Since the encounter with Xiao Zi at the Devil’s Grave, Meng Qi had only seen Gu Xiao Sang, assuming she had successfully found a way to suppress her personality split. However, now that she spoke, something felt off, as if she had completely split into two separate entities.
Had she found a method to extract the persona or soul of Yu Long Zi from her body? Or was there a deeper meaning?
The current situation was merely a temporary calm before an impending storm, with danger lurking at every step. Meng Qi dared not lose focus. He quickly dismissed his doubts with a single thought, merely reminding Gu Xiao Sang to pass on a warning to Dushi Fawang, lest her words provoke Gao Lan.
In his mind, his jocular senior brother was essentially a “ticking time bomb,” unpredictable in when he might explode—perhaps in two or three breaths, or even after leaving the Nine Heavens still feigning madness. If he “exploded” before Meng Qi could escape, facing a Fashen opponent, Meng Qi’s chances of survival would be extremely slim.
Dongdongdong… Despite Meng Qi’s mastery over his mind, he could still hear his heartbeat quicken slightly. He sensed tension and danger all around, with pressure steadily increasing over time.
He needed to escape quickly!
Gao Lan, Han Guang, and Dushi Fawang were all Fashen cultivators. With a sweep of their spiritual perception, the unprotected Sansheng Hall was entirely reflected in their minds, every detail clearly visible.
On both sides, only a few broken walls remained, devoid of any valuable items. The back hall seemed to have been flattened by a palm strike, with the immortal bricks, stones, and objects reduced to powder. Further back, there had once been a garden, but it appeared ravaged by violent winds, scorched by flames, and struck by thunderbolts, leaving behind only charred blackness, even the soil scorched.
“It seems someone deliberately destroyed this place,” Gao Lan announced his findings.
Han Guang, dressed in flowing robes and wearing a dignified mask, calmly asked, “Then why was Jingsheng Hall left intact?”
He wasn’t refuting Gao Lan’s judgment, just expressing his confusion.
Meng Qi looked to both sides and noticed faint scorch marks at the broken sections of the Guoqu Hall and Laishi Hall, but they hadn’t spread over. He silently agreed with Gao Lan and Han Guang’s thoughts.
It seemed intentionally destroyed, yet why leave Jingsheng Hall?
“Perhaps the person who destroyed the halls still had use for Jingsheng Hall,” Gu Xiao Sang said with a relaxed expression, no longer appearing wary or worried.
“What use could it have?” Gao Lan scanned the area, finding no traces of seals or illusion arrays. Besides the Jingsheng Mirror, the only useful item might have been the golden bricks.
Dongdongdong… Fearing that Han Guang might “awaken” Gao Lan, Meng Qi didn’t want to delay further and immediately said, “Senior Brother, Jingsheng Hall seems to have nothing of value. Why not search around briefly and move on to another location? No need to stay too long. As for the mystery of ‘why Jingsheng Hall was preserved,’ we can ponder it later.”
“Sounds reasonable!” Gao Lan slapped Meng Qi’s shoulder with a slap.
How quickly the Fashen cultivators searched! Within just two or three breaths, Dushi Fawang spoke hollowly, “No treasures.”
Han Guang gave a slight nod, still feeling perplexed. Deep in his heart, the Emperor’s cultivation technique he practiced had stirred an inexplicable premonition, leading him to choose the direction of the Hall of Three Lives. Could it be that his destination wasn’t here, but further ahead?
At this moment, Gu Xiao Sang smiled lightly, “At the very least, there’s the Jingsheng Mirror.”
All eyes immediately focused on the “Jingsheng Mirror.” It was a round mirror about half a person tall, radiating a gentle glow like a calm, clear lake. Within the water-like light floated numerous indescribable golden specks, seemingly manifestations of profound Dao principles.
“I want this Jingsheng Mirror,” Gao Lan suddenly declared. “Before you all pick your items, I won’t choose anything else.”
What was Senior Brother going to do with the Jingsheng Mirror? Use it to reflect on his past and immerse himself in grief? Meng Qi pondered silently. Since this might prolong Gao Lan’s madness, Meng Qi was happy to let it happen and raised no objection.
Han Guang and Dushi Fawang glanced at the Human Emperor Sword in Gao Lan’s hand and, feeling the Jingsheng Mirror held no use for them, silently agreed.
Gu Xiao Sang had no objections either, stepping back slightly to let Gao Lan retrieve the Jingsheng Mirror.
Gao Lan extended his left hand and pressed it lightly. Without any fluctuation of energy, the mirror suddenly shrank, becoming palm-sized, and flew into his hand.
“Indeed, the Divine Boxing of the Heavenly Emperor lives up to its reputation…” Han Guang chuckled in praise, seizing every opportunity to mention things familiar to Gao Lan, hoping to “awaken” him.
Meanwhile, Meng Qi secretly exhaled in relief. With the Jingsheng Mirror obtained, they could finally leave. He and Gu Xiao Sang could then find an excuse to flee, and since she had yet to acquire the item she sought, and nothing in the Sansheng Hall seemed to fit, he wouldn’t be breaking their agreement!
Just as this thought arose, Gu Xiao Sang suddenly let out a soft exclamation, stepping forward two paces. She formed a mystical seal with her hands, gathering airflow into petals that landed at the center of the stone platform beneath the Jingsheng Mirror.
The stone platform suddenly emitted a clear light, rippling like water, slowly splitting open to reveal a descending staircase!
Gu Xiao Sang stepped back in surprise, saying, “I merely recognized the patterns on the stone platform, which matched a secret technique I know. I tried it out, and it actually opened a hidden passage.”
Keep pretending… Meng Qi couldn’t understand why Gu Xiao Sang would risk opening the hidden passage so recklessly!
Was whatever was inside truly that important to her?
This witch really didn’t value her own life—or his!
Han Guang, knowing that Gu Xiao Sang possessed many secrets of the Celestial Court, did not expose her, merely smiling as he said, “Heavenly fate favors us. This must be our destined opportunity.”
Gao Lan clicked his tongue in admiration, “This hidden passage and its seal are quite impressive. They actually evaded my search. Not bad, not bad…”
He looked left and right, studying the secret technique.
Han Guang and Dushi Fawang began employing various methods to dismantle the hidden passage’s seals and traps. For those that required more time, they had Gao Lan directly suppress them using the Royal Power of the Human Emperor Sword.
Time flew by quickly. Meng Qi took a deep breath, steadying his heartbeat, thinking of another excuse.
Just then, Han Guang turned his head. The stern mask of the Celestial Emperor showed no expression, but his voice carried a gentle smile:
“Third Brother, the hidden passage is safe now. Let’s go down and search for treasures, so you don’t come all this way for nothing.”
His tone was amiable, yet Meng Qi nearly shivered.
“Right, we should at least get a treasure,” Gao Lan enthusiastically agreed, secretly transmitting his voice to Meng Qi, “Third Brother, don’t be afraid of him. I’m here for you!”
Senior Brother, the one I’m afraid of is you… Meng Qi’s lips twitched, unable to respond. If not for the fear that directly mentioning Gao Lan’s dual souls or split personality might provoke him into returning to normal, he would have shouted it long ago.
The more dangerous the situation, the calmer he became. Meng Qi forced a slight smile, “Alright.”
With that, he actually stepped forward directly, leading the way down the staircase.
…
Atop a majestic mountain peak, within a grand hall, layer upon layer of secret techniques and powerful presences guarded the inner sanctum.
In the silent rear hall, a solemn statue of the Celestial Emperor gazed forward, as if weighing the Three Realms.
Before the statue of the Celestial Emperor lay a jade box carved from celestial jade, inside which seemed to rest a long saber, its blade reflecting a calm, water-like glow.
Suddenly, the saber’s light flared, shimmering like water. The silent chamber fell into an indescribable stillness, only gradually returning to normal after about ten breaths.
…
Cui Qinghe and others followed the path, searching as they ascended. Only after discovering signs of looting on this level did they quicken their pace. Due to such delays, they finally reached the vortex leading to the upper three layers.
…
Descending the staircase, Meng Qi carefully surveyed the surroundings, ensuring he could find an escape route should anything change.
The staircase had only nine steps. Before him was a cave, filled with dirt and devoid of life, except for a single tall, straight green tree in the center. Its branches were lush and leaves abundant, its roots deeply embedded in the earth, its trunk piercing the cave ceiling, seemingly spreading throughout this entire heavenly layer!
The moment Meng Qi laid eyes on the tree, the Dao Tree within his mustard seed ring went into a frenzy, as if consumed by insatiable hunger!
Another tree like this?
Meng Qi felt a surge of joy at first, but before he could react, Gao Lan, Han Guang, and the others had already followed him in.
He suppressed his thoughts and continued downward. Meng Qi noticed another passage opposite the small cave and a faint glow in the right corner—a jade disc the size of a palm, covered in dense seal script and intricate patterns. To the right, amidst the dirt, grew a peculiar plant with only three branches and a single leaf. It resembled dry firewood, with one branch extending to the left, one to the right, and one upward. At its center grew two thumb-sized green fruits, exuding an aura of profound mystery, as though they had always existed in this unchanging state.
Hmm, shouldn’t the area around that tree be devoid of all life, drained by it?
These fruits were strange!
“Uncles, may I choose first this time?” Gu Xiao Sang smiled as she spoke.
Gao Lan glanced at Meng Qi, deeply concerned about his ability to control his wife, but chuckled, “Go ahead.”
Han Guang suddenly stepped forward, bypassing Meng Qi and leaning toward the right side before turning back to Gu Xiao Sang with a smile, “What will you choose?”
Gu Xiao Sang understood his hint and smiled, “I wouldn’t dream of competing with Second Uncle for the ‘Sansheng Jade Disc.'”
Sansheng Jade Disc? Upon hearing Gu Xiao Sang’s words, Meng Qi immediately realized what the jade disc was!
The Celestial Emperor was a rare deity who broke free from the constraints of innate divinity. Later, he integrated his knowledge and created the “Celestial Emperor Jade Manual,” achieving Dao through it. Before that, he had cultivated using the “Sansheng Jade Disc”!
This was a cultivation technique requiring specific tasks… Meng Qi felt a slight envy, but Han Guang’s determined demeanor made even Gao Lan and Dushi Fawang reluctant to interfere.
Han Guang walked over, his voice echoing, “I shall take the ‘Sansheng Jade Disc.’ You may choose first for the rest.”
Gu Xiao Sang smiled, “I shall take those two fruits.”
She didn’t reach out to grab them but carefully approached with a strange pure bottle and a small jade hammer, gently tapping the two fruits into the bottle and sealing it quickly.
So this was the demoness’s goal… What exactly were these two fruits? Meng Qi felt relieved but also puzzled.
But it didn’t matter. What mattered was that they could finally leave!
“Extracting this tree will be difficult. Third Brother, will you take it?” Gao Lan was still thinking of his junior brother Meng Qi.
I want to take it, but not by extracting it. Once extracted, it might lose its usefulness! Meng Qi looked at the tree again, thinking of using the Dao Tree to absorb it.
But if the “Dao Tree” appeared, would Han Guang and Dushi Fawang covet it and turn against him?
This was a very real possibility, and even his jocular senior brother might be shocked into sanity. Meng Qi didn’t want to take the risk. He only wanted to leave, so he said with a thick face, “It’s indeed difficult, Senior Brother. Xiao Sang has already taken the fruits, so I’m sure she’ll give me one. No need to choose again. With the danger ahead, I want to get out as soon as possible.”
Gao Lan thought for a moment and nodded, “Alright.”
Phew, Meng Qi almost relaxed completely, while Gu Xiao Sang also revealed a barely perceptible hint of joy.
Han Guang put away the Sansheng Jade Disc, his mood good as he laughed, “With this, I will eventually catch up to Lu Da and Chong He.”
Lu Da… Chong He… Dongdongdong… Meng Qi’s heart pounded like a drum!
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