For some reason, ever since entering the Liúshā Small Secret Realm, Gu Qingfeng had been experiencing a peculiar sensation. It was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, a feeling of déjà vu. Initially, when they were still in the desert outside, this feeling wasn't too intense. But ever since entering this swamp filled with turbid energy, this strange sense of déjà vu had grown increasingly powerful.
Why was this happening?
Could it be because he had perished and been reborn here before?
Gu Qingfeng clearly remembered that Qian Ling had said she found him right here in the swamp of the Liúshā Small Secret Realm.
However, at that time, he had been in a completely comatose state. Even if he had perished and been reborn here, it was unlikely he would feel any familiarity with this place.
Or perhaps the Liúshā Small Secret Realm had some connection to the Daoless Age?
No.
That probably wasn't the reason either.
Setting aside whether this place had any connection to the Daoless Age, even if it did, Gu Qingfeng felt it was improbable.
Although, after fusing with the Blood of Original Sin, he occasionally experienced a sense of déjà vu towards certain existences from the Daoless Age, that feeling was profoundly mysterious. It was indescribable, like a dream, or like ancient memories gradually awakening, or even like past events passing before his eyes like fleeting clouds.
But this familiarity he felt towards the Liúshā Small Secret Realm, while also a sense of déjà vu, was not dreamlike, nor was it a memory awakening, nor was it like fleeting past events. Instead, it felt as if he had been here before.
Why did he have this feeling?
He had perished and been reborn, his consciousness had been in a deep slumber. It was absolutely impossible for him to have any impression of this place.
He didn't understand.
And he couldn't figure it out.
Gu Qingfeng pondered this as they traveled.
Beside him, Horse King carefully drove the Firecloud Great Chariot, his focus absolute, appearing extremely tense.
To be precise, it wasn't tension, but a kind of fear, a terror.
He had heard no shortage of rumors about this swamp in the Liúshā Small Secret Realm. In fact, he heard every few days about so-and-so dying inside, either devoured alive by those demonic beasts and evil creatures, or having their flesh rot after their immortal spirit was exhausted and their bodies were contaminated by the turbid energy and poisonous mist.
Although the Firecloud Great Chariot was enveloped in the mist of fine wine sprayed by Gu Qingfeng, relieving Horse King of any worry about erosion from the turbid energy and poison.
And with an unfathomable lord like Gu Qingfeng presiding, there was no need to fear any demonic beasts or evil creatures.
Yet, Horse King's heart was still filled with fear.
Ultimately, it was because he didn't know just how powerful the mist of fine wine sprayed by Gu Qingfeng was, or whether it could truly withstand the turbid energy and poisonous mist of the Liúshā Small Secret Realm.
Moreover, he didn't know how high Gu Qingfeng's strength truly was, or whether he could hold off the terrifying demonic beasts and evil creatures within the Liúshā Small Secret Realm.
After all, he had heard that the demonic beasts and evil creatures deep within the swamp were incredibly savage, so fearsome that even experts who had achieved Five-Luminances Unity and merged with the Great Nature would flee at the mere rumor of them.
Especially the deeper they went, the stronger this feeling became.
At the beginning, within the swamp, they could still encounter some adventuring parties of three or five people. It wasn't so terrifying then. But the deeper they ventured, the fewer adventuring parties they saw.
Horse King had no idea where in the swamp they were now. He only knew it had been several hours since they last saw any adventuring party.
Strangely enough, for such a long time, not only had they not encountered any adventuring parties, they hadn't even run into any of the so-called demonic beasts or evil creatures. Not a single one.
Don't be fooled by Horse King's mere thousand years of cultivation; he had plenty of experience adventuring in the wilds. He knew very well that in a place like the Liúshā Small Secret Realm, running into one or two demonic beasts or evil creatures wasn't the most terrifying thing. What was truly frightening was going a long time without encountering a single one.
Because, based on his experience, when this situation occurred, it usually meant only one terrifying possibility.
That was, they had trespassed into the territory of a demonic beast or evil creature—and a very, very fearsome one at that.
Not only did he have this feeling, but even the notoriously ferocious spiritual beasts, the Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers, seemed to sense something. Not only had their running speed slowed considerably, but they didn't even dare to breathe heavily, almost crouching low as they proceeded with extreme caution.
"G-Great Lord, I'm afraid we've entered the territory of those demonic beasts or evil creatures," Horse King said, one hand tightly gripping the Firecloud Whip, the other firmly holding a Great Sword. The immortal armor he wore shimmered with light as he observed their surroundings with intense nervousness.
"Seems that way," Gu Qingfeng said, standing up and stretching. "This area must be the domain of some powerful demonic beast or evil creature. Otherwise, after walking for half a day, we wouldn't have seen even a hair."
"Then... what should we do?"
"With me here, what are you afraid of? Keep going. Let's see what's up ahead."
"I'd like to keep going, but... the Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers seem scared out of their wits."
Just as Horse King's words fell, a terrifying roar suddenly erupted from the distance.
The roar shook the entire swamp violently, turned Horse King's face deathly pale, and sent the nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers turning tail and fleeing back the way they came.
"Damn it! Your ancestors were kings of all beasts! How can you be scared shitless by the roar of some demonic beast!" Gu Qingfeng snatched the Firecloud Whip from Horse King's hand, cracked it through the air, and bellowed, "All of you, stop right there!"
His furious shout truly cowed the nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers.
Gu Qingfeng raised the Firecloud Whip and cracked it through the air again, shouting, "Show me your tiger's might! Roar!"
Immediately, the nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers seemed to be stimulated. No longer fearful or afraid, they became exceptionally fierce. Their fur stood on end as they tossed their heads, opened their bloody maws, and let out thunderous tiger roars towards the distance.
Horse King watched this scene, dumbfounded, unsure how a single shout from Gu Qingfeng could restore the courage of nine tigers scared out of their wits.
"Since you've been following me, you've been loyal and dutiful, toiling without complaint and running countless miles. Very well, today, I shall help enlighten your minds."
With that, Gu Qingfeng raised his hand and flicked his fingers. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Nine beams of radiant light flashed instantly, merging into the bodies of the nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers.
Roar!
The nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers seemed to experience a sudden enlightenment, their tiger eyes now gleaming with intelligent spirituality.
"And I bestow upon you the courage a king of beasts deserves!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Another nine beams of light flashed instantly, merging into the nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers.
"I further grant you the majesty a king of beasts deserves!"
Yet another nine beams of light flashed, merging into them.
"And finally, I gift you the domineering aura a king of beasts should possess!"
The nine Firecloud Crimsonflame Tigers let out a series of tiger roars.
These roars were not only fearless and awe-inspiring, but also brimming with overwhelming dominance!
The majestic, domineering tiger roars not only shook Horse King's mind, making it sway unsteadily, but also scared him out of his wits, causing him to collapse onto the chariot.