Heaven's Gate, Heaven's Gate

When Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Hong Yi arrived at Tiansheng Lake Shore, the scene before them was like the end of the world.

Tiansheng Lake was like a boiling giant pot, and violent hurricanes stirred up thousands of giant water tornadoes, roaring and charging straight into the sky, connecting with the low-hanging, rolling, heavy dark clouds, as if they were giant pillars supporting the heavens and earth.

Deafening thunder exploded in the cloud layer, and pale lightning snakes tore through the dim sky curtain. Each flash illuminated the terrifying scene of surging waves and turbulent waters below.

The great rivers connected to Tiansheng Lake were now rising at a speed visible to the naked eye. The turbid river water, carrying broken wood and stones, let out dull and frightening roars, fiercely impacting the embankment, and the earth itself trembled slightly.

The air was filled with dense water vapor and a heart-palpitating aura of destruction.

"The great formation has been activated! It's at the lake bottom!" Hong Yi said.

"You two wait here. I'll go down and take a look."

Gu Mo didn't hesitate at all. His aura erupted, and he charged straight into the raging lake heart like a meteor strike. Although he didn't intentionally activate the Dragon God Skill, his innate dragon's trait made him no different in water than on land. Wherever he passed, the surging water was forcibly parted to create a passage.

Sinking into the dark, cold lake bottom, he fully opened his divine sense, scanning every inch of the lake bed like the most precise probe.

Soon, a crack that was madly swallowing the lake water appeared in his perception. The powerful suction even began to distort the surrounding water flow.

Gu Mo's figure flickered, and he rushed into the crack without hesitation.

Beneath the crack was an underground palace on the verge of collapse.

The icy lake water was pouring in madly from all directions, emitting a deafening roar.

Countless precisely suspended formation disks emitted piercing hums, their lights flickering unstably like dying stars.

The entire underground palace space was groaning and twisting. Stones constantly peeled off from the ceiling, and the water level was rapidly rising.

Gu Mo saw Tie Tou at a glance, along with over a dozen other people. These people were in a strange state. Although they were almost drowned, they seemed oblivious and were still continuously repairing the formation.

"Puppet Technique!"

Gu Mo recognized at a glance that their divine senses were controlled.

Immediately, Gu Mo walked up to Tie Tou and the others, unleashed his Nascent Soul Power, splitting it into threads that precisely pierced into their seas of consciousness. The Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique circulated, and those mental imprints were like ice and snow encountering a scorching sun, instantly and domineeringly stripped away and shattered!

"Ugh..."

Tie Tou was the first to grunt. His vacant eyes instantly regained clarity, and he was then so terrified by the scene before him that his face turned pale. "Gu... Great Hero Gu!"

"Go!"

Gu Mo shouted in a low voice. His powerful internal energy formed a gentle protective shield, instantly enveloping all the weapon forgers who had just broken free from control.

He scooped up the still dazed Tie Tou with one hand, and with the other, he unleashed a majestic surge of energy, sweeping up the others. He transformed into a brilliant streamer of light, charging against the surging, pouring lake water, forcefully breaking through the underground palace's dome, and rushing out of that vortex of destruction!

"Splash--!"

Gu Mo and the others broke through the water and landed steadily on the mountain.

The wind howled, making it almost impossible to stand.

Looking out, Tiansheng Lake was like a Primordial Giant Beast that had broken free from its restraints. The water level was rising at a terrifying speed. The connected Great Rivers churned with Towering Turbid Waves, roaring and constantly battering the dam. Huge stones groaned under the impact of the giant waves, and cracks spread visibly.

Tie Tou was still a bit dazed, but seeing the commotion at Tiansheng Lake, he quickly said, "Great Hero Gu, that person... he activated a great formation. I don't know what kind of formation it is. We were controlled and made to do his bidding. That great formation connects the entire lake and several Great Rivers.

Now it seems that person intends to gather several rivers here. The dam of this lake won't hold. Once it collapses, Qingyang City will likely be flooded..."

"I know, don't panic."

Gu Mo waved his hand and stepped out, flying directly towards the dam.

At this moment, Gu Chundong and Hongyi, on another mountaintop, also flew over quickly.

"Ge, can you break that formation?" Gu Chundong asked.

Gu Mo said, "I can break it, but it's not very meaningful. It can only disrupt Wang Qingping's ascension. As for the water, the flow of those rivers has already been altered. Even if the formation is broken, the river water will still come this way."

Gu Chundong said, "Disrupting Wang Qingping's ascension is also a good thing!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "That's not necessarily true."

"What do you mean?" Gu Chundong asked doubtfully.

Hongyi said, "What the Master means is that he wants to use Wang Qingping's ascension to see the Heavenly Gate and, at the same time, search for White Jade Capital."

"That's right," Gu Mo said. "I've always suspected something was wrong with ascension. It's not just the Inner Demon; there's a problem with the Heavenly Gate too. But the Heavenly Gate has always been hiding from me, and I can't find it. Today is a good opportunity to take a look.

Besides, Wang Qingping has no idea that there's a restriction from White Jade Capital in his Nascent Soul. According to White Jade Capital's restrictions, once someone ascends, they will be pulled back to the mortal world. I can use this opportunity to see the Heavenly Gate and find White Jade Capital."

Gu Chundong suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. I suddenly feel sorry for Wang Qingping. The Heavenly Gate has problems, White Jade Capital wants to take him away and remove his Consciousness Restriction, and you, Ge, want to kill him. Tsk tsk tsk, he's practically violated the Heavenly Law!"

Gu Mo sneered, "One hundred and sixty years ago, he used the Earth Vein Power to seal himself, causing a Flood Disaster and Devastation. Today, to ascend, he's repeating the same trick. It's not an exaggeration to say he's violated the Heavenly Law."

As he spoke, Gu Mo stepped to the edge of the dam. Facing the surging flood that was about to break through the dam, he took a deep breath. The majestic and boundless Frozen Ice True Qi within his body circulated wildly, drawing upon the Extreme Yin and Cold Origin Qi of heaven and earth.

"Seal!"

Gu Mo slammed his palm onto the dam beneath his feet!

"Buzz--!"

A visible and terrifying coldness erupted from his palm, like a Silvery White Frost Tide, instantly spreading out.

The cold energy swept through, and the surging lake water that impacted the dam let out a piercing "crack" sound, instantly freezing.

A wall of profound ice, several zhang thick and harder than fine steel, like the ramparts of a Frost Giant from myth, rose from the ground along the dam. As the lake water roared and rose, the ice wall simultaneously condensed and grew crazily upwards. The battle between ice and water formed a breathtaking spectacle before the dam—on one side, a roaring flood giant threatening to engulf the heavens, and on the other, a majestic ice crystal Great Wall exuding ancient cold.

In a very short time, Gu Mo had, with his personal strength, forged a defensive wall, preventing the dam from collapsing and averting a flood disaster.

Gu Chundong frowned and said, "But this is not a long-term solution. You can't stay here forever!"

Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "In a while, after I finish dealing with things here, I'll notify the government to quickly dig ditches and drain the water. I can slowly release the water here, and we can also invite professionals to design and restore the flow of those rivers. It shouldn't cause too much trouble."

Just then, Boom! A deafening sound.

An unimaginably thick purple lightning bolt tore through the sky, striking precisely onto the vortex at the lake's heart. Immediately after, a second, a third... countless terrifying lightning bolts, imbued with the breath of destruction and rebirth, like the lashes of a god, fiercely bombarded the same spot.

At the core of the lightning storm, a blurry figure rapidly ascended—it was Wang Qingping!

His eyes were tightly shut, his face contorted from unimaginable pain, but the aura emanating from him was furiously climbing and transforming under the tempering of the lightning.

His physical body trembled violently in the lightning, his skin cracking inch by inch, yet it rapidly healed and regenerated under the majestic energy.

A phantom, identical to him but more refined, purer, and radiating an immortal brilliance, was struggling to break free from the crown of his head bit by bit!

"Hhh... Ahhhhhh--!"

Accompanied by a roar that seemed to come from the deepest part of his soul, the phantom finally broke free from the shackles of his physical body!

At this moment, Wang Qingping's Nascent Soul fully condensed into form. His Nascent Soul radiated brilliant light, crystal clear like glazed jade, while his physical body rapidly plummeted into the lake.

He floated above the lightning and the raging waves, surrounded by flowing auspicious light and myriad auspicious signs. A transcendent and powerful pressure, belonging to an "Immortal" and surpassing the mortal world, swept across heaven and earth!

"I did it! Hahahaha! I succeeded, I succeeded!"

Wang Qingping's Nascent Soul roared to the heavens, full of spirit and appearing frenzied.

He felt an irresistible pull, drawing him out of the mortal world.

He lowered his head, his gaze piercing through the storm, precisely locking onto the tiny yet undeniably potent figure on the dam—Gu Mo.

The corners of his mouth curled into an extremely mocking and gleeful smile. His Nascent Soul vibrated, and his voice clearly pierced through the wind and thunder, reaching Gu Mo's ears: "Gu Mo! Do you see? This is ascension! All worldly matters are but fleeting clouds! I'll wait for you to ascend in the Celestial Realm. I hope you'll still have a bit of today's arrogance then. Don't disappoint me! Hahahahaha!"

Before his voice even faded, his brilliant Nascent Soul was no longer under his control. It transformed into a streamer of light, not simply ascending upwards, but as if pulled by an invisible giant hand, it instantly crossed the spatial barrier and rapidly flew towards a certain predetermined node high in the nine heavens.

"Heaven's Gate, Heaven's Gate, come see me!"

Wang Qingping roared hysterically, his voice exploding like thunder, his entire being filled with triumphant spirit.

At the same time, the majestic power of water essence accumulated by Tiansheng Lake and several major rivers, under the final guidance of the Ascension Array, transformed into a giant water-blue light beam connecting heaven and earth, shooting straight into the skies!

BOOM--!

The sky seemed to be pierced by a huge hole by this light beam and Nascent Soul Power!

Endless dark clouds spun madly, forming a terrifying vortex covering the entire sky dome.

In the center of the vortex, the lightning and thunder suddenly subsided, replaced by a strange scene that calmed the mind yet inspired immense awe.

Seven-colored auspicious clouds poured down like a waterfall from the center of the vortex, illuminating the dim world. Immortal music, faint and ethereal, seemed to come from ancient times.

Countless golden runes flowed and flickered within the auspicious clouds, outlining a giant, solemn, and eternally immortal Heavenly Gate illusion!

That Heavenly Gate was composed of pure energy. Its doors were closed, carved with profound and unfathomable patterns, as if containing the ultimate mysteries of the universe.

Even its mere illusory appearance made all the energy in the world become docile, and the raging flood seemed to calm for a moment. A grand, sacred aura of transcendence permeated the air.

"The Heavenly Gate! It's the Heavenly Gate! Hahahaha! I, Wang Qingping, am knocking on the Heavenly Gate today!!"

Wang Qingping's Nascent Soul bathed in the seven-colored auspicious clouds, almost driven to madness by excitement. With boundless ecstasy and anticipation, he rushed towards the sacred and solemn Heavenly Gate illusion without hesitation, like a devout believer pouncing towards their final destination.

He reached out his hand and devoutly "knocked" on the light-forged doors.

HUMM--!

The Heavenly Gate opened at his "knock," and he hurriedly rushed in.

However, after passing through the light curtain, sheer terror seized him, because the perfect celestial realm he had imagined, filled with immortal Qi, magnificent palaces, and flying cranes, did not appear.

The moment the doors swung open, an indescribable, cold, chaotic, viscous aura, filled with endless madness and malice, erupted like a tangible torrent of filth, instantly dyeing the sacred auspicious clouds with a weird dark hue!

Behind the gate was not the Immortal Realm.

It was a twisted, writhing dark void that could not be described in words. And in the center of that darkness, a pale giant eye, filled with blood threads and so enormous it obscured the entire view of the Heavenly Gate, was suspended!

That eye was incredibly huge. Within its pupils, countless shattered stars and fragments of mad souls seemed to spin, flowing with a viscous, pus-like dark yellow substance. Even more chilling was that from the darkness around the giant eye, countless slippery, pale tentacles covered in suckers and weird patterns instantly emerged.

These tentacles writhed and danced, emitting a nauseating stench and a terrifying pressure that could freeze the soul.

They seemed to have been waiting for a long time, filled with greedy hunger, and lightning-fast, they coiled around Wang Qingping's Nascent Soul, who had just rushed into the Heavenly Gate.

"No--!! What the hell is this!!"

Wang Qingping's ecstasy instantly turned into boundless fear and a desperate roar. The brilliant light of his condensed Nascent Soul seemed so small and fragile before this giant eye and its tentacles. He struggled frantically, unleashing the full power of his Ascension Realm Nascent Soul, trying to break free, but it was futile. Instead, he was being dragged forward.

At this critical moment!

A terrifying pulling force suddenly came from behind him. The source of this force was very unfamiliar, like ropes that suddenly appeared within his body. It was incredibly domineering, pulling him back to the mortal world, and it actually snapped several of the most tightly wrapped tentacles!

In a daze, He saw a trace of a restriction, deep within his Nascent Soul.

It was a Breath he had almost forgotten.

"White Jade Capital?!"

Wang Qingping grasped this sole glimmer of hope amidst despair.

If, before this, He had learned White Jade Capital had placed a restriction on his Nascent Soul, he would have hated White Jade Capital to death. But now, he was immensely grateful. He immediately followed the power of White Jade Capital's restriction, unleashed his Nascent Soul Power, and pulled at the severed tentacles.

However, the Giant Eye seemed to be provoked.

More tentacles, like an endless swarm of Nightmare Serpents, gushed out from the darkness, coiling around him layer upon layer. The severed tentacles sprayed disgusting mucus, only to regenerate instantly.

Although the restriction from White Jade Capital's pull was strong, it couldn't completely drag him back from this terrifying abyss!

"Roar--!"

The Giant Eye let out a silent, yet Nascent Soul-shattering, terrifying screech. More tentacles coiled and tightened, intending to drag Wang Qingping completely into that eternal abyss of madness.

The Heavenly Gate began to close, intending to isolate this scene of blasphemy.

Just as the Heavenly Gate was about to completely seal shut, and Wang Qingping's Nascent Soul was about to be completely devoured!

Chii--!

A Blade Light!

A Blade Light, Demonic Flames Soaring to the Heavens, cleaving through Chaos Radiance, appeared without warning!

It did not come from within the Heavenly Gate, but from... the mortal realm!

From outside the Heavenly Gate that was about to close!

That strike was filled with the world's purest destruction and overbearing Demonic Nature. Dark demonic energy surged like a tangible tidal wave. Wherever the Blade Edge passed, space shattered inch by inch like fragile glass.

"Break!"

Accompanied by a cold Imperial Decree, the Demonic Blade, which seemed capable of severing eternity, fiercely struck the Heavenly Gate that was about to fully close!

Crack--

A deafening sound of breaking!

The sacred Heavenly Gate, forged from light and symbolizing eternal immortality, was actually cleaved open by this strike from the mortal world... with a massive crack burning with dark demonic flames!

"Screech--!"

The giant eye behind the door let out a painful and furious screech.

The countless tentacles entwined around Wang Qingping, upon contact with that domineering and peerless Demonic Qi Blade Intent, instantly broke and dissolved like ice and snow thrown into a furnace! The restraining power suddenly loosened.

Wang Qingping seized this one-in-a-million chance, activated his Nascent Soul Power, transforming into a dim streamer of light, and flew backward in a disheveled state through the crack split open by the Demonic Blade.

Still shaken, his nascent soul became illusory and unstable. He looked back at the area outside the crack, having narrowly escaped.

Then he saw

Gu Mo standing before the cracked Heavenly Gate, holding a long saber burning with blazing flames.

Demonic Qi swirled around him, like a Demon God returning from the Nine Netherworlds, his eyes coldly piercing through the crack, staring directly at the twisted, writhing darkness behind the door and that terrifying giant eye.

It was obvious that the earth-shattering saber strike that split open the Heavenly Gate and severed the evil god's tentacles had come from him!

At this moment, within Gu Mo's eyes, which seemed capable of piercing through all illusions, were clearly reflected:

On Wang Qingping's nascent soul, the "thread" connecting to White Jade Capital, and...

Behind the Heavenly Gate, the terrifying giant eye filled with chaos, madness, and greed, and deep within that eye, an ancient and evil mark formed by countless twisted runes.

"So this is the Heavenly Gate!"

"Gu Mo!"

At this moment, Wang Qingping was filled with panic. With the weird Heavenly Gate behind him and Gu Mo, who could injure the Heavenly Gate, in front of him, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. He hurriedly shouted, "We don't have a life-and-death grudge. Let's join forces to deal with that monster. I..."

"There's no need."

Gu Mo reached out, and streams of demonic qi shot out like chains. This was a martial art he had modified from the Myriad Leaves Flying Flower Stream. In an instant, Wang Qingping was bound, and the demonic qi seeped into his nascent soul.

Wang Qingping roared, "Gu Mo, are you crazy? That monster is the Heavenly Gate, the Heavenly Gate! Even now, you're doing this. Do you want to die together? Do you still think you can deal with that monster alone?"

"Why not?" Gu Mo said.

Wang Qingping cursed, "Who the hell do you think you are? What are you? That's the Heavenly Gate that has existed since ancient times. Do you think you're so great? You want to deal with it alone? Why don't you say it's fleeing from you in fear? You..."

"Bang."

Just then, the Heavenly Gate closed.

The lintel that Gu Mo had broken swung back and forth, and then the Heavenly Gate transformed into a streamer of light and simply slithered away.

Clean, Crisp, Not hesitating at all.

Wang Qingping: "??"