The Galgame Martial Saint - Chapter 108: Entering the Myriad Thief Secret Realm
Although she was quite puzzled by Gu Chengming’s request, Luo Jinyao ultimately didn’t ask further and agreed.
Over the following few days, in the early mornings when the wind and snow subsided, the northern border’s first sword, Luo Jinyao—whose name struck terror into the hearts of countless demons—would carry her sword out of the pass. Like picking out poultry at a market, she would wander around the borders of the demon domain and return with a third realm demon that had been beaten half to death, with only a single breath remaining.
Due to the events of recent times, the fourth realm demon sovereigns who had previously occupied certain areas of the northern border pass had retreated into the demon domain. Even third realm demons had become difficult to find; occasionally, she could only find demons around the second realm, which distressed Luo Jinyao quite a bit.
Of course, these things didn’t matter to Gu Chengming.
He flexed his wrists and looked at the twitching third realm demon on the ground…
“Boom—!!!”
A simple, unadorned punch landed. The third realm demon didn’t even have time to scream before it was instantly transformed into a slurry of flesh and blood, its original form unrecognizable.
【Current Multiplier: 1.7】
Gu Chengming shook off the bloodstains from his hand and let out a long breath.
With this punch, not only did the multiplier increase, but the pent-up qi from several days of recuperation was also vented.
However, Luo Jinyao, who stood to the side, couldn’t find any reason to be happy. After all, this situation had persisted for seven days.
The northern border was thick with baleful aura, and cultivators who engaged in constant slaughter were the most prone to developing heart demons.
Though young Gu was exceptionally talented, he was still young. If his dao heart became clouded, or if he developed some unhealthy obsession…
Thinking of this, a sense of worry grew in Luo Jinyao’s heart.
Once Gu Chengming finished cleaning the blood from his hands and was about to thank her, Luo Jinyao spoke first, carefully choosing her words to offer some subtle guidance.
She first brought up trivial matters in Falling Snow Pass, mentioning how some soldiers had recently suffered from mental instability due to the excessive pressure of cultivation. Then, she nonchalantly asked Gu Chengming what had happened while she wasn’t at the pass, whether he got along well with the vice commanders, and if he had encountered any difficulties in his cultivation. Her tone was like casual chatter, but her eyes remained fixed on Gu Chengming’s expressions, fearing she might miss even the slightest sign of abnormality.
Although Gu Chengming was a bit slow to react, he wasn’t so dense that he couldn’t hear the subtext.
He froze for a moment, finally realizing that Luo Jinyao was indirectly asking if he had been bullied in Falling Snow Pass and if he was venting his frustrations on the demons. He found it both funny and sad, quickly explaining that his fist technique had hit a bottleneck and that he needed to accumulate fist intent through constant killing of demons to seek a breakthrough. It wasn’t a psychological issue, but a necessity for his cultivation.
After hearing the explanation, Luo Jinyao’s expression remained somewhat suspicious.
She scrutinized Gu Chengming carefully, using her divine sense to probe his aura. Only after confirming there were no signs of heart demons did the tension in her mind relax slightly.
Even though it was a misunderstanding, this incident brought Gu Chengming and Luo Jinyao a bit closer, so it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Besides the private requests Senior Luo had granted him, Gu Chengming’s gains from the battle of Falling Snow Pass, the part visible to all, were enough to make an ordinary third realm cultivator green with envy.
As the primary contributor who had slain a fourth realm great demon and turned the tide to prevent the fall of Falling Snow Pass, even after splitting the credit with Xu Huayi, the remaining merit points were still an astronomical figure.
“It’s enough to exchange for a fourth-tier Dharma Sword.”
Gu Chengming stood before the exchange list in the Battle Merit Hall, rubbing his chin as he calculated.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
Although a fourth-tier Dharma Sword was powerful, it was intended for cultivators at the peak of the third realm or even the fourth realm. Using it with his current true essence would be quite taxing.
Rather than pursuing the quality of a single item, it was better to maximize the number of synergies first.
Thus, with a wave of his hand, Gu Chengming directly exchanged for two third-tier Dharma Swords and two second-tier peak grade Dharma Swords.
With these four new swords in his collection, the synergy entry named 【Dharma Sword】 in the Sword Chess system was finally complete.
【Dharma Sword (10/10): Tenfold Sword Array】
【Effect: The power of the sword array is increased by an additional 100%. Can simultaneously control ten flying swords to form the ‘Tenfold Sword Array’. Within the array, life is endless, and the sword qi is as brilliant as a rainbow.】
The Tenfold Sword Array was indeed more than twice as powerful as the previous Six-Harmony Sword Array, but it also brought a doubled burden on his divine sense and true essence consumption.
Gu Chengming looked at the words “power increased by an additional 100%” and surprisingly felt very little emotion.
“Strange…” He reflected with some confusion. “Is it because the values given by Empress Bai were so ridiculous that I’ve become desensitized to this kind of normal power scaling?”
After all, compared to those absurd mechanisms like “infinite stacking multipliers,” this steady improvement did seem a bit unexciting.
But objectively speaking, the true core value of the 【Dharma Sword】 synergy lay not in the accumulation of power, but in “optimization.”
The more flying swords the array contained, the more Gu Chengming could appreciate this.
An ordinary second realm cultivator who could control two or three flying swords simultaneously was already a standout. Without the spiritual path optimization and divine sense assistance provided by this synergy, let alone ten swords, even if he deployed five, Gu Chengming would likely faint from divine sense exhaustion before he could even harm an enemy.
Even though his true essence reserves far exceeded those of his peers, it still seemed inadequate in the face of a resource-heavy technique like the Tenfold Sword Array.
“It seems I can’t be too greedy for skills for a while,” Gu Chengming secretly set his priority. “The focus must shift back to level progression and stacking basic attributes.”
With this realization, Gu Chengming returned to the side courtyard of the Northern Mansion.
Just as he entered the door, another commendation order from the capital was lying on his desk.
News of the great victory at Falling Snow Pass had reached the capital. While the Honglu Temple was still bickering over details, the internal rewards and punishments of the Night Guard Division were swift and decisive.
Zhou Qingmu was greatly appreciative of Gu Chengming’s performance and directly promoted him across ranks from a “junior banner” to a “senior banner” of the Chiliarch’s office.
Though it was only a one-level promotion, this was a senior banner with actual authority. Moreover, a master of the Night Guard was a master regardless; back when Senior Luo was in the third realm, she was only a senior banner as well.
Regarding this, Gu Chengming himself was quite calm, not even reaching half of Zhou Rites’ emotional volatility.
【The Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art looked at the brand-new senior banner waist token with tears in its eyes: Rectifying the name! This is the beginning of the Great Dao!】
【Chengming, do you see? This is the echo of order, the recognition of the system!】
【A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. From junior banner to senior banner, this is not just a promotion in position, but a solid step forward on your path of maintaining the order of heaven and earth and restoring the crumbling rites and music!】
【Being in the public service is good for cultivation! With this status, you can better exercise your duty of education and make those uncivilized barbarians and rogue cultivators tremble under the majesty of the law!】
Gu Chengming felt amused by the passionate speech in his head, but he was also moved by such purity, patiently engaging in a deep discussion about the way of officialdom with it.
After this long talk, the results were significant.
【The Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art’s recognition of you has reached a new height.】
【It believes that you are not only exceptionally gifted but also possess a rare gentleman’s heart that understands how to advance steadily within the system.】
【Affinity increased to: 90】
【Received synergy feedback: All attributes +2】
【Strength: 20】【Agility: 14】【Spirit: 23】【Charm: 28】【Physique: 12】
Good heavens, Lord Zhou Rites?!
Although he expected the attribute points given by Zhou Rites during an upgrade to be generous, this was a bit too much; it added up to ten points of attribute bonuses.
Was this still the status screen of a second realm cultivator?
Based on the sum of his attributes alone, he was already completely on par with those who had just entered the third realm.
Especially his high Charm of 28 and Spirit of 23, which gave him resilience and… uh, dual cultivation capital far beyond ordinary people?
In other words, he could now study those third realm techniques that required extremely high physical standards without any pressure.
But conversely… it was now time to look into Zhou Rites’ synergy events.
He wondered what they would be related to.
…
Time flew by, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The wind and snow at Falling Snow Pass continued, but the gloom pressing down on everyone’s heads had largely dissipated with the retreat of the demon tide.
Gu Chengming’s injuries had fully healed, and it was time for the two prodigies from the Tianting Sect, Xu Huayi and Zhou Hui, to depart.
The Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Array was complete; her task was fulfilled.
The wind swirled the remaining snow, and the red plums outside the pass were blooming brilliantly.
Xu Huayi had changed out of her usual long dress today, wearing a pale blue patrol uniform topped with a moon-white fox fur coat, which emphasized her tall figure and ethereal temperament. However, those eyes of hers, usually open and clear, seemed to hide some unspoken feelings today.
Gu Chengming stood side by side with her, looking at the vast snowy plain in the distance, breaking the silence: “The crisis at Falling Snow Pass was averted thanks to Fellow Daoist Xu. Not only did you set up the grand array, but you also risked your life with me at Eagle Sorrow Ravine. This friendship is etched in my heart.”
Xu Huayi turned her head to look at Gu Chengming’s profile, her eyes shimmering slightly.
“Fellow Daoist Gu, you overstate things,” she said softly. “Without that sword strike of yours, I’m afraid I would have ended up in a demon’s belly. Truly speaking, it is I who owe you a life.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, but the atmosphere didn’t lighten; instead, a hint of the sorrow of parting grew.
Xu Huayi seemed to want to say something, her red lips parting and then closing again.
Her hand, which was used to holding the judge’s pen and staying as steady as a mountain before a fourth realm demon, was now hidden in her sleeve, unconsciously gripping the corner of her robe.
After a long time, she seemed to finally make a decision.
“Fellow Daoist Gu.” Xu Huayi suddenly called out, deliberately making her voice sound more carefree. “I have nothing to give at our parting. Though I am not good with words, I was moved by the snow in the city these past two days and painted a sketch. If you do not mind, please accept it as a farewell gift.”
Gu Chengming was somewhat surprised and smiled, “Fellow Daoist Xu, you are too kind. How could I possibly mind?”
Xu Huayi smiled slightly. Instead of taking out a scroll immediately, she pulled the white jade judge’s pen from her sleeve and tapped the air.
“Buzz—”
A single drop of ink blurred and spread in the void.
This time, there was none of the sharpness of the killing array, nor the heaviness of the trapping array. It was pure, gentle artistic intent. As the pen tip flowed, Gu Chengming felt as if the surrounding wind and snow had stopped.
The surroundings began to change. The grim, cold border pass disappeared, replaced by a ten-mile peach forest that could never exist in this season.
The peach blossoms were radiant, their petals fluttering down.
A clear stream wound its way through, and by the stream stood a simple yet elegant bamboo hut. In front of the hut, a man and a woman sat opposite each other drinking wine.
Though the man’s face was blurred, his figure and the long sword at his waist were clearly Gu Chengming. The woman, dressed in green, was looking at him with burning eyes; although her features were unclear, her aura was identical to Xu Huayi’s.
Xu Huayi pulled back her pen. The painting froze in the air for a moment before turning into points of light that dissipated into the wind and snow, leaving only a faint scent of plum blossoms.
“May Fellow Daoist Gu find a way home at the end of every storm in the years to come. When you rest from seeking the dao, may there always be leisure and wine.”
Xu Huayi looked at Gu Chengming, her eyes shining brilliantly, yet she quickly lowered her gaze in the next moment. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, masking the emotions in her eyes.
“This world is vast, and the road is long… but if there is someone to see the scenery with, even if it is only painted, it is very good.”
Gu Chengming stared at the direction where the light had dissipated, feeling quite touched.
—Fellow Daoist Xu’s hand-crafted CG is really not bad.
He turned to look at Xu Huayi and nodded seriously.
“Fellow Daoist Xu’s painting skills are divine. Such a vision is indeed beautiful. I must thank you for this gift.”
Xu Huayi originally wanted to say more, but after agonizing for a while, she swallowed it back, feeling a bit deflated.
Forget it, forget it. The mountains are high and the rivers are long; there’s plenty of time in the future.
With a light wave of her hand, the peach forest transformed into points of light that eventually condensed into a warm green jade transmission talisman in Gu Chengming’s palm.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Xu Huayi lowered her eyes to hide the fleeting disappointment. When she looked up again, she had regained her usual composure. “This transmission talisman was personally crafted by me and contains a strand of my divine thought. It can transmit sound even across ten thousand miles.”
“If you ever feel weary or encounter trouble in the future, whether it’s doubts about cultivation or just wanting someone to drink and discuss the dao with, you can contact me at any time.”
“Although the Tianting Sect is far, as long as it’s a message from you, I will certainly not decline.”
If these words were heard by someone attentive, it would be an incredibly obvious confession.
Especially that phrase “certainly not decline,” which was a very heavy promise for a female cultivator.
However, as Gu Chengming rubbed the high-quality transmission talisman in his hand, he was thinking of something else.
—This transmission talisman is brimming with spiritual energy; it’s clearly a high-level Dharma artifact. Fellow Daoist Xu is indeed generous!
And did her words mean that if I encounter a great demon I can’t beat later, I can call her to team up?
Thinking of this, Gu Chengming put away the talisman and cupped his hands. “If the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly be the first to trouble you!”
The moment of parting finally arrived.
Xu Huayi took half a step back and gave Gu Chengming a graceful bow.
Just when Gu Chengming thought she was about to turn and leave, she stopped in place. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on him, and her chest heaved slightly as if she were gathering some kind of courage.
“There is one more thing.”
“Hmm?”
“We have faced life and death together. If we continue to call each other ‘Fellow Daoist,’ it would seem a bit too distant.”
Xu Huayi looked up, the winter sun shining on her face, making even the fine peach fuzz clearly visible. The tips of her ears were tinged with a faint blush, and her voice, though soft, was exceptionally clear.
After a pause, her gaze drifted slightly before she finally said, as if letting everything go:
“May I be so bold as to call you Chengming?”
Gu Chengming was startled for a moment, then broke into a smile. The smile was like the first thaw of winter snow, clean and bright. “Why not?”
“Then Chengming, take care.”
She gave him one last deep look, as if to etch his image into her eyes. Then, without staying any longer, she turned and stepped onto the flying boat that had been waiting for a long time.
With a soft whisper, the flying boat pierced the air, carrying the woman who had fought beside him at Eagle Sorrow Ravine as it disappeared into the vast sea of clouds.
Gu Chengming stood in place, watching the boat go, feeling moved by the preciousness of this comradeship.
Just then, a slightly awkward figure walked over.
It was Zhou Hui.
This Tianting Sect disciple who had come with Xu Huayi now had a very strange expression. He first looked at the direction the boat had gone, then at Gu Chengming, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated multiple times.
“Fellow Daoist Zhou?” Gu Chengming was puzzled. “Is there something else?”
Zhou Hui took a deep breath as if to complete a difficult task, stepped forward, and gave Gu Chengming a deep bow. “Brother Gu, after this parting at Falling Snow Pass, I don’t know when we shall meet again.”
“Brother Gu has heavenly talent, which I truly admire. If you ever miss your friends from the Tianting Sect or want to inquire about some news… cough, please make sure, definitely, absolutely to contact Senior Sister Xu more often.”
Gu Chengming: “?”
Before Gu Chengming could respond, Zhou Hui added another sentence:
“If you contact me, I might be in seclusion or being punished by my master. In short, there’s a high probability I won’t receive the message. But Senior Sister Xu is different. Her transmission talisman… well… anyway, contact Senior Sister more.”
After finishing these incoherent words, Zhou Hui said his goodbyes and boarded another accompanying flying boat.
“Take care, Brother Gu! Don’t forget what I said!”
Watching these two elite disciples of the Tianting Sect leave Falling Snow Pass, Gu Chengming looked at the transmission talisman in his hand, feeling bewildered.
So, what were those unspoken words Xu Huayi wanted to say before she left?
Thinking thus.
That night, at the hour of the rat, he knew the answer.
…
【Ahhh, I really want to dual cultivate with Chengming. I’ve emptied my storage pouch and scraped together fifty thousand spirit stones, but I didn’t dare mention it to him. I’m such a loser.】
“?”
Hearing the regretful voice coming from the Mind is Myriad Things/CG, the little bit of emotion Gu Chengming felt from the human-made CG during the day vanished.
Dammit, what on earth do you want to do?
Wait, what exactly is the triggering mechanism for this Mind is Myriad Things?!
She’s flown so far away on the boat already; can you please stop letting me hear Fellow Daoist Xu’s inner voice?
Gu Chengming’s face was covered in black lines.
…
After seeing off Xu Huayi and Zhou Hui, the side courtyard of the Northern Mansion regained some of its usual quiet, with only the occasional sound of falling snow outside the window.
But the peace didn’t last long before a boisterous voice rang out again. This time, it was Nuo Tao.
This former Worldly Walker of the Myriad Thief Sect, now a “registered law-abiding citizen” of Falling Snow Pass, looked to be in quite good spirits.
She was wearing a goose-yellow padded dress today, holding the Azure Bird Token that Gu Chengming had given her, and walked in with a light step.
“Young master Gu!” Nuo Tao slapped the token onto the table with a crisp sound. “I’ve finally figured out the secret realm left by the Founding Grand-Patriarch.”
Gu Chengming’s gaze fell on the token. He saw that the originally simple and obscure surface of the Azure Bird now had a faint layer of spiritual light flowing over it, clearly activated by some secret method.
“Oh? It seems Miss Nuo has made a great discovery?”
Gu Chengming was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Nuo Tao to be able to find time to crack the restrictions while helping out at Falling Snow Pass these past few days.
“Of course!” Nuo Tao tilted her chin up proudly. “Look who I am? Although the Myriad Thief Sect acts low-key, when it comes to cracking restrictions and exploring secret realms, if we say we’re second in the Jiuzhou Continent, no one would dare claim to be first.”
She extended a finger and tapped the token lightly. A miniature light-shadow map was instantly projected into the air.
“Look, there’s a very complex star chart hidden in this token… I compared it with the northern border star chart issued by the Imperial Observatory and calculated that the entrance to this secret realm isn’t fixed. It moves with the leylines and astral signs.”
“However…”
Nuo Tao deliberately drew out the last word, her eyes drifting toward Gu Chengming as if waiting for something:
“Although this calculation was extremely taxing on my mind, especially having to account for the variables of leyline flow and find the only node among tens of thousands of possibilities… I still figured it out. The next time the entrance opens will be in three days at the ‘Tianquan position,’ which is deep in the snowy plains directly north of Falling Snow Pass.”
Gu Chengming nodded and was about to offer praise, but he saw that Nuo Tao hadn’t stopped talking.
She suddenly cleared her throat and sat up straighter. She even pulled back the hand she had placed on the table and “nonchalantly” brushed off non-existent dust from her sleeve. “Actually, this little bit of calculation is nothing. It’s mostly because Falling Snow Pass was such a mess a few days ago, right?”
Gu Chengming had a faint premonition and followed her lead, asking:
“Indeed. The demon tide besieged the city, and it was chaotic inside for a time. Was Miss Nuo frightened?”
“Frightened? How could that be!”
Nuo Tao’s volume suddenly spiked, but she then felt that wasn’t steady enough and quickly lowered her voice, putting on a calm and composed front:
“Even though I’m only a second realm cultivator, I’ve seen my share of big scenes. When the city was that chaotic, I saw those soldiers in charge of logistics were busy beyond belief, and there were also many petty criminals trying to fish in troubled waters…”
She stole a glance at Gu Chengming, and seeing that he was listening seriously, she continued:
“I figured that since I’m now a registered member of Falling Snow Pass, I couldn’t just stand by and watch, right? So I lent a tiny bit of help on the side.”
Gu Chengming suppressed a smile and cooperatively asked, “Oh? I wonder what kind of help Miss Nuo provided?”
“It was nothing, really.”
Nuo Tao waved her hand with an expression that said it wasn’t worth mentioning, but her eyes were sparkling and she couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from turning up:
“I just caught a few rogue cultivators over in the East Market who were trying to rob a pharmacy in the chaos. I also took back the healing pills they stole and sent them to the infirmary.”
“And another thing. At that time, the spirit stones for the array on the western wall were running low, and the transport team was blocked by demon birds. I figured since I’m fast, I’d deliver a few loads of spirit stones for them.”
“Oh! You have no idea! The claws of those demon birds brushed right past my scalp. If I had been just a tiny bit slower, I would have been disfigured!”
As she said this, she even pointed to her smooth, white forehead, as if she wanted Gu Chengming to see the non-existent scar there.
“Actually, it’s more than that. There was also…”
The girl rambled on about her “great achievements,” and with every item she mentioned, she would secretly observe Gu Chengming’s reaction.
Gu Chengming certainly wouldn’t be stingy with his “rewards.” He said, “The demon tide was fierce, and everyone was in fear for their lives. Miss Nuo could have used her movement techniques to stay safe or even leave in the chaos, but you not only stayed but stepped up in a moment of crisis…”
“These things might not be as grand as killing enemies on the front lines, but they are vital cornerstones for defending the city. Without Miss Nuo helping out in the rear, I’m afraid the soldiers at the front would have shed much more blood.”
Gu Chengming looked at the girl’s rapidly reddening face and smiled. “In my view, your contributions this time could definitely be called those of a behind-the-scenes hero of Falling Snow Pass.”
“Be-behind-the-scenes hero?!”
Nuo Tao felt a bit dizzy. She had only wanted to hear something like “good job” or “hard work,” but she hadn’t expected Gu Chengming to give her such a high evaluation.
“It wasn’t that exaggerated.”
Nuo Tao was a bit at a loss for words, but she still hummed a response, looking exactly like a puppy. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging so fast it left an afterimage:
“But since you’ve put it that way, I’ll reluctantly accept that title.”
After seeing off a satisfied Nuo Tao, who left with a bounce in her step.
Gu Chengming laughed silently and sat back down at his desk.
However, this side courtyard was destined not to be peaceful today.
Just as Nuo Tao left, a familiar sensation followed soon after.
Yu Wenqiu strolled in with her hands behind her back.
Today’s Elder Yu also had a strange vibe.
She wandered from the door to the window, then from the window to the bookshelf, and finally paced back and forth in front of Gu Chengming with her hands behind her back.
At first, Gu Chengming didn’t pay much attention, thinking his elder had eaten too much and was just walking it off.
But as Yu Wenqiu finished her third lap in front of him, Gu Chengming finally noticed something was off.
Previously, due to the exhaustion and injuries after the battle, he hadn’t sensed it carefully.
Now, looking closely, he saw that the spiritual power fluctuations around Yu Wenqiu were no longer the same as before.
“Elder?” Gu Chengming spoke with some uncertainty. “Did you break through?”
Hearing those words, Yu Wenqiu, who had been pretending to look at the scenery, came to a sudden halt.
She turned around, her face wearing an expression that said, “Oh my, you finally noticed. How embarrassing.”
Yu Wenqiu cleared her throat, trying to maintain her dignity as an elder, but the upward curve of her lips betrayed her current mood:
“Hmph, a blessing in disguise. This elder is now in the fourth realm!”
“From now on, if anyone dares to bully you while we’re out, this elder can suppress them with a single hand!”
At this point, she seemed to remember something and leaned in, looking for credit. “How about it? Don’t you think the current Elder Yu is particularly reliable?”
【Hundred Bones Resonating is shocked: The current 1 Yu is at least equal to 4 previous Yus.】
—Even the exchange rate is inflating?
After making the meta-comment, Gu Chengming looked at the elder before him, who was clearly a fourth realm great cultivator yet still sought attention and praise like a child. He felt both amused and warmed by it.
He knew that Yu Wenqiu cared so much about this breakthrough not just for herself, but to truly have the ability to protect him.
Thus, Gu Chengming went along with it. “Elder, your divine might is peerless and matchless. With a fourth realm great cultivator like you covering me, wont I be able to walk sideways in the northern border? Even if Senior Luo were here, she would surely praise you for catching up from behind.”
Yu Wenqiu was so praised that she waved her hand bashfully, but her smile couldn’t be suppressed.
“Even though you’re just speaking the honest truth, we still have to give Junior Sister Luo some face in public… hehe, hehehe.”
When one’s mood is good, one’s appetite is naturally good as well.
“Little Gu.”
Yu Wenqiu expertly flopped back into the nearby wicker hammock, looking expectantly at Gu Chengming.
“Since this elder has broken through, shouldn’t we celebrate? I heard that the restaurant in the east of the city has a new snow maiden dessert and that roasted spirit lamb leg…”
“Fine, a celebration. We must celebrate.”
Gu Chengming waved his hand generously. “Whatever Elder wants to eat today, just order it.”
“Yay! Little Gu is the best!”
…
It was a celebration feast that made even the best chef in Falling Snow Pass work until his wrists were sore.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Elder Yu went off contentedly to stabilize her newly attained fourth realm cultivation in seclusion. Only then did Gu Chengming find a gap to visit the main hall of the Northern Mansion.
Although this trip to the secret realm seemed like a private matter, he was, after all, going eight hundred miles into the snowy plains during a state of war readiness. By all rights, he needed to report to the commander of Falling Snow Pass, Luo Jinyao.
After listening to Gu Chengming’s report about the Myriad Thief Sect secret realm, Luo Jinyao didn’t show much surprise, only giving him some necessary instructions.
Senior Luo’s reactions were always very reassuring.
In the following days, the atmosphere within Falling Snow Pass visibly relaxed.
The demon tide had retreated, and everything was beginning to be rebuilt.
Vice Commander Liang Si was busy repairing the city defenses and comforting the wounded soldiers, while Elder Yu was quite miserably dragged away by Luo Jinyao to “solidify her realm.”
As for Gu Chengming, he was adjusting his condition.
He polished his essence, energy, and spirit to their peak, checked the spiritual resonance of every Dharma Sword, and prepared pills and talismans.
Although Nuo Tao was leading the way, it was, after all, a secret realm left by the legendary Myriad Thief Sect.
If he didn’t prepare properly, it would be doing a disservice to the name of the Myriad Thief Immortal.
…
Three days later, at the auspicious hour, the Tianquan position moved.
Dawn in the northern border always arrived exceptionally late.
Under the gray sky, two figures quietly slipped out of the north gate of Falling Snow Pass and instantly merged into the vast wind and snow.
Gu Chengming and Nuo Tao did not fly high on their swords to avoid attracting the high-altitude astral winds or certain wandering demon birds. Instead, they used escape techniques to fly low across the snowy plain.
This journey for a second realm cultivator was only about an hour’s walk.
The further north they went, the more intense the cold became. The already sparse withered trees had long since vanished, leaving only a deathly pale silence as far as the eye could see.
The spatial turbulence here was much more violent than near Falling Snow Pass. From time to time, visible spatial cracks flickered through the air like fish.
Finally, at a spot on the ice plain that looked no different from the surroundings, Nuo Tao stopped.
“This is it.”
Nuo Tao caught her breath, her small face, which was reddened by the cold, full of seriousness.
She took out the two tokens from her robe, while her other hand held a strange compass she had produced from somewhere.
She muttered under her breath, her fingers moving quickly in the air.
Gu Chengming looked around.
It was empty here. Except for the ice beneath them, several feet thick, and the howling cold wind above, there was nothing.
There were no spiritual fluctuations, no traces of an array, not even a passing bird or beast.
“How much longer do we have to wait?” Gu Chengming asked softly.
“Soon.”
Nuo Tao stared intently at the compass, watching the needle tremble wildly. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. “According to my calculations, the flow of the leylines will overlap with the astral positions in three breaths. That moment will be when this spatial node is at its weakest.”
The Azure Bird Token in Nuo Tao’s hand began to grow hot. The originally static Azure Bird on its surface seemed to come to life, letting out a clear phoenix cry.
The wind suddenly stopped.
The originally violent and raging wind and snow seemed to be paused by an invisible giant hand, suspended in mid-air. An ancient, obscure, yet somewhat playful aura slowly seeped out from deep beneath the ice.
Nuo Tao suddenly looked up and held the token high.
Above the token, the Azure Bird abruptly opened its eyes, and a piercing green light shot into the sky, slamming hard into the seemingly empty air before them.
Immediately after, Nuo Tao’s own Fire Phoenix Token also opened its eyes, its red light shooting upward.
Above the originally empty icy valley, the air suddenly distorted, like a piece of white paper being torn in half from the middle.
A pitch-black, bottomless rift quietly opened in the wind and snow.
—The Myriad Thief Secret Realm was open.
【Hundred Bones Resonating was suddenly moved: Emperor Gu, I’ve finally waited for this episode.】
Bai Tiandi, is it possible that I’m coming to this secret realm just for you?
Gu Chengming thought helplessly.
