Thanks to Lan Wenxi’s introductions, the pharmacists maintained very good attitudes toward Gu Zuo — Although they were also often called geniuses of medicine refinement, since they could be selected as Lan Wenxi and Shen Yuanbai’s personal pharmacists, they would have the ability to read someone’s expressions. Granted that Gu Zuo was another candidate who had appeared out of thin air, they were capable of remaining polite and amiable on the surface. What’s more, they quickly realized that Gu Zuo was, in fact, already a personal pharmacist of another prodigy, so they were even more friendly.
After going into the leyline, perhaps they would need to draw support from Gu Zuo’s strength.
Hence, it didn’t take long for the couple of people to familiarize themselves with one another.
Gu Zuo didn’t chat too long with these pharmacists, whom he had just met. Without any conscious decision, his gaze took measure of his surroundings.
They definitely weren’t the only people in this place, and the number of bystanders wasn’t low. There were similar combinations of one pharmacist and one martial artist that had also gathered at Maple Forest Ruins.
Lan Wenxi said: “Our Heavenly Martial Sect has granted these folks permission to use this path.”
Gu Zuo understood in a flash.
Although there were many entrances, not every entrance was close by. Naturally, one would usually need to find a nearby sect or organization that held an entrance in their possession.
However, if a person thought about it, they would also realize that borrowing an entrance wasn’t done for free. Who knew how many resources one needed to pay in exchange?
With such thoughts, Gu Zuo suddenly heard a voice that was as clear and melodious as birdsong.
In a split second, he felt an inexplicable headache coming on — It wasn’t actually painful. Instead, it was a bit of an ill omen.
In the next moment, Gu Zuo saw a cyan wild bird descending from the sky at great speeds. It didn’t sweep past the heads of the numerous prodigies. Rather, after circling a few times far away, it suddenly dived down and landed on the ground.
Sitting upright on top of this cyan wild bird was a young lady wearing a robe as white as snow. Her looks were impeccably beautiful, her temperament was ice-cold, and her entire body emitted a faint chill. It seemed like no one else was reflected in that pair of gorgeous eyes.
This was the Ice Phoenix Goddess. Jade Flame Valley’s Mu Baizhi.
The Ice Phoenix Goddess jumped off and flashed downward. Strands of snowy light seemed to linger and curl around her, and the contrast gave her a fairy-like appearance. Each and every man who looked upon her almost couldn’t help giving another glance. If a passionate fellow saw her, he would’ve had an even harder time resisting the desire to conquer her, and take her into his arms with gentle tenderness and honeyed love.
Gu Zuo: “…”
He really didn’t want to see this lady appear.
Every time he looked at her, he always had a strange feeling.
Behind the cyan bird, there were two more birds that were flying over. At this moment, they likewise landed, revealing the passengers on their backs.
Atop the bird on the left sat a male pharmacist with a slender build. After settling on the ground, he promptly stood behind the Ice Phoenix Goddess with a deferential look. Meanwhile, sitting atop the bird on the right were a man and woman. The woman’s complexion was quiet and exquisite, her temperament was tender yet unyielding, and it was clear that she was extraordinary. She was another pharmacist. As for the young man, his features were pale, and the edge of his lips carried a weak smile. He appeared refined in manner, but somewhat frail.
Upon seeing this, Gu Zuo secretly pondered: Jade Flame Valley, which the Ice Phoenix Goddess hails from, is just a bronze-ranked organization, but it actually has two Gate Opening Pearls in its possession? Even the gold-ranked Heavenly Martial Sect’s Lan Wenxi only has one pearl. Shen Yuanbai, who has the Divine Wind Trading Company, has no more than three pearls. Big brother is Ten Ultimates Sect’s all-star prodigy. If it wasn’t for Shen Yuanbai’s gift, it would’ve been hard obtaining one… Sure enough, this Ice Phoenix Goddess isn’t simple.
Thinking as such, Gu Zuo didn’t place any more attention on the Ice Phoenix Goddess. However, while he didn’t want to get in touch with this woman, it seemed that she didn’t share the same thoughts.
Very quickly, the Ice Phoenix Goddess’ clear and cold gaze swept over everyone present, and landed on Tianheng. In an instant, the indifferent light in her eyes receded as if a trace of joy flickered past.
“Brother Gongyi?” The Ice Phoenix Goddess’ tone also warmed up, “I haven’t seen you for so many days. Brother Gongyi has only become increasingly graceful and outstanding.”
The outer corner of Gu Zuo’s eye twitched slightly.
He was in a bad mood.
Tianheng didn’t have any intentions of going over to chat. He only faintly nodded his head: “Goddess Mu.”
The Ice Phoenix Goddess didn’t take any offense to Tianheng’s reticence. Her words were soft and unhurried: “When we enter the leyline, there will be dangers one after another. It’s quite rare to meet Brother Gongyi, so I wonder if we can journey together and give one another a helping hand?”
Gu Zuo’s mood worsened.
What did this woman want to do?
Tianheng bore an apologetic expression as he said: “This time, I’ll be traveling with Brother Shen and Brother Lan because of sentiments and face. I also wouldn’t have a Gate Opening Pearl were it not for them. I appreciate Goddess Mu’s kindness, but I’ll have to decline.”
A hint of unhappiness streaked across the Ice Phoenix Goddess’ eyes. She was just about to say something, but another man’s voice echoed out, which put a stop to her actions.
“Little sister.”
The person of this voice was the young man with the pale complexion.
Having heard what was said, the Ice Phoenix Goddess gently nodded her beautiful head: “Since it’s like this, Brother Gongyi must take good care of himself.”
Tianheng didn’t say much, and only stated: “The same to you all as well.”
Immediately following which, the Ice Phoenix Goddess stayed far away, and didn’t have any intentions of walking over like before.
Gu Zuo looked at the young man who spoke, and thought about how he addressed the Ice Phoenix Goddess.
— Little sister?
He and the Ice Phoenix Goddess were brother and sister?
Gu Zuo hadn’t paid attention just a while ago, but as he carefully observed now, he discovered that their appearances really did seem somewhat similar. It was only due to the fact that the temperaments of both people were as different as night and day that he wasn’t able to tell at first glance.
It had to be said that Gu Zuo’s impression of this young man was much better than that of the Ice Phoenix Goddess.
…Of course, this wasn’t simply because the Ice Phoenix Goddess seemed interested in his big brother, while this young man lacked such thoughts.
When he was turning his gaze away, Gu Zuo was caught by surprise.
He inadvertently saw the expression of the young lady who came with that young man. It seemed to bear a hint of disdain, and the one this disdain was directed at was the Ice Phoenix Goddess.
Gu Zuo blanked slightly.
He thought that only carefully selected individuals with good relationships would explore this leyline together. He didn’t expect that there would be this type of person who held others with such contempt.
However, while it didn’t matter that this young lady disliked the Ice Phoenix Goddess, why did she also look down on the other?
For the time being, Gu Zuo wasn’t able to get a clear understanding of their internal matters, but the young lady’s expression was noted down in his mind.
There ought to have been a reason for this.
The thing that would make people feel even more astonished was that this young lady treated the pale young man with great respect. There was also a wisp of indiscernible…sympathy?
Gu Zuo collected his thoughts with exasperation.
Whatever. Anything he couldn’t make sense of right now could be mentioned to his big brother if it cropped up again in the future.
Back to the matters at hand. The short conversation between the Ice Phoenix Goddess and Tianheng just now was naturally noticed by many people. Although the youths who could come here were mostly the outstanding personages of numerous organizations, regardless of their elite standings, it didn’t mean that they were immune to feminine charms. As a result, quite a few of these people had become fans of the Ice Phoenix Goddess. When they saw the Ice Phoenix Goddess expressing goodwill to Tianheng, they were rather envious. And after the Ice Phoenix Goddess was turned down by Tianheng, they somewhat resented him. Of course, at the same time, they were also secretly delighted.
Hence, a few displeased lines of sight swept towards Tianheng.
Though, Tianheng was unconcerned.
This sort of people who were easily swayed by feminine charms couldn’t shake his state of mind.
On the contrary, after Lan Wenxi saw this spectacle, he let out a derisive scoff and flared his suppressive might.
In the blink of an eye, those elites retracted their gazes. They remembered this trip’s objectives, and recognized Lan Wenxi’s identity. Seeing that Tianheng was definitely journeying with Lan Wenxi, they didn’t dare to make any more moves.
Afterwards, Lan Wenxi sized Tianheng up and down, and teased: “Sure enough, Brother Gongyi exemplifies an upright and well-favored appearance. It’s no wonder that you would catch the interest of a beautiful woman. It’s only a pity that Brother Gongyi has a heart of iron, and that beauty is a blossom floating on treacherous waters.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
Why was the meaning within these words so strange?
Meanwhile, Tianheng gave a respectful smile: “Unfortunately, such a beautiful woman cannot be enjoyed.” After saying this, he asked with a slightly puzzled tone, “Does Brother Lan also know Goddess Mu?”
Lan Wenxi sneered, and said: “I have a tentative friendship with her older brother, Mu Baiyue.”
Speaking up to this point, Lan Wenxi didn’t continue the conversation.
Gu Zuo grew suspicious.
Mu Baiyue? Was that the pale young man just now?
But since Lan Wenxi was friends with Mu Baiyue, why did he look down on Mu Baizhi like this? There was certainly something going on.
It was unfortunate that Lan Wenxi wasn’t willing to talk. The root cause probably couldn’t be investigated by ordinary people.
Gu Zuo restrained his curiosity.
Off to the side, Tianheng didn’t get to the bottom of the matter.
As even more people gradually arrived, so too was the opportunity to open the leyline.
The members of Heavenly Martial Sect didn’t only include Shen Yuanbai and Lan Wenxi. In addition, there were a few others who also showed up. It was just that the relationships between them and the pair of sect brothers appeared average and mediocre. They only came over for perfunctory greetings, and nothing more.
Once everyone was present, a woman with a graceful figure delicately emerged from the crowd. Her jade-white hand stretched out with a Gate Opening Pearl placed in the hollow of her palm. She spoke: “Ladies and gentlemen, please take out your Gate Opening Pearls.”
The numerous arrivals didn’t dare to neglect anything, and brought out their pearls.
That woman continued: “Now, would the pharmacists please stand in front with the martial artists behind them? Both sides need to keep their hands clasped. There must be no mistakes.”
Gu Zuo hurriedly clutched the Gate Opening Pearl in one hand. Soon after, his other palm warmed up. It was because Tianheng took the initiative to hold his hand.
In a split second, his heart became hot.
Ah, we’re h-holding hands…
It wasn’t that he never experienced similar skin contact before. It was just that the perception had changed, and his heart wanted to jump out of his chest. What was he supposed to do?
His big brother absolutely couldn’t be allowed to hear this and find out!
Tianheng stood with a smile on his face. In a low voice, he said: “Ah Zuo, after we enter the leyline, don’t leave my side. We must be extra careful.”
Gu Zuo put away those thoughts, and nodded his head in a serious manner: “Big brother, you can rest assured.”
Once everyone made suitable preparations, they suddenly sensed waves of powerful vibrations under their feet. It seemed like there was an earthquake. It was as if the entire Maple Forest Ruins was being shaken!
Gu Zuo tightly grasped Tianheng’s hand, but his gaze was firmly affixed to the Gate Opening Pearl in his possession.
At this time, the Gate Opening Pearl erupted with glaring rays of light. In the blink of an eye, the pearl grew in size and encapsulated both of them! In the next moment, the rays of light completely engulfed the pair. In the place where they once stood, not a trace of them could be seen!
Around Maple Forest Ruins, everyone who had been holding a Gate Opening Pearl met the same fate.
The Gate Opening Pearls had opened portals that delivered them into the leyline!
Gu Zuo only felt a dazzling flash before his eyes. Once he snapped out of it, he realized that he had arrived in an area of pitch-black darkness.
His heart was worried: “Big brother!”
Immediately following that, someone lightly squeezed his hand: “Ah Zuo, your elder brother is here.”
Gu Zuo’s heartstrings loosened, and he looked to his side.
Sure enough, both of them were still holding hands. They hadn’t separated.
So long as he didn’t lose Gongyi Tianheng, Gu Zuo felt safe and secure. He wouldn’t have any nervous or scared thoughts.
Gu Zuo said: “Big brother, what about the others?”
Just as these words fell, another voice echoed not far away.
It was Lan Wenxi who was speaking: “We’re over here.”
Shen Yuanbai also uttered: “Here.”
Then, the remaining pharmacists and the Shen Clan martial artist called out one after another.
This was good. Including the two of them, the group of six didn’t have a single person missing.
Shen Yuanbai spoke again: “Pharmacists, pour your psychic powers into the Gate Opening Pearls.”
Because he was the oldest among them and he probably understood the situation the most, after hearing this command, all of the pharmacists complied without the slightest hesitation.
Gu Zuo similarly poured in his psychic power. After that, he discovered that the Gate Opening Pearls were blossoming with radiance once more. In a split second, the surroundings were lit up.
— Right. They were lit up.
At this time, Gu Zuo found that this place originally had many enormous pearls embedded in the ceiling. They were just like giant versions of the Gate Opening Pearls. And when the rays of light shining from the smaller pearls transformed into pillars of light, they instantaneously shot straight up and entered those enormous pearls. Following this, those giant pearls also released rays of light, which illuminated the surroundings as if it was daytime!
Gu Zuo was relieved.
If it was pitch-black the entire time, then finding those stone ova would’ve been a nightmare. Now that the lights were turned on, the situation was considered much more hopeful.
At this moment, everyone started surveying the environment.
After getting a clear view, they couldn’t help gasping in amazement.
This place was incredibly unusual!
Gu Zuo held his breath as he looked around.
There were no doubts that everyone was underground, and that they were inside that sealed leyline. This leyline was absolutely gigantic, and the interior formed countless panoramic sceneries.
Lifting his eyes, he saw things resembling stone dragons that winded up and down, and extended far into the distance. On the backs of the stone dragons were numerous stone forests. Each and every cluster was like a barb on the stone dragon’s body. It was as if the forests grew from the dragon’s scales and absorbed the stone dragon’s flesh and blood. It was eerie and incomparably majestic.
Likewise, on the sides of the stone dragons were innumerable, jutting rocks. The positioning and shapes of these rocks were like corals. Though, they were even more massive and thickset. With crowded frameworks and hollowed nests, these coral reefs held another type of exotic beauty.
When he looked farther away, he saw that there was a gigantic stone tree on every dragon head. Each tree soared into the “sky”, and was wreathed with innumerable branches and tendrils. Each thick and solid branch interweaved into giant nets that canopied vast tracts of space.
Apart from this, there were many ferocious beasts made of stone. They presented with all kinds of postures and stances, but every beast was unbelievably large and lofty. Although they were hewn through natural processes, their imposing auras were terrifying. It seemed that they could turn into living animals at any time, and pounce on people to devour!
Presently, everyone was standing at the edge of a stone dragon.
The stone dragons and beasts were like towering mountain peaks, and those stone forests and coral reefs were vast and giant landscapes to them. As they stood in this place, they appeared extremely insignificant like mole crickets and ants. Awed by the unseen qi emissions radiated by these massive structures, even standing firmly on their own became difficult.
Tianheng realized that the six qi oceans within his body had been sealed, and the profound qi couldn’t be utilized. On the other hand, his physical body was sufficiently sturdy, and his strength wasn’t low.
Shen Yuanbai, Lan Wenxi, and the remaining martial artist were similarly restricted. On the contrary, the few pharmacists were the same as before, and didn’t feel that anything had changed.
All of a sudden, a beam of ashen-white light shot out.
Although Tianheng couldn’t use internal qi, his awareness was still sharp. At once, he pulled Gu Zuo and said: “Ah Zuo, be careful!”
Gu Zuo also reacted immediately. His psychic power promptly burst forth, and completely covered himself and Tianheng in a psychic power net. When that ashen-white light attempted to turn around and retreat, the space between his eyebrows heated up. A dagger rushed forward, and instantly cut down that ashen-white light!
At this time, everyone saw it. What fell to the ground were two severed sections of an ashen-white thing. It appeared to be the length of a chopstick and the thickness of a little finger. The entire body was as smooth as a common stone. However, if one looked carefully, they would realize that the front end had a set of mandibles and the back end had a sharp stinger. Small amounts of gray liquid flowed out from its body.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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