The journey from the Gu Family's Back Mountain to the Inner Court usually took half an hour, but this time, it only took half the time.
And typically, by the time he reached the Inner Court, he'd feel somewhat tired, but not this time—not at all.
"Turns out, having cultivation really makes a difference," Gu Changge couldn't help but sigh, thinking about how he'd gotten through eighteen long years without it!
As he passed by the Martial Arts Arena, he looked at the many Gu Family disciples in training and, for the first time, felt no trace of envy in his heart.
Among the Gu Family disciples with decent talent, fewer than a hundred peers his age could break through to the Sky-controlling Realm; fewer than ten could reach the Qi Sea Realm. Nearly half with average talent were still lingering at the eighth or ninth level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
But he had just started cultivation earlier this morning, and he was already at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm!
According to his estimates, he'd break through to the Sky-controlling Realm in three to five days at most!
This speed of breakthrough was utterly unheard of!
"If this keeps up, I won't be dissected as some kind of freak, will I?"
"Thankfully, within the Gu Family, I should be safe enough."
*He couldn't help but mutter to himself as he arrived at the Council Hall.*
Today, the elders were absent from the scene; only the Family Head, Gu Zhan, his eldest uncle, Gu Yixiao, his third uncle, along with Liu Qingqing sitting to the side were present.
Judging by the looks of it...
They seemed to be chatting quite amicably. Despite Liu Qingqing's perpetually cold "keep-away" demeanor, the three men of the Gu Family all wore smiles.
"You brat finally made it. Sit down," Gu Sanfeng saw the figure entering from outside and spoke while constantly winking and motioning with pursed lips for Gu Changge to sit next to Liu Qingqing.
After greeting the Family Head and his two uncles, Gu Changge promptly sat down next to Liu Qingqing, separated by a tea table between them.
Even with his cultivation at the Qi Condensation Realm, after walking as much as he had, he still felt a bit thirsty.
Spotting a cup of tea on the table, he casually picked it up and downed it in one gulp without hesitation, as was his habit.
"..." Liu Qingqing just raised her hand, about to speak, but seeing that he had already set the cup down, she opened her mouth slightly but ended up saying nothing.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" Gu Changge blinked and asked in confusion.
"Good lad... This was deliberate, wasn't it?" Gu Sanfeng nodded quietly at the sight, thinking to himself that this kid had something in him!
"Was this your cup?" Gu Changge seemed to suddenly realize what had happened and looked innocently at Liu Qingqing as he asked.
Liu Qingqing nodded slightly, "It's no matter; after all, you and I are soon to be married."
"Child, your cultivation?" The Family Head, who had yet to speak since Gu Changge entered, finally got up and asked as he approached.
His words left everyone else present momentarily stunned.
"Cultivation?"
"Whoa, kid, how are you already at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm?!"
"Did you take that Soul-Shaping Pill last night?"
"You've got guts, huh... Didn't I tell you to wait until we added some supplementary materials—so you don't burn out?"
"But… does this Soul-Shaping Pill have effects this good? Jumping straight to the fifth Small Realm level?"
Gu Sanfeng had only felt earlier that his nephew seemed different today but hadn't inspected closely. Upon hearing the Family Head's remark, he finally sensed Gu Changge's Realm cultivation and immediately widened his eyes like copper bells!
"It doesn't make sense..."
"Let your eldest uncle take a look to avoid any mishaps."
Gu Yixiao frowned. He, too, was aware of the Soul-Shaping Pill's typical effects; it could enhance one's Root Bone, sure, but there had never been any mention of it aiding breakthrough in cultivation!
Even Liu Qingqing, sitting quietly nearby, was momentarily taken aback.
The fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm?
If his Root Bone was already extraordinary, like hers, it might indeed be possible to break through several Small Realms if the Soul-Shaping Pill were taken before cultivation began.
But he had a Root Bone so defective it was classified as a "waste body"—even with the pill, it should only improve just enough to step onto the path of cultivation. How could it leap multiple Small Realms?
Could he have taken additional elixirs?
Just as Gu Yixiao stepped forward to grasp his nephew's wrist and inspect his internal condition, the Family Head, Gu Zhan, intervened.
Since the Family Head took action to examine, there was no need for Gu Yixiao to meddle further; he waited quietly instead.
Gu Zhan placed his hand on Gu Changge's shoulder, sensing his physical state rigorously. His furrowed brows deepened with each passing moment as his gaze toward Gu Changge grew increasingly peculiar—sometimes with doubt, sometimes with bafflement.
*These shifting expressions did not escape Gu Changge's notice.*
*He couldn't help but grow a little nervous—his condition would absolutely not escape scrutiny by the Family Head.*
With a cultivation level at the Heavenly Gate Realm, the Family Head must have already detected the profound transformation in Gu Changge's Root Bone—a change far beyond the scope of what one Soul-Shaping Pill could achieve!
After a long while, Gu Zhan withdrew his hand, cast a meaningful glance in Gu Changge's direction, then casually returned to his seat at the head of the table as though nothing had occurred.
"No issues at all. This child may not have been able to cultivate in prior years, but he still took the allocated elixirs every month. Residual medicinal efficacy accumulated in his body over time."
"Now, with the enhancement of the Soul-Shaping Pill, this first opportunity to cultivate allowed him to refine those residual effects, hence creating this fortuitous breakthrough."
"Since the boy can now cultivate, all future monthly elixirs should be distributed to him accordingly."
"By the way... Wasn't he not claiming elixirs in recent years? Let him claim extra for this month to strengthen his foundation further."
Gu Zhan spoke casually, meeting everyone's curious gazes head-on, even creating a plausible rationale that addressed the matter completely.
"So that's how it is. No wonder."
Gu Sanfeng nodded in agreement, without a shred of suspicion.
Even Liu Qingqing accepted this explanation, though an inexplicable hint of disappointment welled in her heart.
"Thank you, Grand Uncle," Gu Changge exhaled in relief. Gu Zhan's explanation eliminated the need for him to provide his own.
To the others, his gratitude seemed directed toward the Family Head's decision to grant him extra elixirs this month, but both he and Gu Zhan understood the truth—it ran far deeper.
*Despite his outward simplicity, Gu Zhan's inner turmoil was far from settled!*
*How could this boy's Root Bone rival the exceptional Liu Qingqing—a talent Northern Domain hadn't produced in hundreds of years?*
*Had he always been feigning weakness? Impossible!*
*Gu Zhan himself had thoroughly examined Gu Changge previously, knowing well Gu Sanfeng's earnest desire for the boy to embark on the cultivation path.*
*Was one Soul-Shaping Pill truly capable of such transformation? No way!*
*Even a hundred wouldn't suffice—the pill's effects on Root Bone improvement were severely limited and diminished with repeated use.*
*But then… what could explain this?*
*Suddenly, a thought struck Gu Zhan's mind.*
*This boy had always resided in the humble courtyards of the Gu Family's Back Mountain—the very area where the Ancestors of the Gu Family usually secluded themselves for cultivation.*
*Could it be that one of the Ancestors had taken a liking to the boy and performed the mythical process of cleansing his body and rebuilding his Root Bone?*
*Though transforming someone from a defective waste body to a genius rivaling Liu Qingqing seemed utterly impossible…*
*...what if it weren't?*
*What if a powerful, benevolent Ancestor had intervened on a whim? Such a feat might not be entirely out of reach!* He'd never heard of the Gu Family's Ancestors possessing such miraculous methods, but... it was the only plausible explanation!