The cultivators present all released their divine senses to probe the ancient tower, their expressions changing dramatically.
Some began to discuss in hushed tones.
“There’s a corpse aura.”
“Seems like there’s a demonic aura?”
“A corpse demon?”
“This is the aura of a dragon…”
“So foul—”
Bao Gu felt extremely embarrassed when she heard the word “foul” and shrank her neck.
Lü Wen, the master of Qingfeng Pavilion, said, “Everyone, this is not the place to talk.
Why don’t we find somewhere else to discuss this in detail?”
An elder from Jianming Manor, holding a sword, said in a deep voice, “The ancient ruins disappeared here.
We should figure out the reason right here and not go anywhere else.”
The crowd of onlookers loudly agreed.
If they moved to another place, only a few would be present, and if these sects reached some agreement, wouldn’t the ancient ruins disappear without a trace?
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd, followed by a formation that looked like an army parting the crowd.
Surrounded by iron-armored soldiers riding demonic beasts was a man in his thirties, handsome and elegant.
He scanned the surroundings, clasped his fists in greeting to everyone present, and then focused his gaze on the tower standing at the entrance of the ancient ruins.
He said, “This is a good tower, but it carries the aura of a corpse city.
It seems the coffin inside once sealed a corpse demon that was a dragon in its previous life!”
His gaze swept over Bao Gu and Yu Mi, asking, “Can any of you explain this to me?”
Bao Gu glanced at the beast-riding soldiers surrounding the man and recognized them as people from the Jun Mansion, the most powerful force in Xuanyue Ancient City.
Since the man called himself “Young Master,” he must be a young master of the Jun Mansion.
She noticed that all the other forces were giving this young master face, clasping their fists in greeting.
Bao Gu clasped her fists and said, “I’ll explain.
My name is Bao Gu, a direct disciple of Lingyun Peak of Xuanyue Sect.
Before talking about the disappearance of the ancient ruins, I need to mention something about my senior sister.”
She looked around at the various forces present and said, “I heard that entering the ancient ruins requires a very strict search, and no cultivator above the Foundation Establishment stage can enter.
I didn’t believe it, so I tried it, and no one found my senior sister.”
These blunt words made the strong cultivators of various sects look embarrassed, but they couldn’t refute it, their faces turning ashen.
Ignoring the big shots, Bao Gu turned her gaze to the disciples of various sects who had followed her out and sneered, “Don’t blame my senior sister for bullying you.
This time, I brought my senior sister in, and she came out openly.
Do you think we deserve to die for that?
What about those sects that secretly sent people in to do unspeakable things?
I brought my senior sister in, proving there are loopholes in your searches.
If I didn’t bring her out, I could suppress my cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Refining and bring more people in five years later.
As long as we keep a low profile and don’t expose ourselves, what can you do to me?
Instead of finding the problem within yourselves, you blame the person who exposed your flaws.
What kind of logic is that?”
She then raised her voice, “If I came out alone, leaving you all inside to disappear with the ancient ruins, and then used the method to hide my senior sister, walking out openly, who could stop me?
Why should I be surrounded and questioned by so many cultivators?
I admit I was wrong, wrong for wanting to save you and leading you out!”
Her eyes reddened with grievance, “Do you know what we went through inside?
Do you know what would have happened to you if you hadn’t come out just now?
The master of Soul Chasing Pavilion said this tower is an ancient treasure from the Void Tearing stage.
Do you know what was once inside this tower?”
She raised her voice again, “If you want to hold me accountable for bringing my senior sister into the ancient ruins, stand up now.
If you want to settle scores with those who died at my senior sister’s hands, stand up and let’s talk it out!
I admit the Ning family’s people died at our hands, and so did the people from the immortal sects.
They came to rob me instead of seeking treasures in the ancient ruins.
Should we have let them kill us?
Just because I have treasures given by the Duobao Spirit Monkey, many people joined forces to hunt me down.
I used up all my Nascent Soul stage treasures and talismans.
Now that I’m out, you Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stage seniors come to settle scores with me.
Do you have any shame?
If you don’t want your disciples to be killed, teach them better.
Don’t let them only know how to rob others when they see treasures.
When they go out to rob, give them more protective treasures!”
An elder from the immortal sect shouted angrily, “Bao Gu, you’re being presumptuous!”
He raised his hand to strike, but a curved sword was placed against his neck.
The master of Soul Chasing Pavilion, wearing a luxurious robe and a veil, appeared beside him without warning, her curved sword pressing against his neck.
The elder’s expression darkened, and he shouted, “Soul Chasing Pavilion Master, what do you mean by this?”
The master of Soul Chasing Pavilion took the ancient treasure tower from Jade Shura and said coldly, “What do you think?
Elder Dongmen, are you planning to ruin my Soul Chasing Pavilion’s business and reputation in front of countless cultivators?”
The cultivators, angered by Bao Gu’s words, were secretly shocked.
The master of Soul Chasing Pavilion personally protecting Bao Gu was too obvious.
Anyone who dared to touch Bao Gu would have to be prepared for a life-and-death battle with Soul Chasing Pavilion.
The young master of Jun Mansion smiled, “Interesting.”
The various sects began to ponder.
Although an ancient treasure from the Void Tearing stage was indeed worth Soul Chasing Pavilion taking on this task, it wasn’t worth the master personally taking action.
The master’s involvement meant that Soul Chasing Pavilion would use all its power to protect Bao Gu.
How could an ancient treasure from the Void Tearing stage be worth the entire Soul Chasing Pavilion’s effort?
There must be more to this.
The elder from the immortal sect, with the sword at his neck, dispersed his power and lowered his hand.
The master of Soul Chasing Pavilion also withdrew her sword and gracefully returned to her carriage.
The young master of Jun Mansion smiled, “Let’s put aside the matter of Yu Mi entering the ancient ruins with a high cultivation level and your grudges in the ancient ruins.
Although Bao Gu’s words are harsh, they are not without reason.
The ancient ruins have long had rules: life and death depend on one’s abilities.
Bao Gu, tell us about the corpse city and the disappearance of the ancient ruins.”
Bao Gu looked at the young master and asked, “Should I start from the beginning?”
The young master nodded, “Yes, take your time.
We’re not in a hurry.”
Bao Gu said, “It all started with the conflict between Xuanyue Sect and Taiyin Sect.”
A dissatisfied voice came from the crowd, “Don’t go so far back!
Skip the well-known nonsense.”
The young master “hmm?”
and looked at the person, silencing them.
He then smiled at Bao Gu, “No problem, take your time.”
Bao Gu said, “Everyone knows that Xuanyue Sect and Taiyin Sect had a battle outside Xuanyue Ancient City, and Taiyin Sect lost a Divine Transformation stage cultivator.”
The cultivators present nodded.
The young master asked, “And then?”
Bao Gu said, “Something happened that may not be important to everyone, but it’s very important to me and Xuanyue Sect.
Someone informed Taiyin Sect on my way to Xuanyue Ancient City.”
Many cultivators nearby snickered.
Xuanyue Sect had a traitor, which was naturally important to them, but what did it matter to others?
Bao Gu continued, “Yes, there was a traitor! Nan Yi and I were captured together, but he disappeared. I wondered if he was the traitor. I resented Taiyin Sect for attacking Xuanyue Sect, so I blocked the entrance of the ancient ruins to kill Taiyin Sect’s disciples.”
She glanced at the elders of Taiyin Sect standing at the back of the crowd and rolled her eyes before continuing, “After we killed Taiyin Sect’s people, someone came to rob me. I didn’t know him, and he was stronger than me, so I was scared and called for my senior sister. Everyone knows my senior sister’s temperament; she wouldn’t let anyone rob me, so she fought back. She killed him with one strike, and then Lü Wen shouted ‘No,’ but it was too late! After killing everyone, we found out he was Ning Cong, the young master of the Ning family.”
A woman’s wailing suddenly came from the crowd, “My Cong’er—”
Zi Tianjun glared at Bao Gu, thinking, “Do you want to deepen the grudge with the Ning family?”
He said, “Bao Gu, some details can be skipped. Focus on what everyone cares about.”
Bao Gu said, “Master, I must explain this clearly.”
Zi Tianjun glared at Bao Gu helplessly.
If it weren’t for the many eyes watching, he would have sealed Bao Gu’s mouth.
Bao Gu clapped her hands, “After killing Taiyin Sect’s people, our goal was achieved. I knew Nan Yi had an ancient token and would be in the ancient ruins, so we just had to find him. My senior sister blocked the entrance, so he couldn’t escape. I started digging for spiritual herbs near the entrance. Within a few days, Nan Yi returned with a group of people who knew his identity. Xu Bufan from Jianming Manor and Yu Xiaolian from Snow Palace, are you here? I remember you were with Nan Yi!”
Everyone looked towards the people from Jianming Manor and Snow Palace.
Yu Xiaolian coughed and stepped forward, “We did return with Nan Yi to find you, but… when Soul Chasing Pavilion intervened, we retreated.”
Bao Gu laughed, “Misunderstanding. At that time, Soul Chasing Pavilion hadn’t approached me yet. It was a new assassination technique my senior sister had learned, similar to Soul Chasing Pavilion’s skills.”
She looked at the carriage of Soul Chasing Pavilion and called out, “Jade Shura, did you approach me because of my senior sister’s technique?”
Jade Shura’s voice came from the carriage, “If you say so, then yes.”
