The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 1021 Scheming and Planning, Luan Ming's Recruitment

"Fellow Daoist Gu Yue".

Upon seeing the floating fan, Yu Hongyi was startled, but feigned calmness and said something.

He was just thinking about Gu Yue's decline and the fate of his family when Gu Yue's escape light appeared before him.

These feelings were somewhat unexpected.

If it weren't for his excellent self-control, he would probably have lost his composure and revealed a weakness at this moment.

"Fellow Daoist Yu is here. Are you preparing to head to Wentian City?"

Gu Yuezhong's expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. There was little small talk or awkwardness in their conversation.

Clearly, the two had known each other for a long time and were quite familiar with each other.

"Indeed. This grand event is a once-in-a-century event, and I, Yu, would also like to join in the fun."

Gu Yue nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

"Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, I have heard..."

Yu Hongyi hesitated before speaking. The great demise of the Gu Yue clan was a well-known fact. Now that he was meeting Gu Yuezhong, regardless of his feelings, he should show some concern out of both emotion and reason.

However, despite saying this, I didn't know how to start the conversation for a moment.

But Gu Yuezhong was clearly not there specifically to hear these words. He did not respond to Yu Hongyi's follow-up, but instead, his eyes gleamed with a dark light as he calmly said...

"Brother Yu, would you be interested in this Netherworld Secret Realm?"

Yu Hongyi keenly noticed the subtle change in addressing Gu Yuezhong. Given his understanding of Gu Yuezhong, he suspected that such a man was suspicious.

They needed his help.

Should I invite him to explore the hidden realm together, or...?

Yu Hongyi felt a chill run down his spine, and carefully considered his words.

"I am interested in this secret realm, but with so many people coming, it is quite dangerous. I have not yet found a trustworthy companion, so I am having a hard time making a decision."

The Netherworld is dangerous, even for cultivators at the highest level.

After all, the opportunities they are vying for are at different levels.

Some rare opportunities are enough to attract the envy of powerful cultivators of the same realm. If they were to fight each other, they would likely suffer serious injuries.

Gu Yuezhong did not object to this.

“That is indeed a difficult situation.” Gu Yuezhong nodded slowly, his eyes like dark moons, deep and unfathomable. “However, I advise Brother Yu that this opportunity is rare, so it would be best to explore it.”

Yu Hongyi was taken aback upon hearing this, and looked puzzled: "Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, what do you mean by this?"

Gu Yuezhong did not answer, but asked, "Brother Yu, do you know who that swordsman who attacked my Gu Yue clan was?"

Yu Hongyi already had a vague idea about the Guyue clan, but when Guyue asked him again, he just shook his head.

"I don't know."

"Then, Brother Yu, have you guessed?" Gu Yuezhong's eyes deepened into a dark, heavy darkness, and his voice carried a seductive power.

Yu Hongyi felt a chill run down his spine, and under Gu Yuezhong's gaze, he finally voiced his guess.

"Is it that old bastard from the Gu family?"

“That’s right!” A hint of hatred appeared in Gu Yuezhong’s eyes: “He has never stepped into the Great Cultivation realm, yet he has such combat power, his sword intent is sharp, and his killing power is unparalleled. Who else could it be but this old bastard?”

"Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, do you have any concrete evidence?"

Yu Hongyi had long suspected this, but based on the information currently available, there was no way to truly link it.

These guesses are based entirely on intuition.

"As far as I know, the swordsmanship of the one who made the move is completely different from that of the old scoundrel Gu. Besides, that old scoundrel Gu was so badly injured back then that he's probably crippled by now."

After all, the world is vast and full of wonders. Such a swordsman, though rare, could appear out of nowhere.

"There's no mistake!" Gu Yuezhong's expression darkened, his face filled with hatred: "It's impossible to control everything in this world. But for so many years, to have been so obsessed with my Gu Yue clan and have such a motive, who else could it be but that old scoundrel?"

Gu Yuezhong's cold eyes flashed with murderous intent: "Back then, I really should have killed him!"

Yu Hongyi remained silent, recalling events from that year.

Even after all these years, those scenes are still vividly clear and deeply memorable.

"If it weren't for the Wu family's intervention back then, would he have survived until now?"

Yu Hongyi's expression also turned cold.

“Brother Yu.” Gu Yuezhong suddenly turned his eyes, the dark moon turning, and stared directly at Yu Hongyi: “Don’t think you can stay out of it. What happened back then is inextricably linked to you.”

That old scoundrel, since he attacked my Guyue clan, he will also attack you! This matter is not over yet!

Upon hearing this, Yu Hongyi's expression darkened.

He knew that Gu Yuezhong was right.

If the person who made the move was indeed that old scoundrel from the Gu family, I'm afraid they wouldn't let it go so easily.

"What do you want?"

"I won't be able to eat or sleep if that old bastard doesn't die! Since he's going to make a move on you and me, then let's give him that chance!" Gu Yuezhong said coldly, his killing intent fully revealed.

"What does Fellow Daoist Gu Yue mean?" Yu Hongyi's eyes narrowed.

"Set up a trap for this old scoundrel!"

"Send him a big gift, he's been a friend for so many years!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Hongyi's expression shifted, and he immediately listened attentively.

Gu Yue looked around again, his soul separating the inside from the outside, communicating through hidden fluctuations.

"We... so and so, like this and that."

Above the clouds, two streaks of light, their auras restrained, emitted strange fluctuations and flashed by inconspicuously.

It took a long time for the fluctuations to dissipate.

Yu Hongyi looked troubled at first, but was quickly persuaded by Gu Yuezhong, and by the end of the conversation, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Gu Yue's plan is brilliant! With your plan, we have nothing to worry about!"

"Hopefully that old scoundrel will take the bait."

Gu Yue stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly.

"Then the Gu family?" Yu Hongyi asked hesitantly.

"I know what I'm doing. I won't take any action until this matter is settled."

Gu Yue's hair was loose and disheveled, with a few strands of silver mixed in, giving him an extremely profound look.

"That's good."

Yu Hongyi nodded.

He didn't care much about how the Gu family treated him. But when it came to matters from the past, he did pay some attention.

Furthermore, not taking action against the Gu family has other advantages: it can minimize the old man's vigilance and make their plans more likely to succeed.

"If the one who made the move was indeed that old scoundrel, Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, you spoke highly of his talent in swordsmanship."

If the Wu family knew this now, would they regret their choice back then?

Yu Hongyi spoke with an air of magnanimity.

I don't know if he was thinking of Gu Tianren, or about the Yu family over the years.

Does it matter?

What's done is done; what good is it to regret it later?

"Brother Yu, do you see that my Guyue clan is weak and are considering joining the Luanyue Sect?"

The ancient moon was cold and desolate.

Upon hearing this, Yu Hongyi shuddered, but managed to remain calm.

How could this be?

We've been allies for many years; how could I possibly leave you at this time? Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, you can rest assured.

"That's good."

Gu Yue smiled insincerely.

"I feel much more at ease after talking with Brother Yu. Alright, now that the plan has been agreed upon, let's proceed accordingly."

Seeing that Gu Yuezhong did not engage in a deep conversation, Yu Hongyi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately smiled.

"That should be so. I wish us all the best in achieving our goal!"

"Successful and complete."

Gu Yuezhong slowly raised his eyes, his dark eyes like the moon, gazing into the distance.

His spirit seemed to be able to traverse vast distances, able to see the majestic city in the distance, faintly visible.

"Then I won't bother Brother Yu any longer."

Gu Yuezhong's eyes darkened, and he turned in a different direction.

"Fellow Daoist Gu Yue, please take care." Yu Hongyi bowed.

Gu Yue nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

Whoosh!

With a flash of light, like a dark moon, he shot off into the distance.

Yu Hongyi watched the disappearing light fade into the distance, his mind in turmoil, a look of apprehension on his face.

"You've improved even more than before!"

The light flashed like lightning, hurtling across the sky and quickly disappearing from Yu Hongyi's sight.

If anyone were still present at this moment, they would have noticed that Gu Yuezhong's escape light was not heading towards Wentian City, but rather...

The Black Nether Mountains, where the Nether Valley is located!

"Huh, is it really true? I thought it was just a lie written in the biography." Inside the jade carriage, sweet voices and laughter filled the air.

A delicate fragrance permeates the air, making one feel as if they have entered a fairyland.

Besides Jiang Ruotong, there were many female cultivators inside the jade carriage, all of whom were fair-skinned, beautiful, slender, and dressed in flowing skirts.

It seems that the Luanming Sect has extremely high standards for appearance. From the time they are trained as disciples to the time they become elders, they are all top-notch in their respective realms.

Although celestial female rulers possess noble qualities, not all of them are stunningly beautiful.

That level of cultivation does indeed have an uplifting effect on one's temperament.

However, if one's own qualities are limited, any improvement will also be quite limited.

Of course, there are also celestial female rulers who conceal flaws and refine details, making them look extremely unique.

There was also a female ruler who disguised herself and changed her appearance.

The former is still within the rules, but the latter is pure fraud.

For those in the same realm, this is often just self-deception.

Generally speaking, unless there are special circumstances, not many female rulers would do this.

In fact, even among female rulers who have reached the Celestial Realm, there may be some who truly care about their appearance, but they would never value it more than cultivation or their Dao heart.

However, even so, women dress up for those they love, and if the situation is suitable, it doesn't matter, and there are still many people who pursue this.

Those who can become celestial beings possess enhanced temperament, radiant skin, and an imposing aura.

Unless one's own foundation is too weak, it generally won't look too bad.

Furthermore, for cultivators of lower realms, the aura of the upper realm female cultivator surrounding the Celestial Queen is too strong, making her appearance and such unimportant.

The greater desire for conquest lies in that realm.

However, once you reach the same realm, although looks may not be the first priority, if you have a choice, everyone still hopes to befriend a beautiful queen. If you can have in-depth exchanges, that would be even better.

Generally speaking, female celestial beings are far fewer in number than male cultivators among celestial beings. They are also highly sought after among celestial beings of the same realm. If they lack a Daoist partner, they will have several suitors.

The arrangement of high and low elements is also in line with common practice.

Female rulers who generally interact with cultivators from lower realms are either keeping male concubines or have ulterior motives.

As Chen Ping'an had previously heard, the female ruler of the Tianluo Sect had already developed a deep relationship with the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord and secretly pledged her life to him before the latter had even gained power.

He once believed that the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord was being kept by a mistress and had become one of the female ruler's male favorites.

But the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord is still the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord. Even in matters like this, he is different from ordinary people and wants to break the rules.

"I see, thank you for clearing up my confusion, Senior Xu!"

"Senior, I have a question, please grant me your permission."

"."

Inside the jade carriage, there was boundless joy.

Every scene was filled with joy and harmony, a stark contrast to the previous awkwardness and wariness.

The way the elders of the Luanming Sect and the female celestial cultivator looked at Chen Ping'an was quite different from before. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation and curiosity, and a natural warmth filled their gazes.

The reason for this change is, in fact, thanks to the divine assistance of Baosha Sanren.

Previously, in Qingchi Courtyard, Bi Cangzhou City, Chen Ping'an had conducted numerous experiments using the methods of soul manipulation, the Seven Absolute Forbidden Techniques, and the Soul-Guiding Technique to activate Bao Sha's soul.

During the experiment, he retrieved his memories, broadened his horizons, and enhanced his own knowledge.

Through this process, Chen Ping'an completely absorbed it and made it his own.

In addition, with the accumulation of knowledge from several Celestial Beings, the assistance of the secret archives of the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion, and a wealth of books and classics for learning, Chen Ping'an's current vision is fully worthy of his status as a Grand Cultivator.

even.

It's even more serious than a typical major overhaul.

In this situation, all other accumulated knowledge and experience becomes secondary.

The most important thing is still Baosha Sanren.

Although Baosha Sanren's combat strength was mediocre, even ranking at the bottom during the major overhaul, this guy possessed a learned and knowledgeable personality, being well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge.

Besides studying and practicing, he is keen on learning about all sorts of things. Even if he only hears about something, he will look up information and ask others for advice to understand it.

Some doubts need to be filled in and digested.

This guy was born in a small tribe in the western wilderness, but he set a great ambition from a young age: one day, he would marry a woman of royal blood.

All his talents were already evident when he was a commoner in the tribe.

Extremely enthusiastic about learning, and quick to learn anything.

Especially those involving information, they possess exceptional memory and boundless knowledge.

After becoming a major repairman, he developed many interests. It wasn't that he was superficial; rather, he wanted to understand everything he came into contact with.

Even if you don't understand it, you should still write it down first.

Thanks to this, Chen Ping'an was able to engage in Daoist discussions and conversations with several female cultivators from the Luanming Sect without any falsehood.

As the overlords of the Yunxia region, these female cultivators of the Luanming Sect are not comparable to ordinary rogue cultivators. Without true foundation and knowledge, it is probably impossible to suppress them.

Such insight cannot be acquired simply by making up a few random words.

Instead, it requires a truly systematic experience and perspective, along with personal insights and understanding, to engage in a conversation that truly wins people's hearts and minds.

If one speaks with a preamble but no follow-up, or engages in discussions that only scratch the surface, it will likely reveal one's ignorance.

As for imagining monsters or anything like that, that's utter nonsense.

Chen Ping'an, with his refined demeanor and easygoing manner, sat gracefully on a jade carriage and soft couch, engaging in a brief discussion with several people.

His words were witty and humorous, and his discussions and explanations were not rigid, but rather demonstrated his profound knowledge.

Every now and then, a female cultivator would cover her mouth and chuckle, or hear a certain idiom and smile knowingly.

His handsome face, extensive knowledge, and extraordinary speech naturally won the favor of the female cultivators present.

The sweet-looking female cultivator who had spoken earlier now looked at Chen Ping'an with a hint of admiration in her eyes, which sparkled.

Although he knew that the person in front of him was a great cultivator, he was probably quite old and might be an old monster who had lived for many years.

However, such demeanor and eloquence are not something that an ordinary repairman can possess.

During the major overhaul, each person had a distinct personality and style. Some were rugged, some were unrestrained, and some were effeminate, but none of them were quite as appealing to them as Senior Xu, who was witty, humorous, refined, easy-going, and knowledgeable.

Chen Ping'an sat inside the jade carriage, surrounded by a delicate fragrance, feeling the gazes around him, yet his mood remained calm.

The women around him seemed to have grown closer to him than before.

But none of this was enough to affect his mind.

What he is more concerned about this time is that his previous idea has indeed proven to be feasible.

After a conversation, insights, and experiments, everything was exactly as he had envisioned and expected.

Judging from the reactions of the others, he has completely confirmed his identity as a knowledgeable, refined, and easy-going cultivator.

If that's the case, then after arriving in Wentian City, he won't be afraid of any small gatherings or meetings with fellow practitioners.

in this way

That's just right.

As his thoughts raced, he couldn't help but thank Xie Baosha.

"Indeed, the Wind and Cloud Palace needs talents like you!"

After several conversations, Jiang Ruotong's gaze towards Chen Ping'an changed.

Although her vision was not comparable to that of ordinary elders in the sect, the other party spoke with elegance, was knowledgeable, and possessed the wisdom and charm accumulated over the years.

Even she couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards her.

This goodwill has nothing to do with one's social standing, but only with the other person's refined and erudite manner, and their easygoing and composed demeanor.

She has always had a distinct personality, with clear likes and dislikes. If she likes something, she likes it; if she dislikes something, she dislikes it.

She wouldn't exchange a single word with someone she didn't click with, like Yu Hongyi, even if he was a great strategist.

If they get along well, she will offer guidance even to ordinary celestial beings.

As for the fellow Daoist Xu in front of her, she felt quite compatible with him.

She didn't dislike the other person's posture; there were certain aspects of him that made her feel good and created a sense of closeness.

but.

That's all there is to it.

A brief one-day encounter wouldn't cause any other feelings to develop.

All I can say is that we can indeed befriend each other as like-minded individuals.

She listened intently to the other person's erudition and the several interesting anecdotes they shared.

However, even now, she still remembers the purpose of the invitation.

Seeing that the atmosphere was right and the timing was perfect, she couldn't help but speak softly.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Xu currently belongs to any faction?"

“Xu is all alone and has no one to belong to,” Chen Ping’an said with a soft laugh.

"Ruotong dares to invite Fellow Daoist Xu to serve as the chief honoree of our sect."

Jiang Ruotong's eyes shone brightly. She curtsied and extended a formal invitation. (End of Chapter)