Chapter 85: Staging a Heavenly Deception

“If that’s what you want, I’ll grant your wish!” Li Xun’s face darkened as he suddenly flung the disciple at his feet aside.

The disciple hit the ruins hard with everyone watching, eyes shut tight, completely unconscious.

Gu Qingyi and Gu Qingxiao heard the commotion. They barely spared a glance to Nangong Wentian before springing up with swords drawn and charging straight at Li Xun.

Li Xun remained perfectly calm. With a casual gesture, he froze the two in midair, then smirked. “Relax, Brother Nangong. I know what I’m doing with your disciples. None of them are in danger. Let them rest for a few days and they’ll be fine.”

He then turned to the siblings, his voice unusually sincere. “As promised, I’ll be taking you both with me. Buy one, get one free, right? No matter what happens, I’ll be sure to bring your little sister back safe and sound.”

Li Xun was about to summon a gust of wind to take the siblings away when he noticed Gu Qingxiao’s puffed cheeks. He couldn’t help but pause, give her a playful pinch, and grin. “Don’t worry, little one. Taking you back is just for show. With me around, nothing’s going to happen to you two.”

Gu Qingxiao’s eyes lit up. She looked at him in disbelief. “Seriously? Then why go through all the trouble of catching me and my brother?”

Li Xun pulled out an object and cast a cover over the three of them.

“Shh. This is all just an act for someone else’s eyes. They’ve started to suspect something, so I had to step in personally to throw them off.” Li Xun pressed a finger to his lips and pointed skyward with a knowing smile. “Besides, I know you’ve got a Demi-God guarding Tianwu Academy. Even if I had ten lives, I wouldn’t dare stir up real trouble there.”

“You’re probably wondering—with all this commotion, how come she hasn’t stepped in? Well, when I was traveling, I met that senior and we hatched this plan together!” Li Xun shook his head, letting out a helpless sigh. “As for sparring with your headmaster, that was all me. Don’t worry though—I never went for the kill.”

“Your headmaster had no clue about any of this, but that old man really knows how to fight. I was acting my heart out and he still came at me like it was life or death!” Li Xun gritted his teeth and snorted. “Lucky for me my cultivation was a little higher, or I’d be humiliated right now. As for your junior brothers and sisters, they’re all fine. After a few days’ rest, everyone will be back to normal.”

“Senior, who exactly is this person you keep talking about? If they’re so powerful, why are even you and the Academy’s Demi-God acting along?” Gu Qingyi finally asked the question weighing on his mind.

Li Xun paused, a sly smile on his lips. “Kid, do you know what’s above the sky?”

“No idea,” the siblings replied, shaking their heads.

“Beyond the sky lies the Heavenly Dao. To tell the truth, I don’t even belong to this continent. Three thousand years ago, I gave up all my cultivation and left the Upper Sword Qi Continent.”

He looked at them, voice gentle. “I reincarnated here to keep my memories safe. By the way—boy, did you already figure out the secret of the Golden Gate?”

Gu Qingxiao listened as the two of them discussed things she couldn’t begin to understand.

Her mind went completely blank. With a nervous voice, she asked, “Brother… Senior, what are you two talking about? What’s the Golden Gate? And what’s the Heavenly Dao?”

“You’re right, Senior. There really is a Golden Gate hidden inside the Longyang Secret Realm, and I know all its secrets now. But was all this just an act to stop the Heavenly Dao from finding out?” Gu Qingyi stared hard at Li Xun, nodding slowly.

“That’s right. The moment you left the Longyang Secret Realm, the Heavenly Dao started to catch on.” Li Xun gently patted Gu Qingxiao’s head, smiling softly. “No matter how strong you get on this continent, in the end you’re still just a pawn of the Heavenly Dao!”

“Even that senior and I aren’t exempt. After you emerged, the Heavenly Dao sent me a directive—to erase you, once and for all!” Li Xun’s voice softened with regret as he glanced at them, a faint sadness in his eyes. “So, in the end, we had to put on this show. Still, you two really surprised me—the way you responded made things a lot more interesting.”

“Now, we’ve got another scene to play out. From now on, Gu Qingyi, you’ll go into hiding and forget your old name. Not until you’ve walked the path to divinity and proven yourself as the Sword God will you show yourself again!” Li Xun’s eyes shone with excitement as he looked at Gu Qingyi. “Raise your sword to the heavens—cut down the Heavenly Dao!”

“Catch the Heavenly Dao off guard. By the time it reacts, it’ll be too late!” Li Xun’s face grew serious as he spoke in a hushed voice. “Before then, never let your real name slip, not even to your closest kin. If the Heavenly Dao senses danger, it’ll wipe you out without warning!”

“As for your sister, Gu Qingxiao will come with me. I’ll keep her safe—so long as I’m alive, she won’t suffer a scratch. I swear to return her to you, safe and sound!” Li Xun glanced at the girl by his side, solemnly repeating his promise.

“Take this. It’ll make your cultivation efforts go twice as far for half the work, and it can hide your presence from the Heavenly Dao.” With that Li Xun placed a deep red pearl in Gu Qingyi’s hand. “You can use it to avoid being tracked.”

Gu Qingyi stared blankly at the pearl. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

“It’s called the Heaven-Concealing Pearl. Keep it safe—it’s one of a kind!” Li Xun saw his confusion and patiently explained.

At that moment, a disturbance rippled through the sky.

Li Xun’s face grew anxious as he glanced up, voice urgent. “No good, the Heavenly Dao is on to us! We can’t stay here. Time to move! Take care of yourself!”

“If you run into trouble, use that pearl to contact me!” Without another word, Li Xun grabbed the dazed Gu Qingxiao and vanished without a trace.

…………..

Gu Qingyi was left standing in the air, alone and bewildered.

He let out a faint smile, then glanced at the pearl in his hand. With a gentle squeeze, his appearance changed completely.

Gone was Gu Qingyi in his blue robe. In his place stood a striking man in white with a tall nose, thin lips, sword-shaped brows framing a hint of crimson between his eyes, sharp eyes filled with a deep calm, and a chiseled, impossibly handsome face.

“Gu Qingyi has made his exit. From now on, it’s time for Gu Xiaoyao to take the stage!” He gave a wicked grin, and in a flash, vanished without a trace.

Far above the clouds, the fabric of space trembled violently. Suddenly, an enormous blood-red eye broke through.

The eye stared around wildly, sweeping the area as if searching for its prey. Finding no threats left, it seemed satisfied that Li Xun had done his job and slowly withdrew.

Serenity returned to the world below. Everything was peaceful once more.