120: Chapter 120 Remains Unfazed

As soon as these words were spoken,

The several prostrate Qi Refining guards suddenly looked up, their expressions blank.

The leader asked in confusion, "Cap... Captain, you know this person? Isn't he an invading outsider?"

Even now, he refused to believe he had encountered someone he couldn't afford to offend.

The follower Cultivator beside him was much more clear-headed; he hurried to smooth things over for Xu Changsheng, pushing the man in front of him aside.

"Captain, don't listen to him. I felt Senior looked kind from the very beginning, but I couldn't let him through due to the Sect's regulations."

With a fawning look, the Qi Refining captain stepped forward. "Senior, do you wish to enter the Heavenly Fiend Hall?"

Xu Changsheng put on a displeased look. "Yes. What? Do you want to stop me too?"

He immediately raised his hand in denial. "I wouldn't dare, of course not! It's just that there is a heavenly fiend demonic sword inside the Heavenly Fiend Hall that can deceive one's mind. Even if Senior's cultivation reaches the heavens, I fear it would be more ill-omened than favorable."

The heavenly fiend demonic sword was actually the Wuwang Sword from the Hundred Refining Valley; the Ghost Shadow Sect had simply renamed it and claimed it as their own.

Xu Changsheng actually thought the name change was quite good.

He pulled a sour face. "Stop talking nonsense and open the door for me."

Sensing an astonishing—

"Right away, right away! However, us few Disciples cannot fully open it."

"Oh? How come I remember that you Qi Refining Juniors could open it?"

The parts of Lu Yuanze's memories regarding the Heavenly Fiend Hall were indeed quite fragmented.

"It can indeed be opened by Qi Refining Disciples, but it requires the command talismans of five captains gathered together."

Hearing this,

A hint of gloom appeared on Xu Changsheng's face. "Call everyone here. This seat will enter today."

According to the memories, the Ghost Shadow Sect had taken in Lu Yuanze while he was being hunted by the Zhou Family.

The price paid was that after the Technique of Reversing Death to Transform into Life succeeded, he would either follow the Ghost Shadow Sect as a vanguard in an attack or enter the Heavenly Fiend Hall to guard the heavenly fiend sword until the attack concluded.

Both carried significant risks.

The former might lead him into a Tier 3 battle, where a slight lapse could result in his death.

The latter made it extremely easy to be influenced by the demonic sword and suffer Qi Deviation.

Given the deep-seated hatred between Lu Yuanze and Huang Jinglong, he naturally chose the former.

But things were different now. The third path to leave Broken Cloud Ridge was located within the Heavenly Fiend Hall, so Xu Changsheng naturally had to change the choice for him.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,

Having received the news, Gou Jiao arrived.

Seeing Xu Changsheng, who had restored his original appearance and cultivation, from a distance, a smile appeared on his ordinary face.

"Brother Lu, I, Gou, congratulate you on returning to your Peak!"

He waved his hand. "Fellow Daoist Gou, spare me the pleasantries. This seat has changed his mind. Fighting and killing are too dangerous; I won't be going to Yellow Ox Immortal City with you."

Gou Jiao frowned. "Brother Lu, this isn't what we agreed upon. My Sect went to great lengths to rescue you from the Zhou Family's prison back then,"

“and even provided you with blood food to recover. We aren't here to be philanthropists. Besides, Brother Lu swore a poisonous oath at that time."

The aura of Foundation Establishment Perfection began to spread from him.

As a Cultivator in the same Realm as Lu Yuanze, he was not afraid. Moreover, this was his home turf, and the Tier 3 Formation was nothing to scoff at.

"Could it be that Brother Lu has forgotten his promise? Do you take my Ghost Shadow Sect for a Charity House? Coming and going as you please?"

Xu Changsheng remained unfazed. With a tremor of his blood and Qi, he neutralized the pressure.

The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if swords were drawn.

He smiled slightly. "Fellow Daoist Gou, when did I, Lu, ever say I would betray my promise?"

"Could it be?"

Gou Jiao looked toward the Heavenly Fiend Hall behind the crowd.

Seeing the situation sliding toward an uncontrollable state, the leading Qi Refining Disciple braved the pressure and stepped forward with cupped hands:

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Gou. This Senior wishes to enter the Heavenly Fiend Hall, though I know not for what purpose."

Xu Changsheng added at the right moment, "Indeed. I wish to exchange the reward promised back then for another: to enter the Heavenly Fiend Hall and guard the demonic sword."

After confirming his internal suspicion,

"Oh."

Gou Jiao's face changed faster than the weather in June; his gloomy expression was replaced by a smile once again.

He cupped his fists in apology. "It was this old man's short-sightedness. I have misunderstood you, Fellow Daoist."

He walked toward the Heavenly Fiend Hall.

He performed a hand seal, and the hall shrouded in shadows was revealed.

The hall's body, crafted from white marble, shimmered under the light of the surrounding brilliant night pearls.

On the plaque beneath the golden glazed tile roof, the words 'Heavenly Fiend' were inscribed.

"Please, enter!"

The Qi Refining Disciples silently made way for Xu Changsheng, keeping their heads down and not daring to say another word.

Xu Changsheng gave a cold snort and walked inside.

*Bang.*

Something unexpected happened.

Amidst rippling waves, Xu Changsheng was rejected by the palace.

Not knowing what had happened, he turned around.

Only to see Gou Jiao leading several Disciples, looking at him with wary expressions.

Seeing this scene,

Xu Changsheng's eyelid twitched, and his heart pounded.

"Oh no, did I mess up?"

"When was I exposed? It should have been seamless!"

He had almost no backup plans, only having set up a few Void-Breaking Formations along the path to the rear exit that would dissipate after a while.

Yet, his face showed not a hint of panic. He furrowed his brows, twisting his terrifying scar. "Fellow Daoist Gou, what is the meaning of this? You don't intend to let me in?"

Gou Jiao shook his head. "That's not right. I remember attaching a Demonic Seal to Fellow Daoist Lu before; you should be able to enter and exit."

At this moment,

That defiant Qi Refining Cultivator took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Martial Uncle Gou, this Junior has long suspected that something is wrong with this person."

He pointed his spear at Xu Changsheng. "This Junior boldly guesses that this person is an invading outsider!"

Gou Jiao also sensed something was off. "Fellow Daoist Lu, I remember you said back then it would take at least ten years to succeed. Now is not yet the time, is it?"

"What? Is Fellow Daoist Gou doubting my identity?"

He slapped his Storage Pouch and took out the thousand soul banner.

In an instant,

Ghostly wails and wolf howls filled the air. He commanded the Myriad Ghost King with his Divine Sense: "Fellow Daoist Wan, please come out for a meeting."

In the next moment,

A massive ghostly shadow emerged from the depths of the soul banner. Its several-zhang-tall body blocked the pearl light, and its crimson blood-eyes stared intently at the person before it.

Xu Changsheng touched his forehead. "Now, Fellow Daoist should finally believe me."

Sensing the Myriad Ghost King's extremely dense ghostly Qi, Gou Jiao's expression turned grave.

He had heard that Lu Yuanze possessed a soul banner that, once used, would fill the sky with ghostly shadows, and the main ghost within it was particularly oppressive.

Seeing it today, it truly lived up to its reputation.

Gou Jiao forced a smile. "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. I was just speculating just now, not doubting Fellow Daoist Lu."

Xu Changsheng, however, was relentless. "This seat has treated your noble Sect with sincerity and expects to be treated in kind. Regarding today's slanderous words, does Fellow Daoist not intend to give me an explanation?"

"I wonder what kind of explanation you desire?"

"It's simple. Do it!"

As soon as he spoke, the Myriad Ghost King opened its bloody maw, and a small jet-black arrow flew out.

Before the group of Qi Refining Cultivators could even blink,

*Crack.*

The Qi Refining Cultivator who had been contradicting him fell straight to the ground without a sound.

Xu Changsheng chuckled. "This is the explanation this seat wanted!"