Chapter 1270 - 659: A Thunderclap Erupts

Thinking about that unfathomable presence, the elder’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

Soon, the powerhouses of the Six Great Holy Lands reached a consensus.

The Qinghe Fifth Elder took the lead, guiding dozens of experts in pursuit of the possible escape route of Gu Sheng.

The other Holy Lands’ forces, like sharks that smelled blood, closely followed.

"Great Elder..."

A trusted aide transmitted a message.

"Following like this, we might miss the best opportunity for rescue."

The elder’s eyes were profound.

"I have my own arrangements."

He suddenly halted, turning to the disciples behind him.

"Everyone, listen to the order, return to Tianlan Sacred Land immediately!"

The crowd was stunned. A young disciple hurriedly said.

"But the Holy Master commanded us..."

"Silence!"

The elder rarely shouted sternly, then lowered his voice.

"Go back and tell the Holy Master, just say... ’Qingyun’ has appeared, a backup plan is needed."

This sentence caused all Tianlan disciples to tremble. "Qingyun" was the highest-level secret code, signifying the situation was extremely precarious.

"Great Elder, it’s too dangerous for you alone!"

The trusted aide’s eyes reddened.

The old man shook his head, taking out an ancient jade scroll from his chest.

"Deliver this to the Holy Master personally, without fail."

His gaze swept over each young face, his voice suddenly softened.

"The future of Tianlan... is entrusted to you now."

These almost farewell words made several female disciples burst into tears on the spot.

But under the elder’s stern gaze, everyone could only take orders with tears, turn around, and dash away.

Watching their receding figures, the elder let out a long sigh. Now, he could take a gamble.

Flipping out a silver talisman, the old man’s eyes were resolute.

"Gu, you must hold on..."

As the talisman ignited, his figure vanished into the air.

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao passed through ancient cities, caring nothing for the worldly hustle and bustle nor the curious stares of others.

All they wanted was to go farther, preferably out of Qinghe Holy Land’s sphere of influence.

"Stop for a moment."

Gu Sheng suddenly reached out to halt Ling Xiao.

They had just passed through the city gate of an ancient city, surrounded by a bustling crowd.

"What’s wrong?"

Ling Xiao warily scanned the surroundings.

Gu Sheng didn’t immediately reply. Instead, he closed his eyes, concentrating, sensing something.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, his voice so low only the two could hear.

"We can’t escape."

Ling Xiao was taken aback. Throughout their flight, he had never seen Gu Sheng so serious.

"What do you mean?"

Ling Xiao lowered his voice.

"Did you discover pursuers?"

Gu Sheng shook his head.

"Not specific pursuers... but a feeling."

He pointed to his heart.

"The unease here is growing, as if a sharp sword is hanging overhead."

A cultivator’s intuition was often more reliable than the eyes, especially for someone like Gu Sheng, who had faced life and death trials.

"Because of those old monsters?" Ling Xiao tentatively asked.

"I heard the top elite from Xinghong Spirit Domain have all emerged..."

Gu Sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the pedestrians on the street.

"Under their noses, our little tricks..." he didn’t finish, self-mockingly laughing.

A distant tea house wafted an invigorating fragrance, children’s laughter came from the alley entrance, everything seemed so ordinary.

Ling Xiao suddenly slapped his leg!

"Got it!"

This almost startled Gu Sheng into drawing his sword, attracting a few curious glances from passersby.

Quickly pressing down on Ling Xiao’s shoulder, pretending to have a joyful reunion with a relative.

"Cousin, so glad to see you!"

After the passersby scattered, Gu Sheng gritted his teeth.

"What’s gotten into you?"

Ling Xiao’s eyes shone.

"Gu, did you notice? All the cultivators we’ve encountered on the way are heading in the same direction!"

Gu Sheng hesitated, then recalled this was true.

They had inquired along the way; these people were heading to Qinghe Holy Land for the disciple selection.

The Seven Great Sacred Lands recruited new disciples every three years, an excellent opportunity for ordinary cultivators to leap into a dragon’s gate.

"So?"

Gu Sheng was puzzled.

Ling Xiao leaned in, voice extremely low.

"We should go too!"

"What?!"

Gu Sheng nearly shouted, quickly coughing to cover it up.

"Are you crazy? That’s Qinghe Holy Land!"

"The most dangerous place is the safest place."

Ling Xiao’s eyes held a sly glint.

"Enemies are searching the whole world for us, they would never expect us to dare go to their base!"

Gu Sheng looked at Ling Xiao as if he were a madman.

This idea was more absurd than sending oneself to die.

What kind of place is Qinghe Holy Land?

Even the Tianlan Grand Elder dreaded such a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den!

"Do you know how terrifying the Qinghe Saint Master is?"

Gu Sheng gritted his teeth.

"This mask is just a rag in front of the Saint Master!"

Ling Xiao shook his head.

"During the selection period, tens of thousands of cultivators flood in daily. The Saint doesn’t have the leisure to check them one by one?"

Seeing Gu Sheng still hesitated, he continued analyzing.

"Moreover, we just need to pass the preliminary selection. Once we get the temporary disciple token, we can legitimately stay on the outskirts of the Holy Land.

That place is the hardest for pursuers to search!"

Gu Sheng was silent.

His reason told him the plan was full of holes, but his instinct faintly felt it might just be feasible.

"It’s still too risky!" he murmured.

Ling Xiao suddenly became serious.

"Gu, do you trust me?"

Gu Sheng looked up, meeting Ling Xiao’s unprecedented serious gaze.

"I trust you."

He didn’t hesitate.

"Then let’s take a gamble."

Ling Xiao grinned.

"Since it’s likely death either way, might as well make it an exciting one!"

This rogue logic made Gu Sheng not know whether to laugh or cry. But strangely enough, the oppressive feeling in his heart indeed lightened a bit.

"Alright."

Gu Sheng took a deep breath.

"But we need to re-disguise ourselves."

He touched the cold mask on his face.

"This thing may be useless against the Saint Master, but it should still fool the ordinary elders."