Chapter 273

The old Spider Demon was truly interested now, his eyes lighting up as he said, "What's this? How did this little alchemist become a key figure?"

Fellow Daoist Tang helplessly recounted Gu Yue's encounter with the remnants of cultivators from the Great Luo Continent in the Ghost Fog Sea: "...So the most critical step in constructing this passage lies with Alchemist Gu. Alchemist Wu merely covets the alchemy inheritance in Alchemist Gu's hands. Which is more important, I ask the demon? What do you think?"

The Silver Tribe Patriarch impatiently said, "That Wu fellow is nearly at his wits' end. How much potential for further development does he have left? He'll be surpassed by Alchemist Gu sooner or later."

Demonic cultivators are inherently attuned to the profound heavenly dao. Especially one with the Silver Tribe Patriarch's noble bloodline. In his view, Wu had completely gone down an evil path and would eventually pay the price for his actions.

The old Spider Demon hadn't expected them all to hold such high opinions of a young alchemist. It seemed this person Alchemist Wu wanted was quite capable. Stroking his chin, he said, "It seems it won't work out. Fine, I won't make a play for him, is that alright? There will be chances to meet him in the future."

The old Spider Demon was quite straightforward. A key figure like this really couldn't fall into Alchemist Wu's hands. As for the promise he made earlier to Wu, did he need to give Wu an explanation? Hmph, the old demon had always acted on a whim. If Wu dared make a fuss, the Heavenly Spider would just swallow him whole! That poisonous body would be a great supplement for the Heavenly Spider anyway.

So the old Spider Demon turned and sold out Alchemist Wu without any psychological burden. He then took a jade slip recording the materials needed to construct the passageway. Patting the Heavenly Spider, he swaggered off, leaving Fellow Daoist Tang, Alliance Master Meng and the others torn between anger and amusement.

"This old demon...forget it. As long as he keeps those demonic cultivators in check, we'll leave him be. Righteous cultivators still have the advantage on the Profound Vast Continent. But it seems we need to give Alchemist Gu a reminder. I don't think the old demon's interest in Alchemist Gu has lessened at all. We must guard against him trying to gain complete control over Alchemist Gu." Fellow Daoist Tang also had some understanding of the old Spider Demon's temperament.

The others nodded in agreement. Fortunately, even they didn't know Gu Yue's current whereabouts. It wouldn't be easy for the old Spider Demon to find him.

The unconstrained Spider Demon Elder acted unexpectedly once again, catching everyone off guard. No one had anticipated that upon returning to his old nest, the Spider Demon Elder would have his subordinates publicly announce that Dan Master Gu Yao was someone he, the Spider Demon Elder, had his eyes on. Whoever dares to make a move on Dan Master Gu Yao would be going against the Spider Demon Elder, and should prepare to become food in the Spider Demon's belly.

Many cultivators spat upon hearing this.

"Pfft--" Yin Hua likewise spat out the tea he had just drunk, infuriated to the point of smashing the teacup on the ground. "This old freak, how dare he snatch my nephew away? Who does he think he is, sullying my nephew's reputation? Since when has my nephew associated with an old demon? Bah! He's pissing me off!"

"Master, what should we do now? Rumors are now spreading about Dan Master Gu's relationship with the Spider Demon Elder, and some are even citing past rumors, saying Dan Master Gu is indeed that Poison Dan Master, and has been roped in by this Spider Demon, which will severely damage Dan Master Gu's reputation." The head steward of Feng Yin Pavilion said anxiously. Though it would have been entertaining to watch the show, Dan Master Gu was the Pavilion Master's beloved nephew after all, and was highly regarded by the Pavilion Master.

Yin Hua paced around the room impatiently, extremely dissatisfied. Finally he stopped and said, "Go and spread word that my nephew has never even heard of this Spider Demon Elder. What gall does he have to paste their relationship together? If he's shameless, my nephew still has face! Go, say it just like that!"

The head steward was stunned for a good while, before leaving with his face covered, intending to convey the Pavilion Master's meaning in more tactful words.

And so, on the vast lands of Qian Hao, a bizarre scene of two people cursing at each other from afar unfolded. At the center of this cursing battle were none other than the genius Dan Master Gu Yao, and surprisingly, an uncle of his that nobody knew of, who could actually curse at the Spider Demon Elder from afar. Clearly, this uncle was no ordinary figure either.

"Pfft--"

Just like his uncle, Gu Yao, who had just taken a sip of tea, spewed it out onto the ground as well, coughing violently. He had just finished closed-door cultivation refining dans, and it felt like coming out to a completely different world once again.

Zhi Changye patted Gu Yao's back while twitching the corners of his lips. What on earth was happening? How could an old demon make such an announcement for no reason?

The root cause must be those three cultivators. One wonders what negotiations had transpired between them and the Spider Demon Elder to end up pushing Gu Yao into the fire.

Zhi Changye said: "This Spider Demon Elder is clearly a formidable character. We'll have to be more careful if we run into him in the future. We'll also need uncle's help to investigate more about this old demon's behavior."

Gu Yao wiped the water from the corners of his mouth: "We do need to investigate this, hopefully without any complications arising."

He still preferred dealing with simple, straightforward people.

Not long after, Lou Huaijing sent a voice transmission with information he obtained from his Patriarch about the origins of this incident. He was also worried for Gu Yao, so he relayed everything the Patriarch told him verbatim to Gu Yao, hoping it would help him make sense of things.

Gu Yao was speechless: "This old demon really is difficult to handle. I almost became a bargaining chip in their negotiations. In the eyes of these aloof cultivators, those below them are just ants it seems."

He believed he had achieved considerable accomplishments in dan arts, and was not a nobody. Yet in this old demon's eyes, he probably differed little from an object. If not for the spatial coordinates of Wan Luo Continent still in their hands, there likely would not have been any good outcome.

A cold light flashed in Zhi Changye's eyes: "There will come a day when he gets to taste the same experience. No rush for now."

They were no match for the Spider Demon Elder presently, but there would come a day when Zhi Changye would make this old demon know what it feels like to be trampled on.

Gu Yao sighed: "Forget it. I'm now worried that uncle's cursing battle with the old demon would expose his identity, which would be unfavorable for uncle."

Zhi Changye twitched his lips. He felt this uncle never failed to shock his eyes and break his original impression each time.

Gu Yao sent a voice transmission to appease his uncle, telling him not to be angry and that the Spider Demon Elder's words would not affect him.

Lou Huaijing, Tian Feirong and others met at a restaurant in a city. Listening to the lively discussions of the cultivators there, the four of them silently sweated. They truly did not anticipate matters would develop this way, giving them a feeling of losing control.

"What do you think the Spider Demon Elder's intentions are? I've heard he is promiscuous. Could it be that this Dan Master Gu Yao possesses exceptional beauty that caught the fancy of the Spider Demon Elder?"

"From what I heard, this Gu Dan Master is precisely that rumored Poison Dan Master. Why else would the Spider Demon Elder make that announcement to protect him? It must be because this dan master is still very important to the Spider Demon Elder's devil path. This dan master is clearly a spy the devil path has planted among us orthodox cultivators!"

"Bah! His uncle has already spoken up that he has never met the Spider Demon Elder before. And this Gu Dan Master is so young, how could he be associated with that Poison Dan Master?"

"Even if he's not the Poison Dan Master, he must still have some connection. Otherwise how could he easily resolve a poison that even 6th grade Dan Master Han was helpless against? No matter how talented, no one is that gifted!"

The restaurant was about to erupt into a verbal battle too as cultivators of differing views rolled up their sleeves, ready to brawl. Some brought up the Spider Demon Elder's past misdeeds - he was an unforgivably wicked being. Now that he has reappeared on the continent, who knows what huge waves he would stir up. Even if Gu Yao Dan Master was previously unassociated, now that he has been targeted, how could he escape?

Some cultivators also speculated about Gu Yao Dan Master's appearance - he must be exceptionally handsome for the Spider Demon Elder to take notice.

"Don't spout nonsense! I've heard that Gu Yao Dan Master has a lightning swordsman companion, and they are already dao companions, inseparable. The previous rumors about him being from the devil path were nonsense too. Would someone from the devil path have a lightning swordsman companion?"

"That's right! Wasn't it this lightning swordsman who slayed that Ta Luo demonic cultivator Di Feng near Bai He City? No matter how powerful Di Feng was, he still ended up killed when this swordsman came knocking!"

"Really? They are dao companions?"

"Of course! They came from another continent together and are very close. Don't speak recklessly, in case that lightning swordsman overhears. His temper definitely isn't much better than the Spider Demon Elder's."

"Ahaha, we didn't say anything! Right, guys?"

Tian Feirong shook his head and returned to his seat, asking the restaurant to bring up more spiritual wine to treat those cultivators.

The fat guy sent a voice transmission: "How did you come up with saying all that? Did Zhi Ge tell you something?"

Tian Feirong raised his brows: "Aren't those common knowledge? Why would I need to spell it out? Really, can't blame Gu Yao's uncle and Zhi Ge for being angry. Hear what nonsense they were spouting just now, making Gu Yao out to be either a Poison Dan Master or someone selling his body. Bah! If I were capable, I'd have beaten that damn old demon until his own parents can't recognize him!"

Lou Huaijing and Ying Muqing also heard the voice transmission and broke into awkward laughter. They did not expect Zhi Changye to be this sort of person, using Tian Feirong's mouth to spread the news of him and Gu Yao becoming dao companions. Lou Huaijing's impression of that cold and aloof swordsman especially was left teetering.

The cultivators were very curious about the identity of Gu Yao's uncle who got into a verbal spat with the Spider Demon Elder. They wondered who he was to not fear the Spider Demon Elder's infamous ruthlessness. This verbal battle did help alleviate the crisis to Gu Yao's reputation to a certain degree.

Aside from the cultivators outside being curious about the uncle's identity, even the Spider Demon Elder was intrigued after hearing his subordinates' report. Not only was he not angry, he was in high spirits and eagerly ordered them to investigate Gu Yao's uncle's background and uncover his identity. He must meet this person face-to-face and see if his sharp tongue remains just as vicious before him.

"Patriarch, Wu Dan Master has arrived!"