Biluofeng, Gu Ze’s courtyard.
A cool breeze swept across his back, startling him from his cultivation. He reached up to touch the nape of his neck, where the hairs still stood on end.
Outside the door, it seemed a powerful uninvited guest had arrived.
Carefully, he pushed the door open and stepped out. Gu Ze saw an elder clad in a red dragon brocade robe, his white eyebrows drooping low, exuding authority even without anger.
The elder stood with his hands behind his back, gazing silently at the two green pines before Li Xunmiao’s residence, utterly motionless.
Gu Ze sifted through the figures in the novel, and could only match this man to Gong Lixing, the Zhangmen of Yunhai Immortal Pavilion.
But, at this point in time, Li Xunmiao shouldn’t have drawn Gong Lixing’s attention yet.
Could something about her have changed?
Or was it that, due to his own interference, Li Xunmiao’s talent had become so striking that even Gong Lixing now had thoughts of taking her as a disciple and had come personally?
Thinking it over, Gu Ze’s mind conjured the image of Qingquan.
Perhaps only she could contact Gong Lixing at this time and invite him over.
He watched the other for a long while. Only when Gong Lixing finally turned his head to look at him did Gu Ze straighten his robe and stride over quickly.
“Disciple Gu Ze greets the Zhangmen.”
Gu Ze had blended into the Yunhai Immortal Pavilion for three years. Even without relying on the setting from the book, he’d often heard people discuss what kind of person the Zhangmen truly was.
“No need for such formality. You’ve got sharp eyes to recognize me so quickly.” Gong Lixing stroked his beard, examining Gu Ze up and down from close range.
Meeting him today, Gong Lixing found nothing particularly special about Gu Ze: average aptitude, ordinary strength, only one magical treasure—which Qingquan had given him.
Aside from being rather handsome, he was exactly the level of an ordinary Yunhai Immortal Pavilion disciple.
But why was he so deeply entangled with Li Xunmiao? Clearly his fate was anything but ordinary, yet he managed to disguise himself as so utterly mundane. This only deepened Gong Lixing’s suspicions.
Perhaps he should play things big, too.
“Gu Ze, I see you have a rare and sturdy foundation, and your potential is immense. One day, you’re sure to achieve greatness. Would you be willing to become my Direct Disciple?”
Gong Lixing said slowly, tossing out a monumental olive branch.
Huh?
Gu Ze looked around—was there any other Gu Ze here? Was Gong Lixing really talking to him? What had he done to deserve this!
Now it was Gu Ze’s turn to be troubled. He couldn’t possibly leave Li Xunmiao.
But to refuse the Zhangmen’s personal invitation would inevitably arouse suspicion. Gu Ze even felt that Gong Lixing was testing him.
He was about to steel himself and refuse when a clear, delicate voice called out from the side.
“I don’t agree! Senior Brother Gu is my attendant; he’s not going anywhere.” Li Xunmiao had come out of her cave-dwelling at some point. With visitors at the door, she couldn’t possibly have failed to notice.
But out of wariness toward strangers, she’d also been observing Gong Lixing, not coming out to greet him.
Maybe the visitor wasn’t here for her—maybe he’d just happened by and was struck by a whim to pick pinecones from the tree out front.
But the moment Gu Ze appeared and she overheard their conversation, Li Xunmiao couldn’t restrain herself.
What did it mean to take Senior Brother Gu as a Direct Disciple? Wouldn’t that mean he’d have to leave?
Just the thought left her feeling hollow and uneasy. She couldn’t bear it for even a second and hurried out.
Hearing Li Xunmiao’s voice, Gu Ze let out a silent sigh of relief. His heart also settled with resolve.
He knew everything, and yet here he was, treading so carefully, afraid of drawing suspicion.
But Li Shimei’s attitude was so straightforward. He, a grown man, really had no need to be so timid.
“Zhangmen, forgive me—I cannot accept your request. Though I’m but a lowly Qi Refining cultivator, I have already promised Li Shimei that I will fulfill my duty to protect her.”
At these words, Li Xunmiao’s eyes widened in shock, galaxies swirling in her gaze.
He had refused the Zhangmen’s invitation on her account. Was he saying that, compared to his own path, she mattered more?
“Hmm, interesting.” As expected of two whose karma was deeply entwined—they thought alike.
“Gu Ze, you may have sworn an oath, but with just your Qi Refining cultivation, how can you talk of protecting anyone? If I, today, were to move against Li Xunmiao, what could you do to stop me?”
“Once you leave Biluofeng, once you’re out of Yunhai Immortal Pavilion, the outside world is filled with danger. How far do you think you can go?”
The Immortal Path is uncertain; Li Xunmiao is the Tianming Zhi Nu and will one day attain immortality.
With Qi Refining’s life span of just two hundred years, how will you accompany her to the end of the immortal road?
Or do you believe that every obstacle, you’ll overcome them all?”
Gong Lixing’s gaze grew serious.
In that instant, even the surrounding sea of clouds stopped surging, the flowers and grass swayed in perfect unison, the birds and beasts stilled and turned to look, listening to this Nascent Soul expert’s challenge.
Heaven and earth itself seemed to await Gu Ze’s answer.
At the same time, Li Xunmiao, too, awaited his answer.
The Immortal Path is distant and uncertain. Could Senior Brother Gu truly walk to the very end with her?
Gu Ze slowly straightened his back. With his head slightly raised, he could feel the scorching radiance of the sun, his shadow standing straight behind him.
“Zhangmen, in your eyes, my abilities are limited, my strength meager—and that may be the truth.”
“But if a cultivator spends their life in pursuit of the Dao, crossing rivers and mountains, riding clouds and taming seas, and finally ascends as an immortal—when they look back at the self who first set foot on the immortal path, would they not see a powerless, naïve, and laughable person?”
Yet it is precisely that laughable person who becomes their future self. We find it laughable only because we know now how hard the path is, after enduring so much, and realize how immature we once were.
We see that person as weak only because we now possess world-shaking power and are no longer satisfied with rough spells.
“But—would our future self ever regret that we once appeared? Would we ever doubt our own Dao heart? Would we ever betray our oath?”
Gu Ze instead asked a question in return.
Gong Lixing stroked his beard and stood motionless like a statue. His aura merged with the surroundings, making it seem as if he had vanished entirely.
At that moment, Gong Lixing was resonating with the heavens and earth, quietly using a trace of Nascent Soul divine sense, listening for heaven’s judgment.
“You little rascal, such a slippery tongue. You haven’t answered any of my questions and instead pose me a difficult one.” The smile on Gong Lixing’s face never faded.
His real intent had just been to help Qingquan suppress Gu Ze’s momentum a bit.
After all, judging by Li Xunmiao’s behavior, it seemed their relationship was dominated by Gu Ze.
But Li Xunmiao was a direct disciple, and Gu Ze merely her attendant. How had this dynamic been reversed?
Qingquan had asked him to look after these two while she was away. Gong Lixing had meant to use this opportunity to admonish Gu Ze and curb his arrogance, lest he use his senior status to bully Li Xunmiao.
But not only had Gu Ze dodged his blow, he’d even thrown a punch back.
Even the grass and trees in the mountains have their own spirits and opinions. The rustling wind is the Dao debating with the earth.
All have their responses—none regret. The Dao of heaven is without regret, and so too is the Dao of man.
Gong Lixing pondered Gu Ze’s question. No one, upon attaining the Dao, would believe that their former Dao heart was wrong.
Otherwise, they’d never have attained the Dao in the first place. Of course, oaths made along the way are also worth keeping.
But the premise is: you have to attain the Dao first. Without having walked the path, how could you know whether your Dao heart was right or wrong?
Gu Ze’s question assumed he would succeed.
Gong Lixing’s attempt to suppress Gu Ze was built on the assumption that Gu Ze would fail.
Their starting points were at odds—this debate would never yield a conclusion.
Interesting. Someone with this understanding of the Dao could never be an ordinary, overlooked Qi Refining disciple.
Though Gu Ze lacked a destiny of heaven, he was still enough to catch Gong Lixing’s eye.
“Fellow Daoist Qingquan entrusted me to look after you two while she’s away, so I came here in person. But seeing you today, I can already tell you’re both steadfast in your Dao hearts.”
“Given that, there’s no need for me to linger here. Take this and hand it to Qingquan when she returns. While she’s gone, how you use it will be entirely up to the two of you.”
With that, Gong Lixing opened his palm, and a Jin Yu Lingpai appeared, floating above it.
Gu Ze glanced at Li Xunmiao, signaling her to take it.
Finally, Gong Lixing gave the two of them a satisfied look. Beside him, at some point, a Xianhe taller than a man had appeared.
The Xianhe greeted them by raising its wing, then carried Gong Lixing away.
***
[ Ding~ Li Xunmiao has obtained Jiyuan: Biluofeng Peak Master Token (Limited Time) ]
[ Host has received reward: Luoduo Cishu +1 ]
The Peak Master Token—upon seeing this token, it was as if seeing the Peak Master herself. With Qingquan gone, Li Xunmiao was now acting Peak Master.
Gu Ze hadn’t expected Gong Lixing to toss out such a bombshell item.
Letting two Qi Refining disciples decide how to act as Peak Master—was that really okay? Wasn’t he worried they’d stuff their pockets, steal all Biluofeng’s treasures, and run off to the ends of the earth?
Well, maybe not—if they tried, Immortal Lord Qingquan’s palm would probably arrive in the blink of an eye.
What concerned Gu Ze more was his own reward.
Luoduo Cishu!
There was another line of small print below.
[ Note: There is a certain chance to seize one talent, divine ability, or magical treasure from another person. The worse their current state, the higher the success rate. Ineffective on the dead. ]
Gu Ze’s first thought was of Bai Yazhi. How could her unique treasure-seeking talent not make him envious?
If he could acquire that talent, then everywhere he went there would be Jiyuan, and Li Xunmiao could simply pick things up while he raked in system rewards.
However, there was only one use—he’d have to be careful. The note said it was only a certain chance, and with Bai Yazhi’s current state of vigilance around Gu Ze, his chances were practically zero.
If he wasted the chance carelessly without preparation, there was no way he’d be able to get another Peak Master Token for Li Xunmiao anytime soon.
Thinking it over, his gaze fell on the Peak Master Token.
“Shimei, let me borrow the token for a bit.”
“It’s fine for it to stay with Senior Brother Gu.” Li Xunmiao didn’t hesitate at all, handing such a valuable item straight to Gu Ze.
She hesitated for a moment, fidgeting on her toes.
Lightly tucking a strand of hair, her pretty face turned slightly red, and she asked softly, “Senior Brother Gu, that promise just now—to protect me to the end of the immortal road, does it still count?”
Gu Ze, staring into the depths of the token and plotting how to set a trap for Bai Yazhi, agreed without thinking, “Mm, of course.”
Li Xunmiao hung her head, cupping her face with both hands, and for a brief moment showed a lovestruck smile. Her expression revealed a powerful possessiveness.
In the blink of an eye, she restrained herself, returning to her innocent, sweet appearance, so that Gu Ze didn’t notice anything amiss.