Chapter 405

Chapter 405: Dispute

Zhou Luo didn’t expect that he would be attacked at the Wan Gu Sect.

Although he had anticipated that he might face targeting by others, he didn’t expect the targeting to come so quickly.

Right from the start, they allowed Gu insects to sneak into his body, and perhaps fearing he would notice, they used First Level Gu insects.

The higher the level of a Gu insect, the greater the power it generated, and the easier it was to be detected.

The other party probably thought he wasn’t a Gu Master, so they used First Level Gu insects.

This kind of Gu insect didn’t contain much power, but it wasn’t easily detected at first either.

Zhou Luo recognized this Gu insect; it was called Rigid Gu, and it was a control-type Gu insect.

The biggest feature of this kind of Gu insect was that it could silently affect a person’s mind.

This effect wasn’t achieved instantly; it silently altered the other person’s thoughts when they made decisions.

The change was gradual and subtle, so that even the person afflicted with Gu insects couldn’t detect it.

Zhou Luo had a thought, wondering if this was deliberately done by Master Ling An.

After all, this was his territory, so such an incident was highly likely to be related to him.

But if that was really the case, why had he accepted his daughter as a disciple then?

Was he truly coveting the treatment received by Yao Wu’s lineage?

Zhou Luo wasn’t certain; regardless, since the enemy had already acted, he couldn’t just sit and wait to die.

Fortunately, he hadn’t exposed his strength, and since it was a First Level Gu insect, he could handle it without any issue.

However, it wasn’t urgent yet; if he directly removed it, it could easily startle the snake.

If the other party used higher-level Gu insects later on, he wouldn’t be able to cope.

So he pretended to be affected by the Gu insect, while Xuanqing seemed completely unaware.

Zhou Luo understood clearly that the other party must have known about that Gu insect; after all, even he, a First Level Gu Master, had discovered it.

When they arrived at the inner courtyard, Xuanqing arranged rooms for Zhou Luo and Zhou Shixin respectively.

"Friend Zhou, this is a communication talisman; if you have any matters, you can contact me through this," Xuanqing said as he handed two talismans into his hand.

"Thank you, friend Xuanqing," Zhou Luo said, receiving the talisman with a cupped-hand gesture.

"Hmm, I still have some affairs to deal with; when master returns, I will send someone to notify you," Xuanqing nodded, then turned and left.

After he departed, Zhou Luo glanced in the direction where the other person had vanished.

Seeing that Zhou Shixin was about to enter her room, he grabbed her and took her to his own room.

Once inside the room, he didn’t forget to stick three Second Level isolation symbols on the window to prevent others from spying.

Zhou Shixin observed her father’s cautious appearance and asked with a puzzled expression, "Father, what’s wrong?"

After completing these actions, Zhou Luo finally looked at her and said earnestly, "Remember, I’m about to speak, and you must not be surprised; do everything according to my instructions, understand?"

Zhou Shixin gazed at her father’s serious demeanor; in her mind, she didn’t know what was happening, but she still nodded thoughtfully.

Immediately, Zhou Luo explained to his daughter in great detail about the earlier matter concerning Gu insects, as well as the subsequent plans.

As she listened to these words, Zhou Shixin’s expression shifted from initial confusion to subsequent astonishment, and then turned into disbelief.

She stared at the other person with wide eyes, her face filled with shock.

"Father, are you telling the truth?" Zhou Shixin’s voice trembled slightly.

This was the first time the young girl had experienced such a thing and the first time she had learned of the darkness outside.

Just moments ago, she had been envisioning a vast world ahead of her upon arriving at the Wan Gu Sect.

But reality had harshly slapped her face. She hadn’t expected to be targeted the moment she entered the sect.

As a Gu Master, she knew all too well what a top-tier Gu insect represented.

With this thought, her gaze toward her father turned peculiar.

Because, according to his arrangements, it seemed her father had the ability to resolve the matter concerning that First Level top-tier Gu insect.

But hadn’t her mother said her father was also a lower-grade Gu Master?

A subtle suspicion began to form in her mind.

In her heart, her father had always been shrouded in mystery, both in terms of his strength and his mastery over skills.

She remembered once secretly witnessing him refining talismans—their power visibly equivalent to the Second Level.

Though astonished, her trust in her father was absolute, so she had kept silent about it.

"Father, I understand," Zhou Shixin replied earnestly.

"Mmm, off you go. Just follow my instructions when the time comes," Zhou Luo nodded.

He then removed the talisman and saw Zhou Shixin out.

After her departure, Zhou Luo remained alone in the room, contemplating his countermeasures.

Elsewhere, Yao Wu was led by Master Ling An into a magnificent hall atop the main peak.

Inside the great hall, an aura of radiance filled the air. Padded meditation seats floated in mid-air on both sides.

Above these seats, misty spiritual light shimmered amid immortal mist, obscuring the figures within.

Only indistinct silhouettes could be seen sitting cross-legged, each surrounded by strange phenomena and exuding terrifying might.

Yao Wu, a mere practitioner at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, dared not look directly. It felt as if mountains were pressing down upon her, suffocating and heavy.

She struggled to endure the pressure until reaching the center of the hall, where the oppressive force instantly vanished.

Relieved, Yao Wu looked up toward the front.

There stood an imposing throne, surrounded by intense radiance. The dense spiritual light was blinding.

Dazzled and disoriented, Yao Wu found it impossible to make out the figure seated there.

"Are you the grand-disciple of Master Lieyang?"

Shortly after, a mighty voice, seeming to arrive from all directions, exploded by Yao Wu’s ear.

Yao Wu immediately knelt and saluted, "Disciple Yao Wu reporting."

This person was likely the sect leader of the Wan Gu Sect, hence her prompt prostration.

As she knelt, in places unseen, dozens of divine senses intertwined, engaged in fervent debate.

Clearly, Yao Wu’s appearance was not a unanimous decision. Some within the Wan Gu Sect opposed it; others supported it.

For this reason, the sect was divided into two factions.

At this moment, their argument reached its peak.

Kneeling, Yao Wu could distinctly feel eyes occasionally falling upon her—appraising her.

She instinctively glanced toward Master Ling An beside her, noting he stood with hands clasped behind his back, seemingly indifferent.

Only when the discussions subsided did the luminous figure upon the throne speak again.

"Yao Wu, from this day forth, you are the Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain, entitled to all privileges accorded to Master Lieyang’s lineage."

"However, given your modest cultivation and insufficient strength, you are not yet qualified to take disciples widely. Therefore, you shall cultivate under me henceforth."

"Upon achieving Foundation Establishment and becoming a Second Level Gu Master, you may formally assume the role of Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain and exercise the right to recruit disciples."

"Until then, you must undergo the trials of Lieyang Mountain. Failure in these trials shall revoke your right to become the Mountain Master."

…