Starting with the Corpse-Eating Worm, he worked his way up to become the Left-Winged Immortal Lord.

"Where?"

Gu Qing inquired.

The young Taoist priest responded with a beaming smile, "It's in the main hall of Wufeng Temple... The young Taoist priest who came to deliver the message said that Steward Lu is discussing your becoming a disciple with the deputy abbot. Steward Lu intends to treat you as his last disciple."

"A disciple who has been sealed off from his master!"

Gu Qing was startled.

The so-called "closed-door disciple" is someone he will never accept again, and their importance is far beyond that of ordinary disciples.

If Lu Xingzhi, as the person in charge, regards him as his last disciple, then the attitude of Wufeng Temple towards him will undergo a great change.

This is a good thing.

And it's a very good thing.

If this matter is settled, Deng will be helpless after his return.

"I'm going to sleep with you." Gu Qing tossed out a five-tael silver ingot and headed straight for the main hall.

The young Taoist priest accepted the gift with both hands and said happily, "Thank you, Master Gu."

Not long after.

Gu Qing then arrived at the main hall of Wufeng Temple.

The main hall doors were wide open at that moment. Besides Lu Xingzhi and Daoist Qiuyue, there were many other cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. His senior brother, Ding Xian, was also among them. As soon as Gu Qing arrived at the door, Ding Xian quickly stepped forward and pulled him into the hall.

"Junior Brother Gu, you should listen to this too."

Ding Xian lowered his voice and gave a reminder.

"Um."

Gu Qing nodded, and then listened as a Taoist priest continued to report on the casualties from the previous night.

In an effort to protect the people of Changping County, three Taoist priests at the second level of Qi Refining died at the hands of a vengeful ghost, while thirteen Taoist priests at the third level of Qi Refining were injured to varying degrees.

Meanwhile, vengeful spirits and unorthodox sects wreaked havoc at Wufeng Temple, causing numerous casualties. Thirty-three novice Daoist disciples died, sixteen disciples at the first level of Qi Refining died, seven Daoist masters at the second level of Qi Refining died, and three Daoist masters at the third level of Qi Refining died.

As the casualty figures echoed through the main hall, the crowd felt a mixture of anger and sadness, their eyes reflecting a complex tapestry of emotions.

This was the biggest loss Wufeng Temple had suffered in decades, which made the monks, who were used to being high and mighty in Changping County, feel particularly frustrated.

At that moment, an angry voice erupted from the crowd.

"We must take revenge!"

This statement came out.

The crowd's anger was ignited.

"That's right."

"Those who dare to kill my fellow practitioners of Wufeng Temple must pay the price! All those who escaped must die!"

"revenge!"

"revenge!"

Angry voices, like thunder, echoed continuously within the hall.

"quiet."

Standing at the highest point, Lü Song raised his hand, and an unparalleled powerful aura temporarily suppressed everyone's anger.

When no one spoke again, Lü Song said frankly, "I met the culprit yesterday. I intended to capture him and use him as a blood sacrifice for the wounded cultivators of my Wufeng Temple. However, during the pursuit, we encountered several cultivators from the Tianli Sect who intervened, which allowed him to escape."

"What does the Heavenly Principle Sect want to do? Do they think the Xuanqing Academy doesn't exist?" Lu Xingzhi said angrily.

Master Qiuyue continued, "After so many years, the Heavenly Principles Sect has suddenly made a comeback, probably not just to help Deng Hui."

Hearing what the others said, Gu Qing frowned.

Although he didn't know what this so-called Heavenly Principle Sect was, the fact that they were able to rescue Deng Hui from the hands of the deputy abbot, who was only at the late stage of Qi Refining, showed that their strength was extraordinary. Therefore, even with the deputy abbot in charge of Wufeng Temple, it wasn't necessarily very safe.

"Even if Deng Hui had suspicions before, he would never have dared to break into Wufeng Temple, which was overseen by the deputy abbot. But now it's different."

Gu Qing felt a renewed sense of crisis.

Like him, many Taoist priests also looked rather grim.

Fortunately, Lü Song's next words quickly calmed everyone down.

"However, there's no need to worry. I've already reported this matter to the Xuanqing Academy, and someone from them should contact me within a few days. While I can't be sure who the Xuanqing Academy will send to deal with the Heavenly Principles Sect's troubles, I'm certain it will be either a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator... or a Foundation Establishment high-level cultivator!"

Upon hearing the words "Foundation Building and Advanced Cultivation," the crowd erupted in uproar.

Everyone present had cultivated for at least eight to ten years and knew how difficult cultivation was, not to mention what a realm Foundation Establishment was.

If a high-level cultivator who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage were to come, the troubles of the Heavenly Principle Sect could be easily resolved.

However, Gu Qing felt no joy, because he didn't believe that Xuanqing Academy was unaware of Deng Hui's collusion with the Heavenly Principles Sect. Moreover, Deng Hui had been in Changping County for almost a month; even an ordinary person should have been able to walk from the county seat to Changping County by now.

Then there's only one possibility—Xuanqingyuan doesn't seem to want to get involved.

The reason this deputy abbot didn't conceal Deng Hui's escape was probably because he feared the Heavenly Principle Sect would use it against him, so he simply revealed it first. His subsequent words of reassurance are not very credible.

"It seems Changping County is about to descend into chaos. The 'True Method of Foundation Establishment Without Return' is just the beginning. So many miscellaneous and unorthodox practitioners have already died at the very start, and the cultivators of Wufeng Temple... who knows how many more will die in the future..."

It seems I can't stay in Changping County any longer; I need to pass the assessment quickly and leave Changping County to enter Xuanqing Academy.

Gu Qing immediately made a decision in her heart.

He has a cheat code and corpse-eating worms, allowing him to develop steadily, so there's no need for him to get involved in the power struggles between factions.

The struggle between forces is not like the internal conflicts within the Wufeng Temple, where having a powerful backer makes others wary, or it could be a contest between two young disciples.

In power struggles, it's not uncommon for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to kill a group of early- or mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators with a wave of their hand.

……

Not long after.

Lü Song gave an inspiring speech before the crowd dispersed.

As everyone dispersed, Lu Xingzhi took the opportunity to call out to Gu Qing.

"Hey kid, come here."

Gu Qing quickly stepped forward, first bowing to Lü Song, and then to his master and Daoist Qiuyue.

"Disciple Gu Qing greets Abbot Lü... Daoist Qiuyue... Master!"

Master Qiuyue narrowed his eyes and carefully looked Gu Qing up and down without saying a word or showing any good expression.

Lu Song immediately focused his senses and began to carefully examine Gu Qing.

Gu Qing's heart tightened, and he was quite worried that this deputy abbot, who was in the late stage of Qi Refining, would see through the Yin magic within him.

however.

Gu Qing quickly realized that she had been overthinking things.

The stealth effect brought by the enhanced Shadowless Corpse-Eating Worm was indeed extraordinary. Even without the concealment talisman, the opponent could not see the full picture of his body.

However, after examining it closely, Lü Song gradually showed appreciation on his face. "Not bad, his blood and qi are abundant, and his internal yin energy is strong. He can rival an ordinary second-level Qi Refining cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining. No wonder he can forcibly control a first-level upper-realm alien insect."

"Thank you for your praise, Abbot Lü. It is all thanks to my master. If it weren't for him, I would have died last night."

Gu Qing agreed and attributed all the credit to Lu Xingzhi.

Lu Xingzhi stood by, smiling without saying a word, quite satisfied.

He liked his apprentice's intelligence.

It was worth it to treat him as my last disciple.

"Vice Abbot Lü, didn't that temple promise me a generous gift when I accepted my last disciple?"

Lu Xingzhi immediately spoke up, revealing the true purpose of summoning Gu Qing.