Chapter 66

As the golden axe was about to sever Bai Xing's head in one breath, although he was helpless, Bai Xing could not just sit and wait for death. He leaped upward, evading Gu Xuyao's fatal strike.

But Gu Xuyao did not stop his pursuit. With a roar, a blue-golden trajectory cut through the sky, chasing after Bai Xing!

At the same time, the salamander that could not lock onto Bai Xing due to his intangible form found his trail as he moved. It darted like lightning, also chasing after Bai Xing!

Certain death!

Bai Xing was now in a situation where death was inevitable. The surviving cultivators of the Mountain Collapse Sect had long since vanished, and no one could save Bai Xing at this moment!

He was very clear about his current situation, but he refused to accept it. How could he, who possessed two great constitutions, be killed by such a cultivator in this place?!

"Ah!"

Bai Xing roared, the sound echoing through the sky, filled with defiance!

Suddenly, before his roar had even faded, as if heaven had come to his aid, the entire sky split open. An unknown force pushed Gu Xuyao and the salamander away with great force, leaving no room for resistance!

Gu Xuyao fell heavily to the ground, the lightning on his body dissipating as he fell into unconsciousness.

The salamander crashed into a tree, its body immediately disintegrating into a pool of poison, which quickly corroded the entire tree.

Yi Xia quickly came to Gu Xuyao's side, lifting him up. At this moment, the sky of the ancient wet forest shattered, the surrounding trees and mud gradually fading, eventually transforming into a blood-soaked arena. At the edge of the arena stood a cultivator, his eyes like torches, middle-aged, wearing a blue robe with golden edges. Yi Xia knew without a doubt that he must be the head of the Blue Supervisor Hall, the only one who could send Gu Xuyao and the salamander flying with a single move.

"Due to special circumstances, this year's competition has ended. Rewards will still be distributed. Now, let's count the survivors..."

Qiming Zhenren's voice echoed, the dark curtain breaking, sunlight flooding the blood-soaked arena. The brutal death game had finally ended.

What happened afterward had nothing to do with Gu Xuyao and Yi Xia. Several blue-robed cultivators carried the unconscious Bai Xing away, and the cultivators from the Blue Supervisor Hall who had been watching the competition gradually left the arena.

Of course, there were plenty of cries and shouts, some from the audience, some from the cultivators who had narrowly escaped death. Naturally, there were also smiles to be had. At least Yi Xia and Gu Xuyao had reason to smile. The show was over, and the human drama unfolded.

Li Shuisheng and Zibi were the happiest, flipping through the unconscious Gu Xuyao, tears of emotion streaming down their faces.

The competition was over, and the ending was quite interesting. The Qingxin Hall, which Gu Xuyao had never found, turned out to have the most survivors. If Gu Xuyao were awake, he would likely be furious.

But regardless, the cultivators of the Qingxin Hall were indeed very united. After entering the ancient wet forest, they did not immediately start searching for magical treasures or targets. Instead, they quickly gathered all the cultivators of their sect through their own means. After forming a group, they were no longer afraid of individual cultivators, quickly accumulating many magical treasures, and then finding a safe base to defend.

Although some of their fellow cultivators died during the attacks, they ultimately won first place due to the events involving Gu Xuyao and Bai Xing.

Clearly, these details were not important. Although the Taiheng Sect cultivators did not receive any rewards, their reputation greatly improved. The reason was not their strength, but Gu Xuyao's tenacious will and the several cultivators who sacrificed themselves for their fellow cultivators.

Gu Xuyao's physical exhaustion was extremely severe. He remained unconscious until the flying boat reached the Taiheng Sect, still not waking up.

On the day of their return, Tuye and Turu, along with other disciples, came to greet them. Seeing so many fewer people return, everyone's faces were clouded with sorrow. Notably, in the back of the welcoming line, in a corner, was a dirty figure, someone who had not stepped into the upper echelons of the Taiheng Sect for a long time.

Gu Xuyao slept for half a year. During this time, nothing major happened in the Taiheng Sect, but Gu Xuyao was promoted to the upper echelons, which left all the cultivators speechless. However, Gu Xuyao's cultivation had reached the level required for the upper echelons, and no matter how dissatisfied the other cultivators were, they could not say anything.

When he finally woke from his coma, Gu Xuyao was not alone. There were other people, other cultivators, in the room.

Blood quickly flowed through Gu Xuyao's veins again, and the heavy door of his mind slowly opened. Weakness swept over his nerves, and his vision cleared. It was a sunny day.

"You're awake."

An unfamiliar voice. Gu Xuyao was sure he had never heard this person speak before. It took him a while to fully wake up. He then saw a cultivator sitting not far away, with a square face and a just appearance.

"Who are you..." Looking around at the furnishings, Gu Xuyao knew he was back at the Taiheng Sect. He had lost consciousness when he used the third roar of the Thunder Roar, and the only thing he remembered was Yulin being cruelly killed.

The cultivator glanced at Gu Xuyao, said nothing, and got up to open the door, speaking to other cultivators outside.

Their voices were too low for Gu Xuyao to hear, but he saw two cultivators guarding outside the door.

"Are they guarding me? Why?" Confused, Gu Xuyao got out of bed and wanted to ask, but at that moment, a familiar figure walked into his room.

"Gu Gu! You're awake!"

Zibi looked much more haggard, her brows clouded with worry. Perhaps it was related to Gu Xuyao's coma.

"Zibi, what's going on...?" Seeing two cultivators guarding the door, it was clear that Gu Xuyao was under house arrest.

The three cultivators looked at Gu Xuyao, saying nothing.

Zibi smiled awkwardly.

"Senior Brothers, can I speak to him alone for a moment? Just in the room, I won't go anywhere."

The three looked at each other, and the cultivator who had been guarding Gu Xuyao nodded.

"Zibi, do you know something? Why am I in the upper echelons when I wake up, and why are these cultivators watching me? Could it be that..." Instantly, Gu Xuyao remembered the two sentences Ling Sanshi had transmitted to him.

Zibi closed the door, her face even more troubled.

"Gu Gu, listen to me. Actually, the situation is like this..."

It turned out that during the second round of the competition, the loss of the Heavenly Evil Pearl, Ling Sanshi had always suspected that it was stolen by a Taiheng Sect cultivator. Since Gu Xuyao was closest to Zibi at the time, Ling Sanshi suspected him.

When Ling Sanshi transmitted messages to Gu Xuyao, he was asking if Gu Xuyao had taken the Heavenly Evil Pearl. However, Gu Xuyao, resenting the suspicion, never answered Ling Sanshi's questions directly. In the Blue Supervisor Hall, the appearance of the Heavenly Evil Pearl had already attracted the covetous eyes of many cultivators. If it were revealed that Gu Xuyao had the Heavenly Evil Pearl, it would be like sending a lamb to the wolves.

So Ling Sanshi took no action, even when Gu Xuyao entered the ancient wet forest.

"What does that mean? Does he really think I stole that worthless pearl?" Gu Xuyao frowned, anger rising, and he felt a strange pain in his chest.

Zibi sighed deeply.

"Gu Gu, I know you didn't steal the pearl, but this matter needs to be resolved. The Sect Leader... he..."

Zibi lowered her head. "Perhaps after some time, once he knows you didn't steal the Heavenly Evil Pearl, he will release you. Then everything can be as if nothing happened."

"Nonsense!" Gu Xuyao roared. "How can it be as if nothing happened? As a disciple of the Taiheng Sect, I have fulfilled all my responsibilities. I fought for the sect, avenged fellow cultivators I barely knew, and almost died. But now, I am suspected of stealing something? Why? What reason does Ling Sanshi have to suspect me of stealing the Heavenly Evil Pearl?"

Gu Xuyao's sudden outburst left Zibi at a loss, not knowing how to respond. But at that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a disheveled figure walked in.

"Because of me."

Gu Xuyao turned to see Ren Wuyou, who had knocked out the cultivators outside.

"Brother Ren, why...?" The situation left Gu Xuyao confused. Although Ren Wuyou was strong, being able to silently knock out three Root Birth Realm cultivators was surprisingly powerful.

Ren Wuyou closed the door, his figure flashing, and Zibi was also knocked out.

"Brother Ren, Zibi is one of us, you don't need to do this!"

Gu Xuyao supported the limp Zibi, his face showing a hint of reproach.

Ren Wuyou smoothed his disheveled hair, sat down, and when Gu Xuyao saw his expression, he knew how serious the matter was.

"Gu kid, I don't doubt her, but it's better for her to know as little as possible. There's no need to involve her." He gestured for Gu Xuyao to sit down.

"Brother Ren, you said the Sect Leader suspects me of stealing the Heavenly Evil Pearl because of you. What does that mean?"

Ren Wuyou sighed, his expression profound.

"Gu kid, I didn't want to tell you this, but it seems I have no choice now." He seemed to recall a series of memories. "Ling Sanshi, he didn't always have that name. I've always been Ren Wuyou. He became the Sect Leader of the Taiheng Sect because I gave it to him."

This was a deep secret of the Taiheng Sect, and any disciple would be shocked to hear it. Gu Xuyao was no exception.

"Then your identity is..."

"I am Ling Sanshi's senior brother, and the eldest disciple of our generation."

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