“Going out to temper oneself? Where could one go to temper themselves without the notice of the one from the Vacuum Hometown?” Meng Qi showed no surprise or doubt. With Xiaosang’s intelligence, she would never overlook such a point. If she mentioned it, there must be more to follow.
Gu Xiaosang’s eyes were dark, bright, and clear, seemingly transparent at a glance, yet the more one looked, the more unfathomable they appeared—like a river so clear one could see the bottom, yet its depth far exceeded expectations.
She gazed intently at Meng Qi’s face for a few breaths, making him slightly uncomfortable, before suddenly blooming into a smile, like an orchid blossoming in an empty valley—both pure and enchanting:
“Husband, could it be that you can’t bear to part with your wife?”
Her eyes shimmered like those of a clever little fox. Without waiting for Meng Qi’s reply, she continued, “A good woman’s aspirations lie in all directions.”
Her tone lifted slightly at the end, carrying a playful note, teasing him with the phrase “a good man’s aspirations lie in all directions.”
“Aspirations in all directions need not mean walking alone,” Meng Qi said, setting aside other thoughts as he smiled at her.
Gu Xiaosang chuckled softly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then shifted the topic: “Places to temper oneself without the notice of the one from the Vacuum Hometown are limited to the layers of the Nine Nethers, the heavens of the Immortal Realm, and the lands near the Dao. However, that one harbors ambitions for the afterlife and the fate of all beings, so the Black Prison of Luofeng must have its arrangements. Though they may not oversee every detail in the Nine Nethers, they surely possess the ability to deduce the broader picture. Going there to temper oneself would be no different from walking into a trap. The heavens of the Immortal Realm have either collapsed or been destroyed—they may serve as temporary sources of gain but are not suitable for long-term tempering. As for the lands near the Dao, each holds its own secrets—some are occupied, others difficult to find. Take the Origin of Life and Death, for example. If not for the preparations left by Zhenwu or Fuhuang, how could it be so easily entered?”
Zhenwu had yet to reach the Other Shore, and Fuhuang’s condition was highly unstable, so mentioning their names carried no risk.
“With that said, it seems there are no places left for tempering,” Meng Qi remarked, his smile unwavering, as if he had already guessed something.
Gu Xiaosang lifted her exquisitely beautiful face, smiling brightly: “Husband, haven’t you already figured it out? Aside from these, the only remaining options are the myriad worlds within the bodies of the great figures who have reached the Other Shore.”
Upon reaching the Other Shore, the inner universe transforms into a real world. As one’s cultivation deepens, layers of heavens and the Nine Nethers are successively opened.
“But which one can be trusted?” Meng Qi asked the crucial question.
Who would be pleased to see the Golden Emperor remain incomplete, forever barred from attaining the embryonic form of the Dao Fruit?
At this, Gu Xiaosang’s thoughts drifted, her gaze flickering: “The one from the Vacuum Hometown is highly skilled in strategy and far-sighted in planning, surpassing even the one from the Fusang Ancient Tree. For a moment, I can’t think of any great figure who can be trusted…”
“They attained enlightenment through the Primordial Chaos Seal left by the master of the Jade Void Palace. ‘What is past is dead, what is present is alive’—their relationship with this lineage has always been maintained well. Later, they secretly allied with the Buddhist sect, revering the masters of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Bodhi Pure Land, learning the White Lotus Salvation Art from Maitreya Bodhisattva, ultimately manifesting the Vacuum Hometown and completing some covert tasks for them. As for the one from the Fusang Ancient Tree, they have been on friendly terms since the early ancient times, supporting each other. To this day, they even sent a grand gift through you—a favor far greater than yours in their path to the Dao. Their roots lie in being an innate deity, the foremost among female immortals, treating humans and demons equally. While stationed at the Jade Pool, they shared a deep friendship with the Demon Sage and were often praised by the Ancestor of Humanity…”
Truly a master of diplomacy and strategy, it’s no wonder their path to the Dao was smooth, leaving no tales of overcoming obstacles… Meng Qi couldn’t help but admire.
“When the Thirty-Three Heavens still stood, the ancient Heavenly Venerate of the Tushita Palace’s orders were never disobeyed, even if the Heavenly Emperor disapproved. As for the matter of the Human Emperor in the early Middle Ages, it was only after the demonic chaos ended and all beings returned to peace—fulfilling the Tushita Palace’s expectations—that variables were introduced. Among these great figures, some may harbor the desire to see them remain incomplete, but I cannot discern who is genuine and who is false. A series of events must be observed to confirm. Upon careful consideration, the only ones who would surely oppose them are the completely fallen Human Emperor and the currently missing Heavenly Emperor. The one from the Biyou Palace, whose whereabouts remain unknown, maintains a relatively neutral stance.” Gu Xiaosang spoke softly and methodically, without a trace of fear, as if analyzing someone else’s affairs.
“The one from the Vacuum Hometown always seems to stand on the side of the victors—that alone is chilling,” Meng Qi sighed.
It seems the Wusheng Laomu played a crucial role in the Human Emperor’s passing!
He continued, “The Human Emperor has merged into the Real World, protecting humanity. The Heavenly Emperor’s reincarnation whereabouts are unknown—whether they’ve grown or not, at least their body has become the Blade of Time, just as the Hou Tu Niangniang transformed into the Samsara Seal. Within these two peerless divine weapons lie the Real World and even the myriad worlds. However, the latter is in the hands of the Demon Buddha, while the former is surely under close scrutiny by many.”
His own Overlord Saber also contains an “inner world” akin to the myriad worlds, but the Demon Buddha’s imprint has yet to be fully erased. If touched, the Demon Buddha would hardly keep it a secret.
As for Other Shore-level divine weapons: the Demon Sage Spear’s original form was on good terms with the Golden Emperor; the Bodhi Wonderful Tree is in Han Guang’s hands; the Nether Sea Sword belongs to the Seven Killings Daoist; the Primordial Yang Ruler was obtained by the True Martial Emperor, though his current whereabouts are unknown; the Heaven-Slaying Axe has been missing since Gurd’s demise; the Demon Emperor Claw is under the watch of several pseudo-Other Shore figures, making it impossible to evade their notice. The Human Emperor Sword could be attempted, but it’s unclear whether its inner world would have restrictions given its incomplete awakening. As for the rest, they are all with their respective owners, requiring careful selection of those who are entirely trustworthy.
As Meng Qi’s thoughts churned, Gu Xiaosang suddenly smiled radiantly, like lanterns illuminating the night or flowing light on water: “Husband, I seek your guidance.”
“You want me to make the choice?” Meng Qi was somewhat surprised. Xiaosang was shrewd and decisive, especially in critical matters. Shouldn’t she have already formed her own opinion? Why ask for his help?
Gu Xiaosang pursed her lips in a smile: “I understand the one from the Vacuum Hometown, but they understand me just as well. Whatever I can think of, they surely can as well. So I leave it to you, husband, to decide. After all, your thoughts are often unconventional, frequently leaving others stunned.”
Was that praise for his unorthodox methods? Meng Qi laughed: “In that case, your husband will make the decision. The Human Emperor Sword is a backup—first, we go to one place.”
Hearing this, Gu Xiaosang’s lips parted slightly, seemingly caught off guard by the speed of Meng Qi’s decision. It almost felt as if he hadn’t thought it through and had simply relied on his combat instincts and the intuition of the Eight-Nine Mysteries to find a path.
“Where?” she asked.
“Golden Turtle Island, to retrieve the flesh and blood of that ancient emperor suppressed by the Qingping Sword,” Meng Qi declared proudly. “Not only do you need tempering, but your husband must also exhaust all means to improve himself and forge strong alliances. That emperor never truly perished—within his flesh and blood, where life force remains, fragments of the myriad worlds must linger. Moreover, it may awaken the power of the eerie blood peach and drive the tiger to devour the wolf, completely erasing the Demon Buddha’s imprint and fully awakening the Overlord Saber!”
This was an Other Shore divine weapon, and the most recently forged one at that, least eroded by time!
“Husband, can you find Golden Turtle Island?” Gu Xiaosang pondered, a faint dimple appearing as she smiled.
Meng Qi smiled faintly:
“Before, I couldn’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t after stepping into the Creation Realm.”
Besides, the place was occupied by Yuan Hong and remotely controlled by Lu Ya, so there was no need to worry about encountering Duobao Tianzun.
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