Chapter 54: Enter the Nine Provinces!

"Uncle Xuan Ce, you've overwhelmed me."

"Gu Yuan hurriedly helped him up, speaking solemnly:"

"\"We're all family; improving the family's formation is also a good thing. \""

"Upon hearing this, his perspective instantly broadened."

"The old ancestor watched from the side, stroking his beard and smiling, his eyes full of approval."

"Neither arrogant nor impatient, neither humble nor aggressive, having merit without pride, receiving kindness without self-importance."

"Good! Truly worthy of being my grandson!"

"\"Alright, Xuan Ce, since Yuan'er has given you this opportunity, you should observe it well. \""

"The old ancestor spoke,"

"\"Three days from now, we will set out on time; do not delay Yuan'er's important affairs. \""

"\"Yes, Old Ancestor! Xuan Ce will surely not disappoint Young Master Yuan'er's high expectations! \""

"Gu Xuan Ce bowed deeply to Gu Yuan once again,"

"then, unable to wait any longer,"

"he plopped down cross-legged before that mysterious circular light gate."

"His eyes widened, and within them, millions of symbols flickered wildly, evolving,"

"his entire being entered a state of self‑forgetting epiphany."

"That obsessed look,"

"was like a lustful ghost starving for eight hundred years,"

"who finally beheld a peerless immortal maiden without a stitch of clothing."

"Seeing this, the old ancestor also shook his head, laughing and crying at once."

"However, he knew that Gu Xuan Ce had always been obsessed with formation arts,"

"a rare talent the Gu Family could scarcely find,"

"the formation he has set up now can already threaten a Heavenly Emperor Realm cultivator,"

"if he could advance further, that would truly be extraordinary."

"He swept his sleeve, and an invisible immortal‑power barrier,"

"enveloped Gu Xuan Ce and that light gate,"

"cutting off all external interference."

"\"Alright, everyone, disperse. \""

"The old ancestor waved his hand at the nine Supremes and the hundred Holy Sages,"

"\"Gather here again in three days. \""

"\"Yes, sir! \""

"The crowd replied in unison, then each turned into a stream of light and returned to their own places of cultivation."

"They also needed time to digest today's scene, which could be called a miracle."

"and make preparations in the meantime."

"For a moment, this vast starry sky,"

"had only Gu Yuan and the old ancestor left."

"\"Yuan'er, is this casual door‑opening ability a talent awakened by your Eternal Immortal Body? \""

"The old ancestor looked at his own grandson and asked curiously,"

"Although he could sense the supreme aura emanating from the light gate,"

"he remained utterly clueless about its origin."

"\"Maybe it's half‑and‑half, or perhaps a chain reaction between the Eternal Immortal Body and the Three Thousand Micro Worlds. \""

"Gu Yuan, without blushing or racing heart, credited the feat to his all‑powerful physique."

"As for whether you believe it,"

"you'll know once you awaken an Eternal Immortal Body and, at the Second Realm, open up the Three Thousand Micro Worlds."

"The old ancestor patted Gu Yuan's shoulder and said earnestly,"

"\"This is your greatest secret; besides Grandfather, you must never mention it to anyone, not even your father. \""

"\"I understand, Grandson. \" Gu Yuan nodded solemnly."

"\"Go on; use these three days to prepare well. \" The old ancestor waved his hand."

"Gu Yuan performed a salute, then turned and left."

"Watching his grandson's retreating back, the old ancestor's gaze,"

"once again fell upon the circular light gate shrouded in immortal‑power barrier, his eyes becoming immeasurably deep."

"\"Transcending the Immortal Way, surpassing all laws…… In this world, such beings actually exist……\""

"\"Yuan'er's future may be even more tumultuous and magnificent than I imagined. \""

"……"

"Three days passed in the blink of an eye."

"During these three days, the entire Gu Family Divine Island,"

"was shrouded in an eerie tranquility."

"All the awakened Grand Elders remained silent,"

"merely quietly adjusting their conditions, awaiting the departure order."

"Meanwhile, Gu Yuan, who was at the eye of the storm, leisurely reclined in his Undead Wandering Palace, sipping little wine and eating immortal fruit,"

Listening to the celestial music played by the Dao attendants, the dance that was performed,

Honestly speaking, after watching for eighteen years,

Some of it I've grown tired of.

His immortal longevity bones showed hardly any reaction.

……

Three days later, at dawn.

When the first ray of morning light illuminated the Old Ancestor's inner universe,

Gu Xuan Ce, sitting cross-legged before the Light Gate, slowly opened his eyes.

On his face was a hint of fatigue, but more so an unprecedented excitement and ecstasy!

Boom!

A more profound formation Dao aura than three days ago surged up from his body!

The void before him, under his gaze,

actually began to spontaneously twist and fold, drawing forth one after another fleeting small worlds!

"Success! I understand! Hahaha! I understand!"

Gu Xuan Ce seemed mad, laughing loudly to the heavens.

Just three days of observation,

He felt his formation Dao cultivation increase by a hundred thousand years!

Many previously obscure bottlenecks were now easily resolved, suddenly becoming clear!

He is confident that, given enough time and materials, he could even set up a supreme killing formation capable of trapping and slaying a True Immortal!

And all of this was bestowed upon him by that eighteen-year-old Young Master!

"Xuan Ce, congratulations, fellow Daoist, on your great progress in formation Dao!"

"It seems Fellow Daoist Xuan Ce has reaped great gains this time!"

The silhouettes of the other nine Supremes also appeared one after another in the starry sky.

They looked at Gu Xuan Ce, whose aura had greatly changed, and each felt a hint of envy.

One step closer to the Heavenly Emperor!

"Hahaha, shared joy, shared joy!" Gu Xuan Ce restrained his aura, clasped his fists toward the crowd, and could not suppress the smile on his face.

He quickly walked up to the newly appeared Gu Yuan and the Old Ancestor, and bowed deeply again.

"Xuan Ce, thank the Old Ancestor! Thank the Young Master!"

"This kindness, Xuan Ce will never forget! Henceforth, whatever the Young Master requires, Xuan Ce is willing to traverse all heavens and construct the myriad realms' Dao gates for the Young Master!"

"Uncle Xuan Ce, you're being overly modest."

Gu Yuan laughed as he helped him up.

The Old Ancestor nodded satisfactorily:

"The time has come, prepare to depart."

"Yes!"

Gu Xuan Ce answered with a sound, turned and faced that Light Gate.

This time, he no longer needed to expend mental effort to deduce as before.

He simply extended a hand, lightly touched the Light Gate.

Hum—

That inherently mysterious and extraordinary circular Light Gate, its surface flowing with chaotic runes, suddenly became clear.

A stable and mighty spatial power emanated from within,

thoroughly calming the violent chaotic turbulence inside the Light Gate, transforming it into a flat, safe Starlight Avenue.

This move made the other nine Supremes feel another pang of envy.

"Old Ancestor, Young Master, the passage is now stable; we can depart at any time."

Gu Xuan Ce said respectfully.

"Good."

The Old Ancestor turned his head, looked at Gu Yuan, and finally instructed:

"Yuan'er, remember, your safety comes first. Do not act recklessly; if anything happens, let these old fellows take the lead."

"Grandson understands."

"Go."

The Old Ancestor waved his hand, like a kind elder seeing off a grandson going far away.

Gu Yuan performed a great bow before the Old Ancestor.

Then, the deepest cultivator, Gu Linjiang, took the lead,

was the first to enter.

Until word came from the other side,

Only then did Gu Yuan not hesitate, turn and stride,

step onto the Starlight Avenue leading to the Three Thousand Dao Provinces!

Behind him, the two Dao guardians, Gu Zhangfeng and Gu Yunlan, never left his side.

After that, came Gu Xuanche and the other six Supremes,

as well as the hundred Deep‑as‑the‑sea Supreme Sage Dark Guards.

They were like the most loyal shadows, silently,

Following their young master's steps, they stepped through the gate leading to the unknown world.

As the last hidden guard's figure disappeared into the light gate,

That wondrous circular light gate also slowly rotated, eventually turning into a point of light, dissipating into the void.

It seemed as if it had never appeared.

The Old Ancestor stood silently under the starry sky, watching them depart; after a long while, he let out a long sigh.

"Sanqian Zhou, ancient immortal relic land, World Tree..."

"I hope this bunch of old fogeys won't disappoint this seat, nor disappoint Yuan'er."

He turned around, sat back upon the Bronze Immortal Coffin; that ancient, simple Chaos Immortal Bell once again appeared in his palm.

"Before Yuan'er returns, this old man must also seize the time to thoroughly refine this treasure lump!"

"At that time, if there truly is something blind-eyed, daring to move a single hair of my grandson..."

In the Old Ancestor's eyes, a trace of icy, bone-piercing killing intent flashed.

"This seat doesn't mind letting this immortal realm experience in advance what it means when the Chaos Bell rings—myriad paths turn to ash."