Chapter 143: Qingzhou Nine Righteous

Gu Chutong asked in surprise, "Several Grandmasters? That powerful?"

Lin Qixia nodded and said, "Among the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou, four died early: Lu Canyang, the former master of Zhengqi Manor; Duan Changmei, the patriarch of the Long-Brow Sword Sect; Chen Tong, the Old Ancestor of the Chen family; and Wang Dingtao, the founder of the Golden Blade Gate. The least renowned of the remaining members was the recently killed Old Man White Shadow.

"The other four include Gu Huatong, who ranked third. Few remember this name, but if you mention his other name, almost everyone in the martial arts world will know it: Master Ding Chan, the abbot of Guangming Temple. He is currently recognized as Qingzhou's top master and ranks tenth on the Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking."

Gu Chutong was a bit surprised. He had thought the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou was an outdated, past martial arts group, but he didn't expect them to still be so active.

Lin Qixia continued, "Then there's the fifth-ranked, a woman named Yan Xianmei. Like Master Ding Chan, few know her by name, but if you mention her identity, almost everyone will know. She is the founder of the Mystic Maiden Palace. In her youth, she was known as the Jade Void Immortal Fairy; now, she's called Ancestor Jade Void in the martial arts world, and she is also my grand-master."

Gu Mo was also somewhat surprised. He never imagined that the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou, which he was hearing about for the first time, would hold such high prestige!

One was Master Ding Chan, tenth on the Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, and the other, Ancestor Jade Void, could be considered the top female master in the Qian Kingdom.

Lin Qixia looked at Gu Mo and Gu Chutong's surprised expressions and smiled faintly. "The next two also have considerable fame and status. One is Tie Zhu, ranked sixth, who is the master of that big, foolish Tie Tou. He is known as the Sage of Arms in the martial arts world.

"He is the world's top grandmaster of weapon forging and has created many famous divine weapons. There's no need to describe how strong his forging skills are; the Demon Blade Gouchen is right here, and you've all witnessed it just now."

Gu Chutong nodded, then asked, "That Tie Tou just said his martial uncle is Qi Miaoxuan. Is Qi Miaoxuan the last living member of the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou?"

"That's right," Lin Qixia said. "It's indeed Qi Miaoxuan, the Sage of Medicine. He ranks ninth among the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou and is a top grandmaster of medical arts. In terms of medical skill alone, throughout the entire Qian Kingdom, only Wei Wuwei, the God of Medicine, can compare to him."

Gu Chutong asked with a suspicious look, "So, by that logic," Gu Chutong pointed at White Shadow, who was now a pile of ashes, "he was your elder?"

Lin Qixia nodded and said, "Even that big, foolish guy is considered my elder. However, White Shadow has long since cut all ties with our Mystic Maiden Palace. This person had already fallen into the path of evil. Ten years ago, I saw him associating with demonic cultivators, and my grand-master captured him. But at that time, my grand-master, recalling their past connection, merely crippled a few of his meridians, leaving him with a small portion of his martial arts, and let him go. Not long after, we heard he had been killed by enemies, so I didn't expect him to still be alive."

Gu Chutong suddenly realized, "No wonder the living members of the Nine Righteous of Qingzhou are all so powerful. It turns out White Shadow had to resort to schemes and tricks even against you, a junior. So, his martial arts were crippled!"

Lin Qixia's expression instantly became awkward.

Because last night at Zhengqi Manor, her actions were particularly foolish; she was easily provoked by White Shadow's few words, losing her temper and disregarding the bigger picture.

She looked at Gu Chutong, then at Gu Mo, her face flushed as she explained, "Actually... about last night... I... I had my reasons. I truly wasn't jealous of Nian Gongyue's abilities... it's just that Nangong Yuexi was truly..."

At this point, Lin Qixia couldn't continue.

Because she suddenly realized that speaking ill of someone behind their back would only make her appear more petty.

"It's fine," Gu Chutong said. "Fairy Lin, my brother and I don't understand those things. You don't need to explain. I trust your character. You charged forward in danger, letting others go first. That alone makes me trust you."

"Thank... thank you!" Lin Qixia said awkwardly.

Just then, Lin Qixia suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, violently spat out a mouthful of blood, and completely collapsed.

Gu Chutong quickly helped Lin Qixia up, calling out, "Fairy Lin, what's wrong?"

Lin Qixia had actually fallen unconscious.

The other Mystic Maiden Palace disciples also hurried over.

Gu Chutong quickly reached out to take her pulse, frowned, and called out, "Brother, Fairy Lin's pulse is very chaotic. There's a qi in her body... it must be from the wound left by that demon blade... she's so hot!"

Gu Mo also reached out and gently took Lin Qixia's pulse, nodding. "It is indeed the demon blade's power. It must be the energy left from the blow she took head-on last night. This energy is extremely violent. If not dealt with promptly, it could rupture her eight extraordinary meridians, or even cause her body to explode."

"Hero Gu," a Mystic Maiden Palace disciple quickly asked, "Can you save Senior Sister Lin?"

Gu Mo shook his head and said, "I don't understand medicine. I can only temporarily suppress that energy for her. For the specific treatment, we'll need to find a doctor."

Gu Mo was telling the truth. Both he and Gu Chutong could use their Pure Jade True Qi to help Lin Qixia suppress the strange energy. However, that energy was unlike ordinary martial artists' true qi, which could be slowly expelled through cultivation. This energy had directly permeated her meridians through the skin, somewhat like a poison.

It couldn't simply be expelled by using counteracting true qi.

A professional doctor, using specialized methods after careful study, would be needed to prescribe the correct remedy.

Immediately, Gu Mo channeled a stream of Ice True Qi into Lin Qixia's body.

Lin Qixia had only been wounded by a trace of the demon blade's aura, so it was naturally less complex than sealing the demon blade itself. Gu Mo easily suppressed the strange energy within Lin Qixia with a casual stream of True Qi.

After quite a while, Lin Qixia slowly regained consciousness and immediately expressed her thanks.

Gu Mo waved his hand and continued his study of the Demon Blade Gouchen.

However, as time slowly passed, everyone present began to feel that something was amiss.

Because the few people who had gone back to Zhengqi Manor to retrieve the iron box had not yet returned.

The two guards from Rongwei Escort Agency were particularly anxious because Liu Feiyang and another escort guard had gone back with the twelve-year-old Tie Tou.

The distance to Zhengqi Manor wasn't very far from here.

Although they had walked for two hours last night, that was due to the dark and heavy rain, which made them walk slowly. But now, with daylight and the rain stopped, Liu Feiyang and the others had gone on horseback, so they should have been able to make a round trip in half an hour at most. Even with some delay, it shouldn't have exceeded an hour.

But now, two full hours had passed.

The more everyone thought about it, the more they felt something was wrong.

"Let's go!"

Gu Mo mounted his horse, then reached out, and the ice-sealed demon blade flew into his hand.

Immediately after, Gu Chutong and the two escort guards also mounted their horses and followed Gu Mo back.

"Junior sisters, you go together."

Lin Qixia gave orders to Xie Liuying and the other Mystic Maiden Palace disciples who weren't seriously injured.

Xie Liuying and the others didn't hesitate and quickly followed.

After riding for about fifteen minutes, the group returned to Zhengqi Manor.

"They're inside."

While still outside the gate, Gu Mo heard faint breathing sounds from inside the manor.

The group quickly entered the manor and saw Liu Feiyang and the other escort guard from Rongwei Escort Agency lying on the ground in the main hall where the fight had occurred last night. Next to them were the large iron box and the black iron casing that held the demon blade.

Gu Mo checked them, confirmed that neither was injured, merely unconscious, and subtly let out a sigh of relief. He then quickly tapped them twice on the back of their necks.

Immediately, both slowly regained consciousness.

"Escort Leader Liu, what happened to you? And where's Tie Tou?" Gu Chutong asked.

Liu Feiyang shook his head and said, "We entered with that Tie Tou. As soon as we reached the entrance, Tie Tou ambushed us. That kid was faking it; he's definitely a master. His moves were quick, precise, and ruthless. We fell before we could even react, and then we woke up here."

Xie Liuying suddenly said, "I knew something felt off. That White Shadow followed the big, foolish guy for so long but hesitated to act, yet the big, foolish guy appeared so weak and timid. It didn't make sense. But what was the big, foolish guy after? He didn't kill them, which means he had no malicious intent!"

"Then what was his purpose in feigning ignorance and deceiving us?" Gu Chutong asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo slowly placed the ice-sealed demon blade he was holding into the black iron casing.

Tie Tou hadn't been talking nonsense. This black iron casing, made of unknown material, indeed had some restraining effect on the demon blade. However, it only served to isolate it; the true restraining effect still relied on Gu Mo's Ice True Qi.

"Brother," Gu Chutong walked up to Gu Mo and asked, "What do you think Tie Tou wanted to do?"

Gu Mo slowly wrapped the iron casing with chains and slung it onto his back, saying, "Perhaps, for him, this demon blade was a hot potato. To be precise, this thing is a hot potato for anyone. Holding it for too long easily invites disaster. Throwing it away, one doesn't know what great calamity it might bring, and if not careful, it could be a martial arts catastrophe, with lives ruined!"

Gu Chutong quickly asked, "Then, Brother, how should we deal with this thing?"

"First, let's find Qi Miaoxuan and see if his Ice Soul can truly suppress it," Gu Mo said.

Xie Liuying, standing by, said, "Hero Gu, if you trust our Mystic Maiden Palace, you can entrust this demon blade to us for handling. Our Mystic Maiden Palace adheres to the righteous path and will never covet the demon blade's power."

Gu Mo waved his hand, saying, "Let's find Qi Miaoxuan first, then we'll see!"

Immediately, Gu Mo left directly, transmitting a message to Gu Chutong as he walked, "Once we reach Qingzhou City, find the Canglan Sword Sect's outpost and have them send a message to Sect Master Qi. With the Canglan Sword Sect's heritage, they should be able to find a way to deal with this demon blade."

At the same time, at a cliff edge beneath Mount Mang, Tie Tou was galloping rapidly on horseback. He rode all the way to the foot of the mountain before looking back at the vast Mount Mang. He let out a long breath, sighing in relief, "Finally got rid of that hot potato."

Just then, a flat voice suddenly came from behind him: "Since that's the case, you are no longer of any use."

Tie Tou shivered and quickly turned his head, only to see a masked figure in black robes already sitting on his horse's back, having appeared at some unknown moment.

Immediately, Tie Tou threw a punch.

His punch was as heavy as a collapsing mountain, and his fist was larger than a human head.

Yet, this punch was easily caught by the black-robed figure.

Tie Tou was terrified. He suddenly noticed a scar on the black-robed figure's thumb, his pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in shock, "You're not dead! The Golden Blade Gate, the Long-Brow Sword Sect, and the Chen family weren't annihilated by White Shadow, it was you..."

With a "crack," Tie Tou's massive fist was crushed.

Amidst splashing blood and gore, the black-robed figure punched Tie Tou's head.

"Ah!"

Tie Tou suddenly let out a deafening roar, like a great bell, reverberating through the valley.

He abruptly raised both arms into a blocking stance, but his right hand no longer had a fist; bone and flesh were exposed, making it extremely bloody.

In an instant, a surge of true qi surged around his body, and a dazzling golden light burst forth, instantly condensing around him, transforming into a transparent, golden bell that rotated and shimmered.

At the same moment, the black-robed figure's fist struck.

Fist met bell, producing a crisp, metallic clang, like a dragon's roar and a tiger's growl, shaking the surrounding air.

In an instant, the punch was overwhelming, shattering the golden bell to pieces.

Tie Tou spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, directly falling into the cliff below and disappearing into the vast mist.

The black-robed figure quickly pursued, but could only watch as Tie Tou plummeted down the cliff. He slightly narrowed his eyes and said, "I didn't expect this kid's Golden Bell Shield to be even a bit stronger than his master's!"

Immediately after, the black-robed figure turned, mounted his horse, and quickly departed.