Primordial White Day.
In the sky that had originally been completely empty, a towering gate tower now manifested.
The gate tower's eaves swept upward at the top, with double-sided brick carvings adorning the lintel, from which hung a massive nameplate inscribed with five large characters: "Five Phase Gambling Gate."
The entire structure resembled cast bronze, radiating an aura of majestic grandeur. At first it was merely a phantom image, but as time passed, it gradually solidified, growing ever more distinct.
A total of six Qi family Gu Immortals stood outside the gate tower, waiting for it to fully materialize.
Leading them was an elderly Gu Immortal—thin and wiry but brimming with vigor, his eyes gleaming with divine light. His hands were clasped behind his back, his spine straight as a long spear. This was Qi Fa, the Supreme Grand Elder of the Qi family.
To his left stood the Supreme Second Elder, Qi Cai, who stroked his beard and said, "I've experienced several seal openings before, but this time alone I find myself growing impatient—I can hardly wait!"
The Supreme Third Elder, Qi Jin, laughed: "This gambling wager has persisted for thousands of years, and finally today it will reach a conclusion. As descendants of the Qi family, we can proudly honor our ancestors—the ultimate victor of this wager shall be our Qi family!"
As they spoke, the gate tower fully solidified. A vast expanse of clouds converged, bearing the gate tower aloft.
Within the gate frame, five-colored radiance began to flash, each hue representing the power of one of the five phases.
First, red light shone down, tinting even the cloud foundation crimson.
However, the Blood Phase Xue Family, having cultivated the Blood Path, had long since been completely annihilated with no survivors. The red light thus shone in vain for a moment before slowly dissipating.
Then yellow light took its place.
The corresponding Chi Family, established by the Eating Phase, though still possessing descendants—they all lived within their ancestors' Immortal Orifices, lacking ambition and preferring comfort over effort, like pigs and dogs in a pen. Naturally, not a single Gu Immortal had emerged among them.
Next came a burst of brown radiance.
The Ni Family of the Mud Phase had once produced Gu Immortals. Though few in number, they were all exceptional. In particular, one Ni Ren—some speculated that his Refinement Path realm had perhaps reached the quasi-supreme stage! It was he who had skillfully fused numerous Immortal Gu with the Ni Family bloodline. This act was originally meant to benefit future generations, but unfortunately, the Ni Family's stockades were now all under the Qi family's control, leaving them no room to rise.
After the brown light came a plain white glow.
"Our turn." Qi Cai's spirits immediately lifted, his eagerness growing ever more intense.
"Let's move." Qi Fa's tone was resolute as he led the four Gu Immortals behind him to descend before the gate tower, bathing them in the white light.
The white light trembled slightly, rapidly intensifying as it swept across the five Qi family Gu Immortals, then returned to its previous state, continuing to shine.
But the Qi family Gu Immortals who had come this time were all present.
No additional Qi Phase descendants appeared, and so the white light dissipated as well.
A white qi vortex now hovered on each of the five Qi family Gu Immortals' foreheads—they had passed the White Phase seal's inspection and earned the qualification to enter the Five Phase Gambling Gate.
"Last is the Bai Family." Qi Jin spoke, his voice unable to conceal his tension.
The Qi family Gu Immortals all descended onto the clouds. It was not yet time to enter the gambling gate, and they stood on full alert, scanning their surroundings.
They were aware of Bai Ningbing's existence.
Bai Ningbing had inherited the White Phase Grotto-Heaven and had even mastered the Immortal killer move White Phase. She had delivered stunning performances in several major battles.
When the Heavenly Court had leaked Fang Yuan's intelligence everywhere, they had also accounted for the remnants of the Shadow Sect around him. Though Bai Ningbing had never truly joined the Shadow Sect, she could not escape having her information exposed.
The Qi family, though a reclusive clan that did not participate in worldly conflicts, still paid considerable attention to outside intelligence.
A pale blue icy light shone for a while, but no one appeared. It began to weaken, about to dissipate.
Qi Cai exhaled a long breath: "Good. Bai Ningbing really didn't come. This time, our Qi family's victory is—"
Before his words had even landed, he saw two figures tear through the sky at tremendous speed, arriving side by side. In the blink of an eye, they had landed before the gate tower.
The Qi family Gu Immortals looked and saw that the arrivals were one man and one woman.
The woman's silver hair gleamed like crystal, cascading like tassels down to her waist. Her skin was fairer than frost and snow, and a pair of pale blue vertical dragon pupils radiated an aura of biting cold. Her complexion was snow-white, her expression frigid, her beauty absolutely breathtaking and soul-stirring. What drew the eye even more was the pair of small, red coral-like dragon horns growing from her forehead.
Seeing this female Gu Immortal, the same fitting name surged through every Qi family Gu Immortal's mind—Bai Ningbing.
"Bai Ningbing actually came! This is terrible!"
"Then who is that person beside her?"
Qi Jin had first noticed Bai Ningbing, then shifted his gaze to the other Gu Immortal.
This Gu Immortal was a young man. His long hair, equally reaching his waist, was black as a cascade. His nose bridge was high, his features extraordinarily handsome, and his eyes were an abyssal black—like primordial darkness that could swallow the world.