After going through a tough struggle, the Heavenly Tribulation gradually dissipated. Both Gu Sheng and Li Xueyue successfully broke through to the ninth layer of the Sea Floor Realm! Their cultivation leveled up, and their auras became even more powerful.

"We did it!" Li Xueyue exclaimed excitedly, hugging Gu Sheng tightly, her eyes glistening with tears.

Gu Sheng gently patted her back and spoke softly, "Yes, we did it. None of this would have been possible without your companionship and support."

The two held each other closely, feeling the rhythm of each other's hearts and breaths.

"Brother Gu, how are you feeling now?" Li Xueyue asked with concern.

"I feel great," Gu Sheng replied with a smile. "Not only has my cultivation improved, but I also feel like my physique has grown much stronger."

"So this is the power of the ninth layer of the Sea Floor Realm?" Li Xueyue marveled, her tone filled with amazement. "It's truly incredible!"

Outside the cultivation grounds, sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows, while the air was faintly infused with Spiritual Energy. As Gu Sheng walked out of the grounds, he saw Xing Lie, Kou Hai, Wu Tianxiong, and Ying Tianxing waiting for him outside.

"Haha, Brother Gu, you've finally come out of seclusion!" Xing Lie strode forward with large steps, giving Gu Sheng an enthusiastic hug.

"Yeah, being in seclusion for so long, I thought I was going to suffocate," Gu Sheng replied with a laugh.

"Come on, let's head to the Drunken Immortal Inn and properly celebrate!" Kou Hai suggested.

Laughing and chatting along the way, the group soon arrived at the Drunken Immortal Inn. The inn was elegantly decorated with an imposing grandeur, a famous gathering place for cultivators in the Northern Territory.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the conversation started to pick up. From sharing cultivation insights to discussing amusing tales of Jianghu, the atmosphere became increasingly relaxed.

"Did you all hear?" Xing Lie suddenly said mysteriously. "I did something big a few days ago!"

"Oh? What big thing?" Gu Sheng asked curiously.

Xing Lie cleared his throat, his face full of seriousness, and declared, "I proposed to the Shaking Light Saintess!"

The moment he said this, everyone froze for a second before bursting into hearty laughter.

"Brother Xing, you're truly bold!" Kou Hai laughed heartily, slapping the table.

"But what was the outcome?" Gu Sheng inquired.

Xing Lie pulled a wry face and shook his head, "She rejected me."

"Hahaha, I knew it!" Ying Tianxing laughed loudly. "But don't worry; Brother Xing, your courage deserves praise!"

As he spoke, Ying Tianxing took out an ancient, unadorned bronze mirror—the Blood Crow Illusion Mirror. The mirror's surface rippled, and soon, a vivid scene appeared before everyone's eyes.

In the scene, an expansive celestial herb field stretched endlessly in a corner of the Northern Territory, with countless rare flowers blooming in competition. The Shaking Light Saintess descended upon this herb field like a divine fairy. Her graceful bearing and unparalleled beauty made her seem like the focal point of the world's brilliance.

Xing Lie stood nearby, his face a mix of nervousness and anticipation. He adjusted his robe, took a deep breath, and mustered up his courage to step forward.

"Shaking Light Saintess, I have admired you for a long time…" Xing Lie's voice trembled slightly, clearly showing his overwhelming nervousness, "If only you would marry me…"

The Shaking Light Saintess in the illusion paused slightly, then softly but firmly declined Xing Lie's proposal. Xing Lie's face turned despondent, but he still maintained his demeanor, bowing in farewell before leaving.

Seeing the scene in the illusion mirror, the group erupted into laughter once again. Even Xing Lie couldn't help but join in, laughing at himself. "Ah, what can I do when I just happen to like her so much?"

Gu Sheng patted Xing Lie's shoulder. "Brother Xing, don't be discouraged. The path of cultivation is filled with challenges, but one day, you will find your destined match."

"Hahaha…" Lei Ying and Li Xueyue looked at the scene in the illusion mirror, laughing so hard they swayed. Li Xueyue teased amid her chuckles, "Xing Lie, with your bandit-like aura, it's impressive you didn't scare her off completely, let alone propose to her. What on earth were you thinking?"

"Exactly," Lei Ying added with a mischievous grin, her large eyes curving into crescents. "Look at how silly you looked in that scene—it's entirely unlike your usual self!"

"Ahahahaha…" A wave of boisterous laughter filled the inn as everyone took turns teasing Xing Lie.

Wu Tianxiong slapped Xing Lie's shoulder, roaring with laughter, "Brother Xing, I've got to say, your proposal was way too blunt. No wonder you startled the Saintess!"

"Exactly, Brother Xing, proposals need careful planning. You can't rush!" Ying Tianxing chimed in, smiling. "You've got to build rapport first, then pick the right moment to confess your feelings. That way, you'll get twice the results with half the effort."

Kou Hai, with an impish grin, added, "Brother Xing, want me to give you a tip? Next time you propose, remember to bring flowers and a ring. Better yet, choose a romantic location to move her heart."

Gu Sheng remained relatively composed. Smiling, he said to Xing Lie, "Brother Xing, although you didn't succeed this time, don't lose heart. Everyone has their own destined opportunity. Maybe yours hasn't arrived yet. Keep working on your cultivation and improving yourself. I believe that one day, you'll win the Shaking Light Saintess's favor."

Touched by Gu Sheng's words, Xing Lie raised his wine cup and made a toast to the group. "Thank you all for your comfort and encouragement. I know this time, I was too hasty and abrupt, but I won't give up. Someday, I'll win the Saintess's heart with my sincerity and strength."

"Did you hear?" Xing Lie set down his cup, his tone once again mysterious. "The Shaking Light Saintess recently broke through to the Navel Wheel Realm. Her cultivation is advancing by leaps and bounds."

Upon hearing this, Wu Tianxiong put down his chopsticks and interjected, "The Shaking Light Saintess is already exceptionally gifted. Now that she's reached the Navel Wheel Realm, she's even more formidable. Her future is limitless—she might even become an empress one day."

"An empress? That's no easy feat," Ying Tianxing shook his head. "But with her talent and effort, it's certainly possible. Still, the path of cultivation is full of uncertainties—who can say for sure?"

"Speaking of which, the Purple Mansion Holy Land recently rose to prominence with another extraordinary talent," Kou Hai interjected, steering the conversation. "The Purple Mansion Saintess, only eighteen years old, has already broken through to the Navel Wheel Realm. Her anomaly, the 'World in Her Palm,' allows her to summon a complete world, devastating cultivators of the same level. Truly incredible!"

"Oh? The Purple Mansion Saintess?" Xing Lie's interest was piqued. "An anomaly like the World in Her Palm is indeed extraordinary. It seems the cultivation world will only get livelier in the future."

Nodding, everyone expressed their admiration for the Purple Mansion Saintess's rise. The discussion then shifted to rising talents emerging in the Central Province.

"The Heavenly Dao Sect's Jiang Yichen—his cultivation is reportedly at an exceptional level," Wu Tianxiong remarked with a sigh. "He's a low-profile figure, but his strength can't be underestimated."

"And then there's the Yaochi Saintess, truly a daughter of heaven," Ying Tianxing added. "Her cultivation and talent are both unmatched, and she possesses an innate nobility that's impossible to overshadow."

"Don't forget Infinite Mountain's little nun, Jing Yin," Kou Hai reminded. "Though she hails from the Buddhist sect, her cultivation is hardly inferior. Furthermore, her mastery over mental discipline is profoundly unfathomable."

"And then there's Destruction Hall's Wei Daoyuan, the Ji family's Ji Xuri and Ji Yewei siblings—each outstanding in their own right," Xing Lie listed enthusiastically. "These Central Province prodigies all possess incredible power and talent. The future of the cultivation world will undoubtedly belong to them."

Everyone nodded in agreement, praising the achievements of these young talents with admiration and anticipation. The lively discussions in the inn stirred their fighting spirits and ambitions, filling them with fervent hope for the future.

Raising his glass, Xing Lie proposed, "Come, let's drink to these extraordinary talents! And I'll drink to my future marriage with the Shaking Light Saintess!" His comment drew another round of laughter, making him the life of the party once again.

Everyone raised their glasses in response, and the inn echoed with applause and cheers.

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