Chapter 300

Chapter 300: Injured in Two Moves

However, Lou Yun himself didn’t dare place himself in such a lofty position. He respectfully bowed to each of them, addressing Ao Wushen and the others.

Ao Wushen laughed heartily. "Young friend, since you are peers with Brother Leng and Brother Bei, we wouldn’t dare accept your formal courtesies. If you don’t mind, just call us all old brothers or old sisters!"

Though Lou Yun felt a bit embarrassed, seeing the utterly unremarkable expressions on his two brothers’ (Leng Cangqiong and Beichen Ming) faces, he could only comply with Ao Wushen’s words and address them accordingly once more.

After the introductions, Lou Yun was naturally very curious about their experiences over the past few days and how they had arrived at this stone chamber. Seeing Gui You Quan still silent and motionless, they temporarily paid him no mind. Beichen Ming recounted their journey for everyone.

After Ao Wushen’s subordinates detected unusual activity in the Thousand Layer Cave, the five of them rushed over from their respective locations. Beichen Ming encountered Leng Cangqiong on his way. Under Leng Cangqiong’s persistent questioning, Beichen Ming told the truth. Given Leng Cangqiong’s solitary and arrogant nature, he had actually wanted to face Gui You Quan back in the day, but never had the chance. Now, hearing that Gui You Quan hadn’t died and might reappear, he naturally refused to miss this opportunity and came along immediately.

Since even the Five Great Masters couldn’t kill Gui You Quan back then, and over thirty years had passed, his cultivation level must have advanced significantly. Having one more person to face him meant one more chance of victory. So, all five members warmly welcomed the White-haired God of Death, Leng Cangqiong, joining them.

While inspecting the cave entrance, the six were sucked inside the Thousand Layer Cave by a force generated by Gui You Quan. Though none understood formation arrays, their status as top-tier masters prevented panic. Through joint effort and study, they deciphered some patterns. Following guesses and paths, they inadvertently ended up in this stone chamber.

When they arrived, the demon beast was still alive. Fierce and savage as it was, it was no match for the six. After slaying it, they decided to stay temporarily, studying the Thousand Layer Cave carefully to find a way out.

They hadn’t expected Gui You Quan to suddenly appear there with Lou Yun.

Everyone now understood each other’s experiences. Next, the eyes of all seven instinctively turned toward Gui You Quan.

Gui You Quan had spoken only a single sentence since arriving. He hadn’t uttered another word, nor shown any other reaction. He just stared at them with an eerie smile, leaving everyone in the dark about what wicked scheme he was brewing.

Now, facing their collective gaze, Gui You Quan finally reacted. He chuckled darkly. "Finished chatting? Recovered your spiritual energy now? Thirty years… I’ve missed you all terribly!"

Everyone suddenly understood. Gui You Quan hadn’t attacked yet because he was waiting for everyone to restore their spiritual energy. After all, the six had just slain a demon beast, albeit without expending much energy. Clearly, Gui You Quan didn’t want to gain an unfair advantage. This observation made Lou Yun feel that although Gui You Quan was utterly vicious, he wasn’t without a shred of decency.

Ao Wushen and the other four had fought Gui You Quan before. Thirty years had passed; none knew how much his strength had increased. Exchanging glances, Beichen Ming stepped forward first. "Gui You Quan, truly unexpected. Your life force is incredibly tough. Imprisoned here for thirty years and you still live! You lured us here to exact revenge from back then, didn’t you? Well, we’re here. Just say what you intend to do!"

Gui You Quan cackled, "What do I intend? What do you think I intend? Thanks to your efforts, I’ve spent thirty years in this accursed place! Every day, every night, every hour, every moment, I’ve thought of you! Dreamt of devouring your flesh, drinking your blood, gnawing your bones, grinding your dust to nothing!"

"You’re all here now. Originally, I meant for you to experience being stuck here like me. But since fate brought us together, I’ll just have to send you off ahead of schedule!"

His final word still hung in the air when Leng Cangqiong sneered coldly. "Such lofty bragging!"

Leng Cangqiong was the only one among them who hadn’t faced Gui You Quan before. Paired with his habitual arrogance, this kind of retort was almost inevitable.

Hearing this, Gui You Quan wasn’t angered. He just chuckled darkly. "You weren’t among those besieging me thirty years ago. But since you’ve crossed my path, you can consider yourself unlucky. And you, kid," his gaze shifted pointedly, "You tricked me multiple times. But I won’t kill you… yet. I still need you to lead me out of here!"

The final sentence was unmistakably directed at Lou Yun.

Before Lou Yun could respond, Leng Cangqiong had already been provoked by Gui You Quan’s words. He snorted coldly. A sharp, chilling sword light flashed like lightning, slashing toward Gui You Quan. Astonishingly, this magical weapon strike wasn’t controlled by Leng Cangqiong’s hand; he remained standing dead still. It was clearly manifested through the Art of Weapon Control.

The Art of Weapon Control wasn’t about flying with a magical weapon, but solely using one’s will and magical perception to wield it. This unique ability could only be acquired after reaching the Earth level in the magical weapon realm.

Leng Cangqiong had the most unique cultivation method on the entire Spirit Weapon Star – he simultaneously cultivated two magical weapons!

His first magical weapon had reached the emperor rank, while his second weapon was at the mystery rank one star back then, but now it had also attained Earth level cultivation. This second magical weapon was the one he now used to attack Gui You Quan. Though only at Earth level, Liang Cangqiong’s true combat power was the combination of both weapons. Therefore, the might and speed of this strike were truly astonishing.

Yet, facing the weapon hurtling toward him like lightning, Gui You Quan didn’t even bat an eyelid. He simply extended two fingers. A sharp clang rang out! The magical weapon Leng Cangqiong sent was trapped securely between Gui You Quan’s index and middle fingers!

This scene left everyone utterly stunned. The most shocked, naturally, was Leng Cangqiong himself!

He simply couldn’t believe his eyes, couldn’t accept the reality unfolding before him. He knew his own power best. Though the Spirit Weapon Star universally acknowledged the four-star Weapon Emperor Ao Wushen as the top master, Leng Cangqiong’s heart never accepted that. He firmly believed he was the strongest!

Objectively speaking, outside the Nine Clans, his true power likely did exceed Ao Wushen’s, precisely due to his unique dual magical weapon cultivation.

Precisely because of that, Gui You Quan casually trapping his weapon between two fingers was an indescribable trauma to Leng Cangqiong’s immense pride!

After a brief moment of shock, a sharp glint flashed in Leng Cangqiong’s eyes. Suddenly, another long silver sword-radiance swept directly at Gui You Quan!

It was now Gui You Quan’s turn to be surprised. And of course, the others (except Lou Yun) were once again dumbfounded: Leng Cangqiong actually possessed two magical weapons?!

Though startled, as the sword-radiance approached, another magical weapon – also a sword – materialized in Gui You Quan’s other hand. A casual upward flick resulted in another resonating clang, perfectly blocking Leng Cangqiong’s second strike.

Simultaneously, a blue-white aura erupted from Gui You Quan’s sword, instantly encasing Leng Cangqiong’s magical weapon. Leng Cangqiong’s face instantly changed. He made a summoning gesture. The movement of his second weapon, which had been swift as lightning mere moments before, suddenly became ponderous and slow, as if weighed down by an immense burden, as it hesitantly returned to his grip.

The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, Leng Cangqiong couldn’t suppress a heavy groan. A trickle of blood seeped from his tightly pressed lips.

Leng Cangqiong had been injured!

In merely two moves!

The first saw his weapon easily trapped; the second directly inflicted internal injuries. The staggering disparity in strength dealt a devastating blow to Leng Cangqiong’s confidence. Now, he finally understood why the Five Great Masters, combining their full might thirty years prior, still hadn’t been able to defeat Gui You Quan and were forced to trap him in the Thousand Layer Cave.

Everyone else also paled dramatically. None had anticipated that after thirty years, Gui You Quan’s power seemed even more terrifying. The famed White-haired God of Death couldn’t even withstand two moves under his hand!

Lou Yun was the most astonished. In his heart, Leng Cangqiong had always been his idol. He absolutely refused to believe anyone could defeat Leng Cangqiong, let alone inflict visible injury. Yet the irrefutable truth lay starkly before him. While he knew Gui You Quan had reached the Weapon Emperor Realm, he still hadn’t imagined the chasm between Weapon Emperor and Weapon Emperor could be such an abyss!

Just then, Chang Xiang seemed to discern Lou Yun’s thoughts. He spoke in an eerily calm voice: "Kid, though Weapon Emperor is just one level beyond Weapon Emperor, the difference in true strength is like heaven and earth. Moreover, Gui You Quan’s Weapon Emperor Realm is solid and real. The others… their levels are mostly illusory."

"Solid and real?" Lou Yun was puzzled. Weapon Emperor was Weapon Emperor. How could there be real versus illusory distinctions?

Chang Xiang sighed softly. "I can now confirm Gui You Quan originates from that world. Therefore, his Weapon Emperor Realm was achieved by practicing both magical and ordinary skills – it’s rock-solid. Unlike people born of this Spirit Weapon Star, whose apparent levels are largely insubstantial. Even his cultivation method comes exclusively from that world. Also… I might understand why he came here in the first place."

Lou Yun finally grasped this. His curiosity intensified. He urged, "Why?"

"Because his cultivation method… is also a forbidden art that world cannot tolerate. So I speculate… someone likely witnessed his practice, turning him into an object of universal condemnation, with everyone aiming to eliminate him. Though a Weapon Emperor level made him a top master even there, and he likely feared nobody, precisely because of that level… he was soon to face the trial of heavenly punishment!"