Light Fortress

After a moment, the Skytop gradually returned to silence.

Gu Shen had completed the suppression of the ominous event...

This fusion, though not a failure, wasn’t a success either. Compared to the pressure Gu Shen endured, what he gained was rather meager.

A wisp of pitch-black flame burned at the center of his forehead.

Gu Shen plucked this wisp of Nether Fire, and after a long look, he finally shook his head with a soft sigh.

"I must trouble you, senior, to use[Reverse Flow]..."

Bai Shu, who had been watching, was surprised, "Are you sure you want to use[Reverse Flow]at this moment?"

Gu Shen had already completed the suppression of the ominous and extracted this wisp of Nether Fire!

This battle was already over!

Using Reverse Flow now would be like a wasted effort...

After perfectly fusing with the Battle Fire, the power of Bai Shu’s [Reversed Divine Domain] had increased many times. Besides the Divine Throne who had perfectly fused with a fire seed of the same level, everything else could be dismantled and restored to its original state within the Divine Domain.

Even the current Gu Shen was no exception.

Gu Shen had now merely fused a small wisp of Nether Fire.

To really resist the [Reversed Divine Domain], he would have to digest the power of an entire fire seed.

"I’m certain." Gu Shen nodded.

He knew what Mr. Bai Shu was concerned about.

Using[Reverse Flow]now would return the Nether Fire to the vertical eye, rendering the ominous experiences he faced meaningless.

It would be suffering in vain.

"Alright then."

Though he didn’t fully understand what Gu Shen intended, Bai Shu still showed respect.

He waved his sleeve, activating the [Reversed Divine Domain], countless streams of Divine Radiance flowed, enveloping Gu Shen. The black flame at his forehead was forcibly decomposed by Divine Power, its strands returning to the crevice in the Skytop.

Finally, the Heavenly Curtain closed, and a dark aura overlapped.

Everything returned to calm.

"Thank you, senior..."

Gu Shen descended, bowing respectfully.

Bai Shu frowned: "You rascal, what scheme are you brewing?"

"In response, senior... I just wanted to experience the feeling of ’melting a fire seed’." Gu Shen explained with a smile: "The fusion of the Netherworld King’s Spark is extremely difficult. Even as a chosen one, I encountered great resistance... You must have seen the scene just now."

"Hmm... that Nether Fire was filled with ominousness."

Bai Shu recalled the scene just now and slowly said: "Although the fusion of a fire seed is incredibly difficult, it’s quite frightening that you experienced such a corrosive disaster just by extracting a wisp of Authority Power."

"Precisely for this reason, I must perform[Reverse Flow], returning to the state before the fire seed fusion."

Gu Shen said calmly: "These disasters and ominous events are nothing, if I can suppress them once, I can suppress them a second time!"

"Have you... sensed something problematic?"

Bai Shu raised an eyebrow.

"The Nether Fire contains a large amount of disasters left by former Netherworld Kings." Gu Shen said calmly: "You should know about the matters along the Duolu River, and the Old World in the north of the Gu Castle Fortress... The former Netherworld King always intended to create an Undead Army to conquer the Five Continents. I suspect these disasters are the foreshadowing he left behind."

Under the lock of fate, even the Divine Throne cannot escape the reckoning of cause and effect.

Every life taken envelops the killer with karmic force.

As the most powerful disruptor of order in this world, the more one "oversteps," the more burdensome the disaster and ominousness become...

"I’m really curious, what exactly did the former Netherworld King do for such massive disasters?"

Gu Shen chuckled softly: "The massacres along the Nether River and the northern labyrinth alone couldn’t possibly account for such karmic force."

Upon hearing this, Bai Shu’s expression also turned solemn.

"The Netherworld King of those years was an extremely reclusive guy."

Bai Shu frowned: "Other than Gu Changzhi, no one knew this guy’s whereabouts, and even few had seen his true face... I know very little about the Netherworld King, the only information I have is that before fleeing the Five Continents, he handed the[Truth Ruler]to the Ancient Literature Society."

A series of twists and turns.

The[Truth]was held by Li Rou and exploded in Xinyang Fortress.

Then, after twenty years of waiting, the[Truth]finally came into Gu Shen’s possession.

"In that case, it is indeed necessary to[Reverse Flow], as the most terrifying thing in the Transcendent world is fate. Achieving the Divine Throne requires the ordination of fate, while disasters and ominous events are guided by it."

Bai Shu looked at Gu Shen and said solemnly: "While you currently have the power to begin fusion, without absolute certainty, it’s best not to touch the ’Netherworld King’s Spark’ so easily."

"Hmm... I thought so too."

Gu Shen squinted at the sky where the pitch-black crevice was slowly closing.

The Authority Power of the Netherworld King’s Spark was very tempting.

But at the last moment, he remained rational.

He trusted his Heart Sea’s intuition... something must be deeply buried within this fire seed, and fusing it so hastily would easily lead him into a trap.

"It’s just a pity."

Bai Shu’s expression held a hint of regret, his voice lightly reflecting on this.

Gu Shen said: "Senior... to resurrect Li Rou, we’ll have to wait a bit longer."

"Actually, that’s not why I feel regret."

Bai Shu was silent for a moment, then hoarsely said: "There are some things I don’t dare to think about... After fusing the Battle Fire, I comprehended the perfect[Reversed Divine Domain]. I can go anywhere in the world and achieve anything, but resurrecting Li Rou is something I cannot do. But can the Nether Fire, which even[Reverse Flow]cannot accomplish, truly achieve such a miracle?"

"..."

Gu Shen wished to say it could, but he also knew that no one could guarantee what the Nether Fire could accomplish.

He could only offer comfort: "Controlling life and death, correcting chaos. The Nether Fire is the one among the Seven Gods’ Sparks most likely to achieve this miracle."

"Indeed, that’s why I emerged from beneath the Qing River." Bai Shu smiled: "I’ve waited so long, without a word of complaint, now that you are finally maturing... what’s a few more years of waiting?"

Gu Shen curiously asked: "Then what is it that senior regrets?"

"If you achieved the ’Netherworld King,’ the status of the East Continent would be entirely different."

Bai Shu said: "What I regret is that Central City and Changye must continue to endure."

"Senior, there’s really no need to feel regret either."

Gu Shen smiled: "The wisp of Authority Power just now isn’t even enough to bridge the gap of the Divine War... Fusing that wisp of Authority Power would indeed have strengthened me greatly, but compared to a true ’Divine Throne,’ it’s like comparing a glowworm to the bright moon."

"Indeed."

Upon saying that, Bai Shu also laughed helplessly.

"On this trip back to Changye, I didn’t mention it to old friends, and now the entire Snow Forbidden City knows, it’s only Song Ci."

Gu Shen said, "If I were to melt the Fire Seed, it might instead be detected by ’Light City’. Once the news leaks, the arrangement in East Continent could be disrupted, bringing the Divine War ahead of schedule, which would not be a good thing after all."

Bai Shu was stunned for a moment.

Only then did he understand the true meaning of Gu Shen’s intention to initiate [Reverse Flow].

"Wait... you don’t intend to reveal your identity to the outside?"

"Yes."

Gu Shen calmly said, "Since in the world’s perception, Gu Shen is already dead, why must he rush to come alive?"

While cultivating under the Ice Sea, he comprehended life and death.

The many chaotic noises of the outside world had nothing to do with him.

If it weren’t for this "death", he would never have gained such precious time for cultivation.

And now, he has decided to continue.

Upon hearing this, Bai Shu’s expression became complicated; he instinctively murmured, "That person said that with your temperament, the losses you suffered under the Ice Sea would not be easily swallowed."

"That person... who is it?"

Gu Shen keenly captured a keyword.

"Nothing."

Bai Shu shook his head, saying, "Since you have already returned, not revealing your identity is no big deal... it’s just that those old friends and acquaintances of yours are kept in the dark."

Gu Shen could only smile helplessly, "There’s no other way; since I’ve kept it from them for almost six years, what difference do these days make?"

"Of course, not everyone will be kept in the dark."

Gu Shen murmured softly, "When necessary, I will let the world know that I am still alive."

...

...

Chu Ling, Gu Xiaoman, and Song Ci patiently waited at the mountain’s exit.

Earlier, the Skytop changed color, casting a shadow.

Song Ci and Gu Xiaoman didn’t know what happened... but Chu Ling was well aware that this was the phenomenon of the ’Netherworld King’s Spark’ appearing, a sign concealed by layers of the Golden Divine Domain, detectable only to the Inner Lining people.

"Mr. Bai Shu, what’s he doing to Brother Gu Shen?"

Gu Xiaoman was a bit nervous.

Seeing the little one so tense, Song Ci comforted, "Don’t worry, Lord Battle God Throne won’t do any harm to your Brother Gu Shen."

However, his expression wasn’t relaxed either.

Song Ci mumbled a voice only he could hear in his heart, "It’s just... the sensation just now certainly evoked unease."

He knew that within Mr. Bai Shu’s Divine Domain, many secrets were suppressed.

The ancient coffin wrapped in vines.

The endless drifting clouds in the wilderness.

All of these he had seen... but just now, the gloomy aura made him feel a kind of instinctive aversion?

As the Light Apostle, he’s most sensitive to darkness and ominous forces... Song Ci’s intuition told him the ominous aura was likely related to the Nether Fire.

"Could it be the ’Netherworld King’ has arrived?"

"Two Lords Divine meeting Gu Shen?"

"Wait a moment... could the Netherworld King want to recruit Gu Shen as an Angel Envoy?"

This thought, once emerged, extended uncontrollably and made Song Ci’s expression a bit anxious.

"Here he comes."

At that moment, Chu Ling’s soft whisper broke the silence of the mountain.

Amidst the mist, a figure slowly walked out.

Gu Xiaoman anxiously stared at Gu Shen, while Song Ci even released his spiritual power...

Covered by [Divine Concealment], Gu Shen sensed two pairs of anxious eyes, instantly understanding what the two were searching for.

He generously opened his Heart Sea, allowing Song Ci to check through it.

"You kid... what was with that sensation earlier?"

Song Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nothing..."

Gu Shen wanted to casually dismiss but seeing Song Ci’s persistence, he temporarily changed his tune and, with a serious face, pointed to the Skytop solemnly, "Can you not guess whose aura it is? Regarding the ’highest seat’, don’t ask too many questions!"

"The Netherworld King! It really is the Netherworld King?!"

Song Ci was shocked, quickly falling silent, not saying more.

He had always thought the Netherworld King was dead!

Unexpectedly, he is still alive!! 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He, the Light Apostle himself, has been able to cultivate in Qingzhong Cemetery for so long, all thanks to the benevolence of the old Netherworld King, who did not drive him away.

"Did you attempt to melt the ’Nether Fire’?"

Chu Ling transmitted to Gu Shen, also concerned about the changes in Inner Lining’s aura, immediately inquiring about the result, "How did it go, was it smooth?"

Gu Shen intentionally kept a secret, "Hmm... let’s say it was somewhat successful?"

"Somewhat successful?"

Chu Ling widened her beautiful eyes; it was the first time she heard such a description. Successful is successful, what does ’somewhat successful’ mean?

"Melted a ribbon of Nether Fire, fought a tough battle. But later, Mr. Bai Shu used [Reverse Flow], so now... you can pretend nothing ever happened."

Gu Shen clicked his tongue, transmitting, "What a pity, I was this close to having you call me ’God Gu’."

"You..."

Chu Ling was choked by these words, almost losing her composure, and at that moment ignored her demeanor, taking the chance to grab Gu Shen’s arm, she fiercely pinched him.

"Hiss... pain pain pain."

Gu Shen displayed a troubled expression, only pretending to be calm.

"Master life and death? God Gu? Melting Fire Seed and then reversing back? You truly are a genius..."

Chu Ling transmitted angrily, "Causing such a big commotion, scared me to death, did you even know?"