The Hidden Experts' Probe, Fellow Daoist Please Stay
The Hidden Experts’ Probe, Fellow Daoist Please Stay
The grey-robed old man’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his face deathly pale. He stood frozen in place, already terrified to the extreme.
Only at this moment did it suddenly dawn on him—since Gu Changge dared to slap the Young Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance to death right in front of everyone, even inside the Divine City itself...
...how could Gu Changge possibly care about a mere Quasi-Emperor like him?
Although a Quasi-Emperor sounded like someone standing at the peak of the Beyond, able to overlook endless domains...
...in the current great era, even True Daoists ran the risk of falling.
So what did he amount to?
The grey-robed old man’s heart was filled with regret. Where on earth had he found the courage just now to actually dare say such words to Gu Changge?
Within the courtyard, the crowd watched this Quasi-Emperor expert’s terrified expression, their feelings truly complicated.
“Changge, long time no see.”
At that moment, it was Jiang Luoshen who spoke first, her beautiful eyes turning toward Gu Changge as she took the initiative to greet him.
Xianer glanced at Gu Changge, then quietly withdrew her gaze, resuming her usual cold, immortal-like demeanor before others.
In front of everyone, she didn’t want to talk to Gu Changge either.
Gu Changge looked toward Jiang Luoshen and smiled. “Luoshen, it has been a while.”
Seeing that Xianer was ignoring him, he didn’t bother with her either.
This girl was always like this in front of others—always keeping her little face taut, putting on the act of a frosty little fairy.
Jiang Luoshen shot him a slight glare. “The two of us don’t seem to be that intimate, do we?”
Aside from her parents, no one addressed her so intimately. Everyone in the world respectfully called her Princess Luoshen.
Gu Changge smiled faintly. “And what do you think?”
Hearing his suggestive words, even Jiang Luoshen’s face couldn’t help but flush with a faint blush. Then she forced herself to act nonchalant and gave a light huff.
Seeing this, Gu Xianer’s eyes narrowed slightly. She glanced at Jiang Luoshen, then quickly and imperceptibly looked away.
She naturally knew Jiang Luoshen’s identity.
She had seen her back at the Godly Illusion Tomb.
But she didn’t know whether something had happened between Jiang Luoshen and Gu Changge afterward.
The scene before her, for some reason, suddenly made her heart feel a little uncomfortable.
Especially since Gu Changge wouldn’t even open his mouth to speak to her, yet was greeting Jiang Luoshen so familiarly—it made an inexplicable sourness well up in her heart.
“Gu Changge, don’t you care about all the dirty water people are maliciously splashing on you?”
Jiang Luoshen herself was someone who never minded stirring up trouble.
Having just witnessed Gu Changge casually slap Wang Shun to death, she now couldn’t help but set her sights on the Quasi-Emperor before them.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly, brimming with a dangerous air of keen interest.
Hearing these words, the grey-robed old man trembled all over, his face growing even paler. He only felt a wave of bone-chilling cold sweep over him and wanted nothing more than to curse Jiang Luoshen out in his heart.
“Since it’s dirty water, there will naturally come a day when it’s washed clean. I have always been kind to others and dislike conflict—this much right and wrong, I can still understand.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly at her words. “Unless I truly encounter someone actively courting death, I will still show mercy.”
Jiang Luoshen gave him a sidelong glance. “Words like that coming from your mouth really don’t sound like the you I know.”
Though she had long since witnessed Gu Changge’s shamelessness, so him saying such things was actually nothing strange.
After all, saying it was one thing—doing it was definitely another matter entirely.
Seeing this, the crowd began speculating and discussing amongst themselves.
Many young men were incomparably envious in their hearts.
After all, Jiang Luoshen choosing to stand up for Gu Changge just now already said quite a lot.
Gu Xianer, seeing that Gu Changge was still giving her the cold shoulder, couldn’t help but feel a little stifled.
She glanced at him.
She really wanted to grab him by the collar and interrogate him properly.
Ahem, ahem...
But just then, a soft cough suddenly came from the distance.
“Harmony is precious in all things; where one can forgive, one should forgive. Young Master Changge, why must you keep pressing this matter? The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance did indeed offend you in many ways, but they have already paid the due price.”
A hunchbacked old man appeared, all skin and bones, wearing a shabby-looking Daoist robe.
Half of one of his eyes was blind, leaving only the white, and his whole person looked as though a gust of wind could blow him away at any moment.
But the identity of the person following behind him was not to be underestimated, causing the faces of many cultivators present to change drastically, as if they couldn’t believe it.
The ruler of Sky Emperor Mountain!
It was an extremely tall man, his eyes like magnificent gemstones, radiating a strange brilliance.
His figure was hazy and indistinct, with flickering light and interweaving order surrounding him, exuding a terrifying, oppressive aura.
Without a doubt, he was not of the Humans—he merely resembled one in appearance, even his skin.
The true master of Sky Emperor Mountain, his cultivation world-shaking and unfathomable, presiding over the vast Sky Emperor Mountain. With a single command, he could cause countless mountains and rivers to collapse and split.
Such a figure was now actually following behind this Daoist-robed old man, appearing somewhat respectful.
Besides the ruler of Sky Emperor Mountain, other supreme experts had also appeared here, their cultivations all unfathomably deep, like abysses and seas.
They looked at Gu Changge with expressionless faces, appearing quite cold.
However, deep in their eyes lay profound wariness.
“That person should be the One-Eye Daoist of Sky Emperor Mountain. It’s said he’s a one-eyed flood dragon who achieved the Dao. He became a True Daoist many years ago and is the guardian existence of Sky Emperor Mountain.”
An older cultivator noticed the scene and couldn’t help but speak in a low voice, recognizing the One-Eye Daoist’s identity.
In terms of seniority, the ruler of Sky Emperor Mountain was his junior.
In terms of cultivation, the ruler was also far inferior to the One-Eye Daoist, so choosing to follow behind him was actually quite normal.
“One-Eye qianbei!”
The Quasi-Emperor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, upon seeing the One-Eye Daoist appear, also revealed an expression of pleasant surprise and couldn’t help but speak respectfully.
At the same time, he breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart, as if he had suddenly found a backer.
His earlier sudden appearance to stop Gu Xianer from continuing to attack Young Master Wang Shun had clearly been directed by someone behind the scenes.
Since the One-Eye Daoist had appeared here, he could surely preserve his life.
“Little friend, at such a young age, to have reached such an unprecedented level—truly, this old man is envious.”
The One-Eye Daoist walked over with a smile, taking the initiative to speak, very much giving the impression of wanting to make peace with Gu Changge.
“Qianbei is right—harmony is indeed precious in all things.”
Gu Changge glanced at the One-Eye Daoist, his expression easygoing, and smiled faintly. “I am not one to press an advantage relentlessly either.”
A mere Quasi-Emperor—killing him wouldn’t accomplish much anyway.
Moreover, Gu Changge’s current targets were these Hidden Experts before him.
The great net he intended to cast was precisely to ensnare these foundation figures of the various races and Dao lineages.
These people’s cultivations had already reached the level of True Daoists, only a single step away from the Celestial Realm.
In other words, the so-called Remnant Immortals.
The One-Eye Daoist’s appearance caused a huge sensation. Many cultivators transformed into divine rainbows, flying toward this direction.
After all, the Hidden Experts who had appeared in the Divine Domain had yet to show themselves until now.
Many cultivators were speculating that they were waiting for the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being to appear.
Today, the appearance of Sky Emperor Mountain’s One-Eye Daoist seemed, in many people’s eyes, more like a signal.
This era of the Beyond was absolutely a golden age without equal.
Not only were the heavenly prodigies as brilliant as the stars, but many ancient figures were also emerging into the world one after another.
In eras past, True Daoists never appeared in the world.
But now, True Daoists could no longer hold down the fort—Hidden Experts needed to emerge.
“This old one heard from little friend that the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being will appear in the Divine City. Might I ask whether this is true or false?”
The One-Eye Daoist’s attitude appeared extremely amiable as he asked with a smile.
His question was also the doubt in many people’s hearts—they all dearly wished to see that legendary figure.
Gu Changge smiled at his words. “This matter is naturally true. My shifu will appear in the Divine City tomorrow. At that time, all qianbei may go and see for yourselves.”
Hearing his certain answer, everyone present revealed expressions of excitement and joy, no longer doubting.
The One-Eye Daoist also nodded slightly. “Since little friend says so, then this old one is at ease. Tomorrow, we shall respectfully await the Ancient Supreme Being’s descent.”
With that, he glanced at the Quasi-Emperor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, then turned and left with the people of Sky Emperor Mountain, not lingering in this courtyard.
It was as if he had come here solely to obtain a definite answer from Gu Changge’s mouth.
Watching the One-Eye Daoist and the others depart, Gu Changge smiled lightly, a strange gleam in his eyes, though he said nothing.
He could tell that the One-Eye Daoist before him had very much wanted to probe his current strength.
It was just that, as a figure of the Hidden Expert level, he represented the face of Sky Emperor Mountain.
To bully the small as the great at a time like this would be unjustifiable no matter how one spun it.
Moreover, this wasn’t just Sky Emperor Mountain’s probe.
The other Dao lineages and forces, such as Purple Cloud Valley, the Endless Fire Kingdom, and others, were all secretly watching.
The entire Beyond probably wanted to know right now just what level his, Gu Changge’s, cultivation and strength had reached.
The signboard of the Successor of Demonic Arts was already becoming unstable.
What’s more, he now had a cheap shifu at his side.
And that cheap shifu concerned the great matter of resolving the calamity of the Absolute Yin Heaven.
“Gu Changge, I...”
After everyone from Sky Emperor Mountain had left...
Gu Xianer, who had been waiting all this time for Gu Changge to take the initiative to speak to her, finally couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Whatever you have to say, wait until there’s no one around.”
Gu Changge glanced at this girl at her words. Seeing the undisguised resentment and dissatisfaction in her eyes, he couldn’t help but smile faintly and reached out to rub her head.
Xianer gritted her teeth, flaring up in exasperation, and slapped his salty pig’s hand away.
The many things she had wanted to say and ask could only be swallowed back down.
The scenes she had seen in the Lake of Reincarnation—she had actually wanted to confirm them with him.
But after returning to Peach Village, worried that asking about those matters would disrupt the harmonious and peaceful atmosphere of the village, she had forcibly held back.
Who would have thought that Gu Changge would take the opportunity to slip away quietly, without even giving her a word of notice?
This filled Gu Xianer with resentment.
Later, learning that Gu Changge was now near the Absolute Yin Heaven, she rushed over.
Along the way, she learned that within a cave abode about to emerge into the world, there seemed to be some pretty good things hidden.
After weighing it for a while, Gu Xianer felt that this wouldn’t delay much time, so she simply entered that cave abode.
But who knew she would stumble upon the so-called Successor of Demonic Arts killing the ancient freak of Purple Cloud Valley inside?
And as luck would have it, that so-called Successor of Demonic Arts would say many things full of suspicious holes.
The true Successor of Demonic Arts was actually someone else entirely.
All the evidence and appearances were pointing to the conclusion that Gu Changge seemed... really seemed to be the Successor of Demonic Arts spoken of in the rumors.
This thought left Gu Xianer’s heart tangled in knots, not knowing what to do.
If Gu Changge had really concealed this identity...
Then when the time came, what choice should she make? How should she conduct herself?
Should she pretend not to know? Or pretend not to know? Or still pretend not to know?
Xianer appeared calm and cold as an immortal on the surface, but in her heart she was annoyed to death, wishing she could draw her Dao Sword and viciously stab a few bloody holes into Gu Changge’s body.
If he really dared to deceive her...
Afterward, the many Young Prodigies in the courtyard—the King of Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, Jin Chan the Chosen Monk, and other old acquaintances of Gu Changge—all came forward to greet him.
No matter how unwilling they were in their hearts, the surface courtesies still had to be observed.
Gu Changge smiled faintly at the sight and patiently caught up with them for a while.
News of his appearance in the Divine City would surely spread quickly today—which was, of course, exactly what he wanted to see.
The bigger the commotion, the greater the waves it could stir.
That would naturally be more advantageous for Gu Changge’s subsequent plans.
“Gu Changge, rest assured. My clan’s Ancestor thinks highly of you. If anything unexpected happens in the Divine City, she will stand on your side when the time comes.”
Before taking her leave, Jiang Luoshen’s bright eyes rested on Gu Changge’s face as she spoke these meaningful words.
The Ancestor she spoke of was no ordinary ancestor either—it was the cane-leaning old woman she had personally accompanied into the city that day.
She was also a Hidden Expert of the Godly Illusion Clan, her cultivation unfathomable, in no way inferior to the One-Eye Daoist who had just appeared.
“Then I must thank the Godly Illusion Clan for their kind intentions in advance.” Gu Changge smiled slightly.
Soon, within the courtyard, the heavenly prodigies and cultivators of the various races also departed one after another.
Jin Chan the Chosen Monk and the others had long since taken their leave, not staying long.
“Fellow Daoist, please stay.”
Gu Changge suddenly spoke with a smile, calling out to stop Lan Yaofei, who had been about to leave.
Hearing these words, Gu Xianer—who had been full of resentment this whole time, endlessly stabbing Gu Changge with a little sword in her heart—suddenly jolted, snapping back to her senses, her gaze sharpening as she looked over.
Normally speaking, Gu Changge had never seemed familiar with Lan Yaofei before, nor had they had any dealings.
For him to suddenly call out to stop him like this...
If an ordinary person witnessed this scene, they certainly wouldn’t think much of it.
But Gu Xianer had personally witnessed Lan Yaofei strike from the shadows to kill Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak—she understood that he was the rumored Successor of Demonic Arts.
Moreover, she also knew that Lan Yaofei himself had no choice in the matter—he was merely a pitiful chess piece manipulated by others.
Behind him, there was another mastermind.