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Chapter 488: Chapter 484: Demon-slaying Hall
City Lord Mansion.
Zhao Hua was somewhat disinterested at the moment.
Anyone who had just had their cultivation interrupted would harbour dissatisfaction.
However, since Yue Qushan and Mu Changsheng, two great Martial Saints, had visited in succession, he had to temporarily suppress the dissatisfaction in his heart.
After understanding the purpose of the two Martial Saints’ visit, he had someone summon Wu Tianya and sent Luo Bing to gather Gu Jinlai to inquire about the reason.
"City Lord, it seems that the news from Hai Feng City is indeed true. Lei Yuan, I’m afraid, truly died at the hands of Gu Jinlai, otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to act so recklessly."
Yue Qushan said.
His emotions were quite calm.
It had been half a month since Lei Yuan was suspected to have died at the hands of Gu Jinlai. Even without the likes of Zhao Hua conveying the news, the Martial Saints of Wind and Rain City had still learned of this.
This was also the reason why Yue Qushan, upon sensing Gu Jinlai’s presence, chose to avoid the limelight and watch as he seized control of the Mountain and Sky Tower.
He reckoned that he was no better than Lei Yuan.
If Lei Yuan was indeed killed by Gu Jinlai, then Gu Jinlai could kill him just as easily.
For the sake of a single Mountain and Sky Tower, offending such a top Martial Saint was not worth it.
"Wu Tianya once told me that he had scrutinized Gu Jinlai more than once and that he is indeed a Martial King."
Zhao Hua said, "As Martial Saints, you should understand that the biggest characteristic that distinguishes Martial Saints from Martial Kings is the completion of a life transformation. Martial Saints, to some extent, are a stronger individual life form, appearing humanoid but in reality, are a high-level, humanoid-like being. This characteristic is very distinctive, and with Wu Tiany’s eyesight, Gu Jinlai would not be able to hide in front of him."
"Normally, this is indeed the case, but don’t forget, City Lord, that Gu Jinlai seems to have gotten involved with Li Yang Cave Heaven."
Mu Changsheng added.
In this period, they not only learned of Lei Yuan’s death but also caught traces of Li Yang Cave Heaven’s involvement.
"Li Yang Cave Heaven, in the past, was a power that had a residing True Immortal. It’s not strange that such a force could possess some kind of Secret Technique or Treasure capable of altering one’s physical state to conceal their true strength."
"Secret Technique, Treasure..."
Listening to what Mu Changsheng said, Zhao Hua also fell silent, pondering.
This possibility was not unfounded.
Could it really be that they had been mistaken?
"If that’s the case... Gu Jinlai has meticulously planned his infiltration into our Wind and Rain City. His intentions from the start were probably not simple. Combined with his current actions..."
Yue Qushan slowly said, "He is building a reputation, accumulating power, and his ultimate goal..."
He glanced at Zhao Hua.
Zhao Hua immediately understood his implication.
City Lord.
Gu Jinlai aspired to become the City Lord of Wind and Rain City.
To rule Wind and Rain City.
And to use Wind and Rain City as a new gateway for Li Yang Cave Heaven, recruiting disciples from within the city to restore the vitality of Li Yang Cave Heaven?
"Our Wind and Rain City is not some remote small town. Does Li Yang Cave Heaven think they have the strength to take on our Wind and Rain City? Does he really have such formidable power?"
Zhao Hua scoffed.
"Currently, we speculate that he may possess the strength of a top Martial Saint, but this is after all just speculation. What if... he’s a Peak Martial Saint, or even... a National Guardian Martial Saint?"
Yue Qushan said.
"What about a National Guardian Martial Saint?"
Zhao Hua’s expression did not show much apprehension.
The limit of the Martial Saint system was National Guardian.
Although a new path for martial artists seemed to have been found in the Imperial Capital, named Human Immortal, so far no one had truly taken that step.
And as for National Guardian Martial Saints...
According to the Sanjiu Ascension List of World Building, they are equivalent to a Saint Fifth Rank, on par with the likes of Jin Fantian, a Peak Saint.
And he, Zhao Hua, wielding a Divine Weapon, could exert the power of a Sixth-Rank Saint!
Not to mention, the interests among the high ranks of Wind and Rain City were intertwined; they would either prosper or fail together.
If Gu Jinlai truly wished to interfere with Wind and Rain City, to seize the benefits in their hands, he would not only have to confront him, a Sixth-Rank Saint, but also simultaneously face the combined assault from Jin Fantian, Cao Wudao, Wu Tianya, and a number of Fourth and Fifth Rank powerhouses.
At this moment, Luo Bing rushed in hurriedly, his face slightly pale: "City Lord, something big has happened."
"Hmm?"
Zhao Hua’s eyebrows furrowed: "Has that Gu Jinlai gone after other forces already?"
"Yes, I heard as soon as I left the Inner City that he had annihilated Zong’s Martial Arts Hall and was heading towards Earth Car Shop. By the time I arrived at Earth Car Shop, I found that Cao Tiangang had actually gathered several Devas and Martial King realm experts to confront them head-on..."
"Cao Tiangang!?"
Yue Qushan and Mu Changsheng were shocked: "This is Cao Family’s Qilin’er, a person Cao Wudao considers his heir apparent. How could he openly confront Gu Jinlai? Didn’t Cao Junzhu inform him about Gu Jinlai’s record in Hai Feng City?"
"The matter in Hai Feng City is after all a conjecture, with no evidence..."
Zhao Hua let out a sigh and then turned his gaze to Luo Bing: "When Gu Jinlai swept through these forces, he almost relentlessly annihilated the leaders. You cannot possibly be telling me that Cao Tiangang also..."
"Yes."
Luo Bing nodded emphatically: "He killed Cao Tiangang."
"This complicates things."
Yue Qushan and Mu Changsheng looked at each other.
With Cao Tiangang dead, there would be no more room for reconciliation between Cao Junzhu and Gu Jinlai.
What came next would depend on the City Lord’s attitude towards Gu Jinlai.
Soon, they had already received feedback from Zhao Hua’s emotions.
"Gu Jinlai! How audacious!"
Zhao Hua’s expression was icy, "Go, invite Hall Master Jin and the other Family Heads! We must discuss how to deal with Gu Jinlai! My Wind and Rain City has been established for so many years, weathered all kinds of storms, and yet no one has ever dared to be so reckless within our city!"
"Yes."
Luo Bing solemnly took the orders.
At the same time, he added, "Gu Jinlai is still ransacking the properties in the Outer City District..."
"Have them evacuate key personnel to the Inner City first."
Zhao Hua commanded.
After all, Gu Jinlai was a top Martial Saint and might even possess the combat power of a Peak Martial Saint.
Even though he was confident he could slay a Peak Martial Saint, he reflected...
A lion must use all its strength even to hunt a rabbit.
Gu Jinlai had, after all, become involved with Li Yang Cave Heaven, who knew if he had some other powerful trump card.
To ensure absolute certainty, the best approach was for the Four Great Giants to join forces with other Martial Saints and Saints to strike in a way that would leave him no chance to resist, to be killed on the spot.
Just then, another powerful aura broke the sky and soon descended upon the City Lord Mansion.
Before the person arrived, the voice came first, "City Lord, Gu Jinlai was chosen by you all, right? Now, he has uprooted the Zong’s Martial Arts Hall I established in the Outer City! You must give me an explanation."
Accompanying the fall of a figure was precisely the backer of Zong’s Martial Arts Hall—Martial Saint Zong Yan.
Different people received news at different speeds, and this Martial Saint...
Clearly, the intelligence transmission wasn’t very efficient.
"Are Yue Martial Saint and Martial Saint Mu also here?"
Zong Yan inquired.
"Rest assured, Zong Martial Saint, what we’re discussing now is how to deal with Gu Jinlai."
Mu Changsheng responded, while his expression turned cold, "This Gu Jinlai did not only uproot your Zong’s Martial Arts Hall, but also my Civil Medicine Workshop and Yue Martial Saint’s Mountain and Sky Tower, and even did not spare Cao Junzhu’s Family’s Earth Car Shop."
"What!? Gu Jinlai is so audacious!?"
Zong Yan’s eyes widened, "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s gather our forces and head to the Demon-slaying Hall. We need to make that Gu Jinlai explain himself to us!"
"Demon-slaying Hall?"
Mu Changsheng was taken aback, "Gu Jinlai went to the Demon-slaying Hall?"
"Yes, I heard from my subordinates that Gu Jinlai has entered the Inner City and is heading to the Demon-slaying Hall by flight."
Zong Yan stated.
"Does he even dare to run amok in the Demon-slaying Hall?" 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Yue Qushan speculated.
Mu Changsheng’s gaze shifted toward Zhao Hua, "City Lord, we can no longer allow Gu Jinlai to continue rampaging without restraint. Otherwise... who knows what crazy actions he might take."
Zhao Hua pondered for a moment but ultimately nodded, "Then let’s go to the Demon-slaying Hall! Conveniently, the Demon-slaying Hall is one of the most important institutions in the Inner City and also the one most susceptible to devil attacks. It’s equipped with top defense battles, and once the Formation is activated, even Saints would be unable to break through the Formation and escape in a short time."
This Wind and Rain City Lord, who possessed the combat power of a National Guardian Saint, directly ordered, "Inform Cao Junzhu and the Martial Arts Academy Master to snipe Gu Jinlai in the Demon-slaying Hall!"
"Yes."
Luo Bing heeded the command.
And Zhao Hua swiftly rose, heading straight for the Demon-slaying Hall with the three Martial Saints.
...
Above the Inner City.
Gu Jinlai was flying through the air.
The target...
Was indeed the Demon-slaying Hall, as the informants of the Zong Family had guessed.
In the skies above Wind and Rain City, the flight of ordinary cultivators was forbidden; only a very few were granted the privilege of flight. Among the population of over a hundred million in Wind and Rain City, there were no more than a few dozen people in total.
But Gu Jinlai released his own aura, with the wind and thunder stirring around him as he flew, an ostentatious display. Not a single person from the City Guard Army dared to come forward and stop him.
He appeared like a bolt of lightning, roaring as he descended unimpeded into the Demon-slaying Hall.
This method of entry could be described as utterly domineering, and it alarmed many important figures within the Demon-slaying Hall, prompting them to emerge.
When they clearly saw it was Gu Jinlai, those with lesser strength frowned and silently retreated.
However, a Top Deva, proud of his might and status, directly expressed his dissatisfaction, "General District Master Gu, you surely must be aware that flying above the Demon-slaying Hall is forbidden. We in the Demon-slaying Hall bear the responsibility of slaying devils, the thorn in their side and a constant target. We must remain on full alert every moment, ready to repel any devil attack. If everyone acted like you, ignoring the main gate and descending from the sky..."
"Enough."
The Top Deva didn’t manage to finish speaking before Gu Jinlai waved his hand to interrupt him, "If devils could directly launch an assault on the Demon-slaying Hall located near the center of the Inner City, there probably wouldn’t be many experts left in the Demon-slaying Hall."
After speaking, he stated bluntly, "Where is Hall Master Jin? Please have Hall Master Jin appear. I would like to apply for the status of Demon Slayer and exchange the recorded evidence of my kills for Contribution Value."
"You want to see our Hall Master Jin?"
This Top Deva obviously had not received the news from the Outer City and snorted coldly, "Our Hall Master is an important figure with myriad responsibilities. To handle the status of a Demon Slayer, there’s no need for Hall Master Jin to personally intervene. You seem to not regard the Hall Master’s time as valuable."
"I’ve slain no small number of devils."
Gu Jinlai said, looking at the Top Deva and smiling, "Or perhaps, you could complete the recording for me?"
"No small number? We’ve seen all kinds of devil-slaying numbers. Such tasks can be completed by anyone."
"Well then, since you said so, I won’t need to see Hall Master Jin. You arrange for the recording for me."
Gu Jinlai said.
Seeing Gu Jinlai seemingly yield, the Top Deva, considering that Gu Jinlai still matched the combat power of Peak Heavenly Beings, didn’t dare to be too rash and pointed to a young man in the Refining God Realm, "Jin Haifeng, go and help General District Master Gu complete the recording."
