Chapter 146: God Blade and Second on the Heaven Ranking

Gu Mo asked, "So, currently, besides this breakthrough with Ye Jinglan, Six Doors has no other leads to investigate Qi Miaoxuan's whereabouts?"

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded and said, "To be honest, unsolved cases like this in the martial arts world are countless. After all, these are affairs of the martial arts community, and the government has never paid too much attention to them. Ultimately, the essence of Six Doors isn't about investigating cases, but about governing the martial arts world..."

At this point, Zhuo Qingfeng pulled Gu Mo aside and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Gu, Six Doors has never existed to maintain order in the martial arts world; it's there to suppress it. It's just that in recent years, the country has been stable and peaceful, and the martial arts world relatively calm, so Six Doors has curbed its lethal intent. But you must understand, when Six Doors was first established, heads rolled and rivers of blood flowed. Furthermore, why does every Six Doors headquarters in each province have a standard setup, with at least two grandmasters renowned throughout the martial arts world?"

Gu Mo was slightly taken aback.

Zhuo Qingfeng continued, "You are also a recognized grandmaster in the martial arts world, so you should understand what a grandmaster truly is. It's simply someone with high martial arts skills and great renown.

"Having high martial arts skills is normal, but as for great renown, consider the factors involved. Which highly renowned person didn't achieve it through combat and killing? For example, your title as grandmaster—how many masters had to die by your hand before you became one?

"So, think about it: every Six Doors branch in each province has two to three grandmasters, and the Six Doors headquarters in the capital has several more, totaling over twenty. How did these twenty-odd grandmasters come to be? They climbed up over the countless corpses of martial artists. This is the true nature of Six Doors.

"For Six Doors, there is no distinction between righteous and demonic in the martial arts world; there are only those who follow the rules and those who don't. As long as you abide by the rules set by Six Doors, they won't care if the martial arts world is engulfed in bloodshed and chaos.

"Therefore, Six Doors doesn't actually care about Qi Miaoxuan's disappearance. They only care if there were other factors behind the destruction of Tingsong Villa. If it's purely a matter of martial arts grievances, Six Doors won't intervene at all. Even if they eventually find out it was Ye Jinglan's doing, they will simply release the information and let the various martial arts factions handle it themselves. Moreover, generally speaking, such cases become cold cases because Six Doors prioritizes stability. If the martial arts world can manage itself, Six Doors won't interfere. If it can't, Six Doors will step in and replace the troubled factions with powerful sects capable of maintaining stability in the martial arts world.

"So, Brother Gu, you can wander the martial arts world, but don't let it cloud your judgment and focus all your thoughts on it. The martial arts world, in reality, isn't that profound."

Gu Mo smiled faintly and slowly said, "Brother Zhuo, I just want to find Qi Miaoxuan to treat my eyes. I don't care about the ebb and flow of the martial arts world."

Zhuo Qingfeng breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "I was worried that you, Brother Gu, might be blinded by the empty title of a martial arts grandmaster. After all, you are still young and can easily get engrossed in the martial arts world. Many exceptionally talented individuals have been trapped their entire lives by the words 'Jianghu' (martial arts world), but in reality, the martial arts world is merely a corner that the imperial court allows to exist.

"Take Qingzhou, for example. The foremost power used to be the Mystic Maiden Palace. For many years, in the eyes of Qingzhou's Six Doors, it played a role in maintaining stability and order in the martial arts world. But in recent years, with the strong rise of the Heavenly Blade Sect and the Jiujiang Alliance, the value of the Mystic Maiden Palace in Six Doors' eyes has diminished.

"Because the Heavenly Blade Sect and the Jiujiang Alliance now play a greater role in maintaining order in the martial arts world, the next renowned faction among the 'Three Sects and Four Schools' will be chosen from these two. Just as when the Mystic Maiden Palace rose strongly back then, the Rongshan Sect, which was originally one of the 'Three Sects and Four Schools,' was abolished.

"People in the martial arts world believed the Rongshan Sect was eliminated by the Mystic Maiden Palace, but that's not actually the case. Six Doors chose the Mystic Maiden Palace because Six Doors wouldn't allow constant infighting in the martial arts world; there had to be a leader. For Six Doors, managing the entire martial arts world isn't as easy as managing one leading faction.

"Currently, there are quite a few top forces in Qingzhou: the Shi family, the Shennong Gang, the Xiandu Temple, and even the Snow Ridge Villa, where you previously discovered the changgui were the Twin Immortals of Snow Ridge—all are top martial arts sects. Yet, coincidentally, they are all the leading forces in their respective prefectures, with only one per prefecture. Can you guess why that's such a coincidence?"

Gu Mo chuckled, "Because of Six Doors."

"Precisely," Zhuo Qingfeng said. "In a prefecture, no matter how prosperous the martial arts world, only one top power is allowed. In a province, only one martial arts leader renowned throughout the land is allowed. Because with one, there is stability and fewer disputes.

"Just like in Yunzhou, there can only be one Canglan Sword Sect, and the Canglan Sword Sect must be the leader of the righteous path, bearing the heavy responsibility of maintaining peace in the martial arts world. Once turmoil appears, the Canglan Sword Sect must deal with it immediately. For instance, if there's trouble with the Dongping Prefecture Martial Alliance, the Canglan Sword Sect must suppress the unrest without delay. Similarly, if the Sifang Sword Sect in Qingyang Prefecture is annihilated, the Canglan Sword Sect must stabilize martial arts order immediately. Whether through suppression or promotion, they must bring stability to the martial arts world quickly.

"If they fail to do so, it means the Canglan Sword Sect is no longer capable, and Six Doors would have to consider promoting a new 'Canglan Sword Sect'.

"In Qingzhou today, the Mystic Maiden Palace is still the martial arts leader, but the Heavenly Blade Sect and Jiujiang Alliance have risen. The Mystic Maiden Palace is no longer in a league of its own. So, at this time, disputes in the martial arts world will continue ceaselessly, and Six Doors cannot allow this to go on indefinitely. Therefore, Brother Gu, do you understand what I mean?"

Gu Mo's eyebrows twitched slightly. He transmitted his voice discreetly, "Brother Zhuo, are you implying that the current turmoil in Qingzhou's martial arts world has the backing of the imperial court, or Six Doors, behind it?"

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded slightly and said, "Absolutely. Whether they are fanning the flames or actively creating the unrest, I don't know for sure. But, Brother Gu, it's best if you don't get involved."

Gu Mo nodded and said, "But, my search for Qi Miaoxuan won't be affected, will it?"

Zhuo Qingfeng shook his head and said, "No, it won't affect it. What I mean by 'don't get involved' is that you shouldn't think about joining any particular faction. As for other things, you can do whatever you like. Even if you were to cleanse Qingzhou's martial arts world from top to bottom, it wouldn't affect the imperial court or the government.

"As for Qi Miaoxuan, I'll do my best to help you find her, though my influence here is limited. I'm in Qingzhou for a cross-border case, and it's hard to say if Six Doors here will cooperate with me. However, regarding your eyes, you don't need to worry too much. I asked my master before; there aren't many doctors in the martial arts world who can cure it, but the imperial court definitely has them. Especially within the imperial palace, there are certainly divine doctors whose medical skills are no less than Qi Miaoxuan's, and their number is not small. My master should have connections to invite one. If you truly can't find Qi Miaoxuan by then, I'll go beg my master."

Gu Mo cupped his hands and said, "Then I thank you, Brother Zhuo."

Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand and said, "I had that idea when I was in Linjiang Prefecture. But at that time, I was there, and I wasn't sure if my master would agree, so I didn't dare mention it, fearing I'd give you hope only to disappoint you. But now that I've returned to Yunzhou headquarters, I'm much more confident about it."

Gu Mo smiled faintly and said, "It seems, Brother Zhuo, your return to Yunzhou this time will surely lead to a smooth and prosperous career!"

"It's not that exaggerated," Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand, "but my master did indeed give me a great opportunity. My trip to Qingzhou this time is to investigate a major case. As long as I succeed, I will be promoted to Commander within a year."

Gu Mo said, "I wish you swift success, Brother Zhuo. If there's anything you need help with, just let me know. I'm not good at investigating cases, but when it comes to fighting, I'm confident I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Zhuo Qingfeng laughed, "Rest assured, Brother Gu, if I truly encounter a problem where martial arts masters block my way, I certainly won't waste your skills as a grandmaster. I will definitely ask for your help."

"I'll be there whenever you call." Gu Mo smiled and then added, "Oh, and there's one more thing..."

Gu Mo then recounted the matter of the Demonic Blade Gouchen to Zhuo Qingfeng, saying, "Besides treating my eyes, I'm also looking for Qi Miaoxuan to obtain the Ice Soul to suppress the demonic power of the blade."

Zhuo Qingfeng looked at the iron box on Gu Mo's back and said, "How about this, Brother Gu? You first find a place to stay in Qingzhou City. You can continue to inform the Canglan Sword Sect, and I will also ask Six Doors to think of a solution, to see if they have a way to deal with it. Didn't Lin Qixia also inform the Mystic Maiden Palace? No matter how powerful a blade is, it shouldn't render Six Doors, the Canglan Sword Sect, and the Mystic Maiden Palace completely helpless, right?"

Afterwards, the two exchanged a few more brief words.

As Zhuo Qingfeng still had a case to investigate, Gu Mo did not linger and prepared to leave.

Just as Gu Mo mounted his horse,

Zhuo Qingfeng suddenly said, "Oh, right, Brother Gu, you can ask the Mystic Maiden Palace to help investigate Qi Miaoxuan's third disciple. His name is Wu An, and he's the only one from Tingsong Villa, besides Qi Miaoxuan, whose body wasn't found. He probably escaped; there were traces of him climbing out of the cesspit."

"Cesspit?"

"Yes."

After leaving Tingsong Ridge,

Gu Mo and his companions quickly made their way to Qingzhou City.

After entering Qingzhou City, Gu Mo parted ways with Liu Feiyang and the others. Liu Feiyang's group returned to Rongwei Escort Agency, while Gu Mo and Gu Chudong found an inn in Qingzhou City and settled in.

Lin Qixia, along with a few Mystic Maiden Palace disciples, stayed at the same inn as Gu Mo. Afterwards, Lin Qixia arranged for her junior sisters to leverage the Mystic Maiden Palace's connections in Qingzhou City to search for Qi Miaoxuan and her disciple Wu An.

At the same time, she was quietly awaiting a reply from the Mystic Maiden Palace.

She was genuinely worried that the Demonic Blade Gouchen might spiral out of control and cause widespread bloodshed.

Soon, a reply came from the Mystic Maiden Palace: Grandmaster Yuxu, Yan Xianmei, would personally emerge from seclusion and hasten to Qingzhou City.

However, for several days, there was no progress on the whereabouts of Qi Miaoxuan and Wu An. The Mystic Maiden Palace found nothing, and Zhuo Qingfeng's side had no breakthroughs. Instead, another matter was spreading like wildfire throughout the martial arts world—

It was said that the Military Saint, Tie Zhu, had spent forty years forging an unparalleled divine blade named Gouchen. This blade, crafted from qilin scales, possessed infinite divine power, and whoever obtained it would be invincible.

After completing the divine blade, Tie Zhu passed away, entrusting the blade in his final moments to Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, asking him to choose its master on his behalf.

"Divine blade? Choose its master?"

In the inn, Lin Qixia was recounting the current rumors about the Demonic Blade Gouchen to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong.

Gu Chudong looked bewildered and said, "It's clearly the Demonic Blade Gouchen, so how did it turn into the Divine Blade Gouchen? And what's all this about acting on behalf of Tie Zhu to choose a master for a divine weapon?"

Lin Qixia said, "It's obvious that someone is manipulating this behind the scenes. Their purpose is self-evident: they want to seize the Demonic Blade Gouchen."

Gu Chudong said, "But the Demonic Blade Gouchen is an inauspicious blade, and there's no intention to choose a master for it!"

Lin Qixia shook her head and said, "In the past few days, many people have arrived in this vicinity. Has Great Hero Gu noticed?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Lin Qixia said, "People in the martial arts world are quick to believe rumors. Few have the energy or effort to investigate the truth. Moreover, the news of a divine blade forged by the Military Saint throughout his life, combined with the promise of invincibility, will drive countless martial artists mad. Even if they know the information might be false, they'll come to try their luck. For those in the martial arts world, let alone invincibility, even just the phrase 'great improvement in martial arts' is enough to move them."

Gu Chudong frowned, "Then why don't the people behind this directly seize it? Spreading the news so widely isn't just increasing their own competitors?"

Lin Qixia chuckled, "Miss Gu, who in the martial arts world do you think would dare to openly seize something from Great Hero Gu? You might not know this yet, but Great Hero Gu is now ranked second on Yunzhou's Heavenly Ranking!"

"Huh?" Gu Chudong asked in surprise, "When did that happen?"

"Just these past few days," Lin Qixia said. "I only heard about it recently while running around Qingzhou City. It's said that the events in Cangshan Town of Lingnan were reported back to Yunzhou, leading to Great Hero Gu being listed as second on the Heavenly Ranking. After all, Great Hero Gu first single-handedly defeated the demonic grandmaster Ren Tianqi, then withstood heavenly lightning, and later slew both the changgui and Ren Tianqi. Coupled with his previous achievements, looking across Yunzhou, no one can compare to him except for Qi Tianshu, the Sect Master of Canglan Sword Sect. Of course, in Qingzhou, only Grandmaster Dingchan's achievements might be slightly stronger than Great Hero Gu's."

Gu Chudong exclaimed in delight, "Then, doesn't that mean my brother is now second in Yunzhou?"

"Not only that!" Lin Qixia said. "Because Great Hero Gu is a grandmaster of internal cultivation, and at such a young age, his skills have reached such a profound level. But everyone in the martial arts world knows that in internal cultivation, the older one gets, the more profound their power becomes. So, everyone believes that if Great Hero Gu is given another ten to eight years, he will likely become a strong contender for being the number one in the world."

Gu Chudong's face flushed with excitement.

At this moment, Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "There's nothing much to say about this. No one can predict the future. Let's discuss the immediate matter, Fairy Lin. Regarding the transformation of the Demonic Blade into a divine blade, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble your Mystic Maiden Palace to issue a refutation.

"You are aware of the matter with the Demonic Blade Gouchen. It's not a divine blade but a demonic one. If it were to circulate in the martial arts world, it would surely bring ruin to countless lives. If I hadn't encountered it, then so be it, but since I have, and this demonic blade is now in my hands, I naturally won't release it carelessly.

"Out of personal interest, this demonic blade is indeed remarkably powerful. If a way can be found to suppress its malevolent demonic energy, it will undoubtedly be a rare divine weapon in the world, and there's no reason for me to give it away for free. Out of public duty, if this blade falls into the martial arts world, it will surely cause widespread devastation and bloodshed. If I cannot find a way to suppress its malevolence, then I will find a way to destroy it and absolutely not allow it to circulate freely."

Lin Qixia nodded, cupped her hands, and said, "Whether this blade is divine or demonic, in my opinion, it is most suitable in Great Hero Gu's hands. First, it is widely known that the Great Hero of Yunzhou is a paragon of righteousness. Second, Great Hero Gu, you are a lone practitioner and do not belong to any faction. With the blade in your hands, it will not stir up disputes among martial arts sects. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support it being in your possession.

"My Grandmaster is already on her way to Qingzhou City. When she arrives and explains, this matter should be settled. However, the only problem now is that it will take some time for my Grandmaster to reach Qingzhou City, and I fear the manipulators behind this won't allow that time."

Gu Mo waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "It doesn't matter. Asking Grandmaster Yuxu of the Mystic Maiden Palace to refute the rumors is just my preference to avoid trouble; it doesn't mean I, Gu Mo, can't keep a blade. If there truly is someone manipulating this behind the scenes, then I'll meet force with force and adapt as necessary. Anyone who wants to come for the blade can, but they'll have to see if they're worthy."

After Lin Qixia left,

Gu Chudong could no longer suppress her excitement. She hugged Gu Mo's arm and joyfully exclaimed, "Brother, you're second in Yunzhou now! You must be the youngest grandmaster in the world, right? And many people think you'll become the number one in the world!"

Gu Mo smiled faintly and said, "Chudong, do you think this is a good thing?"

"Isn't it a good thing?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and asked, "I'm a bit curious. The martial arts world has always had a Heavenly Ranking, but I've never seen any faction issue a formal proclamation about it. How did this ranking list spread throughout the entire martial arts world? And who defined the rankings?"

Gu Chudong paused slightly, thought for a long while, and then said, "Brother, I haven't thought about that question. This Heavenly Ranking changes very little, and it's all spread by word of mouth in the martial arts world. If you really want to trace its origin, it might only be found in the martial arts black markets."

Gu Mo chuckled softly.

Gu Chudong asked in confusion, "Brother, is there a problem with that?"

Gu Mo laughed, "A huge problem. Since ancient times, in literature, there's no definite 'number one,' and in martial arts, there's no definite 'number two.' A list, seemingly simple, is a blatant open scheme. Who in the martial arts world isn't pursuing fame and fortune? But a Heavenly Ranking makes this pursuit tangible, and it has caused countless bloody conflicts. Those on the Heavenly Ranking must find ways to maintain their position, while those not on it will eye those who are, trying every possible means to get on the list.

"And those who are on the list, how could they be content with others riding over them? Even if they didn't care initially, with the whole martial arts world spreading rumors, hearing everywhere that 'so-and-so is not as good as so-and-so,' who wouldn't feel resentful? They are all masters; who would truly submit to whom?

"Take me for example. I consider myself to have a clear understanding of fame and fortune, but I am ultimately just a mortal, not a sage. If I were to hear every day that I'm inferior to Qi Tianshu, or that Qi Tianshu could easily defeat me—once or twice, I wouldn't care. But what about a thousand or two thousand times? I wouldn't care when I'm calm, but what if I'm already in a bad mood? Sooner or later, my defenses would break down, and I might inexplicably come to resent Qi Tianshu.

"Conversely, Sect Master Qi is the number one in Yunzhou, and his Canglan Sword Sect has gained immense glory and benefits because of his status. Would he worry that I might challenge and defeat him one day? Would he consider me an imaginary enemy? And another point: if being Yunzhou's number one brings countless benefits to his Canglan Sword Sect, wouldn't Sect Master Qi then aim to be the number one in Qian Kingdom? The number one in the world?"

Gu Chudong suddenly realized, "So, this ranking list, which seems glorious and famous, is actually designed to sow discord! Its intentions are despicable!"

Gu Mo said, "The most crucial thing is that many people see through it, yet they still eagerly pursue it."

"Why?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo chuckled, "Chudong, when you heard I became second on Yunzhou's Heavenly Ranking, were you happy? Did you feel honored to be associated with it?"

Gu Chudong quickly nodded, "Yes..." As soon as she spoke, Gu Chudong suddenly understood, "Because everyone's heart craves fame and fortune! So, even knowing the Heavenly Ranking's intentions are despicable, people still pursue and even maintain it! Who... who is behind this? Why would they do this?"

Gu Mo smiled faintly and slowly uttered the two words: "The imperial court."

Gu Chudong's eyes widened.

Gu Mo said, "So, in reality, being on the Heavenly Ranking isn't necessarily a good thing; it only attracts trouble. And for the imperial court, this fame-and-fortune ranking list can, to the greatest extent, make martial arts masters voluntarily reveal themselves for personal gain, allowing for more direct control over the martial arts world.

"Furthermore, while Six Doors suppresses the martial arts world, it also ensures that the martial arts world can never achieve true peace. There will always be conflicts, and thus, it can never coalesce into a unified force. It will always remain a scattered mess, posing no threat."

Gu Chudong's brows furrowed, and her mood instantly soured. She muttered, "Then, doesn't that mean you'll have a lot of trouble in the future, Brother!"

Gu Mo patted Gu Chudong's head and smiled, "These things are ultimately unavoidable. After all, I can't just pretend to have mediocre martial arts to avoid trouble, can I?"

The storm surrounding the "divine blade choosing its master" intensified in Qingzhou City. In just a few days, it surprisingly overshadowed the marriage of Blade Emperor Ye Jinglan to Nangong Yuexi, the eldest daughter of Divine Weapon Villa, one of the Ten Fairies of the Mystic Maiden Palace, and the foremost beauty of Qingzhou's martial arts world.

In recent days, more and more martial artists gathered towards the South City, continuously converging around the inn where Gu Mo was staying, making the area increasingly lively.

Early that morning,

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong went downstairs for breakfast as usual.

However, the atmosphere today was very low and oppressive. There were far more people in the inn than usual, almost to the point of overcrowding, with all tables occupied.

"Brother, there are no seats left," Gu Chudong said.

"Then let the waiter bring the food to our room."

With that, Gu Mo turned to go up the stairs.

Instantly, dozens of guests throughout the inn all uniformly looked towards Gu Mo, but no one spoke.

Finally, as Gu Mo was already ascending the stairs, someone couldn't hold back. A man stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "May I ask if you are indeed Great Hero Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou?"

Gu Mo continued upstairs, calmly saying, "What can I do for you?"

The man cupped his hands and said, "I am Wang Weiyang, leader of the Jinquan Gang. Humble as I am, I dare to ask Great Hero Gu on behalf of all the martial arts friends present: Is it true, as rumored in the martial arts world, that the Military Saint Tie Zhu spent forty years forging a divine blade named Gouchen, and entrusted it to you, Great Hero Gu, to choose its master on his behalf, just before his death?"

Gu Mo said flatly, "It's false. The blade is mine. All right, you can all disperse now. Also, please help me dispel the rumor when you leave. The Gouchen Blade was taken by me from a master of the evil path; it's my personal property. The rumors circulating in the martial arts world are deliberate fabrications."

Wang Weiyang was stunned on the spot.

Just then, a sarcastic voice suddenly came from within the inn: "I think it's you, Gu Mo, who wants to seize the divine blade out of greed, seeing wealth before your eyes. The Military Saint truly entrusted it to the wrong person!"

Gu Mo suddenly stopped, turned around, and said, "Who just said that?"

Inside the inn, everyone was silent; not a single person admitted it.

At this moment, Gu Chudong suddenly pointed to a middle-aged man in a gray robe at a corner table and said, "Brother, that bastard said it!"

Pointed out by Gu Chudong, the man knew he couldn't pretend any longer. He immediately stood up, stiffening his neck, and said, "So what if I said it? Everyone in the martial arts world knows that divine blade was entrusted to you by the Military Saint Tie Zhu to choose its master—"

Before the man could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a gust of wind, and then saw Gu Mo standing right in front of him. He instantly stumbled back, nearly falling, his entire body tensed, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He wanted to back down, but then he thought of so many people watching. If he caved in now, he'd be ridiculed whenever he left his home. So, he stiffened his resolve and said, "What? You, Gu Mo, Gu Mo, do you want to bully people just because your martial arts are strong? Do you, Gu Mo, dare to do something but not take responsibility? You..."