Spirit Pearl, Get Lost, Understand

In the second trial ground.

This place brimmed with vitality—ancient trees stood lush and verdant, while thick vines coiled around the mountains like giant dragons.

Though teeming with life, it was also fraught with peril, as terrifying innate Wood Fiend Qi permeated the surroundings.

"So that's how it is." Gu Qingfeng strolled leisurely through the ancient forest, a faint smile playing on his lips as he toyed with the Wood Spirit Pearl in his hand.

He had just deciphered the message hidden within the pearl.

[This man possesses an immortal weapon capable of devouring the innate Five Elements Fiend Qi, which can help us break free from the Innate Five Elements Spirit-Binding Array. Fellow brethren, our day of liberation is at hand. Please assist him in secret.]

Gu Qingfeng had previously mastered the Sealing Heaven Forbidden Art, making him an absolute grandmaster in the ways of arrays and seals. Even though the formations of the Eternal True Realm were unfamiliar and far more profound, some fundamental principles remained unchanged.

After piecing everything together, he fully understood the truth behind the Taiyi Secret Realm.

Within the Taiyi Secret Realm, there must exist five spirit creatures like Mu Yi, each representing one of the innate Five Fiends.

They were the very source of the secret realm's power.

The Taiyi True Immortal was also a genius in array formations. By leveraging the cycle of mutual generation and restraint among the Five Elements, he not only stole the power of Mu Yi and the others but also used their own strength to imprison them.

This was why Mu Yi, a being of wood, had been trapped in the first trial ground—the domain of Metal Fiend Qi.

Because metal restrains wood, wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, and fire restrains metal!

No wonder they wanted this emperor to absorb the Five Elements Fiend Qi in the secret realm—they were trying to break free. Why didn’t they just say so earlier? Hiding and scheming like this, tsk tsk. We’re all family here, no need to be so formal.

Gu Qingfeng mused silently.

At that moment, a rustling sound emerged from the nearby trees, like snakes slithering through the undergrowth.

Suddenly—

Tens of thousands of thick vines, as massive as pythons, lashed out viciously toward Gu Qingfeng’s back.

Gu Qingfeng didn’t even turn his head, too engrossed in studying the Five Elements array of the Taiyi Secret Realm. The countless vines pierced through him effortlessly.

However, dull thuds echoed as all the attacking vines shattered into fragments, as if struck by some terrifying counterforce.

Tap, tap, tap...

Gu Qingfeng continued walking forward without so much as a glance backward.

Meanwhile, other trial-takers began entering the second trial ground. Like Gu Qingfeng, the moment they stepped in, they found themselves in a "living" primordial forest—where flowers, grass, trees, and even mushrooms had come to life, attacking every intruder with frenzy.

But unlike Gu Qingfeng, these people lacked his overwhelming strength. The stronger ones struggled to hold their ground, while the weaker ones could barely protect themselves.

Soon, agonized screams rang out.

Some were strangled by python-like vines, others devoured by towering carnivorous flowers, and a few who carelessly stepped on patches of vibrant greenery were instantly dissolved.

The once serene and picturesque forest had transformed into a slaughterhouse in the blink of an eye.

Hearing the screams, Gu Qingfeng snapped out of his contemplation on the array.

"People have arrived? That won’t do. This emperor must start collecting the innate Wood Fiend Qi before others snatch the treasures."

Abruptly, he took out the Innate Five Fiends Gourd and channeled trillions of years’ worth of mana into it. The gourd trembled violently, as if on the verge of exploding like an overworked engine.

Whoosh!

An endless torrent of innate Wood Fiend Qi surged into the gourd like a raging river reversing its flow.

The ancient trees and vines formed from the Wood Fiend Qi crumbled into dust.

The entire forest, as if made of flour, disintegrated at the slightest breath of a deity—collapsing in waves like pages of a book being flipped.

Those who had been ensnared by vines or half-devoured by carnivorous flowers suddenly found themselves freed as the plants dissolved back into Wood Fiend Qi and vanished.

"What just happened?!"

"I know! It must be that trial-taker from Princess Wan’s faction again! Damn it! He’s stealing my opportunities once more!"

"Not necessarily, fellow Daoist. I clearly saw you half-swallowed by that carnivorous flower earlier. If not for Princess Wan’s trial-taker, you’d already be digested by now. Isn’t this a life-saving grace? Instead of gratitude, you’re blaming him for taking your so-called opportunity?"

"Nonsense! I’ve always been clear about debts—favor is favor, grudge is grudge. A life saved and a robbery committed are two separate matters. How can they be conflated? Yes, I’m grateful he saved me, but does that mean I can’t seek revenge?"

Among the crowd, Chu Fengyang’s eyes darkened. From the moment he entered the secret realm until now, he had gained nothing—a first in his life.

In his journey of cultivation, when had he ever suffered such a loss?

Sometimes, loss wasn’t just about what you gave up—it was also about what you failed to gain.

For Chu Fengyang, this was unacceptable.

"If you insist on acting so tyrannically, then don’t blame me for being ruthless," Chu Fengyang muttered grimly.

He had promised Shangguan Qing that he would obtain the inheritance.

Chu Fengyang was a man of his word—once spoken, it was set in stone! If he said he would claim the inheritance, then he would, and anyone in his way would die!

Even if both of them ultimately sought the inheritance for Shangguan Wan’er’s sake, it had to be given by his own hands!

What’s mine is mine. If I give it to you, it’s yours. If I don’t, you can’t take it!

......

At the border of the second trial ground.

A white-haired old man suddenly emerged from the void. His murky eyes gleamed with a sharp light as they landed on the Wood Spirit Pearl in Gu Qingfeng’s hand.

"Young man, this old one is Tu Fang. You—"

"Shut it, old fart. Mu Yi already told this emperor everything. Hand over the trial reward, then scram."

Tu Fang: "..."

A flicker of anger crossed the old man’s face. He was about to rebuke, "Young man, you—"

"You what you? One more word, and this emperor will pour all the innate Wood Fiend Qi back out. Believe me?"

"I—!"

"I what I? Apologize to this emperor right now. Say you were wrong." Gu Qingfeng uncorked the gourd, releasing a flood of Wood Fiend Qi like a collapsing dam.

Tu Fang’s face paled in terror. He frantically waved his hands. "This old one was wrong! Please, take back your divine power!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly produced an Earth Spirit Pearl and handed it to Gu Qingfeng.

Only then did Gu Qingfeng relent, sucking the Wood Fiend Qi back into the gourd. He shot Tu Fang a disdainful glance.

"See? Was that so hard? No need to act all high and mighty just because you’re old. Get out of the way—don’t block my path."

With that, he swaggered off toward the next trial ground without another glance.

Left behind, Tu Fang trembled with rage, hopping mad on the spot.

Without delay, Gu Qingfeng entered the third trial ground—the domain of Water Fiend Qi—and immediately unleashed the gourd, draining the area dry in moments.

Then, a young man clad in fiery robes materialized from the void.

"You—"

"Hand over the Fire Spirit Pearl, then get lost."

The fiery youth exploded in fury. "You—!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Moments later...

Gu Qingfeng left contentedly with the Fire Spirit Pearl in hand, leaving behind a barely recognizable, charred lump of a man.

Then came the fourth trial—the Land of Fire Malice.

Once again, the same routine: he absorbed all the innate fire malice energy and encountered the golden malice spirit.

"Pearl Spirit, scram. Got it?"