Chapter 1 What's Underneath

What was beneath the mask of this bamboo-armored man?

Gu Xiaoman blinked and nodded at Gu Shen.

Wasn't this just an ordinary "mechanical creation"? Could there be some hidden secret beneath the mask?

"Step back a bit."

Gu Shen waved his hand with a smile.

Xiaoman obediently retreated a few steps, carrying her cloak. After seeing Gu Shen signal her to retreat further, she carefully stood twenty meters away.

The next moment.

Gu Shen removed the bamboo-armored man's mask—

"Whoosh!"

A beam of snow-white laser shot out from under the bamboo-armored man's mask!

Boom!

The wind and thunder roared, its power astonishing!

This beam of laser seemed capable of piercing the vault of heaven. Yet, instead of dodging, Gu Shen extended his palm, his five fingers entwined with blazing fire, and forcefully grasped the gushing laser beam in his palm!

The laser gradually extinguished.

Once everything had calmed down, Gu Xiaoman curiously approached, "What is this?"

"Probably the legendary 'laser eyes'..."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "If someone is very curious about this guy's appearance and can't help but take off his mask, they might be 'shot to death' directly."

"This is too bizarre..."

Gu Xiaoman muttered softly, "Is this kind of move effective?"

"It is."

Gu Shen sighed, "If you're unprepared... being shot at close range is a guaranteed death. Even very powerful experts might not be able to dodge it."

"What about you?"

"Me... I'm definitely an even more powerful expert."

A moment later, Gu Shen stood up.

He clapped his hands, brushing off the ash scorched by the laser.

Looking at the completely scrapped robot, Gu Shen felt a bit of regret, "These bamboo plates, this black silver skin, are all excellent materials. It's a shame to just throw them away like this."

"It is a bit of a waste."

Gu Xiaoman pinched five pieces of bamboo armor, weighing them in her hand. "If this material is brought back to the Five Continents, it might be possible to refine some excellent sealed items."

"Let's bury it here."

Gu Xiaoman earnestly suggested, "This place is far from any village or shop, and it's unlikely that anyone will come here again... When it's time to leave, we can dig it up again. Maybe we can carry this guy back to the Five Continents, repair it, and start it up again."

Gu Shen smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

...

...

Burying the remains of this bamboo-armored man didn't take too long.

Before long.

A new pit had been added to the snow mountain.

And it was not far from the mountain where the Storm Church had died.

"This guy slaughtered the entire Storm Church... I really want to erect a monument for him."

Gu Shen looked at the scarlet mountain next door, blooming with blood-red flowers.

This bamboo-armored man must have been executing the sentry instructions passed down by intelligent life.

The Storm Church must have touched some taboo, causing it to go on a killing spree.

"Where are we going now? To the other side of the 'mountain'?"

Xiaoman looked in the direction her spiritual sense pointed.

"There's still one thing left to do."

Gu Shen stroked the little one's head and said, "After this is done, we'll go to the other side of the mountain, to see what this Ice Sea Relic is really like."

Gu Xiaoman asked, "Are you going to see those old friends from Dongzhou?"

"..."

Gu Shen was silent for a moment.

Xiaoman was very smart and guessed his thoughts.

"You only guessed half of it."

Gu Shen looked in the direction they had come from and slowly said, "The list sent by Dongzhou this time doesn't include my old friends... But whether or not there are old friends, I have to meet them. This Ice Sea Relic is too dangerous. There may be more than just one mechanical life form like the one we just encountered."

Gu Shen had already seen the outbound list from Dongzhou.

Zhong Fan, Li Shici.

These two young people were excellent.

Chu Ling had also told him their true identities... They were the newest underground members developed by the Gu Wen Hui, authorized by the Madam. Under the operation of various forces, they had become the leaders of the advance team for this Ice Sea Relic exploration.

Gu Shen didn't want these two young people to encounter danger in the Ice Sea Relic.

"I want to make Dongzhou and Beizhou leave here..."

Gu Shen took out the ghost mask and put it on. He looked at Xiaoman and said earnestly, "Before the real crisis breaks out, the fewer people who stay in this relic, the better."

"..."

Xiaoman spoke very quickly this time. She clutched Gu Shen's sleeve tightly and asked, "What about me?"

"Are you planning to go see the people from Dongzhou and then abandon me to them?"

Gu Xiaoman returned to her initial state of anxiety.

After putting on the ghost mask, Gu Shen's entire demeanor changed.

His face also became unfamiliar.

"Don't worry, I've already killed Yunhu of the Source Tower, as well as the people on that ship."

He squatted down and said softly, "This time... I won't abandon you again. If you want to stay in the Ice Sea, then follow behind me, and we'll see what the end of this relic holds."

Gu Xiaoman was stunned for a second.

Her eyes were a little moist, and then she took a deep breath and held out her little finger.

"Pinky swear."

Gu Shen, wearing the ghost mask, smiled gently and hooked his thumb with Gu Xiaoman's.

...

...

Inside the snow mountain grotto, two figures sat facing each other.

Large amounts of steam billowed and spread throughout the narrow grotto.

The Xuan Gui Divine Envoy was breaking through, and the Giant Deer Saint was healing. Even the secret array patterns of the Source Tower and the Storm Church could hardly suppress the powerful extraordinary auras of the two.

At this moment, the grotto was so silent that a pin could be heard dropping.

Although both of them had their eyes closed, seemingly in a state of extreme stillness, they were actually keenly aware of each other's slightest fluctuations in extraordinary aura, due to their wide-open heart-minds and the presence of a wisp of spirit within each.

"Brother Xuan Gui."

Suddenly, the Giant Deer Saint spoke.

His injuries had not fully recovered, but they were now eighty percent healed. The shattered antlers likely couldn't be healed in the Ice Sea Relic. Only the superficial wounds had scabbed over.

"...Hmm?"

Xuan Gui's expression suddenly tensed.

He didn't expect the Giant Deer Saint to start a conversation at this time.

His Iron Stomach and Xuan Water Embryo were in the final stages of unification. The enlightenment equivalent to the Title Realm was ninety percent complete, with only this last ten percent remaining.

"I need you to stop the final 'unification'."

"Otherwise... I'll crush your heart-mind."

The Giant Deer's calm voice echoed in the grotto. Xuan Gui's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at the black-clothed man in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?"

Xuan Gui widened his eyes. "Don't forget, my spirit is also grasping your heart-mind..."

If the Giant Deer attacked, he would immediately react!

At that time, it would be mutual destruction!

"I'm sorry, I'm very clear-headed." The Giant Deer Saint revealed a faint smile. "I don't mind mutual destruction. I just want you to stop the current 'advancement'... and hand over the Cloud Mirror Authority to me."

"???"

A large amount of sweat oozed from Xuan Gui's forehead. He never expected that the Giant Deer Saint would pull such a stunt at such a crucial moment.

He had just been backstabbed by Yunhu.

He had already become wary.

He had never believed that this Storm Church Saint would sincerely cooperate with him. But even if he was going to backstab him, he should have done it after seizing the two continents' Source Energy Vessels!

"Have you forgotten that we agreed to work together?"

Xuan Gui's voice was hoarse. "You're threatening me with the Authority now. Aren't you afraid of encountering that bamboo-armored monster after we get out?"

"I am afraid."

The Giant Deer Saint spoke frankly, "But compared to that elusive fellow... I'm more afraid that you'll kill me directly after you break through. To live to the end, you must first survive what's in front of you."

"What are you talking about... How could I do such a thing?"

Xuan Gui was already feeling somewhat guilty. In fact, he had indeed had such thoughts.

"Don't pretend, neither of us are good people." The Giant Deer Saint smiled. "Your Iron Stomach and Xuan Water Embryo are both top-tier Domains. Once you advance, you can crush me in strength... I know I'm no match for geniuses like you. The only thing I can rely on is the Authority bestowed by the Divine Seat. But you also have the Cloud Mirror, don't you? So I have no choice but to resort to this."

"Give me the Cloud Mirror, and I'll have the capital to protect myself."

The Giant Deer said calmly, "Authority Items will be detected by Qinglong as soon as they leave the Ice Sea Relic... You have a million ways to take them back. This is the prerequisite for 'working together'. I need to make sure I can leave the relic alive."

The Xuan Gui Divine Envoy's expression became completely gloomy.

"What if... I say no?" He said coldly, word by word.

"Then let's die together."

The Giant Deer Saint appeared extremely calm. "Compared to you, my life is not worth much. You have two top-tier Domains, and you'll have a chance to inherit the 'Fire of Wine' in the future. I'm just a servant of the Holy City... If Lord Storm knows that I sacrificed myself for this, the entire sea will send me off. I can enjoy the mourning of the Storm, which is the highest honor."

"Madman... Those who believe in the church are all madmen!"

Xuan Gui's head throbbed when he heard these insane words. He hated dealing with the guardians of the Light City and the Storm Church the most.

Whether they were Temple Elders or Holy City Saints.

Even if they cultivated to the Title Realm, their essence was the same—

They were fanatical sacrificers!

Xuan Gui believed that the Giant Deer Saint was not afraid of death. This guy might really do something crazy like destroying himself with Xuan Gui...

Because of the Giant Deer Saint's sudden threat.

Xuan Gui's final "unification" was forcibly interrupted. The two Domains that were about to merge already showed signs of splitting apart again!

The back of Xuan Gui Divine Envoy's black robe was already soaked with cold sweat.

The Giant Deer Saint saw all of this.

He was still hesitating.

The Giant Deer Saint spoke again, neither hurried nor slow, "I know you're a genius among geniuses, but breaking through to the Title Realm is not an easy task, is it?"

"If you miss this opportunity..."

"Will you be able to break through so smoothly next time?"

The Giant Deer stared at Xuan Gui's hands. He extended a palm, facing upwards, and said word by word, "I don't have much patience. You have ten seconds to consider."

Having said that, he began to count down.

"Ten..."

"You're crazy! You're really crazy!"

Xuan Gui's eyes were about to split, but no matter how he cursed, the other party just looked at him calmly, without any anger.

He then realized that he had no way to respond at this moment and could only choose to accept the Giant Deer's conditions with humiliation...

"Clatter."

Xuan Gui took out the Cloud Mirror and threw it into the Giant Deer Saint's outstretched palm.

"Heh..."

The latter smiled and accepted the Authority without any politeness.

Xuan Gui felt extremely ironic in his heart. After handing over the Cloud Mirror, he lost the confidence to kill the Giant Deer. All the calculations he had made before were swept away at this moment.

It was obvious.

The Giant Deer Saint had foreseen the current situation from the first second he entered the grotto.