Early the next morning.
As usual, Gu Yun slept until he naturally woke up. The first thing he did after rising was summon Chen Qingling. He tossed her a bottle of pills and said, “Qingling, when you cultivate, don’t save them. You must use these pills fully.”
Chen Qingling was caught off guard by such favor, a little embarrassed as she said, “Holy Son, you’ve given me too much. Even if I ate these like candy, they would still be enough!”
Ever since she had begun following Gu Yun, he gave her gifts almost every day. She had never heard of a maid receiving such treatment. Could it be… the Holy Son liked her, which was why he treated her so specially?
Chen Qingling couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild. Her heart pounded, and her face flushed with a shy blush.
Gu Yun, meanwhile, was delighted, because at that very moment, the system’s voice rang out in his mind.
[Ding! System reward triggered. Congratulations to the host for obtaining 50,000 cultivation experience points. Realm advanced to 2nd stage Divine Ability Realm!]
It had only been a few days since his last breakthrough, and yet simply by giving things away, Gu Yun had once again advanced a minor stage. The speed was not only fast but also easy. This was far too enjoyable!
However, Gu Yun also noticed a problem. The rewards were triggered based on the items or qualities of the person receiving his gifts. But since a person possessed many things—techniques, insights, cultivation realm, root bones—the rewards carried a degree of randomness. If he wanted to rely on giving to Chen Qingling to acquire the Five Element Root Bones, he would need plenty of patience.
Still, Gu Yun was not worried. He had patience to spare.
Returning to the moment, he said, “As long as it’s enough for you. If you need anything else, you can always tell me. Oh, right, has there been a letter from the family?”
After awakening his second Dao Bone and gaining the ability to cultivate Five Element techniques, Gu Yun had immediately told Han Ying to notify his family. This wasn’t to boast, but because cultivating such techniques required the family’s resources. For example, cultivating the ‘Ancient Body Refining Manual’ required the Five Element Essences, which were extremely rare treasures. Even within the Primordial Holy Land, only two of the essences were available.
Chen Qingling quickly nodded. “Sister Han Ying has already received a letter from the family. They said they’ve prepared the Wu Earth and Yi Wood Essences for you. They’ll be delivered to the Primordial Holy Land in the coming days. As for the remaining ones, the family has begun searching. The moment they have news, they’ll inform you right away.”
Hearing this, Gu Yun realized the Gu Family originally had three of the Five Element Essences, but the Fire Essence overlapped with the ones already in the Holy Land. Since he could freely use the Holy Land’s resources, the family only sent the other two. This meant he was only missing the Sharp Metal Essence. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
The Five Element Essences were the purest crystallizations of elemental energy. They could only be formed by nature itself, under extremely rare conditions. Even in the ancient era, when innate spiritual energy was abundant, they were not easy to find. In the present age, far inferior to the ancient times, finding them was even harder.
But Gu Yun was not anxious. He had only just started cultivating the ‘Ancient Body Refining Manual.’ The Five Element Essences would only be needed after reaching the third layer.
He was about to say more when Han Ying appeared at the door, her voice cool as she said, “Young Master, Miss Su Wan’er’s maid, Cui’er, requests to see you. She claims there is something extremely urgent her mistress must tell you.”
Gu Yun was stunned. Su Wan’er, actively seeking him out? Yesterday, he had been thinking about how to improve his relationship with her so she could become his perfect NPC for gaining system rewards. And now she came to him on her own? Perfect!
With a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he immediately stood up. “Where is she?”
“In the front hall,” Han Ying replied.
Gu Yun left at once and hurried to the hall.
Inside the hall of his residence, Cui’er, dressed in a pale pink maid outfit, looked visibly nervous. Her hands were clasped, her arms curled inward as she glanced from time to time toward the courtyard. She seemed to both anticipate and dread Gu Yun’s arrival. After all, their statuses were worlds apart, and she was here to deceive him.
Soon, a handsome figure entered her sight. Gu Yun had arrived.
As Su Wan’er’s maid, Cui’er had seen him a few times before and knew him by appearance. She quickly bowed and said, “This maid greets the Holy Son!”
Gu Yun was in high spirits and dismissed the formalities with a wave. “Cui’er, what matter does your young lady need me for?”
Cui’er hesitated, then bit her lip, dropping to her knees and feigning sorrow as she said, “Holy Son, please save my lady!”
Gu Yun frowned slightly. “Get up and speak. What exactly happened?”
But Cui’er remained kneeling, her voice tearful. “My lady has been poisoned by the Su Family’s enemies. She is already on the verge of death. The family hired a great healer, but he said she cannot be cured—unless she can refine a piece of Exquisite Divine Jade. Only then can the poison be purged. I remember you once mentioned before my lady that you possessed such a jade, so I came here without her permission to beg for your help.”
Hearing this, Gu Yun frowned. This wasn’t in the original novel! Could it be that because of his changes, the plotline was shifting too?
Still, he was thrilled. Finally, a chance to trigger the system through Su Wan’er! The Exquisite Divine Jade was the symbol of his status as the Young Clan Leader. Losing it might draw his family’s punishment. But with two Dao Bones already, if he could awaken a third through Su Wan’er, then even if he lost the jade, the family would pamper him instead of punishing him.
Gu Yun was so excited he nearly jumped up.
At that moment, Han Ying’s voice was cold. “Hmph, how dare you! Do you know that the Exquisite Divine Jade is a treasured heirloom of the Young Master’s family, of immeasurable importance? How could it be given away so easily, just to save a girl unrelated to him?”
Cui’er bit her lip and looked toward Gu Yun. Her lady had ordered her to carefully observe his reaction.
Gu Yun’s brows furrowed. He cut Han Ying off and said seriously, “What is one piece of jade compared to Wan’er’s importance to me? Cui’er, lead the way—I will save your young lady!”
The three girls around him were all stunned. Cui’er exhaled in relief, secretly happy for Su Wan’er. If Gu Yun was willing to give up such an important treasure for her, then he must truly be sincere.
Chen Qingling was astonished as well. For the Holy Son to give up something so vital for Miss Wan’er—what deep affection!
Only Han Ying frowned slightly, but then nodded knowingly. Cui’er’s acting was so clumsy; the Young Master must have seen through it immediately. He was going along with it only to uncover what scheme lay behind. Indeed, worthy of her Young Master.
While each of them harbored their own thoughts, Gu Yun had already grabbed Cui’er’s arm impatiently. “Well? Don’t just kneel there. Lead the way!”