Chapter 90: Heart Control Gu

Inside the Array.

Shadows swirled, and killing intent lurked within.

In just a few moments, dozens of shadows had crashed into Li Chang’an’s Talismans.

Countless more shadows surrounded him, like spirits from Hell, trying to drag him down with them.

Just then, a flash of light appeared in Li Chang’an’s hand, revealing a peculiar-looking Magical Artifact.

It was the Array-Breaking Pestle!

"Break!"

he commanded in a cold voice, slamming it hard onto the ground.

Instantly, the Array-Breaking Pestle erupted in a brilliant golden light.

Like a fireball of golden flame, it incinerated all the surrounding darkness in an instant, reducing the countless shadows to ash.

"What’s happening?"

Fourth Lady Mei’s heart leaped in shock. She hurriedly tried to manipulate the Array and restore the deep darkness.

However, in the very next moment, a fist-sized golden orb rose into the air, shining brilliantly.

To Fourth Lady Mei’s astonishment, the flow of Magical Power throughout the entire Array suddenly ceased, as if it had been sealed. She could no longer draw upon the slightest bit of the Array’s Power.

In other words, she could no longer use the Array against Li Chang’an.

’How can Li Chang’an possess such a terrifying Array-Breaking Treasure? The Shadow Slaughter Array is a top-grade Tier One Array, yet he broke it!’

Fourth Lady Mei was in disbelief, trying again and again to regain control of the Array.

But it was all in vain.

Suddenly, her heart seized.

It felt as if a pair of icy eyes had landed on her.

’This is bad! Li Chang’an has found me!’

Horrified, Fourth Lady Mei turned to flee.

But in the next instant, a ferocious-looking Yellow Sand Dog appeared before her.

RUMBLE...

Countless indestructible rock walls shot up around her, instantly forming an unbreakable cage!

Fourth Lady Mei panicked, frantically using every technique she had in an attempt to shatter the cage.

However, her own strength was no match for Dahuang’s. She could only watch helplessly as the cage shrank, finally binding her tightly.

Immediately after, a large net fell from the sky.

Despair filled Fourth Lady Mei’s heart.

"No..."

This Shadowless Net was the very thing she had planned to use against Li Chang’an.

Now, Li Chang’an had refined it and was using it to bind her tightly.

"Dahuang, nice work!"

Li Chang’an praised with a smile, tossing over an Earth Element Treasure.

Dahuang was overjoyed, catching it in one bite and swallowing the Treasure.

He was now at Tier One Peak. Swallowing the Treasure wouldn’t increase his power, but its effects wouldn’t be lost. Instead, they would become part of his foundation.

This would help him break through to Tier Two in the future.

Afterward, Li Chang’an took control of the Array.

He pulled out the Shadow Slaughter Array’s Flags one by one and tossed them into his Storage Pouch.

Before long, the Array was completely dismantled.

Chen Qianya’s small courtyard returned to its previous appearance.

"Let’s go. Time to head back."

Li Chang’an patted Dahuang’s head.

...

「A short while later.」

Inside Li Chang’an’s residence.

He lightly tapped his Spirit Beast Bag, releasing both Fourth Lady Mei and Chen Qianya.

"Li Chang’an, what are you going to do?"

Fourth Lady Mei’s face was pale, her heart filled with regret.

She had originally thought that by relying on the Array, she could easily crush Li Chang’an.

But Li Chang’an’s Array-Breaking methods far exceeded her expectations.

Who would have thought that a mere Middle Stage of Qi Refining Cultivator would possess such a powerful Array-Breaking Treasure?

Li Chang’an looked at her calmly.

"Fourth Lady Mei, I’ll only ask you this once. Do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

"Of course I want to live!"

Fourth Lady Mei replied hastily, a glimmer of hope for survival appearing in her heart.

Before Li Chang’an could speak again, she said eagerly, "Li Chang’an, as long as you spare my life, I’m willing to do anything for you!"

"Anything?"

"That’s right!"

Fourth Lady Mei nodded repeatedly, her attitude utterly subservient.

"I never wanted to be your enemy. The only reason I’ve acted against you repeatedly is that I was following orders. The one who really wants to deal with you is my Big Master! If you let me go, I’ll take you to him so you can eliminate this threat for good!"

For a Tribulation Cultivator like her, she would truly do anything to survive.

Including selling out other Tribulation Cultivators.

But Li Chang’an had no intention of going after Black Wind Mountain’s Big Master.

He pointed to Chen Qianya at his side and asked, "Fourth Lady Mei, how did you control her?"

Fourth Lady Mei answered honestly, "It’s the Heart Control Gu."

"Heart Control Gu?"

"Yes. It’s a Tier One Superior Gu Insect I just finished cultivating. Once it successfully becomes a parasite, it can turn its host into a Puppet."

What Fourth Lady Mei said was nearly identical to Li Chang’an’s earlier suspicions.

The host’s consciousness would become hazy, able to vaguely perceive some external events but completely unable to control their own body.

"I see."

Li Chang’an glanced at Chen Qianya thoughtfully.

"How can she be woken up?"

"You just need to remove the Gu Insect,"

Fourth Lady Mei answered cautiously.

"I am the master of that Heart Control Gu. If I die, the Gu Insect will likely go out of control, and Miss Chen will never be able to wake up again."

After speaking, she carefully observed Li Chang’an’s expression.

She knew that her hope for survival rested with Chen Qianya.

If Li Chang’an didn’t care about Chen Qianya’s life, then she was surely dead.

"Li Chang’an, if you promise to spare me, I’ll remove the Gu Insect immediately."

"Fine. I won’t kill you."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly, giving his promise.

Hearing this, Fourth Lady Mei was overjoyed.

But she was still uneasy and proposed they sign a Spirit Contract.

"A verbal promise isn’t enough. We must sign a contract, the kind with the most severe backlash."

"No problem."

Li Chang’an agreed again.

He immediately took out a contract and drew up the terms they would both have to fulfill.

Soon, the contract was made.

Fourth Lady Mei breathed a sigh of relief, her mind at ease.

’As long as this contract exists, my life is safe.’

She didn’t believe Li Chang’an would risk death from the contract’s backlash to harm her.

"Fourth Lady Mei, it’s your turn to act."

Li Chang’an instructed calmly.

Fourth Lady Mei didn’t dare to delay and immediately performed the Gu Control Technique.

A moment later, a bizarre-looking, blood-red Gu Insect slowly crawled out of Chen Qianya’s ear.

It was the Heart Control Gu!

"Come!"

Fourth Lady Mei beckoned with her hand, and the Heart Control Gu flew into a Magical Artifact in her palm, where it immediately fell dormant.

Meanwhile, Chen Qianya collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Li Chang’an frowned slightly and stepped forward to check her condition.

"Why isn’t she waking up?"

"Soon."

Fourth Lady Mei put away the Gu Insect and explained to Li Chang’an.

After the Heart Control Gu leaves, the host experiences a moment of confusion, as if waking from a nightmare, and will come to their senses after a short while.

She wasn’t lying.

A few moments later, Chen Qianya’s eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes, a trace of confusion in them.

But soon, she became much more lucid.

"Thank you for saving my life, Daoist Li."

Chen Qianya managed to prop herself up and express her gratitude.

During the time she was parasitized, although she couldn’t control herself, she could vaguely perceive what was happening around her and knew that Li Chang’an had saved her.

"Daoist Chen, there’s no need to thank me. It was I who got you involved in this."

Li Chang’an then told her about his grudge with Black Wind Mountain.

Of course, he altered many of the details.

He didn’t mention things like his Puppet or Spirit Beast, saying only that he had relied on an Array to kill his enemies.

Even so, Chen Qianya was still deeply shaken.

Li Chang’an’s strength and courage far surpassed her imagination.

"Daoist Li, you’ve hidden your abilities so deeply?"

Chen Qianya’s red lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

All this time, she had believed Li Chang’an was just an ordinary Middle Grade Talisman Master.

"The world is a dangerous place. One must keep a few tricks up their sleeve."

Li Chang’an said apologetically.

At that moment, Fourth Lady Mei, who was standing to the side, spoke up cautiously.

"Li Chang’an, I’ve done as you asked. You should fulfill your promise now."

"Fine."

Li Chang’an gave her a cool glance.

The next instant, a flash of sword light streaked past.

Fourth Lady Mei’s body trembled, her face turning deathly pale.

She clutched her neck and staggered back a few steps, blood gushing from between her fingers.

"Li Chang’an, you... you signed a Spirit Contract with me! Aren’t you afraid of the backlash?"

"Spirit Contract? You mean this thing?"

Li Chang’an’s tone was indifferent as he held up an ancient-looking contract.

The moment he finished speaking, the contract turned to ash and vanished into thin air.

There never was any Spirit Contract.

What they had signed before was nothing but an Illusion.