Zhao Lianyun stood on the top floor of the Immortal Gu House Fengman Lou, gazing outward.
The Black Sky stretched before her—a vast expanse of absolute darkness, the curtain of night blanketing everything around.
But it was not without light.
A few faint, hazy specks of light appeared at the edges of her vision, clearly originating from some enormous distance.
The Black Sky was immensely vast. In fact, all nine heavens of antiquity were like this—each layer was at least as large as the Five Regions combined.
But because of the Human Ancestor and his ten sons, only two heavens remained: the Black Sky and the White Sky.
"We've finally pierced through the Qi Wall and entered the Black Sky."
"Is this the Black Sky? It seems... peaceful."
The surrounding Gu Immortals began murmuring among themselves.
In this layer, it was not just Zhao Lianyun and Bu Zhenzi—two Gu Immortals were hardly the only ones present.
"We've entered the Black Sky," Ling Weiyang transmitted to the other two Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals.
The three Immortal Gu Houses had once again shifted their formation. Jiao LianyIng led the way at the front, while Lan Que Ge and Fengman Lou flanked the wings slightly behind.
The majority of Sixth and Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals had never ventured into the Black Sky and were unaware of the dangers within. But Ling Weiyang, Wan Hai Long Liu, and Bi Chentian understood all too well.
Generally speaking, only Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals could enter the nine heavens of antiquity to seek resources. A select few Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals—people like Feng Jiuge and Chu Du—could also enter, but the risks were far greater.
Setting all else aside, the moment they formally entered the Black Sky, the speed of all three Immortal Gu Houses dropped noticeably.
Furthermore, not a single glimmer of light shone from the houses anymore. They looked like three lifeless meteorites, dull and grey, drifting through the void.
The chatter among the surrounding Gu Immortals gradually died down.
The entire floor of Fengman Lou fell into silence.
Complete, utter silence.
The Black Sky's first impression on Zhao Lianyun was one of boundless emptiness.
"Looks like we're in luck," Bi Chentian transmitted.
"Still, better stay on our guard. We've only just set out," Wan Hai Long Liu remained ever vigilant.
Suddenly, Ling Weiyang spoke: "Watch out—there's a herd ahead."
The speed of all three Immortal Gu Houses dropped another notch. Even with such a formidable lineup, the three Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals were proceeding with extreme caution, prioritizing safety above all else.
Grunting sounds soon reached Zhao Lianyun's ears.
"What is that?"
"Looks like a massive herd of pigs."
Many Gu Immortals pressed against the windows to look out.
Before long, they all gasped in astonishment.
Drawing upon the power of the Immortal Gu Houses, the Gu Immortals peered through the thick darkness and saw a colossal herd of pigs stampeding through the sky below them.
Pigs flying through the air—it should have been comical.
But the Gu Immortals felt anything but amusement.
They were stunned.
"Those are Qi Wall Flying Pigs. Heavens above—there are so many of them."
"Unbelievable. Every single Qi Wall Flying Pig is an Ancient Desolate Beast with combat power comparable to a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal. In the Five Regions, you'd be hard-pressed to find even one, and here there are hundreds."
"Thankfully, Desolate Beasts have low intelligence and lack the spiritual cunning of us humans."
After their initial shock, the Gu Immortals felt a wave of relief.
The herd of Qi Wall Flying Pigs continued grunting as they soared through the sky. Under the watchful eyes of the assembled Gu Immortals, the largest pig at the head of the herd—the Pig King—suddenly dove headfirst into the Qi Wall below its hooves.
One by one, the other Flying Pigs followed suit.
They moved with a fish-like agility that belied their enormous size, diving into the Qi Wall one after another in rapid succession.
Within moments, the entire herd of Qi Wall Flying Pigs had vanished from the Gu Immortals' sight.
Bu Zhenzi, standing beside Zhao Lianyun, sighed with admiration: "The workings of nature are truly wondrous. When we Gu Immortals try to traverse the Qi Wall, it's an immense struggle. But for these Flying Pigs, it's as effortless as breathing. The Qi Wall might as well be seawater to a school of fish."
Then a voice chimed in: "Actually, it was discovered long ago by our Gu Immortal predecessors. They hunted the Flying Pigs and used the immortal materials from their bodies to refine Qi Path Immortal Gu. These Qi Path Immortal Gu often prove invaluable in helping Gu Immortals traverse the Qi Wall."
Bu Zhenzi and Zhao Lianyun turned to see a young Gu Immortal standing before them—so beautiful he could have been mistaken for a woman, standing quietly with a faint smile.
A sharp gleam flashed in Bu Zhenzi's eyes as he recognized the newcomer.
The young Gu Immortal cupped his fists in greeting: "I am Yu Yiyizi, a disciple of Guhun Sect. It is my honor to meet Senior Bu Zhenzi and the current Fairy Zhao of Lingyuan Zhai."
"Yu Yiyizi—even though you're only at the Sixth Transformation, you're incredibly learned. Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals frequently seek your help in refining Immortal Gu or researching Gu recipes. You're truly a standout among Sixth Transformation cultivators," Bu Zhenzi replied, his tone carrying genuine admiration. More importantly, he was introducing the young man to Zhao Lianyun beside him.
Zhao Lianyun had only recently received her Empty Orifice and loaded her Love Gu into it. After enduring rigorous special training, she had just stepped into the circle of Gu Immortals.