The Game Breaker or The Game Master

Gu Fengyao might be naive and easy to deceive, but that didn’t mean the rest of the Gu Family was just as gullible.

Seriously? You think you can take advantage and just walk away?

You don’t want to take responsibility, do you?

"Stop right there."

"Chen Chang’an, you got the bead, and now you’re just going to leave without a second thought?"

"Don’t forget—you’re taking the bead and Fengyao with you."

Hearing Gu Fenghua’s words, Chen Chang’an couldn’t help but feel a little helpless. Had he ever said he wouldn’t take her?

Besides, now that the bead was in his possession, what leverage did they even have over him?

"Are you really in such a hurry to leave?"

Gu Fenghua could tell that Chen Chang’an genuinely wanted to go. It made him curious—what was so urgent?

Was there something outside more enticing than staying here?

"I’m not part of the Gu Family. Why would I stick around here all day?"

"Waiting for you to call me ‘grandpa’?"

The moment the word "grandpa" left Chen Chang’an’s mouth, Gu Fenghua nearly blurted out an order for him to leave immediately.

"Fine, you can go—but take Fengyao with you."

"She’s your fiancée. From now on, wherever you go, she follows." Gu Fenghua said sternly.

Huh?

Take her away?

Chen Chang’an was surprised, and Gu Fengyao was equally stunned. Was she… being kicked out of her own home?

"Fengyao, we’ve already prepared everything for you."

"From now on, stay by Chen Chang’an’s side and listen to him."

"Understood?"

Before Gu Fengyao could even process what was happening, her parents had already handed her a pre-packed bag of belongings.

A spatial ring, containing everything she might need.

Seeing this, Chen Chang’an finally understood—from the moment he arrived at the Gu Family, they had already planned for Gu Fengyao to follow him.

They had even prepared everything in advance?

"So… I’m just leaving like this?" Gu Fengyao asked, still dazed.

"Of course. You’re his fiancée now—naturally, you go with him."

"Oh… okay. But can I come back?" she asked hesitantly.

"Come back if you miss home. Otherwise, try not to."

"Alright, I understand."

Gu Fengyao suddenly felt a strange mix of abandonment and reassurance, an indescribable melancholy settling in her heart.

Why "try not to come back"?

"There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask."

"How did the Gu Family come across this bead back then?"

"And do you know if there are others like it?" Chen Chang’an asked, looking at Gu Fenghua.

The bead?

"It was something our family stumbled upon by chance. It seemed unusual, so we kept it."

"As for other beads… there’s more than one?" Gu Fenghua asked curiously.

From the look in Gu Fenghua’s eyes, Chen Chang’an knew—this guy had no clue.

Finding the remaining three beads would truly come down to luck.

With good fortune, he might stumble upon them by chance. Otherwise, it could take a long time.

"Should the Gu Family keep an eye out for news about these beads?"

"Does your cultivation breakthrough rely on them?"

Gu Fenghua wasn’t stupid. The moment Chen Chang’an fused with the bead, his cultivation advanced. Clearly, his progress was tied to it.

"Yes, it’s related."

"Then I’d appreciate it if you could help me gather any leads on the beads," Chen Chang’an said with a smile.

"We’re family now—no need for formalities."

"Right. Family."

Chen Chang’an nodded with a chuckle before leading the group away from the Gu Family.

As they departed, Gu Fenghua watched with a faint smile.

"Ancestor, why insist on Fengyao staying with Chen Chang’an?"

"You don’t understand. Only by staying at the side of someone like Chen Chang’an can Fengyao’s destiny truly change."

"He… is the one who will break the chaos of this era."

"Though our Gu Family has always remained neutral, we can’t let an opportunity like this slip by."

"If I’m not mistaken, aside from Gu Xian’er, the top three on the Human Ranking—Chen Yunxuan and Chen Chang’an—must share some connection."

"And that Ye Zhiqiu… might be involved as well."

"Do you realize what this means?"

What did it mean?

After a moment of contemplation, the others grasped the ancestor’s implication.

It meant that anyone tied to Chen Chang’an would rise to the pinnacle of the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings.

The greater their potential and achievements, the more terrifying Chen Chang’an’s influence became.

In the past, the final five standing from the three rankings had all been extraordinary—yet Chen Chang’an wasn’t among them.

If he truly was the key to breaking the era’s chaos, what would the outcome be this time?

What if the final five all had ties to him? Would he be the ultimate victor?

Was he the one to break the chaos… or the one orchestrating it?

The Gu Family couldn’t be certain, but sending Gu Fengyao with Chen Chang’an was undoubtedly the right move.

"Brother Chang’an, where are we going?"

Since their relationship had changed, Gu Fengyao’s way of addressing him had shifted as well.

Every time she called him "brother," Da Huang would gag in disgust nearby.

Brother?

How old was this guy? Calling him "great-grandfather" would still make him sound young!

Ignoring Da Huang’s theatrics, Chen Chang’an glanced at Gu Fengyao and replied calmly, "We’re heading to Pill Emperor City."

Chen Chang’an hadn’t forgotten—the Blood Slaughter Emperor had sent a challenge to Pill Emperor City, and he had promised Yao Niming he would return within a year.

Chen Chang’an wasn’t a saint, but he never went back on his word.

Unless… the word itself was a lie!

"Here, take this Immortal Spirit Fruit."

Immortal Spirit Fruit?

As a member of the Gu Family, Gu Fengyao had heard of many rare treasures—including the legendary Immortal Spirit Fruit.

This was an item of immeasurable value, something few in the Profound Realm had ever laid eyes on.

After all, there was only one Immortal Spirit Tree in existence, and no one knew where it grew.

"Brother Chang’an, you have something like this?"

"It’s too precious. I can’t accept it."

Gu Fengyao shook her head. Something this valuable should be kept for Chen Chang’an himself.

"Take it. I have more. Besides, Xian’er and the others have already eaten theirs."

"You’re my fiancée now. If you’re too weak, it reflects poorly on me."

Hearing this, Gu Fengyao no longer refused.

She consumed the Immortal Spirit Fruit, and the sheer density of its energy left her stunned.

She had known it was powerful—but not to this extent.

Seven days later, her cultivation finally stabilized—and she had broken through to the seventh level of the Divine Transformation Realm.

Instantly, she had likely become the highest-ranked cultivator on the Human Ranking.

"My… my cultivation reached the Divine Transformation Realm’s seventh level?"

"Does that mean I’m now first on the Human Ranking?"

Gu Fengyao was utterly exhilarated. Never had she imagined that claiming the top spot on the Human Ranking would be so effortless?

When it came to breaking through cultivation barriers, this Immortal Spirit Fruit was undoubtedly among the top three treasures in the entire Tai Xuan Realm.

And it was also the safest method.

"For now, yes. But if you don’t put in the effort, you might be surpassed very soon."

"Take Gu Xian'er for example—she possesses the Phoenix Immortal Body. If she applies herself even slightly, her breakthrough speed will be astonishing."

Phoenix Immortal Body?

Gu Fengyao was stunned. She never expected Gu Xian'er’s physique to be so formidable.

As the prodigy of the Gu Family’s current generation, she only had a True Spirit Body—yet even that had sent the entire Gu Family into a frenzy.

After all, those with a True Spirit Body had a thousand, no, a million times greater chance of reaching the Great Emperor Realm compared to ordinary cultivators—provided they didn’t meet an untimely end.

"It seems my True Spirit Body is rather lacking in comparison," Gu Fengyao said with a bitter smile.

"True Spirit Body, is it?"

"Then let’s find an opportunity to enhance your physique."

"Perhaps an Immortal Spirit Body would suit you better!"