In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 346 Accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger

April 30th, sunny.

Shuoyang Prefecture.

Standing at the city gate, watching the constant flow of people coming and going, Gu Santong looked at Gu Shaoan and asked, "Are you sure you want to just openly bring me along like this?"

This time, Gu Shaoan did not choose to go to Wudang alone, but instead invited Gu Santong to come along as well.

Unlike the previous times when Gu Santong had always remained hidden in the shadows, this time, Gu Shaoan arranged for Gu Santong to travel openly with him.

In response to Gu Santong's question, Gu Shaoan walked towards the city gate and replied, "This time, Gongzi Yu's target is the Celestial Realm martial artist. Since it is to deal with the Celestial Realm martial artist, the Celestial Realm martial artists in the palace will definitely also make a move."

"Do you think your aura can fool those martial artists at the Celestial Realm?"

Gu Santong thought for a moment and said, "To be able to manipulate someone like Zhu Tiedan so easily, our Emperor is no pushover. When the opportunity arises later, who knows if he won't think of purging the martial arts world and taking it completely under his control, just like the Great Yuan Kingdom? Are you sure you want to push me into the open?"

Gu Santong was extremely talented. Although he had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for more than 20 years, thanks to Gu Shaoan's medical treatment and the medicines that Gu Shaoan had secretly prepared in recent years, Gu Santong's foundation was restored.

Given Gu Santong's current cultivation progress and foundation, as long as no problems arise, he will have a chance to enter the Celestial Realm in twenty or thirty years by achieving the Lesser Three Harmonies.

Moreover, Gu Santong is now almost entirely bound to the Emei Sect; aside from his identity, he is practically one of their own.

If they remain hidden in the shadows, they will become a trump card for the Emei Sect once they reach the Celestial Realm.

Keeping it hidden and treating it as a secret move would be most beneficial for the Emei Sect.

Therefore, Gu Santong did not understand why Gu Shaoan would choose to bring him along this time.

Gu Shaoan transmitted his voice as he circulated his internal energy: "One should not listen to everything one hears, nor believe everything one hears. It is always better to be prepared."

Gu Santong looked at Gu Shaoan with a puzzled expression.

"Only you can cure that guy's premature aging disease. If he attacks you, even after reaching the Celestial Realm, he won't live long. He wouldn't do something so stupid, would he?"

The unspoken implication was clearly that Gu Shaoan might be worrying unnecessarily.

In response, Gu Shaoan said softly, "He is him, and others are others. This world is full of self-righteous people who like to act on their own."

Gu Santong thought for a moment and asked, "Are you worried about those Celestial Realm martial artists in the palace?"

Gu Shaoan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The Three Flowers Gathering at the Top signifies a long lifespan and the ability to take the head of an enemy general from among a million-strong army as easily as taking something out of a bag. All of these qualities make martial artists in the Celestial Realm exude extraordinary abilities.

The emperor could certainly mobilize those martial artists at the Celestial Realm.

But who can guarantee that those martial artists at the Celestial Realm, after holding high positions for a long time, won't develop their own selfish thoughts?

Gu Shaoan, who is only in his early twenties, has already reached this level of strength.

Given Gu Shaoan's current talent and strength, it's practically a certainty that he will reach the Celestial Realm in the future.

It's hard to guarantee that the Celestial Realm martial artists in the palace won't become wary of Gu Shaoan and do something to him.
For example, crippling Gu Shaoan's martial arts skills or destroying his dantian would prematurely sever his future path in martial arts.

As for the subsequent treatment of Gongzi Yu, with the Emei Sect as leverage, Gu Shaoan had no choice but to submit.

In this way, we can both cure Gongzi Yu and prevent another master of Zhang Sanfeng's caliber from appearing in the Great Wei Kingdom in the future.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Gu Santong was no fool, and he could naturally understand the concerns behind Gu Shaoan's words.

If he were younger, Gu Santong might not have thought about it so much.

Now that he has witnessed the evil of human nature and the dangers of the world, Gu Santong dares not say that the problems Gu Shaoan is worried about will not happen.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. The "tiger" refers not only to the ruler but also to those around him who have their own ulterior motives.

Since it involved the emperor of the Great Wei Kingdom and those martial artists at the Celestial Realm, Gu Shaoan couldn't afford to be careless.

Gu Shaoan changed the subject: "If things really come to this point, we can only decide how to handle it based on the situation."

At this moment, Gu Shaoan suddenly transmitted his voice through his internal energy, saying, "Uncle Gu, if you were to absorb the power of a Celestial Realm martial artist using the 'Absorption Technique,' would you be able to enter the Celestial Realm?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Santong seemed to understand Gu Shaoan's meaning, and his eyes widened slightly.

"You want me to break through to the Celestial Realm using the 'Absorption Technique' as well?"

Gu Shaoan replied calmly via telepathy, "I was just asking on a whim."

After pondering for a moment, Gu Santong replied truthfully, "I don't know. After all, I am different from Zhu Tiedan. Zhu Tiedan has absorbed the power and essence of too many people. If we only consider essence and essence, even a martial artist at the Lesser Three Harmonies Celestial Realm might not be able to compare with him."

"The reason he hasn't been able to break through is entirely because his own essence, energy, and spirit are too mixed. All he's missing is an opportunity. So once Zhu Tiedan absorbs the power of a Celestial Realm martial artist, he will definitely be able to take the opportunity to enter the Celestial Realm."

"I've only absorbed the essence of a few people, and my main practice is the 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,' a body-refining martial art. I'm far inferior in terms of internal strength and spiritual energy."

"Even if you use the Absorption Technique to absorb the power of a Celestial Realm martial artist, it is difficult to guarantee this."

Finally, Gu Santong chuckled and said, "Of course, if there were one or two more, it would be a sure thing."

For Gu Santong, the upper limit was to enter the Celestial Realm through the Lesser Three Harmonies.

Even if one were to enter the Celestial Realm through trickery, the most significant impact would be that one's essence, energy, and spirit would become mixed and impure, thus affecting one's strength to some extent.

Even at its worst, it could still reach the Celestial Realm, far surpassing its current state.

Therefore, Gu Santong was not opposed to using the "Absorption Technique" to enter the Celestial Realm.

Upon hearing Gu Santong's response, Gu Shaoan pondered for a moment before replying, "It's alright. If things really come to that point, then we won't just need to deal with one Celestial Realm martial artist. One Celestial Realm martial artist isn't enough for you to advance to the Celestial Realm, so we'll need one or two more."

Finally, Gu Shaoan presented a pill to Gu Santong.

"This medicine can conceal the state of your internal energy, Uncle Gu, making its fluctuations appear like true energy. Within twenty-four hours, even if a master of the Celestial Realm were to actively probe, it would be difficult to detect your true level of internal strength."

Upon hearing Gu Shaoan's words, Gu Santong unhesitatingly put the pill into his mouth. Almost the instant the pill entered his stomach, the internal energy within Gu Santong reacted, rapidly gathering towards his abdomen.

Within a few dozen breaths, under the influence of the elixir's effects, the fluctuations of Qi within Gu Santong's body actually transformed into fluctuations of True Qi.

"You've really prepared well, kid."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "It's better to be prepared than not to be when dealing with these kinds of people."

After entering Shuoyang Prefecture with Gu Santong, Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong had only walked less than a hundred steps when a man dressed in ordinary cloth with a tough face approached them without making a sound. In the instant they brushed past each other, the man said quickly in a very low voice, "Young Master Gu, please come with me. The master has been waiting for a long time."

After saying that, she walked forward as if nothing had happened, at a pace that was just right so that Gu Shaoan and the other person could keep up, but without attracting the attention of others.

Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong remained expressionless.

The two did not conceal their presence along the way.

If even the timing of their entry into the city is difficult to grasp, it would be laughable to say that Gongzi Yu is unaware of their whereabouts.

Knowing the identity of the person leading the way, the two remained silent, keeping a respectful distance as they followed the man through the bustling streets.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the man turned into a relatively quiet alley, at the end of which was an inconspicuous black lacquered wooden door.

The man tapped the door knocker rhythmically a few times, and the door opened silently a crack. He gestured for Gu Shaoan and the other man to enter, but did not follow them in. Instead, he quickly disappeared into the alleyway.

Stepping through the gate and past an exquisite screen wall, a spacious and elegantly designed mansion suddenly appears before you.

The pavilions and towers are scattered about, the flowers and trees are lush, and the winding paths lead to secluded spots. Although it is not as magnificent as the mansions of princes and nobles, it has its own kind of elegant and restrained charm.

After bowing respectfully to Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong, a guide continued to lead the way with a bowed posture.

The courtyard appeared spacious and tranquil, with only one or two servants occasionally passing by quietly. However, with Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong's perception, they could clearly detect no fewer than dozens of extremely concealed sentry auras, their breathing long and deep, their energy almost blending into the surrounding environment.

These hidden sentries were positioned in the corners of high walls, in the shadows of rooftops, and even behind artificial hills and trees, keeping the entire mansion airtight while ensuring that the tranquility inside was not disturbed in the slightest.

Before long, Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong followed the servants to an open pavilion built by the water in the courtyard.

Outside the open pavilion is a small pond with clear water, where several koi carp swim leisurely and a few water lilies are about to bloom.

Gongzi Yu then leaned against the soft couch by the pond in an extremely lazy and casual manner.

He was still dressed in a loose white robe, and the gold and red mask on his face remained on, gleaming with a noble and mysterious luster in the afternoon sunlight.

With one hand supporting his chin and the other casually hanging at his side, his fingertips seemed to be holding a freshly picked willow leaf. His posture was so leisurely that he seemed to be just a wealthy idler enjoying the scenery in his own garden, rather than the head of the Azure Dragon Society who stirred up the world, or the master of the dragon throne of the Great Wei Kingdom.

About three steps behind Gongzi Yu, four people stood silently.

Two of them were the same people Gu Shaoan had seen before in the Golden Summit Hall: the hunched old man with a deep, ancient aura, and the woman wearing a snow-white veil.

Dongfang Bai, whom Gu Shaoan recognized, was standing right behind the old man.

Today, however, Dongfang Bai no longer wore a fiery red outfit, but a dark red robe.

The rouge on her face was applied a little lighter, so it didn't look like heavy makeup.

She seemed more demure and submissive.

The last person was Shangguan Jin Hong, whom Gu Shaoan had already met twice.

Two tables and chairs were placed exactly one zhang away from Gongzi Yu.

Fruits, snacks, and tea were laid out on the table.

In addition, there was a white jade elixir bottle on the table, which was even more eye-catching.

After Gu Shaoan and Gu Santong sat down, Gongzi Yu said casually, "I thought you would come to Shuoyang Prefecture earlier, but I didn't expect you to arrive so close to the appointed time."

Gu Shaoan picked up the tea, took a light sniff of its aroma, and said unhurriedly, "With your arrangements, there's nothing to worry about. Even if I had come earlier, I wouldn't have been able to help. This timing is just right."

Gongzi Yu smiled, then glanced at Gu Santong before asking Gu Shaoan, "Aren't you going to introduce your companion?"

Gu Shaoan said in a calm tone, "Liu Baichuan is a senior of my Emei Sect. He has been living on Mount Da'e for many years. I have some other things to ask him for help with when I come to Shuoyang Prefecture, so I brought him along."

"If you mind, I can let him stay in Shuoyang Prefecture when we go to Wudang."

"Senior Liu Baichuan of Emei," Gongzi Yu repeated softly, his tone calm yet strangely playful.

Suddenly, a surge of internal energy emanated from Gongzi Yu's body.

At the same time, a strange and deep purple suddenly appeared in the depths of his pupils beneath the mask.

That purple hue was not a physical radiance, but an external manifestation of spiritual energy condensed to its extreme, cold and profound, carrying an indifferent and inquisitive air that looked down upon all living beings.

At the very moment Gongzi Yu's eyes turned purple, without any warning, an invisible yet heavy spiritual pressure, mixed with a captivating allure and illusory power, enveloped Gu Santong like an invisible tide.

Gu Santong felt the scenery before his eyes suddenly blur, and the surrounding courtyard, pond, Gongzi Yu, Gu Shaoan and others suddenly became blurred, distorted and disappeared into the distance.

Instead, there was a biting, icy wind, swirling snowflakes, and hard, cold, ancient ice beneath one's feet.

At this moment, Gu Santong seemed to instantly return to more than twenty years ago, to the moment when he was having his final battle with Zhu Wushi, the Iron-Blooded Marquis.

All around him were endless glaciers and snow-covered valleys, and the cold wind cut like a knife, slicing his skin.

Opposite him, Zhu Wushi stood tall and imposing, his body surging with true energy, his eyes cold and fixed on him.

The illusion was terrifyingly real.

It was so realistic that even the bone-chilling cold, the slight pain of snowflakes hitting the face, the tinnitus caused by the surge of true energy, and even the chilling killing intent emanating from Zhu Wushi opposite him, all seemed to be tangible.

Even the resentment, anger, and a hint of hidden fear that had been building up in his heart for more than 20 years were instantly ignited and amplified by this illusion!
However, at this critical moment when his mind was about to be completely immersed in the illusion, the Qi and Jin Yuan in Gu Santong's dantian trembled together.

Under the influence of these golden and powerful elements, Gu Santong's body trembled, and the snowy Tianshan Mountain scene and Zhu Wushi's figure before him shattered like a mirror, instantly disappearing without a trace.

(End of this chapter)