Gu Changge's Steadiness

After doing this, he still felt it wasn't enough.

Sinking his mind into the system space, he began to pull things out. First was a thick stack of radiant, flowing talismans—Death Substitution Puppet Talismans.

Each one was enough to block a fatal tribulation for him.

He skillfully branded a wisp of his divine sense onto each talisman to ensure there would be absolutely no delay when triggered.

Then came several ancient jade pendants—Void Anchoring Talismans. Once activated, no matter where he was, they could instantly tear through the void and return him to the preset coordinates of Purple Bamboo Peak.

Next were several shuttle-shaped magical treasures emitting spatial fluctuations—Nine Heavens Realm Evasion Shuttles. Designed specifically for fleeing, their speed was comparable to immortal light.

Still feeling uneasy, he pulled out a small tower exuding a profound and heavy Xuanhuang aura—the Xuanhuang Exquisite Tower—keeping it ready to activate at a moment's notice.

"Ding! Host..."

The system's voice seemed to carry a trace of speechlessness.

"According to analysis, the target's strength is at the True Immortal Realm. With the host's current combat power and cultivation reserves, the success rate of crushing him is 100 percent. There is no need to be this cautious."

"What if?"

Gu Changge naturally responded in his mind while continuing to inventory various life-saving, escaping, and defensive immortal treasures.

"What if he hid his strength? What if he has some one-time-use ultimate killing weapon? What if, right before he dies, he summons his father who happens to be an Immortal King? What if there's a terrifying trap outside? What if I have bad luck and slip? It's never wrong to play it safe."

System: "..."

Outside the chaos, inside the Bronze Immortal Hall.

The immortal's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

Through the immortal hall's light screen, he could vaguely see some of the actions of the white-clad figure in the Xuanhuang Realm.

He saw the other party first force out essence blood, then pull out a massive pile of talismans and magical treasures, busily inventorying them and branding them with divine sense...

What... is he doing?

Bleeding himself right before a battle? And then packing his luggage?

For the first time, an emotion called confusion appeared on this person's cold face.

This was completely different from what he had anticipated—that the other party would either be waiting in full array, panicking, or attempting to communicate.

This baffling behavior gave him the awkward feeling of punching empty air, and he even faintly wondered if there was something wrong with the other party's brain.

However, as the white-clad figure activated the glowing talismans, jade pendants, and shuttle-shaped magical treasures one by one, the confusion in his eyes gradually dissipated, turning into the mockery and disdain of someone who had seen through the truth.

He understood now. This guy was preparing an escape route!

"On the eve of battle, instead of condensing your battle intent and forging ahead with determination, you actually focus your mind on figuring out how to flee and save your life? So timid and cowardly like a mouse, do you even deserve to cultivate? Do you dare provoke the might of an immortal?"

Unconcealed contempt surfaced on his cold face. The slight wariness he felt earlier because the formation was broken had now vanished into thin air.

"It seems this immortal overestimated you. Being able to break the formation was perhaps just relying on some unknown strange treasure or secret technique. Your disposition is ultimately that of a lower realm mortal, useless for great things! Being so overly cautious means your Dao heart is stagnant, and your future is limited!"

That little bit of wariness in his heart was completely gone, replaced by a condescending sense of superiority, like watching an ant struggle.

"Playing tricks to mystify things only adds to the joke!"

He coldly snorted. Immortal flames began to condense around him, and his killing intent locked onto the Xuanhuang Great World like something tangible.

"Once this immortal captures you, searches your soul, and refines your spirit, everything will become clear! I will let you know just how laughable the petty tricks of you mortals are in the face of true immortal majesty!"

Meanwhile, inside the Xuanhuang Realm, Gu Changge was completely oblivious to the gaze cast from across space, which had shifted from confusion to mockery.

To the side, Little White widened its glass-like dragon eyes, watching its master first force out a few drops of golden-radiant natal essence blood and hide them away.

Then, like performing a magic trick, he pulled out a pile of shining talismans, jade pendants, small shuttles, and a small tower that looked extremely heavy...

Bustling about, his focused demeanor was a good thirty percent more meticulous than when it had built its dragon nest back in the day.

Only one thought spun in Little White's mind: "Is this still my supreme exalted master who shatters stars with a flick of his finger and makes myriad Daos bow with a single thought?"

"So even someone as invincible as the Exalted One has to find an escape route before a fight?!"

"I've learned something! So this is the true mindset of an expert! I used to think sweeping through everything was invincibility, but now it seems that carving the word 'steady' into your very bones is what makes a true big shot!"

The little white dragon instantly felt its realm of dragon life elevate. It frantically took notes in its heart and decided that in the future, at the slightest sign of trouble, it would definitely dig three hundred hiding holes first!

Having witnessed more of Gu Changge's steady style, Little Black's dark bird eyes also grew rounder and rounder. Its beak slightly parted, and the expression on its face gradually changed from "just as expected" to absolute dumbfoundedness.

"I know you're steady, but isn't this a bit too steady?"

Little Black couldn't help but mutter in its heart, revealing an extremely bizarre expression on its bird face—wanting to complain but not daring to.

Right at this moment, Gu Changge just finished checking the final procedure. He let out a satisfied sigh of relief, raised his eyes, and happened to catch a glimpse of Little Black's weird bird face, looking like it wanted to laugh but was holding it back.

Thump!

Gu Changge flicked his finger, lightly tapping Little Black's forehead from a distance, producing a crisp sound.

"Ouch!"

Little Black subconsciously covered its head with its wings.

"You little bird, what do you know?" Gu Changge glanced at it.

"The struggle for the Great Dao is fraught with danger. Preparing an extra hand means gaining an extra sliver of survival. It's never wrong to be a bit steady."

Holding its head, Little Black frantically complained in its heart: "A bit steady? How is this a bit steady! This is clearly a billion bits steady!"

It couldn't help but recall the days it followed Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu outside. Back then, it felt that Xiao Ruobai, who planned everything before acting and always held back seventy percent of her strength, was already a very cautious and steady person.

But now, it suddenly felt that Xiao Ruobai's level of steadiness, compared to Gu Changge's ultimate realm of considering defeat before fighting and digging a grave (preparing a respawn point for himself) before even leaving the house, was simply as naive as a reckless youth!

Little Black's beak couldn't help but twitch.

"To think I was actually worried earlier that Master would suffer a loss facing such a formidable enemy..."

Little Black rubbed its head with its wing, feeling completely numb inside.

"My worry was truly completely unnecessary! The one who should be worried is that unlucky bastard on the other side!"

"Sure enough, a master is a master. Your journeys are still long!"

Little Black shook its head inwardly, casting deep sympathy toward the future cultivation paths of Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu.

Gu Changge naturally didn't know about the rich inner drama playing out in Little Black's mind. Feeling the layers upon layers of activated invisible protections and backup plans surrounding him, a sense of absolute security and readiness filled his heart.

"Mm, that should be about it."

He gave a slight nod.

He felt that his safety factor had finally reached a barely passing level.

Only then did he nod in satisfaction, turning his gaze once again beyond the world barrier, where the icy killing intent was reconsolidating.

"Alright, now I can go and take care of that nuisance. You two wait for me here."

Without waiting for Little Black and Little White to react, Gu Changge took a single step past the barrier of the Xuanhuang Great World, stepping into the cold, deathly still chaotic void.

Almost the very instant his figure materialized, he unhesitatingly issued a command to the system in his mind.

"System, upgrade! Breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm immediately!"

"Ding! Command confirmed. Consuming ten years of pure cultivation base. Initiating breakthrough..."