Chapter 222: Chapter 14 Go, Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu!
 

Everyone introduced themselves and gathered at a table to drink.

The old monk, named “Gu Lie,” was a Han-Tibetan hybrid, a cultivator of the Asura Path at the Refining Mansion stage.

The young girl claimed to be “Long Xiaoqi,” a local from Dali, and an outer disciple of the Eastern Emperor Path, also at the Refining Mansion stage.

Wei Dongliu looked around the table and saw old people, children, beautiful women, and even a third-sex person; he realized that he was the only serious cultivator there, and couldn’t help but think to himself, “Is this some kind of freaks’ gathering?”

Gu Lie caught the sentiment in Wei Dongliu’s eyes and took it as mockery. He narrowed his eyes and said:

“Brother Wei, Brother Wen and Sister Jiang have given you high praise, which makes me quite curious. Would it be convenient to let me experience how strong you are?”

“How does Brother Gu wish to learn?” Wei Dongliu asked with a smile.

Gu Lie didn’t answer but instead curled his middle finger and suddenly flicked out a streak of Sword Qi, aiming straight for Wei Dongliu’s face!

Wei Dongliu remained calm in the face of this poisonous and vicious sneak attack, seated and drinking his wine, as a golden light blocked the Sword Qi.

Upon closer inspection, it was a golden beetle that caught the Sword Qi with its mouthparts, chewing it up and dispersing it in an instant.

“Myriad Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu?” Wen Yang exclaimed in shock.

“Myriad Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu!” Jiang Liyan rejoiced inwardly.

Gu Lie also recognized the fame of the Golden Silkworm Gu, and his pupils constricted. He suddenly stamped on the ground, retreating while raising both hands and throwing out two streams of Sword Qi, aiming straight for the middle of Wei Dongliu’s eyes!

This move was meant to be an offensive instead of a defensive action, blocking the assumption that Wei Dongliu would choose to defend and thus buying himself time to save his own life.

Targeting the eyes was to trigger the opponent’s subconscious nervousness, creating a greater sense of fear and pressure.

However, Wei Dongliu simply smiled slightly without a trace of fear. From his sleeves, two more streaks of golden light shot out like lightning, blocking the two streams of Sword Qi from left and right—it was another pair of Myriad Poisons Golden Silkworm Gus.

As for the first one that had flown out, it buzzed and rushed towards Gu Lie’s head in an instant!

“Please calm down, Brother!” Wen Yang called out urgently.

After the flash of light and spark of fire, the scene quieted down.

Gu Lie raised his empty hands, still retreating, but dared not make any rash moves.

One of the Myriad Poisons Golden Silkworm Gus was already clinging to his entire face, its sharp, huge mandibles clicking as if it might bite him at any moment.

Wei Dongliu just sat leisurely in his spot, with an expression of being quite at ease, turning his gaze to Wen Yang.

“Amazing!” Long Xiaoqi suddenly exclaimed.

Her seemingly innocent remark instantly eased the previously tense atmosphere, so Wen Yang revealed a smile again and smoothed things over, asking:

“Brother Gu, have you now experienced Brother Wei’s divine skills?”

“I have, indeed!” Gu Lie, the old rascal monk, hurriedly capitulated, his bald head shining with sweat. He quickly admitted, “Wei Dongliu is immensely gifted, and from now on, Gu Mou would be willing to be just a small pawn before your horse!”

“What virtues or abilities do you have that you dare to be a pawn before my horse?” Wei Dongliu asked with a half-smile.

“Brother Wei,” Jiang Liyan said with a smiling voice, “you must not underestimate this old thief Gu.”

“In terms of fighting and killing, the internal strife within the Asura Path is even more severe than in Shushan. The strongest under the Golden Core are called ‘Vajra,’ a title fraught with danger. It changes hands every year, often with holders dying violently, with few managing to keep it for long.”

“This Gu the old thief may seem fierce, but he’s actually incredibly cunning. He has been in the Foundation Establishment Realm Vajra position for three years without being taken down by his junior brothers and sisters, so he must have some real skills up his sleeve.”

With a few words, she had made clear the capabilities and background of Gu Lie, letting Wei Dongliu also understand.

“What skills could Gu Mou possibly have,” Gu Lie said with a forced bravado, “I simply know when to admit defeat in the face of a superior opponent. If Brother Wei still feels unsatisfied, I can kowtow a few more times!”

“You should call yourself ‘poor monk,'” Long Xiaoqi said softly from the side.

Ignoring her, Gu Lie was about to bow down to kowtow when suddenly, he felt his face relax, and the three Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gus had already burrowed back into Wei Dongliu’s sleeve.

“Kowtowing isn’t necessary. As cultivators, why should we care for such worldly formalities?” Wei Dongliu said indifferently, tucking his hands into his sleeves, “Do one thing for me later, and we’ll consider this matter settled.”

“Fair enough.” Gu Lie stood up, dusting off the dirt from his knees, “Then I owe Brother Wei a favor.”

He sat down again at the table as if nothing had happened, telling several jokes with relish, making Jiang the Witch laugh out loud, and the atmosphere became harmonious once more.

Everyone continued to drink and joke, but each had their own schemes and chose not to mention them.

The appearance of the Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu, a fierce creature lost almost ten thousand years, needed time for everyone to digest and assess the implications of its emergence.

Jiang Liyan was naturally overjoyed, as she had long suspected that Wei Dongliu was concealing his true strength.

Such as being immune to the Heavenly Demon’s Enchanting Music, being able to hide the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword, and having an unfathomable expertise in formations, and so on.

But, those were all intangibles… Ultimately, the key standard to judge the strength of a Demon Cult Cultivator is whether he has the ability to kill others outright!

And the emergence of the Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu finally added a stroke of vivid color to the blank “combat power” aspect of the old Wei thief.

Wen Yang felt mixed emotions, happy that this powerful individual was not only an acquaintance but also someone with whom he had had dealings and formed ties.

He was concerned because the Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu was a long-sought item of the Beast Taming Path, like the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword for the Nether Ghost Path, which had a special historical significance besides its formidable strength.

Long Xiaoqi has been my good friend for many years; if she were to plan or even attempt to take it by force, should I help Wei Dongliu to stop her or help him kill her?

Gu Lie’s eyes darted back and forth, and though he joked aloud, he felt somewhat depressed on the inside, using drinking to mask his emotions.

Only Long Xiaoqi maintained a dazed, absent-minded look, not sparing even a glance at the Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu.

Seeing her sitting there unresponsive, Wen Yang thought that perhaps the Eastern Emperor Path had lost its ambition and had no intention of carrying on the legacy of the Beast Taming Path, and said with a smile,

“About this operation…”

“Brother Wen,” Jiang Liyan interrupted suddenly, “Beware of eavesdroppers.”

“I have booked this entire tavern, and Nether Ghosts have been set up at all four corners; it’s impossible for anyone to sneak in,” Wen Yang said with a slight smile, her gaze shifting, and her charm exuding.

“Better safe than sorry.” Jiang the Witch waved her sleeves, and several Demon Heads flew out, scattering in all directions and soon vanished into the walls.

“Are you satisfied now?” Wen Yang asked nonchalantly, continuing, “For this operation, the Eastern Emperor Path has requested support from the other five paths. So, if we want to join the hunt, we need Long Xiaoqi to guide and vouch for us.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Liyan nodded, “Even though the miasma in the Hundred Thousand Mountains is about to dissipate, the area is still teeming with Demonic Beasts and fraught with danger, so we do need a guide familiar with the terrain to lead us.”

Wei Dongliu listened idly, knowing these two were outlining the importance of Long Xiaoqi for him, and so he simply nodded slightly.

Seeing he had no objections, Wen Yang said with a smile,

“There are a few days left; let’s first get to know from Long Xiaoqi the basic intelligence about the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”