Gongsun Hong's Gains

"Penglai, Yingzhou, Fangzhang?"

The probability of escaping from the Zixiao Palace secret realm and stepping into another secret realm is almost zero.

Entering the legendary Three Pots Secret Land is like winning the lottery.

This inevitably reminded Zhang Xuezhou of the probability of surviving a jump from the 86th floor. Normally, the mortality rate for a jump from that height is 100%, but a woman who jumped from the 86th floor encountered a strong wind and was blown to the 85th floor and survived. The probability of survival for a jump from that height is infinitely close to 100%, but not 100%.

They were the survivors of the 86th-floor suicide attempt, and during the spatial teleportation, they leaped into another secret realm.

Upon hearing Li Shaojun's assessment, even the dying Gongsun Hong showed a renewed will to struggle.

"Has no one truly explored these three secret realms?" Zhang Xuezhou asked again to confirm.

"The Three Immortal Mountains overseas have appeared in mirages, but no one has ever actually entered them," Li Shaojun said.

"Has no one really gone in or out?" Zhang Xuezhou asked again.

If you're going to be so serious, then I have no way to answer!

Li Shaojun responded sullenly.

He was also uneasy, worried that he would once again end up with nothing.

On the contrary, they were lucky enough to discover various treasure locations, but never succeeded.

If the legendary Three Pots Secret Land has been entered and exited, it will be an explored secret land, and its value will drop significantly.

Of course, Li Shaojun couldn't say that a secret place was useless; at least it contained Spiritual Qi that could prolong life.

However, when people choose a secret location, none of them choose a deserted area. Even the most accomplished cultivators who Grain Avoidance still need to live, rather than living like savages in a small world.

Having experienced the hustle and bustle of the world, no one can endure such a solitary and secluded life for long.

Perhaps someone came, and then left.

Upon realizing this possibility, the enthusiasm that had welled up in Li Shaojun's heart immediately cooled down.

"Whatever happens, happens!"

He grunted, clearly unhappy with the spoils from this secret realm.

"Mr. Gongsun, how are you feeling?"

"My body feels as if it's decaying!"

"Soul-summoning powder and soul-stealing powder only work on spirits. You've returned as a living person, so these drugs have no effect on you, except for making you feel a little nauseous!"

The matter now returns to Gongsun Hong.

Even if you want to explore a secret realm, no one can risk their life carrying a sick person.

What everyone needs right now is not to search and investigate, but to solve Gongsun Hong's health problem.

If this were a remote and desolate place, Gongsun Hong's injuries would have been Supreme Purity True Technique that he could have prepared a coffin for his funeral. However, he encountered Zhang Xuezhou, who was skilled in the Taiqing True Arts, and Li Shaojun, who was knowledgeable in the arts of gods and ghosts. They could clear away the negative influences from Gongsun Hong's body. With the addition of the Spiritual Qi from the secret realm nourishing his body, the difficulty of treating Gongsun Hong's body was greatly reduced.

The one who tied the knot must untie it!

Watching Li Shaojun perform the technique several times, the ashen color on Gongsun Hong's face faded, and the overflowing blood began to return to its red color, which made Zhang Xuezhou marvel at the wonder.

"Only you can heal the injuries to his limbs," Li Shaojun said after finishing his spell. "It's fortunate he cultivates Technique Method, otherwise those four sword strikes from that Daoist Shen would have crippled his cultivation!"

"Master Shen!"

Gongsun Hong muttered to himself, but he showed no sign of gritting his teeth.

He truly had no intention of revenge. If he knew that a being could not be killed and whose physical body had been destroyed by others, then whatever he did would lose its meaning.

Li Shaojun was extremely dissatisfied with the trip, while Gongsun Hong was in a state of balancing it out.

He was severely injured and did not obtain 'Jiuyu', but his cultivation finally reached the Sole Self Realm, almost standing at the forefront of cultivation levels of the Great Han Dynasty.

For Gongsun Hong, what he lost on one front, he gained on another. He couldn't accept his fate, but he was satisfied with what he had gained.

The cultivation of the Sole Self Realm almost fulfilled many of Gongsun Hong's life desires.

However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, as the improvement in his cultivation level did not bring him endless joy.

He was the same when he Divine Ability Realm, and he was still the same when he was at the Sole Self Realm; he hadn't changed at all.

Having witnessed the power of even higher-level cultivators, Gongsun Hong was very clear about his own position.

Moreover, despite his injuries, Gongsun Hong was able to completely calm his emotions.

He suffered not only physical injuries, but also severe psychological trauma from being suppressed by 'Yao', which requires him to slowly regain perfect control over his body.

The secluded place before us is a wonderful place for recuperation.

If the secret place is safe and he can find food to survive, Gongsun Hong felt he could recuperate there for a while.

When Zhang Xuezhou performed the technique, Gongsun Hong couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of the Supreme Purity True Technique.

He stood up shakily, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Xuezhou and then over Li Shaojun.

Although his cultivation level was two levels higher than these two, Gongsun Hong dared not underestimate them in the slightest, even after his body had recovered.

Zhang Xuezhou's mastery of Technique Method was too exquisite, while Li Shaojun's methods were endless.

Gongsun Hong even found it hard to understand why Li Shaojun could die time and time again.

In short, he felt he needed to revise all his previous beliefs and from then on maintain a good relationship with the two men, even cooperating with them.

"Let's first check if there are any traces of humans or demons in the secret area, then look for the exit, and then use our treasure-hunting skills to find the spirit jade, and then look for other possible heavenly materials and earthly treasures!"

Gongsun Hong whispered a few words of advice.

His plans were all built upon the foundation of the previous steps; if the first step went wrong, there was no point in carrying out the rest.

"Will you fly or will I fly?" Li Shaojun asked.

"You go left, I go right; you go up, I go down," Zhang Xuezhou said. "The sooner we find out, the fewer hidden dangers there will be!"

Zhang Xuezhou might slack off in some areas, but he's never ambiguous when it comes to serious matters.

His statement greatly pleased Li Shaojun.

Once Gongsun Hong had a firm footing against a tree, the two of them simultaneously used their cloud-riding technique to levitate into the air.

The two were unable to distinguish east from west, north from south, but they could quickly determine their location by looking in opposite directions.

The two of them floated into the air and ascended to the heavens.

"These are two extraordinary talents skilled in flying and leaping, but unfortunately, the imperial court can only maintain its power through personal connections, nepotism, and influence. How difficult it is for people like them, without any foundation, to rise up and utilize their strengths!"

Gongsun Hong never considered himself a genius, but rather that he had worked diligently for decades to achieve his current success.

He toiled for decades to finally rise to power, while many people less capable than him occupied high positions in the court, enjoying the numerous conveniences brought by the court and achieving advancement much more quickly.

Zhang Xuezhou and others could certainly demonstrate their skills to the court, but without a certain position, without an equivalent exchange, and without being bound by tangible interests, no one would reveal their true abilities to be used as a pawn.

"I wonder Zhongshu..."

Gongsun Hong made no contributions to the Great Han Dynasty.

He wanted to form an alliance with Zhang Xuezhou and others, and even help each other to advance their careers. He also needed Dong Zhongshu to genuinely push him to take control of Chang'an City.

"I can endure it all!"

Gongsun Hong muttered to himself.

His body appeared decayed to the point of near death, but when Gongsun Hong's body was possessed by 'Yao', he vaguely sensed some of the secrets behind this special life form's ability to survive for a long time, and he was even somewhat affected by it.

Gongsun Hong could sense that in some unknown, distant depth, something seemed to be sustaining his life, allowing him to live longer.

This originally belonged to 'Yao', but he was forced to share a portion of it.

As long as his body didn't break down, Gongsun Hong felt he wouldn't die.

Moreover, having gained an unknown and profound connection, Gongsun Hong felt for the first time that promoting the Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven would become simpler.