Chapter 135: Killing Two Birds with One Stone
Hearing the names and constitutions of Lin Xuan's disciples, Gu Qing's excitement surged instantly.
Each of them possessed a Supreme Bone — as if Lin Xuan had been handing them out wholesale. There was no doubt he was the archetypal "disciple-collecting" protagonist.
Judging by their names and cultivation progress, it wasn't hard to tell — every one of them was a chosen protagonist in their own right.
If he could slay all of Lin Xuan's disciples, Gu Qing felt he might very well ascend to godhood on the spot.
"Why are you so excited?"
Seeing his face flush with enthusiasm, Chu Yao was utterly confused.
Those were enemies to the death — what on earth was Gu Qing so thrilled about?
"It's nothing," he replied calmly.
Gu Qing took a deep breath, his mind racing, countless calculations flashing through his thoughts.
He couldn't kill Lin Xuan yet — but killing his disciples? That was still entirely within reach.
"So what are you planning next? Shouldn't you ask your master to come out of seclusion?" Chu Yao's foxlike eyes shimmered with concern as she asked again.
"No need."
With Jiang Yu's promise as leverage, Gu Qing intended to use it well. Once he had slain Lin Xuan's disciples, he would call Jiang Yu forth to suppress the scene.
He refused to believe Lin Xuan would still dare play his "sister-recognition" act in her presence.
If Lin Xuan even so much as revealed a trace of killing intent toward Jiang Yu, his death would be guaranteed.
Thus, Zhi Meng's appearance would not only fail to help — it would actually ruin things.
"Fine," Chu Yao replied helplessly.
She couldn't understand Gu Qing's approach at all.
In her eyes, the most logical move was to strike Lin Xuan down now, while his foundation was still unstable.
But knowing how cunning Gu Qing was, there was no way he hadn't already considered that.
Perhaps he had another plan.
With that thought, Chu Yao felt slightly at ease. She uncorked the jade vial to see what treasure Gu Qing had given her.
A surge of pure life essence burst forth, interwoven with threads of law.
The moment she absorbed a wisp of it, her blood and very cells began to boil with longing.
Her foxlike eyes widened in shock, and she quickly resealed the bottle.
She was about to call out to return it to him — but Gu Qing had already vanished without a trace.
Pressing her red lips together, Chu Yao silently tucked the vial away. Gu Qing was truly her greatest benefactor.
Without him, she never would have dared join the Star Temple — let alone become Jiang Yu's disciple.
"I owe him too much… I might as well just repay him by bearing his heirs…" she murmured softly, then chuckled at the thought.
Gu Qing's talent was so extraordinary that becoming his Dao companion might only hold him back.
If she bore him children on top of that, it would hardly be repayment — it would be sabotage.
Meanwhile, Gu Qing went directly to Jiang Yu to request her guidance in formations.
"You're really this…?" — bored?
She swallowed the last three words just in time.
Jiang Yu didn't understand. Given Gu Qing's nature, he should've been plotting against Lin Xuan, not asking to study formation arts.
Had he suddenly converted to Buddhism?
Hardly. He was just trying to drag her into his plans. Gu Qing smiled innocently, putting on the face of a diligent student.
Word had already spread that he was to become the next Divine Son.
And with a protagonist's temperament, Lin Xuan would never tolerate that.
He was bound to stir up trouble.
But a protagonist with powerful backers was no easy target. If the situation turned against him, Lin Xuan would surely intervene.
That made Jiang Yu's presence absolutely critical. If she was there, Gu Qing could slaughter Lin Xuan's disciples — and no one could call it anything but fair.
That was why he hadn't cursed Lin Xuan yet.
Any accident could ruin everything.
If Lin Xuan sought help from Jiang Yu and she softened toward him, all his plans would collapse.
So he would wait — until they turned on each other — then strike with a curse.
And in the meantime, he could learn formation techniques.
He could advance himself while preparing to destroy his enemies.
Truly, killing two birds with one stone.
Jiang Yu looked at Gu Qing's smiling face, her instincts screaming that he was up to no good.
Formation study was probably just a smokescreen.
Still, it didn't matter.
Even if the heavens fell, she was more than capable of holding them up herself.
As long as Gu Qing did nothing that violated morality, Jiang Yu would uphold her promise.
With that in mind, she gladly agreed — and even summoned the Liu sisters, Liu Ruyan and Liu Ruyi.
If she was going to train one child, she might as well train three. Jiang Yu took her "raising disciples" task quite seriously.
The three of them scanned through the foundational array techniques Jiang Yu had provided. After quietly analyzing them for a short while, Gu Qing began refining an array artifact.
An hour later, he had already completed a first-grade array artifact.
"Senior Brother, you're so fast…" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in disbelief.
Array formation was one of the most difficult arts to master. To those without talent, it was like reading a heavenly scripture.
Even rare prodigies of formation arts usually needed years — if not longer — to fully comprehend the basics before moving on to practice and finally learning to forge array tools.
Yet Gu Qing had merely taken one look and completely grasped it. He learned instantly, mastered immediately, and refined perfectly — could such a person still be considered human?
Liu Ruyan's pride over grasping a few basic insights vanished on the spot.
There was simply no comparison.
"Don't you ever call me 'fast' again."
Gu Qing's expression darkened. Praise was fine, but that particular word — he couldn't tolerate.
"Fine, I won't! Hmph!"
Liu Ruyan puffed up her cheeks and turned away, sulking like an offended kitten.
She didn't think she had said anything wrong — why was Gu Qing so fierce?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She kicked him lightly in the back of the leg, then darted behind Jiang Yu with a triumphant grin.
Gu Qing: …
What a waste of that cold, world-weary face.
So mischievous — just wait until the day you become an Emperor, then I'll expose all your dark little secrets.
"Ruyan, don't make trouble…"
Jiang Yu stroked her head with gentle affection, her soft eyes filled with amusement.
Liu Ruyi glanced up, smiled faintly, and quietly returned to her studies.
On Starlight Peak, time passed in tranquil harmony — serene and warm.
But outside, chaos was brewing.
News that Gu Qing was to be crowned as the new Divine Son of the Star Temple had stunned the entire cultivation world. Disciples everywhere were rushing to their masters, desperate to confirm whether the rumor was true.
The claim sounded utterly absurd.
After all, Zhi Meng was Gu Qing's master — if he became the Divine Son, wouldn't that make them Dao companions?
Just thinking about it left many horrified.
While the Star Temple did not forbid relationships between master and disciple, Zhi Meng was not just anyone.
She was the peerless Divine Maiden who had suppressed an entire era — her Dao transcendent, her beauty unmatched, a goddess worshiped across countless realms.
With such endless glory and divine prestige, how could someone like her possibly marry her disciple?
They couldn't accept it at all.
And besides — Gu Qing already had a Dao partner.
"It's true," an elder of the Star Temple confirmed. The response shattered countless hearts, stirring waves of envy and disbelief.
"Ji Ning, what is going on?"
Luo Li, freshly returned from the Primordial Desolation Realm, was equally shocked by the news. She immediately went to find Ji Ning for answers.
"The Divine Maiden intends to step down and have Qingyue succeed her," Ji Ning explained simply.
"I see…"
Luo Li's dignified, aloof expression broke into unrestrained joy.
She had joined too late, missing her chance to compete for the Saintess position — but the Divine Maiden's seat was another matter entirely. This time, she would fight for it no matter what.
They were both personal disciples. Surely Zhi Meng wouldn't play favorites, right?
Meanwhile, on the other side — Lin Xuan, predictably unable to sit still, personally brought his fourth disciple Lin Feng to confront them.
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