Chapter 231: Heaven's Will Four Symbols Technique

In Lin'hai City, within the prefectural yamen's backyard, Gu Chuwinter was crouching under the eaves, eating from a bowl. It wasn't that anyone was making things difficult for her or preventing her from eating at the table. Rather, she found eating alone boring, and since it was pouring rain outside, she went out to watch it.

It had been six or seven days since she returned from Yanluo County. In these past few days, she had distinctly felt the oppressive atmosphere in the Lin'hai Prefectural Yamen. Pei Yuanzhen, in particular, was so busy his feet barely touched the ground.

However, none of this concerned her much. She stayed in the courtyard every day, not going out. Besides practicing her blade, she would check on the large cocoon in the room, wondering if Gu Mo had emerged from it.

But there had been no movement.

Fortunately, despite being very busy, Pei Yuanzhen had handled the reward money for her. Although the bodies of the brute and Su Meiniang had been taken away, there were many Six Gates witnesses at the time. While the process was a bit troublesome, she could still claim the reward.

Therefore, Gu Chuwinter considered Pei Yuanzhen a good person. Her criterion for this evaluation, of course, was his ability to help her get money.

She knew that many martial artists, or "blade catchers," in the jianghu often worked in vain because they couldn't verify the identity of their targets without a body, thus being unable to claim rewards.

In fact, she was already quite wealthy, possessing tens of thousands of silver taels in cash, more liquid assets than most rich merchants. Yet, she still loved money. Her only unhappiness was that she couldn't share the joy of receiving the money with her brother.

The heavy rain continued.

Gu Chuwinter heard noisy footsteps outside the courtyard but paid them no mind. She had heard that a high-ranking official from the imperial court was arriving today. But what did that have to do with her?

Even if the Emperor himself came...

If it were the Emperor, she might still sneak a peek to satisfy her curiosity.

Gu Chuwinter quickly shoveled food into her mouth when she suddenly heard a female voice from outside: "Chuwinter, Chuwinter, Gu Chuwinter, Gu Chuwinter!"

Gu Chuwinter looked up blankly, hearing the chaotic footsteps outside approaching her. Soon, a young woman walked in, followed by a large group of people.

The young woman was none other than Princess Chengyang, Li Li, with whom she had spent a few days in the northern desert.

Li Li wore a long blue floral dress, with a maid holding an umbrella for her. She kept shouting "Gu Chuwinter" and, upon entering, saw Gu Chuwinter sitting on the doorstep, holding a basin in her left hand and a pair of... chopsticks in her right?

"Chuwinter!"

Ignoring the maid hurrying behind her, Li Li rushed towards Gu Chuwinter, covering ground quickly. She then noticed that the "basin" in Gu Chuwinter's hand actually contained food. With a surprised expression, she asked, "Is that a bowl?"

"Mhm!" Gu Chuwinter nodded.

"Wow, you're amazing!" Li Li's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Chuwinter, you're incredible! You're even amazing at eating. I want to learn, I want to learn!"

Gu Chuwinter swallowed her food and said, "You don't need to learn this. Just find a big basin and fill it with rice."

"Oh, I see!"

Li Li bent down, brushed the dust off the doorstep, and slowly sat beside Gu Chuwinter.

The maid beside them quickly said, "Princess, you cannot sit like that..."

Li Li pouted, rolled her eyes at the maid, and scooted closer to Gu Chuwinter. She grumbled, "Chuwinter, I've written you so many, many letters, yet you only replied once at the beginning of the year!"

Gu Chuwinter kept her head down, quickly shoveling food into her mouth, and said without looking up, "I haven't been home since I left at the beginning of the year, so I haven't received any of your letters."

"Oh, is that so? Then I'm not angry anymore!" Li Li said.

Gu Chuwinter mumbled, "Your anger wouldn't help anyway. Oh, right, why are you here?"

"I came specifically to find you," Li Li said. "Didn't your brother do something big recently? Now, everyone in the imperial court knows about a formidable person named Gu Mo who killed the Eastern Region Master."

"This incident has caused quite a stir. The imperial court has dispatched an inspection team to investigate, with Yang Yanqing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, as the chief officer, and Ye Jinglan, the Director of the Directorate of Arrests, as the deputy. This Ye Jinglan is a good friend of my second brother, and I learned from him that you were here, so I came with him."

Gu Chuwinter looked up, puzzled. "Ye Jinglan?"

"Hehe," Li Li grinned. "It's the Ye Jinglan you know. He told me that he and your brother are friends, and you even fought side by side in Qingzhou. Hmm, he got beaten pretty badly back then."

Gu Chuwinter looked doubtful. "Is he really that honest, to admit he got beaten?"

Li Li nodded. "He's very honest. He's been in the capital for less than a year and has offended who knows how many people, yet my second brother and Imperial Father both admire him greatly. Imperial Father has even promoted him exceptionally, again and again. In less than a year, he went from being an unofficial guest official to the Director of the Directorate of Arrests, a fifth-rank official."

"Wow, that's amazing!"

Gu Chuwinter didn't fully understand the hierarchy of officialdom, but having frequently interacted with Zhuo Qingfeng, she knew a little. Zhuo Qingfeng, with his profound background, still took twenty years to become a fourth-rank official, which was considered quite fast.

For Ye Jinglan to almost catch up to Zhuo Qingfeng in less than a year, and as a capital official, he must be incredibly capable.

"Hey, I heard your brother turned into an egg, is that true? Can you take me to see it?" Li Li asked eagerly.

Gu Chuwinter retorted irritably, "Your brother turned into an egg! That's a profound martial art. Never mind, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. I'm not showing you."

"Just let me see..."

"No."

"But I'm a princess!"

"Even a princess doesn't get to see. If I say no, it's no!"

Li Li pestered her for most of the day, but Gu Chuwinter still refused to let Li Li see Gu Mo in his cocoon state, making Li Li stamp her feet in frustration.

This left the maids and guards who had come with Li Li wide-eyed in astonishment.

They simply couldn't imagine that Princess Chengyang, usually the Emperor's most beloved, would not get angry after being refused. Instead, she tried to gain sympathy, only to be refused again.

Later that night,

After sending away Li Li, who shamelessly insisted on sleeping with her, Gu Chuwinter went to the innermost bedroom.

Gu Mo, in his cocoon form, was in this room, and she had been staying here for the past few days as well.

Just as Gu Chuwinter sat cross-legged, preparing to meditate, she suddenly heard a "thump-thump" heartbeat. She instantly opened her eyes with delight.

She saw the cocoon slowly receding, the silk wrapping it becoming thin and transparent like amber-colored congealed fat. It melted away inch by inch from the tip of the cocoon, like spring snow melting on glazed tiles.

This lasted for about half a *zhan cha*, and then all the silk disappeared. Gu Mo sat on the ground, still wearing the tattered clothes from his previous fight. However, all the injuries on his body were gone. His skin was already excellent due to his mastery of the Radiant Jade Art, but now it seemed even more delicate than before.

"Brother!" Gu Chuwinter exclaimed joyfully. "How do you feel?"

"Very good," Gu Mo replied.

"And your injuries?" Gu Chuwinter asked.

"Completely healed," Gu Mo said. "Not only are my injuries fully recovered, but my cultivation has also improved significantly."

Gu Chuwinter's eyes lit up. "That's amazing! Brother, what kind of martial art is this? I've never seen you use it before... Oh, I remember now, you used it once when fighting the Divine Armor of Supreme Void."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "This martial art is called the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art. It can heal injuries, detoxify, cure illnesses, and even regenerate severed meridians and diseased or necrotic internal organs."

"That powerful? Can I cultivate it?" Gu Chuwinter asked.

Gu Mo pondered for a moment and said, "After you master the Radiant Jade Art, I have another martial art prepared for you, one that surpasses the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art. As for the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art, the conditions for an ordinary person to cultivate it are too stringent."

In truth, the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art has excellent properties. Theoretically, as long as the body remains intact, one can even be brought back from the dead in specific circumstances. Most incredibly, each time one "dies" and is reborn, their cultivation greatly advances, continuously increasing their potential.

However, Gu Mo decided not to pass it on to Gu Chuwinter because, for ordinary people, the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art's cultivation difficulty is simply too demanding.

First, one's original cultivation must be dispersed or entirely absent. Second, one must have Heavenly Silkworm inner energy within their body, yet be unable to utilize it. Third, one must experience the brink of life and death without actually dying, and only by comprehending the space between life and death can one undergo a sudden transformation and master it.

Furthermore, even satisfying these three conditions does not guarantee success; it varies from person to person and from time to time, with no fixed method.

Although this martial art is excellent once successfully cultivated,

Gu Mo didn't believe it was worth Gu Chuwinter risking those harsh conditions.

His plan was for Gu Chuwinter to cultivate the *Taixuan Sutra* after mastering the Radiant Jade Art.

The *Taixuan Sutra*'s various miraculous effects are no less impressive than those of the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art. Moreover, it's extremely comprehensive, allowing one to reach a state of complete freedom, achieving anything desired, leaving no trace, and being irresistible upon mastery.

A crucial point is that the *Taixuan Sutra* cultivates non-attuned true qi, which will not conflict with any other true qi.

Gu Chuwinter doesn't have a system, but cultivating the *Taixuan Sutra* doesn't require considering harmonization issues, allowing her to possess two types of true qi simultaneously.

Of course,

It's not to say that the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art is bad.

The Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art is excellent. He personally experienced its wonders this time, finding it incredibly miraculous. Although he didn't undergo death and rebirth, it was purely the growth derived from breaking out of the cocoon.

This is why he stayed inside for so long; if it were merely for healing, he would have recovered much sooner.

The Nine Yang Divine Art, Radiant Jade Art, Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art, Innate Gang Qi, and *Taixuan Sutra* that he possessed all had powerful healing effects. Unless he was instantly killed, he wouldn't need so many days to recover.

This extended period was purely because he sensed no danger outside, so he hid inside to experience the profound effects of the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art.

However,

His injuries were indeed very severe.

Forcibly using the Limitless Reversion Qi came at a great cost. Due to the lack of transformation from the Little Formless Art and missing connecting points, the different true qis collided directly, causing them to clash during fusion. This nearly tore his body apart, severely damaging his meridians and internal organs.

This particular use also successfully made him realize that the six properties of the Limitless Reversion Qi were indeed indispensable. Missing even one would result in severe injury every time he used it thereafter. More critically, he couldn't unleash its full power; this time, for instance, he didn't even use fifty percent of its might, and he hadn't even integrated his strongest Innate Gang Qi.

"Brother, what martial art are you planning to teach me? Is it very powerful?" Gu Chuwinter asked.

Gu Mo nodded. "The *Taixuan Sutra* is a comprehensive martial art that combines internal cultivation, sword techniques, palm techniques, and lightness skill. Upon mastery, one can even achieve aerial movement, and their realm will reach a level of complete freedom and accomplishment."

Gu Chuwinter's eyes lit up. "Aerial movement, like when you floated in the air during your fight with the Grand Steward at Copper Box Post?"

Gu Mo nodded. "More or less!"

He could only say "more or less" because while the *Taixuan Sutra* allows for aerial movement, relying solely on it wouldn't enable him to reach that level.

"That's incredible!" Gu Chuwinter gave a thumbs-up. "Brother, that's like a legendary immortal!"

Gu Mo smiled faintly, slowly stood up, and patted his tattered clothes. "First, find me a set of clothes to change into."

"Alright!"

Gu Chuwinter quickly took out a set of clothes from her large book chest.

Gu Mo frowned slightly. "Chuwinter, next time, don't buy me gray clothes. They're not good-looking and they make me look old."

"Hehe!"

Gu Chuwinter grinned and then left the room.

A short while later,

Gu Mo came out, dressed in fresh clothes, while Gu Chuwinter ran to the kitchen to get some food.

"Brother, Ye Jinglan came," Gu Chuwinter said. "I just found out he actually became an official."

"I know," Gu Mo said while eating. "Although I've been in the cocoon these past few days, my consciousness was clear. I heard everything you said to Li Li outside earlier."

Because Gu Mo wasn't brought back from the dead; he was merely exploring the wonders of the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art, which is why he remained in the cocoon. Thus, he had been fully conscious throughout.

In these days, he had also claimed the Eight Notes of the Heavenly Dragon from his system.

The Eight Notes of the Heavenly Dragon is a soundwave cultivation method.

By itself, it isn't particularly powerful. However, when used in conjunction with the Heavenly Demon Zither, it can unleash the zither's full potential, instantly becoming incredibly formidable. Its soundwaves can even manipulate human emotions and desires, possessing eight effects: stick, kill, seize, capture, pull, drag, spin, and hammer.

However,

Gu Mo had not yet claimed the Heavenly Demon Zither.

There was no immediate need for it, so he left it in the system.

The system had a feature where rewards, whether items or martial arts, would remain stored indefinitely if not claimed.

In the room,

Gu Chuwinter went to get another set of bowls and chopsticks and started eating. She had already had dinner and was preparing to rest, but seeing Gu Mo eat, she felt obliged to join him so he wouldn't be lonely. So, she ate very quickly.

While eating, Gu Chuwinter asked, "Brother, after we collect the bounty in a couple of days, shall we return to Yunzhou?"

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "We can make a trip to Dragon-Tiger Mountain. You forgot, Prefect Pei promised to find a way for you to visit the Ascension Platform for enlightenment. Your Radiant Jade Art is currently at the peak of the eighth level, and you lack such an opportunity to aid your enlightenment."

For most people, cultivating the Radiant Jade Art is extremely difficult. However, with Gu Mo, a Grandmaster, teaching her hands-on every day, Gu Chuwinter's progress was incredibly fast. Moreover, as Gu Mo's martial arts realm deepened, his previous belief that he couldn't guide her beyond the seventh level of the Radiant Jade Art was broken. The reason he couldn't guide shortcuts before was simply because his own realm wasn't high enough then.

Therefore, in less than a year, Gu Chuwinter went from just breaking through the eighth level to being a mere step away from complete mastery. Her cultivation accumulation had long been sufficient; not only had Gu Mo continuously guided her true qi, but she had also been consuming spiritual elixirs and miraculous medicines like candy at the Pure Yang Temple recently, causing her internal energy accumulation to almost overflow.

The Ascension Platform of Dragon-Tiger Mountain is a renowned treasure land. Legend has it that immortals ascended there, leaving behind their essence. Later, successive sages of Dragon-Tiger Mountain would go there for enlightenment. It is said that the true immortals of Dragon-Tiger Mountain all ascended from that very spot, leaving behind endless Daoist resonance, which gradually made it a sacred place of enlightenment revered by martial artists across the land.

As for what it was actually like, Gu Mo wasn't sure, but he surmised there must be some special spiritual heavenly material or earthly treasure that could help people enter an enlightenment state.

"Alright then!"

Gu Chuwinter nodded and continued to focus on her meal.

Soon, the meal concluded. It was mostly Gu Chuwinter eating, as Gu Mo had little appetite for the cold food. Moreover, ever since Gu Mo's internal energy reached the profound level, although he hadn't achieved full *biguan* yet, his need for food was indeed almost nonexistent.

After finishing, Gu Chuwinter gathered the bowls and chopsticks, intending to take them back to the prefectural yamen's kitchen. Just as she reached the doorway, a jolt, like an electric current, seemed to surge through her mind. She trembled, quickly turned around, and stared at Gu Mo.

At that moment, in the dim room,

Gu Mo was sitting on a stool, a gentle smile on his face.

Gu Chuwinter slowly walked back, approaching Gu Mo. She slowly raised her hand, trembling slightly, and gently touched Gu Mo's cheek.

Today, Gu Mo's eyes were not covered by the black cloth.

Although Gu Mo had often gone without the black cloth over the past few months, Gu Chuwinter had already grown accustomed to it.

Yet at this moment, her voice trembled as she asked, "Brother... your... your eyes... you can see... right...? Otherwise... how... how would you know the clothes were gray?"

Gu Chuwinter's slender body trembled.

Gu Mo reached out and gently wiped away the tears from Gu Chuwinter's eyes. He didn't answer directly, but said, "Chuwinter, when one's cultivation reaches a certain depth, colors can also be perceived."

Gu Chuwinter said in a low, shaking voice, "No, no, Brother... you just said the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art can regenerate internal organs, so... your eyes... Brother, have your eyes been healed for a long time?!"

Gu Mo chuckled softly and said, "Chuwinter, the jianghu is vast. When you travel it in the future, never easily believe any enemy's publicly known weaknesses. Perhaps it's just not time for them to abandon those weaknesses. Just like me, it simply hasn't been time for me to open my eyes."

Gu Chuwinter quickly asked, "Then when will it be?"

Gu Mo took out a black cloth and slowly covered his eyes again, smiling as he said, "The moment I open my eyes should be the moment I become the strongest under heaven!"

The next day, early in the morning, just as dawn broke, Princess Chengyang, Li Li, came running. When she saw Gu Mo, she immediately became very excited.

Her excitement wasn't because Gu Mo had recovered, but because she could now take Gu Chuwinter out shopping.

Gu Chuwinter wasn't particularly keen on shopping, but she couldn't resist Li Li's persistent nagging. Moreover, Gu Mo also felt that Gu Chuwinter should go out and relax, as she had been cooped up in the small courtyard for several days. So, in the end, Gu Chuwinter went out with Li Li.

Gu Mo, of course, had no interest in going shopping with two girls.

Besides that, he was still pondering his battle with the Grand Steward that day.

It was his first true engagement with a Qi practitioner, and he deeply felt their uniqueness. They were indeed worthy of being called the most mysterious and rare group of martial artists in the world.

After that battle, Gu Mo also gained some understanding of Qi practitioners.

Overall, it bore a striking resemblance to the "unity of heaven and man" realm sought by martial artists who practice conventional internal and external arts, as well as those who focus on martial true intent.

However, the "unity of heaven and man" pursued by ordinary martial artists is generally a realm attained at a specific stage. For example, a sword Dao practitioner, upon reaching a certain realm, would gain insights that merge them with nature.

What's different about Qi practitioners is that from the very beginning, their pursuit is to discover natural laws and harness them, along with the greater forces.

There was no distinction of superiority or inferiority.

It was simply a matter of different approaches in comparison. Conventional internal and external arts focused on stability and had a low entry barrier, while martial true intent emphasized strong explosive power and had a relatively high entry barrier. Qi practitioners, on the other hand, focused on profundity and had an extremely high entry barrier.

Each had its strengths and weaknesses, leading to different paths of attainment: one focused on cultivating the body, another on cultivating the mind, and yet another on cultivating destiny.

As Gu Mo continuously replayed the battle in his mind,

Footsteps approached from outside the door, and someone called out, "Brother Gu, I am Ye Jinglan, here to pay my respects."

Gu Mo immediately got up, opened the door, walked towards the courtyard, and cupped his hands in greeting, "Brother Ye, it's been a long time!"

Ye Jinglan entered, cupped his hands towards Gu Mo, and said, "The last time we met was in Old Master Qi Miaoxuan's Spring God Valley. It's been over a year since then. However, I've often heard news of you, Brother Gu. You are now famous throughout the land."

"Brother Ye, please don't tease me."

The two chatted as they went inside to drink tea.

In truth, they hadn't spent much time together, but they had once fought side by side in Qingzhou. In that battle, they faced Lu Canyang, who was almost a demon. Both of them were beaten so badly they lost their temper, and Gu Mo could even be considered Ye Jinglan's lifesaver.

Thus, when they later met in Spring God Valley, they conversed happily and discussed the Dao for several days. So, despite not having spent much time together, they were quite familiar with each other, with no sense of awkwardness.

The two sat and talked for a long time, their conversation ranging from Lu Canyang to Old Madam Lin, and then to the Grand Steward. Finally, Gu Mo steered the conversation to Ye Jinglan, asking, "Brother Ye, what made you decide to become an official?"

Ye Jinglan smiled and said, "The matters concerning the Mystic Maiden Palace and Lu Canyang's schemes... Honestly, I grew a bit disheartened, and I truly didn't know how to face the heroine Lin Qixia."

"Back when we met in Spring God Valley, the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance had already been established, and I let my junior brother Chu Tianqing become the Alliance Leader. Even then, I had thoughts of leaving Qingzhou. Later, after staying in Spring God Valley for a long time, Old Master Qi Miaoxuan introduced me to the Second Prince..."

At this point, Ye Jinglan paused and said, "Speaking of which, Brother Gu, you are somewhat connected to this matter. Back in the northern desert, it was you who saved the Second Prince."

Gu Mo chuckled softly. "It was merely a coincidence; it can't be considered saving or not saving."

Ye Jinglan said, "At that time, Old Master Qi was invited to treat the Second Prince's injuries, and he felt the Second Prince was quite good, possessing the demeanor of a wise ruler. Coincidentally, I was staying at his Spring God Valley, eating and drinking for free with nowhere to go, so he recommended me. After observing him for a period, I indeed felt the Second Prince was decent, so I pledged my allegiance to him."

Gu Mo said, "This is also a grand path to success. I wish you, Brother Ye, a smooth ascent in your career!"

Ye Jinglan smiled and said, "It's completely different from the jianghu. When I was part of the jianghu, I was in my element, but now I'm met with obstacles everywhere. My original intention was to join the military. However, when the Second Prince—now the Prince of Jin—introduced me to the Emperor, I don't know what the Emperor was thinking, but he assigned me to the Ministry of Justice."

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "Although I don't know the situation in the imperial court, I've had contact with the Prince of Jin before. He was a hostage for ten years, far from the capital, the center of power. Now that he's returned, whether actively or passively, he will be involved in the struggle for succession. He has no one on his side, and it's rare to have a talent like you, Brother Ye. Staying in the capital would help the Prince of Jin far more than joining the army. For now, the next year or two seem relatively peaceful, and opportunities for promotion in the military are few."

Ye Jinglan nodded. "We considered that aspect too, but the Emperor's true intentions aren't important. Since I chose to enter officialdom, I will obey imperial decrees."

"Some time ago, arrangements were made for me to come to Lin'hai Commandery. I heard you were here then and planned to visit, but before I even departed, I learned you had caused a major incident here. This matter is no longer confined to the jianghu, Brother Gu. You've now reached the Emperor's ears; His Majesty knows about you."

Gu Mo waved his hand slightly. "I'm not an official, so the Emperor knowing me means nothing to me... Hmm, Brother Ye, you're not trying to recruit me for the Prince of Jin, are you?"

"No, no, Brother Gu, please don't misunderstand," Ye Jinglan quickly said. "Back in the northern desert, the Prince of Jin knew you had no interest in officialdom and had no expectations of recruiting you. Later, after learning that you and I were acquainted and friends, he inquired about you multiple times. However, I also know that you, Brother Gu, are straightforward and uninhibited, uninterested in court life, and cannot endure rigid restrictions. I made it clear to the Prince of Jin that I would not act as an advocate!"

Gu Mo nodded. "I truly have no interest in the imperial court. However, I do enjoy catching wanted criminals. If you have any need in that regard, Brother Ye, you can always seek me out."

"Don't say it, but don't say it!" Ye Jinglan grinned. "I actually do have a major case that I'd like your help with, Brother Gu. But before that, let me give you a specific piece of intelligence, regarding the Bloodhand Zither Master."

"Elaborate," Gu Mo said.

Ye Jinglan said, "To be frank, Brother Gu, I wanted to find you half a year ago. Back then, soon after joining the Ministry of Justice, I encountered a major case. To be precise, it wasn't that I encountered it, but rather a long-standing case that had been unresolved in the Ministry of Justice for over ten years. The Emperor had decreed that whoever could solve this case would be promoted three ranks."

Gu Mo was surprised. "Over ten years? And the culprit hasn't been found?"

Ye Jinglan shook his head. "No, the culprit has always been identified."

"Then why is it still an unsolved case?" Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

Ye Jinglan said gravely, "Because the culprit isn't human; it's a demon."

Gu Mo was full of doubt. "A demon? The kind of demon, ghost, or monster I'm thinking of?"

Ye Jinglan nodded. "This matter is known to almost everyone in the capital as the 'Human-Faced Demonic Beast Case.' This Human-Faced Demonic Beast is a very strange fierce beast. According to rumors, it has the body of a tiger with nine tails, a human face, and a liking for eating people. Since its appearance over ten years ago, cases of the Human-Faced Demonic Beast devouring people have frequently occurred in the capital. Over these years, thousands of people have been eaten by it, and each appearance causes widespread panic."

"This case has been open in the Ministry of Justice for over ten years. From initially only offering gold and silver rewards, it now offers official ranks. Yet, to this day, no one has been able to solve it."

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "You said this Human-Faced Demonic Beast is in the capital?"

Ye Jinglan chuckled faintly. "I know you're thinking, Brother Gu, with so many experts in the capital, and even a top master like Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoji, how could a fierce beast run rampant, right?"

Gu Mo nodded. "Surely, all those court experts combined aren't unable to defeat it?"

Ye Jinglan chuckled softly. "How could that be? It's not that they couldn't defeat it. A few years ago, the Boatman, one of the twelve commanders of the Night Division, fought the Human-Faced Demonic Beast, but the beast escaped."

"Because there are drainage tunnels beneath the capital, vast and deep, which have expanded over hundreds of years. They are now a labyrinth of intersecting passages, like the tangled roots of an ancient tree, and the entrances are very... The Human-Faced Demonic Beast emerges from there and hides back inside after each attack, making it impossible to find."

"Can people enter those underground tunnels?" Gu Mo asked.

Ye Jinglan nodded. "The legendary 'Ghost City' is down there. The underground drainage tunnels are deep and vast, and people can live inside them. Many desperate criminals hide there, engaging in various illicit activities such as trafficking women and children, manufacturing forbidden drugs, and so on. Many villains also flee there after committing murder and arson. Hence, it's called 'Ghost City,' symbolizing a netherworld where one is free from human laws and unbound."

Gu Mo asked, "The imperial court can't deal with it?"

Ye Jinglan shook his head. "It's very difficult to deal with; there are five major challenges. First, the suspects have long resided there and are very familiar with the terrain, knowing the 'if the enemy comes, I run; if the enemy retreats, I return' strategy. Officials simply cannot find them."

"The second challenge is that the capital is directly above. There's a fear that these criminals might resort to desperate measures and use explosives. If a collapse occurs, the capital would suffer immense losses, leading to unknown chaos, and the subsequent restoration of the drainage tunnels would be costly in terms of both labor and resources."

"The third challenge is that besides the drainage tunnels, there are also ancient city ruins from a thousand years ago underground, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty. The fourth challenge is that while there are many criminals in Ghost City, there are even more homeless and impoverished common folk. To some extent, they are hostages of the suspects, and the authorities are hesitant to act too forcefully for fear of collateral damage."

"The fifth challenge is, if a successful crackdown occurs, how should the common folk inside be dealt with? So many people suddenly appearing, and the imperial court being unable or unwilling to manage their daily needs, would lead to an even greater public security crisis."

After speaking, Ye Jinglan sighed and said, "So, the imperial court can only let it be. Of course, there's also a primary reason: the main gangs in Ghost City are quite sensible; they haven't grown arrogant enough to offend powerful figures they can't afford to provoke."

Gu Mo chuckled softly. "So, the lives of ordinary people don't count?"

Ye Jinglan shrugged helplessly. "Brother Gu, do you believe in the phrase 'all people are equal'?"

"No," Gu Mo said. "Never mind, I don't have the ability to change it either. Let's get back to the Human-Faced Demonic Beast!"

Ye Jinglan said, "That Human-Faced Demonic Beast doesn't just wreak havoc above ground; it also does so in the underground Ghost City. However, Ghost City is far too complex, and the Human-Faced Demonic Beast is incredibly fierce and fast. Most importantly, it can both crawl on land and swim in water. Every time it's surrounded, it escapes, and even if pursued into Ghost City, there's nothing that can be done, as it hides in the subterranean rivers."

Gu Mo chuckled softly. "No, Brother Ye, if what you say is true, even the imperial court is helpless against that Human-Faced Demonic Beast. Do you really think I'm stronger than the imperial court?"

Ye Jinglan chuckled, "I won't speak about other matters, but when it comes to apprehending and eliminating wanted criminals, who doesn't know that you, Brother Gu, are more or less associated with some metaphysical abilities? If the imperial court can't catch it, you, Brother Gu, definitely can!"

Gu Mo asked in surprise, "That Human-Faced Demonic Beast is also a wanted criminal?"

Ye Jinglan said, "The Ministry of Justice also designated it a top-tier wanted criminal, on the same level as the Grand Steward of the Seven Absolutes Tower, with a bounty of ten thousand taels."

Just then,

A system notification sound echoed in Gu Mo's mind:

"New target detected."

"Wanted Target: Human-Faced Demonic Beast."

"Mission Level: Six-star."

"Mission Reward: Max-level Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art."

Upon hearing the system's prompt and seeing the reward, Gu Mo suddenly felt a pang of regret. If he had obtained the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art before battling the Grand Steward, that fight would have been far more spectacular.

The Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art shared many similarities with the Grand Steward's Seven Abyssal Slaying Ode of Desolation. However, the Seven Slaying Ode utilized seven natural forces, while the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art only had four.

Both the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art and the Innate Gang Qi originated from *Magic Blade, Life and Death Chess* and were martial arts of the same caliber. It comprised four forms: Wrath of the Wind God, Wrath of the Fire God, Wrath of the Thunder God, and Wrath of the Lightning God, each corresponding to the natural forces of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, representing different cultivation realms.

A cultivator needed to be free of distractions and also possess the mental cultivation method from the authentic *Illusory Limitless*. When cultivated to its extreme, the four symbols could merge, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth to achieve a perfect state of integrated offense and defense.

Gu Mo was curious whether the fusion of four symbols was more powerful or the fusion of seven slayings.

But thinking about it carefully,

The question of who was stronger might still depend on the user!

Ye Jinglan watched Gu Mo lost in thought and asked doubtfully, "Brother Gu, are you not interested? If you're not, it's fine. This matter is primarily for my own pursuit of fame and fortune. If you're not interested or it's inconvenient, please don't take it to heart."

Gu Mo smiled slightly. "Brother Ye and I hit it off immediately, and capturing wanted criminals is already my intention. Since you've invited me, I naturally won't refuse. Hmm, but Brother Ye, you mentioned the Bloodhand Zither Master earlier? What's his connection to this Human-Faced Demonic Beast?"

Ye Jinglan said, "To be frank, Brother Gu, I wanted to find you half a year ago. Back then, soon after joining the Ministry of Justice, I encountered a major case. To be precise, it wasn't that I encountered it, but rather a long-standing case that had been unresolved in the Ministry of Justice for over ten years. The Emperor had decreed that whoever could solve this case would be promoted three ranks."

"Coincidentally, not long after, I heard that you, Brother Gu, were specifically seeking a few wanted criminals, so I immediately started searching. However, your speed was truly astonishing; before long, only the Bloodhand Zither Master remained on your list."

"Through the Ministry of Justice, analyzing various clues, I actually managed to find the whereabouts of the Bloodhand Zither Master. Coincidentally, this person is right here in the capital."

"That coincidental?" Gu Mo was surprised.

Ye Jinglan nodded. "It is indeed that coincidental. I can confirm, it is definitely the Bloodhand Zither Master, Shang Wugui!"