âChen Hao?â Gu Yuxiao also looked at him in surprise.
Chen Hao nodded. âI donât understand what youâre saying about this Essence of Nine Cycles, but Ziyan had briefly mentioned it to me yesterday without going into the details. So this is what you guys were saying about the secrets buried within my body? The King of Nine Doors and you were all after this secret?â
âYou really are Chen Hao!â The Great Ancestorâs eyes brightened up. He was excited, but also disheartened at the same time; he was excited since he had finally found Chen Hao, who was right in front of him, but he was disheartened because of Chen Haoâs immense abilities that were absolutely terrifying. The Great Ancestor was so terrified that if he made the slightest mistake to anger Chen Hao, the whole situation might end up getting turned against him with the Gu Family being entirely destroyed. Hence, he needed to be even more careful with how he proceeded.
However, he didnât expect himself to be the one who activated the first cycle of Chen Haoâs Essence of Nine Cycles.
Furthermore, he had only triggered the first cycle of his powers without having fully recovered his full potentials, and yet it was already this terrifying. Should he reach the ninth cycle, then he would truly obtain a devastatingly destructive power that was enough to penetrate the three worlds with a single hit! Such was the level of horror of his powers!
âYou have yet to answer my question. What is the Essence of Nine Cycles?â Chen Hao asked.
âIt is the power inside your body. Once itâs released, one would be able to control the three realms with its powers. Such an ability was so coveted that it would drive all Cultivators crazy to possess it!â the Great Ancestor slowly explained.
At the same timeâwithout Chen Hao noticingâhe was slowly working his Vital Energy in his hands.
âThis ability is inside me?â Chen Hao asked.
âYes. Do you know who you really are?â The Great Ancestor swallowed his saliva and lowered his voice as he asked that question.
âWho I really am?â Chen Hao asked.
Suddenly, the Great Ancestorâs eyes lit up and he used all of his power to sneak an attack at Chen Hao.
Since the thing that he did not wish for had happened, then he would not let Chen Hao grow even further.
If not, then his tens of thousands of years of effort would be naught.
So he had no choice but to give his all against Chen Hao!
Boom!
However, when the Great Ancestor hit on Chen Haoâs chest with all his might, a bright golden light glowed on the latterâs chest all of a sudden. Then, the Great Ancestorâs soul shuddered before being blasted away from Chen Hao. Moreover, half of the darkness that surrounded him vanished.
âAh!â The Great Ancestorâs spirit became unstable, which made him suffer immense pain.
He looked at Chen Hao in horror as he said, âGoodness, this was only the first cycle and youâve already pierced through my spirit. How could this be possible?â The Great Ancestor had already given up hope as he watched his own spirit slowly disintegrating.
He was in pain as he wailed hysterically, for he was so utterly unwilling to see himself being vanquished in such a pitiful manner.
Then, he turned his cold gaze toward Gu Yuxiao, who was rooted to the spot as she was shocked by Chen Hao.
He was unable to touch Chen Haoâs soul, but he could take over Gu Yuxiaoâs body; then, he would still have a narrow chance to survive.
He moved toward Gu Yuxiao in an attempt to attack her.
âBe careful!â Chen Hao immediately pointed his finger and placed a seal at the spot between Gu Yuxiaoâs eyebrows; she was not able to withstand the might of Chen Haoâs power from his finger and thus immediately fainted.
Chen Hao was taught by Li Ba a few things about vessels, so he knew what he should do to prevent other souls from invading oneâs body.
As expected, despite how powerful the Great Ancestor was, he was unable to do anything to possess her body.
âYou are no longer the Great Ancestor of the Gu family. In my opinion, you are just an old demon that has existed for tens of millenia! I think itâs about time you vanish!â Chen Hao threatened.
âDonât do it. No!â
Chen Hao ignored his pleas; he knew that the Great Ancestor wasnât afraid of his vital energy nor his abilities, but the Great Ancestor was more afraid of his soul, for Chen Haoâs soul was stronger than the latterâs by so many times that Chen Hao would be able to completely destroy the Great Ancestorâs soul in an instant.
âPerish!â
Chen Hao exclaimed and directed the powerful willpower of his soul against the Great Ancestor.
Pow! The golden glow shone brightly and hit on his darkness, which was instantly dissipated and the Great Ancestor vanished into nothingness. Such was the power of Chen Hao.
Chen Hao thought to himself, It seems like my inner ability, the Essence of Nine Cycles, have been awakened. I am already like this just by awakening the first cycle, so would I be able to destroy the whole world if I reached the ninth cycle? He was astonished himself as he pondered on the thought.
Chen Hao picked up the unconscious Gu Yuxiao, then tore off the mask on his face to reveal his original look.
As he prepared to take her away, he noticed a weird apparatus in the center of the secret room. It looked like a small pond with a blue lamp on top of it that was glowing with blue light; there was a lot of blue liquid flowing out from the lamp like an aesthetic artificial fountain.
Chen Hao guessed as he thought, This must be the thing that Gu Feng told me aboutâthe cornerstone that the Mystique Clans had used to improve their Inner Energy. It must be the source of the Mystique Clanâs strength! I shouldn't just leave like that since I already got here. I will especially leave you a cultivation method as my gratitude for your help, Gu Yuxiao. Hmm, I guess we are bound to go against each other! Chen Hao shook his head as he smiled bitterly.
Then, he mediated the strength in his palm and aimed toward the cornerstone.
Crash!
The cornerstone instantly shattered into pieces and the liquid in the pond that contained some sort of energy splashed all over the floor, while the blue crystal-like sphere fell to the floor and rolled over to a corner.
âWeâll see how you pricks wreak havoc next time now that I haven taken away your assets!â Chen Hao took the sphere in his hand, then immediately vanished from the spot.
âOh no!â At that same moment, in the big forest, Gu Yuehong, who was also one of the participants of the team for the capture of Chen Hao, suddenly felt restless and her whole body shuddered as she felt an unidentifiable fear that gripped her heart.
âWhat is wrong, Madam Gu?â a subordinate asked.
âSomething happened back in the mansion. The cornerstone was being disturbed by someone!â Gu Yuehong furrowed her brows; she was extremely puzzled as the place of the cornerstone was extremely hidden. Moreover it was protected by that person, so how could it be disturbed?
Should the Gu Family lose the cornerstone, then it would simply mean that they would eventually lose all their power and they could no longer improve on their cultivation base; even after many years, the Gu Family would no longer have any new members capable of practicing the magical arts.
At that moment, a subordinate could be heard rushing over toward her, all the while yelling, âMadam Gu, we found it! Weâve found it!â The subordinate had a look of panic on his face.
Gu Yuehongâs eyes lit up and she looked far away; it seemed like some of the Gu Familyâs disciples were carrying a person and rushing over to her spot. âDid you find Chen Hao? Why are you so panicky?â She tried hard to suppress her excitement.
The subordinate gulped audibly as he cried out loud, âNo, Madam Gu⦠It wasnât Chen Hao. It was Young Master Gu Fengâs dead body!â
âWhat? Fengâs dead body?â Gu Yuehong felt a sudden ache in her chest and her head hurt to the point that she almost fainted.
When the subordinates brought over the dead body, Gu Yuehong already lost all of her energy and needed to be supported by the others as she examined the body closely and recognized that it was indeed her grandson, Gu Feng.
How could it be? Didnât Gu Feng go back home? Why would he be dead here? Then who is the person back at home now? A number of questions popped up in Gu Yuehongâs mind until she finally linked the situation with the matter of the cornerstone.
She lifted her head suddenly, her face full of disbelief as she said, âOh no, everyone, quickly return to the Gu house with me!â