CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: I INSIST YOU LEARN

The third eye of the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue opened, revealing an eye like a black gem.

Within that eye, white light continuously transformed, forming the shape of a white lotus of light.

The white lotus of light continuously transformed and faded within the black gem-like pupil, the white glow growing increasingly intense, soon turning the entire third eye white.

Chen Guan watched this miraculous transformation, the white light from the third eye spreading across the entire body of the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue, like a web of white light cracks, soon covering the whole statue.

In just a moment, the body of the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue appeared as if assembled from fragments, yet did not fall apart.

As the white light grew stronger, Chen Guan worried about being seen by others.

Fortunately, the surrounding forest was dense, and there were no signs of human habitation for miles around. At this time of night, it was unlikely anyone would venture into the area.

The obsidian-like form of the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue gradually turned into black smoke in the white light, and in a moment, the black material vanished completely, leaving only a dazzling white light slowly converging.

As the white light converged to a certain extent, Chen Guan finally saw a plump and beautiful female Secret Spirit within it, only wrapped in white gauze, with an exceedingly striking appearance.

The white gauze, like a galaxy, appeared as a semi-transparent starry sheen, winding around her body resembling a nebula ribbon, undulating like water waves, covering the important parts of her body, yet the faint allure made it even more captivating.

Her skin was also semi-transparent, as crystal-clear as though carved from jade, yet unlike cold jade, one could see a pinkish hue on her cheeks, making her skin appear more delicate and enticing.

When the white light dispersed completely, the female Secret Spirit floated in the air, her bare jade feet not touching the ground.

"A Secret Spirit capable of defying gravity!" Chen Guan’s heart instantly tightened.

A cultivator of the Second Awakening could not completely defy gravity; only the top cultivators of the Grotto Heaven were likely capable of such.

Chen Guan did not expect that activating the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue would result in such a Secret Spirit.

"Kneel before this consort upon seeing me." The female Secret Spirit was aloof, with countless charms, yet there was a compelling majesty within her eyes.

"You’re my Secret Spirit, living off my vitality, and you expect me to kneel to you?" Chen Guan looked at the Secret Spirit and said calmly.

"Your Secret Spirit was the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue, but now it has dissipated, and I have no relation to you, nor do I need to rely on your vitality," the female Secret Spirit said coldly, looking at Chen Guan. "If it weren’t for my agreement with the Emperor Ancestor, you speaking to me in such a manner would have warranted death a thousand times."

"Who exactly are you, and what agreement do you have with the Emperor Ancestor?" Chen Guan scrutinized the female Secret Spirit and asked.

"Do you know the Ancient Text?" the female Secret Spirit said coolly.

"Of course I do," Chen Guan nodded.

"Since you know the Ancient Text, how could you not know who I am?" The female Secret Spirit wore an expression of pride, implying he must know her identity.

"Could it be that you are Apang Nu?" Chen Guan looked at the female Secret Spirit and asked.

"The name Apang is not for you to utter," the female Secret Spirit’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and Chen Guan immediately felt his body enveloped by an invisible force, lifting him into the air, suspending him there.

"If I hadn’t promised the Emperor Ancestor to help him transmit the Ancient Text, I wouldn’t tolerate you. Next time you offend, I’ll ensure you die without a complete corpse."

After Apang Nu spoke, Chen Guan felt his body release, plummeting from the air. Fortunately, he was quick enough to adjust his posture, landing on his feet and avoiding a hard fall to the ground.

"What is it you intend to do?" Chen Guan internally assessed, realizing the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue had indeed vanished, leaving no trace.

"To fulfill my agreement with the Emperor Ancestor, teach you the Ancient Text, then we part ways. Don’t let me see you again; otherwise, it will be your end." Apang Nu didn’t spare a glance at Chen Guan, speaking to herself: "I’ll recite, you repeat after me. I’ll teach you once, and how much you learn depends on your own fate."

"Mind in two states, void and form opposed, void is the essence, form is the appearance..." Apang Nu recited, her gaze signaling Chen Guan to repeat after her.

"Mind in..." Chen Guan had just said two words when he suddenly turned and ran, reaching the back of a large tree in two strides.

"You..." Apang Nu was first taken aback, then anger surfaced on her face, her arm waved, and the gauze on her body, like Star River Marvelous Gauze, rolled back like a heavenly river, winding around the tree, wrapping towards Chen Guan.

Chen Guan, almost reflexively, summoned the Rouge Rabbit and the Mutated Tomb Lord, placing them on either side for protection.

The Rouge Rabbit wielded the Bloodsucking Saber, slashing at the gauze, while the Mutated Tomb Lord extended all four hands to grasp at the gauze.

Meanwhile, Chen Guan ducked under the gauze, sprinting into the forest.

He dared not look back, nor waste a single moment, hoping the Rouge Rabbit and the Mutated Tomb Lord could hold off for a few more seconds, allowing him to escape farther.

He didn’t believe for a second the supposed Emperor Ancestor’s transmission of the Ancient Text.

In truth, he didn’t believe the female Secret Spirit was Apang Nu at all. No matter how powerful the Emperor Ancestor’s methods, transforming a deceased Apang Nu into a Secret Spirit, he wouldn’t allow his beloved to manifest in such a beguiling form.

If the legend were true, Apang Nu was the Emperor Ancestor’s Bai Yueguang, and who would let their Bai Yueguang become like this.

Chen Guan felt certain there was more to this than met the eye, though he hadn’t had the time to piece it together.

He had barely covered several steps before the Star River Marvelous Gauze had caught up, and Chen Guan, with all his might, unleashed a Blood Hand Seal upon the gauze.

The Blood Hand Seal was both soft and fierce, able to fracture even a piece of thin gauze suspended in midair.

But when Chen Guan’s Blood Hand Seal struck the gauze, not only did it fail to shatter it, the gauze wound itself upon him, instantly binding him tightly.

Chen Guan drew the Miaoshu Sword from his waist, intending to slash through the binding gauze, but the sword’s sharpness proved ineffective, unable to cut the gauze, and was instead enwrapped together with him.

Tied up like a rice dumpling, Chen Guan was lifted into the air, swiftly brought back before Apang Nu, hung upside down by the gauze.

The Rouge Rabbit and Mutated Tomb Lord, similarly constrained, also dangled upside down in the air.

"I teach you the Supreme Secret Technique created by the Emperor Ancestor, why do you run?" Apang Nu stared icily at Chen Guan and asked.

"I don’t want to learn it, go teach someone else," Chen Guan said.

"Humph, if the Emperor Ancestor hadn’t said it could only be taught to one who acquired the Great Black Celestial Demon God Statue, do you think I’d bother with you?" Apang Nu snorted coldly.

"If you didn’t desire it, then that’s good. After all, I don’t want to learn it either. Assume I can’t learn it. You were only going to teach it once, so it makes sense if I don’t pick it up, right?" Chen Guan replied.

Apang Nu was momentarily at a loss for words, unexpectedly finding her words meant to deceive Chen Guan being used against her by him.

"Even if you refuse to learn, I will still teach you. My promise to the Emperor Ancestor must be fulfilled." Apang Nu retorted coldly.

"Promise to the Emperor Ancestor? You’re not Apang Nu at all," Chen Guan challenged, exposing Apang Nu.

"If I were not Apang Nu, do you think you would still be alive?" Apang Nu retorted.

"If you could kill me, you wouldn’t waste time with all this nonsense. You insist on me learning your Secret Technique; perhaps only by learning it can you break free or accomplish something you desire," Chen Guan conjectured.

"So, do you choose to learn or not?" Apang Nu did not deny it, merely stared at Chen Guan.

"By your nature, if I learn it, you won’t spare me after breaking free. If I refuse, there’s at least a sliver of hope for survival. If you were me, would you learn?" Chen Guan argued.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t learn either. But the affairs of this world are not dictated by your whims. You may not want to learn, but this consort will ensure you do. You cannot refuse me." Apang Nu laughed, and as her red lips parted, the scripture flowed like an incantation from her mouth, streaming into Chen Guan’s ears like water.