Chapter 1719 - 872: A Trace of Fear (2)

Chapter 1719: Chapter 872: A Trace of Fear (2)

The atmosphere in the valley was so oppressive it seemed water could almost drip from it. The Longevity Ancestor’s tangible pressure not only immobilized everyone but also pressed down like an invisible mountain on everyone’s hearts, making even breathing unusually difficult.

Amidst this deathly silence, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect, with dark red hair and beard, veins bulging on his forehead, struggled to lift his head, hoarsely reporting to the god-like figure in mid-air.

"Reporting...reporting to the Ancestor! That villain Gu Sheng...is...is already killed in the Secret Realm, slain by my own hands! Not a trace remains! This matter...was witnessed by my sect disciples, as well as several peers from the Longevity Divine Sect!"

His words were like casting a stone into a calm lake, causing a ripple of subtle commotion among the immobilized crowd below, with many uninformed Martial Artists showing expressions of shock.

In mid-air, the Longevity Ancestor’s face was as calm as an ancient well, showing no emotional fluctuation, as if he had simply heard an insignificant piece of news.

However, in the deepest part of his eyes, a barely noticeable ripple flashed by. Gu Sheng...dead? The boy carrying treasures, who repeatedly escaped his calculations, had died so easily?

With a light wave of his sleeve, the pressure covering the Great Elder of the Heavenly Fire greatly eased.

"Oh? Not a trace remains?"

The Longevity Ancestor’s voice remained flat.

"Describe the incident in detail."

Feeling like he was spared, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Fire quickly recounted the pre-planned narrative with Nangong Yuexia, embellishing it with partially "witnessed" details, emphasizing how Gu Sheng was struck by his Fiery Flame Heaven-Burning Palm and ultimately turned to ashes without leaving any residue.

After listening to the Great Elder’s account, the Longevity Ancestor was silent for a moment, his eyes, which seemed capable of penetrating illusions, slowly swept across the crowd below, pausing for an instant on Shen Wuguang, whose face was pale as paper at the front of the Purple Mist Divine Sect’s formation.

"Not a trace remains...Heh, what a good ’not a trace remains’."

The Longevity Ancestor suddenly let out a soft laugh, but the laughter carried a chilling sense of dread.

"Lord Shen, your collaboration with Gu Sheng is irrefutable, do you admit your guilt?"

Shen Wuguang trembled all over, opening his mouth to defend himself.

"Ancestors, see clearly! This junior is wronged! Gu Sheng is clearly..."

"Hmph!"

Before he could finish, the Longevity Ancestor let out a cold huff, making no visible move, yet an invisible terrifying power instantly acted upon Shen Wuguang!

"Bang—!"

Like a watermelon being burst, Shen Wuguang’s entire being exploded suddenly in front of everyone’s horrified eyes, turning into a dense blood mist, permeating the air, the pungent smell of blood quickly spreading!

This sudden ruthless act caused everyone to gasp, chills running through their hearts!

However, it wasn’t over! The Longevity Ancestor opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the yet-to-dissipate blood mist along with the faint, about-to-dissipate soul-light point directly into his mouth!

He actually refined and read Shen Wuguang’s memory fragments on the spot in front of everyone!

A moment later, the Longevity Ancestor’s eyes shone with a cold light, his tone icy.

"The memories may be incomplete, but there’s no crucial scene of Gu Sheng’s confirmed killing, instead several unreasonable blanks and contradictions... Indeed, it’s a feigned death!"

His gaze, as sharp as lightning, once again swept across the crowd frozen in fear below, his voice clashing like ice.

"Gu Sheng must still be mingling among you! Everyone, submit to inspection one by one! Any resistance will be met with death!"

Hidden towards the back of the crowd, Gu Sheng’s expression could not help but darken slightly.

He hadn’t expected the Longevity Ancestor to act so decisively and ruthlessly, showing no regard for his status, and using such brutal means to refine Shen Wuguang’s memories in public. Although Shen Wuguang’s memories had been tampered with by him beforehand, leaving them incomplete, the Longevity Ancestor’s suspicion and caution still exceeded his estimation.

At this moment, the Laogong Acupoint on his palm, embedded with a faint green sub-gu mark, started to warm up slightly, and Qidiao Yaoyao’s slightly urgent thought came over.

"Gu Sheng! Situation has changed! This old monster is more troublesome than imagined! Should I activate the backup plan now?"

Gu Sheng remained composed, responding with his thoughts, his tone still calm.

"No rush. Let’s see if he lets someone else inspect first or does it himself. If it’s the former, we hold our ground; if he intervenes personally...act accordingly."

He had substantial confidence in his disguise.

As long as a strong individual like the Longevity Ancestor didn’t personally and meticulously use Divine Sense to scan inch by inch, relying solely on Gu Ling’er’s crafted false body using soul origin power, coupled with his own perfect concealment of aura, even other Venerables at the Human King Realm peak might not easily see through.

Feeling the calmness transmitted from Gu Sheng, Qidiao Yaoyao couldn’t help but feel another surge of admiration. Facing such a direct threat from a furious Venerable Realm powerhouse, yet remaining so composed, this temperament is genuinely terrifying.

She dared not be negligent, immediately transmitting the situation here, especially Gu Sheng’s reaction, through her Lifebound Gu connected to the Ancestor.

Deep within the Five Poison Divine Sect Headquarters, a figure shrouded in a hazy poisonous miasma slightly shifted, receiving the information from Qidiao Yaoyao.

He was silent for a moment before sending back an obscure thought.

"This child is more unfathomable than estimated. Yaoyao, maintain contact, act according to the situation, if necessary, do not hesitate to protect him at any cost."

...

Above the valley, the figure of the Longevity Ancestor slowly descended, akin to a deity descending to the mortal world.

He did not immediately begin the search but instead released a vast ocean-like spiritual power, pouring down like a tide, starting to scan the Martial Artists below one by one.

Wherever his spiritual power swept over, the terrifying pressure imprisoning the Martial Artists would be released with it.

Every Martial Artist scanned broke out in cold sweat, almost collapsing, yet all were relieved to have escaped, not daring to linger, hastily retreating out of the valley.

Since the exploration of the Secret Realm involved more than just the Longevity Divine Sect, with participation from other divine sects, even though the Longevity Ancestor was imposing, he couldn’t unreasonably detain everyone by force.

Having rapidly scanned the first batch of about a hundred people without finding anomalies, he waved a gentle True Qi, rolling them up and directly sending them out of the valley to the area where the flying boats were docked.

Gu Sheng, having been transported to the outer edge of the valley earlier, was not among the first hundred checked.

The Longevity Ancestor clearly had his own calculations.

He first prioritized scanning the Longevity Divine Sect’s disciples, allowing them clearance after confirming no issues. Then he proceeded to check the second, third, and fourth waves of Martial Artists in sequence... The inspection was quick; once his spiritual power swept through and confirmed no abnormal auras, cultivation levels, or soul fluctuations, they were immediately allowed to leave.

Soon, the invisible yet precise spiritual scanning extended to the area where Gu Sheng was located.

Just as the spiritual power was about to touch the people in the crowd where Gu Sheng and his true self were, the Longevity Ancestor’s actions paused slightly.

He did not immediately conduct the search but suddenly spoke, his voice containing an unusual allure and oppression, resounding directly in everyone’s mind, with a tone that allowed no doubt.

"Gu Sheng..."

The voice echoed through the valley, setting everyone’s hearts taut.

"I know, old man knows you are surely concealed here. To possess such cultivation and wisdom at such a young age is truly rare. It would be a pity if you were to fall just like that."

The Longevity Ancestor’s voice slowed, holding a tone of gentle persuasion.

"If you were to step forward now, surrender the items gained from the Eastern Emperor Secret Realm, and submit to me, this old man could pardon your past offenses, even take you as a registered disciple, teach you the supreme path, and spare your life!"

At the moment the words fell, a pressure more terrifying and targeted than before descended like a stormy sea, heavily enveloping the area where Gu Sheng was located!

"Plop!"