Chapter 286: Chapter 174: Enemies Meet, Old Friends Reunite

The royal families of Jing Country, Kang Country, Shang Country, and Yue Country.

The Xiao Family, the family of the Qing King, and the Feng Family!

Mixed in among them were Nangong Yaoguang, Dugu Haitang, and Xie Manmen—individuals who had obtained their spots through various deals. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Gu Zheng’s gaze lingered on Xie Manmen for a moment longer.

The Flaming Python, the Xie Family... he had already killed three from their ranks.

Gu Zheng felt an instinctual revulsion and disgust toward the Xie Family!

Despite his revulsion, he didn’t let it show. After a few more glances, he looked away.

He took a small step, moving closer to Nangong Yaoguang, but the person he was actually addressing was the man standing beside her.

"Brother Li, you really are a pleasant surprise."

Gu Zheng’s Divine Wondrous energy surged as he sent a voice transmission to Li Cunyi!

The first familiar face he had spotted upon arriving was, to his astonishment, Li Cunyi, whom he hadn’t seen in a very long time!

This friend was once the youngest Grandmaster in Jing Country. He had lived with the Gu Family for over half a year, and Gu Zheng had healed his injuries with an Antitoxic Source Fruit.

After leaving a Ring of Power with the Gu Family, he had simply vanished.

Without a trace!

He’d never imagined that they would meet again in a place like this.

Xiao Xing, Qing Yuanfeng, Yong Xingdian, Fu Jinlong...

’Why have all these people gathered here?’

’To enter the Nine Heavens Shadow Realm!’

The Shadow Realm was fraught with danger, so the minimum requirement for entry was the Heroic Body Union stage.

Anyone below the Heroic Body Realm was just asking to die if they went in.

For Li Cunyi to dare appear here, he must have also broken through to the Heroic Body Realm.

But while the others didn’t know Li Cunyi’s situation, Gu Zheng did!

The last time Gu Zheng had parted ways with him, Li Cunyi was still a Grandmaster.

’How long has it been since then?’

’And he’s already broken through to the Heroic Body Realm!’

’If it weren’t for my own unfair advantage, Li Cunyi would be number one when it comes to advancement speed!’

Back in Qingshi County, when he received the Ring of Power from his father, Gu Zheng had realized Li Cunyi’s identity was anything but simple.

Seeing him now, Gu Zheng knew his identity was far more than just ’not simple’!

’It’s like he has an unfair advantage too!’

’I just wonder what kind of advantage it is.’

...

"I’m sorry for making you worry, Ping’an."

Li Cunyi replied via Divine Strange Sound Transmission, his voice tinged with a bitter smile. "I didn’t deliberately hide things from you. It’s just that my identity is extremely sensitive."

"It’s alright."

Gu Zheng replied, his expression unchanging. "I don’t need to know your identity, Brother Li. I just think that if you ever have the time, you should go back to Qingshi County and visit. Wan’Er is always thinking about you."

"...I’ve made Wan’Er worry."

Li Cunyi sounded bitter. "It’s not that I don’t want to return. The truth is, if my identity were exposed, it would bring you all immense danger. Even now that you’re a Demon-slaying Grand General, Ping’an, you wouldn’t be able to protect yourself!"

"...What about the King’s Body Realm?" Gu Zheng responded, his Divine Wondrous energy stirring as he transmitted the question. "What if I broke through to the King’s Body Realm? Would that still not be enough?"

"Not enough!"

Li Cunyi’s voice turned solemn. "I’m not deceiving you, Ping’an. My true identity is extremely, extremely sensitive. The King’s Body Realm isn’t enough! Not unless you can shatter illusion and advance to the True Body Realm!"

Above the Heroic Body Realm was the King’s Body Realm.

And above the King’s Body Realm was the True Body Realm!

This was the realm of the true apex powerhouses of the current age.

They were terrifying existences capable of confronting a fifth-rank Great Demon from the Demon Realm or the True Form of an Evil God in a direct clash and slaying them.

’Li Cunyi’s identity is so dangerous that one needs the power of the True Body Realm just to deter enemies from going after the people around him.’

’Just what kind of background does he have?’

To be honest, Gu Zheng’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

However, he rationally maintained his composure and didn’t press the issue.

’Since Li Cunyi said as much, he must have his reasons.’

As he was lost in thought, the calm surface of the lake before the crowd suddenly began to change!