I am grinding experience in another world

Thousand Lanterns City, in front of the three-story building.

Meng Qingchan lay in a rocking chair, staring at Chen Mu expressionlessly.

But as she stared, the corners of her mouth lifted into a gentle smile.

Originally calm and composed, Chen Mu's heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

He had already decided not to go to Outer Heaven, so why was Meng Qingchan even more delighted?

"You'd better head to Heavenly Pass Star as soon as possible," Meng Qingchan said with a radiant smile.

"You may not fear the Five Thunders Bombarding, but you certainly wouldn't dare face Lv Yue's pursuit."

What did that mean?

Chen Mu felt a bit bewildered.

"You've looked at the Jade Cicada Secret Scripture, haven't you?" Meng Qingchan's playful smile deepened.

I have looked at it, but I haven't practiced it!

"You're about to say you haven't practiced it, aren't you?" Meng Qingchan chuckled gleefully.

Chen Mu's heart immediately sank.

"This secret scripture, derived from the Linglong Golden Chapter, has a unique feature — Heart Seal Transmission."

"Once you've glanced at it, it imprints itself onto your Jade Seed like a stamp. Even if you don't cultivate it, it will gradually modify your Jade Seed." Meng Qingchan's conspiratorial grin grew even more evident.

"It's not apparent now, but with time, the flow of your energy and your Qi will change accordingly. Staying in Hai Province will make it impossible to evade Lv Yue's discovery."

"That old man obtained the Linglong Golden Chapter through shady means. He won't tolerate anyone else cultivating the secret techniques within."

"If you want to survive, you'd better hurry to Outer Heaven Star."

"You tricked me!" Chen Mu's face darkened, and he immediately inspected his Jade Seed inwardly.

After careful probing, he indeed found something amiss in one corner: the semi-transparent, white jade surface of the Jade Seed now bore a trace of golden patterns.

It was certainly due to some tampering when the secret scripture was completed last time!

Chen Mu's expression became grim.

"You were about to use Demon Path techniques to kill me, so I merely made a subtle counterattack—a fair move, don't you think?" Meng Qingchan spread her hands, smiling sweetly.

"Besides, while the Jade Cicada Secret Scripture might not be comparable to the Linglong Golden Chapter, it is still a legitimate Daoist Foundation secret technique."

"You were hesitating and afraid of cultivating it, so I gave you a little push to help you take the first step forward."

"Since that's the case, let me help you take one more step forward!" Chen Mu lowered his eyelids, his eyes filled with frosty ruthlessness.

"Everyone dies someday—I'll just help you die a bit sooner!" A fierce look flashed across his features.

Nightmare Victory!

The Perfection Level Nightmare Victory Spell abruptly activated, strange forces instantly surging through the Inheriting Heaven Gourd, entangling Meng Qingchan's Spiritual Deity.

Vast torrents of Delusion Seven Emotions Flame surged forth, advancing swiftly through a hidden link.

Boom!

Colorless flames suddenly appeared surrounding Meng Qingchan.

Wisps of black ash immediately emerged from her body, but instead of falling to the ground, they floated upwards, gathering midair in clusters.

All kinds of grotesque and bizarre demons and ghosts took shape within the black ash, only to dissolve into ashes and scatter to the four winds.

Pain that pierced the soul struck her, and Meng Qingchan's face instantly became deathly pale.

Yet, she did not let out a single cry of agony—her smile only grew broader.

Smile, smile, smile!

Smile, my ass!

Feeling the rapid drain of Yin Spirit Divine Power, Chen Mu gritted his teeth viciously.

Carry Mountains!

A massive influx of Yin Spirit Divine Power was extracted from the Five Ghosts Bag.

Like oil fueling a fire, the flames surrounding Meng Qingchan, which had initially covered only a meter, expanded rapidly. In mere moments, the entire three-story building was engulfed.

Billowing black smoke erupted from Meng Qingchan's body, and her black robes quickly turned white.

Her figure, too, seemed to spark and ignite, glowing like a burning sheet of white paper.

"Don't think about escaping. The Plague Immortal Flags scattered all over Hai Province are filled with poisonous mist—they are Lv Yue's eyes and ears. You can't get out."

As these words fell, Meng Qingchan's figure transformed into white ashes and dissipated.

Only a teasing chuckle lingered near Chen Mu's ears.

"Damn Meng Qingchan!" Chen Mu waved his hand, dispelling the Seven Emotions Flame. Yet, there wasn't a trace of joy on his face.

Meng Qingchan's disappearance was only temporary; before long, she would surely reappear within the Inheriting Heaven Gourd.

To fully banish her, he would have to throw the Inheriting Heaven Gourd beyond the Thousand Lantern City Cave Heaven.

But...

Chen Mu turned his Spirit to the towering Shadow Pupil overhead.

The invincible aura that permeated the entire Thousand Lanterns City—the one like a colossal entity—remained faintly discernible.

It seemed to be fused with Thousand Lanterns City itself: detectable but impossible to grasp or remove.

With this existence present, even if he cast the Inheriting Heaven Gourd away a hundred times, the gourd would still return to the Thousand Lantern City Cave Heaven.

"Her earlier display of fear toward death, claiming she couldn't resurrect, was probably all a lie."

"Now, it's clear—it was all an act for my benefit!" Chen Mu's expression turned sour.

"She's merely waiting for the Jade Cicada Secret Scripture to take effect, leaving me no choice but to head for Outer Heaven Star quickly."

"Damn it!"

...

Three days later.

At the summit of Fuyang Mountain, amidst a resonating hum, an intense surge of energy swept outward, dispersing the clouds in the sky.

A colossal white jade archway, over ten meters high, manifested mid-air.

Its three doorways shimmered with translucent veils of rippling water, through which glimpses of pavilions and towers could be seen.

"It's been such a long time," Lu Han said, climbing the stone steps along the mountain path while gazing up at the jade gate in the sky. "The last time I saw the Heavenly Gate was twenty years ago."

"Brother Lu, is there any great danger on Heavenly Pass Star?" someone beside him asked.

"There is danger, yes—it's frequently attacked by demons," Lu Han replied.

"But the War Soldiers handle that. We serve as Auxiliary Soldiers and mostly stay within towns and camps, so there's generally nothing to worry about."

Despite having heard this before, a sense of relief welled up among the group.

Chen Mu followed the group as they climbed, outwardly appearing engrossed in Lu Han's tales, but inwardly focused on observing the jade gate atop the mountain.

"This Heavenly Gate is somewhat like Ghost Gate."

"One exudes cold and sinister energy, while the other radiates warmth and light—their differing auras must stem from distinct secret techniques within."

"That small mirror suspended at the apex of the gate—could that be the Divine Bone Mirror?" Chen Mu glanced upward.

At such a distance, he could only faintly perceive the large white jade mirror above the gate.

At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but upon focused observation, a mysterious spiritual resonance surrounded it.

Chen Mu's Spirit couldn't help but sink into the Jade Seed again. Checking once more, the golden streak remained unchanged—neither growing nor diminishing—allowing him to slightly relax.

"At this level of transformation, it likely won't be detected for the time being."

"Otherwise, Meng Qingchan wouldn't have resigned herself so quietly to the Seven Emotions Flame, entering a special state of repose."

"From this perspective, the Inheriting Heaven Gourd should also evade the Divine Bone Mirror's scrutiny."

He dared not examine the Shadow Pupil within Thousand Lanterns City again, fearing his aura might betray him.

With trepidation clawing at his heart, he followed the group up the mountain, striving to maintain an impassive demeanor.

To guard against anyone sensing his emotions, he also discreetly activated the Heavenly Demon Seven Emotions Curse, suppressing his emotional surges to eliminate any potential vulnerabilities.

Soon, the group orderly reached the summit and ascended a staircase formed of clouds and mist, leading directly to the jade gate in the sky.

Step by step, Chen Mu followed the others upward.

His initial fears of mishaps proved unfounded; nothing occurred.

The sharp-eyed young man clad in black-and-red armor standing beside the jade gate didn't even glance at him.

The white jade Divine Bone Mirror above also showed no abnormal signs.

Chen Mu accompanied Lu Han and the others, crossing the Heavenly Gate smoothly.

A sense of coolness enveloped him, as though passing through a misty veil, and the next moment, a buzz of activity reached his ears.

Looking ahead, a spacious street came into view.

Taverns and shops three to four stories tall lined both sides, while rows of beast-ridged rooftops extended into the distance. Even further ahead, a few towering observatories loomed faintly.

Chen Mu glanced back at the Heavenly Gate and breathed a long sigh of relief. The tension in his heart finally eased completely.

He had anticipated obstacles upon arriving at Heavenly Pass Star, yet everything had turned out surprisingly simple.

"Wasted worry."