Gu Zhan looked at the secret manual handed over by Gu Fengwei, and judging from the expressions of those around him, he could roughly guess that this was Gu Fengwei’s personal action, not something discussed with the rest of the clan.
"Patriarch Gu, this is inappropriate." Gu Zhan refused outright and decisively.
Gu Fengwei spoke slowly, "Gu Qianhu, this secret manual is indeed the Gu Family inheritance technique, brought with us when we escaped from Qingzhou in those days. However, it shares the same origin as the Lingyang lineage. I wonder if your father ever taught you Profound Yang Skill—this manual is actually the continuation of Profound Yang Skill.
Within the Gu Family, this technique is open—so long as one’s cultivation is sufficient, any direct descendant can collect the subsequent volumes. All these years, we failed to find you, which was already a debt to you. Now, even though you have not returned to the Gu Family, the clan supports you in the name of the whole family; this counts as a return in another form. This secret manual should be yours. Don’t refuse!"
At that moment, Gu Shanyun spoke as well, "Gu Qianhu, now that the Gu Family has chosen to walk with you, sincerity must be shown. Moreover, your talent is strong; you ought not to be restrained by cultivation techniques. To put it plainly, the clan invests in you, ultimately for its own sake.
Your strength and cultivation rising quickly only bring more benefit to the Gu Family. The Gu Family is a noble house, not like a gang. A gang leader fears his men surpassing himself, but a noble house wishes for its members to grow ever stronger."
"That’s right," said Gu Fengwei, "since we walk side by side, we must show sincerity."
Gu Zhan considered for a moment, and did not refuse again.
If he were to refuse further, it would look false, so he nodded and accepted the manual.
Afterward, the group chatted as they slowly left.
Gu Zhan walked along and began recording the secret manual.
This was the complete Profound Yang Skill,
which was divided into twelve floors.
The first three floors corresponded to the Postnatal Realm, the middle three to the Innate Realm, and the following five to the Five Realms of the Great Dao. As for the final floor, it matched the Grandmaster Realm. However, it was specially remarked that the ancestors of the Gu Family, who had attained the Dao Realm, created this martial art, and in their entire lives, only theorized up to the Grandmaster Realm, never truly succeeded. Whether one could actually cultivate it to success—no one could say.
But for Gu Zhan,
so long as the experience points were sufficient, no matter the theoretical realm, he could also cultivate up to it.
When the system recorded Profound Yang Skill,
Gu Zhan immediately chose to switch cultivation technique:
{Spend 100,000 experience points}
{Same Realm Cultivation to Creation Skill}
{Creation Skill cultivated to Eighth Floor}
{Current realm: Mingzhi Realm}
In that instant, the true essence within his body changed,
The original Creation Skill had always been a more violent cultivation technique. Yet, as the true essence turned into Profound Yang Skill, the once volatile energy became as gentle as fine rain, very calm, but extremely stable.
Both at Mingzhi Peak,
The difference in true essence was vast. With Creation Skill, it brimmed with a surging aura; Profound Yang Skill, however, gave the sense of steady progress,
Comparing their nature, there was no absolute good or bad—each had its strengths and weaknesses,
But in terms of quality,
Profound Yang Skill’s rank was much higher, and the quality of true essence was greatly enhanced.
He then checked the system interface:
Player: Gu Zhan
Realm: Mingzhi Realm
Cultivation Technique: Profound Yang Skill (Eighth Floor 0/3,000,000)
Skills:
Willow Leaf Flying Knife Technique (Great Success)
Creation Golden Body (Great Success)
Four Seas Unification Blade Technique (Minor Success 0/1,000,000)
Lingxi Sword (0/30,000)
Wangchuan Swordsmanship (0/30,000)
Experience Points: 960541
Those two sword techniques were earth-tier secrets he found at the Lingxi Sword Sect. Gu Zhan, with his usual habit of arming himself to the teeth, recorded them as well. If needed, he could catch the enemy off guard.
As Gu Zhan’s group arrived before the dilapidated gate of the Lingxi Sword Sect,
An Embroidered Uniform Guard galloped up in urgent haste, shouting, "Sir, this is bad! Something happened!"
From afar,
That Embroidered Uniform Guard rode hard, nervous: "Sir, at the foot of Lingxi Mountain, there are many people—members of all the sects of Pingyang Prefecture. The leaders are Mountain Moving Sect, Changfeng Valley, Xiushan Lu Family, Pengshui Ma Family, and Longmen Chen Family. They each brought numerous second- and third-rate martial world influences, directly surrounding Lingxi Mountain!"
In an instant, the atmosphere became oppressive,
The faces of all Gu Family members grew grave.
Gu Fengwei intoned, "We guessed they would come, but didn’t expect them so soon—and just at this moment."
Gu Zhan chuckled lightly: "It’s not that they came at a coincidental time; they deliberately prepared to arrive exactly now."
Gu Fengwei paused, surprised: "You mean—?"
Gu Zhan nodded: "It’s just the Gu Family didn’t consider deeply enough. If you look from another angle—think about it, would you be willing to stand up for a Lingxi Sword Sect already destroyed, or for one still existing?"
"Hmm..."
Gu Fengwei nodded: "That’s true. If the Lingxi Sword Sect’s gate had not been wiped out, even if all sects wished to seize territory, they’d play up appearances and wouldn’t act so brazenly."
At that,
Gu Fengwei intoned, "Gu Qianhu, now is not the time to clash head-on with the Five Great Sects. Their main purpose is to split the spoils. You should find an opportunity to leave via the back mountain—go to Pingyang City and ask Sixth Young Master for Beidou Bang’s Kaiyang Sub-Branch to mediate. As for here, leave it to our Gu Family. The Five Great Sects merely wish to punish the Embroidered Uniform Guard; if you’re gone, they won’t chase you to the death."
"No need."
Gu Zhan waved his hand, saying: "In fact, my slaughter of the Lingxi Sword Sect was not without ulterior motives. The Five Great Sects wish to seize this chance to punish me—but who says I don’t want to use this opportunity to teach them the rules of Gu Zhan!"
Gu Fengwei hurriedly said, "Gu Qianhu, don’t be rash! The Five Great Sects come with mighty force. If you don’t avoid them, they’ll be unable to back down. For face, they’ll surely fight to the death,
The Five Great Sects are not weak; this time, each has brought at least two Great Cultivators. The Innate Realm disciples need not be mentioned, not to mention the many second- and third-rate influences,
I know your cultivation is deep, but human strength has its limits—do not act on impulse. Don’t worry—even if you abandon the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you have the Gu Family behind you. You’ll never lack the chance to rise again."
Gu Zhan smiled slightly, stepped toward the mountain gate, unhurriedly removed the two Horizontal Sabers from his back and planted them in the ground, quietly gazing at the sky-reaching stone steps stretching down to the mountain’s base,
The breeze blew, his long robe billowing,
Gu Zhan’s expression was calm as he spoke slowly, "In the fourth year of Qingli, Gu Zhan entered the martial world. In these two years, I’ve faced countless enemies, and only retreated once.
Now, these Five Great Sects—
Little more than chickens and dogs; how dare they make Gu Zhan retreat half a step?"

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