Chapter 514: The Devils' Dance, Grievous Losses

Within the karst cave, dappled light and shadows played across a forest of stalagmites, giving it the appearance of a natural, underground palace. A faint blue glow seeped from the cracks in the cavern walls, adding a touch of mystery and serenity to the deep space.

Her palace gown swayed, her jeweled hairpins trembling lightly.

Gu Qingchan’s figure appeared in the cave, and like a brilliant sapphire, she instantly drew the gazes of everyone present.

“Qing Chan.” Cloud Concealing Sword Feng Wuhen watched Gu Qingchan with pleasant surprise, his smile warm and his expression gentle.

He and Gu Qingchan were prodigies of the same generation and had once appeared on the Rising Star Chart together. The difference was that era belonged to Gu Qingchan. Even though his own talent was enough to rank first among the rising stars in any other time, he could only be resentfully suppressed into second place by her.

After countless attempts and countless failures, the top spot on the Rising Star Chart never changed hands. But he still felt incredibly fortunate, because among all the prodigies on the chart, he was the one closest to Qing Chan, and the only one who could barely keep up with her progress.

In that era, Gu Qingchan was a high mountain looming over all the prodigies of their generation. That was true even for him. At the time, he thought he might never be able to catch up to this woman in his entire life.

But life is unpredictable. At some point, Qing Chan’s Cultivation speed suddenly slowed. He seized the opportunity, surpassed her, and was the first to break through the Jade Balance Pass to achieve the rank of Grandmaster.

The first thing he did after becoming a Grandmaster was to confess his feelings to Gu Qingchan and ask for her hand in marriage. Back then, with his status as a prodigy Grandmaster, he went to the Gu Family to make his proposal. Given his prestige at the time, and his single-minded desire to marry her, there was a high probability he would get his wish.

And that was indeed the case. While the Gu Family wasn’t exactly overjoyed by his proposal, they didn’t stand in his way, stating directly that it was up to Gu Qingchan herself.

At that moment, he stood outside the courtyard, his heart surging, his face full of anticipation as he awaited Gu Qingchan’s answer. He remembered that day clearly: the sky was a cloudless azure, the sun hung high overhead—it was a perfect day. Perhaps it was a sign of his own wonderful future.

But in the end…

The matter fizzled out with Gu Qingchan’s simple reply: “I am not willing.”

Later, just as he was about to look for another opportunity, he heard the news that Gu Qingchan had broken through the Jade Balance Pass and entered the Grandmaster Realm.

Even a family as powerful as the Gu Family would not easily allow a Grandmaster to marry into another family, making his quest countless times more difficult than before.

But he was never one to give up easily. Through great hardship, he finally took another step forward, entering the Mid-Jade Balance Stage. In the days that followed, he tried every method he could think of, using his connections to create an opportunity to make it happen. However, Gu Qingchan lived in seclusion, and he didn’t even have a chance to see her. For a long time after that, he made no new breakthroughs of his own.

Over the years, he cultivated his Sword Dao painstakingly, and his feelings for Gu Qingchan seemed to have faded somewhat.

But not long ago, the news that Gu Qingchan had entered the Mid-Jade Balance Stage stirred his heart once more. After learning that she would be reinforcing the encirclement of the Ten Thousand Demons, he even volunteered to come and oversee the situation on behalf of the State Garrison Command. He had to pull quite a few strings to do so.

Watching the beautiful woman in the palace gown arrive so gracefully, Feng Wuhen felt an indescribable tremor in his heart. Even the Sword Heart he had cultivated for so many years could not suppress this sudden, turbulent wave of emotion.

Though he cultivated the sword, his was the Sword of Emotion! To be extreme in emotion was to be extreme in the sword!

The dreams of one’s youth are always hard to forget.

“Lord Feng.”

Compared to Feng Wuhen’s delight, Gu Qingchan’s reaction was undoubtedly far more placid. She gave a graceful salute, politely returning his greeting while aptly creating a distance between them.

“Fairy Gu,” said Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba, his voice deep and carrying the unique, sharp aura of a Blade Master.

“Master Situ.” A perfectly measured smile touched Gu Qingchan’s lips, but she revealed no excess emotion.

“Lord Feng, Master Situ,” Beidou Divine Fist Qu Zhaocheng said from the side, clasping his fist in greeting to the two. As a Grandmaster, he was usually the center of attention wherever he went. But standing next to Gu Qingchan, he had a tendency to be overlooked.

“Fairy Gu.”

“Lord Qu.”

The other three Grandmasters present also exchanged greetings. These Grandmasters were mostly core Elders from the top powers within Canglong State.

Seeing Gu Qingchan’s placid reaction, Feng Wuhen didn’t feel any disappointment. He had cultivated the Sword Dao since childhood and was naturally indomitable. This was true of his Sword Dao, and it was true of his emotions. A mere setback like this could not cause a ripple in his heart.

Gu Qingchan had offered a faint smile and greeted him. To him, this meant he still had a chance.

Chen Ping’an stood in the distance, watching the several Grandmasters interact. As they spoke, True Essence faintly circulated around them, seemingly to isolate them from their surroundings. Chen Ping’an could use his own methods to overhear their conversation, but if he forced the issue, there was a high chance he would be discovered. After all, he wasn’t the only one present who had reached the Mid-Jade Balance Stage.

Although Chen Ping’an couldn’t hear their conversation, he could clearly see the situation. Cloud Concealing Sword Feng Wuhen seemed to be saying something to Gu Qingchan, his expression warm and his face full of smiles.

Gu Qingchan maintained a dignified expression, a faint smile on her face. Her eyes were clear, yet they seemed to hold vast, hidden depths, making it impossible for anyone to fathom her inner thoughts.

‘Ice Soul Divine Needle Gu Qingchan, Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba, Cloud Concealing Sword Feng Wuhen, Beidou Divine Fist Qu Zhaocheng…’ Chen Ping’an thought as he watched the group in the distance. A total of seven Grandmasters were now gathered in the underground cave: three at the Mid-Jade Balance Stage and four at the Early Jade Balance Stage.