Chapter 110 Heartless Love (Part 5)
"Seventh Young Master, go to the formation first." Xiao Qingyan's gentle voice sounded behind him.
Jiang Gu's eyes narrowed, and he shoved the man away with a backhand. Xiao Qingyan was caught off guard and injured by his sword energy, clutching her chest and taking two steps back.
"I'm sorry." Jiang Gu's expression was slightly cold.
Xiao Qingyan quickly adjusted his breathing, "It's alright, hurry up and enter the formation, those traitors are coming soon."
"Traitor?" Advisor Jiang.
Xiao Qingyan narrowed his eyes in the darkness, looking at the lightning that was suddenly approaching in the distance. His voice was already filled with killing intent, "It's a traitor from the Thunder Pavilion."
As soon as he finished speaking, several cultivators who had not yet entered the formation due to their caution were struck by lightning. This lightning was even stronger and faster than the lightning tribulation, giving them no time to breathe. Seeing that even True Immortals could not withstand it, the remaining cultivators flew into the protective formation on their swords.
Yao Li grabbed Jiang Xiangyun and darted into the protective array before the lightning struck.
Xiao Qingyan only had time to push Jiang Gu before turning around and leading the Kunlou disciples to meet him head-on. Jiang Gu only saw dozens of blurry figures and immediately turned back into the formation.
The waves surged and lightning roared. The cultivation of those traitors from Leige far exceeded the imagination of the cultivators in Pingze. True Immortals who hadn't even entered the formation couldn't withstand even ten moves before they perished on the spot. Meanwhile, cultivators in the Mahayana and Integration stages were like melons and vegetables being chopped down by them, completely powerless to fight back.
"Hurry, the protective formation is about to close!" Xiao Qingyan fought and retreated, leading his men toward the formation.
The remaining cultivators who hadn't yet entered the formation quickened their pace, but were still stopped by the lightning. The gourd-shaped formation was now only open at the narrow head entrance. The cultivators trying to enter were crammed together. Jiang Gu moved extremely fast, already halfway inside, when he heard a scream from behind, "Help!"
Jiang Gu subconsciously turned around and met the boy's terrified eyes. He had been struck on the back by lightning and was about to enter the formation when he was maliciously pushed by other cultivators. Just as he was about to be thrown into the lightning storm again, the boy grabbed Jiang Gu's sleeve in a panic.
Just as the entrance was about to close, Jiang Gu grabbed it with his backhand and led everyone directly into the protective array.
Almost simultaneously, the protective array closed, and Xiao Qingyan led the Kunlou disciples to disperse in front of the array. Ignoring those cultivators who had not yet entered the array, the array rolled directly over them, forcibly passing through the thunderstorm amidst screams and entering the forcibly activated teleportation array.
The cultivators from Pingze within the protective array were all still in shock.
They were already among the best in the Pingze Continent, having faced countless dangers and rarely encountered opponents in battle, but this was the first time they had been so utterly powerless to fight back.
They couldn't even see a shadow of their opponent.
"Are you alright?" Jiang Xiangyun found Jiang Gu and breathed a sigh of relief without making it obvious.
Jiang Gu shook his head, glanced at the dying boy on the ground, and turned to leave.
Jiang Xiangyun glanced at Hu Jingchen and sighed, "Poor thing."
He only sighed, and Yao Li behind him didn't even lift his eyelids, stepping straight over him.
Hu Jingchen watched Jiang Gu's retreating figure, struggled to his feet, and grabbed a passing cultivator, asking, "Who... is that person?"
The cultivator he had captured was kind-hearted. He glanced at Jiang Gu and said, "He is the famous seventh young master of the Jiang family. He has terrible aptitude but defied the heavens and cultivated to the Mahayana stage. He is known in the Path of Ruthlessness as a venomous snake. Young friend, I advise you not to provoke him."
Hu Jingchen stared blankly at Jiang Gu's figure, then released his hand. "...Thank you."
Jiang Gu didn't care about the person he had just rescued; he went with Jiang Xiangyun to find Xiao Qingyan.
"...In recent years, rebels have emerged one after another in the Eight Pavilions. Although the Pavilion Master has ordered the suppression, some have recently escaped and are causing trouble. You need not worry about them." Xiao Qingyan said unhurriedly, his gaze falling on Jiang Gu, "Is Seventh Young Master injured?"
"It's nothing," Jiang Gu said.
A disciple from Kunlou stepped forward and said, "Special Envoy, there are 77 people remaining on the list of 103."
"Okay." Xiao Qingyan nodded and smiled, "Quite a few survived."
Jiang Xiangyun raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Not a small amount?"
Xiao Qingyan chuckled softly, "The higher-ups mean that it would be good if we could bring half of them back alive."
He must have used some secret technique, because the other cultivators in the formation didn't hear them talking at all. Xiao Qingyan took out a token and handed it to Jiang Xiangyun, "Xiangyun, take this. If anything happens, crush it to ensure your safety."
Jiang Xiangyun smiled and said, "Thanks."
Xiao Qingyan patted his shoulder, "Why are you thanking me? You are the eldest son of the Jiang family. If you weren't among the survivors, the Jiang family head would probably have attacked you from top to bottom."
Jiang Xiangyun and he looked at each other for a moment, and then they both burst out laughing at the same time.
After comforting Jiang Xiangyun, Xiao Qingyan then paid special attention to the disciples of several other major sects and families.
Because they were in the formation, Jiang Gu and the others could not communicate, so they each chose a place to recuperate.
Sensing an unfamiliar presence, Jiang Gu suddenly opened his eyes.
Not far away, the red-clad youth, whose clothes were tattered from being struck by lightning, watched him cautiously. He didn't go any further, but instead chose an open space not too far away to sit down. "Thank you for saving me, senior."
A more lively and clear voice suddenly rang in his mind:
Thank you so much, senior!
'Senior, my wound hurts terribly…'
"Master, save me!"
'Master! Master!! Master!!!'
Jiang Gu slowly frowned.
Even in the memories, Wei Feng's voice was still very noisy, inexplicably annoying.
Seeing that Jiang Gu frowned, Hu Jingchen assumed that Jiang Gu disliked him, so he immediately shut up and dared not disturb him any further. After hesitating for a moment, he got up and left.
This is the normal reaction a person should have.
Instead of shamelessly and persistently coming forward, only to burst into tears at the slightest provocation...
Just as Jiang Gu was about to continue his cultivation, he felt a familiar burning sensation on the side of his neck. Xiao Qingyan stood in front of him, bent down, and handed him a token with a smile.
He was surprisingly clever and considerate, keeping a respectful distance from Jiang Gu and refraining from touching him rashly. "Here you go."
A hint of doubt appeared in Jiang Gu's eyes. "What does this mean?"
“Giving Young Master Jiang the token was the intention of the building. The Lin family, the Zhou family, and that person from the Spirit Dragon Sect all have them.” Xiao Qingyan said, “However, this token is one I carry with me. This is just the beginning. Your cultivation level is not high, and you have no one to protect you. I’m afraid I can’t take care of you. There has to be some protection.”
Jiang Gu did not accept it. He knew that there must be an ulterior motive behind such unsolicited kindness. "Thank you for your kindness, Special Envoy, but this token is so valuable. You should keep it for yourself."
“Although my cultivation is not high, those traitors cannot harm me.” Xiao Qingyan was not annoyed by such cold treatment, and said gently and patiently, “I saw the scar on your neck before, and I have one too.”
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a hideous scar on his forearm, identical in shape and color to the scar on Jiang Gu's neck. "I once consulted a fortune teller, who said it was a predestined marriage ordained by Heaven. I've been searching for you for a long time."
Jiang Gu's expression turned cold. "Special Envoy Xiao has probably come to the wrong person."
“There’s no mistake. I’ve searched the entire Wangyue Continent and was even prepared to go to Chenyao Continent to look for you, but I didn’t expect you to be in Pingze.” Xiao Qingyan lowered his sleeves and said understandingly, “It’s okay. I know this is very sudden for you. I will give you time to accept it slowly. Of course, if you are unwilling, I will not force you.”
"Please keep this token safe, Seventh Young Master." Xiao Qingyan gently placed the token in front of Jiang Gu, then turned and left.
Jiang Gu stared at the token, his gaze dark.
If, as Xiao Qingyan claims, the scar on his neck is a marriage contract, then why could Wei Feng make the scar disappear and the seal broken? Is the seal's hint that he must kill his wife to prove his Dao and overcome the tribulation of love in order to ascend credible? Since Xiao Qingyan also has a scar, does he also have a hint about overcoming the tribulation of love to prove his Dao? Or perhaps… Wei Feng's existence is to deliberately interfere with his tribulation of love?
Jiang Gu's mind was filled with countless thoughts, and he unconsciously rubbed his fingertips together a couple of times.
Wei Feng's fate is currently unknown; it's just a matter of someone else killing him, which makes little difference to Jiang Gu.
But as he stared at the token, a faint sense of resistance suddenly arose from the bottom of his heart. Although Xiao Qingyan was far superior to Wei Feng in terms of appearance, family background, temperament, and cultivation, he still felt uneasy.
Just like Jiang Xiangyun wanted to trade the Xuan Yang Halberd for the Chi Xue Sword... Even though the Xuan Yang Halberd was better, he still preferred his own Chi Xue Sword.
Tsk.
Jiang Gu raised his hand and touched the scar on the side of his neck, feeling a sense of disgust towards it for the first time in his life.
——
After emerging from the protective array, the group boarded a spare flying boat and traveled through the teleportation array for several months. During this time, they were attacked several times, but having learned from past experiences, the casualties were minimal each time. Finally, when they were almost close to the Moon Gazing Continent, there were still 66 people left on the roll call.
The night before they docked, Xiao Qingyan sought out Jiang Gu again.
Jiang Gu stared at the table filled with magical treasure storage bags and fell into an eerie silence.
“If nothing unexpected happens, you will be taken away by the Yin-Yang Tower for training. The trials inside the tower are extremely brutal. Once you are eliminated, you will be sent to the Life and Death Tower.” Xiao Qingyan looked at his face with a somewhat solemn expression. “Once you are in the Life and Death Tower, there will be nothing I can do to help you.”
"What is the Tower of Life and Death?" Advisor Jiang asked.
For the past few months, Jiang Gu had been extremely cold to him. It was rare for him to take the initiative to speak. Xiao Qingyan looked at him with a gentle expression and made an exception to reveal information about Wangyue to him, "Wangyue Continent has ten buildings and eight pavilions, including Yanyu Terrace. The ten buildings are Qian and Kun Buildings, Yin and Yang Buildings, Life and Death Buildings, Illusion and Reality Buildings, and Shun and Ni Buildings. Qian and Kun Buildings are responsible for recruiting people. Those who are selected enter Yin and Yang Buildings for trials. Those who pass enter the eight pavilions, and the eight pavilions are directly under Yanyu Terrace..."
The Yin-Yang Tower specializes in collecting cultivators of the human, demon, and monster classes. It selects cultivators with superior physiques to refine weapons or transform into furnaces, puppets, or substitutes to aid cultivation. Some people, especially fond of beautiful individuals, will keep them as twin pets. Those rejected by the Yin-Yang Tower are considered high-quality materials and are very popular.
He looked at Jiang Gu, his ears slightly red, "If you don't want to go to the trial, I can take you home directly."
"No need," Jiang Gu refused him expressionlessly. "Take your things with you."
Xiao Qingyan looked at him disapprovingly, "I can protect you."
"No one in this world can protect me except myself," Jiang Gu said. "These magical treasures are unique to Wangyue. Bringing them into the tower would only be a burden. Special Envoy Xiao, I appreciate your kindness."
Xiao Qingyan was silent for a moment, then said gently, "Okay, I respect your choice, but I will also do my best to protect you. You don't have to refuse; this is my own decision."
He put away the magic treasure, leaving only a jade pendant he kept close to his body on the table. He smiled at Jiang Gu and said, "This is not a magic treasure. Consider it a gift for a friend. If Seventh Young Master doesn't want it, he can throw it away."
The mist outside the flying boat was ethereal, making the window frames rattle and clatter.
Jiang Gu was somewhat surprised by his good temper, after all, he was already prepared to take action. "Okay—"
Before he could even finish saying "good," the entire airship suddenly began to shake violently, followed by a warning bell that rang throughout the sky.
During the first half of the year on the flying boat, Jiang Gu had gained some understanding of the bell ringing at Qiankun Tower, and this time the bell ringing was obviously the most intense.
"Stay in your room and don't go out," Xiao Qingyan warned him before leaving in a hurry.
Chaos had already broken out outside the airship.
The window was still rattling, as if someone was pounding on it violently. Jiang Gu smelled a very faint scent of blood. He walked to the window, cautiously opened it, and was suddenly greeted by a wave of damp, misty air that covered his face.
The fog quickly dissipated, leaving the area outside the window empty and devoid of anything.
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