Chapter 1 After One Year

A year later.

Flowers bloomed on Mount Shenci.

Not the black flowers of broken order, but pure white flowers symbolizing light and hope.

The darkness atop the mountain had been swept away. The ancient talismans filled with obscure ancient writing at the base of the old shrine had become useless, lying flat against the wooden foundation.

Because Gu Shen had eaten all the "black flowers" on the mountaintop.

Including the flower garden.

Gu Shen squatted in front of the flower garden, reaching out his palm. Enveloped in blazing fire, he easily pulled out the last "black flower" from the mountaintop. Instead of eating it directly, he quietly watched the wisp of black, swaying matter struggling in his palm.

A year.

He had finished eating the black flowers on Mount Shenci's summit.

A year ago, this was unimaginable... Although he had some anticipation for the "growth attribute" of blazing fire, Gu Shen had not expected that this little guy's appetite would develop so quickly.

This was a good thing.

The larger the appetite, the more primordial substance it could store.

Not only did Gu Shen's own extraordinary cultivation require primordial substance, but the expansion of his spiritual world and the nourishment of the seed also needed a large amount of primordial substance to support them.

Compared to the beginning, when the blazing fire was only a small wisp, it had grown to the size of half a fist.

Once materialized, Gu Shen's forehead would be shrouded in a large mass of blazing flames.

It looked somewhat like a "divine crown," dazzlingly bright.

"Mr. Gu..."

Li Qingci squatted in front of the flower garden.

She smiled, watching the last black flower, and said softly with emotion, "I really didn't expect that in just one year, the top of Mount Shenci could be restored to its original state."

Ever since the situation on Mount Shenci began to improve.

Li Qingci's complexion had also gotten much better... She no longer used the Prayer Art so frequently, and her entire spirit had gradually recovered. She no longer looked so thin and weak.

"Yes..."

Gu Shen also smiled.

He pinched the black flower and slowly ate it... The last wisp of blackness on the mountaintop was thus eliminated. Although after standing up and looking down, he could still see large patches of black, and the entire Mount Shenci area was still covered with black flowers.

But at least now... the mountaintop was "snow-white."

After clearing away the black flowers, without much planting, white flowers grew in the flower garden.

This mountain of despair began to sprout hope.

These snow-white little flowers no longer withered overnight... Some of them had begun to sprout a month ago and had survived until now, still standing tall and full of life.

Gu Shen and Li Qingci walked into the old shrine.

In the four corners, three copper man lamps had already been placed, namely the "Lamp of Joy," the "Lamp of Sorrow," and the "Lamp of Happiness." There was still one "Lamp of Anger" left... That wisp of swaying firelight, although still ethereal, was now full of hope.

The success of the "Seeking the Lamp" plan was beyond Gu Shen's initial expectations.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the last copper man lamp should be found.

The two walked out of the old shrine.

Li Qingci sincerely said, "Shenci being able to have this day is all thanks to Mr. Gu's help..."

Gu Shen waved his hand and just smiled.

In the mental link, Chu Ling's voice came.

"Someone has entered the 'Shenci Territory,' an unfamiliar face."

Because of the gradual awakening of the Divine Embryo.

Chu Ling's consciousness could now ignore the mental shielding of "Mount Shenci" and link directly with Gu Shen.

Her voice had just sounded.

Li Qingci frowned... As the protector of Mount Shenci, she had complete vision of the entire mountain realm. The only entrance to this realm was Highway 447, and in the past year, the only people who had entered this realm besides her sister and Uncle Gao were Gu Shen.

"Someone is coming."

Li Qingci's voice became a little nervous.

As a protector who cultivated the Prayer Art, her intuition was very keen... Perhaps because of the "extra gift" of this forbidden technique, she could always vaguely sense when something important was about to happen.

Sure enough.

After that visitor entered the mountain realm, they went straight towards Mount Shenci.

Gu Shen and Li Qingci went down the mountain together to meet them.

They met at the foot of the mountain.

It was a middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his face heroic. After seeing Li Qingci, he glanced at Gu Shen beside her with some surprise... The middle-aged man took out a talisman and stated his identity.

"Fourteenth Elder, Li Xuan."

Gu Shen stood quietly beside Li Qingci, without saying a word, glancing at the reaction of the person next to him...

Li Qingci's expression was somewhat blank, obviously not recognizing this so-called "Fourteenth Elder."

She had entered Mount Shenci very early on, and after becoming a protector, she had stopped paying attention to what was happening outside.

Judging from her reaction, this person should be a newly promoted elder of the Li Clan.

Gu Shen felt a little puzzled... What exactly was going on?

If it was just a minor matter, why bother notifying the "protector" of Mount Shenci?

If it was a major matter that needed to be notified to the "protector" of Mount Shenci, then why send a newly promoted elder?

He suddenly thought of the words Uncle Gao had said to him a year ago...

"The family head's illness... has reached the final stage..."

Li Xuan opened his mouth, like a wooden man. These were obviously very sad words, but his tone did not reveal any emotional fluctuations.

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Qingci's expression paled by a third.

She took two steps back slightly.

The family head... was seriously ill.

She knew this news, she had always known it... But when this day really came, she still couldn't accept it.

The family head was seriously ill, but she couldn't leave Mount Shenci, let alone see him one last time.

Parting from life and death.

From the moment she stepped into Mount Shenci, she was destined to sever these mortal ties.

Li Qingci's eyes dimmed.

No wonder... No wonder it wasn't Li Qingsui who came here.

She couldn't imagine what the innocent little girl looked like now, guarding in front of the sickbed, probably haggard.

"According to family rules, before the family head passed away, the elders conducted a final audit of the financial statements, and then discovered a major problem..."

Li Xuan continued, he said calmly: "In the past year, a large amount of the Li Clan's funds and manpower have been invested in the Mount Shenci plan..."

Li Qingci was stunned.

She looked at the man in front of her in disbelief.

The "Fourteenth Elder" of the Li Clan's Elder Council came to Mount Shenci at the important moment when the family head was critically ill... just to tell her this.

"What do you want to say?" Her voice trembled.

"I regret to inform you that this plan has been terminated by us."

Li Xuan said calmly, looking up at Mount Shenci: "The Elder Council cannot evaluate the truth or falsehood of this plan... I came here to investigate Shenci and see if it is worth spending so much money."

After speaking.

He was about to go mountaineering.

"How dare you!"

Li Qingci rarely became angry, she stood in front of the middle-aged man, and scolded: "The Li Clan's ancestral teachings say that, except for the past family heads and the protectors... other people are not allowed to step into Mount Shenci without permission!"

Li Xuan frowned.

He reached out his hand, trying to push Li Qingci away.

At this moment, Gu Shen took action.

Gu Shen took half a step forward, standing between the two, and at the same time, one hand stretched out like lightning, grabbing Li Xuan's wrist.

Li Xuan's sword eyebrows raised.

The speed of this grab was extremely fast, he had already realized it, but he didn't avoid it!

"What is he?"

After being caught... Li Xuan's expression completely cooled down, looking at Li Qingci, and asked unceremoniously.

Li Xuan saw this "stranger" at first glance after coming to Mount Shenci, but he just felt that his face was vaguely familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before... but definitely not in the Li Clan's ancestral hall!

Li Qingci prevented him from climbing the mountain.

So, why could this person with a different surname?

"I am a guest of the Li Clan."

Gu Shen smiled and asked softly: "What about you, what are you?"

Li Xuan was furious.

In the void, flames splattered—

This Li Clan's Fourteenth Elder, his ability was also related to "flames."

He took the lead, a circle of flames splattering from his wrist, to shake Gu Shen's palm away.

However, Gu Shen was unmoved.

He stood in place, not moving a step, but in the center of his eyebrows, a wisp of blazing fire suddenly ignited.

The splashing flames did not shake his wrist away at all. After splashing, they were all swallowed by the "blazing fire!"

The moment the blazing fire appeared... Li Xuan's face turned pale.

He suddenly thought of the young man in front of him, why he looked familiar!

A year ago—

This young man was once famous in Nagano, and was noticed by the entire Snow Forbidden City!

It's just that this year... this young man retreated again and disappeared from everyone's sight, like a flash in the pan. No one discussed him anymore, and no one cared about him anymore.

The face that had been remembered by countless people was gradually fading.

"You... your surname is Gu?"

"Gu Shen."

Gu Shen said calmly, his fingers exerting a little force, the Li Clan's Fourteenth Elder's expression suddenly became ferocious, his wrist was pressed and turned at an angle, and the strength of his whole body seemed to be imprisoned at one point.

The tall man could only kneel on the ground, clenching his teeth, and within a few seconds, he had difficulty breathing, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down from his forehead.

"Apologize."

Gu Shen opened his mouth cleanly, with only this one request.

Li Xuan raised his head and looked at the young man who had disappeared from Nagano's sight for nearly a year... There was fear in his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, Gu Shen was only a second-stage transcendent a year ago!

He had been practicing in the third stage for five years.

He was completely unable to fight back... What is his strength now?

"I'm sorry... Master Gu Shen... I was blind... I am nothing!"

Li Xuan was very spineless, completely inconsistent with his upright appearance, and immediately began to apologize.

But after saying that, he found that Gu Shen did not let go at all.

He raised his head, his expression puzzled.

"Not to me... to her."

Gu Shen said calmly: "The Li Clan's family affairs... are not up to me to manage, but she is my friend, you shouldn't have attacked her."

"Miss Qingci... I'm sorry, I was wrong..."

Li Xuan nodded again and again like pounding garlic.

Li Qingci was still in the sadness of learning that the family head was seriously ill. She was not in the mood to argue with this despicable man, and looked worriedly at Gu Shen, indicating that there was no need to entangle too much, and it would be better to stop here.

Gu Shen let go, Li Xuan was relieved, and sat on the ground with his body hunched over, holding his wrist, with a painful expression.

Fortunately, he apologized in time.

After a while... this arm would probably be crushed by Gu Shen.

"You go back and make it clear to the Elder Council that this plan... cannot be terminated." Li Qingci said anxiously.

Li Xuan raised his eyes to look at Gu Shen, his expression a little timid.

"Miss Qingci, I can't do this." Li Xuan lost his initial domineering attitude, and explained in a low voice: "I am only responsible for notifying Shenci... I can't make the decision on this matter. The order to terminate the plan was issued by the Great Elder, and the Elder Council held a vote, and more than half chose to agree, so it passed."

Gu Shen and Li Qingci looked at each other.

Obviously... the family head was seriously ill, and the Elder Council immediately terminated the [Seeking the Lamp] plan. This was a deliberate act of pressure.

Some things, when they are supposed to come, will come sooner or later.

It seems that Uncle Gao was right...

"You can get lost." Gu Shen said calmly to Li Xuan, and said: "Leave the Shenci Mountain talisman before you get lost, and never enter this place again in the future."

Li Xuan was greatly pardoned, dropped a talisman, and fled quickly without looking back.

"You have offended him, what will you do after you go out?" Li Qingci picked up the talisman and was a little worried.

"If I don't offend him, it will be the same after I go out." Gu Shen said calmly: "The Li Clan wants to terminate the [Seeking the Lamp] plan. It is obvious that several old guys from the Elder Council are preparing to take action... For so many years, they should have been waiting for the family head to die and then carry out a coup. Terminating the [Seeking the Lamp] plan is just a sign."

However, the appearance of a sign means... there will be even more significant things to happen.

In any case... this plan must not be interrupted!

Mount Shenci has countless protectors who have dedicated themselves for hundreds of years.

Li Qingci finally waited until today.

And Gu Shen also has to ensure the smooth progress of the plan... He can't possibly watch the last [Copper Man Lamp] be lost outside like this.

Chu Ling and the "Divine Embryo" have already started a synchronized consciousness link, he must collect all four lamps.

Li Qingci looked very worried.

She couldn't leave Shenci, and all she could do was wait.

"I'm going out for a while..."

Gu Shen said seriously: "Don't worry, I will let you see the family head one last time."

……

……

On a clean sickbed lay a gaunt man.

The man was covered with a thin quilt, but he was not connected to any instruments, nor did he use any transcendent seals with healing abilities. He just lay quietly on the bed, breathing weakly and evenly.

The reason why he didn't use anything.

It was because... all of this was useless.

In front of his bed, a girl was crying with rain on her face.

The head of the Li Clan stretched out his dry fingers and patiently wiped away the tears from his daughter's face. In the last moment... he didn't say anything, just looked at his daughter gently.

The father and daughter were alone quietly.

Outside the ward, many people were watching this scene.

Or rather... they were all waiting.

A commotion came from afar.

After leaving Mount Shenci, Chu Ling found the address coordinates of the Li Clan's family head, and Gu Shen rushed over, but was blocked outside by the Li Clan's transcendents.

Now... is the final moment of parting.

A group of elders had arrived here.

"I want to see the head of the Li Clan..." Gu Shen said politely.

"Little friend Gu..."

A deep voice slowly sounded.

An elder walked out.

He looked serious, looked at Gu Shen, and said politely: "Since you are here, you should know what happened... The head of the family has not much time left. At this time, your request may not be appropriate."

Gu Shen saw... Li Xuan, who had arrived earlier, was hiding behind everyone.

Presumably, this spineless newly promoted elder had told the story of Shenci Mountain in detail, even embellishing it.

He said calmly: "I am here on behalf of Li Qingci, she is in Shenci, and wants to see the family head one last time."

"Absurd!" An elder scolded in a low voice: "She is in Shenci, wants to see him, so she asked a person with a different surname to see him on her behalf?"

"I can build a 'mental link'."

Gu Shen spoke again.

"Even more absurd!" The elder scolded again, "A young child is talking nonsense. For so many years, the Shenci territory has not been able to establish the so-called 'mental link'..."

Gu Shen slowly looked over.

The elder who had scolded him twice noticed Gu Shen's gaze, his expression changed slightly.

But because he was standing in the crowd, he was not afraid, and he still said calmly: "Don't rely on the power behind you to be arrogant. It's fine if you were rampant in Shenci Mountain before... In this place, do you still want to take action?"

After saying this, Li Xuan's expression was a little strange.

What does it mean, it's fine if you were rampant in Shenci Mountain before?

How is it fine?

After hearing this, Gu Shen shook his head with a smile.

He asked softly: "What is the name of this elder?"

The elder had no previous arrogance at all, just snorted coldly, without saying a word.

Chu Ling found the information as soon as possible.

A series of files were listed.

Gu Shen said calmly: "Li Ao, the eighth elder of the Li Clan, it seems that your qualifications should be very old..."

Li Ao's expression changed suddenly.

"Don't be nervous, I just found this from [Deep Sea]." Gu Shen said lightly: "Since you have been in Nagano for so long, you should know... In this era, all information is transparent. It's not that you close your mouth and don't say it that you don't know it, nor is it that someone can fabricate it with just one mouth."

The video of the fight in Shenci Mountain earlier.

Chu Ling saved them all.

After he raised his hand, his mental power reflected the image, and released all the causes and consequences of the fight in Shenci Mountain.

From Li Xuan's action to kneeling down to beg for mercy.

Especially the scene of someone kowtowing and apologizing with a loud bang.

Everyone's faces became strange... Remember what Li Xuan said at the beginning, but it wasn't like this?

Wasn't it that Gu was an evil person who deliberately made things difficult, and he was not afraid of danger, fought for a while, and then escaped injured?

This video in Shenci Mountain is obviously data saved by [Deep Sea].

This kid, can he really build a "mental link" in Shenci Mountain?

……

……

(Post first and then modify)