Chapter 865: Chapter 69: Wearing Down the Devil
“I don’t know why… I always feel something isn’t right.”
Tomorrow is the day when the task will be restarted.
However, Gu Shen’s heart is never at peace, the pendant constantly sending reminders…
Actually, without the pendant’s reminder, Gu Shen already knows that something is bound to happen on this trip to Duolu River.
But the pendant, after all, cannot solve doubts, it can only convey a general premonition.
These days, Gu Shen continuously attacked the Golden Hoop. The good news is, the seemingly indestructible Golden Hoop has finally loosened a bit; the matter of a breakthrough is like an avalanche or a tsunami, always erupting from the first wave, small in momentum at first, but then growing more and more powerful until it’s unstoppable.
This small loosening at least gave Gu Shen hope for the “third breakthrough.”
But the bad news is that they are to set off early tomorrow, and there are less than ten hours left to rest tonight, which absolutely cannot give birth to miracles like “enlightenment” or “insight.” Gu Shen estimates that he wants to complete the third breakthrough, he will have to wait until after the task.
There is only one night left.
Gu Shen did not continue to immerse himself in cultivation.
He deeply understands a truth, that Transcendents are like bowstrings, they need tension and relaxation in balance, too rigid and they snap easily.
Since continuing to cultivate yields little effect, it is better to calm the mind and slowly wait for his own “breakthrough opportunity.”
After much thought, the premonition from the pendant, although not pointing in a specific direction, makes Gu Shen feel that the continuous ominous feeling in his heart is indeed inseparable from that “Duke Zhen Yue.”
Besides this guy, who else would trouble him?
After deep thought, Gu Shen took out a sealed black box.
With a solemn expression, Gu Shen opened the long box.
Under the illumination of the light, the inside of the box was completely dark.
The box was filled with Black Silver—
A silver ruler was wrapped tightly, lying within. Gu Shen extended his palm, penetrating the Black Silver to hold it… the ruler was extremely cold, as if holding a piece of ice; before spiritual power is injected, the Truth Ruler appears no different from an ordinary ruler.
But just a trace of spirit is needed.
And it can… make this piece of ice instantly melt away!
Gu Shen infused a trace of Chi Huo into the ruler.
At that moment, a familiar feeling of restlessness surfaced in his heart.
The “Chi Huo” imprisoned in the Spirit Sea by the Golden Hoop burned madly.
The surrounding scenes rapidly changed, he was no longer sitting at the desk.
Instead, he arrived at the “Inner Space”!
Large swathes of shadow and light intertwined, the figure in the throne in the darkness supported his chin as if in a deep sleep, the whole world was silent.
His closed eyelids twitched slightly.
And a strong wind at that.
The strong wind howled through.
Gu Shen came to this world, watching his own Pure Land World projected in the Truth Ruler’s Spirit Space, these reflections with a calm expression, slowly scanning. The previous few times were a bit hurried; he hadn’t had a chance to take a good look.
The Devil living here has never changed?
Or does the scenery here change with his Spirit Space?
This is a question worth pondering.
After all, the biggest shadow behind the Devil’s Throne, that Suspended Wood, had only just grown in his Pure Land World.
Before his thoughts could go deep.
The Devil on the throne slowly opened his eyes.
A hoarse, angry voice rang out from above Gao Tian.
The one who spoke was sitting on the ground.
The voice of the speaker descended from the sky.
“How dare you treat me ?!”
The Devil’s whole body was covered by shadows, constantly emitting a chilling mist, but at this moment his eyes glowed with dazzling energy, too intense to look at directly.
For Gu Shen, at this current stage, there are a few things he dare not look at directly, the will of that Divine Throne in Light City, Mr. Gu Changzhi’s sun in the Golden Divine Domain… at most, Chu Ling’s face when angry.
But it definitely does not include the one before him.
Gu Shen extended a finger, placing it in front of his lips, gently speaking, signaling the one on the throne to be quiet.
Gu Shen said faintly, “If you frighten me, I should exit here at light speed, and then reseal the ruler… As for when we’ll meet again, who knows when that will be.”
The Devil’s expression suddenly changed, his body which initially seemed to want to stand, was suddenly restrained, slowly and painstakingly sitting back down.
He exerted great effort to suppress the fury in his chest.
Sealed away for many years.
He finally saw the sun… clearly having negotiated terms in the [Old World], but upon returning to the Five Continents, he was immediately sealed!
This young man is simply outrageous, he even dared to soak the ruler in Black Silver?!
“Gu Shen, we had a deal…” the Devil clenched his fists, low and hoarse, asking, “What you’re doing is not quite proper, is it?”
Gu Shen smiled faintly.
In the distance, mist circled around the Dark Throne.
Gu Shen did not know this guy’s true identity, nor did he care to know… But even a toe could guess in general, an existence sitting on a throne couldn’t be a nobody?
With the strength and status of this “Devil,” before him, probably few could make him speak so politely, right?
“What’s improper, I followed the agreement, after returning to the North Continent, I gave you a second chance for a deal.” Gu Shen leisurely paced, walking only in the light, observing this mottled light and shadow world, without even looking at the Black Shadow on the throne: “It’s just that… you did not show me the respect you should have, so the last deal, ended in failure.”
This time he did not speak, just stared at Gu Shen with a fluctuating gaze.
Last time, Gu Shen demanded his apology.
Of course he refused.
So… the ruler was sealed in Black Silver, and this time meeting, he did not mention the past events at all!
It’s a pity that the person he encountered was Gu Shen.
The matter of sealing the Ruler had passed, and this time, unsealing it was very likely due to a transaction about to occur… Because the sealing properties of the “Black Silver” were so effective, the Devil had no idea what was happening outside. Just as he was trying to adjust his mindset, preparing to restore the initial peaceful relationship with Gu Shen and resume negotiations.
Two cold words shattered his illusion.
Gu Shen said, “The matter from last time… isn’t settled yet. If you still refuse to apologize, we have nothing to discuss.”
For a moment, he sat on the Throne, unsure of what to say.
This guy remembered so well? What poor form?!
While the Devil was in a daze.
Gu Shen took a clear look at this Inner Space.
He could already confirm that this place was another silhouette version of the “Pure Land”. Perhaps this was the Devil’s ability… to replicate the Spirit Realm within his mind.
This was very important information.
If this guy could replicate his own “Spirit Realm” from his mind, would the sealing of “Black Silver” affect it?
His own “Pure Land” was growing.
Yet this Spirit Space seemed to have undergone no significant changes.
Gu Shen noted this information down.
Previously, Gu Shen had always avoided talking too much with the Devil, as he was at a complete disadvantage in terms of information.
Whether what the other said was true or not, correct interpretation or misleading guidance, he couldn’t discern it.
The reason he named this shadow “Devil” was precisely because he wouldn’t believe a single word coming from its mouth… Sealing the Truth Ruler was just a phased measure. To completely master this Ruler, he had to pry the “truth” hidden behind the Ruler, piece by piece, from this guy’s mouth.
After Gu Shen said that, the entire world inside the Ruler fell into absolute silence.
The Devil finally spat out those three awkward and difficult words with great effort.
“I can’t hear you. Say it louder, haven’t you eaten?”
Gu Shen maintained a calm exterior but inwardly sneered coldly.
This Devil is indeed a villain.
But who said he wasn’t?!
If it had been someone else, if they had refined the “Truth Ruler” and met the Devil residing within, they might have long been seduced by the powers gained from the transaction and gradually become a slave to this black shadow. Who would dare to oppress a great being that rewards you with “power”?
The world has always been this way, the barefoot aren’t afraid of those with shoes, villains must be polished by other villains. Once this Devil’s greatest weakness was exposed in the [Old World], Gu Shen became even more unscrupulous.
He didn’t care what the hints left by the former Netherworld King truly meant…
At worst, just throw the Ruler beyond the giant wall!
A dull sound resonated across the armrest of the Throne!
Despite warning himself to not get angry when dealing with such a lunatic, the Devil almost lost his temper.
After the resonance, he took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “… I was wrong.”
This time when he spoke, his voice wasn’t as strained as before.
The Devil continuously reminded himself that it’s necessary to lower one’s head when needed.
Moreover, at this time and place, it’s just the two of them.
Saying such soft words means nothing if nobody else hears them.
The second apology sounded much more agreeable than the first. Gu Shen smiled and praised, “Sir, with some things, it gets easier the second time… you’ll become more and more proficient in the future.”
The Devil felt an ominous premonition creeping into his heart.
“You didn’t come seeking me just to say these things, did you?” The shadow on the Throne spoke through gritted teeth, trying to maintain his demeanor as he probed, “You went through so much, saying all this, just to… make me apologize?!”
Another important piece of information was verified.
The Black Silver can effectively seal the Truth Ruler, and this guy had no clue about his ordeal during this time.
The stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground.
Gu Shen said with a smile, “What do you think?”
After a brief silence, the Devil hissed, “If you don’t need a transaction, why did you come to me?!”
His voice sounded not only angry but also somewhat desperate.
But Gu Shen expressed satisfaction.
The mission restart was about to commence. He unsealed the Ruler tonight to specifically meet this Devil, and not for idle talk or emotional exchanges.
His interactions with the Devil outside of transactions were like a test of endurance, to see who could last longer.
Either he couldn’t endure it.
Or the one on the Throne couldn’t endure it.
Gu Shen had never tried enduring with an eagle, but he was very interested in trying it with this Devil.
Who would have thought, after a brief pause.
The shadow on the Throne suddenly lifted his head and stared intensely into Gu Shen’s eyes, murmuring, “You just temporarily don’t need a transaction.”
“You’re going on a mission tomorrow… Duolu River… With your current strength, going to a place like that is a nine in ten chance of death…”
At this point, the morbid Devil regained his spirit, raising his head with renewed vigor.
“Hey, perhaps you should consider…”
The moment the Devil started speaking.
Gu Shen immediately sensed something was off…
He didn’t wait for the shadow on the Throne to finish speaking. He immediately exited the Spirit Space, returned to the real world, re-immersed the Truth Ruler into the Black Silver, and sealed it up!
In the silent room, Gu Shen felt a cold sweat on his back, experiencing once again the discomfort of “being watched”.
How did this guy, sealed in the Black Silver, know these things?
As long as the seal is lifted, can he read my memories?