Chapter 142: Land of Yin and Yang

Xuyan turned her head away with a bit of attitude. “Stop daydreaming, Host. Don’t you still need to cross the Divine Path? Lucky for you, I’m here to help—any plot or scheme will fall apart with me around!”

A mischievous smile played at the corners of Xuyan’s lips. She put her hands on her hips, and for a second her nose seemed to grow as if she were a playful puppet brought to life.

Gu Xiaoyao shook his head, then lightly pressed his finger on Xuyan’s tiny head. Watching her pout made him chuckle despite himself.

Xuyan frowned deeply, using both of her small arms to push his finger away with all her might. She grumbled, “Hey, Host, stop messing with me! We have more important things to do, and I want to breathe some fresh air out there, you know!”

Raising his gaze to the distant horizon, Gu Xiaoyao’s eyes grew firm and bright, his heart pounding faster as if steeling himself for the challenge ahead.

With a single leap, he reached the four thousand five hundredth level.

The moment he set foot here, darkness swallowed everything. He couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face.

The air was thick with a foul stench, as if he’d stepped into some unknown dimension—more like the belly of a great beast than anything else.

That suffocating feeling pressed in hard, making it impossible to breathe. For a moment, it felt like the whole world had frozen still.

Xuyan clung tightly to Gu Xiaoyao’s shoulder, her eyes wide with fear and unease. Her small body trembled.

Having spent thousands of years on the Divine Path, Xuyan’s powerful instincts screamed at her—this place was hideously dangerous. These were the hunting grounds for incredibly deadly creatures. One misstep and you’d be erased without a trace.

Terrified, Xuyan hid behind Gu Xiaoyao, her little face pale with fear. “Host, maybe we should run. My sixth sense says there’s something terrifying living here. Whatever it is—it’s stronger than both of us!”

Gu Xiaoyao drew his sword and leveled it forward, laughing in disbelief.

“What, you’re scared now? Didn’t you say your Absolute Frost is unbeatable? Strong enough to wipe out any weak enemy in a blink, and even freeze tough opponents for half a stick of incense?”

“Or is this just an act, Xuyan? Maybe you just want me to take you out—that whole scared routine was just to trick me, huh?” Gu Xiaoyao turned to stare her down.

Xuyan puffed up her cheeks, anger flaring as the fear vanished from her eyes. She raised her voice.

“What! Host, you don’t trust me? Seriously—do you think I’m just some little girl who lies to you? Please, I’m really strong, okay!”

“Okay, okay, I believe you’re strong. So…can we head out now?” Gu Xiaoyao sighed.

“That’s more like it. I’ll take that as you asking me for help—so just leave the rest to me!” Bubbling with excitement, Xuyan hopped down and strutted confidently ahead.

Gu Xiaoyao stood rooted in place, quietly pondering how to handle whatever sudden dangers might come their way.

After a few steps, Xuyan realized Gu Xiaoyao hadn’t followed and immediately scowled.

“Host! What are you doing? Hurry up—don’t just stand there in a daze. If you drag your feet any longer, dinner will be cold!”

“Ugh, seriously!”

Xuyan stomped her foot in frustration, then dashed back and grabbed his pants—putting every ounce of strength into trying to haul him forward.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t budge him an inch. She tried again and again, but it was hopeless.

“Host, snap out of it already!” Worn out and panting, Xuyan flopped to the ground.

A long moment passed before Gu Xiaoyao finally snapped out of his thoughts. He glanced down to see the exhausted Xuyan collapsed by his leg. With one swift motion, he scooped her up like a chick and brought her up to eye level, studying her with amusement.

He couldn’t resist teasing her. “What happened, Xuyan? Why are you such a mess? Did something funny just happen to you? Go on, tell me, haha.”

“It’s all your fault! Let me down!” Xuyan shouted, flailing her little fists in protest.

Gu Xiaoyao just smiled lightly. “Alright, just as you wish, Xuyan. I’ll let you down.”

He loosened his grip on her.

“Wait—what?!” Xuyan squeaked.

Thud! Caught off guard, Xuyan landed hard on the ground. It took her a while to climb to her feet, clutching her waist with a pained expression.

“Ow, my back! That hurts!” she shot him a resentful glare. “This is all on you!”

Gu Xiaoyao didn’t answer. He simply stepped forward, eyes thoughtful, gazing off into the distance. After a sigh, he strode ahead.

“Huh? Wait!”

Left behind in a daze, Xuyan needed a few seconds before she scrambled to her senses and hurried after him.

“Host, wait for me! Don’t run off so fast!” Xuyan called after Gu Xiaoyao, her steps cautious and watchful now.

They soon slipped into a realm of total darkness, losing all sense of direction. Even the faintest light struggled to reach this endless void.

The tension pressed tighter with every step. Xuyan swore something could happen at any second. Suddenly, Gu Xiaoyao vanished from sight right before her.

Panic seized her as she spun around in circles, her dark eyes darting wildly.

“Host, where are you? Don’t scare me!” Xuyan cried, stumbling around in terror.

Just then a beam of light caught her attention. Overjoyed, she rushed toward it.

“Ow!” She smacked into some kind of barrier, raising a big bump on her forehead before she could even reach up to rub it.

A thundering voice—vast and unyielding—erupted through the darkness, blaring straight into her mind with no room for resistance.

“Participants have assembled! The Land of Yin and Yang trial begins. Fail to clear it within one hour—and you die!”

Suddenly, a barrier shimmered into existence, splitting the place into two worlds: one lost in endless darkness, the other gleaming bright.

This was the Land of Yin and Yang. Stepping onto this level meant the trial had begun. If you couldn’t escape in an hour, your spirit would be erased here and now.

Xuyan froze in shock at the sudden announcement. On the other side of the shining barrier, she caught sight of Gu Xiaoyao. Delighted, she pounded on the barrier, eager to say something.

“Host, I’m right here! Can you see me?”

But her happiness was short-lived. The barrier blocked out all sound. It didn’t matter how long she pounded on it—he couldn’t hear her at all.

Second by second, time ticked away. Occasionally, a voice chimed in like a death knell, hammering fear deep into her heart. Her face turned paper white as she glanced desperately in every direction.

Meanwhile, Gu Xiaoyao heard the same voice and couldn’t hide his confusion. What kind of place was this, anyway?

This pocket world stretched out impossibly far. Some strange power tugged at anyone who entered, clouding their minds with a dreamy joy and making them want to stay lost here forever.

It hit you right in your happiest memory, trapping you there until you finally slipped into an endless sleep.

At first, Gu Xiaoyao almost lost himself completely. Thankfully, at the crucial moment, the Skydome Sword inside him flared with power, snapping him back to his senses.

That fleeting clarity had saved him from disaster.

Now he searched for a way to escape the so-called Land of Yin and Yang. He’d considered brute force, but nothing worked. Even if he smashed something, it instantly restored itself. Frustrated, he kept searching.

That’s when he noticed a few faint lines carved into an old locust tree nearby.

The Land of Yin and Yang: only by reuniting both sides can the trial be cleared. Otherwise, after an hour, this place will collapse.

Fail and everything within both realms will be utterly erased.

Succeed, and you’ll stand atop the world.

Gu Xiaoyao sucked in a sharp breath. There wasn’t much time left. If he couldn’t find a way to bring Yin and Yang back together, it was all over.

How could the two sides possibly become one? This was a puzzle with no easy answer.