The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 173 Surprise (Part 2)

The Dao Master of "Extinction" Dao, the "Four Phases Calamity Master," was not present today, but as the universally acknowledged mad leader, everyone present was still very wary of her.

Even though this "Four-Phase Calamity Master" is relatively young, a newcomer who joined the Demonic Sect later.

However, in terms of overt combat strength, "Four-Phase Robbery Lord" and "Defeated Lord" are evenly matched, ranking at least in the top three among the ten Dao Lords.

The remaining position is a strong contender for the positions held by the leaders of the "Life" and "Reveal" paths.

The other Dao Lords, relatively speaking, were not good at fighting.

After all, there is a sequence to learning, and everyone has their own area of ​​expertise.

"Craftsmanship," "righteousness," "cause and effect," "constancy"... these "Tao" principles were not created for combat, and naturally, they do not have many positive means of combat.

But no one doubts their strength and destructive power; at most, they are only at the second rank and not good at one-on-one combat.

Of course, we also know that this is just how others perceive it at present.

Once the true colors of a certain "Hengyang Changzhou" old man are revealed, he can pack up and send the rest of the people away.

The characteristics of the "Four Phases of Robbery" are also very obvious.

Everyone knew that this Dao Lord of "Extinction" possessed a divine power called "Karma Wheel of the Sea of ​​Calamity," which could transform all the cycles of birth and death in the world into immense karmic force.

With the help of this karma, the combat power of the "Four-Phase Lord" can also soar to a terrifying level.

However, every time she takes action, she consumes karma, which is equivalent to reversing her progress in destroying the world. Naturally, she is not happy about this, so the "Four-Phase Calamity Master" does not actually take action very often.

But how terrifying she was when she made a move was something that several leaders of the Demonic Sect had witnessed firsthand.

Otherwise, the Demonic Sect wouldn't use the "Extinction" Path as its trump card; it would only resort to the "Extinction" Path when the "Death" Path couldn't solve the problem.

How many vengeful spirits are floating in that "Chain of Calamity and Karma"? Don't they know?
At this moment, when Gu Fangchen said that he was going to pretend to be the Dao Master of the "Extinction" Dao, the first reaction of everyone else was that this guy was really arrogant. In order to prove his identity, he dared to say any nonsense!
No matter how skilled you are at "love," it's essentially just relying on illusion.

Without cultivation, the "path of love" is essentially that of a con artist in the martial arts world, using the same tricks as other con artists.

For illusions to achieve the perfect effect, there are usually two prerequisites.

First, the difference in cultivation level cannot be too great.

Secondly, there is coordination with other elements to divert attention.

For example, at the Qionglin Banquet, Gu Fangchen made a stunning first move, triggering a celestial phenomenon with her copying of texts, drawing everyone's attention to herself.

No one noticed Qing Jian and Lao Ding in the corner at all, and those who knew the situation didn't dare to pay too much attention to Wu Sheng and Xi Yin.

Otherwise, given his cultivation level at the time, the chances of the "Mirage Formation" being exposed would have been quite high.

At least one of the two conditions must be met to work in conjunction with illusion to achieve a seamless effect.

Another possibility is that they have prepared meticulously for a long time in advance, adding multiple layers of illusion magic.

In everyone's eyes, Gu Fangchen at this moment was indeed the leader of the "Love" Path, or rather, a member of the "Love" Path who intended to seize the position of leader in one fell swoop.

The fact that it's so flawless now must be the result of his meticulous preparation over a long period of time.

Now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, and with everyone's cultivation levels roughly the same, this guy's cultivation level might even be lower.

The illusions cast on the spot, coupled with the need to disguise oneself as a being of the "Extinction" Dao Master's cultivation level, presented numerous disadvantages.

Even a mirage formation couldn't achieve that!
The faces of the Dao Lords had just begun to show expressions of disbelief and disapproval in their eyes.

Then, they saw the enormous golden wheel rising slowly!

The first section describes the beginning of all things, the second section describes the constancy of all phenomena, the third section describes the impermanence of all things, and the fourth section describes Nirvana and the return to stillness... The cycle of four kalpas continues, and all things are born and die!

"boom!"

As the wheels turned, the deafening roar made everyone's bodies tremble and their pupils constrict.

This giant wheel has only rolled over a tiny distance, yet countless karmic burdens and calamities have been generated within it.

The immense karmic force surged forth along with the ever-changing illusions of all living beings within the giant golden wheel, instantly distorting the entire secret chamber in a state of spacetime distortion.

The surrounding walls and ground seemed to be stretched and twisted, as if they were about to be pulled under the wheel and become part of it.

Once activated, this "Chain of Calamity" has an effect like a black hole.

Everything that is touched will be drawn into it, undergoing cycles of birth and death, and finally turning into nothingness.

Without a sufficiently high level of cultivation to support it, this supernatural power can even devour the power's wielder!
That's why Lu Fuyi was so incredulous and couldn't believe that Gu Fangchen could steal the "Sea of ​​Calamity" and emerge unscathed!
Previously, the "Chaos Wheel of Calamity" was classified as an item by the system, and Gu Fangchen's soul was treated as a backpack inside, where it stayed perfectly well, completely bound by Gu Fangchen's own karma.

Now that Gu Fangchen has revealed it, the golden wheel is like a wild horse that has broken free of its reins, immediately displaying its terrifying aura!

Inside the sealed room, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, and an extremely dangerous premonition arose in their hearts.

All six people present were Dao Lords with profound cultivation. Witnessing the sight of the golden wheel spinning, they all felt their hair stand on end and broke out in a cold sweat.

The Six Star Lords' expression changed drastically. They were the first to react and instinctively raised their hands to form a hand seal, trying to use the power of cause and effect to control the rotation of the "Chain of Karma in the Sea of ​​Calamity".

The other Dao Lords, who were not skilled in combat, were so frightened that their expressions contorted, and they shouted:

"Stop it! Stop it!"

Even the "Bad Gentleman," who originally wanted to see what Gu Fangchen was up to, straightened his back, gripped the longsword resting on the ground in front of him, and almost drew it.

Just kidding, when the "Four Phases Robbery Master" unleashes his ultimate move, how many people would dare to stand still and take the hit head-on?
Isn't that seeking death?

Fortunately, "Bad Lord" still remembered that the person in front of him was Gu Fangchen herself, not someone who was involved in the "love" path, and even less likely to be the "Four Phases Calamity Master".

So... this really is an illusion?

"Yu Bai Gong" couldn't help but raise his head and look at the huge, lifelike, and exquisitely crafted golden wheel.

This is a bit too realistic... Even he couldn't tell it was an illusion.

This kid is really quite capable!
No wonder they knew about Xuanling...

Even the well-informed "Bad Gentleman" was so frightened that he drew his sword; needless to say, the others were even more terrified.

Amidst the chaos, Gu Fangchen, with a golden wheel atop the back of her head, smiled and said:

"Gentlemen, what do you think of my improved and upgraded 'Mirage Formation'?"

"Did you spot any flaws? If you did, be sure to tell me so I can go back and revise it..."

Ha, this is the real deal stolen from the "Four-Phase Robbery Master"!
If his flaws could be seen through, he could marry the "Four-Phase Robbery Master"!
His words startled the Dao Lords who had taken several steps back, causing them to pause for a moment before realizing that it was merely an illusion.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed at being so frightened by the illusion, they coughed twice and returned to their original positions, cautiously looking at the gleaming golden wheel that still exuded a terrifying pressure.

General Qianmo looked at Gu Fangchen with a probing gaze and pondered:
"This 'mirage array' is truly extraordinary..."

He was most skilled in array formations, but he couldn't sense that the other party was casting an array, and he couldn't see even a trace of it.

Naturally, some doubts arose in his mind. The charcoal seller let out a long sigh and exclaimed:

"Yes, I couldn't see a single flaw; it looked exactly like the real thing! It's truly amazing skill!"

The Daoist Master of the "Craftsmanship" Dao looked on in astonishment, his eyes shining:
"Indeed, I have made a fool of myself. Just now, I was so confused that I thought the 'Four-Phase Calamity Lord' had come in person, and I was so scared that I almost ran away. Hehe..."

Even the usually reserved "Decadent Lord" spoke with a solemn tone:

"It is indeed extraordinary."

"If I hadn't been told beforehand that it was a 'mirage,' I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between the real and the fake."

In truth, he genuinely doubted whether this kid was really carrying out the real deal...

However, this guess is ten times more terrifying than the other party possessing illusion techniques that are so realistic they can fool even the most discerning eye!
Even he dared not think about it too much...

The "Six Star Lords" immediately and calmly stopped making hand seals, nodded, and said:
"It's just like it! It really is!"

"This illusion technique... is unparalleled. All the previous Dao Masters of the 'Emotion' Dao would have to admit that they are inferior. Your position as Dao Master is perfectly justified."

Gu Fangchen's smile remained unchanged.

On the other side, Ying Liangxin swayed, her face ashen, as if she had lost her parents.

The moment she saw the golden wheel, she knew she couldn't defeat this guy who had suddenly appeared.

At this moment, the meaning became even clearer when the "Six Star Lords" spoke.

Regardless of who the Dao Master of "Love" was before, now the only one who has gained recognition is the other person!
After all, what the evil cult needs is value and practicality.

Ying Liangxin's limit was to avoid making mistakes in her previous actions, but this guy's superb illusion skills were clearly more useful for what the Demonic Sect wanted to do!
The moment the phrase "Six Star Lords" was uttered, Ying Liangxin's thoughts were no longer in control.

Ying Liangxin pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and the longsword in her hand, hidden in the cave ring, was ready to strike.

The evil cult has no sense of morality whatsoever.

She lost today, and the other party, in order to seize power, will most likely kill her!
Who knows, today might actually be an opportunity... In any case, she must escape alive!
But just as she had the idea, Gu Fangchen, as if she had foreseen it, sneered:
"Watch the moon!"

Guan Yue immediately took action, making hand seals to open the mechanism in the secret chamber, and flew over to grab Ying Liangxin.

Ying Liangxin had long been disgusted by this fat, bloated man, and had heard that he was a womanizer who loved to torment women. When she saw him reach out to grab her, many disgusting images flashed through her mind.

She immediately gritted her teeth and flew towards the secret door of the secret room.

—The fact that the other party was able to enter through the main gate of the Weichuan Chamber of Commerce and even subdue Guanyue means that the entire Weichuan Chamber of Commerce is already under their control. If she were to break out through the main gate, she would be playing right into their hands.

Gu Fangchen had anticipated her escape route and had already positioned herself to block the path closest to the hidden door while everyone's attention was diverted.

Upon seeing this, she immediately snorted coldly and stomped her foot imposingly, actually crushing a "mermaid's tear" beneath her feet.

The "Mermaid's Tears" shattered, and the array on it was activated, instantly unfolding around him.

Then, he took two steps slowly and deliberately, and stood right at the entrance of the hidden door.

Ying Liangxin drew his sword, his eyes filled with hatred, and was about to make a move when he suddenly felt that the sword in his hand was as if it had its own consciousness, and it was incredibly heavy!

She was startled; in that instant of hesitation, Guan Yue had already caught up with her.

Ying gritted his teeth, gripped the sword that was a hundred times heavier, and charged toward Gu Fangchen, wanting to fight to the death.

Gu Fangchen smiled slightly, stretched out two fingers, and pinched the gleaming sword blade between them.

How can it be? !
Ying Liangxin looked shocked and desperate. She was a fourth-rank sword cultivator, how could she be taken down so easily?
Gu Fangchen said calmly:

"A mere trick, yet you dare to struggle in your death throes!"

What he just stepped on and shattered was the "Sword Binding Formation".

This formation is derived from the incomplete "Yi Jian Fa" (弈剑法) passed down from the Great Dao Sword Palace to later generations.

It is specifically designed for sword-type weapons.

However, it is not as abnormal as the "Swordplay Technique". It only makes the sword cultivator feel as if the sword in his hand is controlled by the opponent, thus damaging the opponent's Dao heart.

That's right, this is actually an illusion array as well.

The sword is actually only slightly affected; most of the influence is a subtle illusion.

If the other party has any confidence, they will immediately notice something is wrong.

Therefore, the more fearful and tense a sword cultivator is, the better the effect!

Having just witnessed Gu Fangchen's terrifying "Mirage Formation," Ying Liangxin's fear of the former had clearly reached its peak.

That's why Gu Fangchen was able to win her over so easily.

Right now, this seemingly light clamping motion has actually used up all of Gu Fangchen's strength.

It takes a lot of effort to appear effortless.

But Ying Liangxin had no idea that she would suddenly lose the courage to resist. Guan Yue grabbed her, and the illusion on her body was broken, revealing a charming face with the air of a demoness.

Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow, reached out and pinched her chin, clicking her tongue in amazement:

"So she's quite the beauty, huh? But with only a fourth-rank cultivation, she dares to impersonate me and swindle people. She's really got some nerve!"

"Guan Yue, take her to my room. I will interrogate her personally!"

Guan Yue, acting as a lackey, nodded silently, grabbed the person, and vanished in a flash.

The others saw that Ying Liangxin, with his eyes closed and an unyielding expression, was only at the fourth rank in cultivation. Judging from his appearance and demeanor, he was indeed not the Daoist Master of the "Emotion" Dao.

In an instant, the last shred of doubt that had remained vanished.

Gu Fangchen walked to Ying Liangxin's original spot and successfully blended in.

"Alright, we'll stop today's meeting. One person is still missing."

"The Six Star Lords" said.

Gu Fangchen wasn't surprised. Instead, she looked at the empty seat, her smile unchanged.

"Gu Yuye?"

The Six Star Lords nodded:
"Yes."

Gu Fangchen's smile deepened.

Gu Yuye, Gu Yuye, I wonder if the Prince of Zhenbei will be surprised or delighted to see him?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I'd like to recommend a friend's book, "Celebrity Rankings," which is an entertainment-themed book. You might want to check it out if you're interested!
(End of this chapter)