Three days of preparation was neither too long nor too short, but it was enough.
Gu Chengming compiled a list: pills, talismans, spirit stones, dry rations, backup artifacts, wound medicine, detoxification pills, and more; most of these were purchased under the strict guidance of the Red Dust Phantom Step.
With the guidance of his external brain, many areas Gu Chengming hadn't noticed were perfected.
【Red Dust Phantom Step reviewed the list item by item, trembling slightly whenever it encountered something inappropriate to remind him to make changes.】
Looking at the list that had been modified beyond recognition by the Red Dust Phantom Step, Gu Chengming felt that this external brain was indeed quite useful.
Beyond preparing supplies, the daily routine of these three days passed quite comfortably.
When Yu Wenqiu learned he was going to the Tianque Secret Realm, she was curled up on her lounge chair gnawing on a candied apple; her chewing slowed for a moment after hearing the news, and then she unhurriedly spat the core into a dish and brushed the sugar from her hands.
"You're leaving again?"
Yu Wenqiu suddenly felt like a mother whose child had grown too old for her to handle, a sense of melancholy rising in her heart as she asked, "When are you leaving?"
"Three days from now."
Yu Wenqiu gave an 'oh' and said nothing more.
Then she stood up and went into the kitchen, rummaging through cabinets for half an hour before bringing out a plate of golden, crispy fried fish chunks and a jug of warmed osmanthus wine.
"Did you make this yourself, Elder?"
"Why are you asking so much? It won't taste good if it gets cold."
Yu Wenqiu thrust the chopsticks in front of him, while she curled back into her lounge chair with a wine cup, covering her face with a storybook.
Gu Chengming picked up a piece and tasted it; it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the seasoning leaning slightly salty, but the natural freshness of the fish was perfectly locked in.
"It's delicious."
A soft 'hehe' came from behind the storybook, though it was hard to tell if it was from pride or shyness.
That night, the two sat under the osmanthus tree drinking wine; Yu Wenqiu rarely refrained from talking about her storybooks or complaining about this and that, simply popping candied fruits into her mouth occasionally while looking up at the moon.
The orange cat squatted on the stone table, its thick tail swishing back and forth, occasionally reaching out a paw to snag a fish chunk from Yu Wenqiu’s plate, only to be lightly swatted back by her.
...
On the evening of the second day, Yu Wenqiu appeared at Gu Chengming’s door carrying a bundle.
"What is this?"
"Open it and see for yourself."
Inside the bundle was a suit of inner armor; at first glance, it appeared to be a common black form-fitting soft armor, but the moment Gu Chengming touched it, he sensed something was wrong.
This inner armor was extremely light, so light it was almost weightless, but his fingertips could clearly feel the spiritual energy fluctuations within; it could at least block a full-force strike from a Fourth Realm cultivator.
This thing was not cheap.
"Elder, this—"
"Don't overthink it, it's been gathering dust in my storage pouch for many years; it's a waste to just leave it there."
Yu Wenqiu folded her arms across her chest, her gaze drifting elsewhere: "Just wear it underneath, it won't get in the way."
Gu Chengming looked at the inner armor in his hands, his thumb tracing the fine patterns on it.
This thing clearly hadn't been 'gathering dust for many years'—there were several very new lines of stitching at the seams, and the spiritual energy inscriptions had been re-traced, with some spots even showing signs of repeated corrections, obviously having taken a lot of effort to repair and reinforce.
He looked up at Yu Wenqiu; she was pretending to nonchalantly stare at the orange cat in the courtyard, which had collapsed and was panting after chasing a butterfly halfway, yet the tips of her ears were slightly flushed pink.
"Thank you, Elder."
"What's there to thank? Just coming back safely is the greatest thanks you can give."
After saying this, Yu Wenqiu turned and left, her pace slightly faster than usual, as if afraid that staying a moment longer would make her say something she shouldn't.
...
On the morning of the third day, the Night Guard Division sent over the formal transfer documents, along with a roster of the accompanying personnel.
Gu Chengming unfolded the roster at his desk and read through it one by one.
There were a total of nine spots for Daqian in this trip to the Tianque Secret Realm, distributed among three government departments.
The Night Guard Division held three seats; besides Gu Chengming himself, the other two spots were given to a vice commander named Ma Xiao and a senior banner.
Gu Chengming was not unfamiliar with the former; a Fourth Realm veteran cultivator who was usually taciturn, but would always nod in greeting whenever they met.
Gu Chengming had no deep friendship with him but no grievances either.
There were many people like Ma Xiao in the Night Guard Division—they didn't take sides, didn't climb social ladders, and only focused on their work, making them the most hassle-free kind of colleagues.
And the name of that senior banner written on the roster was 'Shen Jinghong.'
Gu Chengming thought about the name for a long time, confirming he had never heard it in any setting within the Night Guard Division.
However, the Night Guard Division had an intelligence department; some personnel who carried out secret missions for long periods were not on the public roster.
While rare, this was not without precedent.
He set it aside for now, deciding to see the person first.
The Imperial Observatory held two seats, which were naturally Xu Huayi and Zhou Hui; it had only been a few days since they parted at the Hehuan Sect, and now they were meeting again.
However, array cultivators were always in high demand when entering secret realms; with ancient arrays and restrictions scattered throughout such places, having someone proficient in the Dao of Arrays was only natural.
It was expected that the Imperial Observatory would send Xu Huayi.
He wondered if this meeting would be as awkward as the last time.
Thinking of Xu Huayi’s behavior at the Hehuan Sect—trying to act calm while being unable to stop herself from stealing glances—Gu Chengming felt a bit strange.
The final four spots belonged to the Daqian Sitian Office.
This was the first time Gu Chengming had seen the name 'Sitian Office' on an official document.
He previously only knew that the Daqian court had three core institutions responsible for cultivator affairs: the Night Guard Division for arrests and crusades, the Imperial Observatory for celestial phenomena and fortune, and the Honglu Temple for foreign diplomacy; but this 'Sitian Office' was not among them.
Gu Chengming flipped through the attached explanatory documents and quickly figured out the details.
The function of the Sitian Office was to survey, evaluate, and manage spiritual veins and secret realm resources both inside and outside Daqian's borders.
To put it bluntly, they were Daqian’s secret realm exploration team, usually tasked with mapping the flow of spiritual veins, assessing the danger levels of secret realms, and planning resource extraction schemes.
Unlike the Night Guard Division’s life on the edge of a blade, the people of the Sitian Office were more like technical bureaucrats carrying rulers and compasses; however, those sent to the Tianque Secret Realm would certainly not be helpless clerks.
Four people were listed on the roster.
The leader was the Sitian Office Vice Envoy, 'Chu Heng,' an elder of the Taihao Gate at the Fourth Realm who specialized in spiritual vein surveying and array decryption.
His assistant was 'Jiang Yun,' also a disciple of the Taihao Gate, at the peak of the Third Realm.
The other two were Tao Yong and Qin Huaiyuan, both at the Third Realm; one was skilled in geomancy, while the other was knowledgeable about secret realm ecology.
After finishing the roster, Gu Chengming closed the document, lost in thought.
On the surface, it was a joint exploration, but in reality, each party had their own intentions.
The Night Guard Division’s goal was to gather intelligence on the secret realm to serve Daqian’s security strategy; the Imperial Observatory wanted ancient array inheritances and celestial data; and the Sitian Office was eyeing spiritual vein resources and extractable mineral deposits.
The three lines would each go their own way, but in the perilous environment of a secret realm, cooperation was inevitable.
The most crucial point was that most of them had sect backgrounds, and it was unclear what Daqian was actually planning.
...
In the afternoon, at the Feidan Ferry in the south of the city.
The weather wasn't great; the wind was somewhat strong, swirling dust into small vortexes on the bluestone ground of the ferry.
Gu Chengming did not arrive very early; a medium-sized flying boat was already docked in the open space of the ferry, its design simple but its array patterns exquisite, with the flags of the Night Guard Division and the Imperial Observatory hanging on either side of the hull.
Beside the boat, several figures were clustered in twos and threes, some checking equipment and others talking in low voices.
Yu Wenqiu stopped at the entrance of the ferry; she had rarely changed into her light purple formal attire today with her hair neatly combed, but at the last moment, she only patted his shoulder.
As soon as Gu Chengming stepped onto the stone stairs of the ferry, someone came forward to meet him.
"Vice Commander Gu."
The speaker was Ma Xiao, the veteran Fourth Realm Vice Commander of the Night Guard Division.
This man was not tall and had a thin face, his features reflecting a steadiness ground out by years of exposure to the elements.
He wore a Night Guard Division uniform with an unremarkable short blade at his waist, looking like a middle-aged bladesman one might see at any roadside tea stall.
But Gu Chengming knew that being 'unremarkable' was a skill in itself; anyone who could reach the Fourth Realm in the Night Guard Division without drawing attention was either truly mediocre or hid their sharpness deeper than anyone else.
Ma Xiao was clearly the latter.
"Vice Commander Ma," Gu Chengming cupped his fists.
The two simply nodded in greeting without much small talk; people of the Night Guard Division were always like this—professional and direct.
Not long after the three from the Night Guard Division met, two familiar figures walked over from the other side of the ferry.
Xu Huayi wore a set of blue-gray activewear today with her long hair tied back and her judge's pen tucked into the pouch at her waist; compared to her appearance at the Hehuan Sect, she looked much more capable now.
Zhou Hui followed behind her.
"Fellow Daoist Gu," Xu Huayi walked closer and smiled brightly, "We meet again."
But Gu Chengming noticed that when she said 'Fellow Daoist Gu,' her speech was a fraction faster than usual.
And her gaze, which seemed to be politely observing him, paused for less than half a breath the moment it swept over his collar.
'Fellow Daoist Xu, your technique for stealing glances has not improved at all.'
"Fellow Daoist Xu, Fellow Daoist Zhou," Gu Chengming returned the greeting, his gaze falling on Zhou Hui, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is coming as well?"
Zhou Hui smiled somewhat bashfully: "Vice Director Song said there are many arrays in the secret realm, so having an extra helper is always good."
Just as the five finished their greetings, another group walked over from the end of the long street to the west of the ferry.
Leading them was a man in indigo official robes, his face dignified with a short beard under his chin, his aura steady and reserved. It was the Sitian Office Vice Envoy, Chu Heng.
Three people followed behind him.
Jiang Yun walked closest to him, a tall young man with handsome features and slightly upturned eyes, giving off an impression of being shrewd yet amiable; an ancient-styled compass hung at his waist, swaying slightly with his steps.
Tao Yong and Qin Huaiyuan walked side by side behind him; the former was honest and taciturn, while the latter was refined and scholarly—both were the type to not stand out in a crowd.
Chu Heng walked up, his gaze scanning Gu Chengming once before he cupped his hands:
"Vice Commander Gu, I have long heard of your great name."
"Vice Envoy Chu," Gu Chengming returned the gesture.
The two briefly exchanged views on the travel arrangements, and the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.
Gu Chengming’s first impression on Chu Heng was 'steady'; he spoke with discretion, acted with order, and was neither overstepping nor sycophantic—a typical technical bureaucrat.
Jiang Yun behind him spoke more, actively starting a conversation about the secret realm’s terrain, clearly a socially adept person.
Tao Yong and Qin Huaiyuan remained quiet in the back, occasionally talking in low voices, their gazes from time to time sweeping over the others present.
Everything seemed normal.
Then the last group arrived at the ferry.
To be precise, Gu Chengming sensed their presence before he saw them.
The Red Dust Technique was lightly nudged as if by something beneath the water’s surface, rippling with a very fine circle of resonance.
Gu Chengming’s gaze shifted over inconspicuously.
Leading them was a middle-aged scholar with a feminine aura, dressed in the dark purple official robes unique to the Honglu Temple, with a jade pendant at his waist and a folding fan in his hand; this man was named Lu Mingzhang, the Registrar of the Protocol Department of the Honglu Temple.
As the government office in charge of Daqian’s foreign diplomacy, the Honglu Temple dealt with envoys from various sects and foreign cultivators daily; to put it bluntly, they were the face of the court.
No one who could reach the position of Registrar in the Honglu Temple was a simple character.
He was followed by two people, a man and a woman.
As the three walked over, Gu Chengming’s Red Dust Technique was passively capturing their emotional fluctuations.
They were calm as water on the surface, but an undercurrent was surging beneath.
That hostility was not intense, let alone overt; it wasn't even quite malice, but rather closer to a condescending scrutiny—like an experienced chess player looking at a somewhat disobedient piece, calculating how to deal with it.
"Vice Commander Gu," Lu Mingzhang walked closer, unhurriedly closing his folding fan and bowing, "I have long admired the name of 'Falling Snow Pass.' Seeing you today, you truly are striking with heroic spirit."
He deliberately used 'Falling Snow Pass' instead of 'Murder Demon,' which was giving plenty of face.
But Gu Chengming noticed that when he said 'striking with heroic spirit,' there was not a hint of admiration in those eyes.
"Registrar Lu is too kind," Gu Chengming cupped his fists in return.
"Since we are going to Tianque together, I hope Vice Commander Gu will look after us," Lu Mingzhang smiled, the folding fan lightly tapping against his palm, his tone friendly.
"Likewise."
The pleasantries ended there, both sides taking a step back to maintain a proper distance.
It wasn't surprising that the people from the Honglu Temple had opinions about him.
Firstly, Gu Chengming’s slaying of the jiao in the East Sea had rendered their years of diplomatic mediation useless, and secondly, there was the conflict of the factions themselves.
A young cultivator from the Wenjian Sect rising to the position of Night Guard Division Vice Commander in just two years and stirring up such waves in the capital was an offense in itself to an office like the Honglu Temple that valued balance and decorum.
Furthermore, there was inherent friction between the functions of the Night Guard Division and the Honglu Temple; one was in charge of killing while the other was in charge of negotiating, and disputes over jurisdiction often occurred when dealing with foreign cases.
Zhou Qingmu’s assertiveness had already left the Honglu Temple full of resentment.
And now another Gu Chengming had appeared.
However, everyone performed their surface roles well, with appropriate smiles and wording, keeping everything within the rules.
As for things outside the rules, they would wait until they entered the secret realm.
...
With this, eight of the nine people had arrived.
But the Night Guard Division had three spots, meaning one colleague had yet to show up.
Gu Chengming looked at the roster again; the senior banner named 'Shen Jinghong' had still not appeared at the ferry.
He looked up at the sky; it was not far from the agreed departure time, and Ma Xiao seemed to have noticed this as well, frowning slightly but not speaking up to urge.
Everyone in the Night Guard Division shared a consensus—tardiness was impossible under Zhou Qingmu.
Since the person hadn't arrived, it meant they either had a valid reason or were deliberately cutting it close.
Just then, footsteps finally sounded on the stone stairs to the east of the ferry; the newcomer was alone, their pace neither hurried nor slow, exuding a casual and unconstrained grace.
Gu Chengming turned to look.
He saw a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old ascending the stone stairs. She wore the black patrol uniform of the Night Guard Division with a short blade at her waist.
Her face was clean but not particularly outstanding, her features only being described as pleasant—the type that wouldn't be looked at twice in a crowd.
Her long hair was casually tied in a low ponytail, with a few stray strands drifting lightly in the morning breeze.
Her aura was at the Third Realm—a steady middle-stage Third Realm.
Gu Chengming frowned slightly.
Middle-stage Third Realm, a female cultivator, with the rank of senior banner... who was this?
He went through everyone in the Night Guard Division in his mind—those on the public roster, those mentioned in the secret archives, even those he had only caught a glimpse of in the hallways—but he had no impression of her.
Gu Chengming was puzzled, but he didn't show it on his face.
The newcomer clearly noticed everyone’s gaze, but far from being nervous, she walked toward the group with a bright smile.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting! I was delayed a bit on the way, a step late, a step late!"
Her voice was clear and crisp, completely different from the usual grim or silent colleagues of the Night Guard Division.
As she spoke, she had already reached the group and pulled out a Night Guard Division token to show them.
"Night Guard Division Senior Banner, Shen Jinghong, greetings to everyone."
"I was previously out on a mission, so I'm not very familiar with my colleagues in the office," as if seeing through Gu Chengming’s confusion, Shen Jinghong took the initiative to explain before walking toward the group.
She first cupped her hands to Chu Heng, then exchanged a few words with Lu Mingzhang, and also nodded to Xu Huayi.
She took care of everyone, handling the distance perfectly—neither too distant nor overly familiar.
After a full round, she finally turned to Gu Chengming.
"This must be Vice Commander Gu, right?" Shen Jinghong walked up to him with a smile, her gaze frank and without any evasion.
She was nearly half a head shorter than Gu Chengming; as she looked up at him, those seemingly ordinary eyes held a few hints of sincere admiration.
"I’ve long heard of Vice Commander Gu’s great name; the slaying of demons in the northern border, the purging of evil in the capital—which of those wasn't a magnificent feat that earned applause? On this trip together, I hope Vice Commander Gu will look after me."
Her tone was sincere and open as she spoke, without any of the fawning usually seen when subordinates faced superiors; instead, it carried the uprightness of an equal exchange.
From the surface, she was a cheerful and socially adept young female cultivator; aside from her unclear background, there were no issues to be found.
However, the moment she walked within three steps of Gu Chengming.
The 《Red Dust Phantom Step》 within him suddenly trembled slightly.
A blade intent was hidden beneath that peaceful smile—that was not something a Third Realm cultivator should possess.
If it were anyone else, even a Fourth Realm cultivator might not have seen through the disguise.
Gu Chengming’s expression didn't change a bit as he smiled and reached out to lightly shake Shen Jinghong’s hand.
"Well said. Since Senior Banner Shen is a colleague from the Night Guard Division, we will naturally look out for each other from now on."
Shen Jinghong nodded in satisfaction, her smile brilliant.
She clearly didn't realize she had already been seen through. Or perhaps—even if she were found out, she didn't care much.
Gu Chengming smiled and let go of her hand, turning around and taking two steps away as he realized the person before him was none other than Zhou Qingmu.
'Didn't you just recover from your injuries? What kind of act is this?!'
'If those censors in the court found out about this, the memorials against you would pile up from the capital all the way to the northern border.'
The "Senior Banner Shen" before him had her eyes curved into crescents from smiling, perfectly playing the part of a newcomer who couldn't contain her excitement upon meeting her idol.
She even went as far as to lean in half a step closer, her shoulder almost touching Gu Chengming’s sleeve; this level of familiarity was truly acted out to the core.
Gu Chengming quietly took half a step back, leaving an appropriate social distance between them.
"Since Fellow Daoist Shen was personally sent by Director Zhou, she must have extraordinary qualities." Gu Chengming’s tone was steady as his gaze fell on the short blade at her waist: "This journey is perilous; we will have to rely on the blade in your hand, Fellow Daoist Shen."
Hearing this, Shen Jinghong reached out and patted her scabbard, producing a crisp sound.
"Of course," she replied with a smile, "If we encounter a strong enemy, I will certainly stand in front of Vice Commander Gu."
'You said it yourself, don't go back on your word when the time comes.'
Gu Chengming made a silent comment in his heart and then put the matter aside for the time being.
With so many people around, now was not the time to ask questions; moreover, given Zhou Qingmu’s personality, since she chose to hide her identity, she must have her reasons.
Forcing a reveal would bring nothing but embarrassment.
Besides, having a Fifth Realm great cultivator secretly protecting them was certainly not a bad thing.
...
The Feidan flying boat docked at the ferry was already prepared to depart, its deck spacious enough to accommodate everyone on this trip.
Lu Mingzhang of the Honglu Temple was the first to move; he lightly swayed his folding fan as he walked up the gangway with a composed step, his gaze not lingering as he passed Gu Chengming, merely nodding slightly to the air as a greeting.
The man and woman following behind him were equally focused, following closely.
"The people of the Honglu Temple are as arrogant as ever."
A whisper came from his ear; Gu Chengming glanced sideways to see that Xu Huayi had walked up to his side at some point.
She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of warning: "Fellow Daoist Gu, be careful; that Registrar Lu is a well-known smiling tiger."
After saying this, she led Zhou Hui onto the boat; Gu Chengming stood in place, his gaze sweeping over the people boarding one after another.
Chu Heng of the Sitian Office was talking in a low voice with Jiang Yun beside him, both looking serious as they held compasses to measure positions, clearly having entered work mode. Tao Yong and Qin Huaiyuan were silently moving several boxes of heavy surveying equipment, their movements steady and powerful.
Finally, there was Ma Xiao; this taciturn old bladesman cupped his fists to Gu Chengming before finding a corner to lean against with his blade, closing his eyes to rest.
Gu Chengming withdrew his gaze and stepped onto the deck.
...
The Feidan flying boat slowly ascended, its array stirring up layers of spiritual energy ripples that blocked out the high-altitude gales.
The outline of the capital gradually shrank in his vision until it turned into squares the size of a chessboard.
Gu Chengming vaguely saw a small figure still standing at the ferry entrance—a light purple dress fluttering slightly in the wind.
He didn't look closely, turning to walk to the other side of the deck.
...
The deck was calm.
Gu Chengming found a quiet spot by the railing and stood still, watching the sea of clouds racing past below.
"Fellow Daoist Gu."
A gentle voice came from behind and to the side.
Gu Chengming turned to see Jiang Yun of the Sitian Office walking over with a smile, carrying two cups of hot tea.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang."
Gu Chengming didn't reach out to take it, merely nodding slightly.
Jiang Yun wasn't embarrassed, naturally placing one of the cups on the railing while holding the other, standing side by side with Gu Chengming.
"I have long admired Director Zhou," Jiang Yun went straight to the point, his tone sincere, "I heard that the Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art practiced by Fellow Daoist Gu is of great benefit to array deduction; I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu could offer some guidance?"
Gu Chengming glanced at him.
People from the Sitian Office truly never left their professional field in their conversation.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang overpraises me," Gu Chengming replied casually, "The Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art focuses on self-cultivation; it probably won't be of much help to the Dao of Arrays. If we're talking about arrays, Fellow Daoist Xu from the Imperial Observatory is the expert."
"Fellow Daoist Xu is naturally a master," Jiang Yun sighed, his gaze shifting to Xu Huayi, who was not far away checking blueprints with Zhou Hui, "It's just that Fellow Daoist Xu has a cold personality; I've tried to ask for advice several times but couldn't even get through the door. On the other hand, Fellow Daoist Gu looks amiable, which is why I’ve come to trouble you."
Saying this, he took a jade slip from his sleeve and lightly placed it beside the teacup.
"These are some insights regarding the flow of spiritual veins circulated within the Sitian Office; although it’s not some peerless manual, it would be convenient for you to use it for dragon-seeking and point-finding when you travel the jianghu in the future."
Jiang Yun smiled as warm as a spring breeze: "Shall we consider this a meeting gift and become friends?"
Gu Chengming’s gaze swept over the jade slip.
Offering kindness for no reason.
However, he did not refuse, nor did he immediately agree, merely reaching out to pick up the teacup, his fingertips lightly stroking the cup’s rim.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang is too polite; since it’s a gift from you, I will accept it."
"Then in the secret realm, I hope Fellow Daoist Gu will look after me."
"Naturally," Gu Chengming nodded, "Since we are on the same boat, we are travelers on the same path; if you have any difficulties, Fellow Daoist Jiang, just speak up."
Jiang Yun left in satisfaction; Gu Chengming watched his back and casually put the jade slip into his storage pouch without checking it.
He could take the item and remember the favor, but as for whether this 'Fellow Daoist' was sincere or just a formality, time would tell.
【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 frowned slightly: This person has formed a good bond with just a few words; he has good methods. However, his purpose may not be simple; it is recommended that Fellow Daoist Gu keep his distance.】
Gu Chengming nodded, deeply agreeing.
...
The Feidan flying boat traveled at full speed toward the extreme north; as the latitude increased, the temperature dropped sharply, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from lush plains to grayish-brown barrens, and then from barrens to white, frozen earth.
The wind grew stronger, and as the Feidan flying boat passed through a thick nimbostratus cloud, the hull trembled slightly.
"Everyone be careful!" Chu Heng’s shout came from the bow: "Thunderstorm turbulence ahead!"
Before his voice faded, a purple lightning bolt as thick as a water bucket tore through the clouds, heading straight for the Feidan flying boat.
Boom—!
The protective array shone brightly, forcefully tanking the lightning, but the violent impact still caused everyone on deck to lose their footing.
"Position qian 3, shift to kun 6!"
The compass in Chu Heng’s hand spun rapidly as he shouted instructions: "Jiang Yun, stabilize the array foundation! Tao Yong, go check the spirit stone reserves!"
The people from the Sitian Office reacted extremely quickly, immediately taking their positions. They were indeed a professional team that dealt with secret realms year-round; their emergency procedures were even more efficient than those of the Night Guard Division.
"Fellow Daoist Gu!" In the chaos, Xu Huayi shouted: "There's a gap in the right side of the hull; thunder spiritual energy is seeping in!"
Gu Chengming’s figure flashed, appearing at the right hull in an instant.
Sure enough, the protective light screen had a thin crack here, and strands of purple electric arcs were snaking in like venomous serpents, striking charred marks onto the deck.
Just as he was about to draw his sword, a figure was even faster than him.
Shen Jinghong’s short blade left its scabbard, bringing a streak of sharp blade light.
That blade light didn't strike the lightning; instead, it precisely cut into the crack in the light screen. Spiritual energy flowed on the blade, actually guiding the thunder spiritual energy back in an extremely clever way, instantly sealing the gap.
The sophistication of the technique and the accuracy of the judgment were far beyond what a Third Realm senior banner should possess.
Gu Chengming saw it all but did not point it out.
"Excellent blade technique," he merely praised.
Shen Jinghong sheathed her blade, wiped the rain from her face, and grinned at Gu Chengming: "You overpraise me, Fellow Daoist Gu; it was just a trivial trick."
'Director, your acting is a bit too realistic.'
Gu Chengming made a snarky comment in his heart while nodding in approval.
The crisis was temporarily averted.
The Feidan flying boat broke out of the thunderstorm zone and stabilized once more. Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Shen for acting in time," Jiang Yun walked over and cupped his hands to Shen Jinghong in thanks, "If not for that strike from Fellow Daoist Shen, this flying boat would have probably suffered significant damage."
Shen Jinghong waved her hand: "We're all in the same boat; it was only right."
"Indeed," Chu Heng also walked over; he looked around, his gaze sweeping over Gu Chengming, Shen Jinghong, Xu Huayi, and the others, rarely offering a sentiment:
"It seems that when traveling the jianghu, if one wants everything to go smoothly, one must rely on these two words—'Fellow Daoist.'"
As his voice fell, just as Gu Chengming was about to echo his words, a pop-up window suddenly appeared before him.
【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 watched this scene, lost in thought.】
【《Red Dust Phantom Step》 has entered a state of enlightenment.】
"?"
Gu Chengming was somewhat stunned.
'You can even gain enlightenment from this?!'
Gu Chengming didn't ask further, keeping this anomaly in mind for the time being.
Although the Red Dust Phantom Step didn't speak much, it was always reliable.
As for what it had enlightened—he would wait until it figured it out itself.
...
After the thunderstorm, the Feidan flying boat entered a relatively stable flight path.
Below was an endless frozen plain, with a few winding ice rivers visible on the grayish-white land, reflecting a cold light under the sunset’s glow.
Everyone found a place to rest.
Chu Heng and Jiang Yun were in the cabin studying the map, their low-voiced discussions drifting out from time to time. Tao Yong and Qin Huaiyuan were repairing the surveying equipment damaged in the thunderstorm, their movements careful and silent. Lu Mingzhang of the Honglu Temple occupied a corner of the cabin, leaning against a cushion with his eyes closed to rest, his folding fan resting on his knees; his two followers stood on either side of the door, keeping everyone at a distance.
Xu Huayi and Zhou Hui were squatting on the deck repairing the gaps in the protective array; the judge's pen in Xu Huayi’s hand was sketching runes in the air, while Zhou Hui was lying beside her handing over materials, doing exactly as his senior sister said in a seamless cooperation.
Ma Xiao was still in a corner with his eyes closed, having said no more than ten words since boarding.
As for Zhou Qingmu, she was sitting cross-legged under the mast, having somehow produced a handful of melon seeds and was enjoying the view with great interest.
Gu Chengming leaned against the railing, playing with the sachet Yu Wenqiu had stuffed into his hands before he left; it had been placed in the bundle along with the inner armor, with dense stitching and filled with osmanthus and calming herbs, giving off a faint fragrance.
The sky gradually darkened; the night in the extreme north arrived earlier and grew cold faster than anywhere else.
Several spirit stone lamps were lit on the Feidan flying boat, their warm yellow light appearing exceptionally weak in the frigid air.
One by one, everyone returned to the cabin to rest, leaving only Chu Heng on duty at the helm.
Gu Chengming also returned to his cabin, sitting cross-legged on his bunk and closing his eyes to operate the 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》 to clear his meridians.
Noble upright qi slowly flowed through his body, washing away the slight impurities he had picked up during the day.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Perhaps half an hour, perhaps an hour.
Gu Chengming’s consciousness was immersed in the gentle-as-jade upright qi of the Zhou Rites, his thoughts gradually becoming empty.
It was then that a semi-transparent frame floated into the center of Gu Chengming’s vision.
【Red Dust Phantom Step — CG Unlocked】
【「Daoist Connection」】
Gu Chengming was stunned.
'Daoist Connection? What a shitty name.'
【When someone identifies with their relationship as a "Daoist friend" with you from the bottom of their heart, you obtain one layer of "Daoist Karma."】
【Daoist Karma: Depending on the depth of the Daoist Karma, you may choose to—】
【1. Obtain an opportunity that originally belonged to the other party.】
【2. Regardless of time or place, retreat behind the Daoist friend.】
(This effect is invalid against a mature woman in palace dress)
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