She stared incredulously at the jade pendant in her hand, countless questions flashing through her mind.
How did Father end up in this place?
Is he safe? Why did he leave behind the jade pendant?
Just then, Su Xueqing's gaze was drawn to a book on the antique shelf next to her.
She carefully put the jade pendant away and walked towards the book.
"The Record of the Demon Gu Devouring the Heart?" Su Xueqing murmured the title, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
She turned the pages and found that the most frequently read page was the section introducing the "Heart-Eating Demon Gu".
Su Xueqing's hands trembled involuntarily.
Why would a father read such horrific content?
Just then, a totem on the page caught her attention.
That totem... is exactly the same as the pattern on my father's shoulder!
"No...this is impossible..." Su Xueqing took a step back in horror, almost falling over.
She finally understood the meaning of that totem.
It means that one has been afflicted by the Heart-Eating Demon Gu.
Countless terrifying speculations flashed through Su Xueqing's mind.
Why was my father poisoned by the Heart-Eating Demon Gu? Who poisoned him?
Where is he now? Is he still alive?
Her hands gripped the "Demon Gu Devouring Heart Record" tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Su Xueqing felt a sudden dizziness, as if her world had collapsed at that moment.
Xiao Feng quickly walked to Su Xueqing's side and supported her swaying body.
He glanced at the book in her hand, then at her pale face, his brows furrowing.
Xiao Feng pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Since I joined the Ming Cult, I have not seen the Cult Leader show any abnormality. As for when the Heart-Eating Demon Gu entered the Cult Leader's body, I really have no way of knowing."
Upon hearing this, Su Xueqing frowned, her tone tinged with displeasure: "Even I, your own daughter, don't know anything about my father's situation, how could an outsider like you possibly know?" She looked Xiao Feng up and down, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes: "Speaking of which, who exactly are you? And why are you here?"
Xiao Feng was caught off guard by this sudden question. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.
Xiao Feng turned around alertly, his hand already on the sword at his waist, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.
A man dressed in a gray robe walked slowly towards them; it was Wu Hai.
His face was haggard, and his eyes held a hint of helplessness as he sighed softly, "You still managed to find this place."
Upon hearing this, Su Xueqing immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Uncle Wu, you must know something, right? Why did my father get infected with the Heart-Eating Demon Gu? What exactly happened?"
Wu Hai sighed, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Xiao Feng and Su Xueqing, before finally nodding helplessly: "Very well, it's time to tell you about this."
As he spoke, he walked to one side of the secret room and pushed open a hidden door.
The three filed in and were immediately met with a chilling aura.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng silently circulated his immortal power, sending a warm current to Su Xueqing.
Feeling this warmth, she felt a little relieved and gave Xiao Feng a grateful look.
Wu Hai led the two through a narrow passage and finally into a spacious secret room.
Inside, there were seven pure white jade coffins, their lids half-open, revealing seven frozen corpses lying inside.
Each corpse was dressed in an ancient style of elder's robes, with a chilling white bone nail inserted into its dantian.
Su Xueqing gasped, her face turning deathly pale.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but frown, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
Standing before the coffin, Wu Hai solemnly said, "Lying here are the elders of my Ming Cult."
Upon hearing this, Su Xueqing felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Her face turned deathly pale instantly, her eyes widened, and her lips trembled, unable to utter a word.
She staggered back a few steps, almost falling, but fortunately Xiao Feng caught her in time.
"This...how is this possible?" Su Xueqing's voice was hoarse, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Wu Hai sighed, deep sorrow in his eyes: "Xue Qing, the truth is more cruel than you imagine. These people did die for your father, but it's not what you think."
Su Xueqing turned around abruptly, her eyes red as she stared at Wu Hai: "Uncle Wu, what exactly happened? Please tell me!"
Her voice was choked with sobs, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Wu Hai remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Actually, the Heart-Eating Demon Gu in your father's body was planted by himself."
"What?!" Su Xueqing and Xiao Feng exclaimed at the same time.
Wu Hai continued, “Twenty years ago, in order to gain great power, your father risked everything and practiced a forbidden technique. That technique required the blood essence of seven elders as a catalyst to refine the Heart-Eating Demon Gu.” He pointed to the seven coffins: “The seven elders are lying here.”
Su Xueqing's legs went weak and she knelt down.
Her eyes were vacant, and she murmured to herself, "Impossible...this can't be..."
Wu Hai looked at Su Xueqing with a complicated expression and continued, "Your father rose rapidly to become the leader of the Ming Cult by relying on the power of the Heart-Eating Demon Gu. But he did not expect that this power would come at a price. The Heart-Eating Demon Gu will flare up every once in a while and can only be quelled by consuming the essence and blood of living people."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng couldn't help but gasp.
Wu Hai sighed heavily and slowly said, "Actually, Su Mo's condition is more complicated than we imagined. Previously, due to the demonic energy entering her body, the Heart-Eating Demon Gu was suppressed along with it. Now, the divine fire that Xiao Feng brought back has purified the demonic energy, but it has also freed the Heart-Eating Demon Gu from its restraints."
Xiao Feng frowned and pressed, "Doesn't that mean the demonic gu might have already taken control of Su Mo?"
Wu Hai nodded, a worried look on his face: "That's right. The Heart-Eating Demon Gu will activate when the host is at their weakest. But..."
He paused for a moment: "If the people of the Ming Cult knew that their leader had used such a demonic object, Su Mo's position as leader would probably be over. That's why we didn't know until now."
Su Xueqing's expression changed drastically after hearing this.
She stood up abruptly, her voice resolute: "No matter what, I must find my father!"
After saying that, she turned to leave the secret room.
Wu Hai looked at Xiao Feng, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
Suddenly, he bent his knees and knelt down in front of Xiao Feng.
This action startled Xiao Feng, who quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Father, what are you doing? Get up!"
Wu Hai remained motionless, looking up at Xiao Feng with pleading eyes: "Xiao Feng, I beg you, you must help me find Su Mo! In my entire life, I only recognize this one leader of the Ming Cult!"
Xiao Feng was stunned by Wu Hai's actions.
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