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Chapter 417: Chapter 413: Human Heart, Cunning Ghost
"Captain."
Gu Jinlai said in a deep voice, "Since this matter is related to Pan Dali, it’s clear that he must be in contact with the Demonic Cultist. If we interrogate him, we will surely find out Shang Tielong’s whereabouts. Then, with one vigorous effort, we can encircle and capture him. Wouldn’t that be more likely to succeed than passively waiting like we are now?"
"Do you have an objection to my decision?"
Lan Yuxian stared at Gu Jinlai, a trace of coldness in her expression.
"I wouldn’t dare."
Gu Jinlai quickly bowed and explained, "I just think that directly seeking out Pan Dali..."
Before Gu Jinlai could finish speaking, Lan Yuxian exploded in anger, "You think!? As a member of my team, you dare to instruct me, your captain!? How presumptuous!"
Yesterday, as soon as she took office, Pan Dali had challenged her.
Considering he had developed a Martial Arts Will and bore the stature of a Martial Saint, she had ignored him. But now, an ordinary Martial King...
...And a Martial King who had fled here from another place dared to contradict her!?
Fueled by this rage, she waved her hand in the air, and the power of Heaven and Earth surged tumultuously.
In her hand, she once again summoned the Xuanhuang Zhenyue Tower.
As the power of Heaven and Earth poured into it, a visible shockwave ferociously swept towards Gu Jinlai.
"Not good!"
Gu Jinlai’s face changed; he hadn’t expected Lan Yuxian to strike so suddenly.
Facing such an almost sneak-attack, he immediately pulled away and retreated explosively.
Yet even so, he was still hit by the force of the shockwave.
Instantly, he felt as though he had been struck head-on by an Ancient Divine Mountain, his body flying backward and slamming into the courtyard walls behind him, collapsing three walls and two beams, and then continuing to slide across the ground for dozens of meters after hitting the floor.
For a moment, buildings collapsed and dust filled the air.
Meanwhile, Lan Yuxian waved her hand, sweeping away the kicked-up dust.
Her figure then soared into the air, floated in the void, her long hair fluttering. She did not even glance at Gu Jinlai but addressed everyone present, "Now, let me tell you my first rule. You only need to comply with my commands. Understand?"
Those scanned by Lan Yuxian’s gaze, let alone the Martial Sects and Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, even the Martial Kings lowered their heads, "Understood."
"Now, you must return to your quarters before nightfall and wait for Shang Tielong to appear,"
Lan Yuxian commanded Gu Jinlai with one sentence and quickly departed.
Her confidants followed her, quickly leaving.
Once Lan Yuxian had left, Black Sword hurried to Gu Jinlai’s side and sighed, "Pan Dali is brutally savage. Even if we confront him, he won’t just obediently admit his connections to the Demonic Cultists; one wrong move could spook the snake."
Gu Jinlai stood up.
The Xuanhuang Zhenyue Tower, worthy of being a Dao Artifact.
The power of such a Supreme Treasure in the hands of a Deva was indeed overwhelmingly dominant.
He managed to withstand one blow but suffered internal shock and spat out blood. Although this was related to his own non-defensive cultivation path, it also reflected the might of the Dao Artifact.
It also showed the strength of Pan Dali, the Peak Martial King.
But...
A Dao Artifact, indeed.
"Don’t take it to heart. The Lan Family has two Devas, Lan Yuxian and Lan Yuhua. Lan Ruxue from the Lan Family has recently messaged that she has asked her master for a spot to cultivate in the Grotto Heaven and is considering which of the two to give it to. Therefore, the captain is competing with Lan Yuhua for this opportunity,"
Black Sword consoled him, "The captain urgently needs to achieve results, hence she’s acting a bit aggressively. She’s using you as bait now, and although it’s dangerous, if it works out, you’ll definitely not miss out on a reward. When the time comes, if you ask to comprehend the Great Thunder Sword Technique or the Thunder Origin Divine Body, she will certainly not refuse."
"I understand,"
said Gu Jinlai.
The Great Thunder Sword Technique, the Thunder Origin Divine Body?
This reminded Gu Jinlai of Jin Yuhai’s promises.
These people lacked any credibility.
Black Sword patted Gu Jinlai’s shoulder, and soon, everyone bid farewell and left.
Jin Yuhai and Xia Ruyi were no exceptions.
Gu Jinlai straightened up his somewhat disheveled clothes, then left Zhuang Ying’s yard.
Outside the courtyard, the peripheral members of the Sweepers who had originally surrounded the place had now dispersed, with just a few curious commoners remaining, glancing in this direction.
Gu Jinlai strode meteorically, heading to the courtyard where he resided.
After a while, he encountered another group of enthusiastic young men and women walking towards him, proudly waving the Holy Dynasty’s flag, chanting and giving impassioned speeches.
"We, the younger generation, should work hard on cultivation. The Holy Dynasty needs us; we are the future of the Holy Dynasty. We cultivate for the rise of the Holy Dynasty, for the defense of Wind and Rain City!"
"We will spare no family’s wealth to send one into the Martial Arts Academy for cultivation, to become a Martial Artist. Only by becoming a Martial Artist and joining the army can we rise above our station and serve our country."
"Demonic forces lurk outside, in a world full of danger and strife. The Holy Dynasty is now the sole sanctuary. Lacking the talent to become Martial Artists, we must work even harder, create more revenue, to contribute our negligible strength to the peace of the Holy Dynasty."
There was a generous and righteous spirit in their words and actions.
They were filled with boundless hope for the Holy Dynasty’s future.
Despite the strain on their family’s finances, even to the point of scrimping and saving just to send one member to the Martial Arts Academy for cultivation, they still willingly paid the price, accepting it with equanimity.
Gu Jinlai’s gaze lingered on them for a moment. After they had left, he continued on his way back.
...
Gu Jinlai did not know whether he would encounter an ambush from Shang Tielong, but upon returning home, he still actively prepared.
However, his preparations had not continued for long before a secret message was delivered to him.
After looking at it for a moment and seeing that the sky had not yet darkened, Gu Jinlai left the house, wandered the city for a bit, and quickly arrived at a relatively secluded courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, Gu Jinlai sensed something.
It seemed like...
a Formation?
However, this Formation was not a prohibiting one, it merely served to block sound and images, and couldn’t stop a Martial King from leaving at all.
As soon as he entered the yard, someone was already waiting there for him.
It was Jin Yuhai.
"Where is the Thunder Origin Divine Body?"
With the Formation in place, as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Gu Jinlai asked bluntly.
"No rush, please take a seat."
Jin Yuhai said, "As long as you agree to my request, not to mention the Thunder Origin Divine Body, I can even apply to provide you with the Great Thunder Sword Technique for your comprehension."
"If the Thunder Origin Divine Body isn’t here, then I’ll take my leave. I need to be at home before dark."
Gu Jinlai spoke and turned to leave.
"Are you willing to accept that?"
Jin Yuhai quickly said, "To be stepped on mercilessly by Lan Yuxian in front of so many people, without leaving you any room to maneuver, are you really willing to just endure it?"
"What do you mean?"
Gu Jinlai paused mid-step.
"Of course, I mean dealing with Lan Yuxian."
Jin Yuhai said, "You came right after seeing the message, so you must have similar thoughts, right? I feel the same way—my position as team captain was just taken away by her, and I’m not satisfied either! Therefore, we should scheme something to directly make her lose that position."
"Scheme? How?"
Gu Jinlai inquired.
"You just need to work with us to make Lan Yuxian fail in her mission, and I naturally have ways to make the Dean remove her from her captaincy."
Jin Yuhai said confidently.
"You guys?"
Gu Jinlai glanced around, "Who else is behind you?"
"Don’t worry, there’s no one else here, it’s just you and me."
After pondering for a moment, Jin Yuhai thought it necessary to let Gu Jinlai know some information if he was to cooperate fully, and then said, "Cooperating with me is another Deva from the Lan Family, Lan Yuhua, as for the reason..."
He repeated what Black Sword had told Gu Jinlai not long ago.
"Going to cultivate in Grotto Heaven is an immensely rare opportunity for them, it could even determine who will be the next helmsperson of the Lan Family after Lan Yuxue, decades from now. Naturally, Lan Yuhua won’t miss this opportunity. As long as we make Lan Yuxian’s mission fail, he’ll have ways to make her untenable in the Clearing Department."
Jin Yuhai spoke with full confidence.
"After all, Lan Yuxian is the Sweeper Team Captain, and I still have to work under her. Why should I completely offend her for someone I don’t know?"
Gu Jinlai said, "I’m only interested in the Thunder Origin Divine Body that Martial King Jin mentioned in his message. If the technique is ready, then please, Martial King Jin, keep your promise from a few days ago, and hand it over to me, if not, sorry, I’m not interested in participating."
Having said that, he seemed about to turn around and leave again.
"Gu Jinlai."
Jin Yuhai suddenly stood up, "You don’t have a say in this matter. You’re afraid of offending Lan Yuxian, but aren’t you afraid of offending Lan Yuhua and me? Today’s matter, you’ve got to do it, whether you want to or not."
Gu Jinlai’s movement halted.
Seeing this, Jin Yuhai breathed a little easier, "I got a bit too agitated just now. The Thunder Origin Divine Body you want, as long as I become the captain, it’ll be easy to apply for it for you..."
"So, you’re saying you don’t actually have the Thunder Origin Divine Body at all? You lured me here under the pretense of handing over the Thunder Origin Divine Body."
Gu Jinlai stated.
"I was just offering you a greater opportunity. If you help Lan Yuhua get the job done, not to mention the Thunder Origin Divine Body, you could even get dozens of pieces of the Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold that comes with it, and earn the friendship of both Lan Yuhua and me, Jin Yuhai..." Jin Yuhai started by listing the advantages in a gentle tone, but then his voice gradually became colder: "But if you walk out of this door today, don’t think Lan Yuxian will protect you. If she succeeds, she will go to the Imperial Capital, enter the Grotto Heaven for deep cultivation, and then..."
"You know what."
Gu Jinlai suddenly interrupted Jin Yuhai.
He looked at the young master of the Jin Family, and his voice suddenly became relaxed: "There’s something I’ve wanted to do since the first moment I saw you, do you know what it is?"
Jin Yuhai frowned, sensing something, "Gu Jinlai, you are a smart man..."
"Boom!"
The Eternal Furnace within Gu Jinlai was fully activated, fierce and wild energy swept his body like a storm.
In the next moment, he fiercely lunged forward, unsheathing his sword. The energy from the Eternal Furnace burst forth incessantly and flooded into the blade, the dazzling brilliance almost piercing through the sword.
"I’ll kill you!"
Accompanying Gu Jinlai’s low roar filled with catharsis.
The transmission trait was triggered, the violent energy as brilliant as the Great Sun Brilliance spilled out. The light that shone in an instant illuminated Jin Yuhai’s shocked face, and in the next second, engulfed his entire figure.
