Quite Pretty, But Aren't You Cold?
Quite Pretty, But Aren’t You Cold?
At this moment, all the Gu clansmen were stunned.
They had already prepared themselves to resist, but they truly never expected that this Enlightened King Realm elder had come to say something like this.
“Could there be some scheme behind this?”
“On the surface he’s bringing us back to the Gu Family, but in secret he’s planning to wipe us all out?”
At once, many people in the residence were puzzled, frowning deeply, unable to figure out what Gu Changge was planning.
“Let’s see just what medicine Gu Changge is selling in his gourd...”
“No matter how bold he is, he wouldn’t dare make a move against us so openly.”
Although many were tempted by the idea of returning to the Gu Family, they weren’t stupid either, and they all felt there must be some conspiracy hidden within.
Weng!
In an instant, many Gu clansmen revealed themselves, emerging from the city.
Although their cultivation had been sealed during their exile, preventing them from displaying their former peak strength, the dignity of those long accustomed to high positions was still impossible to conceal.
All the Cultivators and living beings in the ancient city watched this scene, utterly shocked.
The Outer Domain and the Inner Domain were simply too far apart—the starfields between them could hardly be described even as the sands of the Ganges.
So very few of them would connect the Gu clansmen before their eyes with that terrifying clan of overwhelming power.
It was simply too inconceivable.
“You were sent by Gu Changge?”
A middle-aged man with a naturally imposing countenance stared fixedly at Ming Lao and asked slowly.
“This old servant was indeed sent by the Young Master. The Young Master will soon take charge of the Gu Family, and he specially ordered this old servant to come and bring the clansmen here back home.”
Ming Lao answered. These were the words Gu Changge had instructed him to say.
In truth, even he didn’t know why this branch had been exiled here. Within the Gu Family, he couldn’t even enter the inner islands—he was merely a household retainer.
But he had vaguely heard a little about what had happened over a decade ago. It was a taboo matter that could not be spoken of.
He didn’t dare think too much about it either—that was the sort of thing that could cost him his head.
“Take charge of the Gu Family? Heh heh, so it seems he thinks our branch no longer poses any threat to him?” The middle-aged man sneered. A wolf cub—could one really expect him to have a change of heart?
The others also wore calm expressions, clearly not very appreciative of the gesture.
Ming Lao then continued, “The Young Master said he will give your branch the justice you deserve. As for whether you believe it or not, that doesn’t matter. Although the Outer Domain is vast and free, how could it compare to the clan itself? The Young Master also said that the uncles in the great prison—he might consider releasing them...”
All these words were spoken by Ming Lao according to Gu Changge’s instructions.
Otherwise, even with a hundred times more courage, he wouldn’t dare mention such taboo matters of the Gu Family.
“Could it be that this wolf cub really knows his mistakes and can mend his ways?” Hearing this, the middle-aged man was also taken aback, somewhat doubtful.
Such words didn’t sound like something someone of Gu Changge’s temperament would say.
As for whether there was some other conspiracy?
He had ten thousand percent confidence in the rest of the Gu Family—apart from Gu Changge, no one would ever think of secretly harming their own clansmen.
At once, the other clansmen also grew puzzled and began discussing in low voices.
It was precisely because of the constant suppression from Gu Changge’s branch that they had been forced to move to the Outer Domain.
Truth be told, after growing accustomed to life in the Gu Family, this seemingly prosperous Outer Domain was, in their eyes, no different from some godforsaken backwater where even birds wouldn’t bother to shit.
To be able to return to the clan—they would naturally be ten thousand times willing.
But the main problem was that they couldn’t figure out why Gu Changge would do this.
“Actually, this must all be forced upon him by the clan elders, right? Otherwise, with Gu Changge’s temperament, he can forget about ever taking charge of the Gu Family.”
Soon, they thought of this point and couldn’t help but sneer, feeling it made perfect sense.
Gu Changge wanted to take charge of the Gu Family, but the clan elders all disagreed.
In the end, with no other choice, he could only come up with this sort of compromise.
They would return to the Gu Family, and Gu Changge would take over the position of future family head.
Ming Lao knew nothing about any of this, but Gu Changge had left him one more instruction—he had long anticipated that these people would speculate in exactly this way.
“Once everyone returns to the Gu Family, you will naturally understand everything. Why bother with suspicion now?”
“Don’t let the clan elders’ compromise go to waste...”
Hearing these words, the middle-aged man and the others were quite moved, suppressing the excitement in their hearts.
Back at the Gu Family, under the watchful eyes of so many clansmen, unless Gu Changge was outrageously bold and truly intended to split the Gu Family apart, he wouldn’t dare casually make a move against them.
And Gu Xianer, secretly watching all of this, was also dazed for a long while. Things were not unfolding as she had expected.
At first, she too had thought that the black-robed elder had come to wipe them all out.
When she heard him say that he had come on Gu Changge’s orders to bring the clansmen back to the family, she was also stunned for a moment.
Her first instinct was that this must be some kind of conspiracy.
Moreover, she was close by, and she noticed that the gentle, courteous expression on the black-robed elder’s face didn’t seem fake.
What had happened in the Gu Family?
Was Gu Changge really this kind-hearted? He actually sent a servant to do something like this?
In her view, this was simply too inconceivable. That dear brother of hers—ruthless, cold-blooded, and merciless—could never possibly spare her clansmen.
She could tell that the reason her clansmen had lived fairly well all these years was entirely thanks to those clan elder grandpas of the Gu Family. It had not a single cent to do with Gu Changge.
“I want to see just what medicine Gu Changge is selling in his gourd. There’s no way he’s this kind-hearted.”
“I can’t show myself yet, but as long as the clansmen are doing well, I can rest easy...”
Gu Xianer watched all of this from the shadows. She didn’t reveal herself, nor did she make a move.
She simply watched it all, watching as the many clansmen began moving their belongings, and only then did she quietly depart.
Before leaving Peach Village, her great master had given her a token, telling her to go to Skyward Schloss to seek out the Great Elder.
That Great Elder was said to be one of the most terrifying existences in the Beyond, and he owed her great master a favor.
Skyward Schloss was an extremely famous Cult of Immortality in the Beyond, with an incomparably ancient heritage.
Many Emperor Families, Royal Families, and Immortal Clans often sent their clansmen there to cultivate.
There was even a saying that Skyward Schloss’s origins were connected to the immortals of the most ancient era, containing immortal Dao remnants and numerous scriptures.
Her cultivation was still very weak, so she had to cultivate even harder before she could challenge that dear brother of hers and take back everything!
...
The Beyond, Inner Domain, the inner island of the Longevity Gu Family.
The back mountain of the Godly Island where Gu Changge resided.
Array Patterns enveloped the area in all directions, preventing anyone from disturbing them. Apart from him, there was no one else on the island.
Within a pool shrouded in mist, suffused with immortal qi, and bursting with divine radiance,
a graceful figure sat cross-legged in its center.
The water shimmered with light.
Crimson flames swirled within it, black interwoven with reddish-gold, appearing incomparably dazzling.
Auspicious colors began streaming forth in thousands of strands, with radiant light stretching ten thousand zhang.
All kinds of rare materials—holy medicines hundreds of thousands of years old, divine materials, spiritual liquids, and more—were transforming into astonishing divinity outside the pool, converging into its center.
The radiance was simply too dazzling, as if a land of Flying Immortals were being forged.
If an alchemist were here, they would absolutely cry out at the waste, at such a reckless squandering of heavenly treasures, and feel their heart ache.
Any single one of the materials here was exceedingly rare in the outside world—something that couldn’t be snatched up even at high prices in auction houses.
Soon, the commotion here subsided, and a vast, terrifying pressure began to permeate the air.
This was the pressure of the Sacred Realm—and moreover, the pressure of the Sacred Lord Realm!
Huala!
With the sound of water,
Yan Ji, her eyes filled with delight and joy, walked out from within.
“Young Master Gu...”
She immediately spotted Gu Changge standing not far away. Her cool voice carried happiness, and a smile couldn’t help but appear at the corners of her mouth.
Gu Changge nodded slightly, a trace of appreciation in his expression.
“Not bad.”
All those resources of his hadn’t gone to waste.
This body had been remolded to flawless perfection, as if crafted by the hands of heaven itself—not a single blemish could be found.
Divine bones and immortal grace, cool and otherworldly, yet with wisps of reddish-gold flame dancing upon her hair.
The only phrase that came to Gu Changge’s mind was: both pure and alluring.
“Young Master Gu, do I look good?”
Yan Ji twirled around in front of Gu Changge.
She was somewhat bashful—after all, this was the first time she had shown herself to anyone in a state other than a Remnant Soul.
Gu Changge smiled and said, “Quite pretty.”
Hearing this, Yan Ji smiled even more happily, and even the tips of her brows were tinged with joy.
“But aren’t you cold?”
Then, Gu Changge asked.
“Ah...”
Hearing this, Yan Ji froze.
Then she was completely dumbfounded, suddenly realizing that after remolding her body, she was no longer like a Remnant Soul—having just emerged, she was barely covered.
Which was to say, right now she wasn’t wearing anything at all.
So... she had even twirled around in front of Gu Changge?
Realizing this, her entire person froze, her face turning even more frighteningly red than a boiled shrimp.
At this moment, looking at Gu Changge’s clearly teasing expression, Yan Ji was so embarrassed she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
This was just too humiliating!
However, Gu Changge clearly had no intention of continuing to tease her.
He took out a white robe and draped it over her.
There was plenty of time ahead.
At a time like this, there was proper business to entrust to her.
Her Sacred Lord Realm strength happened to be perfect for helping him investigate certain matters.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Yan Ji was, after all, no ordinary person. Having cultivated for several thousand years, she quickly calmed down, though her face still felt a little hot.
“The Outer Domain, the Land of Abandoned Celestials—help me take a look at whether there’s anything unusual in its depths. Contact me at any time if something comes up.”
“This is a Domain-Shattering Talisman. If you encounter a powerful opponent you can’t defeat, you can use it to escape. Don’t hesitate—your life matters most.”
Gu Changge spoke gently, retrieving the Domain-Shattering Talisman from his System Inventory and handing it to her. At a critical moment, this thing could help her escape.
Of course, that was provided she didn’t run into one of those unfathomable old monsters.
The Domain-Shattering Talisman could easily break through world barriers, so it should allow her to flee for her life if she encountered danger.
Gu Xianer’s whereabouts back then had indeed been the Land of Abandoned Celestials. According to the usual pattern, a place no one dared enter was bound to hide either a great fortuitous opportunity or a great danger.
Since Yan Ji was at the Sacred Lord Realm, passing through the Land of Abandoned Celestials wouldn’t be difficult for her. She could help him investigate Gu Xianer’s current backing. Once he knew her backing, many things could be planned accordingly.
As for sending other Gu clansmen instead?
Never mind that Gu Changge’s current authority wasn’t yet enough to command a Sacred Lord Realm existence—moreover, the whereabouts of nearly all Gu clansmen were constantly being watched.
Him sending someone to the Land of Abandoned Celestials? What would that imply?
Many clan elders would surely connect it to Gu Xianer.
Gu Changge also didn’t want the prestige he had worked so hard to build to be shattered by his own hand so quickly.
“The Land of Abandoned Celestials? Understood. Please rest assured, Young Master.”
Hearing this, Yan Ji nodded and accepted the Domain-Shattering Talisman.
Since it was Gu Changge’s command, she would definitely see it done well.