Chapter 598

Chapter 598

I Can See Through Everything

“The Gongshu Clan still has the nerve to show their faces?”

“We haven’t even settled the score with them for what happened to Junior Brother Zhao Gang and the others!”

“Perfect timing—let’s get even for everything they owe us!”

…

As soon as Gongshu Yu spoke, the disciples of the Qiankun Sect all changed expression, anger rising visibly.

“That’s enough, calm down. They are still guests, don’t be rude.”

Qin Zheng’s face also darkened slightly, but he quickly stepped in to pacify his fellow disciples.

Right now, they were inside a secret realm, with an uncertain path ahead—this was not the time to clash with the Gongshu Clan.

“Let’s head out first and see what they’re really here for.”

Qin Zheng deactivated the formation and led his junior brothers and sisters out of the valley. Sure enough, they saw Gongshu Yu waiting outside with members of the Gongshu Clan.

“Brother Qin Zheng, long time no see. How have you been?”

Gongshu Yu greeted them with a smile, as if completely oblivious to the hostility radiating from the Qiankun Sect disciples.

“Thanks to your people, all’s been well—except for how tragically my junior brothers Zhao Gang and Wang Ming died.”

Though Qin Zheng’s tone remained calm, his words were anything but.

The expressions of the Qiankun Sect disciples grew even more hostile.

“My deepest condolences for the loss of your junior brothers. It pains me as well. Regrettably, my strength was limited—I could only protect my clansmen during that battle and couldn’t aid your sect. I feel terribly ashamed.”

Gongshu Yu wore a look of sincere regret, but that only stoked the flames of anger in the Qiankun Sect’s ranks.

Chu Xiaojing couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted, “You clearly broke our agreement, fled without warning, and shattered the formation, which directly caused Senior Brother Zhao Gang’s death. And now you dare to show up and speak so sarcastically? You’re beyond shameless!”

“Exactly! Unbelievable arrogance!”

“Truly despicable!”

“Shameless dogs! To think a clan among the Thirty-Six High Clans would stoop so low!”

Voices of righteous fury erupted as more disciples joined in the shouting.

The Gongshu Clan members’ faces also changed at the barrage of insults.

They had never taken the Qiankun Sect seriously to begin with. Now being publicly humiliated, how could they endure it?

“Watch your mouths! How dare you insult the Gongshu Clan—are you tired of living?”

“We came here out of courtesy, yet you treat us like this? Do you even understand who we are?”

“You accuse us of betrayal, but the truth is you were too weak to withstand the spirit beasts. And now you’re blaming us for your own incompetence? How absurd!”

“You’ll pay for insulting the Gongshu Clan. Does your Qiankun Sect wish to go to war with us?”

“You…”

Hearing the Gongshu Clan deny everything and try to twist the truth, Chu Xiaojing became even more enraged.

She was ready to draw her sword then and there.

“Xiaojing!”

Qin Zheng’s face was grim, but he still stopped her.

The truth was, the Gongshu Clan’s strength exceeded theirs. Gongshu Yu himself was a level stronger than Qin Zheng.

If a fight broke out, the Qiankun Sect would likely suffer the worse outcome.

So Qin Zheng forced down his anger and turned to Gongshu Yu.

“Young Master Yu, I assume you didn’t come just to mock us. What’s your real purpose?”

“Brother Qin, you misunderstand me. I truly came to express my regrets,” Gongshu Yu said with a smile, though Qin Zheng met it with a cold, indifferent gaze.

After a slight pause, Gongshu Yu dropped the act. “Of course, besides offering my apologies, I also wanted to revisit the idea of our two groups working together.”

At that, the Qiankun Sect disciples exploded in fury again, ready to unleash another round of verbal lashing.

But Qin Zheng raised his hand, quieting them with a gesture.

“You must be joking,” he said coldly. “After everything that’s happened, do you really think we could still trust one another?”

“No problem,” Gongshu Yu said easily. “If you don’t trust us, we can swear a Soul Oath. Would that be enough assurance?”

But Qin Zheng remained unmoved. “I appreciate the offer, but after losing Junior Brother Zhao Gang and the others, our spirits are broken.

Besides, Junior Sister Qingzhu and the others are still recovering and need rest.

We won’t be exploring the secret realm any further for now. I suggest you find someone else.”

Gongshu Yu’s smile finally began to fade.

“So, you truly won’t reconsider, Brother Qin?”

“I suggest you leave.”

Gongshu Yu studied Qin Zheng’s face, noting the calm expression and the unwavering determination in his eyes. He knew then that further discussion was useless.

“Brother Qin, have you forgotten the orders your sect’s senior gave before we entered? He explicitly told us to cooperate and secure the opportunities in this realm together. If you go back on that agreement now, how will you explain it to Senior Qian Lingxiao?”

“That’s an internal matter of our Qiankun Sect. There’s no need for you to concern yourself, Young Master Yu.”

“…Very well.”

Gongshu Yu’s expression darkened. “I hope you won’t regret this decision.”

“Please leave.”

Gongshu Yu clenched the jade fan in his hand, but ultimately held himself back.

There was no advantage to fighting now.

Though he might win, it would likely be a costly victory, weakening the Gongshu Clan further in this perilous realm.

A battle here would serve no purpose.

Realizing this, Gongshu Yu suppressed his cold killing intent and gave the order.

“Let’s go.”

As the Gongshu Clan turned to leave, their gazes toward the Qiankun Sect disciples were filled with unspoken threats.

“Second Senior Brother, I don’t think the Gongshu Clan will let this go. The next time we meet, we’ll likely be enemies,” Ye Qingzhu said worriedly once they had gone.

“What’s there to fear? If Second Senior Brother hadn’t stopped me, I’d have cut them down already!” one disciple shouted.

“Exactly! We need to avenge Senior Brother Zhao Gang!” Chu Xiaojing echoed.

“They likely won’t confront us openly,” Qin Zheng said, “but be on guard—they may resort to ambushes. From now on, no one is to travel alone. Understood?”

“Yes, Second Senior Brother!”

The disciples all tensed, understanding full well that the Gongshu Clan was capable of such despicable acts.

“Alright, back to the valley. Stay alert from now on.”

They returned to the valley to find Daoist Wubao still standing guard. The door to Lu Qing’s wooden hut remained closed.

“Daoist Wubao, is Fellow Daoist Chen still not done with his meditation?” Qin Zheng asked.

“Fellow Daoist Chen sent me a spiritual message. He gained an insight during the battle with the Black Wolf Beast and needs to go into seclusion to digest it. He asked that you not wait on his account—he’ll likely emerge by tomorrow,” Wubao replied.

“Fellow Daoist Chen truly is gifted—able to gain enlightenment even in the midst of battle,” Qin Zheng said with admiration. “In that case, no need to wait here. Go take care of your own matters.

Qingzhu, Zixiao—you both are still recovering. Use this time to rest.”

“Yes, Second Senior Brother.”

Ye Qingzhu and the others didn’t protest.

They knew that only by fully recovering could they stop dragging down their fellow disciples.

This secret realm was full of hidden dangers.

And now that they had openly fallen out with the Gongshu Clan, more trouble was surely on the way.

Only by restoring their strength could they be ready for what was coming.

The disciples dispersed—some to cultivate, others to study Techniques. Ye Qingzhu and her group held spirit stones, absorbing the spiritual essence to heal.

Meanwhile, inside the wooden hut, Lu Qing was staring at a strand of dazzling blood floating before him, lost in thought.

He had successfully extracted the Witch Bloodline Essence from the Black Wolf Beast.

Golden Core-level Witch Bloodline Essence was indeed extraordinary.

Lu Qing could feel the vast energy contained within the blood strand before him.

At the core of his being, an intense longing stirred, making him want to swallow it in one gulp.

But he suppressed the urge with sheer willpower, keeping his mind clear.

“Ah Qing, are you going to refine that bloodline?” Xiao Li, perched on his shoulder, asked, swallowing nervously as it gazed at the blood like a red diamond.

It too felt a powerful hunger for the bloodline.

Had it not gained sentience and followed Lu Qing through many trials, tempering its will, it likely would have succumbed to that craving.

“Yes. I don’t yet know what risks come with refining Golden Core-level bloodlines, so I’ll try it myself first.

If it’s safe enough, we’ll hunt more Golden Core beasts and refine their bloodlines for you too.”

Lu Qing rubbed the little creature’s head to reassure it.

There was baleful aura within Witch Bloodline Essence, and no telling how potent it was at the Golden Core level. He wouldn’t risk Xiao Li’s safety.

Xiao Li understood. “Then hurry up and refine it! I’m afraid I might not be able to hold back much longer!”

“Alright.”

With a chuckle, Lu Qing no longer hesitated. He opened his mouth and swallowed the strand of Witch Bloodline Essence.

The moment it entered his body, he mobilized his mind and began the refining process.

Instantly, a surge of powerful, strange life force erupted from the bloodline and flooded into him, rapidly strengthening his physical body.

Along with it came a torrent of intense baleful aura.

It exploded inside him, rampaging through his body and charging straight for his brow acupoint.

“So this is the baleful aura that Xiao Li and the others mentioned.”

Lu Qing finally understood what they had been talking about.

When he refined the Foundation Establishment-level Witch Bloodline Essence from the Blackscale Venomrat, it had felt like a mere breeze brushing his brow.

It hadn’t even stirred his brow acupoint, let alone convinced him it was truly baleful aura.

Now, with the Golden Core-level bloodline, he could clearly feel the invasive impact of the aura.

But he soon realized that even though this aura was at least ten times stronger than the Foundation Establishment level, it still couldn’t harm him.

Compared to his steel-like brow acupoint, this so-called assault was nothing more than a stronger gust of wind.

It couldn’t penetrate, let alone corrode his Divine Soul.

“Is it because the Black Wolf Beast was only in the initial Golden Core stage? The baleful aura is stronger, but still not lethal.”

He calmly analyzed the situation.

If this was the limit, Xiao Li could probably handle it too.

But Daoist Wubao was another matter.

His foundations were weak—he’d already struggled refining the bloodline of the Blackscale Venomrat.

If he tried a Golden Core-level one, he might not withstand the baleful aura.

“This Witch Bloodline Essence is truly miraculous.”

Lu Qing marveled at the transformation of his body.

It wasn’t just a physical strengthening—the bloodline was altering him on a deeper level, enhancing his potential itself.

That was a rare and divine effect.

After forming a Perfect Golden Core, Lu Qing’s foundation was already unmatched.

Even a Flawless Golden Core, hailed as the pinnacle among Dao Heirs and supreme geniuses, couldn’t compare.

A Flawless Golden Core, under normal circumstances, could reach the Ninth Transformation of the Golden Core Realm and had a high probability of advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm—so long as the cultivator didn’t commit unforgivable sins and provoke heaven’s wrath.

That’s why cultivators with Flawless Golden Cores were often called Dao Heirs—forming one was like planting the seed of the Dao.

They had the foundation to chase the Great Dao and ascend to greatness.

But Lu Qing’s Perfect Golden Core surpassed even that.

Its limit wasn’t the Ninth Transformation—it could reach the Twelfth Transformation!