Chapter 97: Chapter 93: Choose for Yourself!

Gu Yuan’s escape light moved slowly, not swiftly, as if waiting for something. However, after a few breaths in the air with no one catching up, he sped up the escape light, leaving Yunxuan Island in the direction of Qianyuan Cave.

But before he descended onto Golden Yuan Island, he saw a commotion on the island, a crowd of people in colorful clothes, all gathered around his Qianyuan Cave.

"Senior Brother Gu, is it really Senior Brother Gu returning?!"

Just as Gu Yuan was puzzled, a warm greeting came from in front of Qianyuan Cave.

Gu Yuan descended from the escape light, only to see a young man wearing an Eight-leaf Daoist Robe, with the word "Jiang" embroidered on the cuff, enthusiastically waving at him.

Gu Yuan had some recollection of this person, who was the one contending for the profound grass earlier today.

Behind the young man, stood over twenty tall and beautiful women in dazzling attire.

Each woman held a different gift in her hands, with some holding a golden bell, others a jade lamp, or a coral jade tree... At a glance, they were dazzling and eye-catching.

"Senior Brother Gu, you finally returned. I haven’t even attended the Profound Grass Banquet, waiting here all along!"

The young man seemed familiar, coming close to Gu Yuan, trying to hold his hand, but Gu Yuan subtly avoided it.

Unbothered, he settled for holding onto Gu Yuan’s sleeve, still full of enthusiasm.

"Junior Brother Jiang, if you have something to say, speak freely..."

Gu Yuan sighed and said helplessly.

He already had some guesses about the young man’s visit.

The Cyan Peak Daoist School, with its long-standing heritage and numerous families, was lively with social exchanges. Normally, disciples from those major families spent their days drinking and having fun, living carefree lives.

However, the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, being mostly of humble lineage, was silent, with most island disciples practicing bitterly in the mountains.

Yet, after gaining fame, the silence would no longer be there.

"Senior Brother Gu, your overpowering performance today was truly unrivaled, and I admire you greatly!"

"Previously, I was short-sighted and never visited, but today I come to apologize, offering three hundred spirit stones, a coral jade tree, and a soothing golden bell..."

The young man apologized as he handed an invitation card to Gu Yuan.

"Cultivators remain pure-hearted and desireless, no need for such generous gifts."

"We’ve never met, and ’apology’ is unnecessary, please go back!"

Gu Yuan waved his sleeve, shaking the young man off, then turned and entered the cave mansion.

"Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Gu, I have a younger sister, eighteen years old, a true beauty..."

The young man continued calling from behind, but Gu Yuan had already activated the array, disappearing from his sight.

In the distance, two more large groups, with colored ribbons fluttering, just entered the Golden Yuan Island’s realm. Seeing this, each one helplessly stomped their feet.

...

...

Cultivators, unless they achieve the great path, cannot avoid social interactions, especially within major sects.

However, being distracted by mundane affairs before Foundation Establishment is unwise. Trying to bind a Qi Refining Ninth Layer seed with trivial benefits is truly laughable.

Gu Yuan activated the grand array to isolate all interference, then took out a jade box containing the Gold-Slaying Mysterious Grass.

"Zheng!"

A barely audible sword hum sounded in the cave, with specks of golden light reverberating without end. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"It’s been delayed for a long time, time to break through the barrier and complete the final step."

Gu Yuan looked at the dazzling golden and radiant mysterious grass in the box and smiled slightly.

Within the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, only this final hurdle had taken much time, having attempted several times. But once the grass was ingested, everything would go as planned.

Afterwards, preparations for Foundation Establishment could be made at ease.

Compared to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, Foundation Establishment was the real challenge.

Luckily, he already had some clues.

"Zheng zheng!"

Gu Yuan took out the mysterious grass, without hesitation, directly stuffed it into his mouth.

This magical grass required no refinement, merely swallowing it was enough.

"Shua!"

The moment the grass entered, it seemed like a living creature, like a golden fish or a golden sharp sword, charging through Gu Yuan’s body.

"Zheng!"

"Dang!"

Accompanied by the collision sound, as if sword qi was humming, Gu Yuan felt the originally immovable shackles within him being cut through inch by inch by an invisible blade.

"Boom!"

The spiritual qi in the cave, without any wind, surged into Gu Yuan’s body.

"Hulala!"

It was as if the sound of a great river flowing, reverberating endlessly, as Gu Yuan’s momentum climbed higher and higher.

Moreover, within the sound of the great river, there were also the sounds of sword hums. The Peach Blossom Sword Seal within Gu Yuan’s dantian, wrapped in endless mana, became increasingly dazzling, as if cast in molten gold, exuding a cold and chilling aura at the edges.

There was a flourishing brilliance, flashing incessantly.

"Xiu!"

But just then, a inhalation sound came from the cave.

The last Dharma Fruit on the Little Giant Divine Wood transformed into a cyan stream of light, which Gu Yuan swallowed into his stomach.

The mana, which was about to stop surging within him, flowed relentlessly again, growing stronger.

"Hu!"

After a long time, Gu Yuan exhaled, and the turbulent mana within him slowly ceased.

"The mana required for Qi Refining Ninth Layer is several times more than the Eighth Layer. To cultivate to its peak, several years would be needed."

Gu Yuan opened his eyes, feeling his still heavy, yet seemingly empty dantian and meridians, couldn’t help but sigh.

Cultivation is far from simple.

Even though he had seized many spirit stones, it only meant he could sustain his reclusive cultivation without needing extra expenditure.

However, reducing cultivation time is not that easy.

Mild pills, though not harmful, offer limited potency and can barely shorten the time frame. Potent medicine, while it can greatly accelerate cultivation, it’s hard not to harm the foundation.

That’s why Gu Yuan’s Little Giant Divine Wood was his fortune, aiding him in rapidly and safely achieving a breakthrough.

Besides that, only various treasures or top-grade pills can have such effects.

"I still have many spirit stones on hand; if I seek treasures to enhance cultivation, I should manage to afford it..."

"But in doing so, the provisions for Foundation Establishment must be reconsidered..."

"If Bian Chuyao could cooperate, that would be ideal..."

Weighing his current resources, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh.

He did not intend to miss Zhongshan Secret Ruins.

The Three Heart Seal is a rare body seal; obtaining it would greatly aid his future cultivation and be indispensable for Foundation Establishment.

Even without Bian Chuyao’s invitation, he would find an opportunity to enter the Secret Ruins to seek this seal. Fortunately, since Bian Chuyao invited him, Gu Yuan naturally intended to hitch a ride and extract some benefits.

Like handling public affairs for private matters, it’s bound to be advantageous.

Unexpectedly, after Bian Chuyao coaxed him for so long, singing praises, there was no further action?

Did she give up so easily?

"Dang!"

Just as Gu Yuan was puzzled, a golden sword sound suddenly came from the cave mansion.

With a thought, Gu Yuan opened a gap in the cave mansion’s array, and a communication golden sword fell into his palm.

On the golden sword was a long list of names for various spirit grasses, treasures, and pills.

At the end of the list, were three elegant and confident characters.

"Choose yourself!"