Chapter 1 The Appearance

What people see is often just the surface.

Therefore, what people believe is often what they want to believe.

Everyone wanted to believe that Bai Xiu and Gu Shen would fight when they met. So, from the moment Bai Xiu entered Qingzhong, the deep-water area forum began to discuss what would happen in the cemetery in a few hours.

The news was shocking.

The shock was reflected, but not limited to, the prison's betting odds being quickly filled and then closed.

But probably no one could have imagined that Qingzhong Cemetery was quieter and more harmonious at this moment than on any other day.

The mist swirled.

When Gu Shen arrived at the top of the mountain, a figure was already standing at the foot of the mountain. That person was patiently waiting in the original spot, as if they had guessed that Gu Shen would definitely come.

"I'm here to thank you."

Bai Xiu bowed again. "Thank you for those two reminders... You saved me a lot of trouble."

Without those two reminders...

Although things wouldn't have been unsolvable, they would have been very troublesome, very troublesome.

"You're welcome."

Since Grandmaster Qianye wanted to give him a hand...

Then Gu Shen would gladly accept this favor.

He smiled and asked, "Is the matter resolved?"

"Half resolved."

Bai Xiu pointed outside the cemetery, his eyebrows relaxing. "That person will die tonight... He won't be buried in Qingzhong."

That person referred to Bai Buzheng, a man who deserved to die.

There was still half of the matter unresolved.

The assassin who took a knife for Bai Xiu was a person who should have lived... Now that he was dead, he needed to be buried.

"If you're willing to come down the mountain, I'd like to ask you for another favor... Use your divination skills to choose a good location in the outer cemetery."

Bai Xiu spoke again, saying, "I want to bury Yu Shu tonight."

As he spoke.

Gu Shen had already started down the mountain.

Bai Xiu watched the mountain mist in front of him sway and spread little by little. Finally, from that waterfall-like mist, a black-clothed figure of similar age to his own gradually emerged.

The two didn't actually have much in common—face, expression, temperament... More accurately, Gu Shen and Bai Xiu were like the colors of the clothes they were wearing at the moment, or the two wisps of spiritual brilliance that erupted when comprehending the Breath of Spring.

One black, one white.

The two people's auras were completely opposite.

And they ran in opposite directions.

"Someone who died taking a knife for you... Doesn't such a person have the qualifications to enter the Bai Clan Ancestral Hall?"

After Gu Shen asked this question and saw Bai Xiu's silence, he understood the answer.

Yu Shu's surname wasn't Bai.

He was an outsider.

Bai Xiu still had three parts of cold killing intent remaining in his brow.

It was not difficult to see that although the reminders of those two names had saved him a lot of trouble... the whole process had still erupted with a lot of trouble.

"The Bai Clan Ancestral Hall... It's best not to go."

Bai Xiu said succinctly, "In fact... it's not a good place."

...

...

Choosing a tombstone for Yu Shu wasn't difficult.

In fact, there was no need to use "divination"... Gu Shen's Blazing Fire could see things that ordinary people couldn't, such as the flow of extraordinary source power. And in Qingzhong Cemetery, the richness and sparseness of the extraordinary source power was a manifestation of the formation's direction.

The so-called "good location" was a place with rich source power.

In fact, it wasn't difficult to see this.

Gu Shen knew that in such a short time, Bai Xiu had returned to Qingzhong... He should be doing this in order to meet him again.

And choosing a tombstone... was just a reason to invite him down the mountain.

"Let's put it here."

Gu Shen arrived in a forest in the outer cemetery. There were no other tombstones standing here, and it was very peaceful. Even the rain was blocked by the leaves. Outside the perennial operation of the great formation, extremely harsh weather wouldn't descend on this cemetery.

Standing in the forest, one would feel a sense of quiet emptiness.

"Okay."

Bai Xiu nodded. He didn't use his abilities extensively, but only condensed a wisp of lightning, dug into the soil, and carved out a rough stone. He put his hands together and slowly cut the stone surface.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.

The [Walker of the Lightning Realm] should be a natural lightning power... Faint bright white light appeared in the air.

A wisp of unstable lightning arc was suppressed by Bai Xiu to be extremely docile.

The stone surface was completely cut, and soon it was carved into a monument.

Bai Xiu inscribed the sacrificial name with his fingers, and engraved the name of Yu Shu on the tombstone.

After that, the lightning in his palm slowly dissipated.

He held the tombstone like this, slowly inserted it into the mud, and then used his palm to dust off the dust and carefully clean it.

"I heard that the array patterns in Qingzhong have a mysterious connection with Mr. Gu Changzhi's 'Fire Seed'... Even without the remains, source power can be summoned." Bai Xiu squatted in front of the tombstone, not looking back, and murmured, "Is that really the case?"

Grandmaster Qianye's voice echoed in Gu Shen's mind.

"No."

So Gu Shen shook his head.

"If I bring back the remains... Even though the extraordinary source power has been exhausted, can it be summoned?" Bai Xiu was a little regretful, but he didn't give up.

Gu Shen asked about it.

"There's no problem with that."

The tomb keeper said, "The source power in this world follows the law of summoning. Where there is dispersion, there is gathering... Even the deceased can still summon their own source power, but the summoning is too far away and ethereal, and it takes a long time."

Gu Shen nodded.

He also squatted in front of the tombstone and said softly, "It's possible... But it will take a long time to complete the summoning."

The condensation of extraordinary source power is like a rain.

Raindrops fall, land on the ground, evaporate, rise again, and gather back into rain clouds... This takes a long time.

"It doesn't matter. He now has a very, very long time."

Bai Xiu said, "As long as he can return to the right place... that's good."

This was a resting place more suitable for eternal sleep than the Bai Clan Ancestral Hall.

"Before I knew your identity, I wanted to come to Qingzhong again..." Bai Xiu slowly said, "But at that time, I didn't think about inviting you down the mountain. I just wanted to express my gratitude."

As expected.

He knew Bai Xiu's identity.

Bai Xiu also knew his identity.

Gu Shen thought for a while and said a person's name: "Bai Lu?"

"Is this obtained through divination... Or just a guess?" Bai Xiu narrowed his eyes. He looked at Gu Shen. The two were very close, less than a meter apart.

Gu Shen could see a thin, snow-white light in the depths of Bai Xiu's dark pupils.

This light wasn't dazzling.

Just not long ago.

He should have been looking at himself like this through the fog... Perhaps his gaze was dozens of times brighter than this.

"Of course it was a guess," Gu Shen said calmly. "Actually, I don't know divination."

Sometimes, people who tell the truth are not believed.

Every word Gu Shen said was too consistent with the identity of a "divination successor."

First, he left behind an "ominous statement" and suppressed Bai Lu in the clan hall.

Then everything followed, erupting within the clan hall.

And his identity... From the looks of it, it seemed to be a foreshadowing that had been buried many days ago.

"I'm more willing to believe that all of this is within your calculations." Bai Xiu smiled. "For so many years, no one has ever been able to subdue Bai Lu so well, so that she is willing to read and cultivate quietly in the clan hall."

Bai Xiu looked at Gu Shen seriously for dozens of seconds.

The thin white light in his eyes slowly dissipated.

Like a cat extinguishing its vertical pupils in the night.

The blazing fire swaying in Gu Shen's brow also slowly extinguished.

"She said you are a true genius." Bai Xiu said softly, "So I wanted to meet you..."

"They all say you are the real genius." Gu Shen smiled, "So... I have always wanted to meet you too."

Bai Xiu was stunned.

"You are indeed different from the people I have met before."

He then smiled and said, "I can't see through you... and I can't see through that fire."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Of course."

"Then, thank you for the compliment."

"If you stay in Changye longer, you will know... Everyone is waiting for us to have a fight." Gu Shen's mood was a little subtle. He said with a smile, "I thought we would really have a fight."

"Sounds interesting." Bai Xiu said, "But now... it's not a good time."

This sentence was spoken very euphemistically.

Gu Shen started extraordinary cultivation too late.

The two already had a large gap in their distance.

It was already extremely difficult to catch up.

Not to mention... having a fight with such a disparity in strength now.

"Extraordinary cultivation is a big deal. Winning or losing is a small matter." Bai Xiu stood up and said, "I will participate in next year's Newcomer Battle... The original reason was simple, just because I wanted to use the best state to welcome the 'Fire Seed Dream'."

He stretched out his hand and said, "And now, there is another reason."

This sentence meant an opponent.

This hand meant a friend.

Gu Shen also stood up.

He shook hands with Bai Xiu briefly.

Then he said seriously, "I'm sorry... I won't participate in the Newcomer Battle... Not this year, nor next year. I won't if I can't win against you, and I won't if I can win against you."

This was beyond Bai Xiu's expectations.

"Just as you said... Extraordinary cultivation is a big deal. Winning or losing is a small matter."

Gu Shen said slowly, "This is the reason why I won't participate."

Was this non-contention?

No.

This was another kind of contention.

Everyone in Snow Forbidden City was fighting for the top spot in this Newcomer Battle... But Gu Shen didn't care about this false name. He cared more about his "ancient text learning" and the black flowers of "God Shrine Mountain."

The "Dao" that he was fighting for day and night wasn't in Snow Forbidden City.

"I... I understand."

Bai Xiu said thoughtfully, murmuring, "No wonder Grandmaster Qianye accepted you as a successor of divination."

...

...

"There is one thing I want to remind you."

"This assassination... is very likely not over yet."

The long night would soon be over.

After thinking about it, Gu Shen decided to tell Bai Xiu his thoughts: "Perhaps you don't care what the assassin's intentions are, but wanting to plan such a sophisticated and perfect plan... You can't rely on just one person."

These words sounded like they were trying to subvert the Bai family.

But in fact, Gu Shen didn't have this in mind.

"The schemer is in Changye, and the assassin is in the tundra... The elder that the Bai family is about to execute is usually just a member in charge of the clan hall's accounts. He has no direct conflict with you. No matter how much he dislikes you, he couldn't possibly risk so much to hire someone to kill you."

Gu Shen looked at Yu Shu's tombstone and said softly, "The cause and effect that divination can find is direct cause and effect... In other words, divination can see that the tundra assassin was hired by him, but the person who really wanted to kill you is very likely still hidden in the dark."

Bai Xiu didn't speak.

He just listened quietly.

"The rules of the world are roughly divided into two sets, one on the surface and one hidden underground."

"For hundreds of years, the five great families have adhered to the underground rules set by each other. No matter how much they tear their faces, they won't attract external forces to resolve internal conflicts... But in these few years since the God's Throne has been dormant, the contradictions have intensified and show no signs of stopping."

Gu Shen deliberately paused.

Bai Xiu said, "You mean someone has begun to violate the underground rules."

Gu Shen nodded slowly.

The reason why he had such an idea was because of his meeting with the Old Master Gu not long ago.

Gu Shen vaguely felt that... a big storm seemed to be brewing underground in Changye.

If it was really as he expected.

Someone in the five great families violated the rules, "hooked up" with external forces, and prepared to reshuffle the cards... Then it wouldn't be long before the entire Changye would usher in an unprecedented shock!

"I know what you want to say, but..."

Bai Xiu slowly turned his head and looked at Gu Shen, "Even if this is true... there is nothing we can do."

"Of course, individual strength is limited." Gu Shen said calmly, "What I want to say is that... no matter where you are, you need to be careful. Because such an assassination is likely to happen a second or third time."

Bai Xiu fell silent.

What benefits would the Bai family get from killing him?

At first glance, it would be all harm and no benefit to the Bai family. How could anyone inside the Bai family hope that he would die?

But if you think about it carefully... That's not the case.

The "bloodline theory" that had been passed down for six hundred years had been broken on him. With his current speed of progress, the brilliance of the eldest son Bai Chen would be completely covered up in a few years.

And by that time, how should the Bai family's "family head" position be passed on?

Would the Council of Elders really be willing to pass on the "family head" position to an orphan from Jiangbei with humble origins and low bloodline?

And sometimes, whether you want it or not is not up to you.

If you don't want it, someone will force it into your hands.

And at that time... there would be another group of people trying to chop off your hand.

Or... cut off your head.

"You just said that the assassin... is in the tundra?"

Gu Shen continued, "If the Bai family successfully catches the assassin, verifies their identity, and executes them... then the previous doubts can be dispelled to some extent. But I have a premonition that I feel that the assassin will not be caught. He is very likely to escape from the tundra."

When making friends, it is important to avoid speaking too deeply about important matters with new acquaintances.

Speaking up to here was already a bit "deep."

Gu Shen quickly stopped.

He said solemnly, "In short... you need to be careful."

A ray of dawn fell into the forest.

Gu Shen and Bai Xiu stood in front of that tombstone.

The clouds and mist dispersed, the leaves rustled, and birds chirped.

A ray of light that could not shine into the forest in Qingzhong all year round fell on Yu Shu's tombstone.

Bai Xiu looked at Gu Shen meaningfully.

He did not agree, nor did he refute, but just nodded slightly, and said softly and earnestly, "I have remembered these words."

...

...

"Bai Xiu hasn't come out yet... But Gu Shen came out first!"

Many people surrounded the outskirts of Qingzhong.

Because they didn't dare to disturb the tranquility of the cemetery.

They were waiting at the exit of the cemetery.

They never expected that after a night, the wind and rain would dissipate.

The first to walk out of Qingzhong was not Bai Xiu, but Gu Shen!

Gu Shen, who walked out of Qingzhong Cemetery, had a very complicated expression.

Although he had expected that there would be many onlookers wherever Bai Xiu went, he never expected... there would be so many people, and most of them were young and beautiful women.

He had sneaked into Qingzhong when Bai Xiu entered the city because he wanted to avoid the hustle and bustle of the world.

No matter how much he hid, what was supposed to come would always come. He couldn't avoid it.

The crowd was a little disappointed to see Gu Shen come out.

"You kid... you're something else!"

An iron hand patted Gu Shen on the shoulder, and then suddenly exerted force. A tall body slowly and powerfully squeezed out of the crowd, and took Gu Shen to the car. Luo Yu's deep voice sounded, "I didn't expect you to be able to come out alive... You're really lucky!"

Come out alive?

That was unlucky... Gu Shen gave a wry smile, "Brother Luo, what do you mean by this? Are you hoping that something happens to me?"

Luo Yu chuckled and said, "I wouldn't dare. If something happened to you, the young master and the Old Master would probably hold me accountable!"

There was a hint of schadenfreude in this smile.

"Gu Shen... How are you... Unscathed?!"

A sigh of regret came from the back seat of the car.

Gu Shen turned his head and saw the familiar Young Master Gong, and Shen Li, who was closing his eyes to rest.

"How much did you bet?" Gu Shen realized the reason for Gong Zi's ugly expression, and sneered, "You didn't go all-in and bet that I would be beaten to death by Bai Xiu, did you?"

"How could that be!" Gong Zi said angrily, "Am I that kind of person?"

"The news that Bai Xiu entered Qingzhong last night was too sudden." Shen Li opened his eyes and said lightly, "By the time someone dragged me to the prison, the betting had already closed. Don't mention going all-in, he didn't even have time to place a bet."

Gu Shen was a little confused: "Then why do you have such a sad face..."

"Blame it on someone who is not dead set on trying to make a fortune." Shen Li stretched out a hand from the back seat and showed off a new jade bracelet on his wrist, and said lightly, "Brother Gong, you have to accept your loss... Now this sealed item is mine."

Gong Zi gritted his teeth, pretended to be generous, and waved his hand, "I was going to give it to you anyway... Don't let me see it!"

Shen Li closed his eyes again to sleep.

Gong Zi leaned over and rubbed the fabric of Gu Shen's clothes incredulously, with a puzzled expression on his face, "Brother Gu... how did you do it?"

He did feel Bai Xiu's aura.

Gu Shen... definitely met Bai Xiu!

These two people didn't fight?

No... It should be said that Gu Shen wasn't beaten by Bai Xiu?!

"Obviously, Changye is not just about fighting, it's also about human relationships."

Gu Shen used two fingers with disgust to move Gong Zi's salty pig trotter away, and asked with a calm expression, "Could it be that I can't have a long night talk with Bai Xiu and discuss the Dao?"

Gong Zi shook his head madly: "Anyone is possible... but Bai Xiu..."

"What's wrong with Bai Xiu?" Gu Shen raised his eyebrows.

"Bai Xiu will not 'discuss the Dao' with any peers." Gong Zi said with a wry smile: "Even if there are similar verbal exchanges, it can only be him 'preaching'."

Gu Shen was silent all of a sudden.

That's right.

In terms of extraordinary cultivation... Bai Xiu was far ahead of everyone else.

"He is indeed a very powerful person."

Recalling the gaze in front of the tombstone, the mutual probing.

Bai Xiu didn't see through his "Four Seasons Wilderness."

Similarly, Gu Shen's Blazing Fire didn't see through the truth of the [Walker of the Lightning Realm].

Gu Shen took a light breath to adjust his mood.

The road was still very long.

He... didn't need to compare himself with outsiders, he just needed to walk his own Dao well!

After settling his emotions, Gu Shen glanced at the back seat and said with a smile, "Brother Gong, a blessing in disguise, although you lost a sealed item... but I want to tell you some good news."

Gong Zi was a little dazed.

"Bai Xiu will not participate in this year's Newcomer Battle." Gu Shen said softly, "You can start preparing for the competition."

It took Gong Zi several seconds to react.

This was unbelievable news!

Bai Xiu deliberately returned to Changye, but did not participate in this year's "Newcomer Battle"!

That being said... his "Fire Seed Dream" had hope!

...

...

The news that Bai Xiu had given up on this year's Newcomer Battle... first spread throughout the Bai family's clan hall, and then throughout Changye.

For those young extraordinary cultivators who were eager to win the championship and chose to wait and see at the last moment, this was great news.

As for the Bai family.

Bai Xiu's willfulness was sometimes a trouble.

Inside the [Wind Eye] surveillance room.

"It's fine if he gives up the competition..."

"There is no difference between this year and next year."

Bai Chen stood respectfully beside him.

The man leaned back in his chair, slightly tilted back, and looked at the huge screen, and asked softly, "There have been quite a few sampling times. Regarding the boy named Gu Shen... What useful information has the [Wind Eye] captured?"

Layers of code began to flow across the huge screen.

[Deep Sea] was driven by authority to mobilize Gu Shen's "information" in Changye from the central database.

Ever since he stepped into Changye, countless eyes have been watching this young man.

Scene after scene was reflected on the huge screen, divided into small squares.

Huge amounts of information were filtered.

These squares were quickly eliminated, leaving behind useful "pictures."

Deep Sea quickly captured one picture after another... Those pictures had one thing in common, that Gu Shen's brow was lit with a blazing fire.

"Is the S-level ability simply a mental power?"

The man's voice was deep and powerful, and he smiled softly: "I don't believe the Tribunal's files, and I don't believe the report submitted by that old fox Zhou Jiren..."

"Father." Bai Chen said softly, "In Snow Forbidden City, I came into contact with Gu Shen once from afar... For a moment, I felt a familiar aura on him."

"Oh?"

"Not that blazing fire..."

Bai Chen thought carefully, and hesitated, and said, "I can't say... That power seemed to resonate with my bloodline, and it suppressed it. But it disappeared in an instant."

The man narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

He zoomed in on the picture in the night of Snow Forbidden City, which was the picture of Gu Shen being dragged into the [Truth] domain by Han Dang. [Wind Eye] captured a complete and continuous image.

At the moment when the domain spread out.

Gu Shen's shadow seemed to turn pale for a moment.

It was a snow...

This snow successfully attracted the attention of the head of the Bai family. He frowned, stared at the video, and slowed down the normal speed of the image hundreds of times, thousands of times in the man's eyes.

He carefully watched every frame.

And then he discovered an incomprehensible and terrifying thing.

At the moment of landing, a snow appeared on Gu Shen's shadow.

He didn't see clearly.

How did this snow appear?

...

...

(Sorry for the wait, it's another day of writing 10,000 words. I'm asking for monthly tickets with confidence!)