Chapter 289: Gathering Miaoxuan, Killing the Plague God

Although Qi Miaoxuan wore a smile, appearing carefree and unburdened, cracks had already begun to form on his body. Sword intent threatened to erupt from within him at any moment.

Faced with Qi Miaoxuan's question, Gu Mo did not reveal that it was his conversation with Yu Shijiu that had exposed inconsistencies in the statements of both Qi Miaoxuan and the Plague God, leading him to realize something was amiss with Qi Miaoxuan.

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "You and the Plague God cooperate too seamlessly. This doesn't look like an enemy relationship, as you claim, but rather like two friends who have worked together for a long time."

Many things are like this: everything seems normal until you start to suspect, and then everything begins to feel wrong.

Qi Miaoxuan replied, "Isn't that perfectly normal? I've fought the Plague God for centuries. Although we are enemies, we are undoubtedly the ones who understand each other best. A little cooperation is expected, isn't it?"

"It is normal," Gu Mo said, "but from the moment I began to suspect you, all your questionable actions became infinitely magnified in my eyes. For instance, over three hundred years ago, you pursued the severely wounded Fire Qilin to the ancient city of Hexu, where you were stopped by the Plague God. But at that time, the Plague God was merely a protector of the Fire Spirit Race. How could he possibly stop an ancient monster like you, who is hundreds, even thousands, of years old? Even the Fire Qilin was no match for you; what right did a Fire Spirit Race protector have?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "I was injured at the time."

Gu Mo chuckled, "The subsequent events are also illogical. The Plague God stole half of the Qilin egg, and you actually allowed him to absorb the Qilin's power, gradually becoming a forbidden entity. Then, every time the Hexu ruins appear, you make a trip there, and so on—there are many illogical points. Of course, you have explanations for everything, but once I started to suspect you, any justification you offer seems far-fetched to me. I just haven't figured out your purpose in putting on this act for us."

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled softly and asked, "Aren't you afraid you've guessed wrong and killed the wrong person?"

"Then you're just out of luck!" Gu Mo retorted.

Qi Miaoxuan burst into laughter and said, "Gu Mo, I increasingly want you to join me. You truly could make my dull, boring days interesting. I'll tell you my purpose: I find you very interesting, and you have immense potential. You are even more talented and promising than Yu Shier... yes, the Plague God. I want you to become like him, a servant who helps me achieve the supreme Dao!"

Qi Miaoxuan subtly beckoned, and the Plague God instantly vanished, transforming into a wisp of smoke that drifted beside Qi Miaoxuan before slowly reforming into a human shape.

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Gu Mo, I'm giving you a choice. I can grant you anything you desire. Furthermore, I can bestow upon you the ability to live forever and achieve the great Dao, becoming a god in this world!"

Gu Mo did not reply, instead asking, "So, the Plague God cooperated with you back then?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "You are absolutely right. A mere protector of the Fire Spirit Race, even if I were injured, would never have been able to stop me. However, that year, instead of killing him, I gave him a choice: live, have his wishes fulfilled, be granted immortality, and serve me. This was a choice that required no real decision; naturally, he wouldn't choose death. His wish was to lift the Fire Qilin's curse from the Fire Spirit Race and allow them to live normal lives. Coincidentally, what I valued most was his unparalleled talent in medicine. So, I entrusted him with the Qilin egg worshipped by the Fire Spirit Race for his research. I granted him abilities and provided him with all the secret techniques, wealth, and rare treasures he needed. He did not disappoint my expectations. Through his medical studies, he forged an unprecedented path to ascension, becoming the forbidden Plague God. Over the next few centuries, he researched the Qilin's power more and more thoroughly, and finally, my experiment on Ye Jinglan succeeded."

Gu Mo asked, "So, the purpose of you and the Plague God making a trip every time the Hexu ruins opened was to ascertain the Fire Qilin's whereabouts?"

Qi Miaoxuan nodded and said, "After all, if that beast were to hide elsewhere, it would be truly difficult to find. Yu Shier could use his identity to contact the Fire Spirit Race and confirm whether the Fire Qilin had awakened or left."

Gu Mo said, "Then why go to such lengths? The Plague God is your servant. Couldn't you two just directly join forces and break in?"

Qi Miaoxuan explained, "Having Ye Jinglan bring an army was for a two-pronged approach. The Plague God carries the Fire Qilin's energy, so if he entered the Hexu ruins, he would undoubtedly be detected. Therefore, we had to rely on the Fire Spirit Race to help him control the Void Array to counter the Fire Qilin's domain barrier. However, there's always a chance of an accident, so I had Ye Jinglan bring an army as a backup. Their battle qi could temporarily resist the fire domain. Otherwise, if the Plague God and I were to directly clash with the Fire Qilin within its fire domain, we could still kill it, but we couldn't guarantee being unharmed."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "So that's how it is."

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Originally, when I had the Plague God act with me, I didn't intend to expose myself to you at this point. I was looking forward to playing with you for a while. But you, kid, just had to be so sharp-eyed and see through it all. What a shame, you've robbed me of a lot of fun. Kid, the identity of Qi Miaoxuan brought me quite a lot of enjoyment. I was even planning to spend twenty or thirty years with you as an old immortal's friend. You... sigh, you really shouldn't have exposed me!"

A faint, yet profoundly eerie, smile suddenly reappeared on Qi Miaoxuan's face, which was now crisscrossed with cracks, as if fragments were about to fall off. He stared at Gu Mo and said, "Nevertheless, you are still a very charming pet in my eyes. So, even though you've done wrong, I will forgive you. You won't make the same mistake twice, will you? You'll make the smart choice, won't you?"

Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "Apologies, old immortal, but I'm not one to be a dog!"

"How is that being a dog?" Qi Miaoxuan replied, "I'd only place a tiny restriction in your soul. Don't worry, just like Yu Shier, as long as you're obedient, you'll always be free!"

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "Then why didn't you do something when you healed my eyes?"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "I have standards for my pets, you know. Is just any stray cat or dog qualified? Though, I must admit, I misjudged you back then!"

Gu Mo said, "So, Ye Jinglan, you treat him..."

"He's not worthy."

Gu Mo: "...I'll thank you on behalf of Ye Jinglan!"

Qi Miaoxuan slowly spread his hands and said, "Gu Mo, it's time to make your choice. Will you choose to be my immortal servant, or... death!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "I choose a third option—killing you!"

As Gu Mo's words fell,

"Poof—" A faint yet sharp sound, like air tearing, erupted from Qi Miaoxuan's body. Innumerable strands of silver-white sword qi, as fine as ox hair, suddenly burst forth from him. They did not strike outwards but instead twisted and churned within his body in a manner akin to self-destruction.

As the sword qi circulated, it emitted sharp crackling sounds, like shattered metal. It instantly spread across Qi Miaoxuan's limbs and bones like a dense spiderweb, tearing his dark robes inch by inch while grinding his flesh, bones, and meridians into dust.

This was no ordinary sword strike, but a disintegration from within—amidst the visible flashes of silver light, Qi Miaoxuan's body, like snow foam scattered by a fierce wind, disintegrated into thousands of shimmering white particles that drifted down, without a single drop of blood mist escaping.

However, the instant the powder touched the ground—

"Hee hee..." A cold, sinister laugh erupted from all directions. The Plague God dispersed into swirling, rising smoke. Within the smoke, countless distorted, grotesque faces and heads emerged one after another, each frozen in extreme agony and malevolence, with dark pus oozing from their eye sockets and fanged mouths emitting wailing shrieks. Like a swarm of mosquitoes drawn to blood, they transformed into torrents of black smoke, carrying bone-chilling cadaveric coldness, and lunged at Gu Mo's neck and chest from various angles, tearing at him fiercely. The pervasive darkness seemed to come alive at that moment, with countless ghostly faces flickering in and out of the inky background, forming a horrifying tableau capable of scattering a mortal's soul.

"Hmph!" Gu Mo let out a soft snort, and a clear brilliance surged in his eyes.

In an instant, within three feet of him, a visible moon-white airflow abruptly coalesced. This was his Innate Protective Qi, augmented by the power of his spiritual essence, enveloping him like a smooth yet resilient jade membrane. The surface of the airflow gleamed like water, and faint star-like phantoms shimmered within its swirling currents.

Facing the incoming ghostly faces in the smoke, the protective qi did not actively strike. Instead, with a thought from Gu Mo, the moon-white light membrane suddenly expanded outwards, emitting a buzzing tremor. The ghostly faces that touched the protective qi instantly let out piercing screams, dissolving into wisps of black smoke as if snow thrown onto boiling oil. More ghostly faces rushed forward, only to be shattered by the moon-white light barrier the moment they approached.

The surging Innate Protective Qi, centered on Gu Mo, expanded rapidly like a rising full moon, its radiance growing ever brighter and its scope widening.

The moon-white airflow surged like a tide, crashing against the surrounding dark domain with a "clack-clack" sound. The inky void rippled with folds, as if it could be torn apart by this fierce and unparalleled force at any moment. The edge of the protective qi even touched the barrier of the dark domain, pushing back the viscous, ink-like darkness by several zhang, revealing faint cracks hidden within.

Just as this protective qi was about to tear through the poisonous mist domain,

A soft scoff echoed from the depths of the darkness, carrying an indescribable casualness.

Qi Miaoxuan, who had turned into dust, surprisingly re-formed out of thin air about a zhang behind Gu Mo, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his face.

He bore no injuries whatsoever; the previous scene of him being shredded by sword qi seemed like a mere illusion. He looked at Gu Mo and said, "Gu Mo, you've made a very unwise decision. My fondness for you has vanished."

He extended his index finger towards the supremely expanded moon-white protective qi. Before his fingertip even touched its surface, a faint golden halo spread from his fingertip.

"Pop—" A soft sound, like a bubble bursting. The indestructible, flawless Innate Protective Qi cracked inch by inch the instant Qi Miaoxuan's fingertip approached. The moon-white light membrane shattered like a spiderweb, and the circulating protective qi immediately transformed into scattered airflow, dissipating into tiny specks of light with a hissing sound.

The surging energy field suddenly collapsed. Gu Mo took a slight step back, his body-protecting True Qi rapidly leaking out like a punctured airbag. Even the dark ground beneath his feet trembled violently due to the energy imbalance.

"Oh, you, you," Qi Miaoxuan sighed, "Why are you so unperceptive, kid? You didn't think I only had that much power after watching me deal with that beast, the Fire Qilin, did you? I was just playing with you, child! Never mind, I'll give you a lesson first. It's rare to find a pet with your potential, so I should still give you another chance!"

A helpless, wry smile curved on Qi Miaoxuan's lips. His dark robes didn't stir, yet he had already closed in by half a step.

He lightly raised his fingertip, and with a seemingly casual poke, the void was quietly pierced as if it were old silk, where his finger wind passed. Wisps of spatial ripples exploded at his fingertip, and an invisible, abyssal pressure crashed down like an ocean, instantly solidifying the surrounding air into lead.

Gu Mo's pupils abruptly contracted. He violently clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and instantly, a layer of moon-white protective qi shield erupted around him, circulating like flowing glass. This was his Innate Protective Qi unleashed with full power. Simultaneously, his blood surged like boiling water, and the Great Vajra Divine Power surged from his dantian, coalescing within the protective qi into an enigmatic golden phantom of a Dharma Idol.

Immediately afterward, the Taixu Sword hummed, its white glow surging, and it stretched horizontally across his chest, weaving into a dense sword net.

However, in the very next instant,

With a soft "thud," Qi Miaoxuan's finger landed on the Innate Protective Qi, which shattered inch by inch like paper meeting fire. The moon-white light extinguished without leaving a ripple. The Great Vajra Divine Power phantom that followed was like snow foam thrown into boiling oil, dissolving into specks of golden light with a "hiss" and vanishing without a trace.

Before Gu Mo could react, the finger wind that had pierced through space landed unimpeded on the spine of the Taixu Sword.

"Buzz—!" The clear sword hum abruptly turned hoarse, like a mournful wail. The Taixu Ancient Sword, capable of slicing through iron like mud, visibly bent sharply inward, its blade curving into a full moon shape. The white light flickered intensely, and the bent part struck heavily against Gu Mo's chest.

An overwhelming, irresistible force exploded within him along the sword. Gu Mo flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming violently into the barrier of the poisonous mist domain ten zhang away. The mist rustled down, corroding his body-protecting True Qi.

Qi Miaoxuan, however, did not press his advantage. Instead, with his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly lectured, "Gu Mo, you too have fallen into the common trap, pushing martial arts into a narrow corner. Your martial arts may seem magnificent and your techniques superb, but you've forgotten the essence of martial arts: to kill your opponent. No matter how flashy your techniques are, if they can't kill your opponent, they are useless. You have many martial arts, and their effects are not bad, but they fail to return to their essence. For instance, just now, if I had used even a fraction more power, I could have directly poked you to death with one finger. What good are all your wondrous techniques then? What use is it if you can fight an entire nation? I cannot kill everyone in a nation, but I can easily kill you!"

Gu Mo slowly rose, a faint smile on his face, and said, "Is that so?"

The moment Gu Mo stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips, the inky black world abruptly faded to a stark white. The eerie, swirling black mist suddenly solidified, as if a long landscape scroll, painted with ink washes on Xuan paper, was slowly unfurling—mountains rendered with dry brush strokes outlined in pale ink, ruined pavilions sketched in the white spaces seemingly touched by faint ripples, and a crescent moon slowly rising from the hazy ink-wash sky.

The moment the clear, cold moonlight poured down like shattered jade, the swirling poisonous mist domain around them violently disintegrated.

The Plague God's form was severely damaged, shattering piece by piece amidst the dissipating gray mist, only to reform amidst the surging blackness. He looked at Gu Mo's figure beneath the moon disc, his voice gravely emerging from the cracks in the smoke: "My Lord, this Gu Mo is too wicked; don't play around anymore..."

"It's fine, I won't lose control."

Qi Miaoxuan's smile lingered. With a light twist of his fingers, a massive suction force, like a whale swallowing a hundred rivers, drew in all the moonlight streaming through the sky. As his pale fingers turned, the entire ink-wash world became like shredded Xuan paper, and the ink blackness and silver radiance condensed into a vortex in his palm.

"Gu Mo, this isn't enough," Qi Miaoxuan said.

Gu Mo hovered beneath the moon disc, his robes billowing in the swirling air.

"Then—again!"

The moment he lightly raised his fingertip, wild thunder tore through the sky, silver serpents danced wildly, and a torrential downpour descended from the heavens—each raindrop carried immense force, and dense, bead-like lightning bolts crashed towards the earth like a raging waterfall.

However, just an instant before the raindrops and lightning touched the ground.

Qi Miaoxuan lightly raised his pale hand, and the rain and lightning across the sky were as if frozen within an invisible frame. Thousands of silver lines and water droplets hung suspended in mid-air, and even the explosive thunder seemed sealed within the ink-colored blank spaces.

"You still haven't listened," Qi Miaoxuan shook his head slightly and said, "I'm very disappointed. I thought your talent was unparalleled for hundreds of years, yet I've already told you the correct answer, and you still get it wrong. I don't like you much anymore."

As he spoke,

Qi Miaoxuan clenched his hand. In an instant, the myriad raindrops shattered across the sky, and lightning exploded chaotically.

He said in a deep voice, "I've told you already, these flashy tricks are useless. Return to simplicity, the Great Dao is minimalist. Martial arts are not for show; they are for killing enemies. What good are your flamboyant techniques? If this is all the understanding you have, you're not worthy of the second chance I gave you. You..."

Just at that moment—

Gu Mo's pupils suddenly constricted to pinpricks. A wisp of eerie will, like a spider's silk, entwined itself around Qi Miaoxuan. The energy, shimmering with an ominous blue glow, carried a strange aura that was neither immortal nor demonic, locking onto Qi Miaoxuan firmly.

Qi Miaoxuan's eyes gleamed with keen interest, and his laughter contained an irrepressible excitement: "Finally, something interesting! Gu Mo, don't disappoint me..."

Before his words finished, Gu Mo abruptly dashed forward, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracking into spiderweb patterns.

"Roar..." A clear, resonant dragon's cry erupted from his chest, like the booming of a divine bell from the nine heavens. Blinding white light burst forth around him, and a phantom divine dragon, its scales gleaming with a cold jade luster, emerged from his body. With its head held high, fierce lightning formed its scales, and torrential rain its claws. Amidst the surging dark clouds and exploding electrical flashes, it transformed into a white rainbow piercing the sun, carrying world-destroying might as it lunged at Qi Miaoxuan.

The instant Gu Mo transformed into a dragon,

Qi Miaoxuan's face instantly turned pale, his smile froze, and he exclaimed in panic, "How are you a dragon... Holy sh*t..."

At the very same moment,

Qi Miaoxuan's body stiffened abruptly. A segment of a blade's tip protruded from his chest, emanating a powerful dragon's might.

"Get back in!" Qi Miaoxuan let out a hysterical roar. With one hand, he clutched the blade tip, blood instantly gushing out and two fingers snapping off and falling to the ground. Simultaneously, his other hand grabbed the Plague God and hurled him towards the massive dragon that Gu Mo had become.

At this moment, from within that blade tip, an enraged roar resounded: "Vile slave, how dare you act so presumptuously!"

"Go to your mother..."

Qi Miaoxuan abruptly pulled the blade tip from his chest. It looked like a palm-sized scale, yet also resembled a peculiar dagger.

"Roar..." In that instant, the massive dragon formed by Gu Mo knocked the Plague God flying and charged directly towards Qi Miaoxuan. In a flash, Qi Miaoxuan, his hand bloody, held the peculiar dagger and lightly swiped it forward, instantly tearing through Gu Mo's domain.

Qi Miaoxuan took a step, appearing above the ancient city of Hexu. He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, and the gaping wound on his chest furiously gushed blood. With one hand, he drew in the massive body of the Fire Qilin.

In that instant, a dragon's roar tore through the sky!

The phantom divine dragon arrived, tearing through the void, its swirling silver scales kicking up clouds of dust that swirled backward. Its tail swept across like a thousand-pound iron whip, making the air shriek as it was displaced, and the tip of the whip heavily struck Qi Miaoxuan's shoulder and neck.

"Thud—" Blood foam mixed with shattered teeth splattered outwards. Qi Miaoxuan was sent flying horizontally like a broken puppet. When his back slammed into a bluestone archway three zhang away, his bones cracked like dry wood snapping repeatedly. Fine cracks instantly spread across his entire body from his spine, but Qi Miaoxuan ignored everything else, immediately getting up to flee, looking very disheveled.

The divine dragon's claw swiped empty, and a voice resonated: "Old immortal, what are you hiding for?"

Before the voice faded, the divine dragon extended its claw, covered in frosty white scales. Its five digits spread out, seemingly blotting out the sky. Where the claw's wind passed, even space itself rippled like water.

Qi Miaoxuan raised his hand and flung the inch-long dagger.

A dark purple, cold light burst from the blade tip. The moment the dagger sliced through the void, the surrounding air tore open into grotesque fissures, like ripped cloth. He casually pulled the Fire Qilin, whose body was enveloped in swirling flames, from his side. The massive beast's fiery aura surged into a vortex and instantly vanished into the fissure.

However, just as Qi Miaoxuan was about to enter, the white colossal dragon charged over. Its head collided with Qi Miaoxuan's chest, instantly shattering his already injured torso. The dragon then propelled him into the sky and subsequently slammed him back into the ground, creating a massive crater.

Qi Miaoxuan wielded the dagger in his hand, intending to strike at the colossal dragon, but in that very instant, the dragon transformed into Gu Mo. He reached out, and the Taixu Sword flew to him, directly chopping at Qi Miaoxuan's wrist, instantly severing his hand.

But strangely, the moment Qi Miaoxuan's severed hand hit the ground, it vanished. Then, Qi Miaoxuan grew a new hand, and the dagger reappeared on his bloody, mangled chest.

"Kid, you're asking for death..."

Qi Miaoxuan, filled with rage, struck a palm towards Gu Mo.

Gu Mo gripped the Taixu Sword with both hands and thrust it down. As palm and sword met, Qi Miaoxuan's shattered chest instantly healed. He glared at Gu Mo and roared, "Kid, you are actually the third dragon! I will make you wish for death but be unable to find it..."

Just then,

A wound appeared once more on Qi Miaoxuan's chest, and the tip of the peculiar dagger again emerged from within, unleashing an enraged roar: "Vile slave, how dare you plot against me!"

"Get back in!" Qi Miaoxuan slammed his other hand onto the blade tip. At the same time, the Plague God transformed into a wisp of black mist, coiling around Qi Miaoxuan's palm. A magic array inexplicably appeared on Qi Miaoxuan's chest, slowly pushing the dagger back in.

"Vile slave, vile slave! The day I awaken, I will grind you to dust!"

"Vile slave..."

A furious roar emanated from within the dagger.

Simultaneously, Gu Mo kicked Qi Miaoxuan in the stomach, sending him flying. Then, gripping the Taixu Sword, he teleported into the air and cleaved downwards, sneering, "No wonder you old immortal need to find slaves. It's to salvage your pathetic self-esteem! What eternal being? You're just an eternal slave!"

"Gu Mo, you deserve to die, you vile spawn..."

Qi Miaoxuan, having his thoughts exposed, lost his composure and burst into curses.

Gu Mo cleaved down with his sword. Qi Miaoxuan immediately prepared to receive the blow, but in that instant, the struggle within his chest intensified, forcing him to press down on the dagger with his other hand as well.

In that very moment,

Gu Mo's sword descended, directly cleaving off Qi Miaoxuan's head. A furious burst of sword qi erupted, tearing Qi Miaoxuan's body into pieces. The Plague God, who had instantly turned into smoke, was ready to disperse.

Gu Mo let out a cold snort and gestured with his hand.

In an instant, the world abruptly shifted to black and white. The city beneath his feet transformed into a vast, surging ocean. A bright moon rose from the seabed, and under its illuminating brilliance, the ocean churned with immense waves.

Qi Miaoxuan reappeared in the air, gripping the dagger tightly with both hands, which were now reduced to bloody bone by the dagger's mysterious power. On the other side, the Plague God, enveloped and crushed by a stream of moonlight, could no longer maintain his human form.

Gu Mo subtly beckoned.

The waves and moonlight surged forward, directly causing Qi Miaoxuan's body to begin shattering. Yet, Qi Miaoxuan remained expressionless and said, "Kid, you're lucky today. You actually woke up that beast inside me. The next time we meet, you're dead for sure!"

Before his words finished,

Qi Miaoxuan, his hands reduced to bone, lightly swiped the dagger, and a spatial rift appeared.

"Roar..." Gu Mo transformed into the divine dragon, letting out a roar and diving down, but he was a fraction of a second too late. The spatial rift had already closed, and Qi Miaoxuan's presence was no longer discernible.

However, the divine dragon did not hesitate. It abruptly turned its massive body and looked towards the Plague God.

At this moment, the Plague God, immobilized by the moonlight, watched Qi Miaoxuan break through space and escape, unable to help but curse loudly, "Old ghost Qi, I'll screw your mother..."

The Plague God instantly disintegrated into wisps of smoke.

However,

In that very instant,

The divine dragon arrived in a flash. Its body rotated, forming a whirlwind that sucked in the dissipating poisonous mist. Then, as it circled, its dragon head struck, and Yu Shier's soul body was knocked out from amidst the poisonous mist, appearing extremely ethereal as it fell to the ground.

The divine dragon swooped down, instantly transforming into Gu Mo. He reached out, and the Taixu Sword flew to him, piercing Yu Shier's chest with a single strike.