43: Chapter 43 Surprise! We meet again!

The sky seemed to be forcibly torn apart by a pair of invisible hands.

A pitch-black spatial rift spanned above the Lingxiao Heavenly Palace.

Violent winds howled.

From the depths of the rift, a shriveled, withered foot stepped out.

An old man in gray robes slowly appeared.

He did not unleash any Divine Ability, merely standing in the Void Realm with his hands behind his back.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi, previously violent, ceased its flow.

His standing position was extremely clever, perfectly situated to instantly strike everyone covering the Lingxiao Heavenly Palace.

The unique Law pressure of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm slammed down like a falling meteor.

A series of bone-cracking sounds erupted on the deck.

Dozens of Daoxuan Immortal Sect Disciples collapsed to the ground like dumplings.

Song Yun dug his hands desperately into the wooden planks, his nails curling back, dripping with blood.

Unable to withstand this terrifying pressure, his knees slammed heavily onto the deck, creating two deep indentations.

Luo Xiyao drew her longsword and used it to prop herself up, the blade bending at a dangerous angle.

Gu Yi, who was in the midst of a chaotic battle against a dozen death servants, suddenly retreated violently.

Gu Changsheng stood in place.

His foot was still crushing Shen Xinghe's Face.

Facing this world-destroying Celestial Phenomenon Realm pressure, he did not even blink.

Not only did he not lift his foot, but he also increased the force.

True Qi poured through the sole of his boot.

"Crack, crack..."

Shen Xinghe's cheekbone emitted a cry of unbearable strain.

Shattered bone pierced through flesh.

Shen Xinghe's mouth and nose sprayed out foul-smelling bloody foam continuously.

His two eyeballs were bloodshot, nearly bulging out of their sockets.

He did not beg for mercy.

Instead, amidst this piercing pain, he squeezed a harsh laugh from the depths of his throat.

The laughter pierced through the sound of breaking bones, echoing all around.

"Hahahaha!"

Shen Xinghe gripped the soil with both hands, his ten fingers spasming.

"Gu Changsheng! Keep being arrogant!"

"Do you think that I, Shen Xinghe, would act as recklessly as that brainless waste Zhao Chenfan?"

He turned his Face to the side, desperately trying to avoid the crushing weight of the boot, gasping for air.

"I, for one, never fight a battle I am not prepared for."

"I calculate ten steps for every one I take."

Shen Xinghe spat out a piece of bloody tooth, his expression sinister.

"To kill you, I have laid out three layers of insurance!"

"The first layer is this Zhou Tian Star Array, capable of strangling those in the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

"The second layer is my Minor Achievement Star Saint Body."

Shen Xinghe panted, glaring viciously at Gu Changsheng.

"I admit that you are a Prodigy, breaking my two plans in a row."

"But you cannot break the third!"

Shen Xinghe suddenly raised his volume, his voice filled with hysterical pleasure.

"This third layer of insurance is Elder Mo!"

"A genuine Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert!"

"Gu Changsheng, what do you have left to turn the tables!"

Song Yun lay on the ground, trembling all over.

These words struck the hearts of all the Disciples like a heavy hammer.

The Great Master's schemes had actually reached such a depth.

One ring after another, with no error in calculation.

He even managed to recruit a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert just for an ambush on a trip!

In mid-air.

Elder Mo stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering without wind.

His turbid old eyes revealed an indifference that looked down upon all living beings.

This Elder Mo was originally a Loose Cultivator, who had accidentally suffered Qi Deviation while attempting to break through to the Middle Stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm a few years ago, nearly losing his life.

It just so happened that Shen Xinghe was out on a trial, and granted him a high-grade Heart-Stabilizing Pill, which saved his old life.

Later, he found out that Shen Xinghe's master was the Peak Master of the Fifth Peak.

Elder Mo then made up his mind to cling to this powerful backer.

Loose Cultivators lack resources.

As long as he acted today to clear the obstacles for Shen Xinghe, he would be on the war chariot of the Holy Land Yun Family.

This deal was too profitable.

"Junior."

Elder Mo spoke slowly, his voice indifferent.

"Did you hear clearly what the Young Master Shen said?"

He raised his withered right hand, pointing from afar at Gu Changsheng.

"I have received great kindness from Young Master Shen, and today I shall ensure he remains unharmed."

"If you remain obstinate, I will first kill your subordinates, then drain your essence and blood to light a sky lantern!"

The threat from a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert was filled with murderous intent in every word.

Once a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert appeared, the situation instantly reversed!

Seeing this, Shen Xinghe's attitude suddenly changed.

Crushed underfoot, he suppressed his humiliation and softened his voice.

"Junior Brother Gu."

"After all, we are fellow Disciples; even when bones are broken, the tendons remain connected."

He frantically circulated his Cultivation Technique, desperately repairing his damaged internal organs.

"Today's matter, let it be my fault."

"If you release me now, I will let bygones be bygones."

"I, Shen Xinghe, swear to the heavens here that as long as you spare me."

"I will immediately withdraw from the competition for the Saint!"

"Not only will I withdraw, but I will also fully assist you in ascending!"

Shen Xinghe spoke with apparent sincerity, like a good Senior Brother pouring his heart out.

"With your peerless talent, combined with the full support of my Fifth Peak."

"The future of this Daoxuan Immortal Sect will certainly be able to dominate the Xuantian True Domain!"

"If you kill me, you offend a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert and anger my master."

"If you release me, you will hold power over the entire Sect."

"Junior Brother Gu is a smart man; you should be able to calculate this account clearly."

Gu Changsheng looked down at him from above.

He quietly listened to this passionate speech, then clicked his tongue lightly.

The trick of getting something for nothing was performed to perfection.

Withdraw from the competition for the Saint?

Assist in ascending?

I fear that the moment I release him, this pair of master and Disciple, along with that old man in the sky, would immediately reduce me to ashes.

With Shen Xinghe's vengeful and venomous nature, it is absolutely impossible for him to swallow this humiliation.

Want to play games?

Then I will play along with you.

Gu Changsheng tapped his toe lightly and leisurely withdrew his right leg.

The immense weight pressing on his Face vanished, and Shen Xinghe took a deep gasp of air.

Gu Changsheng brushed off his robes and took two steps back.

He looked up at Elder Mo in mid-air.

He casually cupped his hands in a salute.

"Senior, please calm your anger."

Gu Changsheng's tone was calm, without the slightest fluctuation.

"Since Senior has personally come forward to protect him, I naturally must give you this Face."

He looked down at Shen Xinghe, who was gasping for breath on the ground.

"Senior Brother Shen is right; harmony brings wealth."

"Between us fellow Disciples, fighting and killing damages our harmony."

Gu Changsheng took three more steps back, completely creating a safe distance.

"I will treat today's matter as a misunderstanding."

"I will spare you."

Gu Changsheng paused, his tone becoming slightly heavier.

"However, Senior Brother Shen, you must also remember this."

"The next time we meet, if you are still this aggressive, I will not show mercy."

Having said that, Gu Changsheng turned around.

He strode towards the deck of the Lingxiao Heavenly Palace.

"Hoo—"

A long-suppressed sound of exhaling echoed on the flying ship.

Song Yun's tense body went limp, and he swallowed hard.

He survived!

Senior Brother Gu was rational after all.

Luo Xiyao's hand gripping the sword also relaxed, her palms slick with sweat.

Even as the Young Lord of the Changsheng Gu Clan, one has to bow their head when facing a living Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert.

The cultivation world is just that cruel.

Elder Mo stroked his goatee and let out a cold snort.

This brat knows his place.

If he were truly forced to kill him, it would be a huge trouble if those old monsters of the Gu Family were to investigate afterwards.

It is naturally best if it can be resolved without fighting.

Shen Xinghe braced his hands on the ground and wobbled as he climbed up.

He breathed in the fresh air deeply, his chest heaving violently.

That expensive Star Dao robe had long since become rags.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood from his chin.

His gaze was like a viper flicking its tongue, staring fixedly at Gu Changsheng's receding back.

He had won.

Gu Changsheng, you are afraid of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm after all.

Shen Xinghe's eyes were bloodshot, and his features were twisted in extreme hatred.

When I return to the Fifth Peak.

I will mobilize all my power.

I will demand that my master come out of seclusion personally to slaughter all the wings of your Gu Family in the Immortal Sect!

I will shatter your arrogant bones, trample you under my feet, and let you taste the feeling of being worse off than dead!

Shen Xinghe cursed wildly in his heart.

He put away his sinister expression, turned around, and prepared to thank Elder Mo.

"Bang!"

A piercing sonic boom suddenly exploded in the air.

Gu Changsheng, who was walking towards the Lingxiao Heavenly Palace a second ago, had vanished.

He had disappeared.

Shen Xinghe had only just turned halfway.

A moon-white robe suddenly stopped right against the tip of his nose.

Gu Changsheng's peerlessly handsome Face occupied his entire vision.

The distance between the two.

Was less than half a foot.

Shen Xinghe's heart skipped a beat, and his blood ran cold.

"Oh my."

Gu Changsheng grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

His eyes curved, and his tone was extremely light.

"Isn't this Senior Brother Shen?"

"What a coincidence."

"We meet again!"

These words were like a thunderclap, directly shattering Shen Xinghe's sanity.

"Coincidence my foot!"

We just separated and stepped back a few paces!

A chill rushed straight from Shen Xinghe's tailbone to the top of his head.

He understood instantly.

This lunatic!

He never intended to let him go from the beginning!

Those steps he took back were just to create this so-called "next time we meet"!

"You brat, how dare you!"

Elder Mo in mid-air let out a heaven-shaking roar.

The pressure of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm turned into a tangible black gale, like a wild Dragon emerging from the sea, slamming fiercely into Gu Changsheng's back.

"Save—"

Shen Xinghe leaned back with all his might, letting out a shrill scream.

It was too late.

Gu Changsheng's movements were unreasonably fast.

"Senior Brother Shen, you said it clearly just now."

Gu Changsheng's smile faded, and the murderous intent in his eyes exploded completely.

"The next time we meet, I will not show mercy."

He raised his right hand, his five fingers reaching out suddenly like iron hooks.

The phantom of the Ziwei Dharma Form flashed and vanished behind him.

The terrifying power of suppression locked Shen Xinghe's limbs and bones, making it a luxury for him to even twitch a finger.

Gu Changsheng took half a step forward.

His five fingers accurately gripped Shen Xinghe's crown.

He exerted force.

He pressed down hard.

"Die."

"Gu Changsheng, you bastard!"

In the abyss of despair, Shen Xinghe screamed his last words in this life.

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of bone shattering drowned out all curses.

Violent Spiritual Qi poured through Gu Changsheng's fingertips, brutally blasting into Shen Xinghe's skull.

"Bang!"

Red and white matter exploded in mid-air.