Nie Li, like a great Peng, ceaselessly devoured the power of the Heavenly Dao around him.
Within the Map of Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, the winds and clouds churned.
Sensing the terrifying fluctuations of Heavenly Dao power surrounding him, Xiao Yu was deeply shocked. The commotion from Nie Li's cultivation was truly astonishing; given time, it was impossible to imagine what frightening level his cultivation would eventually reach.
She didn't want to be left far behind by Nie Li's cultivation, so she closed her eyes and began to cultivate. In her mind, a distant and faint voice echoed softly.
Guided by this voice, her consciousness gradually grew hazy, as if she were drifting into sleep.
Within the Map of Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, time passed slowly.
The Gu Clan.
Inside Elder Gu Bai's secret chamber.
"Eighth Uncle, I wonder what you think of the matter we discussed? I've heard that Gu Heng doesn't treat you very well. The ones he truly relies on are Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle!" Gu Bei said with a smile to the old man before him.
The old man in white robes before him was none other than the Gu Clan's Eighth Elder, Gu Bai.
Gu Bai squinted at Gu Bei and said, "Gu Bei, what you did in destroying someone's Divine Pool was too much. Even if it's for the position of Patriarch, you cannot cut off someone's future like that. If Gu Heng impeaches you, as the Eighth Elder of the Gu Clan, I must uphold justice for the younger generation!"
Gu Bei secretly cursed inwardly. This Gu Bai was a man who valued profit over righteousness; he had no idea how many benefits Gu Heng had given him.
Though he thought this, Gu Bei's face remained smiling as he said, "Elder Gu Bai's profound sense of justice is well known to me. However, the matter of destroying Gu Heng's Divine Pool is merely his one-sided claim. I merely took his Divine Pool. He was simply too weak to hold onto it; he has no one to blame but himself!"
Gu Bai tapped his fingers on the tabletop. "And what does that mean?"
"I know Gu Heng has been here, Eighth Uncle. Please don't believe his nonsense. This is a small token I've prepared for you, Eighth Uncle. I hope you'll accept it. If we succeed, I will naturally come to express my thanks in person!" Gu Bei said, taking out a cloth bundle from his Space Ring and pushing it before Gu Bai with a cupped-fist salute.
Gu Bai feigned a look of disdain, his lips curling slightly. "Nephew Gu Bei, what is the meaning of this?" With a flick of his right hand, the bundle opened to reveal several dozen Spirit Stone Essences and a sixth-grade treasure tool.
Seeing this, Gu Bai's eyebrows twitched. Elders of his status possessed assets of only a hundred thousand or so Spirit Stones. Gu Bei's gift of dozens of Spirit Stone Essences was equivalent to tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Add the sixth-grade treasure tool, and it was already half his total worth!
"I heard Cousin Gu Heng only gave you a few thousand Spirit Stones, which is rather stingy. As long as you support me, Eighth Uncle, once this matter is settled, I will prepare a truly generous gift!" Gu Bei said with a light smile. "I know cultivation is arduous for you, Eighth Uncle, and requires vast resources. If there is ever anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask!"
"Nephew Gu Bei is too kind. This uncle naturally cannot stand idly by when it concerns you!" Gu Bai said with a hearty laugh.
"Good, with Eighth Uncle's word, my mind is at ease! I still need to visit Ninth Uncle, so I'll take my leave now!" Gu Bei stood up.
"Of course. Take care, Nephew Gu Bai!" Gu Bai also rose, escorting Gu Bei all the way to the door. After watching him depart, he glanced back at the cloth bundle on the table and murmured, "Who would have thought... Gu Bei, this brat, now has such nerve. Gu Heng, oh Gu Heng. It's not that I won't help you. What do you have to compete with?"