Chapter 45: Destroying the Protector, Helping Disciple Liu Ling Win the Championship!

Unable to circulate his Fighting Qi, Protector Wu felt like an eagle with its wings chopped off.

In the Qiankun Prison, there is a cell named "Confinement."

Gu He seized the opportunity to pursue him, and the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was activated!

The divine realm within the sword opened. Gu He swung the Crimson Sky Sword, slashing through the air, and the Qi of the Horned Dragon emitted a soft hum.

Two streaks of Sword Qi cleanly severed Protector Wu's legs.

The cuts were smooth; the sword technique was so fast that it even cauterized the wounds, stopping the flow of blood.

"You... you dare to do this to this Protector...!"

Protector Wu braced himself with his buttocks, looking utterly ridiculous, and stared at Gu He with a face full of terror.

He had actually severed his lower body with a single sword strike!

Gu He glanced at him lightly. "Breaking into my Cloud Mist Sect—did you think there would be no price to pay?"

Protector Wu was indeed very strong; even with Yun Yun and Yun Shan joining forces, they had failed to keep him there.

But under his Gu He's Qiankun Prison, there was certainly no way out!

After all, the Hall of Souls was a disgusting entity. If he didn't eliminate Protector Wu and let him escape back, he would definitely come back to take revenge on the Cloud Mist Sect in the future.

"Heh, you rude people, are you not afraid of the Hall of Souls' revenge?" Protector Wu, having nearly lost a man's most important part, remained stubborn.

Gu He smiled speechlessly. "You are merely an Earth-Grade Protector; what do I have to fear? If you have the ability, let Soul Mie Sheng come; I'll teach him a lesson."

"Keh—"

Without waiting for Protector Wu to answer, Gu He thrust his sword through the air, striking him in the throat.

"Pichi—"

The cold glint contained a lonely edge, and the head had already fallen to the ground.

Gu He held the Crimson Sky Sword and drew a seal towards the Qiankun Prison Formation. A brilliant red light flashed, and Protector Wu's body and Soul were instantly absorbed by the Crimson Sky Sword.

Stripping the bones, drinking the blood.

Gu He calmly retracted his sword.

The main force of the Hall of Souls was in the Central Plains; in the early stages, Protector Wu was the only one who had infiltrated the Jia Ma Empire.

After killing him, there would be no need to worry about anyone sneaking around in the shadows causing trouble.

Seeing that Gu He had dealt with Protector Wu, Yun Shan spoke with an indiscernible emotion,

"The Hall of Souls is the most powerful force in the Central Plains of the Fighting Qi Continent; it was created by the Hun Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans..."

Gu He interrupted him, teasing, "Elder Yun, you aren't actually tempted, are you?"

"He intends to extract your Soul to increase his own strength."

"Otherwise, how do you think he attained the level of a four-star Dou Zong?"

Yun Shan's expression tightened; he had clearly considered this possibility as well.

He sighed, his simple robes swaying in the wind. There were no wrinkles of age on his face, but his full head of white hair seemed to tell of his exhausted efforts,

"Since the fall of our ancestors, our Cloud Mist Sect has gradually declined and has lost the qualifications to set foot in the Central Plains.

My wish for this life is that one day, the name of our Cloud Mist Sect can reappear on the Central Plains continent,

Like a waking Dragon, like a lion roaring..."

Yun Yun pursed her lips, her eyes also filled with anticipation.

That was the glory carved by their Seniors; they did not want to see such brilliance fall like the wind.

"It will happen, Elder Yun. The Cloud Mist Sect has many talented disciples; who knows if we might make a comeback." Gu He smiled confidently.

"Make a comeback..." Yun Shan murmured, unable to help but nod.

He looked at Gu He, feeling that over these past few years, he had become increasingly mysterious and powerful.

...

The Alchemist competition was imminent, and the president of the Alchemist Guild, Fama, came to Gu He's door.

"Attend as a guest?" Gu He put down the Pill Formula in his hand and pressed it down with a paperweight.

Fama nodded,

"With you there, the Alchemist competition can be even more spectacular!"

Fama stroked his long white beard. "Recalling your fire control technique at the Alchemist competition back then, it was like dancing in the flames; I don't know how many people were stunned by it."

"At that time, thousands of young girls in the Imperial Capital wanted to marry you..."

"It just so happens that your apprentice will participate in this competition. If you attend as a guest and do not participate in scoring, you can watch your apprentice compete, and it would also give this old man some face..."

Fama was a Fifth-Grade Alchemist, the Peak among the Empire's Alchemists, but even so, he was very polite to Gu He, this younger generation.

Gu He pondered for a moment.

In his memory, Xiao Yan shone brilliantly in this Alchemist competition, overpowering Liu Ling and the little Princess Yao Yue to win the championship, rivaling the brilliance Gu He had in his youth.

"Hmm, Elder Fama..."

"I will attend the Alchemist competition."

Putting aside personal thoughts, given that Fama had contributed significantly to Gu He becoming the number one Sixth-Rank Alchemist in the Empire, this favor and face had to be given.

"The student surpasses the master; I don't know how many youngsters will show their brilliance at the competition..."

A big smile bloomed on Fama's aged face,

"The most promising one is your apprentice, Liu Ling. A young Fourth-Grade Alchemist—you must have given him your careful guidance!"

"I heard you even gave him the Cauldron you used when you won the championship?"

Gu He nodded. "I have obtained a better Cauldron; I have long had no need for that Volcano Flame Furnace."

Fama chuckled. "Who can't see your love for your apprentice? No need to hide it..."

"As long as the championship is won by someone from our Jia Ma Empire, this old man will be at ease!" Fama stroked his beard, bid farewell to Gu He, and walked away slowly.

Gu He watched his back, picked up a Pill Formula that had been pressed down by a paperweight, and then looked at the other thirty-five types in the box.

After picking out a few that were easy to learn, he picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, infused it with a trace of Soul power, and began to write the Pill Formula using his own insights.

In just the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Gu He had written the Pill Formula he summarized onto a parchment scroll that carried a strange fragrance. For a moment, it was filled with the traces and aura of ancient times, as if it had broken through time and space to be inherited by Gu He.

Afterward, Gu He went to find Liu Ling.

If one were to ask where Liu Ling was, Nalan Yanran had just returned from training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range... Liu Ling could only be near Yanran's house.

Sure enough, just as Gu He stepped over the threshold,

"Junior Sister Yanran, this is a night-luminescent pearl I just brought back! It is the brightest treasure from the seabed!"

Liu Ling held the pearl, his face full of excitement, looking exactly like a pug showing off a bone.

"Elder Gu?!" Nalan Yanran was the first to notice Gu He.

A faint green light flashed across her eyes. She walked quickly to Gu He's side, and the dark hair on her shoulders moved instantly without the wind, flying slightly, while her face was full of admiration,

"I listened to you and went to the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to train! Danger and opportunity truly coexist!"

Gu He raised his eyebrows curiously. "What did you obtain?"

Nalan Yanran restrained her excitement,

"I obtained the Legacy of a Great Master! Although her Dou Technique is not as powerful as the Falling Flower Sword Manual you gave me, she gave me a set of flight Dou Techniques and the rarest type of movement Dou Technique!"

"I have been constantly practicing the movement Dou Technique, combining it with the Sect's movement techniques; my attack and dodging speed can already keep up with Teacher!"

Gu He was stunned. "That impressive?"

This was indeed this girl's own opportunity, solid and real.

Nalan Yanran nodded and smiled prettily.

Meanwhile, Liu Ling, who was holding the night-luminescent pearl and had been ignored on the side, had gradually lost that excitement.

"Teacher... are you here to find Junior Sister?"

A trace of grievance and resentment flashed in Liu Ling's heart.

He knew that Gu He had given a sword manual to Nalan Yanran, and the Dou Techniques recorded inside were something even Yun Yun marveled at.

Yun Yun once sighed, "There is no Dou Technique more suitable for Yanran than this; even my Wind Kill and Wind Extreme: Meteor Kill cannot compare to its compatibility."

"Given Yanran's current age and strength, coupled with the Dou Techniques in this sword manual, it is simply..."

After hearing these things, Liu Ling immediately thought of himself.

Compared to Nalan Yanran, he was like a rootless seedling; he only had the Volcano Flame Furnace gifted to him by Gu He.

He had heard that Princess Yao Yue, the little princess and his strong rival in this Alchemist competition, had a Fifth-Rank Green Flame Cauldron.

...

Facing Liu Ling's question, which seemed to contain resentment, Gu He slapped him on the head directly,

"I came to find you!"

"Throughout the whole Sect, who doesn't know you are here?"

"The Alchemist competition starts the day after tomorrow; follow me to the Pill Refining Room, and I will give you some guidance!"

Liu Ling was startled; he hurriedly shoved the night-luminescent pearl into Nalan Yanran's hands and stammered,

"Is there still time? Teacher?!"

Gu He gave him a faint look, said nothing, and walked away with his hands behind his back.

This kind of Gu He was the most terrifying.

Liu Ling hurriedly followed, his heart trembling constantly.

Guidance!

Guidance from a Sixth-Rank pill king!

Gu He had never so solemnly said he was going to provide guidance!

There must be a secret or a surprise inside...

...