Chapter 26 - 24: Big Shot, Gu Qingyan’s Secret Assistance

Chapter 26: Chapter 24: Big Shot, Gu Qingyan’s Secret Assistance

"Uncle Bai, what do you mean? Is Jiang Hao’s father related to the Celestial Sword Sect?" Gu Qingyan was slightly taken aback. This was indeed an important supplementary piece of information.

Bai Wufeng seemed to know what Gu Qingyan was worried about and immediately spoke. "There is quite a significant connection, but it’s not a friendly one. Before Father Jiang went missing back then, it seemed he had a fierce battle with the experts of the Celestial Sword Sect. However, the cause of the conflict remains unknown."

"A fierce battle?" Gu Qingyan was somewhat surprised. Initially, when she heard that the Qi family had attached themselves to the Celestial Sword Sect, which was under the Celestial Sword Academy of the Sword Dynasty, she was quite shocked. However, Bai Wufeng’s subsequent words brought a trace of joy to the stunning face of the Divine Pill Pavilion’s Young Master.

"Father Jiang, the Qi family, the Celestial Sword Academy, the Celestial Sword Sect." After running over this information, Gu Qingyan smiled radiantly and muttered to herself, "Jiang Hao, I said it before—we might truly become friends."

The Celestial Sword Academy was one of the four great academies of the Sword Dynasty, and it had founded the Celestial Sword Sect, one of the ten great Divine Sects of the Sword Dynasty. The one the Qi family had latched onto was naturally the branch sect, the Eastern Domain Celestial Sword Sect. This wasn’t the most important part. The crucial point was that the Celestial Sword Academy was allied with Miaodan Square, which, in a sense, made them a hostile faction to the Divine Pill Pavilion. Since the disappearance of Jiang Hao’s father was related to the Celestial Sword Sect, it meant that the young man could never join hands with Miaodan Square. The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

"Uncle Bai, continue sending people to investigate. Make sure to dig as deeply as possible," Gu Qingyan instructed. After a moment of thought, she added, "However, don’t tell Jiang Hao this news for now, lest it affect his upcoming cultivation. I will find a chance to tell him after his life-and-death duel with Qi Tianyang of the Qi family is over."

As she finished speaking, Bai Wufeng was slightly stunned, clearly catching the underlying meaning in her words. "Young Master, do you think Jiang Hao can win this life-and-death battle? How could that be possible?"

Even Bai Wufeng didn’t think highly of the young man’s chances. For a cultivator at the Peak of Body Refining Realm to defeat a Heaven-favored genius in the Unity Realm with a Celestial Tier martial soul in just three short months was simply a fantasy.

Gu Qingyan, however, smiled mysteriously. Looking at Bai Wufeng, she said, "Uncle Bai, do you really think Jiang Hao is a fool? Someone who could devise a plan to counter the Qi family in a desperate situation—and succeed at that—is no fool."

Bai Wufeng chuckled bitterly. "He’s not a fool, but is there another possibility? Perhaps he knew he couldn’t possibly defeat Qi Tianyang, so he has already given up."

Hearing this, Gu Qingyan shook her head with an even wider smile. "Why would someone who gives up so easily try every possible means to protect himself? Why would he even risk exposing his Alchemy Dao talent?"

At these words, Bai Wufeng instantly realized her point. His scalp went numb as he said, "Could he have a hidden trump card he hasn’t revealed yet? And this trump card can allow him to catch up to Qi Tianyang within three months? But Young Master, how is that possible? Three months to reach the Unity Realm?"

Bai Wufeng couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath of cold air. He didn’t dare to imagine what kind of trump card could allow a cultivator at the Peak of Body Refining Realm to reach the Unity Realm in just three months.

A look of anticipation flashed through Gu Qingyan’s beautiful eyes. "Since it’s a trump card, he naturally won’t tell anyone. We can only discover it ourselves." After speaking, she pursed her lips into a smile and muttered to herself, "Jiang Hao, I’m getting more and more interested in this person."

At the exact same time this scene played out in the Divine Pill Pavilion, a heaven-shaking uproar erupted in the Ye family.

"You surnamed Jiang, how exactly did our Ye family offend you in our past lives for you to push us to the brink of death time and time again?"

"Does this piece of trash think he’s invincible just because he became an Alchemy Master?"

"If he wants to die, he shouldn’t drag the Ye family down with him!"

Endless wailing and agonizing cries echoed throughout the Ye family’s main hall. Outside the hall, Ye Tiannan listened to the earth-shattering commotion inside but didn’t dare step foot through the doors. Instead, he hurried off to the Ye family’s Talent Pavilion.

That night, in Jiang Hao’s courtyard.

"Hao’Er, your father disappeared suddenly back then and didn’t leave any inheritance for you. These are all of the Ye family’s Cultivation Techniques and martial arts. Although our techniques cannot be considered top-tier profound arts, I hope they can be of help to you."

Looking at the large pile of Cultivation Techniques and martial arts laid out on the stone table, Jiang Hao’s heart warmed. In this world, Cultivation Techniques and profound arts were the foundation of a cultivating family and were considered closely guarded secrets. For Ye Tiannan to bring them all out at once was incredibly rare. Ye Tiannan was also filled with helplessness. Although he rejected Jiang Hao’s acceptance of the life-and-death duel from the bottom of his heart, now that things had come to this, he could only stand by Jiang Hao’s side with all his might.

"Hao’Er, how confident are you?" Ye Tiannan couldn’t help but ask after setting down the Ye family’s techniques and martial arts.

Jiang Hao didn’t answer directly. Instead, he consoled him, "Uncle Ye, please don’t worry. Hao’Er knows what he’s doing."

Hearing this, Ye Tiannan nodded slightly, his mind put somewhat at ease. "Hurry and look through these Cultivation Techniques and martial arts. Are there any that suit you?"

"Thank you, Uncle Ye."

Jiang Hao didn’t act coy; Cultivation Techniques and martial arts were exactly what he needed most right now. Ultimately, he selected one of the Ye family’s most outstanding techniques, the Yellow-Tier Ninth Grade Cultivation Technique, "Nanmin Technique," along with a Yellow-Tier Seventh Grade martial art, "Qinghe Sword Technique." Biting off more than one could chew was never a good idea. In just three short months, the Nanmin Technique would be enough to let him step into the Unity Realm. As for martial arts, the stronger the better, naturally. However, the highest-level martial art the Ye family possessed was the Qinghe Sword Technique, so Jiang Hao had no other choice.

"Uncle Ye, you and Qingxian must take good care of yourselves over these next three months."

That very night, after bidding farewell to Ye Tiannan and Ye Qingxian, Jiang Hao plunged straight into Wuyang Mountain. To grow stronger rapidly, Wuyang Mountain was undoubtedly the best cultivation area. With its abundant Spiritual Qi and roaming ferocious beasts, it was an excellent place for cultivation as well as a rare proving ground. After Jiang Hao left, there was no news of him. He didn’t return until a full month later.

In just that short month, Ye Tiannan was shocked to discover that Jiang Hao had already reached the Peak of the Tenth Meridian Opening. According to the realm classifications of the Celestial Martial Continent, a Cultivator’s progress could be divided into several major realms: Body Refining, Meridian Opening, Pioneering, Unity, Spirit Transformation, Spirit Origin, Foundation Establishment, True Self, Severing Self, Mortal Shedding... And each major realm was further divided into thirteen minor stages: the first to tenth levels, the Completion stage, the Great Perfection stage, and the Peak stage. In other words, during the month Jiang Hao had vanished, he had broken through thirteen minor stages, clearing all the meridians in his body to accumulate Spiritual Power.

"Little fool, take care of yourself."

That night, outside the Ye family’s small courtyard.

Watching Jiang Hao prepare to head to Wuyang Mountain to cultivate once again, Ye Qingxian gave him a reluctant hug. Ever since Jiang Hao first entered Wuyang Mountain, she had spent every day and night on edge. After parting ways with Ye Qingxian and her father, Jiang Hao once again set foot on the path to Wuyang Mountain.

However, when he reached a desolate and uninhabited part of the Earth Realm...

"Who? You... who are you?"

"You can’t kill me! I’m from the Qi family! The Qi family won’t let you off..."

Bursts of terrified cries suddenly rang out from the dark night behind him, followed immediately by a sharp SWISH of a falling blade. It seemed someone had been eradicated in the shadows. Listening to the commotion behind him, Jiang Hao maintained a calm expression, as if this wasn’t the first time. This time, however, he slowly came to a halt and said calmly, "Since you’re already here, don’t you plan on showing your face?"

As Jiang Hao’s voice fell, two figures—one old, one young—slowly walked out from the veil of night.

"I still saved your life, Jiang Hao. How are you going to thank me?" Emerging from the darkness, Gu Qingyan flashed a radiant smile. Standing a short distance away and looking at Jiang Hao, she turned to the elderly man beside her and said lightly, "Uncle Liu, you can step down for now."

"Yes, Miss." Following her voice, the old man bowed slightly. He cast a flat glance at Jiang Hao before his figure flickered, disappearing completely from sight.

Jiang Hao looked at the future master of the Divine Pill Pavilion standing before him, his expression devoid of any ripples. "Why did you help me?"

This wasn’t the first time Gu Qingyan had helped him in secret. In truth, as early as a month ago when Jiang Hao left the Ye family to head for Wuyang Mountain, the Qi family had arranged for experts to follow him covertly. Although Qi Tianyang didn’t take Jiang Hao seriously, the rest of the Qi family remained uneasy, afraid that some unforeseen variable might arise. However, the group tailing him a month ago had barely followed him a short distance before being secretly eliminated. Jiang Hao didn’t even need to think to guess who was secretly assisting him, and Gu Qingyan’s appearance only proved his theory.

Hearing this, Gu Qingyan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, saying, "You made a promise to Uncle Bai, and you still owe the Divine Pill Pavilion an Alchemy session. Therefore, I can’t let you die." Having said that, she walked forward on her own. "Let’s go."

"Where to?"

"Wuyang Mountain, of course." Gu Qingyan glanced back, tilting her head to look at Jiang Hao. "It just so happens that I also want to go to Wuyang Mountain to temper myself. Let’s travel together so we can look out for each other. Great Pill Master Jiang, you wouldn’t refuse a young woman’s request, would you?"

Seeing Jiang Hao’s brows furrow tightly, Gu Qingyan turned around and walked straight into the night, though her melodious voice drifted back. "Don’t worry, I’m not helping you in the name of the Divine Pill Pavilion. You don’t owe the Divine Pill Pavilion anything for this."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao’s face filled with helplessness. He suspected her claim of tempering herself was fake; wanting to see what he would rely on to catch up to Qi Tianyang in a mere three months was the truth. Glancing back toward the darkness where the miserable screams had just echoed, Jiang Hao also slowly vanished into the night, embarking once more on his path of bitter cultivation.

Little did he know, the day after he left Xingyue City, the entire city went into an uproar. However, this time the commotion wasn’t because of Jiang Hao. Rather, it was because an incredibly extraordinary bigshot had arrived in Xingyue City.