68: The shock of the ancestors

These words exploded like a thunderclap on the stone Peak.

Third Old Ancestor, who was enjoying a large piece of beef brisket, suddenly froze. With half a piece of meat still in his mouth, he turned his head to look, not bothering to wipe the oil dripping from the corners of his lips.

Fifth Ancestor had just scooped up a spoonful of Dragon meat, and his spoon hovered in mid-air, his originally ruddy face instantly stiffening.

Even the most composed Great Ancestor put down his wine bowl, his aura fluctuating slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief—

"Little Xuanzi, you've hidden it well! When did you reach the threshold of the Saint Realm? Why didn't we notice any movement?"

Xuan Yangzi felt a bit flustered under their scrutinizing gazes. He subconsciously took half a step back and scratched his head.

"Old Ancestor, aren't you also at the Peak of a Quasi-Saint, about to reach the Saint Realm? And you're talking about me?"

Xuan Yangzi muttered.

"Don't mind me; I'm asking you now," Great Ancestor retorted, his face not red and his breath not hurried.

"Well... just recently, after drinking the spiritual tea Junior Brother Changge gave me and taking a Marrow Cleansing Pill, I suddenly touched the threshold... I thought since I hadn't completely Breakthrough, I didn't say anything..."

"Marrow Cleansing Pill?" Fourth Ancestor's eyes instantly lit up. "What kind of Medicinal Pill is this?"

"It's not some incredible Medicinal Pill; at most, it can improve a person's Aptitude."

"What? Improve Aptitude?!"

Fourth Ancestor's withered fingers clutched his robe tightly, his King Realm Peak spiritual power in disarray due to excitement.

Third Old Ancestor almost spat out the beef brisket in his mouth and leaned forward, pressing, "How much can it improve? Is it above Heaven-Grade, or..."

"If the Foundation is good enough, Saint-Grade is not impossible."

Gu Changge twirled a jade knife between his fingers, his tone as calm as if he were saying, "The weather is nice today." Yet, these words, falling into the ears of the five Old Ancestors, were even more startling than the "Drunken Immortal Dew" from before.

Great Ancestor suddenly stood up, his Quasi-Saint Peak aura bursting forth, causing the Spiritual Vein on the stone Peak to tremble.

"Saint-Grade? Changge, do you know what this means? In the Xuanhuang Great World for millions of years, there has never been anyone who could improve their Aptitude to Saint-Grade through Medicinal Pills!"

He had seen countless Heaven And Earth Treasure, but had never heard of such a Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pill. If it truly had such an effect, why would the Azure Profound Sect worry about not rising to prominence?

Fifth Ancestor hugged the empty clay pot, his originally dark hair even trembling slightly from excitement.

"Little Xuanzi, tell me honestly, how many Marrow Cleansing Pills did you take? What level is your Aptitude at now?"

Xuan Yangzi's cheeks flushed from the question, and he scratched his head: "Just... just one. It's now Medium Grade Saint-Grade..."

"Medium Grade Saint-Grade?!"

The five Old Ancestors simultaneously gasped. Third Old Ancestor even reached out to touch Xuan Yangzi's pulse, and the moment his fingertips touched his wrist, his pupils contracted sharply.

The spiritual power flowing within that pulse faintly carried the rhythm of the Saint Realm, clearly an anomaly only found in Saint-Grade Aptitude!

"You brat!"

Third Old Ancestor was both angry and amused, raising his hand to pat Xuan Yangzi on the back of his head.

"You kept such a big matter from us!"

Great Ancestor looked intently at Gu Changge: "Changge, this Marrow Cleansing Pill... do you have any more? I am willing to exchange it for my 'Violet Cloud Thunder Crystal' that I have treasured for a thousand years!"

Fourth Ancestor was even more direct: "I have a 'Nine-Turn Soul Revival Flower'! As long as you can give me one, I will be at your beck and call!"

At this moment, Xuan Yangzi raised his finger and pointed to the jade box that had fallen to the ground due to the shock.

"They're all there. I wanted to bring them to the Old Ancestors earlier, but I saw that the Old Ancestors were protected by a barrier and feared disturbing your Cultivation, so I didn't bother the Old Ancestors!"

The five Old Ancestors' gazes "swished" to the jade box on the ground. Their originally eager expressions instantly froze, then erupted into an even stronger "accusation."

Third Old Ancestor rushed over in three steps, carefully picking up the jade box, his fingertips still trembling slightly as they brushed over the lid.

The moment it opened, five lustrous white Medicinal Pills lay inside, emitting a warm spiritual glow, and the unique clear medicinal fragrance of the Marrow Cleansing Pill wafted out.

He suddenly turned his head to glare at Xuan Yangzi, his beard bristling with anger: "You scoundrel! Why didn't you say something earlier about this treasure? You actually let such a treasure fall to the ground!"

Fifth Ancestor leaned over, looking at the Marrow Cleansing Pills in the jade box, his originally dark hair even trembling with excitement.

"A barrier? That was a temporary one I put up because I was afraid of Burning Heaven Palace spies breaking in! Couldn't you have just shouted? You just watched the treasure lie on the ground for half a day?"

Fourth Ancestor, touching the patterns on the Medicinal Pill, suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Xuan Yangzi.

"You just said... taking one pill gave you Medium Grade Saint-Grade Aptitude?"

Seeing Xuan Yangzi nod, he couldn't help but click his tongue: "Good heavens! That's Medium Grade Saint-Grade Aptitude!"

Great Ancestor held the jade box, his fingertips gently caressing the lustrous white body of the Marrow Cleansing Pill. His Quasi-Saint Peak aura gradually calmed, but his eyes held a few more considerations.

He looked up at Gu Changge, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity: "Changge, I know this Marrow Cleansing Pill is Heaven-Defying, but if the quantity is limited, perhaps it should be given priority to the young Geniuses in the Sect.

We old guys are already half-buried in the earth. Even if our Aptitude improves, the path we can take is limited. It would be better to leave it to the younger generation to make the Azure Profound Sect's Foundation more stable."

As these words came out, the other four Old Ancestors also nodded.

Third Old Ancestor put down the Medicinal Pill he was about to bring to his mouth and sighed, "Big brother is right. We've lived so long; it's time to give opportunities to the younger generation."

Fifth Ancestor even directly put the Medicinal Pill back into the jade box. Although there was reluctance in his eyes, it showed his consideration for the Sect.

Gu Changge looked at the restraint in their eyes and couldn't help but chuckle: "Old Ancestors worry too much. Although there aren't many Marrow Cleansing Pills, there are enough for all of you. I still have some in stock."

Fourth Ancestor's eyes instantly lit up. The excitement he had just suppressed resurfaced, and his withered hands once again clutched the Medicinal Pill.

"Is Changge's statement true?"

Just as Gu Changge was about to nod, Xuan Yangzi suddenly slapped his thigh, his eyes filled with "hindsight" shock, pointing at Gu Changge and yelling.

"Hey, that's not right! Junior Brother Changge, I kept the matter of breaking through the Saint Realm threshold completely hidden, even the Old Ancestors didn't notice, so how did you see through it at a glance? What Realm are you in exactly?"

Hearing this, the five Old Ancestors' gazes "swished" to Gu Changge.

Gu Changge raised his eyes at the words, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips: "My Cultivation? I'm afraid it would scare you—I'm in the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Foundation Establishment Realm?" Xuan Yangzi rolled his eyes.

"You still dare to say you're in the Foundation Establishment Realm? The tea leaves you casually brewed for me allowed me to touch the Saint Realm threshold. If you're in the Foundation Establishment Realm, wouldn't my Saint Realm threshold Breakthrough be for nothing? Do you think I'd believe that!"

Gu Changge looked at his earnest expression, a hint of slyness flashing in his eyes, and continued his joke: "Then... Core Formation Realm?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the five Old Ancestors shook their heads in unison. Third Old Ancestor even directly exposed him: "Can someone in the Core Formation Realm produce Marrow Cleansing Pills and enlightenment tea? Changge, that's no small joke!"

Fifth Ancestor also nodded, forgetting to put down the empty clay pot in his hand: "I've lived so long, and I've never seen a Core Formation Realm cultivator whose Cultivation a Quasi-Saint couldn't see through."

Gu Changge sighed helplessly and spread his hands: "Alright, alright, Heavenly Human Realm then? You should believe me now, right?"

Xuan Yangzi crossed his arms, adopting an expression that said, "You keep spinning your tale."

Seeing that they truly didn't believe him, Gu Changge didn't bother to tease them further, saying casually, "Alright, alright, I'm not messing with you anymore—it's about the same as your Cultivation."

"How much is 'about the same'?"

Great Ancestor immediately pressed, his Quasi-Saint Peak aura carrying a hint of urgency. He desperately wanted to know what level of Cultivation this junior, who could produce Heaven-Defying treasures, possessed.

Gu Changge twirled the jade knife between his fingers, lightly uttering three words: "A tiny bit."

"A tiny bit?"

Xuan Yangzi asked, puzzled.

"Yes, a tiny bit..."