Chapter 268: Scaring Wu Jiang Silly, Angering the Northern Domain Emperor to Faint!

Scaring Wu Jiang Silly, Angering the Northern Domain Emperor to Faint!

Five days had passed.

Aside from the Sage from the Sword Sect who remained at the Gu Family, the other three had already returned to their respective Sects.

The Wan Hua Valley and the Buddhist Sect were not surprised by the outcome.

They just felt some regret.

However, they each had disciples with the Talent of the Dao Body supporting them, so at least they would not fall too far behind the Sword Sect. Moreover, these two Holy Lands had their unique ways of recruiting disciples, so they did not dwell too much on the matter and hastily concluded it.

But at this very moment, in front of the Immortal Ascension Sect's mountains.

Sage Li He's face was a picture of perplexity. All the way back, he had been pondering how to explain himself upon his return.

Carrying his inner turmoil, he had already returned to the Immortal Ascension Sect.

And he was summoned by True Monarch Bai, the Sect Master, at the first opportunity.

Simultaneously, at the Ninth Saint Son Peak of the Immortal Ascension Sect.

The face of Wu Jiang Saint was gloomy and his heart was filled with trepidation.

He had received news from an Elder two days ago that the Sect actually planned to use him as a bargaining chip to entice the Young Master from the Northern Domain Gu Family to join the Immortal Ascension Sect!

This news was like a bolt from the blue that left him reeling from shock for two days, leaving him unable to focus on his Cultivation.

"Why isn't he dead..."

"And he is a Talent of the Dao Body too, how is that possible..."

"Why does he, a wastrel from the impoverished lands of the Northern Domain, deserve this!"

This work is hosted on mananovel.com

Wu Jiang's hair was in a disarray, no longer carrying the dignity he once had as a Saint.

Moreover, the Elders even told him a piece of news that shattered his defenses!

That old man, Gu Kuang, who had once pursued him, was also not dead.

Not only was he alive, but he had also broken through to the Ninth Grade Annihilation Realm!

At this moment, he felt like the whole world was against him!

He even doubted whether those three Tributors had been toying with him with false information, suggesting that they definitely had not succeeded in Duanbei City!

Otherwise, with Gu Kuang's Essence Blood depleted and his life nearing its end, how could there have been a chance for a breakthrough into the Ninth Grade Annihilation Realm?

"What to do..."

Wu Jiang ruffled his hair, his eyes bloodshot.

He was extremely perplexed, wondering whether he should just flee. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

But where could he escape to?

If the Immortal Ascension Sect was truly intent on pacifying his grudge for the Talent of the Dao Body, where could he find refuge?

He was genuinely frightened and for the first time, he felt fear towards the name Gu Changge.

Despite having never met him.

Yet now that he thought about it, the fact that he had managed to escape three times from a practitioner in the Ninth Grade Annihilation Realm was not something an ordinary person could do!

No wonder, no wonder...

It turned out he had the Talent of the Dao Body!

With his heart filled with nerves, he also was among the first to learn that Elder Li He had returned to the Sect.

His heart was completely gripped with tension at that moment, his entire being overwhelmed by extreme anxiety.

He was terrified that any second now, an Elder would come to his Ninth Saint Son Peak and force him to the Northern Domain, turning him into a prisoner beneath the feet of Young Master Gu!

All he could hope for now was that the guy would choose to join another Holy Land instead of the Immortal Ascension Sect.

In such a case, the Immortal Ascension Sect would have no reason to forsake him, their Ninth Saint Son.

...

At the main peak, True Monarch Bai sat atop an Immortal Crane, expressionless as he looked towards the returning Li He.

"Tell me, why, when my Immortal Ascension Sect promised so much, could we still not persuade him to join?"

Hearing the Sect Master's words, many Elders present also looked at Elder Li He with skeptical eyes.

Despite making significant promises on behalf of the Sect, he had still failed.

"This..."

"It's just that the Sword Sect offered more."

"Moreover, Elder Jian Chen from that Sword Sect criticized our Sect, elevating their own to influence the judgment of that Young Master Gu."

With no choice left, Sage Li He could only relay the details of what had happened.

The Elders, despite furrowing their brows, also sighed helplessly.

If what Li He said was true, their Immortal Ascension Sect really couldn't compete with the Sword Sect.

Li He realized that everyone seemed to be venting their anger onto him.

So, seizing an inspiration, he added, "Actually... that Little Friend Gu was originally most inclined to join our Immortal Ascension Sect, but he had reservations."

"What reservations? If there are reservations, we can solve them. Why hand him over to the Sword Sect!"

True Monarch Bai slightly furrowed his brows.

He had granted Li He considerable authority to promise any condition to that talent with Extreme Dao Body!

"He... he said that certain disciples of our Immortal Ascension Sect left an extremely bad impression on him, so... that's why he ultimately chose the Sword Sect."

Sage Li He said with a bow.

Everyone present frowned upon hearing this.

They had done their own investigations and indeed found that certain disciples of the Immortal Ascension Sect had previously conflicted with Gu Changge.

One time in Duanbei City, Gu Changge disposed of the cultivation of two conflicting disciples and threw them outside the city to feed the Demon Beasts, which should have satisfied his desire for retribution.

As for another occasion...

Clearly, he was talking about Saint Wu Jiang from the Ninth Saint Son Peak, who had attacked his own grandfather and arranged for someone to strike at both him and his wife outside the Heavenly Cold Sect.

Initially, no one had cared about this, but now with Gu Changge revealed as a talent with Extreme Dao Body, they began to reassess the situation.

They realized at that moment that just the grudge that had been formed might be enough for him to refuse to join the Immortal Ascension Sect!

"Saint Wu Jiang of the Ninth Saint Son... he has misled our Immortal Ascension Sect!"

An Elder said with a grim expression.

Many Elders remained silent, but some voiced their agreement, "We implore the Sect Master to impose a punishment. Had it not been for Saint Wu Jiang of the Ninth Saint Son, perhaps he would have agreed to join our Immortal Ascension Sect, and we would have been spared from watching the Sword Sect gain another talent with Extreme Dao Body!"

Seeing this, Li He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They now had someone to vent their anger towards, and he would have a much easier time.

"To punish our own Saint Son for a talent of the Dao Body we didn't obtain?"

"How shameless of you to suggest such a thing."

“No wonder that Young Master Gu from the Gu Family did not want to join our Immortal Ascension Sect…”

True Monarch Bai sighed deeply as he looked up.

These people merely wanted to shirk responsibility, or perhaps to save face.

The conditions offered by the Immortal Ascension Sect were indeed not as generous as those of the Sword Sect, especially the point about being personally mentored by a Supreme Elder, something the Immortal Ascension Sect could hardly achieve.

Moreover, when compared to the previously mentioned Talent of Dao Body, joining the Sword Sect was simply the most rational choice.

Yet, these Elders shifted the blame to the Ninth Saint Son…

At that moment, True Monarch Bai felt that the Immortal Ascension Sect was gradually heading towards decline; not because the new generation of disciples were inadequate, but because the Elders of this generation were inactive!

Instead of thinking about how to cope in the future, they began looking for a scapegoat.

“This matter needs no further discussion; there is no fault with the Ninth Saint Son, Wu Jiang.”

True Monarch Bai waved his hand, unwilling to waste words with them.

He immediately rode away on an Immortal Crane, not wanting to see another instance of their blame-shifting.

After a while, at the Ninth Saint Son Peak,

an Elder arrived, hands clasped behind his back.

It was the Elder who had a good relationship with the Wu Family and had previously sent him a message as a reminder!

Seeing him come, Wu Jiang anxiously asked, “Elder Wang, how are things?”

“You’re not here specially to see me off, are you…”

Seeing his expression, Elder Wang also sighed deeply.

This scared Wu Jiang out of his wits.

Little did he know, Elder Wang’s sigh was not because of him, but because in his heart, the Immortal Ascension Sect felt somewhat finished; merely a rumor had already caused a Saint Son to worry about being handed over by the Sect as a price.

This led to the Saint Son being too anxious to concentrate on his cultivation.

With this ongoing, how could their Sect compare to the Sword Sect?

“Don’t worry, the Sect Master has personally assured that you are not to blame.”

“As for Young Master Gu from the Gu Family of the Northern Domain, he has already chosen to join the Sword Sect.”

“For now, there is no problem, but since there is an inevitable conflict between you two, if he challenges you in the future, your fate will depend on yourself.”

Elder Wang indicated with his hand that Wu Jiang need not worry too much, reminded him, then turned and left with a sigh.

Leaving Wu Jiang startled for a moment.

Finally, he completely relaxed.

Thankfully, as long as the Sect did not abandon him, he was still the Ninth Saint Son.

As for that young man’s future challenge?

He was already trying to break through to the Eighth Grade Heavenly Gate Realm, while that young man was at best in the Fifth Grade Ruins Realm, or perhaps by now a Sixth Grade Refining Void Realm.

With a gap of two major realms, how could he pose a threat to himself?

No matter how talented that Dao Body was, even though he was not as good, his Talent in the Acquired Spirit Body was among the best, his cultivation speed and strength in the same realm were both top-notch!

If he really dared to challenge…

Then he would completely resolve the trouble!

…

After receiving the news, everyone in the Sword Sect was relieved.

Everyone was greatly anticipating the day when this ultimate talent of the Dao Body would formally enter their Mountain Gate!

The news even spread among the disciples.

“Did you hear? A genius of the ultimate Dao Body has emerged from the Northern Domain, even more talented than the one from the First Peak!”

“He has already been accepted by our Sword Sect, and it’s promised that he will be personally mentored by a Supreme Elder!”

“I wonder when we’ll have the chance to witness his elegance!”

“Heh heh…Junior Brother, your news is outdated, do you know? This person is none other than Young Master Gu Changge from the Gu Family of the Northern Domain, sounds familiar, right?”

“Sounds a bit familiar… Isn’t that the husband declared by Sword Immortal Ming Yue not long ago?”

“Exactly! Ah…no wonder Fairy Ming Yue suddenly had a chosen husband, many Central Province Talents failed to catch her eye before.”

“Now those who declared early on that they would challenge him upon his arrival in the Northern Domain, they are really in a tough spot!”

“They said he’s from a barren Northern Domain, not worthy of Fairy Ming Yue, but now what?”

“With the ultimate Dao Body, he hasn’t even reached the Northern Domain yet, but he’s already married to Fairy Ming Yue and even has the status of the First Peak Saint Son in our Sword Sect. Just by arriving in Central State, he’ll be thrust into the brightest spotlight!”

As the Sword Sect disciples chatted, many of them started to doubt within their hearts.

They had claimed they wanted to challenge Fairy Ming Yue’s husband, as they felt he was unworthy.

But now, looking at the reality…

Do they really qualify to challenge him?

And at this moment, the Sect Master of the Sword Sect, Wu Hen Monarch, had already sought out one of the Sword Sect’s Supreme Elders.

He also happened to be the Master of the current First Saint Son Peak.

True Monarch Kaiyang, of the Land Immortal Realm, just a step away from becoming a Proving Immortal, was a top Great Power.

“I refuse.”

Upon hearing that Wu Hen Monarch wanted him to accept another disciple, the Supreme Elder didn’t show his face and immediately transmitted his voice from outside the cavern.

“Supreme Elder, please don’t rush to refuse.”

“An ultimate Dao Body, even stronger in talent than the First Peak Saint Son, doesn’t that excite you?”

Wu Hen Monarch could only persistently persuade with earnest and good words.

“I said I refuse, I’m not in the mood to teach, find someone else.”

There was a moment of silence inside the cave, seemingly contemplating, but ultimately, the rejection stood.

“You…”

Wu Hen Monarch wanted to say more but then heard an annoyed voice from inside:”Keep blathering, and I’ll have you hung up and whipped in front of the Sect gates.”

Hearing this, he hastily made a bow and hurriedly backed away.

After leaving, he could not believe that the Supreme Elder actually refused to take disciples.

That was the ultimate Dao Body!

However, since they had already promised Gu Changge, the Sword Sect could not go back on their word.

If it really came to it, he would plead with other Supreme Elders, surely among them, someone would be moved by such a genius talent?

After he left.

The elder seated in meditation inside the cave dwelling could only snort disdainfully, “Just because they’re at the Extreme of the Taoist Body, does that mean I must take them in?”

Although he said so, he still focused calmly, his Divine Soul attempting to peer into the secrets of heaven, wanting to understand just what kind of genius the Extreme Dao Body in the Northern Domain was.

But in the end, what the secrets of heaven revealed left him somewhat baffled…

First, a Golden Lotus blossomed, with a Golden Body seated upon it.

Then abruptly, a bell tolled, causing him to feel his Divine Soul nearly destabilize, hastily pulling out from the divine state of peering into the secrets of heaven.

Even at the very last moment, he vaguely saw the Golden Body open its eyes as if it intended to strike out at his Divine Soul…

He had a premonition, that had he not withdrawn his Divine Soul swiftly, he might have been harmed!

“So mysterious…”

The elder’s eyes bulged in disbelief.

But he dared not attempt to peer into the secrets of heaven any further.

Only, a bit of curiosity rose in his heart; after all, that person would be coming to Central State in a year’s time. He decided not to exhaust himself any further and closed his eyes to resume Cultivation.

…

[Dongfang Family]

Compared to those Holy Lands, the Dongfang Family had some rejoicing and some worrying.

Upon hearing that Young Master Gu of the Gu Family, the one with the Extreme of the Taoist Body, was directly accepted by the Sword Sect according to the standards of the First Saint Son Peak,

the Great Elder, along with those who supported him, all had grim expressions.

“How could this be…”

“Does the Northern Domain also have such a prodigy?”

“Did she know about this long before?”

Several Elders of the Dongfang Family gathered together, unavoidably worried.

Originally, they all thought that Dongfang Ming Yue merely didn’t want to give up the family power and had deliberately chosen a Daoist Couple at random, using the family rules to vie for the family’s power.

But now, it seemed not the case!

That Gu Family kid, he was no simple matter!

The treatment of the First Saint Son of the Sword Sect was a bit too heaven-defying.

Even the current First Saint Son had reached that position through his own strength, step by step!

Yet that fellow from the Northern Domain, even before arriving in Central State, already had it?

However, for now, he merely had the position without actual authority. At least until he demonstrated sufficient strength, he did not pose any threat.

…

Dongfang Hongyi, still dressed in a crimson robe, brought the news to Ming Yue right away.

Then he stared at her, wanting to see a shocked expression on her face.

Unexpectedly, Dongfang Ming Yue merely smiled faintly, without any surprise.

“Aren’t you surprised?” Dongfang Hongyi said in astonishment.

Dongfang Ming Yue looked at him strangely before replying, “Why should ‘I’ be surprised?”

“The consort ‘I’ have chosen is naturally the best in the world. Doing such things is nothing surprising.”

“Believe me, when he arrives at Central State, he will shock even more people!”

The confident demeanor Dongfang Ming Yue showed left Dongfang Hongyi scratching his head in perplexity.

He knew of the other party’s extraordinary talent, but he was still startled by the news, even going first to inform that Moon Unification True Monarch Ancestor.

He didn’t expect the girl to be unsurprised…

After he left, Dongfang Ming Yue looked at the Communication Jade Token in her hand and pouted, “This guy, hasn’t sent a message to ‘me’ in so long; he couldn’t have forgotten about ‘me,’ could he?”

“If you don’t send one, ‘I’ won’t either!”

Despite really wanting to talk to him, Dongfang Ming Yue’s stubbornness kicked in. She glanced at the Communication Jade Token from time to time, but still didn’t initiate contact.

…

[Northern Territory]

[Heavenly Cold Sect]

Wan Shan Taoist remained in a daze even after sending off the Gu Family Elder from the Heavenly Gate Realm who had personally come to deliver the invitation.

“The position of Sword Sect’s Saint Son in Central State…”

“The Gu Family, this time it really can’t be stopped.”

“Fortunately, Qingqing has a good relationship with him. Even if the Gu Family rises, they won’t target our Heavenly Cold Sect…”

Wan Shan Taoist murmured softly as he looked at the invitation in his hand.

However, Qingqing was still in seclusion; once she emerged, he would tell her the news.

Then, in a month’s time, they would head to the Gu Family’s banquet.

Whether he, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Cold Sect, attended or not wasn’t vital, but Liu Qingqing certainly must.

[Northern Territory Imperial City]

At this moment, Gu Liang, the Fifth Elder of the Gu Family, had personally traveled to the Imperial City.

After being escorted, he met the Emperor of the Northern Territory.

“Your Majesty, this is the invitation from my Gu Family. A month from now, a three-day banquet will be held in Qingzhou.”

As Gu Liang spoke, he went to present the invitation, but the General by his side took it instead, offering it to the Emperor.

“Is there anything else?”

The Emperor of the Northern Territory asked Gu Liang expressionlessly.

“Hehe, that’s all, then I shall take my leave.”

Initially, Gu Liang wanted to wait to see the Emperor of the Northern Territory lose his composure, but since he said such, Gu Liang could only leave.

After Gu Liang left, the Emperor didn’t even look at the invitation.

His expression immediately darkened!

He had received the news before the invitation had even arrived!

“How could this be!”

“For the past eighteen years, wasn’t that boy said to be a waste?”

“How did a waste change overnight into the Extreme of the Taoist Body, fought over by the Four Great Sacred Lands, and even granted the position of Saint Heir!”

“You’re the waste, not him!”

The Emperor of the Northern Territory looked at the Shadow Guard General who offered the invitation, barely restraining his anger from killing him on the spot.

The greatest use of the Shadow Guard was to help him gather intelligence from various forces.

Yet he only found out about the Gu Family Young Master’s Talent of Tao Body after it was discovered by the Holy Lands!

If the Shadow Guard had discovered it earlier, he could have strangled the boy in his cradle.

Now… it was too late!

The boy had already been accepted into the Sword Sect, holding the position of Saint Son. For him to touch the boy now would be seeking death!

But if he ignored it, how could he achieve his grand ambitions?

The Gu Family was going to be unstoppable!

All his plans were going to fall apart…

All because of Gu Changge…

He had managed, with great effort, to send Crown Prince Wang Xing to the Holy Land in Central State, hoping he could foster some connections with the Central State forces.

But now with the Gu Family Young Master becoming the Sword Sect’s Saint Son, how dare those Central State forces go against the Gu Family?

It was over…

Everything was too late!

The Emperor of the Northern Territory felt like his head was about to explode, his vision starting to blur.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

The Shadow Guard General by the side watched in horror as the Emperor suddenly collapsed atop the throne, overwhelmed with shock.