Fang Yuan wiped away Chang Jiyou's tears, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze: "Why are you crying? You are my son — the Wolf King's son. You may bleed, but you must not shed tears."
The word "son" sent a violent tremor through Chang Jiyou's heart, as if he had been struck by lightning.
Enormous joy, like a tsunami, swept through his heart. "Father finally acknowledges me as his son! He called me that with his own lips!!!"
All the grievances he had accumulated in recent days, the pressure he bore, the anger and shame he had stored up, the grief over his adoptive father's death — all of it was greatly alleviated and released in this moment.
He couldn't help but weep with joy, but Fang Yuan's words still echoed in his ears. He held back with great effort, his face twisted in strain, his lips bitten through, yet tears still kept welling up.
He opened his mouth, wanting to call out "Father," but didn't dare. He could only apologize repeatedly, sobbing: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Fang Yuan gently patted his shoulder and said warmly, "Do you know what your greatest shortcoming is?"
Chang Jiyou was momentarily stunned.
Fang Yuan continued in a firm tone, "Your greatest shortcoming is that you are not strong enough."
"Not strong enough?" Chang Jiyou stopped sobbing and stared through tear-blurred eyes at the towering figure before him.
"Here are Gold She Li Gu, enough for you to climb to the peak of the Fourth Transformation. And Purple Crystal She Li Gu, which will allow you to make rapid progress in the Fifth Transformation." Fang Yuan produced two handfuls of She Li Gu and pressed them into Chang Jiyou's hands.
Chang Jiyou accepted them in a daze, and then surging waves of gratitude flooded his heart.
"Is... is this what fatherly love is! So many poets have praised fatherly love as heavy as mountains and deep as the sea... Today, I have finally felt it for myself!"
"Father..." Chang Jiyou choked with emotion. Looking at Fang Yuan, he kowtowed once more.
"A young eagle that does not endure the trial of wind and frost will never have wings as hard as iron. A young horse that never falls will never run like the wind. I have long heard reports about the Chang family's affairs, but I will not intervene. Grow stronger. Accept this trial. Take control of the clan and use it to establish your authority — that is what you must do. I will be watching you from behind the scenes," Fang Yuan said.
"Father, your child... your child is ashamed..." Being watched so closely by his "biological father" filled Chang Jiyou with both excitement and a deep sense of trepidation.
Fang Yuan waved his hand dismissively. "I know your concerns. You're worried that your aptitude is insufficient and that you won't be able to break through to the Fifth Transformation? It doesn't matter. Not only will I raise your aptitude, but I will also teach you a set of strength-path killing moves of immense and unparalleled power! This is your father's signature technique — even during the battle at the Royal Court, I only used thirty percent of its true might."
"What?" Chang Jiyou's jaw dropped, overwhelmed with shock and delight.
His father actually had the means to raise his aptitude, and was going to teach him strength-path killing moves!
This was the very technique his father had used in the decisive battle against the Ma Family — and he had only used thirty percent of its power!!
"Father. He really is my biological father. Though Adoptive Father Chang Biao treated me well, he was nothing compared to my biological father. This is the deepest bond of blood. Father... He is going to cultivate me with all his might!" After the initial shock, even greater and more overwhelming joy surged through Chang Jiyou's heart.
"Next, I will raise your aptitude. Relax your mind and calm your heart. Sleep now, sleep, get a good rest first." Fang Yuan's voice was warm and soothing, while secretly he activated the hypnotism Gu.
Chang Jiyou's emotions had been on a wild roller coaster. He was already exhausted. And he trusted Fang Yuan completely. Under the Gu's influence, he quickly fell into a deep slumber.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly and produced the Blood Skull Gu.
This Gu had an entirely crystalline texture, no larger than an infant's skull, easily held in the palm of one hand.
At this moment, however, it was satiated with fresh blood, its entire surface a vivid crimson, pulsing with an eerie, sinister blood-light.
This blood had been secretly harvested by Fang Yuan, who had been covertly killing members of the Chang family these past days.
In his deep sleep, the corners of Chang Jiyou's mouth curved upward in a blissful smile. He would never have imagined that the mastermind behind the recent string of assassinations targeting Chang family members was none other than the "biological father" he revered and adored most.
Even outsiders like Hei Loulan had been kept in the dark, none of them suspecting Fang Yuan.
"Go." With a flick of his will, the Blood Skull Gu slowly flew from his palm and circled once around Chang Jiyou.
Then the Blood Skull Gu hovered above the crown of Chang Jiyou's head, its mouth opening to release a stream of pungent, thick blood.
The blood seeped directly into Chang Jiyou's scalp, skin, and hair, flowing along the meridians of his body and ultimately converging in his Empty Orifice.
Chang Jiyou's aptitude began to rise, slowly but surely.
When Chang Jiyou finally woke, Fang Yuan had already vanished without a trace.
What had happened before felt like a dream, leaving Chang Jiyou wondering if any of it had been real.
But the pile of Gu insects left on the ground, along with the ample provisions, were undeniable proof that it had all truly happened.
"Heavens, my aptitude has truly risen — it's at ninety-six percent now!!" After examining his own Empty Orifice, Chang Jiyou cried out in elation.
"For the next few days, stay here and focus on your cultivation. Use all the She Li Gu your father has left you. Once you do, your cultivation will reach the High Stage of the Fifth Transformation. The other Gu insects on the ground are all ones I am lending you for now. Among them is an East Window Gu that contains the detailed instructions for the killing moves. Simply practice according to what it records."
An echoing voice reached Chang Jiyou's ears.
Chang Jiyou was overwhelmed with excitement. "Ah, that is Father's voice! Father, your child will never let you down. Your child will definitely become a Fifth Transformation Gu Master and master those killing moves!"