Chapter 232: Chapter 158: Day of the Grand Wedding, Beginning of the Great Chaos

The All Heaven Jade Void Skill Heroic Body Chapter was different from the Alien Body and Super Body Chapters.

It was divided into three parts, each requiring a massive amount of merit to redeem.

This was because the complete manual allowed one to cultivate to the King’s Body Realm.

A cultivator at the King’s Body Realm could establish their own Noble Family.

For this reason, the Zhong Family strictly controlled who was selected to cultivate it.

Unless one was absolutely loyal to the Jing Country and had performed great deeds, it was impossible to redeem the complete manual.

Take Gu Zheng, for example. The merit he had previously accumulated was only enough to redeem the first part.

That was why Gu Zheng hadn’t been in a hurry to redeem it.

But now, things were different.

Thanks to Luo Cheng, Gu Zheng had discovered and foiled the Celestial God organization’s plot. It was a conspiracy targeting the Third Prince’s wedding, no less. The merit for this was so great that Xu Jianzhu directly awarded him the complete All Heaven Jade Void Skill Heroic Body Chapter.

He even received a high-grade Spiritual Soldier!

Just like the complete Heroic Body Chapter, a high-grade Spiritual Soldier was a major reward, unattainable without Great Merit.

Although it still required an application, with Xu Jianzhu personally stepping in—and Chen Wuji, Zhuge Tianxing, and Yue Zhongshi all co-signing—it was a ninety percent certainty he would get it.

After all, Gu Zheng had also saved the Dahuashan passage and eliminated the Domain in Mu’en Prefecture City.

...

And so it was.

The next day, Gu Zheng first went to the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters to collect the complete All Heaven Jade Void Skill Heroic Body Chapter.

On the third day, he received a message to return, and this time, he obtained the high-grade Spiritual Soldier.

It was a giant, dark-gold shield, as tall as a man.

"This is the Chaotic Heaven Shield."

Divine Wondrous energy surged from Xu Jianzhu, enveloping the giant shield and levitating it in midair. With a wave of his hand...

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The wide shield abruptly split apart, separating into more than three hundred blades.

Each blade was identical in shape and size. A sharp aura emanated from them, and they seemed to pull on one another, forming a cyclical connection.

"This is the Chaotic Heaven Shield’s second form."

Xu Jianzhu explained calmly, "It combines to form a shield and separates to form blades. Both offensive and defensive—that is the signature trait of the Chaotic Heaven Shield."

"Once you refine and master it, at your current realm, its shield form can withstand several attacks from a Heroic Body·Divine Seed cultivator. In its blade form, it can unleash the full power of the Golden Thousand Blades. Compared to other Blade Artifacts or hidden weapons, the Chaotic Heaven Shield’s second form, with its three hundred and sixty blades, is the most suitable Spiritual Soldier for the Golden Thousand Blades."

"This is why I chose it for your reward. Of course, if you don’t like it, you can exchange it for a different Spiritual Soldier."

"No need for an exchange, I like it very much!" Gu Zheng said gratefully. "Thank you, my Lord!"

’The past is in the past.’

This time, Xu Jianzhu had truly been thoughtful. Knowing Gu Zheng had obtained the Golden Thousand Blades from the Dragon Guard Bureau, he had specifically chosen the Chaotic Heaven Shield as the most suitable high-grade Spiritual Soldier.

Just as Xu Jianzhu said, the Chaotic Heaven Shield’s second form—all three hundred and sixty blades—was perfectly suited for the Golden Thousand Blades!

Whether he used the Celestial Frost Blade or the Red Abyss Blade, their power when executing the Golden Thousand Blades was extraordinary, but neither could bring out the full potential of the technique.

The Chaotic Heaven Shield’s second form was different.

The three hundred and sixty blades seemed as if they were forged specifically for the Golden Thousand Blades.

Using the Celestial Frost Blade or the Red Abyss Blade to perform the Golden Thousand Blades was, at best, a case of one plus one equals two.

But using the three hundred and sixty blades? That was a case of one plus one being greater than two—perhaps even greater than three!

Furthermore, the Chaotic Heaven Shield’s defensive capabilities were also astonishing.

Its power would grow continuously along with his own cultivation realm.

’What a score!’

Luo Cheng coveted his Divine Weapon Fragment.

Gu Zheng, "thanks" to him, had obtained a high-grade Spiritual Soldier that was a perfect match for the Golden Thousand Blades. And as a bonus, he had also received the complete All Heaven Jade Void Skill Heroic Body Chapter ahead of schedule.

’Comparing the two, how could this not be a huge gain?’

...

With the True Skill and Spiritual Soldier both in hand, Gu Zheng returned to Zhuge Tianxing’s home.

After they met, Zhuge Tianxing had insisted that Gu Zheng stay at his home rather than at an inn.

In the old man’s words, he and Meng Taiqi had been friends for many years; therefore, Meng Taiqi’s disciple was his disciple.

And since Gu Zheng was his disciple, he had to live at his master’s home.

Besides, the old man lived alone, with no children, wives, or concubines.

The same was true for Meng Taiqi and Xie Bisheng.

They were all from two hundred years ago and had awakened in the present day by passing through a "Pupa Pool."

Their friends and family from that era had long since turned to dust.

Those who had left behind a bloodline were fortunate, but those with no descendants were simply lonely old men.

That was why Zhuge Tianxing was so welcoming.

Gu Zheng sent a long-distance message to Meng Taiqi. After receiving his master’s approval, he accepted the offer and moved into Zhuge Tianxing’s grand estate.

He was told to command the servants as he pleased and to make free use of the armory, the Cultivation Chamber, and the training grounds.

In the Cultivation Chamber.

Gu Zheng first refined the high-grade Spiritual Soldier, the Chaotic Heaven Shield, leaving his unique imprint upon it.

He then controlled the Chaotic Heaven Shield with his thoughts, constantly switching it between its shield and blade forms. Once he could transform it at will, he began practicing with it, coordinating its movements with the Golden Thousand Blades.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH...

Under the control of his True Skill, the three hundred and sixty blades transformed into streaks of light, slicing through the air and piercing the void. They swirled around Gu Zheng, whipping up a vortex inside the sealed Cultivation Chamber...

...

...

「World Tower.」

"There’s no need to wait. Gu Zheng has already killed Luo Cheng."

Jiang Hanshan strolled into a hidden room in the rear courtyard and spoke calmly.

"What?"

Jin Yanzi was stunned. "Gu Zheng killed Luo Cheng already? What was Jin Pang’s reaction?"

"What reaction could there be?"

Jiang Hanshan sneered. "Do you have any idea what Luo Cheng was up to? On the surface, he was a Grand General of the Demon Slayer Bureau, but he secretly defected to the Celestial God organization! Gu Zheng tailed him, found their local stronghold, and then called in Xu Jianzhu. They wiped out the entire nest!"