The origin of the title 'Murder Demon' required a trip back in time to a day prior.
At the Imperial Observatory, within the Star-Gazing Tower.
High upon the dome, the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Array was slowly withdrawing its last trace of spiritual light.
The complex patterns flickered like a breathing rhythm before finally settling into silence, completely cutting off the image of the blizzard-shrouded northern border’s Falling Snow Pass from this quiet chamber.
Vice Director Song Zhixing stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze lingering on the empty air.
Beside him, Chen Mo took a deep breath, as if trying to force himself to digest the scenes he had just witnessed.
He picked up a tea cup that had long since gone cold and took a sip. The bitter liquid trickled down his throat, finally loosening his tightened voice.
"Gu Chengming... him again?"
These three words were appearing with far too much frequency in the records of the Imperial Observatory lately.
From the Drunk Dream Boat case during the Lantern Festival to the slaying of the dragon in the East Sea, the killing of the Longevity Sect members in the capital, and now this—at Falling Snow Pass, using a second realm body to trap and kill a fourth realm great cultivator like Qian Tong, while simultaneously uprooting the long-standing cancer that was the Wanjin Pavilion.
Each of these feats, even if performed by a renowned third realm cultivator, would be considered shocking.
Yet, they were all the work of a second realm sword cultivator who had only entered the world less than half a year ago.
"Such methods, such a mindset."
Chen Mo shook his head, his mind replaying the final scene from the projection—the moment Gu Chengming used a phantom to trick a fourth realm master into wasting a fatal blow, then detonating a sword talisman for a decisive kill.
"Even Luo Jinyao back then would have felt inferior, wouldn't she?"
People said the Wenjian Sect was aging and lacked successors, claiming that aside from a few old-timers holding up the front, the disciples were getting worse with each generation. But looking at this, how was it a decline?
It was clearly a case of accumulating strength for a sudden eruption.
First, there was Luo Jinyao suppressing the north for ten years, and now Gu Chengming had appeared out of nowhere. The destiny of the Wenjian Sect was truly impossible to see through.
Song Zhixing remained silent, though his finger tapping against the table paused slightly.
He slowly turned around, walked to the desk, and held a vermillion brush over a fresh document for the Hidden Dragon Ranking for a long time. Ink gathered at the tip of the brush but refused to drop.
Watching his Vice Director's indecisiveness, Chen Mo grew even more puzzled.
In the past, when encountering such young talents, the Vice Director was always extremely appreciative, sometimes even using the Imperial Observatory's resources to build momentum for them.
But today, facing the heavily decorated Gu Chengming, why were the Vice Director's brows locked so tightly?
Song Zhixing stared at the name 'Gu Chengming' on the document, his heart churning with waves that were anything but calm.
Favored by the Wenjian Sect's destiny?
Heh, if it were only the sect's luck, that would be easy to handle.
Others only saw Gu Chengming's brilliance and his superb swordsmanship, but as the Vice Director of the Imperial Observatory—the man in charge of monitoring Great Qian's destiny and someone deeply privy to the secrets of the imperial family—Song Zhixing saw another layer of the truth.
The imperial family had yet to state a position, and the Emperor was tight-lipped about it. This silence made Song Zhixing feel he had to be extremely cautious.
Until the situation was clear, the Imperial Observatory could not easily take a side. More importantly, they couldn't give Gu Chengming a title that sounded too much like a 'royal symbol' or an 'orthodox hero,' lest it be interpreted as some kind of political signal by those with hidden agendas.
"Vice Director?" Seeing Song Zhixing silent for so long, Chen Mo couldn't help but call out softly. "The new Hidden Dragon Ranking needs to be sent across the Jiuzhou Continent. Gu Chengming's contribution this time is massive. His title..."
"Mhm." Song Zhixing snapped out of it.
"His rank must rise, of course." The vermillion brush in Song Zhixing's hand finally fell, sketching out a line of vigorous characters: 【Hidden Dragon Ranking, Sixth Place】.
But when the brush moved to the 'Title' column, Song Zhixing stopped again.
According to convention, killing a fourth realm evil cultivator, destroying a demon den, and saving fellow cultivators were merits worthy of titles like 'Demon Dispeller,' 'Benevolent Sword,' or 'Bane of Evil.'
But the four words 'Imperial Family Ancestor' flashed through Song Zhixing's mind. His wrist shook slightly. The name couldn't be too righteous, or it would be too eye-catching; it couldn't be too evil, or he might be rejected by the righteous sects, making it hard for him to travel within Great Qian.
It had to be a title that sounded intimidating and reflected his strength, but also carried the air of a 'rogue' or 'grassroots' figure—perhaps even something slightly derogatory and neutral.
Ideally, it should make the high-ranking officials in court feel that this person was merely a bloodthirsty sword cultivator.
After a moment of contemplation, Song Zhixing's brush flew across the paper, writing six characters.
Chen Mo leaned in to look and was instantly stunned.
【Falling Snow Pass Murder Demon】
"Vice Director? This..." Chen Mo pointed at the title, his expression a mix of bewilderment. "Didn't you think quite highly of him before?"
Song Zhixing put down the vermillion brush, blew on the wet ink, and looked at Chen Mo with a calm expression.
"Chen Mo." Song Zhixing slowly placed the brush back on the rack, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and paced to the window. "You are still too young."
Chen Mo froze, not quite understanding.
"You only see his merit in killing a fourth realm master and saving people from fire and water, but you don't see the undercurrents surging behind it."
Song Zhixing gazed at the magnificent national destiny hovering over the capital. "A tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Gu Chengming's limelight is too strong this time. A second realm cultivator killing a fourth realm across tiers... and more importantly, he moved against the Wanjin Pavilion."
"How much interest is tied behind the Wanjin Pavilion? The northern trade routes, the nobles in the capital, even some unspeakable powers... His sword strike felt good, but it also invited trouble."
"But what if he is a 'Murder Demon'?"
Song Zhixing walked back to the desk and tapped heavily on the words 'Murder Demon'.
"A murder demon implies he acts erratically, uses ruthless methods, is a hard person to provoke, and doesn't follow rules."
"Moreover, this title can keep him away from the troubles of the court. A person with an unsavory reputation cannot serve as a banner for certain political factions. This way, the imperial family will have fewer suspicions and more time to observe."
"I see..." Chen Mo suddenly realized, his face filling with shame as he bowed deeply to Song Zhixing. "The Vice Director's foresight is profound; I was too shallow. I only thought of a good name, but forgot the killing intent hidden behind such fame."
"I will go arrange it immediately and send the new Hidden Dragon Ranking across the Jiuzhou Continent."
Watching Chen Mo's appreciative departure, Song Zhixing sighed inwardly.
While half of that reasoning was true, the core half—the suspicion that Gu Chengming might be a 'reincarnated imperial ancestor'—could never be spoken aloud.
"Go on." Song Zhixing waved his hand and massaged his brow tiredly. "Remember, regarding the intelligence from the north, aside from the report submitted to His Majesty, suppress the rest. Don't let too many people know the details."
"Yes."
Chen Mo took his leave, his footsteps gradually fading at the end of the stairs.
Silence like death returned to the Star-Gazing Tower.
Song Zhixing picked up the file on Gu Chengming again, his gaze falling on the characters 'Falling Snow Pass Murder Demon' with a complex look.
After a long while, he let out a bitter laugh to the empty room, audible only to himself.
"Ancestor, oh Ancestor... Consider this your junior's attempt to stabilize Great Qian. I must trouble you to be a 'demon' for a few days."
"I only hope that if the day truly comes when you return to your seat... you'll remember my painstaking efforts and strike a little lighter."
Outside the window, the winds rose and clouds surged. The dragon qi shrouding the capital seemed to sense something, letting out a low, long dragon roar from deep within the clouds.
Inside the side hall of the Northern Mansion.
Compared to Gu Chengming's helplessness, Elder Yu sitting opposite him was in an exceptionally good mood. Yu Wenqiu had changed into a warm apricot-colored casual robe today, curling up in a grand tutor chair padded with thick cushions. She held a cup of hot tea Gu Chengming had just brewed for her, a smile she couldn't hide hanging at the corners of her eyes and brows.
From time to time, she would glance at the words 【Falling Snow Pass Murder Demon】 on the official bulletin. The more she looked, the more she liked it, thinking the name was quite skillfully chosen.
"Elder, you've been laughing over this with your tea for half an hour."
Gu Chengming helplessly set down the scroll in his hand. "If this reputation reaches the sect, I'm afraid the elders of the Enforcement Hall will have a headache trying to figure out how to clear the Wenjian Sect's name."
"Clear what? This is called deterrence!"
Yu Wenqiu curled her lip and retorted righteously.
She put down her tea cup and pointed a slender finger at the words with an air of importance.
"Think about it. What is the most terrifying thing when traveling the world? It’s not being hunted by enemies, but those unclear romantic entanglements and endless trivial troubles. If they called you 'Red Dust Sword' or 'Jade-Faced Gentleman,' it might sound nice, but then every female cultivator would want to come and 'exchange pointers' with you. Wouldn't that be annoying?"
Speaking of this, Yu Wenqiu seemed to imagine a scene, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Our Wenjian Sect has always prioritized the way of the sword above all. Though 'Murder Demon' sounds a bit fierce, it's effective! In the future, when you go out, just report your name, and those wicked enchantresses... those troublemakers will surely stay far away. This is very beneficial for your cultivation. After all, for a sword cultivator, if there are no women in the heart, drawing the sword will naturally be divine."
Gu Chengming found her twisted logic amusing but didn't expose it. He simply followed her lead and smiled. "The Elder makes a valid point."
As he spoke, he took a plate of freshly baked hard-shell date cakes from a food box nearby; they were from Yu Wenqiu's favorite shop.
He didn't hand them over directly. Instead, he took one and meticulously peeled off the slightly charred, hard outer crust before placing it on the small plate in front of Yu Wenqiu.
"Try it. I just had someone buy them; they're still hot."
Looking at the perfectly prepared pastry, Yu Wenqiu’s flow of grand theories instantly jammed.
She shifted her posture uncomfortably, the tips of her ears turning a faint pink, yet she still maintained the dignity of an elder.
"Ahem... Since you can understand, then this elder won't waste any more breath."
She picked up the pastry and took a small bite. The sweet, sticky date paste melted on her tongue, and even the slight sense of crisis she felt because of Nuo Tao’s appearance was smoothed over.
She stole a glance at Gu Chengming’s profile as he lowered his head to read the scrolls again. Suddenly, she felt that even if he really were a murder demon, he would be the best story-writing, most reassuring murder demon in the world.
"Xiao Gu."
"Mhm?" Gu Chengming didn't look up, only answering softly.
"Nothing, just calling your name."
"Okay."
In the afternoon, the snow eased slightly.
A personal guard of Vice Commander Liang Si delivered a thick, sealed file.
It was the final report on the handling of the Wanjin Pavilion.
Gu Chengming broke the wax seal and scanned the dense entries at a glance. He grew more startled as he read, unable to help but admire the methods of that Mohist vice commander.
In the memorial submitted to the Great Qian court and the Imperial Observatory, Liang Si detailed evidence of Pavilion Master Qian using merchant caravans to smuggle banned drugs and keeping blood slaves in the warehouse to feed the demon race. Every point was backed by physical evidence and the 'account books' provided by Nuo Tao. The evidence was as solid as a mountain, leaving no room for defense.
Gu Chengming closed the file, his fingertips tapping gently on the table.
Liang Si knew very well that with their current strength, uprooting the Wanjin Pavilion at Falling Snow Pass was the limit.
If they followed the clues further up, once they touched the high-ranking figures in the capital, a transfer order would likely remove them all before the evidence could be finalized.
Given Luo Jinyao's personality, being able to guard the north peacefully for ten years was indeed thanks to the cleanup work of this vice commander of 'Ten Thousand Mechanisms'.
However...
Gu Chengming stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the frame.
The biting cold wind mixed with snow flurries hit his face, instantly clearing his somewhat heated mind.
The Wanjin Pavilion had fallen, and Pavilion Master Qian was dead, but the question that had been lingering in his heart did not dissipate with the end of this storm; instead, it grew heavier.
How exactly could the Longevity Sect exist for so long?
From the third realm jiao-dragon at the East Sea who knew the patterns of Great Qian's dragon qi and could even evade the Imperial Observatory’s monitoring, to the Longevity Sect deacon in the capital who dared to intercept Night Guard officials under the Emperor’s feet with a Six-Harmony Spirit-Restricting Bell, to this Wanjin Pavilion far away at the northern border that could build a bloody trade route directly to the demon domain that hadn't been broken for years...
If no high-ranking officials, or even members of the imperial family, had nodded their heads, how could this be possible?
The unobstructed trade route meant there were moles at the border; the effortless assassinations in the capital meant there were spies in the central government; the son of the East Sea Dragon Lord daring to come ashore to eat humans meant someone was providing cover even at the diplomatic level.
What exactly were the Great Qian officials doing?
As the sovereign of a nation, as rulers who enjoyed the offerings of millions, allowing such an evil cult that fed on the flesh and blood of their own kin to grow large—or even colluding with them—was no different from digging their own graves.
Did they not know that the 'longevity' sought by the Longevity Sect was fueled by Great Qian's national destiny and the lives of its people?
Or was this so-called 'longevity' something that certain high-ranking figures themselves wanted?
If that were true, then Great Qian was rotten to the core.
Gu Chengming let out a long sigh, looking at the vast white world outside.
He thought of Luo Jinyao and Zhou Qingmu.
In the past, he felt their methods were a bit reckless, but now it seemed that in the face of such a rotten situation, that might be the most effective solution.
Rather than engaging in political maneuvering with these sub-human creatures in the mud, it was better to sharpen the sword in his hand.
"I really want to kill them all..."
Gu Chengming spoke softly to himself, his finger unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist.
If one day his sword was fast enough and his fist hard enough, would he no longer have to struggle with evidence and consequences?
Would he be able to be like Senior Sister Luo, carrying a sword from the south to the north, cleaning up all the filth in Great Qian?
But not yet.
However, as long as he continued to grow stronger and held this sword, the day would come when he would follow the cause and effect to drag out the people hiding behind the scenes.
At that time, whether they were high officials with thick salaries or members of the imperial family.
A single sword strike would suffice.
With this thought, his mind became much clearer.
Fine, no need to dwell on those headache-inducing matters for now.
The next morning.
The snow had eased, revealing a rare, pale sun.
Gu Chengming sat at the round table in the side hall, several baskets of steaming hot meat buns set before him, their aroma filling the air.
Opposite him, Nuo Tao, who had changed into clean clothes but still couldn't hide her timid aura, was holding a bun larger than her fist with both hands. Her cheeks were puffed out like a hamster preparing for winter as she ate with her head down.
Since witnessing the brutality of Gu Chengming's fist and sword at the Wanjin Pavilion that day, this Worldly Walker of the Myriad Thief Sect had completely given up on the idea of running away and had become exceptionally obedient.
"Miss Nuo." Gu Chengming picked up his tea cup and took a sip, speaking in a gentle tone. "Eat slowly, no one is fighting you for it."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Nuo Tao was startled by this sudden concern and nearly choked herself to death.
She swallowed the food with difficulty, patted her chest, and looked at Gu Chengming with an alert gaze that seemed to say: What do you want now?
Nuo Tao grumbled indignantly in her heart: Unsolicited kindness must hide a sinister motive! This guy smiles so beautifully, he must be brewing some bad idea in his head!
But being under someone else's roof, she had to bow her head.
She shrank her neck and asked softly, "Brother Gu, if you have any orders, just say them. Don't look at me like that; it’s creepy."
Gu Chengming chuckled, put down his tea cup, and tapped the table gently. "Since we are now in the same boat, shouldn't we have an open and honest talk about some things?"
"Like that token, and the secret realm you mentioned."
At the mention of the 'secret realm,' Nuo Tao's body visibly stiffened.
She looked hesitantly at the remaining half of the bun in her hand, then at Gu Chengming, undergoing a fierce internal struggle.
Finally, she sighed as if accepting her fate, put the bun back on the plate, and seemed to deflate.
"I knew you were going to ask about that..."
Nuo Tao muttered before speaking seriously. "Actually, it’s not that I purposely kept it from you. It’s just that this involves the core inheritance of our Myriad Thief Sect. If I leaked it carelessly, my master would definitely break my legs."
"However..." She looked at Gu Chengming, her gaze turning complex. "Since you are the one who obtained the Azure Bird Token, then there’s no harm in telling you certain things."
Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I'm all ears."
Nuo Tao took a deep breath and held up a finger. "First of all, you need to know that the way our Myriad Thief Sect passes down its inheritance is different from other sects."
"Other sects cast a wide net and take in many disciples. But our lineage has always been a one-line succession since ancient times."
"One-line succession?" Gu Chengming was a bit surprised.
"Oh, let me finish!"
Nuo Tao waved her hand. "The so-called one-line succession means that each generation can only have one master who finishes their apprenticeship. But before that, the opportunities left by our Founding Grand-Patriarch are scattered across the world."
"For example, the Azure Bird Token that Brother Gu picked up is actually my 'tribulation'."
"Tribulation?" Gu Chengming frowned slightly.
"Exactly, a tribulation of karma."
Nuo Tao nodded and sighed. "The Founding Grand-Patriarch, the Myriad Thief Immortal himself, transformed his own Dao Throne into opportunities before he passed away, scattering them between heaven and earth. Each opportunity corresponds to a token."
"The person who gets the token is the 'person of the tribulation' or the 'guardian of the tribulation'."
She pointed to herself, then to Gu Chengming. "My master calculated that my opportunity for this descent was in the north. And my tribulation is the other half that corresponds to this Fire Phoenix Token."
This Myriad Thief Sect really has something... Just based on their mastery of karma, the Myriad Thief Sect was likely not inferior to the Hehuan Sect, which specialized in this path.
"So, strictly speaking, you aren't considered a formal successor of the Myriad Thief Sect yet?" Gu Chengming asked thoughtfully.
"How can you say that!"
Nuo Tao immediately retorted. "I just haven't finished my apprenticeship yet! I am a genuine inner disciple! Once I pass this tribulation and get the Grand-Patriarch's opportunity, I will be the next Myriad Thief Immortal!"
"Opportunity..."
Gu Chengming caught the word and pressed further. "What exactly is this 'opportunity' you speak of? A manual? A treasure? Or cultivation base?"
"None of those."
"What the Grand-Patriarch left behind is not a dead object, but a 'Law'. It is a unique 'Dao' tailored specifically for each disciple based on their karma, mindset, and the tribulations they have passed."
"It is said that the Grand-Patriarch transformed everything he gained from a lifetime of cultivation into that secret realm. Only those who resolve their tribulation, enter the secret realm, and gain the Grand-Patriarch's recognition can intercept a fragment of their own opportunity from that infinite dao rhythm and evolve their own unique method."
Speaking of this, Nuo Tao gave an example to increase her persuasiveness.
"Take my master, the world-famous 'Daoist Don't Know.' The opportunity he obtained back then evolved into the 'Cognitive Barrier' method."
"Once this technique is used, it can make others overlook him, ignore what they hear, and even cause memories of him to become blurred. Because of this, he can enter and leave major sects as he pleases under their very noses."
Gu Chengming’s heart stirred slightly. Such a divine ability involving cognition and memory was indeed incredible.
"Wait."
He suddenly realized a logical problem and interrupted.
"You mean that every disciple of the Myriad Thief Sect who passes the test can get an 'opportunity' that originally belonged to the Myriad Thief Immortal?"
"If every generation takes a piece, wouldn't the Myriad Thief Immortal's Dao have been divided up long ago? Besides, he’s been dead for so many years; how is this possible?"
Nuo Tao froze, seemingly not expecting Gu Chengming to ask such a deep question.
She scratched her head and organized her thoughts before saying uncertainly:
"My master told me about this. To be precise, what we take is not the Grand-Patriarch's cultivation base, but the differentiation of the 'Dao Throne'."
Dao Throne?
Gu Chengming had a vague impression of this. Fu Xiaoxiao had mentioned that the cultivation methods of the Hehuan Sect eventually allowed one to attain a karma Dao Throne.
Seeing Gu Chengming's blank look, Nuo Tao’s expression suddenly became somewhat superior, as if she had finally found a point where she could look down on the other's lack of knowledge.
"Tsk, tsk, Brother Gu, you're a genius sword cultivator ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking; surely you don't even know what a 'Dao Throne' is?"
She was just about to take the opportunity to show off and reclaim some ground.
Just then, a voice abruptly came from behind the screen in the side hall.
"A so-called Dao Throne is one of the rules of heaven and earth that a fifth realm great cultivator must prove and occupy when breaking through to the legendary sixth realm."
Following the voice, a figure slowly stepped out from behind the screen.
Yu Wenqiu was holding a bag of peeled pine nuts, throwing them into her mouth one by one while explaining leisurely.
"The heavens are flawed, and the Great Dao has its limits. A cultivator at the peak of the fifth realm who wants to take another step forward must merge their own Dao with the rules of heaven and earth to seize a 'Dao Throne'."
"Once they attain a Dao Throne, they can mobilize the power of the rules of heaven and earth; their words carry the weight of law, and they transcend the mundane. This is why sixth realm cultivators are called great cultivators."
Yu Wenqiu walked to the table, pulled out a chair quite naturally to sit down, and took a bun from the plate in front of Nuo Tao. She took a bite and said indistinctly:
"Little girl, you certainly know quite a bit."
Gu Chengming watched the suddenly appearing Elder Yu, his mouth twitching slightly.
"Elder... were you eavesdropping just now?"
Yu Wenqiu’s movement paused, then she righteously lifted her chin. "Eavesdropping? This elder was passing by! Do you understand what passing by means? Besides, this is the Northern Mansion, our territory. This elder was taking a walk in her own home and happened to hear some idle chatter—can that be called eavesdropping?"
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Nuo Tao.
—Hmph, this elder was worried you, a greenhorn, would be fooled by this clever little girl from the Myriad Thief Sect! How could I not watch over you?
What if this girl used sweet talk to trick you into that secret realm and then sold you off?
Gu Chengming saw her 'I'm doing this for your own good' expression and found it funny, but didn't expose her.
Beside them, Nuo Tao was angry but didn't dare speak out.
She looked at the missing bun on her plate, then at this female elder who had clearly listened from beginning to end, and could only cry silently in her heart.
After some banter, the topic returned to the main point.
With Yu Wenqiu, an experienced elder from the Wenjian Sect, present, Gu Chengming felt much more confident.
He thought for a moment and posed the core question:
"Since the Dao Thrones are rules of heaven and earth and are limited, why can the Myriad Thief Immortal, after his death, still pass the opportunities within his attained Dao Throne to you? Logically, when a person dies, their Dao dissipates, and the Dao Throne should be vacated and return to the world, shouldn't it?"
He thought that if great cultivators could continue to occupy Dao Thrones after death, wouldn't all the slots in the world have been filled over tens of thousands of years? What would be the point of later cultivators practicing then?
"Good question."
This time the answer didn't come from Nuo Tao, but from Yu Wenqiu.
"In normal circumstances, it is exactly as you say. Most great cultivators, after passing away, have their attained Dao Thrones 'returned to the heavens,' becoming vacant seats once again for later generations to fight for."
"But... the Myriad Thief Sect lineage is an anomaly."
Nuo Tao puffed out her chest at this point. Although she was a captive, every member of the Myriad Thief Sect felt a sense of pride when mentioning the great achievements of their Founding Grand-Patriarch.
"Exactly!" Nuo Tao said proudly. "The reason our Grand-Patriarch was called 'Myriad Thief' was because, in his lifetime, there was nothing he couldn't steal!"
"Back when the Grand-Patriarch was attaining his Dao, he discovered that the Dao Thrones in the world were almost entirely occupied. So, without hesitation, he performed a great divine ability to 'borrow' a Dao Throne from the Heavenly Dao."
"Borrow?" Gu Chengming's eyelid twitched.
"He stole it!" Yu Wenqiu exposed her bluntly. "It was a heaven-deceiving art! He literally carved a void out of the Heavenly Dao rules and forced his way into a Dao."
Nuo Tao didn't argue and continued, "And the most impressive part is that the Grand-Patriarch calculated that his Dao Throne would return to the heavens after his death. So he transformed his body into the Dao, refining and merging his physical body, his soul, and even his attained Dao Throne into what is now the 'Myriad Thief Sect'!"
"In other words, the entity that attained the 'Sky-Connecting Branch' Dao Throne was no longer the person known as the Myriad Thief Immortal, but the concept of the 'Myriad Thief Sect' itself!"
"As long as the inheritance of the Myriad Thief Sect is not broken and there are still disciples practicing this path, that Dao Throne will always be occupied by our lineage! The Heavenly Dao can't take it back!"
"Is that something you should be saying directly?" Gu Chengming looked at Nuo Tao with a strange expression.
Nuo Tao shrank her neck. "It should... be fine? Anyway, the Grand-Patriarch has held out for thousands of years; a little longer won't hurt."
Gu Chengming had to admire the courage and methods of the Myriad Thief Immortal of the past—deceiving the Heavenly Dao for thousands of years by himself and even transforming a Dao Throne into a sect inheritance. Such a feat was truly legendary.
This also explained why, although the Myriad Thief Sect had few members, it remained standing and even fifth realm great cultivators were wary of it.
After digesting these shocking secrets, Gu Chengming stroked the Azure Bird Token in his hand and asked the most practical question:
"Since this secret realm is so miraculous, can non-Myriad Thief Sect members enter?"
"?"
A bad feeling suddenly surged in Nuo Tao's heart.
Looking at Gu Chengming's slightly glowing eyes, she instinctively shrank back.
"What... what do you want to do?" she said stutteringly. "Even if you get in, non-members can't get the Myriad Thief Immortal's opportunity! That Dao Throne has a spirit; it only recognizes the aura of our lineage's techniques!"
"Moreover, the inside is full of tests specifically for thief cultivators—breaking arrays, picking locks, stealth, karmic deduction... Why would you, a sword cultivator, go in?"
"So, is it possible to enter?"
Nuo Tao was looked at by him until her scalp went numb, and she could only nod reluctantly with a mournful face. "It is possible... When the Grand-Patriarch set up the secret realm, he did leave a glimmer of hope, saying that the Great Dao has fifty paths, and the heavens manifest forty-nine, leaving one for people to find. If an outsider truly passes the tests, it’s not completely impossible..."
"That’s good enough then."
Having received a positive answer, Gu Chengming nodded with satisfaction.
He didn't immediately show any signs of urgency. Instead, he flipped his hand and stored the Azure Bird Token back into his storage pouch.
Regardless, even if he were truly interested in this secret realm, now was not a good time to enter.
Falling Snow Pass had just undergone a major purge, and various factions were still watching. Vice Commander Liang also needed manpower to maintain a deterrent force.
He would wait until Senior Sister Luo returned and the situation here stabilized.
Of course, before Falling Snow Pass could truly stabilize, there was one more thing Gu Chengming needed to consider.
That was the communication of information at Falling Snow Pass and the official control the Great Qian government had over these northern rogue cultivators.
The official control over this floating population was almost limited to that single document provided upon entry.
Once they left the city gates and entered the vast snowfields, who killed whom, who discovered a secret realm, and who colluded with the demon race—this news often took days or even months to reach the pass.
Just like this time with the Wanjin Pavilion colluding with the Longevity Sect; if Nuo Tao hadn't happened to stumble upon it and if he didn't have the special senses of the Red Dust Technique, that cancer might have remained hidden in the underground of Falling Snow Pass for a long time.
Gu Chengming became thoughtful.
If the Myriad Wonders Gathering could be expanded...
He had considered this idea back in the capital, but that place was too complicated. The north was different.
Almost the instant the thought arose, the long-silent technique deep in his sea of consciousness trembled violently.
【The 《All Wonders Same Source Method》 has long been unable to suppress its excitement!】
【It has been stifled in the capital for too long! Now it is finally time for it to play its role and become the mastermind behind the scenes!】
Of course, before that, he still needed a person with sufficient status to back it up—
Rate on N.U.
