48: Taoist Jingxu: Return my disciple to me.
When the Eldest Daughter in the sedan chair sarcastically called Quiet Void Taoist a mere insect, the old Taoist with a youthful complexion and white hair felt his dignity somewhat compromised.
The old Taoist carefully scrutinized the group of Cultivators from Mi Mountain City before him.
Inside the immortal sedan chair, the woman hidden behind the white curtain gave off a profound and unfathomable aura.
Around the immortal sedan chair were a group of female guards dressed in white and wearing veiled hats.
On the outer perimeter were Cultivators from Guan Yue Taoist Temple.
It could be said that the immortal sedan chair was surrounded by people in three inner and three outer circles, like stars orbiting the moon.
Finally, the old Taoist's gaze fell upon Li Yan.
Quiet Void Taoist narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Li Yan for a long time.
Li Yan, standing beside the immortal sedan chair, felt the old man's fervent gaze.
The look in Quiet Void Taoist's eyes, as he looked at him, was filled with greed.
That white-haired old man seemed to recognize him!
Li Yan immediately felt his body tense, a chill running down his spine.
Upon reflection, what was Jingxu Sect most skilled at?
Gu refining!
And specifically, insect Gu.
How did Old Daoist Xuanwang enter the Dao of insect Gu? Do you still remember?
Back then, Old Daoist Xuanwang was a barefoot doctor in the village, upright and well-regarded.
But in the end, Old Daoist Xuanwang devolved into a deranged insect Gu Cultivator, his entire Physical Body integrated with the insect Gu.
Who was the mastermind behind this?
It was none other than Quiet Void Taoist, his Grandmaster; it was he who instigated Old Daoist Xuanwang to consume the insect Gu.
Considering Old Ghost Xuanwang's confused mind, sometimes mad, sometimes normal.
His behavioral logic was chaotic.
Quiet Void Taoist wanted to explore Broken Sword Valley, and Old Daoist Xuanwang wanted to refine Gu.
This was what made Old Daoist Xuanwang's behavior seem somewhat strange.
So why was Old Daoist Xuanwang sometimes normal and sometimes not?
When Li Yan saw Quiet Void Taoist, he had an Epiphany about everything.
It was the insect Gu within his body that was eroding his brain, thereby altering Old Ghost Xuanwang's thoughts.
The one who could drive Old Ghost Xuanwang mad was precisely this Grandmaster, Quiet Void Taoist!
Quiet Void Taoist, standing on his Flying Sword, outwardly appeared benevolent, yet his entire being exuded a chilling Yin Qi.
The white-haired old Taoist raised his hand and pointed at Li Yan: "This child is my disciple's disciple."
"As long as you hand him over, I will not pursue today's matter."
Quiet Void Taoist chuckled inwardly.
Previously, Li Yan had suddenly befriended the Su Family, leaving on Su Chongyue's sky-ship.
Everything happened too suddenly, and Quiet Void Taoist didn't even have time to act.
Now that he had finally found Li Yan, if this group of people didn't hand him over, he would simply take him by force!
Quiet Void Taoist knew very well that Li Yan harbored too many secrets; he had survived the depths of Broken Sword Valley, and he must have brought out some treasure.
As long as he captured Li Yan, implanted Gu, and then extracted his memories.
Quiet Void Taoist would then know exactly what had happened in the depths of Broken Sword Valley.
How could the secrets of Broken Sword Valley's depths not tempt people?
Facing Quiet Void Taoist's demand.
The Eldest Daughter in the sedan chair curiously asked Li Yan: "You know him?"
Li Yan felt a bit nervous internally; if he exposed himself now, he might be surrounded by both factions.
Yet, he forced himself to remain calm and replied in a tranquil tone.
"The original owner of this Physical Body of mine did indeed escape from Jingxu Sect."
The Eldest Daughter, the respected figure behind the curtain, seemed to be growing suspicious of Li Yan.
"Then for what reason is this old Taoist willing to risk so much just to demand him from me?"
"Are you hiding something from me?"
At this moment.
Even a slight flaw from Li Yan could result in him being instantly subdued by the Eldest Daughter.
He could even see countless shadowy hands emerging from beneath the sedan chair.
Facing the coldness in the Eldest Daughter's tone, Li Yan, however, spoke with complete composure.
"That Quiet Void Taoist is an insect Gu Cultivator, and this Physical Body of mine is very suitable for refining Gu; he might even want to perform Possession."
After hearing Li Yan's reasonable explanation, the Eldest Daughter slowly lowered her raised hand.
"It seems it's pretty much as I, Young Miss, guessed."
"To be at the sixth level of Ban Xue Realm at such a young age, the Aptitude of this Physical Body of yours is rarely seen in the world."
"Even a peerless genius has never had such Cultivation Aptitude as you."
After saying this, the Eldest Daughter let out a series of cold laughs: "Such a body should belong to our Shadow Demon clan."
"That old ghost wants to take you to refine Gu, how can I hand you over to him?"
The reason the Eldest Daughter doted on Li Yan so much was precisely because she valued the original body's Aptitude.
Such Heaven-Defying Cultivation Comprehension Ability, looking across the entire Bugui Mountain, it was almost impossible to find a second one.
A talent like Li Yan must be controlled by the Shadow Demon clan!
After a private discussion with Li Yan, the respected Eldest Daughter released the pressure of a Blood Core Realm expert, directly pressing it upon Quiet Void Taoist.
Releasing pressure, for Cultivators, is akin to drawing a sword.
The Eldest Daughter in the sedan chair spoke with a threatening tone: "Taoist, please return; he has already become my Lamplighter, Young Miss."
A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of Quiet Void Taoist on the Flying Sword.
"I've never seen your family crest in Mi Mountain City; a bunch of nobodies, do you really think I'm afraid of you?!"
"You Cultivators from the city, still daring to be arrogant in the wilderness! You truly don't know how to write the word 'death'!"
The next moment, Quiet Void Taoist suddenly pulled open his immortal robe, revealing his gaunt body.
Was Quiet Void Taoist going mad? Did he like taking off his clothes during a fight?
No!
Look closely, the old man's gaunt body was covered in dense, lotus root-like holes.
His Gu Cultivation had reached its peak; his Physical Body was almost entirely integrated with the Gu!
Man is Gu, Gu is man!
And that sight, even with Li Yan's strong psyche, made his stomach churn and feel nauseous, with a burning sensation.
Quiet Void Taoist outwardly appeared as a kind and amiable old Taoist, but as the saying goes, 'gold on the outside, trash within'.
As soon as the old Taoist's immortal robe came off, revealing his body covered in Gu.
That scene reminded Li Yan of someone—the Hundred-Eyed Demonic Lord.
Describing this old Taoist before him as the Hundred Gu Demonic Lord was also very fitting.
One by one, gray Gu popped out from the old man's body, flying towards Li Yan and his group.
The Eldest Daughter in the immortal sedan chair snorted coldly.
"Our Shadow Demon clan has always acted discreetly for many years."
"It's normal for this rustic Taoist not to know of our clan's existence."
"He's quite strong; after eliminating him, we'll turn him into a shadow puppet!"
The Eldest Daughter slammed the sedan chair, and countless shadowy hands emerged from beneath, catching the incoming Gu.
The emaciated old man opposite, bare-chested, bared his teeth in a sinister grin: "Impressive, able to catch my hundreds of Gu."
"Mere parlor tricks."
The Eldest Daughter scoffed disdainfully.
But then Quiet Void Taoist said: "But my Gu, they explode."
The next moment.
One by one, the Gu caught by the shadowy hands exploded in mid-air!
The Gu powder inside the Gu scattered everywhere with the gentle breeze.
The attendants escorting the Eldest Daughter were all covered in it.
Once a person's skin came into contact with this Gu egg powder, maggots-like creatures would immediately grow out of their pores.
These maggots gnawed at the flesh, their plump worm bodies writhing wantonly on the people.
The attendants who were exposed to the Gu egg powder instantly fell into disarray.
Seeing this, the Eldest Daughter reprimanded them with extreme displeasure: "A bunch of bothersome things, get out of here."