"Oppa, this is so much fun! When Immortal Legacy is released, I'll play it too," Kim Ji-eun said excitedly.
As promised, Kim Ji-eun played the virtual game with Kim Joon-ho's permission. It was already night, and Kim Ji-eun returned the Pod to her older brother.
"Alright, alright, play later. When I have more money," Kim Joon-ho explained, chuckling.
Kim Ji-eun nodded confidently and ran towards her room, not looking back because of her excitement.
"She looks like a child," Kim Joon-ho said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Kim Joon-ho entered his room, "Let's see what's going on, ever since the clan war."
He turned on the Pod, lying down on his bed, and was once again sucked into another world.
Gu Xuanyi opened his eyes, his gaze lazy and annoyed. "Look, I'm back. So how much have I improved?" he muttered, looking around.
He waved his hand, tapping the holographic screen that appeared. He was curious about his current cultivation level.
[Status:] [Name: Gu Xuanyi]
[Race: Human]
[Title: Unknown]
[Level: 41]
[Faction: Clan Gu]
[Talent: Primordial Consciousness Talent] [Cultivation Technique: Manual Art Of Demon]
[Martial Technique: Unknown]
[Realm: Lower Realm (Mortal)]
[Stage: Circulation Qi]
[Layer: 1/10]
Kim Joon-ho, "Finally! Finally, I've done it! I've managed to improve this character, Gu Xuanyi! Hahaha!" He jumped up, responding to his happiness.
He kept scrolling through the hologram screen, a notification with a bell icon remained unopened.
[Successfully completed Hidden Mission!] [Test your talent on the Pillar of Rebirth Stone] [Completed.]
[Accumulating Rewards!] [Primordial Consciousness successfully obtained!]
His ears buzzed, and his head felt like it was on fire, "Argghhh!" He groaned in pain, clutching his head.
Gu Xuanyi staggered, "Damn, this feels too real." Gu Xuanyi collapsed, helpless.
Though Gu Xuanyi's body was unconscious, Kim Joon-ho's consciousness stood in the void.
He looked at a replica of the entire Gu Clan residence. Kim Joon-ho moved, reshaping into a soul-like form, with a golden light without a distinct shape.
Kim Joon-ho walked into the archive room from before, as if everything had been devoured into this empty room, all kinds of books appeared.
It was as if he were the owner of the Divine Library, inside the formation array. He could control the movement of every part of the room.
An idea crossed his mind, "With this, I can continue the Gu Clan's legacy." His hand clenched tightly, his face bright with confidence.
Gu Xuanyi opened his eyes, and Kim Joon-ho once again possessed the character's body. "Yuhan," said Gu Xuanyi softly.
Gu Yuhan, Gu Xuanyi's personal servant, immediately entered. She opened the door and bowed politely, "I'm here, young master."
"What's happening at the border?" Gu Xuanyi asked expressionlessly.
Gu Yuhan hesitated, "How could the young master notice the chaos at the border? Hasn't he been busy with closed-door training?"
"Gu Yuhan," called Gu Xuanyi, snapping the servant from her trance.
"My apologies, young master," said Gu Yuhan, bowing her head. She quickly steadied her anxious heart. "The border is in chaos, young master. The Ning Clan and Luo Clan are attacking the southern border, while the Qian Clan and Huo Clan are attacking the eastern border."
Kim Joon-ho clearly understood how dangerous the situation was. Though the borders were guarded by representatives from the clans, as the young master of the Gu Clan, he needed to take action.
As a direct descendant of the Gu Clan, he needed to cultivate using the Gu insects. Among the thousands of Gu insects, there was one that was especially difficult for some descendants to control.
"Gu Asal," Kim Joon-ho thought, chuckling. If he cultivated with the Gu Asal, he could control other people's Gu insects.
"Yuhan, bring me a thousand Spirit Stones, Blood Root Powder, Demonic Beast Bones, and Demonic Beast Blood. Prepare ten of the clan's deadliest poisons and bring them here," ordered Gu Xuanyi firmly.
Gu Yuhan quickly left, moving swiftly to prepare everything needed.
"Why does the young master need poison? Is he going to cultivate with poison?" Gu Yuhan wondered, her steps quick as she rushed to the eastern pavilion's warehouse.
Her hands moved deftly, gathering all the required materials. "If it's the deadliest poison, I'll need permission from the clan leader," she muttered as she quickly instructed another servant to bring the items she had gathered.
A figure in a black hood startled Gu Yuhan as she was running. The figure presented a black plaque with luxurious golden writing, marked with the family head's symbol. "Go to the Poison Pavilion, with this token you can directly use the clan's highest level poisons."
Gu Yuhan nodded, "Thank you, senior." She immediately turned and ran in the opposite direction, leaving the figure behind in the long corridor.
Breathing heavily, Gu Yuhan arrived in front of the Poison Pavilion. "Hah, hah. Finally, I'm here."
She entered quickly and met Elder Fuyi. "Elder, I'm Gu Yuhan, personal servant of young master Gu Xuanyi. I seek permission to use the Ten Deadliest Poisons." She handed the plaque and bowed respectfully to Elder Fuyi.
"How much does the young master need?" asked Elder Fuyi, his voice hoarse. "With the current situation at the border, several inner disciples will use it for battle. I can only give you two boxes of each type," he continued with a sharp gaze.
"I thank you for your generosity, Elder. I will accept them," Gu Yuhan responded respectfully.
Elder Fuyi chuckled lightly. "A polite girl." He then pulled out a small porcelain bottle, "Take this as well, little girl. Give it to the young master."
Gu Yuhan froze for a moment, "Is Elder Fuyi really this kind?"
Gu Yuhan quickly reacted when Elder Fuyi spoke again.
"Little girl, stop daydreaming and go."
Gu Yuhan, embarrassed, quickly stored everything into her storage pouch and left.
She hurried back to the Eastern Pavilion.
"Youth master!" Gu Yuhan called with a satisfied expression. She slammed the door of the Eastern Pavilion.
With confidence, she stepped forward and opened the door to the room. "Young master?!"
Her eyes widened in shock, staring at the ancient formation array perfectly drawn, freezing her in place.
"Demonic energy... so strong," Gu Yuhan thought, her face paling. Her body trembled as if facing a Demonic Beast. "How could this be? What is the young master doing with this?" she murmured in disbelief.
Gu Yuhan couldn't believe it. Since half a month ago, her young master's temperament had changed, as if he were a different person.
Gu Xuanyi turned, with golden light flashing in his eyes. Gu Yuhan immediately fell to her knees, begging for forgiveness.
Her hands shook violently, the surrounding Demonic Qi was suffocating.
A blue centipede, the size of a forearm, emerged from the red light pouring from the formation.
Gu Xuanyi continued his ritual, biting his thumb and dripping his blood onto the formation.
The red light surged, piercing through the roof and reaching the sky, creating an immense pressure.
Gu Xuanyi stepped into the formation with all his strength. His body felt heavy, the gravity inside far beyond normal. His hands moved, trying to read the incantation to bind the Gu Asal.
The blue centipede writhed. After drinking Gu Xuanyi's blood, its color changed to a dark red-black. It then entered Gu Xuanyi's body.
The centipede disappeared like vapor. The summoning ritual was complete. Unlike other Gu insects, this process was just the beginning.
Gu Xuanyi floated above the formation, his Qi overflowing. His eyelids completely turned maroon.
His body felt light, and warm energy flowed faster within him. "Did I break through?" Gu Xuanyi asked, his face full of wonder.
The maroon light pillar faded, dissipating like water evaporating. Gu Xuanyi's body slowly touched the ground. He immediately turned and looked at the girl who had been kneeling and trembling all this time.
"Yuhan, what about the poisons?" Gu Xuanyi asked casually, his aura returning to its golden brilliance.
Gu Yuhan snapped back to attention and quickly pulled out her storage pouch. "Inside are the ten deadliest poisons of the clan," she explained hesitantly.
Gu Xuanyi nodded, reaching for the pouch in front of her. He grinned as he retrieved twenty sets of poison.
In the inner hall of the clan leader's residence, Gu Aotian grinned, laughing as he said, "Very good! Very good! Successfully cultivated with Gu Asal. Hahaha, my wife, look at our son."
"My dear, I've told you to trust Xuan'er, is that really so hard?" Gu Xianru replied gently, watching the miraculous phenomenon, which was a blessing for them both.
Gu Aotian puffed out his chest, scowling at his wife's words, "Huh, trust him? Look at his behavior yesterday, he'll climb over the fence and run away whenever he's bored. So what's there to trust?!"
"What about now? Isn't he better?" Gu Xianru asked softly, her voice so gentle it seemed to touch every part of the world's pity.
"Bah, let him be. I don't care. Let's see his actions this time," Gu Aotian grumbled in frustration.
He seemed firm, but in his heart, Gu Aotian hoped for the good leadership qualities of his only son. If his son couldn't improve, perhaps it would be better to lock him in the residence. What could that crazy child do, always searching for Mystic Beasts and Spiritual Plants? Gu Aotian shook his head, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
Unlike the couple's hopes, the older Gu Renfang, the clan elder, wore a cynical expression, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Just a useless son, he can't even repel the enemies at the border, so what's the use of your child?" he thought bitterly.
"Brother, how is Guangzhou?" Gu Aotian asked, looking worried.
Gu Renfang chuckled, seeing his younger brother's face. "Look at that, all just a facade. What's the use of worrying? Shouldn't you be grateful if Guangzhou falls?" he thought rebelliously.
Gu Renfang sipped his green tea. "Third brother, you don't need to worry. I've come to help with the border. If the southern border falls, the main road to Guangzhou will be taken over."
Gu Aotian understood his eldest brother's line of thinking. "Clearly, he wants to take credit for the clan, huh? Look at him, even like a child wanting to buy candy?" Gu Aotian thought with derision.
With a forced smile, Gu Aotian responded, "Brother, you are wise. Then it's decided, you'll take care of the southern border. I'll handle the rest."
"You don't need to be polite, third brother. It's all for the clan's benefit," Gu Renfang replied with a hidden smirk. He immediately turned and left after saying that.
Gu Aotian massaged his temples, letting out a heavy sigh as he murmured softly, "Hah, look at him. His temperament is more like that of a thousand-year-old raccoon."
Gu Xianru remained silent the entire time, not wanting to escalate the situation further. Her silence was the only solution she could offer to support her husband.
After leaving the clan leader's residence, Gu Renfang walked confidently, his face brimming with satisfaction. He muttered, "Third brother, with this, I will seize the clan leader's position. You even have a useless child."
"Father, should we hold the eastern border in Nanfang City?" asked a young man casually. His hair was tied up with a silver needle serving as a hairpin. His demeanor was calm and composed, wearing a bright red silk robe with elegant white patterns.
"Yujian, keep an eye on Gu Xuanyi. I don't want that trash interfering with our plans," Gu Renfang instructed sharply.
Gu Yujian nodded. "Yes, Father, your son accepts the order." As he walked away, a sly grin appeared on his face. "Xuanyi, I will crush your arrogance!" he declared with ambition.
As Gu Yujian finally left the Main Residence, a beautiful young woman with an elegant sunrise-colored outfit and a jade hairpin greeted him gracefully.
"Yujian, is everything all right?" the young woman's soft voice greeted Gu Yujian. She was his fiancée, Bai Qingxian, a descendant of the Bai clan.
"Everything is settled. Father told us to keep an eye on that trash boy," Gu Yujian replied discontentedly.
"In that case, there's no need to return. Let's go meet Xuanyi," Bai Qingxian said confidently.
"Haish, no need to bother. Let some people watch him; he's not that important," Gu Yujian replied, pulling Bai Qingxian's arm. "Now let's head to Nanfang. It's too rotten here."
The corners of Bai Qingxian's lips lifted as she nodded, following Gu Yujian's steps to the carriage.
"Get in first, Qing'er," Gu Yujian said, guiding his fiancée into the carriage.
Bai Qingxian chuckled lightly. "All right, I'll get in."
Her laughter momentarily captivated Gu Yujian. "This is my future wife, so beautiful and enchanting," he thought as he climbed in.
Approaching her gently, Gu Yujian cupped Bai Qingxian's delicate face, their lips meeting briefly. The soft kiss startled Bai Qingxian.
Her face flushed as she quickly covered her mouth with both hands, turning away abruptly.
"What's wrong, Qing'er?" Gu Yujian asked casually.
Bai Qingxian's heart raced, her ears turning red. Her face looked like a ripe tomato.
Seeing his fiancée's reaction, Gu Yujian chuckled softly.
"Ahem, don't overdo it, Yujian. We can't behave indecently here," Bai Qingxian said shyly.
Gu Yujian merely nodded. "Fine, I won't do it." Turning toward the carriage door, his expression changed.
"Watch Gu Xuanyi closely. I don't want you missing any information about him. When the time is right, slip Deer Grass Poison into his food. Let him taste a bit of suffering," Gu Yujian instructed firmly.
An older man with a long white beard, dressed in black silk embroidered with unique silver patterns resembling mountain landscapes, nodded in acknowledgment. "Rest assured, young master. This old man will handle it."
"Then let me see the skills of your people," Gu Yujian replied indifferently.
"Yujian, who is he? He looks intimidating," Bai Qingxian asked, concerned.
"Qing'er, he's part of Father's secret force. No need to worry. They're very competent. Let's focus on our own matters," Gu Yujian teased with a sly grin. Turning to the coachman, he commanded, "Head to Nanfang and go to the Blue Lotus Inn."
"Yes, young master," the coachman replied, urging the horses forward.
"Just because you're a young master, treating an old man like this is cruel. No wonder our Guo clan fell apart," the old man remarked with a regretful expression.
"Guo He, Guo Lin, Guo Binchang. You three are young disciples born of the Guo clan. This will be your most challenging mission. Keep a close watch on Gu Xuanyi. Though often called trash, use the Deer Grass Poison to disrupt his cultivation," the middle-aged man instructed calmly.
"Yes, Master. We accept the order!" the three responded enthusiastically.