Stop pretending, the fake heiress is actually a master of metaphysics.

Shen Nian was taken aback.

The mysterious book she was looking for... turned out to be a living person?

Shen Nian had heard that swords have sword spirits and divine weapons have spirits, and thought it was the same principle.

Even someone as calm as Shen Nian took nearly half a minute to accept the news.

But if the Heavenly Book has already transformed into a human, can it still become a lifeless divine artifact?

Gu Qiwen said, "Now you only have two choices."

"Either take my soul away, shatter it, and let me transform back into the Heavenly Book."

"Or... take me with you."

He seemed to have given Shen Nian two choices.

However, both he and Shen Nian knew that Shen Nian actually only had one choice.

Because she is Shen Nian.

From the day their master brought Shen Nian to the Guili Sect, from the first day Gu Qiwen met this nominal junior sister.

He is probably the person who understands Shen Nian the most in the world.

He knew her outward coldness and her most fundamental kindness.

She couldn't possibly turn a living person into a divine artifact.

Gu Qiwen continued, "I've already explained everything over the past few days. The Gu family has professional agents to manage it, so even if I die, I can still help Yuncheng continue to manage the Gu family."

After regaining his memories, Gu Qiwen began preparing for everything that would happen after his death.

He was also a person with very shallow family ties. He didn't have much affection for the Gu family, even for his own parents.

Although they probably felt the same way about him.

Gu Qiwen has single-handedly supported the Gu family for many years and believes he has done enough for them.

As his thoughts returned, Gu Qiwen saw Shen Nian nod slightly.

The next few days were filled with endless meetings, training sessions, and the development of various action plans.

The entire guild was shrouded in an atmosphere of silence.

Before this, no one had ever actually entered the secret realm; it was something that only existed in fantasy novels.

But now they not only have to go in, but also rescue hundreds of ordinary people from inside.

Shen Nian gave a detailed account of the possible sights in the secret realm, including but not limited to various formations, illusions, strange beasts, and a series of other dangerous things.

And the opponent's approximate strength level.

Of course, there may be unreleased magical artifacts inside, but after so many years, they have most likely been acquired by the Lingyun Sect.

But until you actually enter the secret realm, it's all just talk.

Shen Nian has been to many secret realms, but each one is different.

Some secret realms even suppress the cultivation level of high-level cultivators, making them no different from Foundation Establishment disciples once they enter.

Some secret realms have a different time flow than the real world, similar to how a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth.

For a fleeting moment, Shen Nian suddenly recalled the time when she led her junior brothers and sisters to the secret realm for trials.

The world of cultivation is fraught with danger. In secret realms, killing and robbing for treasures, and mutual harm are commonplace.

Every time they emerge from the secret realm, many disciples perish inside.

Shen Nian composed herself.

She also has various pills to enhance cultivation, which she has already distributed to everyone on the list.

However, at most, one can only advance to the Golden Core stage of cultivation.

The drawback is that the effect only lasts for seven days.

After seven days, your cultivation level will gradually decline and return to its original state.

The advantage is that it will not damage the cultivator's foundation and has virtually no harm to the cultivator's body.

However, if they cannot rescue the person within seven days, they will be powerless to fight back against their opponent.

When the Guili Sect was wiped out, Master stuffed almost all the sect's magical treasures and elixirs into Shen Nian's storage ring.

—Now those things have finally come in handy.

Shen Nian intends to use all these things to cultivate the Celestial Masters of this era to a level where they can fight against the enemy.

It is not shameful to rely on external resources.

What is shameful is that they have always relied on external things, and even regarded them as their own true abilities.

Two weeks later, the guild members boarded a private plane bound for the Northwest Desert.

Accompanying them were various rescue experts, special forces, and other personnel, as well as various material support.

The people on the private plane included Taoist priests, Buddhist monks, shamans, and people from various sects and schools.

He carried only a small number of guns and weapons; the vast majority of his belongings consisted of compasses, talismans, and other such items.

It looks quite peculiar, standing out from the surrounding pure white bulkheads.

The general stood in the aisle and saluted everyone.

"You are all rare talents in the Xuanmen (Taoist arts) of China. Many wealthy businessmen and celebrities may spend their entire fortunes but still not be able to meet you."

"But now, for the sake of the people and safety of China, you have disregarded your own safety and boarded this special plane without hesitation. On behalf of the country, I thank you."

……

"Take care, everyone!"

Subsequently, the special plane officially took off, carrying them to the destination of this mission.

The coordinates given by Shen Nian were deep in the desert.

Ordinary means of transportation are difficult to reach, so after their private plane arrives at the airport in the provincial capital, they first need to take a car to a small town near the desert, and then change to jeeps suitable for driving in the desert to go deep into the heart of the desert.

The local government has dispatched experienced guides to find a safe route to the coordinates. If all goes well, they should be able to reach the coordinates in another day and night.

At this moment, Shen Nian was sitting in a jeep, with only Wang Jingxing and Gu Qiwen in the car with her.

Yellow sand swirled everywhere outside the window, obscuring any sign of vegetation.

The desert is a vast, waterless ocean.

The air is dry.

Wang Jingxing unscrewed a bottle of water and glanced at Shen Nian and Gu Qiwen.

They all looked calm.

Wang Jingxing was quite old, but he still couldn't understand the calm on their faces.

He knew that Shen Nian's purpose was not to rescue the people trapped inside.

Shen Nian had told him directly that she would do her best to help the Xuanmen Guild rescue the ordinary people inside, but that was not her main purpose.

She wasn't there to save people.

Instead, he went there to kill someone.

From the moment Wang Jingxing first saw Shen Nian, he felt that this girl was carrying something very heavy on her shoulders.

He couldn't tell what it was.

But perhaps after this trip, the burdens Shen Nian carries will be completely resolved.

Wang Jingxing asked, "How do we enter the secret realm?"

According to Shen Nian, the secret realm usually only opens once every few decades, and the entrance is difficult to find.

Shen Nian said calmly, "Entering the secret realm isn't difficult. The key question is, what will we face once we're inside?"

With the Heavenly Book in hand, opening a secret realm is not a difficult task.

The difficulty lies in figuring out how to proceed once you enter the secret realm.

The secret realm contains a minor heavenly path, which is an independent world and is not subject to the control of the Heavenly Book.

Shen Nian thought to herself—

This group really knows how to choose where to hide.