Nine Blood Ruyis slowly floated into the air, connecting with the gate, and emitted a blood-red glow.
Su Chengyu, the one controlling them, could clearly sense the mysterious connection established between the Blood Ruyi and the gate; the aura of each Ruyi blended with the heavenly aura that pervaded the space.
"Is this really just a treasure house left by the Golden Immortal?"
Su Chengyu stared at the scene before him, lost in thought, and couldn’t help but murmur.
Beside him, Cui Manlou clearly heard this and chuckled, looking at Su Chengyu’s figure with a smile, "What do you think? Each Ruyi represents some aspect of the Heavenly Dao Breath. With two extra Ruyis, they directly encompass the essence of yin and yang of the universe. Just the key to open the gate is so formidable — do you really think it would still be called the Luo Fu Treasure House?"
Su Chengyu could not help but turn to look at Cui Manlou, evidently possessing far more inside knowledge than he did.
"Indeed, Luofu is the creator of this treasure house because only a Golden Immortal could leave such a gate without leaving any loose ends in our world. This is the only way to allow us to potentially enter the treasure house. What you see, the formation outside the treasure house gate, was laid out by Luofu himself. However, the restrictions on the gate and the items within... were placed by those playing their strategies."
Cui Manlou did not hesitate to share all these matters with Su Chengyu and the others, for he found it inconsequential whether they knew as long as the gate opened and he obtained what he desired.
What Zhao Xuanzhen planned, what Su Chengyu, Long Xuan, or even Yu Yanshu, who manifested from the core of this world, accounted for nothing in front of Cui Manlou.
"Even if the gate does open, you may not be able to directly obtain what you want."
Su Chengyu spoke calmly; Cui Manlou was unsurprised: "I know. It’s a treasure house inside, not a small box. There are things I can use, and there are things you can use. But whether you’ll be able to enter, whether you’ll be able to take them - even if everything goes perfectly, I’ll be the one laughing at the end."
Confidence bordering on arrogance.
But Cui Manlou’s attitude left everyone internally dissatisfied, yet they had nothing adequate in terms of rebuttal.
After all, since the beginning, everyone had progressed in line with Cui Manlou’s expectations without any deviation.
"Things cannot always go as you wish."
When Su Chengyu spoke coldly, he didn’t reserve any Mana within his body, channeling all the Heavenly Dao Breath into the gate.
The next second, the unmoving gate suddenly made a move, the claws of the coiled dragon started to separate, and a massive pulling force emanated from the revealed aperture in the door. Xu Nanzhi was the first to react, diving into the gate without hesitation.
"Mengmeng, Long Xuan!"
Su Chengyu called out as Chen Mengmeng quickly followed past the door, while Long Xuan, evidently more powerful, did not act immediately.
"Apologies, although I said I’d follow your command, but..."
The Three Talents Sword suddenly stopped beside Su Chengyu, a massive black rod pressed against its blades, completely restraining its momentum.
Su Chengyu blinked at this unexpected scene, as Long Xuan continued speaking on the other side.
"If you die, the promise becomes meaningless. Go."
As Long Xuan spoke, Yu Shuang, who had processed the situation, entered the gate second.
Su Chengyu looked at Long Xuan once more, not hesitating to seize the opportunity afforded to him, becoming the third to enter the gate, leaving Long Xuan alone before Cui Manlou and the others. Latest content published on novᴇlfire.net
"Well, well, well, as expected from the famed Long Xuan from the Long family, whose name has echoed throughout Xia Country for so many years. I admit, I underestimated you. When you managed to withstand the siege from both Silver Dragon and Qing Tian for so long, I should have been more vigilant."
Long Xuan blinked at Cui Manlou and said, "I haven’t felt the benefit of being underestimated for a long time; what’s the term for it now? Playing the pig to eat the tiger? Hmm, although I wasn’t pretending, the feeling isn’t bad."
Cui Manlou coldly smiled, "Didn’t expect the mighty Long Xuan to joke like that."
"It’s quite ordinary, not as good as someone who went inside,"
With fewer people around, Long Xuan’s words were indeed much simpler.
Cui Manlou glared at Long Xuan, coldly smiling, "You stay alone; are you truly not afraid of dying here?"
"I fear many things, but of all, I don’t fear death."
Long Xuan spoke calmly, glancing at the gate alongside him.
"You tell me, if I stand alone before this gate, how long can I hold out against you seven?"
"Do you truly wish to die?"
Cui Manlou squinted, this time truly intent on killing.
Long Xuan chuckled lightly, then asked, "What if I leave?"
Cui Manlou’s expression shifted; he never expected that at this final moment he’d be outmaneuvered by Long Xuan after having plotted against Su Chengyu so thoroughly.
"Sir, let Silver Dragon and I act; we guarantee to take him down within one union."
Cui Manlou spoke as he watched four beams of light of different colors slowly emerge around Long Xuan, speaking calmly.
"The tradition of the Four major Taoist sects passed down for thousands of years; it’s surprising Ji Yuguang handed this to you, instead of Su Chengyu."
Seeing Cui Manlou having discovered his trump card, Long Xuan ceased to conceal.
"Though the master uncle acknowledged that guy, he’s not yet fit to accomplish this task."
"Well, well, well. A true Primordial Dao indeed. What an admirable lack of discrimination in teaching; the world thinks your ten years of Asking Sword were merely to establish the prestige of the Long family, yet unbeknownst to them, you alone have achieved the mastery of all the techniques of the world."
"Primordial Dao inherently seeks no discrimination, anything can be learned, anything can be taught. I happen to learn faster than others. Moreover, all of this is merely technique, not Dao itself."
To have the world’s techniques mastered in oneself — such a grand feat, were it not seen personally, no one would believe it, but Long Xuan paid it no mind.
At the battle on Mount Qianjue, he had triumphed over Ye Qingci.
The world’s evaluation of Long Xuan had shifted from indifferent to valuing fame, although some perceived him as a fool.
Only Long Xuan knew that it was merely about completing his own Dao.
"The Dao births all things. I don’t possess Su Chengyu’s ambition or audacity to encompass everything, so what I strive for is merely the harmony of all things with Dao."
As he calmly finished these words, Long Xuan already stood in a combat stance, prepared to possibly lay down his life in this place for Su Chengyu and the others to secure precious time.