Chapter 16 - ch 438-45

Chapter 438: Xuanhuang Burning Heaven Halberd (Two in One)

Some time ago, on the fifth floor of the Great Luo Dao Pagoda.

After settling Liu Tianhuang, Gu Yun forced himself to stand up, gasping for breath, and then leaped directly into the Primordial Ocean, swimming freely.

During his break, Gu Yun had already fully digested all the gains from the Ancient Continent.

The young man had now reached the so-called Saint Realm cultivation, and his strength and foundation far surpassed what they were before entering the Ancient Continent.

In the battle of destiny with Liu Tianhuang, he also appeared to be at ease.

Even the revered Empress, who shook all sides, had to lower her proud head and wholeheartedly help destiny break free from its shackles, allowing Gu Yun, who was in pain, to return to a state of ease and happiness.

It was just a pity that, in the end, he was still one step short; Gu Yun did not receive recognition, and the precious Primordial Yin origin was something the young man was not yet blessed to enjoy.

Recalling his Teacher Baby's alluring and seductive words, Gu Yun felt an itch in his heart.

"Little Yun, don't rush. When you make Teacher Baby lose control and unable to retain that Primordial Yin power, won't that be the day your wish is granted?"

Her soul-stirring captivating eyes, combined with the environment at the time, were simply a panacea more effective than anything else.

Gu Yun exerted his greatest effort in this life, but unfortunately, he ultimately suffered a crushing defeat and had to lean on the wall as he left.

"Little Yun'er, don't worry, Teacher Baby will wait for you."

Liu Tianhuang giggled, lying supine on the bed, a sight that was even more appetizing, but unfortunately, Gu Yun had already entered sage mode and had to flee in disarray, diving into the ocean to clear his head.

While absorbing the primordial power from the Primordial Sea, Gu Yun also took the time to open the seven-colored treasure box and orange treasure box given by Shi Yue and Xu Han.

The orange treasure box yielded a Saint Pill, which, when consumed, could instantly elevate one to Saint cultivation. It was considered a good quality common pill, with no side effects, though it required a long time to digest.

To help Ji Yaojun better establish herself in the Ji Family family later, Gu Yun naturally gave this item to the beautiful and intellectual Yu Jie.

Then, suspending the seven-colored treasure box in front of him, Gu Yun rubbed his hands. From his Teacher Baby, Gu Yun had previously obtained the human emperor banner, a supreme treasure of Primordial Chaos quality.

This item could be both righteous and evil, moving according to Gu Yun's will. It was an extremely powerful and essential treasure for home use, but unfortunately, due to the immortal lock, it could not exert its full power at this time.

The item Shi Yue contributed now was the second seven-colored treasure box Gu Yun had opened since awakening his system.

Gu Yun's expectations were directly maxed out.

Sitting cross-legged on the fifth floor of the Great Luo Dao Pagoda, Gu Yun simply thought, "Open!"

An invisible force in his sea of consciousness collided with the luxurious treasure box shimmering with seven-colored light.

"Buzz—!"

With a tremor that seemed to come from the endless ancient past, the seven-colored treasure box burst open in his sea of consciousness!

In an instant, endless brilliance poured out, illuminating the entire sea of consciousness with splendor.

At the core of the light, a long halberd, flowing with dark golden luster throughout, slowly emerged.

The halberd body was slender, covered with profound and unpredictable natural Dao patterns, as if countless phantom divine phoenixes floated and cried out within it.

The halberd blade was not ordinarily sharp but presented a strange form, as if condensed from pure flames, with tiny golden sparks leaping at its edges. Merely looking at it caused one's soul to feel a burning pain.

A terrifying aura that could incinerate the eight wastes and dim all the stars in the heavens permeated without reservation.

Gu Yun's heart was excited, and his eyes lit up.

The moment his consciousness touched the long halberd, a massive flood of information surged into his mind, allowing him to instantly grasp the origins and power of this immortal weapon.

[Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd: Chaos Dao Weapon. Restricted by immortal lock, current quality is low-grade immortal artifact. The halberd soul is extracted from the essence of an ancient divine phoenix's nirvana, fused with the essence of Nine Heavens Li Fire and the core of Chaos Stars, nurtured for myriad ages in the depths of endless void turbulence. It can incinerate the heavens, boil the seas, and shatter all laws, especially possessing absolute restraint and purification power against Yin-cold, defiling, and evil forces!]

"A Chaos Dao Weapon, what a pity, good luck won't always favor me."

Having the human emperor banner as a precedent, Gu Yun very much hoped to open another Primordial Chaos Dao Weapon, but it was clear that this was not a simple matter.

However, this item basically surpassed all the divine artifacts he possessed. Although the Origin Divine Spear had a higher potential, the treasures required to restore it to its complete state were also extremely rare divine artifacts, not something easily obtained in a short time.

Moreover… after playing with it for a while, a smile curved on Gu Yun's lips. It was perfect, Teacher Baby was still brooding over Second Uncle obtaining an immortal artifact.

He could offer a gift to curry favor. The compatibility of this item with Liu Tianhuang was almost on par with his own Great Destiny. He thought it would achieve a good effect.

No sooner said than done.

Gu Yun leaped out of the water directly and easily climbed into the small boat on the sea surface.

Seeing Gu Yun approach again, Liu Tianhuang curved her lips into a smile, crossing her legs and leaning languidly on the soft couch.

She was only casually draped in a corner of a thin, cicada-wing-like dark silver smoke gauze. The faint light from the sea penetrated the thin veil, vaguely outlining the undulating curves that could make even gods and demons lose their souls—full, rounded forms were squeezed into breathtaking arcs, the deep indentations of her waist extended to the tumultuous, breathtakingly full mountains of her hips and thighs.

Her fingertips gently toyed with her long, flowing hair, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, carrying a hint of playfulness: "What, little Yun'er, finally rested well?"

Gu Yun's expression remained calm as he glanced at the exquisite jade body beneath the soft couch, faintly visible through the thin veil and exuding extreme allure, while his 'little Gu Yun' was screaming hysterically and roaring ferociously.

"Hmph…"

Liu Tianhuang's lips curled slightly, quite pleased with Gu Yun's contradictory expression. She slowly sat up and lifted her legs.

Through the thin veil, her delicate jade feet were revealed, with slender, rounded arches, like meticulously carved jade pieces, extending towards Gu Yun's position.

"Teacher Baby!"

Gu Yun was startled but was also pushed over by an invisible pressure, landing with a thud on the ground.

Liu Tianhuang lightly tapped Gu Yun's chest and asked with a smile, "Last night you said you wanted to thoroughly ravage Teacher Baby, didn't you? Why did you leave without saying goodbye this morning?"

Gu Yun chuckled, "Isn't this because I didn't want Teacher Baby to feel embarrassed? After all, your disciple also got to be in charge for once. I'm just afraid Teacher Baby's delicate face couldn't bear such humiliation."

"Nonsense!"

Liu Tianhuang's face uncharacteristically flushed. Last night's actions were truly shameful, and she had never experienced anything like it before.

She didn't know how much practical experience Gu Yun had, to be able to fight her back and forth, up and down, with just a Xiantai Realm cultivation. He was indeed a rare genius in this world, incomparable to ordinary people.

"It seems Teacher Baby needs to teach you another good lesson!"

Liu Tianhuang's eyebrows furrowed, and her jade foot was about to slide down again.

Gu Yun quickly grinned, "Teacher Baby, wait! Don't you want to know why your disciple returned?"

Liu Tianhuang's curiosity was successfully piqued. She gently bent forward, and the snowy expanse of her chest was completely exposed before Gu Yun.

There was no need to hide it, so she naturally didn't cover it up.

"What mischievous idea do you have now, you little scamp?"

"This time I won't indulge you, besides, you need to rest for a while now. Of course, if you want to serve this Emperor…"

Before Liu Tianhuang could finish speaking, Gu Yun directly raised his hand and flipped it over—

"Buzz!!"

The moment the Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd appeared, a scorching pressure that could incinerate all ages instantly shattered the tranquility of this space!

The temperature in the room suddenly soared, and the Empress was quickly covered in fragrant sweat, making the already nearly transparent thin veil cling even more closely to her body, adding a touch of warmth.

But Liu Tianhuang had no time to pay attention to these things. Her originally languid gaze suddenly sharpened, locking tightly onto the long halberd.

"This is…"

With her eyesight, she naturally saw at a glance that this item was absolutely extraordinary; in fact… it was even more overbearing than Gu Changge's Purgatory Demon Blade!

Liu Tianhuang was momentarily speechless, unable to imagine where Gu Yun had obtained such a supreme treasure again.

This young man seemed to be becoming more and more mysterious, even she couldn't see through him anymore.

"Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd."

"This item, compared to Second Uncle's Purgatory Demon Blade, is only of higher or equal quality. Your disciple prepared it for you, Teacher Baby, from the very beginning."

"It's just a pity, Teacher Baby, you've made your disciple quite sad these past few days."

Gu Yun said with a smile.

Liu Tianhuang reached out to take the Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd, but Gu Yun deftly dodged her.

"Hey, Teacher Baby, are you trying to snatch your disciple's treasure?"

"Nonsense, I was just looking at the material of this item. The Supreme Divine Dynasty's treasury has at least ten thousand, if not three thousand, such treasures. How could Teacher Baby possibly snatch yours?"

"Come, good disciple, quickly show Teacher Baby."

Liu Tianhuang seemed to have reverted to the appearance of a benevolent teacher; her seductive demoness state from last night was completely gone.

Gu Yun stretched out his hand and lightly lifted it… directly standing up.

"Good disciple?"

"Teacher Baby, is that all the weight your disciple holds in your heart?"

Gu Yun chuckled, approaching step by step. Their faces were already very close.

Liu Tianhuang showed a bit more embarrassment: "You rebellious disciple, calling me Teacher Baby again and again, you don't even know a bit of respect for your teacher!"

"Teacher Baby, it was you who said back then that it would be useless even if I screamed my throat out."

"Now you're turning the tables, isn't that unfair?"

Liu Tianhuang didn't waste words with Gu Yun. In terms of verbal sparring, she could never win against Gu Yun.

She directly pecked Gu Yun's lips with lightning speed: "How about this?"

"Not enough."

Gu Yun said with a smile, "Your disciple still wants to hear Teacher Baby say something nice."

"You… don't be presumptuous!"

"Teacher Baby, you're making things very difficult for your disciple!"

"Hmph, if it's difficult, then don't do it!"

Liu Tianhuang's lips curved into a cunning smile. Gu Yun was already extremely close to her, and the Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd was faintly visible, within arm's reach.

She could completely rely on her powerful Great Emperor Realm cultivation to forcibly seize it.

But just as she thought she had succeeded, she found that her spiritual power seemed to grasp a ball of air; the Profound Phoenix Heaven Incinerating Halberd seemed to have no physical form.

Yet, when Gu Yun had just taken it out, it clearly had a physical form.

Gu Yun grabbed one of Liu Tianhuang's arms: "Teacher Baby, you're not being good…"

"Your disciple was prepared long ago; I won't let you succeed so easily."

"You little rascal, always guarding against your Teacher Baby!"

Liu Tianhuang snorted softly, then said in a voice like a mosquito's buzz, "Husband, will you give me that halberd, please~~~"

"Teacher Baby, I was scared just now, I don't think I heard clearly."

Gu Yun picked his ears.

"Ah ah! Rebellious disciple, today this Teacher will let you know what it means to be out of your depth!"

Liu Tianhuang flew into a rage, directly taking the initiative and sitting on Gu Yun's body.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey!!"

"Teacher Baby, stop, I'll give it to you, can't I just give it to you…"

...

Recalling what happened after that, Gu Yun couldn't help but shiver all over.

Forget it, forget it. He, a dignified man, wouldn't stoop to the level of Teacher Baby.

"Ang…"

Patting Ying'er's back of the head, Gu Yun let out a long sigh, looking up at the sky.

"Ying'er, how is your cultivation now?"

Gu Yun asked. Upon returning to the Imperial Capital, Ying'er immediately returned to Gu Yun's side.

She transformed into black markings, protecting him closely.

Such a thoughtful and dedicated guard was hard for Gu Yun to find even with a lantern, so he naturally had to pay close attention to her.

Ying'er swallowed with difficulty, then responded softly, "I have not failed Your Highness's trust. I am now at Quasi-Emperor Fourth Heaven."

"Quasi-Emperor Fourth Heaven!!"

Gu Yun was astonished by Ying'er's cultivation speed.

One must know that cultivation at the Quasi-Emperor Realm was not like before; it was common for it to take thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

For Ying'er to break through two heavens in such a short time, her cultivation speed was like riding a rocket.

"Thanks to the help of His Majesty and Your Highness, ever since…"

Ying'er's pretty face couldn't help but flush. She felt that her body seemed somewhat special; ever since she and Gu Yun had played some 'little games,' it was as if her meridians had been unblocked. Previously unbreakable bottlenecks could now be easily crossed, and cultivation seemed to have become a very simple matter.

"Is that so…"

Gu Yun frowned slightly, examining Ying'er thoroughly from top to bottom, but found no abnormalities. However, her cultivation speed was truly difficult to explain.

"System, do you know the reason?"

[Host, there are countless physiques in the world. Carelessness can lead to the emergence of new physiques not recorded on the Myriad Physiques Ranking. For specific characteristics and effects, please explore and research them yourself, Host.]

After all, things in the world were not pre-set game data, and the Myriad Physiques Ranking was also summarized by ancient sages. It was only natural for omissions to appear with the development of the times.

Gu Yun quickly accepted this setting and said to Ying'er with a smile, "No matter what, it's a good thing."

"The faster Ying'er's strength improves, the more at ease I will be, won't I?"

"Mmm… As long as Ying'er is still useful to Your Highness, Ying'er will always protect Your Highness!"

Ying'er's enchanting foxy eyes, however, now revealed an inexpressible determination.

"Of course, if Your Highness no longer needs Ying'er in the future, Ying'er will…"

Gu Yun directly blocked the anxious girl's mouth.

Her pupils constricted, somewhat flustered: "Your Highness, Ying'er…"

"From now on… don't say such things!"

Gu Yun released her, speaking seriously.

Ying'er gently nodded, her heart feeling somewhat sweet.

It was just a pity that happy times were always short-lived.

"Your Highness, Fenghua Academy has arrived…"

Ying'er transformed back into black markings, intertwining around Gu Yun's body.

//439//

Chapter 439 Setting up a Game

War had already spread to the Supreme Divine Dynasty, but Fenghua Academy remained calm and serene.

This time, Gu Yun's flying boat did not cause a stir; he did not want to alert the enemy, so he concealed all his aura, like an ordinary visitor, strolling along the bluestone path.

The target of this trip was naturally Dragon Chen, the Child of Destiny whom he had already crippled.

This protagonist, who had the wrong script, still had one last chance to make a move. Although Gu Yun was no longer what he used to be, he still would not allow any potential threats to himself to remain.

Now that Heavenly Phoenix was no longer in the Imperial Capital, it was the best opportunity to rescue Dragon Chen.

Gu Yun knew that old fellow had been waiting for this chance, and now that it had been created, he naturally would not fail to seize it.

An excellent hunter never begrudges the time spent waiting.

Before the situation changed, Gu Yun still had to meet someone.

Passing through a secluded purple bamboo forest, Gu Yun once again arrived at Qiu Yueci's courtyard.

From afar, the young man could see a woman dressed in an elegant moon-white long dress, her back to him, bending over a large zitan writing desk, wielding a brush.

Her figure was graceful, her temperament as gentle as moonlight, her dark hair simply tied with a single jade hairpin, a few strands falling to her neck, adding a touch of softness.

Just her back exuded a serene intellect and scholarly aura.

Sensing an unusual aura, Dean Qiu's brush paused slightly, and a full drop of ink fell onto the pristine white Xuan paper, spreading into a small blot.

She slowly straightened up and turned around.

"Xiaoyun?"

"Why are you here?"

A hint of surprised joy flashed across her beautiful, gentle, and intellectual face.

Time had not left many traces on her; instead, it had refined a mature and restrained charm.

"Master has already gone to the Northern Region. I was bored in the Imperial Palace, so of course, I came to the Academy to see."

Gu Yun smiled lightly. He had shone brightly on his trip to the Ancient Continent, successfully elevating the prestige of Fenghua Academy to a higher level. His enlightenment of the Great Dao Heavenly Book had also concluded. Qiu Yueci originally thought that such a brilliant young man would gradually drift away from her.

As for the various affairs of the Academy, there was no need to trouble this young man.

"What brings His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the Academy?"

Qiu Yueci's voice carried a hint of formality. Upon seeing the young man, her thoughts subtly returned to the unexpected incident that had occurred.

As Gu Yun's grandmaster, she had taken advantage of the young man's unpreparedness to commit such an outrageous and disgraceful act. This was a hidden pain in Qiu Yueci's heart.

"Why did Heavenly Phoenix go to the Northern Region?"

"A few days ago, I emerged from my seclusion and vaguely felt a disturbance of spiritual energy between heaven and earth. Is something bad about to happen?"

She forcefully changed the subject, turning her head back, her brush tip lightly touching the paper, avoiding eye contact with Gu Yun.

The young man chuckled softly: "It's nothing major, just the insignificant clowns of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty wanting to put on a show again."

"For Master, these are just trivial matters of no importance. There's no need to worry too much."

"The Eternal Imperial Dynasty is attacking?!"

Qiu Yueci was truly startled, not expecting to be the last to know about such a serious matter.

"Did only Heavenly Phoenix go?"

"Does the Supreme Divine Dynasty have a second person capable of fighting?"

Qiu Yueci fell silent. Gu Yun's words were extremely disrespectful, yet they were precisely the pain she had always felt in her heart.

As a master, she could only watch her disciple protect this country, yet she was powerless.

She felt deeply dissatisfied with her own talent.

However, fortunately, this problem seemed to have shown some signs of breakthrough recently, though she was still unclear about the core secret behind it.

Regardless, millions of years of effort finally showed progress, and Qiu Yueci's joy was truly overflowing and hard to contain.

"I have another purpose for coming to the Academy today."

Gu Yun suddenly said.

"It's for Dragon Chen, who impersonated his way into the Academy."

"Dragon Chen?"

Qiu Yueci frowned slightly. She was indeed not very familiar with these unknown ordinary disciples of the Academy: "Since he impersonated, that means he challenged the rules of our Academy. Has he been apprehended and brought to justice?"

"Naturally, Miss Shangguan Yaya personally took action, and he is currently imprisoned in the Academy's dungeon."

"Since the matter has already been settled, what's the problem?"

"Do you intend to completely eliminate an ordinary disciple?"

"Of course, since you have made these contributions to the Academy, you can certainly do these things. I can turn a blind eye."

It was already difficult for someone as upright as Qiu Yueci to make such a concession.

But Gu Yun would not stop there. While Heavenly Phoenix was the primary labor force, resources from the grandmaster's side naturally could not be neglected.

Although he was fully confident in dealing with Dragon Chen's master, with Qiu Yueci, a newly advanced Emperor Venerable Second Layer expert, sitting idly by, it was better to drag her along to help him deal with the Child of Destiny.

"Hehe, Grandmaster, do you think it's something a mere student could easily do to collude with the Hall of Law Enforcement's Head?"

"Although Dragon Chen is currently imprisoned in the dungeon, the person behind him is still stirring."

"What?"

Qiu Yueci was incredibly intelligent and quickly understood the seriousness of the matter.

The Empress had just left the Imperial Capital. If Dragon Chen truly harbored ill intentions and wanted to harm the Academy or the Divine Dynasty, then the person behind him would certainly choose this time to act.

"What do you plan to do?"

"If I show too much, it will inevitably alert the enemy."

Gu Yun chuckled: "Dean Qiu only needs to back me up. I have my own plans for this matter."

"Good."

Qiu Yueci nodded slightly and stepped aside to make way: "Your Highness, please follow me. I will personally take Your Highness there."

"Thank you, Dean."

Gu Yun thanked her and stepped forward, naturally taking Qiu Yueci's hand.

The Dean's eyebrows raised slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to pull her hand back, but Gu Yun held it firmly.

The young man's palm was warm and strong, with an undeniable firmness.

"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"

Qiu Yueci lowered her voice, her earlobes slightly red.

Gu Yun's lips curved upwards: "Dean, I have a magical artifact that can conceal our aura. This way, even Dragon Chen's master will find it difficult to detect our approach."

Although he was discovered by Shangguan Yaya in the Empress's sleeping quarters before, that was because he was trying to sneak away right under Shangguan Yaya's nose, with the two of them sometimes less than a meter apart. Now, merely observing from a distance while hidden in the shadows, the deceiving heaven mask was already sufficient.

Qiu Yueci's body stiffened, and two red blushes immediately appeared on her face.

"Nonsense, I am an Emperor expert. Why do I need you to conceal my aura?"

She lightly rebuked, yet she did not forcefully break free from Gu Yun: "Aren't you going to let go quickly?"

"Grandmaster, it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Don't worry, with this item, no one in the Academy will be able to discover us."

"What's more, we have a pure and innocent relationship as grandmaster and grand-disciple. We act properly and behave correctly, so what's the harm?"

"If, due to a moment of carelessness, Dragon Chen escapes and retaliates, it could cause devastating damage to the Supreme Divine Dynasty."

"Dean, do you really want to see Master even more overwhelmed?"

///440//

Chapter 440 Long Chen escapes

Qiu Yueci's words suddenly froze in her throat, and for a moment, she didn't know how to express herself.

Naturally, she didn't want to see Liu Tianhuang troubled by these trivial matters, and even less did she want her own negligence to bring disaster to Fenghua Academy.

"That's enough..."

She sighed softly, allowing Gu Yun to hold her hand. She had originally said she would lead the way, but now she followed behind the young man like a timid daughter-in-law.

Familiar with the path, the two walked along the quiet trail. Gu Yun's fingertips gently caressed Qiu Yueci's hand, feeling the delicate touch of her skin.

Qiu Yueci forced herself to remain calm, but she could still feel her heart racing and her ears burning.

Gu Yun's gaze seemed to casually sweep around, but in reality, he took in every subtle movement of Qiu Yueci.

Just holding hands made her like this; this Academy Head was quite easily teased.

Although the path was quiet and secluded, there were still scattered cultivators passing by.

Every time they saw a disciple approaching, Qiu Yueci's grip tightened, but fortunately, the deceiving heaven mask's effect was fully displayed, and no one noticed anything unusual about the two.

After a long while, the two finally approached their destination.

"Your Highness, the entrance to the dungeon is just ahead."

Qiu Yueci whispered a reminder.

Gu Yun nodded and took out an ancient mask from his embrace: "Grandmaster, wear this."

Qiu Yueci took the mask. It was entirely black, with intricate patterns carved on its surface, and faint light shimmered within.

As soon as she placed the mask over her face, she felt a cool sensation envelop her entire body.

"After this, we'll wait for them to make the first move, and then we'll follow up with a finishing blow."

"Hmm."

Qiu Yueci nodded: "The great battle cannot unfold in Fenghua Academy. The aftermath of an Emperor-level expert's battle could very likely lead to the academy's complete destruction."

"That's right, Grandmaster's considerations are indeed thorough."

The two silently infiltrated the dungeon.

In the dark, damp corridor, only a few dim lamps flickered.

The guarding disciples were dozing off, completely unaware of the two figures that swept past them.

"These guards..."

Qiu Yueci's mind instantly became tense.

"It seems someone got here before us."

"Grandmaster, we need to hurry!"

Gu Yun hastily pulled Qiu Yueci forward. Indeed, when they arrived at Dragon Chen's cell, they saw the iron door wide open, and the guards lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

The cell was empty, with only a few broken chains scattered on the ground.

"He ran away?"

Qiu Yueci's brows furrowed tightly.

She released Gu Yun's hand and sensed the lingering aura: "The aura of the newcomer is somewhat familiar."

"Oh?"

"It seems it's an old acquaintance of the Academy Head?"

Gu Yun said with a light chuckle.

"No, it's not..."

Qiu Yueci's voice trembled slightly, but quickly returned to normal: "Perhaps we've met a few times before."

"To be able to come and go freely in Fenghua Academy without anyone noticing, this person's strength should be at least Emperor-level Two Heavens."

"Alas... now that he has escaped, I'm afraid..."

"Don't worry, Grandmaster..."

"For the current situation, I also have some preparations."

Gu Yun smiled, squatted down, and lightly touched the ground with his fingertips. A faint golden light spread from his finger, quickly outlining a clear footprint pattern on the ground.

"You're... tracking?"

Qiu Yueci said in surprise, secretly marveling at Gu Yun's diverse methods.

In reality, Gu Yun knew nothing about tracking techniques; it was merely the demonic seed he had planted on Dragon Chen taking effect.

Gu Yun feigned for a moment, then used Myriad Transformation Power to point in a certain direction: "It's this way!"

"Alright..."

Qiu Yueci didn't hesitate at all. She directly grabbed Gu Yun and chased in the direction indicated by the tracking technique.

The two quickly left Fenghua Academy. Qiu Yueci's worry grew: "Xiao Yun, why don't you go back first? This person's strength might be above mine. If a battle breaks out, it will be difficult for me to protect your safety."

Although she had been making breakthroughs recently, Qiu Yueci still felt uncertain at this moment.

Her power was not entirely suitable for combat. Facing unknown dangers, she was still more concerned about Gu Yun's safety.

"Grandmaster, that Dragon Chen is not a foolish person; how could he stay in one place without moving?"

"If I leave now, how will Grandmaster track his location?"

"But..."

"I am the Crown Prince of the Supreme Divine Dynasty, and naturally, I must be responsible for the safety of the Divine Dynasty!"

"Does Grandmaster want to put the Divine Dynasty in danger?!"

Gu Yun's voice was deafening, causing Qiu Yueci to fall silent. She actually... hesitated between Gu Yun and the Divine Dynasty. Why, why was this happening?

Although she didn't understand, she subtly didn't want Gu Yun to look down on her, so she said seriously: "Alright then, but you must stay far away when the time comes."

"Don't forget to use any treasures you have."

"If..."

"Alright, I know, Grandmaster."

Gu Yun chuckled softly.

Seeing Gu Yun's appearance, Qiu Yueci didn't know what to say for a moment. The two quickly arrived at a secluded bamboo forest.

With the deceiving heaven mask concealing them and the long distance, Dragon Chen and his master naturally couldn't sense the tail relentlessly pursuing them.

The moonlight was like water, and the bamboo shadows swayed. This place, which should have been tranquil and elegant, was now filled with a chilling aura.

"Here..."

"Be careful."

Gu Yun suddenly pulled Qiu Yueci, signaling her to stop.

Just then, two figures vaguely emerged from the bamboo forest ahead.

One was Dragon Chen, who was now enveloped in a strange black mist, his aura several times stronger than before.

The other was a hunched old man, dressed in gray robes with a withered face, but his eyes gleamed with a terrifying green light.

Upon seeing his appearance, Qiu Yueci's pupils suddenly constricted: "It's him?!"

"Grandmaster knows this person?"

Gu Yun feigned a look of inquiry, though he already knew. Dragon Chen's master, Divine Medicine Old Man, was originally a renowned medical supreme in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, a master healer with the ability to bring the dead back to life.

Whether it was difficult diseases or the five declines of heaven and man, he had ways to counter them.

With a cultivation of Great Emperor Three Heavens, two million years was already his lifespan limit, yet he was able to extend his life by relying on his miraculous medical techniques.

"Divine Medicine Emperor, he hasn't emerged from seclusion for five hundred thousand years. Everyone thought he was dead, but I didn't expect him to still be alive."

Qiu Yueci's voice even trembled. She had also been troubled by lifespan issues before. Now, seeing this person, she even doubted life and couldn't believe it: "His cultivation is still Great Emperor Three Heavens. How did he manage to live until now?!"

//441//

Chapter 441 The Old Man with Divine Medicine

Staring intently at the hunched, withered figure emerging from the bamboo forest, Qiu Yueci seemed to have witnessed something that defied the laws of heaven and earth.

The Divine Medicine Old Man was already close to three million years old; even using medical arts to prolong his life seemed too outrageous.

"Grandmaster, be careful, don't make a sound."

Seeing the other party approaching, Gu Yun quickly reached out and pulled Qiu Yueci into his arms.

The Dean was startled, and caught off guard, she actually allowed Gu Yun to succeed.

Qiu Yueci stiffened in Gu Yun's embrace; the young man's arms were unexpectedly firm and strong, holding her tightly, pressing her against his warm chest.

A masculine and clear scent instantly invaded her senses.

"Little Yun, you…"

"Mm."

Qiu Yueci was about to demand an explanation, but her tender lips had already been covered by the young man.

He leaned in closer, his warm breath caressing her ear, his voice barely audible, clear only to her: "Grandmaster, please forgive my impoliteness; this matter is of great importance."

"His perception far exceeds our imagination; any slight fluctuation of spiritual energy or emotional stirrings could be detected."

"We still need to be careful."

"Then you don't need to be so disrespectful!"

"Grandmaster, in urgent matters, expediency is key. The deceiving heaven mask is worn on my face after all. We must be very close to barely exert its effect."

"But—"

"Shh…"

Gu Yun hummed softly, as if coaxing a child. Qiu Yueci was completely flustered, but due to the very real threat from the Divine Medicine Old Man, she had no choice but to follow Gu Yun's suggestion and remain silent.

The two retreated three li.

Below, the Divine Medicine Old Man's sunken eyes, which seemed to contain endless desolate years, slowly swept over this bamboo forest, including the cliff above their hiding place.

His gaze was cloudy yet carried a penetrating strangeness, as if he could see through the most fundamental life and death.

However, finding no clues, the Divine Medicine Old Man withdrew his divine ability, feeling a sense of relief.

"Master… it seems… there's nothing unusual…"

Dragon Chen's voice trembled slightly. His experiences at Fenghua Academy had left a psychological shadow in his heart. Now, with only 5700 Destiny Points remaining, he had long lost the sharpness and confidence of a Child of Destiny.

The sense of superiority from looking down on everything, which he had brought with him when he transmigrated to this world, was now gone. At night, when he closed his eyes, the demonic figure of Gu Yun would appear in his mind.

The Divine Medicine Old Man naturally knew there was nothing unusual, but out of caution, he still investigated.

His secluded hiding place could not be known by others; if the Immortal Ancient Gu Family found out, he would be in trouble.

But now, seeing his good disciple Dragon Chen in this state, a hint of disdain flickered in his deep eye sockets.

It truly was a case of comparing people to their detriment and goods to their worth. His disciple Dragon Chen, on whom he had placed high hopes, had turned into this wretched state, and his own plans had completely fallen through.

"Hmph, truly useless and only good for messing things up."

"I sent you to Fenghua Academy to make a name for yourself. How did you end up in such a sorry state?"

Dragon Chen said sheepishly, "Master, but I can't be blamed for this."

"If I hadn't met that Gu Yun, I would definitely have dominated Fenghua Academy."

"Who knows why, but this guy acted like a mad dog when he saw me, chasing and biting me relentlessly."

"Master, those methods you gave me were useless in front of him…"

Dragon Chen quickly shifted the blame, making the Divine Medicine Old Man sneer even more: "Did I tell you to provoke that Gu Family Emperor Child?!"

"Do you know that because of your foolishness, my five hundred thousand years of planning could all go to waste?!"

"This… this… but you said back then that no matter what problem I encountered, as long as I reported your name, I could handle it."

"Hmph, so you dared to provoke the Gu Family Emperor Child without any sense of discernment?"

"Heh, back then I…"

The Divine Medicine Old Man's words stopped abruptly mid-sentence.

His gaze turned to one side, and he sharply questioned, "Who's there?!"

Qiu Yueci, who was being held by Gu Yun, was suddenly startled. She looked at Gu Yun, her eyes filled with inquiry: "Didn't you say we wouldn't be discovered?"

Gu Yun said nothing. He let the Dean down, then removed the disguise between him and Qiu Yueci. Since they had already embraced, whether they were discovered or not was another matter.

The Divine Medicine Old Man had only sensed a faint, indistinct aura. He had asked tentatively, actually with the intention of probing.

He never expected to directly draw Gu Yun out, and a hint of disdain immediately arose in his heart.

"Heh, a rat hiding in the dark. I thought you wouldn't dare to show yourselves."

Seeing this, Qiu Yueci had no choice but to shield Gu Yun behind her. No matter how the situation developed, protecting Gu Yun's safety was the top priority.

"Little Yun, be careful. I'll deal with him."

"Heh, who do we have here? It turns out to be the Dean of Fenghua Academy."

"So many years have passed, and you still have the same demeanor. How have you been?"

After recognizing Qiu Yueci's identity, the Divine Medicine Old Man let out a long sigh of relief.

Although this Dean had a considerable reputation, in terms of strength, she was indeed not considered top-tier.

Fortunately, it wasn't someone from the Gu Family or the Supreme Empress Liu Tianhuang who had pursued him. The Divine Medicine Old Man felt relieved in his heart, while outwardly maintaining his air of a master.

Qiu Yueci's heart tightened. She subconsciously fully shielded Gu Yun behind her, and spiritual energy surged subtly around her. A clear, cold lunar aura diffused, forming a faint protective halo around her body. Her tone carried an undeniable authority: "Senior Divine Medicine, this is Dragon Chen, a renegade disciple of my Fenghua Academy. The Academy is here today to clean its own house. What do you mean by hiding and sneaking?"

"Heh heh, Qiu Yueci, there's no need for us to waste words here."

"Dragon Chen is my disciple. I merely sent him down the mountain for experience. Although I don't know why he went to Fenghua Academy, it's certainly not your place to discipline him!"

"Furthermore, you alone are not enough!"

The Divine Medicine Old Man stood with his hands behind his back, calm and composed.

However, Dragon Chen clearly saw the young man behind Qiu Yueci and was immediately scared into trembling.

"Gu… Gu Yun?!"

"Heh, what Gu… what did you say?!"

The Divine Medicine Old Man scoffed, but his words abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

Only then did he focus his attention on the young man he had completely ignored, and his expression became somewhat serious, losing all trace of self-confidence.

"You are the current Gu Family Emperor Child?!"

His shriveled lips trembled, and his voice was as sharp as sandpaper rubbing.

"Senior Divine Medicine, my Gu Family has been looking for you for over five hundred thousand years. I never thought you would be hiding in such a propitious place. You truly have a leisurely disposition."

Gu Yun smiled faintly. Even when facing the pressure of an Emperor Venerable-level, he showed no fear.

///442//

Chapter 442: The Ultimate Killing Method

"Hmph, then I really have to thank the Gu Family for their high regard."

Divine Medicine Old Man's face, like withered tree bark, twisted, and a faint light flickered in his sunken eye sockets.

His hunched figure leaned slightly forward, and his hoarse voice was like sandpaper rubbing: "It's just a method of 'transferring flowers to trees,' taking it is taking it, why pursue it relentlessly?"

His gaze was fixed on Gu Yun, with a coldness like that of a venomous snake: "Or are you afraid that your hypocritical facade will be exposed, preventing you from continuing your false rule?"

A sharp sound seemed to pierce the sky, and suddenly a large net descended from the firmament, covering the entire space.

Centered on Divine Medicine Old Man's feet, a nauseatingly strong putrid stench erupted!

The ground beneath him seemed to transform into a viscous, rotting swamp with dark green bubbles, and countless slimy, dark green decaying tentacles, like billions of venomous pythons, frantically drilled out and writhed from the swamp!

The air was tainted a murky dark yellow, emitting a teeth-grinding, corrosive sizzle, and the putrid aura, so dense it was almost liquid, fiercely squeezed Qiu Yueci's protective moon essence, causing her halo to flicker violently, barely maintaining itself.

"Little Yun!!"

Qiu Yueci's expression changed drastically, not expecting Divine Medicine Old Man to act so suddenly.

Fortunately, she had been prepared early on and her strength had risen to Great Emperor Second Heaven, otherwise, just this one move could have caused irreversible consequences.

"Dean Qiu? I didn't expect your strength to have improved a bit."

"You dare to attack Little Yun? Aren't you afraid of the Gu Family settling scores later?!!!"

Qiu Yueci's voice carried endless anger; the young man's previous disrespect had been completely cast aside by her.

"Haha, hahahaha!!!"

"The Gu Family has been hunting me for so many years, I've long since gotten used to it."

"Why do you think I've been deeply rooted in this place and unwilling to leave?"

"Is it because I deeply love this land?!"

"My only wish is that one day, I can trap and kill a Gu Family Emperor, and that would be a life well-lived!!"

"Although…"

Divine Medicine Old Man sneered as he looked at Gu Yun: "I couldn't achieve my goal, but to slay you, the future hope of the Gu Family, here, can be considered an explanation for my years of hiding!"

"Qiu Yueci, I didn't expect that you, who showed no progress in millions of years of cultivation, would actually break through recently."

"But it doesn't matter, whether you are Great Emperor First Heaven or Great Emperor Second Heaven, it won't change today's outcome!"

"Kid, you dare to appear before me without Gu Family guards? Pay the price for your recklessness!!!"

Dragon Chen's expression was also changing, from fear to shock, and now to uncontrollable ecstasy.

"Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!!!"

"Gu Yun!! You also have this day!! Aren't you very strong?! Don't you regard me as an ant?!"

"How could you also fall to such a state today?!!"

The corrosive power gradually spread; with a heaven-level difference in cultivation, plus the element of surprise, Qiu Yueci quickly fell into a disadvantage.

"Little Yun, don't be afraid, with Grandmaster here, nothing will happen to you."

Qiu Yueci said earnestly. Although Gu Yun had instigated her to come along, she was determined to be responsible for the young man's safety.

The situation was rapidly deteriorating and unpredictable, but she was not without means of resistance.

"Grandmaster… I said there's no need to worry."

Just then, the young man's calm and indifferent voice suddenly echoed in Qiu Yueci's ears.

"Little Yun…"

Before either side could react, the young man had already walked out of Qiu Yueci's protective barrier.

Everyone present was stunned for a moment.

Divine Medicine Old Man scoffed: "You, Gu Family Emperor Child? Could it be that you've been scared silly?"

His power condensed into a corrosive poisonous hand, reaching out towards Gu Yun's location.

"Don't—!!"

Qiu Yueci hurriedly removed her barrier, even if her body was attacked, she would forcefully protect Gu Yun's safety.

Unfortunately, her movements were still too slow, and she could only watch helplessly as Divine Medicine Old Man's attack landed on Gu Yun.

The expected splattering of flesh and blood did not occur; the corrosive poisonous hand, which came with fierce momentum, just froze in mid-air.

It seemed there was a faint, almost imperceptible barrier enveloping Gu Yun, isolating him from Divine Medicine Old Man's attack.

Qiu Yueci finally breathed a sigh of relief; at least Gu Yun wasn't acting without reason.

"You're wearing a treasure armor of no low quality?"

"It seems the Immortal Ancient Gu Family's concern for you is truly extraordinary."

"I wonder what their expressions would be if they knew you're walking so brazenly in front of me now?"

"Just thinking about it makes me excited!!!"

"But—is this your confidence?"

"You dare to block me with a mere Emperor-grade defense?!!!"

Divine Medicine Old Man roared, his aura expanding, and terrifying Emperor's might swept forth.

The surrounding domain seemed to solidify completely at this moment, forming a terrifying giant hand beneath the young man's feet, large enough to cover the sky and sun. It was covered in viscous, ink-like, decaying black mud that constantly dripped foul liquid, and countless agonizing, twisted human faces floated and shrieked in the sludge!

The giant hand's five fingers were like pillars supporting the heavens, carrying a terrifying will to drag the entire space into an eternal abyss of decay, sweeping towards Gu Yun's body.

"Ten Thousand Filth Returns to the Abyss!"

Divine Medicine Old Man's withered face was filled with ferocity and ecstasy, as if he had already seen Gu Yun being crushed by this giant hand, which condensed his three million years of decaying Dao, and turning into pus and blood!

Dragon Chen trembled with excitement, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the white-clad figure about to be engulfed.

Such a terrifying attack, even Qiu Yueci, as a Great Emperor, couldn't help but feel a little terrified.

Divine Medicine Old Man's five hundred thousand years of planning and preparation were originally intended to trap and kill a Gu Family Emperor, but now, by a strange twist of fate, a young man who was only twenty years old had to bear it!

Her eyes were splitting with rage, and her heart ached terribly.

But the immense pressure made her breathless and unable to move an inch.

Never before had Qiu Yueci hated her powerlessness more than now.

"No, don't…"

She screamed hoarsely; as a Great Emperor, she felt she could do nothing.

All her cultivation was useless, whether she was Great Emperor First Heaven or Great Emperor Second Heaven.

Tears flowed unconsciously, Qiu Yueci stiffly touched her cheek, and her whole person was stunned.

"Grandmaster, don't cry…"

The young man's helpless voice echoed in her ears, causing Qiu Yueci to widen her eyes.

She saw that Gu Yun, facing such a terrifying attack, did not retreat in the slightest, nor did any divine light rise from his body.

Instead, his cultivation began to climb steadily, reaching an astonishing and terrifying level at a speed no one could comprehend!

//443///

Chapter 443: The Great Emperor's Cultivation Demonstrates Its Power (Two-in-One)

"This level of attack… it's nothing."

The young man's calm voice echoed, rippling through Qiu Yueci's heart, which was almost drowned in despair, with an unbelievable tremor.

Her cherry lips slightly parted, and she suddenly looked up. Through her tear-filled eyes, she saw the white-robed young man still standing in place, facing that monstrous, defiled hand capable of crushing stars and devouring Emperor Venerables, not retreating a single step!

Facing the "Myriad Filth Returning to the Abyss" giant hand, which could destroy everything, Gu Yun's figure was as tiny as a speck of dust.

Yet, precisely that figure, from behind, appeared so magnificent.

"G-Great Emperor…"

As time passed, the surging aura gradually stabilized. The space enveloped by the Divine Medicine Old Man's special methods now groaned under the strain, like fragile glass into which a huge rock had been thrown.

Dense, spiderweb-like spatial cracks began to spread, and the entire void seemed about to be torn apart by this terrifying power.

"H-how is this possible?!"

"How could you possibly unleash such power?!"

The Divine Medicine Old Man and Dragon Chen swayed unsteadily, the ground beneath their feet beginning to crack inch by inch.

An indescribably terrifying Emperor's might emanated from Gu Yun, a pressure so immense it far surpassed the Divine Medicine Old Man's triple-heaven domain, like a bright moon compared to a firefly!

The sneer on the Divine Medicine Old Man's face completely froze, his eyes, flickering with malevolent glints, almost burst open at this moment.

Staring intently at the white-robed figure shimmering at the center of the storm, at this moment, three million years of experience offered him no support. His heart held only the shock and disbelief one feels when facing an endless abyss.

The shock brought by this scene was even more terrifying than what Gu Zhantian had brought him when he was hunted by the Gu Family back then!

After all, no matter how strong the Gu Family's ancestors were, they were generally traceable. Yet, no one was as outrageous as Gu Yun; his existence seemed to be meant to shatter all the preset rules of the Three Thousand Dao Domains.

How difficult was it to break through to the Emperor Venerable realm?

Could it be that the Gu Family could now mass-produce experts of this caliber?!

The wild joy on Dragon Chen's face was instantly replaced by an boundless, bone-chilling fear.

He felt as if all his bones had been removed, completely collapsing into the foul-smelling swamp. From his throat, only a "ho-ho" sound, like a broken bellows, could be heard, and his trousers were already soaked.

"N-no, impossible. W-why, why are you so strong?"

"I should be the protagonist of this world! Everything should be mine: the power of an Emperor Venerable, the supreme status, and also Su Mengyao, Ye Ziling, Lin Ziyi, Fang Qingyan—they should all be mine, mine!!"

"No, no…"

His last hope seemed to be utterly crushed at this moment.

The power Gu Yun displayed was terrifying to the extreme; even his master's five-hundred-thousand-year plan was directly shattered by this breakthrough's might. What kind of chasm must exist between their true strengths?

Moreover, regardless of the outcome of their battle, he, a mere mortal whose cultivation had been crippled, would be utterly annihilated under the crushing force of this surging torrent, leaving not even a speck of dust. The young man slumped to the ground, his eyes devoid of all light.

Qiu Yueci was also completely petrified. She had imagined all possible outcomes, good and bad.

But she had never expected that she would also need to be sheltered within this young man's embrace.

The tear stains on her cheeks had not yet dried, but now they seemed so ridiculous. When faced with a predicament, her first thought had actually been to die.

Perhaps this was the gap between herself and true prodigies like Gu Yun and Liu Tianhuang.

She, as the revered Dean, as an Emperor Venerable, had never truly believed in herself.

At this moment, the young man's figure, in the bewildered eyes of Qiu Yueci, seemed to become the sole focus of the heavens and earth. He was so dazzling, so outstanding, so… unattainable!

Gu Yun, at the center of the storm, slowly opened his eyes.

"It takes one breath of time to elevate my cultivation to the Seventh Heaven of the Great Emperor realm."

As it was his first time using the Great Emperor Cultivation Experience Card, Gu Yun naturally wanted to understand all the details of its usage.

He firmly etched this time into his mind. His gaze fell upon the Divine Medicine Old Man and Dragon Chen, calm and indifferent, as if capable of judging all things.

"Haha, I understand."

"You're not Gu Yun now, are you?"

"You definitely aren't him. How could a mere brat possess the cultivation of an Emperor Venerable realm?"

"This is impossible, it defies logic, it defies the Heavenly Dao, it absolutely cannot appear in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, absolutely impossible!"

"Forget it, let's save some time."

Gu Yun's mind was made up. His gaze calmly swept over everything around him, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

The formerly lush bamboo forest now resembled a human purgatory, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

The Gu Family, having existed since ancient times, possessed countless recorded classics, naturally including various methods.

And extending the lifespan of the Great Emperors within the family was, of course, a top priority.

This so-called "Great Art of Transplanting Flowers and Connecting Trees" was one such method. It was a wicked art that, through grafting and other means, stole the life essence and cultivation foundation of others to extend one's lifespan.

However, extending life through this art came with relatively severe side effects.

Furthermore, the lifespan extension effect was limited, and the Gu Family didn't really take it seriously.

Only someone like the Divine Medicine Old Man would treat it as a treasure.

As for how this old fellow managed to obtain the secret art from the Gu Family, where experts were as numerous as clouds, Gu Yun wasn't clear. This was like a background setting, the source of Dragon Chen's hatred for the Gu Family, and it was no longer important now.

It's just that this old fellow did have some ability; in his hands, this Great Art of Transplanting Flowers and Connecting Trees had been researched to reveal a different kind of spectacle.

Extending his life for over five hundred thousand years, this had already far surpassed the limits of this method.

Of course, it didn't matter now.

Since Gu Yun had already revealed one of his trump cards, he naturally wouldn't leave any survivors.

While the Divine Medicine Old Man was still immersed in shock and unable to extricate himself, the young man had already slowly raised his right hand, simply and plainly, without using any divine abilities.

He just aimed at the Divine Medicine Old Man's location and lightly clenched his fist.

"No… No, impossible, I am a Great Emperor, I am a Great Emperor!!!"

Feeling the surging pressure engulf him, the Divine Medicine Old Man began to roar, desperately trying to resist.

But everything was futile. As the young man punished him with his own methods, the Divine Medicine Old Man's withered body began to twist and deform. A large mouthful of viscous black blood, mixed with shattered internal organs and essence, gushed out like a fountain.

His aura, like a breached dam, plummeted wildly, instantly falling to rock bottom!

"After living in seclusion for so long, your body has reached its limit."

"No wonder you had to rely on the grand formation here to contend with me for a bit."

"Sigh… I was indeed tricked by this old fellow."

Gu Yun felt a slight regret. To use the Great Emperor Experience Card's first battle on such a outwardly strong but inwardly weak old fellow was truly a bit of a waste.

The Divine Medicine Old Man was no longer able to respond to Gu Yun's words. Under the overwhelming power of the Seventh Heaven of the Great Emperor realm, he had no ability to resist whatsoever.

Everything had been decided the moment Gu Yun broke through the grand formation with lightning speed.

However, if the plan had been more meticulous, perhaps Qiu Yueci's strength alone would have been enough to make the Divine Medicine Old Man regret. This way, there would have been no need to waste three breaths of Great Emperor cultivation experience time.

The heaven and earth furnace rotated and floated, slowly drawing in the exploded and scattered flesh and blood.

As it was its first time absorbing Great Emperor-level flesh and blood, Gu Yun could feel the treasure's inner joy and excitement.

"You mean… you want to absorb the Emperor Dao Origin Essence?"

Suddenly, Gu Yun seemed to sense that this indescribable, mysterious treasure was beginning to send him signals.

The heaven and earth furnace hummed and vibrated, transmitting joyful emotions, seemingly expressing its delight that Gu Yun could understand its meaning.

Gu Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

It seemed that the Emperor Dao Origin Essence was an extremely rare treasure for the heaven and earth furnace, perhaps capable of allowing this already astonishing treasure to achieve further sublimation and transformation.

"Since it is what you need, then… devour it."

Gu Yun's thoughts stirred slightly, and the heaven and earth furnace understood perfectly.

The flesh and blood circulated, gradually transforming into a dark golden stream of light, finally merging into the dazzling and world-shaking heaven and earth furnace.

The heaven and earth furnace devoured everything, seemingly without limit, but Gu Yun knew that, at least in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, this was impossible to achieve.

Once the heaven and earth furnace could break through its shackles, then the restraints binding all cultivators in the Three Thousand Dao Domains would also be broken at that instant, naturally and smoothly.

It was just unknown what kind of changes it would undergo.

Seeing Gu Yun display such miraculous methods, his aura instantly plummeted back to the Xiantai Realm.

Qiu Yueci looked bewildered. She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Xiao Yun, what exactly happened just now?"

"Did someone from the Gu Family or Heavenly Phoenix leave something behind on you?"

After the shock, Qiu Yueci also began to ponder, gradually forming a more reasonable judgment.

Gu Yun didn't intend to reveal all his methods. He turned around to face the Dean, smiling softly: "Shh—"

"Grandmaster, this is my secret."

"Hmph, what secret? If you already had it under control, why did you need me to come along?"

Qiu Yueci snorted, unknowingly losing some of her Dean's authority in front of the young man.

But she herself didn't notice these subtle changes.

"Grandmaster… without you to hold the line, this disciple would have no confidence."

Gu Yun chuckled softly, about to throw himself into Qiu Yueci's embrace.

The Dean chuckled exasperatedly, then subtly dodged Gu Yun's sudden attack.

"Grandmaster, we barely escaped with our lives. Are you unwilling to give me a hug of love?"

"Heh, Xiao Yun, I don't think what happened here counts as barely escaping with your life for you!"

Qiu Yueci knew perfectly well that she had fallen for Gu Yun's trick. He had brought her here, probably with some ulterior motives.

But she…

Sigh, he was Heavenly Phoenix's disciple. She had already made one mistake; she shouldn't make another.

"Grandmaster… what I wanted to say is, I can protect you in the future."

"You…"

"Xiao Yun, don't say such things in the future. I am your Grandmaster!"

Qiu Yueci was startled, not expecting Gu Yun to be so direct. The young man's spirited, peerless demeanor had been swirling and surging in her heart, but she couldn't do that.

"What about being a Grandmaster?"

"Can't a disciple protect his Grandmaster once he's grown up?"

"What kind of logic is that?"

Gu Yun remained unconventional, smiling lightly, like a carefree optimist.

But Qiu Yueci's heart was incredibly complex. Perhaps Gu Yun was actually a filial young man, and she had misunderstood him.

Indeed, only she knew what had happened at the time. Gu Yun had been in grave danger; escaping with his life was already a great blessing. How could he have known what she had done?

Qiu Yueci, oh Qiu Yueci, Xiao Yun just saved your life.

How could you use such base thoughts to speculate about him!

She sternly chastised herself inwardly, then Qiu Yueci put on what she thought was a benevolent expression: "Then I shall wait for that day."

"It will definitely happen."

"Mm…"

"Gu Yun, what kind of supreme treasure was that exactly?"

"It can even refine cultivators of the Divine Medicine Old Man's level?!"

Qiu Yueci shifted the topic to the heaven and earth furnace. The shocking sacredness of this object was rarely seen even by her.

And its hidden viciousness and malevolence made one's heart tremble.

She couldn't help but feel worried for the young man.

"Grandmaster is joking, of course it's not that simple."

"The conditions for using this item are quite strict. It was only with the right timing and circumstances that it barely succeeded."

"Grandmaster, please help me stop that kid."

"I still have matters to discuss with him later."

Seeing Dragon Chen, who was already a mortal, trying to sneak away while they were distracted, Gu Yun naturally wouldn't give him any chance.

The last 5700 points of destiny value were completely exhausted with the Divine Medicine Old Man's death.

Dragon Chen had now lost all value, utterly and completely a lamb to the slaughter.

"Alright…"

Qiu Yueci was quite excited to be able to help Gu Yun with something.

As for the matter of the heaven and earth furnace, with her knowledge, she naturally knew she shouldn't ask too much.

No one truly knew how terrifying the Gu Family's heritage, passed down from ancient times, truly was.

Gu Yun's gaze fell upon the heaven and earth furnace. This time, fully refining the Divine Medicine Old Man's Emperor Dao Origin would naturally take double the time.

Finally, with a sudden tremor from the furnace, ancient patterns on its body lit up, radiating dazzling divine light.

A dangerous smile also appeared on Gu Yun's lips.

Finally, it succeeded!

This hongmeng supreme treasure that had accompanied him for so long was finally unsealed once more. Sooner or later, it would unleash its true, unique brilliance.

A dazzling pill, shimmering with Dao patterns, fell back into Gu Yun's hand.

"You mean, you didn't take any of that old fellow's cultivation, and it all merged into this pill?"

Gu Yun understood perfectly. The three Dao patterns on this Emperor Pill already explained everything.

His gaze turned to the plump figure standing beside him. He slowly put the item away. It seemed he still had to push Grandmaster a bit more.

///444//

Chapter 444: A Clear Conscience (Two in One)

The dazzling divine radiance gradually receded, and the heaven and earth furnace returned to its ancient dark gold luster, falling back into Gu Yun's hand.

Qiu Yueci captured Dragon Chen, who was trying to escape, her gaze lingering on the item, still immersed in the vast and brilliant mystical power of the heaven and earth furnace.

It was only when Gu Yun put it away that she came back to her senses.

Returning to Gu Yun's side with Dragon Chen, the former Child of Destiny had already fainted from fright, completely unconscious.

"What did you do?"

Qiu Yueci asked, knowing that after such an earth-shattering anomaly, nothing could have happened.

She had vaguely seen something containing astonishing power fall into Gu Yun's hand.

She had originally thought she could view it with a normal heart, but that divine object subtly exuded a captivating aura.

Even though she inwardly told herself not to pry into others' secrets, the deeper desire for strength still drove her to ask this question.

"Does Grandmaster want to know?"

Gu Yun smiled lightly, his eyes sparkling with a playful, elusive light, clear yet unfathomable.

Qiu Yueci's heart skipped a beat, wondering what this young man was up to.

"I…"

Qiu Yueci opened her mouth, but still lacked the courage to speak decisively.

After all, Gu Yun had not actively shown it to her, and as an elder, how could she ask her junior for it?

Just as she was about to give up, Gu Yun accurately seized the moment; the young man, who had been observing silently, naturally saw the fleeting struggle, desire, and self-restraint in Qiu Yueci's eyes.

"Grandmaster is one of us, there's nothing that can't be said."

"Since Grandmaster wants to know, then Gu Yun won't hide it any longer."

He took a step forward, closing the distance.

Qiu Yueci's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, instinctively wanting to retreat, but after a moment's thought, she suppressed the urge.

The young man was willing to tell her this, showing closeness; if she were to act like that, wouldn't it disappoint him?

For this reason, Qiu Yueci tacitly allowed Gu Yun's natural approach.

Gu Yun was naturally satisfied; he acted mysterious, preparing to take out the Emperor Origin Pill glowing with three Dao patterns, while lowering his voice slightly and speaking to Qiu Yueci with utmost seriousness: "Grandmaster, everything of that old fellow has now transformed into the purest origin, and now, it is all contained within this pill."

He paused intentionally, his gaze burning as he looked at the instantly tensed lines of Qiu Yueci's profile.

Her beautiful eyes were now filled with disbelief.

"You, you mean…"

"That's right, within this pill is everything of the Divine Medicine Old Man that still exists in this world, incredibly pure."

"If it can be thoroughly refined, it can help those below the third heaven of the Emperor Realm take a big step on the Emperor's Path."

"Even—"

"Directly break through to the third heaven realm."

"Third heaven…"

Qiu Yueci swallowed, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

In the Emperor Realm, each level was a chasm; her cultivation, which had not broken through for millions of years, suddenly had opportunities for continuous improvement recently, and for Qiu Yueci, whose mood was becoming increasingly restless, Gu Yun's words were like a huge stone thrown into her heart, the ripples stirring up like a tsunami, uncontrollable.

"Yes," Gu Yun said, as if not seeing her loss of composure, his tone carrying a hint of natural temptation: "It's just a pity that I can't make good use of this item right now, so I'll have to hand it over to the elders of the Gu Family or my master, after all, it's best not to flaunt wealth, and if others knew I had such a treasure, it would be troublesome."

"This…"

Qiu Yueci wanted to speak, but the words were stuck in her throat just as they were about to come out.

"What does Grandmaster want to say?"

Gu Yun looked at Qiu Yueci, then suddenly said as if enlightened: "Oh, look at me, Grandmaster is currently at the second heaven of the Great Emperor realm, and this item is indeed very suitable for you."

"Heh, Xiao Yun, how could I ask for your things?"

The young man's innocence pulled back Qiu Yueci's conscience; she felt deep guilt for the greedy thoughts that had arisen in her heart.

She looked up, and what met her eyes was the young man's sincere gaze, clear to the bottom, yet full of hopeful light.

"Grandmaster, do you truly not want it?"

He took another step forward, pressing closer.

Qiu Yueci had no choice but to retreat, not daring to meet Gu Yun's gaze; as an elder, besides the Great Dao Heavenly Book, she had never provided any help to Gu Yun in any matter, and with her upbringing, how could she accept such a gift?

Moreover, the origin of this item was the refinement of a living person, a cruel method.

"Xiao Yun, it's best you properly store this item."

"Also, Grandmaster still needs to tell you, although your treasure seems quite extraordinary, its effectiveness is certainly tens of millions of times better than those self-serving demonic techniques."

"But if you rely too much on such shortcuts, it may not only affect your character but also your future path."

"On the Emperor's Path, it's one step at a time, not something those who cut corners can achieve a thousand miles a day, you…"

"Grandmaster… can it really not be a thousand miles a day?"

The young man took another step forward, his gaze burning, the distance between them already incredibly close.

Their noses were almost touching, and Gu Yun's eyes sparkled with spirit, an incredibly strong sense of invasion.

Whether it was due to her guilty conscience or the lingering power from Gu Yun's previous move, Qiu Yueci, who should have held the absolute advantage, once again chose to back down: "Xiao Yun, you're too close."

"Close?"

"But this disciple doesn't feel any closer than Grandmaster was last time."

Gu Yun smiled, grabbing Qiu Yueci's fair wrist.

The sudden attack made the Academy Master lose her composure; she couldn't help but say in a fluster: "Xiao Yun, what are you doing? I'm your Grandmaster."

"Are you really just Grandmaster?"

"Last time when this disciple was sensing the supreme divine might of the Great Dao Heavenly Book, vaguely…"

"You…"

Qiu Yueci turned back, her stunning face filled with disbelief.

"How would you know? At that time…"

Gu Yun's lips curved into a faint smile: "Grandmaster, this disciple doesn't know everything, but since you said that, I've completely confirmed it."

"After all, in that situation, in your small world, who else could it be besides you, Grandmaster?"

Qiu Yueci's expression stiffened, and a flush of shame and annoyance quickly covered it.

She never expected that her little secret, which she had intended to bury in her heart forever, would be so easily extracted by Gu Yun.

One surprise after another had made her lose her guard, and she had fallen for this boy's Chain Tricks.

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but sigh, her voice carrying a hint of powerlessness and annoyance from having her thoughts exposed: "Xiao Yun, you're such a little trickster."

"No choice, how else could I lure out Grandmaster, this little ostrich who deceives herself?"

Gu Yun's smile deepened, carrying the cunning peculiar to a young man and a hint of determination.

He did not retreat because of Qiu Yueci's anger; instead, he pushed further, taking advantage of her mental shock and loosened defenses, his warm palm not only did not release her fair wrist but slid down along it, gently and firmly grasping her cool hand.

Her hand felt cool and smooth to the touch, like the finest mutton-fat white jade, yet softer and more vibrant than jade.

At this moment, these hands, perfect as works of art, completely became Gu Yun's plaything; the warmth of the young man's palm transmitted without reservation, the slightly rough touch brushing over the Academy Master's delicate and sensitive skin, thoroughly tearing down Qiu Yueci's last mental defense.

"You… let go!"

Qiu Yueci tried to pull her hand back.

But Gu Yun held it firmly: "Since I've already discovered it, does Grandmaster still want to flee in disarray like last time?"

"Do you think that after all I've done, I'm just an object you can discard whenever you want?"

Gu Yun's gaze lowered, concentrating on the slightly trembling soft hand in his palm with an almost sighing appreciation: "Grandmaster's hands are truly beautiful. Last time in the small world, my consciousness was hazy, and I only felt that the soothing was like sweet dew and immortal nectar, but I couldn't feel it carefully."

"Now…"

"Don't say anymore…"

Qiu Yueci was both shy and anxious, her cheeks flushed like a fiery cloud, the blush even spreading to her graceful neck.

"Last time was just to help you relieve stress."

"There were no other thoughts, you don't need to take it too much to heart."

As she spoke, she channeled a trace of Emperor power into her other hand, wanting to forcefully shake off Gu Yun, but she was also worried about hurting him.

However, this hesitant movement could not break through the ancient emperor armor's defense.

The young man stood unmoving, exceptionally firm.

"Grandmaster, how can such a thing not be taken to heart?"

"As long as we have a clear conscience, we can live in peace afterward."

Qiu Yueci couldn't bear to look at Gu Yun's trembling eyes anymore; she turned her head away, afraid that another second of looking would completely change her mind.

"A clear conscience?"

"Grandmaster…"

Gu Yun let out a light laugh, how bitter it was; even though she had turned her head, just a glance from the corner of her eye still made Qiu Yueci's heart suddenly constrict, a sharp pang of pain rising.

"Fine."

The young man sighed softly, releasing Qiu Yueci's hand.

Then he slowly said: "Since Grandmaster insists, then Gu Yun won't force it."

He slowly took out the three-pattern Emperor Origin Pill from his hand, lifted Qiu Yueci's soft hand, and placed it within.

Qiu Yueci's whole body stiffened: "Xiao Yun, you…"

"Grandmaster…"

"This item is temporarily useless to me, but it can solve the immediate crisis of the Supreme Divine Dynasty."

"I believe Grandmaster also doesn't want to always live under the wing of Master, her elder."

"I hope that the future Grandmaster will not be like today."

"I cannot accept…"

"You can take it back to the elders of the Gu Family."

"Grandmaster…"

"This is a filial gesture from your disciple, sincere and good."

"If you don't accept it, how can you say you have a clear conscience?"

"You have an opportunity to contribute to the Supreme Divine Dynasty, yet you give it up, so how can you say you have a clear conscience?!"

Gu Yun's words were deafening; Qiu Yueci never expected that this time, what she thought would be a simple chase after a fugitive with Gu Yun, would instead turn into a lecture from the young man.

But every word of the young man so accurately pinpointed all the deepest desires and struggles within her heart.

He understood her so well, yet he was Heavenly Phoenix's disciple, a disciple of the Academy, a young junior more than a million years younger than her.

If she were with him, and Heavenly Phoenix knew, and the Gu Family knew, how would she conduct herself?

"Xiao Yun, I…"

Qiu Yueci's voice carried an unprecedented panic and confusion.

Gu Yun had gently closed her splayed fingers again; pure spiritual energy emanated from the pill, as if it could cleanse the soul, making one's heart tremble.

"Grandmaster…" Gu Yun's voice returned to calm, even carrying a hint of distant respect, "This disciple's sincerity is witnessed by heaven and earth. Handing this item to you is handing it to the Supreme Divine Dynasty. I hope Grandmaster will make good use of it, not fail this pill, nor fail… this disciple's heart."

"From now on, we shall have a clear conscience!"

After speaking, he completely released Qiu Yueci, his wrist hovering over Dragon Chen's head.

He smiled and said: "I'll take Dragon Chen; his actions were too malicious, he's not suitable to return to the Academy for judgment."

"I will make him receive the punishment he deserves."

The distraught Qiu Yueci had long forgotten about controlling Dragon Chen; the young man easily succeeded and left directly.

"Grandmaster, the Emperor Origin Pill should be consumed as soon as possible; if delayed, its efficacy will be lost, and the chance of breakthrough will be greatly reduced, leading to more harm than good."

In the world, only Gu Yun's endless instructions remained, but his figure had already disappeared into the horizon.

The distance between the two seemed like an invisible chasm had appeared in the world.

From then on, a clear conscience.

Qiu Yueci trembled as she opened her hand, spreading her palm; the three-pattern Emperor Origin Pill lay quietly in her palm, three dark golden Dao patterns slowly flowing like living things, emitting a vast and pure aura of Emperor-level spiritual energy.

The pill was warm and smooth like jade, yet it felt like a burning hot iron, scalding her soul.

Her slender fingertips trembled slightly, almost unable to hold this light yet immensely heavy pill.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, sweeping the debris from the ground across her face—it was the spiritual remains of the grand formation that the Divine Medicine Old Man had set up earlier.

The person was dead, but the formation still had remnants.

Just like her suppressed frustration and powerlessness, which would forever be imprinted on this land, lingering for a long time.

She, Qiu Yueci, a dignified Emperor Realm expert, the Academy Master of the Fenghua Academy of the Supreme Divine Dynasty!

Was she to constantly feel her powerlessness and sorrow because of fear of gossip, because of those damned shackles of identity?

For millions of years before, she had been muddled, trying her best but making no progress.

Now, an opportunity was before her, but because of this ridiculous reason, she would continue to stand still?

"Qiu Yueci, ah, Qiu Yueci, why have you become so anxious about gains and losses?"

She scoffed.

Laughing at herself for not seeing as clearly as a junior.

Gu Yun was right!

If she had a clear conscience, why would she not dare to seize this opportunity to contribute to the Divine Dynasty and secure her own future?!

If she had a clear conscience, then retreating now would be the greatest hypocrisy and cowardice!

"Do not fail… this disciple's heart…"

Gu Yun's voice echoed in her heart again, this time with a strange power.

Qiu Yueci suddenly clenched her palm!

The Emperor Pill was warm and smooth, embedding itself into her skin, but it also brought an unprecedented resolve!

She would no longer hesitate, nor would she waver!

She would truly achieve a clear conscience!

//445//

Chapter 445 Stalker

By continuously using spatial leaps, Gu Yun left at a very fast speed; he had no intention of letting Qiu Yueci catch up.

Many times, emotions need time to slowly settle and accumulate.

This encounter with Divine Medicine Old Man had already dealt Qiu Yueci a strong blow from all aspects; the subsequent development only required the accumulation of time, and everything would fall into place naturally.

Presumably, after sensing the miraculousness of that Emperor Origin Pill, she would make the correct choice.

Regardless of whether it was from the perspective of self-interest or human nature, Gu Yun had Qiu Yueci completely figured out.

After all, if it weren't for his identity as Liu Tianhuang's disciple creating a barrier, it wouldn't have been that difficult to win over this Ancestor.

However, Gu Yun could not possibly give up his Teacher Baby; therefore, even if it meant taking a roundabout approach, he had to carefully set up the current situation for the Ancestor.

"Xiaoyun, how did you end up here?"

"Earlier, I felt that the northern border of the Supreme Divine Dynasty seemed troubled, and I thought you had gone with Liu Tianhuang to see the world."

Just as Gu Yun was pondering, a familiar, slightly lazy and teasing voice unexpectedly sounded in his ear.

Gu Yun wasn't surprised; instead, a calm, faint smile appeared on his lips. He looked towards a certain spot in the void, his tone carrying a hint of intimacy: "Aunt Zi, I knew you would always follow me."

"Bah..."

Gu Yaozi spoke irritably, and space rippled like water. A purple figure stepped out of the void, still graceful and peerlessly beautiful.

She squinted at Gu Yun, her red lips slightly pursed: "Stop being so full of yourself. I just happened to be wandering around nearby. Within the Supreme Divine Dynasty's territory, with that woman Liu Tianhuang looking after you, how could you be in any life-threatening danger? Why would I bother with such useless worry?"

"Is that so? This place is just outside the Supreme Divine Dynasty's territory."

"Is it really such a coincidence?"

"Of course..."

Gu Yaozi would never admit that her divine sense had been constantly circling the Supreme Divine Dynasty, paying attention to Gu Yun's aura at all times.

"Wouldn't that be even better?"

"Since it wasn't intentional, it just proves that Aunt Zi and I have a telepathic connection, a heaven-sent destiny."

"We should cherish it even more!"

Gu Yun smiled and stepped forward, naturally wanting to take Gu Yaozi's fair wrist.

But the beautiful mature woman subtly dodged: "Hmph! You smooth-talking brat, don't think I'm like that foolish woman Qiu Yueci, who will be spun around by you."

As she spoke, her autumn-water-like eyes subtly glanced at Gu Yun, as if trying to catch a hint of annoyance or frustration on his calm, unruffled face, indicating that his thoughts had been seen through.

However, she was disappointed.

Gu Yun merely stood there quietly, a faint, all-knowing smile on his lips, his gaze clear and focused as he looked back at her.

That look carried no hint of awkwardness from being rejected; instead, it held a kind of... confident certainty and a barely perceptible indulgence.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Aunt Zi is beautiful; I'll look a little longer."

"Stop looking."

"No... I will look."

Gu Yun's gaze was burning, lingering on Gu Yaozi's exquisite face as if it were tangible.

That gaze was too direct, too fervent, making the usually composed Gu Yaozi feel a hint of discomfort.

Her biggest regret now was being too impatient at the time, having intimate contact with Gu Yun for a few days, which seemed to have allowed him to see through her plans.

She had thought that using the excuse of not wanting to meet Liu Tianhuang and separating from Gu Yun for a few days would slightly distance their relationship.

However, she never expected that this young man would still be so persistent. And rightly so; he could find ways to approach his Ancestor, so how could he let go of someone who had already revealed her intentions?

"Hmph... Dream on. Go back and look at your good Ancestor instead."

Gu Yaozi snorted lightly, and a faint, illusory veil appeared on her cheek, completely obscuring her peerless face.

Gu Yun chuckled: "It seems Aunt Zi saw it all?"

"Of course..."

Gu Yaozi chuckled, believing she had caught Gu Yun red-handed: "I didn't expect the esteemed Gu Family Emperor Child, the Crown Prince of the Supreme Divine Dynasty, to be such a rebellious and disrespectful person who harbors ideas about his own Ancestor. I wonder if Liu Tianhuang knew about this, would she..."

"Alas, it seems I couldn't hide it from Aunt Zi."

"That's natural, Xiaoyun'er, remember to be more respectful to your Aunt Zi from now on!"

"As a protector, your every move cannot escape my eyes."

"As long as you are not within the Supreme Divine Dynasty's territory, there is an eye constantly watching you in silence!"

"Oh? Aunt Zi just said she never cared about my whereabouts, so why are you now inseparable?"

Gu Yun took a step forward, chuckling softly, and reached out to touch Gu Yaozi's face, but was blocked by a thin layer of spiritual energy.

"I, I..."

"Aunt Zi's methods are indeed clever, but it's a bit of a waste for such a peerless face to go unappreciated."

The Myriad Transformation Power took effect. Gu Yaozi had little defense, and for a moment, she fell for it. A face filled with surprise, mixed with some awkward embarrassment, appeared in the young man's eyes.

Gu Yun couldn't help but let out a small laugh: "What's wrong, Aunt Zi?"

"Could it be that Gu Yun spoke of something close to your heart?"

"Nonsense, don't talk rubbish."

"Be careful, or I'll go back and tell Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law. Then we'll see how you explain yourself, young man?"

"Aunt Zi can go ahead and tell them. I imagine my mother would be overjoyed."

"After all, Aunt Zi is also an astonishing beauty, and from a certain perspective, she stands on the same front as my mother, so she will naturally receive a warm welcome."

"What..."

"Nonsense! Xiaoyun'er, if you keep talking like that, I'll spank your bottom!"

Gu Yaozi sounded fierce but was inwardly timid: "Even if Big Sister Qiushui spoils you, I can still tell Big Brother Changqing."

"My father?"

"It's useless to tell him."

"Besides..."

A memory stone appeared in Gu Yun's hand: "Aunt Zi personally said she would be my female companion back then. I've kept that scene all this time, to gaze upon it daily in the quiet of the night and miss you every night."

"You...!"

Gu Yaozi's purple eyes instantly widened, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She looked at the memory stone glowing faintly in Gu Yun's hand and reached out to snatch it.

In front of a powerful peak Quasi-Emperor expert, Gu Yun naturally had no power to resist.

Gu Yaozi easily succeeded and crushed it.

"Xiaoyun, let me teach you another lesson: don't show off your wealth, and even more so, don't put important evidence in front of a related person. Otherwise, if your power can't protect it, it might not be worth the loss."

After succeeding, Gu Yaozi was smug, beginning to lecture him in an elder's tone.

"Of course, I know that."

Gu Yun smiled and took out another memory stone: "So, there was actually nothing in that memory stone just now."

"Aunt Zi, why don't you guess if there's anything good in this one?"

Gu Yaozi's smile froze on her face. She stared blankly at the memory stone in Gu Yun's hand, sparkling brightly in the sunlight.