38: Chapter 38 Tiansheng City

Far North Icefield. Deep within the ruins of Xuanming Hall.

Inside the obsidian great hall, Jun Wudao was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, organizing the surging spiritual power within his body.

Outside the hall, the sky suddenly darkened.

The clouds were torn apart from the middle by a tyrannical force.

There was no thunder or lightning. There was only a Spiritual Pressure so pure that it had reached its limit, transforming into a tangible gravitational field that slammed heavily onto the sect-protecting Formation of Xuanming Hall.

The light screen of the Formation twisted violently, emitting a groan of unbearable strain.

"Bang."

The light screen shattered.

Xiao Wuji and Ye Lan simultaneously flashed to the entrance of the great hall. Both of them were as if facing a formidable enemy, staring fixedly at the middle-aged man in green robes standing with his hands behind his back in mid-air.

Creation Realm Late Stage.

The opponent hadn't even deliberately released his aura; merely the pressure naturally overflowing from him was enough to make the two Half-step Creation Realm cultivators feel their blood and Qi surging.

Jun Wudao walked out of the great hall. He raised his head and saw the face of the person who had arrived.

The Hidden Family, the Lu Family, Second Master Lu Chengfeng.

"Second Master Lu, your presence is an honor; Xuanming Hall has failed to welcome you properly." Jun Wudao cupped his hands. His tone was polite, but he did not grovel.

Lu Chengfeng walked down slowly from mid-air. His feet stepped onto the Void, emitting dull sonic booms.

He stopped ten paces away from Jun Wudao.

"Hall Master Jun. Three hundred years have passed, and your Xuanming Hall has truly regressed. Hiding in this frozen land and still making such a huge commotion." Lu Chengfeng's tone was indifferent, carrying the arrogance unique to those in high positions.

"Thanks to you, just barely hanging on." Jun Wudao was neither humble nor pushy.

Lu Chengfeng's gaze swept over Xiao Wuji and Ye Lan, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes. Two Half-step Creation Realm cultivators. The foundation of Xuanming Hall was truly not to be underestimated.

But he wasn't here to reminisce today.

"I heard that those three old fellows from the Ziyang Holy Land died here a few days ago." Lu Chengfeng stared into Jun Wudao's eyes, "I also heard that this matter is related to a force called the 'Everlasting Gu Family'."

Jun Wudao's eyelids twitched.

Xiao Wuji tightened his grip on the long saber at his waist.

Before Young Master Gu left, he had given a death order: whoever dared to leak a single word would have their soul extracted and refined.

That was a taboo existence who could make a Creation Realm Peak old servant kneel with a casual gesture. Although Lu Chengfeng was at the Creation Realm Late Stage, he probably wasn't even fit to carry the shoes of that Young Master Gu.

"Second Master Lu is joking." Jun Wudao's expression remained unchanged, "The ancestors of the three Holy Lands were killed by my Xuanming Hall exhausting its foundation. As for some Everlasting Gu Family, I have never heard of it."

Lu Chengfeng laughed.

He raised his right hand. A dazzling point of white light condensed at the tip of his index finger.

The surrounding space collapsed instantly.

"Jun Wudao. Just because my Lu Family remains hidden doesn't mean the Central Plains has become blind. The commotion in the Far North Icefield could not be hidden from my Divine Sense. On that day, an extremely terrifying aura descended, absolutely surpassing the Creation Realm Early Stage."

The white light rested an inch in front of Jun Wudao's forehead.

"Tell me, what is the background of that Gu Family? Say one wrong word, and Xuanming Hall will be removed from existence today."

The threat of death was right before his eyes.

Jun Wudao did not retreat. He looked directly into Lu Chengfeng's eyes.

"Lu Chengfeng. If you truly have the guts, you may directly search my soul." Jun Wudao spoke coldly, "But you had better think clearly; there are some Karma that your Lu Family cannot bear."

Lu Chengfeng frowned slightly.

Jun Wudao's confidence was too strong. Strong enough to make him, a Creation Realm Late Stage, feel a trace of unease.

The thing Hidden Families fear most is hitting a hard board. He had scoured ancient texts for the name Everlasting Gu Family and hadn't found a single word. The more unknown, the more terrifying.

A force that could make Jun Wudao refuse to reveal a single word even at the cost of his life was definitely not one that the Lu Family could easily provoke.

Lu Chengfeng withdrew his finger. The white light dissipated.

"Your bones are quite hard." Lu Chengfeng snorted coldly, "I hope your Xuanming Hall can remain this hard forever."

He turned around, shattered the Void, and disappeared from the spot.

The clothes on Jun Wudao's back were already soaked through with cold sweat. He let out a long breath of stale air.

"Hall Master." Xiao Wuji walked forward, his expression unsightly.

"Seal the mountain gates. Activate the highest level of defense." Jun Wudao ordered, "The waters of the Central Plains are about to get murky. We have no qualification to interfere in the Gu Family's game; just guard our own gates."

Eastern Wasteland. Tianxuan Peak.

Inside the great hall.

Gu Sheng leaned back in the grand chair, tossing the miniature version of the Ten Thousand Worlds Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in his hand.

The model emitted a faint purple-gold light, with stars faintly circulating inside.

This thing is not bad. It can deduce Heavenly Secrets and intercept Luck. But the prerequisite is that there must be someone capable of holding down the fort.

Xuan Kong needs to stay at Tianxuan Peak to protect him. Ji Ruxue is still in seclusion, stabilizing her Realm.

Once the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion opens, it will be a treasure bowl that attracts trouble. Without a few ruthless people sitting in charge, it would be torn down in minutes.

Gu Sheng pulled up the System panel.

[Exchange Point Balance: 29,199,000.]

Twenty-nine million.

"System. Open the Supreme Card Pool for me. Ten million Exchange Points, just smash it." Gu Sheng waved his hand.

[Ding.]

[The Host is finally willing to spend a fortune. The System has specially launched the Supreme Card Pool; a single draw is one million, and a ten-draw is ten million. The guarantee is a Creation Realm character card.]

[Deducting ten million Exchange Points. The draw begins.]

No beam of light appeared in the great hall.

On the System panel, ten purple-gold cards were lined up with their backs facing up.

Gu Sheng rubbed his hands together. He clicked to flip them over.

[Thanks for participating.]

[Obtained Heaven Rank Advanced Medicinal Pill: Nine-Turn Creation Pill × 1.]

[Thanks for participating.]

[Obtained Heaven Rank Advanced Formation: Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation (Incomplete Manual).]

[Thanks for participating.]

...

Eight cards in a row, no character card.

Gu Sheng's expression turned a bit dark.

"Was your drop rate eaten by a dog? You're showing me this for ten million?"

[Host, calm down. The good show is yet to come.]

The ninth card was flipped over.

A dazzling golden light instantly illuminated the entire great hall. Even Xuan Kong, who was smoking in the corner, stopped his movements and looked up.

On the front of the card was a swordsman dressed in black robes, his eyes covered with a black cloth. He held a rusty iron sword in his arms, and his entire body radiated a deathly Sword Intent.

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Creation Realm Late Stage character card: Blind Sword.]

[Character Bond: None.]

[Exclusive Skill: Deathly Sword Drawing Technique (Must draw blood upon unsheathing, ignores physical defense of the same Realm).]

Creation Realm Late Stage!

Gu Sheng's eyes lit up. This wave was not a loss. A Creation Realm Late Stage, even in the Central Plains, is an existence that can walk sideways.

The tenth card was flipped over immediately after.

This time, the golden light was mixed with a thick pink miasma.

On the card was a stunning woman in a red dress, floating barefoot. There was a cinnabar dot on her forehead, and her flowing gaze revealed a soul-snatching charm, while her fingertips were shrouded in deadly poison gas.

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Creation Realm Middle Stage character card: Thousand-Faced Poison Concubine · Su Jiuer.]

[Character Bond: None.]

[Exclusive Skill: Myriad Poisons Return to Origin (Form a Formation with a single thought; those below Creation Realm die upon touch, those above Creation Realm suffer Divine Soul damage).]

One sword, one poison.

Ten million, exchanged for two Creation Realm killing gods.

"Extract." Gu Sheng gave the order.

The space in the center of the great hall rippled.

Two figures, one black and one red, appeared out of thin air.

Blind Sword held his rusty iron sword, standing quietly in place. He did not look at Gu Sheng because he was blind. However, the deathly Sword Intent on his body cut tiny cracks into the surrounding air.

Su Jiuer landed barefoot. She covered her mouth and giggled, her voice bone-melting: "Subordinate Su Jiuer greets Young Master. Young Master is truly handsome; Jiuer likes you so much."

As she spoke, she was about to lean against Gu Sheng.

"Stop." Gu Sheng raised his hand to interrupt her.

Su Jiuer stopped, pouting aggrievedly.

Xuan Kong tapped his pipe on the side. A pressure of the Creation Realm Peak flashed and vanished.

Su Jiuer's expression changed slightly, and she put away that coquettish manner. Blind Sword's head turned slightly, facing the direction of Xuan Kong, and his hand gripping the sword tightened.

"Ahem, behave." Gu Sheng tapped the table, "I spent money to bring you out, not for you to flirt; at least wait until there's no one around."

He stood up. He placed the Ten Thousand Worlds Heavenly Secrets Pavilion model in his hand on the table.

"I want to open a shop in the Central Plains. You two, go and be the shopkeeper and the guard for me."

Su Jiuer glanced at the model, a flash of shrewdness in her eyes. "Where does Young Master want to open the shop?"

Gu Sheng pulled up the System map.

His finger pointed to the very center of the Central Plains map.

Heavenly Saint City