Gou's Liver Experience in the World of Demons and Demons

"Oh?"

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice tinged with amusement.

"You seem to know quite a lot?"

Gu Sheng did not avoid her gaze and said calmly.

"I happened to overhear some things, and coincidentally... I know that the Crystal Heart seems to have some connection with the bloodline of Venerable Styx who was separated from his family."

Tantai Bingtang's eyes instantly turned sharp as knives! An invisible pressure enveloped Gu Sheng!
She stared at Gu Sheng and asked, word by word.

“You really do know!”

Tantai Bingtang's gaze lingered on Gu Sheng's face for a moment, her sharp, knife-like eyes seeming to dissect him completely from the inside out.

Finally, she nodded slightly, her voice still cool and clear.

"follow me."

She turned and walked straight toward the Linglang Pavilion, her steps steady. The invisible chill emanating from her body had not completely dissipated, and a thin layer of frost still clung to the ground wherever she passed.

"Sister! Where are you going? I want to too..."

Upon seeing this, Tantai Xueli immediately stepped forward, wanting to follow.

"Xue Li".

Tantai Bingtang interrupted her without stopping or turning her head.

“Your injuries are quite serious. Go to the underground alchemy room to recuperate first. The spiritual energy there is abundant and will help you recover your spiritual strength. Gu Sheng and I… have important matters to discuss.”

Her tone carried an unquestionable air, especially when she emphasized the word "serious business."

Tantai Xueli paused, her cool eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

She glanced at her sister's back, then at Gu Sheng, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately she held back.

She knew her sister's personality well; once she made a decision, she rarely changed it.

Moreover, it seems there are things between her sister and Gu Sheng that she doesn't know.

"……understood."

Tantai Xueli responded softly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of disappointment.

She said no more, turned around, and walked towards the entrance of the underground level of the Linglang Pavilion, her figure appearing somewhat lonely.

Ying struggled to her feet from the ruins, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and silently followed Tantai Xueli.

He needed to protect the Pavilion Master's safety, especially when she was injured and weakened.

Gu Sheng glanced in the direction Tantai Xueli had left, then followed in Tantai Bingtang's footsteps.

The two walked silently, one after the other, through the streets ravaged by the aftermath of the battle, and entered the brightly lit Linlang Pavilion.

The maids and guards on duty inside the pavilion all bowed respectfully to Tantai Bingtang, their eyes filled with awe.

The terrifying strength that this young lady from the main family of Zhongzhou had just displayed outside the pavilion had already left a deep impression on them.

Tantai Bingtang looked straight ahead and walked directly to the private passage leading to the top floor.

Gu Sheng followed closely behind.

On the top floor, there is a quiet room that is decorated with great elegance and exudes a spiritual atmosphere.

This is Tantai Bingtang's temporary residence in the Linlang Pavilion of the Great Wilderness City.

She pushed open the door and entered, a faint, cool fragrance wafting towards her.

Tantai Bingtang walked to the jade table in the center of the room and gently placed the ice-blue longsword in her hand on the table.

The sword's blade emanated a chilling aura, causing the room temperature to drop even further.

She did not sit down, but turned around to look at Gu Sheng, who came in after her.

"Go ahead."

She got straight to the point, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"What do you want to ask?"

Gu Sheng closed the door, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

He walked to the table and stood a few steps away from Tantai Bingtang.

He didn't beat around the bush; he looked directly into the other person's deep, cold eyes and asked directly.

"When you killed Ye Hanguang just now, did Miss Bingtang use the 'Thousand Threads Soul Severing' secret technique, which was long lost from the ancient Divine Silkworm Sect?"

A barely perceptible ripple flashed in the depths of Tantai Bingtang's pupils, so fast that it was impossible to catch.

Her face remained expressionless; she simply looked at Gu Sheng and asked him a question.

How do you recognize this technique?

Her tone was calm, but Gu Sheng could sense the scrutiny and... vigilance hidden beneath that calm.

“It is occasionally mentioned in ancient books and fragments.”

Gu Sheng's answer was perfectly flawless.

"In the description, the Divine Silkworm Sect's 'Thousand Threads Severing Souls' uses invisible and intangible threads to cut through all things, ignoring defenses and killing people invisibly. It is quite similar to the method the young lady just used."

Tantai Bingtang remained silent for a moment. She stretched out her slender fingers and gently stroked the blade of the ice-blue longsword on the table. Wherever her fingertips passed, the cold air seemed to soften a bit.

"good."

She finally spoke, her voice still cold and aloof.

"It is indeed 'A Thousand Threads Severing the Soul'."

She raised her head, her gaze returning to Gu Sheng with a look of inquiry.

"I obtained this technique by chance in the ruins of an ancient Divine Silkworm Sect site many years ago. It is incomplete and its power is only one-tenth of what it used to be. It is barely enough to deal with a Earth King Realm cultivator who has been forcibly promoted and whose foundation is unstable."

She paused, then changed the subject, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.

"It seems that Pavilion Master Gu has a deep understanding of ancient matters. He not only knows the connection between the bloodline of Venerable Styx and the Crystal Heart, but also recognizes such a secret technique that has long been buried in the dust of history."

Gu Sheng remained calm and said without changing his expression.

"Know a thing or two."

Tantai Bingtang's lips curled into a faint smile, a smile that was neither quite a smile nor a frown.

"Since we both know that the other has some secrets that are not known to others, why don't we be more honest?"
Tell me everything you know about the Styx Bloodline and the Crystal Heart, and in exchange, I can tell you something... that might interest you. Like, the whereabouts of that thing, or... anything else.

She cast out the bait, her eyes sharp, waiting for Gu Sheng's reaction.

Gu Sheng remained silent.

He certainly knew what "that thing" Tantai Bingtang was referring to—the thing that caused the sisters to turn against each other, and that Tantai Xueli was willing to leave her main family in Zhongzhou to pursue it.

The temptation was great, but he knew even better that making a deal with this cunning and powerful woman was like asking a tiger for its skin.

"I appreciate Miss Bingtang's kindness."

Gu Sheng spoke slowly, his tone distant.

"However, I have no intention of exchanging secrets for the time being. Knowing too much about some things may not be a blessing."

There was a hint of disappointment in Tantai Bingtang's eyes, but it was quickly covered by coldness.

She didn't insist, she just said it calmly.

"Suit yourself. But remember one thing. You are now the Third Master of the Linglang Pavilion, and protecting you is our duty. But..."

Her tone suddenly turned cold, and an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire quiet room, making Gu Sheng feel as if he could hardly breathe!
"Xue Li, that girl, is simple-minded, but she seems to treat you... somewhat differently."

Tantai Bingtang's voice was like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, carrying a chilling coldness.

"I don't care where you come from or what your purpose is. If you dare to betray her or harm her in the slightest... Ye Hanguang today will be your lesson!" This blatant warning, carrying the absolute pressure of a Heavenly King Realm (Gu Sheng speculated) expert, was made without any concealment!
Gu Sheng felt the killing intent that almost froze him, and his heart trembled, but his face remained calm.

He met Tantai Bingtang's cold gaze and spoke frankly.

"Miss Bingtang is overthinking it."

"My relationship with Pavilion Master Xue Li is merely one of cooperation and friendship. I currently have no intention of forming a Daoist partnership."

Tantai Bingtang stared at him for several breaths before the terrifying pressure slowly dissipated. The temperature in the room seemed to rise slightly.

"Better so."

She said coldly.

The atmosphere was a little stagnant for a while.

Gu Sheng pondered for a moment, then changed the subject.

"There is one more thing that I don't understand. Miss Bingtang seems to have returned rather promptly today?"

He was referring to Tantai Bingtang appearing at the crucial moment when Ye Hanguang was about to deliver the killing blow.

Upon hearing this, Tantai Bingtang's expression softened slightly.

She raised her left hand, revealing a bracelet on her wrist made of nine crystal-clear beads that shone with a soft moonlight glow.

Two of the precious beads, one with a cool hue like a cold moon and the other with a warm hue like warm jade, were emitting a faint yet clear light, echoing each other.

"This is the 'Twin Mystic Pearls'."

Tantai Bingtang explained.

"When Xue Li and I were born, we were born with this pearl. This pearl is not only a symbol of the direct line of my Tantai family, but also has a wonderful use - no matter how far apart the two pearls are, they can sense each other's state, especially when they encounter danger, the sense will be exceptionally strong."

She stroked the rather cold-looking bead.

"Just now, I was handling some trivial matters outside the city when I suddenly sensed a strong sense of crisis and pain emanating from Xue Li's side, so I immediately rushed back. As for how quickly I arrived..."

She glanced at Gu Sheng.

"It's all thanks to you for buying me that little bit of time."

Gu Sheng suddenly realized. So that's how it is.

These twin pearls were actually a special connection between the sisters. No wonder Tantai Bingtang was able to appear so precisely.

"In addition," Tantai Bingtang changed the subject, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.

"That little guy named Xia Wuyou, when you were in the Boundless Ancient City, was arranged by me."

"Xia Wuyou?"

Gu Sheng was taken aback, then his eyes gleamed! The boy who had approached him in the Boundless Ancient City, helped him out of a predicament during the Xuanmen selection, and even helped him gather information?
"good."

Tantai Bingtang nodded.

"He was a promising talent I rescued by chance when I was traveling in the Eastern Wilderness in my early years. He has some talent and is quite clever. I had him follow you secretly, firstly to observe you, and secondly... to protect you."

"Protect?"

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tantai Bingtang's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Do you think that with the cultivation level and alchemy skills you displayed at the time, you could have remained unscathed in a place like the Boundless Ancient City, where all sorts of people mingle?"
There were quite a few people who coveted your pill formulas and elixirs, and even wanted to kidnap you and imprison you to refine pills. However, Wuyou quietly dealt with all those clandestine attempts.

She looked at Gu Sheng and said slowly.

"Wuyou's strength is far greater than you can see. With him in the shadows, unless a Heavenly King Realm expert personally takes action, no one can harm you in the slightest."

Gu Sheng was shocked! Xia Wuyou... had been hiding her strength?

Moreover, his strength was enough to deter petty villains and even deal with those troublemakers who coveted him? This was completely beyond his expectations!

He had always thought that Xia Wuyou was just a talented and kind-hearted boy, but he never expected that there was Tantai Bingtang behind him, and that his strength was so well hidden!

Seeing the shock flash in Gu Sheng's eyes, Tantai Bingtang seemed quite satisfied with the effect.

She picked up the spiritual tea that had been prepared on the table, took a small sip, and spoke with elegance, as if they had just been discussing trivial matters.

"Alright, I've told you everything I should and shouldn't have said."

Tantai Bingtang put down her teacup, her gaze once again becoming cold and profound.

"Now, it's your turn to make a choice. Will you continue to hide it, or... show some sincerity?"

Her gaze fell meaningfully on Gu Sheng, clearly waiting for his information about the Styx bloodline and the Crystal Heart.

The atmosphere in the quiet room became subtle and heavy once again.

Inside the quiet room, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, yet it couldn't dispel the intangible sense of heaviness.

Tantai Bingtang's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a storm in Gu Sheng's heart.

Xia Wuyou... Peak Seventh-Rank Venerable? Protector? His foundation is damaged, and his lifespan is running out?
These pieces of information, when put together, paint a picture that completely overturns Gu Sheng's perception of the character.

That seemingly down-on-his-luck yet enthusiastic young man in the Boundless Ancient City is actually a terrifying being!

At the peak of the Venerable realm, one is a giant capable of founding a sect and dominating a region!

Even in Zhongzhou, he would definitely be a top-tier figure!

And yet, he had been silently lurking by his side all along, shielding him from countless hidden attacks?
"Why...why is his foundation damaged and his lifespan so short?"

Gu Sheng suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked in a deep voice.

He recalled the faint aura of decay emanating from Xia Wuyou, realizing it wasn't a disguise after all.

A subtle complexity flickered in Tantai Bingtang's eyes, but her voice remained cold and clear.

"The specific reasons involve family secrets and cannot be discussed in detail. You only need to know that he is one of the protectors arranged for me by the family. Last year, he committed a serious mistake and was punished by the family, demoted to the Boundless Ancient City in the Eastern Wilderness, ostensibly for training, but in reality... to reflect on his mistakes."

"By having him follow you, I'm both making use of his talent and giving him a chance to redeem himself."

Making use of waste... making amends for past mistakes... Gu Sheng's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

A powerful expert at the peak of the seventh level of Venerable Realm was called "trash" in her eyes?
Just how terrifying is the Tantai family's background?

"As for the matter of Venerable Styx," Tantai Bingtang changed the subject, bringing the topic back.

“That old fox from the Great Wilderness Holy Academy and I did indeed sense it long ago. The opening of the Thousand Souls Palace sacrificial array was not without clues. However, we have never been able to determine whether the Styx Old Ghost’s most important pawn in the Eastern Wilderness is Xiao Beixuan or someone else.”

She picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and looked deep into her eyes.

“Until you exposed Xiao Beixuan’s identity and implicated Jin’er… the so-called daughter of the Styx Venerable.”

Tantai Bingtang put down her teacup and looked sharply at Gu Sheng.

"Do you know that Jin'er is very likely not just the daughter of Venerable Styx and the Holy Maiden of the Holy Land?"

Gu Sheng's eyes narrowed.

"Appreciate further details."

“According to the family’s secret records, and the clues we later uncovered,” Tantai Bingtang’s voice lowered, tinged with seriousness.

"Na Jin'er is very likely... a descendant of the ancient 'Blood Demon' clan!"

"Blood Demon?!"

Gu Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted!

Even in ancient legends, this name represents absolute ferocity and taboo!

It feeds on the essence and blood of living beings, leaving a trail of barren land wherever it goes!

It is a truly terrifying existence that makes all the heavens and myriad realms tremble with fear! (End of Chapter)