197: Chapter 197 Dead End and Choice

In the hinterland of Mang Mountain, there was a dim cavern.

The pale white fire of rules emerged from the Void Realm, barely wrapping around the hem of Gu Shen's clothes. The vast, resounding echo of the [Heaven and Earth Furnace] still reverberated in his Sea of Consciousness, and the Gate of Cross-Boundary was about to open.

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

" Zheng——！"

A piercing zither sound, sharp enough to tear apart the Divine Soul, penetrated a hundred zhang of rock and shot straight into the cavern in the hinterland of Mang Mountain.

The Cold Jade Bone beneath Gu Shen's skin uncontrollably began to resonate at the same frequency the moment the zither sound struck. An aching numbness shot from his spine straight to the back of his head, and the cross-boundary intent that had just gathered in his Sea of Consciousness was severely disrupted, shattering like a reflection in a mirror.

The pale white void fire flickered a few times, then extinguished into nothingness.

" Boom！"

The stalactite dome above let out an unbearable groan. Under the crushing weight of some overwhelming force, the thick rock layers disintegrated inch by inch. Huge debris mixed with mud and water rained down, instantly tearing apart the secrecy of this secluded spot.

Amidst the dust and smoke, dozens of dazzling star Formation Flags shot down from the sky, precisely nailing into the rock walls around the cavern.

Azure spiritual light wove into a net, completely sealing off the space for a hundred zhang around. On the Formation light curtain, the Qi of the earth veins faintly circulated, draining all the surrounding Earth-attribute Spiritual Qi and transforming the area into an unbreakable prison.

Gu Shen stood amidst the falling rubble, one hand gripping the scabbard of his thunder pattern gold-slaying blade.

His gaze turned icy as he looked up at the collapsed opening of the dome.

Bright moonlight spilled down, illuminating the figure in white standing in the air. Core Disciple Qin Wuyan held a white mountain-shaking bone zither in one hand, the long wind brushing against his robes, making him look like a god from the Nine Heavens looking down upon an ant.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Core Disciple Qin Wuyan's tone was as gentle as ever, but the coldness within it made one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. "Once my mountain-shaking bone zither sound enters the bones, the echo will not cease for three days. That faint vibration frequency deep within your bones is like a bright lamp in the dark night of Mang Mountain. Attempting to escape by entering the water veins is truly trying to cover one's ears while stealing a bell."

On the surrounding cliffs, dozens of elite Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect hovered in the air, each holding a Magical Artifact, their gazes locked coldly on the lonely grey-clothed figure below.

An inescapable net; there was no way to escape.

Gu Shen's expression remained unchanged as he exhaled slowly, releasing the turbid Qi churning in his chest.

Inside the black iron buckle at his collar, Crab's standalone electronic voice, accompanied by high-load operating noise, sounded an alarm through bone conduction: "Master! The surrounding spatial curvature has been locked by a high-energy Formation. The target organism has used the residual sound waves to construct an absolute positioning anchor. We are completely surrounded."

"The probability of a conventional breakout is approaching zero. The enemy Formation contains multiple gravity field lockdowns, and even the third-order Demon Bone Iron Guard cannot be reassembled in this environment."

Gu Shen ignored Crab's desperate analysis. He knew well the foundation of the top Sects in the Cultivation World; once they latched onto you, it was not easy to shake them off.

"Core Disciple Qin Wuyan has gone to such lengths to set up this Formation; you must want something significant." Gu Shen's voice was hoarse, with a cold, hard texture like metal rubbing together. "The remains of the Kui Ox have already been refined by me. If you want them back, I'm afraid it's too late."

Core Disciple Qin Wuyan lightly stroked the bone zither and let out a soft laugh.

"A mere second-order Great Vicious Beast remain; if it's lost, it's lost. Consider it a travel expense for you, Fellow Daoist. I have come here this time for something else."

His gaze shifted slightly, as if attempting to pry open Gu Shen's Storage Ring to see the universe within.

"The three black-armored Puppets you used earlier truly opened my eyes."

Core Disciple Qin Wuyan slowly descended several zhang, moving closer. "The outer armor is as hard as a top-grade Magical Artifact, and there is absolutely no trace of Spirit Stone Formation patterns inside, yet they can erupt with terrifying power comparable to a third-order Great Vicious Beast. This kind of mechanism art, which steals the creation of Heaven and Earth and takes a different path, is unheard of in the entire western region of Great Yu."

His words were sincere, every sentence filled with an intention to recruit, yet they hid murderous intent.

"Fellow Daoist Chen. You are but a Loose Cultivator. Even if you have had some fortuitous encounters, you are ultimately like duckweed without roots. An innocent man is innocent, but a treasure is a crime. Such a top-secret Legacy that could overturn the Puppet path of the Cultivation World will only bring you death if it remains in your hands."

Core Disciple Qin Wuyan extended his right hand, palm facing up.

"Hand over the refining diagrams and core mechanisms of those Puppets. I, Core Disciple Qin Wuyan, swear in the name of the Beast Taming Sect's core true transmission that not only will I spare your life, but I can also recommend you to join the Thousand Mechanisms Hall of my Sect and grant you the position of an outer Sect Elder. Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, blessed lands—you will have everything. Having leaped over the dragon gate, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Threats and inducements, both used at once.

This was the customary way of doing things for a large Sect. They viewed bottom-tier Loose Cultivators as grass, taking rare treasures by trickery or force when encountered. If they could be recruited, they would be turned into lackeys for the Sect; if they dared to resist, they would be wiped out on the spot.

At the bottom of the cavern.

Gu Shen quietly listened to this condescending charity. On the rugged face under the disguise of Thousand Faces, a faint sneer appeared.

"Master, he is attempting to dismantle your fighting will." Crab's mechanical voice sounded at the right moment. "According to human psychology modeling, once you hand over the core data and lose your utility value, the probability of the other party eliminating you will skyrocket to one hundred percent."

"I am naturally aware of that."

Gu Shen responded coldly in his heart. If the oaths of the Cultivation World were truly effective, the world would have long since become a peaceful land.

Today's situation was already a dead end.

The God-Slaying Sword was countered by the soul-warming jade, and the Cyber Iron Guard was paralyzed by the sound wave resonance. Conventional spells and Wasteland Puppet weapons had all failed before this well-prepared, deep-founded Prodigy.

The resource barrier of a large Sect was like a giant mountain that could not be crossed, standing in front of Gu Shen.

If he dragged it out, his Dantian would run dry, leaving him with no choice but to surrender.

Only by completely overturning this chessboard could he tear open a glimmer of survival.

"The conditions offered by Core Disciple Qin Wuyan are truly generous."

Gu Shen's right hand gripping the hilt tightened slowly, his knuckles showing a cold, white luster like Cold Jade Bone.

He raised his head, facing the starry Formation light and dozens of cold gazes.

"Since I embarked on the path of the Dao, I have always believed in one principle. The rules of this world are all set by the swords of the strong. Whether it is a Sect or a Loose Cultivator, whoever has harder bones will be the one to survive until the end."

Deep within his Dantian Qi Sea.

The grey and profound [Nirvana Star Core], which had fused the extreme powers of two worlds, seemed to let out a low roar like a prehistoric beast awakening under the extreme pressure of Gu Shen's will.

The deep cyan liquid true essence no longer circulated gently according to the circulation path of the [Longevity Art]. Like boiling mercury, they flowed in reverse, crazily scouring the inner walls of his tough Meridians.

An extremely oppressive and heavy aura radiated from within Gu Shen's body.

The dust and water vapor drifting in the surrounding air, under the pull of this suddenly descending force field, suspended in mid-air, and then, as if receiving a great suction force, rapidly gathered and collapsed toward the direction where Gu Shen was located.

"Toasting but refusing to drink fine wine."

Core Disciple Qin Wuyan's expression turned cold, the last trace of gentleness in his eyes completely vanishing.

"Form the killing array! Keep his Divine Soul, destroy his Physical Body!"

He shouted coldly, his fingertips fiercely hooking onto the strings of the mountain-shaking bone zither. Thirty-six elite Disciples simultaneously activated the Formation Flags, and the star light net instantly transformed into a sharp killing array, with spiritual light pouring down like a torrential rain toward the lonely figure at the bottom of the valley.

Gu Shen stood in the center of the storm.

He did not dodge or evade, his body slightly hunched, like a peerless Vicious Beast ready to strike.

"Since you all think you have me in the palm of your hand."

Gu Shen's voice was like metal clashing, revealing a resolute violence.

"Then open your eyes wide and see if you can swallow this Star Core of mine!"