Translator: Anubis Translations
Cloud Dwelling City is located in the barren region of Cloud Prefecture. At the city gate lies a narrow path flanked by uneven loess slopes. Beyond this path stretches a mountain range.
A tall figure was sprinting along the road, appearing small under the setting sun.
After an hour, Gu Feng stopped, gazing at the towering mountains ahead. He grinned, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and plunged into the dense forest.
Once inside, he slowed his pace, carefully covering his tracks to avoid detection.
Gu Feng harbored no illusions—Gu Tianba would surely send assassins after him, leaving no room for survival. This had nothing to do with him emptying the Treasure Vault of Spirit Stones. Gu Tianba was the type to eliminate all threats, even family, without hesitation.
At the same time, Gu Feng understood that the Gu family might hesitate due to Elder Liu's influence. The Gu elders were somewhat prominent in Cloud Dwelling City, and any rash action would draw attention. If something went wrong, it would be difficult to explain to Elder Liu.
Though Elder Liu might not mobilize forces for someone as insignificant as him, it was still better to act cautiously.
The most likely scenario was that Gu Xing and others would use the upcoming Sunset Glow Sect assessment as an excuse to hunt him down.
Among the Gu family's younger generation, only Gu Xing, at the sixth level of Body Refinement, posed a threat. No one else could intimidate Gu Feng.
"If they dare come, I'll make sure they meet their end," Gu Feng muttered, his eyes flashing with determination as he entered a well-hidden cave.
After ensuring the dark cave was free of venomous snakes or insects, Gu Feng sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
Focusing his mind, he saw the Three-Mouth Incense Burner in his consciousness, now filled with a vast amount of milky-white Divine Fluid—the essence of two million Low-grade Spirit Stones.
Perhaps due to his limited cultivation level, the Spirit Stones placed in the other two incense burners showed no reaction. Gu Feng didn't mind; the Divine Fluid in the first burner was sufficient for now.
Drop by drop, the Divine Fluid entered his body, merging and refining it.
The veins on his arms and forehead bulged, emitting faint tremors as his strength surged rapidly.
Gritting his teeth, he felt the changes in his body. A grayish filth oozed from his pores, though the stench was less pungent than the night before.
"Could it be that I'm about to break through to the second level of Body Refinement?"
Encouraged, Gu Feng accelerated the refinement of the Divine Fluid.
...
As the sun set, darkness enveloped the sky.
Over a dozen cultivators, around Gu Feng's age, stood in the meeting hall, accompanied by the Gu family's elders.
"Xing'er, make sure this is done cleanly."
"With Gu Feng's pace, he's likely no more than a hundred miles away, probably resting in the mountain forest tonight. We'll catch up in an hour, hunt him down in half an hour, and return in another hour. Father and uncles, please wait here. My brothers and I will be back soon," Gu Xing said confidently, his imposing presence reassuring everyone.
As the Gu family's young master, Gu Xing's commanding aura inspired confidence. After all, Gu Feng's first-level Body Refinement was well-known. It was impossible for him to have hidden his strength under their watchful eyes.
Even if Gu Feng had concealed his abilities, no one believed he could surpass Gu Xing, especially with so many talented Gu family members joining the hunt.
Gu Feng's fate was sealed—there was no doubt.
"Be quick and don't cause any trouble!" Gu Tianba nodded in satisfaction, watching Gu Xing and the others depart. Servants brought wine and food to pass the time as the family discussed the past year's gains and losses.
About half an hour later, as they planned for the next year, Gu Tianba suddenly remembered the Storage Pouch he had taken from Gu Feng earlier that day, still hanging at his waist.
Storage Pouches functioned similarly to Storage Rings, but unlike the latter, they couldn't be blood-bound, making them prone to loss.
"Ah, I almost forgot. There's still 400,000 Spirit Stones in here."
Gu Tianba took the pouch, weighed it in his hand, and smiled smugly.
Gu Feng might have been a nuisance, but he wasn't entirely useless. After all, he had contributed a fortune to the family.
In a good year, the Gu family's annual surplus might reach this amount. In ordinary years, they couldn't even earn this much.
"Second Brother, take care of these Spirit Stones and deposit them in the Treasure Vault tomorrow," Gu Tianba said, handing the pouch to Gu's second uncle.
The latter wiped his hands, took the pouch, and stood up with a smile. "I'll deposit them now to avoid forgetting tomorrow."
With that, Gu's second uncle left abruptly, not waiting for anyone to stop him.
"That guy, as always, seizes any chance to avoid drinking."
"It's good he knows his limits. He's never been a heavy drinker."
"With this unexpected windfall of 400,000 Spirit Stones, we can expand our iron ore business next year."
"Tonight is the most satisfying in years—both for the 400,000 Spirit Stones and for finally eliminating Gu Tianqing's line. Let's toast!"
"Cheers!"
Glasses clinked, laughter filled the air, and the mood was jubilant.
As the revelry reached its peak, Gu's second uncle rushed in, his steps erratic and his face pale.
"Brother, the Treasure Vault..." he panted, struggling to speak.
"Ha! Are you saying the vault can't hold any more Spirit Stones?" Gu Tianba laughed, and the others joined in.
It had been a bountiful year, and with most payments still outstanding, the vault was already overflowing. How could it accommodate an additional 400,000 Spirit Stones?
"Sit down and drink. Tomorrow, we'll hire craftsmen to expand the vault," Gu's third uncle said, his face flushed as he tried to pull Gu's second uncle to sit.
"Clang—"
Gu's second uncle knocked the wine cup from his brother's hand and shouted, "What's there to drink? The vault is empty!"
"And this—it's all just rocks!" He opened the Storage Pouch and poured its contents onto the ground.
Rocks and Spirit Stones scattered everywhere.
Everyone froze, their faces turning pale as the alcohol's effects faded.
"What's going on?" Gu Tianba roared.
"We've been tricked by Gu Feng. Somehow, he stole all the Spirit Stones from the vault."
"What—"
Clang, clang—wine, food, and shattered dishes scattered across the floor.
Gu Tianba dashed toward the vault, followed closely by the others.
Inside the vault, the Gu family was met with a shocking sight.
They rubbed their eyes and pinched their thighs, trying to accept the harsh reality—the vault was completely empty.
How was this possible?
The Gu family didn't possess a Storage Pouch capable of holding two million Spirit Stones.
Moreover, they had inspected Gu Feng before he left—there was no way he could have taken anything.
How had he done it?
Staring at the empty room, the family members stood dumbfounded, their hair standing on end.
"You little brat, how dare you!" Gu Tianba roared, punching a hole in the wall.
It was gone—everything was gone. The Gu family was ruined.
Beside him, Gu's second uncle was also consumed by anger when a sudden realization struck him.
"That kid must have hidden cards up his sleeve!
Wait, Gu Xing and the others—"
At these words, everyone realized the gravity of the situation.
Gu Feng had always played the fool, pretending to be harmless, which only highlighted his cunning.
Someone with such deep scheming would surely anticipate an ambush. He might even have guessed that Gu Xing and the others were tasked with hunting him down.
Could his strength already surpass Gu Xing's?
The thought sent a chill down Gu Tianba's spine. He bellowed, "Second Brother, Third Brother, go after Gu Xing and the others. Bring back Gu Feng and the two million Spirit Stones.
I want him alive. He must have some secret to have taken so many Spirit Stones unnoticed."
"Yes, Brother!"
Two figures, radiating killing intent, rushed out of the city under the cover of night.
(End of the Chapter)
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