Light Fortress Chapter 1707 - 377: Black Folding Knife

The sharp sword sliced through the air, and a gust of wind threw Xie Zheng into a state of bewilderment.

He never could have conceived that the unassuming master he believed to have been deceased for over a decade was, in fact, not in the coffin at all.

Possessing a partial grasp of the Divination Skill, he understood the profound implications of destiny.

Certain inquiries were permissible, while others were not... it was evident that Mr. Gu Shen was acquainted with his 'teacher,' otherwise, he would not have undertaken the arduous journey to the Tundra merely to examine a coffin.

Consequently, Xie Zheng suppressed his burgeoning curiosity, electing not to utter a single word.

Gu Shen, naturally, perceived all of this.

During their return voyage.

He abruptly inquired, "Are you not curious about the identity of that individual?"

"If Mr. Gu Shen deems it appropriate for Xie Zheng to know, he will convey the information," Xie Zheng replied obediently.

"Should Mr. Gu Shen choose not to disclose it, it signifies that I am not destined to be privy to such knowledge."

A look of approval flickered in Gu Shen's eyes.

This young man possessed a promising trajectory; his partial mastery of the Divination Skill had certainly not been in vain.

"Regarding the identity of your teacher, I have a general idea, though I cannot claim absolute certainty."

Gu Shen deliberated before speaking, his tone reassuring, "Once I have definitively confirmed that person's identity, that shall be the moment I reveal the complete truth to you."

"There is no need for haste."

Xie Zheng offered a smile, stating, "I have been humbled for over a decade; what are a few more days in comparison?"

Gu Shen reciprocated the smile.

Yet, a somberness tinged his gaze.

Considering the recent events with the coffin's unveiling in the Tundra.

It was plausible that Turing held the entirety of the 'Ancient Forbidden Technique.' The Divination Skill was capable of peering into the future, the Prayer Technique could manipulate the threads of destiny, and the Longevity Technique granted the practitioner immunity to the steep costs typically associated with Forbidden Techniques. The mere contemplation of a single individual wielding mastery over all three of these formidable Forbidden Techniques simultaneously was a chilling prospect.

It was highly probable that Xie Zheng's 'Forging Inheritance,' along with his encounter with Gu Shen, were all orchestrated elements within Turing's grand design.

If Xie Zheng's mentor indeed proved to be Turing...

...then was every event that transpired today also meticulously anticipated and controlled by Turing?

If Turing were still alive, and if Gu Shen were truly the 'key' designated by Turing, why had Turing not manifested himself to make contact?

Gu Shen found himself unable to unravel these perplexing questions.

Furthermore, he harbored no desire to pursue such conjectures.

...

...

Upon their return to the Dojo, Liu Quan had just concluded his session of Spiritual Visualization.

Gu Shen had bestowed upon this young disciple a nascent wisp of Chi Huo.

Due to his precocious awakening, Liu Quan had already embarked on the journey of learning to wield spiritual power and could even manage the 'Black Folding Knife,' an artifact of Taboo Seal. However, being young and lacking the tutelage of a renowned master, the artifact's influence had led to a degree of mental disarray.

This visualization exercise had served to realign his spiritual state.

The young boy's eyes fluttered open, and he beheld his teacher's teacher seated in meditation before him.

He quickly stammered, a nervous tremor in his voice.

"Gu..."

He hesitated, pondering the appropriate form of address; should he be referred to as grandmaster?

"Simply address me as Mr. Gu, as everyone else does," Gu Shen responded with a gentle smile. He then tapped his finger, offering another supplementary wisp of Chi Huo, while simultaneously evaluating the young boy's overall well-being.

Liu Quan's physical constitution was remarkably sound.

His bone structure was correct, his meridians functioned normally, and most crucially, there were no indicators of 'Catastrophe Erosion.'

In recent years, the Judgement Institute had been diligently pursuing Taboo Seals that had been dispersed.

The stringent laws of Changye expressly prohibited the improper utilization of such items, and for good reason.

The majority of transcendents found themselves unable to contain the volatile Taboo Power, often resulting in a complete loss of control.

Yet, those individuals acknowledged as true powerhouses had, to varying extents, encountered Taboo Seals as part of their cultivation journey—

After all, the fundamental principle governing the extraordinary world is that acquiring power necessitates a commensurate price.

This is the very essence of equivalent exchange.

The so-called 'Taboo Seals' are characterized by their extreme instability and involve exchanges on a grand scale.

Gu Shen's own 'Truth Ruler' is, in fact, one of the most potent Taboo Seals known.

Each activation incurs a portion of the catastrophe's burden.

Engaging the 'Extinguishing Candle' form, which involves drawing the bow repeatedly, presents an even greater peril.

For an individual with lesser spiritual power, such an exertion could prove fatal before they could even vanquish their adversaries.

"Mr. Gu..."

Children emerging from more harrowing backgrounds often display a heightened sense of maturity and perceptiveness. Liu Quan, discerning Gu Shen's scrutiny, promptly retrieved the black folding knife. He presented it with both hands, earnestly stating, "I have never once wielded this blade; my intention was to reserve it for moments of absolute critical need, but I was unaware of the restrictive statutes in Changye."

He had retained the black folding knife, intending to deploy it as a decisive advantage during the Judgement Institute's forthcoming recruitment trials.

Had he possessed foresight regarding the uproar this artifact would instigate and the cascade of uncontrollable repercussions it would trigger,

he would have far preferred to accept defeat in his matches.

Without Gu Shen, the chaos erupting today would not have been so swiftly pacified.

Xie Zheng's master would have undoubtedly encountered significant difficulties.

Furthermore, the two instructors hailing from Bai Ba City would have found themselves entangled in his predicament.

Gu Shen let out a soft chuckle. "Fear not. This is rightfully yours, so cherish it well... My sole reason for coming was to pose a single question to you."

"This folding knife... Where did you obtain it?"

"I..."

Liu Quan raised his gaze, his lips pressed together, before replying, "I found it."

Found it.

This was the second instance Gu Shen had encountered this particular response today.

Typically, Seals, particularly Taboo Seals, were not discovered lying around in the open. Their inherent quality was far too abundant, and items of higher grades emanated an invisible, extraordinary power.

The mundane were simply incapable of approaching them.

It was akin to the situation with "Foggy Long Street" in Da Du during earlier times.

The sheer power exuded by a Taboo Seal could even corrupt a transcendent being, and the locations where they manifested would quickly become sites of 'abnormality'.

The black folding knife clutched by Liu Quan pulsed with a familiar aura of catastrophe, one that Gu Shen recognized.

It was highly probable that this item originated from the same source as the scattered power of the Netherworld Fire.

Could such a potent Seal truly have been so carelessly acquired by Liu Quan just by chance?