Chapter 9: The Guess That Shocked Gu Zhan!

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Usually, the journey from the Gu Family's Back Mountain to the Inner Court took half a Two Hours, but this time it only took half that.

Moreover, whenever he reached the Inner Court in the past, he would usually feel somewhat tired, but this time he didn't feel it at all.

"Indeed, having cultivation really makes a difference," Gu Changge couldn't help but sigh, wondering how he had endured the past eighteen years!

This time, as he passed by the Martial Arts Arena and saw the many Gu Family disciples cultivating, he no longer felt the envy he did every other time.

Among the Gu Family Disciples, those with decent talent numbered less than a hundred who could break through to the Sky-controlling Realm at the same age, and even less than ten could reach the Qi Sea Realm. Nearly half with average talent were still at the eighth or ninth level of the Qi Condensation Realm.

Yet, he had just been exposed to cultivation this morning and had already reached the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm!

By his estimate, in just three to five days, he would be able to break through to the Sky-controlling Realm!

Such a speed of advancement was unheard of!

"Going on like this, I hope I won't be considered a monster and sliced up for research..."

"Though within the Gu Family, it should certainly still be safe."

Muttering to himself, he also arrived at the Council Hall.

Today, there were no Elders present, except for the Family Head Gu Zhan, his uncle Gu Yixiao, and his third uncle, beside whom only Liu Qingqing was sitting.

It looked like...

They seemed to be getting along rather well, though Liu Qingqing still had that 'strangers not welcome' expression, all three of the Gu Family members were smiling.

"You stinky boy, you finally came. Take a seat," Gu Sanfeng, upon seeing the figure that walked through the door, spoke with a constant stream of winks and mouth twitches signaling Gu Changge to sit next to Liu Qingqing.

After greeting the Family Head, his uncle, and his third uncle, Gu Changge went directly to sit next to Liu Qingqing, with a tea table between them.

Even with the Qi Condensation Realm cultivation, walking for so long still made him somewhat thirsty.

Seeing a cup of tea on the table, being casually, he just picked it up and drank it in one gulp.

"..." Liu Qingqing had just lifted her hand when she saw he had already put the cup down. She opened her mouth slightly but ended up saying nothing.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Gu Changge blinked, asking in confusion.

"Good lad... It was intentional," Gu Sanfeng nodded subtly to himself upon seeing this, the boy had something up his sleeve!

"Was this what you drank?" Gu Changge seemed to have just reacted, asking innocently as he turned to Liu Qingqing.

Liu Qingqing nodded slightly, "It's alright, after all, we're supposed to get married."

"Son, your cultivation?" The Family Head, who had been silent since entering and had been staring at Gu Changge, now stood up and asked while walking.

This remark made the other three at the scene blink in surprise.

"Cultivation?"

"Whoa! How did you reach the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm, kid!?"

"Did you take the Soul-Shaping Pill last night?"

"You're really bold... Didn't I tell you? Wait until we prepare some other ingredients so you can handle it!"

"But... Isn't the effect of the Soul-Shaping Pill a bit too good, directly to the fifth level of a Small Realm?"

Gu Sanfeng initially felt something different about his grandnephew today, but hadn't looked closely. Hearing the Family Head's words, he finally sensed his Realm Cultivation and his eyes bulged like bells!

"This shouldn't be..."

"Let your uncle take a look, don't let anything go wrong."

Gu Yixiao frowned, aware of the effect of the Soul-Shaping Pill, which could enhance a person's Root Bone, but it wasn't supposed to help someone break through a Realm!

Even Liu Qingqing sitting beside was taken aback.

The fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm?

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"If his Root Bone had been extraordinary to begin with, like his own talent, perhaps it could have been possible to break through several Small Realms by taking a Soul-Shaping Pill before cultivation."

"However, his Root Bone was originally incapable of cultivation, and even if he took a Soul-Shaping Pill, it would merely improve his Root Bone, giving him the chance to start cultivating, not break through several Small Realms."

"Could he have taken other elixirs as well?"

Just as Gu Yixiao stepped forward to check the inside of his grandnephew's wrist, Family Head Gu Zhan got ahead of him.

Since the Family Head had taken action to investigate, it wasn't necessary for him to intervene; he simply waited quietly.

Gu Zhan placed his hand upon his shoulder, feeling the current state of his body, his frown deepening more and more, his gaze towards Gu Changge becoming increasingly unusual, oscillating between incomprehension and skepticism.

These expressions were, of course, noticed by Gu Changge.

In his heart, he inevitably felt a bit nervous, knowing he definitely couldn't hide his situation from the Family Head.

With the Family Head's strength at the Heavenly Gate Realm, he probably could already feel the earth-shaking changes in his Root Bone, which definitely weren't something that a Soul-Shaping Pill could achieve!

After a while, Gu Zhan withdrew his hand and, looking deeply at him once, pretended nothing had happened and went back to sit in the main seat.

"No issues, although this child couldn't cultivate in the previous years, he had taken all the elixirs distributed monthly, which ultimately built up some foundation inside him."

"After taking the Soul-Shaping Pill now, he began to cultivate for the first time and took the opportunity to refine the residual power of those elixirs, which led to this chance."

"Since this child can now cultivate, let's also distribute the monthly elixirs that he should receive."

"By the way... he hasn't been receiving elixirs in the past years, right? This time, he can take more to strengthen his foundation."

Hearing everyone's eyes on him, Gu Zhan casually mentioned this, even thinking up a plausible explanation for the boy.

"So that's how it is, no wonder then."

Hearing this answer, Gu Sanfeng nodded, not doubting for an instant.

Liu Qingqing also agreed with this explanation, though she felt somewhat disappointed in her heart.

"Thank you, great-grandfather," Gu Changge breathed a sigh of relief, as Gu Zhan's words even saved him the trouble of explaining himself.

This thanks, in the eyes of others, was in appreciation for the Family Head allowing him to receive extra elixirs this time, yet both he and Gu Zhan knew this was not the case.

Although Gu Zhan had glossed over with this explanation, his heart was anything but calm!

Why did this boy's Root Bone feel at least as strong as that of Liu Qingqing, a genius counted among the best in the Northern Domain for hundreds of years?

Had he been pretending before?

That shouldn't be...

He had personally checked Gu Changge before, as Gu Sanfeng was completely determined to help this boy set foot on the path of cultivation.

Could a Soul-Shaping Pill really do this?

Impossible!

Even a hundred wouldn't be enough; after all, their ability to enhance Root Bone was limited and they would build tolerance, with repeated intake yielding weaker effects.

What could it be...

Suddenly... a possibility flashed through Gu Zhan's mind.

This child had always lived in that unremarkable courtyard on the Gu Family's Back Mountain, which was precisely where the Gu Family Ancestors usually secluded themselves!

Could it be that one of the Ancestors took a liking to him and helped to cleanse his marrow?

While the thought of transforming from incapable to a genius equal to Liu Qingqing made him deem it implausible.

But... that might be the only possibility!

It was unlikely that the Gu Family would request a great sacrifice from an Ancestor for a junior, but if an Ancestor took a liking to the boy and acted on their own initiative? It wasn't impossible, just that he had never heard that the Gu Family Ancestor had such capabilities...