Chapter 35 Great Warrior Pill

Gu Qingli's words left the crowd utterly stunned, their gazes fixed on her serene yet proud countenance.

"So, Sixth Miss," Sikong Ran asked with a sly smile, "would a Grand Warrior Pill move your heart?"

At his remark, envious and covetous expressions swept across the faces of the surrounding youths. Even the two mentors nearby appeared astonished.

The Grand Warrior Pill—true to its name—offered a cultivator at the eight-star level, like Gu Qingli, a chance to ascend to nine stars. The higher one rose in cultivation, the more immense the energy required, and the more arduous the climb. At the Grand Warrior rank, a single-star advancement could take a year at best, and for many, it might take several years—or remain forever out of reach.

It was precisely this reason that alchemists were held in such high esteem across the Divine Valley Continent.

Of course, the pill didn't guarantee a breakthrough—it held merely a sixty percent success rate—and it could only be taken once at this stage. Even so, for those Grand Warriors who had long stagnated, it remained a dream long sought after.

Despite being a third-tier, lower-grade pill, it required a third-rank alchemist to concoct, and the ingredients were by no means cheap. A single pill could fetch a price in the tens of thousands of gold coins—far beyond the reach of ordinary folk.

But for the royal-grade alchemist within the City Lord's manor, so long as materials were supplied, creating such a pill was but a trivial matter.

Upon hearing Gu Qingche's quiet explanation of the pill's effects, Gu Qingli felt a flicker of temptation. She had indeed plateaued at the eight-star level, and with her talent, a single dose could likely see her through to nine stars. Otherwise, relying on absorption alone, she estimated at least three more months of cultivation.

Pills truly were wondrous things. It seemed time she tried her hand at alchemy as well.

Until now, she had devoted herself entirely to training, never once contemplating the use of medicinal aid.

Elder Mu, catching sight of her thoughtful expression, grew anxious and rushed forward. "Sixth Miss, no matter what, you are still one of the Gu family. You must think of your father and mother."

The allure of the Grand Warrior Pill was, after all, nearly irresistible.

Gu Qingli was drawn from her reverie, her sharp gaze slicing toward Elder Mu as she sneered, "What now, Elder Mu? Are you trying to use my parents to manipulate me?"

The old man's face stiffened, and he quickly tried to explain. "You misunderstand, Sixth Miss. That wasn't my intention. Qingche!" He cast a pleading look at Gu Qingche, clearly hoping for help to diffuse the situation.

Gu Qingche looked equally conflicted. He, too, understood the pill's value—even he was tempted. But the Gu family had treated Xiaoli abominably. What right did they have to ask for her loyalty now?

"Qingli, the Gu family has Grand Warrior Pills as well. With your current strength, I believe the Patriarch would not be stingy," Gu Qingche said through clenched teeth. He could not ignore Elder Mu's plea, yet he also couldn't bear to see Xiaoli suffer unjustly.

After all, if the Gu family were willing to invest in her, she stood to gain tremendously. With her astonishing potential, she might even ascend to the royal tier in time.

He couldn't just watch her fall into the hands of someone like Sikong Ran—a proud, arrogant noble with no real depth.

"You think I care about that?" Gu Qingli lifted her eyes to him and gave a light laugh.

Sikong Ran, who had been watching intently, raised an eyebrow at her words, a trace of smugness creeping into his expression. "So, Sixth Miss, have you reached a decision?"

Gu Qingli glanced at the fifteen-year-old pampered heir, then at He Zhongyi, who had so easily forced Gu Qingche back. Her lips curved into a cold, mocking smile.

"The Grand Warrior Pill may be rare—but even without it, I am still not inferior to any of you."

The square fell into a deafening silence. All were dumbstruck.

No one had expected Gu Qingli to speak such words.

It was a blatant insult to Sikong Ran—implying that even with the pill, he was still no match for her natural strength.

"Pfft!" A laugh burst from Senior Bai nearby, immediately drawing icy glares from the City Lord's entourage. But once he laughed, the students from the Holy Academy couldn't hold back either—their laughter echoed loud and unrestrained through the square.