At the sa ti, the Wild Forest erupted into chaos once again.
“What a grand gesture! Five thousand essence crystals and six Acupoint Unsealing experts. Tsk tsk, the Gu family has really gone all out this ti. Although what a pity that none of it falls to us.”
“Keep dreaming. Let's just enjoy the show. From the looks of it, Gu Han is as good as dead!”
“Exactly!” A rogue cultivator sneered. “Six Acupoint Unsealing experts can practically trample through this place unimpeded. With just Gu Han alone, no matter how strong he is, how could he possibly turn the tables? Hah, he’s done for!”
Suddenly, another person’s face twisted in terror. “Look over there!”
“Look at what? It can’t possibly be Gu Han again, can it?”
The fear on that person’s face grew increasingly intense. “I-it... seems like... him.”
“What?!” Everyone followed the direction of his finger, and their expressions changed drastically.
In the distance, a blood-soaked young man filled with killing intent that was soaring to the heavens held a girl’s hand as they slowly made their way toward the outskirts of the Wild Forest. The description matched perfectly. Who else could it be but Gu Han?
But Gu Han and Ah Sha kept walking and gradually disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Huff... Unconsciously, the crowd collectively let out a sigh of relief. The rogue cultivator who had guessed that Gu Han was going to die swallowed hard.
“He... is still alive?”
”Obviously! Didn’t you see him? Alive and well!”
“If he’s alive, then...”
At this thought, everyone’s hearts dropped. No way... It can’t be... Could it be that the six Acupoint Unsealing experts who were looking for him were all killed by him alone?
“Where is he going?”
“Judging by the direction... it seems like he’s heading to Tianwu City?”
“What’s he going there for?”
”Are you stupid? If you were hunted down like that, could you swallow your anger and not seek revenge?”
A cultivator suddenly spoke up, “Let’s go! Let’s follow him and see!”
For these low-level rogue cultivators, who often danced on the edge of danger with no certainty of tomorrow, such a rare spectacle was sothing they couldn’t afford to miss.
“Watch if you must, but don’t get too close to him!”
In no ti, people called out to friends and ford groups, trailing far behind Gu Han.
***
In the main hall of the Gu family estate.
Unlike its usual quiet, the hall was now packed with people. They were the core mbers of the Gu family’s main bloodline.
Gu Yang bowed to Gu Chang, his gaze sweeping over the assembled family mbers, his face brimming with pride.
“Grandfather, I have arrived. I am not too late, I hope?”
“Not at all. The timing is perfect!” Gu Chang stroked his beard, the gloom on his face giving way to a faint smile.
He could clearly see that Gu Yang’s cultivation had now broken through to the sixth stage of ridian Opening.
He rose slowly. “Today is the Great Qi Martial Academy’s qualification battle. And after today, Gu Yang will beco the new head of the Gu family. Does anyone object?”
“None at all!”
“The young lord’s talent is astounding. He is the most suitable candidate!”
“Exactly! The young lord is of the Gu family’s direct bloodline. It’s only natural for him to beco the family head!”
“Unlike so people who are so selfish they’d hand the family over to a wild wolf that could never be tad.”
The mbers spoke up one after another, heaping on the flattery. They also took the opportunity to disparage Gu Han and Gu Tian, both openly and covertly.
Gu Chang was quite satisfied with their responses and waved his hand dismissively. “Enough! All of you, withdraw and wait. We’ll depart shortly.”
Once the crowd had dispersed, Gu Yang asked, “Grandfather, what about my father? Any news yet?”
Gu Chang sat back down. “Don’t worry. He left several days ago. By now, the matter must already be settled. Without any unforeseen circumstances, he should return by tomorrow.”
“Excellent! This ti, Gu Han is dead for sure!”
“That’s not what you should be concerned about right now! You must give your all in this competition, understand?” As he changed the subject, Gu Chang’s expression turned solemn.
“Why? Those other guys aren’t even worth my full strength!” Gu Yang was puzzled.
“The royal capital... has sent an esteed guest.” Gu Chang’s gaze grew distant.
“An esteed guest?”
“Indeed. This guest is a mber of the royal family. For you, and for the Gu family, this is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. You must win this and perform well. If you can catch the eye of this esteed guest, your future achievents will be limitless.”
Although they hadn’t made any public announcents, the news of the Seventh Prince’s arrival in Tianwu City had long since reached the ears of every major family.
“Don’t worry, Grandfather! I’ll show them all who the most outstanding person in Tianwu City really is!” Gu Yang’s spirits lifted.
Gu Chang nodded in satisfaction. “Good! You are the hope and future of the Gu family. Whether our family soars to new heights depends on your performance!”
***
Tianwu City.
The Great Qi Martial Academy’s qualification battle was a major event that occurred only once every few years. Aside from those who were unable to leave their jobs, everyone else had rushed to watch.
Inside a shop near the city gates, a clerk wore a look of regret.
“I really want to see it. If I miss this one, I’ll have to wait another five years.”
Beside him, the shopkeeper shot him a glance. “There’s nothing much to see. I heard Gu Yang secluded himself for a month and has already broken through to the sixth stage of ridian Opening. That Martial Academy spot is as good as his. It seems we underestimated him before.”
“That’s true I guess... Huh?” The clerk glanced outside and suddenly froze. “Gu Han? Wasn’t he wanted? How is he back again?”
Outside, under the clerk’s astonished gaze, Gu Han walked slowly into the city. Everything seed exactly the sa as a month ago. Except that, last ti, Ah Sha had carried him on her back. This ti, he was the one carrying Ah Sha.
Ignoring the stares of the crowd, he gently set Ah Sha down.
“Young Master.”
“Mm.”
“Isn’t that Martial Academy spot supposed to be yours?”
“Mm.”
“Those people are so despicable! Not only did they harm you, but they also stole everything from you!”
Gu Han took her small hand. “Let’s go. Let’s visit my father first.”
Compared to before, his expression and tone were now eerily calm, so calm it was almost unnatural.
Watching Gu Han’s retreating figure, the shopkeeper clicked his tongue in amazent. “This guy’s luck is truly incredible... If it were anyone else, they’d have died eight tis over by now, but he...”
Suddenly, a large crowd rushed through the city gates, leaving the shopkeeper dumbfounded.
After a mont, he grabbed a rogue cultivator. “Brother, what’s all this about?”
“What else? We’re here to see the show!”
“The show?“
“You haven’t heard? See Gu Han over there? In the Wild Forest, six Acupoint Unsealing experts attacked him by surprise. Guess what happened?”
“What?”
“He killed all of them by himself!”
“What?!” The shopkeeper was stunned.
Six Acupoint Unsealing experts... all killed by Gu Han alone?
“You stay here!” Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he hastily instructed the clerk before rushing off to join the crowd.
The Martial Academy’s qualification battle was held once every five years, so it wasn’t all that rare. But a revenge story like this, in a small place like Tianwu City, might only happen once in a lifeti. Naturally, he didn’t want to miss it.
***
At the main gate of the Gu family estate.
Half an hour earlier, Gu Chang had left with most of the family’s elite mbers, leaving only a few guards behind.
Suddenly, there was a deafening crash. The exquisitely carved, magnificent gate shattered into pieces.
“Who’s there?”
“The audacity!”
“Who dares trespass on the Gu family’s property? You are seeking death!”
Hearing the commotion, several guards and mbers rushed over.
Amid the dust, Gu Han, holding Ah Sha’s hand, slowly ca into view.
The crowd gasped. “Gu Han!”
“It’s you!”
“How dare you return!”
“Quick, seize this villain!”
Imdiately, several guards charged forward.
“Get lost.” Gu Han’s tone was cold.
The mont he spoke, the spirit power in his body erupted violently, an invisible force radiating out and sending the guards flying with blood spraying from their mouths.
From beginning to end, Gu Han didn’t spare them a single glance, simply leading Ah Sha toward the inner courtyard.
Suddenly, a white-haired Gu family mber blocked Gu Han’s path. “Halt! This is the Gu family’s ancestral hall. As an outsider, you have no right to enter!”
“Move.” Gu Han slowly raised his sword. “Or die.”
“Truly an ungrateful brat! Gu Tian must have been blind to pick you up. A scourge like you, and he actually wanted to hand the Gu family over to—”
Before he could finish, he was already sent flying with blood gushing from his mouth. No one else dared to speak up.
“Ah Sha, wait for .”
“Mm.”
Gu Han drove his sword into the stone pavent. The ssage was clear. Approach... and die.
As he pushed open the ancestral hall’s doors, he was t with a long altar table upon which the spirit tablets of the Gu family’s ancestors were neatly arranged in order of seniority.
A single spirit tablet, covered in dust, lay discarded on the floor sowhere in the corner. On it, there was a footprint that was clearly visible.
Gu Han trembled, his eyes instantly turning red. That spirit tablet belonged to Gu Tian.
He fell heavily to his knees. “Father!”
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