Chapter 87: Chapter 83: No Personal Grudges, Only the Dao Struggle!

Gu Yuan descended from the Escape Light, his steps unfaltering as he walked straight through the grand hall and into the inner sanctum.

Instantly, numerous eyes swept towards him.

The positions on the inner sanctum’s cushions were long determined; these sixteen individuals had endured countless struggles to secure a spot. Typically, disciples outside the grand hall dared not intrude casually.

If someone entered the inner sanctum, it signified a new struggle, so everyone’s gazes were cold.

Yet, Gu Yuan remained unafraid, hands clasped behind his back, Daoist robe flowing, even carrying a smile at the corner of his lips.

Such confident demeanor made everyone in the hall furrow their brows.

A few, upon recognizing Gu Yuan’s appearance, displayed a look of anger.

"It’s that little thief!"

But sensing the thick aura on Gu Yuan, their expressions changed quickly, lowering their heads as if fearing his gaze.

This little thief could plunder Spirit Peak at Qi Refining Seventh Layer; now, at the Peak of Qi Refining Eighth Layer, what formidable strength must he possess?

The strange behavior of a few did not escape the other cultivators, making the rest furrow their brows.

The few cultivators who had just entered Qi Refining Eighth Layer were especially anxious.

Still, Gu Yuan’s eyes briefly swept over the last few, then looked past them.

His visit today bore a strategy; the last seat had many inconveniences.

Then he strode forward, step by step through the crowd.

Each person he passed breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Yuan only stopped at the second seat in the first row.

Seeing this, a youth with Eight-leaf Daoist Robe, eyes seemingly gleaming with silver light, coldly lifted his head. Yet, before he could speak coldly, a gentle voice reached his ears.

"The contention for seats is also a contention in cultivation. Senior Brother, you have reached the Peak of Qi Refining Eighth Layer, as have I. Today, why don’t we showcase our skills to verify Dao Practice?"

"This matter has no relation to personal grievances, merely a struggle for the great Dao!"

Gu Yuan clasped his sleeves together, performing a bow, speaking to the youth.

The youth was momentarily stunned.

If Gu Yuan had spoken disrespectfully, arrogantly, or domineeringly, or bullied the weak, he would’ve angrily rebuked, or formed alliances, called upon friends to suppress him.

But Gu Yuan’s statement was sincere, truly making him unable to refute.

The head seat belonged to a Senior Brother at Qi Refining Ninth Layer, while the adjunct seat was a Junior Brother in the Late Stage of Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Only he and Gu Yuan had equal cultivation.

With equal cultivation, how could one refuse a challenge?

"Please!"

The youth could only collect his emotions and gesture invitingly.

"Please!"

Gu Yuan responded, then swung his sleeves, pointing towards the youth oppressively.

"Zeng zeng!"

Brilliant Sword Qi recklessly traversed, transforming into a small peach blossom, blooming at Gu Yuan’s fingertip.

"Wong wong!"

Simultaneously, golden Array Patterns illuminated within the Dharma Hall, a deep power like an overturned golden bowl confining the Dharma Seal’s force within a span.

The Sword Qi was sharp but only spiraled at Gu Yuan’s fingertip.

The youth, cross-legged, motionless, flicked his fingers, and a small silver hawk carried ferocious power towards Gu Yuan’s peach blossom.

The silver hawk cried, an intense sharp Qi inch by inch slicing through the pink peach blossom.

The silver hawk also seemed to be formed by Sword Seal, its power greater, leaving the peach blossom looking as if it would shatter.

The youth’s face immediately showed a smile.

But Gu Yuan remained unmoved, continuing to press down. The peach blossom, on the verge of collapse, seemed suddenly reinforced, becoming solidified as if cast from crimson steel, exuding a chilling aura.

The youth’s expression changed, flicking his fingers repeatedly. Surrounding the silver hawk, several brilliant small glimmers appeared: silver wolves ran biting, blood foxes screamed bewitchingly, jade bees flapped wings pecking.

All captured in an invisible force, confined in mid-air, within a mere inch.

But the strength didn’t weaken; the formidable presence rushed towards Gu Yuan’s peach blossom.

"Hulala!"

Yet around Gu Yuan’s fingertip, suddenly billowed small mists, with moist vapors, directly enveloping several small glimmers.

Though wild beasts were strong, they remained trapped in forest mists, unable to quickly escape.

The youth’s face drastically changed, trying again to flick and summon Dharma Seal, but abruptly felt a chill in his heart, as if hearing the roar of a Flood Dragon.

"Chi!"

The peach blossom fell upon the youth’s shoulder, cutting a strand of hair at his temples.

"I concede!"

Gu Yuan withdrew his fingertip, hands folded in wide sleeves, bowing to the youth.

The youth seemed to awaken from a dream, instinctively touching his neck.

In that instant, he seemed to feel an intense chill slicing into the skin of his throat.

"I... I concede!"

All eyes turned, the youth’s face slightly pale, hurriedly getting up and vacating the cushion.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Gu Yuan smiled, bowing, and leisurely sat down.

"Wow!"

At this moment, outside the inner sanctum, within the grand hall, numerous disciples spectating emitted a sigh.

Within a small span, showing true cultivation.

The fight between two ended in an instant, but the blade and Sword Shadow within inches were intense, captivating all eyes.

"If the peach blossom hadn’t cut the hair, Senior Brother Su would have lost his head..."

Inside the grand hall, a disciple couldn’t help but exclaim.

The Dharma Hall now had another powerful dragon, likely causing changes in the cushion rankings from now on.

After Senior Brother Su gave up his cushion seat, his complexion gradually returned, glancing at the adjunct and last seats’ cushions, hesitating briefly, and finally sighing, raising his Escape Light, leaving the place.

And those he glanced at relievedly exhaled, then couldn’t help but focus on Gu Yuan.

What a line: similar stage, struggle for the great Dao.

...

"Junior Brother has great skill, where do you cultivate?"

The gold Array Patterns dissipated, the Dharma Hall returned to silence, then on Gu Yuan’s left, a middle-aged Daoist in Nine-leaf Daoist Robe, broad forehead and high nose, turned to Gu Yuan with a smile and asked.

This person was the only Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciple in the Dharma Hall.

Observing his age, he shouldn’t be young.

"Greetings, Senior Brother. I cultivate arduously in Qianyuan Cave."

Gu Yuan returned the salute and answered.

"Is Junior Brother married?"

The middle-aged Daoist studied Gu Yuan, then smiled slightly, asking again.

Gu Yuan hesitated slightly, unsure of the person’s intent, but truthfully answered, "Without achieving the Dao, I have no heart to marry!"

The middle-aged Daoist nodded understandingly, then spoke warmly again:

"I have a sister, not a Daoist School disciple, yet outstandingly beautiful, naturally comely, cultivating at Celestial Maiden Temple; her cultivation is at Qi Refining Eighth Layer too. If Junior Brother has intentions, please speak frankly."

"I cultivate at Red Rainbow Cave, call me Senior Brother Li."

The middle-aged Daoist’s words were somewhat abrupt, leaving Gu Yuan perplexed, causing him to merely nod.

At this moment, outside the Dharma Hall, a heavy aura descended, instantly silencing everyone.