Chapter 262: Little Zhu!

Zhu Wushi appeared before Su Xin in an instant, his eyes filled with tears, fixed upon her.

"Su Xin, I thought you…"

Zhu Wushi reached out and took Su Xin's hand.

This was the dream of his youth, now vividly held in his grasp—the decades of waiting had finally borne fruit.

"Wushi."

Su Xin smiled as she met his gaze and said, "You've aged a great deal too."

Zhu Wushi smiled, about to speak, then hesitated and asked, "Who else has aged a great deal?"

Su Xin replied as if it were obvious, "San Tong."

Zhu Wushi's expression froze in that instant, then he stared directly at Gu Qing.

"We just came out of the ninth level of the Heavenly Prison."

Gu Qing said matter-of-factly, "Su Xin was revived by Gu San Tong using his own cultivation and the Heavenly Fragrant Bean."

For a moment, Zhu Wushi's face looked like a stone carving—deeply weathered and utterly blank.

Gu Qing patted Zhu Wushi's shoulder and said casually, "Gu San Tong keeps his word. He said he wouldn't leave the Heavenly Prison, and he won't—even if Su Xin has returned."

Previously, when facing Zhu Wushi, Gu Qing had been overwhelmed by his power, but after learning the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, Zhu Wushi was no longer a threat.

"Gu San Tong is an evil heretic who has killed countless lives, but his word is still worthy of respect."

Zhu Wushi swallowed his bitterness, fixed his gaze on Gu Qing, and asked, "Where did you get the Heavenly Fragrant Bean?"

Overnight, the Protecting Dragon Manor had been searching for news of the Heavenly Fragrant Bean, the Number One Manor had been confronting the Eastern Depot, and Gu Qing had quietly accomplished something monumental.

If it came to gratitude, Zhu Wushi was truly grateful to Gu Qing.

If it came to disgust, Zhu Wushi was truly disgusted by Gu Qing.

This complex emotion prevented Gu Qing from gaining any Goodness Points from Zhu Wushi.

"Taken from the imperial palace."

Gu Qing said calmly, "But now, we must quickly obtain the Heavenly Fragrant Bean from the Eastern Depot, or Su Xin will still die."

In the Number One Manor, Cao Zhengchun had directly given Zhu Wushi the Heavenly Fragrant Bean, hoping to use the location of the third bean to coerce him into doing his bidding—this was far too blatant.

Zhu Wushi's face was cold as he summoned the Number One Doctor of the Number One Manor, Sai Huatuo, to diagnose Su Xin, then stood stiffly by her side.

Gu Qing did not follow; instead, he sat quietly in the room assigned by the Protecting Dragon Manor, pondering the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art.

The transformation into the Golden Figure of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art does not alter the skin tone, hair, or eyebrows—it concentrates all internal Qi into a single golden, spherical mass that radiates outward through every pore of the body.

After transformation, striking the skin produces a resonant thudding—not because the body has become golden, but because the Qi becomes Vajra-like; once in this state, the Qi spills over the surface, greatly enhancing martial prowess—even clumsy techniques can unleash their full power.

It is somewhat akin to Super Saiyan Full Power.

After learning it from Gu San Tong, Gu Qing had only made a preliminary attempt; now, as he carefully studied the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, he realized it involved the intricate circulation of Qi through every acupoint, orifice, and pore—it was a supreme art of internal and external cultivation.

The Nine Yin, Nine Yang, Dragon and Elephant Power, Yoga Secret Transmission, Jiayi Divine Art, Ming Jade Divine Art, and Xiao Yao Wind Riding—all share commonalities with the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art.

"The supreme among suprema!"

After circulating the Qi several times, Gu Qing felt his energy brimming, his spirit soaring—his internal and external martial arts, unified under the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, were poised to reach a new height. "Husband!"

"Master!"

Princess Yun Luo, accompanied by the two Liu Sheng sisters, left the imperial palace and arrived at the Protecting Dragon Manor; upon seeing Gu Qing, they all rushed over.

Liu Sheng Xueji had the deepest contact with Gu Qing; she stepped close, about to speak, then studied him closely—his once jade-like appearance now carried a faint golden hue, distinctly different.

"Master!"

Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yidao arrived just then, greeted Gu Qing, who introduced Princess Yun Luo to them, declared them fellow disciples, and briefly recounted the events of the previous night.

"So the Heavenly Fragrant Bean Gu Daxia obtained came from Princess Yun Luo."

Shanggu Haitang, who had come searching for Duan Tianya, overheard and curiously approached, asking, "Our Protecting Dragon Manor spent all night investigating and only found vague leads—yet Gu Daxia produced the Heavenly Fragrant Bean. Truly impressive."

Gu Qing smiled casually and said, "I once stayed in the capital for a while."

Shanggu Haitang knew this fact—that Gu Qing had stayed in the capital before traveling to Japan, coincidentally sharing a ship with Duan Tianya, and then accomplished great deeds upon arrival.

But Shanggu Haitang had never imagined that Gu Qing's intelligence gathering in the capital had penetrated so deeply, reaching places even the Protecting Dragon Manor had never touched.

!

"Haitang."

Gu Qing looked at Shanggu Haitang and said, "I see you've followed Prince Wuhen and acquired many miscellaneous skills, yet none are refined—would you like to become a disciple of Duan Tianya or Gui Hai Yidao and join my sect for deeper training?" He smiled again. "My sect is casual, without rigid rules; the master is too strong to expect much from his disciples."

Duan Tianya: "..."

Gui Hai Yidao: "..."

Shanggu Haitang: "..."

"I must first ask my adoptive father."

After a moment of silence, Shanggu Haitang still said.

"Haitang, I think this is a good opportunity."

Iron Palm Divine Marquis approached slowly, his face grim, and approved Shanggu Haitang's request to become a disciple—but as he looked at Gu Qing, his gaze flickered... The Iron Palm Divine Marquis had spent over a decade cultivating his three secret agents, Heaven, Earth, and Xuan—but Gu Qing had arrived and was ruthlessly digging into his foundation.

He was digging so hard the Iron Palm Divine Marquis couldn't bear it.

Thinking of this, the Iron Palm Divine Marquis locked eyes with Gu Qing; Gu Qing slightly parted his lips and called out, "Little Zhu!"

?????

The Iron Palm Divine Marquis was filled with confusion.

Gu Qing waved casually and said, "I'm just bored and thought I'd train a disciple. Little Zhu, don't be formal."

Before I learned the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, I called you Divine Marquis—but now that I've learned it, you're Little Zhu!

"I am the Emperor's uncle—Gu Daxia, don't address me so casually!"

Zhu Wushi knew Gu Qing was provoking him, but he suppressed his emotions, bowed stiffly to Gu Qing, and left. When he reached a secluded, empty place, he suddenly raised his face—and spat blood with a loud "Puh!"

He had been holding back bitterness over Su Xin's situation, and now it erupted completely.

"Gu Qing!"

"Gu Qing!"

"You truly deserve to die!"

(End of Chapter)