The battle seemed to have lasted for a short time, yet also felt like a long time.

One after another, figures fell, leaving only Gu Chi and his two companions, Mr. Liu, and the disciples of Qihuang Mountain.

The setting sun cast a bloody glow.

The dim sunset illuminated the Qihuang Terrace, which was covered in corpses, adding a touch of desolation.

No one expected that the Sword Trial of the Ten Continents would end in such a way.

Originally intended as a grand event to foster good relations between the sects, it turned into a gathering of enemies due to the Demon-Hunting Bureau and the players.

Qihuang Mountain and the Princess's Mansion had now offended almost all of the eight major sects.

Not only members of the Demon-Hunting Bureau and players died in this battle, but also many local cultivators.

Some were accidentally injured in the chaos, while others willingly rushed into battle. They didn't know the identities of their player companions, but they had formed close relationships and naturally wouldn't stand by and watch their fellow disciples be killed. Once they drew their swords, death was inevitable.

Gu Chi's white clothes were stained half-red, soaked in blood. He looked at the countless corpses on the ground and fell into silence.

Huang Yang and Xia Ling stood on either side of him, also silent.

Although it was a game, it wasn't just a game. Being so immersed in it, the experience felt real. No one could remain unaffected.

Gu Chi wasn't being melodramatic. He just felt that the grudges and enmities between players could perhaps be resolved in a different way.

Apart from that, he had some doubts in his mind.

Killing Yin Shan and Xu Zibai was too easy. He had stacked so many layers of buffs on himself just to prevent anyone from ambushing him.

In Gu Chi's imagination, the Demon-Hunting Bureau should have sent more people. Even if Yin Shan and Xu Zibai were foolish and overconfident, they shouldn't have come to Qihuang Mountain with less than two hundred Silver Armored Blade Guards to cause trouble, and even wanted to harm Luo Qingshu.

He didn't believe that there was no one hiding in the shadows.

But where were they?

"Holy Maiden, the Divine Maiden requests your presence."

A disciple came to Huang Yang's side and whispered.

Gu Chi: "......"

A quick look at "pawread.com" will leave you more fulfilled.

Oh, so it's the mother-in-law coming out of seclusion.

It seems that not only the players haven't made any breakthroughs, but the local cultivators haven't either.

No wonder no one dared to make a move in secret.

Given Northern Rivers' current level of strength, reaching the Saint realm was already the peak. Anyone who saw him would only have the option to run away.

Huang Yang felt much more relaxed upon hearing that her mother had come out of seclusion. Today's events were impulsive, and if they led to the worst consequences, Qihuang Mountain would not have a good time ahead. But if given another chance, Huang Yang would still choose to do the same.

Qihuang Mountain was a reclusive sect, but that didn't mean they were afraid of trouble.

Didn't her mother also not stop them from taking action?

Huang Yang nodded to Gu Chi and exchanged a glance with Xia Ling before following the disciple to the Divine Maiden's palace.

Gu Chi walked towards the outskirts where the corpses were.

He still had many old coins to collect.

The previous battle was too intense, and Gu Chi didn't have the time to loot. He wasn't someone who valued money over his life.

These players didn't all die by his hand either. He only took eight heads, while the rest were killed by Xia Ling, Huang Yang, or the disciples of Qihuang Mountain.

Before today, there were still 98 players, but now there were only 65 left.

It could only be said that if you don't court death, you won't die.

【Old Coin +45】

【Old Coin +61】

【Old Coin +52】

... Wait a minute.

The process of picking up money was undoubtedly very enjoyable, but as Gu Chi continued to pick up, he suddenly remembered something.

Killing players would earn him points. Each head was worth 100,000 points, totaling 3.3 million for 33 heads.

Gu Chi immediately opened the player leaderboard.

However, the result was not quite as he had imagined. The score of the fish in the pond seemed to have not increased, at least not to the extent that was immediately noticeable.

Gu Chi turned his head and looked at Luo Qingshu, only to see her also looking at him with a strange expression, as if she was looking at a pervert.

Who would walk among the pile of corpses for a stroll?

Gu Chi: "......"

He didn't explain anything, just turned his head and continued to silently pick up the money.

Xia Ling breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Luckily, she was clever enough to only kill one person, leaving the rest heavily injured for Huang Yang to deal with. Otherwise, they might have been exposed.

This guy is too sensitive...

Actually, it wasn't that Gu Chi was sensitive, but that there were too many players from The Insidious. It was just a matter of looking at the leaderboard. Whenever he remembered, he would verify it. It didn't cost him anything.

Mr. Liu was currently meditating with his eyes closed, adjusting his breath.

Although he appeared fierce and killed everyone cleanly, he had also been injured.

The Silver Armored Blade Guards were not pushovers.

After Gu Chi finished picking up the old coins and returned, he took the initiative to speak to Xia Ling: "Princess, don't you want to ask me why I killed the people from the Demon-Hunting Bureau?"

What's there to ask? In any case, I'll help you... Xia Ling thought in her heart, but said, "I was just about to ask. You don't seem like a bloodthirsty person."

Gu Chi said frankly, "The Demon-Hunting Bureau in Jiangyan Town once issued fake bounties to deceive low-level cultivators, luring them to the outskirts of the city to be captured by the Mountain Ghost Sect's Sect Master for ghost cultivation. I was the last victim."

Xia Ling: "......"

Are you sure you're the victim?

"Did the Demon-Hunting Bureau benefit from the Mountain Ghost Sect?" Xia Ling asked.

"No." Gu Chi shook his head. "The mastermind behind this was the Demon-Hunting Bureau itself."

The Demon-Hunting Bureau itself? Xia Ling frowned. "Why would they do that?"

Mr. Liu opened his eyes. "To raise an army."

Gu Chi continued, "In addition, the Fuyan Sect also followed the orders of the Demon-Hunting Bureau. There should be many similar sects. If the Princess is interested, you can investigate."

Xia Ling noticed a word. "Followed?"

"Yes." Gu Chi explained, "I have already persuaded them to change their ways."

"Oh." Xia Ling nodded on the surface, but rolled her eyes in her heart.She didn't believe that Gu Chi had the leisure to persuade others. It was more likely that he had used some violent means, as if anyone didn't know him.

However, if Gu Chi hadn't lied to her, and the Demon-Hunting Bureau had violated the prohibition and privately courted the sects, and even wanted to take action against her...

Wasn't this a sign of rebellion?

Even if it were one of the nine major sects, or even two sects joining forces, Xia Ling didn't think they had the slightest chance of success. But the Demon-Hunting Bureau might indeed have a chance.

The power bestowed upon them by the current emperor was too great, or rather, from the beginning, the emperor should not have allowed the Demon-Hunting Bureau to cultivate so many Silver Armored Blade Guards.

Now, the Demon-Hunting Bureau was self-important with its own troops. The strength they showed was almost equal to that of the imperial guards. Coupled with their long-term planning, the Qianyuan Dynasty might really change its ruler.

Xia Ling originally wanted to stay on Qihuang Mountain for a few more days, but after watching Gu Chi for a long time, she finally decided to return to the Capital City immediately to avoid delaying important matters.

"I will come to find you again."

Leaving these words behind, the young girl left Qihuang Mountain with Mr. Liu.

Xia Ling was very efficient in her actions. She didn't rest at all during the journey and traveled at a very fast speed.

But someone was faster than them.

The Divine Maiden, who was only at the peak of the Transcendent Realm, suddenly became a saint, causing an unexpected change and making the Demon-Hunting Bureau's plan to gradually push the emperor's bottom line fall through.

Mr. Liu was not killed, and the princess was not captured. Not only did they lose their bargaining chips, but they also gained a threat that they could not deal with for the time being.

Among them, the bargaining chips were secondary. The Demon-Hunting Bureau was not afraid of the emperor's wrath. The power they had secretly accumulated was enough to flatten the Capital City. If they hadn't wanted to obtain a complete dynasty, they would have taken action long ago, not waiting until today.

Now they were afraid that the emperor would ask the Divine Maiden for help. If so, the situation that the Demon-Hunting Bureau had painstakingly created over the years, both inside and outside the court, could be reversed in an instant.

The power of the Saint Realm was extremely terrifying.

They couldn't let the emperor make this request, so they had to take risks. Once they also had a saint on their side, it wouldn't matter if their plans were exposed.

Coincidentally, the head of the Sword Sect was playing chess with the emperor at this time, and they were having a great conversation.

The Great Celestial decided to join in.

So.

When Xia Ling returned to the princess's mansion, ready to tidy up and change her clothes to meet the emperor, the imperial edict arrived first.

"By the emperor's decree, Princess Yangyue Luo Qingshu is stubborn and unrepentant, disregarding etiquette and laws, and acting recklessly on Qihuang Mountain. She is now ordered to be confined to the princess's mansion for self-reflection. No one in the mansion is allowed to step out, and the Demon-Hunting Bureau is to supervise. Execute immediately."

...