I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

"Drip drip!"

The sound of flowing water echoed in his ears. Gu Yuan lifted his head and found that the scenery before him had somehow transformed into a cave.

The cave was damp, with green moss covering the walls, and droplets of water trickled down from the stone ceiling, creating a haunting echo.

A stone door stood seamlessly shut at the front of the cave, as if it was sealing something inside.

A hooded figure draped in a black robe sat cross-legged in front of the stone door, seemingly guarding it.

Sensing Gu Yuan’s arrival, the hooded figure suddenly lifted its head and looked at him.

"Zheng!"

It was as if a golden blade sliced through the void, carrying an unsettling screech that made one’s scalp tingle and sent chills down their spine.

Top-Grade Spiritual Sense!

This dreadful screech shook the surroundings, causing one’s Sea of Consciousness to tremble, and any slight oversight would lead to instant destruction of their spiritual sense, as if struck by lightning, losing the ability to resist.

Gu Yuan had engaged in magical combat multiple times and always emerged victorious, largely due to his Top-Grade Spiritual Sense.

In critical moments, the Flood Dragon’s roar, like thunderous fury, could instantly decide the outcome, and was his unbeatable trump card.

But today, within this Grand Array, he encountered another kind of Top-Grade Spiritual Sense.

The terrifying screech seemed like a golden sword across the sky, making Gu Yuan’s heart race continuously, but now was not the time for contemplation.

"Roar!"

The silver Flood Dragon, with scale armor, roared fiercely, soaring forth, and in an instant, it tangled with the golden blade in the air.

"Zheng zheng!"

The golden sword was sharp, relentlessly slicing through the silver scales of the Flood Dragon, but the Flood Dragon was equally fierce, biting the sword relentlessly, gradually dimming its light.

Their invisible combat in space was exceptionally fierce.

Yet Gu Yuan’s gaze had already moved away from this battlefield, looking at the hooded figure before him.

The Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye pierced through the concealing black robe, directly seeing the true form of the hooded figure.

The skin was greenish, the nails sharp, and weak strands of black aura emerged on its body—the figure wasn’t a living person, but a zombie.

However, the eyes beneath the hood weren’t vacant; they were cold and deep, seemingly retaining spiritual wisdom.

"The magical combat scene within this Grand Array is truly bizarre..."

Doubt arose in Gu Yuan’s mind, but the hooded zombie had already launched another attack.

"Ceng!"

A sound like a sword being unsheathed arose, then a beam of golden light tore through the void with extreme speed, slashing toward Gu Yuan.

The golden light was rapid and sharp, like a golden thunder.

"Swish swish!"

With a thought, Gu Yuan activated the Cloud-Walking Seal, which instantly enveloped the surrounding sky, and heavy rain poured down like a Celestial Net, striving to block the golden light.

But the golden light was so sharp, unknown what kind of Dharma Seal it condensed, the dreadful Sword Qi buzzed and tore through everything, even the Cloud-Walking Seal couldn’t obstruct it.

Seeing the golden light about to penetrate the mist, the Little Giant God Seal in Gu Yuan’s Dantian suddenly lit up.

"Boom boom boom!"

Instantly, a mighty force augmented the Cloud-Walking Seal.

This was Gu Yuan’s first time using the Little Giant God Seal with full power.

The seal greatly enhances mana, the physical body, spiritual sense, and all methods used gain tremendous boost—the weak grow strong, the strong become unmatched, and the top attain unrivaled effects.

Gu Yuan had previously only activated this seal simply, but this time, he gathered all his mana into the Little Giant God Seal.

His physical body suddenly surged firm, and the originally torn Cloud-Walking Seal in the air erupted with boundless mist; it seemed as if a small aperture in the sky cracked open, and endless water vapor poured down like a waterfall.

The silver Flood Dragon, locked in combat with the golden sword, also swelled significantly like an inflated balloon, becoming more ferocious.

"Roar!"

With an excited roar, it smashed down, tearing the already dim golden sword apart.

"Deng!"

With the golden sword shattered, the hooded zombie’s body instantly froze as if struck by lightning, and the golden light trying to break through the Cloud-Walking Seal also paused momentarily.

In that short instant, victory was decided.

Gu Yuan activated the enhanced Peach Blossom Sword Seal, firmly twisting it, directly shredding the hooded zombie’s body.

Yet after defeating the hooded zombie, the cave before Gu Yuan didn’t disappear, seemingly real, and his body didn’t return to the Star River steps.

Gu Yuan waited there for a few moments; everything remained as before, unchanged, with the sound of dripping water endlessly echoing.

With a brief contemplation, he could only step forward, pushing open the stone door in front of him.

...

...

Meanwhile, outside, everyone was intently watching the last two silver steps.

Except for these last two silver steps, the other three steps had all faded into light and shadow.

Only the final two steps remained, shining brightly, dazzling.

Upon them, two figures stood motionless with closed eyes.

"Senior Brothers Gold and Tao both lost?!"

"What exactly is this duel of magical combat?"

"Don’t mention it, even Senior Brother Luo from the Law Enforcement Hall has fallen. It’s truly beyond my expectations!"

"With this, only these two humble lineage cultivators remain? Have all our noble families and master-disciple lineages been defeated?"

"Could the Daoist School belong to the humble lineage in the future?"

"No, today’s defeat can only mean that our skills are inferior, not that the noble families and master-disciple lineages have lost. These two are likely already top figures among the humble lineage. As for us, we are neither the Golden Core Lineage nor the Seven Vein Core, how can we represent the two lineages?"

"That’s true, but why does it sound so bitter..."

"Don’t worry, Foundation Establishment is just the beginning, we still have a chance..."

The crowd watched Gu Yuan and the slightly graying Senior Brother Zhang, whispering among themselves.

Meanwhile, Bian Chuyao also looked at the two with a distant gaze.

...

...

Gu Yuan was unaware of the discussions outside. He pushed the stone door open and discovered a vast expanse within, as if he had entered a new world.

This was a huge valley, rich in spiritual Qi, filled with countless exotic beasts, resembling a Peach Blossom Spring.

However, everything seemed extremely distant, with an invisible barrier between them and Gu Yuan, like viewing flowers in the mist—a blur.

The only clear sight was a solitary figure sitting cross-legged at the front of the valley.

The person was clad in wide sleeves, with a tall and upright posture, giving off an imposing aura even while seated, with an exceedingly handsome face and a faint smile as if he held everything in the palm of his hand, like a banished immortal.

Upon seeing this person, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but be slightly startled.

For this person had the exact same appearance as him.

"What demon dares to impersonate my appearance?"

Before Gu Yuan could speak, the cross-legged silhouette spoke first, with a chilling voice.

The voice was also identical to Gu Yuan’s.

"Prepare to die!"

Seeing Gu Yuan not responding, the figure snorted coldly, with a wave of his wide sleeve, and a surge of thick mist, accompanied by a downpour, rushed toward Gu Yuan.

Not only that, but the clanging sword Qi and flickering peach blossoms emerged, as the Peach Blossom Sword Seal appeared abruptly within the thick mist.

"Roar!"

A silver Flood Dragon followed closely, carrying a power that shook the heart, attacking Gu Yuan’s Sea of Consciousness.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan swung his wide sleeve, using the same tactics.

Mists intertwined, sword Qi clashed, and Flood Dragons fought... the scene was like a mirror image.

"Brazen demon, you dare to steal and learn the same techniques as me!"

"Take this arrow!"

Seeing this, the cross-legged figure shouted angrily, and two Dharma Seals of different colors suddenly appeared.

Little Giant God Seal, Secret Essence Command Arrow!

"Even possessing these two Dharma Seals, is it completely simulating my techniques?"

Gu Yuan mused, then unleashed the Little Giant God Seal and the Secret Essence Command Arrow. Additionally, he employed the Cyan Lotus Seal, Wind-Pushing Seal, and Flame Flood Dragon Seal one by one.

Yet, the silhouette also learned skillfully, with power equivalent to Gu Yuan’s.

The situation was at a stalemate.

"Interesting..."

"It seems that without extraordinary means, the deadlock cannot be broken..."

After a fierce battle, Gu Yuan realized the key to this magical combat.

After a brief contemplation, he laughed softly, advancing step by step through the mist and sword Qi, approaching the silhouette, his muscles swelling, and with a mighty gust, struck toward its head.

"You dared to steal my Little Giant God Seal’s physical enhancement technique, but I am not afraid..."

The silhouette sneered, raising a palm to meet Gu Yuan’s.

"Bang!"

Just as the two collided, the silhouette’s expression changed dramatically.

The Qi power in Gu Yuan’s palm was more than ten thousand pounds!

The terrifying force, carrying a dreadful chill, instantly shattered its palm and, without losing momentum, smashed its head into a pulp.

Watching a head identical to his own be smashed, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh.

This array could simulate Dharma Seals but could not imitate the Star Spirit.

The Star Spirit is naturally formed, marvelously wondrous, and even if undeveloped, it contains mysterious powers.

But... did I reveal too much of my techniques?

Is the Bian Family really just looking to select talents and forge connections through gift exchanges?

While still pondering, the scene before him abruptly disintegrated, and his vision brightened as he returned to the Jade Hall.

But now, there were no more steps within the Jade Hall, leaving only the radiant and dazzling silver step beneath his feet.

He ascended to the top of the silver step, standing above the Celestial Vault, overlooking everyone from a high vantage point.