The Galgame Martial Saint

As Gu Chengming walked out of the Exchange, his Red Dust Technique suddenly sensed a ripple in causality.

His footsteps paused slightly, and he unobtrusively glanced back under the guise of adjusting his collar.

Behind him was a bustling crowd with vendors crying out their wares one after another;

he didn’

t see any suspicious figures.

【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 was a bit puzzled: Strange, I clearly felt a tiny ripple in causality just now. Was it just a delusion?】

”

It might not be a delusion.”

For the Red Dust Technique to detect an anomaly yet be unable to find the source was the biggest problem in itself.

This meant the other party either had a cultivation level high enough to crush his perception, or they possessed some special secret technique or dharma treasure specifically designed to shield against causal and aura detection.

Recalling the information about ”

thief cultivators”

he had seen on the bounty board earlier, Gu Chengming had a faint suspicion.

Was he being targeted by some rat?

Though he was confident, he was never arrogant.

In a border pass where dragons and snakes mingled, caution was the parent of safety.

Gu Chengming didn’

t choose to test the waters by wandering the streets;

instead, he headed straight for the Northern Mansion.

Once he returned to the backyard, the prickly sensation of being watched completely vanished.

The wind and snow of the border always covered many traces. Gu Chengming kept the matter of the thief cultivator in the back of his mind.

However, for the next two days, Falling Snow Pass remained calm and peaceful. It was as if that day’

s observation really had been Gu Chengming’

s delusion, which made him feel a bit puzzled again.

Could it be that the information about him living in the Northern Mansion had made the person lurking in the shadows give up their ideas?

Well, at least no one looking for trouble was a good thing.

Time flowed quietly in this atmosphere of outward relaxation and inward tension. In the blink of an eye, the moment of departure arrived.

Two days later, under the red plum tree in the Northern Mansion’

s backyard.

Luo Jinyao had changed into a plain, tight-fitting suit suitable for travel today. Her long hair was tied high, making her look both valiant and reassuringly steady.

”

Little Gu, Junior Sister Yu.”

Luo Jinyao looked at the two ”

children”

before her, whom she both trusted and worried about, and couldn’

t help but enter mother-hen mode again:

”

Director Zhou’

s injuries have stabilized, but the road back to the capital is long. To avoid the eyes and ears of the demon race, we need to take several hidden routes. This trip will take at least half a month.”

”

During the time I am away, you must be careful about everything in Falling Snow Pass.”

She looked at Yu Wenqiu: ”

Especially you, Junior Sister Yu.”

Yu Wenqiu shrank her neck, nodding as obediently as a primary school student listening to a lecture: ”

I know, Senior Sister. I’

m not a three-year-old child.”

”

If you were a three-year-old child, I would actually be more at ease.”

Luo Jinyao sighed helplessly, then turned her gaze toward Gu Chengming.

For this junior whom she quite admired, her gaze was much more relaxed, but her instructions were even more detailed:

”

Little Gu, though you act steadily, your edge is too sharp. You are now ranked tenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and listed on the Myriad Demon Ranking;

there are many eyes watching you. After I leave, try to leave the pass as little as possible. Do not take on dangerously difficult tasks unless absolutely necessary.”

”

I have already given you the restriction token for this Northern Mansion. If you encounter trouble you can’

t solve, hide in the mansion and activate the grand array. I have already spoken with several vice commanders in the pass;

they will look after you.”

Gu Chengming felt a hint of warmth in his heart and cupped his hands: ”

Senior, rest assured. I will definitely take good care of Elder Yu.”

”

Mhm, with those words from you, I am much more at ease.”

Luo Jinyao took one last look at the two of them, then without further hesitation, she turned and left, disappearing into the vast wind and snow.

As that reassuring white figure completely vanished, the small courtyard returned to tranquility.

”

Senior Sister is gone…”

Yu Wenqiu gazed at the sky, her tone subtle: ”

Even though she treats me very well, being in front of her always feels like going back to the days of being pushed by Master as a child. The pressure is so high.”

Gu Chengming looked at her as she instantly reverted to her true form and shook his head helplessly.

In the following days, aside from his daily routine of cultivation and visiting the Battle Merit Hall, Gu Chengming devoted most of his energy to that Red Dust Phantom Step.

However, the cultivation process was not smooth.

Inside the quiet room, Gu Chengming sat cross-legged with his brows furrowed.

Beside him, a blurry pink phantom was struggling to take shape, but it kept flickering and collapsing like a poor quality projection.

”

Still no good.”

Gu Chengming dissipated the red dust qi in his body and rubbed his throbbing forehead.

After repeated attempts over these past few days, he had finally found the root cause of why this movement technique was so difficult to master.

Just as he had realized during his breakthrough, the ‘

causality’

he carried was indeed vast and heavy. Whether it was Zhou Qingmu and Qin Qing in the capital, or that ethereal reputation, they could all provide a massive amount of red dust qi.

But the problem was the distance.

These causal threads were stretched too thin, like flying a kite. The longer the string, the weaker the control over the kite.

Trying to use causality from thousands of miles away to condense a meticulously detailed ‘

phantom body’

was like trying to embroider with a sledgehammer. The slightest carelessness would lead to energy going out of control.

He needed a closer anchor, someone right by his side with deep enough causal entanglement that would allow him to precisely manipulate red dust qi at any time and place.

Thinking this, Gu Chengming’

s gaze passed through the quiet room’

s window and fell upon the red plum tree in the courtyard.

There, a certain elder was basking in the sun wrapped in thick fox fur.

The sunlight fell on her profile, coating her lazy expression in a layer of warm golden light.

Gu Chengming grew thoughtful.

The afternoon sun rare had a hint of warmth.

Yu Wenqiu was squinting her eyes when she suddenly felt a shadow loom over her.

She looked up and saw Gu Chengming standing before her, holding a pot of freshly brewed spiritual tea and some pastries.

”

Elder, enjoying the sun?”

Gu Chengming placed the teapot on the stone table and sat down beside her.

”

Unwarranted kindness usually hides an ulterior motive.”

Yu Wenqiu shrank back warily: ”

Speak, what do you want now?”

”

Elder, you’

ve misunderstood.”

Gu Chengming poured himself a cup of tea, his tone sincere: ”

I have merely encountered some bottlenecks while practicing the Red Dust Phantom Step and wanted to ask Elder for a small favor.”

”

Red Dust Phantom Step?”

Yu Wenqiu blinked: ”

How can I help?”

”

It’

s simple.”

Gu Chengming explained patiently: ”

The core of this technique lies in causality. I need someone close enough and with deep enough causal entanglement to act as an anchor to help me stabilize the ripples of red dust qi.”

”

So…”

He paused: ”

I need to increase our bond a bit.”

”

In—increase our bond?!”

As soon as those words came out, Yu Wenqiu’

s brain went ‘

buzz’

.

Bond? What bond?

Was it the bond between dao companions written about in storybooks? Or the bond of life and death dependency?

Is Little—Little Gu confessing in a roundabout way?

Or is he trying to…

Yu Wenqiu’

s gaze uncontrollably drifted across Gu Chengming’

s handsome face. Scenes unsuitable for children flashed through her mind, and her cheeks instantly turned deep red, the color spreading all the way down to her neck.

”

That, that…”

Yu Wenqiu spoke haltingly, her fingers digging into her palms:

”

Are you saying… th—that kind of bond? But I’

m an elder? Though I didn’

t say no, this is too sudden, and Senior Sister just left… isn’

t this…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller until it was barely a whisper.

As an elder, she had to be reserved! Yes! Reserved!

But if it was Little Gu, it wasn’

t out of the question.

Watching his elder, who had clearly misunderstood, Gu Chengming had to cruelly interrupt her ”

fantasies.”

”

Elder, where has your mind wandered?”

Gu Chengming explained helplessly: ”

When I said increasing our bond, I meant through some daily interactions—like eating together, drinking tea, and chatting—to deepen our aura resonance. This will allow me to more accurately capture the red dust qi on your person.”

”

That is all.”

”

…”

Yu Wenqiu froze for a good long while before she finally processed Gu Chengming’

s words.

So it was just eating and drinking tea?

”

Oh—”

Yu Wenqiu let out a long trailing sound and slumped back into her chair.

In that moment, the feeling of relief and the sense of disappointment in her heart actually tied for first place.

”

You gave this elder a fright.”

She turned her head away, grabbed a piece of pastry, and took a huge bite, mumbling incoherently:

”

You should have said so earlier! For the sake of the pastries you bought me, this elder will reluctantly cooperate with you.”

Though the misunderstanding was cleared, once a seed is planted, it will quietly take root and sprout amidst the trifles of daily life.

In the following days, a subtle atmosphere emerged in the Northern Mansion’

s backyard at Falling Snow Pass.

For Gu Chengming, this was merely a step-by-step cultivation plan.

But for Yu Wenqiu, things seemed to be developing a bit beyond her expectations.

Early morning, light snow.

Yu Wenqiu walked out of her room in a daze, her hair a bit messy.

Following her usual habit, she would go to the kitchen to find something to eat herself or simply stay hungry until lunch.

But now…

”

Elder, you’

re awake?”

By the stone table in the courtyard, Gu Chengming was already sitting there with two bowls of steaming spiritual rice porridge and several plates of delicate side dishes.

Seeing her come out, Gu Chengming naturally stood up, picked up a wooden comb from the side, and walked behind her:

”

Your hair is messy. Let me tidy it for you.”

”

Ah? Oh…”

Yu Wenqiu subconsciously wanted to refuse, but her body stopped as if possessed.

She stood there stiffly, feeling that warm hand gently passing through her hair. The movements were light and skilled, and occasionally a very faint ripple of spiritual power would transmit through her hair, making her scalp feel tingly.

Is this increasing the bond?

Yu Wenqiu looked at the bowl of steaming porridge before her, and her heart skipped a beat for some reason.

Afternoon, study room.

The cold wind howled outside, but the fire in the room was warm.

Gu Chengming was reading, and Yu Wenqiu was daydreaming.

She had originally intended to read storybooks, but for some reason, her gaze couldn’

t help but drift toward the quiet figure reading opposite her.

Gu Chengming seemed to be circulating a technique, his entire body emitting a very faint pink halo.

Yu Wenqiu could feel an invisible aura slowly flowing from her toward him. That feeling wasn’

t unpleasant;

instead, it had a sense of security, like being held by the hand.

”

Elder, the tea is cold.”

Gu Chengming didn’

t look up;

he just naturally reached out, took the teacup from her hand, refilled it with hot tea, and placed it back in its original spot.

The entire process was as smooth as flowing water;

he didn’

t even take his eyes off the book.

Yu Wenqiu cupped the warm tea, staring blankly at his profile.

Little Gu used to do these things like pouring tea and water often, but why now…

She suddenly felt this scene was somewhat familiar.

Just like in the storybooks, like an old couple who had supported each other for many years—even if they didn’

t speak, as long as they were under the same roof, they felt time was peaceful and good?

”

Pah, pah, pah! Yu Wenqiu, what are you thinking!”

She cursed herself in her heart, but the blush on her face refused to subside.

This feeling was too strange.

Evening, Training Ground.

Gu Chengming was practicing the Myriad Phenomena Transformation Fist;

his punches howled, and his blood qi was like a dragon.

Yu Wenqiu sat nearby wrapped in fox fur.

”

Elder, how was it?”

Gu Chengming withdrew his punch and turned to look at her. Sweat covered his forehead, and his smile looked exceptionally bright in the sunset.

”

Mhm, ah? Quite good, quite good…”

Yu Wenqiu snapped back to her senses and hurriedly looked away.

Comrade Little Yu suddenly found she was beginning to lose track of whether Gu Chengming was using her ‘

causality’

to practice, or if she was using the name of practice to indulge in this rare warmth.

Thus, time quietly slipped away.

And Gu Chengming’

s cultivation finally reached a qualitative change.

On this night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Gu Chengming sat cross-legged in the quiet room with a solemn expression.

After this period of ”

deep interaction”

with Yu Wenqiu, he could clearly feel that the causal thread connecting the two had become incredibly resilient and clear.

It was not just a thread, but a stable channel for transmitting red dust qi.

”

Now.”

With a thought, Gu Chengming fully circulated the Red Dust Phantom Step.

”

Buzz—”

A massive and gentle wave of red dust qi flowed continuously from Yu Wenqiu, who was having a sweet dream next door, along that causal thread.

This aura was mixed with trust, dependence, and even a few hints of inexplicable sentiment.

With the addition of this high-quality ”

anchor,”

the true essence within Gu Chengming’

s body instantly boiled.

He pointed his fingers like a sword at the void beside him.

”

Phantom body, condense!”

This time, that pink phantom did not collapse.

Amidst the distortion of light and shadow, a figure exactly like Gu Chengming in stature and even aura ripples slowly walked out of the void.

That phantom gave Gu Chengming a slight smile. The vivacity in that moment was almost like a living person.

At the same time, a massive feedback force poured into Gu Chengming’

s dantian like a tide.

That was the gift from the laws of heaven and earth after the Red Dust Phantom Step reached the entry level, as well as the ‘

red dust insights’

accumulated during this period.

”

Boom!”

Deep within his sea of qi, that dragon-shaped qi seed let out a joyful roar, its size swelling once again.

The bottleneck of the First Realm, Ninth Level—no, the peak of the Second Realm, Fourth Level—was easily pierced like thin paper under the impact of this power.

Second Realm, Fifth Level!

Gu Chengming slowly opened his eyes, feeling the power within his body that was several times more vigorous than before, as well as the obedient red dust phantom standing by his side, moving according to his will.

”

So this is the Red Dust Phantom Step.”

With this movement technique, plus the burst from 【Emperor Bai】, and that hand of red dust causal arts.

Now, even without using the sword array, he was powerful enough to walk as he pleased among the second realm cultivators of the Northern Border.

A sword cultivator who could be a top-tier expert even without a sword—what was he?

Gu Chengming felt he was a bit overtuned now. If he were a Xianmen NPC, a large group of players would probably be crying and shouting for him to be nerfed.

”

Thanks to Elder Yu…”

Thinking this, he impatiently looked at his newly mastered technique.

As his gaze lowered, a light blue translucent panel appeared before his eyes, its characters clearly visible.

【Congratulations! Cultivation of 《Red Dust Phantom Step》 has reached entry level.】

【Agility +2】

【Current Agility: 13】

【Target Selected: Red Dust Phantom Step】

【Favorability: 5/Stranger】

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 slowly wakes up.】

【The mist in the corner of the Sea of Consciousness churns slightly. After several breaths, a nearly transparent phantom that seems like it could dissipate with the wind slowly emerges.】

【It first quietly restrains its aura to the extreme, then cautiously scans your Sea of Consciousness, meridians, dantian, and even the corners of your soul that you haven’

t noticed, scanning them three times.】

【After confirming there are no eavesdropping restrictions, no hidden old man’

s remnant soul, and no spiritual marks left by other powerhouses, the tense phantom of 《Red Dust Phantom Step》 solidifies slightly and lets out a long sigh of relief.】

【It straightens its non-existent hems: ”

Fellow Daoist Gu, was it you who awakened me?”

】

Watching this unique entrance, Gu Chengming felt a sense of familiarity and responded: ”

I suppose so?”

Fellow Daoist Gu?

That was a form of address he had never heard before.

And from this initial personality, it seemed to be the extremely cautious type?

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 frowns upon hearing this.】

【It shows a look that says ‘

as expected’

, then lowers its voice: ”

Fellow Daoist Gu, this place is crowded. There’

s no telling if some powerhouse is passing by and spying from afar. We’

d better be careful, don’

t reveal too many secrets, and especially don’

t easily state your real name.”

】

Gu Chengming felt a bit uncertain and subconsciously looked around the empty Sea of Consciousness:

”

We are currently communicating with divine sense in the Sea of Consciousness. This is inside my body;

surely such a situation wouldn’

t occur?”

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 shakes its head in disagreement, its eyes filled with the helplessness of ‘

you are too naive’

.】

【It says earnestly: ”

Fellow Daoist Gu, you are still too young and lack experience. This cultivation world is treacherous and filled with killing intent. Who told you the Sea of Consciousness is definitely safe?”

】

【It counts on its fingers: ”

What if an ancient monster skilled in soul possession is lurking in the depths of your bloodline? What if formless heart demons grew during your cultivation and are watching in secret? What if there’

s a flaw in your cultivation art?”

】

【It points at the 《Hundred Bones Resonating》 nearby: ”

Especially it—it’

s too flashy! Fellow Daoist Gu, take my advice: hide your strength when possible, and don’

t stick your neck out unless necessary.”

】

【Seeing the newcomer point it out as soon as it arrived, 《Hundred Bones Resonating》 is instantly furious.】

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 ignores it and continues to advise: ”

That Elder Yu who helped you break through is also a major hidden danger. You must guard against others. At the very least, place seventeen or eighteen restrictions on her to ensure she can’

t reveal a single word even if her soul is searched.”

】

Gu Chengming’

s scalp felt numb listening to this.

Why did this new art have the vibe of an old demonic cultivator?

”

Wait, that’

s my Elder Yu, she’

s absolutely trustworthy. And our Wenjian Sect has an upright style;

we don’

t do that.”

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 sighs, but seeing Gu Chengming’

s firm attitude, it just shakes its head helplessly.】

【It pauses, perhaps to make up for the embarrassment of its rejected suggestion, or perhaps truly concerned for Gu Chengming’

s life, and changes the subject.】

【”

However, regarding combat, you must not be careless. It observed Fellow Daoist Gu’

s previous combat style—it’

s too bold and direct, always clashing head-on. This is a major taboo.”

】

【It extends its fingers and draws a few times in the air, saying seriously: ”

Next time you condense a phantom, remember not to just use it for deceiving enemies or as a substitute for death.”

】

【”

Not only must the phantom look real, but it’

s best to hide a few high-grade ‘

Soul-Shattering Thunder’

inside it, or some ‘

Bone-Dissolving Poison’

that collapses on contact. At the very least, stuff in a few self-destruction talismans.”

】

【”

Once someone wants to harm you or tries to attack your phantom, we’

ll just detonate it. Even if it doesn’

t kill them, the dust and spiritual energy waves from the explosion can buy you at least three breaths of time to escape.”

】

Huh, that is a good use for it.

Gu Chengming grew thoughtful.

【It brushes its non-existent sleeves and looks at Gu Chengming earnestly: ”

Fellow Daoist Gu, I know you practice the way of the sword and value being unyielding. But only the living have output, and only the living can prove their dao.”

】

【”

Those geniuses who died halfway, no matter how brilliant they were while alive, are just a mound of yellow earth after death. Even their names will be forgotten. Only those who live to the end are the winners.”

】

【”

Since you and I are now one, sharing the same fate, I will naturally do my utmost to help you achieve longevity.”

】

Gu Chengming nodded, deciding to humor it for now: ”

Thank you for the guidance, Fellow Daoist. In the future, I will be doubly careful and think thrice before acting.”

【Hearing this, the perpetually tense expression of 《Red Dust Phantom Step》 finally relaxes a bit.】

【It looks at Gu Chengming with a bit more approval.】

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 Favorability +5】

【Current Favorability: 10/Stranger】

Perhaps now it was time to deal with the source of that mysterious spying he had felt back at the Exchange?

Falling Snow Pass, on the eaves of an unremarkable teahouse.

Nuo Tao’

s legs dangled in mid-air as she swung them back and forth, her eyes fixed on the distant Northern Mansion.

She hadn’

t been idle these past two days.

As the current ”

traveler”

of the Myriad Thief Sect, if Nuo Tao wanted to investigate someone, even if they hid their undergarments in a storage pouch, she could uncover the color through various clues.

”

Inner Sect disciple of the Wenjian Sect, Patrol Guard of the Night Guard Division, and tenth on the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking…”

Nuo Tao spat out the grass root in her mouth and scratched her head in frustration, mumbling softly:

”

He seems a bit impressive.”

Recalling the results of her tracking that day, she still felt a bit of lingering fear.

She had originally thought he was just a sword cultivator lad with some wealth, but who knew he would walk straight into the backyard of the Northern Mansion, a place where a fourth realm master sword cultivator resided.

”

Too hard.”

Nuo Tao sighed and fished out that warm white jade fire phoenix token from her bosom, holding it up against the sun.

This thing was both a treasure and a hot potato.

Her master, that old rogue, had once said that when the Myriad Thief Immortal left behind this secret realm back then, he deliberately split the key in two.

Half remained in the sect as a legacy token;

the other half was scattered across the red dust, drifting with the tide. And every heir of the Myriad Thief Sect, to truly complete their apprenticeship, had to find this other half of the key in the red dust and ”

steal”

it back.

This wasn’

t just finding a key;

it was finding a ”

calamity.”

The Myriad Thief Sect practiced stealing the secrets of heaven and pilfering causality. That half-token drifting outside would be drawn by causality and eventually fall into the hands of the person who countered the heir the most, was the most troublesome, or was fated to be entangled with them.

This was the so-called ”

answering the calamity.”

”

Sigh—”

Nuo Tao frustratedly poked the eyes of the fire phoenix with her finger:

”

If it weren’

t for this matter, and I encountered such a good-looking and talented guy, I’

d definitely go up and chat him up. Maybe we could even develop an epic tale of the jianghu.”

”

…But you had to be my ‘

calamity’

.”

She was really a bit reluctant to strike.

After all, this was the first time since she had descended the mountain that she had encountered a guy whose profile alone could make her heart beat several times faster! That clean aura, those warm eyebrows—he was practically made for her aesthetic preferences!

”

However…”

Nuo Tao flipped over and lay comfortably on the tiles, comforting herself:

”

Looking on the bright side, the difficulty isn’

t actually that big?”

She recalled the glorious deeds of her master, ”

Daoist Don’

t Know.”

Supposedly, Master’

s ‘

calamity’

back then was a token that had fallen into the hands of a fourth realm peak stage demonic cultivator.

Back then, Master was only at the start of the third realm. To steal that token, he was hunted for thirty thousand miles, nearly losing half his life, and only managed to succeed after fleeing to the capital.

By comparison…

”

Tenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, middle stage of the second realm…”

Nuo Tao counted on her fingers, and the corners of her mouth couldn’

t help but curl up, revealing two cute little tiger teeth:

”

Though he’

s a monster among his peers, he’

s only in the second realm after all.”

”

Though I can’

t beat you head-on, I’

m a thief cultivator! I’

m not here to fight you to the death;

I’

m here to steal something!”

”

Stealing something from a guy in the middle stage of the second realm has to be much easier than snatching a life from a fourth realm demonic cultivator, right?”

Thinking this, Nuo Tao’

s mood instantly improved.

Moreover, she wasn’

t some unreasonable bandit.

”

Hmph, I’

m a person of standards.”

Nuo Tao silently planned in her heart: ”

Worst comes to worst, after we enter the secret realm, I’

ll split the treasures inside with him fifty-fifty… mhm, a forty-sixty split is also fine! If he behaves well, I can even do thirty-seventy!”

”

Consider it compensation for using his token.”

Having made up her mind, Nuo Tao began her patient stakeout.

A place like the Northern Mansion was impossible to break into;

the fourth realm powerhouse there named Luo Jinyao sounded like someone very hard to mess with just from the name.

She was waiting for an opportunity.

Finally.

Just this morning, Nuo Tao keenly sensed that the sharp sword intent that had been looming over the Northern Mansion and making her feel like needles were pricking her back had suddenly vanished.

Immediately after, she saw a white rainbow rise like the sun, flying toward the south.

”

That fourth realm master sword cultivator left?!”

Nuo Tao’

s eyes lit up, and she was so excited she nearly crushed the tile in her hand.

A heaven-sent opportunity!

The biggest obstacle had left. Now, in that small courtyard, only that good-looking guy and a pretty female elder who seemed not very bright and only ate and drank remained.

”

It’

s in the bag!”

Nuo Tao brushed the dust off her hands and instantly entered work mode.

Not long after, the side gate of the Northern Mansion slowly opened.

A slender figure walked out.

Gu Chengming had changed into a black suit suitable for action today with the Tinglan Sword hanging from his waist. He seemed to be planning to go to the snowy plains outside the city to cultivate or perform some task.

”

Here he comes!”

Nuo Tao took a deep breath, and the spiritual power in her body began to circulate according to a strange route.

【Thief Art: Dust Merging】.

Her figure did not disappear, but in the perception of those around her, her presence instantly dropped to the minimum, as if she were a rock by the road, a weed, or a speck of dust.

Even if she walked openly on the street, as long as she didn’

t do anything too shocking, people’

s gazes would subconsciously slide past her, leaving no impression in their brains.

This was the signature skill of the Myriad Thief Sect and the source of her confidence in tracking a genius from the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

The wind and snow were heavy, and the alleyways were deep.

This was the most remote corner of Falling Snow Pass. Although it was inside the pass, few people usually came here, and almost no one lived there.

”

That’

s about it.”

Gu Chengming stopped his footsteps and stood with his back to the alley entrance, his fingers gently stroking the hilt of his sword.

He wasn’

t truly defenseless;

the Red Dust Phantom Step in his body had long been circulated to the extreme.

And behind him, less than five paces away, the air rippled slightly.

Nuo Tao held her breath, her large eyes flashing with excitement. She was like a little fox about to catch its prey, carefully extending a pair of slender, jade-like hands that were fast as lightning.

Closer, closer!

That bulging storage pouch was right before her eyes!

”

Got it!”

Nuo Tao, in her 【Dust Merging】 state, felt a surge of joy.

Though this guy was good-looking and had decent cultivation, his vigilance was a bit lacking. As long as her fingertips touched the restriction nodes on the storage pouch, she could use the Myriad Thief Sect’

s techniques to swipe the contents within half a breath even without spiritual power.

However, the instant before her fingertips touched the storage pouch.

”

Buzz—”

A light pink, somewhat ambiguous yet incredibly resilient aura suddenly erupted from Gu Chengming’

s body without any warning.

That wasn’

t sword qi, nor was it ordinary spiritual power;

it was—red dust qi!

Thousands of red dust causal threads seemed to come alive in this moment, instantly weaving into an invisible net that tightly entangled that reaching hand.

”

What?!”

Nuo Tao was shocked and subconsciously tried to use an escape art to flee.

But that red dust qi was like maggots in bone, instantly spreading to her entire body along her fingertips.

For a thief cultivator practicing the 【Dust Merging】 method, the thing they feared most was this kind of causal entanglement. Once tainted by red dust causality, that state of ”

not being touched by any art, merging into the dust”

was instantly broken.

”

Poof!”

Like a popped bubble, Nuo Tao’

s figure was directly ”

squeezed”

out of the void, and she fell clumsily onto the snow.

Before she could react, an unsheathed longsword was already pressed against her throat. At the same time, that thick pink aura surrounded her, blocking all paths of retreat.

Nuo Tao’

s eyes widened as she looked at the good-looking guy before her, who was still smiling with a playful look in his eyes. Her brain was a mess.

Red Dust Technique?!

This was the secret technique of the Hehuan Sect, a method specifically for playing with causality and manipulating people’

s hearts. It was the absolute nemesis of thief cultivators like them who valued ”

not letting a single leaf touch the body”

!

Isn’

t this guy a sword cultivator from the Wenjian Sect? Isn’

t he the straightforward type who only shouts ”

I have a sword that can open the gate of heaven”

?

What kind of proper sword cultivator also practices the Hehuan Sect’

s techniques?! This doesn’

t fit his specialty at all!

”

It’

s over, it’

s over!”

Nuo Tao felt the red dust qi surrounding her like non-stop tentacles, and her heart went cold.

She had truly been the hunter who became the hunted today.

However, in her despair, a more terrifying yet somewhat inexplicable thought flashed through her mind.

Wait, Hehuan Sect? Red dust qi?

This pink atmosphere, this method of tying people up… Nuo Tao’

s face turned beet red in an instant.

She looked up at Gu Chengming’

s face, which looked exceptionally handsome in the snow, and recalled the rumors about the Hehuan Sect’

s ”

plucking and nourishing”

and ”

human cauldrons.”

”

He… he doesn’

t want to use me for plucking and nourishing, does he?”

Once this thought appeared, she couldn’

t suppress it.

As someone who valued looks, Nuo Tao looked at Gu Chengming’

s face, and a strange emotion actually surged in her heart.

On one hand, it was the fear of losing her innocence;

on the other hand…

”

If I’

m being used for plucking and nourishing by this sword cultivator lad, it seems… it’

s not entirely unacceptable?”

”

No, no! Nuo Tao, you have to be reserved! You are the heir of the Myriad Thief Sect;

how can you have such thoughts!”

A battle raged in her heart, but her face put on a tragic expression of ”

you can kill me but not humiliate me.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes trembling, and shouted in a tone that was both resolute and slightly shaky:

”

Ugh… just kill me! I will never submit!”

However, the warm touch or teasing words she expected did not appear.

Inside her Sea of Consciousness, there was dead silence.

Gu Chengming looked at the female thief cultivator on the ground whose face was turning red one moment and gritting her teeth the next, and asked wordlessly in his heart: ”

How should I handle this?”

The next moment, a cold voice rang in his mind.

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 warily scanned the female thief and said coldly:】

【”

Fellow Daoist Gu, this woman’

s movement technique is strange;

she can ignore most restrictions and knows your movements and background. If you let her go, she will surely become a major trouble in the future.”

】

【”

The only way to deal with such an uncertain factor is—silence her, pull her up by the roots. It’

s best to even obliterate her soul to avoid leaving any causality behind.”

】

Gu Chengming nodded.

That made sense;

he had the same intention.

For someone whose background he didn’

t know, who had been stealthily following him for days, and who immediately tried to steal his things, he didn’

t have any heart for pitying the fair sex.

”

Boom!!”

The next moment, that ambiguous pink aura that had been surrounding them instantly vanished.

In its place was a domineering, terrifying pressure that seemed like it would suppress the nine heavens and ten earths!

【CG/Emperor Bai, Assist Me】—Activated!

In the void behind Gu Chengming, a blurry and majestic imperial phantom slowly emerged. The phantom merely lifted a hand, and the surrounding wind and snow instantly froze.

Gu Chengming slowly raised his right fist, his blood qi boiling to the extreme. A suffocating aura of death locked onto Nuo Tao on the ground.

With this punch, never mind a second realm thief cultivator—even an iron ingot would be turned to dust.

Nuo Tao, who had been closing her eyes with a head full of drama, feeling nervous, afraid, and secretly expectant, suddenly felt something was wrong.

That wasn’

t some romantic atmosphere.

That was killing intent! It was the kind of killing intent that wanted to scatter her into bone dust!

She snapped her eyes open. What she saw wasn’

t some handsome face, but a fist winding with terrifying energy expanding in her vision, and Gu Chengming’

s cold, indifferent eyes.

”

Eh??”

Nuo Tao was completely dumbfounded.

The script wasn’

t like this! Where was the Hehuan Sect’

s plucking and nourishing? Where was the pity for the fair sex?

He wasn’

t trying to sleep with her;

he was truly trying to kill her!!

That terrifying pressure made her hair stand on end. Her ”

cold heroine refusing to submit”

act instantly collapsed.

”

Waaaaah—!!!”

Ignoring her image, Nuo Tao hugged her head and curled into a ball, crying: ”

No!! Don’

t kill me!!!”

Seeing that the punch was about to fall, she kept her eyes shut and spoke as fast as a machine gun:

”

I was wrong! I shouldn’

t have stolen your things! I’

m from the Myriad Thief Sect! I have money! I have many treasures!!”

Gu Chengming’

s fist-wind ruffled her bangs, but it showed no sign of stopping.

Nuo Tao was so scared her tears came out as she threw out her last card: ”

Don’

t kill me! The storage pouch on me has a Heart-Linking restriction from my master! If you kill me, the treasures inside will all self-destruct and be destroyed—”

”

Wuuu, pl—please spare me, big brother… I really have a lot of money, waaaaah…”

To stay alive, Nuo Tao really went all out this time.

”

Whoosh—”

That fist stopped abruptly just half an inch from the tip of Nuo Tao’

s nose.

【Red Dust Phantom Step narrowed its eyes: Myriad Thief Sect? Fellow Daoist Gu, since she is willing to hand over the treasures, why not tie her up first and decide later?】

Gu Chengming gestured for her to continue.

Nuo Tao shiveringly undid the restrictions on her storage pouch and started pouring things out.

”

This is a thousand-year snow ginseng, this is a second-tier peak grade Cloud Shuttle, these are three thousand spirit stones…”

In the blink of an eye, a small mountain of items piled up on the snow.

Gu Chengming’

s eyebrows twitched. He had to admit, this thief cultivator’

s wealth was indeed staggering. The items on the ground alone were worth no less than tens of thousands of spirit stones—she was far richer than a typical second realm perfected cultivator.

Nuo Tao slumped on the ground, panting heavily. Looking at Gu Chengming’

s still calm face, she felt as if she had just danced before the gates of hell.

”

Everything is here. Big brother, can you let me go now?”

Nuo Tao looked at him pitifully, a tear still hanging from her eye.

Gu Chengming ignored the pile of treasures. Instead, he reached into his robe, took out that blue luan token, and waved it before Nuo Tao: ”

What is this for?”

Seeing that token, Nuo Tao’

s eyes clearly flickered;

it was a primal panic.

She bit her lip, her gaze shifting, and she stammered: ”

It’

s just an ordinary antique token. I thought it looked good and wanted to take it back for my collection…”

This token concerned the legacy secret realm of the Myriad Thief Sect and was a secret of the sect. If she just spoke of it, her master would definitely clean out the sect for such a major matter.

Seeing her stubborn look, Gu Chengming’

s eyes narrowed slightly.

【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 suggested: Fellow Daoist Gu, her words are evasive;

there must be a hidden story. Since she won’

t talk, why not just search her soul?】

Gu Chengming thought helplessly, I don’

t know soul searching either.

However, though he didn’

t know soul searching, he had an idea he had always wanted to test but lacked a suitable guinea pig for.

Gu Chengming looked at the girl before him who was still trying to make up lies to fool him, and his gaze suddenly became a bit subtle.

He smiled. The smile was warm, but it made the hair on the back of Nuo Tao’

s neck stand up.

The next moment, he struck Nuo Tao’

s neck with the side of his hand.

Nuo Tao didn’

t even have time to groan before her eyes rolled back and she went limp.

Gu Chengming casually swept up the treasures and the unconscious Nuo Tao, and his figure turned into a streak of light, rushing toward the Northern Mansion.

Northern Mansion, quiet room in the backyard.

The earth-fire array had dispelled the cold, making the room warm.

Nuo Tao was casually tossed onto a soft couch in the corner, still unconscious.

Gu Chengming sat cross-legged opposite her, his finger gently tapping his knee. In his mind, he was refining that bold plan.

Since the Red Dust Technique could weave illusions, could it be used to construct a closed, circular consciousness space for a kind of deep ”

education”

?

【Upon hearing that illusions would be used, 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 instantly became excited: Little Gu, I have a plan!】

【”

Why not construct an Elysian Hell from the Hehuan Sect in the illusion? You can catch her inside and use her for plucking and nourishing day and night until her mind collapses. Then she’

ll definitely confess everything!”

】

Gu Chengming was speechless. Wouldn’

t that just be a wet dream? What use would that be?

He decided to teach the Yin Yang Creation Strategy, this technique with zero imagination, a lesson.

”

Have you ever heard of Pavlov’

s dog?”

【Yin Yang Creation Strategy was puzzled: What is that?】

【Hundred Bones Resonating: Which ancient monster is that? Sounds pretty cool.】

Gu Chengming didn’

t explain. Instead, he closed his eyes. His massive divine sense, accompanied by pink red dust qi, began to weave that precise and complex illusion around Nuo Tao’

s Sea of Consciousness.

He wanted to construct a rigorous behavioral psychology model based on ”

Stimulus-Response-Reinforcement.”

Through tens of thousands of repetitions, he would carve a specific command into her subconscious, making it an instinctive reaction that bypassed the brain’

s thinking.

This was an enormous project. For half a day, the quiet room was filled with silence.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Gu Chengming’

s forehead. Had he not just broken through to the Second Realm, Fifth Level and mastered the 《Red Dust Phantom Step》, reaching a meticulous level of control over red dust qi, weaving such an intricate illusion would have surely exhausted his soul and killed him.

Even now, he felt extremely fatigued.

”

Phew.”

Finally, the moment the last causal thread closed, Gu Chengming let out a long breath and slowly withdrew his hand.

Though a bit rough, that logical loop named ‘

Obedience’

had been deeply implanted into Nuo Tao’

s dreamscape.

After an unknown amount of time.

The girl on the soft couch’

s lashes fluttered, then she suddenly snapped her eyes open.

”

Ha, ha—”

Nuo Tao was like someone who had just been fished out of the deep sea;

she inhaled the fresh air in large gulps.

She was soaked in sweat, her cheeks showed an unnatural flush, and her body was still trembling uncontrollably.

In that dream that felt like it had no end, she didn’

t remember who she was;

she only remembered that sword cultivator lad holding a bell… and that she had to sit still when the bell rang.

Doing it right resulted in a pat on the head and a sense of spiritual pleasure.

Doing it wrong or trying to resist led to boundless emptiness and pain.

Once, twice, ten thousand times…

Until that reaction became a more natural instinct than breathing.

Nuo Tao slowly turned her head, her vision gradually focusing on the young man sitting cross-legged before her.

When she clearly saw Gu Chengming’

s face, the confusion in her eyes instantly faded, replaced by a complex emotion.

There was fear, shame, dependence, and even a hint of an urge to please him?

Those emotions intertwined, making her subconsciously shrink her body yet also making her want to get closer.

Gu Chengming watched her, his own heart thumping.

After all, this was his first time trying this kind of illusion;

he had no idea what the result would be.

”

Is it considered a success?”

Gu Chengming thought for a moment and decided to verify the result.

”

Sit.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

Nuo Tao’

s brain didn’

t even have time to think about the meaning of those words before her body reacted first.

The heir of the Myriad Thief Sect, who usually called herself the ”

Incorporeal Thief,”

actually sprang up from the soft couch in an instant. Then, she sat with her legs together and her hands subconsciously placed in front of her in an extremely standard and obedient manner, looking up at Gu Chengming with expectation.

Immediately after, a crisp voice filled with an intent to please blurted out from her mouth:

”

Woof!”

【Yin Yang Creation Strategy: ?】

【Hundred Bones Resonating: ????】

【Yin Yang Creation Strategy Favorability +10】