Following this, the group accompanied Gu Changsheng to the Gu clan's independent grotto-heavens and blessed lands within their domain!
It was not just one, but several.
The place Xiao Chen was heading to was a Realm of Wind and Fire spanning only several tens of li across, where crisscrossing mutated wind-attribute astral winds raged.
Driven by the howling winds, violent magma surged furiously, sending waves of flames billowing to the skies.
Rich spiritual energy rarely found in the outside world permeated the area, and Xiao Chen was overjoyed the moment he saw this domain fragment.
He could hardly wait to step inside, but Gu Changsheng chuckled. "Don't be in such a rush."
With that, he pulled out a thumb-sized metal palace and tossed it forward.
The teal palace swelled with the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into a massive structure over thirty zhang in size.
Inscribed on all four sides with countless formations, it was embedded with over a thousand purple gold crystals!
Gu Changsheng smiled and said, "Go on. The Body Integration Pill is inside the hall. If anything happens, I'll know immediately."
Li Guanqi felt a jolt in his heart. What Gu Changsheng was doing was tantamount to acting as a Dao protector for them!
Xiao Chen was equally shaken, knowing full well that this was all thanks to Li Guanqi.
Had he not become sworn brothers with Li Guanqi, he would likely still be in the middle Void Refining Realm today. Even if he could break through, it would never have happened so quickly.
Xiao Chen took a deep breath, stepped into the space, and turned back to say softly, "I will definitely break through."
Li Guanqi smiled faintly and advised softly, "No need to rush. Steady progress is best."
"You don't need to worry about the Xiao clan either. I'll make proper arrangements later."
Xiao Chen nodded with a smile and stepped deeper into the domain realm.
Immediately after, Gu Changsheng flicked a finger, gently tearing open another pocket space fragment of a grotto-heaven blessed land.
The moment Ye Feng felt the aura inside, every hair on his body stood on end!
From within the spatial rift radiated an aura of razor-sharp Geng Metal power, concentrated to the point of almost overflowing.
Ye Feng bowed in salute and offered his solemn thanks. "Senior Gu, thank you for your painstaking care."
A magnificent golden hall manifested before him. Gu Changsheng nodded with a smile, not saying much.
When he turned his gaze toward Cao Yan and Sun Miao, however, he looked troubled.
Yet in the very next breath, Gu Changsheng coughed twice, glanced at Li Guanqi, and sent a voice transmission:
"Um... young friend, mind if I take the two of them for a casual stroll first?"
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile, naturally having no objection to Gu Changsheng entertaining thoughts of taking them as disciples.
Sun Miao naturally deferred to whatever was arranged, following behind rather apprehensively without uttering a word.
Cao Yan, on the other hand, followed with keen interest, feeling in no hurry at all regarding his breakthrough.
Gu Li turned toward Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu and smiled. "Let them look around on their own. I'll take you two over to my place to sit for a bit."
Gu Li knew that after Gu Changsheng finished showing Cao Yan and Sun Miao around, he would return to seek out Li Guanqi, so he decided to bring the couple to his residence in the meantime.
Following Gu Li over high mountains, they teleported a hundred li before the scorching heat waves finally began to subside.
Gradually, lush green mountain ranges rolled endlessly into the distance, with the occasional chirping of birds and beasts echoing beneath the veil of mist and clouds.
Gu Li took a deep breath and exclaimed, "This place really is the most comfortable after all. That heat had me soaked in sweat."
Meng Wanshu also breathed a sigh of relief. The scalding waves of fire had been laced with the power of various beast flames, as well as one or two kinds of earth flames.
The aura of those flames had made her feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
The rushing sound of a torrent reached their ears, and Gu Li smiled. "Come on, we're almost there."
The three descended from the air, and a secluded courtyard revealed itself nestled in a hollow surrounded by mountains.
Built against the hillside, the courtyard sat right next to a crystal-clear brook.
Looking at the quaint, antique manor, Li Guanqi remarked with a hint of surprise, "Tsk, tsk, quite good taste you have here. I thought you'd be living in some opulent, glittering palace."
Gu Li shrugged.
"Don't tease me. I'm no bumpkin."
"Truth is, I actually prefer peace and quiet on my own."
Suddenly remembering something, Gu Li said with a touch of embarrassment, "Could you wait for me a moment while I tidy up..."
Li Guanqi teleported to the front gate and pushed it open.
Rustle rustle.
The crisp rustling of paper echoed as the door pushed inward with considerable resistance.
Scattered all over the ground was low-grade talisman paper, dense drifts of it practically burying the entire courtyard.
Seeing this, Li Guanqi could not help remarking with deep feeling, "There's no such thing as sheer peerless talent. Behind it lies effort that others never get to see."
Hearing that, Gu Li smiled and waved his hand, sweeping up all the talisman paper strewn across the courtyard.
Gu Li brewed a pot of tea for the two, and the three of them sat together, chatting casually.
Gu Li unexpectedly brought up their previous clash on his own initiative. After explaining what he had been thinking back then, he offered an apology to Meng Wanshu.
"I was in the wrong on this matter. I apologize to you, Sister-in-Law."
Meng Wanshu raised a hand to stop Gu Li's apology and spoke softly, "I don't blame you. We simply had different perspectives; there is no right or wrong here."
"Neither side was at fault."
Gu Li and the couple exchanged smiles, and whatever lingering barrier had existed between them vanished like smoke.
Li Guanqi remained silent the entire time, for he knew that regardless of which side it was, they had only acted that way out of concern for him.
Time flew by as they chatted about various things.
Gu Li also expressed his gratitude to Li Guanqi for helping him achieve enlightenment; such a favor was greater than the heavens.
As long as he did not perish, Gu Li was now one of the preeminent figures in the Dao of talismans across the Human Spirit Realm!
Once he got through this busy period, Gu Li also planned to enter secluded cultivation.
After all, he had just gained comprehension of the Immortal Talisman Dao. The paths available for him to create inscribed talismans were like countless fireflies shining in the dark night.
A sky full of stars lay waiting for him to pluck and forge anew.
It was not until night fell that Gu Changsheng returned, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Gu Changsheng looked at the youths in the courtyard and nodded with a smile.
Then, turning to Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu, he chuckled. "Come along. I've invited a few old friends over—let's go meet them together."
Meng Wanshu rose to stand beside Li Guanqi, taking his hand without saying a word.
Gu Changsheng did not comment on seeing this; after all, the two were Dao companions now, so there was nothing improper about it.
With a wave of Gu Changsheng's hand, spatial energy enveloped the three of them, teleporting them to a mysterious great hall enveloped in flames.
Dozens of clusters of multicolored flames blazed fiercely atop towering stone pillars, their scalding temperatures causing space itself to warp faintly.
A dark-gold table spanned several zhang in length, around which several individuals were already seated, their formidable pressure permeating the void.
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. Every single person present here was a Mahayana realm cultivator!
Four people—which meant four grade-eight alchemists!
There were three white-haired, white-bearded elders, and one youth with jade-like features who was handsome without being feminine.
Dressed in a flame robe, he leaned back in his chair, watching Li Guanqi with an intriguing smile playing on his lips.
Gu Changsheng led them toward their seats, chuckling as he introduced them: "Guanqi, this is Elder Han, Han Yuan, a peak grade-eight alchemist."
"This is Elder Jiang, Jiang Qizhi."
"This is Elder Guo, Guo Feng."
Li Guanqi bowed in salute to each of them in turn before arriving in front of the youth.
Even Gu Changsheng looked somewhat ill at ease upon seeing this individual, clearly surprised that he had actually come this time.
The youth stood up of his own accord, looking at Li Guanqi with a faint curl of his lips as his deep, magnetic voice slowly sounded.
"My name is Xiang Huaizhi."
Chapter 860