AN - I lost motivation for a bit. Give me power stones and reviews
"Are you serious?!"
"A father never lies!" Gu Qingfeng replied calmly, walking slowly to the center of the courtyard. His gaze fell on Gu Yang, standing before him. "Go ahead. You have three chances to attack."
"Very well then, Father, forgive me!" Gu Yang responded, determination shining in his eyes. He was eager to measure the gap between himself, having just broken through the Blood Refining Realm, and his father.
Gu Qingfeng stood still, exuding an air of calm as Gu Yang prepared his assault. Taking a deep breath, Gu Yang summoned all his energy. The air around him seemed to thicken, and a faint mist of blood hovered as he condensed his qi.
"Father, here I come!" Gu Yang shouted as he launched himself forward. His fist tore through the air with tremendous force, like a landslide crashing down. The sheer strength of the blow made Gu Qingfeng nod slightly in approval.
Despite his relatively short time practicing the Gu Family Fist, Gu Yang had already grasped the essence of the martial art. His punch carried the weight of true mastery.
But it was not enough.
Gu Qingfeng's body remained still, protected by a barrier of energy and blood. Gu Yang's fist struck the barrier, meeting resistance like a solid iron wall. The force rebounded, sending Gu Yang stumbling back, his qi in disarray. He struggled to regain balance, his face pale with shock.
"The first strike," Gu Qingfeng remarked casually, his hands clasped behind his back.
Unwilling to concede, Gu Yang took another breath, stabilizing his surging qi. With renewed determination, he attacked again—this time even fiercer. Yet, the result was the same. His fist collided with the energy barrier, and again, he was pushed back.
Desperate, Gu Yang threw a powerful palm strike. The sheer force of it caused the air to crackle, and the heat from the blow surged toward Gu Qingfeng like a blazing wave. But just as his attack landed, Gu Qingfeng's qi erupted. The impact flung Gu Yang into the air. He landed heavily, forced to retreat several steps to steady himself.
"How was that?" Gu Qingfeng asked, a faint smile on his lips.
Gu Yang, still catching his breath, finally bowed his head. "Father, your cultivation is beyond me. I am ashamed to have overestimated myself."
"You must understand, son," Gu Qingfeng said, his voice turning serious. "Though I am strong, I am not the most powerful in the martial world. You cannot even break through my qi barrier—how can you hope to compete in the wider world?"
Gu Yang remained silent, absorbing the lesson.
"Baishidao may seem small, but never assume the people you meet are ordinary. Hidden masters walk among us, and arrogance will only bring defeat. You must recognize your limitations. Only then will you progress."
Gu Qingfeng's expression softened. "However, your talent is undeniable. To break through the Blood Refining Realm at such a young age is no small feat. Continue to train diligently, and you may reach the Bone Refining Realm—or even higher."
"Father will not be here forever. The Gu family will need you to take the helm one day," Gu Qingfeng said, his tone carrying both warning and encouragement.
Gu Yang, deeply moved, nodded solemnly. "I understand, Father."
"Good. Here, take these Blood Refining Pills." Gu Qingfeng handed him a pouch containing eighty pills. "They will help consolidate the foundation of your recent breakthrough. Go and practice."
Though the pills' effectiveness had diminished now that Gu Yang had entered the Blood Refining Realm, they would still be useful for reinforcing his newfound strength.
After Gu Yang left, Gu Qingfeng resumed his own cultivation. Despite having broken through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he knew that many stronger opponents still awaited him.
Pei Jing, the Divine Martial King, was likely at the organ-refining stage, or perhaps even a Grandmaster. And he had powerful warriors under his command. The Tianyang Sword Sect was also a formidable force, with countless strong martial artists among their ranks.
In comparison, merely being at the Marrow Cleansing Realm wasn't enough.
Meanwhile, in Guangyang Prefecture...
Within a dark cave behind the Qingyang Sect, chilling screams echoed briefly before silence fell. The sound of slow, deliberate chewing replaced the cries of terror, reverberating in the gloom.
Outside, Ye Nanqiu, the sect leader of Qingyang, waited calmly, as though such sounds had long become routine for him.
Soon after, the chewing ceased, and a voice from within the cave beckoned. "Come in."
Ye Nanqiu entered. The dim cave was illuminated by a sinister light. Blood splattered the stone walls, and a dozen blood-stained skeletons littered the ground, all disturbingly fresh. Closer inspection revealed that the skeletons belonged to young boys and girls.
At the cave's deepest corner sat an elderly Taoist in green robes. His face was ancient, and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. With a grotesque smile, he extended a scarlet tongue to lick away the remaining blood.
"Disciple greets the ancestor!" Ye Nanqiu bowed.
The Taoist, Patriarch Qingyang, nodded, his eyes gleaming eerily. "I am close to breaking through. I need three thousand boys and girls for the final step. Make the arrangements immediately."
Ye Nanqiu hesitated. "Ancestor, I bring news. A man named Gu Qingfeng has appeared in Baishidao. He destroyed the Qin family, Tiegu Gang, and Tianyun Sect on his own, and now leads the region's martial forces."
"The Qin family has been destroyed?" Patriarch Qingyang's eyes flashed coldly. "What level has this Gu Qingfeng reached?"
"Reports suggest he is at the half-step Bone Refining Realm," Ye Nanqiu replied.
"Hmph, half-step Bone Refining," Qingyang muttered, his expression dark. "The Qin family was useless. Even with our support, they failed to unify Baishidao. Perhaps it is best they were wiped out."
He paused, a sinister smirk creeping onto his face. "No matter who controls Baishidao, they must submit to the Qingyang Sect. Inform the Gu family that they are to deliver three thousand boys and girls within a month. If they refuse... we will take them by force."
His eyes glinted menacingly. "And if this Gu Qingfeng is truly strong, he might make a fine substitute."