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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Jiang Luoshen’s apathetic attitude drew embarrassment on the faces of the surrounding young prodigies. Even the King with Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, and the rest felt somewhat awkward.
After all, judging by the matter that erupted right in front of the Eternal Overcast outbreak, Gu Changge indeed bore not the slightest connection to the Successor of Demonic Arts. Despite knowing these rumours were slanders fabricated by the various Forces, they chose to silently observe instead of trying to stop the spread of lies.
“We can’t simply decide who the Successor of Demonic Arts is before we capture the real culprit.”
At that moment, Lan Yifei, the Chosen One of Immortal Dao Alliance, stood out and spoke, shaking his head with a tender smile on his friendly face. He carried an extraordinary aura that forbade others from disregarding him as if his breaths and actions were merged with the world itself.
“The Chosen One is right. We don’t know for sure whether the death of Jin Yun had been an elaborate scheme created by the real Successor of Demonic Arts. Besides, who are we to say with absolute certainty that it was the real Successor of Demonic Arts that took action? There are countless Secret Techniques in this world, not to mention the ever so mysterious Forbidden Demonic Arts. How can we be absolutely certain that the Successor of Demonic Arts was the one who killed Jin Yun? How can these two incidents so coincidentally wash away all the suspicion on Young Master Gu?”
Hearing Lan Yifei’s words, Wang Shun, who was enjoying the scene by the side, suddenly spoke in a mischievous tone as he gently swayed his folded fan.
As the Young Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, he possessed innumerable resources and was followed by numerous formidable cultivators. Even in this place, he held speaking rights that no one dared to ignore.
Upon his words, many young prodigies’ faces drastically changed. Even the Phoenix Lady squinted her eyes, in which a hint of red flash zoomed across.
Although Wang Shun’s statement was simple, it was clear that he was implying to the crowd that Gu Changge was unquestionably still a suspect. After all, the timings of the two incidents were too coincidental.
However, how was he so bold to doubt Gu Changge? As a matter of fact, let alone the younger generation, even ancient True Daoists remained fearfully quiet towards the topic.
Prior to this, a True Daoist from Endless Fire Kingdom had her cultivation destroyed. Accumulated cultivation over millions of years… all vanished in one night. Yet, Endless Fire Kingdom could only remain silent about it, not daring to avenge the True Daoist.
As the incident stirred up great commotion throughout the Upper Realm, it was evident how terrifying Gu Changge’s influence had grown.
Yet, Wang Shun still had the audacity to vocalise those claims.
“What are you talking about?”
Jiang Luoshen squinted her stunning eyes wherein a threatening sensation flashed across as she glared at Wang Shun. A daunting aura that resembled a golden, scorching hot sun wafted around her, twisting the surrounding void.
Seeing that, the young prodigies were visibly startled, revealing faces of fear. Even the King with Six Crowns’s heart slightly sank as he had never expected Jiang Luoshen to have achieved such a level of strength.
“Why the hastiness, Princess Luoshen? Since Young Master Gu is not the Successor of Demonic Arts, why should he worry about those slanderous claims?” Feigning a subtle grin, Wang Shun condescendingly raised his brows at Jiang Luoshen as his tone then grew even more provoking.
“Oh, Princess Luoshen, behaviour like yours tends to get yourself taken advantage of. A righteous man like Young Master Gu wouldn’t care about such trivial slanders. You, on the other hand, are obviously the vulnerable one.”
Clearly worthy of being the Young Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, Wang Shun was proficient in playing psychological games. He quickly shut Jiang Luoshen down with merely a few sentences, causing her dashing eyes to grow icier as a murderous aura surged around her body.
“How dare you speak to me that way?” Jiang Luoshen’s voice was cold. Even standing in front of the Young Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, she remained fearless while retaining her nobleness and aggression as if she could take Wang Shun’s life any time.
At once, the faces of the crowd changed. They hurriedly stepped back as they sensed a battle coming their way.
In the meantime, the Phoenix Lady, the King with Six Crowns, and the others also furrowed their brows without saying anything.
As the Princess of Godly Illusion Clan, Jiang Luoshen possessed a high position and terrorising Talents. Once, she even dared to insult and oppose Gu Changge. It was clear her strength must not be belittled. Indubitably, by her strength alone, she could easily take on a bunch of cultivators of the younger generation in the Upper Realm.
“Why, do you perhaps plan to kill me, Princess Luoshen?” Wang Shun retained his, seemingly unconcerned as he had sufficient backup.
Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance and the Alliance of Thousand Merchants were the top merchant alliances in the Upper Realm. Their influences expanded across all Domains. The two alliances shared many feuds and wanted to replace the other. However, Gu Changge just so happens to be closely related to the Alliance of Thousand Merchants.
Having been informed in advance that the various Forces intended to make a move on Gu Changge and even planned to partner up with Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, Wang Shun revealed his hostility against Gu Changge without restraint. After all, both of them were already enemies.
Jiang Luoshen’s golden hair gleamed. Her figure was glamorous and her legs were delicately slender. On her fine, marbled face, a glacial expression arose. “Do you dare to repeat what you said in front of Gu Changge?”
Those words were spoken ruthlessly, as if she was declaring that Wang Shun was a coward who only dared to defame Gu Changge behind his back instead of reprimanding him head-on.
In other words, she was openly insulting Wang Shun.
Right away, Wang Shun’s face froze and became somewhat hideous. However, he quickly collected himself and blandly replied, “I merely stated the truth. Princess Luoshen, you are free to point out my errors.”
“Do you really think I won’t kill you?” The murderous intent in Jiang Luoshen’s eyes grew even more apparent, no longer concealable.
“You’re simply a sly brat that bad-mouths others behind their backs. I doubt you’d have the balls to show yourself before Gu Changge.”
At that moment, a clear, mesmerising voice came from the other side. A young woman in green with flawless features and rich eyebrows appeared. Her gaze was faint yet crystalline. She exuded astonishing Celestial Energy, and her face was incomparably beguiling. It was as if she was the perfect creation made by the God of Creation.
Blessed with a graceful figure and snowy, intricate skin, she casually walked over from outside the courtyard. On her shoulder, there was a weary big red bird whose eyes were half-shut.
This woman was none other than Gu Xianer, who apparently arrived at the Divine City.
“This is…”
“The Princess of the Immortal Gu Family!”
“She’s here… Does that mean Young Master Gu has come as well?”
As soon as Gu Xianer appeared, fervent commotions and discussions erupted all over the place. Cultivators looked over in stupefaction as though they didn’t expect her to show up.
The King with Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, and Chosen Monk Jin Chan tensed their brows and looked behind Gu Xianer as if to verify Gu Changge’s presence.
Jiang Luoshen momentarily turned to Gu Xianer with her dashing eyes before silently withdrawing her gaze.
Naturally, she recognised Gu Xianer. In fact, they had once met back in Godly Illusion Tomb, where her Junior was murdered by Gu Changge after attempting to seize the treasure first acquired by Gu Xianer. Thereupon, she held a grudge against Gu Changge, only to be subdued by him and was even forced to stay by his side as a servant for a period of time.
Regardless, at this moment, even she never expected that Gu Xianer would show up here.
“Is Gu Changge perhaps here as well…” Jiang Luoshen turned her head outwards to check outside the courtyard, but as Gu Changge was nowhere to be seen, she felt a tinge of disappointed.
“Gu Xianer…” Of course, Wang Shun too recognised Gu Xianer and was well aware of her identity, so his expression grew unnatural. He wasn’t afraid of Gu Xianer, but he was worried that Gu Changge might be behind her.
Among the formidable cultivators gathered in the Divine City, there were also hidden experts, who would almost never appear. However, Gu Changge had not appeared, and no one had an idea as to what he was up to now.
“Stop looking for Gu Changge. He’s not with me. If you’re so scared of him, why even bad-mouth him?” Gu Xianer flatly said with her usual icy expression as though she could see through Wang Shun’s mind.
Compared to Jiang Luoshen’s approach, the way she spoke such words to him right in front of all the young prodigies felt even more humiliating, especially with how she carried such a cold, indifferent expression. Moreover, her Celestial Energy made it even harder for him to refute her. It was as though she was merely stating a simple fact.
“Gu Xianer, do you think everyone will fear you solely because of Gu Changge?” Wang Shun sternly questioned with a hideous frown as he loudly closed his fan.
Hearing that, Gu Xianer shot him an uninterested glance as if she didn’t have the mood to entertain him.
“I sure am eager to witness your capability. This enormous Divine City is not something the Immortal Gu Family can easily take over.” Coldness flashed across Wang Shun’s eyes.
As the Young Master of Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Alliance, not a single person of the younger generation would dare to insult him. Yet, in one day, he was consecutively humiliated by Jiang Luoshen and Gu Xianer in front of a crowd of young prodigies. Thus, if he were to remain quiet, he would become a joke to the entire world. Besides, he doubted that Gu Changge would act rashly with so many hidden experts from different Forces in the Divine City.
“You’re welcome to try.” Gu Xianer lifted her gaze towards him, her expression as glacial as ever, seemingly unbothered by all things else.
Even though Gu Changge often bullied her, that didn’t mean she would allow anyone else to tarnish his name in front of her.
“Very well.” Wang Shun sneered.
*Boom!* The next moment, gold crimson beams penetrated through the clouds and instantly engulfed the entire sky, and numerous artifacts could be seen levitating within.
Golden tiny cauldrons, black Dao Swords, scarlet divine furnaces, purple miniature towers, and pitch-black pearls—all of the artifacts emitted blinding lights and fluctuations that could destroy everything in the world.
Wang Shun was certainly deserving of his given title as the Prodigy of Infinite Treasures, given how he possessed an unfathomable number of artifacts.
As he drew his hand, displaying his abnormally wealthy side, the magic weapons exuded intertwining patterns with overwhelming destructive powers that no cultivators of the Sacred Lord Realm would dare to touch.
Without a change in expression, Gu Xianer simply clicked her tongue, after which she revealed her delicate fist inside her sleeve as she threw a ferocious punch.
Vague golden glows swirled as if they were made of Immortal Divine Gold, expanding and contracting, as it bore not the slightest resemblance to their godlike coldness appearance.
*Boom!* At once, the horrifying impact spread out. Upon Gu Xianer’s punch, the artifacts in front of her blew up into pieces. If it weren’t for the protective arrays throughout the Divine City, the entire region would have fallen apart.
Seeing this, everyone in the courtyard was thoroughly dumbfounded, quickly backing out. They initially expected Jiang Luoshen to be the one to attack Wang Shun, but to their surprise, it was Gu Xianer who stepped up.
Moreover, no one had expected Gu Xianer’s strength to be this devastating. She was younger than everyone present, yet her aura alone left the King with Six Crowns scowling and thinking that she would be a formidable foe.
Soon, as Gu Xianer and Wang Shun fought in the courtyard, dazzling runes surged and shone brightly. The intense shockwaves resembled a wrathful tide that was arising. One after another, godly artifacts were summoned, but Gu Xianer quickly shattered them into pieces that then scattered all over the region.
Wang Shun glowered tensely, never expecting himself to be weaker to the young woman before him. Were it not for his numerous artifacts, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand her attack.
*Boom!* Vibrant runes suddenly emerged behind Gu Xianer, merged with lights of purple and gold before forming a sea of thunder that crackled as it struck downwards.
The young prodigies present were visibly stupefied, and even the pupils of the King with Six Crowns contracted.
“This is the long-lost True Thunder…” Chosen Monk Jin Chan muttered with a solemn expression.
“This is bad…” Right away, Wang Shun’s face dramatically changed. As he was unable to react in time, he quickly conjured a silver battlesuit in an attempt to protect himself.
However, as the sea of lighting plummeted, all targeted where he stood. Though their power diminished due to his battlesuit, their might still remained horrifying. His battlesuit blew up and he was sent flying away, spewing out blood while his body burned to a charred mess.
“How powerful…”
“That is indeed the Princess of the Immortal Gu Family. Her strength is certainly close to that of Young Master Gu back then.”
“She might even rival the King with Six Crowns and the others…”
Such a sight left the crowd absolutely stunned, astounded, and shocked.
Prior to that, all they knew was that Gu Xianer possessed an unordinary position and she was highly adored by Gu Changge, but they had never actually seen her in battle.
Meanwhile, Lan Yifei revealed a pondering look. Having been noticing Gu Xianer’s expression from the beginning, he—mistakenly or not—felt that Gu Xianer might have taken a few glances at him as if to verify something.
“You are too weak. You don’t even deserve to be in his presence.” Gu Xianer didn’t pay too much attention to the easily defeated Wang Shun, shooting him her usual indifferent glance, as if she was describing a simple fact.
“Don’t get cocky… If we’re talking about taking lives, I have hundreds of ways to kill you!” With a worn-out look, Wang Shun strenuously got up as he continued to cough up blood, his body severely burned.
He had yet to conjure many of his forbidden artifacts as he was worried about certain potential accidents. After all, deep down, he wasn’t truly willing to make Gu Changge his eternal enemy. Regardless, he never expected Gu Xianer to be this strong.
“Kill me?” Gu Xianer gently raised her eyebrows as if to ensure something.
*Whoosh!*
However, the next moment, the void trembled and an old man in grey appeared beside Wang Shun, emotionlessly looking at Gu Xianer with a hint of murderous intent flashing across his eyes. He emitted his aura of the Quasi-Nirvana Realm, as though he intended to break the surrounding void.
At once, the faces of the young prodigies drastically changed as they felt a suffocating sensation. It was as if their bodies were falling apart. Although they were all backed up by guardians with similar strength, those guardians wouldn’t appear unless their lives were at stake.
They believed that the old man in grey of Quasi-Nirvana Realm didn’t show up coincidentally. Perhaps everything up until now was a test by the various Forces in the Divine City to examine Gu Changge’s reaction. After all, there was no way these hidden experts within the Divine City would fail to detect the disturbance from Gu Xianer and Wang Shun’s battle.
“Calm down, Young Master. The Divine City can’t afford to start a battle here. We’d appreciate it if you value the big picture,” the old man in grey advised softly to the miserable-looking Wang Shun whose hair was unkempt.
“But…” Wang Shun was aware of the old man’s identity, but he remained reluctant as he was blatantly humiliated right in front of the crowd. He clenched his fists and answered, “How am I supposed to withstand this?”
“Patience is key for greater things. You should understand this, Young Master…” the old man in grey whispered his advice. “They will eventually pay for what they have done today.
“Since you can’t withstand this, I’ll lend you a hand.”
All of a sudden, from the void outside the courtyard, a bland tone of a man sounded. With that, a giant golden palm plunged down from the sky, causing the void to crumble and Principles to shatter, before forcefully landing directly on Wang Shun.
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