“You’ve been putting on this act since you were a boy.” “Changhuan might not need it now, but won’t he need it in the future?” “Besides, how can I possibly take back a gift I’ve already given?!!” Gu Wanhao’s face flushed red as Gu Xuanzhan exposed his old tricks.
“Changhuan, aren’t you going to thank your great-grandfather?
This is a treasure that can save your life down the road!” Gu Changhuan bowed respectfully, then raised both hands above his head to receive the item.
“Thank you, Great-grandfather.
I will honor and care for you, repay the clan, and help the Gu Clan prosper for generations to come.” Gu Changhuan spoke earnestly, every word from the heart.
“You’re a remarkably sincere child.
I’m sure these words weren’t put into your head by your grandfather.” “With such ambition in one so young, why worry that our Gu Clan won’t prosper?” Gu Xuanzhan said with a gratified expression.
He was old, with his lifespan steadily waning.
Now, aside from hoping to push further in his cultivation, the only thing he could not let go of was the family.
Yet, precisely because of the family, he dared not risk everything in a desperate gamble.
Gu Changhuan was too young to understand everything behind those words, but his own promise had come from the heart.
At home, he had often heard his parents lament that they could neither protect the clan nor care for their parents in person.
As children themselves, they could only shelter under the protection of their elders.
Every time Gu Changhuan heard such talk, it struck a chord within him.
After bidding farewell to Gu Xuanzhan, Gu Wanhao led Gu Changhuan back to his own dwelling.
“Is this where Grandfather lives?!” Gu Wanhao did not dwell in a cave mansion, but rather in a two-courtyard residence with gray walls and blue-grey tiles.
In the corner of the courtyard stood a peach tree, its fruit already showing a faint blush, looking exceptionally tempting.
Gu Changhuan spotted the peach tree instantly.
He wondered how those peaches tasted; when he had free time, he would definitely have to pluck one and find out!
So he thought to himself.
Gu Wanhao, being worldly and shrewd, took one look at Gu Changhuan staring at his First-Tier High Grade Spirit Peach Tree and easily guessed what the boy was plotting.
“You must wait until you start cultivating before eating those peaches, Huan’er.
Eat them now and your little belly will burst!” “Huan’er will stay in the east wing from now on.” “Grandfather lives in the main quarters.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll have someone take you to the Scripture Pavilion.
Follow your great-grandfather’s teachings closely, and ask if there is anything you don’t understand.
Do you take my meaning?” “Huan’er understands.” Having his thoughts seen right through by his grandfather, Gu Changhuan awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
After spending much of the afternoon on the move, Gu Changhuan returned to his room yawning.
He washed, lay down, and fell asleep within moments.
Early the next morning, a Gu Clan member took Gu Changhuan to the Scripture Pavilion to meet Gu Xuanzhan, who was already seated inside, resting with his eyes closed.
Gu Changhuan offered a bright, smiling bow.
The mere thought that he could begin practicing the Dao today and truly become a cultivator filled him with irrepressible joy.
“Changhuan pays respects to Great-grandfather.” “You’re here.
Sit down.” Gu Xuanzhan waved a hand, and a meditation cushion appeared on the floor.
Gu Changhuan sat on the cushion and accepted the book Gu Xuanzhan gave him.
It was a record of the Gu Clan’s history.
Gu Changhuan flipped through a couple of pages casually and discovered detailed accounts of how the clan had risen and established its foundation.
“Can you read, Changhuan?” “Yes, Great-grandfather.
I studied at our family school for nearly two years, including the Thousand Character Classic.
I can read most of this history.” Gu Changhuan replied.
Gu Xuanzhan nodded; that spared him a good deal of explanation.
Pouring himself a cup of wine, Gu Xuanzhan took a sip, smacked his lips with quiet appreciation, and slowly began: “We cultivators are divided according to our cultivation realms into the Qi Condensation Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, Golden Core Realm, and Nascent Soul Realm.
Above the Nascent Soul, there is said to be the Soul Formation Realm.” “Each major realm is divided into three minor realms, and each minor realm is further segmented into three layers.
For instance, in the Qi Condensation Realm, Early Qi Condensation spans layers one through three, Middle Qi Condensation covers four through six, and Late Qi Condensation comprises seven through nine.” “Yet most cultivators remain trapped in the Qi Condensation Realm their entire lives, enjoying a lifespan of no more than one hundred and twenty years.
A fortunate few with exceptional aptitude, should they meet with a Fated Chance, may enter the Foundation Establishment Realm and live for two hundred years.
The higher the cultivation, the greater the longevity.” “Our Gu Clan was founded three hundred and twenty-seven years ago.
The founding ancestor was a Late Purple Mansion expert and a skilled alchemist, which is why our clan has been renowned for its pills ever since its inception.” “The art of pill refining is one of the Hundred Cultivation Arts, and arguably the most lucrative trade of all.” “Over the years, our Gu Clan has multiplied and grown within the Nine Perches Mountains, and the alchemy heritage left behind by the founding ancestor has been indispensable.” Gu Xuanzhan paused briefly before continuing: “Our founding ancestor was originally a Rogue Cultivator.
He possessed extraordinary talent and was already an Eighth Layer Purple Mansion expert at a young age.” “Had nothing unexpected occurred, he very well could have forged a Golden Core.” “Unfortunately, over three hundred years ago during the Qingzhou Human-Demon War, the ancestor took part and drew too much attention.
He was besieged by several Demon Beasts and severely wounded.
Although he managed to preserve his life, his foundation was ruined, leaving his cultivation permanently stagnant.” “Yet, because the ancestor rendered distinguished service in battle, he was rewarded with numerous rare spiritual treasures.
“He did not want his knowledge and skills to die with him, but he had no wish to join a sect either.
He sought out several like-minded cultivators, and together they decided to find a mountain range where they could establish their own clans.” “Ultimately, they chose the Nine Perches Mountains.
At that time, the territory was held by nine Purple Mansion Realm Demon Beasts.
The four ancestors joined forces to eradicate those beasts and divided the lands accordingly.” “Our Gu Clan took Emerald Maple Mountain, the Fang Clan claimed Jade Splendor Mountain, the Yu Clan chose Mount Yan, and the Zhang Clan settled upon Phoenix Cry Mountain.” “Over the years, the Gu, Fang, Yu, and Zhang clans of the Nine Perches Mountains have supported each other.
That is how we have held our ground in Qingzhou’s cultivation world.” “After settling on Emerald Maple Mountain, the founding ancestor married and took concubines.
He laid down clan rules and sixteen characters to be used in our descendants’ names, generation by generation: Tong, Zheng, Cun, Xuan, Wan, Shi, Chang, Qing, Hao, Ran, Feng, Ze, Xian, Dao, Yong, Chang.” “Each generation covers fifty years.
But descendants born through a cultivator’s mortal line within three generations may be named according to their place after that ancestor in the generational sequence.” At this, Gu Xuanzhan let out a soft sigh.
In the three centuries and more since the clan’s founding, ever since the ancestor passed away, the family had actually been on a gradual decline.
At the height of the Gu Clan’s power, there had been one Purple Mansion cultivator and seven Foundation Establishment experts, whereas now…
“Down to the present day, the Gu Clan numbers over two hundred cultivators and more than a million mortal kin.” “Most are still in the Qi Condensation Realm.
We have only four Foundation Establishment experts.” Gu Changhuan listened intently, thinking to himself: No wonder there were so many children in his household yet he alone possessed a Spirit Root; the chance of mortals harboring Spirit Roots was truly exceedingly slim.
“The Gu Clan holds a Spirit Root Testing Assembly every three years to examine children of suitable age.” “Those found with Spirit Roots may come to Emerald Maple Mountain to embark on cultivation.
Those with superior roots are naturally nurtured with utmost care to support the clan’s future.” “Speaking of Spirit Roots, they are categorized into distinct grades.” “A single spiritual root, with just one elemental attribute, is best.
Barring mishaps, its bearer can reach Golden Core swiftly and without barriers.” “That is why a single spiritual root is called a Heavenly Spirit Root: a gift from heaven, marking its bearer as favored by the Heavenly Dao.
Even among cultivators, fewer than one in ten thousand have one.” “Just below the Heavenly Spirit Root are the Variant Spirit Roots.” “Cultivators with variant roots advance a little more slowly than those with Heavenly Spirit Roots, but they are much stronger than others at the same level.” “Next come the Dual Spirit Roots.
For a clan like ours, a cultivator with Dual Spirit Roots is a treasure difficult to come by.” Gu Xuanzhan sounded rather proud, and with reason: he had dual spiritual roots himself.
Then, as if recalling something unpleasant, his expression darkened slightly.
“The vast majority of cultivators possess Triple, Quadruple, or Five Spirit Roots.” “Because Quadruple and Five Spirit Roots are impure and make cultivation arduous, they are commonly referred to as Pseudo Spirit Roots.” Looking for more free chapters?
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