Chapter 42

"Mother of the Unborn, the Vacuum Homeland!"

Amidst the ethereal sound echoing in his ears and the delicate hand lightly tapping before his eyes, Duercha suddenly felt as if his soul had left his body, a sensation of detachment from the material world.

He knew it was bad and rapidly changed his posture, trying to avoid the finger. However, the air around him suddenly became heavy, collapsing layer by layer toward the target, as if there was a massive vortex hidden there. Thus, he involuntarily "surged" toward the vortex, as if welcoming the finger.

After Gu Xiaosang pointed, Meng Qi and the others only saw Duercha lose his soul, abandon resistance and evasion, and actively move forward, like a wanderer eagerly returning home.

"Is this sorcery...?" Meng Qi looked at this bizarre scene with great surprise.

The finger brushed Duercha's forehead, and Gu Xiaosang, with a solemn and dignified appearance, spoke in a voice like a silver bell, clear and ethereal:

"Mother of the Unborn, the Vacuum Homeland!"

A chilling event occurred; Duercha actually showed a peaceful and joyful smile, softly repeating:

"Mother of the Unborn, the Vacuum Homeland!"

His body below his head suddenly swelled, then rapidly contracted, the skin drying out, the muscles shrinking, and streaks of blood light converging, gathering at his forehead, flowing into Gu Xiaosang's index and middle fingers.

Gu Xiaosang's face, as white as jade, became even more radiant, as if it could drip with water.

"Mother of the Unborn, the Vacuum Homeland..." Duercha fell to the ground, softly reciting this incantation-like scripture, his voice growing fainter.

Gu Xiaosang retracted her right hand, looked at Meng Qi and the others, and appeared even more spirited and radiant, beautiful to the point of making others feel inferior.

"If it weren't for the mishap last time, which wasted my good deeds, I wouldn't have to be so cautious about acting myself. However, the good deeds from killing one person are still enough." Gu Xiaosang casually broke a branch and walked toward the entrance with a smile, "General Duercha has been hit by the Unborn Finger and will take a while to return to the 'Vacuum Homeland.' Although it's brief, it's more than enough to kill someone."

She looked at the wary Meng Qi and the others, smiling and gently shaking the branch, "Hehe, it's also a matter of fate. If it weren't for the mishap, I wouldn't have used that thing and been thrown to you as a newcomer. Who should I kill? I'm really at a loss. Why don't you choose one? I'll kill them, and we'll each go our separate ways. We won't meet again anyway."

Her left index finger touched her chin, her eyebrows deeply furrowed, as if this question was too troublesome. In such a beautiful scene, if there were any lustful people present, they might have volunteered to solve the beauty's worries.

Meng Qi and the others had just opened up to each other, deepening their friendship, and were all clear-headed, so they didn't fall for this provocation. They guarded the entrance with great caution, their minds racing, thinking of countermeasures.

Gu Xiaosang's eyes flickered, her smile charming, "You're also at a loss? Let me think carefully. Hmm, ordinary disciples of the Huahua Sword School have no value to kill; it would only dirty my hands and waste my good deeds."

Qi Zhengyan's face was as dark as water, knowing that this was Gu Xiaosang's provocation, but still feeling insulted and unwilling. Why should he be inferior to others?

Her gaze turned to Zhang Yuanshan, nodding slightly, "Among the lay disciples of the Zhenwu Sect, the Zhang family is one of the three pillars. If I kill you here and forge the Zhenwu Sect's methods, it wouldn't be difficult to cause internal strife."

Zhang Yuanshan's gaze sharpened, speaking calmly, "Demoness, are the elders of my sect rash and ignorant?"

"Indeed." Gu Xiaosang nodded happily in agreement, "I don't understand divination and didn't predict this situation, so I didn't exchange for the Zhenwu Sect's secrets. Framing someone is a bit difficult."

"If I can't cause internal strife, killing you alone would be a waste of good deeds. In the Zhenwu Sect, whether it's Yang Tai, Yang He, or the Yao brothers, they all have greater martial talent and strength than you. Unlike you, they haven't grasped the essence of the 'Zhenwu Seven Sections Scripture' or the 'Taiji Divine Skill.' However, they are not as steady and capable as you, which is why they can win the favor of the elders."

She smiled, her words filled with hidden provocation and sarcasm.

Zhang Yuanshan suddenly laughed, "My martial talent is inferior to my peers, but that's a natural thing. Why should I be discouraged? The Dao balances, and diligence can make up for lack of talent. Why should I be hopeless?"

Since Gu Xiaosang wanted to provoke and kill with words, Zhang Yuanshan was happy to chat with her, hoping to delay until Duercha died, which would solve everything.

Gu Xiaosang was taken aback, biting her lower lip, smiling faintly, "Hearing you say that, I really want to kill you."

She "forced" herself to turn her head, smiling at Jiang Zhwei, "I heard rumors that you, Miss Jiang, are the most promising figure among the young generation, destined to become a great sword god like Senior Su, suppressing the nine left sects. This makes me itchy and eager to meet you and eliminate you. Now it seems I have the chance."

Jiang Zhwei showed no anger or fear, speaking calmly, "Whether I have this chance or not, you'll have to ask my sword first."

Gu Xiaosang, seeing Jiang Zhwei's calm and composed attitude, as if Su Wuming had possessed her, frowned slightly, "Do you still have the strength to fight? Can you still use 'Sword Out Without Self'? Your injuries are so severe, it doesn't make sense. Have you exchanged for a desperate technique like the 'Heavenly Demon Body Dissolution Great Method'?"

She openly asked her doubts.

"Try and see." Jiang Zhwei smiled calmly, her bright and beautiful face adding a touch of vulnerability.

Gu Xiaosang pondered for a moment, then looked at Meng Qi with a playful smile, "Master, actually, the one I most want to kill is you."

"Ah?" Meng Qi felt bewildered. He and Qi Zhengyan were on the same level, or even below him, at least for now.

Gu Xiaosang lowered her head slightly, her face blushing, "Because Xiaozi seems to have a bit of a liking for you."

"What kind of reason is that?" Meng Qi was happy to chat with her, trying to delay time.

Gu Xiaosang raised her head, smiling like a fox, "It's the best reason. Whatever she likes or wants, I will destroy."

**! Meng Qi had only this thought.

"So, Master, rest in peace, Amitabha Buddha." Gu Xiaosang threw away the branch, clasping her hands together cutely.

Meng Qi took a deep breath, the surrounding noise gradually fading, his eyes focused only on Gu Xiaosang, his mind clear. Then he raised his precept knife, pointing it at the void.

Gu Xiaosang smiled, approaching Meng Qi with light steps, ignoring Jiang Zhwei and the others.

Suddenly, she felt all the sounds around her being sucked away, no longer hearing the wind or rain, or the movement of snakes and insects, a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Her smile froze as she saw Meng Qi raise his precept knife, a flash of light, and a sudden crack.

The serenity shattered, and the noise returned. Gu Xiaosang suddenly heard the innocent voice of a child, "Mom, Mom," and involuntarily recalled various past events, whether sad or happy, her emotions unsettled.

Her face changed, and she quickly retreated a few steps, breaking free from the knife's influence.

When did this monk become so skilled with the knife?

Seeing Gu Xiaosang retreat, Meng Qi, despite his exhausted body and weak legs, directly rushed to the mechanism, activating it.

Zha, zha, zha, before Gu Xiaosang could recover, Meng Qi threw the precept knife, closing the entrance.

Clang! The precept knife struck a hidden protrusion behind a nearby red boulder, and inside the secret passage, Meng Qi gritted his teeth, swinging his right fist to destroy the mechanism.

"What are you doing?" Qi Zhengyan asked in surprise.

"Destroy the mechanism, so we can't get out, and neither can she!" Meng Qi leaned against the stone wall, feeling his limbs trembling.

Jiang Zhwei nodded, "As long as Duercha dies, we can directly return. Being trapped here is not a big problem."

"This is a good plan." Zhang Yuanshan smiled.

Qi Zhengyan, holding his sword, stood near the entrance, always worried that the mechanism outside had not been completely destroyed.

Jiang Zhwei smiled at Meng Qi, "I didn't expect you to have grasped the 'Sever Serenity' knife intent."

She saw that Meng Qi was just bluffing, using partial knife intent to scare off Gu Xiaosang, buying time to close the entrance.

"This move is not incomplete. As long as you have the insight, and follow the heart method and preparations, the knife intent will naturally arise." Meng Qi had somewhat recovered his strength.

Qi Zhengyan, not knowing much about this level of technique, did not ask more. Zhang Yuanshan, who had not grasped the essence of the 'Zhenwu Seven Sections Scripture' or the 'Taiji Divine Skill' when he "viewed" their true meanings, could only practice according to the manuals rewritten by senior disciples based on their own experiences, and was not well-versed in knife intent.

Only Jiang Zhwei, with a faint smile, looked at Meng Qi, and when the other two were not paying attention, quietly mouthed a word.

Meng Qi, who had closely cooperated with her, immediately understood her meaning:

"Sparring!"

...

In front of the mountain wall, Gu Xiaosang stared at the closed entrance, suddenly raising a wise smile.

Then she turned around and walked out of the forest, passing by Duercha, and with a wave of her sleeve, made him close his eyes forever.

...

"Who is Gu Xiaosang?" Meng Qi quickly changed the topic, very curious about her identity.

Zhang Yuanshan said solemnly, "Do you know the Nine Evil Paths?"

"I know." Meng Qi had heard from Xuanxin.

Zhang Yuanshan nodded, "Gu Xiaosang is the Holy Maiden of the 'Luo Sect' among the Nine Evil Paths. This is a sect that venerates the 'Mother of the Unborn,' a powerful figure from the mythological era, and lures people to return to the 'Vacuum Homeland.' According to the rumors spread by the Luo Sect, Gu Xiaosang is the reincarnation of the 'Mother of the Unborn' in this generation."

"We know about her because she has acted three times, each time killing enemies of a higher level, and has opened eight acupoints, ranking fourth on the Human List, with a famous reputation." Jiang Zhwei added.

"What is the Human List? There are also the Earth List and the Heaven List?" Meng Qi had always wanted to understand this but never had the chance.

Zhang Yuanshan smiled lightly, "This is a list established by the royal family of the Great Jin Dynasty, ranking the top experts in the world, trying to incite a competitive spirit among them, making them kill each other and weaken each other. The original list is in the headquarters of the Six Fans in the capital."

"Although everyone knows the intention of the Zhao family, those who travel the world may not be lustful, may not be greedy for wealth, may not be greedy for power, may not be fond of alcohol, or gambling, but except for the enlightened high people, who are humble, who doesn't want fame? Thus, the list is tacitly accepted, and many disputes arise in secret."

Jiang Zhwei nodded, "The Heaven List ranks the Law Body experts. Since the establishment of the Heaven List, there have been at most 14 to 15, and at least 7 to 8. Currently, there are 10, with your abbot ranking third. The Earth List ranks the famous experts outside the Land Immortals, listing the top 200, mostly top figures above the Seventh Heaven of the Outer Scenery. My master is currently the top of the Earth List."

Speaking of this, she was quite proud.

"The Human List ranks the young experts. Because of the many cases of defeating higher-level opponents at the acupoint stage, even those who have opened nine acupoints may not rank high. This list currently ranks only 50." Zhang Yuanshan added.

Meng Qi was about to ask Jiang Zhwei if she was on the Human List when a line of gray text suddenly appeared on the wall:

"General Duercha has died, completing the second side mission. Reward 200 good deeds to Gu Xiaosang, 100 good deeds to Jiang Zhwei, and 50 good deeds to Zhang Yuanshan."

"Duercha's death, the Shaolin Temple's fall, the second main mission completed ahead of time. Reward 100 good deeds to each."

"Return immediately."

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