Chapter 23: The Terrifying Mind-Control Gu

Since Yuan Ling didn’t even realize she was already dead, there was no way she could explain who had killed her.

Jiang Li pieced the events together.

First, Yuan Ling had massacred both towns and used Corpse Gu to manipulate the dead, allowing them to continue working as if they were still alive. However, her level of skill likely only allowed her to control their Dantian, dictating their actions but not their thoughts.

Then, someone else killed Yuan Ling, used a Corpse Gu on her, and implanted Mind-Sea Gu Worms into everyone. This ensured that, to any observer, the townspeople appeared completely normal—even a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss.

What Jiang Li couldn’t understand was—why?

What was the mastermind’s goal?

With a sweet smile, Jingxin urged Jiang Li to leave the room so she could be alone with Yuan Ling. The way she smiled sent a chill down his spine, so he quickly distanced himself.

Yet, despite being far away, Jiang Li’s keen senses still allowed him to faintly hear the screams coming from inside the room.

The screams grew weaker and weaker—until they vanished.

Jingxin emerged, smiling, as she cleaned the bloodstains off herself with a spell—only to be greeted by a message from Jiang Li.

“Something’s wrong with Du Xiner. I’m going to check it out.”

Jingxin arrived at Xiahe Town, where she found Jiang Li and Du Xiner in a kitchen. The stove was steaming with something.

“What happened?”

Jiang Li held a handful of spirit rice, deep in thought. Du Xiner, meanwhile, stood frozen, her eyes blank.

“I’ve been monitoring this place with my Divine Sense, and I noticed Du Xiner adding something to the husked spirit rice.”

This was highly unusual.

The eight towns never delivered unprocessed spirit grains to Pure Land of the Mortal World. Instead, they first husked the grains into spirit rice and only then sent them. The husks were left behind and buried in the soil to enhance its spiritual energy.

Du Xiner was only supposed to oversee this process, not participate in it.

Yet, not only had she failed to supervise, she had personally gone to the cellar, carried out a large rice jar, and was about to pour its contents into the pile of freshly husked spirit rice.

Jiang Li pointed at the jar. Jingxin followed his gaze—it appeared to be just a jar of spirit rice. Nothing seemed off.

“I’d advise against using Divine Sense on it. You might not be able to handle what you see.”

Had Jiang Li not said that, Jingxin probably wouldn’t have tried.

But because he warned her—she had to check.

Wait. It’s resisting my Divine Sense?

Jingxin intensified her Divine Sense, piercing through the rice’s outer layer—revealing what was hidden inside.

“Ugh—!”

Her face turned deathly pale, and she dry-heaved.

She had long since entered Fasting, meaning there was nothing in her stomach to vomit.

This wasn’t spirit rice.

This was an entire jar of Gu worms, disguised as spirit rice!

“Junior Sister Xiner, what were you trying to do?!”

Du Xiner snapped out of her daze, looking confused. “Isn’t there a sect rule that this jar of spirit rice must be added to the pile?”

“Who told you that? When did Pure Land of the Mortal World ever have such a rule?!”

Du Xiner struggled to remember. She clearly recalled the rule existing—but had no idea who had told her.

Jiang Li pinched open a grain of spirit rice, revealing an extremely tiny, white Gu worm inside. He held it up to Du Xiner.

“Do you recognize this?”

Du Xiner looked confused. “Isn’t that just a grain of spirit rice? Is there something else?”

Jiang Li said nothing more and sent Du Xiner away.

“Someone altered her perception, making her believe this was just normal spirit rice. It’s a Corpse Gu technique.”

Jiang Li then lifted the steamer lid on the stove, revealing a bowl of freshly cooked spirit rice.

He picked up a single grain, split it open—and found another white Gu worm inside.

This one, however, was alive—and seemed even more vigorous than before!

“Someone has been mixing Gu worms into the spirit rice—forcing Pure Land of the Mortal World cultivators to consume them. But what do these Gu worms do?”

Jingxin’s face turned ashen.

Just then, Jiang Li’s Remote Communication Talisman flickered.

“JiangBrother Jiang! I found the Gu Clan!”

On the other end, Zhang Konghu, who was built like a bear, appeared, speaking in his deep, rumbling voice.

“They told me that refining Corpse Gu, the kind that makes the dead move naturally, requires at least a Soul Formation Stage cultivator.”

“But even they aren’t sure. They only speculated based on old records. After all, the Gu Clan no longer has any high-level experts—their strongest is only Nascent Soul Stage.”

Zhang Konghu sighed. He had always known the Gu Clan was reclusive, but he never expected them to have fallen this far. Once upon a time, their clan had produced a legendary figure who ascended to the Celestial Realm.

“I also asked them who can practice Gu techniques. They said it requires reading ancient texts stored in their ancestral shrine, which are heavily guarded—outsiders could never learn them.”

“…But I tested it out. Turns out, I could steal one of those texts without anyone noticing. Don’t worry, I put it back.”

“Oh, right! They also said that a forbidden type of Gu worm, the Mind-Control Gu, has gone missing. Since they can’t leave their lands, they’re asking Human Sovereign Hall to warn the public.”

“Mind-Control Gu?”

“Yeah. The Gu Clan says it’s one of the scariest Gu worms. Once someone ingests it, even if they later reach the Soul Formation Stage, the Gu worm’s master can still control their mind—without them ever realizing it! That’s why the Gu Clan’s ancestral laws strictly forbid its creation!”

“Take a look at this—could this be the Mind-Control Gu?” Jiang Li opened his palm, revealing the white Gu worm.

Zhang Konghu’s eyes widened.

“Yes! That’s it! It cocoons like spirit rice, is as thin as a hair, lies dormant in water, and becomes active when exposed to fire! JiangBrother Jiang, where did you find it?”

Clang!

Jingxin’s legs gave out, knocking over bowls and pots as she collapsed onto the floor.

How many years had these Gu worms been mixed into the spirit rice?

How many of her Junior Sisters had eaten them?

Had any of the fasting elders ever taken a bite?

How many people in the Pure Land of the Mortal World… have Mind-Control Gu inside them?

Jingxin didn’t dare to think about it.

“Did the Gu Clan mention how to remove it?”

“Like other Gu worms—either the master willingly removes it, or the host kills the worm. That’s why Tribulation Stage cultivators are immune—the Heavenly Tribulation’s lightning destroys the Gu worm.”

Jiang Li cut the call short. His face was grim.

“The Mind-Control Gu hasn’t been activated yet. The situation isn’t beyond saving. Your Junior Sisters are waiting for you to rescue them! As long as I’m here, there’s still hope!”

Jiang Li’s firm, unyielding words slowly pulled Jingxin out of her despair.

Yes—this wasn’t over yet.

The mastermind had been scheming for decades but still hadn’t triggered the Mind-Control Gu—which meant they were waiting for the right moment.

Mistakes can be corrected. There’s still a chance.

“Jiang Li… thank you!” Jingxin’s gaze hardened. She rose and flew toward Pure Land of the Mortal World.

Jiang Li followed close behind.

As they approached the sect, the Protective Grand Formation activated, forming a barrier that blocked their entry.

Behind the shimmering screen, a figure sneered at them—

The exiled elder of Pure Land of the Mortal World—

Daoist Nun Xuan’ai.