Chapter 357: Gu Zhanglin

357. Chapter 357: Gu Zhanglin

Gu Zhangkong naturally also saw Jiang Cheng's intention.

He sighed, gave a wry smile and said, "Brother Jiang, it's not that I don't trust you or that I won't let you try refining a third-grade Awakening Pill. I don't know about others, but you, I believe, can certainly elevate the art of the Awakening Pill to Great Completion, even to a perfect level; it's just that I, at present, truly can't take on that responsibility."

"I understand."

Jiang Cheng expressed his understanding.

After all, he currently still owes the other party one or two hundred million.

"But I can agree to you."

Gu Zhangkong solemnly said, "When I eventually enter the Inner City District, I will definitely do my utmost to help you complete this matter."

Once he enters the Inner City District, Jiang Cheng's alchemy will become more formidable, and his performance within the family will naturally become more outstanding.

"But for now, I can only ask you to keep refining Second Grade Calming Pills, and if possible, the more you refine, the better."

Having said all that, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to agree.

Watching the two depart, Jiang Cheng let out a light sigh.

Although his alchemy had reached perfection and his daily earnings were nearly a million more than before, over a month he only made 120 million.

That meant that in the short term, his Spiritual Power would be hard to improve.

Because it would take at least about two months to repay Gu Zhangkong, and to raise his Spiritual Power from Level Four to Level Five would also require roughly two hundred million in expenses.

Four months.

Only then could he advance from Level Four Spiritual Thought Master to Level Five.

Of course, this pace already seemed fast to others; after all, even geniuses are measured in years.

The good news is,

After four months, he would already be a First-level Force Master, and with good luck perhaps even a Second-level.

"Take it slow," Jiang Cheng muttered to himself, "We can only take it slow."

For the next two days, Gu Zhangkong was in a very good mood.

He seemed to already envision the scene a month later when he would present this answer, shocking the entire family.

Until evening, when a phone call arrived.

Gu Zhangkong looked at the two characters "Big Brother" on his phone screen, and a hint of tension appeared in his eyes.

Among the Gu Family brothers, the one most esteemed by the clan was naturally this person.

Not only does his mother come from a great clan, giving him the backing of her lineage, but his own abilities rank among the top few, and most members of the family support him.

When he was younger, he wasn't without thoughts of contesting the family head with the other, but as his experience grew, he gradually realized it was impossible.

What he does now is merely to enter the core circle and claim a bit more profit.

The phone was still vibrating.

Gu Zhangkong adjusted his breathing and answered the call.

"Hello, Big Brother."

"Hmm, Lao San."

A man's laugh rang through the phone: "Long time no see, how have you been out there?"

"Quite good."

Gu Zhangkong nodded.

"As long as it's good, that's fine."

Gu Zhanglin smiled, "Lao San, I heard you recently recruited an extraordinary alchemist? In just two or three months he can refine an entire furnace of Top Grade Calming Pills?"

Gu Zhangkong heard this and his complexion darkened a few shades. Indeed, it wasn't only his younger brother scheming against him; even this older brother was doing the same.

But compared with the former, the latter seemed more patient, only calling today.

"How did you, Big Brother, find that out? How come I didn't know?"

He pretended to be clueless.

"Hehe."

Gu Zhanglin let out a meaning‑laden laugh, "Third brother, I don't know if you've heard the saying that there's no wall that doesn't leak wind; many things you think are well kept secret are, to others, nothing but a joke."

Gu Zhangkong fell silent.

"Third brother, I know what you're planning: you want to use him to draw father's attention and thus return to the family's core circle, right? It's easy to say it's easy, hard to say it's hard, but for me it's simple—just a matter of a single sentence."

"Would you be so kind?"

Gu Zhangkong said softly.

"Hahaha, I'm indeed not that kind, after all this does me no good; it even forces me to give up some profit. If the roles were reversed, would you do it?" Gu Zhanglin retorted.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Gu Zhangkong frowned.

He felt that before this person, he was as if seeing through everything.

"Let's make a deal."

Gu Zhanglin gave a faint smile.

"Give him to me, and I'll speak for you within the family, let you return. I guarantee that what I arrange for you will be far more promising than your small skirmishes in the Outer City District."

"If I don't agree, will you resort to some methods?"

Gu Zhangkong's heart was full of resentment.

It had taken great effort to cultivate Jiang Cheng, and now after just a few days, the peach‑picker shows up. Who could be content? Yet the problem is, what can one do with that discontent? The gap in strength between him and the other side is simply too vast.

"Third brother, what kind of person have you taken me for?"

Gu Zhanglin sneered.

"Even though great achievers may overlook minor details, your words still don't give me the right to employ unsavory means. Moreover, regardless of what we say, we are still half‑brothers; I don't want to bully you, and it would be bad if it got out."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhangkong let out a slight sigh of relief.

His older brother is a bit arrogant; having spoken like that, he won't put on a front while being different behind the scenes.

"Older brother, Jiang Cheng is the person I am focusing on cultivating; I don't want to hand him over," he gritted his teeth.

"I understand how you feel; how about this, I'll give you two options."

"The first option: cooperate with me, work for me; any future demands you have can be voiced to me, and I'll do my best to fulfill them."

"The second option: you keep persisting, but I'll give you a warning—the person you're protecting may not stay safe. As far as I know, someone has already made preparations in advance; in a few days they'll learn what's happening on your end, and then—hmph."

Gu Zhanglin let out a cold snort.

In his voice, a rare hint of anger appeared.

Gu Zhangkong flinched.

The person Gu Zhanglin mentioned, besides being their fifth brother Gu Zhangjun, could be who else?

Among their brothers, only the youngest could possibly contest Gu Zhanglin for the next Patriarch of Gu Family.

"Lao San, you're a smart person; I won't need to say the superfluous. Cooperating with me benefits both of us. If you don't cooperate, you'll only be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing gained. Or are you going to cooperate with him and become my enemy?"

"I'll give you a day to think it over; tomorrow at this time, I'll call again to ask you."

Gu Zhanglin finished speaking and hung up. (End of chapter)