Gu Jingangâs expression was vacant, filled with disbelief.
That young man was extremely familiar to him, yet it was precisely because of this familiarity that it seemed even more unbelievable.
"Gu Sheng... Blood Refining Realm Great Success?"
Gu Jingangâs throat moved unconsciously, swallowing hard, as the sight before him shook his understanding.
He had speculated on many possibilities, but never had he imagined that the Blood Refining Realm master was Gu Sheng himself!
Gu Sheng, seventeen years old, Blood Refining Realm Great Success?
This was simply... akin to a story from a fantastical drama.
Gu Jingang stood frozen, staring blankly.
Given Gu Shengâs abilities of perception, he had naturally noticed Gu Jingangâs arrival long ago. If he had chosen not to reveal his anomaly, even if Gu Jingang broke through to the Bone Refining Realm, he would still remain clueless.
Now, however, it was clearâGu Sheng had intentionally led him here.
In order not to waste his cultivation time, Gu Sheng had no choice but to display his prowess. Either that, or he would leave Guâs Manor. To him, unless absolutely necessary, he still did not wish to leave this familiar place.
Initially, he considered how much of his strength would be appropriate to reveal.
Ultimately, he decided that showcasing cultivation at the Blood Refining Realm Great Success would yield the optimal effect.
Thus, what Gu Jingang witnessed now came to be.
Inside the covered courtyard.
Gu Sheng moved like a fierce tiger, his fists like towering mountains. Each technique and every movement stirred heavy gusts of wind throughout the courtyard, pressuring every inch of the void space.
"King of Strength Tosses Stone!"
"Iron Arm Crosses the River!"
"Heavy like a Mountain!"
...
One Iron Stone Fist technique after another was delivered, sometimes as ferocious as a tigerâs roar over a mountain forest, sometimes as steadfast as the Mystical Turtle guarding a river. There was a certain artistic beauty that Gu Jingang could not comprehendâhe seemed to grasp something intangible yet felt as though he had seen nothing at all, his eyes widening uncontrollably.
The turmoil in his heart surged and crashed. He was at once dejected and exhilarated.
Dejected, because the Iron Stone Fist he had studied for twenty years paled utterly in comparison to the martial skill unfolding before him. Exhilarated, because faintly, he saw a forward path for the Iron Stone Fist.
Gu Sheng noted Gu Jingangâs expression and chuckled inwardly.
After finishing a series of techniques, the rolling smoke-like Qi and blood force around him gradually settled. He paused before Gu Jingang and spoke lightly:
"Instructor Gu, how is my Iron Stone Fist?"
Gu Jingangâs eyes suddenly gleamed with brilliance.
"Excellent!"
As though one word was insufficient, he chose another.
"Marvelous!"
Shaking his head, he sighed in admiration, changing it to four words:
"Astonishing and unparalleled!"
At that moment, Gu Jingang studied Gu Sheng from head to toe, his face full of conflicted emotions. His feelings mirrored those of a company manager who suddenly discovers that a junior employee is actually a billionaireâthe shock and disbelief were utterly indescribable.
"Are you truly Gu Sheng?"
He couldnât help but ask.
Gu Sheng smiled faintly.
"Authentic and without a doubt."
He continued:
"May I ask Instructor Guâcan Guâs Manor accommodate someone like me?"
...
As it turned out.
Guâs Manor could accommodate Gu Shengâor more precisely, Gu Jingang could accommodate him.
Although he could not comprehend how Gu Sheng had managed to break through to such a realm in such a short time, reason dictated that he refrain from asking too many questions, or even informing others about Gu Shengâs existence.
To him, having an elite fighter at Blood Refining Realm Great Success hidden within Guâs Manor was far better than having one exposed on the surface.
As long as he resisted the urge to uncover Gu Shengâs secrets, the young manâs presence was undeniably an overwhelming boon to Guâs Manor.
After the initial shock, Gu Jingang quickly adapted. He also understood why Gu Sheng had chosen to reveal himself so suddenly.
It was natural.
From then on, Gu Sheng no longer had to go to the training grounds to receive his guidance.
With Iron Stone Fist at such a transcendent stage, it was more suitable for Gu Jingang to be the one receiving pointers instead.
That was precisely what Gu Jingang did. After witnessing the mastery levels of the Iron Stone Fist, his obsession grew boundless. Shamelessly, he requested guidance from Gu Sheng every three daysâtwo periods at a time.
The price?
A thousand silver coins per month.
Gu Sheng was naturally delighted.
Setting aside a bit of time to offer guidance and earn a thousand silver monthly was a no-brainerâit posed no interference with his cultivation efforts. Sparing Gu Wan had been easy, sparing Gu Jingang couldnât be any harder. With his level of cultivation, offering advice wasted negligible time.
Gu Jingang was practically ecstatic.
Previously he had felt that even with the assistance of a few Blood Strengthening Pills, he might not reach Blood Refining Realm Great Success.
But now, with Gu Shengâs guidance, even if Iron Stone Fist couldnât reach the Perfect level, it was destined to progress significantly. His chances of breaking through to Blood Refining Realm Great Success increased exponentially!
He trained harder than ever before.
A drought met by timely rainfallâthe Iron Stone Fist, which had stagnated for so long, now had a forward path. To someone like Gu Jingang, devoted to martial arts, nothing was more precious.
Gu Qing and Gu Ruyi were utterly astonished to discover.
Gu Sheng hadnât gone to the training grounds even once to receive Gu Jingangâs pointers, yet Gu Jingang didnât harbor the slightest resentment. Instead, his face often bore a cheerful smile.
Finally, one day, Gu Qing asked, trembling with unease, the question that had long lingered in his mind.
Gu Jingang simply shook his head lightly.
"Guidance?"
Then, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.
In his heart, he firmly believed he had no qualifications to offer pointers to Gu Sheng.
Gu Qing and Gu Ruyi exchanged glances, merely assuming that Gu Sheng had somehow offended Gu Jingang. Their behavior grew even more cautious, fearing they might lose this rare opportunity.
...
Time flowed on.
The cultivation atmosphere at Guâs Manor reached heights never seen before. Under Gu Jingangâs series of initiatives, resources were doubled, and everyone savored the sweet taste of rapid improvement. They all scrambled to gain more resources.
Gu Xiaojiang focused deeply on secluded training, hoping to refine his Qi Blood Power.
Gu Jingang split his time between arduously cultivating Iron Stone Fist and consuming Blood Strengthening Pills.
Finally.
After taking charge of Guâs Manor for one month.
Gu Jingang achieved his wish and successfully broke through to Blood Refining Realm Great Success!
Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang were overjoyed. They quietly kept the news under wraps, thinking it might serve as a hidden card at critical moments. However, the two couldnât shake the feeling that Gu Jingangâs movements had lately become somewhat secretive, though the specifics eluded them.
Late night.
Gu Jingang visited Gu Shengâs small courtyard. Buoyed by ambition, he had just advanced to Blood Refining Realm Great Success. Coupled with his natural brute strength, he felt confident enough to challenge Gu Sheng.
This wasnât the first time.
The courtyard emanated the sounds of fists and kicks being exchanged.
Moments later.
Gu Jingang left covering his face, faint bruises visible on his nose and eyes.
He once again faced his realityâhis fleeting arrogance was thoroughly extinguished.
This tuitionâhe had to keep paying.
Gu Sheng grinned cheerfully. Occasionally stretching his limbs wasnât a bad idea. As he sensed his progress in bone refinement, he noted that he had recently taken his fourth Bone Protecting Pill, with his bone refinement nearly 80% complete.
"The breakthrough to Bone Refining Realm is near!"
His heart burned with excitement.
...
At the Black Sand Gang headquarters.
Zhao Honglie gathered with the family heads from Canghe County once again.
Zhao Honglieâs gaze revealed subtle irritation as he spoke heavily.
"Gentlemen, the one-month deadline has arrived. How are the preparations for withdrawing the family heirs and key assets? We canât afford to delay any longer!"
Zhao Qingcheng was the first to respond:
"Our Zhao family is fully prepared!"
Lu Kong followed closely:
"The Lu family is as well!"
The other family heads gritted their teethâthey hadnât reacted as swiftly as the Zhao and Lu families. At this point, theyâd only managed partial withdrawals. Yet, with the current situation, hesitation would only lead to ruin; pushing forward was the only option left.
The group exchanged glances, seeing the shared pain in one anotherâs eyes.
These were the results of generationsâ worth of accumulation, now forced to be abandoned. Such decisions demanded an extraordinary degree of resolve. If the battle failed, even though theyâd secretly preserved some bloodlines, theyâd be left to start all over again, rebuilding from the ground up.
"Since Liu Yuanhu refuses to leave us a way out, then letâs fight him to the end!"
"Prepare for action!"
Zhao Honglieâs eyes lit with joy.
"Good! Three days from now, we will begin. Start by eliminating Liu Yuanhuâs wings, then find an opportunity to storm the city and take his head!"
His gaze burned with fervorâhe knew this chaos wouldnât end in mere days. He had prepared himself for a prolonged battle of attrition. Only by engaging in confrontation did he see a chance of annihilating Liu Yuanhu.
If they continued to wait, time would only favor Liu Yuanhu.