Chapter 64: Shangli Secret Realm.
Chapter 64: Shangli Secret Realm
If Bu Xingjin had encountered such a difficult situation when he had just transformed, he would have been at a loss and at a loss. However, today, he is no longer the same person.
Bu Xingjin twirled his fingertips, and a ball of emerald spiritual energy quickly coalesced. Embracing the vibrant energy of plants and trees, it flowed through Gu Jiuge's meridians. Instantly, the black energy that had been wreaking havoc within Gu Jiuge's body fled frantically, as if encountering its natural enemy. However, it was trapped by the web of spiritual energy carefully woven by Bu Xingjin, and soon dissipated without a trace.
"Is this... a blood curse?" Bu Xingjin frowned slightly, staring at the black energy that had just dissipated, only to slowly reappear from Gu Jiuge's heart. His mind flashed back to the ancient text he had stumbled upon in the Scripture Pavilion on Fuhua Peak. This kind of sinister curse required close bloodlines and was extremely difficult to completely dispel.
His gaze shifted to the young man who was still clutching the jade pendant tightly in his unconscious state. On the jade pendant, the four large characters "Shangli Gu's" glowed with a faint cold light.
"Shangli Gu Clan?" Bu Xingjin pondered inwardly, "It seems I've saved a remarkable figure. It's also a coincidence that our destination is Shangli. Saving someone familiar with the local conditions isn't bad at all."
After receiving two drops of precious spiritual essence, Gu Jiuge slowly awoke in the gentle morning dew. He immediately looked inward, discovering that the dark energy that had previously lingered in his heart meridian had been largely dispelled, leaving only a thin wisp, almost nonexistent.
At the same time, as his spiritual energy gradually recovered, the once hideous wounds on his body healed at a visible speed. In just a moment, after looking inward, he gained a profound understanding of what had happened to him. He looked up at Bu Xingjin, who stood quietly beside him. His voice was hoarse, filled with gratitude: "Thank you so much! I can't repay you for saving my life..."
Bu Xingjin almost blurted out the words "Why not pledge my life to you?", but at the last moment, a smile crossed his lips and he swallowed the joke back. After all, it was inappropriate to make such a joke to a stranger he had just met.
"No need. I saved you without expecting anything in return." Bu Xingjin looked indifferent and waved his hand.
"My fellow Daoist is of high moral character. If I am still alive, I will definitely repay you in the future." Gu Jiuge supported himself and slowly got up from the ground. He bowed to Bu Xingjin and was about to turn around and leave.
"I should go." He looked hurried and walked quickly.
"Hey, wait..." Bu Xingjin was quick to stop him. He was hoping to learn more about Shang Li from Gu Jiuge, so how could he let him go so easily?
"I am being chased by someone now. The enemy is at the Nascent Soul stage and I am afraid he will catch up here soon. In order not to implicate you, please leave quickly in the opposite direction of me." Gu Jiuge stopped and spoke earnestly.
Bu Xingjin stopped him again, his eyes firm: "No, tell me the details first, then I will consider whether to leave quickly. Besides, I still have some questions that I want to ask you."
Gu Jiuge gently closed his eyes. He couldn't tell the depth of Bu Xingjin's cultivation, but he insisted on staying, knowing that a powerful Yuanying-stage enemy would soon attack him. He must have something to rely on. He had nothing to worry about. Right now, his most valuable possession was his life. If the enemy had truly intended to harm him, there would have been no need to save him just now; he would have been dead by then.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know what the price is to save me?" Gu Jiuge raised his eyes and looked straight at Bu Xingjin.
Bu Xingjin slowly withdrew his blocking arm. The morning mist in the mountains had not yet dissipated, and a hazy white fog lingered. He looked up at Gu Jiuge with a calm expression: "I was just about to ask for your advice."
"I am the young master of the Gu family, one of the eight major families in Shangli City." Gu Jiuge paused slightly, reaching out to stroke the exquisite jade pendant that had been hung back on his waist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. "Near Shangli City, there is a Shangli Secret Realm that only opens once every sixty years. Before the secret realm opens, twenty-four Shangli Tokens will appear. Each of our eight families will receive three."
His voice trembled slightly as he continued, "My father, the current head of the family, was assassinated while in seclusion half a month ago. Now, the other clans, led by the Liu clan, have sent men to kill me. I am the only descendant of the Gu clan. If I die, the three Shangli Orders will become ownerless—" Before he could finish his words, he suddenly began to cough violently, a mouthful of blood gushing out. After spitting out the blood, his complexion had noticeably improved.
Seeing this, Bu Xingjin quickly took out a ceramic bowl from his storage ring, used his spiritual power to gently collect the dew on the grass leaves, put it in the bowl, and then handed it to Gu Jiuge.
At this moment, the words "Shangli" that Qing Yan had mentioned before he disappeared suddenly surfaced in his mind. At first, he thought the Shangli Qing Yan was referring to was Shangli City, but now it seemed that it might be this Shangli Secret Realm. He remained calm and asked softly, "What's so special about this Shangli Order?"
"The Shangli Secret Realm is an ancient battlefield. Legend has it that it hides the broken laws of heaven." Gu Jiuge's eyes seemed to be ablaze with dark fire, burning fiercely. "After the secret realm is opened, only those with a cultivation base below the Nascent Soul stage can enter. Those who hold the Shangli Order can enter under the protection of a senior who has reached the Divine Transformation stage."
Suddenly, he tightly grasped Bu Xingjin's wrist, his expression panicked: "The Liu family that's hunting me down, their ancestor had already reached the Spirit Severing Realm a hundred years ago!"
Gu Jiuge smiled bitterly, twisted the broken sword in his hand, and pointed it at his throat: "Daoyou, it's not too late for you to leave now. Wait for the Liu family's Blood Eagle Guards to follow the Soul-Chasing Incense..."
Before he could finish his words, a violent mountain wind suddenly rose, whistling across the cliffs. Bu Xingjin, quick-witted and quick-handed, grasped his sword-wielding hand. Meanwhile, from the distant clouds, the piercing sound of metal clashing emanated, and eighteen dark figures descended from the clouds like ghosts. The elder in the lead, a blood-red compass in hand, his sinister gaze, as if tangible, locked onto the two men. "Young friend, you're quite good at hiding, but unfortunately..." The compass needle spun wildly, illuminating Gu Jiuge's pale face.
"It's too late to leave now." Bu Xingjin waved his long sleeves, gently sweeping away the morning dew on the cliff edge. Those crystal water droplets suddenly condensed into small green swords in the air. He turned to look at Gu Jiuge, his expression calm and a bit leisurely. "Master Gu, have you ever heard of the saying that every tree and grass can be an enemy?"
This was a secret manual in his backpack. He hadn't previously remembered it, presumably because the system had automatically selected it for him during those two upgrades he'd neglected to attend to. He'd stumbled upon it when he'd opened his backpack after leaving Amaterasu. Since then, he'd devoted himself to studying it, practicing whenever he had a free moment. To practice, he'd also gathered numerous seeds from flowers, plants, and trees, storing them in his storage ring.
And this moment was his first actual combat.
Bu Xingjin took a half-step forward, and the weeds beneath his feet, as if inspired, instantly grew wildly. The old man's pupils constricted upon seeing this—those blades were greedily devouring the surrounding spiritual energy! He was about to unleash the Blood Blade from his sleeve when he saw Bu Xingjin's fingertips gleam, and forty-one azure halos bloomed behind him, radiating brilliantly.
"The Myriad Trees Greeting Spring Technique?" The old man was terrified and took several steps back in shock. "How could you possibly know this..."
What's the "Ten Thousand Trees Greeting Spring" technique? He's clearly seeing enemies everywhere, isn't he? The system manual clearly states it! Bu Xingjin grumbled inwardly.
As soon as he finished speaking, the vegetation on the cliff surface seemed to come alive. Thick vines, like nimble snakes, tightly wrapped around the bloody blade; light dandelions transformed into sharp arrows, ready to be launched. Bu Xingjin placed himself amidst the swirling leaves, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Aren't you leaving yet? If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave!"
The old man's face was livid. He had roamed Shangli City for years, but he had never expected to encounter such a formidable figure today. The blood-red compass in his hand trembled wildly, as if warning him of something. But as he gazed at the forty-one azure rings of light behind Bu Xingjin, he was unwilling to give up. The Shangli Order was crucial to the family's success. If Gu Jiuge could be slain here, the Liu family would have a clear lead in the subsequent battle for the Shangli Secret Realm.
"Hmph, you immature brat! Don't think you can stop me just by learning the Ten Thousand Trees Greeting Spring Technique!" The old man gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear within him. The spell in his hand suddenly changed, and the blood-red compass shone brightly. Rays of blood-red light surged forth like a substance, sweeping towards Bu Xingjin and Gu Jiuge. Wherever the blood-red light passed, flowers and plants instantly withered, turning to a charred black mass. A pungent, fishy smell filled the air.
Bu Xingjin's eyes glared. Though this was his first time using the "Tree of Grass and Trees" technique in combat, he wasn't afraid. With his spiritual energy flowing and his hands dancing, the weeds in front of him rapidly grew taller, interweaving into a thick wall, attempting to resist the onslaught of the blood. However, the blood's power was too overwhelming, and the wall barely held out for a moment before it began to crumble.
Seeing this, Gu Jiuge, suppressing his internal injuries, swung his broken sword, sending a faint wield of sword energy slashing at the bloody light. As the young master of the Gu family, he had practiced swordsmanship since childhood, and even though he was gravely wounded, he refused to sit still and wait for death. The sword energy collided with the bloody light, emitting a sharp roar. Gu Jiuge staggered and nearly fell to the ground.
"Young Master Gu, be careful!" Bu Xingjin shouted softly, and in a flash, he was beside Gu Jiuge, offering a hand to support him. At the same time, he scanned his surroundings, searching for a strategy to defeat the enemy. Although the vegetation on the cliff was subdued by the blood, he still had a trick up his sleeve. With a thought, he pulled several seeds from his storage ring. Enveloped in spiritual energy, the seeds instantly took root and sprouted, transforming into several exotic spiritual plants.
These spiritual plants were called Eclipse Spirit Flowers, and they were specifically designed to counteract evil spirits. He had only just discovered them from reading about them in the Amaterasu sect's library, and excitedly saved many seeds for a rainy day. He hadn't expected to need them now.
The flower blossomed, emitting a faint blue light that spread towards the blood. As the blood and blue light met, it was like ice and snow melting, slowly being swallowed up. The old man was shocked and furious upon seeing this; he had never imagined Bu Xingjin had such a hidden weapon.
"What a weird thing!" the old man roared, shaking the compass in his hand wildly, trying to recall the blood light, but found that the blood light had been firmly restrained by the Erosion Spirit Flower.
Bu Xingjin formed hand seals, and the emerald halo behind him shone even brighter, driving the vegetation on the cliff to launch a new round of attacks. Vines, like dragons emerging from the sea, entwined themselves around the Blood Eagle Guards; dandelions transformed into sharp arrows, showering the enemy with arrows.
The Blood Eagle Guards summoned their magical weapons to resist. For a moment, the cliffs shimmered with light, the weapons roared, and the cries of killing were endless. Bu Xingjin and Gu Jiuge fought side by side, their cooperation becoming increasingly tacit. Gu Jiuge used his sword energy to restrain the enemy, while Bu Xingjin manipulated the grass and trees to find flaws and deliver the fatal blow.
After a long, fierce battle, most of the Blood Eagle Guards had been killed, leaving the old man extremely anxious. He knew that if he failed to win today, he would be severely punished once the news reached the Liu family. Gritting his teeth, he forcibly activated the compass, even at the expense of his own blood and energy. A massive, blood-red curtain of light descended, trapping Bu Xingjin and Gu Jiuge within.
"Hmph, let's see how you can escape now!" The old man's face was ferocious, and he controlled the light curtain to shrink continuously, trying to crush the two men to death.
Bu Xingjin frowned, feeling the immense pressure of the light curtain, his spiritual energy rapidly depleting. Gu Jiuge's face paled as well, his severely injured body struggling to hold on. But the two men held firm in their eyes, determined not to give up their resistance.
Bu Xingjin took a deep breath, glanced around, and after finding the right direction, he shouted, "Mr. Gu, follow me!" After that, he rushed towards a corner of the light curtain, used the Zhoutian Fist, gathered the spiritual power in his hand, and stabbed the light curtain fiercely.
Gu Jiuge followed closely behind, slashing with all his might with the broken sword in his hand, joining forces with Bu Xingjin. With their combined strength, the light curtain was torn open. Seeing this, the old man was horrified and quickly commanded the remaining Blood Eagle Guards to block the attack.
However, it was too late. Bu Xingjin and Gu Jiuge took the opportunity to break through the light curtain and ran towards the depths of the cliff. The old man stamped his feet in anger, but he didn't dare to pursue them rashly. He could only watch the two disappear from his sight.
The two of them ran all the way, not stopping until they were sure no one was chasing them. Gu Jiuge spat out a mouthful of blood, his legs weakening and he almost fell to the ground. Bu Xingjin hurriedly supported him: "Master Gu, you are seriously injured and need to be treated as soon as possible."
Gu Jiuge waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist. If it weren't for you, I would have died here today. The Liu family is powerful and will do anything to achieve their goals. I'm afraid you will be their target in the future."
Bu Xingjin smiled faintly: "Since I have decided to help you, I will not be afraid of these things. Besides, I am also quite interested in the Shangli Secret Realm and want to explore its mysteries with you."
A flicker of gratitude flashed in Gu Jiuge's eyes. He knew full well what Bu Xingjin's help meant. He no longer refused, and the two of them found a secluded cave to rest for a while.
Bu Xingjin took out a healing pill from his storage ring and handed it to Gu Jiuge: "Master Gu, take this pill to stabilize your injuries first." Gu Jiuge took the pill, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged, channeling his spiritual energy to heal his wounds. Bu Xingjin set up a concealment formation at the cave entrance to prevent the enemy from tracking him.
After Gu Jiuge's injuries improved slightly, the two began to discuss their next plan. Gu Jiuge said solemnly, "Now that my father has passed away, the Gu family is in a state of panic, and those three Shangli Orders have become a target of public criticism. The Liu family will not give up and will definitely continue to send people to hunt me down."
"Honestly, if I hadn't met you, I would have died by now. Now, please help me. As long as I can return to Shangli City, I can integrate the Gu family and compete with them. After that, all three Shangli orders of the Gu family will be given to me. You can also make other requests, as long as I can fulfill them."
"That's not necessary. Let's talk about it after we reach Shangli City." Bu Xingjin waved his hand. "However, the journey will be full of dangers. We need to be careful."
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