Chapter 221 - 132 Bone Refining Realm!

Gu Xiaojiang felt extremely excited.

Recently, he had been in considerable torment. First, Gu Jingang had bound the clan elders and seized control of the discourse. Although he himself disagreed with the elders’ actions, Gu Jingang’s methods still left him with complicated feelings.

He hadn’t even had time to recover from this.

Then, the Black Sand Gang and the Lu family launched a surprise attack in the dead of night, amplifying his sense of unease.

Under the pressure, he finally achieved a breakthrough.

Only seventeen years old, he had become a master of the Blood Refining Realm. This accomplishment was not just a historical record for Gu’s Manor—it shattered past achievements significantly. Even looking across Canghe County, he would still be considered an unrivaled genius.

To achieve the realm of a Blood Refining Martial Artist at this age not only required abundant resources but also indispensable talent and insight.

Freshly breaking through, Gu Xiaojiang couldn’t wait to share the news with Gu Sheng.

He wasn’t worried that Gu Sheng might feel overshadowed; in fact, it was Gu Xiaojiang himself who had been feeling overshadowed lately. Ever since the last midnight raid when Gu Sheng showcased astonishing archery skills, everyone knew that Gu Sheng’s contributions were unparalleled compared to the three Blood Refining Realm masters at Gu’s Manor.

In fact, without interference from enemies, his effectiveness exceeded the trio, making him an ultimate weapon for Gu’s Manor!

By comparison, Gu Xiaojiang—the foremost talent of Gu’s Manor—seemed far less remarkable. Although he was stronger than most Jade Skin Realm Martial Artists, he couldn’t influence the battlefield on his own.

Therefore.

As soon as Gu Xiaojiang broke through to the Blood Refining Realm, he wanted eagerly to share the good news with Gu Sheng.

But just as he stepped into Gu Sheng’s courtyard, he froze.

There was an unexpected guest—Gu Jingang.

"Uncle Jingang, why are you here?"

Gu Xiaojiang’s demeanor slightly tightened. His mind spun quickly, piecing together the truth. Most likely, Gu Jingang had come to discuss patrol arrangements with Gu Sheng given his extraordinary archery skills.

Gu Jingang was momentarily stunned.

He had been deeply focused on listening to Gu Sheng’s explanation moments earlier, and hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings, not even noticing when Gu Xiaojiang arrived.

But seeing Gu Sheng’s calm and unruffled expression, he immediately understood. Gu Sheng had clearly sensed him earlier; otherwise, he wouldn’t have paused his explanation just then.

Gu Jingang nodded faintly:

"I came to... talk to Gu Sheng about some matters."

His expression showed a hint of awkwardness.

Gu Xiaojiang nodded and saw Gu Sheng smiling at him:

"Xiao Jiang, what brings you here?"

Gu Xiaojiang’s face lit up with excitement. Since Gu Jingang wasn’t an outsider, there was no need to hide anything. He spread his legs apart, thrust out a fist, and suddenly his palm glowed crimson.

Qi Blood Power!

He laughed heartily:

"Asheng, Uncle Jingang—I’ve finally broken through to the Blood Refining Realm! Now, I can truly help you all!"

As the words fell, Gu Sheng’s eyes cooperatively revealed an expression of surprise. In reality, Gu Xiaojiang’s breakthrough into the Blood Refining Realm was something easily perceptible for Gu Sheng, given his sensory abilities. His joy for his friend was genuine, though his astonishment was feigned.

Gu Jingang, on the other hand, displayed genuine delight. Unable to hold back, he burst into laughter.

"Haha! Heaven bless Gu’s Manor!"

He was genuinely pleased. With the current precarious situation, having another Blood Refining Realm Martial Artist in Gu’s Manor meant an extra layer of hope for survival. Furthermore, Gu Xiaojiang’s Iron Stone Fist had reached the Great Achievement Realm, granting him combat prowess beyond the standard entry-level Blood Refining Martial Artist. At this point, even Gu Dajiang couldn’t match up to Gu Xiaojiang.

Despite having wrested power from the clan elders, Gu Jingang had never lost his gratitude and devotion to Gu’s Manor. He was not someone to forget his obligations.

Feeling the duo’s enthusiasm, Gu Xiaojiang couldn’t help but grin broadly, noticeably overjoyed.

This was the very motivation that had driven his relentless training and desire to break through to the Blood Refining Realm sooner.

"Come on, let’s share this great news with your father and the others!"

Today was Gu Dajiang’s turn to patrol, and he was still unaware of this development.

Gu Xiaojiang nodded eagerly.

"Asheng, let’s grab some drinks later!"

Saying so, he enthusiastically darted out towards the outskirts of the manor. If this news spread, it would surely boost morale, solidifying Gu’s Manor’s foundation and significantly enhancing its security.

Watching Gu Xiaojiang excitedly dash away.

Gu Sheng and Gu Jingang exchanged a glance and both chuckled in amusement.

Then.

Gu Jingang paused, his heart briefly perplexed. Despite Gu Sheng and Gu Xiaojiang being the same age, he had just felt as though Gu Sheng was looking down upon a younger junior.

"Asheng, aren’t you planning to reveal your strength to Xiao Jiang and the others?"

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Jingang asked.

Having trained alongside Gu Sheng for some time now, he also understood why Gu Xiaojiang had managed to grasp the Great Achievement Realm of Iron Stone Fist so quickly—Gu Sheng’s contributions were undoubtedly significant. Without Gu Sheng’s guidance, even Gu Xiaojiang’s natural talent wouldn’t have yielded results so swiftly.

Standing with hands clasped behind his back, Gu Sheng gazed into the distance.

This question had crossed his mind before, but eventually, he replied:

"Let nature take its course. I’ll tell him when the time comes."

He didn’t want to disrupt this friendship. Gu Xiaojiang was perhaps the only person in Gu’s Manor of his age with whom he could connect. If his true strength were revealed, it might cause unforeseen ripple effects. Having concealed it for so long, Gu Sheng preferred no unexpected complications.

Thus, he decided to wait until everything was settled.

"Alright, it’s up to you," Gu Jingang replied slowly.

Gu Xiaojiang’s breakthrough to the Blood Refining Realm delighted him, though it wasn’t overly shocking. Previously, it might have been, but now, knowing the existence of a monstrous talent like Gu Sheng, Gu Xiaojiang’s achievements seemed comparatively ordinary.