“You don’t know?” Long Tu looked at Xu Qi An in surprise. “You’re only a hair’s breadth away from becoming a Supernaturalist, how could you not know the principles of Gu arts?”

I’m just a fraud, not like you all… Xu Qi An didn’t answer him.

Seeing his silence, Long Tu continued: “Any creature that directly absorbs the Gu God’s power will mutate into a monster. The Gu insects and Gu beasts near the Extreme Abyss are examples of this.”

“To harness the Gu God’s power, our ancestors paid an enormous price, sacrificing countless lives to discover methods of utilizing the Gu God’s power. This led to the creation of our Gu clan’s secret techniques and Life-Bound Gu.”

“The Life-Bound Gu can neutralize the corruption of the Gu God’s power, allowing our clan to absorb its strength without being tainted.”

So the Life-Bound Gu acts as a filter… Xu Qi An nodded.

Ba Ji joined the conversation: “The Life-Bound Gu is still a Gu creature, so why doesn’t it mutate and go mad like other Gu insects and beasts when absorbing the Gu God’s power? Because it has maturation stages that limit its growth.”

“When it reaches a bottleneck, it enters dormancy to purge the corruption from the Gu God’s power.”

“This means it cannot rapidly strengthen itself by absorbing the Gu God’s power like ordinary Gu insects and beasts.”

This makes it more stable and prevents mutation, but it also restricts the growth of cultivation… Xu Qi An thought of the Seven-Fold Gu within him, which could no longer absorb the Gu God’s power for similar reasons.

During their conversation, Chun Yan’s love poison was removed by Luan Yu, restoring her consciousness. She seemed to remember what had happened earlier and could barely meet Xu Qi An’s gaze.

The various leaders dispersed, and Xu Qi An followed Long Tu back to the Power Gu clan. They crossed vast plains before reaching the foot of Mount Bo.

By then night had fallen. Outside the clan leader’s courtyard, bonfires were lit and large pots set up. Li Na crouched beside a pot cooking meat, surrounded by seven or eight Power Gu children, all under ten years old.

Xu Qi An spotted his foolish sister sitting with the Power Gu children, eagerly watching the pot like them, waiting for the meat to cook. Her expression, her gaze, and the way she swallowed matched the Power Gu children perfectly.

It seems Ling Yin has integrated perfectly into the Power Gu clan… Xu Qi An scanned the area and noticed many unfamiliar young adults, guessing they were young clan members who had returned from hunting.

“Whenever her brother returns from hunting, Li Na likes to take some of the game and cook it for the clan’s children,” Long Tu said contentedly. “She understands how to show kindness to others. She’s more suited to being a clan leader than her brother. Li Na has been clever since she was little.”

…Xu Qi An didn’t know how to respond, so he stayed silent.

“Li Na, where are Nan Chi and Bai Ji?”

He walked to the pot and sniffed. The smell wasn’t particularly good.

The children, including Xu Ling Yin, immediately became alert, suspecting he wanted a share of the food.

“They’re in the house,” Li Na replied without looking up, focused on cooking and occasionally adding spices.

Xu Qi An and Long Tu walked past the children and entered the courtyard. In the inner yard, a young man with a bare upper body was practicing with a steel blade, his movements swift as the wind.

His muscular body rippled as he wielded the blade, particularly his arms and back muscles, exhibiting pure masculinity.

“Father!” Seeing Long Tu and Xu Qi An enter, he immediately halted his practice and respectfully called out.

Long Tu grunted in acknowledgment and introduced him to Xu Qi An: “This is my son, Li Na’s brother, Mo Sang.”

Mo Sang was no more than twenty-five, his features somewhat similar to Li Na’s and thus quite handsome, though a deep scar on his left cheek marred his appearance. His fierce gaze gave him an untamed air.

“This is Xu Yin Ling from the Central Plains,” Long Tu introduced briefly.

Mo Sang had already heard about Xu Qi An’s impressive feats today from the returning elders and didn’t dare show any disrespect, bowing courteously.

“No need for formalities. Li Na is my good friend, and you’re her brother, so we’re practically family,” Xu Qi An nodded with a smile, thinking that at least Mo Sang appeared normal in appearance, unlike Li Na who wore her simplicity on her face.

Mo Sang immediately asked: “Who’s stronger between Xu Yin Ling and Father? I heard you defeated all five leaders today. Father isn’t your match, I can guarantee that.”

I take back what I just thought—no one in the Power Gu clan has any sense… Xu Qi An glanced at Long Tu, who looked disgruntled and eager to fight, then made an excuse to leave.

Behind him, he heard the father and son’s loud conversation:

“You have no manners.”

“Father, you want to fight Xu Yin Ling, so why not just do it? Why hesitate?”

“If you had half of Li Na’s wisdom, I would pass the clan leader position to you.”

Xu Qi An went straight to the inner courtyard, easily locating Mu Nan Chi’s room. When he pushed open the door, he found her wearing a light purple undergarment and white silk pants, carefully wiping her arms and neck with a handkerchief.

Seeing someone burst in, her face changed dramatically. Upon realizing it was Xu Qi An, her terror slightly decreased, but her cheeks flushed red as she turned away, angrily saying: “Get out, get out…”

Xu Qi An gazed at her jade-white back, swallowing like his sister did when looking at food.

Creak— He closed the door and waited a few minutes until Mu Nan Chi’s voice came from inside: “You can come in now.”

Xu Qi An entered the room and looked around. “It’s quite sparse indeed, not even a bathtub.”

Mu Nan Chi nodded with dignity, pretending she wasn’t embarrassed at all, though she secretly took revenge by squeezing Bai Ji harder. The little fox was supposed to keep watch but had completely ignored Xu Qi An’s approach, causing her to lose face.

“We ran into some trouble earlier…” Xu Qi An told her about what happened in the Extreme Abyss, sighing: “I think I’ve figured out Xu Ping Feng’s style now. Under one goal, there’s always a second hidden objective. If one fails, he immediately moves to the second plan, never letting himself come away empty-handed. Next time we meet, I’ll have to be more careful.”

Mu Nan Chi wasn’t interested in matters of fighting and killing—she was just a gentle woman who couldn’t even kill a chicken. As long as Xu Qi An wasn’t hurt, everything was fine.

“Later, I’ll need your help planting some poisonous herbs and fruits. Not too many, just enough to give the Poison Gu clan a taste.” Too bad I don’t have diabetes, otherwise I’d do it myself… he humorously added in his heart.

“Mm!” Mu Nan Chi nodded. Since entering the jianghu, she had often helped Xu Qi An grow poisonous plants to satisfy his strange preferences.

Xu Qi An rescued Bai Ji from her arms, saying irritably: “She’s still just a child, don’t bully her so much.”

Hearing Xu Yin Ling stand up for her, Bai Ji was delighted and said indignantly in her sweet voice: “What’s wrong with seeing a bit of skin? Sister Ye Ji was sleeping with Xu Yin Ling every night in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains recently.”

…Xu Qi An expressionlessly pushed Bai Ji’s head into the water basin.

…

That night, the Power Gu clan held a bonfire party in the square outside the clan leader’s courtyard.

The theme was meat, meat, and more meat.

Li Na, having returned from her travels in the Central Plains, became the center of attention alongside Xu Qi An.

After several rounds of meat, an elder loudly said: “Li Na, tell everyone about your thrilling adventures in the Central Plains! You left and came back as a Fourth Rank expert—we’re all curious!”

Worth mentioning, the Power Gu clan had no alcohol because brewing required large amounts of grain, which they couldn’t afford to spare. They occasionally traded food with the other six clans for alcohol, making it a luxury item. In the Power Gu clan, if someone had a jar of wine, they could practically walk around like they owned the place.

Li Na, who had been happily eating meat, looked up in confusion.

“Sister Li Na, tell us!”

“Li Na, we heard the Central Plains are very prosperous. You went there and came back with lighter skin and Fourth Rank power—your experiences must have been colorful!”

“Quick, tell us, we can’t wait!”

Men and women, old and young, all urged her on.

Pfft, what experiences? She just freeloaded at my place… Xu Qi An almost covered his mouth to stop from laughing out loud.

Li Na stood up awkwardly, stammering: “Well, um, my journey to the Central Plains was certainly colorful! I matched wits and strength with the Central Plains people all along the way, overcame hardships, made a great name for myself in the jianghu, and finally reached the capital to focus on cultivation. And, and I did many things that have never been done before in all of history!”

Her brother Mo Sang asked: “Like what?”

Li Na was stumped. Her eyes darted around before she declared loudly: “Like helping Xu Ning Yan kill the Duke and the Emperor! You can ask him if you don’t believe me!”

Everyone looked at Xu Qi An.

You had nothing to do with killing the Duke, though you did help with Emperor Yuan Jing… Xu Qi An didn’t expose her, giving a supportive nod.

Immediately, Li Na won applause and cheers from her clansmen.

Li Na proudly stuck out her chest with her hands on her hips.

“Then what was Sister Li Na’s famous name in the Central Plains?” a child asked loudly.

“Fei, Fei Yan the Female Hero! Yes, that’s what people in the Central Plains called me!” Li Na shouted back.

If Fei Yan the Female Hero knew she had become a little dark-skinned girl from the Southern Borderlands, she’d come after you with her sword… Xu Qi An’s face twitched. He saw Xu Ling Yin sitting with some children in the crowd, clapping enthusiastically and cheering for “Fei Yan the Female Hero.” She had truly become one of the Gu clan’s children.

The bonfire party ended amid laughter and cheer. Xu Qi An hadn’t received enough “flattery” and privately grumbled that the Power Gu clan people were all uncouth.

He took Xu Ling Yin back to their room to sleep.

Mu Nan Chi, angry about what Bai Ji had accidentally revealed, went back to her maiden home—the Floating Pagoda.

After being coerced by him, the little dumpling carefully brushed her teeth, washed her feet, and rolled around happily on the bed.

“Big Brother, am I going to live here for a long time?” Xu Ling Yin lay on the bed, looking at him with bright black eyes.

“Do you miss Mother and Father?” Xu Qi An stroked her head.

“I do,” Xu Ling Yin nodded vigorously, then added: “But not when I’m eating.”

“Do you like it here?”

“I love it! There’s endless meat here!” Xu Ling Yin waved her arms, shouting.

Ling Yin was born to roam the jianghu. Other children her age would be crying their eyes out after not seeing their parents for so long… Xu Qi An covered her with the blanket, smiling: “Go to sleep.”

Xu Ling Yin patted the space beside her with her chubby little hand: “Big Brother sleep too.”

Soon, snoring sounds began.

Xu Qi An tucked her in properly and blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness.

…

In the Heaven Gu clan.

In a dimly lit room with candles burning like beans, Grandmother Heaven Gu sat by the bed mending clothes.

The candlelight suddenly flickered, but Grandmother Heaven Gu didn’t look up, smiling kindly: “There’s tea on the table, freshly brewed.”

The person who had appeared silently by the table picked up the teapot, turned over an upturned teacup, and while pouring asked: “Grandmother, what is the Seven-Fold Gu?”

Grandmother Heaven Gu remained silent for a while before slowly saying: “About eighty years ago, the Gu God’s power erupted, several times more powerful than today. The old man went to check the Extreme Abyss and returned with a strange Gu insect.”

“It was very weak but naturally possessed seven types of Gu arts. However, the seven powers were very chaotic, difficult to balance, and could cause it to explode at any time.”

“To nurture it, the old man thought of a method: using the Heaven Gu as a foundation to support the other six powers.”

The Seven-Fold Gu appeared during a major eruption of the Gu God’s power… Xu Qi An frowned: “Why is it so special?”

Besides the Gu God, no creature could control seven types of Gu arts simultaneously. The Seven-Fold Gu was the only exception, which proved its extraordinary nature.

Grandmother Heaven Gu shook her head and said: “During that eruption of the Gu God’s power, besides the appearance of the Seven-Fold Gu, the Confucian Saint’s statue cracked at that time. The old man also began pondering how to repair the seal because of this, and finally set his sights on Great Daqi’s national fortune.”

A major eruption of Gu God’s power, the appearance of the Seven-Fold Gu, the Confucian Saint’s statue cracking… Xu Qi An felt a chill run down his spine, experiencing an inexplicable sense of dread.

“The Seven-Fold Gu only has instincts, no independent consciousness—I can confirm this. I hope I’m overthinking things. Well, even if there is something wrong with the Seven-Fold Gu, with my current strength, I can easily suppress it.”

“It would only be dangerous if the Seven-Fold Gu became my strongest weapon one day. Fortunately, my martial arts talent isn’t bad…”

His thoughts flickered in his mind.

Seeing him silent for so long, Grandmother Heaven Gu’s wrinkled face bore a kindly smile: “Is there anything else you want to ask?”

Xu Qi An gathered his thoughts and returned her smile: “Actually, yes!”

“That monkey avatar of yours, Grandmother—what did it see and hear in the Extreme Abyss today?”

Grandmother Heaven Gu’s smile slowly faded as she sighed: “How did you figure it out?”

Slurp— Xu Qi An took a sip of tea and said calmly: “Since I entered the realm of Supernaturalists, more and more people only remember my unmatched talent and glorious achievements, but few remember what I initially relied on to make my name.”

“I didn’t expose you earlier simply because it wasn’t convenient.”