"Then I'll take my leave and head outside the sect. There are matters I need to handle at the Gu Clan Mansion."
Ming Hui looked at Gu Qinghe and gave a brief, slow nod. With the permission token in hand, Gu Qinghe no longer needed Ming Hui's approval to leave.
Gu Qinghe turned his head. Lin Ruyue did not respond, only watching him with a serious gaze.
Li Xiaoman and the others were still visibly shocked, especially at the sight of their rival successfully breaking into the Core Formation realm.
He summoned his flying sword and shot off from the sect's main hall toward the gates.
The permission token flew forward, striking the sect's protective barrier and automatically opening a passage that allowed Gu Qinghe to fly out of the sect.
Ming Hui glanced at the other disciples, signaling them to refocus on training and sharpening their techniques. Elsewhere, Lin Ruyue stared straight ahead.
The agreement between her and Gu Qinghe had been set. Only with the Gu Clan's resources could she obtain that pill and break through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Meanwhile, Gu Qinghe flew through the air while changing his clothes with his qi. He replaced the Yin-Yang Sect robes with the distinctive robes of the Gu Clan.
Cultivators below could clearly see it—a member of the Gu Clan flying over their small city.
Wearing the Gu Clan robes is safer for me than wearing Yin-Yang robes. I don't know which sects are hostile toward the Yin-Yang Sect.
From afar, Gu Sheng City came into view, grand and imposing. At the city's center, the Gu Clan Mansion stood tall, ruling over the city like an unshakable pillar.
Several city guards looked up as a cultivator in golden robes entered the city.
No one dared to stop him. They all recognized the robes of the Gu Clan.
Gu Qinghe had not returned to the city for a full year, and many changes had taken place.
More buildings had risen, taller and denser. Cultivators and mortals mingled freely on the streets, and peace in Gu Sheng City remained well maintained.
Gu Qinghe flew straight toward the clan mansion. He landed directly and put away his flying sword. Two guards at the mansion gate rushed forward to stop him.
They acted out of ignorance—they did not recognize Gu Qinghe.
"Stop. You're entering the Gu Clan Mansion without permission!" they shouted.
Gu Qinghe turned sharply, releasing just enough Core Formation pressure to intimidate them.
Both guards dropped to their knees, unable to withstand his cultivation pressure.
"I am Gu Qinghe," he said coldly.
The two guards were stunned. One of them hurriedly apologized.
"I thought an intruder had arrived. So it's you, Qinghe."
Gu Qinghe lifted his gaze forward. Gu Yanxue was walking out of the clan mansion alone.
He flicked his hand aside, withdrawing the pressure from the guards.
"A Core Formation cultivator? That's truly impressive," Gu Yanxue praised.
She stepped forward, walking down the stairs until she stood directly before Gu Qinghe.
She did not know why Gu Qinghe had come to Gu Sheng City, but Elder Gu Han had already reported that he had delivered the message to him.
Gu Yanxue guessed that Gu Qinghe already knew about Wang Yunxi's situation.
"It seems I don't need to explain Lady Wang's condition to you, do I?"
Gu Qinghe shook his head and walked alongside Gu Yanxue as they strolled through the garden. She explained many things that had happened while he was away.
"Father went to attend a clan meeting. Gu Yanxing will be returning soon. Gu Qingyin is still in Tianyun."
Gu Qinghe smiled faintly. "I don't really care about them. I came here for the Gu Clan's resources."
The woman beside him narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Gu Qinghe stopped walking when she asked that.
"I can't tell you. All you need to know is that this is related to Wang Yunxi's recovery."
"What do you want? Pills? Techniques?"
"Spirit stones," Gu Qinghe replied.
"Only that?"
"And two elders at the Golden Core level."
Gu Yanxue fell silent for a moment, her sharp gaze fixed on Gu Qinghe as she tried to discern his intentions.
After considering all possibilities, she arrived at only one conclusion.
"You want to participate in an auction?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Where? What are you after?"
Gu Qinghe shook his head. "I already told you—I can't explain that."
Gu Yanxue let out a sigh and resumed walking.
"Father isn't here. Yanxing isn't either. That means I'm the only one who can approve this," she said.
"I can't agree unless you explain your reasons."
Gu Qinghe was bound by his status within the clan mansion.
As the second daughter of the First Madam of the Gu Clan, Gu Yanxue held full authority over the approval and allocation of clan resources.
He couldn't force her hand, let alone fight her. Even though she was at Late Core Formation, Gu Qinghe had no intention of clashing with her given their good relationship.
In the end, he had no choice.
He began explaining Lin Ruyue's situation to Gu Yanxue, along with the agreement between them.
She listened carefully, her eyes narrowing as she studied him.
"The Spirit Infant Pill is used to break through to Nascent Soul. Don't you want it as well?"
Gu Qinghe stepped forward until he stood directly in front of her.
"I have my own way of breaking through to Nascent Soul."
She fell silent, locking eyes with him as if testing his resolve.
"You need to be careful and always have a backup plan. Not everyone can be trusted so easily."
This time, Gu Qinghe agreed with her. Hypocrites were far more common than honest people.
When the world judged everything by strength alone, what use was morality?
"I know."
"The Second Madam Gu is still part of the Gu Clan. No matter what, Wang Yunxi is still my aunt."
After a long silence, Gu Yanxue finally turned to look at him again. She agreed to allocate clan resources for the upcoming auction.
However, she would still demand Gu Qinghe's contribution toward saving Wang Yunxi's life.
"Wang Yunxi is my purpose at this auction. Of course I'll cure her."
Gu Yanxue nodded. She turned and instructed an elder to prepare the resources Gu Qinghe needed.
The elder complied respectfully, promising to have everything ready within a day.
She looked back at Gu Qinghe.
"You've come to the Gu Clan Mansion. Aren't you going to visit the Wang Clan Mansion as well?"
"I will, after I finish my business here."
Gu Qinghe's eyes swept to the side, searching for a familiar figure.
"Where is Xiao Mei?"
Gu Yanxue's attention shifted as well. She looked toward the wooden house beneath the tree.
"Father and I agreed to send her to Bai Dan Valley," she said.
"It's a suitable place for her to learn pill refinement."
Gu Qinghe nodded. Bai Dan Valley was indeed a good choice—their understanding of pill refinement was extensive. Still, when it came to sheer pill resources, he preferred Tianlu Sect.
But whatever path Xiao Mei chose was ultimately up to her. Gu Qinghe would only support her—so that one day, she could support him in return with the finest pills.
"As for that… I won't object."