Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The black fog was so thick it couldn't be dispersed, like clumps of cotton soaked in ink, weighing heavily on our heads.

The stone lion plunged headfirst into the desolate abyss, its once steady steps slowing down.

There was no wind around, only a suffocating sense of oppression.

Gu Xiang stood on the back of the stone lion, his figure upright.

He placed one hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, while the other hand was spread out, a pure and gentle aura surging from his palm, transforming into a semi-transparent light shield that firmly protected Su Qing beside him.

The yin energy here is too heavy, and Su Qing, being only a soul, cannot withstand such erosion.

Su Qing sat inside the light shield, looking at Gu Xiang's tense profile, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

Even in this desperate situation, the first thing this fool thought of was protecting her.

"Lord Gu."

Su Qing spoke, her voice somewhat unsteady.

"Since the Mountain Moving Sect dared to steal my tree, they must have made thorough preparations."

"Aren't we being too accommodating by just walking in like this?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiang glanced at the three Mountain Moving Sect disciples leading the way.

Zhao Shanhe and the other two were completely focused on controlling the stone lion and seemed not to have heard the conversation behind them.

Gu Xiang lowered his voice: "What do you mean?"

"Sneak in."

A sly glint flashed in Su Qing's eyes.

"This black mist can isolate divine sense, which is a perfect natural cover."

"Let's find a chance to slip away, figure out the location of that tree, grab it, and run."

"It's a waste of breath to reason with these people."

Gu Xiang pondered for a moment, then nodded.

This is indeed the safest method.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Shanhe, who was in front of him, suddenly turned around.

The man's face was full of fear, and even a hint of indignation at being humiliated.

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

Zhao Shanhe knelt directly on the stone lion's back, ignoring the pain in his knees from the hard stone.

"Although the disciples are incompetent, they still know the proper order of seniority."

"You are the benefactor of the Mountain Moving Sect, a deity worshipped for ten thousand years."

"If we allow you to sneak into the sect, how can the hundreds of members of the Mountain Moving Sect have any face to live in this world?"

The other two disciples also knelt down, their heads banging loudly.

"Your Majesty, please see the truth!"

"Even if we are reduced to dust, we disciples would never dare to show the slightest disrespect to Your Majesty!"

"If anyone in the sect dares to lay a hand on Her Highness, this disciple will be the first to object!"

Su Qing was taken aback.

She looked at the three men who were weeping bitterly, and her lips twitched.

The brainwashing skills of the Mountain Moving Sect are truly exceptional.

As Gu Xiang watched this scene, his grip on the sword hilt loosened slightly.

The three men had clear, unwavering eyes, the kind of eyes only a fanatical believer would have.

It cannot be faked.

"That's enough."

Su Qing waved her hand, resuming her aloof and superior demeanor.

"Since you have this intention, I will trust you this once."

"Lead the way."

Zhao Shanhe and his two companions felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They quickly got up and urged the stone lion to move forward faster.

Gu Xiang leaned close to Su Qing's ear and whispered, "You really believe it?"

Su Qing glanced at him, her red lips parted slightly: "Believe it or not."

"But now that they've set up the stage, wouldn't it be a waste of their 'filial piety' if we didn't go up and perform?"

"Besides, I also want to see what kind of person Elder Liu really is."

Gu Xiang nodded and said no more.

But he did not completely let his guard down.

The stone lion continued to descend.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the black mist ahead began to thin out.

A massive array of light could be vaguely seen, shrouding the bottom of the abyss.

The light screen was earthy yellow, with intricate runes flowing across it, exuding a heavy aura.

That's the protective formation of the Mountain Moving Sect.

Gu Xiang stared at the large formation, his eyes narrowing slightly.

This formation is not simple.

If someone were to rashly barge in, even the Great Sage would likely suffer a severe injury.

He calmly took out a jade slip from his sleeve.

This was given to him by Li Yu before he left.

It is said to be a communication jade slip specially made by the Great Zhou royal family. As long as it is crushed, it can transmit the last bit of divine thought back to the capital regardless of distance.

Gu Xiang moved his fingers slightly, engraving a righteous aura on the jade slip.

Then, he flipped his wrist.

The jade slip slipped silently and disappeared into the black mist below.

After doing all this, Gu Xiang straightened up again.

If something happens to them inside, this jade slip will be a signpost guiding the Divine Capital army to flatten this place.

"arrive."

Zhao Shanhe's voice came through.

The stone lion stopped in front of the light screen.

Zhao Shanhe took out a token and cast a spell.

Ripples spread across the light screen, and a crack slowly appeared.

A desolate and ancient aura wafted out from the crack.

"Your Majesty, please."

Zhao Shanhe bowed respectfully.

Without hesitation, Su Qing controlled the stone lion and flew inside first.

Gu Xiang followed closely behind.

The moment I passed through the light curtain, the scene before me suddenly opened up.

Passing through the yellowish-brown light barrier, the anticipated killing formation and ambush did not materialize.

Passing through that yellowish-brown light curtain, the expected darkness and crampedness did not materialize.

Suddenly, a bright and open space appeared before me, revealing a secluded little world.

Unlike the magnificent palaces and misty clouds of ordinary sects, the Mountain Moving Sect's aesthetic is simple and brutal—big.

Dozens of upside-down mountain peaks were forcibly pulled together by thick black iron chains, suspending them in mid-air.

Each mountain peak had its top flattened, and on top sat palaces carved from single blocks of obsidian.

There were no tiles, no wooden beams, and they were all pitch black, so heavy they looked like giant coffins, making it hard to breathe.

However, upon closer inspection, one will discover that the paving stones are actually "Ink Jade Gold Essence," a rare find in the outside world; the lampposts along the roadside are made of deep-sea silver; and even the rusty runes on the chains are made by irrigating with the essence blood of high-level demonic beasts.

This is by no means shabby.

This person clearly has the phrase "owning a mine" etched on their forehead, exuding an ancient and arrogant air of wealth.

"Your Majesty, this is the inner sect of our sect."

Zhao Shanhe maneuvered the stone lion to land on a wide square, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised pride, yet also a touch of trepidation as he glanced at Su Qing's expression.

Su Qing stepped barefoot onto the ground paved with black jade and gold essence, feeling a warm, cool sensation on the soles of her feet.

She raised an eyebrow, her fingertip tracing a stone pillar beside her that was as thick as two people could hug: "Your Mountain Moving Sect certainly has a grand scale, paving roads with black jade and gold essence, and using deep-sea silver as lamps. If that stingy old ghost from ten thousand years ago knew how wasteful his disciples and grand-disciples were, he'd probably jump out of his coffin in anger."

Zhao Shanhe chuckled twice, not daring to reply.

Little did he know that his own founding ancestor had once argued with the neighboring sect for three days and three nights just to save two spirit stones.

"Where's the tree?"

Su Qing had no interest in appreciating the nouveau riche-style decorations. Her gaze passed over the layers of black stone palaces and looked towards the tallest suspended mountain in the deepest part of the palace.

There, she felt a familiar scent that was ingrained in her very being.

That was her true form.

It is also what she relies on in this world.

At this moment, however, that aura seemed somewhat weak, as if it were being suppressed by something.

Zhao Shanhe's face stiffened, and he stammered, "It's...it's in the forbidden area of ​​the main peak. Elder Liu is over there presiding over the formation. If Your Highness wishes to see, this disciple will lead the way."

"lead the way."

Su Qing spoke succinctly, flicked her red robe, and sat back down on the stone lion's back.

Gu Xiang stood silently beside her, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword. His gaze swept around like that of a hawk, repelling the lurking divine senses that were secretly watching.

The stone lion took to the air again, soaring along the thick iron chains toward the main peak.

The closer you get to the main peak, the more violent the earth elemental energy in the air becomes. You can even see fine yellow sand floating in the air, crackling as it hits the protective light shield.

That was a sign that the formation was fully activated.

Su Qing's face darkened.

These unfilial descendants are really using her true form as firewood.

Just as the stone lion was about to reach the main peak platform, a thunderous roar suddenly came from the side.

"Zhao Shanhe! You traitorous bastard!"

With a roar, a wave of scorching heat rushed towards us.

A bare-chested old man with muscles as bulging as granite, carrying a giant axe the size of a door panel, crashed onto the iron chain like a meteorite.

"when--"

The thick, black iron chain trembled violently, emitting a teeth-grinding groan.

The old man had a bristling beard and hair, a face full of fierce features, and a pair of large, round eyes that stared intently at the three people on the stone lion's back. He didn't exude any air of otherworldly wisdom; instead, he resembled an old bandit king who ruled the mountains, radiating a suffocating aura of bloodlust and menace.

"Elder Tie...?"

Zhao Shanhe was so frightened that he almost fell off the stone lion.

Elder Tie was known throughout the sect for his volatile temper. He was in charge of punishments and hated disciples colluding with outsiders. His machete had chopped off the heads of countless transgressors.

"How dare you!"

Elder Tie didn't give Zhao Shanhe a chance to explain. He slung his giant axe over his shoulder, pointed at Gu Xiang and Su Qing, and cursed, "I smelled a foul stench in the Punishment Hall! This is a sacred place of the sect, how dare you bring in such shady characters? And a wandering ghost without a physical body at that!"

"Senior Brother Liu is at a critical moment in extending the Ancestor's life, and you're bringing outsiders into the formation? Are you trying to rebel?!"

Zhao Shanhe broke out in a cold sweat instantly and hurriedly waved his hands: "No! Elder Tie, please let me explain, this is..."

"Explanation my ass!"

Elder Tie spat on the ground, smashing a crater in the dark jade floor. "I only recognize axes, not people! Whoever trespasses on the main peak, dies!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly exerted force with his feet.

The black iron chain was bent and deformed by his stomp.

Using the force of the recoil, Elder Tie was like a cannonball, raising his giant axe, which was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, and bringing down the force of thunder to strike Su Qing!

The wind pressure was like a wall, pressing down on people and making it hard to breathe.

This axe blow was delivered without any restraint; it was clearly intended to cleave Su Qing and the stone lion into dust.

Zhao Shanhe closed his eyes in despair.

It’s over.

The flood washed away the Dragon King Temple, and the grandson is going to chop up the ancestral master.

Su Qing sat on the stone lion without even lifting her eyelids, only gently smoothing the wrinkles on her cuffs.

"Lord Gu."

"exist."

Gu Xiang took half a step forward.

He did not draw his sword.

He simply raised his right hand, that long, slender, fair hand that was used to holding a vermilion pen, and lifted it up seemingly lightly.

To the tune of "Dian Jiang Chun" - Braving the Mountains

Iron chains span the sky, and black rocks hang overhead, pressing down on the clouds.

The wind howled fiercely, and the shadow of the axe terrified the soul.

They do not recognize the true God, but only believe in evil demons.

Thunder rumbled, the murderous intent remained as before, and with one palm, he grasped the universe.