Chapter 1 Illusion Shattered

The dream shattered.

All the images shattered along with it.

And this small, black cocoon remained… This was "Qushui's" extraordinary source material, the last wisp of spirit supporting the preservation of this dream.

Blazing Fire slowly enveloped the black cocoon.

"I am... digesting the extraordinary source material..."

Gu Shen felt an unprecedented sense of wonder. It was completely different from the spiritual imprint of devouring the Su Mu stone carving. After Blazing Fire enveloped the black cocoon, his mental strength began to surge "rapidly"... A thin flame grew dozens of times in the space of dozens of breaths, now resembling a plump red date.

However, Gu Shen vaguely felt... that the amplification brought to him by this extraordinary source material was not as great as it appeared to the naked eye. After Blazing Fire enveloped the black cocoon, countless dark shadows were dissolved, and after the flame expanded, it slowly contracted again.

This was... refinement!

Blazing Fire was like a gluttonous stomach, hungry and eager to swallow the extraordinary source material... Having just swallowed the black cocoon, it seemed to have enlarged its belly quite a bit.

And with the digestion of the extraordinary source material... the belly would return to its original shape.

He just didn't know how much his Blazing Fire would shrink after completing the refinement.

"If I eat this extraordinary source material... can I complete the first layer of the Deep Sea trial..."

Gu Shen's willpower had reached its limit.

Accompanying that wisp of Blazing Fire, he carried the black cocoon and slowly retracted it into his forehead.

He couldn't resist the surging drowsiness that assaulted him.

...

...

Warm air currents flowed through the pavilion, slowly washing over him.

A thin layer of frost had formed on the windows.

"Mr. Cui, to be honest... the purpose of my visit this time... is actually very simple..."

Slight sounds of conversation entered his ears, the words blurry and ethereal.

With the noises entering his ears, Gu Shen slowly woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw a dizzying ceiling. The negative effects of using the Ruler of Truth to overdraft his mental strength last night surged in, and a needle-like刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛 Guuuuuuugh…

“Si…”

This is where?

He endured the pain as he observed his surroundings. He was in a simply decorated and realistic office. However, there was a flattened chair facing the warm air outlet, so no wonder he felt comfortable and warm even in his dreams.

This room was very discreet, like a rest room built into the large office, specifically for taking naps.

The door was ajar.

He could vaguely hear the sounds from outside.

"It was Young Master Zhao Qi who asked me to come. He wants to take some money from the third quarter's Flower Banner dividends... To be precise... it's an advance..."

The voice reporting was sharp and piercing, like a sword.

Looking through the crack in the door, Gu Shen saw a tall woman in a suit standing in front of a large desk, with her hair in a high ponytail and wearing bright red lipstick, looking gorgeous and sharp.

Just one glance sent a stinging pain between his eyebrows.

He had glimpsed an "existence" that he shouldn't have glimpsed. Gu Shen quickly withdrew his gaze.

He leaned against the stone wall, suppressing his breathing... The memories of last night surged like a tide.

He remembered.

He had solved Qushui... and also obtained that black cocoon. This should be the first time he had completely absorbed all the source material of an extraordinary person. After one night, Blazing Fire seemed to have undergone an incredible evolution.

He closed his eyes.

Gu Shen seemed to see the scene inside his skull.

The flame was wrapped in a cocoon, still slowly digesting... The digestion of Qushui's extraordinary source material was slower than he had imagined. Could it take a week to completely refine it?

But in just one night, Gu Shen felt that his spirit had become much fuller, and even without summoning Blazing Fire, his vision had been enhanced.

When he looked at the woman outside the door just now, a feeling of warning arose in his heart.

This was an extraordinary person!

And an extraordinary person with great strength!

Gu Shen rubbed his eyebrows and murmured, "I informed Hu Danian about last night's situation... Did he send me to Cui Zhongcheng's place?"

...

...

"Young Master Zhao wants to withdraw money... of course there's no problem... but he overestimated my ability."

"Jinshan is locked, and I'm just someone holding the key." Cui Zhongcheng's expression was calm. He glanced down at the document and casually pushed it back, saying lightly, "Liu Yi, please tell Young Master Zhao... that I have no authority to decide on such a large amount. He has to find the old man, or the lady of his own family. Once those two nod, one phone call and the money will be in the account immediately."

"It's just withdrawing money, why bother the old man?" Liu Yi brushed a strand of hair from her temple and said slowly, "If you're willing to help with this little favor... Young Master Zhao said he would be very grateful to you."

She looked at Cui Zhongcheng up close, wanting to see some clues on that poker face...

But she was disappointed.

There was no expression on that face.

Cui Zhongcheng was like a wooden man, not even seeming interested in uttering another word.

"..."

Liu Yi was most afraid of this situation. She sighed softly. They were both seeking survival under the Zhao family, but this man's style of doing things was completely different from hers, so rigid that he was almost inhumane.

Zhao Xilai was old and frail, and it didn't seem like he had many days left. He only had one son under his knees... It was almost unnecessary to think about it. The huge Zhao family would definitely be taken over by the only son, Zhao Qi, next.

A mountain of gold, even if it was locked, the owner was about to change.

Cui Zhongcheng still didn't give out a penny, sticking to his so-called "bottom line"... In her opinion, this was simply stupid and dull. Helping that Young Master Zhao withdraw a sum of money at this juncture could be considered a favor of "giving charcoal in the snow". When the huge Zhao family changed hands, Cui Zhongcheng could continue to be the gatekeeper who was second only to one person.

Even if it was out of fear of angering the old Mr. Zhao, he shouldn't have refused so coldly.

She was entrusted by that Young Master Zhao to make a trip to Flower Banner, but she didn't bring out a single penny. Zhao Qi was the one who lost face, and Cui Zhongcheng was the one who was slapped in the face.

Liu Yi kicked a steel plate, so she didn't continue. She just sighed lightly, "I will tell him the truth."

After saying that, she suddenly looked at the ajar door on the inner side of the office and frowned.

"Who is he?"

Liu Yi suddenly became interested, narrowing her danfeng eyes.

With her understanding of Cui Zhongcheng, this man, whose style of doing things was as dull and rigid as a machine stone, did everything strictly according to the rules, meticulously.

In the Flower Banner Building, there were different reception rooms for different guests.

That room was Cui Zhongcheng's private rest room, and outsiders were strictly forbidden to enter. Who was qualified to enter?

Da da.

Cui Zhongcheng tapped the table twice. He used two taps to draw Liu Yi's gaze back and gave an answer that was convincing.

"... Someone whose identity you absolutely don't want to know."

Liu Yi immediately withdrew her gaze.

In the Zhao family for more than ten years, the person she was most curious about was Cui Zhongcheng. This man always had a unique temperament that was difficult to understand and made people want to explore it.

But the one she was least curious about... was also Cui Zhongcheng.

Because in the past ten years, those who had tried to explore Cui Zhongcheng's bottom line out of curiosity... had all disappeared.

This was by no means an exaggeration.

Liu Yi had already regarded Cui Zhongcheng's words as another form of iron law in her heart. He always meant what he said, and there was a corresponding consequence.

Zhao Qi wanted to borrow money, and he said that he wouldn't lend it before the old man and the lady spoke, so he would never lend it.

Even if the sky fell, he wouldn't lend it.

He said that she wouldn't want to know the identity of that person... then if she really knew, she would definitely regret it.

So Liu Yi immediately shut up obediently. She didn't ask any more questions, and she didn't think about it anymore.

"If this is the only thing... you can leave."

Cui Zhongcheng lowered his head and opened his notebook, slowly flipping through it, while saying softly, "By the way, tell Young Master Zhao... the old man has been very dissatisfied with him recently. Don't mess around with Chen San's people."

...

...

After Liu Yi left.

Cui Zhongcheng was still working at his desk, but he said calmly, "Now that you're awake, come out."

The voice clearly reached the rest room.

So Gu Shen, who had been eavesdropping on the wall for a long time, was exposed by this sentence. He couldn't sit or lie down, and there was no way to continue acting. He was forced to show his true form and walked out with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

Gu Shen came to the seat opposite Cui Zhongcheng, found a chair and sat down, looking at that poker face that was as calm as an ancient well. The nameless fire in his heart that had been mostly extinguished suddenly burned up again.

"You are angry."

Before Gu Shen could erupt, Cui Zhongcheng spoke first.

He stopped flipping through the book, looked up at Gu Shen, and said in a slow and deep voice, "Without knowing anything, being used as bait and almost dying... You are angry at my deception, angry at my fooling. Perhaps there is also some anger from the sense of justice in your heart. I have the ability to solve the mass insomnia, but I chose to let the symptoms spread and observe first..."

After these words were spoken, Gu Shen was stunned.

Every word hit his heart. He had the illusion that Cui Zhongcheng had opened his chest. This man understood his anger even better than he did.

"But in fact... is the truth really as you are angry about?"

Cui Zhongcheng pushed his monocle and said with some disappointment, "If you could have been more敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐敏锐

Chapter 2 The Honest Choices

The illusion shattered.

Every image shattered with it.

However, this small black cocoon survived… This was the extraordinary source material of "Qushui," the last strand of spirit that supported the preservation of this dream.

Blazing Fire slowly enveloped the black cocoon.

"I am... digesting the extraordinary source material..."

Gu Shen felt a marvelous sensation he had never experienced before. It was completely different from devouring the spiritual imprint of the Su Mu Stone Carving. After Blazing Fire enveloped the black cocoon, his mental power began to surge "rapidly"... A thin strand of flame grew dozens of times in the span of several dozen breaths, now resembling a plump, red date.

However, Gu Shen vaguely sensed... that the amplification this extraordinary source material brought him wasn't as great as it appeared to the naked eye. After Blazing Fire enveloped the black cocoon, countless dark shadows were dissolved, and after the flame expanded, it began to shrink bit by bit.

This was... refining!

Blazing Fire was like a gluttonous stomach, constantly hungry and eager to devour the extraordinary source material... Having just swallowed the black cocoon, it gave off the impression of having overstuffed itself.

And along with the digestion of the extraordinary source material... the stomach would return to its original shape.

He just didn't know how much his Blazing Fire would shrink after the refining was complete.

"Eating this extraordinary source material... can I complete the first layer of the Deep Sea Trial...?"

Gu Shen's willpower had reached its limit.

Accompanied by that strand of Blazing Fire, he enveloped the black cocoon and slowly withdrew it into his forehead.

He couldn't resist the surging weariness that assaulted him.

...

...

Warm air currents flowed through the pavilion, slowly washing over him.

A thin layer of frost had formed on the windows.

"Mr. Cui, to be honest... the purpose of my visit this time... is actually very simple..."

The faint sound of conversation entered his ears, the words blurry and ethereal.

Distorted sounds entered his ears, and Gu Shen slowly woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw the dizzying ceiling. The negative effects of using the Ruler of Truth to overdraw his mental power last night surged forth, and there was a needle-like刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛刺痛