Here's the translation of the requested text:
Gu Jianlin returned to his tent, took off his clothes, and jumped into the wooden tub for a hot bath.
Although conditions in the Ancient God Realm were primitive, alchemy technology truly was a marvel. The camp here was already connected to a matrix capable of generating electricity, ensuring a twenty-four-hour supply of hot water.
"Lishan Tiyan Pavilion, the Bai Ze Clan, Bai Ze Venerable's experiment."
He thought to himself, "Without a doubt, this experiment was also aimed at breaking the rules restraining the real world, but it seems to have failed. Instead, something peculiar was developed. Qilin Venerable—if we're talking about his personal perspective—was a total failure. Though I was created, I'm just a half-finished product."
This was because he himself was too weak and needed to level up bit by bit.
For now, only Candle Dragon Venerable's experiments remained.
Of course, there was also Vermilion Bird Venerable.
And the one with the lowest presence—Xuanming Venerable.
"Candle Dragon Venerable is about to descend; the final preparations should almost be complete by now. I wonder if He will succeed. And then there's Vermilion Bird Venerable—why is He considered particularly dangerous? What is He plotting?"
He rubbed his temples, feeling a deep sense of frustration.
Reaching into the pocket of his clothes nearby, he pulled out a folded piece of paper.
This was a transcription by Lin Lan, information left behind by Old Gu.
Two key points stood out in the content.
Firstly, before Old Gu, two powerful individuals had entered the Qilin Immortal Palace.
One was the Think Tank.
The identity of the other remained unknown, but this person had ventured into the deepest parts of the Qilin Immortal Palace.
They likely met the true form of Qilin Venerable.
This detail was eerie, like a horror story.
Secondly, the reason Candle Dragon Venerable hadn't descended yet was fear—fear of Vermilion Bird!
There was also a matter concerning The Order of the Hidden.
Back then, the people who tried to control Old Gu had a nickname: Mr. Solomon.
This figure had never been heard of.
Even the memories of Councilman Zhang and Director Li failed to mention him.
"Wait!"
Gu Jianlin suddenly had an epiphany: "Tianzhou and Xingye!"
These two Saints were also members controlled by The Order of the Hidden, but the teacher hadn't had him bind their souls.
Not even their bodies could be found.
A wild guess—his teacher probably had other methods to interrogate their memories.
For some reason, the teacher hadn't shared those with him.
"Teacher, what exactly are you planning?"
Gu Jianlin fell silent for a moment, then emerged from the tub and dried himself off.
Shaking the water from his hair, he dressed in a loose gray wool sweater, layering it with a thick, heavy black woolen coat, donning fleece-lined jeans and tall boots. He placed Jiuyin into his sword bag and stepped out of his tent.
The camp was bustling, crowded with Omegas returning from outside, hauling the massive corpses of beasts, blood flowing everywhere.
Medical personnel rushed around, while nano warriors guarded every corner.
Heavy armor vehicles roared, and helicopters hovered overhead.
They carried incomprehensible super-heavy alchemy technology weapons.
Truly terrifying.
If you say the Ether Association is good, it's plagued by infighting and systemic issues.
If you say the Association is rotten, it nevertheless wields unparalleled power. Glancing across the globe, it's the only organization capable of fielding teams that can easily kill Ancient Ancestors.
And it's even backed up by the Heavenly Person Realm.
Every time Gu Jianlin thought of the Ether Association's lineup, he felt grateful to be amphibious.
Otherwise, he would've been stuck deep within the tomb for eternity.
When the tomb doors reopened, it wouldn't be Pharmacist Thief and his team coming in.
It would be the President, alongside Rhein and Lin Dong, with silver and gold walking at their flanks.
Lastly, the King of Qing would leisurely push a wheelchair, greeting him.
The scene—the epitome of grimness.
Almost as if by sensing, a tent distorted like mist.
In its place appeared a quaint and antique grocery store, as though it had descended out of nowhere.
Utterly seamless.
Gu Jianlin walked in with a stiff face, expressionless.
Today's grocery store played the song "Borrow Another Five Hundred Years from the Heavens." An old man sat in a wheelchair, sipping tea unhurriedly, looking pleased as he gazed at a painting on the wall and hummed softly.
"Teacher."
Upon entering, Gu Jianlin felt warm as if it were spring. He casually picked up a bottle of cola and greeted.
Huai Yin opened his eyes to glance at him, smiling faintly: "Not bad, looks like your haul this time wasn't small. Fourth-Order Cloud Monarch, superdimensional level in just half a month—you haven't let me down. Took out four Twilight Candidates in one go and even killed a descendant of the Jiang Family. Well done, my good student!"
He laughed aloud: "Haha, satisfying!"
Gu Jianlin retorted, "Am I not the 'wicked student'?"
"Wicked? Where's the wicked? I have only my excellent apprentices!"
Huai Yin replied: "If Xing Yun and Ghost Eye hadn't run fast enough, I would've wiped them out."
Gu Jianlin muttered inwardly that he hadn't seen Huai Yin make any moves—wasn't it the President who dealt with it instead?
Huai Yin scrutinized him approvingly:
"Hmm, so you've subdued Jiuyin as well—funny enough, I still don't know its actual abilities myself."
He grinned, saying, "That wife of yours, she's really just you, isn't she?"
Gu Jianlin felt thoroughly awkward; he knew his teacher would see through him.
"Your shadow holding Jiuyin becomes part of the Ghost Slayer Path?"
Huai Yin raised an eyebrow: "Since ancient times, dual paths have been impossible. However, external factors can make it happen. For instance, within Twilight exists a Mythical Weapon called the Burial Casket. As its name suggests, it buries you with your lover, transferring half of your consciousness into them."
Gu Jianlin inhaled sharply: "That's so twisted?"
Huai Yin remarked with a sigh: "It's not that bad—if both partners are Ascenders with different paths, it amounts to having a 'clone' of another pathway. Other methods likely exist."
Gu Jianlin fell contemplative—seemed the teacher truly didn't know the specifics of Jiuyin's powers.
"Be careful not to let anyone discover it."
Huai Yin paused: "Especially in the Candle Dragon Clan or among other Ancient God Clans."
Gu Jianlin couldn't agree more. If mistaken for Candle Dragon Venerable, who knows what might happen?
The Ancient God Clan was nothing like humans.
It was virtually impossible for them to surrender.
The previous Ancestor had been easier.
But if he encountered some old monster with a grudge against her, he'd just be shielding her from the knives.
"Can I ask a question?"
Huai Yin suddenly said.
Gu Jianlin froze: "Go ahead."
Huai Yin hesitated before asking: "How did you subdue Jiuyin?"
Gu Jianlin didn't initially catch the implication, but then he caught the look in his teacher's eyes.
"I didn't just pick up some girl as a disciple, did I?"
Huai Yin asked in puzzlement.
"Old rogue."
Gu Jianlin replied expressionlessly: "Seems like you're healed enough to start spouting nonsense again."
Huai Yin didn't look as ruddy as before but appeared much better. As he sipped tea, he explained, "It's just a minor injury. Don't listen to your senior brother's ramblings."
Gu Jianlin, curious, asked, "Where is Senior Brother?"
Huai Yin chuckled: "Gone to see his lover."
Gu Jianlin hesitated: "A lover? Has Senior Brother started a family?"
Huai Yin shook his head: "No, that fool will probably stay unmarried his entire life, hopelessly fixed on one person. Do not follow his example—falling too deeply in love doesn't bring any good."
Gu Jianlin paused for a second: "Did she pass away?"
"Not exactly. The person your senior brother loves can't die even if they want to. But waking up isn't easy either."
Huai Yin waved dismissively: "Let's not discuss this—it's bad luck. Why are you here?"
Gu Jianlin remained silent for a moment, then handed over the folded paper.
Huai Yin blinked, took out a pair of reading glasses, and scrutinized it for a long while: "Well, that's interesting. Your father actually said someone entered the deepest parts of the Qilin Immortal Palace ahead of him? If they encountered Qilin Venerable and emerged alive, that's truly incredible."
"As for the Think Tank, his entry isn't surprising—he has many contingencies that Red left behind."
He paused: "As for Mr. Solomon, I'm still investigating."
Gu Jianlin, mentally prepared, said, "You must know everything, which is why you didn't let me interrogate Tianzhou and Xingye?"
Huai Yin raised an eyebrow, refusing to answer.
"Let me take a guess: if I'd questioned Tianzhou and Xingye, not only would I learn The Order's plans for Aunt Zijin, but I'd also uncover their specific intentions."
Gu Jianlin calmly continued, "That way, I could prepare ahead of time and avoid a close call."
Huai Yin casually asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"You already know what the Think Tank intends to do, don't you?"
Gu Jianlin said solemnly, "But you don't want to stop it. You even prefer to see it play out. You want to let things spiral out of control and have Aunt Lu Zijin die, thereby triggering infighting within the Ether Association. Of course, maybe you're not that cold-blooded—Aunt Lu Zijin might not actually die—but you'll ensure the world believes she did."
He paused: "Your ultimate target is the President."
Huai Yin tapped a rhythm on his knee leisurely.
After a long beat.
He sighed: "Who knew you'd be so stubborn, and insist on stopping it—successfully, no less."
Gu Jianlin stood stoic as ever.
"I should've taught you less."
Huai Yin sighed: "Training a student too well's no good either."
Gu Jianlin asked in a measured tone, "Why would you do this, though? She's your Master's wife."
Huai Yin fell silent briefly, then coldly scoffed, "Old grudges from the prior generation—what do you know? You're my student, not hers. She's no saint either; you'll understand someday. Do you truly believe the President doesn't know the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident wasn't orchestrated by your father?"
Gu Jianlin froze slightly.
"Do you truly think the President isn't aware that Mu Feng and the others were falsely accused? She also knows about The Order of the Hidden. But none of these matters are of importance to her."
Huai Yin sneered: "Sitting in her position, many things are beyond one's control. If the President were to investigate The Order, the order she upholds would completely collapse. As for the true mastermind behind the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident, for certain reasons, she chooses not to pursue it. What's done is done—what's there to change?"
"You must understand—many incomprehensible things in this world become clear when viewed from a profit perspective. Rhein inheriting the position isn't necessarily a bad thing for her. Do you know why?"
He paused: "Because, while Rhein may resort to despicable means to vie for the President's seat, he does possessed capabilities sufficient for maintaining order. And that's enough. Since time immemorial, which person in power hasn't committed dishonorable acts? It's merely that your interests aren't aligned with theirs."
Gu Jianlin remained silent.
He had nothing to say; the world felt deeply complicated.
Complicated enough to chill one's heart.
"This world is like this—the more you understand, the greater the disappointment."
Huai Yin suddenly chuckled: "But don't overthink it; the Strategy Group for the Sea of Eternal Life expedition is already prepared. You young ones can take a share—it's brimming with treasure."
Gu Jianlin brushed aside the gloomy thoughts: "Teacher, aren't you going to take a look? This involves Candle Dragon Venerable, Vermilion Bird Venerable, and Qilin Venerable, who hasn't appeared yet."
Huai Yin laughed: "Not me—I have more important matters to attend to."
Gu Jianlin curiously asked, "Where are you heading?"
Huai Yin looked out at the snowy winds beyond the window, smiling: "To Buzhou Mountain, with silver and gold."
Gu Jianlin was stunned.
Huai Yin's next words struck like thunder.
"Candle Dragon Venerable is now at His weakest moment in ten thousand years."
He gazed at the painting on the wall: "Now's the perfect opportunity."
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