txolops Chapter 175 Releasing the Dragon from the Cold Prison, the Wind Rises at the Cloud Terrace
Chapter 175 Releasing the Dragon from the Cold Prison, the Wind Rises at the Cloud Terrace
Deep beneath the main peak of Cangxuan lies the Frozen Death Prison.
The surrounding rock walls are all made of ancient ice, and there is no candlelight or sunlight.
Thick white frost had formed on the walls, and ice water dripped from overhead from time to time, hitting the dark iron floor with a hollow and monotonous sound.
The air here is so cold it seems to freeze one's consciousness; with each breath, the exhaled white breath instantly turns into icy mist and dissipates.
Zhou Tianqi sat cross-legged on the cold ground.
His once spotless blue ink-wash Taoist robe was now covered in ice shards and stains.
Two wrist-thick, thousand-year-old black iron chains, with chilling barbs, mercilessly pierced through his left and right collarbones.
The other end of the chain was firmly nailed to the depths of the icy wall behind them.
The blood had already frozen into dark red ice around the wound, and his dantian was completely sealed off, with no spiritual energy flowing through his meridians.
Not far from him, Elder Song and Elder Chen were also impaled by iron chains, their eyes closed and heads bowed, their breaths faint.
Zhou Tianqi's back remained ramrod straight. His eyes were open, his gaze calmly fixed on the darkness ahead.
He harbored no resentment towards the Cangxuan Sect, only deep concern for the future of the Guixu Sect.
He's trapped here, and the situation outside must have spiraled out of control.
If the hot-tempered sword cultivators of the Guixu Sect learn that he is imprisoned, they will definitely come out in full force and fight the Cangxuan Sect to the death.
At that time, Dongzhou will be destroyed, and its people will suffer immensely.
The mastermind lurking in the shadows will laugh loudly, stepping over the corpses of the two overlords.
As the young sect leader, he was powerless to stop all of this, which was the most painful thing for him.
Suddenly, a dull thud of a mechanism turning came from outside the heavy iron gate.
The rusty hinges rubbed against the ice surface, slowly pulling the door open.
A blinding ray of light squeezed in through the crack in the door, dispelling the darkness inside the death row cell.
Zhou Tianqi squinted.
Backlit, Zhou Chongyue, the Grand Elder of Law Enforcement of the Cangxuan Sect, strode into the death row.
This once imposing Nascent Soul cultivator now looked decades older.
His golden Tai Chi robe was covered in dried bloodstains, his hair was disheveled, and his face looked ashen, as if he had suffered a great loss of vitality.
Seeing Zhou Chongyue's miserable state, Zhou Tianqi's heart sank.
A fight broke out; the worst-case scenario still occurred.
Zhou Chongyue stopped in front of Zhou Tianqi, looking down at this peerless genius of the Guixu Sect.
There was no mockery, no anger, only endless complexity.
Zhou Chongyue raised his right hand, and a golden sword aura was forced out from his fingertips.
The sword energy swirled in the air like a dragon before precisely striking the two black iron chains that had pierced Zhou Tianqi's collarbone.
With two sharp cracks, the seemingly indestructible chain snapped.
Following that, Zhou Chongyue did the same thing, cutting the chains on Elder Song and Elder Chen at the same time, and also breaking the seals on their Qi Seas.
Zhou Tianqi collapsed to the ground, ignoring the excruciating pain emanating from his collarbone.
The long-lost spiritual energy was like spring rain on a parched riverbed, quickly nourishing his withered meridians.
He looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.
Since the Cangxuan Sect has already paid such a heavy price, why release him at this time?
Elder Song and Elder Chen helped each other to their feet, looking at Zhou Chongyue with wary expressions, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
Zhou Chongyue looked at the three of them, let out a long sigh, and his voice was as hoarse as sandpaper.
"Don't look at me like that. If someone hadn't risked their life to protect the core of the Cangxuan Sect's formation and intervened despite being half-crippled, the three of you would never have walked out of this death cell alive today."
Zhou Tianqi frowned and asked in a deep voice.
"What do you mean by that, Elder Zhou? Have you caught the mastermind behind the frame-up against my Guixu Sect?"
Zhou Chongyue shook his head, a deep hatred and lingering fear flashing in his eyes.
"We didn't capture him alive, but he slipped up. While our sect and your Guixu sect were fighting to the death outside, he used the Spirit-Severing Silk Thread to infiltrate the core of the Taiyi Dividing Light Array, attempting to detonate a core crystal that was tainted with the aura of the Central Plains Demonic Sect."
Upon hearing the words "Central Continent Demonic Sect," Zhou Tianqi's pupils suddenly contracted.
He was well aware of the terrifying weight those four words carried. If it truly was the power of Zhongzhou orchestrating this, then everything made perfect sense.
Elder Song couldn't help but step forward and speak urgently.
"Since the core of the formation was attacked, why is the protective formation still operating? Who stopped that demonic cultivator's self-destruction?"
Zhou Chongyue's gaze became extremely heavy, and the image of that weak, blue-clad figure lying in a pool of blood appeared in his mind.
"It's Gu Changsheng."
Upon hearing these three words, the three Guixu Sect members in the death row were all stunned.
Zhou Chongyue took a deep breath, his tone filled with undisguised admiration.
"He not only discerned the demonic cultivator's movements, but also, at the last moment, disregarding his own safety, used the life-saving trump card left to him by his master to forcibly absorb the explosive energy that was capable of destroying the world. The array's core was saved, and the lives of 100,000 Cangxuan disciples were saved."
"He not only discerned the demonic cultivator's movements, but also, at the last moment, disregarding his own safety, used the life-saving trump card left to him by his master to forcibly absorb the explosive energy that was capable of destroying the world. The array's core was saved, and the lives of 100,000 Cangxuan disciples were saved."
"But he himself suffered a severe backlash because he bore the brunt of that power that did not belong to him. His meridians were completely destroyed and his Dao foundation was severely damaged. Afterwards, he dragged his dying body onto the white jade floating stone. In front of Mo Tianwen and me, he vouched for you in the name of his Nascent Soul Master and proposed to hand you over to the Flowing Cloud Sect for safekeeping."
Zhou Chongyue looked directly into Zhou Tianqi's eyes and said, word by word.
"He gave the Guixu Sect face and also gave the Cangxuan Sect a way out. He used his own future and life to exchange for this hard-won ceasefire. Zhou Tianqi, you owe Gu Changsheng a life, and the Guixu Sect owes him an immense debt of gratitude."
Zhou Tianqi stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning.
Gu Changsheng's appearance gradually became clear in his memory.
That righteous cultivator who fought against the Blood Swordsman for everyone in the desolate wasteland, that gentle young man who maintained his gentlemanly demeanor even after his spiritual energy was drained by the Cleansing Pool.
Now, for the sake of the greater good of Dongzhou and to quell the war between the two sects, he is even willing to give up the foundation of his Dao that he has painstakingly cultivated.
The world of cultivation is a place of survival of the fittest, full of deceit and treachery.
Everyone is fighting tooth and nail for their own petty interests.
But there was one person who had the world in his heart and was selfless.
Zhou Tianqi clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.
A deep sense of guilt and admiration overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.
He had once secretly speculated that Gu Changsheng was able to become the champion of the Eastern Continent Competition simply because of the powerful magic weapon given to him by his master.
Looking back now, my narrow-minded thoughts were utterly worthless compared to Gu Changsheng's righteous spirit.
"Take me to see him."
Zhou Tianqi took a deep breath, his tone as firm as iron.
……
Half an hour later.
Cangxuan Main Peak, Welcoming Cloud Platform.
After the rain, the sky cleared, and the setting sun was like blood.
The western sky was dyed a dazzling red.
Beside the white jade railing above the cloud platform, a simple and ancient-style flying boat is moored.
The sails of the flying boat were embroidered with the unique cloud emblem of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
A gentle breeze blew by, and much of the heavy smell of blood in the mountains had dissipated.
Gu Yan sat in a wooden wheelchair, covered with a thick layer of pure white fox fur.
His face was paler than ice, his lips were bloodless, and his chest heaved violently with each breath.
Li Qingge stood behind the wheelchair, her hands gripping the wooden handles.
Her usually indifferent eyes were now red and swollen, and she couldn't take her gaze off Gu Yan's back.
Zhou Chongyue led Zhou Tianqi and the other two as they slowly walked down the stone steps of the cloud platform.
Upon seeing Gu Yan sitting in a wheelchair, looking like a disabled person, Zhou Tianqi suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He strode up to Gu Yan, said no polite words, and instead bent his right knee and knelt heavily on the white jade slab.
The force of the knee strike was immense, producing a dull thud as the knee collided with the stone slab.
Upon seeing this, Elder Song and Elder Chen did not hesitate and knelt down with the young sect leader.
The most proud sword cultivators of the Guixu Sect have all set aside their pride today.
Gu Yan looked at Zhou Tianqi kneeling in front of him, struggled to stand up from the wheelchair, but aggravated his internal injuries, and suddenly burst into a violent cough.
A mouthful of bright red blood stained the white fox fur coat on his chest.
"Senior Brother Gu!"
Li Qingge exclaimed in surprise and quickly pressed down on his shoulder, rapidly channeling pure ice-type spiritual energy into his body to help him calm his blood and qi.
Gu Yan waved weakly, looking at Zhou Tianqi with gentle eyes, her voice broken and intermittent.
"Young Master Zhou, this is unacceptable. Please rise. Changsheng is nothing but a cripple and does not deserve such a grand gesture from the Guixu Sect."
Zhou Tianqi raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed.
"Brother Gu's kindness and virtue are like a second birth. I, Zhou Tianqi, swear today that for the rest of my life, wherever Brother Gu's sword points, my sword will follow. If I break this oath, may I be struck down by heaven and earth, and never be forgiven!"
These vows, resounding and powerful, echoed for a long time above the cloud platform, resonating with the energy of the heavens.
Gu Yan was overjoyed.
A Heavenly Oath from a future Guixu Sect Master is more effective than a top-grade magic weapon, essentially binding most of the Guixu Sect directly to Gu Yan's chariot.
Gu Yan maintained his pained expression on the surface.
"Brother Zhou, you flatter me. We are both righteous people of Dongzhou. The demonic sect of Zhongzhou has gone too far. Changsheng was just doing what he should do. Now that the situation has stabilized, Cangxuan Sect needs time to thoroughly investigate the traitor and recuperate. I can only ask that you, Brother Zhou, go with Changsheng to Liuyun Sect for a few days to live in peace."
"Brother Gu, you are too kind. It is Tianqi's blessing to be able to serve you at Liuyun Sect."
Zhou Tianqi stood up, his tone filled with heartfelt respect.
Zhou Chongyue's words also completely revealed the true strength of the Cangxuan Sect to Gu Yan.
In Zhou Chongyue's view, Gu Changsheng destroyed his Dao Foundation in order to save the Cangxuan Sect.
Even if the Nascent Soul stage expert behind Gu Changsheng causes trouble in the future, with this Taiji Token, Cangxuan Sect can be considered to have done its best to compensate.
Gu Yan declined several times, but under the determined gazes of everyone, he reluctantly put the Tai Chi Token into his pocket.
Immediately afterwards, the space around the gimbal distorted.
The figure of Mo Tianwen, the Grand Elder of the Guixu Sect, burst forth from the sky.
He did not approach the Cangxuan Sect's formation, but stood far away in mid-air and bowed deeply to Gu Yan.
A token radiating a deep blue, watery light pierced through the void and landed steadily on Gu Yan's lap.
"Nephew Gu, this is the Overturning Sea Token of my Guixu Sect. With this token, you may command all thirty-six islands and seventy-two peaks of the Guixu Sect. I entrust Tianqi's safety to you. Once the truth is uncovered, I will personally go to the Liuyun Sect to bring the young sect leader back!"
The two sects' most precious tokens were both in Gu Yan's hands in a single day.
Now, even if he were just an ordinary person with no cultivation, as long as he had these two tokens, he could roam freely throughout the entire Eastern Continent, and even the sect leaders of the major sects would have to show him respect.
This is the terrifying benefit of a perfect persona.
"Thank you both for your kindness. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
Gu Yan cupped his hands in greeting to Mo Tianwen in mid-air and Zhou Chongyue beside him.
As dusk fell, it was time to set off.
Gu Yan was carefully pushed onto the deck of the flying boat by Li Qingge.
Zhou Tianqi and the two elders followed closely behind.
Li Qingge stood at the edge of the deck, her cool eyes filled with reluctance.
She longed to return to Liuyun Sect with Gu Yan and take care of this man who was willing to risk his life for her.
But she is the senior disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, which is now riddled with problems and the traitor within has not yet been identified. The Grand Elder urgently needs her assistance.
The responsibilities she carried did not allow her to simply walk away at this time.
"Senior brother."
Li Qingge walked up to Gu Yan and suddenly bent down.
Her cold lips touched Gu Yan's pale cheek lightly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
A very faint fragrance of winter plum blossoms lingered around Gu Yan's nose.
"Once the matter of Cangxuan Sect is settled, Qingge will go to Liuyun Sect to find you. Even if I have to travel all over the world, Qingge will definitely find a divine medicine to restore your Dao foundation."
Li Qingge's voice was soft yet resolute. After saying this, she turned and jumped off the flying boat, not letting Gu Yan see the tears sliding down her cheeks.
Gu Yan touched the lingering warmth on his face, a rare and subtle ripple rising in his heart.
The peerless ice lotus cultivated from the Supreme Forgetfulness Record seems to have truly developed feelings for me.
The array at the bottom of the flying boat lit up.
With a slight tremor, the flying boat slowly rose into the air, broke through the clouds, and sped towards the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Night falls, and the stars twinkle.
The airship flew steadily above the sea of clouds.
Only the howling wind remained on the deck.
Zhou Tianqi and the other two wisely stayed in the lower cabin to meditate and regulate their breathing, without coming up to disturb Gu Yan's rest.
Inside the luxury cabin on the top floor.
The door was tightly closed, and the room was covered with high-level talismans that blocked divine sense from probing.
Gu Yan sat on the large wooden bed and casually lifted the blood-stained white fox fur coat he was wearing.
Her face, which had been as pale as paper, instantly regained its rosy color.
He twisted his neck, and his bones cracked and popped.
A terrifying spiritual power, far exceeding that of the mid-stage Golden Core realm and reaching an extreme level of profundity, surged within his body like the Yangtze River, flowing endlessly.
He has now reached the Great Perfection of the late Golden Core stage!
He only needs one more opportunity to condense his nascent soul and become a truly powerful cultivator.
Gu Yan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the rapidly receding sea of clouds outside, and a cold and smug smile appeared on his lips.
Not only did he absorb a massive amount of blood energy during the chaotic battle and achieve a breakthrough in his cultivation, but he also gained supreme power over two dominant sects for free, and incidentally, he even took a future sect leader as his subordinate.
This deal was incredibly profitable.
Gu Yan returned to the table and sat down. He opened his palm, and the black array core magic crystal that he had seized from the puppet's body lay quietly in his palm.
During the day, with so many people around, he couldn't investigate carefully.
Now that we're safely aboard the flying ship, it's time to take a good look at this so-called Central Continent Demonic Sect.
Gu Yan's mind stirred.
A very subtle spatial ripple spread through the air.
Two paper sword attendants, one black and one white, appeared silently beside him, like ghosts stripped from nothingness.
The spatial laws emanating from them completely locked down the entire cabin, so that even if a Nascent Soul cultivator were on the deck of this flying ship, they would be absolutely unable to sense any movement inside.
Gu Yan closed his eyes, mobilized the Divine Demon Golden Core in his dantian, suppressed the pure divinity, and fully released the half of power representing the ultimate demonic path.
The pitch-black demonic energy flowed slowly from his fingertips into the black crystal.
As Gu Yan's demonic energy probed in, the purple patterns on the crystal surface seemed to come alive, constantly writhing.
Gu Yan's divine sense followed the channel of demonic energy, penetrating deep into the crystal and directly contacting the core of its primordial power.
"boom!"
A blurry image suddenly exploded in Gu Yan's mind.
In a churning sea of blood, countless white bones floated and sank.
A colossal, blood-red Buddha, whose face was obscured, sat cross-legged atop the sea of bones, chanting some eerie, demonic hymn.
Beneath that blood-red Buddha, countless transparent threads connect to all living beings, drawing life force from them.
The image flashed by in an instant.
Gu Yan suddenly opened his eyes, a look of extreme shock flashing deep in his pupils.
This aura, this method of extracting life force through meticulous analysis...
This is not some unknown demonic technique at all.
This is a legacy inherited from the Blood Sea Ancestor.
This is inextricably linked to the Blood Demon Technique cultivated by his Blood Swordsman clone.
It could even be said that the demonic arts within this crystal are more advanced and more ancient than the best techniques of the Eastern Continent Demonic Sect.
Gu Yan's brain was working at lightning speed.
The traitor who infiltrated the upper echelons of the Cangxuan Sect, manipulated puppets, and instigated a war between the two sects, actually had a very deep connection with the Blood Demon lineage.
Why did he do that? Whom is he working for?
The top experts of the Blood Demon lineage were killed by the righteous path tens of thousands of years ago, and their lineage was destroyed.
Could it be that remnants of the Blood Demon lineage have risen again in the Central Plains?
Gu Yan tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
Things are getting more and more interesting.
The mastermind thought he had done something flawless, and that he could divert everyone's attention by using the aura of the Central Plains Demonic Sect.
But he could never have imagined that there was a guy in this world who cultivated both the righteous and demonic top-tier techniques at the same time.
This crystal might be a death warrant for others, but for Gu Yan, it was bait that guided him to catch the big fish hiding in the deep water.
Gu Yan's mind stirred again, and he communicated with the Blood Swordsman's clone, who was thousands of miles away.
The red-robed swordsman, who was in seclusion deep in the mountains and forests, exuding an overwhelming aura of bloodlust, slowly opened his scarlet eyes in the darkness.