Chapter 208: Inner Power Returning Method

The New Year period seemed to fly by; the festive atmosphere disappeared within a few days, though it was hard to define exactly what that "festive atmosphere" was.

Gu Chudong indulged herself for two days after New Year's Eve, not seriously practicing martial arts. However, she resumed her normal training from the fourth day of the New Year because Qu Xiao had gone to visit relatives with her parents.

While Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were here, besides Qu Heng's family, they only exchanged gifts and visited Chu Yuan. Both of these visits were completed by the second and third day of the New Year. The only other visitor was the leader of the Great Blade Gang, who had originally helped Gu Mo find this courtyard.

Therefore, Gu Chudong began her training on the fourth day of the New Year.

It wasn't until the tenth day of the first lunar month that Tang Buyi, who had returned to Zhushan County for the New Year, came back.

In the Gu family's courtyard, Gu Chudong was practicing her blade techniques, while Gu Mo sat on a nearby chair, carving a wooden sculpture with a small knife.

Tang Buyi placed the gifts he was carrying on a table, then found a chair and reclined in it. He said, "I admire Sister Chudong's martial arts skills, but I don't like the effort she puts in. So, Brother Gu, is there any way for me to become a master without needing to train diligently?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

"There really is?" Tang Buyi exclaimed in surprise. "Brother Gu, tell me quickly!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "When you sleep, put your pillow higher. You'll have everything you want in your dreams."

Tang Buyi was speechless.

"Aren't there many legends in the martial arts world?" Tang Buyi continued. "Some people accidentally eat a fruit and become unparalleled masters overnight, and others inexplicably receive enlightenment from senior experts. Is there no such opportunity for me?"

Gu Mo teased, "Why don't you go ask those martial arts masters? See if anyone knows the method of imparting profound knowledge and is willing to transfer their entire cultivation to you."

"I'm afraid I'd be beaten to death," Tang Buyi replied.

Gu Mo smiled faintly and asked, "Did you discuss your marriage this trip? Didn't you find a girl you liked on a blind date last year?"

"We did," Tang Buyi said with a hint of melancholy. "But the girl is still in mourning, and it will be another year. If I want to get married, I'll have to wait until next year."

"You weren't in a hurry before, were you? Why does it sound like you're anxious now?" Gu Mo inquired.

"I was ignorant back then," Tang Buyi explained. "Now that I've ventured out to build my own career, I understand how difficult things are for my father. I'm the young master of the Tang family, and I'm not getting any younger. If I delay marriage and having children, it will cause unrest among our subordinates and be detrimental to the family's development."

Gu Mo nodded and said, "You've become much more mature now."

Tang Buyi gave a wry smile and asked, "By the way, when are we heading to the Canglan Sword Sect?"

"Anytime," Gu Mo replied. "I'd like to get there early."

Gu Mo had two reasons for wanting to go to the Canglan Sword Sect early. First, Shen Bai was his friend, and arriving early would show his respect. Second, he wanted to consult with senior masters like Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun at the Canglan Sword Sect, hoping to gain inspiration and find a way to fuse the five types of true qi within him.

"Alright then, let's depart tomorrow!" Tang Buyi said. He pondered for a moment, then added, "Speaking of which, my father is also going, hehe. He's representing the Tang family, and I'm representing the Changfeng Escort Agency. Tell me, if seats are arranged there, is there any chance that I, Tang Buyi, the Timely Rain of Linjiang, could be ranked ahead of my father? Hahaha, what kind of expression do you think my father would have if that really happened?"

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "I don't know what expression your father would have, but if your seat truly is ahead of his, you'd better not gloat, because you definitely can't beat your father."

Tang Buyi's face instantly stiffened, filled with embarrassment. He glanced around, then changed the subject to cover his awkwardness, pointing at Gu Chudong and asking, "What's wrong? Is Sister Chudong obsessed? I've been here for so long today, and she hasn't even looked at me once!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "She's training very seriously!"

"That serious?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "This is the state of being completely absorbed, forgetting oneself and everything else. When she does anything, she can focus intensely. To those who don't understand, it might seem like she's foolish or dazed, but those who know realize that this level of concentration is true talent."

The next morning, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong went to Qu Heng's house to greet him, then set off with Tang Buyi's entourage.

Tang Buyi was a wealthy second-generation heir. Although he had started his own business, he still couldn't shake the habit of prioritizing travel quality wherever he went. Therefore, he brought many people with him, most of whom were responsible for his daily care.

As a result, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong also benefited, enjoying their most comfortable journey yet. However, this also made their pace much slower than Gu Mo had anticipated, and they only reached the territory of the Canglan Sword Sect on the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

The very next day after their arrival in Canglan County, Shen Bai personally came to welcome Gu Mo to the Canglan Sword Sect.

The Canglan Sword Sect's main complex was located on Canglan Mountain in Canglan County, Yunjun. This Canglan Mountain was one of Yunzhou's three most remarkable mountains. Since Qi Tianshu founded the Canglan Sword Sect there, it had become the foremost mountain in Yunzhou.

Its peaks were steep and piercing the clouds, with cliffs rising thousands of feet high. Jagged, strange rocks resembled sharp swords thrusting into the sky. Winding mountain paths snaked through them, like ribbons entwined around emerald screens, making the terrain exceptionally perilous.

Along the way, Shen Bai personally acted as a guide, leading Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Tang Buyi to experience the scenery of Canglan Mountain. They passed famous landmarks like the "Jueyun Plank Road" and the "Sword Inquiry Cliff"—specially designated scenic spots of Canglan Mountain. After traversing several peaks, they finally reached the summit, arriving at the Canglan Sword Sect's mountain gate. It felt as if they were in the clouds, hundreds of feet above the ground, with snow still falling and a thick blanket of accumulated snow.

The Canglan Sword Sect exuded a grand aura. Its buildings, with their upturned eaves and intricate dougong brackets, were artfully arranged. Vermilion beams supported elaborately carved and painted structures, and stone railings wound around them, featuring exquisite carvings.

From a distance, Gu Chudong spotted Qi Tianshu and quickly told Gu Mo, "Brother, Sect Master Qi is up ahead."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. Not only Qi Tianshu, but he also sensed a person with exceptionally profound sword intent. The aura of swordsmanship emanating from this individual was of the same origin as Shen Bai's, but its power far surpassed Shen Bai's.

Gu Mo was almost certain that the person beside Qi Tianshu was Ye Liuyun, one of the Canglan Sword Sect's three Grandmasters, and also Shen Bai's master.

Just as Gu Mo had expected, Shen Bai quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands and bowing, "Greetings, Sect Master, Master."

Immediately, Shen Bai turned and introduced Gu Mo and the others. Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Tang Buyi quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Normally, when facing salutations from these young martial artists, Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun would simply nod in response. However, Gu Mo's situation was different. Although he was also young, his status in the martial arts world was that of a Grandmaster, on par with Qi Tianshu. The two of them naturally dared not casually accept his greetings and returned the bows with cupped hands.

After the introductions and salutations, Qi Tianshu instructed Shen Bai to entertain the guests well, and then Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun departed.

Tang Buyi and Gu Chudong both looked bewildered, unable to understand the meaning of Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun's actions; it felt as if they had merely come to say hello.

Gu Chudong quietly asked Shen Bai.

Shen Bai smiled faintly upon hearing her question and said, "You two, one is Brother Gu's friend, and the other is his biological sister. Naturally, traveling with Brother Gu, you've overlooked his identity as a Grandmaster. Given Brother Gu's status, his personal attendance at the wedding of a second-generation disciple of the Canglan Sword Sect is already a great honor, let alone arriving so far in advance. The fact that Brother Gu and I are friends is a separate matter. But once he arrived at the Canglan Sword Sect, if my master and the sect master hadn't personally come to greet him, it would have shown disrespect from the Canglan Sword Sect and slighted Grandmaster Gu."

Only then did Tang Buyi and Gu Chudong realize the full implications.

Meanwhile, in a large courtyard, Ye Liuyun walked side by side with Qi Tianshu.

Ye Liuyun sighed, "Senior Brother, before this, I had only heard his name but never seen him. I always felt that martial arts rumors might be exaggerated, after all, that Great Hero Gu is only in his early twenties. Seeing him today, I truly understand that such a genius actually exists in this world, reaching such a profound level of cultivation at such a young age."

"Can you sense how profound his internal energy is?" Qi Tianshu asked, intrigued.

Ye Liuyun shook his head. "I can't sense it at all, and it's precisely because I can't sense it at all that I know his cultivation has reached a profound and unfathomable level."

Qi Tianshu chuckled, "The crucial point is, as far as I know, his internal energy cultivation is not only profound, but his swordsmanship, palm techniques, blade skills, lightness qigong, and even hidden weapons are all incredibly strong. It's truly unbelievable. Rumors in the martial arts world say he has the potential to become the strongest in the world. But in my opinion, if he specializes in one path, he could surpass Su Qianqiu in just ten years."

Ye Liuyun said in surprise, "Senior Brother, Su Qianqiu is also a heaven-sent genius, a prodigy in every sense. His talent isn't necessarily weaker than Gu Mo's. He has cultivated for decades, and you actually believe Gu Mo could catch up to and surpass him in ten years?"

Qi Tianshu nodded slightly.

"Then where do you think he ranks in the world right now?" Ye Liuyun asked.

Qi Tianshu shook his head slightly. "He's still far from the top. On the Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, he could challenge anyone from fourth to ninth, and the odds of winning or losing would be about fifty-fifty. However, against the top three, he has no chance of victory. So, he definitely wouldn't make it into the top ten in the world."

"What about you, Senior Brother?" Ye Liuyun then asked.

Qi Tianshu thought for a moment and said, "It depends on whether it's a spar or a fight to the death. If it's a spar, like Gu Mo, I could try against anyone from fourth to tenth in the Qian Kingdom, with fifty-fifty odds. Against the top three, I'd have no chance. But if it's a fight to the death..."

"How so?" Ye Liuyun asked curiously.

"It would also be fifty-fifty against the top three."

Ye Liuyun said gravely, "Now that there are two Grandmasters from the Heavenly Ranking here, I truly wish to see you spar with Gu Mo – one a Grandmaster of internal energy, the other a Grandmaster of swordsmanship."

"Let's skip the spar," Qi Tianshu said. "He's a guest. However, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to discuss the Dao with such a Grandmaster. Last time we met in Dongping County, the timing wasn't right as I was busy suppressing the Moon Worship Cult. This time, I can't miss the chance again. For martial artists who are strangers, discussing the Dao with each other yields the greatest benefits."

The next morning, Shen Bai invited Gu Mo and the others to have a meal together.

After breakfast, Shang Buyu, who had been promoted to acting sect master and effectively taken full charge of the Canglan Sword Sect, rushed over to meet them. He repeatedly explained to Gu Mo that he had been busy handling Shen Bai's wedding preparations and therefore couldn't make time the previous day.

Shang Buyu was extremely polite and respectful towards Gu Mo. More accurately, the entire Canglan Sword Sect, despite being named one of the Qian Kingdom's top three sects and four factions, held an absurdly strong devotion to upholding the title of "Great Hero of Yunzhou." They had practically reached a point where everyone in the sect was a fervent admirer of Gu Mo.

After chatting with Shang Buyu for a while, he excused himself due to other engagements. Shen Bai, as the central figure of the Canglan Sword Sect's affairs, was naturally even busier; he departed after accompanying Gu Mo through the meal.

Just as Gu Mo was wondering about finding someone to take him to meet Qi Tianshu, Qi Tianshu unexpectedly sent someone to invite him instead. The person sent was also an old acquaintance: Elder Sang, known in the martial arts world as the "Smiling Arhat."

Gu Mo and Elder Sang chatted casually as they walked. In late spring, the cloud-cliff plank road held onto the last vestiges of twilight. Gu Mo stepped on the snow-laden stairs and suddenly saw a simple hut with bamboo beams emerging from deep within the clouds. Ice-shard wind chimes hung from the eaves, tinkling with the mountain breeze, like jade chimes left behind by immortals.

The moment the door opened, a warm fragrance filled the room. The floor was paved with smooth agarwood, and shimmering light peeked through the gaps—the entire hut was built on an amber-colored glazed lake. Beneath the icy surface, occasional silver scales swam by, rippling the clear light throughout the room.

Qi Tianshu sat on the side veranda, absorbed in contemplation, his fishing line passing through the ice directly to the lakebed. Old huadiao wine simmered in a stone stove, its aroma mingling with pine smoke, wafting upwards and staining his dark robes like flowing ink. Outside the window, snowflakes drifted down, landing on his temples. He remained motionless, as if asleep.

The snow fell silently, the icy lake remained still, and only the four characters "Cold Brings Moon-Boiling" on the wine flag were unfurled by the mountain wind into an eternal line of poetry.

Elder Sang stepped forward and whispered, "Master, Great Hero Gu has arrived."

Qi Tianshu suddenly awoke, slowly stood up and put on his shoes, asking as he did so, "Does Great Hero Gu enjoy fishing?"

"Can you fish in this weather?" Gu Mo asked.

"Yes," Qi Tianshu replied. "The fish in this cold pond are easier to catch in this weather; the colder it is, the more active they become."

"Then let's fish for a bit!" Gu Mo walked over and sat down on a chair.

"You should have said so earlier, Little Sang, go get a rod for Great Hero Gu," Qi Tianshu said, taking off the shoes he had just put on. With his hair disheveled and clothes askew, he reclined in his chair. "Outside, I always have to pretend to be an immortal-like, enlightened master. Only in my humble hut can I be uninhibited."

As Qi Tianshu spoke, he sat cross-legged and began picking at his foot. He continued, "I heard you enjoy drinking. I've got some aged huadiao wine simmering here for you; it's good stuff. My hands tend to pick at my feet, so you surely wouldn't like me pouring your wine. Pour it yourself, haha!"

Gu Mo chuckled faintly, not surprised by Qi Tianshu's appearance. People in the world were all like this: one way in front of others, and another in reality. Even a martial arts master like Qi Tianshu was no exception, as he represented the entire Canglan Sword Sect and certainly couldn't live according to his personal preferences in public.

However, despite understanding, Gu Mo still felt a bit speechless about Qi Tianshu's habit of picking at his foot. Nevertheless, seeing that the huadiao wine was indeed top-tier, he decided to simply ignore it.

Soon after, Elder Sang brought Gu Mo a fishing rod and thoughtfully helped him bait the hook.

Gu Mo took the rod, gave a gentle flick of his wrist, and the hook pierced through the ice, dropping into the lake.

Qi Tianshu slowly said, "Fishing, in essence, is also a form of cultivation, ultimately returning to the Great Dao."

Gu Mo took a sip of wine and chuckled, "All things in heaven and earth follow principles. A fish biting the hook is a principle, being caught by me is a principle, and my sitting here fishing is also a principle. To follow these principles is to achieve harmony between man and nature."

The two then began to discuss the Dao, using fishing as their starting point, exchanging ideas back and forth.

Elder Sang, seeing this, prepared to leave but was stopped by Qi Tianshu, who said, "If you leave, who will warm the wine, and who will pour it for me? Are we to ask Great Hero Gu to do it?"

Elder Sang understood perfectly well that Qi Tianshu was giving him an opportunity to listen to their discussion. However, he also worried about displeasing Gu Mo. After all, though it wasn't a formal teaching, merely listening to two Grandmasters discuss the Dao was a rare opportunity.

Gu Mo chuckled, "Sect Master Qi's hands are picking at his feet, and my hands are handling bait. Neither of us is suitable for warming or pouring wine. Elder Sang, we'll have to trouble you."

Elder Sang respectfully sat to the side, listening quietly.

However, Elder Sang never imagined that this discussion of the Dao would last for four days and three nights. Midway through, Ye Liuyun and Chen Shu, the Canglan Sword Sect's other two Grandmasters, also joined, making it a discussion among four Grandmasters.

It only ceased on the eve of Shen Bai's wedding. They had no choice but to stop, as Ye Liuyun was the groom's master, Qi Tianshu was the bride's father, Grandmaster Chen Shu was the marriage officiant, and Gu Mo was a close friend and honored guest of the groom.

All of them felt they hadn't had enough. As a Grandmaster of internal energy and a newly rising one, Gu Mo presented entirely fresh perspectives to Qi Tianshu and the other two. His various theories were unfamiliar, held significant depth for further exploration, and he was the most rare kind of Grandmaster – one who excelled in the path of internal energy.

Similarly, the martial arts philosophies of Qi Tianshu and the other two were also very new and unfamiliar to Gu Mo. Most importantly, these three were highly experienced and knowledgeable, providing immense help to him, especially regarding his current predicament of trying to fuse multiple internal energies. He had now completely found his direction.

His previous thinking had been too limited. He had been solely focused on how to fuse the five types of internal energy/true qi: Blazing Sun Internal Energy, Bright Jade True Qi, Nine Yang Internal Energy, Ice Cold True Qi, and Profound Void Internal Energy.

However, this time, discussing the Dao with Qi Tianshu and the others for several days had opened his mind. Although he currently possessed only five types of internal energy, it didn't mean he would always have only five. Even if he successfully fused these five now, there would be more in the future. He couldn't keep finding new ways to fuse every time a new internal energy appeared. He needed a permanent solution.

And during these days of discussion, the specific method gradually became clear.

The Dao De Jing states, "The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to all things." Conversely, all things are One; all things are inherently a whole.

Whether it's five types of internal energy, fifty, or five hundred, if viewed as a single entity, and a central point is identified, they would be like the moon in the sky, with the other various internal energies acting as stars, forming a system where numerous stars orbit the moon. This would allow the internal energies to be unified while retaining their individual characteristics.

Simply put, it was about utilizing the characteristics of various internal arts to form a "Return to Origin" system, much like Xiongba's Three-Point Return to Origin Qi. This system merged the distinct attributes of Heavenly Frost Fist, Cloud Dispelling Palm, and Wind God Leg into a seamlessly integrated energy system, capable of both compatibility and infinite circulation, unleashing incredibly powerful force.

What Gu Mo now aimed to create was a high-spec version, because Xiongba only had three types of internal energy, while he had five, and would acquire more in the future. Although for now, his combined internal energies might not surpass the Three-Point Return to Origin Qi, in the future, with perhaps fifty or a hundred types, he could easily overwhelm Xiongba.

Through these days of discussions, he gradually mapped out the framework for that Return to Origin system.

First, it required an internal art capable of harmonizing Yin-Yang clashes and Five Element conflicts, serving as the system's "harmonizer."Second, a technique that could simulate and transform various internal energies, allowing them to freely convert and merge, acting as a "converter."Third, a method to maintain multifaceted balance, requiring extremely precise and subtle control of internal energy to prevent true qi collisions from running wild, serving as a "stabilizer."Fourth, a protector capable of safeguarding or reshaping meridians during multifaceted conflicts, a "protector."Fifth, a power source for continuous replenishment of internal energy.Sixth, an ascension device that could merge various true qis into "attribute-less primal qi," breaking through the limitations of martial arts moves.

These six martial arts didn't need to be profoundly powerful; they only needed to possess the six required characteristics. As long as internal arts with these six properties were integrated, they could form a composite martial arts system foundationalized by attribute differentiation, centered on balance control, and culminating in dimensional ascension circulation, perfectly blending "internal energy philosophy" and "energy marvels." No matter how vast or profound the internal arts acquired later, they could all be integrated into this Return to Origin system, just like the Three-Point Return to Origin Qi, where Heavenly Frost Energy, Void Cloud Energy, and Divine Wind Energy, no matter how immense, could be unified.

For an ordinary person, creating such a Return to Origin system would be utterly impossible. But for Gu Mo, it was achievable.

Within the Blade-Catcher System, which encompassed everything, he simply needed to find six martial arts possessing the characteristics mentioned above.

After leaving Qi Tianshu's humble hut, Gu Mo continuously searched through the bounty information in his system. Because Gu Chudong would collect information on wanted criminals in her spare time, and Gu Mo's system would automatically record and rate any relevant wanted criminal information it detected, formulating rewards, with all rewards having system descriptions.

Currently, Gu Mo's system contained information on thousands of wanted criminals.

After a night of searching, Gu Mo finally found all the martial arts he needed.

For the first, the 'harmonizer,' he could use the Tai Chi Divine Skill. For the second, the 'converter,' he could use the Lesser Boundless Art. For the third, the 'stabilizer,' he could use the Four Illumination Divine Skill. For the fourth, the 'protector,' he could choose the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill. For the fifth, the 'power source,' he already had the Nine Yang Divine Skill and Bright Jade Skill, two endlessly regenerating internal arts. For the sixth, the 'ascension device,' he could choose the Great Profound Sutra.

The combination of these seven martial arts perfectly met Gu Mo's requirements to form a Return to Origin system. In the future, no matter how many types of internal energy he acquired, they could all be unified through this system. At the same time, it wouldn't affect individual usage; whenever needed, he could fuse all internal energies to unleash a super attack.

Upon returning to their courtyard, Gu Mo told Gu Chudong about the five wanted criminals he needed to capture and kill.

"Brother, I don't have much recollection of these wanted criminals you're talking about," Gu Chudong said, looking troubled after hearing him out. "I only remember Tie Mole, nicknamed Iron Corpse, who used to be active in Yunzhou, which is why I remember him. I have no impression of the others at all. I'll go back and look for them slowly!"

Gu Mo smiled faintly, not taking it too seriously.

It was perfectly normal for Gu Chudong not to remember. After all, she wasn't a prodigy with a photographic memory, and having seen thousands of wanted posters, it was impossible for her to recall all of them. Moreover, before this, Gu Chudong had primarily focused on wanted criminals in Yunzhou.

His reason for bringing it up was simply to give Gu Chudong an impression.

"You don't need to go looking," Gu Mo said. "There are so many wanted criminals; you can't possibly remember all of them. Professional matters should still be handled by professionals."

"Brother, are you planning to join another Wind Chaser Tower?" Gu Chudong quickly asked.

"No," Gu Mo replied. "I won't join a Wind Chaser Tower, but I can cooperate with them. There's no need for me to join, as it would actually impose restrictions on me."

"That's true," Gu Chudong said. "Although joining a specific Wind Chaser Tower might provide preferential information, given your current reputation, Brother, there's absolutely no need. Without joining, you can cooperate with any Wind Chaser Tower in your personal capacity. While you might not get first-hand intelligence, you can integrate information!"

Gu Mo nodded and said, "That's exactly the point."

Gu Chudong quickly added, "Brother, for Big Brother Shen Bai's wedding, all sects and factions from Yunzhou will send representatives to observe the ceremony. Those big Wind Chaser Towers will definitely come with congratulatory gifts. You can inquire about information from them and split the profits!"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

The next day, the twenty-fifth of the first lunar month, the Canglan Sword Sect was filled with the sound of gongs and drums, bustling with people, and exceptionally lively. A continuous stream of guests arrived to offer congratulations. Essentially, all influential forces in Yunzhou had sent representatives, and many sects even had their sect masters personally attend.

It wasn't that Shen Bai commanded such respect, but rather Qi Tianshu, because today was not only Shen Bai's wedding but also Qi Tianshu giving his daughter in marriage.

People came and went at the mountain gate of the Canglan Sword Sect.

As a Grandmaster, Gu Mo was naturally seated in the VIP section. Representatives from various martial arts factions came forward to greet him, many of them familiar faces. After all, during the battle between righteous and demonic forces in Dongping County last year, many of the top figures in Yunzhou's martial arts world had met Gu Mo, and quite a few had even been defeated by him.

In the past, being defeated by Gu Mo might have been considered humiliating. Thus, people would vigorously spread the name of the Great Hero of Yunzhou, attempting to cover up their embarrassment. However, as Gu Mo's reputation in the martial arts world grew, and he was now ranked among the Qian Kingdom's Ten Grandmasters, on par with Qi Tianshu, those who had previously been defeated by him no longer felt disgraced. Instead, they would boast, "Back at Fengming Crossing, I had a head-on clash with Gu Mo"—just that one sentence was enough for a lifetime of bragging.

Gu Mo, accompanied by Gu Chudong, also exchanged greetings and pleasantries with representatives from various factions. He then specifically met with the representatives of Dongyang Wind Chaser Tower, Fuwei Wind Chaser Tower, and Xinyi Hang Wind Chaser Tower. These three were the largest Wind Chaser Towers in Yunzhou, and they had all tried to recruit Gu Mo when his reputation first began to rise.

However, times had changed. Back then, they had the inclination to recruit Gu Mo, but now, a mere greeting from Gu Mo made the proprietors of the three Wind Chaser Towers tremble with trepidation. Upon learning that Gu Mo wanted to apprehend several wanted criminals, they quickly noted it down and pledged to help him investigate information on these targets, not even mentioning payment, treating it purely as an act of friendship.

Of course, Gu Mo wouldn't take advantage of them. He proposed paying market price, with the standard split being 70/30 between a gold-medal bounty hunter and the Wind Chaser Tower. However, given that he wasn't joining their organization, he would only take 60%, allowing an extra 10% profit to the Wind Chaser Tower that provided the information. Alternatively, he could simply purchase the intelligence, which was also a common revenue stream for Wind Chaser Towers.

The proprietors of all three Wind Chaser Towers readily agreed.

Subsequently, under Gu Chudong's guidance, Gu Mo met with representatives or sect masters from other factions who had come to offer their greetings.

By the end of the day, Gu Mo had gained quite a bit. Besides the Wind Chaser Towers, various major sects, upon learning that Gu Mo intended to apprehend several major wanted criminals, all expressed their willingness to mobilize their subordinate forces and channels to help gather information.

Shen Bai's wedding was a grand and lively affair. The continuous feasts on Canglan Mountain also lasted for seven days.

However, Tang Buyi had urgent matters at the Changfeng Escort Agency that required him to leave early. On the third day, he bid farewell to Shen Bai. Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, wanting to hitch a ride, also said their goodbyes to Shen Bai and departed with Tang Buyi.

Qi Tianshu and Ye Liuyun personally appeared to see Gu Mo off outside the mountain gate, which caused quite a stir on Canglan Mountain.

Canglan Mountain was very high, but fortunately, there was a main road leading directly to the mountain gate.

Gu Mo's group quickly descended the mountain by carriage. However, their journey was slow, and they only left Canglan County territory late in the afternoon on the second day.

Just as they reached a fork in the road, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Tang Buyi lifted the curtain and asked, "What's going on?"

A guard quickly replied, "Master, there are people blocking the road ahead. They're from the Flying Fish Gang."

Tang Buyi frowned. The Flying Fish Gang was the largest gang in Yunjun and one of Yunzhou's six major powers. Their official backing was particularly deep, as they had been deeply entrenched in Yuncheng, the capital city of Yunzhou, for many years.

Its leader, Elder Fourth Chang, was an unparalleled grand master in the martial arts world, second only to Yunzhou's Ten Grandmasters. He had dominated the martial arts world for decades, and his claw techniques could split gold and shatter stone. His influence and reputation far surpassed that of the Tang family, let alone the Changfeng Escort Agency.

Therefore, upon hearing that the Flying Fish Gang was blocking the road, Tang Buyi dared not be negligent. He quickly dismounted, worried about a misunderstanding.

As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he saw a large group of uniformly dressed Flying Fish Gang disciples blocking the way. Before Tang Buyi could even inquire, the Flying Fish Gang disciples parted, and an old man, walking with powerful strides like a dragon, emerged. It was precisely Elder Fourth Chang, the leader of the Flying Fish Gang.

Tang Buyi quickly stepped forward, preparing to salute, but Elder Fourth Chang preempted him with a hearty laugh, approaching and grasping Tang Buyi's arm. He said, "Boss Tang, I apologize for this abrupt obstruction. Please forgive us!"

Tang Buyi was surprised by Elder Fourth Chang's politeness and the fact that he knew him. He was immediately flattered and said, "Does Fourth Elder recognize this junior?"

Elder Fourth Chang replied, "Tang Buyi, the Timely Rain of Linjiang. There are probably very few people in Yunzhou's martial arts world who don't know you now."

At these words, Tang Buyi was greatly pleased. He couldn't help but straighten his back, wishing he could drag his father there immediately to show him what true fame was.

"Does Fourth Elder have any instructions for me?" Tang Buyi inquired.

Elder Fourth Chang cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask if Great Hero Gu is traveling with you?"

Although flattered by Elder Fourth Chang's compliments, Tang Buyi was no fool and wouldn't lose his bearings easily. He didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Does Fourth Elder need something from Brother Gu?"

Elder Fourth Chang quickly said, "A few days ago on Canglan Mountain, I heard Great Hero Gu mention he intended to apprehend some wanted criminals, one of whom was the Heavenly Secret Scholar, Ye Xiao. I happened to obtain a relevant clue, so I sent people to Canglan Mountain. Upon learning that Great Hero Gu had already descended, I pursued him here overnight."

"Fourth Elder,"

Just then, Gu Mo lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, saying, "You have news so quickly?"

Upon seeing Gu Mo appear, Elder Fourth Chang quickly cupped his hands and said, "At Great Hero Gu's command, how would I dare to delay? That very day, I sent word back to the gang, instructing my disciples to spare no effort in investigating the five wanted criminals you specified. Fortunately, we succeeded in obtaining information on the Heavenly Secret Scholar, Ye Xiao, and I rushed here immediately to inform Great Hero Gu without delay."

"Thank you for your trouble, Fourth Elder, I'm extremely grateful!" Gu Mo cupped his hands in thanks.

"What are you saying, Great Hero Gu?" Elder Fourth Chang replied. "Great Hero Gu is truly righteous, despising evil and dedicating himself to ridding the martial arts world of harm. While I, Chang Si, cannot compare to your chivalry, I am willing to contribute my humble efforts to eliminate scourges from the martial arts world! This Heavenly Secret Scholar is utterly wicked and deserves death!"

Gu Mo chuckled faintly. Although he knew Elder Fourth Chang was speaking in grand, polite platitudes, this was precisely the significance of the distinction between righteous and unrighteous paths in the martial arts world. No matter what, as long as they were from a renowned and righteous sect, they had to outwardly uphold justice and maintain basic principles, giving ordinary people some hope.

While it couldn't be excluded that some practitioners of the demonic path might also be upright and benevolent, most were unrestrained. They would kill whenever they wished, without any rules, leaving ordinary people with no hope or light. There would always be some 'neutral observers' in the martial arts world who criticized the righteous path as hypocritical and lauded the demonic path for its 'true nature.' Such observers were simply misguided.

"Where is this Ye Xiao located?" Gu Mo asked.

"Cangzhou," Elder Fourth Chang replied. "For the specific details, I must introduce you to someone: a wealthy merchant from Cangzhou. It was he who discovered the Heavenly Secret Scholar's whereabouts, and as this person happens to cooperate with our Flying Fish Gang, we managed to get the information. Is it convenient for Great Hero Gu to meet this person now?"

"Please," Gu Mo responded.

Gu Mo naturally wanted to meet him; he was determined to get his hands on this Heavenly Secret Scholar.

**Wanted Target – Heavenly Secret Scholar****Mission Level – Four Stars****Mission Reward – Max-level Four Illumination Divine Skill**

The Four Illumination Divine Skill is a top-tier Daoist internal art. Upon mastering it, one's cultivation reaches a level where they can transcend waves and void, capable of breaking any martial art in the world with every movement, achieving the realm of 'no moves triumphing over moves.' The speed of one's true qi circulation remains constant throughout their life. It is considered a pinnacle of internal arts alongside the Bright Jade Skill.

This martial art was precisely what Gu Mo had carefully selected to serve as the 'stabilizer' for the Return to Origin system he was building. When the Four Illumination Divine Skill operates, its internal energy is exceedingly pure and its speed remains constant, allowing it to maintain multifaceted balance with minimal loss. Its 'extremely precise and subtle' control prevents multiple true qi collisions from leading to internal energy rampages.

Soon after, led by several Flying Fish Gang disciples, a plump man of about thirty walked over. He was dressed very lavishly, adorned with gold and silver, and waddled comically as he walked. With a beaming smile, he cupped his hands and said, "Qian Duoduo of Datong Bank, greetings to Great Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, and Boss Tang!"

"A bank owner?" Tang Buyi exclaimed in surprise. "Then you must be very rich!"

"Just a little, just a little, merely small ventures," Qian Duoduo said, chuckling.

Gu Mo cupped his hands and asked, "Boss Qian, where is the Heavenly Secret Scholar?"

"Cangyuan City in Cangzhou," Qian Duoduo replied, cupping his hands. "Great Hero Gu, you simply don't know how brutal that fellow is! Just last year, in one month, he robbed my silver carts three times, killing dozens of my men. They were all unfortunate souls, alas, the pillars of their families. One death meant an entire family collapsing. Yet, the Six Gates could not solve the cases. I had no choice but to ask martial artists for help. But I hired several escort agencies to guard my silver carts, and they were all robbed. Now, no one dares to take my commissions. I then approached the Wind Chaser Tower to hire bounty hunters, but two gold-medal bounty hunters died, and no one from the Wind Chaser Tower would take the job anymore. I was utterly distraught until I heard that a Flying Fish Gang disciple was investigating the Heavenly Secret Scholar's whereabouts, and upon inquiring, I learned that you, Great Hero Gu, the world's foremost bounty hunter, were willing to take action. Great Hero Gu, as long as you can help me kill that Heavenly Secret Scholar, I am willing to pay ten thousand taels... no, I will directly give you a branch of Datong Bank!"

As Qian Duoduo had asked Elder Fourth Chang to vouch for him, Gu Mo wasn't worried about any deceit. Of course, more importantly, he was confident in his own strength and wasn't afraid of anyone trying to trick him.

"I can take the job, you can discuss the price with my sister, but let's be clear first: you must provide me with all information, as well as handle travel arrangements and official inspections," Gu Mo stated.

"Naturally, naturally!" Qian Duoduo responded.

P.S. Brothers, I'm starting to release longer chapters today, as mentioned yesterday. Although it's only one chapter, it's definitely more than what's expected for a single chapter. Also, this P.S. section is not charged for, as it doesn't meet the billing threshold.