Gu Qingfeng did not know whether the mountain that had appeared out of thin air, as described by Chu Jiaohong, was the legendary Wudao Mountain.
But that was secondary.
How much of what Chu Jiaohong said was true and how much was false was entirely unknown.
Perhaps some of it was true, but it definitely wasn't all true.
Gu Qingfeng did not believe Chu Jiaohong would tell him these things for no reason.
Especially since this woman had said so much yet hadn't mentioned a single word about her own identity. That in itself was suspicious. Coupled with the fact that her true body was still sealed here, she was definitely no good bird, nor any kind of easy mark.
"If what you said is true, why were you the only one sealed away when so many people died back then?"
"I wasn't the only one sealed away. Many were sealed."
"Where are they?"
"Some may have died. Some may still be sealed. Some may have broken the Seals and left... The upheaval came too fast, so fast that none of us had any preparation. This world was in complete chaos, without even a sliver of ground to stand on. We had no choice but to flee into this spatial Secret Realm."
"You're saying there might be more than one Secret Realm like this?"
"Back then, there were as many as thirty-six spatial Secret Realms in this world. Some may have collapsed and scattered. Some should still exist."
"Who sealed you back then?"
"I don't know who sealed me. I don't even know why I was sealed. Perhaps it was to save us. Perhaps it was. Because as far as I know, aside from those who were sealed... everyone else... died. All of them died."
"Save you? With your strength, even if the world collapsed, you'd have the means to protect yourself. Moreover, you fled into this spatial Secret Realm. There shouldn't have been any life-threatening danger."
"It was an Elder. That mad, deranged Elder. He seemed to come from that mountain. When he appeared, he spoke mad, delirious words, each character like a divine thunderclap, each syllable shaking heaven and earth."
Chu Jiaohong's expression turned strange, as if recalling the events of that time still filled her with lingering fear. "I will never forget that scene. It was truly terrifying."
"What mad, delirious words did that Elder say?"
Chu Jiaohong closed her eyes slightly, remaining silent for a moment before speaking. "The great calamity of a thousand ages is born of heaven and earth; three cycles of reincarnation reveal eternity past; past lives and present lives, cause and effect meet; whose fate is whose must be seen by heaven."
This phrase again.
Gu Qingfeng clearly remembered Yun Nishang had said this phrase. Feng Zhuyue had also said it. Jun Xuanji had said it more than once as well.
Originally, he hadn't paid this phrase any mind at all. But now, hearing others mention it again and again, he couldn't help but take it seriously.
"I've told you everything I should. Can you help me break the Seal now?"
Gu Qingfeng was taken aback. "That's it?"
"That's all I know."
"Big sister, what you've said sounds like a lot, but if you think about it carefully, you haven't really said anything at all."
"Gu Tianlang!"
Chu Jiaohong frowned, her expression displeased. "When I was searching for you in this world, everyone said you were a heroic champion of boundless righteousness, a man of indomitable spirit, the fearless Chixiao King who defied the heavens. Precisely because of that, I chose not to hold a grudge over how you humiliated me back then. To think you... are actually so shameless."
"Big sister, don't put any high hats on me. I've never been one for that. You're not holding a grudge over the past because you can't. If I were to release your true body, who knows what would happen then. And whether what you've said is true or false, I don't know. What kind of person you are, I also don't know."
Seeing Chu Jiaohong about to speak, Gu Qingfeng immediately cut her off and continued, "How about this, big sister? Don't say so much. I won't ask whether what you said is true or false, nor will I ask who you are. If you want my help, it's not impossible."
"Good! State your conditions."
"Now that's more like it. What's the point of all that empty flattery? I'm a vulgar man, and in this mundane world, I can't avoid being vulgar. If I help you break the Seal, shouldn't you at least offer some benefit?"
"What benefit do you want?"
Chu Jiaohong stared at Gu Qingfeng, looking him up and down. "Although I can't see through exactly what kind of existence you are, I do know that with your level of existence, even if I offered you the fortune of a Great Dao Heavenly King, you probably wouldn't care for it. Besides, I don't have that capability."
"Big sister, what I want isn't important. What's important is what you can give me."
"And what can I possibly give you?"
"No rush. Think it over slowly. I'm in no hurry."
Gu Qingfeng truly wasn't in a hurry. He simply plopped down in the desert ruins and started drinking, taking a sip as he said, "You know, drinking in these desert ruins is a first for me. Feels pretty good."
"Just say directly what you want. If I have it, I'll definitely give it to you."
"Really?"
"Without a single false word."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, squinting his eyes as he scrutinized Chu Jiaohong carefully.
Perhaps sensing the invasive nature of Gu Qingfeng's gaze, Chu Jiaohong's expression became somewhat unnatural. Being stared at by him made her feel utterly exposed. Flames of anger immediately flickered in her beautiful eyes as she snapped, "This palace warns you, don't look where you shouldn't, and don't think what you shouldn't! This palace would rather remain sealed than engage in any indecent acts with a shameless scoundrel like you!"
"What indecent acts? I say, big sister, you seem quite dignified and elegant. How is your mind so filthy? Who said anything about indecent acts with you?"
Gu Qingfeng's words left Chu Jiaohong flushed red with both shame and anger, yet unable to retort. She took a deep breath and snapped, "Then what do you mean?"
"Big sister, this External Incarnation of yours looks pretty good."
"Shameless! Let me tell you, don't even think about coveting my External Incarnation."
"Big sister, can we please not imagine all those messy, filthy activities? I just said your External Incarnation looks good. I didn't mean anything else, did I? What? You think I want to take over this External Incarnation of yours? I say, big sister... even if I were the biggest rogue, I wouldn't go so far as to play with your External Incarnation, would I? That would be downright depraved."
"You!"
Chu Jiaohong was so angry her face burned crimson with shame. She pointed at Gu Qingfeng, gnashing her teeth.
"Tell me, what did you use to create this External Incarnation of yours?"
Hearing this, Chu Jiaohong immediately became wary.
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be made from a stone, right? To be precise, a kind of fragment? A kind of spatial fragment stone? Like a fragment stone from some era? Or perhaps, a fragment stone from that so-called Wudao Age?"