Chapter 249: Killing Through Qianqiu Town

Gu Chudong added, "Besides, I don't get the impression that Master Liansheng is a competitive person. Why would he suddenly want to challenge Su Qianqiu?"

Su Ziyou chuckled, "That's easy to explain."

"Oh? How so?" Gu Mo asked.

Su Ziyou explained, "The Great Brightness Temple is the ancestral ground of Buddhism, similar in status to Dragon Tiger Mountain in our Qian Kingdom. However, there's a slight difference: the Confucian influence in Chu Kingdom is also immense, especially since Xiao Zhaolin ascended the throne and heavily favored Confucianism. Currently, Luoyang Academy, the representative of Confucianism, shows signs of surpassing the Great Brightness Temple. Last year, Buddhism was involved in some scandals, which infuriated Xiao Zhaolin and almost led to a campaign to suppress Buddhism. It was only after Master Liansheng personally met with Xiao Zhaolin in the palace that the situation was resolved."

Gu Mo nodded slightly, saying, "So, Master Liansheng's challenge to Su Qianqiu this time isn't his personal desire, but rather for the sake of Buddhism, possibly due to a condition he previously agreed upon with Xiao Zhaolin."

Su Ziyou nodded, "It's highly likely. Xiao Zhaolin has never hidden his ambition. His goal in supporting a puppet Jin Kingdom is simply to gain moral justification for annexing Jin. To annex Jin, Su Qianqiu is the biggest obstacle. The easiest way, naturally, is to find a formidable opponent with similar strength to defeat Su Qianqiu."

Gu Mo, however, shook his head and said, "Although I haven't met Su Qianqiu, I've heard the Old Heavenly Master mention him multiple times before, so I have some understanding of him. I don't know his exact strength, but in Master Liansheng's current condition, he likely has no chance of winning!"

Su Ziyou said, "If they had absolute confidence, they wouldn't resort to schemes to weaken Su Qianqiu from behind, like stealing the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage. Moreover, they surely have other contingencies."

Gu Mo nodded, not pursuing the topic further. Instead, he asked, "What have you found on your end?"

Su Ziyou replied, "It's likely the Autumn Cult is behind Wen Wangji. Following this lead, we might be able to uncover the identity of the Autumn Cult Master..."

Then, Su Ziyou recounted his theories about Shopkeeper Wen's identity to Gu Mo.

After listening, Gu Mo asked, "So, have you found out who is behind Shopkeeper Wen?"

At this moment, Gao Tie cupped his hands and reported, "Yes, we have. Many of our Dark Guard operatives are hidden in Autumn Town, and they've gathered the information. Shopkeeper Wen wasn't redeemed by herself; a man named Hong Xu redeemed her. However, he didn't take her home but kept her as an external mistress."

"What's Hong Xu's identity?" Gu Mo inquired.

"He's the master of an Autumn Temple," Gao Tie replied. "His temple is considered mid-sized in Autumn Town, with dozens of followers. It's not far from Cuihua Restaurant, so sheltering a woman is no problem for him."

Gu Mo said, "Actually, I've always been a bit curious. With so many Autumn Temples, and usually quite a few people in each, how do they survive? Do they rely on incense money?"

Gao Tie explained, "Autumn Town is beyond the reach of even imperial authority—it's a lawless zone where much can be done. Every Autumn Temple has illicit businesses behind it, engaging in illegal activities. Additionally, they have many believers, so incense money is indeed substantial. A large portion of them actually don't make a profit and even lose money, because the true intention of those behind their establishment isn't to earn money, but to launder ill-gotten gains through Autumn Town."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and asked, "What's your plan now? Are you going to arrest them directly?"

Su Ziyou nodded, "I've had Brother Gao find some men to disguise themselves. Soon, we'll create an excuse to storm that Autumn Temple. Brother Gu, you'll be responsible for apprehending Hong Xu; make sure he doesn't escape. The rest of us will use the chaos to search the temple for evidence and clues!"

Gu Mo nodded, "Alright!"

Before long, Gu Mo and his companions arrived outside an Autumn Temple.

This Autumn Temple was unremarkable, just one of hundreds or thousands in Autumn Town. It consisted of a large courtyard and four or five side rooms, all dedicated to various-sized statues of the Supreme Heaven Lord. The entire temple was filled with the scent of incense and candles. Incense burners overflowed with sticks of varying thicknesses, ash piled high with fresh incense, and flames flickered.

In the main Heaven Lord Hall, a dozen or so devotees were praying devoutly, while a few Autumn Cult followers chanted scriptures.

Outside the gate, Gao Tie had already gathered his men—fourteen or fifteen Imperial Guards from the Palace Directorate, all now dressed in plain clothes, disguised as commoners.

As Su Ziyou gave a signal,

Gao Tie led the charge, storming in with the Imperial Guards, shouting, "Hong Xu, Hong Xu, you son of a bitch, get out here! If you don't, I'll smash this dilapidated temple of yours!"

The group was aggressive, each wielding a wooden club and smashing things indiscriminately, though they avoided the divine statues.

The temple erupted in chaos. The devotees quickly scattered to the sides, while the cult followers rushed out to intervene, resulting in a standoff between the two groups.

It looked like a fight was about to break out amidst the pushing and shoving.

From behind the main hall emerged a middle-aged man in a green robe. His attire somewhat resembled a Daoist robe, but upon closer inspection, it was distinct—it was the specific uniform of an Autumn Cult disciple.

"No disrespect before the Heaven Lord's statue!"

The man in green mildly rebuked them, and all the Autumn Cult followers immediately stopped, saluted, and addressed him as "Temple Master."

This person was Hong Xu.

Hong Xu looked at the aggressive Gao Tie and asked, "What is your purpose here, sir? I am Hong Xu."

"Good, good, good," Gao Tie roared angrily, "So you're Hong Xu. You're the bastard I'm looking for! Where have you hidden my wife? Hand her over now! Is she hidden in this temple of yours?"

Hong Xu looked bewildered and said, "Sir, you must have the wrong person..."

"Damn you, still won't hand her over, huh..."

Gao Tie swung his club at Hong Xu.

Hong Xu's pupils contracted. Immediately, a burst of true qi appeared in his palm, and he struck out towards Gao Tie.

But in the next instant,

He suddenly felt his entire body restricted and unable to move, watching helplessly as Gao Tie's club struck his forehead.

With a 'thump,' the wooden club struck and immediately broke. Blood oozed from Hong Xu's forehead.

Gao Tie bellowed, "It seems you bastard are guilty and dare not retaliate! Brothers, search the place! Find that hussy who runs after other men!"

At Gao Tie's command, his companions immediately rushed towards the temple's side rooms.

Hong Xu clutched his forehead, ready to order his subordinates to stop them, but once again sensed the strange restraining force. At that very moment, the world before his eyes turned black and white.

Not just Hong Xu, but all his subordinates were seized with panic at that moment. They were frozen in place, unable to move, only able to watch helplessly as the intruders ransacked the temple. They couldn't even speak, let alone intervene.

Fear gripped Hong Xu's heart. He tried to circulate his inner energy but couldn't break free. Only his eyeballs could move, yet he saw nothing.

After a short while, he suddenly found he could move again.

But before he could react, he heard the man who had struck him yell, "Take that bastard Hong Xu away! He must have hidden that hussy!"

Immediately, several burly men rushed forward. Hong Xu quickly tried to fight back, but found that these men were not ordinary; they were exceptionally agile and tied him up before he had a chance to resist.

"Take him away!"

Gao Tie commanded.

Several guards dragged Hong Xu out the door.

The cult followers in the Autumn Temple, however, would not allow Gao Tie and his men to take Hong Xu. They immediately drew their weapons and pursued them, ready to attack.

But the moment they reached the entrance,

A tremendous, terrifying surge of true qi swept over them like a tidal wave. All dozen or so cult followers were instantly sent flying backward, crashing to the ground. Some were knocked unconscious, while others vomited blood and were unable to rise again.

Seeing this, Hong Xu stopped struggling and cooperated, following along. When he saw Gao Tie approach Su Ziyou with several ledgers, a strange glint flashed in his eyes. Noticing Gu Mo and Gu Chudong beside Su Ziyou, he couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I was wondering which divine beings I had encountered. So it turns out to be the great hero himself! For a small figure like me to draw your attention, it truly is a blessing across three lifetimes!"

Gao Tie glanced at Hong Xu and then addressed Su Ziyou, "Lord Su, inside we only found these few ledgers recording daily purchases and this token."

As Gao Tie spoke, he pulled out a thin, palm-sized copper token from his pocket. One side was engraved with the character "皇" (royal), and the other with a coiled dragon design.

Su Ziyou inquired, "You haven't seen this token before?"

Gao Tie shook his head, "It looks familiar. It should be an imperial token. When I go back, I'll check with the Ministry of Rites, and we should be able to find out who it belongs to. Whether it's the imperial family or civil and military officials, any special tokens require approval and decree from the Ministry of Rites to be valid. Tokens with the 'royal' character are generally used by imperial relatives."

Su Ziyou nodded and said, "These purchase ledgers will certainly reveal some clues. I'll hand over the token and the person to you. I imagine the Dark Guard Camp and the Palace Directorate shouldn't have trouble making him talk, right?"

Gao Tie chuckled, "Leave it to me."

With that, the group quickly departed.

However, after Hong Xu recognized Gu Mo and the others, he showed no panic. He was extremely cooperative, not making any small moves.

And before long, Gu Mo and his group understood why Hong Xu wasn't flustered at all: he had something to rely on, a source of confidence.

As Gu Mo and his group passed through an alley and entered a narrow street, they found it completely deserted. All the restaurants and shops on both sides were closed, and it was eerily quiet; the sound of ice melting and dripping from the eaves became remarkably clear.

Gao Tie's pupils constricted. He said, "Lord Su, Great Hero Gu, it seems it won't be easy to take him out of here."

Gu Mo remained silent,

Because he had already sensed people converging from all directions, and others clearing the area, even before they arrived.

Gu Mo didn't say anything because it was unnecessary; it was unavoidable anyway.

At this point, Hong Xu chuckled again and said, "No one has ever been able to take an Autumn Cult member out of Autumn Town, no matter who they are—not even the Emperor could do it."

As he spoke, he looked at Gao Tie and continued, "Great Hero Gu and your companions aren't from our Jin Kingdom; they don't understand the significance of Autumn Town. But you, my friend, are likely a court official, aren't you? Don't you know the situation in Autumn Town? It's a place where civil officials dismount from their palanquins, military officials dismount from their horses, imperial family members bow in reverence, laws do not enter, and military forces cannot pass!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "I've long heard that Autumn Town is Jin Kingdom's foremost forbidden zone. But unfortunately for you, I've always enjoyed venturing into such places. I move freely through dragon's dens and tiger's lairs. Can this Autumn Town really hold me?"

Hong Xu quickly waved his hand, saying, "Autumn Town would never dare to boast about holding Great Hero Gu! However, preventing Great Hero Gu from taking people and things out of here—that, we can achieve."

"That confident, are you?" Gu Mo asked.

Hong Xu nodded, "Autumn Town may seem disorganized, but it operates on a fixed principle: united against outsiders. We absolutely do not allow anyone to break the rules. Once someone does, even rival factions who usually harbor grudges and fight will immediately cease hostilities and make peace. The Kyoto Prefecture Office has learned this, the Imperial Palace Guards have learned this, and the Southern Jin martial arts world has learned this. No one can break this rule."

Hong Xu stretched his neck and continued, "Autumn Town has 1,280 temples. Among them, 36 Heavenly Gang Guardians and 72 Earthly Fiend Children, enlightened by the Supreme Heaven Lord, lead 108 high-ranking temples to guard all directions and oversee the entire Autumn Town. In terms that martial artists would understand, that means 36 Grandmasters and 72 top-tier experts leading tens of thousands of Autumn Cult followers in defending Autumn Town. Great Hero Gu, I believe you can come and go as you please. But if you say you can break our rules, I don't believe that!"

Upon hearing of 36 Grandmasters and 72 top-tier experts, Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong's expressions subtly changed.

Su Ziyou asked Gao Tie, "Are there really so many masters, or is he just boasting?"

Gao Tie nodded slightly, "They are real."

Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong's faces instantly paled. Su Ziyou said helplessly, "Brother Gao, why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Gao Tie replied, frustrated, "I didn't intend to confront them head-on. I was hoping to disguise ourselves as people catching adulterers and sneak out quietly. Who knew it wouldn't work!"

Su Ziyou was speechless.

Just then, the street entrance was swarming with people, all dressed in Autumn Cult robes. Their weapons, however, were a chaotic mix of swords, spears, halberds, and clubs—both uniform and disorganized.

Following that, countless people appeared at the end of the street, outside the alley, inside the shops on both sides, and on the rooftops, completely encircling Gu Mo and his group, trapping them without an escape route.

The crowd at the street entrance parted, creating a path for a slightly overweight middle-aged man to emerge. He carried an iron hammer the size of a bowl. When he gently placed it on the ground, the bluestone slab beneath it cracked like a spiderweb.

"Great Hero Gu!" the slightly overweight man greeted Gu Mo with cupped hands. "I am Meng Chao of the Autumn Cult. I have a humble standing in Autumn Town. Today, I brazenly stand here on behalf of all 1,280 temples in town to discuss matters with you!"

Following the custom of not striking a smiling face, Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Speak your mind!"

Meng Chao cupped his hands again, saying, "Great Hero Gu, you are an enforcer of justice. If you wish to apprehend any wanted criminals, like Wen Wangji whom you captured in Autumn Town a few days ago, our Autumn Cult will absolutely not interfere. Furthermore, with just a word from you, all the temples in Autumn Town can assist you in searching for wanted criminals. Our Autumn Cult deeply respects you, not just as the third strongest master in the world, but even more for your hatred of evil, your chivalry, and your valiant spirit. The title of 'Great Hero' truly belongs to you alone! However, we also humbly request that you grant our Autumn Cult some deference. Would you please abide by the Autumn Cult's rules on our territory?"

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "You're truly a smooth talker; you almost make me hesitant to act. Alright, I'll be direct. I am indeed here to apprehend a wanted criminal—the Jin Kingdom's most wanted criminal, the Autumn Evil Cult Master. You acknowledge this, don't you?"

Meng Chao nodded, "This is a wanted criminal designated personally by the Supreme Heaven Lord, with a court bounty of 30,000 taels. We naturally acknowledge it. Our various temples in Autumn Town have also raised 50,000 taels of silver for his capture. Our Autumn Cult also deeply resents this individual because the Autumn Evil Cult he founded has severely damaged our reputation and has been swindling people under our name. We only regret not being able to find out who this person truly is!"

Su Ziyou instantly understood Gu Mo's intention and interjected, "Perfect then, Temple Master Meng! We are currently helping you find the Autumn Evil Cult Master. I've uncovered relevant clues." As he spoke, Su Ziyou pointed to Hong Xu and continued, "This man is connected to the Autumn Evil Cult. Uh, you don't need to thank us. We will help your Autumn Cult eliminate the Autumn Evil Cult Master when the time comes. You just need to remember to send the 50,000 tael bounty to Great Hero Gu."

Meng Chao gave an awkward laugh and said, "Lord Su, you jest. This Hong Xu is a genuine Autumn Cult follower. How could he possibly be involved with the Autumn Evil Cult?"

"What you're saying isn't quite right," Su Ziyou countered. "As far as I know, although the Autumn Cult is called a 'cult,' it doesn't actually have a unified organizational structure, does it? Each Autumn Temple manages itself, am I wrong? Or has your Autumn Cult already held a nationwide alliance and unified? Have you elected a Cult Master? Do you already have a unified sectarian power?"

Meng Chao shook his head, "No."

"There you have it," Su Ziyou said. "Since there's no unified management, how can you be so certain that Hong Xu hasn't secretly colluded with the Autumn Evil Cult?"

Meng Chao's face darkened. He said, "Lord Su, are you being sophistical?"

Su Ziyou chuckled, "Temple Master Meng, this official is reasoning. How is it sophistry? A few years ago, the Supreme Heaven Lord whom you venerate personally descended the mountain and killed thousands of people. Before that, those individuals were genuine Autumn Cult disciples, but what happened? Didn't they still become members of the Autumn Evil Cult? Do you deny the words of the Supreme Heaven Lord?"

Meng Chao's expression grew grim. He said, "You claim Hong Xu colluded with the Autumn Evil Cult. What evidence do you have?"

Su Ziyou replied, "Step aside now, and I will deliver the evidence within a day. It's currently in a confidential phase. If I disclose it now, with so many ears and eyes, and it reaches the Autumn Evil Cult Master, all our efforts will be in vain. Temple Master Meng, you wouldn't want the Autumn Evil Cult Master to escape, would you? You surely haven't colluded with the Autumn Evil Cult, have you? Only those who have colluded with the Autumn Evil Cult would not want us to apprehend their master. You certainly wish for us to capture him, don't you?"

Meng Chao opened his mouth but didn't know how to argue. If he spoke now, he would either have to admit that Su Ziyou and his group's actions were justified and let them leave, or confess to colluding with the Autumn Evil Cult.

Gu Chudong and Gu Mo, standing nearby, were secretly amused. Meng Chao, a martial artist, was no match for a quick-witted civil official like Su Ziyou, even with another hundred years of practice.

Just then, an old man with a ruddy nose stepped forward and coldly said, "Stop your verbal trickery here. We've come in such numbers not to listen to your nonsense, Qian Kingdom man. Autumn Town has its own rules; here, we are the ones who decide. Even the imperial family must abide by them. It's not for a few Qian Kingdom people like you to dictate terms here. I'll be blunt: either you leave the person and the items here and get out, or you stay here and never leave!"

As the old man with the ruddy nose finished speaking, hundreds of people collectively took a step forward, making the ground tremble.

"Good, finally someone who speaks without pleasantries!"

Gu Mo let out a soft laugh and said, "Honestly, if all of you were as polite as that Meng Chao, I'd really find it awkward to act." He pointed at the old man with the ruddy nose and continued, "I prefer the defiant ones like you; I find it much more satisfying to kill them!"

"Arrogant!" the old man with the ruddy nose snapped coldly. "Youngster, I call you 'Great Hero' out of respect. Without that respect, what are you in Autumn Town? So what if your martial arts are strong? We have 36 martial Grandmasters, 72 top-tier experts, and tens of thousands of Autumn Cult disciples in Autumn Town. Is it your turn to be arrogant?"

"Good!"

Gu Mo slightly extended his hand, and immediately, the Heavenly Demon Qin flew out from Gu Chudong's book box.

Gu Mo stated gravely, "Everyone, get close to me!"

As his words fell, a chilling light emanated from beneath his feet. Silver-white true qi solidified like a full moon, dramatically enveloping an area several zhang in radius. The circulating brilliance resembled an inverted galaxy, illuminating the night sky with a silvery glow. Fine streams of air rippled at the true qi's edges, emitting a faint hum.

"I'd like to see what you're truly capable of. Kill him!"

The ruddy-nosed old man roared, shattering the falling leaves in mid-air, then swung his long saber and gave the command.

As his saber hilt heavily struck the ground, the previously silent street suddenly erupted. Figures surged from the mottled alleyways like an ant swarm, their furious shouts smashing through doors and windows, mingling with the sounds of splintering wood and stone. Shadows leaped from the eaves of shops, robes fluttering as they dislodged debris. Dozens of figures glided through the air, stepping on rooftops, their weapons reflecting cold light that pierced the night.

The surging cries of battle seemed almost tangible, shaking plaster from the walls. The entire street instantly transformed into a black vortex, devouring everything.

"Kill!" "Kill..."

Watching the people close in from all directions, Su Ziyou and the others' hands grew cold with sweat, their breathing rapid like drums. Although protected by Gu Mo's true qi shield, they instinctively recoiled.

At this moment, Gu Mo stood unmoving, holding the Heavenly Demon Qin with his left hand. His right fingertips gently plucked the strings, true qi flowing through the instrument's patterns. He calmly said, "Chudong, watch carefully, and learn well!"

"Alright, Big Brother!"

Gu Chudong held the Guchen Demon Blade, but her attention was entirely focused on Gu Mo. Unlike the others, she had absolute faith in Gu Mo and felt no apprehension whatsoever.

The instant the zither strings vibrated, spiderweb-like ripples appeared on the surface of the true qi shield, and a heart-pounding pressure spread outwards as if tangible.

Gu Mo's fingertips trembled like butterfly wings, and the Heavenly Demon Qin suddenly hummed. The sound waves emanating from its strings coalesced into tangible silver light. As his palm rotated slightly, seven sonic blades ripped through the air, causing the space they passed through to crack inch by inch, as if cleaved by an invisible giant axe.

The first three bodies struck by the sonic blades didn't even utter a scream before exploding into a rain of blood. Mutilated flesh and weapon fragments mixed with crimson mist, bursting forth.

The sound waves fanned out, pulverizing the bones of the front-row swordsmen. Their internal organs gushed from their mouths and noses, and their bodies flew backward like broken kites, crashing heavily into the crowd behind them.

A note from the zither shot towards the ruddy-nosed old man.

The ruddy-nosed old man's pupils constricted abruptly. He swung his saber to block, only to see the blade disintegrate inch by inch, and blood burst from his hand.

The sound waves slammed into his protective true qi, causing ripple-like patterns to form on its surface, instantly shattering it. The old man screamed as he was sent flying backward, bleeding from all seven orifices, his internal organs turned to mush by the sonic impact.

"Go!"

Gu Mo continued plucking the zither strings, spoke softly, and then stepped forward.

Su Ziyou, Gao Tie, and the Imperial Guards followed Gu Mo closely.

At this moment, on the street,

Screams rose and fell, and wherever the sonic blades passed, flesh and blood flew. Severed limbs and broken arms scattered like withered leaves. Blood flowed along the edge of the true qi shield, forming a winding river on the ground.

Gu Mo's expression was stern. As his ten fingers danced, the Heavenly Demon Qin once again emitted a sharp roar. The second wave of sonic blades, carrying a bloody storm, swept towards the scattering crowd.

Watching so many Autumn Cult members be scattered and killed by Gu Mo and a single zither, Meng Chao looked at the ravaged ground and roared, eyes bulging, "Poison!"

Before he finished speaking, Autumn Cult disciples, lurking in the shadows, on rooftops and in attics along both sides of the street, burst through windows. Dozens of clay barrels arced through the air, spewing thick, dark green poison laced with pungent acidic mist downwards.

Wherever the putrid stench reached, the bluestone ground sizzled, emitting plumes of white smoke.

Su Ziyou and the others were greatly alarmed.

But Gu Mo remained unfazed, standing with his zither on his back. His innate true qi instantly began to circulate rapidly.

The moment the poison struck his barrier, it was as if an invisible hand had reversed it. Wrapped in intense heat and extreme toxicity, it rolled back.

Screams immediately filled the street. Cult followers who touched the poison instantly suffered rotting flesh, their bones emitting a sickening crackle as they corroded. Before they could even wail, they dissolved into foul-smelling blood.

"Fire attack!"

Meng Chao wildly waved his sleeve. Suddenly, windows on the second floor of the shops burst open, and bundles of tung oil-soaked burlap wrapped around sulfur fireballs came raining down. Poisonous smoke also began to spread.

"Hmph!"

Gu Mo let out a cold snort, his fingertips sweeping across the Heavenly Demon Qin like lightning. The moment the strings vibrated, dazzling golden light burst from the zither's patterns, and the entire street suddenly twisted and warped.

"Ommm—" Ripping sounds exploded, and sound waves transformed into black tidal waves, sweeping across.

In an instant, the doors and windows of the shops along the street shattered as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. Wooden beams and bricks shot out in the air current. The deafening roar of collapsing pillars, carrying debris, soared skyward. Broken bluestones and charred wood traced grotesque parabolas in the air. Flames and poisonous mist collided with a thunderous impact, exploding into a bizarre, blood-colored mushroom cloud mid-air. As the dark red mist surged, it dyed the entire night sky a crimson hue, resembling an Asura hell.

The ground began to tremble violently. The bluestone-paved street twisted and surged like boiling magma, cracks spreading like a spiderweb, emitting piercing tearing sounds. The entire row of buildings shook violently under the impact of the sound waves, like ceramic vases clutched by an invisible giant hand, then dramatically dissolved into a cloud of dust. Amidst the roar of collapsing bricks and stones, screams rose and fell. Limbs and broken walls danced in the smoke and dust, and the once bustling street instantly became a wasteland.

After a long while, the dust settled and dispersed, revealing a desolate, battle-scarred wasteland.

Broken beams lay obliquely on the scorched earth, and a copper bell hanging from a half-collapsed signboard wailed in the wind. Corpses were piled haphazardly into small mounds, their charred flesh clinging to shattered weapons. Flames greedily licked at the mutilated limbs, raising a pungent, thick smoke mixed with burnt flesh and rust, making one's stomach churn.

From deep within the ruins came intermittent moans, like the whimpers of a lone wolf on a cold night. Some individuals were half-buried under rubble, their charred fingers still clawing at the air in vain. Behind a broken wall, the crisp sound of dislocated bones could be heard, and beneath blood-stained cloths, twisted bodies convulsed in agony. The wails of the dying intertwined with the crackling of flames, forging this street into a living hell of weeping blood.

With a 'thud,'

Meng Chao knelt on the ground. A red line appeared on his neck, then his head lolled and fell to the ground, leaving only a headless corpse spewing blood.

At the scene, not a single person remained standing.

At this moment,

Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong, who had witnessed similar bloody scenes from Gu Mo's hands before, were relatively better off. Although their hearts still harbored fear, they remained composed.

However, Gao Tie and the Imperial Guards had never witnessed such a spectacle. Their bodies were trembling, and some even collapsed onto the ground, their gazes at Gu Mo filled with terror.

"Don't let your guard down!"

Yet, Gu Mo remained cautious, holding the zither with one hand and plucking its strings with the other, his senses fully alert. He said, "It's not over yet!"

Su Ziyou exclaimed, "Brother Gu, more ambushes?"

Gu Mo's expression was grave. "I can't sense them, but they're definitely still there. Have you forgotten that Autumn Town boasts 36 Grandmasters and 72 top-tier experts? Among those I just killed, fewer than five were of Grandmaster caliber, and even they were barely at that level. As for top-tier experts, there were a few more, but only about a dozen. So many other masters are still hidden, not yet revealed!"

Su Ziyou nodded slightly and told the Imperial Guards who were paralyzed with fear on the ground, "Brothers, we can't delay. There are still masters in ambush!"

At this moment, Gao Tie hesitated and said, "Great... Great Hero Gu... among... the people you just killed... there were already over twenty Grandmasters from Autumn Town and no fewer than fifty top-tier experts. These people are all listed in the Dark Guard Camp records. I've been undercover in Autumn Town for five or six years, and I recognize all 36 Grandmasters and 72 top-tier experts; I wouldn't mistake them. More than eighty percent of Autumn Town's masters were already here just now. Perhaps... perhaps there are no other ambushes!"

Gu Mo was slightly stunned. He asked, "Wait, you call those people Grandmasters? No, was that old man who was just shouting about testing my strength also a Grandmaster?"

Gao Tie nodded, "He was the eighth-ranked Grandmaster among Autumn Town's 36 Heavenly Gang Grandmasters!"

Gu Mo was speechless.

He realized he had been misled again. He had genuinely thought Southern Jin was teeming with Grandmasters, believing that a nation capable of producing someone like Su Qianqiu would naturally have a high martial arts level and many Grandmasters.

As it turned out, that eighth-ranked Grandmaster from Autumn Town wouldn't even make it into the top ten among the super-tier experts of Yunzhou's martial arts world.

Suddenly, Gu Mo thought of something and asked, "By the way, that Helian Tieyi whom I killed at the palace banquet last time—he wasn't a Grandmaster in your Jin Kingdom, was he?"

Gao Tie nodded.

"This martial arts level is a bit..."

Gu Mo was at a loss for words. It seemed that Su Qianqiu alone had completely skewed his judgment of Jin Kingdom's martial arts prowess.

Now it seemed that, setting Su Qianqiu aside, Southern Jin's martial arts level was merely on par with Qian Kingdom's Suzhou and Fengzhou, the two regions with the weakest martial arts.

Gao Tie detected Gu Mo's sarcasm and said, "Great Hero Gu, our Jin Kingdom's martial arts level shouldn't be considered very poor, should it? Your Qian Kingdom is a great power of this age, yet your former top expert could only withstand twenty moves against our Supreme Heaven Lord. Our Jin Kingdom's Ten Grandmasters can all withstand ten moves against the Supreme Heaven Lord, and subsequent Grandmasters are measured against these Ten Grandmasters. We actually have more Grandmasters than your Qian Kingdom. What just happened... it's simply because you are too strong!"

Gu Mo understood. The blame lay entirely with Su Qianqiu; he alone had made the Southern Jin martial arts world incredibly overconfident!

Gu Mo had no interest, nor the means, to explain to Gao Tie and the others that their understanding of "Grandmaster" was fundamentally different from Qian Kingdom's.

Immediately, Gu Mo led everyone away. But along the way, he remained extremely vigilant, worrying that he might have misjudged the situation, and that there could indeed be a large number of Grandmaster-level experts from Autumn Town still lurking in ambush, waiting for an opportunity.

However, it was clear he had not misjudged, as they left Autumn Town without any further obstacles.

As Gu Mo and his group departed Autumn Town, countless eyes from various factions in the town were watching them. Among them was the true master residing in Autumn Town, the fifth strongest in the world—Master Liansheng.

At this moment, Master Liansheng stood in a tall building. From behind, he could see the long street that Gu Mo had directly turned into ruins, while from the front, he watched Gu Mo and his group leave.

"Master!"

Just then, a woman appeared behind Master Liansheng. It was Princess Xiao Ziyin of Chu Kingdom. She walked up to Master Liansheng and asked, "If you were to fight Gu Mo, who would win?"

Master Liansheng thought for a moment and replied, "If we were within the Great Brightness Temple, this monk would have a fifty percent chance of defeating Great Hero Gu, but also a fifty percent chance of dying directly by his hand. If we were outside the Great Brightness Temple, this monk would have a fifty percent chance of escaping from him, and a fifty percent chance of being killed by him."

Xiao Ziyin said gravely, "Is the difference that significant?"

"Even more so," Master Liansheng said. "This monk's assessment is based solely on the techniques Great Hero Gu has already displayed. If he has more hidden abilities, the gap between us will be even greater."

Xiao Ziyin then asked, "Between Su Qianqiu and Gu Mo, who is stronger?"

Master Liansheng glanced back at the long street, now reduced to ruins, and said, "This monk cannot evaluate. In terms of large-scale combat, Great Hero Gu certainly far surpasses Su Qianqiu. However, it's hard to say for one-on-one combat, as Su Qianqiu's martial arts true intent depends on the environment and his state!"

"Assuming both are at their peak!" Xiao Ziyin stated.

Master Liansheng pondered and said, "Su Qianqiu's peak state would undoubtedly involve the augmentation of battle qi and the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage. In such a scenario, Su Qianqiu would have a greater chance of winning."

Xiao Ziyin asked, "Could he kill Gu Mo?"

Master Liansheng shook his head, "It would be very difficult. For individuals at the level of Gu Mo and Su Qianqiu, killing them is as hard as fighting a war to conquer a nation."

"This is troublesome then," Xiao Ziyin said. "His Majesty is determined to sweep across the land and unify the world. The Qian Kingdom is an absolute hurdle that cannot be bypassed. To conquer the Qian Kingdom, Gu Mo will undoubtedly become a major obstacle."

Xiao Ziyin looked at Master Liansheng and asked, "Master, from your perspective as a peak martial artist, can you discern Gu Mo's weakness?"

Master Liansheng shook his head, "I have never seen Great Hero Gu exert his full strength. In that recent battle, he used at most fifty percent of his power. What I observed was that his defense and both close-range and long-range attacks were flawless."

At this moment, a maid beside Xiao Ziyin pouted and said, "This Autumn Town is described as legendary, claiming to be beyond imperial authority, lawless, a bronze wall and iron fortress, with rules like divine decrees. Yet, even with all of them swarming him, they couldn't force Gu Mo to use his full strength. They're utterly useless and don't live up to their reputation!"

Xiao Ziyin shook her head slightly and said, "Autumn Town's true ability to resist imperial authority and laws isn't about its inherent power. No matter how strong, can it withstand iron cavalry? Autumn Town's real strength lies in the fact that it is backed by almost half of the Southern Jin court; its protection is immense. Moreover, Autumn Town's own strength is not weak. It's just that this time, they encountered Gu Mo, a man who alone can cut through an elite army of ten thousand heavy cavalry. Their true power will soon be evident. Don't let Gu Mo's ability to cut through Autumn Town fool you; they still won't be able to find anything they're looking for. When the forces behind Autumn Town act, even the Jin Emperor is helpless, let alone a few people from Qian Kingdom?"

Having said this, Xiao Ziyin suddenly thought of something and looked at Master Liansheng, asking, "Master, is Gu Chudong considered Gu Mo's weakness?"

Master Liansheng turned his head to look at Xiao Ziyin, his expression somewhat grave. He said, "Your Highness, Gu Mo's presence is in my Sutra of Past and Future. Although I cannot truly foretell the future, I can perceive certain destinies and attempt to calculate the outcomes that arise when someone's destiny changes."

Xiao Ziyin said gravely, "So, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong?"

Master Liansheng explained, "Sometimes, what appears to be a weakness might precisely be the very restraint that keeps the demonic deity Tai Sui tethered to humanity. This monk discussed Dao with Gu Mo at length today. This individual possesses no reverence; his divinity far surpasses his humanity. Gu Chudong is the primary factor maintaining his humanity. If something were to happen to Gu Chudong, he would either become a deity or a demon, transforming into a second Jiang Ruoxu. However, Gu Mo lacks the Restriction Sword to hold him back. Your Highness, you can imagine how terrifying a fully lucid Jiang Ruoxu would be. After all, a deranged Jiang Ruoxu was once called the Thirteenth Human Taboo. A Gu Mo who completely discards his humanity would undoubtedly become the Fourteenth Taboo!"

Xiao Ziyin nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. This Princess understands."

Xiao Ziyin mused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Speaking of the Thirteen Human Taboos, as far as I know, the third taboo, the Jade Capital of Penglai Island, will open again in less than two years. Does Master plan to go? With your talent, if you were to see the Jade Capital, you would undoubtedly surpass the Jiang Ruoxu of old. I fear then, the Fourteenth Taboo would be you!"

Master Liansheng slowly replied, "We'll see. The Jade Capital is a matter of destiny; it cannot be forced."