He lay on the ground, spitting blood and groaning in pain.
This sight made Ji Ziyue deeply worried.
If Gu Sheng were to be killed by these two opposing energies, wouldnât she also meet her end here?
"How are you? Are you okay?"
Without hesitation, she moved forward and tightly embraced Gu Sheng, their bodies pressed closely together.
At that moment, a miracle occurred.
A faint light barrier formed around their bodies, blocking out the yin-yang energies.
This barrier seemed to be condensed from their combined Life Force and willpower, radiating warmth and strength.
The yin-yang energies could not penetrate the barrier, only swirling threateningly on the outside.
Several attempts to breach the barrier failed to harm them.
Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue clung tightly to each other, feeling each otherâs heartbeat and breath.
"So warm."
After a long while, Gu Sheng cracked a mischievous smile and uttered those two words.
Ji Ziyue, realizing how close they were, quickly pushed Gu Sheng away in embarrassment.
"You heartless fool! You made me so worried, and yet youâre completely fine."
Ji Ziyue frowned slightly, her frustration evident.
"I really did feel awful earlier, but it seems that after you came closer, the yin-yang energies lost their power to attack us."
Gu Sheng grinned cheekily, looking up at the swirling yin and yang energies above.
Ji Ziyue was somewhat relieved upon hearing his words. Yet, she also felt a sense of pride, assuming that the energies were wary of her cultivation and dared not approach recklessly.
She shoved Gu Sheng away forcefully, determined to face the energies alone and prove her strength.
"Tch! Obviously, itâs my cultivation that saved your life. You should be thanking me."
Ji Ziyue remarked, taking a step forward to put some distance between herself and Gu Sheng.
"Swish!"
However, the moment she left Gu Shengâs side, the yin-yang energies, which had been lingering at the periphery, seized the opportunity to launch a furious attack on her.
The black and white streams intertwined into sharp torrents, rushing straight toward Ji Ziyue.
Due to her cultivation being temporarily suppressed by Gu Sheng earlier, Ji Ziyue was unable to unleash her full strength.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, she had no means to defend herself.
"Ah!"
"Thud!"
Ji Ziyue let out a scream as the overwhelming power of the yin-yang energies struck her.
Before she could react, she was sent flying and landed heavily on the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her lips.
Gu Sheng was alarmed by the scene.
He hurried over to help Ji Ziyue up, once again pulling her into his arms.
At that instant, the miraculous light barrier reappeared, enveloping both of them.
The yin-yang energies hovered around them but were once again unable to inflict any harm.
It was then that Gu Sheng came to a realizationâthe reason the energies couldnât hurt them wasnât because of Ji Ziyueâs cultivation, but rather because they represented yin and yang, embodying the natural Law of balance and mutual generation.
With this force of harmony protecting them, the yin-yang energies were completely powerless against them.
"It seems the yin-yang energies arenât afraid of you. Itâs because weâre together that they canât harm us."
Gu Sheng explained softly.
Ji Ziyueâs face flushed with awkwardness upon hearing his words.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I donât want to stay with you!"
Ji Ziyue shot a glare at Gu Sheng.
"Alright, fine."
Gu Sheng chuckled. "Then go ahead and face them alone."
"You... you heartless fool!"
Ji Ziyue huffed indignantly.
"Yes, thatâs right, Iâm heartless. And if I do have a heart, itâs black, lustful, and demonic. What can you do about it..."
Gu Sheng crossed his arms, his expression utterly wicked.
...
With the yin-yang energies swirling around them, Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyueâs bickering brought a brief sense of humor to the tense atmosphere.
Yet just as they exchanged quips, a strange force suddenly surged from beneath the lakeâs surface.
"Chi, chi, chi!"
As the two looked on in surprise, the yin-yang energies gently lifted them, carrying them upward.
"Whatâs... whatâs happening?"
Ji Ziyue exclaimed.
She felt as though an invisible force had enveloped her, causing her body to float uncontrollably upward.
Gu Sheng looked equally astonished but quickly grasped the situation.
"It seems the yin-yang energies arenât just protecting usâtheyâre guiding us."
Gu Sheng maintained a cautious posture, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
Before long, they were carried upward toward the lakeâs surface.
As they ascended, the mysterious landscape beneath the lake gradually revealed itself to them.
What lay beneath the surface was a massive yin-yang diagram, with them standing precisely in its center.
"Could it be..."
Before Ji Ziyue could finish speaking, the two arrived steadily at the lakeâs surface.
The radiant light from below illuminated their faces, casting an air of solemnity and awe.
Gu Sheng took a deep breath. "It seems weâve found the way to leave the Bronze Immortal Palace. The yin-yang energies and the diagram beneath the lakeâit all requires the cooperation of a man and a woman to activate."
Ji Ziyue nodded slightly. "No wonder the great powers of East Desolation all perished here previously. They must have entered alone, unable to trigger the mechanism without gender balance."
The two stood atop the lake, their hearts filled with wonder.
They hadnât expected that the seemingly deadly yin-yang energies were the key to escaping the Immortal Palace.
"It seems our teamwork is the only reason we can leave safely this time."
Gu Sheng grinned, his tone carrying a hint of smugness.
Ji Ziyue snorted coldly.
"Hmph, Iâll never cooperate with you again after this."
Ji Ziyue said, preparing to move toward the lakeâs edge.
Suddenly, the yin-yang energies surged violently upward, as if responding to an unseen command.
With a thunderous rumble in the skies, the atmosphere above the lake turned heavy and oppressive.
Gu Sheng was shocked by the scene and knew trouble was imminent. He swiftly grabbed Ji Ziyueâs hand, attempting to flee the lake surface.
"Itâs not looking good. Letâs move!"
Gu Sheng shouted, pulling Ji Ziyue forcefully toward the shore.
"Bang!"
"Ow! Seriously?!"
Gu Sheng cried out.
They had collided with an invisible wall of air, which abruptly blocked their escape.
"Whatâs going on?"
Gu Sheng, both startled and puzzled, reached out to touch the barrier.
"This feels like a barrier of some sort."
Gu Sheng muttered, puzzled.
He then channeled Divine Power, hoping to shatter the invisible wall.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Despite his most forceful attempts, the barrier stood firm and unyielding.
No matter what he did, he couldnât break through.
Suddenly, Ji Ziyue took two involuntary steps back.
Immediately after, Gu Sheng also stepped back instinctively.
"Is the barrier... shrinking?"
Ji Ziyue exclaimed in shock.
Gu Sheng took a moment to assess their surroundings carefully.
He confirmed that the barriers encircling the lake were indeed compressing inward in a circular pattern.
At this rate, they would soon find themselves trapped.
Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue exchanged a glance, each seeing the fear in the otherâs eyes.
"What do we do? The barrier is closing inâweâre going to be trapped!"
Ji Ziyue said anxiously.
Gu Sheng steadied himself with a deep breath. A resolute light flashed in his eyes. "It seems we have only one path left."
He gazed upward toward the point where the yin-yang energies were converging.
"Follow me!"
With that, Gu Sheng led Ji Ziyue in a swift ascent toward the heavens.
Their figures traced graceful arcs in the sky, flying directly toward the source of the yin-yang vortex.
As they ascended, the barrierâs contraction accelerated, pressing in with an ever-growing sense of urgency.
"Look at that!"
Ji Ziyue, following Gu Shengâs lead, glanced up and was struck dumb by what she saw.
High above, the yin-yang energies had climbed upward and formed a colossal vortex.
The vortex radiated immense suction, pulling at her very soul as though drawing her toward it.
At the vortexâs center lay a deep and unfathomable black hole.
It was an abyss of infinite darkness, appearing as though it could devour everythingâspace, time, and beyond.