CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 380: FIFTH RANK HEAVENLY GU

Li Quanqing walked through Qingchen Immortal City, observing this Cultivation Market that had only emerged in the past decades, yet was far more prosperous than he had imagined.

Everywhere, the glow of spiritual formations and magic artifacts shimmered, cultivators came and went, towering buildings stood tall, accompanied by the roars of spiritual beasts reverberating in his ears, creating a lively atmosphere.

Their group did not conceal themselves, and wherever they passed, they received many looks of awe and respect, with even those who dared not meet his gaze for fear of provoking this newly ascended Nascent Soul ancestor.

Following Li Kunlun, Li Quanqing arrived at the Li Family’s residence within the Immortal City, and large clusters of palaces immediately unfolded before his eyes, undulating without end.

Compared to Qingyu Cave Heaven, this place was indeed noisier, a mix of dragons and snakes. Besides the Li Clan members running the Immortal City and honing their experiences, many hired tributors brought their families, creating quite the bustle.

"That Barbarian Clan cultivator who fled from Nanling is exactly this person..."

Li Quanqing arrived at the main hall, and immediately saw a person kneeling there respectfully, appearing to be a somewhat haggard middle-aged man, exuding a scent of herbs with a scholarly aura.

"This person has cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, previously used an alias and claimed to be a Second Rank alchemist, indeed possessing many skills, even participating in the crafting of Foundation Establishment Pills several times..."

Li Kunlun used secret voice transmission to recount all the incidents from the past years.

Despite this person’s considerable talent in alchemy, he was quite reserved in nature, acting discreetly, seldom interacting with other alchemists or cultivators.

Thus, Li Kunlun didn’t have many memories of him, having only met him a few times, who would have thought he was hiding so deeply.

"You got deceived."

Li Quanqing merely glanced at this person and saw through the truth, shaking his head slightly: "This guy is not at Foundation Establishment, but a bona fide Golden Core cultivator, in a real battle he might not be much weaker than you."

"What?! He’s actually a Golden Core cultivator!"

Upon hearing this, Li Kunlun was extremely shocked, clearly having carefully examined multiple times, yet still failed to see through this fellow’s disguise.

By all appearances, he was just an ordinary Foundation Establishment alchemist, nothing remarkable, having hidden within the Li Family for over ten years.

"At this point, do you still plan to continue hiding?"

Li Quanqing pinpointed a wisp of mana, instantly shattering this person’s secret technique disguise, revealing that Golden Core Middle Stage aura, as scorching and intense as flames.

"Ancestor Quanqing, your divine power is boundless, pressuring the East Sea, this junior is sincerely convinced, and wishes nothing more in this life but to serve under the Li Family, working tirelessly as an ox or horse to repay today’s life-saving grace!"

The man kneeled in the grand hall, speaking loudly and earnestly, with a look of a scholar willing to die for a confidant.

His secret technique having been broken, his facial disguise also completely vanished, revealing his original appearance, with hair and beard tinged fiery red, marked with a demon beast tattoo on his face, emanating a wild and savage aura.

Li Quanqing listened with one ear in and one ear out, treating the fellow’s words as mere wind, thinking he was simply at an impasse and thus sought to pledge allegiance, seeking protection.

"Tell us about your background."

Li Quanqing sat at the top of the grand hall, overlooking the person, releasing just a wisp of Nascent Soul pressure, instantly overwhelming like Mount Tai pressing down, filling the entirety of the hall’s air with authority.

The divine might was like a prison, causing this Barbarian Clan traitor to shiver, his face turning pale, sweat the size of beans dripping down.

"I dare not conceal anything from Ancestor, my name is Man Ming, from the Southern Ridge Cultivation World, born into a lower-grade tribe member of the Barbarian Clan’s Nascent Soul power, subjected to humiliation from early on..."

Man Ming dared not hide anything, and once he began speaking, he poured out endless words, seeming to want to disclose the entire backstory, explaining how wretched his life had been, compelled by desperation.

"Enough, this seat is not interested in these! Directly speak, why did you betray the Barbarian Clan and were pursued?"

Li Quanqing’s expression turned cold, his voice thunderous, instantly exploding in the grand hall like a peal of thunder.

Man Ming, having cultivated the Golden Core Dao from being a lower-grade tribe member, was naturally not a fool.

His previously lengthy exposition, full of trivial words, was merely to express his loyalty, demonstrating his willingness to disclose everything without reservation.

At this moment, he put on a fawning smile, retracted his expression, and recounted the most crucial backstory:

"I dare not hide anything from Ancestor, the villain Man Huan pursued me across thousands of li, tenaciously holding on, truly because this junior once stole a Fifth Rank Gu worm from the clan, a treasure amongst treasures, thus committing a monstrous crime, forcing me to change my name and flee."

"A Fifth Rank Gu worm?"

Raising an eyebrow, Li Quanqing recognized that such a rare Gu worm, parallel in rank to demon beasts, ranged from First Rank being the lowest, up to Fifth Rank as the highest.

If judged purely by power, such a Gu worm could rival a Divinity Transformation Venerable, hard to find in the world, no wonder that fellow Man Huan would cross domains, trailing behind with a Drought Demon Zombie.

"And this Fifth Rank Gu worm is the treasure you intend to offer to me, Ancestor?"

Li Quanqing’s voice was indifferent, showing little interest, his curiosity halved.

Although described as a Fifth Rank Spiritual Worm, it most likely had significant flaws, being either dead or alive was uncertain.

Otherwise, this guy would have already used it to roam the cultivation world, rather than fear the Nascent Soul level pursuit and seek refuge with the Li Family.

"Ancestor’s insight is like a torch, a Fifth Rank Gu worm is rare and invaluable, perhaps the entire cultivation world has just this one."

"This junior prepared it especially for the Ancestor, only to request the Li Family’s protection, leaving some vestiges to avoid being captured back to the clan, skinned alive and flayed, even his soul extracted, lighting the heavenly lantern!"

The person’s expression turned desolate, full of pleading, and at moments of deep emotion, even shed two teardrops, crying silently.

Li Quanqing marveled inwardly, this guy truly had talent, no wonder he managed to survive so long, his acting was indeed remarkable.

"Take it out and let me have a look, just what kind of Gu worm it is."

"Honoring Ancestor’s decree!"

Man Ming wiped his tears, cautiously extracting something from the Spiritual Beast Bag, holding it solemnly in his hand, cherishing it dearly.

Li Quanqing and his companions focused their gaze, and immediately saw a dark red, blood-like round stone, with strange patterns on the surface, utterly devoid of life force or mana, utterly ordinary.

Aside from its overly round shape and deep color, it seemed indistinguishable from ordinary stones found by the roadside, showing no special characteristics whatsoever.

"Is this the Fifth Rank Gu worm?"

Li Quanqing sighed slightly, feeling an impulse to smack this guy dead.

Man Ming’s expression also turned awkward, having obtained it so many years, he had also attempted to unravel the mysteries of the Fifth Rank Gu worm, yet failed similarly.

If it weren’t for several high elders of the Barbarian Clan emphasizing its importance in the past, along with rituals involving the entire clan, followed by repeated pursuit by clan cultivators.

He too would think that this object was merely an ordinary stone.

"The divine artifact conceals its allure, Ancestor must not underestimate this object, it’s indeed the renowned Fifth Rank Heavenly Gu—Ancient Blood Centipede!"

"One of the Demon Ancestral Court’s Blood River Sect, its founding ancestor once fought a vast battle with my Barbarian Clan’s Divinity Transformation ancestor over this Gu, darkening the sun and moon, wrecking the heavens and earth!"

Facing the situation, Man Ming could only steel himself, exaggerating the merit of the Gu worm in his hand to the skies to ensure the preservation of his life.