Chapter 146: The Storm Is Brewing

Several elders hurriedly helped the Master of Five Peaks, Gu Zaizuo, to his feet. Before they could even ask what had happened, the Supreme Grand Elder’s voice rang out with the sect’s highest order.

The Young Sect Master, Gu Changqing, had betrayed the sect? To be killed without mercy? Expelled from the sect? And the news was to be proclaimed throughout the world?

But why?

What had happened?

Why were the sect’s greatest figures pursuing and trying to kill the Young Sect Master?

Why had the Young Sect Master fought back—even striking ruthlessly at his own grandfather?

Those were spirit weapons! Why had he used them to bombard the most powerful figures in the sect?

And were those not the Young Sect Master’s signature weapons, a pair of rhinoceros-horn artifacts? Why were they now embedded in the Sect Master’s chest, drenched in blood?

The entire Misty Sect, numbering tens of thousands, erupted in an uproar.

They had long regarded Fatty Gu as their idol, not merely shown him the respect due to a Young Sect Master. From the inner and outer disciples to the deacons and elders, everyone stared in astonishment at the inexplicable chain of events that had unfolded early that morning. Question after question surfaced in their minds, and many of them cried them aloud.

Only yesterday—even as recently as the night before—the entire sect had been overflowing with joy at the birth of a new spirit weapon. How had everything changed so drastically in a single day?

No one understood. No one could make sense of it.

The foremost young genius of the entire Southern Region, the very hope of the Misty Sect’s prosperity for the next thousand or ten thousand years, perhaps even the one destined to answer the prophecy of the calamity of the millennium—how had matters come to this?

“Supreme Grand Elder, could there be some misunderstanding?”

“Exactly, Peak Master! That is our Young Sect Master!”

“The highest sect order has not yet been proclaimed throughout the world. We can still settle this among ourselves!”

Countless elders and elite disciples pleaded for mercy in this manner.

But before the great figures could respond, all of them turned their eyes toward the tens of thousands of sect members. Several more cries rang out, thick with tears.

“Master, quickly! Save the young masters!”

“Peak Master, the young masters are barely holding on!”

Everyone turned toward the voices. At the entrance to the great formation, several figures came sprinting over, carrying a number of third-generation heirs whose breathing was faint and whose bodies hung limp as mud.

“Is that Ouyang Shuaishuai, Nangong Fu, and Gu Xiaoping?”

“It seems so. Those are Ouyang Shuaishuai’s attendants. They have always followed him everywhere, never leaving his side.”

“But what happened to them?”

Several Peak Masters were instantly horrified. They rushed forward and took their respective grandsons into their arms, immediately examining their injuries. Their brows soon furrowed, though each of them secretly relaxed a little.

At least, none of them was in mortal danger.

“What happened? Speak!”

“R-Reporting to you, Peak Master… it was the Y-Young Sect Master.”

“Our group received the sect’s summons and hurried back. When we were less than three miles from the sect, we happened to run into the Young Sect Master rushing toward us. The young master merely greeted him, and then the Young Sect Master…”

“Damn him!”

The Peak Masters erupted in fury.

The tens of thousands of sect members who had heard every word were even more bewildered. Yet faced with their own enraged Peak Masters, no one dared plead for mercy or offer another word.

“Discipline Hall! Proclaim the highest order throughout the world at once!”

“By order of the sect: all Nascent Soul elders and Golden Core deacons of the Discipline Hall are to mobilize and leave the sect to hunt down Gu Changqing!”

“This…”

“Yes!”

Though they accepted the order helplessly, the members of the Discipline Hall soon began to move.

The news that Gu Changqing, Young Sect Master of the Misty Sect, had been expelled and placed on the sect’s kill-without-mercy list, and that the experts of the Discipline Hall had all been dispatched to hunt him down, spread instantly throughout every power and corner of the Southern Region.

Once again, the Southern Region was shaken by the name of Gu Changqing.

The other regions, even the various forces of the Central Region, received the order as well, though their news arrived somewhat later.

All of them were utterly bewildered.

At that moment, countless communication jade slips belonging to various forces began vibrating one after another inside Sect Master Nangong Kang’s storage ring.

The Sect Master of the Crouching Tiger Sect, An Ran, who was on close terms with Nangong Kang, and Wen Baiyi of the Azure Cloud Gate, who often clashed with Nangong Kang yet remained his sworn friend, immediately sent messages asking what had happened.

Even the Asura Manor, despite having suffered severe losses and intending to withdraw from worldly affairs, did the same.

At the same time, spies belonging to the various powers throughout the Southern Region were activated one after another to investigate whether the news was genuine and discover the reason behind it.

In every corner of the Southern Region and within the forces of the other regions, people discussed the matter incessantly, speculating about the possible cause while waiting for their spies to report back.

“How could those old fools of the Misty Sect be so muddleheaded?”

“Exactly. Even if that boy committed some earth-shattering offense, his talent and potential are plain for all to see. Could those old fools truly be unable to forgive him?”

“Who could say otherwise? If that boy were a disciple of our sect—even if he were not the Young Sect Master—and had committed an unforgivable crime, I would still protect him to the very end.”

“Such an outstanding disciple was actually driven into a dead end by his own sect. The Misty Sect has truly lifted a stone only to drop it on its own foot, cutting off its own future.”

“Master, should we take this opportunity to recruit him into our Asura Manor?”

“Yes, Master. His talent is extraordinary. If we could put him to use…”

“No matter how great his crime, would the Misty Sect truly dare turn against our Asura Manor over a single traitor? They would need ten times the courage!”

“Even if that boy poked a hole in the heavens, we could still cover for him.”

“Everyone, wait a little longer.”

“Master, what is there left to wait for?”

“Be patient. Offering help when everything is going well is entirely different from aiding someone in the snow. Only when he is truly in danger should we extend our hand. Then he will be far more likely to give us his allegiance.”

“So that is the reason. As expected of our master—your wisdom is a cut above the rest! We are impressed, hahahaha!”

“Still, I am extremely curious. What on earth did that boy do to provoke the collective fury of those old fools and bring matters to this point?”

“Our leader was actually driven out? Why?”

“This is outrageous! Damn that Misty Sect!”

“Brother Tian, let us go bring our leader back.”

“Everyone, remain calm for now. Our leader sent word that we are to stay put and continue with our daily routines.”

“But…”

“No buts. We will simply obey his orders!”

“That bunch of old fossils from the Misty Sect has gone mad! They actually expelled the young master and struck his name from the sect register?”

“Should we go and support him?”

“No need. If he requires our help, the young master will certainly not hesitate to ask.”

“His expulsion is also a good thing for us.”

“Old Xu, what do you mean?”

“In the past, we belonged not only to the young master but, indirectly, to the Misty Sect as well. That always left me somewhat dissatisfied. But now…”

“Exactly. Now we belong solely to the young master. We no longer have the slightest connection with that ridiculous Misty Sect, and there is nothing left for us to worry about.”

“Precisely.”

“Old Xu, your mind certainly works quickly. Hahahaha!”

Elsewhere…

“Humph. Puyang De, why did you send me a message, you old fool?”

“Gongyang Tai, why are you still so narrow-minded? Never mind. Your elder brother will not lose his temper with you.”

“I cannot reach the young master. If you happen to see him in the Southern Region, tell him that I have prepared a luxurious residence for him in one of the Central Region’s prosperous cities.”

“Tell him that if he can no longer remain in the Southern Region, he should come straight to the Central Region and find me, Old Pu.”

“Very well. I will take care of it. It is rare for you to show such filial concern.”

“You bastard, Gongyang Tai! Do you have to insult your elder brother every single time, or will you die?”

“Hmph!”

When Fatty Gu shot out of the Misty Sect’s great formation, he immediately noticed Ouyang Shuaishuai and the others several miles away.

Unfortunately for Ouyang Shuaishuai, he also spotted Fatty Gu from a great distance and began laughing loudly, calling out to tease the ragpicker about where he was going.

Fatty Gu had intended to ignore him and pass by. But upon hearing those words, his heart stirred. Without a word, he accelerated into the crowd.

Like a violent wind sweeping across the land, he delivered a thunderous beating. Then he sped away and vanished.

Left behind in the wind, Ouyang Shuaishuai lay sprawled on the ground with a swollen and battered face, his body visibly fatter by an entire circle. He was clearly exhaling far more than he could inhale. Fatty Gu’s companions, Gu Xiaoping, Nangong Fu, and several others, had likewise suffered the consequences of this unprovoked calamity.

The few attendants who had escaped the beating nearly turned to stone from fright. Once they recovered their wits, they hurriedly lifted their companions and raced toward the nearby entrance to the sect’s great formation with every ounce of strength they possessed.

The moment they entered the formation, they began shouting for help through sobs.

Meanwhile, Fatty Gu continued accelerating along his journey until he reached the border of Southglow Commandery. There, he met up with White Linger, who had been waiting for him for some time.

He had no chance to bid Master Ying farewell in person. After hastily sending a few instructions by voice transmission, the two of them hurried toward the distant Endless Forest to flee for their lives.

They moved like a gale and a bolt of lightning, drawing countless curious gazes from travelers throughout the Southern Region.

By the time Fatty Gu and White Linger had fully entered the Endless Forest, the Misty Sect’s highest order had also been proclaimed throughout the world. The entire Southern Region erupted into a state of turmoil.

The whereabouts of Fatty Gu and White Linger were immediately reported to the upper echelons of the various powers.

“Fatty, is this matter truly so serious? Is there really no room for reconciliation?”

“Sister Linger, I can say with certainty that this matter has not reached its worst possible outcome. It can only become even more serious.”

“What do you intend to do next?”

“We will remain in the Endless Forest for now and observe how matters develop outside. But if we are forced into a corner, we can only set out for the Mystic Beast Forest and try our luck there.”

“Very well. I will accompany you.”

“Mm.”

The numerous mystic beasts dwelling in the Southern Region’s Endless Forest seemed to regard Fatty Gu and White Linger’s arrival as nothing unusual.

“Caw! What rare guests! Young Master Gu, your visit to the territory of my Golden-Winged Eagle clan is a true honor for us! Hahahaha! Please, come in, both of you!”

When Fatty Gu heard the clan leader say that his arrival had brought honor to the clan, he glanced around at the towering peaks and sheer cliffs stretching for dozens of miles. His heart immediately filled with delight.

This really did qualify as a humble dwelling, he thought, and could not help laughing inwardly.

As though sharing the same thought, White Linger glanced at Fatty Gu’s narrowed eyes and curved brows and immediately let out a delicate laugh as well.

The Golden-Winged Eagle clan leader, who had not yet reached the fourth rank and was merely at the peak of the third, had no idea what amused them. Slightly embarrassed, he spread his enormous wings and scratched his head, which was covered in unruly feathers.

“Come, come, Clan Leader Eagle. I have brought some of the finest human wine. You and I must enjoy a hearty drink together!”

“Brother Gu, that sounds wonderful. I was only afraid you had not brought enough wine! Hahahaha!”

“Do not worry! There will be more than enough!”

“Boys, bring out the spirit fruits!”

One human and one eagle—two grown men—walked side by side with their arms around each other’s shoulders, chatting and laughing as they headed toward a spacious cavern high on the cliff.

By this time, in the human territories of the outside world—including all five regions—another piece of news had emerged.

The entire world was shaken to its foundations, and every powerful force was thrown into turmoil.