Chapter 238: Realm Power Buffet, Ready to Dig In

[Ding! 500 Earth Realm Comprehension absorbed. Current Earth Realm: 1050/2000]

The vibrations from the Star Source Crystal Core in Chu Sheng’s grasp grew fainter and fainter until they ceased completely.

The once-brilliant light radiating from it had dimmed considerably.

What the hell!

’Draining it felt amazing, but does a Star Source Crystal Core that’s been sucked dry like this still count toward my score in the Three Kingdoms Grand Competition?’

With a thought, Chu Sheng stored the Star Source Crystal Core in his Lifebound Space.

Nearby, the smile playing on Gu Yuexi’s lips stiffened.

The others might not have noticed immediately, but Gu Yuexi had sensed everything with perfect clarity.

From the moment Chu Sheng plunged his proboscis into the Star Source Crystal Core’s radiant halo, its Realm Power had been draining away at an astonishing rate.

Gu Yuexi hadn’t known about Chu Sheng’s ability to absorb Realm Comprehension before.

But now, she had seen it with her own eyes...

’Hold on a second.’

’You absorb Qi Blood, fine. That’s no problem. It’s perfectly normal for a mosquito to suck blood.’

’You absorb Mental Power? Okay, I can accept that. I’ll admit you’re impressive, since Mental Power can become semi-corporeal or even fully corporeal.’

’But... you can even absorb something as ethereal and intangible as Realm Power?’

’Is there any justice in the world?!!’

’She, Gu Yuexi, may have mastered multiple Realms, Laws, and even the Power of Origin...’

’...but she had gained all of that in her past life through painstaking effort, bit by bit, relying on her supreme aptitude for comprehension. Many Realm Laws could only be grasped in the crucible of a life-or-death battle.’

’Things like Realms are supposed to be grasped through one’s own innate aptitude, okay?!’

’But now you’re telling me you can just slurp up Realm Power like it’s Jell-O?’

At that moment, Gu Yuexi’s entire understanding of cultivation began to crumble...

Fortunately, she had witnessed Chu Sheng’s heaven-defying abilities countless times before, so in the end, she could only give a helpless twitch of her lips.

’Thank goodness this guy is my Contracted Beast.’

’That blasted mosquito... He probably comprehended the Spatial Realm the same way.’

...

As Chu Sheng put the Star Source Crystal Core away, the surrounding Earth Realm force field vanished completely.

Twenty minutes had passed. The contestants from the Philippines and Yue Country should have entered the realm by now.

Gu Yuexi looked at the Great Xia contestants gathering around and spoke again.

"My stance hasn’t changed. I’m all that’s needed for this competition. From now on, my Contracted Beast and I will be acting alone."

"If you aren’t willing to leave right away, then prioritize your own safety. It would be best to stick to the outer areas."

"I’ve said my piece. The decision is yours."

Without waiting for a response, Gu Yuexi turned and flew swiftly toward the depths of the Secret Realm.

There wasn’t much time, and she had no need to waste it on pleasantries.

"Blasted mosquito, hurry up."

In a flash, Chu Sheng appeared at Gu Yuexi’s side.

"BZZZ... (Where to? Lord Mosquito can take you there with Instant Teleportation.)"

"You’re saying... you can bring me along with Instant Teleportation?"

Chu Sheng nodded.

But Gu Yuexi shook her head.

"We can’t. The depths of the Secret Realm are littered with ancient Killing Arrays. If we teleport into one by chance, even I won’t be able to get out quickly."

’Fine by me. Saves Lord Mosquito from wasting his Mental Power.’

’Besides, this gives me a chance to observe the distribution of Star Source Crystal Cores in the area first.’

Too lazy to fly himself, Lord Chu Sheng switched back to his Primitive Form and perched on Gu Yuexi’s head. Then, he activated [Nether Vision] once more.

Instantly, a field of view spanning a thirty-thousand-meter radius appeared within Chu Sheng’s perception.

Furthermore, any Star Source Crystal Cores within a radius of several thousand meters were highlighted in his perception.

The Star Source Crystal Cores were indeed extremely rare. After activating Nether Vision, Chu Sheng discovered there wasn’t a single one within a several-thousand-meter radius!

However, as they ventured deeper, Star Source Crystal Cores began to appear more frequently.

’Hmm... there’s one three thousand meters to the left. It’s red. Is that a Star Source Crystal Core containing the Fire Realm?’

’There’s another one two thousand meters ahead to the right. A golden one... the Gold Realm?’

’Huh? I think we just passed one. It showed up as black on my "Perception Map." What Realm could that be?’

As they advanced, Chu Sheng and Gu Yuexi mentally noted the locations of the Star Source Crystal Cores.

’After Gu Yuexi gets her treasure, it’ll be time to follow the map and collect these Crystal Cores one by one.’

’Since winning this competition is a must and time is tight, I’ll just collect these Crystal Cores for now. After we get out and the scores are tallied, I can slowly absorb the Power of Origin inside them.’

’After all, the Power of Origin within these Crystal Cores, much like the Life Force in a Demon Beast Core, won’t dissipate over time.’

...

The deeper they ventured into the Secret Realm, the taller and more majestic the surrounding mountain peaks became. Ruined palaces atop these peaks also grew more common.

According to Gu Yuexi, these ruined palaces might contain various Spiritual Artifacts left behind from ancient times. Of course, that was only a possibility. What one was more likely to encounter were the various Trapping Arrays and Killing Arrays that remained within.

The treasure Gu Yuexi had obtained in her past life was located in a palace on one such mountain peak, deep within the Secret Realm.

"It’s just ahead!"

Gu Yuexi’s eyes lit up. She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on a towering mountain peak in the distance.

Perched atop the summit was a massive palace, far larger than the others and almost completely intact.

"Let’s go!"

With a flash, Gu Yuexi flew toward the summit. Soon, she arrived before the palace’s main hall.

Above the palace’s facade, where a plaque should have been, there was only empty space.

Drawing on the experience from her past life, Gu Yuexi walked through the main gates of the palace without any hesitation.

"Blasted mosquito, this palace is surrounded on all sides by Killing Arrays. We can only enter through the main gate."

"However, the main gate is protected by an Illusion Array. It was likely an Array the Ancient Sect used to test the mental fortitude of its disciples."

"If you think you can handle it, come in with me. If not, wait for me out here."

The reason Gu Yuexi hadn’t sent Chu Sheng off to snatch Star Source Crystal Cores was that she wanted to see if he, too, could gain some resources from this palace.

However, she was also a little worried that Chu Sheng wouldn’t be able to pass the Illusion Array at the entrance.

Inside the Illusion Array, she wouldn’t be able to help Chu Sheng. Furthermore, there were spatial restrictions within it, making it impossible to open a Storage Ring or a Beast Taming Pouch.

’An Illusion Array?’

Chu Sheng paused for a second, then his mosquito-like mouth curled into a grin.

He recalled the time he was trapped by the Illusion Array at the Mu Family’s Spirit Plant Manor...

’Isn’t this just a free delivery of Mental Power?!’

’Most attacks inside Illusion Arrays are formed from condensed Mental Power.’

’And if it’s made of Mental Power, then I’ll just suck it all up!’

"BZZZ... (What’s the matter? You looking down on Lord Mosquito?)"

With a defiant buzz, Chu Sheng charged into the palace without waiting for Gu Yuexi.

Gu Yuexi shook her head helplessly. Just as she was about to follow him in, her brow suddenly furrowed.

She turned and saw a faint ripple in the space behind her.

Then, a figure wielding a Cross Sword appeared out of thin air.

It was the blond-haired, blue-eyed man, Adam.

Adam looked startled when he saw Gu Yuexi, but his expression quickly shifted back to his usual intrigued smile.

"Just as I thought. It’s you, my beautiful lady from the East."

"Only you could have arrived here faster than I did."