Gu Qingfeng could tell the old monk's words carried a deeper meaning.
However, no matter how he inquired, the old monk gave no further response.
The old monk's meaningful words left Gu Qingfeng utterly perplexed.
He did not indulge in wild speculation, as speculation had never held any significance.
Since the old monk refused to speak, Gu Qingfeng did not press further. After leaving the Nirvana Bone Jade, he continued to contemplate the Nirvana Silence-and-Forgetting Self Scroll. Yet, no matter how long he looked, aside from a vague sense of déjà vu, he could discern nothing.
What puzzled Gu Qingfeng even more was why Yun Nishang, after seizing this painting from him all those years ago, had now instructed Zhu Xia to return it to him after so much time had passed.
What was her intention?
Gu Qingfeng pondered this back and forth, always feeling there was something fishy about the matter. He had once thought Yun Nishang was causing all this trouble to evade karma, but after the events at the Bingxuan Sect, the more he thought about it, the more he felt things weren't that simple.
He simply gazed at the Nirvana Silence-and-Forgetting Self Scroll.
The desolate mountain.
The decaying stones.
The withered trees.
The wilted flowers and grass.
He gazed, and gazed, unaware of how much time had passed, when suddenly, he felt as if he had fallen into a realm of darkness.
Endless darkness.
Endless silence.
Without end.
Hmm?
Snapping back to reality, Gu Qingfeng's heart gave an involuntary jolt. This sensation reminded him of something. With a flick of his hand, a turbid stone appeared in his palm.
This object was something he had found in a mysterious cave dwelling after his initial awakening.
Moreover, the method used to open that mysterious cave dwelling bore a striking resemblance to the seven cave dwellings Yun Nishang had previously opened. One could even say that mysterious cave dwelling was also likely opened by Yun Nishang.
The seven cave dwellings were opened three thousand years ago, while that mysterious one was opened five thousand years ago.
Gu Qingfeng didn't quite understand why Yun Nishang would open such a mysterious cave dwelling five thousand years ago, and why it would enshrine such an extremely peculiar turbid crystal stone.
It was indeed very peculiar.
Because within the crystal stone lay a spatial secret realm, and damn it, trials would occasionally appear inside.
That wasn't the important part. Just now, while observing the Nirvana Silence-and-Forgetting Self Scroll, Gu Qingfeng had experienced a feeling of endless darkness and boundless silence. This was the exact same feeling he had when entering the mysterious space within the turbid crystal stone.
Could these two items be connected?
Without further thought, Gu Qingfeng immediately projected his consciousness, entering the mysterious space.
Endless darkness, boundless silence.
Nothing at all.
That's right!
This was exactly the feeling.
Gu Qingfeng was certain this turbid stone was absolutely connected to the Nirvana Silence-and-Forgetting Self Scroll. Otherwise, these two items couldn't possibly give him the same sensation.
But.
What the hell is this?
Gu Qingfeng couldn't comprehend that Nirvana Silence-and-Forgetting Self Scroll, and likewise, he couldn't comprehend this mysterious dark space.
This damn thing inside was truly boundless.
During his previous few explorations, he had found neither an end nor an edge.
Having cultivated for five hundred years, Gu Qingfeng had seen his share of spatial secret realms and had even opened some himself, but he had never encountered such a bizarre space.
Just as he was puzzling over it, he suddenly detected something unusual, followed by a surge of astonished emotion.
"It's you again!"
A Divine Sense, pure and bright as moonlight, rushed towards him.
"Well, well, if it isn't the lady! Long time no see!"
Gu Qingfeng recognized this Divine Sense. He had even laid a trap before and followed it out. Not only did he know its owner was a beauty as stunning as a celestial being, transcendent and refined, but he had also caught a glimpse of the young lady's alluring figure.
"You damn bastard!
You finally dared to show up."
Upon seeing Gu Qingfeng's Divine Sense, the moonlight-like Divine Sense was first shocked, then its emotions turned furious.
Indeed.
Ever since being peeped on by Gu Qingfeng last time, she had held a grudge, almost coming in every day to lie in wait. However, to her disappointment and fury, that damn fellow had never appeared again since then. Today, as usual, she came in to check, never expecting her luck to be so good—she had finally caught him.
"Been busy lately, haven't had much time."
Gu Qingfeng teased, "What's this? Sounds like you missed me. You're not bathing again, are you?"
"You...
Bastard!"
The moonlight-like Divine Sense was greatly enraged. Its consciousness suddenly transformed into a crescent moon, radiating an eerie and cold glow that instantly enveloped Gu Qingfeng's Divine Sense.
Gu Qingfeng's Divine Sense resembled a turbid flame. Once enveloped by the opponent's moonlight radiance, the flame crackled with a series of crackling pops. Not only did it not weaken, it burned even more fiercely.
"You!"
The Bright-Moon Divine Sense was both helpless and powerless.
She didn't know who this damn fellow really was, nor could she imagine what kind of person would have such a bizarre Divine Sense. What astonished her even more was that when trials appeared here before, this guy had actually brazenly absorbed the breath of judgment. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she could never have believed anyone would dare do such a thing. And after absorbing it, this scoundrel showed not the slightest ill effect.
"Alright, alright, sister, save your strength."
Gu Qingfeng's thoughts transmitted over. Though the Bright-Moon Divine Sense was extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to withdraw. She knew she couldn't do anything to him, at least not to his strange Divine Sense.
"Just who are you!"
"Told you before, I'm a God."
"Why don't you just die!"
The Bright-Moon Divine Sense was seething with hatred, her teeth practically itching with rage. Suppressing her fury, she asked, "Do you dare tell me where you are!"
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng laughed. "What's this? Taken a fancy to me?"
"Heh, indeed. Ever since first meeting you here not long ago, this humble girl's heart has been stirred. How about we meet, sir? This humble girl promises you an unexpected surprise. What do you say?"
"I say, sister, I just happened to see you bathing by accident, and I didn't even get a clear look. No need to latch onto me like this, is there?"
"Latch onto you? Sir, this humble girl isn't latching onto you. I genuinely wish to meet you."
"Sorry, not interested!"
"You bastard! You think this lady is interested in you? Why don't you just die!"
After teasing for a while, Gu Qingfeng lost interest. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and asked, "Sister, let me ask you something. Just what is this place?"
"You don't know?"
"Nonsense, if I knew, would I be asking you?"
The Bright-Moon Divine Sense didn't respond, but she laughed.
Although it was just a Divine Sense, Gu Qingfeng could still sense the girl was laughing, and laughing quite smugly.
"This lady not only knows what this place is, she also knows what secrets are hidden here, how many people are here, who this place is connected to...
and even why there are trials..." The Bright-Moon Divine Sense rattled off a whole list, leaving Gu Qingfeng rather speechless. He didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.
"Well? Sir, want to know?"
"Sure do."
"If you want to know, how about we meet and talk? I can tell you everything."
As expected.
This woman was up to no good. If she truly was as familiar with this place as she claimed, knowing so many secrets, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't mind meeting her. By then, even if she refused to talk, he had a thousand ways to make her spill.
But the key question was: did she actually know?
The answer was certain.
She didn't.
He had lurked here for a while before, eavesdropping on a conversation between this woman and another Divine Sense. He was absolutely certain both of them were equally clueless about this place. Now, for her to spout so much in one breath was nothing more than an attempt to arouse his curiosity.
"Well? Made up your mind?"
"Alright then."
Hearing Gu Qingfeng agree, the Bright-Moon Divine Sense was very excited. "Good! Where are you?"
"You know the Great Northwest Territory, right?"
"The Great Northwest? Of course."
"What about the Nine-Hua Alliance?"
Upon hearing 'Nine-Hua Alliance,' the Bright-Moon Divine Sense paused momentarily, then asked with feigned calm, "I know of it, more or less."
"Then come find me. My surname is Chi, ninth in line. The brothers on the Dao give me some face, they call me Ninth Master Chi. Once you reach the Nine-Hua Alliance, just mention Ninth Master Chi's name—everyone knows it, no one is unaware. Even a random child grabbed off the street knows my great name."