As the peacock plume feather chopped down on Li Haoran, it carried destructive might. Before the feather arrived, countless rocks below had already shattered.
“The cloud beast that Ninth Young Master formed is the Great Light Sovereign Deity?” Gu Hai revealed a trace of shock.
The ritual array could manifest a powerful character in one’s mind. Gu Hai formed the Hegemon-King Xiang Yu, but Ninth Young Master formed the Great Light Sovereign Deity.
When Li Haoran saw this aura, he knew that the peacock plume feather was extraordinary. His face sank as he stepped towards the ritual array. Then, he sent out a huge golden manifested sword from his golden sword.
Boom!
The golden sword clashed with the peacock plume feather, kicking up a super-powerful gale. A strong shock wave swept away the surrounding dust clouds.
“What do you think, Divine Strategy Battalion Commander? Hahahahaha!” Ninth Young Master guffawed.
“Humph!” Li Haoran snorted coldly. Unleashing dazzling golden light from his entire body, he charged into the ritual array.
Rumble…!
Golden light and white light immediately shone in the ritual array. The peacock plume feather and the golden sword clashed continuously, raising shattered rocks and dust clouds in the air.
A large ritual array had covered the area in the first place. Now, shattered rocks and dust clouds filled the air, blurring the view of the surrounding cultivators.
“Retreat!” Gu Hai said.
Gu Hai immediately withdrew with his subordinates as he held Long Wanqing.
“Gu Hai, it’s all your fault!” Long Wanqing called out depressedly.
“Hall Master, I hope that I’m wrong. Please put up with this first!” Gu Hai said seriously.
The group quickly moved into the distance.
Rumble…!
The battle between Ninth Young Master and Li Haoran intensified. The center of the battlefield also grew increasingly chaotic.
“How did you get here?” Gu Hai looked at Gu Qin.
“Venerable Liu Nian brought the hall master’s three servants to our Gu Residence for treatment. Then, he went to look for the hall master. After we received Adoptive Father’s letter and made arrangements, we were going to send Legate Shangguan with the Regal Legion. However, the hall master’s three servants lent us the hall master’s White Cloud flying ship. Since the flying ship could move very fast, I wanted to come and take a look, but we were blocked outside the Dragon Pinning Sect upon our arrival, up until everything that happened earlier,” Gu Qin explained.
“You came just at the right time. When I saw you earlier, I thought that I saw wrong!” Gu Hai smiled.
“When I received Adoptive Father’s signal, I got Legate Shangguan and the others to lay the ritual array!” Gu Qin smiled back.
“Shangguan Hen, about Ding Rui’s corpse…” Gu Hai looked at Shangguan Hen.
“Milord, rest assured. I already arranged for my subordinates to collect the corpse!” Shangguan Hen said.
Gu Hai nodded. Indeed, with Shangguan Hen around, there was less to worry about.
The group continuously retreated.
However, Long Wanqing looked worriedly at the distant ritual array, still fuming at Gu Hai.
Rumble…!
The huge battle was incredibly intense. The Divine Strategy Battalion disciples tried to get closer several times but were forced back, making them extremely anxious.
The Divine Strategy Battalion disciples ended up having to wait for four hours.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a beam of light shot over from the horizon.
Boom!
A flying ship arrived in an instant.
“Venerable Liu Nian!” Gu Hai shouted.
The flying ship immediately stopped in front of Gu Hai. Then, Venerable Liu Nian looked at Long Wanqing with some pleasant surprise.
However, when he saw Gu Hai holding the crimson saber against Long Wanqing’s neck, his face sank.
“Venerable Liu Nian, I’ll leave the hall master to you, then. I have now repaid my gratitude to the hall master!” Gu Hai smiled.
After that, Gu Hai released Long Wanqing.
Whoosh! Venerable Liu Nian instantly approached and shielded her.
“Hall Master, are you alright?” Venerable Liu Nian asked worriedly.
“Venerable Liu Nian, capture this fanatic Gu Hai!” Long Wanqing ordered angrily.
“Hall Master, it was my father who saved you!” Gu Qin immediately protested indignantly.
“Oh?” Venerable Liu Nian appeared somewhat bewildered.
Then, Venerable Liu Nian turned his head and looked at the nearby Divine Strategy Battalion’s flying ship.
“He did save me. However, he assaulted his superior! Venerable Liu Nian, help me capture Gu Hai. I’m feeling upset!” Long Wanqing’s anger had yet to abate.
“What happened?” Venerable Liu Nian asked in confusion.
Although Long Wanqing was angry, Venerable Liu Nian could tell that she was just throwing a tantrum and was not serious.
Gu Hai did not hide anything, telling Venerable Liu Nian everything that happened earlier.
“Oh? That is Li Haoran!” Venerable Liu Nian suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Hall Master, sorry for the offense earlier. Now that Venerable Liu Nian is here, I have repaid my debt of gratitude. If you say that I assaulted my superior or abducted you, that’s fine. I just wanted to repay Hall Master’s favor. Now that I have done so, Gu Hai seeks nothing else. I’m returning this crimson saber to Hall Master. Also, here is Elite Hall’s Water Division Master’s authority token. I’ll return it to Hall Master after I take out everything in there!” Gu Hai took out the authority token with a flip of his hand.
“Division Master Gu, what are you doing?!” Venerable Liu Nian immediately stopped Gu Hai.
“Huh?”
“Division Master Gu, it is all thanks to you, protecting the hall master with all your might, that she is fine. Why would the hall master blame you? Division Master Gu, please take back the Water Division Master’s authority token. You are now the Water Division Master. No one can take away that identity!” Venerable Liu Nian assured Gu Hai.
Gu Hai frowned slightly, appearing like he wanted to say something.
“Hall Master!” Venerable Liu Nian looked at Long Wanqing with a stern expression.
“I…I did not say I wanted to strip him of his position,” Long Wanqing said, feeling somewhat wronged.
“Division Master Gu, please retract your resignation. Right now, Elite Hall is going through a disaster, and we need Division Master Gu’s support. The hall master is also inexperienced and cannot see things as clearly as Division Master Gu does. Division Master Gu will also need plenty of assistance. Please don’t mention returning the authority token again!” Venerable Liu Nian said gravely.
“But…” Gu Hai looked at Long Wanqing.
Long Wanqing appeared to be nursing a grievance. However, when she saw Venerable Liu Nian glaring at her, she pouted and said, “I’ll do as the venerable says!”
Gu Hai looked at Long Wanqing in bewilderment.
“Division Master Gu, please keep it. The hall master and I have agreed on three basic rules. I can decide this matter,” Venerable Liu Nian said.
“Alright. I’ll keep it for now. However, I do have to go now. I’ll just return this crimson saber to the hall master, then!” Gu Hai put away the authority token and proffered the crimson saber.
Venerable Liu Nian again glared at Long Wanqing.
Long Wanqing felt even more wronged. Turning to Gu Hai, she said, “Division Master Gu, keep this crimson saber for now.”
“Huh?” Gu Hai looked at Venerable Liu Nian in confusion.
Now, Gu Hai finally understood. Although Venerable Liu Nian seemed easy to get along with, even Long Wanqing did not dare disobey when he decided on something. Venerable Liu Nian was like her teacher, teaching her how to behave with integrity and how to lead Elite Hall.
Once Long Wanqing did something wrong, Venerable Liu Nian would immediately help her rectify the mistake.
“Division Master Gu, if not for you, the hall master would be in grave danger this time. Although this saber is precious, it is not as precious as the hall master’s life. Keep it for now. You can return it when the hall master’s maternal grandfather asks for it back. Take it as thanks for your contribution this time!” Venerable Liu Nian said gravely.
“Alright. Many thanks, Hall Master!” Gu Hai nodded.
After that, Venerable Liu Nian asked Long Wanqing about some of the details. As he listened, he looked at Gu Hai with a glint in his eyes.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud sound rang out in the distance as countless rocks shattered. The intense battle between Li Haoran and Ninth Young Master came to an end.
The fog scattered.
Two people stood on two different peaks. One was the golden-armored Li Haoran, and the other was the white-clad Ninth Young Master.
As the two looked at each other, neither attacked.
“A Heavenly Go Pavilion disciple?” Li Haoran said coldly.
Ninth Young Master smiled faintly as he said, “Back then, you bragged in the Innate Puzzle World that if not for showing respect to Old Mister Guan Qi, you would have leveled the Heavenly Go Pavilion? That the Heavenly Go Pavilion was not even worth a strike to you? Well, what do you think of me?”
Li Haoran asked with a sullen expression, “Who are you to the Heavenly Go Pavilion? Why have I not heard of you before?”
Clearly, Li Haoran gained no advantages in the earlier battle.
“I am just a nameless junior. In the Heavenly Go Pavilion, I rank last!” Ninth Young Master smiled.
Indeed, of Guan Qi’s nine inheritors, Ninth Young Master ranked last.
“Last?” Li Haoran appeared unsightly. Is this just mockery?
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Ninth Young Master’s subordinates flew a flying ship to his side. Then, he boarded the flying ship.
“You want to leave?” Li Haoran’s expression turned cold.
“You are unable to do anything to me, right?” Ninth Young Master smirked.
“Humph!” Li Haoran snorted coldly but did not deny it.
Ninth Young Master suddenly turned his head in Gu Hai’s direction.
“Mister Gu, you owe me a favor now!” Ninth Young Master said with a broad grin.
Li Haoran turned his head and looked in Gu Hai’s direction. When he saw Venerable Liu Nian, his face sank.
However, Gu Hai looked at Ninth Young Master and bowed slightly. “Many thanks. If there is a chance in the future, I will return the favor!”
“Hahahaha! With your promise, I have not wasted my trip to Nine-Five Island. Alright, I have already wasted a lot of time here. It is time to leave. Let’s meet again in the Divine Continent!” Ninth Young Master said.
Whoosh!
Then, the flying ship sped off.
Gu Hai sent off Ninth Young Master with his eyes, while the countless cultivators in the surroundings looked at Gu Hai curiously.
“Didn’t Gu Hai fall out with the Heavenly Go Pavilion?”
“What’s up with that? Gu Hai seemed very familiar with that Heavenly Go Pavilion disciple?”
“Who is that person? Even Li Haoran could not do anything to him?”
However, Gu Hai and Venerable Liu Nian looked at Li Haoran.
“Battalion Commander Li, didn’t you want to bring the hall master to the Peony Sect earlier? This old monk will accompany you. Hopefully, Battalion Commander Li will not think me beneath your notice!” Venerable Liu Nian said while smiling.
Li Haoran raised his eyebrows slightly as he suppressed his emotions. Then, he forced out a smile. “How could this Li think Venerable beneath my notice? It would be great if Venerable could accompany us!”
“Division Master Gu, great capabilities!” Li Haoran suddenly looked at Gu Hai coldly.
“Battalion Commander Li, you are too polite!” Gu Hai did not fold under the pressure.
“Will Division Master Gu be coming with us?” Li Haoran asked sullenly.
“No, I’m no longer interested in the dragon vein!” Gu Hai shook his head.
“Huh?” Li Haoran felt slightly startled.
“Hall Master, Venerable Liu Nian, Gu Hai will be taking his leave!” Gu Hai said while bowing.
After Gu Hai spoke, he quickly led his subordinates away.
As Long Wanqing watched Gu Hai leave, the grievance in her eyes disappeared. Instead, she now appeared apologetic. From Gu Hai and Venerable Liu Nian’s discussion earlier, she had gained an understanding of Gu Hai’s actions.
Gu Hai had gone to the First Song Sect, the Clear River Sect, and Dragon Pinning Sect—hazardous places—to save her at great risk to himself. However, she actually blamed him in the end?
“Gu Hai! Sorry for earlier!” Long Wanqing shouted to Gu Hai’s departing figure.
Gu Hai suddenly stopped. When he turned around and saw Long Wanqing’s sincerely apologetic pose, he showed an understanding smile.
After nodding wordlessly, he continued leading Gu Qin and the others away.
