Chapter 57: The One Who Tied the Bell Must Untie It

Gu Fangchen leveraged the markers of the "Dao of Measurement" and inversely utilized the teleportation channels of the "Interwoven Latitudes and Longitudes," arriving instantly at his destination from the shadowy netherworld.

However, this teleportation of his was a flagrant violation of the rules, instantly attracting the attention of "General Qianmo."

Gu Fangchen turned his head and saw a massive palm suddenly thrusting out from within the yet-unclosed spatial rift, briefly holding the fissure open.

This was the divine soul avatar of "General Qianmo."

A large-scale array like the "Interwoven Latitudes and Longitudes" affected the whole body with a single hair, deeply rooted in the shadowy netherworld. Even "General Qianmo" could not arbitrarily interfere with its individual nodes.

Otherwise, it might cause the shadowy netherworld to invade reality and disrupt the cycle of reincarnation.

Yet, having the array commandeered was no trivial matter.

It had directly drawn "General Qianmo" hither.

Within that channel, half of a blurred face was faintly discernible, and a deafening voice filled with shock and fury resounded:

"Who?! Who broke my array?!"

On Gu Fangchen's hand, the mark belonging to the "Dao of Measurement" materialized.

With a thought, "General Qianmo" recalled that mark and, upon sensing it, fell into deep bewilderment.

This mark... should have been on that fake heir Gu Fangchen, and then transmitted via the "Dao of Death" to carry out a direct assassination, right?

In other words, the person who broke his array was actually that universally known good-for-nothing?

"General Qianmo"'s puzzlement did not last long before Gu Fangchen let out a dry laugh and said indifferently:

"Duan Qicang, have you stayed in the netherworld for so long that you don't even recognize me?"

Hm?

"General Qianmo" was stunned.

Duan Qicang was his real name. Aside from those old fellows, absolutely no one else in this world knew it!

This tone of voice...

He immediately noticed that the aura emanating from this "Gu Fangchen" was wrong, yet somewhat familiar, and instantly realized who was standing opposite him. Irritated, he said:

"Yufu? Why did you show up, fellow?!"

"Didn't your 'Dao of Death' want to kill this Gu Fangchen? How did it end up being you instead!"

Gu Fangchen narrowed his eyes and said calmly:

"Wasn't he already killed?"

"However, that fellow Guyuye is not worth plotting with. It is better for me to borrow Xiao Ding's momentum myself than to deal with Guyuye back and forth later."

"General Qianmo" shook his head. Given the reclusive and straightforward nature of the "Lord of Yufu," his aversion to such convoluted schemes was hardly surprising.

If Gu Fangchen was replaced by Yufu, the current situation would only become even more advantageous for them.

The only problem was that the original plans of the lords of the "Dao of Causality," the "Dao of Revelation," and the "Dao of Life" had been disrupted, and they might come looking for the "Lord of Yufu" to settle accounts.

Yet, given Yufu's personality... he wouldn't care at all.

"General Qianmo" asked with zero expectations:

"Have you ever discussed this matter with the others?"

Gu Fangchen withdrew the sword in his hand and remained silent.

I knew it...

"General Qianmo" sighed, then asked curiously:

"Since when did you master the Dao of Arrays? To think you could even break my 'Interwoven Latitudes and Longitudes'..."

Gu Fangchen said flatly:

"I only know how to kill, not arrays."

That meant it was someone under his command... but was there anyone in the "Dao of Death" with such mastery over arrays?

If they wanted to borrow the path of the "Interwoven Latitudes and Longitudes," all they had to do was say a word to him. Why make such a grand spectacle, as if they were deliberately provoking him!

However, "General Qianmo," an array fanatic devoted entirely to his craft, did not feel overly angered by such provocation.

Discovering that the person who broke his array was one of his own, his initial anger instantly morphed into a surge of competitive spirit, making his hands itch with eagerness.

In this world, there actually existed someone who could break the masterpiece of his life!

"You..."

The moment he opened his mouth, Gu Fangchen smiled faintly, saying with playful amusement:

"Duan Qicang, I remember that three hundred years ago, when you laid down the 'Interwoven Latitudes and Longitudes,' you once said that if anyone ever broke this array, you would treat them with the respect of a teacher and follow their lead."

"General Qianmo" clicked his tongue. So this old fellow had come for this very reason.

To clash with the other three factions, relying solely on the "Dao of Death" would still be straining, but if the "Dao of Measurement" were added, the situation would be entirely different.

That was indeed something he had said; he had been young and hot-headed back then, speaking without thinking.

Yet, he hadn't even seen the person, nor did he know how the other party had broken the array, so he naturally couldn't just easily acknowledge a cheap master like that.

"It doesn't count, it doesn't count!"

True to his demonic sect roots, "General Qianmo" shamelessly declared:

"This time doesn't count! How do I know my array wasn't just left unmaintained for too long, leading to an oversight that let someone exploit a loophole!"

"Unless... give me a month to readjust the array, and let them try again!"

"If this person can break through it once more, I will honor my promise!"

Gu Fangchen pondered for a moment, feigning deep thought, before replying:

"Very well."

"But you must do me a favor first."

"General Qianmo" agreed readily: "Alright, what is it?"

Gu Fangchen's gaze flickered as he said:

"The next time you see me, remember to remind me—the one who ties the bell must be the one to untie it."

The commotion he caused at the Qionglin Banquet was so massive that the demonic sect was bound to investigate who this self-proclaimed demonic sect member was, and the sect lords would inevitably meet.

Therefore, the next time "General Qianmo" saw him, it would definitely be the "Lord of Yufu" himself.

These words were what Gu Fangchen wanted to convey to the "Lord of Yufu."

They were also the most crucial line of dialogue in the process of completing the hidden side quest, using persuasive rhetoric to convince this lord of the "Dao of Death" and turn him into a neutral character.

His impersonation of the identity was only temporary; he would soon be found out by the "Lord of Yufu."

Being hunted down by the "Dao of Death" was no laughing matter.

It was roughly equivalent to facing the pressure of Guyuye—either way, it was a level of threat that could instantly obliterate him.

And right now, he no longer possessed the skill [Life and Death Execution].

Thus, by luring "General Qianmo" here, he intended to use his words to make the "Lord of Yufu" switch sides and take the blame for him.

At the same time, he would carve out a demonic sect alter-ego for himself.

Traveling far from home, identities are self-defined.

Acting in the capacity of the Prince of Zhenbei's heir was, after all, somewhat inconvenient...

"General Qianmo" did not ask why he needed to remind himself; people of their caliber, having lived for far too long, always possessed some eccentricities.

Just as he hadn't asked why the "Lord of Yufu" had suddenly run off to the tooth carver's place.

The hand of the divine soul avatar withdrew, and the spatial rift closed along with it.

Only then did Gu Fangchen heave a sigh of relief.

He glanced at his empty palm, narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

With the "Measurement" mark reclaimed, no matter who Guyuye and the demonic sect arranged to come, it would no longer work.

And this Qionglin Banquet could also be considered Emperor Yong'an's test for him.

During that conversation within the Purple Ultimate Hall, that old monster had never explicitly acknowledged his identity from start to finish, nor could the scroll given to him by Xu Fu prove anything.

Gu Fangchen had only been able to pull it out to suppress the momentum of Gu Yuandao.

Emperor Yong'an, or rather the "Lord of Constant and Regular," had never cared who he was; he only cared whether he had the capability to work for him after pledging his loyalty.

Presently, the scholars of Yaoshan Academy occupied half the court.

If Guyuye's son were to enter the imperial court as a disciple of the Sage as well, the balance that had barely been maintained would inevitably tip completely.

What Emperor Yong'an wanted to suppress was the entire influence of Yaoshan Academy!

And Gu Fangchen's promise to extract a tooth of "Rules and Decorum" was nothing less than directly pulling out the Confucian Sage's teeth!

Only when this matter was accomplished, and he managed to preserve his own life, would Emperor Yong'an genuinely back him up.

At the same time, the hatred between him and the father-son duo of Guyuye and Gu Yuandao had truly reached a point where even Ning Caiyong could no longer mediate.

Yet... this was how it should be.

Hopefully, Guyuye would be able to withstand what came next.

Gu Fangchen's gaze flickered as he picked up the still blood-stained tooth of "Rules and Decorum," tossing it toward the tooth carver, who had been standing nearby with a beaming smile and rubbing his hands together.

The tooth carver's eyes lit up. He caught it, cradling it in his hands as if fondling a priceless treasure, unable to put it down.

"Patron, what would you like me to forge?"

"The Womb-Lotus Concealment."

"Understood!"

...

Just as Guyuye stepped out of White Horse Temple, he immediately received news that something had gone wrong at the Qionglin Banquet.

He frowned, an ominous premonition instantly welling up in his heart.

Gu Fangchen was definitely not the type to expose his own identity!

Yet outwardly, he still flew into a rage, insisting firmly:

"This rebellious son turns out to be a member of the demonic sect! Has it been reported to His Majesty? Quickly dispatch men to hunt down this rebellious son!"

His subordinate said in a panic:

"The entire city has already been locked down, and we are currently searching for the heir's whereabouts, but... news has just come from the estate saying, saying..."

Guyuye said coldly:

"What is with this stuttering, out with it!"

The subordinate lowered his head, flushing with shame as he reported:

"It is said that last night, the Princess Consort already took the heir and left the city, heading toward Sword Pavilion!"