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Chapter 575: Chapter 567: Bowing Down
Liu Yuxi faced the oppressive gaze of Gu Jinlai, her pretty face tinged with a hint of paleness.
"Gu... Palace Master Gu, please don’t misunderstand, we... it was only because Brother Yuan hadn’t seen his fellow countrymen from Qiantian for so long, and upon hearing about a paragon like Palace Master Gu, whose talent and beauty astonish the present and the past, we couldn’t help but wish to spar with you out of an itching eagerness," she said with a trembling voice.
As she said the word "spar," she seemed to have grasped the key point and hurriedly continued, "Yes, that’s right, sparring, Brother Yuan was merely sparring with Palace Master Gu, it’s not about being arrogant or not. Now that we see Palace Master Gu’s strength, my heart is filled with nothing but admiration. Palace Master Gu truly deserves to be the most outstanding leader of the Qiantian forces in a century, and I, Yuxi, am wholeheartedly convinced."
"Sparring."
Gu Jinlai’s gaze moved toward Jin Haoran, who was clearly the leader of the trio: "Was it a spar?"
"A spar! Yes, just a spar!"
Jin Haoran, feeling his True Immortal Body being eroded inch by inch by the force of the thunder, quickly vibrated his Divine Thought in urgent response: "I was just momentarily excited and worried that something might happen to Lin Yuan, that’s why I rashly interrupted the spar between Palace Master Gu and Lin Yuan. I apologize to Palace Master Gu here and now."
"Is that so."
Gu Jinlai looked back at Lin Yuan: "So, what do you think about the outcome of this spar?"
"The outcome..."
Lin Yuan did his utmost to dodge the relentless thunderbolts hammering down around him.
The energy contained in each thunderbolt struck fear into his heart, as defense was not his forte.
If he were hit by any thunderbolt, or if his movements were even a moment too slow, his body would be pulverized by those violent bolts.
"Palace Master Gu’s Divine Skills are astonishing; I, Lin Yuan, am inferior!"
He knew that what he spoke of was his own inferiority, but in reality...
It was he and Jin Haoran, or rather, all the people who had hurried back from the Immortal Country, who were willingly conceding defeat.
With this concession, the myth of his heroics from a century ago when he helped besiege Emperor Tianji and put an end to the chaos caused by the Heavenly Demon Hall was shattered, almost tantamount to handing over the initiative in the Qiantian World to their group.
If they wanted to carry out large-scale construction in Qiantian, to build Grotto Heavens...
They would likely have to act according to Gu Jinlai’s wishes from now on.
"Is that so."
Gu Jinlai slowly withdrew the power of the Chaotic Star Light Body.
"Well then, in light of the fact that you all have warmed me up, let’s call this a spar and bring it to an end," Gu Jinlai proclaimed.
The twin rings of lightning flashing in the Sky Dome started to gradually dissipate.
He did not end the lives of Lin Yuan and Jin Haoran.
Firstly, Lin Yuan was a person of Qiantian, and he had played an honorable role in the siege against Emperor Tianji a hundred years ago, ending the chaos of the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Secondly...
At least for now, they hadn’t done anything harmful to Qiantian.
The exchanges between them were not concealed.
Their conversation was heard by everyone, clear as day.
Lost!?
The Abyss Lord, who stood at the very top of the Earthly True Immortal Realm just a century ago, actually lost!?
And to think that he and Jin Haoran, a True Immortal stationed in the Immortal Country, were jointly defeated by Gu Jinlai alone, admitting their inferiority!?
The battle involved powers too immense.
Especially when Gu Jinlai summoned the clouds in a radius of hundreds of miles at the end, which was beyond the limit of what a Primordial Spirit True Monarch’s Divine Thought could handle.
As a result, they couldn’t discern the advantage or disadvantage throughout the battle.
They only vaguely realized through Jin Haoran’s sudden intervention that Gu Jinlai might have been gaining the upper hand in his battle with Lin Yuan.
They originally thought that with Jin Haoran, a legendary True Immortal stationed in Qiantian, intervening, Gu Jinlai was bound to be defeated...
Even when he forced Jin Haoran to exert his full strength, the crowd was merely astonished that he could compete with a True Immortal to such an extent.
But to their surprise, in just a moment...
Jin Haoran and Lin Yuan actually admitted defeat!?
And the remaining True Immortal Liu Yuxi didn’t even have the courage to make a move.
Even though she was allied with another True Immortal and an Earthly True Immortal.
Suddenly, everyone from the Sanqing Hall, the Daqian Imperial Family, and Lingxiao Palace among other forces were sent into an uproar by this revelation.
"Palace Master Gu... is actually this powerful!"
"True Immortal! A True Immortal! That’s a True Immortal stationed in our world! Our Qiantian’s history hasn’t recorded the birth of a True Immortal! Even the rumors of True Immortals were brought by travelers from other lands... and now, a newly arrived, unprecedented True Immortal from the Immortal Country, has just been defeated by Palace Master Gu with the might of thunder!?"
"No wonder! No wonder Palace Master Gu didn’t bring the Heavenly Dragon with him, just like he said, he is stronger than the dragon! Forget the dragon, he is even stronger than the True Immortals! My goodness! Could our Qiantian really give birth to such a person!?"
"We’re saved! With this, Qiantian is saved! With Palace Master Gu presiding over Qiantian, why should we fear being surrounded by Devils? Why should we worry that Qiantian won’t be at peace?"
All sorts of low voices and Divine Thoughts resounded through the crowd.
Some were excited, others shocked, joyful, or disbelieving.
In their minds, they seemed to witness the myth of the Abyss Lord who had stood against Emperor Tianji a century ago, along with the living legend Jin Haoran, their halos of glory shattered, their light dimming as they fell.
In contrast, Gu Jinlai, with his invincible form displayed in this battle, ascended to the Divine Throne, rising steadily to a height where, even as they looked up, his figure started to blur from their view.
...
Jin Haoran, Lin Yuan, and Liu Yuxi all listened to the discussions of the people below, their expressions turning somewhat ugly.
This glory should have belonged to them.
These exalted individuals from the Immortal Country, especially when accompanied by a True Immortal, should have been able to unify Qiantian upon arrival and have everyone earnestly cooperate with their actions.
But now...
They glanced at Gu Jinlai.
The honor that was supposed to be theirs had been completely usurped by this man, who by all accounts should have been nothing more than a native of Qiantian.
"It’s really... unimaginable."
At this time, Lin Yuan took a deep breath.
He looked at the figure of Gu Jinlai in the sky, his expression complex.
However, it was mostly filled with reflection and relief, without much unwillingness or resentment.
"Who would have thought that within the Qiantian Territory, a figure like Master Gu would emerge."
Immediately afterward, he seemed to recall that Gu Jinlai might have traveled abroad and not solely been nurtured by Qiantian, so he added, "At least, he also belongs to those who have stepped out from Qiantian."
Jin Haoran glanced at Lin Yuan, looking somewhat worried, "The mission we’re tasked with has just become troublesome."
"The mission..."
Lin Yuan did not harbor much concern about that mission and said, "Since Master Gu has traveled abroad, he naturally understands the current state of the outside world and is aware that our Immortal Country is the sole main force resisting the Devil’s onslaught. Under these circumstances, he should support our actions."
Speaking, his tone paused, "However, ten thousand spots will probably not be enough."
"But we’ve already discussed these spots in great detail..."
"Well, we didn’t know before that a figure like Master Gu had arisen in Qiantian, did we?"
Lin Yuan said this, then glanced at him, "Or perhaps you want to personally explain the matter of establishing Grotto Heaven to Gu Jinlai in detail?"
Jin Haoran looked embarrassed and quickly said, "Given your shared affinity as members of Qiantian, it would be more appropriate for you to convince him."
Saying this, he secretly glanced at Gu Jinlai, his eyes filled with deep wariness.
Hearing what Jin Haoran said, Lin Yuan did not decline further.
The matter of establishing Grotto Heaven was indeed of great importance; otherwise, the Immortal Country would not have sent Jin Haoran and himself, whose battle power was close to a True Immortal’s, rushing to Qiantian despite the extreme shortage of combat power.
"Today’s battle with Master Gu has shown us there are always others out there stronger than oneself, and that heaven extends beyond heaven. Although the Immortal Country brings together the top powerhouses from around the world, it does not mean that True Immortals of the Immortal Country are invincible."
Lin Yuan stepped forward, squeezed out a smile, and clasped his hands in respect.
"Being able to humbly recognize your own deficiencies is a good thing. However, you needn’t be too disheartened. You are not weak. The Xuan Yang Demon God that I once vanquished was a notch below the two of you teaming up together."
Gu Jinlai said.
"Vanquished the Xuan Yang Demon God!?"
Gu Jinlai’s words made Jin Haoran, Lin Yuan, and Liu Yuxi all stunned at the same time.
Then, as if realizing the significance of this news, they couldn’t help but show a look of shock.
"Master Gu... vanquished a Demon God!?"
"Wait, the Xuan Yang Demon God!? Isn’t that the powerful Demon God that roams around the outskirts of the Holy Dynasty? It... It was vanquished by Master Gu!?"
Jin Haoran and Liu Yuxi couldn’t help but ask in unison.
Gu Jinlai nodded.
He didn’t explain any further.
He believed that once they returned to the Immortal Country, or even now, they would use some means to inform the Immortal Country and verify through the channels of the Immortal Country.
As they confirmed this news, they would also learn that the Holy Dynasty had already launched a counteroffensive against the surrounding Devils and gained sufficient autonomy.
At present, with every available person being deployed into the Blood Pool Demon Abyss Battlefield, the Immortal Country can no longer mobilize any additional forces.
In contrast, the Holy Dynasty plus him equals the battle power of seven True Immortals.
To ensure the complete eradication of seven True Immortal-level battle powers without leaving any threats behind, it would take twenty-one True Immortals to ensure absolute certainty.
And if what Liu Yuxi said was not mistaken, there are only thirty-six True Immortals in the entire Immortal Country.
The number twenty-one already exceeds half of the total number of True Immortals in the Immortal Country.
Of course, there must be some Peak True Immortals, even Supreme True Immortals and Supreme True Immortals within the Immortal Country, so the number twenty-one is not precise. However, it indirectly reflects that the Holy Dynasty’s weight within the Immortal Country is not negligible.
In light of this, even if Jin Haoran, Lin Yuan, and Liu Yuxi suffer a great loss in Qiantian, they dare not easily seek revenge on Qiantian.
Jin Haoran didn’t know the reason why Gu Jinlai revealed this information.
However, upon hearing that he had vanquished the Xuan Yang Demon God, he couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.
"To be able to vanquish a Demon God, one must have at least the battle power of a High-level True Immortal. If those Demon Gods are determined to flee, it would take the battle power of a Peak True Immortal to ensure a flawless victory!"
For a moment, Jin Haoran, Liu Yuxi, and others looked at Gu Jinlai with eyes that shifted from wariness to a hint of fear.
Especially Jin Haoran.
If Gu Jinlai could vanquish a Demon God, then vanquishing him, a True Immortal...
It was by no means a mere wishful thinking.
"Alright, the lot of you have come from far away to our Qiantian. What is the real reason behind it? You can tell me now."
At this time, Gu Jinlai spoke again.
