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

"Miss Tantai, you flatter me, Gu Sheng."

He looked around but didn't see Shen Qingtan or Gu Ningshuang. He then looked at Tantai Xueli and asked.

"Xue Li, where are Qing Tan and Ning Shuang? Haven't they arrived yet?"

Before Tantai Xueli could answer, Tantai Qingyao spoke up first to explain.

"Brother Gu, Sister Qingtan and Sister Ningshuang entered the secret realm an hour ago!"

"They're inside?"

Gu Sheng was taken aback.

"Ok!"

Tantai Qingyao nodded.

"The entrance to this 'Void Mystery Realm' is somewhat peculiar in its stability. Only a small group of people can enter at a time, and the intervals between them are quite long. Sister Qingtan and the others possess the crucial secret realm token and map, so they went in first as the first group of explorers."

We're all in the second batch, and we need to wait here until they come out, or until the next stable period for the entrance to the secret realm arrives, before we can enter. For now, we can only wait.

It turned out to be the case.

Gu Sheng suddenly realized, and his gaze returned to the depths of the Rift Valley, where he could vaguely sense chaotic spatial fluctuations. It seemed that he would need to wait patiently before he could reunite with Shen Qingtan and Gu Ningshuang to explore this secret realm that might be related to the "Inheritance of the Divine Forger".

Outside the Rift Valley, the gathered martial artists either conversed in hushed tones or sat cross-legged to regulate their breathing, awaiting the next stabilization of the entrance to the secret realm. Tantai Xueli glanced at the sky, then sensed the spatial fluctuations within the valley, which were sometimes calm and sometimes chaotic, before turning to Gu Sheng and whispering.

“Brother Gu Sheng, there’s no point in just waiting. Sister Qing Tan and the others have been inside for over an hour. Although the entrance to this secret realm limits the number of people who can enter at one time, the interior space seems quite vast. Why don’t we also go to the edge of the secret realm first, explore while waiting for the signal to reunite with them? It’s better than wasting time here.”

After a moment's thought, Gu Sheng nodded in agreement. Staying here was indeed pointless, and with so many people around, it would be better to go into the secret realm first. At least they could familiarize themselves with the environment, and perhaps even make some unexpected discoveries.

After exchanging a few words with Tantai Qingyao and the other members of the Tantai family, the two of them no longer hesitated. They moved swiftly, avoiding several obvious points of spatial disorder, and headed straight for the source of the fluctuations at the entrance to the secret realm deep within the Rift Valley.

After passing through an area filled with distorted light and jagged rocks, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a relatively flat valley. In the center of the valley, an oval-shaped light gate, about three zhang in diameter, constantly rotating and twisting, with a chaotic color inside, floated silently, emitting a stable spatial suction force. This was the entrance to the "Void Mystery Realm".

The two exchanged a glance, each channeling their inner energy to protect themselves, and then stepped into the gate of light one after the other.

A familiar slight dizziness and a sense of spatial shift washed over me, and the scene before me instantly changed. The desolation and sharp edge of the valley outside vanished, replaced by an ancient, boundless, and misty primeval forest landscape.

The sky was a strange pale purple, the light was soft, and in the distance, mountains rose and fell, ancient trees reached the sky, and the faint sounds of beasts roaring and birds singing could be heard. The concentration of spiritual energy was also much higher than that of the outside world.

"This secret realm... seems to be a small world of its own, and its area is not small."

Tantai Xueli sensed her surroundings and spoke softly.

Gu Sheng nodded, and his powerful mental energy spread out quietly like an invisible spider web, instantly covering an area of ​​several miles in radius.

He is now at the peak of the ninth level of the Sect Realm. With the dual blessing of the Dao of Fate and the Dao of Divine Revelation, his perception range and accuracy far exceed those of his peers. He quickly detected several familiar aura fluctuations that were moving deeper into the realm.

"Over there, come with me."

Gu Sheng discerned the direction and sped off towards the location he had sensed. Tantai Xueli followed closely behind.

The two moved with incredible speed, traversing the ancient, spiritually rich forest like two wisps of smoke. Along the way, they encountered some low-level creatures from the secret realm, most of whom were not very intelligent. Sensing the considerable aura emanating from the two, they all kept their distance.

After traveling for about a hundred miles, and passing through a dense forest of strange trees with leaves that shimmered with a metallic sheen, a relatively open area of ​​stone forest appeared ahead. The rocks were jagged and varied in shape, casting long shadows in the pale purple light of the sky.

At the edge of the stone forest, Gu Sheng spotted three slender figures in the distance.

One of the figures was tall and slender, with a cool and aloof temperament like an ice peak and a snow lotus; it was Gu Ningshuang.

She seemed to be discussing something in hushed tones with Shen Qingtan beside her and another woman dressed in light green, with a gentle yet resilient demeanor, holding a leather map that gleamed faintly in her hand.

As if sensing something, the moment Gu Sheng's gaze fell upon her, Gu Ning Shuang suddenly raised her cold eyes, as if piercing through space, and precisely locked onto the direction where Gu Sheng was!

When that familiar yet seemingly more profound and imposing figure came into view, Gu Ningshuang's cold and beautiful face, which had been like ice that had never melted for millennia, showed obvious fluctuations as if it had been illuminated by the spring sun.

An unbelievable surprise suddenly burst forth in her clear eyes, along with a sense of relief that she herself hadn't even noticed, a relief that had been suppressed for so long.

Without any hesitation, and without even saying a word to Shen Qingtan and the other person beside her, Gu Ningshuang's figure instantly transformed into a light blue streak of light. She took a few steps, as if shrinking the distance to an inch, and traversed hundreds of feet, directly rushing towards Gu Sheng, who had just stopped!

With a familiar, refreshing, minty fragrance, Gu Ningshuang's soft, slightly cool body had already crashed solidly into Gu Sheng's arms.

Her arms wrapped tightly around Gu Sheng's waist and back, so tightly that Gu Sheng felt a slight tightening, as if she wanted to meld herself into his body.

He could clearly feel that the seemingly cold and strong body in his arms was trembling slightly and imperceptibly.

Gu Sheng was slightly taken aback, then a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He reached out and gently wrapped his arms around Gu Ning Shuang's slender waist, resting his chin lightly on her fragrant hair. His voice, filled with laughter, echoed in the silent stone forest.

"Senior Sister Shuang'er, it's been a long time."

The familiar "Senior Sister Shuang'er" made Gu Ningshuang's body tremble slightly, and she tightened her arms around herself for several breaths.

She seemed to snap out of her daze, a charming blush rising on her pretty face. She quickly let go of his hand, took a small step back, lowered her head slightly, and dared not look directly into Gu Sheng's eyes. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it carried an undisguised concern.

"Gu...Gu Sheng, are you...are you alright? I heard you were in Tianyuan Imperial City..."

Seeing this, Tantai Xueli, who was following behind, had a barely perceptible complex emotion flash across her beautiful eyes, and couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. However, she was not an unreasonable woman, and knew the deep friendship between Gu Ningshuang and Gu Sheng, who had known each other since their humble beginnings and had experienced the changes in the Eastern Wilderness together. It was only natural for them to be excited about their reunion. She simply stood quietly to the side and did not say anything to disturb them.

Gu Sheng looked at Gu Ningshuang, who rarely showed such girlish shyness, and shook his head with a smile.

"I'm fine, everything is alright. I'll explain the details to you after things are settled here. As for the Great Wilderness City... quite a few things have happened there as well."

Upon hearing about the "upheaval in the Great Wilderness City," a hint of seriousness flashed in Gu Ningshuang's eyes, but she knew this was not the time to discuss it in detail. She simply nodded slightly and said in a low voice.

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

At this moment, Shen Qingtan and Yu Rou also walked over quickly. Shen Qingtan was still wearing the half-bronze mask, and the half of her face that was exposed had the same sharp eyes as before. However, when she looked at Gu Sheng, her eyes held not only the usual scrutiny but also an undisguised look of surprise. Yu Rou smiled gently at Gu Sheng and Tantai Xueli as a greeting.

Shen Qingtan's gaze lingered on Gu Sheng for a moment, especially when she felt the seemingly peaceful yet subtly oppressive aura emanating from him. Her expression changed slightly, and she blurted out.

"Peak of the Sect Realm?! You've broken through?"

She remembered clearly that when they parted, although Gu Sheng was strong, his aura was far from being so refined, condensed, and unfathomable. Moreover, there was a kind of profound weight that made even someone like her, who had already stepped into the Human King realm, feel a tremor in her heart.

This is something that cannot be achieved simply by reaching the seventh or eighth level of the Grandmaster Realm!
Gu Sheng nodded frankly and smiled.

"I had some lucky encounters and broke through two levels in a row, so I'm now at the ninth level of the Sect Realm. Once this trip to the Central Plains is over and I return to the Eastern Wilderness, I'm sure I can smash that cheap brother of Miss Shen's with one punch."

These words carried a hint of jest, yet were also brimming with absolute confidence. With his current ninth-level Grandmaster Realm, the power of forty-five Heavenly Dragons, four Great Dao Bodies, and numerous trump cards, if he were to return to the Eastern Wilderness, dealing with Shen Qingyun would indeed be effortless.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtan was taken aback for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on the corner of her mouth beneath the mask. Her voice was less sharp than usual, and more relaxed and resolute.

"That won't be necessary."

She looked at Gu Sheng with clear eyes.

"Having traveled through the Central Plains, I have seen a wider world and also encountered monsters like you... My vision, Shen Qingtan's, is no longer what it used to be. After returning to the Eastern Wilderness, I will personally defeat my adopted brother. Otherwise, I would be letting down the opportunities and time you fought for me in the Eastern Wilderness, as well as the 'example' you have set for yourself along the way."

Her words were spoken frankly and openly, carrying a sense of pride and transformation that belonged to her alone. Clearly, her experiences in Zhongzhou had matured her considerably, freeing her from limiting her vision to just one corner of the Eastern Wilderness or to internal family struggles.

Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng's eyes flashed with approval, and he nodded with a smile.

"Alright, then I'll wait and see."

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone knew that the most important thing now was to explore this secret realm and search for any hidden opportunities that might be related to the "Inheritance of the Divine Forger." After all, the members of the Tantai family were still waiting outside, and it was not advisable to delay any longer.

Led by Shen Qingtan, the group traversed the stone forest and ventured deeper into the secret realm. Along the way, Shen Qingtan briefly explained their previous discoveries and the general direction they had determined based on the map.

After traveling for about half an hour, the group arrived at an area that was clearly an ancient ruin. Ruins were everywhere, and many massive stone pillars lay collapsed on the ground, their carved patterns long since blurred and covered by thick moss and vines. A desolate and deathly still atmosphere, imbued with the weight of time, permeated the air.

"This is it."

Shen Qingtan stopped and pointed to a relatively flat area, but the foundation of a dilapidated palace was piled with broken tiles and broken stone beams.

"According to the map and our accidental discovery when we were being chased by monsters last time, the entrance to that hidden place is located beneath these palace ruins."

She walked to the edge of a seemingly ordinary ground paved with huge bluestone slabs and tapped one of the slabs with her foot. The slab was slightly dark in color and had a crack that was not easily noticeable on the edge.

"Originally, there seemed to be a teleportation array here that could directly lead to a certain place outside the secret realm. But it was affected by some kind of powerful demon beast battle, and the core of the array was completely shattered, turning this palace into ruins as well."

When we were being chased here last time, while we were hiding, Yu Rou accidentally triggered a remnant rune beneath this stone slab, and that's how we discovered... a hidden world below.

Gu Sheng stepped forward, squatted down, and gently placed his palm on the dark bluestone slab. His materialized spiritual energy, like the finest tendrils, seeped into the cracks of the stone. After a moment, he withdrew his palm, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"There are indeed faint spatial fluctuations below, as well as an extremely hidden, almost integrated, incomplete magic array."

The way this magic circle is constructed... is very ancient, and it doesn't seem to be a simple teleportation array, but more like... an 'anchor point' or 'portal' in a spatial interlayer.

"Can it be activated?"

Gu Ningshuang asked.

"It should be possible. Although the core of the formation is damaged, the basic structure is still intact, and it seems to be connected to the earth's veins, with a faint flow of energy. As long as enough true energy is input to resonate with the earth's spiritual energy, it may be possible to temporarily open that 'gateway'."

Gu Sheng stood up and gestured for everyone to step back a bit.

"Come closer to me, everyone."

As instructed, everyone gathered around Gu Sheng.

Gu Sheng took a deep breath, and his powerful true energy at the ninth level of the Sect Realm surged out without reservation, transforming into a condensed pale golden torrent that flowed down his palm as he pressed it to the ground and crashed into the dark blue stone slab!

"Om-!"

The bluestone slab trembled violently, and the seemingly natural cracks on its surface suddenly lit up with faint yet complex silver runes!
Immediately afterwards, the ground within a radius of three zhang (approximately 10 meters) centered on the stone slab began to tremble. More silver runes lit up from the cracks in the broken floor tiles and the base of the collapsed stone pillars, connecting with each other and quickly forming a circular array that, though incomplete, still exuded profound spatial fluctuations!
The array's light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a silver pillar of light that shot into the sky, completely enveloping Gu Sheng and the others!
Space distorted violently, and the dilapidated palace before them swayed, blurred, and vanished like a reflection in water...

In the blink of an eye, the pillar of light dissipated, and everyone felt their feet become solid, finding themselves in a place completely different from the desolate and lifeless ruins they had just seen!

Before me lies a paradise of birdsong and fragrant flowers, brimming with vitality! The sky is a clear, deep blue, the sun shines warmly, and the air is filled with the refreshing scent of flowers and the fresh aroma of grass and trees.

In the distance, verdant mountains rise, their peaks shrouded in mist; nearby, streams murmur gently; exotic flowers and rare herbs abound, and many medicinal plants, seldom seen in the outside world, appear here as common wild grasses, radiating an alluring glow. Tranquil, peaceful, and brimming with life, it stands in stark contrast to the environments of other secret realms and even the Central Plains, like a pristine land forgotten by time. (End of Chapter)