The Soul-Tracking Puppet.

In the realm of puppet arts, this creation stood apart as an exceedingly rare and complex tool. Its refinement was notoriously difficult, demanding precious materials and offering a pitifully low success rate. Countless puppet masters had exhausted their fortunes and lifetimes attempting to craft one, only to fail.

However, once successfully refined, the Soul-Tracking Puppet was nothing short of a nightmare.

Unlike ordinary Great Cultivators who tracked spiritual aura, or Diviners who calculated heavenly secrets, the Soul-Tracking Puppet locked onto soul power.

This meant that once targeted, there was no escape. Whether you fled to the ends of the earth or the depths of the underworld, it would follow. Even if you possessed a new body or were reborn, the puppet would still find you.

Seeing the three creatures before him—mechanical abominations that resembled spiders yet not quite, dogs yet not quite—Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

He only gave them a cursory glance before shifting his gaze to the darkness behind them.

Two figures emerged from the shadows, clad in black, staring at Gu Xiu with cold smiles.

“Eighth Uncle-Master, you’ve hidden yourself quite well. You made us chase for so long before we finally caught up.”

“Indeed. If we hadn’t been following Elder He’s Soul-Tracking Puppets, we truly wouldn’t have been able to find you at all, Eighth Uncle-Master.”

Though they wore black clothes and hid their faces, their repeated use of “Eighth Uncle-Master” made their identities clear.

Gu Xiu did not respond. He calmly swept his gaze around the courtyard.

“Eighth Uncle-Master, we were sent by the sect to find you. Please come with us quickly,” the taller of the two spoke first, his tone dripping with false concern. “The Sect Leader and Elders miss you dearly.”

“Miss me dying quickly, you mean?” Gu Xiu said flatly.

The two were taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily.

“Ah, Uncle-Master, you jest. You are a hero of our Azure Mystic Sacred Land, a living legend. Who would dare move against you?”

“Yes, Uncle-Master. The Sect Leader previously said we must find you and bring you back to the sect to clear your name.”

“Right, right. Several other Uncle-Masters said the same. Everyone is very worried about your safety. Please come with us quickly.”

Guan Xuelan wants to clear my name? Those Senior Sisters are worried about my safety?

Hearing these words, the Gu Xiu of the past might have felt a flicker of hope. But the current Gu Xiu felt not a shred of excitement. Instead, his vigilance spiked.

He studied the two men carefully. Although their words were persuasive, they remained hidden in the darkness, refusing to step into the light. They wore no sect insignias, clearly attempting to conceal their identities. Furthermore, a faint, lurking murderous intent flickered in their eyes.

This wasn’t about taking him back to the sect. This was an execution.

The question was: who sent them?

“Uncle-Master, let’s go. We should set off immediately. Before the city gates are fully closed, if we leave now, we can return to the Azure Mystic Sacred Land in a few days.”

“Yes, Uncle-Master. Let’s not waste time. Let’s depart quickly!”

“The Sect Leader and other Elders are already eager to see you. Surely you must also wish to return to the sect?”

The two disciples urged him one after another, their impatience barely concealed.

Gu Xiu took a deep look at them both, then nodded. “Very well. Since that’s the case, let’s go.”

The two retrieved the three Soul-Tracking Puppets, and the trio headed toward the city gates.

With the moon high in the sky and the curfew approaching, the streets were cold and deserted. Even so, the two disciples led Gu Xiu through the shadows, avoiding populated areas whenever possible.

Noticing this, Gu Xiu asked softly, “You seem very afraid of being discovered. Are you worried about being recognized and remembered, bringing trouble?”

They deflected, claiming that escorting Uncle-Master back was an urgent and sensitive matter; they didn’t want unnecessary complications.

Gu Xiu was considerate. Not only did he refrain from asking further difficult questions, but he also cooperated exceptionally well—acting even more cautious than his escorts when they encountered passersby.

This left both disciples somewhat bewildered.

Hurrying along, the three managed to slip through the city gate just before it closed. Once outside, one of the disciples produced a flying artifact. “Uncle-Master, please.”

“Alright.” Gu Xiu nodded and stepped onto it calmly, showing no suspicion.

A flicker of mockery passed through the eyes of the disciples as they immediately took flight, carrying Gu Xiu into the night.

During the journey, they began probing Gu Xiu about his cultivation level.

After all, Guan Xuelan had declared that Gu Xiu could never cultivate again. Yet now, in just a few short months, not only had he resumed cultivation, but he had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.

This speed could only be described as terrifying.

Gu Xiu evaded their questions, muttering about stumbling upon lucky opportunities. Instead, he turned the conversation to their identities.

They were indeed disciples of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land: one from Ink Scroll Peak and the other from Artifact Resonance Peak.

Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly. Quietly, he took out the Divine Demon Finger Bone and began to toy with it in his hand.

During his seclusion, he had infused countless Spirit Stones into this artifact. Its appearance hadn’t changed, but the power contained within it… killing a Peak Master of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land shouldn’t be a problem. Dealing with these two would be trivial.

“Uncle-Master, let’s rest here for a moment. This disciple needs to send a message to the sect.”

After flying for a short while, they landed in a secluded valley.

The valley was beautiful, with wildflowers carpeting the slopes under the moonlight.

Gu Xiu surveyed the location before nodding agreement. However, the moment they touched down, both disciples immediately began setting up formations around the perimeter.

“Is this an isolation formation?” Gu Xiu asked. “I thought you were sending messages?”

“You may not know this, Uncle-Master,” one disciple replied smoothly. “Recently, many cultivators have gathered at Cloud Firmament City; quite a few harbor malicious intentions. It’s always good to be cautious.”

“If so, let me help you.”

“That would be excellent!” The faces of both disciples lit up with smiles, though their gazes toward Gu Xiu were now openly mocking.

This guy is an idiot; he deserves to die!

However, neither noticed that as Gu Xiu turned his back to help with the formation, his eyes glinted with a cold, meaningful light.

These two were Inner Sect disciples. Killing them rashly would leave traces that could be tracked by the sect.

But now, with this isolation formation… excellent!

Slowly and leisurely, Gu Xiu helped complete the setup. The valley became completely cut off from the outside world.

After scanning the surroundings once more to ensure the isolation was perfect, Gu Xiu sighed with disappointment.

“Why does Uncle-Master sigh?” asked the disciple from Ink Scroll Peak.

“I’m wondering why no one else came,” Gu Xiu replied.

“Who does Uncle-Master hope would come?”

“Xu Wanqing.”

Upon hearing this name, both disciples froze. They looked at Gu Xiu in surprise.

Gu Xiu continued calmly, “One of you comes from Ink Scroll Peak, the other from Artifact Resonance Peak. Both indeed have motives to kill me. These two peaks make good scapegoats.”

“But thinking carefully—Qin Meran’s habit would be to first flip through her sage books, ponder seriously, and then fabricate some heinous crime against me before carrying out the execution. She needs moral justification.”

“As for Yuchi Chunlei—she lacks the brains to arrange for others to act. She’d more likely storm in and try to kill me herself.”

“Of course, others might also make moves.”

“There are actually quite a few suspects who could ensure a successful kill while minimizing self-implication.”

“But deliberately choosing such a beautiful valley for my grave… this reeks of the self-proclaimed benevolent, compassionate savior of suffering—Peak Lord Xu Wanqing herself.”

Hearing these words, the pupils of both disciples dilated.

When did… Gu Xiu figure it out?

But…

“Since Uncle-Master already knows, how does he plan to resolve the crisis this time?” The Ink Scroll Peak disciple sneered, dropping the pretense entirely. “Surely not… planning to use that killing intent—which is only good for scaring people—to scare us again?”

His gaze toward Gu Xiu was filled with venom.

His name was Jing Yiwei. When Gu Xiu had been concealing his identity to study talisman arts at Ink Scroll Peak, Jing Yiwei had mocked him relentlessly, playing tricks on the ‘cripple’ who had lost all cultivation.

At first, Gu Xiu endured it. So Jing Yiwei pushed further.

But then, Gu Xiu had glanced at him.

Just that single glance carried killing intent as substantial as reality itself. It terrified Jing Yiwei so badly that he publicly wet his pants, losing all face before his peers.

This humiliation had weighed heavily on him. He wanted revenge.

Now, the opportunity had arrived. Although Gu Xiu had resumed cultivation and reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation, so what?

He was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment! His strength was enough to crush Gu Xiu underfoot like an ant.

Beside him, the disciple from Artifact Resonance Peak also looked at Gu Xiu coldly. He didn’t offer any mocking words, merely spoke softly.

“Uncle-Master, today you must die. Since you want to preserve your dignity, it would be better to end yourself here.”

Saying so, he stepped forward. The aura of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator erupted from his body.

“We ask Uncle-Master…”

“…To die!”

The words were laid bare. No need for pretense. They wanted to kill Gu Xiu. Even an Immortal couldn’t stop them!

However, facing such imposing momentum, Gu Xiu’s expression remained perfectly calm.

He casually took out a pitch-black long sword. The tip raised slightly, catching the moonlight.

“I possess the Shadow Chasing Sword. Its ink blade can slice the clouds.”

“You all…”

“…Who goes first?”