The three of them gathered together at this moment, the flame marks on the backs of their hands resonating with each other, flickering on and off.
Gu Ze stroked the back of his hand and looked up at Lian Yue.
If they wanted to leave this place, just the knowledge he and Li Xunmiao possessed would definitely not be enough.
The riddle set by a Golden Core could only be solved by a Golden Core.
The only thing Gu Ze could do was to throw himself into the game, attempting to intercept some of the calamities Fu Xu had laid down.
“Lian Yue, we should consider how we can get out of here.”
Lian Yue reined in her playful mood, her expression turning serious as she said, “Fu Xu split the World-burning Heavenly Fire into three and planted it inside each of us. Now, if all the Shenhuo is given to one person, that person can break open this Hidden Realm and leave.”
“Then what about the other two?”
As if she’d expected Gu Ze to ask, Lian Yue raised a hand, spreading five fingers: “They need to wait here for fifty years before they can leave.”
“After the Burning World Flower consumed the spiritual energy that Fu Xu offered up, it succeeded in nurturing the Shenhuo.”
“But Weijin Mountain didn’t gain any benefits—on the contrary, I used the Divine Spring’s power to seal all fire elements, and now it’s drained of spiritual energy.”
“Staying here any longer, we wouldn’t even be able to cultivate.”
“Now this Hidden Realm is sealed by Fu Xu. I can calculate that he sealed this place for at least fifty years, but I can’t find a way to break you out for now.”
“Using the Shenhuo to leave is probably a way out he left on purpose, wanting to see us fight over it.”
When she finished, the three fell silent.
“Lian Yue, can’t you leave first and then violently break open the Hidden Realm from the outside?”
“You could, but Fu Xu isn’t a fool. The Hidden Realm is so rough now and you can’t cultivate inside. The flow of time here probably doesn’t match the outside.”
“It’s possible that fifty years pass here while only an hour passes outside.”
“As long as he delays me a bit, he can make you two wait inside for fifty years.”
Li Xunmiao’s interest was instantly piqued: “To be alone with Senior Brother for fifty years, I’d be happy to!”
Lian Yue rolled her eyes: “You think it doesn’t consume lifespan? You two are still at the Qi Refining stage, you can’t stay young forever. By the time I get you out, the two of you might already be old and wrinkled—what immortality would you be cultivating then?”
“Do you want to spend fifty years of dull days with Gu Ze, or do you want to leave here and pursue longevity, and spend hundreds or even thousands of years together?”
To spend her life with him? Clearly, Li Xunmiao preferred the latter.
Li Xunmiao bit her lip lightly: “Is there really no other way?”
“There is!” Lian Yue seemed to have been waiting for this question.
She waved her arm, and the scene around them shifted again, transforming into a training ground atop the Yunhai Immortal Pavilion.
Before them was a dense crowd—these people were stiff like mannequins, not only lacking features but also identical in height, weight, and build, clearly created in haste.
“There are sixty-five thousand five hundred and thirty-five people here, the maximum number that can be conjured by this Hidden Realm.”
“I can sense Fu Xu’s presence among them, but I can’t tell which is his True Body. If we can find it, maybe we can force him to tell us how to leave.”
As Lian Yue spoke, she kicked over a few unmoving figures in front of her. They collapsed to the ground like straw men, instantly vanishing.
Both Golden Cores, but Fu Xu’s illusion was hastily arranged and not that sophisticated.
Even though Lian Yue had her spiritual energy burned away by the Shenhuo, the incomplete Shenhuo couldn’t damage her core essence.
She drew upon the Etheric Qi within her body, enough to compete with Fu Xu.
Li Xunmiao drew Zang Tian, her gaze sharpening: “No problem, I’ll just cut them all down.”
“Hey, wait.” Lian Yue tried to stop her, but Li Xunmiao was already charging forward, reaping through the crowd like harvesting wheat.
“Sigh,” Lian Yue pressed her forehead and sighed softly, “I told you, the upper limit is this number. If you kill one, another will appear in the distance. Unless you kill them all at once, Fu Xu can just switch his position and you’ll never force out his true form.”
Gu Ze tried to make up for it: “Xunmiao is just very proactive, and she probably has a lot of resentment toward Fu Xu, so she doesn’t want to wait another second.”
“Hmph, I think she’s just too young, still not steady enough,” Lian Yue snorted, evaluating.
Gu Ze paused. Li Xunmiao’s temperament should be very steady; after all, the Li Xunmiao recorded in the book was exactly that.
Yet the Li Xunmiao before him sometimes behaved in a way that wasn’t mature at all, but Gu Ze was already used to it.
It was as if Li Xunmiao was meant to be this way, and the book’s records were wrong.
Suppressing the strange feeling, Gu Ze echoed, “Junior Sister Li is indeed very young.”
These words triggered Lian Yue again.
She crossed her arms, turned her head away, “So you like them young? Someone like me, a few hundred years… well, someone who doesn’t understand the beauty of maturity, I won’t stoop to your level.”
Hearing Lian Yue’s sudden sulk, Gu Ze spread his hands innocently: “Did I ever say I cared about age? We’re all cultivators, isn’t a few hundred years difference normal?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and Fairy Sister, your beauty and icy elegance would dazzle anyone.” Gu Ze put on a serious face, yet his words were downright teasing, as if he was evaluating a priceless antique vase.
Lian Yue laughed and gave him a gentle punch: “Gu Ze, are you deliberately coaxing me so you can reel me in?”
“You little wolf, if you’re really lusting after my body, why pretend to be serious? Wouldn’t it be better to just give in to me just now?”
Lian Yue inconspicuously moved a step away, taking two deep breaths.
She thought she’d better not keep flirting with Gu Ze—otherwise… there’d be no spare underclothes to change into in this Hidden Realm.
Li Xunmiao had been slashing away for a long time. Turning back and seeing the two standing there, chatting and laughing, she ran over with her sword in hand, clearly sulking.
“Feels like you two are ganging up on me…” Her lower lip pouted so much it nearly reached her nose, and her sword-like brows drooped, obviously very unhappy.
Lian Yue laughed silently, not bothering to argue.
Her deep, star-like eyes gazed at the dusky sky, and she murmured, “This is a calamity laid down by Fu Xu himself, hoping to see us fight over the Shenhuo and tear each other apart. How can we let him have his way?”
“Li Xunmiao, I plan to give the chance to leave to you two. Who will accept the Shenhuo is up to you.”
Actually, none of the three really cared about the Shenhuo.
“Let Xunmiao leave first,” Gu Ze said immediately.
Li Xunmiao’s mouth opened slightly, but when she met Gu Ze’s serious eyes, she didn’t refuse.
Since it was Senior Brother Gu’s decision, she would follow it.
She believed in Gu Ze’s boundless talent—he would surely find a way out soon.
Li Xunmiao raised her hand, and the Shenhuo marks on the backs of their hands merged, forming a blooming Burning World Flower on hers.
A purple-red flame instantly engulfed Li Xunmiao’s whole body. The other two felt the heat and stepped back a few paces.
Right now, there was no spiritual energy to insulate against the flames. Getting burned by the Shenhuo would not be pleasant.
Li Xunmiao’s lips moved, and she gave the two one last look before soaring into the sky and leaving.
Watching her disappear, Gu Ze patted Lian Yue’s shoulder: “Your Etheric Qi can transform into anything, so it should be able to become the World-burning Heavenly Fire to take you out, right?”
Lian Yue bit her lip—she hadn’t expected Gu Ze to see through her trick, but it was indeed possible.
“Idiot, what about you?!” Lian Yue frowned, “I’m not so heartless as to leave you here alone.”
The World-burning Heavenly Fire was too ferocious—not only could it not take Gu Ze away, but if he got too close, he’d get hurt.
Gu Ze smiled indifferently: “It’s fine. Fu Xu gave up his realm just to nurture the Shenhuo. He wouldn’t go to such lengths just to trap me here for fifty years.”
“Once you’re gone, I might have a chance to speak with him alone.”
Lian Yue dropped her gaze from him, taking a deep breath.
“Li Xunmiao believes in you, so I’ll believe in you this once as well.” Lian Yue’s eyes softened, her pupils quivering slightly.
She called it trust, but even with Golden Core strength, she couldn’t guarantee she could leave the Hidden Realm unharmed.
Thinking back on everything in the Hidden Realm before, Fu Xu had disguised himself as Lin Tianhai, deliberately approaching Gu Ze multiple times—Lian Yue had watched all of it from the shadows.
Gu Ze was only at the Qi Refining stage; what right did he have to earn the attention of a Golden Core expert?
Oh, but Lian Yue herself was very interested in Gu Ze, so maybe it wasn’t so strange after all.
“I’ll wait for your return, no matter how long it takes, no matter what you become,” she whispered into Gu Ze’s ear.
Gu Ze smiled: “Weren’t you only planning on having a physical relationship with me? Even if I’m stuck here for fifty years and turn into an old man, what does it matter?”
“Hmph, then you’ll still be the little brother, and you’ll still have to call me sister when you see me.” She puffed up proudly.
In the end, she couldn’t help herself—she tiptoed and pecked his cheek.
Holding her head, Lian Yue gathered the last wisp of Etheric Qi within her, transforming it into the World-burning Heavenly Fire to leave the Hidden Realm.
Both Golden Cores, but no matter how strong Fu Xu was, he couldn’t completely restrict Lian Yue’s actions; he made no move to stop her, letting her escape.
The Hidden Realm fell completely silent, and even the sound of wind at Gu Ze’s ear suddenly felt especially real.
Gu Ze took a deep breath and slowly turned around.
The surroundings had returned to the mountaintop and the heavenly pool.
A figure in a white mask stood quietly by the lake, as if he had always been there, watching all that had transpired in the Hidden Realm.
A single clap.
He patted his hands, seeming very satisfied with the current scene.
“I thought you’d use their devotion to you to monopolize the Shenhuo and leave.”
“Devotion? Did it ever occur to you that I’m devoted too? How could I bear to leave the two of them behind?” Gu Ze’s face was calm as he responded.
Fu Xu stroked his chin, finding it somewhat amusing.
The day Li Xunmiao first entered Yunhai Immortal Pavilion, he saw that heavenly anomaly. It was as if a dragon soared through the clouds, and the power of the Heavenly Path manifested.
Li Xunmiao was the Tianming Zhi Nu, destined to act as the agent of the heavens. But Gu Ze was like a hidden dragon who suddenly appeared, rising alongside Li Xunmiao.
Previously, the dozens of Golden Cores and even several Nascent Souls in the Yunhai Immortal Pavilion hadn’t noticed any particular talent in Gu Ze.
But now, anyone with the slightest foresight wouldn’t be able to ignore the mysterious youth by Li Xunmiao’s side.
Fu Xu became even more certain after Gu Ze made a scene at Songhuo Peak—this boy was no ordinary person.
As Peak Lord, he knew everything happening in his own territory like the back of his hand, but he had no idea how Gu Ze had managed to erupt with such powerful late-stage Qi Refining force.
That wasn’t a magic artifact, nor a mystical ability—it was as if the strength had appeared out of nowhere.
Unless someone far above Golden Core realm was backing him, Fu Xu couldn’t see how Gu Ze could unleash such force, nor could he trace its cause.
Was it an ancient remnant soul possessing him? A revealed artifact spirit? Or… was Gu Ze himself the reincarnation of some great expert?
The two faced off for a while, neither speaking first.
Fu Xu shifted his body, revealing a flat-bottomed skiff behind him.
The mist on the lake thickened. The world in the Hidden Realm, already dark, grew even more uncertain and mysterious.
“Dare you get on the boat?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?”
The youth stepped onto the stern and sat cross-legged. Fu Xu looked him over for a while, then slowly sat as well.
The skiff drifted on without wind, heading for the far shore.
Gu Ze waited for Fu Xu to speak, because he truly had nothing to say himself.
Fu Xu had kept him behind for a reason. If he hadn’t fulfilled Fu Xu’s expectations, he’d hardly let him go.
This boat—Gu Ze dared to board it. If it capsized, so be it.
Now, it all depended on where Fu Xu intended this boat to go.
“This little boat of mine may be small, but it’s steady. Even with two aboard, it’ll safely reach the far shore.”
“But, what if two people stepped onto two boats at the same time—could they still reach the other side?” Fu Xu trailed his fingers through the ripples.
Gu Ze’s old face reddened—this was clearly a tease.
“A bird needs two wings to soar through the sky.”
“Oh? Then you’re going to say a tripod needs three legs to stand tall, aren’t you?” Fu Xu immediately quipped.
The once tense, sword-drawn atmosphere between the two had relaxed quite a bit.
Fu Xu leaned in a little, sitting across from him in the boat.
“Li Xunmiao’s fate is mysterious—I can’t see her origins, nor her future. Her life will surely be full of legend.”
“But my instincts tell me, Gu Ze, your story will be even more interesting. So I’ve decided to wager on you.”
“If you accept, I’ll send you across—there’s a little path there that will lead you out of the Hidden Realm.”
“If you refuse…you can try to swim and find your own way out.”
Whatever secrets were hidden on Gu Ze, Fu Xu couldn’t be bothered to probe further.
That was a power he couldn’t deduce, and even if he could, poking at its source would only risk making an enemy for no reason.
So, Fu Xu made the same choice as Gong Lixing.
Since your destiny is unpredictable and your future may rival even the Tianming Zhi Nu, then I’ll make my wager.
Fu Xu wanted to place his bet on Gu Ze; at this point, Gu Ze didn’t have the right to refuse.
This opportunity that fell into his lap might be good or bad—Gu Ze actually didn’t want to accept it.
If it was some treasure that even a Golden Core couldn’t easily obtain, Fu Xu would have kept it for himself, so why give it to an outsider?
But, when the soldiers come, the general will block; when the water comes, the earth will dam. No matter the trap, this was still an opportunity.
Gu Ze straightened up and smiled: “Since I’m already on your boat, how could I not accept? You like to watch a good show—next time, I’ll reserve you a front-row seat.”
“Interesting. I’ll look forward to it.” With that, Fu Xu handed Gu Ze a small black-and-white sphere.
It was about the size of a chicken egg, soft on the surface, with yin and yang flowing inside—black and white never mingling.
Of course, Gu Ze had no idea what it was, and waited eagerly for Fu Xu to explain.
“I’ve sealed a wisp of Pure Yin Qi and a wisp of Pure Yang Qi together. After some time, they’ll give birth to a strand of Primal Chaos Qi.”
“I want to see if you can use Primal Chaos Qi as your foundation.”
“Primal Chaos Qi… isn’t that just an impurity? You can build a foundation with that?” Gu Ze asked in disbelief.
Foundation Establishment requires capturing an element from between heaven and earth to use as one’s foundation, which means you’ve established your place in the world.
Primal Chaos Qi is the most basic impurity mixed in with spiritual energy, impossible to absorb or refine—on the Yunhai Immortal Pavilion, there’s more of it the higher you go, filling the whole sky above.
If Primal Chaos Qi could be used for cultivation, why would it be so hard to reach Golden Core or Nascent Soul?
“No one’s succeeded, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Maybe the right method just hasn’t been found.”
“Your fate is unpredictable and full of twists. What ordinary people use to defy destiny might be a shackle to you instead.”
“I think this suits your intent—maybe it can be your foundation for cultivation.” It was impossible to tell from Fu Xu’s tone whether he was serious or joking.
Gu Ze felt like Fu Xu was just bored and using him for amusement.
If Primal Chaos Qi was truly an unprecedented foundation material, then Li Xunmiao, as the world’s Tianming heroine, would’ve used it by now.
If she didn’t, someone at her level would have.
Gu Ze remembered that in the book, no one had ever used Primal Chaos Qi as their foundation—it had to be a dead end.
Unless, this world wasn’t exactly the same as in the book, just that many things coincidentally corresponded to it.
Actually, Gu Ze now couldn’t recall the name of that book at all—only the plot stuck in his mind.
After opening his spirit and cultivating, the higher his cultivation, the clearer his memory became, and his grasp of the plot details grew ever sharper.
But for some reason, he just couldn’t recall the book’s name, which was very strange.
Foundation?
Holding the sphere and watching yin and yang flow inside, Gu Ze drifted off in thought for a while.
But still, he couldn’t recall anything about Primal Chaos Qi.
“You went through all this trouble and even gave up your own cultivation just to use this to stump me? If I fail, will I never be able to build my foundation?”
“No matter. There are three Foundation Establishment paths: Heavenly Path Foundation, Earthly Path Foundation, and Human Path Foundation.”
“If you can’t use Primal Chaos Qi, you can still choose Heavenly Path. As for Earthly or Human… I don’t think you’ll pick those.”
“Heavenly Path Foundation has unlimited potential; Earthly Path Foundation has a slim chance at Golden Core; Human Path, you’ll never go beyond Foundation in this life.”
From his words, if Primal Chaos Qi could serve as a foundation, it would even surpass the Heavenly Path Foundation.