Chapter 79

"Who could be the expert in the art of gu (poison insects)?"

The one who asked the question was another expert with eight-inch inner strength, who was by the side of Lord Su.

When Ye Qing and Old Liu pursued together, Su Wenxiang quietly got up and returned to his room. It was only after he left the sight of others that this hidden expert revealed himself.

This was a middle-aged man, tall and robust, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes that exuded authority. His aura was as intense as a blazing furnace.

To outsiders, Ye Qing was known only as the head of the guards, while those closer to him knew that Old Liu, with his eight-inch inner strength, was the one truly responsible for protection.

However, within the Su residence, only a few people knew of this man's existence.

Su Wenxiu, his talented granddaughter, was highly regarded by Su Wenxiang, but she was also unaware of this matter. Perhaps with her intelligence, she had some vague suspicions.

Lord Su glanced at the man and said indifferently, "Grand Master Yuan Shoufeng has left the territory of the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty, and many cultivators are becoming restless. Even the divine national treasure, the Mountain and River Immortal Map, has become a target. The poisoning of me was merely a test."

The robust man said in a deep voice, "Aren't you afraid of the Astronomical Bureau?"

"Gu insects are indeed strange, and their effects can even poison a grandmaster of martial arts. However, they are not a path of cultivation, so those who practice gu are not considered cultivators unless the gu expert themselves has cultivated."

Lord Su said, "Even ordinary people like you and me, if we obtain the gu insect scriptures, know the methods of poison preparation, and the techniques of raising and controlling gu insects, can be considered practitioners of gu. As long as one is not a cultivator, these gu techniques are like martial arts, belonging to the secular world. The Astronomical Bureau does not intervene in secular matters."

The robust man fell silent for a long time before saying, "Gu techniques are hard to guard against and indeed unsettling. But after the great disaster two years ago, the gu practitioners were almost all killed by Yuan Shoufeng, and the few survivors were expelled from the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty. How could there still be someone proficient in this art?"

"Have you forgotten Mount Tianzun?" Su Wenxiang said indifferently. "The divine venerated on Mount Tianzun, known as the First True Dragon Tiger, can act as he pleases as long as he doesn't openly break the law. If my guess is correct, this person should be a direct disciple of the divine venerated on Mount Tianzun, and I can confirm that he has been practicing for less than two years."

Pausing, Su Wenxiang continued, "Speculation is useless. Once I see this person's head, I can determine his identity."

The robust man nodded.

He recalled the disaster caused by the gu practitioners.

After that disaster, the gu practitioners were almost all killed by Yuan Shoufeng, and the few survivors were expelled from the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty. Why would the true person on Mount Tianzun take a disciple and teach them the art of gu?

According to what Lord Su said, the First True Person of Mount Tianzun seemed to have taken this disciple after the disaster.

What is the connection?

"The more I know, the more disheartened I become," the robust man said with a bitter smile. "In the past, I thought I was one of the few great experts in the world, capable of dominating the world except for the grandmasters of martial arts. It wasn't until I joined your service, through you, the current Lord Chancellor, that I learned of the astonishing abilities of the cultivators in this world."

"Divine powers and immortal techniques, these are stories recorded in scriptures, which should be nothing more than vague tales, but they are real."

The robust man sighed.

...

Whoosh!

Qin Xianyu slashed the flying insect with his sword.

This place was already in the outskirts, with thickets and numerous insects.

Qin Xianyu continuously cut down many insects but still did not find the trace of the gu practitioner. He held his breath and began to sense the surroundings, trying to find a clue.

"There's no need to search."

The man slowly emerged from behind a tree and said indifferently, "I'm here."

This man was in his early thirties, with an ordinary appearance, dressed in gray clothes and black pants, exuding a cold aura.

Qin Xianyu gathered his true qi, focusing it in his eyes, and saw that the man's qi and blood were as intense as a furnace, similar to Old Liu.

"Eight-inch inner strength? But his aura is even stronger than Old Liu's eight-inch inner strength. It's partly because he is in his prime, but also because his inner strength cultivation is not weak," Qin Xianyu thought to himself. "He might have eight-inch eight-tenths or even eight-inch nine-tenths inner strength."

Qin Xianyu himself was only at the seven-inch six-tenths true qi cultivation, and the other's inner strength cultivation was clearly higher than his.

True qi is gentle, while inner strength is fierce.

At the same level, true qi nourishes the body, while inner strength harms it. However, in combat, inner strength is clearly more powerful.

Even at the same level, this is the case. Now, with his inner strength cultivation surpassing true qi cultivation, Qin Xianyu was clearly at a disadvantage.

But this young Taoist was no longer the naive youth he once was. He knew that his secret sword technique was extremely powerful, and his seven-inch six-tenths true qi could match eight-inch inner strength. Although he did not know sword techniques or variations, the Cicada Wing Step had made up for this shortcoming.

Qin Xianyu, confident, held his long sword and said, "This senior poisoned the Su residence, drugging all the food and drink, without distinguishing between friend or foe, nearly harming this young Taoist. Such a heart is truly ruthless."

"I was merely ordered to poison Chancellor Wen. As for who else was affected, it doesn't matter," the gu practitioner with a dark aura said coldly. "But unexpectedly, I've drawn out a cultivator, which is a great fortune."

Qin Xianyu raised an eyebrow and said, "Drawing out a cultivator is like inviting trouble. What's there to be happy about?"

"I, Wu Ya, was originally a martial artist, seeking immortality and cultivation. After much effort, I finally joined Mount Tianzun and became a disciple of the First True Dragon Tiger of the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty. However, the Venerated Gaiyi did not teach me the way of cultivation but only the art of gu."

Wu Ya's voice was filled with resentment, and he sneered, "Gu is just a minor technique. Even an ordinary person can prepare and control poisons, which does not help one's cultivation. He did not teach me the way of cultivation but only side techniques, so I hate all cultivators the most in my life."

"The Venerated Gaiyi only had me stay in seclusion to prepare poisons, which was truly boring."

"On Mount Tianzun, I have seen many fellow disciples who cultivate qi, but you are the first cultivator to become my enemy."

"I've heard that true qi condensed into a powerful force is extremely powerful, but true qi that has not condensed into a powerful force is inferior to inner strength."

At this point, Wu Ya laughed and said, "I have nearly eight-inch inner strength. Today, I will kill you, a cultivator, using only my martial arts, without using gu techniques!"

Seeing his sinister face and strange tone, Qin Xianyu knew that this man had a bad character and, after joining the immortal sect, had not learned the immortal techniques but instead harbored resentment towards all cultivators.

This man's character had changed, driven by evil thoughts and madness.

Qin Xianyu thought to himself, "So he's a madman."

Wu Ya sneered twice, clapped his hands, and said, "Remember, the one who kills you is Wu Ya of Mount Tianzun!"

Qin Xianyu was silent for a moment, pointed his sword forward, and said indifferently, "Just a madman like you?"