Divine Lord Youli, Why Not Show Yourself?

A massive bronze gate stood silently between heaven and earth. Lifelike reliefs covered its surface: grotesque skeletons flailing sharp claws as if trying to tear themselves free of the bronze, only to be firmly suppressed by an invisible power. Beneath the towering portal stood five figures. "Five days have already passed. Why haven't Heavenly Master Li and Qi Tian exited the formation?" Meng Shentong asked, pacing restlessly with clear displeasure etched upon his face. Beside him, Marquis Ziyi shook his head. "Perhaps some mishap befell them!" "Humph!" Meng Shentong gave a soft snort. He did not believe for a moment that Heavenly Master Li had run into any real trouble. Though the Yellow Wind Grand Formation was bizarre, its main purpose was dividing space and suppressing divine senses—it seemed specifically designed to hem in certain creatures. For Nascent Soul True Persons like them, traversing it was hardly difficult. Moreover, with the Hundred Thoughts Sachets Heavenly Master Li had refined beforehand to guide them, they would never lose their way so easily. Glancing at the old woman busy at work before the gate, Meng Shentong halted his steps. He could not resist raising his eyes toward the colossal bronze gate that towered toward the heavens. "Is this the Gate of Life and Death?" Granny Hongye replied without looking back, "This is not the complete Gate of Life and Death, only half of it—the Death Gate, said to lead straight into the Netherworld." Meng Shentong raised an eyebrow. "The style is identical to the gate we passed through to enter the Yin-Yang Realm." "That one was merely an imitation of this gate, possessing less than a hundredth of its might." Meng Shentong was taken aback. "That exaggerated?" Granny Hongye straightened her back and turned around with a troubled frown. "How could it not be? The complete Gate of Life and Death was a spirit treasure-grade existence!" A spirit treasure! A burning glint flared in Meng Shentong's eyes. No wonder the Southern Border Sacred Land guarded this place so strictly—they were actually using a spirit treasure as a defensive barrier! He probed tentatively, "Can you find a flaw in this gate and open it?" Granny Hongye showed a look of difficulty. Right at that moment! The yellow wind behind them abruptly dissipated. A figure strode out from the gale. With a casual toss, a corpse crashed onto the ground. Everyone looked over and saw a weary Heavenly Master Li. Dusting his hands, he walked up to the gate and murmured to himself, "As for an imitation, Hongye might have been able to unravel a fraction of it. But this genuine Death Gate is not something she can crack." "Heavenly Master Li!" Marquis Ziyi tore his gaze away from the corpse on the ground, exclaiming in shock, "You killed Shixiang?" Heavenly Master Li replied without looking back, "He insisted on courting death, so he could hardly blame this old man for dealing a fatal blow. Still, the fellow was quite troublesome and entangled me for a long time." The clearing fell dead silent. Shixiang's prowess was widely known even in the outside world. Setting aside his identity as a disciple of the Sacred Land, his cultivation as a late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator alone was enough to dominate a region. Such a powerhouse had actually perished at the hands of Heavenly Master Li? This Gu refinement grandmaster, renowned for many years, was clearly nowhere near as gentle as he appeared on the surface, nor was his strength as frail as that of an ordinary Gu master. Meng Shentong's pupils constricted slightly as his gaze met that of Bai Xuanjun beside him. The latter was evidently just as shocked. Taking a deep breath, Meng Shentong asked directly, "According to our agreement, once we helped you find the place where Patriarch Yinyangzi attained nirvana, our duty would be fulfilled. Since the patriarch's final resting place lies behind this gate, can we now depart this realm?" Heavenly Master Li stroked the bronze gate and gave a light chuckle. "Fellow Daoist Meng, throughout the journey, none of you have even had to lift a finger, nor have you caught a speck of dust. Is this old man's favor truly that cheap?" Meng Shentong's expression froze. Heavenly Master Li smiled faintly and continued, "How vast is the terrain of the Yin Realm? Legend has it that Yinyangzi was unwilling to die an abrupt death. In the final decades before his lifespan ran out, he used the spirit treasure Death Gate as a foundation to construct the Yin Realm, frantically researching all kinds of Gu worms in an attempt to escape the binding of the Life-and-Death Gu. As a result, evil ghosts run rampant and demons infest the Yin Realm, making it impassable for ordinary cultivators. I still need you all to escort me safely to the Yin-Yang Tomb." Meng Shentong felt an instinctive dread toward the domain behind the gate. "You said yourself that Hongye cannot crack this gate. What are we waiting around here for?" "She cannot crack it, but it can still be pushed open normally!" Heavenly Master Li shrugged, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We just need someone with enough brute strength to arrive." Among the people who had entered the Yin-Yang Realm together, who had the greatest strength? The answer was self-evident. A single name rose in everyone's mind. "Qi Tian!" "Why hasn't he arrived yet?" "Shixiang attacked Heavenly Master Li in fury. Could Qi Tian have been ambushed as well?" "There were five Golden Lion Empire ancestors cultivating in seclusion within the Yin-Yang Realm. The Third and Fifth went outside, while the Fourth fell to the Hidden Sword Tower Master and me. Could it be the Golden Lion Second Ancestor?" "Qi Tian knows no immortal arts and is suppressed by the formation. Could something have happened to him?" Amidst the discussion, even Heavenly Master Li wore a trace of concern. Yet after subtly sensing a certain Gu worm on his person, he relaxed. "Qi Tian is fine. We just need to wait a bit longer." Half-doubting and half-believing, the crowd had no choice but to rein in their impatience and quietly wait in place. *** Amidst the boundless winds and golden sands, A black-robed figure stood tall. With a casual wave of his hand, streaks of bloody radiance converged toward him, ultimately flowing into a greenish gourd. *Gurgle!* Shaking the gourd, Luo Chen revealed a satisfied smile. This should be the last batch of Golden Dragon Lion statues in the vicinity. After using the dragon-lion core to awaken them en masse and slaying them one by one, he had gathered an entire gourd of desolate beast source blood. "I wonder if this will be enough to nurture the Demon-Devil Concentric Tree?" Murmuring to himself, Luo Chen hung the gourd at his waist, adjusted his robes slightly, and flew swiftly in a chosen direction. Before long, Luo Chen stepped out of the Yellow Wind Formation, and the scenery before him shifted drastically. A colossal bronze gate connecting heaven and earth entered his vision, overwhelmingly majestic. "A spirit treasure!" With just a single glance, given Luo Chen's casting attainments, he recognized the gate's extraordinary nature. Yet he realized the truth an instant later and blurted out: "The spirit treasure is defective—it lacks an artifact spirit?" Beneath the gate, Heavenly Master Li and the others had long been waiting. Seeing Luo Chen appear, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing his stirred remark, Heavenly Master Li's eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist Qi truly has sharp eyes to see through this gate's secret at a single glance." Luo Chen smiled and offered no further explanation. He had come into contact with spirit treasures before. They were formidable treasures that had birthed self-awareness, standing a tier above True Artifacts. Every single one possessed the power to reach to the heavens and penetrate the earth! Moreover, the Yuantu Sword in his possession was infinitely close to the spirit treasure grade. Refining and nurturing it day and night had made him intimately familiar with treasures of this class. Suddenly! He returned to his senses and asked, "Could it be that what you want me to do, Heavenly Master Li, is push open this gate?" Heavenly Master Li nodded without hesitation. "Precisely!" Luo Chen frowned. "This gate looks identical to the one before, but their grades differ vastly. Can I really do it?" "You must, even if you think you cannot!" Heavenly Master Li sighed before explaining the specific situation of the Death Gate in detail. "The Gate of Life and Death is divided into the Life Gate and the Death Gate. Originally a single entity, they guarded the Sacred Land together. "Two thousand years ago, Patriarch Yinyangzi was unwilling to die an abrupt death. He took the Death Gate, left the Sacred Land, and constructed the Yin Realm where the Golden Lion Empire now stands, severing resonance between heaven and man. There, he extensively researched the Dao of Gu, attempting to sever his entanglement with the Life-and-Death Gu. "However, he still held to a bottom line: he left the artifact spirit within the Life Gate so that the Sacred Land would not lose the protection of its portal. "And that is our only opportunity!" A spirit treasure without an artifact spirit could not be considered a true spirit treasure. This was the Death Gate's sole vulnerability! It could only defend passively and could not mount a counterattack. Luo Chen asked in confusion, "Why must it be me? Can the others not do it?" Brute physical force was power, but was the mighty power of a cultivator not power as well? Yet Heavenly Master Li shook his head resolutely. "It is not the same. Whether we attack with spells, push with magical treasures, or employ Gu Dao divine abilities, the moment that energy strikes the Death Gate, it is like a clay ox plunging into the sea. Only the purest physical power can push the door open." As he spoke, he shot a meaningful glance at Marquis Ziyi. The marquis did not hesitate, stepping up to the gate. Before everyone's eyes, his magic power surged, erupting in deep purple radiance. He unleashed a palm strike, yet the bronze gate remained utterly motionless, as though nothing had happened. The sight left everyone clicking their tongues in wonder. Though Marquis Ziyi's palm strike had not been delivered with full strength, it was by no means something an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator could easily take. Yet to this gate, it was like a gentle spring breeze; it had not even damaged the skeletal reliefs. "If any of you wish, you are welcome to try as well!" Heavenly Master Li said, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. Meng Shentong waved his hand, flatly declining. Bai Xuanjun looked somewhat eager to try, but at his companion's hint, he refrained from making a futile effort. Granny Hongye had been trying all along, but no matter the array formation, nothing worked on this spirit treasure, leaving her utterly dejected. Finally, Heavenly Master Li explained, "Originally, the twin gates of Life and Death were joined as one. Life and death circulated endlessly, generating life ceaselessly while dissolving all attacks—the sturdiest defense in the world. But with the separation of the Death Gate, the circulation of vitality and death qi was broken, leaving a singular flaw. And only a body cultivator can seize that flaw." As he spoke, he stared fixedly at Luo Chen. "As long as you open this gate for me, the favor you owe for the *Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique* will be settled once and for all!" "Truly?" Luo Chen asked. Heavenly Master Li nodded. "For the remainder of the journey into the Yin Realm, this old man will not require you to lift another finger. Once the Death Gate is open, you may even leave the Yin-Yang Realm immediately if you so choose." Luo Chen blinked, falling silent. After a long pause, he said solemnly, "On the way here, I expended a great deal of energy. Please allow me to rest quietly and recover for a bit." The others exchanged glances, recalling how Heavenly Master Li had been ambushed by Shixiang; Luo Chen had likely encountered a similar trial. With unspoken understanding, Heavenly Master Li led the group back, granting Luo Chen a quiet space. Once the others had retreated, Luo Chen casually tossed out a formation plate, cloaking his figure. In the distance, Granny Hongye caught an inadvertent glimpse and paused in surprise. "What is it?" Heavenly Master Li asked. Granny Hongye hesitated. "That formation is rather exquisite." Heavenly Master Li took a look and nodded slightly, remarking with deeper meaning, "It seems to follow the style of the Central Plains or Eastern Desolation. Rumor has it that Qi Tian traveled through the outer continents in his early years, so it is only natural he would possess such collections." Inside the array, however, Luo Chen was not recovering his vitality as he had claimed. He swept his gaze forward, and the Crimson Eyes and Golden Pupils manifested once more. With his spiritual eyes locked intently onto the bronze gate before him, he sought to discern its inner workings. Gradually, his mind sank into it. Space was shattered and riddled with web-like fractures, from which drops of foul pus oozed forth. A crimson moon hung high, shedding a cold, desolate moonlight. Skinless hell-runners, thirty feet tall, roamed across the earth. Hanged specters with ruptured windpipes emitted raspy hisses. Countless bizarre skeletons swam ceaselessly through the sky and ground. It was impossible to tell whether these were the scenes behind the gate or the manifestations of the Death Gate itself. Chilled to the bone, Luo Chen slowly closed his eyes. *This Death Gate is truly not simple!* It was a redundant thought; how could any gate that had attained the rank of a spirit treasure be simple? Yet Luo Chen intended to give it a try! Not only to repay the favor of the *Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique*, but also to test his own body refinement realm. Still, there was no rush! Luo Chen closed his eyes and began regulating his physical state. The first thing he needed to do was command the Hundred Poisons King Gu to retract the toxins pervading his body, lest the pervasive pain hinder his performance when striking. Next, source power circulated throughout his frame, allowing his condition to climb toward its peak step by step. Time trickled away. One day, two days... When three days had passed and the onlookers were growing somewhat restless, the array concealing Luo Chen abruptly dispersed. Heavenly Master Li's eyes brightened, and he flew over in haste. "Are you ready?" Standing before the bronze gate, Luo Chen gave a slight nod. Then, before everyone's watchful eyes, he exhaled, voiced a low shout, and slowly thrust out a palm. This was exactly how he had pushed open the replica Gate of Life and Death earlier. The crowd watched with great anticipation! Yet when his bare palm pressed against the portal, the bronze gate did not budge in the slightest. *Could Qi Tian be unable to do it?* Heavenly Master Li's brow furrowed. Luo Chen, however, was not surprised. Without hesitation, he brought his other hand forward. Pushing with both hands, the gate finally began to shudder. Right at this moment, the skeletal reliefs—which had remained indifferent no matter how the others attacked them—suddenly came to life, snapping and gnawing toward Luo Chen's arms. Luo Chen's gaze narrowed. He did not dodge in the least, allowing the skeletal carvings to devour vast amounts of his vitality. This had been within his expectations after observing the gate. Lacking the vitality supplied by the Life Gate, the Death Gate would devour the vitality of anyone attempting to breach it to replenish itself. How could the physical body of an ordinary immortal cultivator possess so much vitality? A single breath of suction would reduce them to a skeleton! This was likely why the Death Gate bore so many skeletal reliefs: each belonged to an overconfident fool who had tried to force the door, only to end up as a sacrifice. Only an exceedingly powerful body cultivator could endure the terrifying drain of vitality required to open the gate. And this was the true reason why only a body cultivator could pry this portal open through sheer force. *Not enough!* *Far from enough!* Thoughts flashed through Luo Chen's mind, and he growled, "Everyone, stand back!" Though confused, the crowd complied. The next instant, a horrifying scene unfolded. Luo Chen's robes billowed, and his muscles bulged. His entire body rapidly swelled as if being inflated. Ten feet, twenty feet... A hundred feet, two hundred feet... It was only when a colossus towering between heaven and earth—its head hidden beyond sight—appeared before them that the onlookers realized what was happening. "A demon-like transformation?" "Is it a Buddhist Wrathful Vajra form, or a Daoist Giant Spirit Transformation?" In a daze, they watched a titanic figure nearly ten thousand feet tall stand planted upon the earth. His legs rooted deep into the earth veins, white clouds swirled about his chest, and a ferocious Yaksha visage roared toward the heavens. Thrusting both hands forward, sweeping up wind and clouds, he slammed them against the bronze gate. "Open for me!" Amidst his thunderous roar, an unstoppable, titanic force poured out like a tidal wave. No matter how the reliefs on the Death Gate ravenously devoured the titan's vitality, they failed to affect him in the slightest. Beneath that pure, unadulterated brute force, the bronze gate emitted a horrifying roar. The sound was terribly shrill, grating against the teeth and churning the stomach. Yet Heavenly Master Li and the others were ecstatic, for the Death Gate was slowly swinging open! From behind the Death Gate, wave after wave of roars began to erupt as well. Yet beneath the titan's thunderous bellow, every last sound was utterly drowned out. *** At the same time! Atop a mountain peak shaped like the horn of a demonic beast, two figures gazed ecstatically at the distant expanse of the sky. Clouds hissed and winds wailed as space trembled. Strange ripples surged like waves, rolling outward in all directions. Zhan Bingtao was astonished. "Did you truly breach the Gate of Life and Death?" Alliance Leader Songyang was also somewhat surprised. He had moved fast enough, conquering the Golden Lion Empire and One-Horn Mountain in rapid succession with thunderous momentum, but he had not expected Heavenly Master Li's side to be even faster. However, in front of an ally, he could not reveal too much of his inner thoughts. Assuming an air of having foreseen it all, Alliance Leader Songyang said, "Our task is complete. Next, it all depends on your esteemed sect." Zhan Bingtao laughed loudly. "Now that the Gate of Life and Death has a flaw, the rest is simple. The Southern Border Sacred Land clearly possesses a spirit treasure, yet instead of using it to suppress the spiritual opportunities of the entire continent, they only used it to shield their own mountain gate. Now that the spirit treasure is breached, all we need to do is give it a push." As he spoke, he retrieved a jade token and spoke with a reverent expression, "Disciple Zhan Bingtao respectfully implores Ancestor Liancheng to take action!" The next instant, a faint voice resonated from the jade token. "Very well!" The voice sounded remarkably youthful. Yet following that single "very well," there was no further sound. Alliance Leader Songyang was puzzled. *That's it?* However, an inexplicable sense of dread suddenly welled up from the depths of his divine soul. He snapped his head up toward the heavens. A vortex had manifested across the horizon. The vortex spun violently, drawing vast currents of air into its center, until a massive hand slowly extended outward. The gigantic hand was lifelike down to the finest detail, pale and jade-smooth, resembling the hand of a woman. Yet at this moment, it radiated a power capable of annihilating heaven and earth. Heaven and earth stirred in response. Suddenly! The giant hand trembled and struck toward the Gate of Life and Death ten thousand li away. *Boom!* The void shuddered violently, and an illusory portal was forced into view. Endless vitality circulated ceaselessly within it, yet at a critical juncture, it failed to maintain balance—as though a single link in the chain were missing. The youthful voice from the jade token rang out once more across the firmament. "Divine Lord Youli, why not show yourself?"