Chapter 1 Li Qingci's Dream

Li Qingci had a dream.

It was a very long dream... In the dream, she saw the God Shrine Mountain teetering on the verge of collapse, and figures standing at the foot of the mountain, one after another. They were more frightening than the black flowers covering the mountains and plains. They just silently surrounded the foot of the mountain.

She was all alone.

Unable to stop these people from climbing the mountain.

They went up the mountain, not cherishing the place that the Guardian had painstakingly maintained for six hundred years, because it was already dilapidated enough, with black flowers of annihilation growing everywhere, so they were even more unscrupulous when they started.

Everything that could be smashed, burned, torn... was all destroyed.

But this was also the only good fortune in misfortune.

There was nothing left to destroy in the God Shrine.

Finally, they reached the top of the mountain... the "holy land" that the Guardian had maintained with her life, the origin of the Prayer Art.

In the dream, Li Qingci couldn't see the faces of these people.

She could only see that they were all black faces. What they looked like didn't matter anymore... they all looked the same. They wanted to destroy the God Shrine, to destroy the land of ancestral grace.

And at the end of the dream, she heard the soft sound of a drop of water.

"Drip."

A very soft sound.

Li Qingci opened her eyes.

She was under the eaves of the ancient God Shrine, having moved a deck chair and fallen into a hazy sleep.

Waking up now, she found a drop of water on her brow.

The strange thing was...

God Shrine Mountain, this wondrous realm, had no time, no day or night, and was shrouded in cloudy skies all year round. It rarely rained. There were a few dry waterfalls at the foot of the mountain, but the top of the mountain was always arid.

Where did the water droplet come from?

Li Qingci rubbed her brow laboriously, and subconsciously looked towards the water well... Holding her breath, she walked over.

Mr. Gu had said that he saw a "Goddess" in this well.

She admitted that as she approached the well, there was a moment, just for a moment, when she had unrealistic fantasies.

But when she really leaned over...

The well was completely calm.

Without the slightest ripple.

Li Qingci was a little disappointed. She sighed softly, and the expression on her pretty face suddenly tightened... Outsiders had broken into the God Shrine Mountain territory, and this time there was more than one.

...

...

The Li Clan Elders Council had sent three elders, led by the Second Elder.

This group stood at the foot of God Shrine Mountain, looking around, observing and sizing things up. Just as they were about to go up the mountain, they met the Guardian, Li Qingci, who was descending. The Second Elder slowly and unhurriedly offered a salute.

Courtesy first, then force.

He twirled his snow-white long beard, wearing the Li Clan's black-patterned ancient robe, looking like an immortal.

The Second Elder said with a smile, "Miss Qingci, long time no see."

Li Qingci knew the purpose of these people... She also knew that this Second Elder had bad intentions.

She stood in front of the mountain, not moving.

"The three elders should know that God Shrine Mountain is the Li Clan's forbidden area. Although you have the token, it's best not to disturb unless necessary."

These words were very polite.

But obviously... the people from the Elders Council would not leave easily.

"Miss Qingci is right... But we also have our difficulties."

The Second Elder sighed softly, feigning helplessness. "After the Clan Head passed away, the clan's financial reports, every item needs to be audited clearly... We came to the God Shrine actually to investigate Miss QingSui's [Lantern Seeking] project."

This project was very mysterious in the report.

It was only mentioned briefly.

Then skipped directly.

Yet it was this project that had burned through a large amount of the Li Clan's liquid funds in a year.

At this juncture, the interested people in the Elders Council would certainly not let go of such a great opportunity... Investigating the [Lantern Seeking] project was both a move within the rules and could facilitate the investigation of Li Qingsui's proposal.

A "girl" who was young and lacked qualifications, wanted to serve as the Clan Head of the Five Great Families?

They only needed to find the projects she advocated, search for problems in them, and then they could quickly use the excuse of "not being able to convince the public"... to remove her from the Li Clan's power center.

In fact, after the Clan Head passed away, they had been doing this all along.

It was just that Li Qingsui began to take over the core family business a year ago... Her record could be described as remarkable, almost flawless, of course, due to the secret assistance of the previous Clan Head.

But it had to be said that Li Qingsui had high comprehension and was decisive enough.

It was almost impossible to find fault with other projects.

That was why the Elders Council had turned its attention to the [Lantern Seeking] project.

"Investigate?"

Li Qingci still didn't budge.

She said coldly, "As the Guardian... I have the right to refuse your investigation."

What a joke... How could such an important place like the God Shrine allow these people to enter at will!

But even so.

Li Qingci faintly felt an ominous premonition.

She was the Guardian who had inherited the Prayer Art. That previous dream... couldn't be without reason.

If that dream was an indication...

Then what was about to happen was probably beyond her control...

Li Qingci had prepared herself to guard the God Shrine alone until her death.

But she never expected.

The Second Elder had no intention of continuing forward at all.

He said with a smile, "Alright, Miss Qingci, since you refuse the investigation... then we won't enter."

Li Qingci was stunned.

"It's just that the impact of the [Lantern Seeking] project is probably much greater than you think... After returning, the Elders Council will re-evaluate Miss Qingsui."

The Second Elder said lightly, and was about to turn around.

"Qingci, it doesn't matter if you let them go up the mountain."

Just then, from outside the mountain mist, in the direction the Second Elder had come from, a young voice rang out.

Gu Shen slowly walked out of the mist.

"Mr. Gu!"

Seeing Gu Shen's figure, the uneasiness and anxiety in Li Qingci's heart instantly disappeared. She breathed a long sigh of relief, and her tense nerves relaxed.

"Gu Shen?"

The faint smile on the Second Elder's face slowly disappeared.

He stared at Gu Shen.

Why was this guy so persistent?

Wherever he went, this guy followed?

"Second Elder, anger is bad for your health."

Gu Shen came to the old man and said casually, "You don't have many years left to live, so it's not worth it to keep a straight face all day. You should cherish every day, smile more, it's good for your health."

After hearing this, the Second Elder of the Li Clan's expression suddenly changed.

He knew that Gu Shen was a disciple of Master Qianye!

The heir of the divination art!

This kid said that he didn't have many years left to live... What did that mean? Was he serious!

"You brat! How rude!"

Before the Second Elder could explode, another elder on the side flew into a rage.

This elder was not very old, about thirty years old, in his prime, with a burly physique, like a vajra.

When he stepped into the territory of God Shrine Mountain, Gu Shen had sensed the three transcendents of the Li Clan Elders Council through mental link... This time, the three of them were stronger than Li Xuan.

Among them, the Second Elder had the highest realm, probably with the strength of the Fourth Stage, and the other two were both in the Third Stage, around the seventh or eighth layer.

"Rude?"

Gu Shen smiled and asked, "Is telling the truth considered rude?"

"Disrespectful to your superiors, speaking impudently, you deserve a slap in the face!"

This "Vajra" Elder took a step forward and slapped out without hesitation.

He had long disliked Gu Shen...

In the Li Clan's affairs, this kid had jumped out again and again. Last time, he had beaten a member of the Elders Council and taken the token without permission. This time, he had come to interfere again!

Taking this opportunity, he would teach him a lesson!

This slap was extremely fast.

This Vajra Elder was originally a power-attack type transcendent, diligently practicing his body. In order to give Gu Shen a full lesson, he even used his "Domain"!

The next moment.

With a "slap"!

A crisp slap echoed at the foot of God Shrine Mountain.

A blood-stained tooth was knocked out.

Falling to the ground.

The Vajra Elder, who had taken the first shot, looked at the tooth that had fallen from his mouth.

His expression was stunned, his eyes blank.

One side of his face was swollen high, with blood seeping out. Even the hair crown that held his hair up had been knocked off, his hair disheveled, looking very embarrassed.

However, he had never seen clearly from beginning to end.

How all this had happened...

When did Gu Shen strike?

But someone had seen it clearly.

The Second Elder saw it very clearly... In the instant of the attack just now, Gu Shen's figure seemed to turn into a phantom, swaying and staggered, arriving first, and then gave the Vajra Elder a slap.

Faster, more accurate, more ruthless.

The phantom just now... looked a bit like [Complete Flash].

Even if it wasn't the real [Complete Flash], he had comprehended seven or eight tenths of it.

If he remembered correctly, a year ago, when Gu Shen fought Shen Li, his attainment in physical skills was not profound... He couldn't even touch the threshold of [Complete Flash].

The Second Elder slowly stretched out a hand and stopped another angry Elder.

He spoke in a cold tone, saying word by word, "Slapping my Li Clan's Elder in front of my face... Gu Shen, you must give me an explanation today."

"Explanation?"

Gu Shen said calmly, "Didn't this Elder already give it earlier? Disrespectful to your superiors, speaking impudently, you deserve a slap in the face."

"I am a student of Master Qianye, and also a disciple of the Great Adjudicator. Putting aside these two identities, I am also considered half a brother to QingSui, a respected guest worshiped by the God Shrine, and the one who was personally invited by the previous Li Clan Head to hold the token."

He looked at the Elder who had taken the first shot, the implication already very clear.

Which of these identities is not stronger than you?

Disrespectful to your superiors, speaking impudently... you deserve a slap in the face.

It's just that, it's your mouth that deserves to be slapped!

The Elder who had been slapped in the face widened his eyes, unable to say anything for a moment.

"It is well known that the Li Clan is the most particular about 'etiquette' among the Five Great Families." Gu Shen said calmly, "The Second Elder should be able to distinguish the right and wrong of this matter."

The Second Elder had nothing to say.

He glanced at the Elder who had failed to attack and was slapped instead, knowing that this matter could not be pursued.

If this slap had hit, then it was Gu Shen who deserved it!

But if he couldn't beat him and was beaten by the other party instead... he could only blame himself for not being capable enough.

"Since your identity is so esteemed..."

The word "esteemed" was emphasized by the Second Elder.

He said coldly, "Then what you said earlier should also count, right?"

Gu Shen had said earlier that he could let people go up the mountain.

Hearing this, Li Qingci became worried... She cast a subtle glance at Gu Shen.

Gu Shen came to her side and signaled her not to be nervous.

"Everyone, if you have the leisure and interest to go up the mountain... then you may proceed now."

He gave way to that mountain road and said calmly, "But before going up the mountain, don't blame me for saying the ugly things first. After going up the mountain, there are black flowers everywhere, each one is a 'point of collapsed order'. You should know the power of this thing. Once touched, it will directly disintegrate..."

The expressions of the Elders changed slightly.

Of course they knew... No one had entered this God Shrine Mountain for many years, the reason was simple.

This place was simply a "devil's lair"!

So gloomy and desolate, who would enter this place except the Guardian?

If it wasn't for the fact that the Elders Council urgently needed to make a fuss about the "God Shrine" at this juncture, they wouldn't have come to this kind of place...

Li Qingci, as the Guardian, was of course doing her best to stop them.

But now that it was really open to them, they were unwilling to enter.

"Please." Gu Shen invited with a gesture, and said lightly, "Oh right, there's another ugly thing I have to say. If you die on the mountain, you won't even be able to leave behind a corpse. But don't worry, I will have QingSui use the most solemn etiquette to bury you Elders."

The faces of the two people beside the Second Elder were somewhat apprehensive.

It wasn't that they were afraid of accidentally touching the black flowers on this way up the mountain... They were afraid that Gu Shen had prepared tricks on this road!

There was no [Deep Sea] connection here.

If something really happened, absolutely no one would know what had happened.

According to internal news from the Li Clan, this kid came to the God Shrine to meditate when he had nothing to do. Who knew what he was cultivating?

"You should know what it's for to go up the mountain."

The Second Elder said calmly, "If you refuse to explain the meaning of the [Lantern Seeking] project, what's the point of going up the God Shrine?"

He hadn't planned to climb the God Shrine in the first place.

It was too simple to make things difficult for someone... There were thousands of ways in this world, and the Second Elder was someone who knew this very well.

He said lightly, "Gu Shen, if you are willing to invite us to go up the mountain, why not make it simpler and just tell us about the [Lantern Seeking] project."

"Alright."

Gu Shen was still lighthearted, and said, "There's nothing to hide. The content of the [Lantern Seeking] project is very simple, it's just to help the God Shrine Mountain shed the black flowers covering the mountains."

The Second Elder was stunned.

He seemed to have heard a big joke.

These flowers...

These black flowers that could cause the Li Clan to be backlashed at any time...

Hadn't been removed for six hundred years!

It was said that even Gu Changzhi was helpless when he came to the God Shrine Mountain!

A few broken lanterns could save it?

As long as a transcendent entered the Li Clan's Elders Council and obtained the token... they would be told the meaning of the existence of the God Shrine Mountain, this desolate mountain was covered with flowers of annihilation, and the Li Clan's Guardian was doing her best to turn the "disaster realm" into a "wonder realm."

Because there was a so-called "God Embryo" in the God Shrine Mountain.

As long as the "God Embryo" hatched.

The God Shrine Mountain could be saved.

So many years, generation after generation.

The Elders Council had waited hopefully.

It was just year after year, decade after decade, century after century... All they had waited for was disappointment.

So in the end, no one in the Elders Council believed in the so-called hope of the God Shrine Mountain.

The Second Elder laughed.

He really thought Gu Shen was joking.

So he asked, "Next... you wouldn't be saying that the lanterns on the God Shrine Mountain can hatch the so-called 'God Embryo', right?"

Dead silence.

At this moment, it was as if even the wind at the foot of the God Shrine Mountain had become solidified.

"You're right, that's exactly what I wanted to say."

Gu Shen nodded and said, "But the name God Embryo sounds strange... You can call her Goddess."

The old man looked at Gu Shen with an incurable gaze, and said sarcastically, "Let me tell you, I have lived in the Li Clan for seventy years, and I have long climbed the God Shrine Mountain. I have seen every corner of this mountain... If there is really a so-called Goddess, is she hiding in the water well at the top of the mountain?"

"You're right."

Gu Shen said with a smile, "In a sense, she is indeed in the well."

"..."

The Second Elder looked at Gu Shen seriously, the smile on his face disappearing little by little.

He stopped talking.

The Second Elder suddenly felt very sympathetic to the young man in front of him.

He shook his head and said pitifully, "So... your brain is broken."

Gu Shen just smiled.

After the Second Elder finished speaking, he didn't bother to waste any more time with Gu Shen, waved his hand, and left with the two Elders... The purpose of this trip had been achieved. Regarding the [Lantern Seeking] project, the God Shrine Mountain had given a reply that could be called a "pleasant surprise."

The antique lanterns that the Li Clan had spent a lot of money to bring back were related to the God Embryo.

Six hundred years!

No one had seen the shadow of the God Embryo!

A few broken lanterns could hatch a God Embryo?

This was simply the biggest joke that the Second Elder... had heard in his seventy years of life.

There was no other.