Chapter 1466: Chapter 756: Different Paths
A figure suddenly appeared in the center of the hall, the Purple Gold Python Robe moving without wind, surrounded by a dragon-shaped Qi Force that seemed both present and absent.
Southern Prince Nangong Tiance stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over everyone like lightning, and no one dared to meet his eyes.
Gu Sheng slightly cupped his hands in respect.
"Congratulations to the Prince on breaking through restrictions and entering a new realm."
"Congratulations to the Prince!"
Only then did everyone awaken from their daze, collectively offering their blessings, the sound so loud it made the pillars of the hall hum.
Southern Prince raised his hand in a gesture of support.
"Please rise, everyone."
His gaze lingered momentarily on Gu Sheng.
"Gu, may I have a word with you?"
Gu Sheng’s lips curled slightly.
"It would be an honor."
The two left the hall, one after the other, passed through the corridor, and arrived at the secluded small courtyard.
The old plum tree in the courtyard remained unchanged, except for a few fallen leaves on the stone table beneath.
Southern Prince flicked his sleeve, and the fallen leaves rose without wind, drifting aside.
He looked directly into Gu Sheng’s eyes.
"Who are you, really?"
Gu Sheng calmly sat on the stone stool, tapping the tabletop lightly with his finger.
"Why does the Prince ask this? I am merely an ordinary young man traveling the world."
"An ordinary young man?"
Southern Prince chuckled lightly, a spark flashing in his eyes.
"An ordinary young man who can instantly see through the flaws in my Cultivation Technique and effortlessly guide me past a bottleneck of hundreds of years?"
Gu Sheng responded with a smile but said nothing, instead taking a celadon teapot from his sleeve and leisurely pouring himself a cup of tea.
The aroma of the tea filled the air between them.
Seeing this, Southern Prince frowned slightly but soon relaxed.
"Very well. Since you aren’t willing to say more, I won’t force you. My previous promise stands, the Prince Mansion will arrange for your safe escort out of the city."
"Thank you, Prince."
Gu Sheng raised his cup in acknowledgment.
"However..."
Southern Prince shifted his tone.
"You have done me a great favor, and if the Prince Mansion only repays with such trivial deeds, it would be open to criticism. Is there anything you need? I will do my best to satisfy it."
Gu Sheng put down his teacup, his gaze clear.
"You’re too kind, Prince. I was merely in the right place at the right time; it was just a small gesture for me."
Southern Prince pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke.
"I have a daughter named Yingying, aged sixteen, naturally gifted. If you don’t mind..."
"Prince!"
Gu Sheng interrupted, his smile unchanged.
"I already have someone special in mind, I’m afraid I can’t accept your generous offer."
The courtyard fell silent, with only the rustling sound of the wind through the plum branches.
Southern Prince looked surprised, then laughed.
"No need to rush, I am not forcing the issue. It’s just that you have exceptional talent, and if you were to form a family bond with the Prince Mansion, in the future..."
"You’re worried that I may grow too powerful and become uncontrollable in the future, aren’t you, Prince?"
Gu Sheng stared straight into Southern Prince’s eyes, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the day’s weather.
Southern Prince’s pupils contracted, and his aura suddenly became intense.
The temperature in the courtyard dropped suddenly, and fine ice crystals formed on the plum branches.
Gu Sheng seemed unaware, pouring himself another cup of tea.
"No need to worry, Prince. I am merely passing through; I have no interest in the Prince Mansion or the Southern Border."
"You are straightforward, indeed."
Southern Prince retracted his aura, his face once again adorned with a smile.
"But I am curious, with your insights and Cultivation, what do you plan to do next?"
Gu Sheng did not answer immediately.
He placed the teacup down, bringing together his right index and middle fingers, gently tracing a line in the Void.
"Zheng..."
A clear sword sound resonated, materializing a three-foot Qi Sword in the air, its blade transparent as water, yet exuding a chilling sharpness.
Southern Prince’s expression changed slightly, instinctively taking half a step back.
Gu Sheng lightly twisted his wrist, the Qi Sword drawing an elegant arc, silently landing on the edge of the stone table.
"Ka."
A soft sound, a hair-thin sword mark appeared on the table edge, about an inch deep.
Southern Prince initially dismissed it, but upon Concentrating Spirit to examine the sword mark, he was struck as if by lightning, freezing in place.
Southern Prince Nangong Tiance’s gaze firmly fixed on the three-inch sword mark on the table, his pupils reflecting the sight of countless stars being born and dying.
His breathing became unusually slow, each breath seemingly resonating with the heavens and earth.
"This is..."
Within the sword mark, countless golden Dao Patterns moved like living creatures, weaving into a vast star map.
In a daze, Nangong Tiance saw an emerging new world unfolding before him... mountains and rivers forming, the sun and moon rotating, countless Daoist Techniques and Laws being woven into existence in the Void.
His True Yuan, dormant for years, suddenly surged, the bottleneck of the Earth King Realm Early Stage began to loosen!
"Prince?"
Gu Sheng’s voice jarred Nangong Tiance out of his state of Enlightenment.
Southern Prince abruptly raised his head, realizing his robe was drenched in sweat, while a faint golden light still emanated from the sword mark on the table.
"This sword mark..."
Nangong Tiance’s voice was hoarse.
"Contains at least thirty-six complete profound meanings of Daoist Techniques!"
Gu Sheng casually sat in the Taishi Chair, tapping the armrest with his fingertips.
"You have a keen eye, Prince. But compared to that, what about my earlier proposal?"
Nangong Tiance looked at the seemingly young man, barely in his twenties, with a complicated expression.
Three days ago, he had stormed into the Prince Mansion alone, cutting through eighteen restrictions with a single sword, proof of his exceptional nature.
"To become my mentor..."
Southern Prince’s fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the sword mark.
"I have cultivated for over two centuries, recently advancing to the Earth King Realm, but if I were to take you as my mentor..."
Gu Sheng chuckled softly, contently sipping his tea.
"Is it an issue of pride, Prince?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.
Nangong Baye stood to the side, cold sweat forming on his forehead... It’s been many years since anyone dared to speak to the Father Prince like this.
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