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

After a moment of silence, a slightly trembling but clearly more mature and clearer female voice responded in his mind.

"……it is good!"

With this response, the vast spiritual power belonging to the Venerable Realm, which had been forcibly suppressed and sealed deep within Tantai Xuefei's soul, finally found an outlet like a flood breaking its banks, and surged into the vast and resilient sea of ​​consciousness that had just been forged and strengthened!

"Om-!"

The massive influx of spiritual power caused the sixth-grade peak's sea of ​​consciousness to swell instantly. The barrier groaned under the strain, and the light flickered violently, but it did not burst open in the end, stubbornly withstanding the first wave of impact!

Gu Sheng observed closely from the side, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He could see that the spiritual power that Tantai Xuefei had just awakened was much stronger in both quantity and purity than that of an ordinary first-stage Venerable. 'It seems that her original soul foundation was extremely profound, and the eight years of dormancy and accumulation have actually caused a qualitative change in her spiritual power.'

If he could fully integrate, he could probably directly step into the seventh rank. 'He judged in his heart.' Seventh-rank spiritual power was already an extremely powerful existence for martial artists who did not specialize in alchemy or soul cultivation.

Just as he was observing, another unexpected change occurred!

“Crack…Crack…”

A subtle yet clear sound, like ice cracking, came from the barrier of Tantai Xuefei's sea of ​​consciousness!
Gu Sheng's gaze sharpened. This wasn't the sound of his sea of ​​consciousness about to collapse under the strain, but rather... a sign that the edge of his sea of ​​consciousness was being forcibly expanded and its original boundaries broken by the surging and powerful spiritual force! This was the barrier that his spiritual force was breaking through, allowing him to officially step from the peak of the sixth rank to the seventh rank of a Spirit Spellcaster!
The thought had just crossed his mind when he was preparing to completely withdraw his mental energy from Tantai Xuefei's sea of ​​consciousness to avoid interfering with her crucial breakthrough.

However, in the instant his thoughts stirred—

"puff!"

A tiny, yet indescribably noble, ancient, and seemingly originating from the very source of life and soul flame, quietly ignited once again at the very core of Tantai Xuefei's sea of ​​consciousness!

This wisp of flame shares the same origin as the brilliant golden flame that Gu Ling'er previously infused, but it is more restrained and profound!

The moment that strange golden flame appeared, Gu Sheng and Tantai Xuefei, who was at a critical moment of breakthrough, were both suddenly jolted!
An indescribable, mysterious state instantly enveloped the two of them!
Gu Sheng felt as if his sea of ​​consciousness had connected with another fiery, vibrant, and rapidly transforming spiritual world! The spiritual power within him, which had been somewhat dormant due to being more than half depleted, began to boil and surge uncontrollably!
Meanwhile, on Tantai Xuefei's side, the immense spiritual power in her sea of ​​consciousness that had just broken through the barrier and was surging wildly into the new seventh-grade realm also uncontrollably separated into an incomparably pure torrent, spontaneously surging out of her sea of ​​consciousness, crossing the invisible boundary between the two of them, and merging together with Gu Sheng's boiling spiritual power as if they were water and milk!
Two spiritual forces that originated from the same source but had different attributes seemed to find their missing half at this moment, perfectly blending, intertwining, and resonating!
"This is... spiritual unity?!"

Gu Sheng was shocked and instantly understood the situation!
This wasn't the first time he'd experienced this! Back in the Great Wilderness City, Tantai Xueli had once used this supreme auxiliary divine power of the Tantai family to help him successfully refine an extremely difficult pill! However, that time, it was Tantai Xueli who actively guided and controlled it.

This time, however, it was spontaneously completed by his and Tantai Xuefei's spiritual power, inspired by the mysterious golden flame!
In this profound state of spiritual unity, Gu Sheng clearly felt that his sea of ​​consciousness was undergoing tremendous changes!
The spiritual power that had already been refined and become pure and powerful was thrown into an invisible furnace after being integrated with this spiritual power from Tantai Xuefei, which was full of vitality and transformative power. It began a second, more profound refinement and transformation!
This feeling of transformation spread rapidly throughout his entire consciousness like a tidal wave!
An indescribable sense of comfort and fulfillment, as if returning to the origin of life, filled his soul, almost making him intoxicated by it.

I don't know how much time has passed; it may have been just a moment, or it may have been a long time.

Gu Sheng suddenly snapped out of that wonderful and comfortable state.

He immediately focused his gaze on his own sea of ​​consciousness.

Upon seeing it, his expression instantly became extremely complicated, filled with astonishment and disbelief!
His sea of ​​consciousness... had actually shrunk in size! From its previous vastness, which was close to the peak of the sixth rank, it had been forcibly shrunk back to the state when he first entered the sixth rank!
However, although the sea of ​​consciousness had "shrunk," the flowing and surging spiritual energy within it was no longer in its previous relatively "thin" state. Instead, it had become as heavy as mercury and as turbulent and thick as magma! Every strand of spiritual energy shone with a restrained yet profound light, containing terrifying energy and will!
He slightly mobilized a portion of his mental energy.

"Buzz!"

The air itself seemed to groan in despair! That seemingly faint wisp of spiritual energy was at least nine times stronger and more refined than it had been before his first spiritual energy refinement! Or even more!

A second condensation! His spiritual power actually underwent a second inconceivable condensation during this unexpected spiritual fusion!

Just as Gu Sheng was shocked by his own changes, Tantai Xuefei across from him slowly opened her eyes.

Her once innocent eyes, which belonged to a child, had now become as deep as the starry night, and her every glance carried a sense of authority. Combined with her sixteen or seventeen-year-old girlish face, she appeared both beautiful and powerful.

Her sea of ​​consciousness had successfully broken through, officially entering the realm of a seventh-grade spirit spellcaster! Moreover, in that strange state of spiritual unity just now, the edge of her sea of ​​consciousness was further expanded, and her spiritual power level advanced rapidly, directly skipping the early, middle, and late stages of the seventh grade, and finally stabilizing at... the peak of the seventh grade!

Feeling the vast and powerful spiritual energy flowing freely in her sea of ​​consciousness, Tantai Xuefei's eyes first flashed with immense shock and ecstasy, but then, as if sensing something, she looked at Gu Sheng opposite her with a complicated expression.

She clearly sensed that an extremely subtle and inseparable deep connection had been established between herself and Gu Sheng's spiritual origins.

This connection stems from that unexpected and complete spiritual unity we just experienced.

As a direct descendant of the Tantai family, she deeply understood the special significance of the supernatural power of "spiritual unity".

This supernatural power can usually only be used on one person in a lifetime, representing unreserved trust and a deep bond at the level of the soul.

Although she didn't actively use it just now, but rather it was spontaneously completed under the influence of the mysterious golden flame, its effect and essence were no different from the "spiritual unity" that she actively used!
This also means that... she will probably never be able to use this most cherished auxiliary divine power of the Tantai family's direct line on a second person in her life.

Thinking of this, Tantai Xuefei's gaze towards Gu Sheng became even more complex and unfathomable, containing shock, confusion, a strange tremor, and a sense of resignation that she herself had not even noticed, a sense of destiny predetermined.

Gu Sheng slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness returning to reality from the deep changes in his sea of ​​consciousness.

However, the sight that came into view made him pause for a moment, and a rare look of embarrassment appeared on his face.

He saw that Tantai Xuefei, who had been sitting cross-legged opposite him, had her originally well-fitting bright red children's clothes torn apart due to her physical breakthrough and increased size. The clothes were now hanging in pieces, barely covering her vital parts, revealing large areas of her fair and delicate skin, which was already beginning to show the slender outline of a young girl.

She seemed still immersed in the insights gained from the breakthrough and the complex emotions of spiritual unity, and did not immediately realize her predicament.

Gu Sheng coughed lightly, looked away somewhat awkwardly, and said with a hint of apology.

“This… Pavilion Master Xuefei, the situation just now was special, and I did not expect your physical body to change so drastically.”

Startled awake by his voice, Tantai Xuefei subconsciously looked down and let out a soft gasp. Two blushes instantly rose on her pretty face, spreading all the way to her ears. But she didn't panic like an ordinary girl; instead, she quickly calmed down, though the blush remained.

She raised her eyes and stared intently at Gu Sheng, her eyes now deep and bright, filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.

After a few breaths of silence, she suddenly sighed softly, her voice carrying an indescribable melancholy, yet also a mixture of coquettishness and reproach, enough to stir pity in any man.

"Master Gu, you've seen her body and even... become one with her in spirit. Now, you'd better take responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

"Responsible?"

Tantai Xuefei blinked, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. Her tone was serious, yet also carried an indescribable meaning.

"You may not know, but this 'spiritual unity' is of extraordinary significance to the direct descendants of the Tantai family."

Its importance, in some respects, is even equal to, or surpasses, that of a woman's virginity. Once spiritual union is achieved with another, this power can never be used on a second person in this lifetime. You say… shouldn't you be responsible for this?”

Looking at her expression, which was half serious and half joking, Gu Sheng felt a little unsure and tentatively asked.

"are you serious?"

Tantai Xuefei stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. The charm she revealed in that instant was a blend of girlish innocence and budding allure, captivating the heart.

She waved her now long and slender, fair hand and smiled.

"I was just kidding! Look how scared you are! Being able to enjoy the Emperor Realm soul personally cleansing my body saves me at least ten years of hard work, allowing me to return to the Venerable Realm and participate in the great battles of the Eastern Wilderness and even the Central Continent. What is this price?"
Besides, during our spiritual union just now, my spiritual power also benefited greatly, directly stabilizing at the peak of the seventh rank. In a way, I benefited immensely! So, we're even now!

Looking at her feigned ease, Gu Sheng knew in his heart that things were not as simple and easy as she made them out to be. The bond of "spiritual unity" was probably much deeper than she described.

But he was happy to let the matter drop for the time being, and he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

"It's good that you think that way. However, this matter is ultimately due to me, and I will definitely compensate you if needed in the future."

Having said that, he stood up almost in a disheveled manner, not bothering with any more pleasantries. With a flash, he disappeared from the side hall as if fleeing, leaving only a slight ripple in the space.

Watching Gu Sheng's almost fleeing figure, Tantai Xuefei's smile gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression that was neither a smile nor a smile, but rather a deep meaning.

She looked down at her already grown body and felt the vast and boundless seventh-grade peak spiritual power in her sea of ​​consciousness, which was just one step away from completing its first condensation.

'That strange golden flame… though I don’t know its exact origin, it has indeed brought me unimaginable benefits. It not only helped me solidify my foundation, but also allowed me to glimpse the threshold of spiritual power condensation.' She pondered to herself, 'Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune.'

This unexpected spiritual union, while meaning I lost the ability to use this supernatural power on others, also forged the deepest soul connection between me and a person who seemed to be a reincarnation of an Emperor Realm expert, possessing boundless potential… Perhaps, this is my destiny, my fate is already intertwined with his?

She gently gathered her tattered clothes, her eyes darting around, lost in thought.

……

When Gu Sheng returned to his quiet room, he found that Gu Yuanyuan and Qi Diao Yaoyao were not cultivating.

The two women were huddled together, each holding a jade talisman that emitted a faint glow. It contained some information and speculations about Lan Liyue's Sacred Gu Spirit Body that Gu Sheng had previously recorded. Qi Diao Yaoyao seemed to have encountered some problem and was pestering Gu Yuanyuan, pointing to a certain spot on the jade talisman and asking a question in a low voice.

Gu Yuanyuan, still feeling indebted to her junior sister because of the misunderstanding during their first meeting, was now patiently and earnestly answering her questions.

Hearing the door open, the two women stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the doorway.

Upon seeing Gu Sheng enter, Gu Yuanyuan immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Master."

Qi Diao Yaoyao also quickly got up and called out nervously.

"Teacher...master."

Gu Sheng nodded to them, his gaze sweeping over the jade talisman, but he didn't ask any further questions.

At this moment, his mind was still mostly immersed in the tremendous changes brought about by the second condensation of his own sea of ​​consciousness. Occasionally, a trace of his aura would leak out uncontrollably, making the space around him seem somewhat illusory and distorted, as if separated by a flowing water curtain.

Gu Yuanyuan and Qi Diaoyao both keenly sensed the abnormality of their master. Gu Yuanyuan, in particular, had opened her second sea of ​​consciousness and was more sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual power. She felt that if she looked at her master for even a moment, her soul would sink into it, and she would feel dizzy.

"Master, you..."

Gu Yuanyuan couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with concern.

Gu Sheng waved his hand and explained.

"It's alright, it's just that my mental strength has made a slight breakthrough, and I haven't fully adapted to controlling it yet. Please don't look directly at me for now, lest you disturb your peace of mind. After I adjust tonight, I'll be back to normal tomorrow." (End of Chapter)