44: Zhang I knew you were rich, but I didn’t expect you to be this rich!

"Junior Brother Gu," Xuan Yangzi said, setting down his teacup, his voice carrying a subtle hint of probing. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes formed deep furrows, making him look like an old fox eyeing a chicken coop.

"Look, the Sect Grand Competition is approaching, and the Disciples are Cultivating with great fervor, but the rewards list is still empty.

As their Junior Martial Uncle, shouldn't you offer some treasures as prizes?"

As he spoke, his fingers unconsciously rubbed together, and his gaze drifted towards Gu Changge's Storage Ring, as if he could see the treasures piled inside through the ring's surface.

Gu Changge pushed the washed grapes towards him, his tone flat.

"What treasures? It's just that the Spiritual Qi here is a bit denser than elsewhere; there's nothing else."

"Hey, you're not being honest now."

Xuan Yangzi slapped his thigh, his beard bristling.

"I watched you grow up, boy; I know you!"

Gu Changge looked up and glanced at him: "What do you want?"

Good heavens, listen to that tone—asking, "What do I want?" instead of "What do I have?"!

With a "clink," Xuan Yangzi suddenly straightened up, almost dropping the teacup in his hand.

The treasures in Gu Changge's possession were probably more than he had imagined!

He swallowed, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and rubbed his hands together, saying,

"It doesn't have to be too valuable, just something suitable for young Disciples. Like Magical Artifacts that can stabilize their Realm, or Medicinal Pills to help them Breakthrough their Bottleneck..."

Gu Changge didn't reply, his Divine Sense sweeping through the System space.

Within the System space, mountains of illusory treasures flashed by—the flowing light of the Grandmist Pearl, the Dao Rhyme of the Chaos Green Lotus, the oppressive might of Supreme Emperor Weapons, Innate spiritual fruits... Most were divine objects that young Disciples couldn't withstand.

He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "Then take three King-grade treasures, ten Heaven-Grade treasures, and add twenty Marrow Cleansing Pills."

His Divine Sense swiftly manipulated within the System space, quickly refining these items.

With a soft clink, the still-smoking treasures landed one after another on the stone table.

On the scabbard of the King-grade spiritual sword, the last wisp of Dao Rhyme had not fully solidified.

On the scales of the King-grade armor, Innate Dao patterns were still evolving on their own.

The other treasures were all freshly made.

The twenty Marrow Cleansing Pills tumbled in the jade plate, their Medicinal Pill fragrance mixed with the scorching heat of being freshly produced.

"Pfft—"

Xuan Yangzi spat out all the spiritual tea he had just drunk, which dripped down his beard.

He stared at the treasures before him, his eyes almost bulging out, his voice changing pitch: "Wh-what are these? Did I hear that right? King-grade? Heaven-Grade treasures?"

He suddenly grabbed Gu Changge's wrist, with such force that he almost crushed his bones.

"Do you know what King-grade treasures mean? The entire Azure Profound Sect only has two!

One is held by the Old Ancestor in the Forbidden Ground, and the other is a heart-protecting mirror I risked my life to snatch from the Demonic Abyss back then! And you, for a competition among young Disciples, are using Sect-founding treasures as rewards?"

Gu Changge calmly pulled his hand back and brushed off his sleeve: "You said it yourself, to give some encouragement to the young Disciples."

"I know you're rich, but how can you be *that* rich?"

Each one was a Sect-founding treasure.

Xuan Yangzi looked at the treasures emitting a strong pressure before him.

He was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared, circling the stone table three times.

"Those are King-grade! Any one of them thrown out could make the Seven Great Sects fight over it! You, you prodigal son..."

Xuan Yangzi stomped his foot in anguish, his white beard twitching with anger.

"Do you think King-grade artifacts are roasted sweet potatoes? Huh! Why are they still warm?"

After saying that, he suddenly pounced on the table, spread his arms to shield the treasures, and quickly put them into his Storage Ring, fearing that if he was a moment too slow, Gu Changge would go back on his word.

"I'll keep these for now! For the competition rewards, we'll just put a Heaven-Grade—no! Earth-Grade! Earth-Grade is enough!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly paused, his gaze falling on the jade plate: "Wait, the Marrow Cleansing Pill you mentioned is..."

"A while ago, I saw that the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill and Innate Spirit Marrow could improve Aptitude."

Gu Changge picked up a translucent white Medicinal Pill, its body adorned with intricate golden patterns.

"I was bored and pondered it a bit, then casually refined some. Perhaps... maybe... they can improve Aptitude."

Xuan Yangzi's breathing instantly hitched, his eyes fixed on that Medicinal Pill, as if he had seen some incredible miracle.

He swallowed dryly, his voice trembling.

"Im-improve Aptitude? Do you know what that means? How many Disciples are stuck at a Bottleneck precisely because their Aptitude isn't enough! If this really works..."

"Who knows, I haven't tried it."

Gu Changge took out a jade bottle, casually put the Medicinal Pills into it, and tossed it up and down.

"If you want them, take these back for now."

Xuan Yangzi snatched the jade bottle, his hands trembling like a sieve, and quickly sealed the bottle mouth with three layers of spiritual power.

He looked at the warm luster emanating from the bottle, then suddenly remembered something and pressed Gu Changge's arm.

"No! The effects of this Medicinal Pill are unclear; it can't be given to Disciples casually. How about... we find a Disciple to try it first? No, I'll try it myself..."

Gu Changge had just finished peeling a melon seed and looked up at the words: "You?"

"Otherwise?"

Xuan Yangzi craned his neck, his fingertip tapping the bottle with a decisive sound.

"We can't use Disciples as guinea pigs. At my age, my Cultivation is stable, so even if the Medicinal Pill is potent, I can withstand it."

He paused, then suddenly gripped Gu Changge's wrist, his eyes slightly red.

"If anything happens to me, I entrust you to look after the few Old Ancestors of the Azure Profound Sect. And Li Xuanfeng and the others, they're too boisterous, they need to be disciplined..."

"That's enough."

Gu Changge pulled his hand back, looking at him as if he were making his last will, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

"You won't die."

Xuan Yangzi, however, didn't relax; instead, he clutched the jade bottle tighter: "You can't say that! My Senior Brother died trying a new Medicinal Pill..."

Gu Changge didn't listen to his nagging anymore; with a flick of his finger, another Medicinal Pill landed on the table.

This one was a size larger than the previous Marrow Cleansing Pill, its body shimmering with a pearl-like luster, and the golden patterns on its surface were even more intricate, with Spiritual Qi faintly condensing into mist.

"Use this one."

Xuan Yangzi blinked: "What's the difference?"

"Just a bit more ingredients."

Gu Changge said nonchalantly.

Xuan Yangzi swallowed, then suddenly grabbed Gu Changge's sleeve, a fawning smile on his face.

"Changge, I've always been good to you, haven't I?"

Seeing Gu Changge raise an eyebrow, he quickly counted on his fingers.

"When you first took over Zizhu Peak, didn't I secretly give you three bottles of Spirit Condensing Dew? Before, when you said you didn't have enough spiritual rice, didn't I have someone give you half of Dan Ding Peak's spiritual rice?"

The more he spoke, the more aggrieved he sounded.

"Even if I occasionally come over to absorb some Spiritual Qi and ask for a couple of treasures, it's all for the Sect! I trust you so much, you can't harm me... I haven't even found a wife yet!"

Gu Changge looked at his vivid expression and finally couldn't help but laugh.

He picked up the enhanced Marrow Cleansing Pill and put it into Xuan Yangzi's hand: "Don't worry, you won't die."

Xuan Yangzi tremblingly held the Medicinal Pill and tossed it into his mouth.