Chapter 36: The Identity of Gao Wu

Mother Meng had previously received a secret message from the Leader of the Impure Ones, instructing her to assist Gao Wu in destroying the Xuanming Cult. She had initially assumed she would need to intervene, but it turned out she only needed to stand by and watch.

It was only now that she realized the true meaning behind the Leader’s request: he wasn't asking for help, but rather saving her life. Looking at the experts currently waiting outside—Li Cunxiao of the Tongwen Pavilion, Yang Shuzi of the Impure Ones, and the elites of the Huanyin Pavilion—none of them had made a move yet.

What secret was the Xuanming Cult hiding?

There was certainly a secret; otherwise, the Leader of the Impure Ones would not have planted her there as a mole for ten years, to the point where she had become the third-in-command. Yet, she truly did not know what that secret was. It likely rested solely with the Underworld Emperor; even the Ghost King might be in the dark.

"I do not know the secret, or else Young Master Gao would not have had to go to such great lengths," Mother Meng said, before naturally merging into the ranks of the Impure Ones.

"That is true indeed!" Zhang Zifan remarked, his folding fan snapping shut as he remained utterly perplexed.

Li Maozhen, the head of the Huanyin Pavilion, watched the figures disappear into the main altar and felt as though she had caught a glimmer of understanding. When the Xuanming Cult had suddenly appeared on Ghost Gate Mountain, they had risen to become a top-tier force in Bianzhou within less than a year, seizing countless treasures along the way.

It was rumored that the father of the Underworld Emperor and the Ghost King was the Iron-Gall Heavenly King of the Nether Cult. Thinking of this, could Gao Wu and his three companions be related to the Nether Cult?

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. This had to be it. Only then could Gao Wu possess such immense strength, and only then would they be relentlessly hunting down the Xuanming Cult.

Before its destruction, the Nether Cult had been a force that walked the line between righteous and evil, powerful enough to rank among the top ten in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"The Nether Cult?"

Inside the dungeons of the Xuanming Cult, Zhu Yougui, bound to an interrogation pillar, looked at the group in astonishment.

"Yes, exactly. Tell us, Underworld Emperor, everything you know about the Nether Cult."

"Who are you people? Why are you asking about the Nether Cult?"

Gao Wu drew his Red Fire Ice Sword and pointed it at Zhu Yougui. "We are the ones doing the questioning! Have you lost your wits from playing Cult Leader?"

"Let me tell you, I’m not good at interrogations—I’m only good at hacking people. Answer me honestly!"

Due to his cultivation, Zhu Yougui’s face was stiff and incapable of expression, but at that moment, anyone could see the grievances written all over him. "The Nether Cult has a history spanning hundreds of years; where do you want me to start?"

"Was the destruction of the Nether Cult caused by Zhu Wen’s betrayal?"

"No! How could that be? My father held supreme power in the Nether Cult, second only to one and above tens of thousands. Why would he betray it?"

"Hmph, then how did you and your brother survive the fall of the Nether Cult?"

Zhu Yougui was speechless, or perhaps he didn't know how to answer. At the time, Zhu Wen had used a forbidden technique to send the two brothers away, along with an incomplete copy of the "Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill."

Seeing Zhu Yougui’s small eyes darting around, Gao Wu thrust his sword directly through his shoulder blade.

"If you don't answer honestly, even if you die, I will hang your corpse outside the main altar to dry in the sun!"

Gao Wu’s tone was chilling, as if some dormant gene within him had awakened, his eyes flashing with a faint red light.

"Back then, many experts suddenly stormed the Nether Cult. Although they immediately set up a formation to block teleportation, the formation wasn't strong at first. My father burned his essence blood and fought to create a crack, which is how he sent us brothers out!"

"He couldn't escape himself and perished along with the rest of the Nether Cult!"

To instantly deploy a formation that blocked teleportation required not only many Innate-level experts acting in unison but also a top-tier formation master to activate and maintain it in the shortest possible time.

Before Gao Wu could ask, Zhu Yougui continued, "The perpetrators were all clad in black armor, wearing black ghost masks. They were all Qi Ocean-level experts, and there were countless Innate-level fighters among them!"

"At the time, I was already at the Qi Ocean level, yet I couldn't last a single exchange against them before being gravely wounded."

"After my father sent me out, I had no choice but to practice the remnant of the 'Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill' to recover my strength and gain a foothold, which is how I ended up looking like this—neither human nor ghost!"

As Zhu Yougui spoke, tears began to well up, leaving Gao Wu stunned.

Gao Wu looked at the three women and asked, "Can you tell if he’s acting?"

"Doesn't matter if he is or not, make him keep talking!" Zhou Zhiruo replied, her own eyes dark and sunken from excessive cultivation.

"If what you say is true, Zhu Wen could break the formation. Why didn't the Cult Leader break it and escape?"

"I only learned later that the True Martial Emperor did indeed break the formation, but it could only allow those at the Qi Ocean level or below to leave. Innate-level warriors couldn't get out at all!" Zhu Yougui had clearly investigated this over the years. "There is a rumor that the True Martial Emperor’s only legitimate son escaped with a servant, but no trace of them has been found for all these years."

Gao Wu felt the Nether Order in his pocket and thought, 'Could I be that legitimate son? But why do I have no memory of a servant?'

'I hold the Nether Cult Leader’s Order and possess the "Dragon Chant Nine Heavens Skill." My identity is self-evident!'

The three women realized the same thing simultaneously. Unlike them, who had transmigrated with their bodies and martial arts, Gao Wu had mentioned that he had transmigrated as a soul.

It made perfect sense that there had been a Gao Wu in this world, and that he had an established identity.

It was even within their expectations that Gao Wu was the son of the previous Nether Cult Leader. Otherwise, why would the Order be with him, and why would he master the "Dragon Chant Nine Heavens Skill" so rapidly, while it took them much longer to cultivate?

Gao Wu wondered: if he were that son, why was his martial foundation broken, and where had that servant gone?

"In all these years, have you never found out who those attackers were?"

"No, they seemed to have vanished into thin air; they never appeared in the martial world again." Zhu Yougui now understood that these people were the remnants of the Nether Cult.

"Then why have you always acted in the name of the Nether Cult all these years?"

"At first, it was to deceive others, but eventually, I just got used to it!"

The Underworld Emperor was now telling them everything he knew.

"You are from the Nether Cult, aren't you?" Zhu Yougui asked with certainty. "If I’m not mistaken, you must be the Six Immortals of this generation, right?"

"Ha, you’re quite smart, kid," Gao Wu said, observing him with interest. "Aren't you afraid we'll kill you to silence you?"

"I only seek death now. I just hope you can make it quick, Young Master."

Upon learning their true identities, Zhu Yougui felt a sense of relief. He looked calmly at the four of them. "I knew the Nether Cult would rise again sooner or later; I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."