Facing Juehui's question, Gu Yuandao remained silent for a moment without replying.
Juehui spoke slowly, his tone grave and earnest.
"Actually, before setting out on this journey, I inquired about the Prince's attitude toward the Young Lord, and I sensed great confusion. This trip was also meant to confirm whether things are truly as the Prince claimed."
"I just never expected that the Confucian Sect... could it be they've colluded with the Seven Sects to strike at the Sword Pavilion? If that's the case, could there be more to this than meets the eye?"
His words came from genuine confusion. He sincerely said,
"I ask that you, Zhuangyuan Lang, give this old monk an answer."
Gu Yuandao took a deep breath and spoke helplessly.
"Master, this is truly a misunderstanding. Now isn't the time for explanations. How about you assist me in capturing these people first, and we can question them one by one afterward?"
Juehui nodded solemnly.
"Very well."
He turned his head, only to see the landscape scroll surging toward him.
Juehui's expression changed. Just as he was about to strike, an immense pressure fell from above. The invisible Righteous Qi of the Vast Heavens descended from the Confucian Saint, suppressing his cultivation entirely.
In the blink of an eye, he was drawn into the scroll.
Gu Yuandao stood above, expressionless, letting out a faint, chilling laugh.
"How could I let you destroy my future?"
Without his future, how could he borrow the nation's fortune and realize the vision of Heaven's Equal Through Eternity?
This entire Seven Sect Uprising had been tailored precisely for him, a clear path straight to the heavens.
When the immortal sects clashed and the Dragon Hollow Lake was thrown into chaos, when the people were displaced and the land soaked in blood, he would naturally appear to mediate, to speak for the people, to rebuild the Four Southwestern Circuits, to restore irrigation and order.
He would make sure the people remembered who spoke for them, who acted for them.
Not the court, not the immortal sects, but him, the Zhuangyuan Lang, Gu Yuandao.
The fate of Great Wei had never been immutable.
To rebel outright and proclaim himself emperor was impossible, not only would the National Preceptor detect it immediately, but no immortal sect would ever support him.
Dynasties throughout history had always shifted from the bottom up.
Now, in this age of chaos, with the Demonic Sect running rampant and the people crushed beneath immortal conflict, why shouldn't he be the one to play the savior?
When everything was settled, when all was reshaped subtly and imperceptibly, that muddle-headed Emperor Yong'an would find himself utterly without support.
And by then, who truly deserved to bring "peace", that would speak for itself.
"Master Juehui, please rest for a while within this Scroll of Mountains and Rivers."
As for how long that rest would last, well, that was uncertain.
This Scroll of Mountains and Rivers was a magical artifact given to him by Xie Qian. It could trap even a Third Rank expert, and within it, one moment equaled an entire day.
He only hoped Master Juehui's lifespan would be enough...
Even without that drop of heart's blood or divine soul fragment between his fingers, even without seeing through Gu Fangchen's identity,
He could still surpass Gu Fangchen!
This time, the one to quell the Seven Sect Uprising would be him alone!
"Roar, Roar, Roar, !"
From within the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers came ceaseless, thunderous roars like that of a lion's howl, hammering against the artifact's barrier.
Ripples of spiritual energy pulsed outward, making the air itself tremble.
Gu Yuandao's face was cold. Wiping away the blood at the corner of his mouth, he felt the backlash of overexerting the scroll, his dantian drained of spiritual energy, even showing faint signs of recoil.
His organs quaked under the impact of the rampaging energy.
With a wave of his hand, he released the few members of the Seven Sects trapped earlier.
The moment Yang Qing and the others emerged, they sensed something was wrong.
Gu Yuandao's face was pale as he said coolly,
"My apologies, seniors. There was a high monk from Garan Temple secretly accompanying and watching me. Fortunately, I discovered it in time and disguised myself well enough to avoid being exposed."
He cupped his hands respectfully.
"Thanks to your help in drawing attention away, I was able to capture him. Otherwise, I would have been discovered!"
"My earlier harsh words were merely a necessity of circumstance. I hope you will be magnanimous and not let it hinder our cooperation."
Since Gu Fangchen had already sown suspicion in advance, making them think Gu Yuandao had ulterior motives, he now stood between two impossible options.
Either he kept pretending, abandoning his plan to act the noble gentleman before Juehui,
Or he turned against Juehui, taking control of the unstable element himself.
Gu Fangchen's move was truly venomous!
Of course, Gu Yuandao would never give up a plan he had orchestrated for so long. He could only choose to confine Juehui first.
That way, Gu Fangchen's identity could no longer be resolved at its source.
This Seven Sect Uprising must become the sole determinant of the Young Lord's legitimacy.
Yang Qing and the others had witnessed how Gu Yuandao dealt with Juehui.
The presence of such a powerful Third Rank monk had startled them, but it also perfectly corroborated Gu Yuandao's explanation.
Yang Qing's face flushed with shame, and he quickly said,
"So that's how it was. It seems we were deceived by that Gu Fangchen!"
He then recounted the events in full. Though their cultivation was higher, it was indeed their error, they had nearly ruined everything. All of them bowed apologetically to Gu Yuandao.
So it really was Gu Fangchen!
Sacrificing one Juehui to turn the board on Gu Fangchen,
Hardly a true victory.
Gu Yuandao took a deep breath, the fire in his chest burning hotter than ever.
If he could not bring the Seven Sect Uprising under control, he would never find peace!
He immediately said,
"This must be Gu Fangchen's ploy to lure us away, most likely to sabotage the Dragon and Serpent Rise to Land formation. Quickly, return and check it!"
Yang Qing and the others' faces changed.
Indeed, with all of them gone, the Dragon and Serpent Rise to Land formation was left undefended.
He quickly asked,
"Will the Young Lord accompany us?"
Gu Yuandao shook his head coldly.
"I have my own matters to attend to."
He flew off toward the Sword Pavilion's direction, fingertips brushing over the imperial decree in his hand.
The majestic Sword Pavilion was close at hand.
And yet, the mother who should have welcomed him now stood behind another, taking that stranger back to her maiden home.
Gu Yuandao's expression was blank.
Mother...
This time, who will you choose?
If you choose wrong, don't blame your son for being heartless.
After all, the entire Sword Pavilion sat atop that dragon vein.
Without sufficient spiritual power to sustain it, how could he awaken that long-slumbering dragon vein?
...
Gu Fangchen followed the Sword Pavilion disciple leading the way into the central grand hall.
For the first time, he met the original body's grandfather,
The Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, Ning Wuzhen.
The old man wore white robes, his expression stern and authoritative. When he saw Gu Fangchen enter reeking of alcohol, his brows furrowed tightly.
He had always adored his daughter.
Thus, for this useless grandson who constantly worried her, he harbored particular dislike.
During these days Gu Fangchen had been around, even though Ning Wuzhen was busy, he was not so busy as to have no time at all, he simply refused to see him.
Cai Yong had even claimed the boy had repented, that he was no longer the same as before. But looking at him now, it was clear nothing had changed!
A wastrel!
Comes home only to drink!
Ning Wuzhen barked harshly,
"You're already twenty, yet still so sloppy, what kind of behavior is this!"
Gu Fangchen, still tipsy, was a bit dazed. Startled, he instinctively blurted out,
"It was Uncle who invited me to drink!"
The wine had already been given to Ning Songjun, so naturally, it was Ning Songjun's.
And since Ning Songjun made him drink, then obviously, it was an invitation! Nothing wrong with that!
Ning Wuzhen: "..."