Chapter 1469: Chapter 757: Array Formation (2)
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow and casually tossed out a Mid-grade Spirit Stone.
"Speak plainly."
The middle-aged man fumbled to catch the Spirit Stone, joy flashing in his eyes, but then he hesitated a little.
"Th-this... this information probably isn’t worth that much..."
"I decide whether it’s worth it or not."
Gu Sheng said flatly.
"If you still don’t talk, I’ll be leaving."
"Y-yes, yes!"
The middle-aged man hurriedly leaned closer.
"A small Secret Realm has appeared within the poisonous miasma north of the city, hidden in a ruined temple. People from the Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Five Poison Divine Sect’s branch have already gone over. It’s said they’ll be auctioning entry slots at Tianyou Square tonight..."
A sharp gleam flashed through Gu Sheng’s eyes and vanished.
"Interesting. Where exactly?"
"Thirty li deep into the poisonous miasma, there’s a crumbling ruin called the ’No-Life Temple’."
The middle-aged man swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"But that miasma is extremely strange. Without special means, ordinary Cultivators can’t last half a quarter of an hour inside..."
Gu Sheng nodded and casually took out a High-grade Spirit Stone, stuffing it into the man’s hand.
"I’ll take this information."
The middle-aged man’s hands trembled as he held the Spirit Stone.
"Th-this is too much..."
"If I gain anything in the Secret Realm, you won’t be treated unfairly."
Gu Sheng patted his shoulder and turned to leave.
The middle-aged man stood where he was, staring at Gu Sheng’s back, his eyes filled with both gratitude and guilt.
After returning to his inn room, Gu Sheng set up a soundproofing barrier and took out a crystal-clear Jade Embryo from his robe.
"Old thing, stop pretending to sleep."
The Jade Embryo quivered slightly, and a lazy voice sounded.
"Brat, what trouble have you stirred up this time?"
"A Secret Realm appeared in the poisonous miasma north of the city."
Gu Sheng sat down cross-legged.
"The Heavenly Ghost Sect and Five Poison Divine Sect have both set their eyes on it."
"Tsk tsk, you really are a walking disaster in your next life, huh?"
The Innate Spirit Embryo sneered.
"Wherever you go, trouble follows."
A cold gleam surfaced in Gu Sheng’s eyes.
"I suspect... someone has their sights on me."
"Oh?"
The Innate Spirit Embryo grew interested.
"Go on."
"I’ve never set foot in the Southern Border, yet as soon as I entered the city, I felt someone watching me."
Gu Sheng’s fingertip tapped lightly on the table.
"Aside from that old undead from the Five Poison Sect, I can’t think of anyone else."
The Innate Spirit Embryo fell silent for a moment.
"You’re saying... the Five Poison Sect Patriarch?"
"Most likely him."
Gu Sheng let out a cold laugh.
"I wiped out his entire sect. It’d be strange if he didn’t leave some backup."
"Then what do you plan to do? Hide?"
"Hide?"
Gu Sheng stood up, battle intent surging in his eyes.
"Since we’ve run into each other, I might as well drag him out myself. This Secret Realm... suits me perfectly!"
As night fell, Gu Sheng changed into an unremarkable gray robe, put on an ordinary mask, and headed toward Tianyou Square.
Two guards with chilling auras stood at the workshop gate. Seeing Gu Sheng, they stretched out their hands to block him.
"Please present your invitation."
A Jade Token slid out from Gu Sheng’s sleeve... the token he had obtained from the middle-aged man during the day.
After checking it, the guards stepped aside.
"Please."
Inside Tianyou Square, the lights were bright but there were few people; clearly, not just anyone could enter.
Gu Sheng went straight toward the black pavilion at the center and spoke to the Maid at the door.
"I want to see the workshop master."
The Maid sized him up.
"The workshop master is very busy..."
A High-grade Spirit Stone dropped into her hand.
The Maid’s expression shifted slightly, and she lowered her voice.
"Please follow me."
Passing through several layers of restrictions, Gu Sheng was led into an elegant room.
The furnishings inside were simple; only a Black Jade Table stood there, and behind it sat a middle-aged man with a sinister face.
"Workshop Master Mo Ling?"
Gu Sheng got straight to the point.
The middle-aged man lifted his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"And you are?"
"A buyer."
Gu Sheng sat directly across from him.
"I want an entry slot for the Secret Realm."
A trace of surprise flashed in Mo Ling’s eyes.
"Three hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones. That’s the price set by the Heavenly Ghost Sect—no bargaining."
Without another word, Gu Sheng took out a Storage Ring and pushed it over.
"Thirty High-grade Spirit Stones. Please verify."
Mo Ling swept it with his Divine Sense, and his expression shifted slightly.
"You’re straightforward."
He put away the ring and took out a blood-colored Jade Scroll.
"Tomorrow between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m, bring this item to the ’Miasma Tower’ in the north of the city and gather there."
Gu Sheng put away the Jade Scroll, but did not get up.
"Workshop master, your information is well-connected; I’d like to ask about something."
Mo Ling narrowed his eyes.
"That depends on what it is."
"Lately in Heavenly Ghost City, have there been any Martial Artists who seem... off?"
Gu Sheng lightly tapped the table with his fingertip.
"Especially those... who are interested in me."
Mo Ling pondered for a moment.
"Three days ago, a few Martial Artists from the East Desolation arrived; as soon as they came, they were taken away by the higher-ups of Heavenly Ghost Sect."
"East Desolation?"
A gleam flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes.
"What background?"
"Not clear."
Mo Ling shook his head.
"I only know they come from a power that has a Sect Realm Great Power."
Gu Sheng looked thoughtful.
"What about on the Five Poison Divine Sect’s side? Who is the strongest sitting here?"
"Blood Centipede Guardian."
Mo Ling lowered his voice.
"One of the seventy-two protectors of the Five Poison Divine Sect, sinister by nature and vengeful over the slightest slight. You’d... best not provoke him."
"Blood Centipede Guardian..."
Gu Sheng softly repeated, a cold light flickering in his eyes.
"What’s his cultivation?"
"Golden Core Peak; it’s said one foot has already stepped into Nascent Soul."
Mo Ling gave Gu Sheng a meaningful look.
"What, you and he have old grievances?"
Gu Sheng neither confirmed nor denied.
"Last question... does this Blood Centipede Guardian often wear a bronze mask all year round?"
Mo Ling’s body stiffened, almost imperceptibly.
"You... know him?"
"So it really is him!"
Gu Sheng sneered coldly in his heart, then rose and cupped his fists.
"Many thanks for clearing things up, workshop master."
Leaving Tianyou Square, Gu Sheng did not return directly to the inn. Instead, he looped around the city several times. Only after confirming that no one was tailing him did he quietly go back.
"Confirmed?"
The Innate Spirit Embryo asked.
"The Five Poison Sect’s old ancestor is precisely the Blood Centipede Guardian."
Gu Sheng took off his outer robe, revealing the thirty-six Defense Talismans hidden within.
"He’s recognized me."
Gu Sheng walked out of Tianyou Square and lifted his head to glance at the sky.
The setting sun dipped westward, dyeing the entire city in a bloody hue.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, cold intent in his eyes.
"Since you’re so fond of tailing people, don’t blame me for being rude."
He no longer concealed his aura; True Qi surged around him like an unsheathed sharp sword, its edge fully revealed.
Gu Sheng strode toward the outskirts of the city, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.
"They’re here."
Gu Sheng said inwardly. He clearly perceived that cold, snake-like presence behind him rapidly approaching; besides that, there were several slightly weaker yet equally venomous auras.
"The people of the Five Poison Divine Sect really couldn’t hold back."
Gu Sheng deliberately slowed his steps and arrived at a desolate valley outside the city.
The terrain here was wide open, just right for dealing with these tails.
He came to a halt and turned to face the empty path he had come from.
"You’ve been following for so long; don’t you get tired?"
Gu Sheng’s voice was icy, echoing through the valley.
After a brief silence, a hoarse, grating laugh rang out.
"Jie jie jie... Boy, your Perception is sharp enough."
An emaciated old man in a black robe walked out from the shadows. Deep wrinkles crisscrossed his face like dried tree bark, yet his eyes gleamed with a strange green light.
Behind the old man, seven Martial Artists in black appeared one after another, fanning out to encircle Gu Sheng.
"Blood Centipede Guardian, old ancestor of the Five Poison Sect—your reputation precedes you."
Gu Sheng’s tone was flat, as if discussing the weather.
The green light in Blood Centipede Guardian’s eyes flashed.
"You know this old man?"
"An old sack of poison skulking in the dark to shoot cold arrows—hard not to know you."
Gu Sheng sneered.
"You’ve had your eyes on me since the auction; you really thought I wouldn’t notice?"
Blood Centipede Guardian’s face darkened.
"Arrogant brat! Since you’ve delivered yourself to my door, don’t think about leaving alive!"
Before his words fell, his withered palm swung sharply. A jet-black stream of air howled forth, transforming midair into a ferocious centipede of black Qi that lunged straight at Gu Sheng’s face.
Gu Sheng neither dodged nor retreated, merely blew out a gentle breath.
That seemingly casual breath contained vast True Qi; the black centipede was instantly blown apart, dissolving into nothingness.
"That’s all you’ve got?"
Gu Sheng arched a brow.
Blood Centipede Guardian’s expression changed slightly, then he gave a vicious grin.
"Form the array!"
The seven black-clothed Martial Artists moved at once, their hands forming seals as they muttered incantations under their breath.
In an instant, seven streams of toxic smoke of different colors rose from their bodies, intertwining in midair into a great net that dropped down to shroud Gu Sheng.
"Five Poison Bone-Eroding Array!"
Blood Centipede Guardian shouted harshly.
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