C14 The Mastermind

In the dimly lit backstreets of Heavenly Fire City, Guu Tianyi was half-kneeling on the ground, his complexion deathly pale.

He had depleted his Genuine Qi.

In the recent clash, Guu Tianyi had unleashed the Flame Dragon Transformation and executed the Star Shattering Claw, a Yellow Level Peak Martial Skill, twice in succession. The toll on his Genuine Qi was immense.

Moreover, he had manifested his Martial Soul into the Purple Polar Heavenly Flame Dragon and soared through the skies. The dragon bore the weight of both Guu Linger and himself. They hadn't gotten far from the Guu Mansion when his strength gave out.

Guu Linger, seeing Guu Tianyi's lips tinged with blood and sensing his profound weakness, felt tears well up in her eyes.

"Brother Tianyi, this is all because of me. I've held you back."

"I'm so useless. All I do is weigh you and father down."

Guu Tianyi lifted his hand and tenderly pinched Guu Linger's nose, offering her a strained smile. "Don't be silly, you're my sister. I've never seen you as a burden, and I'm sure father feels the same."

"It's just a minor injury. My weakness is due to my drained Genuine Qi. We're fairly hidden here. They won't find us easily in such a short time. I need to take this chance to recover fully, so we can both make it through this."

"And stop saying you're a burden, or I won't bring you along to the Star Cloud Sect!"

Tears brimmed in Guu Linger's eyes as she nodded vigorously.

Genuine Qi is the vital energy within a person's body, found only in living beings and Essence Stones. Without an Essence Stone, Guu Tianyi couldn't utilize the God Level Snatching System. His only option was to gradually replenish his Genuine Qi.

Roughly four hours later, the Genuine Qi in his Dantian was nearly restored.

At first, Guu Linger insisted on guarding Guu Tianyi as he recovered, but fatigue overtook her. She began to nod off and soon was fast asleep in his embrace.

"Linger, it's time to go," Guu Tianyi whispered to her.

Blinking away sleep, Guu Linger murmured, "Brother Tianyi, shall we head back to Guu Mansion to see the Grand Elder and Second Elder?"

Wrapping his coat around her and taking her hand, Guu Tianyi led her towards the city gates. "We can't go back to the Guu family just yet. The Grand Elder and Second Elder are in critical stages of their cultivation, in deep seclusion. We wouldn't see them even if we went."

"Then let's head to the City Lord's Mansion. Elder Hsing is there, and since you're a disciple of the Star Cloud Sect, he's sure to protect us," Guu Linger suggested, keeping pace with Guu Tianyi.

He shook his head. "If you're thinking of going to the Star Cloud Sect, those men in black will have guessed as much. They might already be en route to the City Lord's Mansion, lying in wait for us."

"How about seeking out the Third Elder? Despite your differences with Guu Linyuan, you did help them at the martial arts platform. That should settle any old scores. Besides, you've brought glory to the Guu Mansion. As an elder, he shouldn't hold a grudge."

"You really are a little fool!" Guu Tianyi sighed.

Guu Linger was puzzled. Had she misspoken? Why would he say that?

The men in black were of the same ilk as those who had ambushed Lo Chenfeng on the street; they were Desperado. In Heavenly Fire City, only the Lo and Guu families could afford to maintain Martial Masters as Desperado.

The Lo family's power was highly centralized, all under the control of the patriarch, Lo Feng. If these Desperado belonged to Lo Feng, why would they attack Lo Chenfeng in broad daylight?

As for the Guu family, his father, Guu Yuntian, was a man of integrity and strong moral conviction. He would never stoop to employing Desperado.

Tonight, the Desperado had beelined for the Purple Flame House and instantly pinpointed the rooms of Guu Tianyi and Guu Linger, clearly familiar with the layout.

Moreover, they struck while the Grand Elder and Second Elder were secluded in deep cultivation, deliberately avoiding them.

The evidence pointed to one conclusion: the mastermind behind these Desperado could only be the Third Elder of the Guu family.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound sliced through the air. Guu Tianyi shielded Guu Linger with one arm while channeling his Genuine Qi, which cloaked his other hand in a dark purple aura. He reached into the void and retrieved a black plum blossom dart.

Four men in black emerged from the shadows nearby, advancing like ravenous jackals upon their quarry.

In the moonlight, Guu Tianyi could just make out the inscriptions on their foreheads: forty-one, forty-three, forty-four, and forty-five.

The men in black he had slain days earlier on the street bore the numbers forty-six, forty-nine, and fifty-one.

Desperado had no names, no pasts, no futures—only codenames.

They existed solely for their missions, living to fulfill the unspeakable aims of the one pulling the strings.

"Thank goodness the Martial Master-level adversary isn't here," Guu Tianyi recalled, the number ten etched on that enemy's forehead.

Number 41's voice was icy as he commanded, "Number Forty-five, signal for Number Ten and Number Thirty-five to come with reinforcements."

"I can't let them bring reinforcements," Guu Tianyi narrowed his eyes, strategizing.

Guu Tianyi watched as the Desperado marked with the number 45 retrieved a cylindrical object resembling a firework from his pocket. With a single step, Guu Tianyi invoked the Purple Fire, and with the roar of the Purple Polar Heavenly Flame Dragon, he transformed into his Flame Dragon form.

His abilities surged dramatically with the Flame Dragon Transformation.

He became a streak of purple flame, closing the distance in a blink, and thrust out his claw.

Before the Desperado with the number 45 could react, the dragon claw had pierced his chest, shattering his heart.

Staring down in disbelief at Guu Tianyi's blood-soaked claw, he died.

Guu Tianyi then took the signal tube from his grasp and effortlessly crushed it.

"You think you can call for backup right in front of me? As if I'm not here?"

"Take out the girl first!" commanded the Desperado with the number 41 on his forehead, as the other two zeroed in on Guu Linger.

Three Level Nine Martial Cultivators launched their attack simultaneously, setting their sights on Guu Linger.

"You're trying to kill my sister? That's a death wish!"

Guu Linger was the one Guu Tianyi cherished above all others.

"Purple Fire Dragon Seal!"

With his hands forming a mystical seal, dark purple Genuine Qi swirled into the shape of a Divine Dragon, creating a barrier between Guu Linger and the trio of assailants. Guu Tianyi rushed to Guu Linger's side, shielding her.

"Purple Polar Dragon Eye, Void Discerning!"

Flames seemed to dance in Guu Tianyi's purple gaze, capturing every move of the adversaries, leaving them nowhere to hide.

"Fire Palm!"

Guu Tianyi's palm erupted in a blaze, sending flames scattering. Number 41 was too slow to evade and took the full brunt of the Fire Palm, hurtling backward through the air.

"Sword Dance!"

"Blade Light!"

Number 43 and Number 44 exchanged a knowing glance.

Wielding a sword and a saber, they channeled their Genuine Qi, calling forth their Sword Martial Soul and Blade Martial Soul!

Their strikes weren't swift, but Guu Tianyi couldn't evade; they were aiming for Guu Linger.

In that critical moment, he spotted Number 41, previously flung aside by his palm, clutching a black cylindrical object—the signal tube!

If he pursued Number 41, Guu Linger would be left unprotected.

Guu Tianyi doubted even the Spirit Treasure, the Purple Jade Ice Spirit Bracelet, could fend off simultaneous attacks from two Level Nine Martial Cultivators.

"Finish them off, now!" barked the men in black.

"It's do or die! Harness the Power of Stars!"

"Ding dong! You've amassed a vast reserve of the Power of Stars!"

"Star Shattering Claw!"

Sword and saber descended from above as Guu Tianyi bore the agonizing surge of stellar power coursing through him. His left hand parried the saber, his right the sword, with starlight glinting off his draconic claws.

"Ah!"

With a fierce cry from Guu Tianyi, the assailants watched in horror as their Martial Souls fractured and then shattered to pieces.

Guu Tianyi had obliterated their Martial Souls—a devastating setback for any Martial Cultivator.

But their agony was short-lived. The Star Shattering Claw plunged forward, crushing both their skulls in an instant.

Guu Tianyi then leaped toward Number 41, delivering a crushing palm strike that ended his life.

As Number 41's body hit the ground, the signal tube burst forth with a blinding brilliance.

"Guu Tianyi, your end comes today!"

Closing in fast, Number 10 had Guu Tianyi in his sights.