Chapter 310: Chapter 185: Gu Zheng is the Key

’The only way to save my skin is to not get shot and killed by those God-Hunting Arrows!’

"...We’re leaving!"

Suppressing the urge to explode with rage, Xiao Xing spun around and flew toward the exit.

"Ah? Right, right."

Xiao Duguang came to his senses and hurried to follow.

The few people who had sided with them scrambled to follow, their faces a mixture of shock and fear.

Fu Jinlong, Yong Xingdian, and the others also rushed for the exit, quickly leaving.

Xiao Xing had admitted defeat!

With Gu Zheng revealing his strength, Zhong Zhenghong speaking out, and the united front formed by Sang Qianying, Yang Sanyue, and the others, Xiao Xing had chosen to retreat!

To many of the onlookers, this was an indescribably bizarre turn of events.

And more than a little shocking!

No one present was a fool.

How could they fail to see that the key figure in this standoff was Gu Zheng?

His three Divine Seeds, operating at full capacity, had seized control of the Power of Heaven and Earth.

Three God-Hunting Arrows that threatened to kill Xiao Xing!

Without Gu Zheng, Xiao Xing would never have backed down!!

And so, Xiao Xing, Xiao Duguang, and their group departed through the exit.

A silence fell over the remaining people. No one spoke.

Gu Zheng was the first to speak, recalling his God-Hunting Arrows and calling out to the crowd, "Let’s head outside before we discuss this further."

"Right!"

"Yes, yes, let’s go outside first."

"..."

Shaken from their stupor, the group leaped into the air.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

One by one, they followed the entrance passage out of the Nine Heavens Shadow Realm.

「Back on the shore of the lake in the Celestial Gate Mountain Range.」

Zuo Lingfeng planted his feet on the ground and scanned his surroundings. Taking a deep breath, a look of relief spread across his tense face.

He was usually a man of few words. The only reason he had sided with Gu Zheng and called out to Zhong Tianlong and Zhong Zhenghong for help was because of Xiao Xing’s overwhelming aura.

Fortunately, Xiao Xing had assessed the situation and chosen to leave with his men.

"Hmph. He certainly ran off fast enough."

Yang Xiao finished scanning the area. Seeing no sign of Xiao Xing’s group, he scoffed, "So what was it that someone snatched from Xiao Xing? What was so important that he was willing to offend everyone and conduct forced searches?"

"No idea."

Gu Zheng shook his head. "Zuo and I were stopped the moment we got here."

"They said it was a Void Divine Stone."

Feng Wuji explained with a sigh, "Xiao Xing, Yong Xingdian, and Fu Jinlong discovered a Void Divine Stone in some ruins. As they were fighting each other for it, someone else arrived and used the opportunity to secretly snatch it away."

"When Xiao Xing discovered the Divine Stone was gone, he lost his head, rushed back to the entrance to guard the exit, and started forcefully searching everyone."

"A Void Divine Stone?" Yang Sanyue nodded. "No wonder Xiao lost his mind. That’s a supreme treasure of heaven and earth, capable of helping him form his Domain. One might not appear for millennia, and even when one does, it’s always in some remote, forbidden land."

"So what?"

Qing Yuanfeng snorted. "That Xiao fellow never even had the Void Divine Stone in his possession. The treasure doesn’t belong to him; it belongs to whoever ends up with it. Did he really think he could just push us all around because he has a Half-King Body? In his dreams!"

"If it weren’t for Grand General Gu, he really could have pushed us around,"

Feng Wuji said grimly, "The rest of us combined couldn’t have lasted three of his moves. Even with Sister Sang, we’d only hold out for ten at most. But with Grand General Gu, we could fight him to a draw. And with the God-Hunting Arrows, we even had a chance to kill him!"

"Exactly. I never would have imagined Grand General Gu was already at the third stage of the Heroic Body and had even formed three Divine Seeds."

Yang Sanyue remarked with emotion, her eyes shining as she looked at Gu Zheng. "Three Divine Seeds... Once Grand General Gu advances to the King’s Body, he’ll be virtually invincible below the True Body realm."

"You’re exaggerating."

Gu Zheng just smiled and waved his hand. "Eldest Princess, you give me too much credit. I’ve mostly gotten this far on pure luck. Advancing to the King’s Body is a distant dream. I might never make it in this lifetime. Isn’t that why Xiao Xing lost his temper and drew everyone’s ire—because he can’t advance? He must be pretty old by now, right?"

"Not young at all. He’s almost three hundred,"

Yang Xiao said with a laugh. "And I mean his actual physical age. Xiao Xing has been active for a very, very long time. Including this one, he’s participated in three of these millennial shifts."

"See?" Gu Zheng spread his hands. "Xiao Xing is almost three hundred and still can’t break through. That just shows how difficult it is to reach the King’s Body."

Treasures like the Void Divine Stone were exceedingly rare.

Naturally, Gu Zheng wasn’t about to reveal that he had it.

Even though he was on good terms with Feng Wuji, Yang Sanyue, Sang Qianying, and the rest of their group for now...

...when something as crucial as advancing to the King’s Body was at stake, who knew if they might not get other ideas?

The hearts and minds of men were not something one should ever put to the test.

...

"Haha, I’m sure Grand General Gu will be able to advance to the King’s Body realm!"

Mu Yunfeng laughed heartily, then cupped his fist in a salute to the crowd. "Everyone, our business in the Shadow Realm is finished. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave. Grand General Gu, if you ever find yourself in the Original Dragon Dao, be sure to contact me. Allow me to show you proper hospitality!"

"Of course."

Gu Zheng returned the salute. "If I have the chance to visit the Original Dragon Dao, I’ll be sure to ask you for a drink, Mu."

"Haha, I’ll be waiting for you then!"

Mu Yunfeng laughed, saluted the group once more, and bid them farewell.

With that, he leaped into the air and vanished over the horizon.

"We should be going as well."

Sang Qianying and Sang Qianfan followed suit, cupping their fists. "Our business here is done, so we’ll be heading back. Grand General Gu, if you ever have the chance to visit the Hidden Dragon Dao, don’t forget to find us."

Both Sang Qianying and Sang Qianfan extended the invitation to Gu Zheng with warm smiles.

"I will," Gu Zheng replied with a salute.

"Let’s leave together."

Yang Sanyue called out to her companions. "We’re heading back too. Grand General Gu, don’t forget that the gates of our Shang Country are always open to you."

"We look forward to your visit, Grand General Gu," Yang Xiao said, cupping his fist in a formal bow.

"I’ll be sure to visit if I have the chance," Gu Zheng replied, returning the gesture.

He then watched as their group took to the air, swiftly departing until they vanished over the horizon.

He had already exchanged contact information with Sang Qianying, Mu Yunfeng, and the others while they were still in the Shadow Realm.

"Tch, you’re quite the popular one, aren’t you, Gu?"

Qing Yuanfeng observed this and teased, "So, what do you think, Gu? Have you considered our Qing King family’s Yichan? You wouldn’t even have to marry into our family. As long as you marry Yichan..."

"Uncle! What are you talking about?"

Qing Yichan cut him off, her face beet red. "What’s all this about marrying into a family? Gu and I are comrades, we’re friends! There’s none of that other nonsense."

"Yes, exactly," Gu Zheng quickly chimed in. "Miss Qing, as well as Qing Yixiao, Qing Yiran, and the others—we’re all good friends."

"Pfft~"

Qing Yuanfeng scoffed. "You’re all young, what’s there to be shy about? Let me tell you, if you like someone, you have to be brave and say it! Shout it from the rooftops! If you don’t go a little crazy when you’re young, are you going to wait until you’re old and gray?"

"Don’t be shy, Gu. Our Yichan, she..."

"Uncle!"

Qing Yichan cut him off again, exclaiming in exasperation, "Stop talking nonsense! Gu, I’ll see you next time. I’m leaving!"

With that, she leaped into the air and fled, disappearing from view as if escaping.

"Hahaha..."

Qing Yuanfeng roared with laughter. "She’s embarrassed! Yichan is just embarrassed. Gu..."

"Uncle, I have things to do as well, so I’ll be taking my leave,"

Gu Zheng cut him off, at a loss for words. He cupped his fist toward Nangong Yaoguang, Li Cunyi, Feng Wuji, and the others. "Everyone, I’ll be taking my leave!"

With that, he signaled to Zuo Lingfeng, and the two of them leaped into the air, flying off in the direction of Jing Country.

"The youngsters these days are really something else."

Back on the lake shore, Feng Wuji watched the figures of Gu Zheng and Zuo Lingfeng disappear over the horizon and sighed in admiration. "Gu Zheng is at the third stage of the Heroic Body, and that companion of his is about to reach the second stage. Did any of you see when that guy entered the Nine Heavens Shadow Realm?"

"I don’t think... he came in with us, did he?" Nangong Yaoguang said, the realization dawning on her with a start.

"That’s right! He wasn’t in the group that went in with us!"

Li Cunyi chimed in.

"He didn’t enter the Shadow Realm with us?"

Qing Yuanfeng’s smile vanished. "Then when did he get in?" he asked, puzzled. "After us?"

"No!"

Feng Wuji said grimly, "He used some other method to enter the Shadow Realm!"

"How do you know?"