Junior Brother Gu.
Xuanyangzi put down his teacup. His voice carried a trace of imperceptible probing, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes piled up into deep crevices, making him look exactly like an old fox eyeing a chicken coop.
Look here, the sect tournament is fast approaching, and the disciples are cultivating with immense fervor, but the reward list is still completely empty.
As their martial uncle, shouldn't you take out a few treasures to serve as prizes?
As he spoke, he unconsciously rubbed his fingers together. His eyes darted toward Gu Changge's storage ring, looking as if his gaze could pierce right through the band to see the mountains of treasures hoarded inside.
Gu Changge pushed a plate of washed grapes over, his tone flat.
What treasures? The spiritual energy here is just a bit denser than elsewhere, that's all. I don't have anything else.
Hey, now you're just being dishonest.
Xuanyangzi slapped his thigh, his beard bristling.
I watched you grow up, kid. You think I don't know you?!
Gu Changge raised his eyes and glanced at him. What do you want?
Good heavens, listen to that tone! He asked what do you want instead of what do I have!
With a swoosh, Xuanyangzi suddenly sat bolt upright, nearly dropping the teacup in his hand.
He swallowed hard, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
It doesn't need to be too precious, just something suitable for the young disciples. For example, a dharma artifact that can stabilize their cultivation realm, or a pill that can help them break through their bottlenecks...
Gu Changge didn't reply. His divine sense swept through his system space.
Inside the system space, phantoms of mountainous piles of treasures flashed by—the flowing light of the Primordial Pearl, the Dao rhythm of the Chaotic Green Lotus, the oppressive aura of Extreme Dao Emperor Weapons, innate spiritual fruits...
Most of them were divine artifacts that young disciples simply could not withstand.
He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking. Then I'll provide three King-tier treasures, ten Heaven-tier treasures, and add twenty Marrow Cleansing Pills.
His divine sense rapidly manipulated the system space, quickly refining these items.
With a soft clink, the still-smoking treasures landed one after another on the stone table.
On the scabbard of that King-tier spiritual sword, the final wisp of Dao rhythm had not yet fully solidified.
On the scales of the King-tier treasure armor, innate Dao patterns were still evolving on their own.
The rest of the treasures were all freshly baked.
Twenty Marrow Cleansing Pills spun around in a jade plate, their pill fragrance actually mixed with a scorching, fresh-out-of-the-oven aura.
Pfft—
Xuanyangzi spat out all the spiritual tea he had just sipped, the liquid dripping down his beard.
Staring at the treasures before him, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and his voice pitched up. Wh-what the heck? Did I hear that right? King-tier? Heaven-tier treasures?!
He suddenly grabbed Gu Changge's wrist with such force that he nearly crushed the young man's bones.
Do you know what a King-tier treasure means? Our entire Azure Profound Sect only has two!
One is held by the patriarch in the forbidden grounds to suppress the sect's fortune, and the other is the heart-protecting mirror I risked my life to snatch from the Demon Abyss back in the day! And you? A tournament for young disciples, and you're using sect-defining treasures as rewards?!
Gu Changge calmly pulled his hand back and dusted off his sleeve. You were the one who said we needed to give the young disciples some motivation.
I know you're loaded, but how can you be this loaded?!
Every single piece was a paramount treasure capable of anchoring a sect.
Xuanyangzi stared at the treasures radiating intense, oppressive auras in front of him.
He was so angry that he blew into his beard and glared, pacing around the stone table three times.
Those are King-tier! Throwing just one of them out there would cause the Seven Great Sects to bash each other's heads in! You... you absolute spendthrift...
Xuanyangzi stomped his feet in utter heartache, his white beard twitching with anger.
Do you think King-tier weapons are roasted sweet potatoes? Eh! Why are they still hot?!
After saying that, he suddenly lunged at the table, spreading his arms to protect the treasures, and rapidly swept them into his storage ring, terrified that if he were even a second too slow, Gu Changge would change his mind.
I'll hold onto these for now! As for the tournament rewards, we'll just put up a Heaven-tier—no! Earth-tier! Earth-tier is more than enough!
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly paused, his gaze landing on the jade plate. Wait, you said these Marrow Cleansing Pills are...
A while ago, I saw that Nine-Turn Golden Pills and Innate Spiritual Marrow could improve one's aptitude.
Gu Changge picked up a lustrous white pill. Fine golden patterns flowed across its surface.
I was bored, so I tinkered around and casually refined a few. They can probably, maybe, enhance a person's aptitude.
Xuanyangzi instantly held his breath, his eyes locked dead onto that pill as if he were witnessing some unimaginable miracle.
He swallowed dryly, his voice trembling.
En-enhance aptitude? Do you know what that means? So many disciples are stuck at bottlenecks simply because their aptitude isn't high enough! If this really works...
Who knows? I haven't tested them.
Gu Changge took out a jade bottle, casually swept the pills into it, and tossed it up and down.
If you want them, you can take these back for now.
Xuanyangzi snatched the jade bottle away, his hands shaking like a leaf, and hastily used his spiritual energy to seal the bottle's mouth with three layers.
Looking at the warm luster shining through the bottle, he suddenly remembered something and grabbed Gu Changge's arm again.
No! The effects of this pill are unknown; we can't just casually give it to the disciples. How about... we find a disciple to test it first? Forget it, I'll test it myself...
Gu Changge had just shelled a melon seed. Hearing this, he looked up. You?
Who else?
Xuanyangzi stiffened his neck, his fingertips tapping sharply against the bottle.
I can't use the disciples as guinea pigs. At my age, my cultivation is stable. Even if the medicinal properties are a bit fierce, I can withstand it.
He paused, suddenly gripping Gu Changge's wrist, his eyes turning slightly red.
If anything happens to me, please take good care of the patriarchs of the Azure Profound Sect. And Li Xuanfeng and those kids, their personalities are too erratic; they need to be kept in check...
Enough.
Gu Changge pulled his hand back. Seeing him act as if he were giving his dying words, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
You won't die.
Xuanyangzi didn't relax, instead clutching the jade bottle even tighter. You can't say that! Back in the day, my senior brother was testing a new medicine...
Gu Changge didn't listen to his rambling anymore. With a flick of his finger, another pill landed on the table.
This one was a size larger than the previous Marrow Cleansing Pills. The pill body glowed with a pearl-like luster, and the golden patterns flowing on its surface were even finer, with spiritual energy faintly condensing into a mist around it.
Use this one.
Xuanyangzi blinked. What's the difference?
I used a bit more ingredients.
Gu Changge said absentmindedly.
Xuanyangzi swallowed hard, suddenly grabbing Gu Changge's sleeve and squeezing out a flattering smile.
Changge, I treat you pretty well normally, right?
Seeing Gu Changge raise an eyebrow, he hurriedly started counting on his fingers.
When you first took over Purple Bamboo Peak, didn't I secretly slip you three bottles of Spirit Condensation Dew? Before, when you said you didn't have enough spiritual rice, didn't I have someone give you half of the Cauldron Peak's spiritual rice?
The more he spoke, the more aggrieved he sounded.
Even if I occasionally come over to leech some spiritual energy or ask for a couple of treasures, that's all for the sect! I trust you so much, you can't harm me... I haven't even taken a wife yet!
Watching his dramatic display, Gu Changge finally couldn't help but laugh.
He picked up the extra-ingredient Marrow Cleansing Pill and shoved it into Xuanyangzi's hand. Relax, you won't die.
Trembling, Xuanyangzi cupped the pill in his hands and tossed it into his mouth.
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!
