Although he had thought a lot about it, Gu Chen didn't say it aloud. Instead, he said calmly, "I must say your suggestion is very appealing, but I have some past grievances with Nan Zhutong from your Nan Family!"
"Nan Zhutong?" Nan Wuhen seemed to be recalling which of his descendants this was, and said, "You mean my third son's son? What do these conflicts between the younger generation matter in the face of the greater good?"
Gu Chen never expected that a name he had casually overheard on the road would lead him to encounter a member of that clan.
Immediately, he quickly continued, "But our feud is irreconcilable. I have a deep-seated hatred for him, a hatred that cannot be forgiven. Nan Family is absolutely impossible for me!"
"Fine!" After his expression shifted several times, Nan Wuhen suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, as long as you promise me, Nan Zhutong, I will bring him before you. Whether to kill him, spare his life, or expel him from the family is entirely up to you!"
How ruthless!
Gu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
This Nan Wuhen, in order to prolong his own life and obtain cultivation techniques, was even willing to use his own grandson's life as a bargaining chip. Gu Chen's words were merely a test; having seen through Nan Wuhen's true nature, why would he genuinely cooperate with him?
"Alright, since Senior Chu is so agreeable, then I won't mince words either. I'll cooperate with you!"
After pretending to ponder for a moment, Gu Chen nodded.
"Hahahaha... I knew you'd agree!" Nan Wuhen was overjoyed, his old face crinkling with wrinkles, revealing his extreme excitement. "After this matter is over, I will definitely bring Nan Zhutong to you. I never go back on my word! Come, let's seal this oath with a high five!"
As he spoke, Nan Wuhen eagerly stretched out his palm, fearing that Gu Chen might change his mind.
"Alright!" Gu Chen raised his hand as well. Anyway, this was the rule of their martial arts family. Oaths were just like farts to Gu Chen; he could make them whenever he wanted.
Their palms collided in mid-air, producing a crisp sound. Just as Gu Chen was about to pull his hand away, Nan Wuhen's palm suddenly flashed with a red light, then his five fingers curled and grabbed at Gu Chen's wrist.
Gu Chen had anticipated this move and calmly unleashed a burst of True Qi, striking Nan Wuhen's palm.
With a sharp hiss, like a weapon piercing through a net, Nan Wuhen as if by lightning. He quickly withdrew his hand, looked at Gu Chen, and without any embarrassment, laughed, "Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young, Gu Chen. Before, I doubted whether you truly had the ability to kill Zhuge Wangyue, but now it seems you have no problem!"
"Is that so?" Gu Chen asked with a half-smile.
If he hadn't been on guard, if his reaction had been slower, if he hadn't used his True Qi, he probably would have been subdued by that old fox Nan Wuhen by now, and there wouldn't be so much nonsense to say.
Nan Wuhen nodded and said, "Don't worry, I was just testing you. Now I'm relieved. If we join forces, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Senior Nan, what are our plans for the next step?" Gu Chen didn't expose him, but asked casually.
"After receiving the message from the jade pendant, I happened to be near the Heaven and Earth Forest. I estimate it will take them at least half an hour to get here, except for Wei Fenghua, who will be faster. But that guy is nothing to fear." Nan Wuhen said arrogantly, "What do you want to do? Deal with Wei Fenghua? I'll just kill him. If you want to leave immediately, I know a shortcut out of the forest that's foolproof."
"No." Gu Chen shook his head, pointed ahead, and said, "I want to go in and take a look."
"You're going to Dragon Spine Mountain?" Nan Wuhen was startled, then immediately shook his head and said decisively, "No, that place is unacceptable!"
"Why can't we go?!" Gu Chen asked, puzzled.
Actually, Gu Chen had only planned to pass through the Heaven and Earth Forest and detour to the Gu Family.
But the events of the past day or so had aroused Gu Chen's suspicions. What was going on with this group of people who were desperately trying to prevent him from going in? He really wanted to know!
"There are far too many Heaven and Earth Beast there! And their strength is more than twice that of the Heaven and Earth Beast you killed before. Even I wouldn't dare to venture deep into them," Nan Wuhen said solemnly. "Moreover, behind Dragon Spine Mountain, there is an Endless Sea. It's not only a forbidden area of Land of Heaven and Earth, but even we, the top ten warriors on the Dragon Ranking, dare not set foot there!"
"That's an exaggeration?" Gu Chen said, "Endless Sea? Isn't the Land of Heaven and Earth just this big?"
"No!" Nan Wuhen said, "The Land of Heaven and Earth has never been fully explored since its creation. The reason why the sea behind Dragon Spine Mountain is called the Endless Sea is because it is boundless and endless, and no martial artist has ever been able to traverse it!"
"The Land of Heaven and Earth is not this small?"
This was the first time Gu Chen had heard such a statement. He was shocked and asked, "What exactly is in that Endless Sea? Why are you all so secretive about it?"
A hint of apprehension flashed in Nan Wuhen's eyes as he said, "Over there... all I know is that every time the Dragon Ranking tried to enter, they never returned! Legend has it that the place is inhabited by the original inhabitants of the Land of Heaven and Earth! Their martial arts cultivation is far superior to ours! These Heaven and Earth Beast are raised by them, and that Dragon Spine Mountain is a barrier they've erected to prevent people from martial arts families like us from entering!"
"What did you say?" Gu Chen asked in surprise, "Indigenous people?"
"Do you really think the Land of Heaven and Earth was created by various ancient martial arts families hundreds of years ago?" Nan Wuhen sneered, "These words might fool children. The limit of martial arts, the legend of shattering the void and proving the Dao through martial arts! Unfortunately, those are all bullshit lies. When I reached that level, I realized how difficult it is to take another step! To advance even a fraction, you have to contend not only with your own limitations, but also with time!"
"Time?"
"That's right! Someone like me, with less than three years left to live! How could I possibly shatter the void? What would I rely on to shatter the void?!" Nan Wuhen said, "Martial artists' lifespans are ultimately too short. Only those who cultivate immortality and achieve the Dao can live forever. Tell me, am I right?"
"No," Gu Chen shook his head and said, "You've all fallen into a misconception. You think that once you obtain a cultivation method, you can become an immortal as long as you master it. But obviously, that's impossible. Cultivation is divided into countless levels, and at each level, there are Heavenly Tribulation. However, the lifespan is indeed more than ten times longer than that of martial arts."
"That's perfect!" Nan Wuhen exclaimed excitedly. "With lifespan and life, one can do more things. This applies to martial arts and immortality! Legend has it that the Land of Heaven and Earth was created by martial arts masters, but I don't believe it for a second, precisely because of this! Because throughout history, on the entire Earth, no martial artist has ever had the power to create space. That's not a martial arts technique; that's an immortal technique!"
"So what do you mean?" Gu Chen asked in a deep voice.
"The Land of Heaven and Earth is a space that has always existed! Even if it wasn't, it wasn't created by the ancestors of ancient martial arts families, but by others!" Nan Wuhen said, emphasizing each word. "Therefore, there are native inhabitants here! In my estimation, our ancestors discovered this place hundreds of years ago, and then worked together to chase away, or rather negotiate with, the native inhabitants, driving them to the Endless Sea beyond Dragon Spine Mountain!"
Upon hearing Nan Wuhen's words, Gu Chen felt his mouth go dry and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning!
The Land of Heaven and Earth, inhabited by the indigenous people!
No wonder he always felt something was off. How could Small Thousand World be created by martial artists, and yet it possesses the Heaven and Earth Beast, abundant spiritual energy, and rare and precious materials!
This is something no martial artist could do; it turns out there are indigenous people involved!
Just then, Nan Wuhen dropped another bombshell.
"As far as I know, the cultivation technique that caused such a bloodbath in the Land of Heaven and Earth more than ten years ago originated from Dragon Spine Mountain!"