The alarm’s rotor spun rapidly, sucking in air, compressing it, and then expelling it at high speed and high pressure toward the slit-like wound, emitting a sharp screech.
Birds by the lake took flight in alarm. In the distance, torches on the walls of Suzhou City suddenly flared brighter. The city guards rotated giant mirrors, casting their light toward the source of the sound.
Situ Zhi’s expression changed dramatically. He gritted his teeth and took a heavy step forward.
The immense Spiritual Power of a Candle Cloud Realm cultivator agitated the water, the force of which buffeted the Ink Silk Clone.
The Ink Silk Clone’s chest caved in significantly, its neck twisted beyond ninety degrees. Yet, with its last breath, it whispered, "He’s here..."
There was no need to explain who "he" was.
As the sharp noise from the lake’s alarm ceased, a dazzling sword light appeared above Suzhou City, aimed directly at the heart of Taihu Lake.
The sword light shot out, compressing the air to its absolute limit. The thin mist above the lake parted instantly, like gauze sliced by scissors. The lake water also split to either side, revealing panicked shrimp and crabs scrambling on the exposed bed.
Shen Tuyu, the Imperial Palace Tributor from Yu Country, hovered expressionlessly above the lake. The rapidly spinning sword light in his hand suddenly stilled, then he thrust fiercely toward the center of the lake.
The vast Sword Qi pierced through the immense volume of lake water. Sword light radiated in all directions, and violent currents surged. Any underwater object caught in the aftershocks of the Sword Qi was instantly pulverized.
The protective bubbles from Situ Zhi’s Water Avoidance Talisman were instantly riddled with holes. He too was caught in the swirl of Sword Qi. The cloth and skin on his body peeled away inch by inch, revealing dark red sinews.
The Ink Silk Clone exerted all its strength to break free. It stomped fiercely on the lakebed. As its body shot backward, it twisted its waist, using the current to escape the focal point of the Sword Qi.
Even among Candle Cloud Realm cultivators, disparities existed. Shen Tuyu’s Spiritual Energy was far more abundant than Situ Zhi’s, and his Sword Qi blasted crater after crater into the lakebed.
The Ink Silk Clone swam into one of the craters, its arms transforming into drills, and instantly burrowed deep into the earth below.
The small clump of Mo Si on the lake’s surface also reverted from its alarm form. It became an ordinary black fish, silently blending into a panicked school of fish and swimming toward the lakeshore.
Having sounded the alarm, the Ink Silk Clone immediately retreated, concealing all traces of its aura and fleeing the scene.
But Situ Zhi, whose aura was firmly locked onto by Shen Tuyu, was not so fortunate.
Underwater, Sword Qi lanced out in all directions. It seemed chaotic, yet whether by design or chance, it always managed to block Situ Zhi’s paths of retreat, slowly tightening like a fishing net.
Situ Zhi’s expression shifted rapidly. He grabbed a nearby Disciple’s shoulder with his left hand while his right formed a hand formation. From his festering flesh, pitch-black Gu Worms continuously poured out, swarming over both his and the Disciple’s bodies. Their forms rapidly shriveled.
It appeared to be some kind of long-range escape Secret Technique.
Moreover, the so-called Zhu Gu Demon at the bottom of the lake also spewed a red poisonous mist that spread through the surrounding water, providing cover for Situ Zhi’s escape.
Shen Tuyu sneered, his usual indolent, apathetic demeanor vanishing in an instant. He made an open gesture with one hand, pushing the Longsword forward with his palm until most of its blade was submerged in the lake water.
Pale Sword Qi spilled from the Sword’s tip, roiling and surging through the water as if unopposed. The red poisonous mist spewed by the Zhu Gu Demon was forcibly driven back by the surging water. The entire sphere was also impaled by the Sword Qi and lifted clear of the water.
Simultaneously, the net of sword light enveloping Situ Zhi suddenly accelerated and tightened fiercely, yanking Situ Zhi and Yu Shi from the depths of the lake as if they were fish on a line.
"Western Country’s Gu Master, Situ Zhi." Shen Tuyu regarded him coldly, suppressing the murderous intent deep in his eyes. "The Water Poison epidemic here... this is your handiwork, isn’t it? Invading the borders of Yu Country, using the Witchcraft Technique to poison the citizens of Yu Country... subjecting you to death by a thousand cuts and annihilating your Divine Soul would not be excessive."
Situ Zhi’s expression was extremely grim, not only because of the murderous intent in Shen Tuyu’s eyes but also due to the countless rays of sword light now locked onto his aura. If he made the slightest move, those rays of sword light would instantly converge and tear him to shreds. Not even the Gu Worms inside his body could save him.
"Your Excellency must be that Imperial Palace Tributor." Realizing his life was now in another’s hands, Situ Zhi’s expression actually calmed. He wasn’t surprised the other man knew his identity. Institutions like Taihao Mountain, the garrison, and the Academic Palace all possessed his portrait and had even issued bounties for him. More importantly, the aura of every Candle Cloud Realm Cultivator was unique and could not be disguised. Once two such cultivators closed the distance and locked onto each other’s auras, their identities could be instantly discerned.
"Since Your Excellency is an Imperial Palace Tributor, you are bound by the principle: ’He who eats the King’s bread must do the King’s bidding.’" Situ Zhi said calmly, "This old man is not particularly skilled in the ways of direct combat. Especially against Your Excellency, and that Sword in your hand, I have no confidence in victory. However, this old man does possess some expertise in the Dao of Gu Poison. This Zhu Gu Demon, capable of releasing Water Poison Gu Worms, is merely one of the idle pieces this old man has casually placed throughout Yu Country. There are other Zhu Gu Demons hidden throughout Yu Country. Once I die, or if I fail to contact these Zhu Gu Demons using a special method for a certain period, they will release their Gu Worms on the spot. The toxicity will be no less than this current Water Poison plague. Furthermore, without this old man’s control, they will be driven to release their contents with maximum potency, disgorging all their Gu Worms before the garrison or the Academic Palace can discover them, devastating thousands of miles of land. At that time, even if Yu Country has the courage to make a decisive sacrifice, its national strength will inevitably decline, leaving it crippled and unable to recover." Dıscover more novels at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
Situ Zhi spoke persuasively, his expression composed, as if he had Shen Tuyu’s complete measure.
"Heh heh. As a Gu Master, this old man may not be adept at direct confrontation, but I have traveled through a hundred lands and journeyed ten thousand li. I’ve made countless enemies, and yet, I have lived safely to this day." Situ Zhi looked at the expressionless Shen Tuyu and smiled. "This old man has experienced situations —being captured, being threatened—countless times before. Each time, I have managed to emerge unscathed. Your Excellency might wish to consider why that is. Perhaps... we still have something to discuss."
Shen Tuyu’s eyes were as cold as frost. He had to admit to himself that he was somewhat shaken.
Among those in the Candle Cloud Realm, a Gu Master’s direct combat abilities were naturally far inferior to those of Telekinesis Masters or Sword Masters of the same realm. But when it came to large-scale destructive arts, Gu Masters were in a class of their own, even among all Dao Paths. A single packet of Gu Poison could bring disaster upon a hundred thousand, even two hundred thousand common people. The resulting sickness and suffering could plague an area for decades. That was why, during the chaotic times of the Late Sui, the Li Yu Royal Family had spared no expense to eradicate the Gu Master Sects in the Central Plains. As a result, the lineages of the Central Plains Gu Masters were severed. The few survivors fled to places like the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains, West Jing, and Nanzhou. Their power and influence were a pale shadow of what they once were.
Situ Zhi’s threat indeed had substance; it was not an empty one.
"What do you want?" Shen Tuyu asked coldly.