The mud and sand in the seawater not only blocked Pirate Boss's perception but also blocked Pirate Number Two's perception, preventing him from sensing the approaching Zhou Ming and Qiu Hongyan, as well as the vines Zhou Ming released.
As for Zhou Ming's death, it was naturally fake. She used Deception Gu to lower her aura to the minimum, not letting a trace of her life force leak out, making her appear deader than a truly dead person.
Of course, to make the act convincing, she and Qiu Hongyan genuinely suffered injuries from Pirate Boss's attacks. Otherwise, how could they so easily deceive a Rank 4 Gu Master?
This meticulously staged ploy was meant to make Pirate Number Two misjudge the situation, thereby making him decide to team up with Cai Zhiyin to eliminate Pirate Boss first.
And Zhou Ming's scheme was officially declared a great success when Cai Zhiyin smashed the seven-treasure sea elephant's head, Pirate Number Two reverted to his Primordial Spirit, and his headless corpse lost all signs of life.
At this point, among those participating in this trial, only Cai Zhiyin, Zhou Ming, and Qiu Hongyan remained, with no more competitors.
"Miss Qin, you're not dead?"
After beating Pirate Number Two to death, Cai Zhiyin, sobered from his rage, greeted his daughter with immense joy.
"Not dead, indeed not dead, but truly injured."
Zhou Ming's face was pale, supported by Qiu Hongyan, and her voice was weak. With a strong spirit, she chuckled, "Brother Cai, now that the great danger is gone, we can rest assured and slowly search for that clam."
Cai Zhiyin was both delighted and pained, and quickly said, "You two go ashore to rest first and recover from your injuries. I'll search for the clam myself."
"Then this little sister will respectfully comply," Zhou Ming, unconsciously changing her self-address again, floated to the surface with Qiu Hongyan's support.
The two went ashore and rested on the island to heal their injuries. Meanwhile, the encouraged Cai Zhiyin, full of drive, sank into the seawater and carefully searched for the clam.
This search lasted three days.
The Land Spirit did not set a time limit for the third trial, and such a needle-in-a-haystack task could not have a time limit. Otherwise, unless one had monstrous Luck Path, no one would be able to complete this test.
During these three days, the injuries on all three of them had healed, and they separately went into the sea to search for the clam.
During this time, the heavenly suppression on Zhou Ming finally lifted a layer, restoring her cultivation to early Rank Four. Fortunately, no one was around at the time, allowing her to promptly use Deception Gu to mask her aura back to Rank Three Peak, without revealing any flaws.
On the fourth day, Qiu Hongyan finally found the clam in the sea and brought it ashore. After the Land Spirit's appraisal, it was confirmed that they had passed the third stage.
"I didn't expect so many to die so quickly, leaving only you," the Land Spirit casually tossed the pearl, and it fell into the sea.
"There are two more assessments left. After passing both, you can inherit the Gu Immortal Legacy."
"But I must warn you, the difficulty of the last two stages is higher than the first three combined. Attempting them with your cultivation can be said to be a near-certain death."
"So, for the sake of your lives, do you want to give up?"
The Land Spirit asked with a serious expression.
"Having come this far, would I give up so easily?"
Cai Zhiyin laughed heartily, but his gaze turned to the two women.
"Brother Cai, no need to say more," Zhou Ming simply waved her hand and said indifferently.
Qiu Hongyan on the side nodded repeatedly, expressing her agreement.
Cai Zhiyin then said no more. Having come this far, he felt that sufficient trust and understanding had been established between the three of them, and no more words were needed.
"Land Spirit, let's begin the fourth assessment," Cai Zhiyin said.
"Very well," the Land Spirit sighed lightly and waved its hand again, teleporting the three. This time, they appeared directly in a grand hall.
The central plaza of the hall was empty, with only three chairs placed there, as if the Land Spirit had moved them according to their number.
"All of you, go sit on those chairs. The fourth assessment will begin soon," the Land Spirit said.
All three felt strange. Cai Zhiyin quickly asked, "Land Spirit, what is the content of this assessment?"
This time, the Land Spirit did not explain, only repeating, "You will know once you sit on the chairs."
The three were half-convinced, a strange feeling rising in their hearts. They exchanged glances and finally walked together to the three chairs, and all sat down.
The Land Spirit watched the three expressionlessly until they were all seated, then spoke, "The fourth assessment, begin."
As the Land Spirit's words fell, a strange sensation suddenly enveloped the three, and their consciousnesses simultaneously blurred.
"This is..." This faint sense of familiarity greatly alarmed Zhou Ming. She wanted to make other moves, but it was too late. She only managed to activate a Gu worm in her Aperture at the last moment before losing consciousness.
The next moment, all three lost consciousness... Guo Nan opened his eyes, looking around somewhat bewildered.
The place where he stood was indeed a pavilion and a high platform, with red candles and silken curtains, filled with exotic fragrances, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
His hands rested on the railing. Looking out, the sea and sky merged into one color, the water sparkling. A line of seagulls flew across the sky, and fish occasionally leaped out of the water.
Standing high and looking far, his heart involuntarily broadened, dispelling much of the confusion within him.
"Why is my husband so silent? Is he troubled by the duel with Ni Ge?"
A voice as gentle as water came from behind, followed by soft, warm jade pressing against his back. Vermilion lips approached his ear, exhaling like orchids, full of infinite tenderness.
Guo Nan laughed heartily, turned around, and embraced his wife, saying, "Ni Ge and I have fought for many years; how could I not know his capabilities? He recently passed an Earthly Calamity and is at his weakest. Although I have passed one less Earthly Calamity than him, hmph, my Immortal Essence is more abundant than his. For him to seek a duel with me now is simply seeking his own demise!"
"It's good that my husband is confident," the woman chuckled, then asked, "Husband, how do you think I've managed this blessed land?"
"Hmm, it's magnificent, with active life. It seems, Mei'er, you truly have diligently studied the Immortal Aperture management experience I taught you!" Guo Nan said with great satisfaction.
"That's natural," the woman chuckled softly, but then a hint of worry appeared on her face, saying, "I will also have to pass an Earthly Calamity in a while. The large batch of resources I've just developed will likely suffer significant damage. Alas, heavenly and earthly calamities are a fate all Gu Immortals cannot escape!"
"No worries, you still have me. When you pass your Earthly Calamity, your husband will naturally help you," Guo Nan said dotingly, "At worst, whatever you lose, your husband will compensate you."
"Hmph, I only want what I've managed myself; I don't want what you give me," the woman lightly patted Guo Nan, pouting, "Unless husband is willing to lend me your Water Ripple Immortal Gu, then I can pass this Earthly Calamity without a care."
"That won't do," Guo Nan said with a wry smile, "Mei'er, I've told you, the Water Ripple Immortal Gu is located in your husband's Immortal Aperture and cannot be easily moved. The increased production it brings to your husband's Immortal Aperture is more than what you would lose in an Earthly Calamity."
"To preserve these resources, yet lose more resources, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?"
"I was just saying it, and you took it seriously," the woman said coquettishly, slipping out of Guo Nan's embrace and walking further into the high platform, picking up two wine glasses from the table.
"Husband, try my newly brewed Peach Blossom Drunk. Mei'er offers this cup of wine to wish husband success in this battle and the elimination of a great enemy."
"Good, good! Hahaha." Guo Nan laughed loudly, took the wine glass the woman handed him, and brought it to his nose for a deep sniff. He felt the intoxicating scent of peach blossoms fill his nostrils and immediately tilted his head back, draining the cup.
"Good wine! It wasn't in vain that I gave you the Food Path Legacy I obtained back then. Mei'er, your wine-making skills are truly becoming more and more divine!"
"Hehe, it's a pity husband isn't willing to give me the latter half of that Food Path Legacy."
The woman spun lightly, her hair flying, teasing Guo Nan. She casually placed the wine glass in her hand on the table, her seductive eyes like silk, beckoning Guo Nan.
"Haha, Mei'er, where are you running off to?" Guo Nan's heart fluttered, and he took a step to chase her, but suddenly stumbled, his vision blurring.
"What's going on?" Guo Nan was greatly alarmed. As a Gu Immortal, how could he be intoxicated by just one cup of wine?
Everything in his sight began to double. Guo Nan felt a dizzying sensation, quickly grabbed the nearby railing, and exclaimed with shock and anger, "Mei'er, what did you give me to drink!"
"Hehe, as the saying goes, a green bamboo snake's mouth, a wasp's tail with a sting; both are so, but a woman's heart is the most venomous. For me to poison my husband, using this 'Woman's Heart' poison is naturally the most fitting."
"Woman's Heart? Impossible! This Gu is a one-time Immortal Gu, and it's said to have been refined long ago, in the hands of some Gu Immortal, with no successor able to refine it. You don't even have an Immortal Gu yourself, where would you get a 'Woman's Heart' Immortal Gu to harm me?"
Guo Nan leaned on the railing, feeling waves of pain surge through his heart, a manifestation of the poison eroding his body. He continuously activated various detoxification Gu worms within him, but none had any effect.
"Let husband know, although the Woman's Heart Gu is a one-time Gu worm, the venom produced by it can be preserved for a long time and used multiple times."
"As for this venom, it wasn't something I got myself. Husband, why don't you guess who gave me this venom to harm you?"
The woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her voice still charmingly seductive, but to Guo Nan's ears, it carried an immense chill.
In his heart, an incredible answer suddenly surfaced.
Just as he was about to shout that name, a voice suddenly sounded, and then a figure walked up, appearing before the two.
"No need for him to guess. Wouldn't it be more interesting if I announced it myself?"
Appearing before the two was a muscular, dark-skinned bald Gu Immortal. As he walked upstairs, he unceremoniously embraced the woman, his hands roaming, laughing triumphantly.
"Guo Nan, did you ever foresee this day?"
"Ni Ge!" Guo Nan's eyes were bloodshot, glaring furiously at the two, and he cursed, "Hei Mei, I treated you well, why did you betray me!"