Stronger by Killing

Chapter 413: Chapter 285: Finally Meeting Qi Baiyu (3)

However, during this period, nothing unexpected occurred; every step proceeded as planned.

Just as Wei Wuya arranged,

Liu Baishi and Qi Baiyu were both Sword Fools; people like them have stubborn and pathological thoughts, yet both were willing to self-sacrifice for so-called love. Thus, Liu Baishi died under Qi Baiyu’s sword as planned, pushing Qi Baiyu’s swordsmanship closer to Great Success.

And Qi Baiyu subsequently fell into demonic influence.

If there was anything slightly unexpected in this matter from start to finish, it was Wei Wuya underestimating Qi Baiyu’s love for Liu Baishi, which reached a reckless level.

Previously, Qi Baiyu unexpectedly married a woman and retired from the sword, leading Yuan Zhixiang and Wei Wuya to think Qi Baiyu had discovered something amiss. But in truth, it was Qi Baiyu’s measure to prevent himself from killing Liu Baishi.

Although there was a slight deviation, it wasn’t significant.

Qi Baiyu ultimately successfully fell into demonic influence,

unlike Sword One. Sword One was not molded by Wei Wuya from childhood, the control over him wasn’t strong enough, causing Sword One to defect for Nangong Weiyang after falling to demonic influence.

However, Qi Baiyu is different.

Qi Baiyu’s life was entirely within Wei Wuya’s plan—thoughts, personality, temperament all orchestrated by Wei Wuya, so after Qi Baiyu fell to demonic influence, he could be well-controlled through the characteristics of the cultivation technique.

...

Still, Nie Ghost God looked at Qi Baiyu, feeling a bit worried, speaking in a low voice: "Uncle Master, are we really certain nothing unexpected will happen? Qi Baiyu’s talent is too terrifying, his Sword Dao after falling to demonic influence is too profound to fathom. Is there truly no risk of losing control?"

Yuan Zhixiang shook his head and said: "We can’t guarantee this, so the Sect Leader brought you along to prevent such surprises. However, the likelihood of losing control is small. Unlike Sword One, Qi Baiyu was consistently nurtured by the Sect Leader, with years of subtle mental oversight."

Nie Ghost God asked again: "But after Qi Baiyu kills Gu Zhan today, he’ll undoubtedly break through to Supreme Grandmaster, by then..."

"Then it will really be foolproof," Yuan Zhixiang said: "The cultivation technique Qi Baiyu practices was prepared by the Sect Leader for him; the higher the cultivation, the greater the technique’s influence. Once he breaks through to Supreme Grandmaster, even the tiniest risk of losing control will be eliminated."

Nie Ghost God narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "This... If this cultivation technique is applied to other sects, wouldn’t it control the whole world..."

"You think too simplistically," Yuan Zhixiang shook his head and said: "This cultivation technique was developed by the Sect Leader over decades, its purpose is to replace Spiritual Qi with Demonic Qi to forge unrestricted Grotto Heaven Realm Land Immortals, but the requirements for cultivation are too high. After all these years, only Sword One and Qi Baiyu were found fitting. Do you think you could easily encounter a freak like Qi Baiyu or Sword One?"

"This..." Nie Ghost God sighed and said: "It’s my naive thinking as a disciple."

Yuan Zhixiang pondered and said: "In these decades, throughout Yunzhou, only Sword One and Qi Baiyu meet the requirements; even that Gu Zhan doesn’t meet the mark."

"Even Gu Zhan isn’t adequate?" Nie Ghost God was surprised.

Yuan Zhixiang nodded and said: "The Sect Leader probed when he fought with Gu Zhan before; Gu Zhan, like you and me, lacks Immortal Fate, his Spirit Platform is rootless, and he’s nearing the end of Martial Arts."

Nie Ghost God sighed and said: "This Immortal Fate is truly unavoidable. So many outstanding talents have wasted their lives without Immortal Fate. But, Uncle Master, Qi Baiyu and Sword One both have Immortal Fate. If the Sect Leader’s plan fails, it would be such a pity!"

Yuan Zhixiang slightly shook his head and said: "There’s no choice, we have to take a gamble. Moreover, in today’s world, even having Immortal Fate makes it hard to enter Grotto Heaven Realm!"

Saying this, Yuan Zhixiang pointed to the sky and slowly said: "The heavens have changed, becoming lower and smaller!"

Nie Ghost God appeared puzzled.

However, before he could question, Yuan Zhixiang suddenly narrowed his eyes, looking towards the direction of Danyang Mountain, speaking in a low voice: "It’s almost time, Gu Zhan’s momentum has already declined!"

As soon as the words fell,

Yuan Zhixiang immediately formed magic formulas with his hands, chanting softly as strands of True Essence Power emanated from his fingertips, pointing them towards Qi Baiyu.

At that moment,

Qi Baiyu, who had been silently standing without uttering a word or making any movement, suddenly moved. Threads of Demonic Qi abruptly spread from him, and beneath the ghost-faced mask, eyes that had been closed suddenly opened, bloodshot eyes swirling with scarlet mist, a chilling presence like a specter emerging from hell.

"Uncle Master!" Nie Ghost God took a deep breath and said: "Are you confident?"

Yuan Zhixiang’s face became stern and said: "It must succeed, Gu Zhan is Qi Baiyu’s final whetstone."

Nie Ghost God softly said: "I always have a bad premonition, Gu Zhan is too uncanny, he surely has hidden cards unknown to us. I’ve previously investigated his experiences since his debut thoroughly, studying them repeatedly, and concluded just one thing: uncanny.

This person seems to have encountered many crises along the way without any strong backing, yet every perilous situation he finds himself in, he explosively unveils unimaginable hidden cards, each previously unseen. For instance, the recent Thunder Slash, who would believe his Thunder Slash has been cultivated to this degree?

Fearfully, throughout Qianyu Sect’s centuries-long history, no one has cultivated it so profoundly, yet he had never displayed it before. Uncle Master, do you think Gu Zhan just recently cultivated it? No matter how talented he is, it’s impossible to achieve Thunder Slash in just a year or two!"