Urban Martial Saint

Zi Ying was quite formidable; the Five-Colored Centipede couldn’t even block it for a moment and was instead swallowed by Zi Ying in one gulp.

After eating the Five-Colored Centipede, Zi Ying seemed to be stimulated, becoming even more ferocious. It roared upwards and charged towards Xiang Jiu. The poisonous mist spewed by the Five-Colored Centipede just now seemed to have no effect on Zi Ying at all.

With the Five-Colored Centipede swallowed, Xiang Jiu was as if heavily injured, as it was his most powerful Gu Insect, the foundation of a Gu Master. Now without the Five-Colored Centipede, as a Gu Master, he was essentially like a martial arts expert who had been crippled. How could he still be called a Gu Master? So, at this moment, Xiang Jiu didn’t even have the thought of dodging anymore, and roared as he charged at Zi Ying, as if ready to perish together with it.

From afar, Xiang Bu Sheng saw this clearly, his expression changed, and he urgently shouted, ”Xiang Jiu, back off!”

Although Xiang Bu Sheng was wary of Huo Lie, he was, after all, the Dong Master of Xiang Yun Dong, and Xiang Jiu was the Wizard of Xiang Yun Dong. He certainly wouldn’t sit idly by. It’s just that he was too far away from here in the end and could only shout, unable to help in time.

”Huo Lie!” The Gu God also shouted loudly to stop Huo Lie. However, Huo Lie seemed not to hear, completely ignoring both of them.

Just at this critical moment, a desolate sword hum suddenly erupted from the Zhenmu Palace. Following, a longsword slashed over from the air, landing just in front of Xiang Jiu, separating him from Zi Ying.

Zi Ying came with a fierce momentum, and it was so strong that it didn’t even regard the longsword, directly crashing into it. As a result, the longsword was indeed knocked off a bit by Zi Ying, but Zi Ying was also sent flying backward, letting out a shrill and ear-piercing screech, as if it was in pain.

Looking closely at the area Zi Ying flew over, a long trail of blood extended, and its fleshy wings were dripping blood. It seemed this sword strike eventually did inflict some damage on it.

Seeing such a situation, everyone present was shocked, even Ye Qing, who drew the sword, had the same expression.

Just now, seeing Xiang Jiu almost in peril, Ye Qing drew out the Seven-Star Ancient Sword to help Xiang Jiu resist Zi Ying. Ye Qing was well aware of the power of the Seven-Star Ancient Sword. He originally thought that this strike would be enough to cleave Zi Ying in half. Unexpectedly, this strike only bounced Zi Ying back and did not inflict much injury, even the wound on the fleshy wings was not deep at all. This greatly shocked Ye Qing, was this Zi Ying Gu Insect so powerful? No wonder the Han people have always been wary of the Miao people. Who knows how many heaven-defying Gu Insects are hidden in Miao Borderlands?

The people of Miao were full of amazement, as everyone knew the power of Zi Ying. This Zi Ying was an exotic species from the Miao Borderlands, one of the strongest Gu Insects, and a top-tier Gu Insect unique to the people of Miaojiang Huoyu Dong. It was extremely difficult to cultivate, requiring tremendous consumption, unaffordable by ordinary people. However, once cultivated, its power was unmatched, even in Miao Borderlands, there weren’t many Gu Insects stronger than Zi Ying.

Everyone knew Huo Lie’s dominance, even the Gu God rarely disputed with him due to fear of Zi Ying. In Miao Borderlands, practically nothing could harm Zi Ying, they originally believed Xiang Jiu was doomed. Who would have thought, at that critical moment, Ye Qing rescued Xiang Jiu. Moreover, the longsword in his hand could actually injure Zi Ying, something completely unimaginable for everyone.

Xiang Bu Sheng looked at Ye Qing with more awe and puzzlement, while the Gu God’s eyes shone with brilliance. He stared at the Seven-Star Ancient Sword in Ye Qing’s hand for a long time without speaking, and no one knew what he was thinking.

This shock lasted about half a minute, when suddenly Huo Lie roared: ”Despicable Han, how dare you injure my Gu Insect, I will kill you!”

Huo Lie roared and was about to charge up when, at this moment, the previously silent Gu God suddenly stood up and said sternly, ”Enough!”

The Gu God’s voice was so loud this time, almost roaring, which made Huo Lie pause. To know, the Gu God never wished to have a direct confrontation with him before, what did this sudden shout mean? Could it be he wanted to side with a Han?

Huo Lie didn’t fear the Gu God siding with Ye Qing, rather he wanted the Gu God to favor Ye Qing. This way, he could use this incident to stop the Miao people from revering the Gu God, which was what he valued most.

Huo Lie looked coldly at the Gu God and said sternly, ”Gu God, you are also a Miao, you wouldn’t want to stop me from taking revenge, right?”

The Gu God said sternly, ”Huo Lie, I don’t care what grievances you have with this Han. But remember, this is the Zhenmu Palace, also the current Gu God’s Traveling Palace. In the Gu God’s Traveling Palace, no one is allowed to use Gu Insects at will!”

”Hmph, these rules, you made them up yourself, I’ve never heard of them.” Huo Lie said with a sneer, ”What Gu God’s Traveling Palace, I’ve never heard of it, and certainly don’t know what rules it has. Gu God, don’t try to intimidate me, just say it direct, who are you supporting in this matter?”

”In this matter, I can’t say who I support or not, I just want to make the rules clear to you!” The Gu God said sternly, ”Huo Lie, I know you people of Huoyu Dong have never regarded this Gu God’s Traveling Palace, nor would you follow the rules of the Gu God’s Traveling Palace. For this I won’t blame you, but I want you to know one thing, behind this Zhenmu Palace is the Gu Mother’s Walk Palace.”

Upon hearing this, Huo Lie immediately frowned. If the Gu God were to bring up the Gu Mother, then he really couldn’t argue with the Gu God.

The Gu God is merely the strongest in Miaojiang Gu Techniques, selected by the Miao People as a result of the Gu Battle among Gu Masters. However, the Gu Mother is different. The Miaojiang Gu Mother is the mother of all Gu insects in Miaojiang, the common sovereign of all Gu insects, and indeed the sovereign of the entire Miao Borderlands.

The Miao People might have some discontent towards past Gu Gods, but when it comes to the Gu Mother, no Miao person would feel any dissatisfaction. To the Miao People, the Gu Mother is like the entire Miao Borderlands, akin to the mother of all Miao People. A Miaojiang Gu Mother may take several hundred years to be born, but each Gu Mother is enough to bring prosperity to Miaojiang for centuries, existing as a savior to the Miao People!

Every five years, Miaojiang elects a new Gu God, yet it takes hundreds of years to see the emergence of a single Gu Mother. To express their respect and hope for the Gu Mother, the Miao People construct a Gu Mother’s Walking Palace at the residence of each Gu God. Over the years, every dong within the Miaojiang Seventy-Two Dong has a Gu Mother’s palace.

However, it is only when the Gu Master of that dong becomes a Gu God that their palace can be called a Gu Mother’s Walking Palace. As for the Gu God, he’s always regarded as the envoy of the Gu Mother.

Although Huo Lie does not pay much attention to the Gu God, he dare not show any disrespect toward the Gu Mother. The Miao People possess an innate reverence toward the Gu Mother, and when speaking of the Gu Mother, they do so with great piety. Huo Lie is no exception; he might cause trouble in the Gu God’s palace, but he wouldn’t dare show any disrespect in the Gu Mother’s grand hall.

”Although this Zhenmu Palace is not within the Gu Mother’s Walking Palace yet, it is ultimately the doorstep of the Gu Mother’s palace,” the Gu God leisurely glanced at Huo Lie and said, ”To recklessly use Gu insects at the doorstep of the Gu Mother’s Walking Palace, Huo Lie, do you think it’s appropriate?”

Huo Lie clenched his teeth, glaring at the Gu God for a while, then suddenly whistled and called back the Zi Ying.

”Gu God, since this is the doorstep of the Gu Mother’s Walking Palace, you, as the Gu God, are considered an envoy of the Gu Mother,” Huo Lie said in a solemn voice. ”How do you think we should handle the matter concerning my daughter?”

The Gu God maintained a calm expression and glanced at Huo Ying, stating, ”I believe that until the matter is fully investigated, any claims are meaningless. Although this is Miaojiang, and we Miao People do not always have good relations with the Han people, everything in the world follows a certain principle. Before handling this matter, we first need to determine right from wrong for better resolution!”

”By saying this, are you implying we’re bullying this Han person?” Huo Lie retorted angrily.

”I don’t see it that way...” The Gu God shook his head and said, ”I just think that this Han person wouldn’t strike against us Miao people for no reason. Could there be some misunderstanding here?”

”Hmph, are there not few instances from ancient times when Han people attacked Miao people unreasonably?” Huo Lie replied coldly.

The Gu God didn’t directly answer Huo Lie’s remark but just turned to Ye Qing and said, ”My friend, until the matter is fully cleared up, I’m afraid we must ask you to stay here for a while.”

Ye Qing had been fixated on Huo Ying, paying no attention to anything else. If Xiang Jiu hadn’t stood before him, he might have made a move again.

Now, upon hearing the Gu God’s words, he glanced at the Gu God and said in a deep voice, ”Have them return the people taken away first!”

”Who took your people?” Huo Ying retorted with wide eyes, ”You Han person, you’re the most despicable and shameless I’ve ever seen. You keep claiming I kidnapped your people, but which eye of yours saw me do that?”

”Still trying to deny it!” Ye Qing raged, clutching the Seven-Star Ancient Sword, and fiercely looked ready to attack once more.

”Don’t be agitated, the Gu God will handle this matter, he will surely help in finding your wife...” Xiang Jiu quickly restrained Ye Qing. This is the Zhenmu Palace, not far behind lies the Gu Mother’s Walking Palace. Even someone as fearless as Huo Lie had to hold back his behavior here, and Ye Qing, a Han person, should not be an exception.

If the Miaojiang people realize Ye Qing caused a conflict with the Miao People in front of the Gu Mother’s Walking Palace, it is likely everyone in Miaojiang would confront him aggressively. Therefore, Xiang Jiu was particularly cautious so as not to let Ye Qing cause even greater trouble.

(There were some matters back in my hometown these past couple of days, so updates have been inconsistent. Today, I’m only able to update two chapters. Including the one missed yesterday, I’m behind two chapters for my friends now, and I promise I’ll make up for them within the week. My apologies for the inconvenience this has caused.)