Volume 1, Chapter 238 – Gu Qingcang

Before Shi Lan had even reached the reception hall, she sensed Wu Lingkong’s aura, as well as a thread of extremely familiar scorching energy.

Phoenix blood!

That thread of energy was exceedingly faint. If Shi Lan did not already carry phoenix blood within her own body, she would never have noticed it.

Once she confirmed the aura of phoenix blood, joy rose in Shi Lan’s heart. Ever since leaving Ancient Phoenix City, the phoenix blood she had brought with her had long since been used up. If she could replenish it, the speed of her cultivation would return to its peak once more, and the Heavenly Astral Realm would be within sight.

At that thought, Shi Lan stepped into the reception hall with barely concealed eagerness.

The moment she entered, she saw Wu Lingkong in her Demon-Suppressing Army armor, as well as several familiar figures she had expected to see.

“It has been a long time. Miss Shi carries herself with even greater bearing than before.”

An old man of about sixty, looking somewhat travel-worn, smiled faintly when he saw Shi Lan and stepped forward with cupped hands in greeting. It was none other than Gu Rentong, the City Lord of Ancient Phoenix City. Standing not far from him were Gu Deyuan and his son, Gu Qingcang.

At a glance, Shi Lan saw through Gu Rentong’s cultivation. He was almost at the same level as she was, at the peak of the late Earth Fiend Realm, only half a step away from great perfection.

Shi Lan vaguely remembered that when she had first met him in Ancient Phoenix City, Gu Rentong had looked only a little over fifty, brimming with vigor. Now he looked much older. It was obvious at a glance that he had consumed a great deal of his lifespan.

She was not particularly surprised. Since this grandfather and grandson pair had come to Xianwu City, it was easy to guess that Ancient Phoenix City had already fallen and that they had been driven out by the demon race, fleeing all the way here. Their current state was hardly strange. Besides, back then, in order to restore his grandson Gu Qingcang’s sanity, Gu Rentong had already suffered serious damage to his vitality and injured the root of his life.

“Miss Shi’s cultivation has advanced so quickly that even the geniuses of the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect would likely fall far short.”

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Gu Deyuan also stepped forward and offered his greeting. His appearance had aged considerably as well, though his cultivation had improved somewhat. He had already stepped into the ninth stage of the Innate Realm. Still, with such cultivation, in the current Xianwu City, one could probably knock down a whole crowd with a single staff-swing.

After returning the greetings, Shi Lan’s gaze swept to the youth nearby.

Among the three of them, the one who had changed the most was Gu Qingcang.

When they had first met, Gu Qingcang had only been a child of around ten. Now he had grown much taller, already looking like a boy of thirteen or fourteen. His physique was strong, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the ninth stage of the Body Tempering Realm. Before long, he would shed his mortal frame, open his dantian qi sea, and step into the Innate Realm.

Since Shi Lan had left Ancient Phoenix City, only a single year had passed. For him to cultivate this quickly was terrifying by ordinary standards.

Shi Lan was only mildly surprised. She did not find it especially strange. Gu Qingcang carried great fortune upon him and was protected by a seven-colored rainbow. It was only natural that he should progress like this.

Shi Lan was about to speak when Gu Qingcang suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud and gave her a solemn bow.

“There is gold beneath a man’s knees. What are you doing?” Shi Lan frowned slightly and looked toward Gu Rentong.

Before Gu Rentong could speak, Gu Qingcang said with a serious expression,

“A true man kneels only to Heaven and to his parents, but one must know how to repay kindness. You showed me great kindness and helped awaken my mind. You deserve this bow.”

Each word landed with force.

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Shi Lan was somewhat surprised. The speed at which Gu Qingcang’s mind had matured far exceeded even the speed of his cultivation.

“Get up. Back then, I was only carrying out someone else’s request and fulfilling my part of the matter. That account was settled long ago.”

Shi Lan turned slightly aside and avoided receiving the bow, then walked toward the seat of honor.

Gu Qingcang slowly rose, looking somewhat disappointed.

Old acquaintances meeting again, they exchanged a round of pleasantries before taking their seats as host and guests.

After some conversation, Shi Lan finally understood why Wu Lingkong and Gu Rentong’s family had come together today.

Wu Lingkong had not rested for very long before being summoned back to camp. Since more and more people had recently been entering the city, she had been assigned to stand watch at the west gate of Xianwu City and assist with inspecting those entering the city. Today, while on duty, she had happened to run into Gu Rentong and the others, who had come seeking refuge.

Traveling with Gu Rentong had been nearly a hundred people. Some had fled together from Ancient Phoenix City, while others had been encountered by chance along the way. They had all settled separately within Xianwu City.

And after Gu Rentong learned from Wu Lingkong that Shi Lan was in Xianwu City, he decided to come pay a visit immediately.

“Upon learning that an old acquaintance was here, I acted in haste and came without warning. If I have disturbed you, I hope Miss Shi will forgive me,” Gu Rentong said apologetically.

“City Lord Gu is too courteous.” Shi Lan shook her head slightly, smiling as her gaze shifted to several large bundles on the floor nearby.

“Miss Shi truly is impressive. Our little trick still failed to escape your discerning eyes.”

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Noticing Shi Lan’s gaze, Gu Qingcang smiled faintly, rose, and opened the bundles, revealing several square crystal boxes.

The boxes all shone with purple light, densely carved with array patterns, faintly giving off abundant spiritual power.

“So many high-grade spirit crystals. What is inside these boxes?”

Even Wu Lingkong could not help lifting her brows when she saw them.

Gu Qingcang cast several dozen hand seals in succession, halting the formations on the boxes, then slowly pushed the lids open.

Blood-red light burst forth at once, dyeing the entire hall crimson. Only after a while did it slowly fade.

“Phoenix blood?”

Wu Lingkong looked delighted. She too had been in Ancient Phoenix City and was naturally no stranger to phoenix blood. She remembered perfectly well how useful it was to Shi Lan.

Looking at the blood-light shining out from the boxes, Shi Lan pressed her lips together slightly and said,

“Tell me what you want.”

Shi Lan was not so self-absorbed as to think that Gu Rentong had carried this phoenix blood all the way from Ancient Phoenix City specifically to give it to her.

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This reunion itself had been entirely unexpected.

Clearly, Gu Rentong’s original plan had been to exchange the phoenix blood for cultivation resources he needed.

“Miss Shi showed great kindness to my Gu family. By rights, I should have presented this phoenix blood to you with both hands. But the current situation is dire, and there is indeed one matter in which I hope Miss Shi can help.”

Gu Rentong did not beat around the bush. He spoke plainly.

“In Chengtian Domain, no one dares refuse the Demon-Suppressing Army face. I hope Miss Shi can step forward on our behalf and make an introduction, so that Qingcang may enter the inner sect of the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect.”

Gu Rentong naturally had his own calculations.

The Demon-Suppressing Army was backed by the Imperial Court, so it might truly fight the demon race to the bitter end. The Sacred Martial Immortal Sect was entirely different. If things became impossible, he did not believe for a moment that the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect would exhaust its entire foundation for the sake of Chengtian Domain.

That meant the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect was absolutely the safest place in Chengtian Domain at this moment. But an ordinary outer sect disciple would not be valued. At the very least, Qingcang had to enter the inner sect.

At a time like this, with all manner of people mixed together in Xianwu City, the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect would never take in people lightly. Someone of sufficient weight had to step forward, and Shi Lan, as a thousand commander of the Demon-Suppressing Army, was undoubtedly the best choice.

“The idea is a good one, but unfortunately… you’re one step too late.”

Before Shi Lan could speak, a voice came from outside the hall.