I Have 10 Equipment Slots-Chapter 90 - 84: Envy, Jealousy, and Hate

WHOOSH—

Qing Yixiao tossed a Cyan Jade Pendant toward Gu Zheng.

Gu Zheng flickered to the side, dodging it.

CLATTER!

The Jade Pendant fell to the ground.

Qing Yixiao didn’t get angry. He continued, "Only by pairing the Qing King’s Body with the Heaven-Striking Hand can the full power of the King’s Body be unleashed."

After speaking, he didn’t spare the Jade Pendant on the ground a single glance. He turned, strode away, and shot across the water’s surface into the distance.

"Gu, see you next time!"

Qing Yimei waved at Gu Zheng with a grin and said her goodbyes, chasing after Qing Yixiao.

"Gu, we’ll meet again."

Yuan Qianjun saw this and waved with a smile.

"Gu, until we meet again," Xiao Dutian said, cupping his fist in farewell.

Dugu Feixue gave Gu Zheng a complicated look, said nothing, and followed Xiao Dutian off the island.

"Haha, Commander Gu, we meet again."

Hai Qingshu approached with Hai Qingmi at just the right moment. He cupped his hands and said, "Commander Gu, you fought your way up Sword Peak Mountain and destroyed the Rule Array Hub all on your own. I am deeply impressed."

"As we part ways, I don’t have anything of great value on me, but this little trinket might be somewhat useful. I hope Commander Gu will accept it, as a token of friendship."

As he spoke, Hai Qingshu took out a small, clean conch shell and handed it to Gu Zheng.

"If you hold it to your ear, you can hear the sound of lapping waves. It can help one relax."

Hai Qingshu’s face was sincere.

"...In that case, it would be rude of me to refuse."

Gu Zheng hesitated for two seconds before accepting the conch. "Hai, if you have time in the future, you can visit me in Qingshi County in Nanyun Prefecture. Qingshi County is my hometown. If you ever find yourself there, I will certainly roll out the red carpet for you."

"Good, then it’s a deal," Hai Qingshu said with a hearty laugh, cupping his fist to bid Gu Zheng farewell.

Hai Qingmi followed behind him, waving with a cheerful grin.

"Everyone, I wish you a safe journey!"

Gu Zheng returned the gesture and watched the group depart.

When he turned around, he found a group of Demon Suppression Guards staring at him strangely.

The expression on each of their faces was different. Some were envious, some jealous, some wistful, some confused, but most were simply shocked.

People like Yuan Qianjun, Xiao Dutian, Qing Yixiao, and Hai Qingshu were clearly noble youths at a glance.

These Demon Suppression Guards might have varying degrees of familiarity with noble youths, but they all knew that nobles were typically haughty and looked down on others.

But what had just happened?

One had invited Gu Zheng to his family’s grand elder’s three-hundredth birthday celebration, while another offered a gift to befriend him.

Qing Yixiao was even more outrageous, directly gifting him a True Skill!

The Heaven-Striking Hand—the name alone suggested it was something extraordinary.

The others might not have heard of the Heaven-Striking Hand, but Cheng Zong knew just how powerful this True Skill from the Qing King’s family was.

Because it was an Upper Grade offensive True Skill!

Someone from the Qing King’s family had just given an Upper Grade True Skill directly to Gu Zheng.

Even Cheng Zong, who had experienced a great deal and was accustomed to the ways of the world, couldn’t help but be moved. The shock in his heart was hard to conceal.

His gaze toward Gu Zheng was filled with astonishment and uncertainty.

’Gu Zheng broke through to the Super Body Realm, yes, but is that alone enough to make a group of noble youths see him in a new light, willingly cast aside their pride, and deliberately try to befriend him?’

Cheng Zong didn’t believe it.

"...Mr. Gu, that’s incredible!"

Zhang Ning shook his head, giving a thumbs-up in sheer admiration. "I didn’t really believe what Tao Liu said last time, but I believe it now."

"So now you believe it?" Tao Liu snapped out of his daze and shot him a disdainful look before sighing with emotion. "Mr. Gu destroyed the Rule Array Hub and made the Domain disappear completely. That’s a huge contribution."

"Right, I almost forgot! The disappearance of the Thousand Star Lake Domain is all thanks to Mr. Gu." Zhang Ning grew excited. "He’s amazing!"

"...Rule Array Hubs are usually guarded by Tier-2 Demon Fiends. If Commander Gu was able to destroy it, doesn’t that mean he killed the Tier-2 Demon Fiend guarding it?"

Zhang Tieli’s eyes widened. He stared at Gu Zheng in astonishment, then stammered as a realization hit him, "C-Commander Gu... did... did you break through to the Super Body Realm?"

GASP—

The already astounded Demon Suppression Guards erupted into a clamor upon hearing this, utterly shocked.

"Lord Gu is at the Super Body Realm!?"

"Yes, that’s right! Only someone at the Super Body Realm could kill a Tier-2 Demon Fiend. That’s incredible."

"No wonder, no wonder those noble youths all treated Lord Gu with such respect!"

"..."

The group broke into a flurry of discussion.

In that moment, any lingering traces of jealousy, doubt, or confusion were swept away.

Strength was everything.

Gu Zheng had reached the Super Body Realm at such a young age. How could people not see him in a new light? How could they not want to befriend him?

"It was a lucky break."

Facing the crowd’s varied stares, Gu Zheng spoke calmly, "It was all just good luck that I was able to destroy the Rule Array Hub."

Upon receiving confirmation, the crowd was in an uproar once again.

The shock on Zhang Tieli’s face slowly faded, replaced by deep envy.

"Luck is a part of strength."

Cheng Zong laughed heartily. "Since Gu was able to break through to the Super Body Realm, that means... Huh? Is that... a Spirit Beast?"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes flying wide as he stared intently at Pang Hu on Gu Zheng’s shoulder, his face a mask of astonishment.

Hearing this, the others couldn’t help but focus their gazes on Pang Hu as well.

"That fat white cat is a Spirit Beast?"

"If Lord Cheng says it’s a Spirit Beast, then it must be true."

"He’s too strong! Not only did Lord Gu break through to the Super Body Realm, he even tamed a Spirit Beast."

"I hear all Spirit Beasts have Innate Divine Techniques. I wonder what abilities this fat white cat has?"

"..."

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, everyone adding their own comments.

Gu Zheng listened, one of his sharp eyebrows arching as he glanced quizzically at his shoulder.

’White?’

’Pang Hu is grass-green...’

’Well, I’ll be. It really is white!’

At some unknown point, the color of Pang Hu’s fur had actually changed.

It had turned pure white!

Right now, its little round face was tense as it darted its eyes left and right, unable to bear everyone’s stares.

SWOOSH—

It vanished in a flash, leaving only an afterimage.

"Ah, it ran off?"

Zhang Ning exclaimed, spinning around to search for it.

"It’s fine."

Gu Zheng stopped him and said softly, "This Spirit Beast isn’t mine. It is free."

He offered this brief explanation without elaborating further. Gu Zheng then looked at Cheng Zong and asked, "Lord Cheng, you’re all here to reinforce Daping County, right? Have the Night Demon Race in the county seat been dealt with yet?"

"The Night Demon Race?"

Cheng Zong frowned. "The Demon Fiends causing chaos in Daping County are actually the Night Demon Race? I haven’t found any trace of them."

"We came here to garrison the Thousand Star Lake Domain and prevent it from turning into a channel."

"Once a Domain becomes a channel, we would have to establish at least two defensive lines in Daping County."

"But unexpectedly, Gu destroyed the Rule Array Hub inside, causing the Domain to disappear. You’ve lifted the siege on Daping County, and as a result, my mission can also end ahead of schedule."

As he finished, a smile spread across Cheng Zong’s face.

Domains come in all sizes.

Small Domains only allow those at the Alien Body Realm to enter.

Those at the Super Body Realm cannot set foot inside.

However, breaking through to the Super Body Realm while inside a Domain is not affected by this restriction.

This is a limitation imposed by the Power of Rules.

It suppresses life forms from both worlds.

And when a Domain transforms into a channel, the restrictions descend along with it.

Currently, the largest Domain channel in Fengzhou is in Silver Mansion to the north, which allows Tier-3 Demon Fiends and Heroic Body Realm experts to pass through.

The Thousand Star Lake Domain is much larger than the Great Dragon Mountain Domain.

But the restriction still barred entry to the Super Body Realm.

This was why Zhang Tieli had just led a team into the Domain, while Cheng Zong and others waited outside the entrance.

’Even Lord Cheng can’t find a trace of the Night Demon Race? Good thing I found a few helpers!’