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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
“Uh…” Wang Zijin’s eyes widened in shock, her mind went completely blank as if her brain was frozen.
She had hoped to be the one making this move with the help of alcohol, but she did not expect Gu Changge to be more assertive than her, leaving no room for her to resist or refuse.
It seemed like the saying that ‘wine doesn’t make people drunk; people get themselves intoxicated’ was true. Although she was not drunk yet, Wang Zijin felt as though she was already drunk. Her head was spinning, and her entire body felt weak.
Gu Changge looked at the woman who was usually unreserved and unafraid around him. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her lashes fluttered as she trembled like a shy deer. Uncertain of where to place her hands, she nervously clung to his arm, too afraid to utter a single word.
[It seems like she’s really trying to use the wine to boost her courage.] He smiled discreetly at his own thoughts.
“Do not laugh at me.” Wang Zijin summoned an unexpected surge of strength and broke free from Gu Changge’s grasp. She shot him a piercing glare, as if she could read his mind. Without hesitation, she pulled him towards her, wrapping her arms around his head and bit him.
…
The territory of the Mortal Palace was not vast in the Upper Realm, but the population was sparse due to its untouchable status. Aside from the disciples patrolling the area, there were no other people in sight.
Ni Chen, accompanied by the old True Immortal, traversed the void, passing by numerous palaces and pavilions. Eventually, their journey led them to a magnificent palace, suspended high in the depths. The palace was adorned with white jade pillars and glazed tiles, reflecting the Heavenly radiance that exuding an aura of divinity.
The door plaque, with the three ancient words that read ‘Mortal Palace’ on it, shone brilliantly with thousands of flowing mysterious lights.
“Looks like this is the Mortal Palace. Lady Zijin should be inside.” As Ni Chen arrived here, he encountered numerous Prohibition Arrays, but none of them could deter him.
The atmosphere was thick with white haze, but the hazy light created an ethereal ambiance. It felt as though God was present, gazing down upon the world.
The endless silver Power of Faith from all corners of the Upper Realm converged here, intertwining with each other. Even an ordinary person could sense the immense energy fluctuation in this place. It was strong enough to overwhelm one’s senses.
“Why do I feel like something is amiss?” Ni Chen furrowed his brow in concern as he approached the Mortal Palace. To his surprise, there were no disciples guarding the entrance. It was unusually quiet.
“I wonder if Lady Zijin will find my visit too abrupt?” Ni Chen began to hesitate. He was deeply in love with this wonderful woman who shone as brilliantly as a shooting star. If not the case, he would not have wasted his time coming all the way from the Immortal Domain. However, upon arriving, he could not help but hesitate, fearing that his sudden appearance might upset Wang Zijin.
…
In one of the bedchambers in the palace, white curtains and ribbons danced in the breeze around the bed, while the Immortal Mist added an enchanting touch to the alluring atmosphere. A strange look flashed across Gu Changge’s eyes as if he had sensed something. He suddenly let out a chuckle and remarked, “Seems like someone outside the palace is looking for you.”
“Who is it?” Wang Zijin remained oblivious to the visitor. Unlike Gu Changge, she lacked the strength to sense anyone coming towards the Mortal Palace.
“A guy from the Immortal Domain.” Gu Changge just smiled indifferently.
“Ignore him.”
Wang Zijin delved into the depths of her memory, but could not recall any friend she had in Immortal Domain who would come to the Mortal Palace in search of her. Similarly, she brushed off any thoughts of going out to meet them. She simply discarded them from her mind and chose to ignore them.
Gu Changge smiled. He silently gazed towards the entrance of the hall with a strange glow in his eyes. In an instant, invisible ripples spread out from him and enveloped the entire Mortal Palace like a misty fog. While he remained indifferent to the identity of the individual outside, Gu Changge was not going to let anyone disturb them.
…
Inside the hall, it was warm like a sunlit day. The atmosphere was brimming with an invigorating energy. However, Ni Chen, who stood just outside the hall, was overcome by an unexplainable chill. It felt as though an ominous presence in the dark was suddenly staring at him.
In this unsettling moment, an involuntary shiver ran down his spine, leaving his hands and feet icy cold. Ni Chen’s complexion changed, he was a little surprised and uncertain. “What just happened?”
The mysterious Mortal Palace that stood before him suddenly appeared to undergo countless transformations. It felt as if he had been transported to a hazy world, where the thick fog obscured his view of anything beyond it.
He found himself standing alone amidst the emptiness that surrounded him. Even the True Immortal Clone he had refined a long time ago had disappeared along with the Mortal Palace in front of him.
Even the Heavens and Earth seemed to have vanished, leaving behind an infinite expanse of space that stretched endlessly into the unknown.
“I actually can’t sense any aura or energy fluctuation…? Even my True Immortal Clone seems to have vanished, leaving no trace of its existence in my awareness.” Ni Chen’s expression turned uncertain as he realised he was trapped in an intricate maze or Array. His mind immediately raced to the Mortal Palace he had intended to visit just moments ago.
[Could there be some sort of Prohibitions Array in place, designed to ensnare and disorient anyone who attempted to enter?] The thought filled Ni Chen with fear. Even so, he was no ordinary individual. After sensing that something was amiss, he quickly composed himself and began to think of a solution.
The predecessors who had established the Mortal Palace were undoubtedly remarkable, capable of creating such a Prohibition Array in the Upper Realm.
Ni Chen attempted to reach out to the Heroic Spirits of his Ancestors for guidance, but his efforts proved futile. They seemed to have vanished along with his True Immortal Clone, leaving him completely isolated in this place.
“This should merely be a maze, devoid of any danger. As long as I can find a way to break it or discover the eye of the Array, I will be able to escape easily.” The Young Master of the Deep Control Clan showed no signs of panic in the face of the perplexing situation before him.
Once he had regained his composure, he swiftly began thinking of a solution. Despite the vast expanse of space that lay ahead, there was no imminent threat lurking within.
Clearly, the only obstacle he would encounter was the potential waste of time.
As Ni Chen took a step forward, the expression on his face suddenly changed drastically, reflecting a mixture of astonishment and disbelief.
“How can this be?” He stared at his surroundings. With each step he took, the space transformed in the direction of his step.
In a moment of disbelief, Ni Chen cautiously took a few steps backward. To his astonishment, the space in front of him shifted, mirroring his retreat. It seemed as if even his slightest movement could trigger the space around him to change.
The mist, in response, only diffused as far as he retreated. Ni Chen, in his attempts to venture in different directions, consistently faced outcomes that fell short of his expectations.
“Is the one who created this trying to trap me in the same place forever?” Ni Chen finally came to his senses, his face contorted with an unpleasant expression. This was not some maze. A higher being was simply trying to trap him. No matter where he was going or how far he walked, he would keep returning to the same spot. He was perpetually trapped here.
“So, he is trying to trap me here to prevent me from getting close to the Mortal Palace?” Ni Chen’s countenance darkened with a hint of uncertainty. He realised that there must be a greater being within the Mortal Palace who saw this as the perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson.
“I never expected there to be such a powerful being concealed in the Upper Realm.” Once Ni Chen understood the intentions of the other party, he ceased his resistance and chose to get comfortable. Upon his arrival in this desolate location, he had initially underestimated it. As a result, the trap he unwittingly stumbled upon left him in dismay.
“Forget it. Since this is the work of an expert, it’s pointless for me to resist.” Ni Chen settled into a cross-legged position, allowing his mind to fully relax.
He now intended to wait patiently, confident that the expert would not keep him trapped here forever.
However, as time passed, a sense of unease crept over him. He furrowed his brow, and his once calm expression turned suspicious. It became apparent that the passage of time in this place was not aligned with the outside world.
“Does this also involve the Dao of Time? Not only did he trap me in a point, he also intends to let me die of old age here?” Ni Chen’s face turned ugly, but what he discovered was beyond his wildest expectations.
The passage of time in this place seemed to be moving at a pace over a hundred times faster than the outside world. He noticed that his hands were becoming dry and wrinkled, with dark spots appearing in certain areas. Although he was trapped in a small area of dilated time, touching upon Principles that were profound and mysterious.
Even the most powerful Immortal Kings would struggle to do this. Ni Chen himself was far from ordinary. While he had yet to reach the True Immortal Realm, his strength was comparable to that of a True Immortal. He could even fight against a Quasi-Immortal King.
“Could there possibly be a being more powerful than an Immortal King hidden in the Mortal Palace?” As unease gripped Ni Chen’s heart, he resolved to shatter this Array with brute strength.
*Boom!!!* His eyes took on a vibrant purple glow akin to a tempestuous sea. With a determined grip, he unleashed a powerful punch towards the void.
A hazy giant phantom immediately materialised behind Ni Chen. His clenched fist collided forcefully with air above him. Endless thunder illuminated the surroundings, as if a mighty earthquake had struck, causing Heaven to tremble and everything to be engulfed in its power.
Despite Ni Chen’s relentless efforts, this place remained unchanged, let alone showing any signs of crumbling.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with extreme frustration.
“Who is there!? Reveal yourself!” he shouted angrily. The surroundings remained silent, with no response from anyone. His demands were like small pebbles thrown into the ocean, failing to create even the slightest ripple.
…
Everything had calmed down in the bedchamber. Wang Zijin leaned against Gu Changge, delicately tracing circles on his chest with her finger. Her dishevelled black hair flowed over her shoulders, giving her an air of leisure, as if she were too content to do anything else.
“You’re really too much…” She couldn’t help but mutter.
Gu Changge shook his head and smiled playfully. “Really? You appeared quite willing, so I simply went with the flow.”
Wang Zijin turned her head away, unwilling to speak to him. Looking at the overturned stone table and stools, and the messy bed, she let out a small sigh. With a troubled look on her face, she ran her fingers through her hair.
[It was meant to be a casual drink, how did things turn out this way? How am I going to explain this to Jiang Chuchu when she wakes up? Tell her that I took advantage of the situation after I got drunk, and then… what?]
“Why do you look like you don’t even feel guilty at all? How can you be such a scumbag?” Seeing how calm Gu Changge was, Wang Zijin felt a surge of rage and bit him again.
“What do I have to feel guilty about? You were the one who asked me to come here and insisted that I join you for a drink.” Gu Changge shook his head gently and sighed, appearing perplexed by the situation.
Wang Zijin was rendered speechless. She realised that Gu Changge had a knack for exploiting others while effortlessly maintaining his innocent facade.
“Fine, I got it. Get up quickly and leave.” She waved her hand, pushing Gu Changge away with a look of disgust, then generously assured him, “Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for this.”
Although her tone seemed to belittle Gu Changge, he understood her underlying message. He simply smiled and took his time to get dressed without saying a word.
“There’s a guy waiting for you outside the palace though.”
“Who is it?” You mentioned it earlier, but why can’t I sense him?” Wang Zijin found this matter quite vexing. How could someone possibly come to find her and disrupt her good time like this?
Thankfully, it appeared that Gu Changge had intervened and prevented them from entering the palace. As she rose to her feet, she could not resist taking a sharp breath before shooting a glare at Gu Changge.
Meanwhile, an elderly figure sat cross-legged in the open space just a short distance away from the Mortal Palace. He seemed to be in his twilight years, about to give out like a flickering candle in the wind. As Wang Zijin and Gu Changge emerged from the palace, the elderly figure was still yelling. His eyes were wide open and bloodshot, as if he had witnessed something unimaginable.
Wang Zijin observed this person’s appearance intently, and eventually, she recognised him. “He’s… Wang Wushang?”
She was taken aback by how much he had aged. When she saw Gu Changge’s relaxed and nonchalant expression beside her, she immediately knew that he must have been the cause of this.
Ni Chen, who was sitting cross-legged in the open space, was also startled when she heard Wang Zijin’s voice. All the scenes in front of him vanished, and the ever-changing Mortal Palace reappeared before his eyes again.
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