Immortality begins with becoming a master weapon refiner

Chapter 196 Suppressing the Arrogant Gu Qing in Huilongguan

The position of Elder Shoubao was a place that Gu Qing had been eyeing before leaving the mountain gate, much like a mouse living in a rice jar.

He's different; he eats one or two ounces of rice and then spits out one and a half ounces.

The reasonable amount of firepower he received was not considered corruption; it was just some minor secret. The abundant material library also made it easier for him to improve his weapon-refining skills.

With few responsibilities, great power, and ample profits, one has time to focus on spiritual practice.

It's similar to the freedom he valued in Elder Tanyou; each has its own advantages, so there's no need to weigh it further—the decision has already been made.

After the results of the Refining Hall meeting were announced...

Reactions varied, with people in different positions paying attention to different news. For example, Gu Qing's friends all noticed his news and sent their blessings and promotion gifts.

It doesn't have to be expensive; the thought that counts is enough.

In the following days, Gu Qing was in contact with Lian Chuqing, mainly to learn about the top-level array set up in the weapon refining hall's treasure vault, as well as to take over the documents and jade slips that recorded the information, some tokens that could access different parts of the treasure vault, and so on.

He couldn't afford to be careless with this; it was the ledger.

You have to take responsibility for your mistakes.

He also needs to review each item in the treasure catalog to ensure there is no fraud before accepting it.

Even Chu Qing was not offended by this; on the contrary, he praised Gu Qing's caution.

"In both work and life, caution is paramount, and Elder Gu has done a very good job."

"Your Highness flatters me. I started out in Qingping and am used to doing things this way. Please don't blame me for being rigid."

"Hahahaha, no, no, Grandfather told me to take good care of you. Come visit me during your day off and we'll have a good drink together."

Hearing the title of Palace Master made Lian Chuqing even happier.

His enthusiasm was so great, he was practically ready to become sworn brothers with Gu Qing. And the title of "grandfather" was undoubtedly Lian Chutiangong.

strong.

It took half a month just to handle all the matters related to the treasure vault; there were just too many things to deal with.

It took three days to contact Situ Feng.

This person was quite indifferent and seemed to have a slight grudge against Gu Qing's appearance, but he didn't show it completely, only revealing a little bit, it was hard to tell whether it was intentional or accidental.

Once everything is back on track and the storm has subsided.

It had been two months since Gu Qing returned to Baiyue Mountain. During that time, he had met with Jiang Yuan and Elder Yao in private, but they hadn't paid much attention to him.

Elder Jiang Yuan was even somewhat pleased, saying: "Without distractions, he will have more time to cultivate. Once he enters the Ancestral Hall, everything will be different."

The probability of a breakthrough is hard to say.

The transition from the seventh rank to the sixth rank is akin to a mortal ascending to immortality, a transformation that has blocked countless geniuses; it's no exaggeration to say that only one in a thousand can advance.

Otherwise, after so many years of development, Baiyue Mountain wouldn't only have thirty-seven patriarchs.

With power in hand, Gu Qing slightly relaxed his cultivation.

He began to move between various factions, building relationships and cultivating connections, while also spreading rumors to suppress Huilongguan.

Huilongguan was just one of the lesser powers of the Yan state.

There weren't even any seventh-grade cultivators; it would be easy for Gu Qing, a powerful elder, to control them.

Most of his disciples practiced alchemy and were affiliated with the Pill Hall. Among them, only Zhang Yuan, his childhood friend, was an inner disciple of the Pill Hall, wearing a purple robe. The other disciples were not of high rank and could only mingle in the four subordinate organizations under the Pill Hall.

Gu Qing spoke up, and naturally, those who wanted to curry favor with him took action.

This is the charm of power.

Within three months, all the disciples of Huilongguan in Baiyue Mountain lost their positions, and the resources provided by the mountain gate were also withheld for various reasons. Their lives went from being well-off to being poor, and most of them could not bear it.

Various reasons and rumors spread like wildfire among the lower-level disciples.

On this day, Gu Qing, whose cultivation had improved again, received a visiting card from Zhang Yuan.

He had already planned to take action against Huilongguan, so his deliberate omission of Zhang Yuan when he returned to the mountain was a form of notification.

"Let him in."

His residence was still the Crimson Fire Abode, but after renovation by the sect, it was several times larger and had many more sect servants, all of whom were beautiful ninth-rank female cultivators.

This is considered one of the benefits for the elders of the mountain gate.

He could also choose a sect's property to belong to him. Gu Qing had abundant resources and was not short of money, so he chose a spiritual mountain in the Ministry of Agriculture as an asset, where he could grow some spiritual rice and fruits for himself.

It was only worth two or three thousand spirit stones, and he had little intention of further developing it, mainly because he found it troublesome. He handed it over to the Guhuoniao and only took care of enjoying it.

A few moments.

Zhang Yuan, whom he hadn't seen for many years, walked in somewhat reservedly. When he saw Gu Qing, who was seated at the head of the table, his expression was rather complicated.

"Qing... Elder Gu Qing."

"You have something to say."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Zhang Yuan felt somewhat ashamed.

“I know I have no right to say these things, but the disciples of Huilongguan are innocent. They were dragged into this old grudge and are truly innocent.”

Gu Qing sneered.

"So you're willing to be used as a pawn?"

"If they tell you to come, then come. If you still consider me a friend, then don't speak up for them."

Zhang Yuan choked and sighed deeply.

"I know your target wasn't them."

“Then let the abbot of Huilong Temple come to see me. He must kneel down to enter, and I will let the others go.”

"I see."

Zhang Yuan walked out the door dejectedly, glanced back at Gu Qing one last time, and ultimately did not linger.

From today onwards, Gu Qing had his grudges against Huilongguan spread far and wide.

Six-year-old children, still in their mortal stage, were persecuted by accomplished cultivators. Not only were their masters' teachings taken away, but in the chaos of the world, children were driven down the mountain one by one.

There's a high probability they'll become "rotten bones" in the rioters' pot.

It was no different from being harmed; surviving was no easy feat. After learning what had happened, those with a sense of justice naturally condemned Huilongguan, while those with a profit-driven mindset joined the crackdown, seeking a legitimate way to divide this spoils.

A month later, someone Gu Qing never expected intervened in the dispute.

Dan Dian, Wan Yi Zhenren!
In the Purple Bamboo Garden, at the Tranquil Pavilion, Jiang Xi'er was not there, so she sought out Gu Qing alone to discuss the matter.

To be honest, before the conversation, Gu Qing had a very good impression of Wan Yi Zhenren. Wan Yi Zhenren resembled an old father protecting his daughter, and Gu Qing's resistance to the approach of this "yellow-haired" man was understandable.

The compensation offered also satisfied him quite a bit.

But today is different.

“Your feud with Huilongguan has caused quite a stir recently, affecting the reputation of Dandian.”

Gu Qing frowned slightly.

"What the real person means is..."

"Up to this point, Huilong Temple is a member of the 'Huichun Hall' under the Dan Palace. This hall was established by my master and is responsible for researching and selling various healing and recovery pills."

"Zhang Yuan aspires to become a Daoist physician. My junior brother, 'True Man Fu Liu,' who is the head of the Rejuvenation Hall, accepted Zhang Yuan as his last disciple. This was also his intention."

Gu Qing still tolerated it somewhat.

"Is this Master Fu Liu's intention, or yours?"

Upon hearing this, Master Wanyi was somewhat dissatisfied. In his eyes, Gu Qing was still at the peak of the eighth rank and had only obtained the position of Guardian Elder because of Lian Chutiangong's favor.

The tone was a bit too harsh, which was unpleasant.

"Both are available, how would you choose?"

Gu Qing closed his eyes to weigh the gains and losses, but his anger was hard to contain.

Master Wanyi, the eldest disciple of the 29th Patriarch, had three fellow disciples who were all at the True Person realm: Wanyi, Fuliu, and Hedan.

He is a seventh-grade master with multiple magical treasures bestowed by his master, a sixth-grade peak alchemist, and a pillar of the master-disciple faction.

Their background, abilities, and authority far surpass his.

However, stopping at this point would be a blow to his reputation and moral integrity.

After a long while, Gu Qing frowned and stared coldly at him.

"Don't tell others to do good without suffering others' suffering."

“A mortal’s life is only sixty or seventy years. If he were a mortal, I, Gu Qing, am not the kind of person who holds grudges. I would let it go.”

"But he is a cultivator, a true cultivator at the peak of the eighth rank!"

"He had such cultivation fifty years ago. Ordinary people could not protect hundreds of people in the Taoist temple in chaotic times, but he could. He was even considered one of the best in the Yan Kingdom."

"If it's for food, for survival, I have nothing to say, but for anything else..."

"His crime deserves to be punished."

"One is to seize the inheritance of my mentor."

"Secondly, they have the intention to harm me and have wronged me for damaging the Daoist scriptures."

"The three things that mislead me are: brothers fighting each other, treating enemies as fathers, and the corruption of human relations."

"I, Gu Qingsheng, was born with congenital defects and a weak constitution. Fortunately, I was adopted by my mentor, which allowed me to grow into adulthood."

"To give birth and not raise is a debt that can be repaid with a severed finger; to raise before birth is a debt that can never be repaid in a hundred generations."

"Master Wanyi, do you still intend to stop me?"

Master Wanyi's expression was solemn. Gu Qing's words were quite serious, almost as if he were saying that this grudge would definitely be avenged.

"With your personality, it will be difficult for you to stay in Baiyue Mountain for long."

Gu Qing scoffed.

"Heh~"

"you know me?"

"What position must a real person be in to reprimand a stranger they've only met twice?"

"Gu Qing did not formally become a disciple in Baiyue Mountain, so why do people all want to lecture me like they've been there before or are my masters?"

"You...you brat, how dare you!"

Bang————

The white jade tea table suddenly shattered, and flames erupted around Gu Qing. The intense heat of the burning gold fire caused the surrounding bamboo forest to spontaneously combust.

"Elder of the Pill Hall manages the private affairs of Elders of the Weapon Refining Hall."

"Master Wanyi, you're quite the imposing figure. If you can't be persuaded, are you trying to force me?"

Gu Qing still restrained himself somewhat, but the aura he released had already reached the seventh rank.

This greatly shocked Master Wanyi.

"You...made a breakthrough?"

"Otherwise what? The position of elder requires a seventh-grade cultivation level. You don't think I got the position through connections, do you?"

Gu Qing is only seventy years old this year, and will break through to the seventh rank before he is a hundred years old.

Among the true disciples of the Three Peaks and Twelve Palaces, they are all top-tier, with the potential to reach the sixth rank.

"Let's leave it at that for today."

Gu Qing extinguished the flames and said calmly.

“This matter is not over until the abbot of Huilong Temple is dead. If he does not come to pay his respects to me, I will go to his door to find him.”

There is no room for maneuver.

Gu Qing turned and left. Things were different now. In the past, he had to swallow his anger, but now he was not afraid of the power of the Wan Yi Zhenren lineage.

Lian Chutian's support is one of the reasons for his confidence.

The master of Huilongguan is doomed; no one can save him. If there is an even larger network of connections, then we will fight. A seventh-rank cultivator is a pillar of strength wherever he is; he belongs to the high-end forces.

He was able to thrive in the demon realm, unafraid of the demon king.

The same applies to Baiyue Mountain!
(End of this chapter)