In the inner city of Tiandu, Prince Huai’s Mansion.
Within the study, King Huai sat alone, his face solemn, his gaze deep, lost in thought.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, King Huai stretched out his finger and gently tapped the armrest of his seat. Instantaneously, a shadowy figure materialized in the study.
"Your Highness," the figure said softly, a secret agent secretly cultivated through the ancient Medicine King Sect, possessing extraordinary strength.
"Where is Gu Chen now?" King Huai asked, his face void of emotion.
"Reporting back to Your Highness, Gu Chen is nearly arriving at Yan State now. His target is the Da Guangming Sect," the secret agent replied softly.
"Yan State’s Da Guangming Sect?" Upon hearing this, King Huai’s voice grew low, saying, "It seems the Tower Supervisor didn’t take my words to heart, or perhaps, he thinks I’m incapable of killing Gu Chen?"
The secret agent stood quietly, like a shadow, remaining silent.
"Immediately send a message to both the Red Dust Tower and the Lone Soul, as well as to the Six Union God Sect, informing them that Gu Chen is about to reach the Da Guangming Sect. I’d imagine they’ll find this news very interesting."
As he spoke, a cold, humorless smile formed on King Huai’s lips, devoid of any warmth, even somewhat merciless.
At that moment, the secret agent spoke, "Your Highness, in recent times, strange events have been occurring frequently in Tian State, and from the six holy lands, another batch of Upper Realm forces has descended.
Moreover, we’ve received news that before this, three elders at the fullness of Gang Qi Stage from Vault of Sky Sword Sect have been dispatched to Tiandu with the intent of killing Gu Chen."
"Oh?"
At these words, the icy smile on King Huai’s face grew more intense as the temperature in the study plummeted. He spoke, "Just perfect, spread the news of Gu Chen’s presence in Yan State. This time, I want to see how he can survive, surrounded by so many enemies."
"By the way, you just mentioned another batch of reinforcements from the Upper Realm?" King Huai said.
"Yes," the agent replied, head bowed, daring not to look directly at King Huai.
"Hmm, Gu Chen killed Qi Yang and Wang Yun from the Pure Yang Martial Sect, does he think he can hide that from me? Heh, spread this news as well, including Gu Chen’s grudge with Wan Symbol Mysterious Sect and Red Cloud Sect. Have someone disseminate it throughout Tian State. I want to see how Gu Chen, just one man, can deal with these enemies and the gifted individuals from the Upper Realm."
With cold indifference, King Huai said, "Tower Supervisor, you chose him, betting everything on him. I don’t care what you see in Gu Chen, I will destroy him."
"The greatest martial prodigy in the history of Da Xia? I want to see how he can survive this time."
Gu Chen’s remarkable talent did indeed make King Huai somewhat wary, but that was as far as it went. After all, although Gu Chen was strong at this stage, he was still far from reaching him and hadn’t occupied much of King Huai’s attention.
Having confirmed their enmity, King Huai would no longer show mercy and had already begun to lay out his plans to deal with Gu Chen.
"Tower Supervisor, I’m curious to see what you will do if the person you have such high hopes for dies. When that time comes, you’ll have no choice but to side with me, won’t you? The Heavenly Human Gazing Skill is powerful indeed, but not almighty. You don’t trust me, so I’ll just have to show you!"
It was clear that King Huai had been unable to let go of his previous conversation with the Tower Supervisor. With his pride, having approached the Tower Supervisor to seek cooperation, only to be rejected, was something King Huai couldn’t accept.
Especially since the Tower Supervisor’s target was Gu Chen, whose cultivation level was not even equivalent to his own.
If the Tower Supervisor believed Gu Chen was the hope, then King Huai intended to personally extinguish that hope, showing the Tower Supervisor which choice was the correct one.
"You’re merely a junior; do you really think you can contend with me? I could simply lift a finger, and you would die without a burial place!" King Huai said with cold contempt.
The secret agent stood there, as if he heard nothing, utterly quiet.
The entire study was enveloped by King Huai’s "field," with no one from the outside world knowing what was occurring within. Even the Tower Supervisor, attempting to use the Heavenly Human Gazing Skill for prognostication, couldn’t possibly know everything with absolute certainty.
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Moreover, even if some things were known, this didn’t necessarily mean they could be thwarted.
With King Huai himself restraining the Tower Supervisor in Tiandu, the Tower Supervisor would naturally be helpless to aid Gu Chen in Yan State.
With this thought, a cold smirk once again spread across King Huai’s lips. Extending his fingers, he slowly clenched his hand and said, "All that exists under the heavens should rightfully belong to me!"
...
Unaware of King Huai’s thoughts, Gu Chen had already reached the border of Yan State.
Almost a year had passed since his last visit to Yan State, and compared to that time, things had changed completely.
Gu Chen had grown from an insignificant figure to a top grandmaster who now influenced the fate of the world, looked up to by countless beings.
The difference between then and now was immense.
This time, upon arriving in Yan State, Gu Chen chose not to meet with Yan Qing or other acquaintances from the Jing Tian Department of Yan State, but instead headed straight for his target, the Da Guangming Sect.
"After learning of my whereabouts, will you, the master of Red Dust Tower and the leader of Lone Soul assassins, come for me?"
With this thought, a cruel smile flickered across Gu Chen’s lips. Passive defense was not his style; taking the initiative was.
After learning from Luo Wenzhi, the Tower Supervisor of the Red Dust Tower, about the matters concerning the Blood Garment Tower and the Lonely Souls, Gu Chen was already plotting.
He didn’t have the luxury of time to leisurely wait for the Tower Master of the Blood Garment Tower and the leader of the Lonely Souls to visit. Instead of waiting for the enemy to be fully prepared, it would be better for Gu Chen to take the initiative, seize the advantage, and catch them off guard.
Although Gu Chen could not find their location, it didn’t mean he had no way to deal with them; luring the snake out of its hole was a good option.
Gu Chen also believed that as long as they were confident enough, they would not miss such an opportunity.
At the same time, this could also be used to test the attitude of the Da Guangming Sect. If the Da Guangming Sect had issues as well, then all the better, Gu Chen would settle things once and for all, sweeping away all these obstacles of Da Xia in one battle.
"I hope you have the guts. Don’t disappoint me," Gu Chen’s eyes were cold, and he even seemed to be looking forward to it to some extent.
This was a trap he had set, not telling anyone about it. If anyone in the world would know, it could only be the Tower Supervisor.
Quickly, utilizing the LingXu Nine Steps, Gu Chen passed through the air. After arriving in Yan State, in less than an hour’s time, he had already reached the gates of the Da Guangming Sect.
The Da Guangming Sect, ranked as one of the three great Da Sects, among the seven sects and eight factions of the Diancang Pavilion, was powerful. It could be said to be at the forefront of the top forces in the nine states, with its old Sect Leader being a top Grandmaster who had reached divinity in martial arts.
It was said that more than twenty years ago, he had attained the full circle of the divine realm and was eager to break through to the Coagulation Field.
However, since the Da Guangming Sect acted both righteously and unrighteously, after the previous Emperor of Da Xia ascended the throne, the Da Guangming Sect was consequently purged by Da Xia, and the old Sect Leader was severely injured, nearly losing his life. If the Da Guangming Sect hadn’t paid a heavy price, their sect gates might have been destroyed at the time.
Of course, if the previous Emperor of Da Xia hadn’t needed to deal with the Six Sacred Lands, perhaps the Da Guangming Sect would have been destroyed long ago and would not exist to this day.
Now, more than twenty years later, the old Sect Leader of the Da Guangming Sect still had not left his seclusion, and because of the battle back in those days, the overall strength of the Da Guangming Sect had greatly weakened, becoming the weakest among the three Da Sects.
The Da Guangming Sect was located in the territory of Lin’an County in Changqing Mansion, Yan State, on a towering, ancient mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, which was where the sect gate of this top force in the nine states stood.
At this moment, Gu Chen appeared at the foot of the mountain of the Da Guangming Sect, gazing at the peak.
He had dealt with the Da Guangming Sect on many occasions and had had many contacts, the only thing that surprised Gu Chen was that during that battle in Yan State, the Da Guangming Sect did not join the barbarians and the demon sects in their joint attack on Da Xia, which was honestly unexpected for Gu Chen.
After much thought, Gu Chen concluded that the Da Guangming Sect didn’t dare to make any rash moves back then because the old Sect Leader had not exited his seclusion.
This time, Gu Chen appeared here to probe the Da Guangming Sect’s foundation.
At the gate of each force’s mountain, there would be disciples standing guard, and of course, the Da Guangming Sect was no different.
Two young disciples were stationed here, and it was their turn to be on duty today. Soon, they saw a figure dressed in mysterious clothes with a strong and slender physique, black hair shining casually draped behind him, slowly walking towards the mountain gate of the Da Guangming Sect.
"Halt, this place is my..."
Mid-sentence, his voice abruptly stopped, because, as the morning mist dispersed, and as the shadow in mysterious clothes drew closer, the two young martial artists of the Da Guangming Sect saw Gu Chen’s appearance.
"Da... Great Xia’s Defense Envoy, Gu... Gu Chen?!" The two young martial artists trembled while uttering Gu Chen’s name.
Gu Chen’s name had spread throughout the world by now, and not long ago, he was named the thirteenth Defense Envoy of Da Xia. Recently, his name had been circulating throughout the nine states, enduringly talked about. As disciples of the Da Guangming Sect, they naturally had seen portrayals of Gu Chen.
"Lord... Lord Gu..." The two young disciples had never come in close contact with a figure like Gu Chen, and they were stammering and breathless.
Compared to Da Xia, Gu Chen’s infamy spread more on the martial worlds, especially in Yan State, where the bloody reputation he earned had originated.
Previously, in front of the city of Yulong in Yan State, Gu Chen had slaughtered a barbarian army of over a hundred thousand, a deed that, to this day, all who knew of it in Yan State felt lingering fear.
That was an army of over a hundred thousand barbarians. Back when he was only a Grandmaster, Gu Chen had reaped lives without mercy, and now that he had become one of the top Grandmasters in the divine realm, who knew the extent of his killing intent.
Anyway, recent rumors in the martial world had all been about Gu Chen cutting down someone today, killing another tomorrow; it was no wonder these two were afraid.
Gu Chen did not speak. With his current status, how could he possibly stoop to bickering with two young men? He ignored the two young guards and walked straight past them, heading deep into the mountain gate of the Da Guangming Sect.
Seeing this, the two young disciples guarding the gate dared not say a word, only watching as Gu Chen walked on.
Along the way, Gu Chen encountered more disciples of the Da Guangming Sect.
"Who are you? You look so unfamiliar. Who allowed you to come here?"
At that moment, a martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage was coaching his disciples in their practice and approached Gu Chen upon seeing him.
However, as he approached and saw Gu Chen’s face, he was instantly shocked, and he fell to the ground.
"Master, Master, what’s wrong with you?" His disciples quickly helped him up, looking at him in confusion.
"Gu... Gu... Gu Chen?!" The martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage’s eyes were wide open, not understanding why Gu Chen would appear here at their Da Guangming Sect’s gate.
"Could it be?" A thought emerged in the mind of the martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage. Feeling a chill all over, he pushed away the surrounding disciples and ran with all his might towards the peak of the mountain.
He needed to report the arrival of Gu Chen, the Defense Envoy of Da Xia, Marquis of Wu’an, to the higher-ups of the Da Guangming Sect as soon as possible.