth: "Gujinlai, you are a born demon. Even at the Spirit Refinement realm, you have the idea of slaughtering the world. Once your demonic powers are complete, won't you destroy the world?"

"Why do you focus on slaughtering the world? I also said I would kill ten thousand demons."

Gujinlai looked at the two: "Besides, I treated you well..."

"Spit!"

Xie Xiaowan spat: "When you took me as a disciple, did you ever ask if I was willing? Your so-called kindness is just your one-sided desire, worthless to me."

Worthless...

The way Xie Xiaowan spoke to him reminded him of a lowly creature on Earth.

"The evil deeds of the old demon have angered heaven and man, too numerous to count! Today, we will act on behalf of heaven to slay demons and uphold justice!"

Zhang Buyi said.

"Indeed, I will send the old demon on his way."

Ma Zheng nodded.

"Master, Xie Xiaowan will be my Dao companion in the future. Slaying the old demon will also resolve my heart's burden. I am willing to lend a hand."

The young man followed.

"Good."

Ma Zheng nodded: "To deal with these evil and heretical beings, we don't need to adhere to the principles of cultivation! Let's all attack together!"

Gujinlai looked at the two Yellow Heaven Dao Sect elders.

Don't your consciences hurt when you say these things?

At least, can you wash your names a bit?

This blood-red...

I like it too much.

"Clang!"

Gujinlai drew his sword!