Inner Demon Appears (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan watched Ye Chen holding the painting, a look of intoxication on his face as he said "Mmm." Both couldn't help but twitch their foreheads.

"What ambition!"

Ye Jinglan rolled his eyes in annoyance, too lazy to bother with this guy whose brain worked differently from ordinary people.

Gu Mo also shook his head speechlessly. Ye Chen's thought process was sometimes so peculiar that it was impossible to follow. He stopped paying attention and refocused on finding the restriction.

Ye Jinglan also calmed his mind and continued his investigation.

Both were top experts of their time, with extraordinary perception.

Gu Mo calmed his mind, the Moon-White True Qi swirling around his fingertips like the most precise probe, meticulously scanning every inch of the underground palace's stone walls, the ground, and even penetrating the rock strata below. Ye Jinglan closed his eyes, sensing the extremely minute energy fluctuations lingering in the air.

Time passed bit by bit. The only sound in the underground palace was the rustling of Ye Chen searching for treasures.

Finally, Gu Mo stopped in a seemingly ordinary corner of the underground palace. He crouched down, gently pressing his palm on the cold White Jade Floor Tile, his brow furrowed.

"Found it?" Ye Jinglan immediately moved closer.

"Yes, it's very hidden," Gu Mo said in a deep voice. "It's not a restriction attached to the surface of the building, but directly connected to an Earth Vein deep underground. This restriction... rather than being a defense, it's more like an ingenious trap, the most primitive formation. Without special power, it's no wonder my Nascent Soul Power couldn't sense it."

As he spoke, Gu Mo's True Qi flowed through his fingertips, sketching complex patterns on the floor tile. "Look, the core node of this restriction goes deep underground and is connected to the Undercurrent System at the bottom of this lake. Once forcefully triggered or released incorrectly, it will instantly destroy the geological balance of this area, causing the water level of the entire lake to suddenly drop, forming a huge vortex and impact.

At that time, not only will the underground palace be completely destroyed and buried, but the flood caused by the lake water pouring back might even affect some areas of Chang'an City. The consequences are unimaginable. Forget about taking the property here; anyone who comes in would be lucky to survive!"

Ye Jinglan said in a deep voice, "This is very much in line with that Old Undying Qi Miaoxuan's personality. In his eyes, human lives are no different from ants. So, if ordinary people broke in, even if someone as lucky as Ye Chen managed to avoid the Poison Beads and not touch them, these Poison Beads would self-destruct under this formation and explode, endangering Chang'an City."

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

"Brother Gu, can you solve it?" Ye Jinglan asked.

"It's a bit troublesome, but manageable," Gu Mo replied. "This restriction is tightly integrated with the Earth Veins. Brute force removal is too risky. It requires pure internal energy to analyze it in reverse along its energy pathways, find the most critical 'anchor points,' and strip them away one by one without disturbing the Earth Veins and water flow. It will take some time."

For ordinary people, even a Grandmaster of formations, facing this primitive self-destructing formation would be troublesome, as the formation could activate its self-destruct sequence with the slightest carelessness. However, Gu Mo's True Qi was Majestic, allowing him to forcibly stabilize the formation's anchor points with his True Qi first.

"Brother Gu, please proceed. I will guard you," Ye Jinglan said immediately.

Gu Mo said no more. He slowly crouched down, palms facing the ground, and slowly injected dense, almost tangible pale golden True Qi into the ground. The True Qi was not explosive but like the most agile carving knife, or the most tenacious thread, carefully probing into the ground, following the invisible veins of the restriction, beginning to wander, analyze, and strip it away. The entire underground palace seemed to tremble slightly, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

Time flowed by as Gu Mo focused intently on solving the problem.

About half an hour later, the light in Gu Mo's palm flared brightly, then slowly receded.

Gu Mo stood up and said, "It's done. The restriction has been completely erased, and its connection with the Earth Veins has been severed. This place is now safe. You can arrange for people to come and retrieve the property here anytime. Although it's not comparable to the treasures in the He Xu Ruins, this wealth can save many soldiers on the battlefield."

Ye Jinglan said in a deep voice, "This is already a lot of money. I estimate its value to be no less than Two Hundred Thousand Taels. It can be used to forge many weapons and armor. The Jiang Kingdom is cold; if these Two Hundred Thousand Taels are all used to buy clothes, many soldiers can survive the winter. Alas, war, what is war fought for if not money and lives?"

Beside them, Ye Chen held his scroll and dared not speak.

He worried that these two Gan people might get angry while discussing national affairs and then beat him, a Chu person, to vent their anger.

As for Gu Mo, he couldn't defeat him. As for Ye Jinglan, he didn't know why. Although Ye Jinglan was currently ranked tenth on the Gan Kingdom's Heavenly Rankings, he, Chu Kingdom's Third Master, always felt that he couldn't defeat Ye Jinglan.

"Let's go."

Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "Brother Ye, I won't be involved in moving the property later. Be careful, make sure the sealed boxes are strong enough to prevent the lake water from corroding the contents, especially the jewelry and silk."

"I know, I'll personally supervise!" Ye Jinglan patted his chest and guaranteed.

Immediately, the three returned the way they came, passed through the underwater passage, and surfaced.

Outside, Su Ziyou had been waiting anxiously for a long time. Seeing them emerge, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

After learning that the matter had been handled, the worry in his heart finally subsided, and the anxiety of this period vanished in an instant.

Afterward, Gu Mo and Ye Chen left first.

Ye Jinglan immediately directed the Imperial City Division elites who had been waiting, carrying a large number of specially made sealed boxes, to dive in a tense and orderly manner to begin the work of transporting the property from the underground palace.

The area around the lake had already attracted the attention of countless citizens of Chang'an due to the blockade and deployment of a large army. Crowds surged, and people chattered, all speculating about what major event had occurred beneath the calm surface of the lake.

Gu Mo and Ye Chen passed through the outer cordon of soldiers and merged into the bustling crowd, heading towards Ye Manor.

Although Gu Mo hadn't felt too anxious, he had always been somewhat worried about the Poison Bead. While the Poison Bead would definitely not affect him, he also didn't want to see Chang'an suffer such a great disaster.

At this moment, he finally felt relieved.

As he walked with the crowd and passed an intersection, a faint but exceptionally clear sensation struck his heart without any warning. The feeling... was like a cold spider silk gently brushing across the surface of his heart, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Gu Mo stopped abruptly and turned his head sharply!

His gaze swept like lightning across the heads of the people behind him, the noisy vendors, and the rows of shops... everything appeared so normal and bustling. The sensation came and went as quickly as it appeared, as if it were just an illusion. He searched the crowd with his sharp eyes but could no longer detect any unusual aura.

"Big Brother, what's wrong?" Ye Chen, holding a scroll, asked in doubt when he saw Gu Mo stop.

Gu Mo frowned, sensed for a moment longer, and finally slowly shook his head.

He couldn't explain it. The feeling he just had was like a touch from his biological instinct, but it was neither attraction nor a call. He just felt that something unique had appeared for a moment.

However, it passed in a flash.

Afterward, the two continued on their way, their figures soon disappearing around the corner of the street.

And in the direction Gu Mo had just looked back, not far from the intersection, in a secluded corner of a tea stall, beside a simple wooden chessboard.

Liu Zhongfu, with white hair and beard, known as the "Chess Maniac" in the Capital City, was scratching his head and looking at the chessboard, his forehead covered in cold sweat. Opposite him sat a young man in an elegant green robe, with an ordinary face but an indescribable composure and depth in his demeanor.

On the chessboard, Liu Zhongfu's black pieces were surrounded, defeat was inevitable. He pondered deeply, then dejectedly conceded, sighing in admiration, "Young Master's chess skill is divine. This old man... willingly bows to your superiority! May I ask the Young Master's name? I have some minor fame in the Capital City's chess circles, yet I've never heard of a figure like you."

The young master smiled faintly, his smile gentle, but his eyes seemed to hold millennia of ice. He slowly collected the chess pieces with elegant movements.

Hearing the elder's question, his hand paused slightly, as if considering, before he looked up and spoke softly, in a tone that was both playful and as if stating the most ordinary fact:

"My name... is... Qi Miaoxuan."

As the words fell, he gracefully rose, tidied his unwrinkled robes, and turned to merge into the noisy crowd behind him, his figure disappearing like a drop of water into the great sea in a flash.

Only Liu Zhongfu remained at the tea stall, staring at the remaining chess pieces.

This Qi Miaoxuan was precisely the "Old Undying" Qi Miaoxuan mentioned by Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan.

However, after the battle in Mobei last year, Qi Miaoxuan hadn't expected Gu Mo to be the third dragon in the world, causing the Azure Dragon Soul within the Reverse Scale Blade to awaken prematurely. He had to suppress the dragon soul with one hand while fighting Gu Mo with the other, getting bruised and swollen and fleeing in disarray.

Afterward, He absorbed the Fire Kirin's physical body to strengthen himself, then used himself as a formation to fuse the Fire Kirin's Origin Qi and Ancestral Fire, suppressing the dragon soul. He had thus completed his scheme of a slave betraying his master, and had now successfully sealed the dragon soul within the Reverse Scale Blade, burning it ceaselessly.

As he walked, Qi Miaoxuan entered a state of domain. Although he was still walking on the street, no one could see him.

He whispered, "Azure Dragon, your actions just now were quite embarrassing. You once wanted to seize the physical body of the third dragon for your own use, but now you're asking him for help? You previously treated him as your container, and now you consider him your kin? You truly resemble a dog now!"

Qi Miaoxuan's chest fluctuated slightly, and then the Azure Dragon's voice came to his ears: "Bitch slave, don't get too proud. I will die, but Origin Qi will not dissipate. After you die, I will still have a chance to reappear in the world!"

Qi Miaoxuan said, "I may have to disappoint you. I will not die. I will become the Heavenly Dao that you can never reach."

"Delusional talk. The God Beyond the Heavens is the first sentient being to awaken intelligence in this world. Even He couldn't become the Heavenly Dao, yet you... aspire to it? It's merely an ant viewing the sky. Before, I blocked Him from seeing you, but now, do you think you can still hide?" the Azure Dragon mocked.

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled, "Azure Dragon, do you know what the biggest difference between you beasts and humans is?"

"What? You're the beast!" the Azure Dragon roared.

Qi Miaoxuan said, "Humans use their brains, but you don't. Think about it, how many years have you existed, and how many years have humans existed? Less than a fraction of your lifespan, yet you always lose to humans.

That God Beyond the Heavens only relies on a Heavenly Gate and an Inner Demon to monitor the human world, right? As long as someone deals with these two things, the God won't be able to see what's happening in the human world for a short time, and I'll have the time to do whatever I want.

One day in heaven is one year on earth. When Beyond the Heavens monitors the human world again, I will have mastered all the powerful forces in the world, enough to ascend Beyond the Heavens. What is a mere God?"

The Azure Dragon sneered, "That's just the view of the sky from a well!"

Qi Miaoxuan disdained, "I am already an Innate Sage. Coupled with your Azure Dragon's spatial power, the Reverse Scale Blade's killing power is invincible, and the Fire Kirin's energy is infinite. When I kill the Seven-Colored Peacock and obtain its Undying and Unperishing ability, will that not be enough to kill a God?

If it's still not enough, it doesn't matter. I will kill the Mysterious Turtle and absorb its invincible defensive ability, then control the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror. If that's still not enough, then I will borrow the Human World Power. What is a mere God?"

The Azure Dragon said gravely, "When you kill the Inner Demon and remove the Heavenly Gate, you will definitely be seen by the God. At that time, you will have no chance to implement any of your subsequent plans."

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled, "I already said, I won't be the one to kill them personally. Weren't you just asking your kin, that Gu Mo, for help? Isn't he the most suitable candidate to kill the Inner Demon?"

"You came here just to make him fight his inner demon?" Azure Dragon asked, confused.

"What else do you think?" Qi Miaoxuan said. "If I wanted to stop them from finding the Poison Bead, I could have manipulated it from afar and detonated it, plunging all of Chang'an City into plague. Why would I have bothered to come here in person?

Inner demons will invade anyone who touches the barrier of the Ascension Realm. Although not one in a hundred might succeed in ascending, inner demons will invade in advance to prepare.

Gu Mo currently has two people who have theoretically reached the threshold: Ye Jinglan and Ye Chen.

Three hundred years ago, when the inner demon found Yu Shier, I fought him in secret and intercepted a bit of the inner demon's power. I've placed it in the Cold Mountain Treasury. Ye Jinglan's will is strong; that bit of inner demon power won't shake him. I deliberately targeted Ye Chen's mental flaw of lust and set a trap. That kid is bound to be targeted by the inner demon.

When Ye Chen shows any abnormality, Gu Mo will notice. Coincidentally, Gu Mo now possesses some Origin Qi from the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror. With his talent, he should be able to discover it and use the Cycle of Reincarnation Origin Qi to counter the inner demon.

Even if Gu Mo can't kill the inner demon, he can definitely heavily injure it. Conveniently, there's a prodigy in the mortal realm named Jiang Ruoxu. He can deliver the finishing blow. He's the most talented person in the mortal realm in the last thousand years, having touched a realm beyond Ascension with pure Origin Qi.

Although Gu Mo has also touched a realm beyond Ascension, he is, after all, a dragon. Hmm, speaking of which, you didn't leave any dragon eggs or anything back then. By rights, besides the dragon veins, there shouldn't be any other dragons?"

Azure Dragon fell silent, clearly not knowing why either.

The moonlight was like silver, filtering through the carved window lattice into Ye Chen's room at Honglu Temple, casting a layer of cold frost on the floor.

In stark contrast to the tranquil night was Ye Chen's restless heart.

He had not slept, nor was he meditating and regulating his breath as usual. He simply sat dazed by the table. The oil lamp had long since been extinguished, and only the moonlight illuminated the scroll he held carefully in his hands.

The woman in the painting, clad in a Seven-Colored Dress with a face like a painting, seemed to have absorbed all his soul.

Her smile seemed to gain more liveliness under the moonlight. Those affectionate eyes captivated Ye Chen, who occasionally let out gasps of admiration. His fingers unconsciously caressed the cold drawing paper, as if touching the skin of his dream lover.

In a daze, The cold moonlight that fell on the scroll seemed to be pulled by an Invisible Force, suddenly condensing, flowing, and seeping into the painting in strands. A soft and weird seven-colored halo emerged on the surface of the scroll, rippling like water waves.

Ye Chen did not seem surprised by such a strange scene appearing on a painting. He continued to gaze at it dazed.

The eyelashes of the peerless beauty in the painting actually trembled slightly, like butterfly wings!

Immediately after, her eyes, which were originally just painted and contained the fragmented reflections of the galaxy, suddenly became lively and profound, as if crossing the boundaries of time and space, looking directly into Ye Chen's heart.

Her vermilion lips parted slightly, and a voice as gentle as water, filled with endless longing and sorrow, spoke:

"Husband... I have finally waited for you..."

Ye Chen trembled all over, a wave of dizziness instantly engulfing him. Faced with the bizarre event of the Person in Painting speaking, he not only felt no surprise or fear but instead exclaimed with great joy, "You were waiting for me?"

"It's me, Husband... I am your Qiu Niang..." The woman in the painting's eyes flowed with a thousand years of longing and deep affection. "We have finally... met again."

Her figure, intertwined with moonlight and the seven-colored halo, began to become three-dimensional and clear, walking out of the painting and sitting beside Ye Chen.

"Qiu Niang? Do I... know you?"

Ye Chen's voice was somewhat numb. He suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with the woman before him.

"More than just knowing..." Qiu Niang's voice choked slightly. She said, "Three hundred years ago... you and I were a Heaven-Made Immortal Couple, deeply in love. Alas, fate played tricks on us. As we joined hands to break through to the Ascension Realm, we encountered a tribulation... To save me, you willingly burned your divine soul and pushed me into the Immortal Gate, while you yourself... had your Dao Foundation shattered and fell into the cycle of this mortal world... Husband, three hundred years have passed, Qiu Niang has missed you every moment..."

Ye Chen felt something was amiss, but this feeling vanished the moment he met Qiu Niang's eyes. An inexplicable sorrow and a sense of destiny surged into his heart, as if the distant Past Life Memory had truly been touched in the Depths of the Soul.

He looked at Qiu Niang, her face like Pear Blossoms in Rain, her emotions sincere. He slowly took her hand and said softly, "So... so that's how it is! Qiu Niang, you've suffered! I... I don't remember anything..."

"It doesn't matter, Husband!"

Qiu Niang's tears turned into a smile, her smile blooming like spring flowers, carrying an unparalleled allure. "Now I am a person of the Immortal Realm. Although I cannot descend to this world in my true form, a wisp of my divine sense is attached to this ancient painting, all for the purpose of finding you. Heaven has eyes, and I have finally found your Reincarnated Body!"

Her tone became fervent and full of hope. "Husband, you sacrificed for me in your past life. In this life, let Qiu Niang help you ascend to the Immortal Path again! As husband and wife, let us be those carefree, Eternal Life, Heaven-Made Immortal Couples again, alright?"

"Immortal Couple... Eternal Life..." Ye Chen's mind was completely captured by this beautiful prospect. An incomparably eager light exploded in his eyes. "Good! Qiu Niang, what should I do? As long as I can be with you, I'll do anything!"

"Don't rush, Husband." Qiu Niang's voice was as gentle as water, carrying a calming power. "To ascend the Immortal Path, the Foundation is most important. Husband, tell me carefully about the Cultivation Technique you are currently practicing. Although I am not of this world, my Immortal Realm cultivation is still present. Perhaps I can help you examine it, remove any Hidden Dangers, and point you in the right direction."

"Qiu Niang, you are so good to me!"

Ye Chen was so moved he almost wept. He immediately sat cross-legged, cleared his throat, and without reservation, recited the cultivation technique of the Great Sun Demonic Art he was practicing: "Qian Yuan Heng Li Zhen, Kun Hou De Zai Wu, Yin Yang Xiang Dang Zhi Chu, Zheng Zang Zhuan Huan Zhi Ji..."

Seeing how easily Ye Chen was fooled, a hint of joy flashed in Qiu Niang's eyes.

As a force of the Inner Demon scattered throughout the human world, in theory, she could be considered a clone of the Inner Demon. She possessed consciousness, but her purpose of existence was to invade the Martial Dao Will of cultivators in various ways, whether through Greed, Anger, Ignorance, or Love and Parting, hatred, Pain, etc.!

This was why powerful cultivators in the world, after ascending, were always defeated by the Inner Demon, because they had long been planted with a Backup Plan by the Inner Demon.

And the most common method was this one: after shaking the cultivator's mind, they would alter their cultivation techniques in various forms. This could not only greatly increase the cultivator's power and allow them to break through rapidly, but also sow the seeds of Calamity.

Originally, In "Qiu Niang's" prediction, for Ye Chen to reach the threshold of the Ascension Realm at such a young age, he must be a supreme talent with an exceptionally firm will. She had prepared a series of backup plans.

But in the end, none of them were needed.

Ye Chen's will was so weak that he wasn't even as strong as an Ordinary Person. She even doubted how he had acquired his own martial arts!

However, this was a good thing for her.

After just a few words, he began to reveal his martial arts.

Yet, the smile on "Qiu Niang's" face did not last long.

As Ye Chen spoke, it gradually solidified and stiffened.

In her eyes, which contained the Galaxy, an extreme look of confusion flashed, as if she were listening to heavenly scriptures.

Immediately after, bewilderment turned to shock, and shock quickly morphed into an indescribable... dumbfoundedness!

What in the world is all this?

The incantation Ye Chen recited, at first listen, seemed to have some meaning... but upon closer inspection, it was purely nonsensical? It made no sense!

She didn't even know how to begin to revise it!

After all, revision requires a manual, even a trash manual would do!

"Husband..." Qiu Niang's voice held a hint of dryness that was imperceptible and a forced gentleness, "Your cultivation method... hmm... is quite... unique." She racked her brain, managing to find a relatively neutral word.

"Unique?" Ye Chen's eyes lit up, "Qiu Niang, you also think it's extraordinary, right? This martial art is the legendary Great Sun Demonic Art. Quickly, help me take a look, where does it need modification? How can I break through faster?"

Qiu Niang: "..."

A pile of shit, even if placed on a golden plate, is still shit!

She didn't know what kind of seasoning could make it palatable.

After a brief silence, Qiu Niang decisively abandoned that path.

A captivating smile, capable of toppling nations, bloomed on her face once more, her eyes flowing with alluring charm:

"Husband~"

Her voice suddenly became soft and bone-deep, carrying a soul-stirring demonic energy, "While the cultivation method is fundamental, one cannot rush. We have been separated for hundreds of years, our longing gnawing at our bones... In this beautiful moment, why dwell on those tedious incantations?"

Qiu Niang extended her jade fingers, touching Ye Chen's cheek, her movements full of teasing intent.

"There is a difference between immortals and mortals. Though I cannot embrace you in my true form, but... Husband, we still have the Dual Cultivation Method to connect our hearts and minds, to share the joys of the flesh."

Qiu Niang's voice was like a feather caressing Ye Chen's heart, "This method is a secret transmission from the Immortal Realm, yin and yang complementing each other, merging like water and milk. I can transfer a wisp of pure Immortal Essence into your body, not only to nourish your physical body and refine your meridians, but also to help you comprehend the Principles of Heaven and Earth, make up for your foundation. In the future, your cultivation will naturally yield Half the Effort, Twice the Result, advancing a thousand miles a day... far surpassing the arduous cultivation of that... hmm, unique method. Husband, will you... be willing to practice this marvelous method with Qiu Niang?"

As she spoke, Qiu Niang's robe loosened, her shoulder revealed, those faintly visible graceful curves and her passionate eyes were enough to make any normal man's blood boil.

Ye Chen looked at the seductive Qiu Niang, feeling an uncontrollable urge, his breathing becoming heavy, and then, he directly embraced Qiu Niang.

"Quick! Qiu Niang, let's..."

He impatiently reached to untie his own sash.

Qiu Niang covered her mouth and let out a light laugh, her eyes flowing with endless anticipation and a hint of the coldness of prey about to be caught, imperceptible.

Sexual Intercourse is also the most direct means of the inner demon. When anyone is engaged in such acts, they are at their weakest, and it is the moment when the heart and mind are most vulnerable to attack.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, trying to calm his wildly beating heart, preparing to welcome this "sacred" moment that transcended past and present lives.

However, just as his mind was in turmoil, his desire reaching its peak, and he was about to act—

In his mind, without warning, the terrifying encounter at the brothel flashed by with absolute clarity!

The nauseating smell, the extreme contrast between sight and touch, the disgust that sank into his bones... like the coldest tide, it instantly drenched him in icy fear!

His body's most honest reaction betrayed all his will and desires.

Under the impact of a massive psychological shadow, he instantly lowered his flag and became... unresponsive, his heart like still water.

Then, Ye Chen looked at Qiu Niang on the bed and said earnestly, "That... Qiu Niang, I think, even though we were husband and wife in our past life and deeply in love... but, I think we can get to know each other first. The moonlight is perfect now, we can sit down and talk about life, discuss philosophy, and talk about our ideals..."

Qiu Niang: "??"

We're already like this, and now you're saying you want to talk about life, philosophy, and ideals? Are you sick!

Ye Chen slowly put on his pants and said, "Let's talk about something sensitive. What are your thoughts on the war situation between the Gan and Chu Kingdoms?"

Qiu Niang: "...Trash!" Then, she added, "A piece of trash so flawless that it's impenetrable."

Ye Chen was greatly provoked, That instant, a nameless fire suddenly appeared.

It was this momentary agitation of his mind that made him suddenly sober up. Looking at Qiu Niang before him, he instantly felt a chill run through his body, a coldness rushing from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. He immediately circulated his cultivation and shouted, "What kind of demon are you?"

Qiu Niang said calmly, "A piece of trash with a strong sense of self-respect."

Ye Chen: "I..."

Before Ye Chen could quibble, his mind became even clearer.

In a daze, Ye Chen suddenly straightened up and found that he had fallen asleep on the table at some point. He had just had a dream.

He slowly rolled up the painting and put it away, saying softly, "Fortunately, it was just a dream... I should be fine... definitely fine!"

Then, he suddenly got up, walked to the door, and shouted, "Hey, A Qi, where did you say you met that Divine Doctor a few days ago? I'm just feeling a bit unwell and want him to give me a couple of acupuncture treatments. No other problems! What problems could I have, hahaha..."

The next day, Chang'an City was under martial law.

The Succession Ceremony was officially held.

Gu Mo was naturally invited and was taken to the Imperial City early.

However, the Succession Ceremony process was very complicated and tedious. Gu Mo only gave Emperor Gan face and made a symbolic appearance at the beginning before leaving directly.

Gu Chundong went to sponge meals and drinks in the palace with Li Li. Ye Jinglan, Su Ziyou, and Zhuo Qingfeng, who had just rushed back yesterday, were all Court Officials and had to remain at the ceremony site.

Therefore, Gu Mo left the Imperial City alone.

However, he didn't see Ye Chen at the ceremony site today. Upon asking, he learned that Ye Chen was feeling unwell and was recuperating. Thus, Gu Mo decided to pay Ye Chen a visit at Honglu Temple on his way.

Yet, as soon as he arrived at the entrance of Honglu Temple, he saw Ye Chen sneakily holding a package, looking around furtively as if he had done something wrong.

Gu Mo was a bit curious. He immediately got out of the Carriage, took a step, and instantly appeared behind Ye Chen, saying Softly, "What are you doing, stealing something?"

"No, I'm feeling perfectly fine..." Ye Chen straightened up abruptly.

Gu Mo: "..."

"Ouch, Big Brother, why are you here? Didn't you go to the Succession Ceremony?" Ye Chen asked.

"I did, but I got bored and came back," Gu Mo explained. He pointed at the large package Ye Chen was carrying and asked, "What's this? You look like you're trying to steal a dog!"

"No," Ye Chen said hurriedly, "I just went shopping and bought a few things!"

Gu Mo looked suspicious. "What kind of normal person casually buys things like Cinnamon, Deer Antler, Cynomorium... hmm, and Cistanche, Epimedium. Tsk, tsk, tsk, Ye Chen, the things you casually bought are quite coincidental!"

Ye Chen looked bewildered. "No, Big Brother, you can tell all that?"

Gu Mo said, "I'm a Doctor. My Medical Skill is considered unrivaled in the world. I can smell the scent of your herbs from afar. However, if you have needs in that area, you can come to me. I'll concoct a Ten Complete Great Tonic Pill for you, guaranteed to be a hundred times better than anything you can find in the marketplace!"

Ye Chen grabbed Gu Mo's hand and said, "Big Brother, you are my real Big Brother from now on. One day as a Big Brother, a lifetime as a Big Brother. You'll be the older one, and I'll be the younger one..."

"Cut it out!" Gu Mo Light Laugh. "But, logically speaking, with your martial arts and internal energy, and only in your early twenties, it shouldn't be like this..."

Ye Chen looked troubled. "I don't want to either. If I hadn't had a dream last night, I wouldn't have known that incident at the Brothel had such a big Impact..."

Afterward, Ye Chen roughly recounted the events of his dream last night. After finishing, he looked sorrowful. "Big Brother, is there any hope for me? Am I too sensitive..."

Gu Mo Light Laugh. "Let's put aside whether you're too sensitive for now. Let's first discuss how you could have such vulgar thoughts about a painting. Ugh, you..."

Ye Chen said hurriedly, "Big Brother, it's really not my fault. You didn't look closely at that painting yesterday. It was painted too well, just like it was real. Just one glance, and I felt like I fell in love. Really, I even felt like she was smiling at me... Wait, no, she really seems to be smiling at me!"

Gu Mo: "??"

Ye Chen's eyes suddenly widened. "That's right, Big Brother! Yesterday in the Underground Palace, that painting smiled at me. But, I don't know what happened, my mind suddenly went into Chaos, and then I just ignored that matter!"

Gu Mo's heart immediately tightened, realizing that there might genuinely be a problem. After all, Ye Chen's current destiny was somewhat tied to a "triggering the mine" kind of fate.

"Where's the painting?"

"In my room!"

Immediately, the two of them Quickly entered Honglu Temple and went to Ye Chen's residence.

(he) Ye Chen hurriedly entered the room and handed the painting to (he) Gu Mo.

(he) Gu Mo slowly opened the scroll and looked at it carefully. Have to say, the girl in the painting was indeed very beautiful. She wasn't the kind of stunning beauty that immediately amazed people, but rather a Gentry Daughter type, giving off a very comfortable feeling, appearing pure and innocent at first glance.

However, this painting was fine.

"Big Brother, did you see the problem?" (he) Ye Chen asked.

(he) Gu Mo frowned. He hadn't detected any problems. This painting was just a very ordinary portrait.

"I'm afraid the painting isn't the problem," (he) Gu Mo said. "It's that there was something on the painting before. Since it appeared in your dream, I'll go into your dream and take a look!"

(he) Ye Chen asked doubtfully, "How do I go?"

"Just go to sleep."

"I can't sleep right now, it's broad daylight..."

Before (he) Ye Chen could finish speaking, (he) Gu Mo directly chopped (he) Ye Chen's head with a hand knife. (he) Ye Chen's eyes immediately went white, and then (he) fell to the ground.

Immediately, (he) Gu Mo pointed a finger at (he) Ye Chen, and a strand of Nascent Soul Power instantly entered (he) Ye Chen's Divine Sense.

(he) Ye Chen was indeed dreaming.

In the dream, (he) Ye Chen returned to his childhood, having a happy and fulfilling family, and a Childhood Sweetheart (she) he was always with. They were inseparable since childhood, with deep affection, and promised to get married when they grew up.

But good times don't last.

Suddenly one day, a group of bandits appeared and plundered the village.

(he) Ye Chen and (she) his Childhood Sweetheart fled, only to be caught up by the Bandit Leader. The Bandit Leader laughed cruelly and raised his great saber to chop at (she) his Childhood Sweetheart.

(he) Ye Chen cried out in Pain. That Ferocious smile was the nightmare he least wanted to mention from the depths of his heart.

(he) was full of anger and Hatred, but (he) couldn't muster the courage, couldn't face the Fear.

Just then, a White Clad Figure descended from the sky like an Immortal (he). With one kick, (he) sent the Bandit Leader flying, smashing him into a tree, killing him on the spot.

Afterward, the White Clad Man landed lightly in front of (he) Ye Chen, giving a slight Smile.

This was (he) Gu Mo.

Seeing (she) his Childhood Sweetheart saved, (he) Ye Chen immediately breathed a long sigh of relief and hurriedly shouted, "Thank you, Immortal..."

However, Before (he) could finish speaking, (he) saw (he) Gu Mo slap (she) his Childhood Sweetheart on the head.

Then, (she) Childhood Sweetheart's head twisted a full circle and then snapped back. (her) head dangled on (her) neck, but (she) had a bewildered expression, saying, "Didn't you need to help him break through his Fear? Why did you become that Fear yourself?"

(he) Gu Mo let out a Light Laugh and said, "If I become the Fear, doesn't that mean this dream becomes my Home Ground? I decide who can leave and who must stay. You can't leave either. Am I right—Inner Demon!"