Chapter 403: The disciples will surely impart all their knowledge

Shi Meng opened his mouth, wanting to beg for mercy, wanting to curse angrily, yet couldn't utter a single word. His body withered at a visible speed, eventually turning into a dry corpse of skin and bones, silently sinking to the pool bottom.

Qingxuan Elder shook his head regretfully, as if bored by the premature damage of a toy:

"What a pity, you can't even grasp the chance to choose."

Her gaze swept slowly over the silent, deathly pale crowd, her voice icy and bone-chilling:

"Remember, only I can decide when you may enter."

Inside the hall, a deathly silence prevailed; no one dared to speak, even their breathing became cautious.

After a moment, Qingxuan Elder seemed satisfied with the effect, then lazily waved his hand:

"Alright, now you may enter."

"In order, enter the pool one by one, each for the time of a single incense stick."

No one dared to refuse the words of a killing god.

Immediately, the native powerhouses rushed forward, scrambling to reach the Ascension Pool.

"Plop!"

"Plop!"

One after another, figures leapt into the pool, splashing brilliant clouds of light.

Upon entering the pool, they let out utterances of extreme comfort, as if bathed in a warm womb; their thirty-six thousand pores opened wide, greedily absorbing the pool's energy.

Gu Yuan stood at the rear of the crowd, observing coldly.

Under his divine sense, comparable to that of an Immortal King, the essence of the Ascension Pool was laid bare.

The energy in the pool water was indeed pure, and indeed had the effect of washing tendons and purifying marrow.

Yet within that pure energy lay hidden countless soul-binding seal runes, far finer than dust.

These runes would silently seep into cultivators' seas of consciousness with the pool water, merging with their soul origins, ultimately forming an irremovable slave mark.

From then on, life and death lay entirely in others' thoughts.

What a grand welcoming ceremony, what an Ascension Pool.

This is no bestowal of opportunity; it is clearly a mass slave-branding ritual.

Gu Yuan smirked inwardly, yet his expression remained unchanged.

Soon, it was his turn.

"You are the Yuan the Melee General specifically mentioned, right?"

Qingxuan Elder stepped forward with lotus-light steps, arriving before Gu Yuan, exhaling like orchids, her face bearing an especially warm smile as she personally guided him.

"Yes, Elder."

Gu Yuan conducted himself perfectly, showing reverence for the strong while retaining a hint of heavenly pride's due reserve.

"Not bad, not bad."

Qingxuan Elder grew more satisfied the more she looked, personally leading Gu Yuan to the central region of the Ascension Pool—a secluded, solitary spot.

Were it not for her ruthless methods, one might think she was after Gu Yuan's body.

"This is where the pool's eye lies, the energy purest; with your extraordinary talent, you deserve this honor."

Qingxuan Elder licked her lips, her jade finger lightly twisting, forming a seal with one hand as a surge of mana struck the formation core at the pool's bottom.

"Hum!"

The entire Ascension Pool burst forth with light.

The pool water instantly boiled, billions of runes activating into visible golden chains that swarmed toward Gu Yuan at the pool's center.

A flicker of triumph flashed in Qingxuan Elder's eyes.

For this wild True Immortal who had emerged from the Eleventh Land, she deliberately pushed the Ascension Pool's power to its utmost.

With her peak True Immortal, half-step Immortal King strength, it was enough to ensure this strongest beast would be bound with the sturdiest shackles.

In the pool.

Gu Yuan closed his eyes.

Faced with the heaven-covering seal runes, he offered no resistance, not even activating his protective immortal essence.

He merely opened a slit in his inner world.

Beyond that slit lay the profound, boundless Chaos.

The World Tree rooted at Chaos's center swayed gently.

An ineffable devouring power flashed through that slit.

The next moment, Qingxuan Elder's alluring smile froze.

She horrifiedly discovered that the seal runes she herself had activated, capable of instantly sealing a peak True Immortal's soul, vanished like a mud ox in the sea upon contacting Gu Yuan's body!

No, they did not disappear!

They were devoured!

The entire Ascension Pool's energy was surging into Gu Yuan's body at a speed beyond her comprehension!

The pool's water level dropped at a visible pace.

"What... what is happening?!" Qingxuan Elder was dumbfounded.

She had never witnessed such an absurd sight.

Even the Immortal King's offspring, possessing supreme Dao bodies, could not possibly devour the Ascension Pool's energy so overbearingly!

Could it be... this child's talent is even more terrifying than the Immortal King's offspring?

An absurd notion rose in her mind.

Not only did she feel no fear, but a great joy surged within her.

She had found a treasure!

She found a true supreme treasure!

As long as we can firmly control this child and offer him to the Unlawful Immortal King, what a tremendous merit that would be!

Thinking this, Elder Qingxuan gritted their teeth, not only not stopping the formation, but instead frantically pouring their immortal essence into the formation's core.

"Suck! Go ahead and suck! I want to see where your limit lies!"

She intends to use even greater energy to completely feed Gu Yuan, burst his divine soul, and then lay down the restriction.

However, her action of 'adding fuel to the fire' is, in Gu Yuan's view, no different from actively serving a dish.

In Gu Yuan's inner world.

Those restriction runes that had been swallowed, upon entering this world dominated by Gu Yuan, instantly lost all their power.

A light sweep of the World Tree's branches and leaves decomposed these runes into the most primal Law Fragments.

And the Primeval Human Emperor Seal radiated brilliant golden light, reordering and combining these Law Fragments.

Soon, a slave seal identical to the restriction runes of the Immortal Transformation Pool was forged, its core etched with Gu Yuan's will, combining his oft-used Great Dao of Salvation.

"Reciprocity is courtesy."

Gu Yuan's thoughts stirred.

That slave seal he had modified, following the energy channel between him and the Immortal Transformation Pool, silently rose upstream.

It passed through the boiling pool water, passed through the layers of restrictions guarding the divine hall.

Finally, like a mote of dust, it landed on the forehead of Elder Qingxuan, who was exerting all effort to drive the formation, merging into the depths of her sea of consciousness.

The whole process occurred unbeknownst to gods and ghosts.

Elder Qingxuan noticed nothing of it.

She only felt that the energy consumption of the Immortal Transformation Pool seemed to have finally slowed down.

And Gu Yuan, at the pool's center, slowly opened his eyes.

The time it takes to burn an incense stick has exactly arrived.

Gu Yuan walked out of the Immortal Transformation Pool, immortal light swirling around him, his aura deeper than before, as if he had undergone a rebirth.

"Many thanks, Elder, for granting this opportunity."

Gu Yuan bowed slightly toward Elder Qingxuan, keeping his posture very low.

"Good, good!"

Elder Qingxuan looked at Gu Yuan with lustful eyes, as if beholding a perfect artwork, her eyes full of admiration and greed,

"Your talent is something I have never seen in my life; later, follow me, I have some cultivation secrets to impart to you alone."

She could not wait to completely pocket this supreme treasure.

As for whether she would ruin Gu Yuan, she didn't care.

It made her seem as if she had no background.

A wild immortal with such a powerful physique, possibly bearing the mien of an Immortal King, is enough for her to take a risk!

"Wait… if Elder Sister hurts you, you must endure it. Of course, I also have many things I don't understand, Yuan'er… you must certainly impart all your knowledge."

Looking at the bewitching beautiful woman, Gu Yuan gave a sheepish laugh, his eyes revealing amusement.

"Elder, rest assured, I speak truthfully—I will surely impart all my knowledge."

I just don't know if you, Elder, can withstand it.