Chapter 99: Chapter 95: Jade Screen and Demon Cave

"Is it really still not working?"

In Qianyuan Cave, Gu Yuan looked at the dim cyan Jade Paper in his hand and couldn’t help but sigh.

The cyan Jade Paper, as thin as a cicada’s wing, felt icy cold to the touch, with a tiny seed drawn on it.

At first glance, it seemed like a Jade Seed, but upon another look, it transformed into a towering tree; if one stared at it intently, a scene of a vast forest, thriving life, endless green mountains, and eternal vitality appeared on the Jade Paper.

Each gaze brought a different play of light and shadow on the cyan paper, flowing endlessly, hinting at a profound and mysterious meaning.

Today is the twenty-ninth day, and nine days have passed since Gu Yuan imprinted the True Map’s subsequent Technique in the Transmission Hall.

For nine days, Gu Yuan had continuously tried to comprehend the cyan Jade Paper in his hand.

No matter how he tried, he felt he was missing something, unable to grasp its true essence.

This feeling was extremely frustrating, like looking at flowers in the fog, leaving one bewildered, with a strong sense of defeat in his heart.

"Is this the feeling of a poor student looking at advanced math problems..."

Gu Yuan sighed, crushed the Imprinting Jade Paper into powder, and then took out the Vajra Lotus to start cultivating again.

Since the Imprinting Jade Paper couldn’t leave the Daoist School area, he had only one day left and didn’t bother with attempting comprehension anymore; better to focus on improving his strength for now.

He decided to deal with everything after returning from the Zhongshan Secret Ruins.

...

...

"Senior Brother is truly talented; within a month, he achieved Perfect Magical Power and reached the Peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer, Chuyao feels ashamed in comparison..."

On a luxurious and exquisitely crafted Dharma Boat, Bian Chuyao looked at Gu Yuan, who was vigorous and spirited, with eyes like bright stars, and couldn’t help but praise him.

Gu Yuan glanced at Bian Chuyao, noticing her fair, snowy skin and eyes seemingly flashing with golden light, both of them having reached the peak of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

"I dare not accept such praise; I owe it all to the spiritual pills you gifted, Junior Sister,"

Gu Yuan replied with a smile.

"Hmph, you better be aware, it’s all thanks to the little lady’s grace; you’d better protect her well once inside!"

"Exactly, if anything happens to the little lady, neither we nor the lord will forgive you!"

As Gu Yuan’s voice fell, four petite girls emerged from between Bian Chuyao’s black hair and jade hairpin, hands on their hips, warning Gu Yuan.

But Gu Yuan simply focused his gaze, and a Silver Flood Dragon appeared faintly in the void, baring its fangs and claws, frightening the four Flower Spirits into trembling.

"Don’t be naughty; show some respect to Senior Brother Gu. Senior Brother Gu has an honest Dao Heart and will surely protect me well, no need to bring up grandfather!"

Bian Chuyao’s beautiful eyes shifted as a golden Fire Phoenix slowly emerged, blocking the Silver Flood Dragon. She then gently pinched the small faces of the Flower Spirits, admonishing them.

"Red Fire Golden Phoenix... Truly a Top-Grade Fire Element Spiritual Sense."

Gu Yuan didn’t pay heed to Bian Chuyao’s implicit warning but merely glanced at her Spirit Sense’s phantom, then slowly closed his eyes, meditating on the Dharma Boat.

This journey to Zhongshan Secret Ruins is long, even with Bian Chuyao’s family Treasure Boat, it will take several days.

...

...

"Whoo whoo whoo!"

Gu Yuan awoke with a start as the wailing gale alerted him, and he looked up to see a sudden darkness between heaven and earth.

A gigantic chasm unexpectedly appeared ahead of the Dharma Boat.

If the entire universe were a mirror, the void before him seemed like a shattered piece revealing a deep fissure.

Black winds stirred the ink-colored clouds, moaning ceaselessly, echoing across the chasm.

The sight was terrifying, but apart from the howling gusts, the entire world was still, as if the Dharma Boat was millions of miles away from the chasm, never to reach it.

"Senior Brother Gu, we’ve arrived; up ahead is the Zhongshan Secret Ruins!"

Bian Chuyao, standing on the deck, gazed at the strange scene before them and spoke to Gu Yuan.

"The Land of Annihilation and the world we dwell in are separated by a void barrier; without a Token in hand, one cannot enter within."

As Bian Chuyao spoke, more cultivators arrived alongside the Dharma Boat; seeing the luxurious Treasure Boat in the sky, some attempted to investigate with their Spiritual Sense but were thwarted by the Array aboard.

Unable to probe further, they seemed aware of the risk, swiftly retrieved a Token, and vanished, as if transporting to another space.

"No time to waste, Senior Brother Gu, let us proceed!"

Bian Chuyao flashed a smile at Gu Yuan, then withdrew the Dharma Boat, took out the Cyan Jade Order, and preceded him, disappearing from view.

With the surroundings emptied, Gu Yuan hesitated as cyan-gray light glimmered in his palm but held back for a moment.

Outside the Land of Annihilation, who knows if a chance can be seen; better to enter the Secret Ruins first.

Stone Liquid can’t be stored, usable only once a month; Gu Yuan has but one opportunity, and he must be cautious. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Only... within the Secret Ruins, power above Qi Refining cannot be used, who knows if Stone Liquid can shatter this limitation?"

With doubt in his heart, Gu Yuan took out the Cyan Jade Order, and his figure slowly vanished into the universe.

He never forgot that the Stone Liquid was his greatest reliance, his paramount motivation for this journey.

Zhongshan Country, a powerful Sect with several Golden Cores, despite being plundered after its downfall, the remaining treasures are still extremely abundant. Who knows what fortune might await him?

...

...

"Shoosh shoosh shoosh!"

Gu Yuan remained still, yet felt as if the world was spinning, his head dizzy; luckily, the sensation was brief. His vision blurred for a moment, then clarity returned alongside the sound of birds chirping brightly.

Gu Yuan looked up to find himself atop a desolate mountain peak.

Beneath his feet lay the ruins of a Jade Hall, various broken Dharma Artifacts, battered beyond repair, their Spiritual Nature utterly lost, like scrap iron.

The trees’ vigorous life had outlasted the fallen cultivators of this grand hall, and one by one, towering trees rose from the ruins, reclaiming the entire mountain peak for the forest’s embrace.

Numerous green birds chirped joyfully in the branches.

"Underfoot, should be Jade Screen Mountain within the Cloud Mist Secret Realm; this mountain is one of the peaks surrounding Cloud Mist Mountain. The battle here wasn’t as fierce, hence it hasn’t ended up like Cloud Mist Mountain..."

Before Gu Yuan, Bian Chuyao had already regained her senses earlier and was gazing towards a distant peak.

Gu Yuan too looked up and saw countless black miasmas enveloping a nearby mountain peak like dark clouds.

"Whoo whoo whoo!"

The sounds of countless ghostly cries and wolf howls echoed from the mountain, carrying a eerie and chilling sound.

Black clouds rolled, the Evil Qi pervaded; what was once Zhongshan Country’s treasured land had now devolved into a Demon Cave.