232: Chapter 232 Re-emergence of All Things, Dimensional Reduction Attack

Mirage Water Market, top floor of the Wanxiang Pavilion.

In the Grand Deacon's room, blue smoke from top-grade calming incense swirled above the purple-gold incense burner.

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan paced back and forth across the room, which was carpeted in ice-silkworm silk. His handlebar mustache twitched slightly due to his restless state of mind. The words of the two severely injured spies echoed in his mind like heavy hammers.

Silently erasing traces of Karma and luring spies into the death trap of the Great Swamp—these methods were certainly beyond the reach of a mere Loose Cultivator. The Great Yu Cultivation World had a long history, with countless hidden Sects possessing ancient Legacies lurking within famous mountains and rivers. Once the old monsters of those Sects emerged, they were powerful beings capable of overturning seas and rivers. If the Wanxiang Merchant Alliance inadvertently offended such an existence, it would inevitably suffer severe damage, even with a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor guarding it.

"Those ten Flawless Cloud-Pattern Pills must be a test from some hidden Sect."

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan calculated inwardly, his expression shifting uncertainly. "This person accepted the Black Gold Token before leaving; he will surely return to the Wanxiang Pavilion. When we meet again, I must not be careless and must act with caution."

Just as Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan was filled with doubt and suspicion, four terrifying figures appeared on the white jade street of the Water Market, causing the surrounding clamor to fall into an instant, deathly silence.

Gu Shen wore a dark gold Asura mask and a purple-crimson robe with dark patterns. He walked in the center of the street, the Wanxiang Black Gold Token—symbolizing the highest level of treatment at the Wanxiang Pavilion—hanging from his waist.

Behind him, three guards nearly a zhang tall, with physiques as sturdy as iron towers, followed closely. These three guards were tightly concealed by wide black cloaks, leaving their appearances, physiques, and even their auras completely hidden.

Yet, every step these three guards took caused the sturdy white jade slabs to emit a muffled, thunderous sound, as if they were bearing an unbearable load.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The incredibly heavy footsteps carried a sense of oppression that felt like it was stepping on people's hearts. The Cultivators along the way were all struck with terror, scattering to both sides like they were avoiding snakes or scorpions, clearing a wide path.

Gu Shen went straight to the five-zhang-wide white jade stairs of the Wanxiang Pavilion.

The four golden-armored Puppets on both sides of the gate sensed the strange energy and their eyes glowed with intense red light. Their long halberds crossed in unison, laying down a layer of extremely heavy defensive Spiritual Pressure. The two managers guarding the pavilion were on high alert, about to step forward to question him.

Gu Shen did not stop, not even glancing at the guards.

The Wanxiang Black Gold Token at his waist sensed the Formation wave of the Wanxiang Pavilion and instantly bloomed with a brilliant dark golden light.

The moment the light shone, the defensive Formation of the Wanxiang Pavilion instantly collapsed on its own as if a subject had met a monarch, clearing a direct path to the top floor. The Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure released by the four golden-armored Puppets struck the three black-cloaked guards behind Gu Shen like mayflies trying to shake a tree, causing not a single ripple or even stirring the hem of their cloaks.

Seeing the token, the two managers guarding the pavilion stopped their approach, for they knew well that every Cultivator who possessed a Black Gold Token was the most distinguished guest of the Merchant Alliance, and someone they could not afford to offend.

Gu Shen ignored the terrified gazes of the hundreds of Cultivators in the first-floor lobby and led the three black-cloaked guards up the sandalwood stairs, ascending unimpeded to the 7th Floor, the highest level of the Wanxiang Pavilion.

The door of the VIP room, carved from ten-thousand-year agarwood, was pushed open with one hand by the Thunder Cloud Snow Leopard Iron Guard behind Gu Shen.

With a "creak," the door slowly opened to both sides.

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan turned abruptly, his eyes wide.

A mysterious person wearing a dark gold Asura mask and a purple-crimson robe stepped across the threshold. Following behind were three black-cloaked giants who looked like demon gods, blocking the originally spacious doorway completely.

"The Wanxiang Black Gold Token... Your Excellency is, that Fellow Daoist from before?"

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan saw the token at Gu Shen's waist and was deeply shocked. The appearance and aura of the person before him had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. The previous middle-aged Loose Cultivator had only possessed wood-attribute mana at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, but this masked person now had an unfathomable aura. It was a domineering aura that forcibly twisted and devoured the Laws of heaven and earth.

Gu Shen strode to the guest seat carved from ice jade and sat down imposingly. The three black-cloaked Iron Guards stood behind Gu Shen in a triangular Formation.

"There is no need for you to inquire about my name. Grand Deacon Shang only needs to know that the faction behind me is called the Xuanji Tower, and it is under my command."

Gu Shen's voice came through the mask, carrying a strange dullness and majesty. "Grand Deacon Shang, I have already dealt with those ants you sent. Your Merchant Alliance's way of treating guests has truly opened my eyes."

Upon hearing this, a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped from Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan's forehead.

It really was that terrifying figure with heaven-reaching means! Not only had the other party returned, but they had also come knocking openly and directly stated the name "Xuanji Tower."

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan was, after all, a Golden Core Early Stage master who had managed the Water Market for many years, and he was extremely shrewd. He suppressed the panic in his heart and immediately wore an expression of utmost apology.

"Pavilion Master, please calm your anger. My subordinates did not understand the rules and offended your might; I will definitely punish them severely." Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan lowered his posture significantly, personally picking up the jade pot to pour a cup of ten-thousand-year spiritual milk tea for Gu Shen. "I have long admired the Xuanji Tower, and to see the Pavilion Master's true face today is truly a great honor."

Although the polite words were well-spoken, Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan's Divine Sense, which belonged to a Golden Core Cultivator, was like a large net, silently enveloping the three black-cloaked guards behind Gu Shen.

In the Cultivation World, the strong prey on the weak; one must test the foundation before trading.

He could not see through Gu Shen, so he wanted to find flaws in these three tower-like guards.

His Divine Sense swept over.

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan's heart skipped a beat.

Nothing!

In his Divine Sense perception, the position where the three guards, nearly a zhang tall, stood was an absolute void. There was no surge of blood, no fluctuation of Divine Soul, and no traces of any Formation patterns or mana operation. It was as if they were three stubborn stones or three pieces of dead wood.

Gu Shen sat on the ice jade chair, his eyes beneath the mask revealing a piercing, cold clarity.

These Demon Bone Iron Guards were equipped with sound-insulating coatings and concealment Formation patterns, and were driven by pure physical mechanics, so Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan's Divine Sense naturally could not detect any spiritual energy of the Cultivation World.

"Grand Deacon Shang seems quite interested in my Divine Generals."

Gu Shen put down the teacup, his tone calm and unruffled.

He pointed to the huge black stone in the room used by top-tier merchants to test the power of Magic Treasures. This stone was called the Sword-Testing Stone, and it was entirely smelted from deep-sea falling star sand. Even a Golden Core Cultivator would find it difficult to destroy the Sword-Testing Stone when activating a Magical Artifact.

"The Xuanji Tower has been in seclusion for three thousand years, so it is natural for the Merchant Alliance to have doubts. No. 7, let Grand Deacon Shang witness the superficial methods of my Pavilion." Gu Shen ordered calmly.

The moment his voice fell.

The Golden-Horned Rhinoceros Beast Iron Guard standing to Gu Shen's left suddenly moved.

Under the black cloak, the titanium-tungsten alloy joint mechanisms operated, and the micro-fusion battery erupted with violent nuclear power.

No spells were cast, and there was no glimmer of True Essence gathering.

The Iron Guard No. 7's massive body turned into a black lightning bolt, instantly closing the distance to the Sword-Testing Stone. Its right arm was raised high, and the wide black cloak was instantly shredded by the terrifying kinetic energy, revealing a dark black metal giant arm that shone with a cold luster under the light, engraved with countless complex Formation patterns!

That iron fist, forged entirely from Advanced alloy, carried destructive physical kinetic energy and slammed solidly into the center of the Sword-Testing Stone.

"Boom—!"

An earth-shattering explosion erupted in the room.

The indestructible physical power was vividly displayed at this moment.

That Sword-Testing Stone, which was said to be able to withstand even Golden Core mana, erupted with countless shocking cracks from the center under this pure punch. Immediately after, the entire giant stone, under high-frequency vibration, exploded into a sky full of fine powder!

A powerful shockwave swept through the entire room, shattering the surrounding sandalwood shelves and antique ornaments.

The Iron Guard No. 7 slowly retracted its unscathed metal giant arm and turned to stand behind Gu Shen again, acting like a dead statue the whole time.

Grand Deacon Shang Buhuan stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with extreme shock.

He stared fixedly at the powder of the Sword-Testing Stone scattered all over the floor, his brain falling into a brief blankness.

Completely devoid of spiritual energy, without the slightest mana fluctuation, it had shattered the Sword-Testing Stone with a single punch relying solely on pure physical power!

If this terrifying monster, which exceeded the common sense of the Cultivation World and completely shattered his century of cognition, were to strike his Golden Core protective Spiritual Pressure, how many punches could he withstand?

Gu Shen sat in the middle of the sky full of dust, his purple-crimson robe unstained by even a speck of dust.

What he wanted was this kind of dimensional reduction strike that shattered the other party's worldview.

"Grand Deacon Shang."

"Now, we can talk about a real big deal."