FIMA Ch164: The Great Treasure

The test in the seventh palace involved learning a method of soul attack.

Complementing the illusion test from the sixth palace, those who could quickly wake up from illusions generally had strong spirits and souls. Such individuals were naturally best suited for learning soul techniques.

In this regard, Gu Siyuan had an innate advantage.

Soon, half a day passed.

He opened his eyes and said to Xie Xueyi, “I suspect that the next palace might involve learning various immortal arts. You haven’t been exposed to them, so it might be difficult for you to pass. This method of soul cultivation is extremely rare, so you should stay here and continue learning. I’ll go to the next level to check the situation.”

Xie Xueyi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Alright.”

The seventh test allowed for seven days, which was enough time for him to grasp the basics of the soul attack method on this wall.

However, even though he said so, when Gu Siyuan stood up, Xie Xueyi still clung to his sleeve, “Brother…”

Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow and bent down to kiss his forehead lightly, “I’ll be back soon.”

Xie Xueyi didn’t notice any problem with this statement, nodded, and reluctantly let go of the sleeve.

Watching Gu Siyuan’s figure disappear behind the wall, he then refocused on his learning.

But Gu Siyuan’s promise to return soon took longer than expected.

Three days later, Xie Xueyi was staring wide-eyed at Ji Jinghuan, who had just entered the sixth palace.

“You passed the first six levels, not bad.”

Ji Jinghuan, seeing that he was alone, asked begrudgingly, “Where is Gu Siyuan? Has he gone to the next level?”

Xie Xueyi smiled proudly, “Of course, my brother is a genius, he’s way ahead of you.”

Ji Jinghuan squinted his eyes, “Xueyi, when we first started, I was the one who brought you in. We were friends then, so why did you later get involved with Gu Siyuan? Is it just because he saved you?”

Xie Xueyi shook his head, “Not exactly.”

Ji Jinghuan looked at him, “Then why…”

Xie Xueyi laughed, “Because I’m shallow and prioritize looks. Gu Siyuan is so handsome, I fell for him at first sight.”

Gu Siyuan, handsome?

That cold and stern person, like an iceberg, could be described as handsome?

Ji Jinghuan was stunned.

Honestly, when he first met Xie Xueyi, he thought Xie Xueyi liked him.

Because Xie Xueyi would often stare at him for no reason. If not for admiration, what else could it be…

However, after the incident in the forest, everything seemed to change.

Xie Xueyi later joined Qingchen Mountain after entering the sect, but Ji Jinghuan didn’t mind much, as they were only acquaintances at that time, and he was already exhausted by Ruan Li and Xiao Xinzhi.

But Gu Siyuan’s rise was humiliating for him, almost stepping on him at every turn.

He always felt that things shouldn’t have been this way…

Just then, a flash of white light appeared, and Gu Siyuan suddenly emerged in the hall.

Xie Xueyi leaped over in surprise, “Brother, you’re back.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “As promised.”

Ji Jinghuan, seeing him, first felt guilty, then was shocked to the extreme, “You came back from the other side… how is that possible?”

According to the legends, the tests in the Ancient Immortal City had no way back.

With a total of nine great halls, one could only pass through them sequentially.

Furthermore, each test had a set minimum time. Passing it allowed moving to the next hall; failing meant being expelled from the ancient city once the time was up, with no second chance to enter. Of course, one could choose to give up, and the ancient city would send them out immediately.

But no matter what, this was a one-way path.

How could Gu Siyuan come back?

Gu Siyuan didn’t answer his question, instead drawing his sword and laughing coldly, “After hiding for a few days, you finally come to die.”

Ji Jinghuan’s face changed dramatically. He gave Gu Siyuan a hateful look before his figure flickered, using a secret token to forcibly exit the ancient city.

Xie Xueyi blinked, “He ran really fast. He just got here and left. Coming to the seventh palace was a waste, such a big loss.”

Gu Siyuan’s eyebrows lifted slightly, “Indeed fast. Actually, in the Ancient Immortal City, one can’t attack at will. All attacks would be absorbed by the city. But I didn’t expect him to be so afraid of me.”

Xie Xueyi, listening to his gloating tone, rolled his eyes, “You scared him on purpose. Seeing you able to come back, he feared you could attack too, so he didn’t hesitate to escape.”

Gu Siyuan smiled but said nothing.

Someone like Ji Jinghuan didn’t deserve the rewards here, especially not the method of soul attack.

Xie Xueyi asked curiously, “Speaking of which, brother, how could you come back? Isn’t it a one-way path or an exit?”

Gu Siyuan replied calmly, “I passed all the tests of the ancient city and gained a small privilege. Let’s go out first. I’ve learned the soul method and will teach you personally outside.”

Xie Xueyi’s eyes lit up, “Alright, alright.”

He wasn’t someone who enjoyed cultivating diligently.

Moreover, ever since entering these palaces, he’d been comprehending and cultivating intensely every day, which he was long tired of.

The power of teleportation enveloped them.

The two appeared in a lush forest, with Xie Xueyi sensing the obviously thinner spiritual energy around.

He looked at Gu Siyuan in surprise, “We’re not in the secret realm anymore? We came straight out? Is entering and leaving the secret realm freely part of your small privilege for passing all tests?”

“Yes,” Gu Siyuan nodded, holding his hand, “Now let’s return to the sect.”

Xie Xueyi looked up at him, “Brother, the secret realm has abundant spiritual energy. Isn’t it better to cultivate there? Why are we in such a hurry to leave? It’s only ten days until the secret realm closes, why not leave with everyone else? Disappearing suddenly like this will attract a lot of attention…”

Gu Siyuan said calmly, “I killed Deng Huan and Zhu Buming. When the secret realm opens, the Nascent Soul elders from Hehuan Sect and Lianxi Sect accompanying them will likely go mad. But now that I have disappeared as well, there will be nothing left to say. Can they seek vengeance from a dead man?”

Xie Xueyi immediately understood, hastily grabbing his hand, “Right, right, brother, we should hurry back to the sect.”

As long as they returned to the sect, even if the demonic path later learned that Gu Siyuan was still alive, they couldn’t directly attack the Taixuan Immortal Sect.

If they did go mad and a major conflict erupted, it would be a great war between the righteous and demonic paths. At that point, the truth would be irrelevant.

…

Ten days flew by.

All the surviving people in the secret realm were transported to the purple bamboo forest outside the secret realm by an irresistible force, the same place where they had entered.

“What? The Young Master is dead?”

“Your senior brother is dead?”

Simultaneously, angry shouts erupted from the groups of Hehuan Sect and Lianxi Sect.

On the Taixuan Immortal Sect’s side, the head of Baiqing Mountain and several Nascent Soul elders counted the people several times, still in disbelief, “Where is Nephew Siyuan? Where is your senior brother? Why hasn’t he come out yet?”

Everyone looked at each other.

The death rate in the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm was extremely high; some sects losing half their people was common. But Gu Siyuan was the strongest of all those who entered; how could he be the one to die?

However, there was no sign of him.

At this moment, the Nascent Soul elders from Hehuan Sect and Lianxi Sect flew over, shouting angrily, “Taixuan, hand over Gu Siyuan. Outside the secret realm, he was ruthless but didn’t cause any fatalities, so we couldn’t hold it against a junior. But who knew that once inside the secret realm, he would dare to kill so wantonly!”

The head of Baiqing Mountain looked at the aggressive newcomers, his immense sorrow turning into boundless coldness, “Oh, your Young Master was killed, but wasn’t it because he wasn’t strong enough and deserved it?”

The two were stunned and furious, “Are you really going to break ties with our two sects today? Do you want to start a great war between the righteous and demonic paths?”

The head of Baiqing Mountain remained expressionless, “So what if we break ties? So what if there is a war?”

Nascent Soul cultivators were rare on the continent, and masters like the head of Baiqing Mountain were even rarer.

Therefore, although they usually belonged to the righteous and demonic paths, they often interacted and were quite familiar with each other. In their impression, the head of Baiqing Mountain was always a nice person. When did he become so tough and harsh?

Suddenly, a voice emerged from the crowd, “Gu Siyuan, the young hero, hasn’t come out either.”

The Nascent Soul elders from Hehuan Sect and Lianxi Sect froze, scanning around and searching with their spiritual senses.

Indeed, within a hundred miles, there was no trace of Gu Siyuan’s aura.

This…

They felt a mix of joy and shock.

Could Gu Siyuan have really died in the secret realm? If such an extraordinary talent died, it would be a great fortune for their demonic path!

“Even if your sect’s disciples all died, could they be worth even a finger of Gu Siyuan?”

Boundless grief permeated the air.

…

Meanwhile, Gu Siyuan and Xie Xueyi, having departed several days earlier, were already hurrying towards Xuanyuan City at the foot of Taixuan Mountain.

Xuanyuan City was the last stop before entering Taixuan Mountain and had developed because of the Taixuan Immortal Sect.

People coming to the sect to seek apprenticeship or visit friends would often rest in the city.

Ordinary disciples from the sect would also come down to the city to relax when tired of cultivation.

“There’s said to be a small auction at the Taixuan Pavilion today. Let’s go take a look!”

“The Immortal Spirit Secret Realm is about to open, maybe some good things will come out. Everyone is gathering spirit stones!”

“Yes, let’s go. Even if we don’t participate in the auction, it’s good to have a drink. The spirit wine at the Taixuan Pavilion is amazing!”

…

Hearing the excited discussions around him, Xie Xueyi eagerly tugged at Gu Siyuan’s sleeve, “Let’s go to the Taixuan Pavilion for a drink. We’ve never gone out to have fun together.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “Alright.”

Xuanyuan City was already under Taixuan Immortal Sect’s jurisdiction, so neither the demonic path nor other sects would dare act recklessly here.

Taixuan Pavilion had four floors.

Wanting peace and quiet, Gu Siyuan and Xie Xueyi went straight to a private room on the fourth floor, protected by formations ensuring absolute silence and safety.

Xie Xueyi eagerly drank a pot of spirit wine from the pavilion but soon found it unsatisfactory compared to Gu Siyuan’s brewed spirit tea or his roasted meat.

Seeing Xie Xueyi’s adorable pouting, Gu Siyuan took out a space ring, “A gift, I forgot to give it to you on the road earlier.”

Xie Xueyi eagerly guessed, “What is it? Is it the reward from the last three levels of the Ancient Immortal City?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “In a way.”

“The rewards get rarer and more valuable as you progress. It must be a great treasure. I wonder what it is.” Xie Xueyi said joyfully as he took the space ring.

“Look, and you’ll know,” Gu Siyuan said, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Xie Xueyi extended his spiritual sense into the ring, curiously taking things out while asking, “So, brother, what were the last few levels of the Ancient Immortal City? For nearly ten thousand years, the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm opens once every twenty years, and the Ancient Immortal City appears once every five hundred years. But since no one has ever cleared it, there are only fragmented legends, and no one knows its true secrets.”

Gu Siyuan replied casually, “Nothing much. The last three levels tested artifact refining, alchemy, and formations.”

“…”

Xie Xueyi rolled his eyes, “No wonder no one could pass.”

For a cultivator to master one thing was already incredibly difficult, let alone so many.

If it weren’t for Gu Siyuan being such a freak, the secrets of the secret realm might never have been uncovered.

Gu Siyuan gently rubbed his wrist and said, “There are always gains and losses in everything. Because of this, the rewards for passing are quite substantial.”

Substantial rewards?

Thinking about Gu Siyuan’s various strange privileges in the secret realm, Xie Xueyi’s eyes lit up with a smile. “That’s true.”

Being able to leave the secret realm early was a life-saving reward, indeed quite substantial.

“Ah…”

In the next moment, Xie Xueyi suppressed his urge to scream with excitement and whispered, “Brother… why, why are there so many? Weren’t there supposed to be only three rewards for the three levels?”

Gu Siyuan reached out and pinched his cheek. “I told you, passing all the tests grants you some extra privileges. Not only can you move freely within the ancient city and leave the secret realm at any time, but you can also open more than one box per level.”

Xie Xueyi looked at the table full of dazzling treasures, each one capable of causing a storm in the cultivation world, and swallowed hard.

So, this was what Gu Siyuan meant by substantial rewards?

“Brother, did you open all the boxes in the last three palaces and take all the treasures?”

Gu Siyuan responded, his expression indifferent and casual, “Yes, each box had a formation on it and could only be opened one by one. It was quite troublesome, but you like these things, don’t you?”

Xie Xueyi jumped up and hugged Gu Siyuan tightly, wrapping his legs around his waist and his arms around his neck. “Brother, I love you to death. You’re the first person in history to do this. You’re my god. I wouldn’t mind being your pet…”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyebrows and lifted him, teasing, “Hmm, what are you talking about? You are already my pet.”

Xie Xueyi tightened his grip and glared at him, “Brother, am I not your precious treasure?”

“No,” Gu Siyuan shook his head.

Xie Xueyi bit his ear in anger, “Heartless man.”

Gu Siyuan gently squeezed his buttocks and said with a double meaning, “But you are the home for my treasure.”

Xie Xueyi was momentarily stunned, not immediately reacting.

Then, feeling the warmth of his touch, a blush spread across his body.

“Gu Siyuan… you!”

Indeed, all that cold and aloof demeanor was an act. Once they were in bed, his true nature was revealed…