"It's also Duanshui Hall? I recently heard that Duanshui Hall had started a feud with Mingyue Pavilion. It seems that it really was true."
"That guy is a member of Duanshui Hall? How wretched…"
"Humph! With Senior Sect Sister Hua making life difficult, it'll serve them right to receive several shots of Hundred Birds Thousand Flowers Palm!"
"Senior Sect Sister Hua is very capable!"
"She's a woman who needs to compete with us male disciples. Now with this shrewish behavior, it leaves one in low spirits."
"But she was actually born with good looks. It's to be expected that Li Duanshui would hold a grudge. If it was left to me, I would also hold a grudge. Hahahaha!"
These were naturally all words coming from male disciples. But there were also many female disciples quietly talking.
"Hua Yuerong has always been arrogant. Wasn't her face slapped just now?"
"What kind of a talent is Senior Sect Brother Li? He wholeheartedly adores Senior Sect Sister Hua, but she doesn't care in the least. Senior Sect Brother is seriously pitiful… I hope Senior Sect Brother Li can seize a total victory this time and embrace his belle."
"Senior Sect Sister Hua doesn't deserve Senior Sect Brother Li. Why can't he see other people?"
"You group of blockheads are being confused by that Li Duanshui, still stupidly unaware! The kind of woman like Senior Sect Sister Hua is a person we female disciples should honor and respect!"
The comments of all the disciples who lowered their voices were all heard by Gu Zuo with his extremely keen psychic power, and this caused him to make a helpless face.
Sure enough, the soul of the deceased had not yet dispersed. As it turned out, this was Miss Hua Yuerong, the legendary founder of the Mingyue Pavilion. From looking at her appearance and temperament, she really counted as a remarkably beautiful woman. However, a beautiful woman capable of leadership generally wasn't one to be trifled with. It seemed that her strength was outstanding, but her character wasn't too pleasant. A couple palms could practically slap a person into a cripple. That Li Duanshui, having set himself against her, was a true warrior.
Gu Zuo silently nit-picked, but it had to be said that his impression of Hua Yuerong was stronger than Li Duanshui's. If nothing else, after getting into contact with the troops of both sides, the ones from Mingyue Pavilion were very magnanimous and the ones from Duanshui Hall were underhanded. It was no contest.
In that case, was Duanshui Hall making another provocation to Mingyue Pavilion?
The matter off to the side continued to develop.
After Hua Yuerong cursed in front of everyone for a while, a young man with a slender build slowly walked out from that side hall. His looks had a rather photogenic feel to it. If a man were to describe him, he would certainly be a pretty boy. If a love-struck girl described him, then he would be a knight in shining armor. And using Gu Zuo's words… En, he was very attractive and intelligent. He could be considered a young, handsome guy.
Once such a handsome fellow came out, many female disciples couldn't help turning their lines of sight over there. And even some male disciples' gazes carried some envy and respect.
Fifth place on the Earth Leaderboard. An enormous reputation. A young elite!
Li Duanshui was elegant and graceful. He smiled at Hua Yuerong, and this smile carried a hint of softness: "Yuerong, long time no see. You're still so heartless."
Hua Yuerong cut to the chase: "There's never been any friendship between me and you!"
From that one sentence, there was a thick smell of gunpowder coming from between the two.
Gu Zuo retreated.
He felt that his luck wasn't good to have gone looking for someone and encountering those two. He'd better pull back without delay. If he departed later on, he would be swept up into a big pile of trouble.
The following matter proved that Gu Zuo's apprehensions were correct.
Because almost immediately after, the center of Hua Yuerong's palm shot out countless palm shadows that completely enveloped Li Duanshui's surroundings!
Li Duanshui didn't seem to have expected Hua Yuerong to have acted from a brief remark. He also swiftly exploded with abundant qi energy and melted those palm prints one after another. However, he was a tad slow, so the demonstrated martial skill was very formidable. Among the spectating disciples, at least a dozen of them were affected by the two's residual power and spat blood. In addition, there were some female martial artists who stumbled and nearly fell down because they weren't careful.
Gu Zuo retreated quickly, so the residual power didn't reach him. As for those who were swept up by the residual power, they went back and cracked a medicinal pill between their teeth.
But there wasn't anyone who raised any discontent.
Firstly, they basically couldn't afford to offend these two. Secondly, there were too many affairs in the Inner Sect concerning the animosity of both sides. So long as it didn't result in someone's death, enforcement disciples would mediate over such matters. Without the enforcement disciples, then everyone would settle the dispute by themselves. It wasn't a big deal. And those who spectated needed to pay the price for gawking. It was also to toughen up the disciples' distinguishing capabilities. This also…wasn't a big deal.
Gu Zuo shook his head.
Most of the spectators were wounded in the action, but the two sides who fought were actually safe and sound.
Furthermore…
Gu Zuo's expression became a little solemn.
Li Duanshui and Hua Yuerong were both too strong!
Currently, he couldn't tell what stage they'd reached in Xiantian, but he seemed to sense that even if his big brother exhibited all of his strength, Tianheng wouldn't have been able to defeat these two — Ah, right. He once heard that Li Duanshui had already reached Xiantian stage nine. This Hua Yuerong's strength also shouldn't have been inferior to his.
It could be seen that Gu Zuo and Tianheng would need to improve their strength even more. Otherwise, they could only constantly rely on a couple of Fu Manduo's connections… This side had an abundance of goods and that side had tremendous power. Presently, it was still a fair trade. But if things continued this way, it would certainly be anything but rea.s.suring.
Li Duanshui and Hua Yuerong held nothing back as they fought right then and there. Many of those unleashed martial skills were mighty and brilliant. It was difficult for ordinary disciples to resist, so they could only retreat and dodge continuously.
Gu Zuo ran very quickly, and Dragon Two displayed a bodyguard's duties at this moment. He reacted like lighting as some of the aftermath that had been swept over were all reflected back.
Dragon Two's current body was much stronger than before. Although the residual power was no small matter, he could carry Gu Zuo as they nimbly got away… He only received minor injuries.
In the end, very many spectators with insufficient strength had retreated to the periphery of the fight. But those who were comparatively strong, resisted the fallout and carefully observed the battle.
— Many of a martial artist's experiences were about going through danger personally.
Gu Zuo wiped away his sweat, and handed Dragon Two a Revitalization Pill.
This was a top grade Revitalization Pill — He was still very good to his dear big brother's subordinates. What's more, there was no difference to him between refining medicinal pills that were top grade and refining pills of other product grades.
Dragon Two was also aware that Pharmacist Gu wasn't comparable to ordinary pharmacists. After getting the top grade Revitalization Pill, he didn't have any reservations and immediately consumed it.
Heat soon swept through his body, and those insignificant injuries were thoroughly healed in the blink of an eye.
Gu Zuo watched the battle from far away. However, due to the effects of his psychic power, his sight wasn't the least inferior to Xiantian stage four or five martial artists.
He could see that Hua Yuerong was indeed just a bit worse than Li Duanshui, but she was fierce and desperate. As for Li Duanshui, he fought with poise and temperament. Thus, they seemed to be at a stalemate.
But if Li Duanshui's patience was exhausted and Hua Yuerong's efforts waned, the battle situation between the two wouldn't have this look.
As both sides fought like a wildfire, when Li Duanshui was about to get angry, a piercing cry sounded, and a shadow immediately descended from high above.
Following that, an enormous wild bird spiraled down and landed on the ground.
The ones who leaped off the wild bird were twelve male and female disciples wearing enforcement robes. Their expressions were solemn as they walked over — The cry just then was produced by the wild bird.
After that, the scene that played out made Gu Zuo widen his eyes.
As many as four enforcement disciples whirled out and split to either side. Their hands grasped tablets, which were thrown towards Li Duanshui and Hua Yuerong. The tablets were very strange as they directly drew in the two's attacks. Soon after, these disciples set out one after another and moved back and forth between the two like threading a flower.
Li Duanshui and Hua Yuerong were separated.
Since they had been separated, they couldn't shamelessly attack their counterpart in the presence of the enforcement disciples.
At once, the two people stood at the ready as they looked to the enforcement disciples.
The leading enforcement disciple's expression was grave, and seemed have a sentiment that brokered no negotiation: "Sect Regulations, Article 1-12. Any sect disciples who have animosity towards one another may go to the Battle Terrace to fight. They may not fight in secret as to avoid damage to the Sect's resources. Every transgressor will be deducted three hundred contribution points."
After this stiff recitation, he continued to speak: "Li Duanshui, Hua Yuerong. As Earth Leaderboard experts, you may have a twenty percent reduction. You two, hand over your disciple tokens. Two hundred forty contribution points will be removed."
Gu Zuo heard this clearly, and inwardly thought: The sect rules are very fishy! Saying to fight at the Battle Terrance, but the penalty of private brawls is to deduct money. Those on the Earth Leaderboard also get a discount, so it should be to encourage compet.i.tion? I wonder what the consequences would be if there was a loss of life…
Afterwards, he again pondered: The deduction of contribution points is only towards the two who fought. They actually aren't looking the same way at the guy who was slapped by Hua Yuerong into a corner and left with a single breath. There's also no intent to ask about it.
So to say, it was only those who were caught in the act. If not, then they were of no concern?
He again looked at the two who were caught.
Li Duanshui naturally handed over the token politely.
Hua Yuerong's countenance bespoke of her pent up anger, but she also complied with the enforcement disciple's orders.
The atmosphere between the two didn't ease because of the enforcement disciple's interruption. When the Disciplinary Hall enforced the rules, it had considerable power. This compliance of theirs was because one couldn't casually act of their own accord.
Gu Zuo shook his head, confused.
However, if it was that big brother of his, he would've certainly been able to understand…
After the chief enforcement disciple deducted the contribution points, he saw that the mood was still rigid and continued to speak: "If your grudges haven't been resolved, go to the Battle Terrance to fight."
After he finished speaking, just as they hurriedly arrived, they turned around and left, swiftly and decisively.
Gu Zuo raised his head and followed them with his eyes. Then, he lowered his head once more to watch those two people.
Li Duanshui said: "Why don't we go to the Battle Terrance?"
Nevertheless, Hua Yuerong sneered: "How big of a face do you think you have?" And then, she lowered her voice, "Shan'er. We're going."
At this moment, the delicate and pretty girl who was treated as the fuse and who was distantly overlooked, softly responded: "Ai, many thanks, big sister."
Hua Yuerong's bearing to this delicate and pretty girl was still good. She faintly nodded and pulled this girl along as they rose high into the air and left.
Then, there were many people speaking:
"So they were sisters."
"They don't look the same at all…"
"Duanshui Hall was just finding a good excuse!"
A person with sharp insight laughed: "Senior Sect Sister Hua has a very keen mind. if they were to meet again, she'd certainly be unable to resist. So they took the opportunity to leave.
Someone agreed: "Precisely, precisely…"
Other people were always quite talkative and were too busy to pay any heed to him. Perhaps they didn't discover anything, but Gu Zuo's psychic power was too strong. Nevertheless, he sensed that when the women were already far away, that delicate and pretty girl turned her head back and glanced at Li Duanshui.
That gaze was vague.
Gu Zuo's heart thumped.
His suddenly felt that the girl didn't seem so simple…
After the enforcement disciples left, Li Duanshui watched Hua Yuerong's retreating back and his eyes flashed with a trace of gloom. However, he didn't tarry here for long. He turned around and departed.
Those heavily injured disciples who were flung to the side were still lying on the ground. Li Duanshui understood that it was because of his arrival, but at this moment, he didn't pay them even a little bit of attention.
His cruelty and fickleness could be seen to be only a small part of the whole.
The people spectating no longer watched, and they all dispersed.
Just like how this place was like before any event occurred, everything went back to normal.
Gu Zuo flung his head back and threw this matter out.
He knew about this business with Duanshui Hall and Mingyue Pavilion earlier. This was making a big fuss about nothing.
Currently, his primary objective was waiting for his dear big brother.
But if he was waiting in vain…
After thinking it over, Gu Zuo said to Dragon Two: "There are quite a few side halls with many disciples. Although big brother said he was going to the Martial Scripture Pavilion to read martial skills, if he came out, he could've gone there to have a look. I'll get ready to go all over to find him. You stay here and wait. If big brother has yet to come out from the Martial Scripture Pavilion, go to those side halls to find me."
Originally, Dragon Two was a person Gongyi Tianheng had set aside for Gu Zuo. Naturally, he should also listen and obey his commands. However, before complying, Gu Zuo's safety was the most important thing.
Hence, based on his loyalty, he still asked: "Pharmacist Gu will be going alone. If you encounter a calamity…"
Gu Zuo shook his head and smiled: "What calamities could there be in the Sect?" But Gu Zuo also knew that what Dragon Two was referring to was the matter that happened just now. He explained, "In the end, these side halls have living s.p.a.ces inside. It certainly wouldn't have someone starting a fight over there. Besides, I also have some means to defend myself… I'm also very fast at running for my life."
Dragon Two heard him speak like this, and his eyes couldn't help carry a bit of a smile. After that, he quickly a.s.sumed a proper expression: "Then, I'll have to urge Pharmacist Gu to be careful."
Gu Zuo nodded and replied: "Rest a.s.sured, my courage isn't great."
Dragon Two cupped his fist, and didn't persuade him any longer: "I certainly won't overlook the young master. May Pharmacist Gu be at ease."
Gu Zuo waved his hand, and went to one of the side halls.
There really were a lot more people inside the building.
Don't look at the many people who were attracted to Li Duanshui and Hua Yuerong's battle. It definitely didn't draw in everyone. Some of those inside the building who were comprehending, comparing notes, or making exchanges wouldn't be disturbed by the bustle outside.
For example, the building Gu Zuo came to was very lively inside.
Many disciples sat together, stretching and punching as they practiced martial arts. All of them were discussing their own martial skills. Although there wasn't necessarily any fine control, they were drawing from each other's experiences. There were a lot of benefits to increasing these insights.
Only, these kinds of demonstrated martial skills weren't rare martial skills whose knowledge had been lost. Normally, a few would be staple goods. Seldom would there would be slightly exquisite ones. And if one could make improvements in the joint investigation into these staple goods, the increase in strength was also a type of capital to each of them.
When Gu Zuo realized what the many martial artists in the side hall were busy with, he sensed a bit of subtlety.
This matter of modifying martial skills to upgrade their ranks…was just like when his dear big brother was very small and first started. Moreover, the number of modifications might've been greater than what these people were doing.
The IQ of the Tiandu Body would really make a person exclaim in admiration. He couldn't help thinking that if his big brother came to this side hall, he should've felt like a fish back in water.
This side hall couldn't have suited his big brother more.
As he ruminated, Gu Zuo had already quickly swept the people in the entire building with his psychic power.
His big brother wasn't here.
In that case, since he wasn't there, Gu Zuo would switch locations.
Soon after, Gu Zuo came out of the building and proceeded towards the adjacent one.
In this building, there were many people who were comprehending veined patterns on some walls. The patterns seemed to be a study of martial arts. But each and every martial artist who came here was quiet and peaceful, never making the tiniest sound.
However, Gu Zuo quickly realized that the veined patterns on the walls of this building were actually a type of martial study. Furthermore, it was the Qingyun Sect's guarded jewel — A Profound-Level high rank martial skill!
One needed to know that in the Cangyun Empire, even Golden-Level ones were extremely rare, and were the Royal Family's priceless treasures. The so-called Profound-Level was something practically never heard of before. But not only did the Qingyun Sect have them, it would even use veined patterns to display this Profound-Level cultivation method on the walls?
Gu Zuo felt baffled.
Could it be that this kind of guarded jewel wasn't something to be concealed away in a secret chamber where especially outstanding disciples could go comprehend it? This kind of conceit really wasn't normal.
Such doubts clearly weren't limited to a single person like Gu Zuo.
Under the expansion of Gu Zuo's psychic power, he found a newly arrived martial artist making inquiries. Afterwards, through the explanations of the senior disciples, only then did he realize that the veined patterns were merely a threshold. Only those who comprehended the superficial knowledge here could get the real deal. Those qualified would go to study the parts that were even more profound. And those profound parts were the martial skill's core.
Gu Zuo understood in a flash.
If it was like this, then it was easy to comprehend.
However, this large building still didn't have Gongyi Tianheng. Gu Zuo sighed again and went out once more to the third side hall.
Tianheng still wasn't there.
Fourth side hall. Wasn't there.
Fifth building, sixth building… Gu Zuo was getting further and further away from that main building.
Then, Gu Zuo looked to the seventh side hall.
And there seemed to be another lively matter happening in this side hall.
— It definitely didn't indicate that someone was fighting inside. Rather, there were lots of people because some matters had become exciting.
Gu Zuo hesitated.
Soon after, he clenched his teeth, and entered the seventh side hall.
It was eye-catching. He saw several pillars, and each pillar's color was different. They resembled the colors of the five elements. There were signs above with enormous characters, and each one was individually written: Sky, Earth, Profound, Golden, Human.
The s.p.a.ce between each pillar was huge, and there were quite a few stone steps that surrounded the pillars. The pillars themselves further stood upon stone platforms, and were thick enough where it would take several people to wrap around them.
The pillars were looped with countless writings. Each line of characters was wrapped up with strange designs. The stone platforms that surrounded the pillars also had many grooves. Each groove corresponded to a stone step.
At first, Gu Zuo wasn't able to make even a little bit of sense of what he was looking at. However, once he discovered that many of the stone steps were each seating a person, and that a disciple token was inserted into the groove in front of that person, he made some headway.
This was a bit like… The feeling of inserting a card to play on a computer?
Ah, he suddenly felt that this world had become a little bit more advanced.
Gu Zuo felt utterly ludicrous.
If possible, he also wanted to go give it a try. Unfortunately, only martial artists could play here. As a pharmacist and nominal disciple, even if he inserted his token, it would be useless.
However, Gu Zuo didn't always focus on impossible matters. Right now, his line of sight fell upon the gold-colored pillar ahead that was surrounded by a crowd.
The word written on the gold-colored pillar was "Golden". The dense crowd obstructed the inner stone steps as well as the people on the steps.
Without knowing why, Gu Zuo suddenly felt his heartbeat speed up.
It was like there was a familiar feeling over there…
It must be his big brother!
Subconsciously, Gu Zuo called out in his mind: Big brother!
If the distance wasn't too far, his psychic power should've been able to transmit his thoughts over, right? He was unsure and hadn't done this before. Yet, he wanted to give it a try.
Almost instantly, a slightly low and magnetic voice transmitted into his ears: Ah Zuo, where are you?
Gu Zuo couldn't help revealing a smiling expression: Is big brother in front of the gold-colored pillar? Are there lots of people surrounding big brother?
Gongyi Tianheng's voice also seemed to carry a hint of laughter: So it turns out Ah Zuo has also come to the Mission Hall.
Gu Zuo nodded. Then he remembered that his dear big brother wouldn't have been able to see him nod, and grunted in his mind. Afterwards, he found a place in this side hall to sit down.
If he didn't find Tianheng, he certainly would've looked all over for him. But since Tianheng was found, he wouldn't be in such a hurry… He would just rest up.
Of course, the conversation in his mind could take its time.
Gu Zuo was a little curious: Big brother, why are you surrounded?
Tianheng paused: Doing this mission can earn contribution points. I've done lots of them.
Gu Zuo couldn't help teasing: Big brother's doing it on purpose…
Tianheng laughed: Earning lots of contribution points and raising my reputation is indeed on purpose.
Gu Zuo made a helpless expression.
Big brother admitted it too quickly. He felt speechless.
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