Chapter 3309 — Gu Mengyao's Plea

After all, back when he was merely at the peak of the early Heaven Rank, without even the Essence Necklace, he had been able to wound He Tianzu, an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank. Now Wei Zhao's strength had grown, and he had the Essence Necklace besides—if he still could not handle an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank, he might as well buy a block of tofu and dash his brains out against it!

Perhaps Wei Zhao could even hold his own against an expert at Great Perfection. Of course, that depended on whether he could unleash the eleventh stance of the Mad Fire Eight Trigrams Palm!

The Five Elements Eight Trigrams Palm had only ten stances, true—but the Mad Fire Fist had as many as thirty! When the Great Fire Lion first told Wei Zhao this secret, he had been thrilled. If the combinations were followed through, then in theory the Mad Fire Eight Trigrams Palm should be able to unleash a thirtieth stance as well—and its power would be simply invincible!

What Wei Zhao employed was only the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Palm's method of channeling energy, while the martial technique's inner mantras and formulae all came from the Mad Fire Fist. With the channeling method unchanged and only the mantras shifting along the way, Wei Zhao could combine ever more formidable moves.

But all of this was conjecture. In truth, Wei Zhao did not know whether he could unleash more than ten stances of the Mad Fire Eight Trigrams Palm. That it was theoretically possible did not mean it was practically possible—after all, the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Palm had the limit of the tenth stance.

He opened the villa door and looked at the familiar courtyard. A feeling of solid groundedness welled up in his heart. Unwittingly, he had come to regard this place as his home—or rather, wherever Gu Mengyao and Xiaoshu were, that was home.

"Oh? Arrowhead Bro?" Shen Yushu was asleep when she suddenly heard a noise from the courtyard. Peering out the window, she saw that Wei Zhao had returned with Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi! Over this period, Shen Yushu had more or less heard some news from the Ancient Plane—after all, Gu Mengyao occasionally called her to ask about Wei Zhao. When Gu Mengyao learned that Wei Zhao was indeed not in the country, she had spoken of her worries and of the rumors.

"Xiaoshu. It's so late—why aren't you asleep?" Wei Zhao had not expected Xiaoshu to come out. "How have things been lately? Has anyone come to give you trouble?"

"Not at all!" Shen Yushu shook her head. "By the way, Arrowhead Bro, was what Yao Yao said true? You were abroad, being hunted by the Overseas Cultivators Association?"

Hearing that nothing had happened lately, Wei Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the people of the Ancient Plane still observed some rules and had not run wild. What he had not expected, though, was that even Xiaoshu knew of his affairs. But since it was Gu Mengyao who had told her, it was hardly surprising.

"Yes, but it's all over now. Nothing to worry about. By the way, how is Yao Yao doing in the Dark Night Palace?" Wei Zhao still felt some concern for Gu Mengyao—the nature of the Dark Night Palace was not the same as that of the Ice Palace. The Grand Elder was plainly a thoroughly snobbish sort. Though Gu Mengyao had found a temporary balance, the moment the two of them disagreed, that balance would shatter!

"She's doing quite well, though she misses you a lot, Arrowhead Bro. How about you give her a call?" Shen Yushu had always loved to pester Wei Zhao to recount his adventures whenever he returned, but today, for the first time, she told him to call Gu Mengyao first—a testament to Gu Mengyao's place in her heart.

"All right, I'll call her first thing in the morning—it's really too late today." By the time Wei Zhao got home, it was already past midnight, so he planned to call tomorrow. What he had not expected was that his phone rang at that very moment!

Looking at the incoming call on the screen, Wei Zhao could not help but start slightly! It was Gu Mengyao calling. He was puzzled—how did Gu Mengyao know he had already returned? Could Xiaoshu have told her? No, that couldn't be—Xiaoshu had come out the moment she saw him return. Could it be Wang Xinyan?

But Wang Xinyan was not as alert as Xiaoshu; she ought to be asleep at this hour. Otherwise she would certainly have come downstairs, and there would have been no chance for her to call Gu Mengyao!

"Hello, Yao Yao?" Whatever the case, Wei Zhao answered the phone first.

"Wei Zhao, where are you? Have you come back?" Gu Mengyao's voice was tense and urgent—understandably so. If Wei Zhao was still abroad, there would likely be no time for him to rush back.

"I just got home—I'm in the courtyard talking with Xiaoshu. Why are you calling me at this hour?" Wei Zhao was somewhat puzzled. Gu Mengyao did not know where he was, so it seemed no one had told her.

"Wei Zhao, something has happened at the Dark Night Palace..." Gu Mengyao did not conceal anything. From Kang Jingming bringing men to propose marriage to the three bandits at the peak of the late Heaven Rank who had come today to raid the Dark Night Palace, she told Wei Zhao everything.

Hearing that Kang Jingming had popped up again, Wei Zhao could not help but frown, a surge of anger rising within him. It seemed this creature still could not keep quiet—upon hearing news from abroad, he had finally been unable to restrain himself and had come out to make trouble again!

The young sect master of the Xuandan Sect was to take Gu Mengyao as his wife? At least, Wei Zhao did not quite believe it. After all, he had learned from Kang Xiaofeng and Xiao Taohong that the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation was not a bad man—and moreover, the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation had helped Wei Zhao several times. How could Wei Zhao believe that the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation would do such a thing?

It was probably instigated by the Xuan Dust Ancestor and Kang Jingming, was it not? Still, that Kang Jingming had married Xiao Shiyi surprised Wei Zhao. Back then, Xiao Taohong had only said that Kang Jingming had deserted her after having his way, and had not given the specific identities of the Xuan Dust Ancestor and Xiao Shiyi. So now, learning that Kang Jingming was the Xuan Dust Ancestor's son-in-law, Wei Zhao was utterly shocked!

Those two had actually colluded together? Both were utterly vile people—what good could come of them joining forces?

Wei Zhao gave a cold laugh, though. He had been worrying that upon his return he would have no chance to reestablish his prestige. Now the various factions were stirring restlessly. If he did not once again establish his fearsome name with the force of thunder, then by the time those enemies joined forces to come for him, it would be too late!

Though Wei Zhao now held a new trump card, it was absolutely impossible for him to face several experts at once. And now this raiding band had delivered itself to his door—just the targets for Wei Zhao to make an example of!

Especially since this band of raiders nominally belonged to no faction at all. Even if Wei Zhao killed one or two of them, he would not incur any great vendetta.