Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

"Big Brother is back!"

Upon seeing Gu Chen, Gatekeeper Uncle Zhang became excited, turned around and shouted into the Gu Mansion. In just a short while, a throng of people came pouring out.

Among them were some servants from within the Gu Mansion, like Maid Xiao Yu and others, as well as the family of Gu Chen's Second Uncle, Gu Chengfeng.

Ever since the news of Gu Chen's death reached home, Gu Chengfeng had been staying in, taking care of his wife and daughters. Although additional news from Youzhou clarified the truth later, he still chose to stay at home all this time, waiting for Gu Chen's return.

"Big Brother..." Seeing Gu Chen return safely, Gu Qingyan's eyes reddened slightly, her red lips parted gently, and she couldn't help but softly call out.

"Qinyan, I'm back," said Gu Chen, standing tall with eyes shining like bright stars, and nodded with a smile towards everyone at the Gu Mansion.

"It's good that you're back, good that you've returned safely," his second uncle, Gu Chengfeng, stepped forward, extending his broad palm to pat Gu Chen on the shoulder.

Gu Chen could see clearly that his second uncle's eyes were red with emotion, almost on the verge of shedding tears.

Aunt Xu Qinge and cousins like Gu Qingyan and other female family members couldn't hold back their tears and began to sob softly beside them.

Having prepared words of reproach, upon seeing Gu Chen, Gu Chengfeng didn't know how to begin uttering them.

All the words he had prepared inside him eventually condensed into that single sentiment.

"I've made you all worry," Gu Chen said with an apologetic expression on his face.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

Second Uncle Gu Chengfeng secretly wiped the tears from his eyes and said, "What are you all doing standing around here? Today is a great day with Big Brother returning safely. Go tell the kitchen to prepare some good food; let's not just stand here foolishly."

"Yes, let's go inside to talk," Aunt Xu Qinge said, as she came forward and gently tugged at Gu Chen's sleeve, leading the whole family into the courtyard together.

Following that, Gu Chen gave a brief account of his experiences in Youzhou, skimming over the dangerous parts.

When they heard that Gu Chen had become a top-tier grandmaster in the realm of divine martial artists, the smile on Gu Chengfeng's face didn't get much brighter.

In his view, with greater ability came greater responsibility. Therefore, the higher Gu Chen's martial prowess rose, the more worried he became.

But Gu Chengfeng also understood that it was inevitable. He couldn't stop Gu Chen, nor did he have the power to do so.

Soon, Gu Chen spent a quiet day at home, but in the evening, Second Uncle Gu Chengfeng drank heavily again.

This time, however, Aunt Xu Qinge didn't let Gu Chengfeng sleep outside; instead, she asked Gu Chen to help carry him inside the house.

In recent times, Gu Chengfeng had hardly rested, always waiting for Gu Chen's return.

He truly regarded Gu Chen as his own son.

Quickly, the night passed.

The next morning, after having breakfast with his second uncle's family in the Gu Mansion, Gu Chen arrived early at the Jing Tian Department and briefed Qin Wu, the deputy commander, in a conversation about the incident in Youzhou in detail.

In conclusion, Qin Wu said, "Now that you've reached the pinnacle of martial divinity, you're fully qualified for the position of Jing Tian Department's Tower Supervisor. We have asked you to return for this very reason. However, it is quite possible that King Huai will step in to hinder this once more; you should be mentally prepared for that."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen nodded slightly. Having reached the state of martial divinity, there were not many people in the world who could make him apprehensive, but King Huai was still one of them.

It wasn't about whether he became the Tower Supervisor or not; it was more about King Huai, a man Gu Chen found somewhat inscrutable.

Afterward, Gu Chen left and visited the residences of old friends like Chen Yu and Song Yu, chatting with them for a while.

When the news from Youzhou reached them, Chen Yu and the others were also worried; now that they saw Gu Chen safe and sound, they could all breathe a sigh of relief.

It's worth mentioning that Song Yu had already left the Jing Tian Department, started his own tavern in the inner city of Tiandu, and even got married.

Finally, Gu Chen went to the home of Wang Yan, met Wang Yan's fiancée, and offered incense in memory of Wang Yan.

Having done all of this, Gu Chen lastly went to the Qintian Monitor where, Qi Yu and others awaited him, taking him up to the Star Gazing Platform to meet with the Tower Supervisor.

The Tower Supervisor was seated on the edge of the Star Gazing Platform, gazing up at the sky, back turned to Gu Chen, as usual, white hair and beard flowing.

Upon seeing the Tower Supervisor, Gu Chen got straight to the point, "Tower Supervisor, I encountered three visitors from beyond our realm in Youzhou. May I know where exactly do they come from?"

Even though Liang Zhao had claimed that ancient tomes mentioned the existence of celestial realms beyond the Nine States, Gu Chen didn't believe it.

"The Upper Realm," the Tower Supervisor's aged voice echoed deeply.

"The Upper Realm?" Gu Chen's eyebrows rose in surprise as he repeated it to himself.

Gu Chen was extremely curious about this "Upper Realm" mentioned by the Tower Supervisor, wanting to know the extent of its power structure. Of course, it had to be much stronger than the Nine States.

"Since there's an Upper Realm, is there also a so-called Lower Realm?" he inquired.

"The world we live in is what you refer to as the 'Lower Realm,' a 'prison' in the eyes of those from the Upper Realm, or perhaps a place of decay. The beings from the Upper Realm regard the creatures from the Nine States as barbarians beyond civilization," the Tower Supervisor informed him.

Gu Chen had only asked casually but was surprised to learn that there indeed was a Lower Realm, and that it was the Nine States.

No wonder Zang Qing and Wu Ming had been so arrogant back then.

"Did the ancient era of the Nine States vanish because all those powers ascended to the Upper Realm?" Gu Chen asked.

"Indeed," the Tower Supervisor nodded and revealed shocking news that alarmed Gu Chen, "The supreme powers of the Nine States during the ancient era originated from the Upper Realm. The Lower Realm was just an insignificant branch to them."

Gu Chen was stunned and asked further, "What about the Six Great Holy Lands?"

"Naturally, the same goes for them; they all come from the Upper Realm," the Tower Supervisor confirmed Gu Chen's suspicion.

Gu Chen suddenly realized and said, "So, the so-called transcendence of the Holy Lands... is actually their entire sect's ascension to the Upper Realm?"

"Indeed, they have been waiting for this opportunity for tens of thousands of years," Tower Supervisor nodded.

The Tower Supervisor truly mastered the Heavenly Staring Technique; every time Gu Chen conversed with the Tower Supervisor, he was able to learn many secrets.

But then, a question arose in Gu Chen's heart. There was nothing to hide from the Tower Supervisor, so he asked bluntly, "But Tower Supervisor, why would these beings from the upper realm come to what they see as a place of ruin?"

Even now, Gu Chen vividly remembered the undisguised contempt in the eyes of Qi Yu and Wu Ming.

If the upper realm far surpassed the Nine Provinces, then their coming here must have a certain purpose.

At this moment, the Tower Supervisor turned around, his aged eyes gazing directly at Gu Chen as if he could see through his inner thoughts, "Haven't you already had some guesses?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen was startled. When he first encountered Qi Yu and Wu Ming, they were clearly searching for something. Now it seemed, as Gu Chen had anticipated, that the Nine Provinces harbored a great secret. The beings from the upper realm had come with an agenda, searching for something.

Then, the Tower Supervisor's next sentence further confirmed what Gu Chen was thinking.

"The Six Great Holy Lands did not leave together back then for the purpose of monitoring the Nine Provinces, waiting for the right time to use themselves as a guide to open the gateway for the upper realm's beings to cross over," he said.

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"So that's how it is!"

When Gu Chen first saw Qi Yu and Wu Ming, he had speculated about how they arrived in the Nine Provinces. It turns out it was through the Six Great Holy Lands.

What exactly does the Nine Provinces have that the upper realm is so obsessed with? Gu Chen pondered.

Needless to say, Gu Chen also knew the upper realm was undoubtedly an extremely vast and prosperous super realm, while the Nine Provinces were seen as a prison by them. Whatever they were fixated on must be extraordinary!

Of course, he did not ask directly. If it could be told, the Tower Supervisor would have already spoken clearly, instead of waiting until now.

"Stop them!"

While Gu Chen was deep in thought, he suddenly heard the Tower Supervisor utter these four words. Gu Chen was startled, but before he had time to ask more, he heard the Tower Supervisor continue, "Recently, many talents from the upper realm have come to Tiandu. You must be careful not to be seen through."

"Hmm?"

Gu Chen's heart tightened at these words, fully aware that the Tower Supervisor was warning him. Indeed, the Tower Supervisor knew about the heavenly seed within him.

The heavenly seed inside him was coveted by the talents of the upper realm, even by every major superpower.

"Thank you for the reminder," Gu Chen bowed with clasped hands, then asked, "Why have the upper realm's talents come to Tiandu?"

"King Huai invited them," said the Tower Supervisor ever so softly.

"King Huai?" Hearing these two words, Gu Chen's brow furrowed.

The Tower Supervisor looked deeply at Gu Chen and warned, "You must be careful of him. He has already formed an alliance with those talents from the upper realm and the Six Great Holy Lands, agreeing to help them find what they are searching for."

"King Huai intends to use the power of Da Xia to help those from the upper realm?" Gu Chen's frown deepened.

"Correct."

The Tower Supervisor nodded and cautioned, "Right now, you cannot come into conflict with him. You are no match for him."

"So, has King Huai been hiding his strength all this time?"

Gu Chen's eyes hardened, understanding the implication of the Tower Supervisor's words. If even he was not a match for King Huai, it was almost certain that King Huai had reached the Coagulation Field level!

It was rumored across the land that King Huai had no martial arts skills and had been weak since childhood. Many lamented over this, but who would have thought that King Huai's concealment was so deep? His martial arts prowess had reached the Coagulation Field level, rivaling the absolute pinnacle of the world!

When it came to King Huai, even the Tower Supervisor felt troubled. He said, "King Huai is inscrutable. He has his own goals and thoughts. In any interaction with him, you must be extremely cautious."

"Thank you for letting me know," Gu Chen nodded, indicating his understanding.

If the Tower Supervisor regarded him with such caution, King Huai was certainly no ordinary figure.

Of course, even without the Tower Supervisor's words, Gu Chen had never underestimated King Huai.

"Regarding my uncle's family, I shall trouble the Tower Supervisor," said Gu Chen, bowing deeply to the white-haired and bearded Tower Supervisor.

Gu Chen knew his ideals ran counter to King Huai's, and the two would inevitably become enemies. In such a case, King Huai could very likely target Uncle Gu Chengfeng's family. Given their inability to resist a Coagulation Field level powerhouse, they had no choice but to rely on the Tower Supervisor for protection.

"Rest assured," the Tower Supervisor nodded slightly.

Seeing the Tower Supervisor's agreement, Gu Chen felt relieved and slowly exhaled.

Gu Chen was not afraid of King Huai striking at him; what he feared was King Huai resorting to underhanded tactics against his Uncle Gu Chengfeng's family.

But clearly, with the Tower Supervisor present, King Huai would not be able to succeed. The Tower Supervisor, who mastered the Heavenly Staring Technique, would hardly be deceived by King Huai's actions.

"What are you planning to do next?" the Tower Supervisor looked at Gu Chen.

"Unite the martial world, unify the Central Plains!" Gu Chen declared in a firm voice.

Ever since he had attained the Innate Realm, he had shared this idea with the Tower Supervisor, but later, due to the lack of strength at the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master sect, the plan was put on hold.

Now, with his martial arts reaching a divine level, becoming a top grandmaster in the Nine Provinces with formidable power, and standing unrivaled below the great world of the Coagulation Field and Divine Realm grand completion, not many in the entire Nine Provinces could compete with him.

And across the Nine Provinces, leaving aside the Coagulation Field level martial prowess, there were hardly a few at the grand completion of the Divine Realm.

Of course, now that talents from the upper realm had descended upon the Nine Provinces, their strength was also bound to be formidable.

But Gu Chen still had absolute confidence in his own strength. With his current power, uniting all forces of the Central Plains' martial world was not impossible.

And this was the first step in Gu Chen's plan.