Chapter 180

"No, this absolutely won't do."

Gu Rong didn't even glance at the storage ring, repeatedly refusing,

"In all history, only the family gives resources to its members, nurturing them according to clan rules—where is there a saying that clan members must hand over opportunities to the family?"

Unless it is a secret realm or dangerous place the family organizes a unified team to go to.

Only then will the family require participants to hand over a portion of resources afterward to replenish the family treasury.

An opportunity like Gu Han's, obtained entirely through his own fate, need not be handed over.

"Third Elder, this is my little token of goodwill toward the Gu Family."

Gu Han looked at Gu Rong with a serious expression,

"From now on I will be away from the Gu Family for a long time; whether it's my mother or my sister, they will need the clan's care."

"Moreover, I killed Gu Cang Shan, which may also bring the Gu Family into Heavy Sword Peak's enmity."

"If Third Elder refuses to accept it, I can only understand that the Gu Family wants to sever ties with me, taking my mother and sister away from the Gu Family."

Gu Han's words came in rapid succession like a string of firecrackers.

They blocked all the words Gu Rong had yet to utter.

Gu Rong could only give a bitter laugh,

"You, you, I don't even know what to say about you."

"Since you've said all that, I will accept this storage ring on behalf of the family."

"But don't speak of severing ties from now on; even if Heavy Sword Peak truly becomes your enemy, the Gu Family will always be your strongest backing!"

Saying this, Gu Rong's eyes burst with fighting spirit,

"If Heavy Sword Peak tries to bully the weak with strength, our Gu Family won't be easy to provoke!"

Gu Han understood that as long as the Gu Family helped him, they could conceal the news of Gu Cang Shan's death.

No matter the reason, by then Elder Li of Heavy Sword Peak will take his anger out on the Gu Family.

From the moment the Gu Family elders chose to help him conceal the news.

The Gu Family and he were already completely bound together.

And compared to Gu Rong, the Sixth Elder was less eloquent, but he also accepted the storage ring at Gu Han's request.

"By the way, do you two elders know of any ice-element-rich secret realm or dangerous place near Wu Shan Cheng?"

Gu Han suddenly thought of unsealing his sister's seal and hurriedly asked Gu Rong.

As elders of the Gu Family, the Third and Sixth Elders are certainly among the most knowledgeable and experienced.

Gu Rong furrowed his brows, thought a moment, then said in a low voice,

"Near Wu Shan Cheng there are only fire-element dangerous places; it seems there are no ice-element ones."

Just then, the Sixth Elder suddenly said,

"I once heard that Han Shan Cheng has a Thousand Year Cold Valley where few people tread, and even ordinary residents of Han Shan Cheng dare not enter."

Upon hearing this, Gu Han's eyes lit up at once—this is the place!

"Thank you, Sixth Elder."

"Gu Han, you wouldn't be planning to go to the Thousand Year Cold Valley, would you?"

Fearing Gu Han might take risks, the Sixth Elder hastily said,

"The temperature inside the Thousand Year Cold Valley is extremely low; without heating facilities, even a Martial Master could freeze into an ice statue!"

"Moreover, unless one possesses an ice-type physique or a specific spiritual treasure, even a Martial Sovereign entering the Thousand Year Cold Valley would be restricted."

"Furthermore, Han Shan Cheng and our Wu Shan Cheng usually have no dealings; if you go there you likely won't have any protection."

Third Elder Gu Rong also looked at Gu Han with worry,

"Gu Han, if you need ice-attribute heavenly treasures, I can send people to the auction house in Jiannan Prefecture to buy some for you."

Gu Rong, with his vast experience, quickly guessed Gu Han's intention and said in a low voice,

"If you need a place suitable for cultivating an ice-attribute physique, I can also use connections to rent one for you in Jiannan Prefecture."

The vast majority of martial practitioners have physiques related to the five elements.

Ice-element physiques are relatively rarer, but Gu Rong has also seen a few.

His first reaction was that Gu Han possesses an ice-attribute physique.

He needs corresponding heavenly treasures to aid his cultivation.

Although Wu Shan Cheng lacks a corresponding elemental cultivation site,

but in the prefectural capital of Jiannan Prefecture, finding an ice-attribute cultivation place is not difficult.

At most it just costs some money.

For the Gu Family, spending money on a genius like Gu Han

is worth any amount!

"Thank you both elders for your kindness."

Gu Han smiled and clasped his hands,

"But how could the martial way be all smooth sailing?"

"Please rest assured, elders; even if I go to the Thousand Year Cold Valley, I will certainly act cautiously."

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder fell silent involuntarily.

The martial path is perilous.

This is a truth understood by all who practice martial arts.

But for a family like the Gu Family to be established, why do these clan elders strive for the family?

The Grand Elder stays year-round in the Eight Corners Region and cannot return home.

What are they doing it for?

Besides their own development, isn't it also so that the younger generation of the family can suffer less hardship and bear less risk?

Only by accumulating generation after generation can the Gu Family someday go from Wu Shan Cheng to Jiannan Prefecture.

Then from Jiannan Prefecture to the capital of Ben Lang Guo.

Someone like Gu Han, with a striving spirit, makes Gu Ren feel both moved and gratified.

Watching Gu Han's departing back, Gu Ren let out a long sigh.

"It's precisely because of such people that our Gu Family can grow ever more prosperous."

Gu Han returned to the annex and spent several days with his mother and younger sister.

During these days, he still didn't forget to personally teach his younger sister Gu Pan martial arts.

Although most of Gu Han's strength increase relies on the system.

But the system's biggest bug is that it makes Gu Han's increased strength seem as if it came from his own arduous cultivation.

Guiding Gu Pan can be said to be as easy as picking something up.

Gu Han also realized the astonishing aspect of Gu Pan's talent.

In just three days, Gu Pan actually reached the first stage of Martial Apprentice.

Gu Pan's body hasn't fully developed; logically, her efficiency in absorbing raw stones and heavenly treasures should be inferior to that of Gu Lin and others.

But merely having unlocked a corner of the Six Phase Profound Ice Holy Body gives Gu Pan a cultivation speed far surpassing most people.

Probably not long before Gu Pan will reach the second stage of Martial Apprentice.

Surpassing Gu Han when he first entered the military camp.

On the seventh day of Gu Han returning home.

Gu Pan's realm finally reached the second stage of Martial Apprentice.

"What Brother said is indeed not bad; I am indeed a once-in-ten-thousands martial arts genius!"

Gu Pan proudly waved her little fists.

The fist shadows fell like raindrops on the dummy in the courtyard.

Gu Pan's current Qi Blood is too low, insufficient to sustain the consumption of the Frost Rain Curtain.

"Pan Pan, did you remember my words of advice?"

Looking at Gu Pan's excited expression, Gu Han chuckled and gave his advice.

Gu Pan nodded heavily,

"Besides Brother, no one knows I have already become a second-stage Martial Apprentice!"

The Gu Family atmosphere is indeed harmonious, but walls have ears.

If Gu Pan's astonishing talent were known to outsiders, it would likely provoke jealousy, even assassination.

With him around, Gu Pan doesn't need to worry about cultivation resources.

One can easily hide part of one's strength, which is pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.

It can also let those with ulterior motives misjudge Gu Pan's strength.

And Gu Han also got everything ready, preparing to go to Han Shan Cheng.