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

That strange feeling of his thoughts being pulled along by invisible threads became incredibly clear at that moment! He suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a mixture of shock and anger.

"It was Qi Diao Yaoyao?! Was it her who cast the spell?!"

"Hmph, your reaction isn't too slow."

Gu Sheng's tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle, almost imperceptible warning.

"It's nothing more than a subtle, insidious 'heart-attracting poison' that amplifies your inner hesitation and tendency to compromise. It's invisible and intangible, difficult to detect, but it's not a fatal weapon. If your mind hadn't been already shaken by external pressure, this poison might not have been able to affect you so easily."

Upon hearing this, Situ Qingfeng's face turned pale and then red, feeling both lingering fear and a sense of humiliation at being mocked.

He recalled Qi Diaoyao's seemingly clear yet unfathomably deep golden eyes, and a chill ran down his spine. He had unknowingly fallen into a trap, and had almost influenced Gu Sheng's judgment!

He looked at Gu Sheng with lingering fear and couldn't help but blurt out the question.

"Brother Gu, then...do you also..."

Before he could finish speaking, he chickened out and didn't dare to ask the last three words, "I've been infected."

The Gu Sheng before him possessed an aura of profound strength and a clear, sharp gaze, showing no signs whatsoever of being affected by the Gu worms.
Gu Sheng merely glanced at him indifferently, his gaze calm and unwavering, yet it instantly silenced Situ Qingfeng, causing him to swallow all his questions.

"Brother Gu, then... then what should we do next?"

Situ Qingfeng suppressed his surging emotions, and his tone became respectful, even somewhat dependent.

"Should we... also consider cooperating with the Five Poisons Sect?"

After what just happened, he no longer dared to easily trust any deal proposed by Qi Diao Yaoyao.

Gu Sheng's gaze was directed toward the deep exit of the main hall, as if he could see through the stone walls and witness everything happening outside.

He paused for a moment, then said.

Whether or not to cooperate, we'll see.

This lacquered beauty may not be as simple as she appears.

He paused, his tone revealing a composed confidence.

"Besides, do you really think I, Gu Sheng, would entrust my life and death entirely to the help of others?"

Situ Qingfeng was taken aback.

"Brother Gu, what do you mean?"

"Before entering this secret realm, I had already devised a plan to escape unscathed."

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Gu Sheng's lips.

"The Heavenly Fire Cult and the Longevity Cult should have already confirmed that I, Gu Sheng, am dead."

Unless that immortal ancestor spares no expense and personally uses secret techniques to investigate the cause and effect, relying solely on the arrays and spies outside, finding my true form will be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Situ Qingfeng was stunned. Only then did he understand why Gu Sheng had been so calm and composed when faced with Qi Diao Yaoyao's proposed "way out." It turned out that he had already laid a trap, calculating and scheming against everyone!

……

A moment later, Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng, whose expression had returned to normal, walked out of the Si Ming Main Hall, which had been silent for thousands of years.

Outside the hall, the faint, cold, and deathly aura left behind by the Yin-Yang Disc of Fate after it devoured countless shadows still lingered in the passageway.

Some scattered martial artists who arrived later to explore the vicinity of the main hall saw the two of them walk out of the core main hall safely, and their faces all showed a complex expression of envy, awe and inquiry.

To emerge unscathed from such a perilous place, and seemingly with considerable gains, is enough to make anyone take notice.

Ignoring the stares, the two headed straight for the outermost area of ​​the secret realm.

Not far away, they saw Qi Diao Yaoyao leaning against a broken bronze pillar with her arms crossed. Her beautiful face, scarred and devoid of emotion, was fixed on Gu Sheng the moment he appeared.

As Gu Sheng approached, a subtle yet clear voice transmission, like a thread, entered his ear, carrying a hint of inquiry and impatience.

"Young Master Gu, you brought me out here specifically. I wonder what kind of show you want Yao Yao to see?"

Gu Sheng didn't stop walking, nor did he even glance at her. He simply raised his hand, his index finger seemingly pointing casually into the air.

Qi Diaoyao looked in the direction Gu Sheng pointed.

Beneath the hazy sky of the secret realm, several miles away from the main hall area, three distinct yet equally powerful auras confronted each other from afar. The tense atmosphere could be clearly felt even from a distance.

That was the main force of the remaining Zixia Divine Sect, led by Nangong Yuexia, as well as most of the forces of the Tianhuo Divine Sect and the Changsheng Divine Sect! These three forces should have been the main force exploring the core area of ​​the secret realm, but they were gathered here at this moment. Obviously, they were not there to search for treasure, but because some great change had occurred!
A flicker of realization crossed Qi Diaoyao's golden eyes, which then narrowed slightly as she noticed something amiss.

Her mind raced, her gaze sweeping over the low-level disciples of the three sects below with the precision of a predator. Soon, her eyes locked onto a young disciple dressed in the robes of the Longevity Sect, whose cultivation was at the peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm.

With a slight movement of her fingers hidden beneath her sleeve, a wisp of strange dust, colorless, odorless, and with barely perceptible energy fluctuations, silently dissipated into the air with the flick of her fingertips. As if carried by an invisible wind, it drifted precisely towards the disciple's mouth and nose.

The disciple was completely absorbed in watching the confrontation between the Venerable-level figures in mid-air, oblivious to what was happening. After inhaling the dust, his body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and his eyes instantly became empty and dull, as if he had lost his self-awareness and become a puppet on a string.

Qi Diaoyao then calmly stepped forward, her voice carrying a strange, soul-stirring allure, and softly asked.

"Tell your sister, what's going on up there? Why are the three major religions confronting each other here?"

The disciple's eyes were vacant, his lips moved, and he answered mechanically.

"It's City Lord Shen Wuguang of the Zixia Divine Sect... He colluded with the villain Gu Sheng to plot the deaths of several of my most talented senior brothers and sisters from the Changsheng Divine Sect, as well as an elder from the Tianhuo Divine Sect... Gu Sheng has already been personally killed by the Grand Elder of the Tianhuo Divine Sect, blasted to smithereens... Right now, the esteemed elders are negotiating how to deal with Shen Wuguang..."

"Gu Sheng...is he dead?"

Qi Diaoyao's pupils suddenly contracted, and even with her composure, she couldn't help but show surprise at this moment.

She turned her head sharply to look at Gu Sheng, who stood with his hands behind his back not far away, his expression calm and composed. Then she quickly turned back to stare at the disciple and pressed him for an answer.

Are you sure? Did you see it with your own eyes?

"Yes...this disciple witnessed it with my own eyes...the Grand Elder, enraged, unleashed a devastating attack, flames engulfing the heavens; there was no chance Gu Sheng could possibly survive..."

The disciple confirmed it, still in a daze.

Qi Diao Yaoyao fell silent.

She gently waved her hand, releasing the disciple from her control. The disciple shook his head, his eyes regaining their clarity. He was completely unaware of his momentary lapse in concentration and continued to gaze up at the confrontation in the sky.

Qi Diaoyao slowly turned around and walked back to Gu Sheng.

Her golden eyes no longer held any hint of mystery or probing; instead, they became incredibly sharp, like two newly drawn blades, scrutinizing Gu Sheng from head to toe. Her gaze was complex and unfathomable, filled with scrutiny, shock, and a hint of solemnity as she finally placed the person before her on an equal or even higher position.

She now fully understood what Gu Sheng had brought her out to "see." It wasn't the confrontation between the three major religious sects, but rather the grand spectacle of Gu Sheng himself being "dead"!

Before even entering the secret realm, he had already laid out such a brilliant scheme, not only successfully escaping unscathed but also drawing all the attention and anger of his enemies onto Shen Wuguang! Such cunning, such ruthlessness…

Seeing the dramatic change in her expression, Gu Sheng finally spoke, breaking the silence.

“Miss Qi Diao, now we can talk about cooperation.”

His tone remained calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of dominance.

"However, empty promises are meaningless. If you, or rather the Five Poisons Sect behind you, truly want to cooperate with me, Gu Sheng, then you need to offer something of real value, or... sincerity."

Qi Diaoyao stared intently at Gu Sheng, the sharp light in her eyes not only not diminishing, but becoming even more intense.

The hideous scar on her face seemed to come alive at that moment, adding a touch of wildness and danger to her.

She realized that she had indeed underestimated this young man from the Eastern Wilderness.

He is not some trapped beast in a desperate situation, but a venomous dragon lurking in the abyss, ready to devour its prey! Cooperating with such a person may be fraught with danger, but it could also be extremely rewarding.

Qi Diaoyao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, like starlight in the dark night. She remained silent for a moment, as if weighing the weight of Gu Sheng's words.

Finally, she took a deep breath, and the wild and dangerous aura subsided slightly, replaced by a more cautious attitude.

"Young Master Gu is indeed an extraordinary person. Since we've come this far, I won't beat around the bush anymore."

"As long as the conditions are reasonable, and within the capabilities of my Five Poisons Sect, we can agree to anything. What does Young Master Gu desire?"

Gu Sheng did not immediately state his price, but simply said calmly.

"We can discuss the specific conditions after we leave the secret realm. Perhaps I don't really need your sect's help."

Upon hearing this, Qi Diaoyao's golden eyes lit up slightly, but quickly returned to calm.

She sensed the powerful confidence in Gu Sheng's words, which was not bluffing, but rather stemmed from a kind of inner strength that she had not yet fully grasped.

This made her opinion of Gu Sheng rise even higher.

“However,” Gu Sheng changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Qi Diao Yaoyao and Situ Qingfeng, his tone becoming serious.

"That Ancestor of Longevity is, after all, a veteran powerhouse in the Venerable Realm, whose strength is unfathomable. Although our plan seems comprehensive, we still need to be prepared for any eventuality."

He hesitated for a moment, then made a suggestion that surprised Situ Qingfeng.

"To be on the safe side, I suggest we split up."

"Split up?"

Situ Qingfeng spoke up instinctively, his face full of confusion.

"Brother Gu, the outside world is fraught with danger. Wouldn't the three of us be stronger together? Why separate?"

Before Gu Sheng could explain, Qi Diao Yaoyao nodded thoughtfully and chimed in.

"Young Master Situ, have you forgotten that Young Master Gu is now 'dead'? He entered the secret realm as a 'protector', which already aroused some suspicion."

Even if he had a clever escape plan to make the two major sects believe that his true form had perished, given the Longevity Ancestor's suspicious and cautious nature, he might still thoroughly investigate any clues related to the previous 'Gu Sheng'. If the three of us went out together, we would be too conspicuous, easily attracting attention and increasing the risk of exposure.”

Gu Sheng glanced approvingly at Qi Diao Yaoyao; this woman's quick wit was indeed far beyond that of ordinary people.

He added.

"The lacquer carving girl is right. Splitting up and breaking the group into smaller units will minimize the risk. I'm over 90% confident that my identity won't be exposed."

However, it's always wise to leave room for maneuver; this is a prudent approach.

Seeing that Situ Qingfeng still had doubts, Gu Sheng did not explain further.

Some plans are better kept secret by as few people as possible.

Qi Diao Yaoyao clearly understood this principle as well. She stopped asking questions and instead stretched out her slender hand, with a faint green light, like that of a firefly, swirling around her fingertips.

The light, though seemingly faint, emanated a pure and strange life force. "This is a offspring of one of my natal Gu worms. Keep it safe. With it, as long as we remain within the Southern Border, we can contact each other at any time."

Gu Sheng's gaze fell on the faint green glow, but he didn't immediately take it.

Just then, Situ Qingfeng's voice transmission rang in his mind again, filled with deep worry.

"Brother Gu, this woman is cunning and skilled in Gu magic. This Gu... I'm afraid we can't trust her!"

Gu Sheng remained expressionless and replied with a confident tone.

"It's alright. I believe she is genuinely willing to cooperate at this moment. Besides..."

He paused slightly, a subtle, yet profound meaning creeping into his tone.

"I also have some knowledge of Gu techniques."

After transmitting his voice, Gu Shengcai reached out and seemingly casually accepted the faint green fluorescence.

The moment the Gu worm touched his skin, it disappeared silently into the Laogong acupoint in his palm, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, leaving only a barely perceptible pale green mark.

However, the instant the Gu worm entered her body, Gu Sheng flicked his finger like lightning and gently pointed it towards Qi Diao Yaoyao's heart from a distance!
This finger strike did not contain any true energy or power, yet it seemed to trigger some kind of invisible rule.

"Well!"

Qi Diao Yaoyao let out a muffled groan, her face turning pale instantly. She felt as if her heart had been squeezed hard by an invisible hand, experiencing a sharp, suffocating pain. Although it only lasted for a moment before returning to normal, the sudden pain and palpitations caused her forehead to break out in a fine layer of cold sweat!
She looked up abruptly, her golden eyes filled with disbelief and horror as she stared intently at Gu Sheng!

Gu Sheng withdrew his finger, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Miss Qi Diao presented me with her natal Gu, the offspring Gu, as a token of her sincerity, for which I am deeply grateful. My brief response just now was merely to let her know that this offspring Gu can not only be used for communication, but also, if I so desire, I can annihilate it remotely. Natal Gu are linked mother and offspring; if the offspring Gu is damaged, the mother Gu will inevitably suffer a backlash, which will likely have a significant impact on your cultivation foundation, won't it?" (End of Chapter)