Chapter 376: The One Who Sees Through People’s Hearts
Manlong had lost.
Although it seemed like a tie, he did lose. Quite thoroughly, in fact.
Jiang Hao had seen it clearly. Xu Bai wasn’t just sparring with Manlong. He was also guiding him.
After the battle, Manlong became stronger than before.
He had to admit defeat.
‘What is he doing?’ Jiang Hao was puzzled.
If he kept guiding people in this way, it would be a huge opportunity for his opponents to learn.
As someone who excelled in the Bright Moon Sect, Xu Bail s insight and understanding surpassed those of other sects.
Although he was a disciple of the sect, he was definitely not an ordinary one.
His strength even exceeded that of some senior disciples.
“He is pretending it’s a tie and pretending to be magnanimous. Making others think he is such a gentleman. It’s a trick commonly used by cultivators. If he finds someone stronger than him, his resolve will crumble,” said a voice. Jiang Hao didn’t know if that was true. He didn’t think Xu Bai could lose.
Jiang Hao didn’t think Xu Bai was the way they described.
However, that wasn’t important right now.
It wasn’t like he was going to interact with Xu Bai, so it had nothing to do with him.
He wouldn’t choose to live as Xu Bai either. He preferred others not paying attention to him or underestimating him.
After Manlong left the stage, a disciple in the late stage of the Primordial Spirit Realm took his place in the arena.
It was the same all over again, and the result was the same too.
It was declared a tie.
Several times in a row, the disciples of the Heavenly Note Sect displayed their powerful combat abilities, yet the match always ended in a tie.
Jiang Hao was surprised. He realized that Xu Bai’s control over power was precise.
He indeed hadn’t used excessive strength. He only used the necessary bit of it to make his attacks flow smoothly and strengthen the opponent.
Jiang Hao tried it himself and could sense every tiny bit of strength in his body, but his control was far from that of Xu Bai.
He could also see some issues with the disciples’ spiritual energy, but he couldn’t provide the clearest guidance.
This was a gap in experience.
‘He is indeed a very strong cultivator from the Bright Moon Sect.’ Jiang Hao was amazed.
It wasn’t only Jiang Hao. Even Baizhi and the other seniors realized it.
They didn’t know what Xu Bai was up to.
In just one day, Xu Bai sparred with twelve people.
Each match ended in a tie, and each person found themselves with improved cultivation.
Xu Bai returned to stand with the seniors and elders.
“I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you seniors. Forgive me.”
Baizhi was silent for a while. “Friend, is there something you want?”
“Yes.” Xu Bai nodded. “Could I trouble you to accompany me to your sect’s mine?
‘Is he looking for treasure?’ Baizhi was concerned, but she didn’t show it.
“Of course,” she said.
Following that, several people arrived at the mines.
They didn’t enter. They just stood at the edge of the cave.
There weren’t many people down there at the moment.
“We don’t mine at night,” Baizhi said.
Xu Bai nodded. “I’ve heard that many people captured by your sect are sent to the mines. Is this true?”
“That’s indeed the case. Are you looking for someone?” Baizhi was surprised.
If he didn’t want treasure, it was all well and good. The famed treasure of the mine was an elusive thing. It might or might not be real.
“Yes.” Xu Bai looked at Baizhi. “I don’t know if your sect has recently captured someone with the surname Gu?”
“Gu Qing?” Baizhi immediately thought of her.
“Perhaps she’s the same person I’m looking for. Can you let me meet her once?” Xu Bai asked.
After a short while, Gu Qing was brought to them.
When she saw Xu Bai, she seemed taken aback. “Please, take me away from here! I’ll tell you everything. These monsters of the Heavenly Note Sect are worse than animals. They don’t treat me like a human being at all.” Xu Bai frowned. He then used a technique to seal Gu Qing’s mouth shut.
“Don’t you have any manners?” Xu Bai scolded her.
Then he looked at Baizhi. “There’s something I’d like to ask you, Elder Baizhi. Did your sect take the Sky-Piercing Shuttle?”
Baizhi was wary of his question.
“Elder Baizhi, please don’t read too much into it,” Xu Bai said hurriedly. “I am indeed here for that treasure, but I wouldn’t resort to force. I can exchange a similar treasure with you for that particular treasure. All credit goes to you and your sect for Gu Qing’s capture, after all.”
After a night of discussion, Baizhi reached an agreement with Xu Bai.
Both the Sky-Piercing Shuttle and Gu Qing were handed over to him. It was already morning by then.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer, Elder Bai,” Xu Bai said politely. “Thank you so much for your help.”
As Baizhi and the others left, he looked at Gu Qing.
“Are we taking her along when we visit other sects?” asked Fang Jin.
“There’s no other choice. When the time comes, Junior Brother Fang, you’ll need to watch her carefully.” Xu Bai chuckled.
Fang Jin nodded.
“Speaking of which, I’m quite curious. They say that the Fallen Immortal Clan isn’t easy to subdue. Why did you give up the Sky-Piercing Shuttle? How did you even get captured?” asked Xu Bai.
Gu Qing fell silent.
“If you don’t cooperate, I won’t have any reason to take you back with us. You can stay here,” Xu Bai said calmly.
“There’s an artifact that interferes with the Sky-Piercing Shuttle,” said Gu Qing hurriedly. “I was hiding here quite well, but I got discovered. They ambushed me and sent me to the Lawless Tower. I lost all my cultivation. The Heavenly Note Sect is truly wicked and demonic. They send the captives to the mine to dig all day, and they only give us a chance to cultivate at night. Once we reach Foundation Establishment Realm, we’re sent back to the Lawless Tower to stunt our growth. The cycle repeats endlessly.”
Xu Bai and Fang Jin were not surprised by this.
“But why did you willingly hand over the Sky-Piercing Shuttle?” Xu Bai was puzzled. “If you hadn’t handed it over, you wouldn’t have ended up in such a situation.”
“Because of a person. He is clearly only at the Foundation Establishment Realm yet possesses the ability to see through people’s hearts. I didn’t want to hand it over. Unfortunately, the one locked up with me was none other than Mi
Lingyue, who is known as the “Forging Hand.” To make matters worse, Mi Lingyue fears… something. That person found out about it. Mi Lingyue was terrified, and she offered to extract the treasure from me. I had no choice but
to willingly give it up. Otherwise, I would have been severely injured or would have ended up dead.”
At that time, she had felt despair. After she was sent to the mines, she wished the Bright Moon Sect had captured her instead.
“A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator? Who is it?” Xu Bai asked. He was quite curious.
“His name is Jiang Hao. He is just an ordinary inner sect disciple,” Gu Qing said.
Fang Jin was taken aback.
“Do you know him, Junior Brother Fang?” asked Xu Bai.
“I don’t exactly know him, but I did run into him while wandering around the sect. He didn’t stand out very much,” said Fang Jin. “He looked ordinary.”
Xu Bai nodded. “What did he do to make you think he could see through people’s hearts?”
“The elder of the Divine Corpse Sect, Zhuang Yuzhen, Heavenly King Hai Luo, and Forging Hands Mi Lingyue… they all gave in to this person. I don’t know what he did to make them give in. He stared at me for a long time and left. After the Heavenly Note Sect found out about Mi Lingyue being the “Forging Hands,” he appeared again and said something to her that made her submit entirely. In the end, she told him she would do anything to cooperate. I don’t know what he said to her,” said Gu Qing..