The Rumor Comes True

"This Sect Master... I naturally trust Yunying."

Jiang Qingshan looked at Gu Chengyin's youthful face and slowly uttered the second half of his sentence:

"I watched that child grow up."

"Since you are the one Yunying has chosen, you are naturally one of my own family."

Family.

Jiang Qingshan spoke these words very slowly and with heavy emphasis, as if announcing an important decision.

Gu Chengyin's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and then he smiled.

The smile lasted only a few breaths before turning into an expression of apology.

A sincere apology.

Gu Chengyin stood up from his seat and straightened his robes.

Then, under Jiang Qingshan's surprised gaze, he respectfully bowed.

Cupping his hands.

Bending his waist.

Lowering his head.

A standard bow of a junior to a senior.

"This junior has offended you much previously."

Gu Chengyin's voice was clear, every word crisp:

"I ask Grandfather to look on Yunying's face and forgive me."

His posture was lowered.

His attitude was earnest.

His tone was sincere.

This bow was executed flawlessly.

Jiang Qingshan froze; this time, he was truly stunned.

Having lived for so many years, he had seen countless outstanding talents and ruthless overlords.

Some had been arrogant before him, some subservient, some falsely polite, and some hid daggers behind their smiles.

But someone like Gu Chengyin...

It was his first time seeing such a person.

This young man calculated every step, every word pierced the heart, and he played with power as easily as flipping his hand.

Let alone his peers, even an experienced old fox couldn't be as composed, as ruthless, as...

Watertight.

Yet, it was this very person who, after receiving the confirmation of being family, actually stood up to bow.

Respectfully calling him Grandfather, respectfully apologizing for his previous offenses.

In fact, Gu Chengyin completely didn't have to do this.

With his identity, his status, his power.

And the Celestial Master Mansion's Jingzhe, who had always been protecting him.

Who would hold a grudge against such a person? Who would dare?

Yet Gu Chengyin still did it.

Why?

Looking at Gu Chengyin's respectful posture, Jiang Qingshan suddenly understood.

Because Gu Chengyin truly trusted Shangguan Yunying.

Because Gu Chengyin truly valued this family relationship.

That was why he apologized for his previous offenses.

That was why he gave Jiang Qingshan, this Grandfather, the respect he deserved.

Even if this respect came a little late.

Jiang Qingshan felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

He thought of Shangguan Yunying, that granddaughter who had been stubborn since childhood.

But no matter how stubborn she was, her abilities and talents were outstanding, and her standards were extremely high.

Let alone the entire Divine Capital, there was no one in the entire Great Luo who could catch her eye.

And the Gu Chengyin before him was the man Shangguan Yunying had chosen.

He understood the big picture, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

He knew his boundaries; ruthless and decisive when it was time to strike, brisk and neat when it was time to yield.

He understood etiquette; never perfunctory when he should be polite, never ambiguous when he should show respect.

Moreover, his methods were formidable, his abilities outstanding, and his power overwhelming.

Jiang Qingshan could not pick out a single flaw in such a person.

Therefore, he had to accept this bow, because it was the respect he deserved.

If he didn't accept it, it would instead be giving Gu Chengyin no face.

Jiang Qingshan immediately stood up, reaching out to support him in the air, and said in a peaceful tone:

"You and I are family, how could I hold a grudge."

Gu Chengyin straightened up, smiled faintly, and sat back down.

With this, the two were now in the same boat.

Gu Chengyin was in no rush to speak. He merely lowered his eyes, seemingly pondering something.

The lamplight cast flickering shadows across his face, making his expression even more elusive.

Jiang Qingshan did not urge him either; he just sat quietly, waiting for Gu Chengyin to speak.

He knew that Gu Chengyin had specifically come to find him for something beyond the so-called Azure Sword Sect inheritance.

There must be an extremely important matter to discuss.

Since they were now family, there was no need to guard against each other anymore.

They could take their time discussing what came next.

After a long while.

Gu Chengyin raised his head.

He reached into his robes, took out an item, and placed it on the table before him.

"Clack."

A very soft sound.

Jiang Qingshan's gaze fell on the object, his pupils shrinking slightly.

It was a token.

Neither gold nor jade, it was an azure green throughout, with cloud-like patterns flowing across its surface.

The front of the token was engraved with an archaic Cloud character, while the back bore a fragmented map of mountains and rivers.

It looked as if it had endured some violent impact, leaving behind fine cracks.

But even so, the token still exuded an indescribable aura.

Immortal energy.

Faint, yet genuinely existing immortal energy.

The immortal energy lingered around the token like an extremely faint halo; if one did not sense it carefully, it would be entirely imperceptible.

But once perceived, it could no longer be ignored.

Jiang Qingshan furrowed his brows.

He could feel that this was no ordinary token.

That trace of immortal energy could not be faked.

What was bizarre, however, was that the material of the token itself was quite coarse.

So coarse that it seemed carved from a random stone.

Aside from that trace of immortal energy, the token was completely ordinary.

Jiang Qingshan raised his head and looked at Gu Chengyin.

"This is?"

Gu Chengyin lowered his eyes to look at the token on the table, watching it gleam with a dark luster in the candlelight.

Watching those cloud patterns flow in the light and shadows, watching that faint immortal energy slowly drift.

Only then did he speak in a quiet, profound tone:

"This is the proof of identity for the direct descendants of the Qingyun Immortal Clan, the Qingyun Token."

The Qingyun Token?

Jiang Qingshan's pupils contracted sharply.

The proof of identity for the direct lineage of the Qingyun Immortal Clan.

It was a genuine Immortal Clan relic!

Jiang Qingshan suppressed the surging emotions in his heart. He did not ask Gu Chengyin where it came from,

but instead asked, "You took this out because you intend to...?"

Gu Chengyin raised his eyes. The candlelight danced in them, adding a touch of profound depth to his calmness.

"I plan to make it the inheritance token of the Azure Sword Sect."

A very simple sentence.

But falling into Jiang Qingshan's ears, it exploded like a crack of thunder.

As the Azure Sword Sect's inheritance token?

What did that mean?

It meant that from now on, the Azure Sword Sect possessed a genuine Immortal Clan relic.

It meant that their so-called Immortal Clan inheritance would no longer be fake.

It meant...

Jiang Qingshan's eyes suddenly widened as he said in disbelief:

"You want to make the rumors come true?"

The corners of Gu Chengyin's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"That's right. I want to make the rumors true."

Jiang Qingshan was stunned. He opened his mouth to say something, only to find his throat terribly dry.

Making the rumors true.

That rumor was originally just meant to give the cultivation world a little hope, just to make people believe.

That as long as they found the Immortal Clan heir, the Immortal Path could be reconnected.

It was to keep cultivators from giving up, to keep the entire cultivation world moving forward.

Even when Gu Chengyin, this Immortal Clan heir, appeared, Jiang Qingshan had never thought the rumor would become reality.

Because the Azure Sword Sect simply did not possess the inheritance of the Qingyun Immortal Clan.

But now, Gu Chengyin was saying he wanted to make the rumor truly real.

Jiang Qingshan tried hard to calm himself down, saying in a heavy tone:

"Do you know what this means?"

"If the entire cultivation world finds out that the Azure Sword Sect truly has an inheritance that can be completed..."