All-class Gu Immortal

Chapter 144 Plotting Revenge! The Five Poison Divine Weapons!
"The Gu Master profession has also been upgraded!"

When Zhou Qingyuan broke through the fourth level of his martial arts cultivation with the help of the Azure Wood Scripture, he successfully broke through the bone barrier. The Azure Wood True Essence in his acupoints increased rapidly, and his Gu Master profession also broke through to the later stage, reaching the first-order perfection realm.

"It seems that my true energy can no longer be increased."

As the water level of the True Essence Lake in his Yuanqiao slowly rose, it suddenly stopped when it reached about halfway up, and Zhou Qing was taken aback.

The Yuanqiao (Primordial Aperture) looks like a white sphere, and the true essence inside is water. Although the sphere still has nearly half its space, it cannot be filled with more water.

In particular, Zhou Qing's dantian still contained a considerable amount of Qingmu True Essence. It wasn't that he lacked True Essence, but rather that his Yuanqiao (acupoint) seemed to have reached its upper limit for storing True Essence.

"What's going on?" Zhou Qing fell into deep thought.

Could it be that the primordial aperture, like the physical body's bones, also has an upper limit?

His upper limit is when the true essence in his primordial aperture reaches about 50%.

"Fortunately, I still have martial arts cultivation."

A moment later, Zhou Qing felt relieved.

Besides the Yuan Aperture, he can also store true essence in his dantian, which is equivalent to having two Yuan Apertures that can store 50% of true essence. He should definitely not be worse than a Gu Master of the same level.

As for martial artists of the same level, even those at the Bone Refining Realm cannot condense such a large amount of true essence as he does.

[Combined Refinement Technique (Tier 1): When a Gu worm reaches its growth limit, it can no longer evolve. Even if it mutates, it is extremely difficult to transcend the limitations of its race. It must be combined with other Gu worms to gain new life. You will gain an additional 10% success rate when combining Gu worms.]

Zhou Qing's attention returned to the professional data.

"A 10% success rate!"

The new results were exactly what he needed.

At crucial moments, even a slight increase in the success rate, let alone a ten percent, can affect the outcome.

"The Spirit Corpse of the Wood Spirit. The Corpse Worm Gu King"

With this increased success rate, Zhou Qing's confidence soared.

Both the Wood Spirit Corpse and the Corpse Worm Gu King are extremely Yin and evil beings with the same source of power. Moreover, the Corpse Worm Gu King has already been refined by Zhou Qing, so there will be no resistance when they are refined together.

The Wood Spirit Corpse has not yet developed intelligence; at most, it can only absorb the earth's evil energy by instinct.

If, during the combined refining process, the Wood Spirit Corpse is the main element, and the Corpse Worm Gu King contributes its power, the success rate will obviously be greatly increased.

The secret techniques left behind by the Yinshan Sect also record that if one is a Gu Master, the success rate of refining the Heavenly Fiend Demon Corpse will increase, which obviously takes into account the Gu Master's absolute control over the Gu worms.

However, according to the records of the Yinshan Secret Technique, to combine the Wood Spirit Corpse and the Corpse Worm Gu King, a powerful blood sacrifice is required.

The Heavenly Fiend Corpse and the most Yin and evil object must be kept in their peak condition in order to reduce the chance of failure in the combined refining.

The Wood Spirit Corpse can maintain its condition by absorbing the Earthly Fiend Qi and taking elixirs.

The Corpse Worm King is different; it needs to absorb the power of the moon and also needs to be fed regularly.

Especially after the Corpse Worm Gu King followed Zhou Qing, apart from absorbing the power of the moonlight, its blood sustenance was never fully satisfied.

Because Zhou Qing couldn't indiscriminately kill innocent people like Lin Tianzheng did, and directly feed the corpse worm Gu King with living people.

He usually kills wanted criminals, and these aren't people he kills every day.

Although these people are all martial artists with high-quality blood and qi, their numbers are small and they cannot regularly satisfy the Corpse Worm King, which will still be in a state of hunger.

"With my current strength, I shouldn't need the Wood Spirit Corpse to intervene in dealing with a Bone Refining Realm cultivator."

Zhou Qing had a few targets in mind that could serve as food.

The bandits of Huanglong Mountain's Golden Knife Stronghold are all wanted criminals.

The risk of provoking a Blood Transformation Realm Grand Martial Master is too great, but a Bone Refining Realm Martial Master is no longer a concern for Zhou Qing.

Thirty miles east of the county seat, there is a barren mountain on the east side of the Jiulian Mountains.

On the fifteenth of each month, the ghost market opens in the desolate mountains.

That night, a man wearing a mask and shrouded in a black robe stepped into a desolate mountain village, just like everyone else.

However, after entering the ghost market, this person ignored the bustling stalls on both sides of the road and went straight to the innermost alley of the village with a clear purpose, entering a dark shop with a half-closed door.

After entering, he closed the door tightly and went into the inner room.

The strong smell of medicine couldn't mask the pungent stench of blood.

The dimly lit interior was sparsely furnished, containing only a table, a chair, and a bed.

The candle on the corner of the table, half-burned, cast a dim yellow light, illuminating the middle-aged man sitting upright in the chair. He had a refined appearance, but at this moment his face was unusually pale, with dark circles under his eyes, looking like he was weak and anemic.

It was none other than Mu Renjie, who was being hunted down by the Witch God Cult.

Three months have passed since he killed Zhao, the protector of the Witch God Cult.

Judging from his condition, he had clearly suffered serious injuries in the previous battle, which is why he hadn't recovered for so long.

Mu Renjie seemed unsurprised by the appearance of the man in black robes. He remained seated and simply raised his head calmly.

The man who had just entered took off his black robe and removed his mask, revealing a plain, gaunt face.

"You've got some nerve, daring to notify me to come here. Aren't you afraid I'll spread the news that you're hiding here? The Witch God Cult has offered a reward of 50,000 taels of silver for your head."

Mu Renjie sneered, "Xiao Kang, don't try to play dumb with me. I don't believe that a mere 50,000 taels can be more attractive than the Fire Spirit Corpse!"
"If you want my life, you can do it now! I'm severely injured and unlikely to be your match."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kang smiled.
"Brother Mu, please calm down. Even though you are injured, the name 'Ghost Hand' is enough to make the great martial arts masters in the area wary."

Since I, Xiao, have come alone, I will naturally not be your enemy.

"I, Xiao, have come with sincerity. Look what this is!"

Xiao Kang took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom. As soon as he pulled out the stopper, a strange fragrance wafted out of the bottle.

"The Great Rejuvenation Pill?" Mu Renjie's gaze sharpened, his expression softening slightly.

"You are very generous."

Although the Great Rejuvenation Pill could not completely heal his injuries, it could temporarily suppress them and prevent them from worsening. In fact, Mu Renjie had not expected that when he first faced County Lieutenant Zhang Wancheng and Yuchi Jing of the Benlei Martial Arts School, under the siege of two masters who had undergone three blood transfusions, he only suffered minor injuries because he was eager to escape.

As a Grand Martial Master of the Blood Wolf Smoke Realm who had undergone four blood transfusions, he was actually seriously injured by Protector Zhao, a Grand Martial Master who had undergone two blood transfusions.

He never imagined that Protector Zhao would possess a one-time consumable divine weapon like the 'Soul-Destroying Nail'.

Even more deadly is that the Soul-Destroying Nail weapon contains the Blood Soul Curse, which not only severely damages the blood and qi of the cursed person, but also has tracking ability.

Mu Renjie didn't even have time to recover from his injuries before he consumed a large amount of true essence and blood to suppress the Blood Soul Curse.

Because once the Blood Soul Curse is activated, Lan Canghai, the leader of the Witch God Cult, will be able to pinpoint his location.

Even though Lan Canghai was injured in the battle with Wan Shentong, the leader of the Five Poisons Sect, a peak Blood Exchange Realm expert like Mu Renjie at his peak would probably not be able to withstand a single move.

To save his life, Mu Renjie had no choice but to cooperate with the imperial court.

To be precise, it was a collaboration with Xiao Kang, a military officer in the Demon Suppression Division.

"If we can obtain the Supreme Fire Spirit Corpse, I can even get ten Great Rejuvenation Pills for Brother Mu," Xiao Kang said with a smile.

The Blazing Sun Technique he cultivated was a superior internal skill with astonishing power.

However, a major bottleneck will be encountered after three, six, or nine blood transfusions.

Xiao Kang has now been stuck in a blood transfusion for ten years, having undergone three blood transfusions.

It wasn't that he couldn't break through, but rather that the transition from the third to the fourth Yang level of the Blazing Sun Technique was extremely dangerous, and he wasn't confident in his ability to break through.

If one fails, one's internal energy will be out of control, and one will be burned to death by the raging true energy.

Xiao Kang was also in a dilemma. If he changed his cultivation method, his strength would immediately decrease significantly. Even if he broke through to the Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke Realm after four blood exchanges, his hope of further progress would be slim.

The reason why superior internal skills are called superior internal skills is not only because they are powerful and difficult to master, but most importantly because they have a high upper limit and the potential to break through to a higher level.

If one could obtain the Supreme Fire Spirit Corpse to cultivate the Blazing Sun Technique, one could use the Supreme Fire Spirit Corpse's powerful physical body to suppress the violent Blazing Sun True Essence first.

In this way, Xiao Kang would have a chance to break through the bottleneck of three blood exchanges and enter the realm of Qi and Blood Smoke.

Moreover, given Xiao Kang's status, he could easily use the information from the Demon Suppression Division to find another natural fire-evil land to refine corpses.

With the help of the Fire Spirit Corpse, he even had a chance to glimpse the final realm of the four realms of blood exchange, the realm of the Blood Furnace.

At that time, the body's Qi and blood will be highly condensed, and the body will be able to maintain its peak Qi and blood level until the end of its life.

If one cultivates the Blazing Sun Skill to its peak, one will have the foundation to attempt the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top realm.

This temptation was simply irresistible to Xiao Kang.

Compared to breaking through to the next realm, the Demon Suppression Division and the family are nothing.

"Since you've chosen to cooperate with me, let me make this clear from the start. I can help you obtain the Fire Spirit Corpse, but you also need to use the information from the Demon Suppression Division to help me find the murderer who killed Yuan'er and assist me in obtaining the Wood Spirit Corpse," Mu Renjie said coldly.

“Of course.” Xiao Kang nodded with a smile and tossed the porcelain bottle in his hand to Mu Renjie.

After Mu Renjie took the porcelain bottle, he took out a file from his pocket.

"Lin Tianzheng died at the hands of Yao Xuewei more than a year ago, with Wei Shengxin's six newly recruited disciples assisting her."

After reading through the detailed information in the dossier, Mu Renjie's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"The Hundred Poison Yin Peach was lost for the second time on Black Wind Mountain. Yuan'er said that he encountered Lin Tianzheng and the Corpse Worm Gu King. It seems that the Lin Tianzheng at that time was one of the two of them in disguise."

"That person should be Zhou Qing, the sixth disciple of the Poison Demon," Xiao Kang analyzed.

"How so? With Yao Xuewei's strength, it's obviously easier for her to subdue the Corpse Worm King."

Mu Renjie looked at him.

Xiao Kang explained, "Yao Xuewei comes from the Yao family of the Central Plains. The Yao family's family-inherited martial art, Taiyi Gengjin Sword Technique, emphasizes the ultimate swordsmanship."

Aside from sword techniques, she would not practice any other martial arts or secret arts.

To subdue a ferocious creature like the Corpse Worm King, one needs to consume a large amount of essence and blood to feed it.

She had already prepared for breaking through to the Blood Exchange Realm, so it was impossible for her to abandon the fundamentals and forcibly subdue the Corpse Worm King.

Mu Renjie's gaze turned icy as he said in a deep voice, "In that case, the only one who could have subdued the Corpse Worm King is Wei Sheng's sixth disciple."

"That's right. Wei Sheng hasn't taken on any disciples for many years since Chen Hong's betrayal. The fact that he suddenly took on a personal disciple must mean there's something fishy about it."

Mu Renjie hadn't taken Zhou Qing seriously before. He was a silkworm farmer with mediocre talent and had only been practicing martial arts for about two years, so he wasn't worth Mu Renjie's attention.

The fact that they knew of Wei Sheng's existence was all due to the importance they placed on him.

Xiao Kang added, "Zhou Qing is a well-known figure. At first, I thought that Wei Sheng's decision to take him as a disciple was just a passing fancy."

Not long after he broke through the flesh barrier, he captured the seventh leader of the Golden Knife Stronghold, who had been severely injured by Yao Xuewei.

Although Yao Xuewei concealed some details about killing Lin Tianzheng, it's not hard to guess that Zhou Qing must have played a significant role in the process.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have given Zhou Qing such a precious Gu worm, the Corpse Worm Gu King, for nothing.

Furthermore, this person has secretly killed several leaders of the Golden Knife Stronghold in the past year; all of them were skilled practitioners at the Tendon Refining level, demonstrating that he has been concealing his strength.

Mu Renjie's face darkened. "With Yuan'er's strength, even if Yao Xuewei and Zhou Qing join forces, they won't be able to stop him."

Mu Renjie recalled what Protector Zhao had said earlier: Mu Yuan had tricked him into coming down the mountain.

Therefore, there is only one possibility: Zhou Qing used the Corpse Worm Gu King to manipulate Mu Yuan's corpse.

There must be other accomplices! And they must be experts.

Otherwise, even if they could win, it would be extremely difficult to keep the body intact.

Xiao Kang pondered and said, "This matter should have nothing to do with Yao Xuewei. On the night the Wood Spirit Corpse was lost, Yao Xuewei attended a farewell dinner held for her by her colleagues in the Demon Suppression Division."

However, the Poison Demon's eldest daughter, Wei Hongyu, secretly returned a few days ago. If he were to join forces with Zhou Qing, capturing Mu Yuan alive would seem...

(End of this chapter)