Chapter 294: Gu Xiangzhu: I Gambled My Youth on You, and in the End, You Made Me Lose?

Just inject it with True Qi…

More weight.

More hardness.

More toughness.

A real man’s dream.

The spearhead was forged from some unknown metal. Though it was a pure, profound black, you could almost see a bloody light flicker across its surface.

This thing was, without a doubt, a top-tier treasure.

“Not bad!”

Xiang Yunzhan clapped him on the back and couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh. “A First-Grade Flesh Soul really is something else! You haven’t even formed a Divine Pattern, yet you can catch the spear like that. Keep training hard. If you can condense a Celestial Grade Divine Pattern when you break through to the Physical Body Realm, then this Fierce Soul is yours.”

“Fierce Soul? You mean my uncle’s…”

Zhao Ci thought that was a bit ambiguous, so he quickly clarified, “You don’t mean you, my general uncle, but my other uncle… the Marshal?”

Xiang Yunzhan: “???”

‘This damn kid.’

‘They’re both his uncles.’

‘And he just has to make it a competition.’

Zhao Ci grinned. “If you want to give it to me, then just give it. Why add the condition of a Celestial Grade Flesh Body Divine Pattern? Who are you looking down on?”

Xiang Yunzhan snorted. “Anything less than a Celestial Grade Divine Pattern is unworthy of this spear!”

Zhao Ci shot back, “Then what grade is your Flesh Body Divine Pattern?”

Xiang Yunzhan’s expression stiffened. He hemmed and hawed for a long moment before finally forcing out two words: “Earth Grade…”

Zhao Ci chuckled. “And you still use it?”

Xiang Yunzhan’s neck stiffened defiantly. “When Lao Ba was alive, I used to sneak off with his spear all the time. What? Now that he’s six feet under, I can’t use it? Besides, His Majesty gave this spear to me for safekeeping. So what if I fool around with it?

“If you’ve got the confidence to aim for a Celestial Grade Divine Pattern, then work for it.

“If you don’t, then forget it.

“This spear won’t accept a new master who isn’t badass enough anyway.”

As he spoke,

he moved to take the spear back.

Zhao Ci quickly sidestepped him. “Hey, don’t! I’m not done playing with it yet!”

With that,

he stirred his True Qi.

He managed a few clumsy swings.

Without the support of a Divine Pattern, wielding Fierce Soul was a real struggle for him.

In his current state, he didn’t even dare to infuse it with True Qi, because that would add thousands of pounds to its weight.

He wouldn’t be able to lift it at all.

But the difficulty only made him crave it more.

‘This thing is a beast!’

“What a twig!”

Xiang Yunzhan glanced at Zhao Ci’s build—trim, yes, but a far cry from the burly frames of the Xiang Clan—and his expression turned disdainful. “If it weren’t for your First-Grade Flesh Soul, you wouldn’t even be able to lift this spear. The Zhao Clan’s Physical Cultivation Technique might be decent, but your physiques are seriously pathetic.”

“You’re absolutely right!”

Zhao Ci said perfunctorily, though inwardly, he couldn’t disagree more.

‘The standard Xiang Clan physique, like Xiang Yunzhan’s, was indeed the epitome of raw strength, making it perfectly suited for large-scale warfare on the battlefield.’

‘But with the support of the Imperial Extreme True Qi, which was known for its sheer depth, being a muscle-bound behemoth was no longer a prerequisite for being a powerhouse.’

‘A more balanced physique could raise the upper limits of one’s techniques to a whole new level.’

He stroked the shaft of the spear. “This thing is too powerful. If you just give it to me for nothing, I doubt the Imperial Clan Court would agree, right?”

“They’d dare?!”

Xiang Yunzhan started cursing. “Who the hell are they to have an opinion on Lao Ba’s Fierce Soul? If Lao Ba hadn’t stopped the Demon Monarch back in the day, their entire Imperial Clan Court would have been ruined and disgraced! They should be kowtowing to Lao Ba for the very fact that the court still exists. If they dare to disagree, I’ll charge into the Imperial Clan Court and slaughter them all!”

Zhao Ci gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re a badass, Uncle!”

Xiang Yunzhan snatched the spear back and waved his hand impatiently. “You’ve had your fun. Now scram!”

“Huh? You’re kicking me out already?”

Zhao Ci was exasperated. “You dragged me all the way out here just to let me feel up your long spear?”

“What? Were you expecting some other perks?”

Xiang Yunzhan scowled, pointing to the door as he grumbled, “Take that with you when you go. That brat Zhao Qian had someone deliver it. I thought the little shit was finally showing me some respect, but there wasn’t a damn thing in it for me. And he still thinks he can marry my Zenan? Not a chance in hell!”

Zhao Ci: “…”

‘Wait a minute.’

‘Zhao Qian sent it for me?’

‘The Profound Turtle Shell?’

He could barely keep from grinning from ear to ear. “Actually, I think the Heir of King Lie is a fine man, a perfect match for my dear cousin. You’re just being too picky. While Zhao Qian might be a touch weaker than me in a fight, his looks are nearly on par with my own. I ask you, in all of Lingge, who could be a better son-in-law for you?”

“Cut the crap!”

Xiang Yunzhan spat on the ground. “Zhao Qian is as ugly as a twisted melon. You couldn’t find another one like him in the entire Zhao Clan. And you say he’s on par with you? Your pretty-boy face isn’t much better, to be honest. Is being on his level something to be proud of?”

Zhao Ci’s face paled. “I’ve never heard you be so vicious with your insults.”

‘I was just trying to be nice.’

‘Are you really comparing me to Zhao Qian?’

‘Even though that guy’s a Prince, he’s always running around outside, battered by the elements. Plus, he eats a ton, so his face is all dark and round.’

‘He wasn’t hideous, but among the countless handsome men and gorgeous women of the Zhao Clan, he was definitely at the bottom of the pile.’

‘No wonder my cousin appreciates his character but turns a blind eye to his affection.’

‘Such vicious insults.’

Xiang Yunzhan impatiently shoved him out the door. “Scram, scram, scram!”

Zhao Ci: “…”

…

「Night.」

It was time for another night of hard work.

Zhao Ci returned to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion and went straight to the Practice Room.

The moment Zhu Li saw this, she threw a fit, pounding on the door and wailing for Zhao Ci to take her out for some tasty food. She complained that he’d just get another mission tomorrow and leave again, and then she’d have no one to play with for days.

She only left, still skeptical, after Zhao Ci promised he would stay in Lingge for a few more days.

As for Zhao Ci,

once he was sure no one would disturb him, he sat down cross-legged.

He took out the Profound Turtle Shell, using the Yu Xin Flame to heat and crack it into fragments the size of a pinky nail. He then mixed the pieces with supplementary herbs and swallowed them. ⅇℯ𝚕.

Then,

he slapped on the Taotie Talisman.

Bone Forging!

Then, Celestial Demon Body Refining!