44: The grand event begins, the battle begins

“Senior Brother Dan Chenzi, you’ve finally arrived.

All Fellow Daoists, you’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Seeing Gu Changsheng arrive, a grey-robed Daoist with a goatee at the entrance quickly came forward to greet him.

“Haha, I’ve kept Junior Brother Yu Ziren waiting.

During the Pill Appreciation Assembly later, I will personally drink three cups as an apology.”

Gu Changsheng clasped his fists and said.

“Haha, no problem, no problem…”

The two laughed as they entered the Dao Platform building.

As soon as he entered, Gu Changsheng immediately noticed that there were at least a hundred Cultivators inside, each with different auras.

Some had surging blood-red light emanating from their heads, filling the sky with a bloody aura.

Others had icy auras, and a single glance at them would send chills through one’s body.

Black Qi surged from each of them, and their cultivation had all reached the Peak of the Foundation Building Realm.

They were only one greater five viscera pill away from breaking through to the True Core Realm.

‘White Bone Temple, Ice Spring Sect, Evil Leader Gate… This Pill Appreciation Assembly, besides the Five Viscera Temple, quite a few Cultivators from other Sects have also come.

Furthermore, there are many people whose origins even I cannot discern.’

Gu Changsheng thought silently.

“Senior Brother, follow me. Senior Brother Lang Chaozi and the others are over there.”

Following the direction of Yu Ziren’s finger, in a corner of the building, there were five Cultivators.

They were all fellow Disciples whom Gu Changsheng knew well.

Over the past three months, Gu Changsheng, under the guise of visiting, secretly drew portraits of several people, easily completing the Five Viscera Method.

He obtained the complete cultivation route for the Five Elements Heaven Evasion Divine Light.

If it weren't for the fact that the main ingredient of this Divine Ability—Five Elements Evil Qi—could only be produced by the five qi gathering tree, he would have long since returned to Chenping County to lie low.

The two arrived before them.

“Dan Chenzi, you’ve finally arrived.

I thought you were going to miss this Pill Appreciation Assembly.”

A wide-robed middle-aged Daoist said.

“Senior Brother Lang Chaozi is joking.

This grand event concerns the Dao of True Core, and it only happens once every thirty years; how could I miss it…”

Gu Changsheng smiled and waved his hand.

Suddenly, a sneer reached his ears.

“Hmph, this Fellow Daoist’s Dao Arts are mediocre, but his presence is quite grand.

He made us wait here for three hours.”

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng frowned, looked in the direction of the voice, and saw a Cultivator with disheveled hair and fine golden bristles growing on his cheeks.

“This is…”

“Oh, I almost forgot to introduce.

This is Fellow Daoist Shi Daoren from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect; he cultivates ‘Lion’s Roar’, one of the 108 Exotic Beast Animal Husbandry Methods.

His beast armor is impervious to blades and spears, and his strength is unmatched.

Few of the same rank can contend with him.”

Lang Chaozi explained, and secretly transmitted a message to Gu Changsheng: “This person is a powerful reinforcement I specifically invited; his strength is needed for the Pill Appreciation competition at the assembly, so we cannot offend him…”

Gu Changsheng’s expression subtly changed.

What did he mean, asking him to yield?

Gu Changsheng advocated the Dao of lying low, settling in a corner. Aside from safety concerns, it was for the sake of acting as he pleased, without restraint.

Otherwise, what was the meaning of eternal life?

‘This Shi Daoren is putting on too much of a show.

If he continues to press, I will have to reveal a bit of my strength to make him suffer a little…’

Gu Changsheng pondered in his heart.

At this moment, powerful auras pierced through the building, transforming into streaks of light and flying onto the Dao Platform.

The terrifying pressure caused the expressions of the Spirit Building Stage cultivators to change drastically, and they all looked towards the Dao Platform.

“Look, the True Core Realm Cultivators are here!”

“That black mountain phantom is the Magic Treasure Profound Heavy Mountain.

Immortal Master Xuanshan hasn’t shown his face for a cycle of sixty years; he actually came to this Pill Appreciation Assembly!”

“White Bone Footless Bird… such speed… Immortal Master Baigu’s Bone-Stitching Art from White Bone Temple has improved again.”

…Suddenly, a streak of light on the Dao Platform caught Gu Changsheng’s attention. His gaze fell upon a Cultivator wearing a black cloak on the Dao Platform.

‘This aura… it’s a bit familiar… Yellow Springs Art… Tsk tsk, I didn’t expect to encounter someone cultivating this art here, interesting.’

Gu Changsheng glanced at it, then dismissed it.

The Yellow Springs Great Emperor had laid out a vast number of true and false Legacies, so it was natural for some to comprehend the Yellow Springs Art from them.

People who cultivated this art were simply rare, not extinct.

At this moment, two vast auras approached from afar.

Two streaks of light, one black and one yellow, entered the high platform, transforming into two white-haired old men.

One of them wore a black Daoist robe embroidered with bloody Five Viscera patterns.

The other wore luxurious brocade robes with five Dragon patterns on the cuffs.

“Greetings, Grand Elder.”

“Greetings, Great Shang’s Enshrined Protector Qian.”

Below the Dao Platform, the Daoists of the Five Viscera Temple cheered in unison.

The friendly relationship between the Five Viscera Temple and the Great Shang Dynasty was an open secret.

It would be strange if Great Shang didn't send someone to this Pill Appreciation Assembly.

‘Great Shang is in turmoil, with various rebels rising.

Behind them, there are inevitably shadows of Cultivators and Sects.

This time, the arrival of Enshrined Protector Qian might well be to display strength to the various Sects and stabilize the situation…’

In these three months, Gu Changsheng had not been solely focused on secluded cultivation and eating meat; under the guise of visiting and exchanging, he had gained a considerable understanding of the world’s major trends.

On the Dao Platform.

“Thank you all Fellow Daoists for gracing our humble temple with your presence; this old Daoist is deeply grateful.

If there are any shortcomings in our hospitality, I hope all Fellow Daoists will be magnanimous.”

Lu Shengping, the Grand Elder of the Five Viscera Temple, clasped his hands and smiled.

“Haha, Grand Elder Lu is being too modest.”

“This grand event is a rare and wonderful occasion in the cultivation world; we are honored to receive an invitation and attend.”

“Fellow Daoist Lu has many Disciples, and his Dao Arts are profound. The greater five viscera pills refined this time are estimated to be of even higher quality.

After the Pill Appreciation Assembly, I fear several more Immortal Masters will emerge…”

A group of True Core Realm Cultivators spoke pleasantries.

“Haha, in that case, let the Pill Appreciation Assembly begin.”

Lu Pingsheng waved his hand, and surging black Qi poured into the Dao Platform.

Immediately, steam rose from the waters around Lake Heart Island, forming a clear blue light screen, like an inverted blue giant bowl, enveloping the entire island.

At the same time, with earth-shattering tremors, thousands of black tree roots emerged from underground, reaching towards the sky, twisting wildly.

The tips of the tree roots grew countless suction-cup-like mouths, slithering like pythons throughout the island, devouring the flesh and blood of living beings.

Strands of Five Elements Qi emanated, gathering in the tree canopy, gradually giving birth to fist-sized green fruits.

Faintly, the azure fruit skin revealed infant-like faces.

“Devouring the flesh and blood of living beings… refining Five Elements Qi… this tree is truly sinister…”

Gu Changsheng looked at the five qi gathering tree, which was dancing like a demon, with a solemn expression.

The tree’s strangeness and terror far surpassed that of the Human-faced Beast-hearted Fruit Tree he had planted back then.

A casual strike from any of the thousands of tree roots could easily kill a Contemplation Realm Dao Child.

“Fellow Disciples fighting on the island, and also having to avoid attacks from the Vicious Beasts raised on the island and the five qi gathering tree… No wonder the death rate is so high.

I wonder if Yan Qing will even survive…”

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

It was just a chess piece he placed casually; whether he gained or lost, it didn't matter to him.

Suddenly, Yu Ziren’s voice came to his ear.

“Senior Brother Dan Chenzi, it’s still too early for the greater five viscera pill to be refined.

Senior Brother Lang Chaozi has organized a small trade fair in the East Side Hall, open to Spirit Building Stage cultivators.

Many rare items are expected to appear at the fair.

Perhaps they will be useful for condensing True Core or cultivating secret arts…”

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng awkwardly rubbed his nose.

‘This Lang Chaozi didn’t inform me directly, but instead had Yu Ziren relay the message.

Clearly, he’s angry that I didn’t yield to Shi Daoren… Is he really that petty?

In that case… I really must go and see for myself.’

“Let’s go together, let’s go together.”

Gu Changsheng replied with a smile.