Stronger by Killing

He knows that Gu Chuan and Gu Zhan had once jokingly made a promise in Linjiang City.

Gu Zhan looked at Rong Yichu’s faint smile, did not respond, but turned to Gai Qingcheng, saying, "Miss Gu Qi, since the Gu Family wishes to collaborate with this Marquis, then let’s support each other from now on!"

Gai Qingcheng bowed slightly and said, "In the future, I ask for the Marquis’ guidance."

Gu Zhan nodded slightly and said, "For this matter, Miss Gu Qi can arrange for someone to liaise with the Military Advisor. This Marquis has something to inquire about, if I offend in any way, please forgive me!"

Gai Qingcheng sat down slowly and said, "The Marquis may speak freely."

Gu Zhan put down the teacup in his hand and said, "I want to know, the Secret of the Grotto Heaven!"

Gai Qingcheng frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Gu Zhan didn’t insist, saying, "This Marquis is being presumptuous..."

"No," Gai Qingcheng hurriedly said, "The Marquis misunderstands. Since the Gu Family is willing to fully support the Marquis, naturally we wouldn’t hide these things. Moreover, the Secret of the Grotto Heaven is the supreme secret for others, but for the Marquis, it’s really not. Qingcheng’s hesitation was because I didn’t know where to start."

Gu Zhan slowly said, "Speak whatever comes to mind!"

Gai Qingcheng pondered for a while and said, "Marquis, actually, the Secret of the Grotto Heaven is unknown not only to outsiders but also to us, the sects and families who hold the Grotto Heaven Technique.

The Grotto Heaven Realm, where it comes from, who created it, and what’s above the Grotto Heaven, these things we aren’t clear about."

Gai Qingcheng thought for a moment and said, "Let me first talk about the transformation of the Grotto Heaven. The Marquis should know that in the Grandmaster Realm, a Martial Artist will appear with a second Dantian, in which an Inner Mansion is opened, and within the Inner Mansion, a Spirit Platform emerges."

Gu Zhan nodded and said, "Without roots on the Spirit Platform, don’t ask for Immortal Fate."

"Yes," Gai Qingcheng said, "Without roots on the Spirit Platform, don’t ask for Immortal Fate. This phrase essentially means literally, the so-called roots would grow a Spirit Root on the Spirit Platform. This Spirit Root itself doesn’t hold much meaning, but it equates to a key that opens the gateway to the Grotto Heaven Realm.

Because the Grotto Heaven Realm is a fate-driven realm, no matter how talented or brilliant one might be, without a Spirit Root on the Spirit Platform, there’s no way to break through the Grotto Heaven Realm, no chance to glimpse the threshold of the Grotto Heaven. The reason being, a breakthrough to the Grotto Heaven requires energy called Spiritual Qi."

Gu Zhan’s brow furrowed,

remembering the mass of energy intercepted during the battle with the Elder Celestial Master today, referred to as Spiritual Qi by him.

Gai Qingcheng continued, "This Spiritual Qi, like the Spirit Root, is one of the essential conditions for entering the Grotto Heaven Realm. It’s an energy much purer than the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, but this Spiritual Qi, in fact, doesn’t exist in this world!"

Confused, Gu Zhan asked, "Doesn’t exist? Where do the Grotto Heaven Cultivators acquire it then?"

Gai Qingcheng slowly said, "That’s why major top forces can monopolize the Grotto Heaven Cultivators. To obtain the Spiritual Qi requires an array called the Spirit Gathering Array, which is very difficult to set up, and the setup methods are top-secret among the factions.

The purpose of the Spirit Gathering Array is to absorb the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and refine Spiritual Qi from it. Martial Artists with a Spirit Root can then cultivate the Grotto Heaven Secret Manual, guiding the Spiritual Qi into the Inner Mansion of the Dantian to nourish the Spirit Root. Once the Spirit Root grows significantly, they can attempt a breakthrough to the Grotto Heaven Realm.

Thus, to become a Land Immortal of the Grotto Heaven Realm, essentially requires three elements: one is the Spirit Root, two is the Grotto Heaven Technique, and three is the Spiritual Qi. With all three, even Supreme Grandmasters have a chance to break through to the Grotto Heaven Realm, although it’s extremely difficult; the Gu Family has had only three successful breakthroughs in its 800-year heritage."

Gai Qingcheng pondered for a while and continued, "And the reason Land Immortals can’t simply appear in the world is because the energy they absorb comes from Spiritual Qi rather than Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. Once the Spiritual Qi in the Inner Mansion is exhausted, they can’t use the Grotto Heaven techniques, their realm directly falls back to Supreme Grandmaster, and they might even suffer physical problems due to absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, causing Qi and blood to collapse.

Therefore, Land Immortals appear in the world very rarely, unless absolutely necessary, and generally won’t leave the range of the Spirit Gathering Array, which is akin to confining oneself to a drawn boundary. The Land Immortals of various forces generally serve as deterrents and are rarely allowed to act."

Gu Zhan raised his eyebrows, finally understanding why Land Immortals remain hidden, not by choice, but as a necessity.

Gai Qingcheng thought for a moment and said, "Marquis, the reason your creation of the Method of Divine Sight caused such a sensation is another crucial reason."

"What reason?" Gu Zhan asked.

Gai Qingcheng slowly said, "It seems that Heaven and Earth are changing, making the breakthrough to the Grotto Heaven Realm increasingly difficult, and the number of Land Immortals in the world is continuously decreasing. In the last fifty years, there’s been no news of any faction birthing new Land Immortals.

According to our Ancestor, it’s because the Spirit Gathering Array’s ability to refine Spiritual Qi is diminishing, and its purity continues to decrease as well. Therefore, it’s highly likely that there will be no more normal breakthroughs to Land Immortal, and so now various forces are continuously seeking ways to change this. The upheaval in the Gu Family back then was due to conflicts arising from seeking change, gradually evolving into internal strife, almost leading the Gu Family into disintegration."

Gu Zhan slightly furrowed his brows, saying, "So, according to you, Wei Wuya’s breakthrough to Land Immortal was because he found a new method to breakthrough?"