Qi Refining and Breathing, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.
But what exactly is the essence of heaven and earth and where does it originate from? No one knows.
It's only known that this mysterious force is related to the soul.
If tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of living beings reside in an area, the essence of heaven and earth becomes active, making it beneficial for people to absorb.
Conversely, in the deep mountains and ancient forests rarely visited by humans, the efficiency of Qi refining and breathing decreases significantly.
Gu Jinlai had felt this.
In the deep mountains and forests, even the recovery of his True Qi slowed down, and he could only maintain his condition by consuming large amounts of food to refine essence into energy.
"The stronger the sect, the more centrally located in bustling cities; and the more cultivators there are in a city, the lower the efficiency of cultivation," he said.
Therefore, Daqian has always encouraged childbearing.
Therefore, even though the presence of cultivators ensured an abundant supply of goods, the overpopulation meant that the lower class was still impoverished.
Therefore, many sects wished to dominate a city on their own.
Zhengyi Dao was the local sect of Changjun City.
However, the forces in Changjun City were not limited to Zhengyi Dao alone.
The Purgatory Demon Sect had established a branch in Changjun City, headed by "Gu Jinlai."
In addition, among the Ten Great Demon Sects, the Cold Moon Demon Sect, and from the Six Great Immortal Sects, the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect also had branches established there.
Together with the aloof City Lord Mansion and the Demon Refining Hall, the situation in Changjun City was exceedingly complex.
Now was an opportunity for the Purgatory Demon Sect to be eliminated, and both the Cold Moon Demon Sect and the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect wouldn't mind giving a push from behind.
Unfortunately...
The Gu Jinlai of today was no longer the same as before.
...
At this moment, within a forest a hundred miles away from Changjun City, several people kneeled on the ground, their expressions filled with fear as they begged for mercy.
"Spare us! Gracious elder, please spare our lives!"
"Call me Master Gu!"
Gu Jinlai, dressed in luxurious silk brocade, slowly emerged from the forest.
He strolled leisurely, his long hair casually tied behind him, his robe fluttering, a picture of extraordinary comportment that was worlds apart from the dishevelment of the day before.
"Please, Master Gu, spare us! Master Gu, spare us!"
The group quickly changed their tune.
"Go away."
Gu Jinlai flicked the Treasure Sword in his hand. "Killing you nameless peons would dirty my blade."
"Thank you, Master Gu!"
The several people kowtowed repeatedly and swiftly fled.
Gu Jinlai watched the faint red glow about them tighten his grip on his sword.
In the end...
He refrained.
Light Red Name.
What happened to inflicting terror on these pursuers?
A bunch of rookies in the Blood Exchange Realm dared to hunt down him, a grandmaster of the Refining God Realm?
They really had no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth and did not take him, the Ancient Demon, seriously!
Yet, he couldn't kill them.
If he killed them, he would get hit with another layer of Karma BUFF, which would have indirect effects.
His fist was clenched.
"Those hunting me down, do they not have names redder than mine? Isn't the world in chaos today? Where are the mighty devils of the Demon Path, the supreme devils!?"
Gu Jinlai stared at the fast-disappearing shadows of the people: "Once I cleanse my reputation... I am determined to slaughter humans! To kill Ten Thousand Demons!"
He hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly spotted something and barked, "Who goes there!"
A figure swished through the forest up ahead, approaching rapidly.
Upon seeing Gu Jinlai, he shivered and prostrated himself: "Mas... Master, please calm your anger, the mortal world isn't worth your slaughter and bloodbath."
"..."
Gu Jinlai's expression stiffened.
Overheard...
His cathartic ranting had been heard?
Embarrassment.
But... Master?
Gu Jinlai looked at this young man in his early twenties, a thought stirring in his mind.
Having lived over a month as "Gu Jinlai," he knew he had four disciples.
First disciple Su Nanxing, second disciple Gu Xiangyang, third disciple Ran Tianxing, fourth disciple Xie Xiaowan.
The reason he knew so clearly was also because of a certain piece of gossip.
The fourth disciple Xie Xiaowan had fallen for Fang Yichen, a True Disciple of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect who had defected. He instantly made a trip to the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect's Changjun City branch and kidnapped the True Disciple Li Muqing. He coerced her into marrying the second disciple, Gu Xiangyang.
The reason it was Gu Xiangyang...
It was because Gu Xiangyang was his junior.
Gu Jinlai had no children, but he had an elder brother Gu Changfeng who was also a Hugging Pill Master. He established a family clan in Red State, flourishing through generations.
That Gu Xiangyang was the fourth son of Gu Changfeng's eldest son, Gu Haoran.
Showing talent in cultivation from a young age, he had achieved Qi Refining to Gang before even reaching thirty.
Now, this person, in his early twenties, calling himself a disciple, was likely the third disciple, Ran Tianxing.
If it's a disciple, then there's no problem.
Gu Jinlai ordered solemnly, "I am well aware of my own mind. What I said today shall not reach a third person's ears, understood?"
"Disciple understands, disciple understands," Ran Tianxing nodded repeatedly. "Seeing that Master is unharmed is truly a relief; I knew those clowns from Zhengyi Dao couldn't hurt a hair on Master's head."
Gu Jinlai had read some letters left by the original person. Although he was ruthless and evil, he was extremely protective of his disciples.
It was said that his feud with Lin Xiao had started just to protect his first disciple, Su Nanxing.
Putting oneself in another's shoes.
Seeing his disciple rush over from Red State at the news of his peril, even though the original "Gu Jinlai" was dead, it still brought comfort to his old heart.
"Mas... Master..."
Ran Tianxing, looking at the grim Gu Jinlai, seemed to have made some kind of decision: "Disciple has finally found you. The eldest brother has also come, but he was entangled by a Hugging Pill Elder from Zhengyi Dao and several of their True Disciples. Should we go to reinforce him?"
"Su Nanxing has arrived."
This was his only disciple who had cultivated to the Hugging Pill Realm. Since childhood, he had adopted him, treating him as his own son. It could be seen from the lines on the letter that this disciple held immense respect for "him."
With such a Hugging Pill Master by his side, those who angered him, yet were of Yellow or Light Red Names, could be dealt with by the disciple.
"People from Zhengyi Dao have quite the gall."
Gu Jinlai's expression turned cold.
But soon, he felt something was off.
This scene...
Why does it look so familiar?
After pondering for a moment, he said, "Saving a life is like fighting a fire. I will go ahead first; you follow later."
As he spoke, he walked briskly towards the front.
After running only tens of meters, he heard Ran Tianxing's voice behind him: "Master, you're going the wrong way."
Gu Jinlai's expression changed.
He glanced back at Ran Tianxing...
This disciple's movement technique was so proficient; he was almost as fast as him?
"A single elder can hardly trouble Su Nanxing; the people of Zhengyi Dao have gone all out to deal with this old man. My direct assault on Changjun City and massacre of Zhengyi Dao's sect entrance will, first, make Zhengyi Dao pay a price, and second, I can save Su Nanxing from danger with the besiege tactic."
Gu Jinlai said.
"Master, it's not just the elders of Zhengyi Dao who are ambushing the eldest apprentice brother, but also several True Disciples."
"Just a few True Disciples. The True Disciples of Zhengyi Dao are only in the Qi Refining Realm. With Su Nanxing's ability, even if he can't beat them, he can retreat with ease."
"But Master, I'm afraid more Zhengyi Dao masters will rush to the scene in time, and then the eldest apprentice brother will be in danger."
Ran Tianxing said earnestly.
Gu Jinlai stopped: "Third brother, you seem somewhat nervous."
"I..."
Facing Gu Jinlai's scrutinizing gaze, Ran Tianxing felt sweat streaming down his forehead.
"Third brother, as I said, with Elder Gu's cunning and guile, you couldn't possibly deceive him."
At this moment, a cold voice came from the distant woods: "He has deviated due to his cultivation, his power greatly diminished; we can just strike directly and surround him, why bother luring him into a trap with words?"
Immediately after, the leaves rustled.
A group of four people hurried over.
Two middle-aged men and a young man and woman.
The one who'd spoken was the young woman in her twenties, with delicate features and wearing a long dress.
Seeing the "Sun" emblem on the clothes of the few people, together with the woman's way of addressing Ran Tianxing, Gu Jinlai guessed her identity.
"Little Four? You dare to show yourself before me?"
"Why shouldn't I? Those who follow the path of demons and heretics are to be executed! As a true inheritor of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, I must act according to our sect's purpose—to exterminate demons and support the Yellow Heaven Dao's righteousness!"
The woman, Xie Xiaowan—Gu Jinlai's fourth disciple—held her fair chin up high, speaking righteously.
"Exterminate demons and support righteousness?"
Gu Jinlai's gaze turned to the two middle-aged men beside her.
Both were Hugging Pill Masters.
But that wasn't the point!
The point was, one was coated in Light Red, and the other one was dripping with Bright Red like blood!
The Yellow Heaven Dao Sect claimed to be the righteous path, one of the Six Great Immortal Sects, and yet had elders with such monstrous karma?
But this wasn't so strange.
Had he not seen similar situations unfold on Blue Star?
"By them?"
"Outer Sect elders of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, Zhang Buxi and Ma Zheng, pay respects to Elder Gu."
The two men gave a perfunctory bow.
"So, third brother, you've betrayed me too?"
Gu Jinlai looked at Ran Tianxing.
While it's a common trope for devils to be betrayed by their disciples, having two out of four betray him seemed like a rather high rate.
"A good bird chooses a tree to nest. When I took you as Master years ago, I did not know your true nature. I never imagined you would be so heartless and insane. Now, being pursued by Zhengyi Dao, you're thinking about slaughtering innocents. Any person with a shred of conscience would never continue to aid you in your tyranny!"
Ran Tianxing said solemnly.
"Blood Slaughter?"
Xie Xiaowan gritted her teeth: "Gu Jinlai, you truly are a born devil. Even now, barely reaching Refining God, you already harbor thoughts of slaughtering the innocent; when your demonic skills reach their peak, wouldn't you seek to destroy the world?"
"Why do you keep harping on about Blood Slaughter? I also mentioned killing Ten Thousand Demons."
Gu Jinlai looked at the two people: "Besides, I don't believe I've treated you unfairly..."
"Pah!"
Xie Xiaowan spit: "When you took me as your apprentice, did you ever ask if I was willing? Your so-called kindness to me is nothing but your own wishful thinking and as insignificant as weeds in my eyes, worthless."
Weeds...
Xie Xiaowan's tone reminded him of a despicable creature from Blue Star.
"The evil deeds committed by Elder Gu cannot be fully recorded even with a forest of bamboo! Today, we will act on behalf of Heaven to subdue the devil and remove evil!"
Zhang Buxi said.
"Exactly, let us, the Yellow Sky Dao elders, send this ancient demon on his way."
Ma Zheng nodded.
"Elders, Xiaowan will become my Daoist Companion in the future, and killing this old devil will also remove a burden from my heart. I wish to contribute to this cause as well."
The young man also added.
"Good."
Ma Zheng nodded: "Against such vile heretics, we need not maintain any cultivation niceties. Let's join forces and attack together!"
Gu Jinlai watched the two Yellow Heaven Dao Sect elders.
Doesn't your conscience hurt when you say these things?
At least wear a cleaner name first?
This Bright Red, Bright Red...
I just love it too much.
"Clang!"
Gu Jinlai drew his sword from its sheath!