The Small Hidden Realm of Flowing Sands.
The Sand Sea Demonic Domain, the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land.
Two women were hovering in the air above, their expressions looking increasingly anxious as they peered from time to time into the fissure of the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land.
While their appearances couldn't be called nation-toppling beauties, they could certainly be considered lovely. However, in this harsh natural environment of the Small Hidden Realm of Flowing Sands, filled with turbid energy everywhere, especially here in the Sand Sea Demonic Domain, the pure immortal spiritual aura emanating from the two women was particularly dazzling.
They were none other than the two immortals, Zijin and Ziqing.
In the distance.
Sitting atop a great carriage pulled by nine-headed Fire Cloud Crimson Flame Tigers was a bewitching woman, whose demonic aura was especially dense. This was Bai Yanyan.
Bai Yanyan sat on the great carriage, sipping wine and eating spirit fruits while watching Zijin and Ziqing hovering near the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land. She shook her head helplessly.
As a demon of the Small Hidden Realm of Flowing Sands, and a Great Wasteland Spirit Demon at that, Bai Yanyan knew full well how perilous the Sand Sea Demonic Domain was. Therefore, ever since Gu Qingfeng had leaped into the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land, she had followed his instructions and brought Zijin and Ziqing back to her own cave abode.
At first, the two hadn't said much, simply resting for over ten days. Once their cultivation had mostly recovered, Zijin and Ziqing could no longer restrain themselves. Disregarding Bai Yanyan's dissuasion, they returned to the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land.
It had been more than half a month since Gu Qingfeng entered the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land. For Zijin and Ziqing, these days had felt like years. Their hearts were filled with deep guilt and regret for having asked Gu Qingfeng for help in the first place. Especially as day after day passed with no sign of Gu Qingfeng emerging, their inner torment only grew.
"Senior Sister, if the Great Old Master of Chixiao is also trapped inside... then haven't we...
harmed him?"
Zijin's voice came through. Ziqing replied with self-reproach, "If he is truly trapped inside, there's no doubt we are the ones who harmed him."
"We shouldn't have asked for his help."
"It's useless to say that now."
"Then what should we do?"
"Let's wait a little longer. If he still hasn't come out, we'll go down."
Neither Zijin nor Ziqing feared death. If they did, they wouldn't have repeatedly ventured into the Small Hidden Realm of Flowing Sands. Moreover, they both knew clearly that if the Great Old Master of Chixiao hadn't intervened back then, they would have died long ago. Now that the Great Old Master might be trapped inside because he helped them, neither of them could stand by and do nothing.
"You two, I advise you to think twice and not act impulsively. If even that Great Old Master of Chixiao can't get out, you two going down won't make a difference," Bai Yanyan said as she approached, trying to persuade them.
Zijin and Ziqing knew Bai Yanyan spoke the truth. Yet, even so, they still wanted to try. Trying might offer a sliver of hope, whereas not trying offered none at all. Moreover, they would rather die inside than remain outside suffering the condemnation of their consciences every day.
"Besides, the existence of that Great Old Master of Chixiao is beyond anything we can imagine. I think, since he dared to go down, it's not impossible that he truly has a way to get out."
Bai Yanyan had always been intensely curious about Gu Qingfeng's identity. For this reason, she had made a special trip to the Wind-Moon Small World, hoping to find her senior sister Bai Susu and inquire. Unfortunately, Bai Susu was not in the Wind-Moon Small World. However, the trip wasn't entirely wasted. In the Wind-Moon Small World, she learned that Gu Qingfeng had once won 1.8 billion with a single throw of dice, effortlessly ascended all eighty-one floors of the Gold-Seizing Tower, and with a single shout had shaken thousands of Great Luo Golden Immortals, leaving them bereft of cultivation and paralyzed on the ground. The Golden Crow Li Family, the Golden Crow Liu Family, the powerful Bai Family, and even the ancient, inherited Lotus Secret Realm had suffered countless casualties for provoking Gu Qingfeng.
What made it even more unbelievable for Bai Yanyan was hearing that her own senior sister, Bai Susu, had publicly bowed to Gu Qingfeng at the time, showing him exceptional respect.
This series of events made Bai Yanyan increasingly convinced that the existence of this Great Old Master of Chixiao was absolutely extraordinary and beyond her comprehension.
"Sister Bai, do you really think the Great Old Master of Chixiao can come out of the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land?" Zijin asked.
Bai Yanyan glanced at her, first shaking her head, then shaking it again, and said, "Perhaps."
Yes.
Perhaps.
Bai Yanyan couldn't be sure either. Although that Great Old Master of Chixiao seemed mysterious, bizarre, and unfathomable, this was, after all, the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land. Throughout history, few who entered had ever emerged.
Of course.
Few emerging didn't mean no one had ever come out. At the very least, Bai Yanyan had heard from her master that someone had emerged from the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land before.
"Two Immortals, what Senior...
Senior Bai says is right. You must not act impulsively."
At this moment, Ma Wangye emerged from the Fire Cloud Great Carriage, trying to persuade them. "The Great Old Master told us to wait, so we should wait obediently. The Great Old Master's abilities are vast. Others who enter the One-Slice-of-Heaven might not come out, but that doesn't mean the Great Old Master can't. If he says he can come out, then he definitely can."
Just as Ma Wangye's words fell, suddenly, a thunderous boom echoed, as if the entire earth were trembling. The sand sea beneath their feet churned like ocean waves.
What was happening?
No one knew.
Bai Yanyan was the first to soar into the air. While protecting herself with demonic power, she hastily summoned her magical treasure. One must remember, this was the Sand Sea Demonic Domain, where evil demons lurked. Zijin and Ziqing also dared not be negligent, both instantly summoning their own magical treasures. Ma Wangye, who had been sitting inside the Fire Cloud Great Carriage, was so frightened he tightly gripped the great blade in his hand, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on their surroundings.
Boom!
— Another thunderous roar, and the sand sea beneath their feet churned even more violently.
At that moment, they noticed billowing black mist spewing forth from the fissure of the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land.
What was this?
They didn't know.
Boom! — Accompanied by yet another deafening roar, billowing black mist surged from the fissure like a column of smoke. Bai Yanyan, Zijin, and Ziqing retreated while peering intently. Vaguely, they discerned a figure within the black mist.
It was a man.
A man dressed in plain white cloth robes, his ink-black hair loosely cascading down. His features were unremarkable, so ordinary that if you closed your eyes, you'd struggle to recall his face.
As the black mist gradually dissipated and they clearly saw the man's appearance, Bai Yanyan, Zijin, and Ziqing were utterly stunned.
For this man was none other than the Great Old Master of Chixiao who had previously leaped into the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land—Gu Qingfeng.
He was out!
He had truly emerged from the One-Slice-of-Heaven Forbidden Land!
Heavens!
Bai Yanyan and the other two stared at the Gu Qingfeng before them, scarcely believing their eyes. Beyond joy, their hearts were filled with disbelief.