Chapter 434 - 433: Gu Zhao: I Will Be Careful
"Yun Fei’ang cultivates a Demon Technique. He’s a Demon!"
"Yun Fei’ang plans to visit Daluo Palace soon."
"Huh?"
All the old Daoists who heard Gu Zhao’s Divine Sense transmission were stunned, unable to process it for a moment.
"Is he an idiot?" Taoist Yi Hong asked.
"Has he lost his mind?" Taoist Shen Hao asked.
"That confident?" Taoist Jing Feng asked.
"Now I finally understand why he’s so hostile toward me."
Gu Zhao remarked thoughtfully, "The Netherfire Sect Leader cultivates a Demon Technique, turning the area under Black Rock Mountain into a Demon Realm. The Mo Lake Ink Flood Dragon also cultivates a Demon Technique, and the bottom of Mo Lake has long since been transformed into a demonic domain. These things are no secret.
To an ordinary person, this news might just be a passing story. But for Yun Fei’ang, who also cultivates a Demon Technique, it means that he and our Daluo Palace are mortal enemies."
"Correct." Taoist Yan Song stroked his long beard. "The principles of our Daluo Palace are no secret. We kill any evildoers and wanton murderers we find on sight, without exception."
"Since Shanzhou is adjacent to Jiangzhou, we’ll have to go there to walk our path sooner or later. Yun Fei’ang’s strength is only on par with the Ink Flood Dragon, so he’s hardly a threat to us," Taoist Ming Yu said with a nod.
"So what is he coming here for?" Taoist Qingyuan asked curiously. "Is he trying to build a relationship with us, hoping we’ll spare him if he gets exposed in the future?"
"He could also be coming to sound us out, or to look for our weaknesses," Taoist Yu Zhang mused.
"Is it possible he’s trying to lower the Sect Leader’s guard so he can find a chance to strike first?" Taoist Qingwei asked. "He visits Daluo Palace as a guest, and then invites the Sect Leader to a meeting. The Sect Leader wouldn’t be able to refuse, would he?"
"Huh?" Everyone was suddenly alarmed. "He has a point!"
"Since they’re destined to be enemies, he’ll strike first, before we know the full truth about him. If he really manages to take down the Sect Leader, the rest of us would be no match for him," Taoist Yan Ling transmitted.
"A pity he’s being too clever for his own good. He has no idea the Sect Leader can see the Evil Qi covering his body, nor does he know that Brother Huai Yi and the others have already discovered his secret," Taoist Jing Chun said with a laugh.
"So, should we make our move the first time he comes and finish him on Cuiluo Mountain?" Yunyang asked.
"Is there any doubt?" Gu Zhao said, his tone final. "When the time comes, we’ll expose the three-hundred-li Demon Realm beneath the Cloud Celestial Divine Palace. Then no one in the world will have anything to say."
...
This entire discussion took place via Divine Sense while Gu Zhao, Bai Fei, and Ye Yunsheng were returning to White Spirit Mountain after seeing Yun Fei’ang off.
By the time the discussion concluded, they had arrived at White Spirit Mountain.
Both White Spirit Mountain and the Holy Union Sect were staunchly righteous powers. The two sects knew each other well and were on friendly terms; otherwise, Ye Yunsheng would not have called out to Bai Fei on the road to Rainbow Mountain to travel with her and her companions.
Since they were returning to Wangzhou, a small detour to White Spirit Mountain was convenient. Moreover, Madam Ye was craving a taste of the Hundred Flowers Brew, so they decided to stay at White Spirit Mountain as guests for two more days.
Upon arriving at White Spirit Mountain, Madam Ye unexpectedly hit it off with Zhuo Qingyan.
Their backgrounds were remarkably similar. Madam Ye was also the daughter of a scholar in Wangzhou, and because of her upright and principled nature, she had also been framed, which nearly led to her family’s destruction.
But she was more fortunate than Zhuo Qingyan. Ye Yunsheng appeared just in time and discovered that her Divine Soul was in perfect Harmony with his. He resolved her family’s crisis in one fell swoop, and the two began dual cultivation in Harmony, eventually getting married.
With their similar backgrounds, personalities, and experiences, Madam Ye and Zhuo Qingyan quickly became the best of friends, which also brought Ye Yunsheng and Gu Zhao much closer.
Ye Yunsheng, the Holy Union Sect Leader, was a great master whose Dao Practice was no less profound than Bai Fei’s. Gu Zhao was happy to befriend this expert from Wangzhou, as it meant he would have an ally when traveling there in the future.
And with their wives becoming such good friends, Ye Yunsheng felt he could speak more frankly.
"Yun Fei’ang is arrogant and unruly. He typically looks down on outsiders, and his actions tread the line between righteous and evil. I hear he’s very difficult to get along with."
Ye Yunsheng thought for a moment. "I’ve met him a couple of times before, but we never got to know each other well. I feel like he’s quite different now than he was before. When you deal with him, you should be on your guard."
A glint flashed in Gu Zhao’s eyes as he said seriously, "Thank you for the warning, Brother Ye."
’As the saying goes, one shouldn’t confide in a new acquaintance. This was his first meeting with both Ye Yunsheng and Yun Fei’ang, and no one could predict what would happen later. If he were to become friends with Yun Fei’ang, Ye Yunsheng’s words would have made him look like a petty slanderer.’
’Given Ye Yunsheng’s age and experience, he normally wouldn’t have said such things. The fact that he did proved that he truly regarded him as a friend.’
Gu Zhao glanced at Bai Fei, who nodded in agreement. "From what I know, he also played a part when the Xuanwei Divine Sect and the Spirit Court withdrew from Shanzhou."
Gu Zhao smiled faintly. "Then Yun Fei’ang is similar to Mo Zichen."
"Hm?" Bai Fei and Ye Yunsheng looked at Gu Zhao, not understanding what he meant.
"They’ve both killed a lot of people," Gu Zhao said flatly.
Bai Fei thought for a moment. Although she disapproved of Yun Fei’ang’s methods, she still offered an explanation. "The Cloud Celestial Divine Palace isn’t like White Spirit Mountain or the Holy Union Sect. He has many Demons and Ghosts under his command, and they are hardly a benevolent bunch."
"A lot of people. No fewer than the Netherfire Sect Leader," Gu Zhao added.
Bai Fei and Ye Yunsheng were startled by his words.
"The Netherfire Sect Leader cultivates a Demon Technique and has killed countless people. While Yun Fei’ang may not be a good person, he is still considered the protector of his domain. Surely he hasn’t committed such massive slaughter?" Bai Fei asked, still doubtful.
Ye Yunsheng, however, recalled how Gu Zhao had exposed Mo Zichen with a single remark. He knew less about Yun Fei’ang than Bai Fei did and had fewer preconceived notions. "So he’s either secretly eating people or killing them in private for Refining Treasure."
Bai Fei also recalled the previous events. She naturally trusted Gu Zhao far more than Yun Fei’ang, so she continued the line of reasoning from her comment about the Netherfire Sect Leader. "He couldn’t be secretly cultivating a Demon Technique too, could he?"
As the words left her mouth, all three fell silent.
"Surely not?" This time, it was Ye Yunsheng’s turn to be incredulous. "Yun Fei’ang is incredibly arrogant. He’s said to have the bloodline of a Golden-Winged Roc, a Great Demon with a chance at Ascension. He wouldn’t debase himself by cultivating a Demon Technique, would he?"
"Since you’ve already sensed something is wrong with Yun Fei’ang, you must be careful from now on," Bai Fei warned. "White Spirit Mountain is right here in Jiangbei. If you need anything, just send someone to find me. Yun Fei’ang’s Dao Practice is greater than the Ink Flood Dragon’s. If he truly is cultivating a Demon Technique, his Magical Power will be even stronger."
Ye Yunsheng glanced at Madam Ye, who was chatting animatedly with Zhuo Qingyan, and also said to Gu Zhao, "I’m usually at the Holy Union Sect. If you run into trouble, you can also send someone to find me."
Gu Zhao nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Sister Fei. Thank you, Brother Ye. I will be careful."
’Careful that he doesn’t escape from Daluo Palace, that is...’