Chapter 1 Finally Here

"Finally here."

Gu Shen opened his eyes and gazed from the Zhenli (Truth) Iron Sword. The silhouette of Snow Forbidden City in the distance was now clear in the mist.

Leaving Guang Ming City and traveling east, crossing the open sea.

He had finally returned to East Continent.

When he returned from the Ice Sea Ruins, Gu Shen's state of mind had been very calm.

But at this moment, it was different.

Then, he was traveling in disguise. Now, he was returning home in glory... After removing his ghost mask in Guang Ming City and killing Jia Wei, he finally didn't have to hide his identity anymore!

"嗖嗖嗖!" (Shōu shōu shōu!)

Streaks of light flashed by, hovering in front of Gu Shen's Zhenli Iron Sword. Several powerful domains unfolded over Nagano.

Gu Shen didn't hide his tracks this time. As soon as he left Guang Ming City, he greeted his old friends in Nagano.

After Feng Tong (Wind Child) captured the image of the iron sword,

these people came out of the city to welcome him!

"Little Gu!"

Gong Zi was the fastest, even unfolding the fire wings of the Garuda, just to be the first to see Gu Shen.

The iron sword stopped in the air.

Song Ci smiled and took two steps to the side to avoid being accidentally injured. Gong Zi stepped forward and gently punched Gu Shen on the shoulder. His reaction was the same as Song Ci's... both joyful and angry.

"You stinky brat, you've been hiding this from me for so many years!"

In recent years, he had worried a lot about the Nagano investigation team.

Figures flashed by one after another.

Gu Shen's return this time was quite a grand occasion. Several titled experts who had lived in Nagano for a long time also arrived at the scene.

Gao Tian, Bai Chen, Bai Xiaochi, Gong Qing, Mu Yi...

Gu Shen looked complicated. He gently put his arm around Gong Zi's shoulders and said apologetically, "I'm sorry."

"Damn it, what's with the 'sorry' this and 'sorry' that..."

Gong Zi took a deep breath and laughed, "I almost thought you were really dead! The wicked live for a thousand years, I knew you wouldn't die so easily!"

["Gong Zi has been investigating the 'Ice Sea Incident' for the past few years."]

Chu Ling's voice echoed in his mind.

["Although many people have given up, he has not. Even after the Nagano investigation team stopped acting, he still persisted alone... Even though the Gu family announced your death, some people still refused to believe it."]

Gu Shen's heart felt a little sour.

He stood on the iron sword, slowly took two steps back, and bowed to the old friends who had come to welcome him.

"Everyone, thank you for waiting."

...

...

The fog in Qingzhong Cemetery gradually dissipated.

Gu Shen walked alone into the inner mausoleum.

In the Golden Divine Domain, divine light flowed. The first thing Gu Shen did upon returning to Nagano was to meet with Bai Shu. He had to report the events that had occurred in Guang Ming City, as well as the strangeness of the "third letter," as soon as possible.

"Congratulations on successfully killing Jia Wei."

This time, Bai Shu did not appear as a child.

He was draped in divine light, heroic and spirited.

This was Bai Shu's youth. When he was this age, he was known as "Invincible Nagano."

Under the light of the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Seed, Bai Shu exuded a fiery fighting spirit and radiance.

In Gu Shen's perception, in terms of the oppressive force of the Divine Domain alone—

the current Bai Shu was stronger than the Light at Red Lake earlier!

And... by more than just a little.

"Killing him is nothing to be proud of."

Gu Shen shook his head.

Jia Wei was indeed a powerful enemy, but the biggest difficulty in this battle was that he could not use the authority of the Underworld King. If it were a different battlefield, where he could recklessly use his methods, then the battle would be completely without suspense...

He was the Underworld King.

And Jia Wei, in the end, was just a servant of Light.

He and Jia Wei were not on the same level in essence, so winning this battle was something Gu Shen should do.

"Even without the Ming Guang Kai (Bright Light Armor), Jia Wei is still a formidable opponent... I watched the battle at Red Lake."

Bai Shu said with a smile, "Gu Shen, you are worthy of the name 'Three-Time Transcender.' After your limit breakthrough, I can't even imagine your upper limit. If possible, I would even like to see you fight Gu Changzhi back then, to see who is stronger."

Bai Shu in his youth said these words, making Gu Shen feel a momentary daze.

Back then, Bai Shu was known as "Invincible Nagano."

But the truly invincible person was still above him.

Gu Changzhi was truly invincible.

"Mr. Gu Changzhi was amazingly talented. Compared to him, I am much luckier."

Gu Shen shook his head and said, "My Jingtu (Pure Land) Domain was able to be comprehended to the Great Accomplishment stage so early because of Mr. Gu Changzhi's gift... Only by standing on the shoulders of predecessors can I reach my current height."

Bai Shu's praise made him "feel flattered."

But he knew in his heart who he owed his great fortune and opportunities to.

"Haha..."

Hearing this answer, Bai Shu smiled with satisfaction.

People said that Gu Shen was the second Gu Changzhi, but those who truly understood would know.

These were two different people.

Gu Shen's state of mind was more steady and restrained than Gu Changzhi's, but when it was time to be uninhibited, he was more uninhibited than Gu Changzhi!

When he stepped on Jia Wei's Light-Shattering Spear and ridiculed the name Bi Lei (Wall), Bai Shu felt a burst of joy in his heart...

Because Gu Shen said what he wanted to say!

What was Jia Wei?

Did he deserve the name Bi Lei (Wall)?!

If he hadn't achieved the God of Fighting seat, he would have wanted to go on stage himself and smash that Ming Guang Kai (Bright Light Armor) to pieces with one palm!

"Mr. Bai Shu, I came to the mausoleum this time... to report the events beyond Red Lake."

"I saw the Light God Seat beyond Red Lake."

Gu Shen didn't exchange too many pleasantries.

He hurriedly told the story of delivering the letter.

After listening, young Bai Shu's expression became serious.

He looked at Gu Shen and asked, "The third letter Gu Changzhi left you... was not sent out?"

The matter of Gu Changzhi leaving letters was no secret to Bai Shu.

When Gu Shen delivered the letter to the old master, Bai Shu had already fused with the Divine Domain.

He knew that Gu Changzhi's three letters corresponded to Gu Qilin, the Empress of North Continent, and the Light God Seat, respectively.

The letter left for the Old Master Gu corresponded to Gu Changzhi's last thoughts in this world...

Gu Shen originally thought that the letter left for the Light God Seat was similar, probably just some greetings and words.

After all, the two were once close teachers and disciples.

Mr. Gu Changzhi deliberately instructed himself to wait until his strength was strong enough before sending this letter... so Gu Shen had always guessed that this letter was to persuade the Light God Seat to accept his identity as the "Underworld King."

But after meeting at Red Lake,

he realized he was wrong.

Bai Shu pondered for a moment and asked cautiously, "Can you take out the letter now?"

"...I'll try."

Gu Shen took a deep breath and summoned the Jingtu (Pure Land) Domain. The golden light of the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Divine Domain was suddenly blown away by the desolate wind, and a huge phantom of a Suserain tree took root.

This time, Gu Shen took out the envelope with surprising ease!

"No obstruction?"

Gu Shen was stunned.

He should have tried to take the letter more than once on the other side of Red Lake, but failed several times in a row! That seemingly light-as-a-feather letter was stubbornly unmoving!

With Gu Shen's current mental strength, he could easily lift a ten-thousand-jin boulder!

But he couldn't lift a thin letter?

But at this moment, the letter was picked up by the autumn wind and fell lightly into Gu Shen's palm.

"The letter... is out."

Gu Shen stared blankly at the letter. Cold sweat broke out on his back again. What did this mean?

The "rejection" and "resistance" on the other side of Red Lake were real.

The third letter left for the Light God Seat contained Gu Changzhi's will.

Bai Shu murmured, "This place is the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Divine Domain. I am the master of the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Seed, and also Gu Changzhi's most trusted comrade-in-arms... so this letter can be taken out at will, and can also be examined and studied."

At this point, Bai Shu paused, and he also felt puzzled: "But if this letter's mission was to be sent out at Red Lake, how could it refuse to be taken out?"

"On the way back, I have been thinking about the reason why this third letter could not be sent."

Gu Shen's voice was a little hoarse, "As you said, if this letter's mission was to be sent out by me at Red Lake, then it would not refuse. Mr. Gu Changzhi left a wisp of will, and this wisp of will is the key to this letter..."

Bai Shu paused.

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Gu Changzhi asked me to send the letter to his former teacher, the Light God Seat."

Gu Shen raised his head, looked at Bai Shu, and asked word by word, "I am beginning to wonder, is what I saw on the other side of Red Lake the true Light?"

Silence.

A long silence came in the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Divine Domain.

"This... is truly a bold guess."

Bai Shu said, "The Fire Seed master cannot be impersonated, let alone you are the Underworld King."

"The other side of Red Lake was indeed shrouded in countless spiritual radiance, and the meeting with the Light God Seat was shocking. But I did not feel the 'Light Authority' stimulating the Underworld Fire..."

Gu Shen said solemnly, "This is also the wrong feeling I realized after leaving Guang Ming City."

"In that case..."

Bai Shu frowned and said, "I have not truly met the Light God Seat either. Meetings with the God Seats usually only occur in the Shen Shui Qu (Deep Water Zone). The meetings between the seven God Seats have long been scattered and vacant. After the Underworld King left the Five Continents, people have never been able to gather again. Now that the division of the two major camps has been settled... the highest seats are even cutting ties with each other for their own interests."

In the past, if a super-large disaster or a "black hole" that threatened the safety of the Five Continents appeared.

The highest seats would discuss how to solve it through meetings.

First, send Apostles. If the problem remained, then the God Seats would personally take action.

But now... it is different.

After the two camps were divided, the Source Tower and Guang Ming City were only responsible for the order of the Western Sea Crossing.

The borders of the Northern Continent, the Eastern Sea, and the coast of Yuan Ting Island... If there were any disturbances, the Light God Seat and the Sky God Seat would turn a blind eye. They were only responsible for their own part, and the so-called "highest meeting" had not been formally convened for a long time.

In the real world, God Seats rarely meet.

Judging from the current situation,

if a God Seat left the Divine Domain to meet another God Seat... in all likelihood, a God War would break out.

"All of this is just a guess, an unprovable guess."

Gu Shen said sincerely, "I cannot expose my 'Underworld King Authority', nor can I touch his true face shrouded in holy light... so I can only leave Guang Ming City and hurry back to Nagano."

"The third letter left by Gu Changzhi has expressed 'resistance,' then there must be a problem with Red Lake and the Light God Seat."

Bai Shu said approvingly, "As the Underworld King, every second you stay in Western Continent increases the danger. You did the right thing. Abandoning the visit to the Jin Ji Shu Lou (Forbidden Book Building) and hurrying to leave Guang Ming City was the correct decision."

He said with a solemn expression, "I will explain this to Lin Lei soon, and she will use the power of the Fated One to perform a divination, but there may not be any results in the end."

"Perhaps, you can try to peek at the answer."

After thinking for a moment, Gu Shen presented the thin letter.

He said sincerely, "Your power also comes from the Dou Zhan (Fighting) Seed and is from the same source as Mr. Gu Changzhi... If this third letter contains the power belonging to the Fire Seed, then perhaps you can see something through the envelope?"