124: Chapter 124 Demanding a One-Year Period, Chu Tiankuo Refuses with a Pain

"Gu Tian!"

"Do you know what you are saying?"

Chu Tiankuo's voice was low, like suppressed thunder.

"You are showing contempt for imperial power,"

"Contempt for Your Majesty,"

"And slapping the face of the entire Great Chu Imperial Family."

"Contempt?"

Gu Han turned around, his gaze as sharp as a knife, staring directly at Chu Tiankuo.

"This Gu only knows that strength is the Foundation."

"Without strength, even if one has immense power, it is nothing more than a reflection in a mirror or a flower in the water."

"Senior, do you think This Gu is right?"

He asked in return, leaving Chu Tiankuo speechless for a moment.

He had seen Gu Han's strength with his own eyes.

Crippling Chu Li and slaying a Dharma Aspect Realm expert—such methods had indeed surpassed worldly power.

"Commander Gu, I know your strength is peerless and your ambitions are high."

Chu Tiankuo took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and his tone softened once again.

"But have you ever considered that the Blood God Cult has a massive power behind it? Even you would find it difficult to remain unscathed?"

"The water in the capital is deep. If you do not stir it, you will eventually be dragged into it."

This was an indirect threat, implying that even if Gu Han did not participate, he would be unable to stay out of it.

A flash of light crossed Gu Han's eyes; he knew that Chu Tiankuo was right.

Since he had already stepped into this game of chess in the capital, it would be difficult to retreat unscathed.

But he did not like being led by the nose by others.

"This Gu is not unaware of what Senior says."

Gu Han said indifferently.

"It is just that This Gu has always acted according to his own heart."

"If you want This Gu to take action, it must be something that catches This Gu's eye."

His implication was for Chu Tiankuo to bring out something "real."

Upon hearing this, a hint of realization flashed in Chu Tiankuo's eyes.

He understood what Gu Han meant; it was time to negotiate terms.

"What does Commander Gu want?"

Chu Tiankuo asked directly.

A mysterious smile curled at the corners of Gu Han's mouth.

"Senior, This Gu is not interested in those empty titles or wealth."

"But This Gu has an almost obsessive pursuit of increasing his strength."

Gu Han's gaze fell upon Chu Tiankuo, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

"I wonder if you have any treasure or Cultivation Technique in your possession that could help This Gu break through his shackles, or even surpass the Peak of the Dharma Aspect Realm?"

His words caused Chu Tiankuo's pupils to constrict.

Surpassing the Peak of the Dharma Aspect Realm—that would be the legendary Nirvana Realm.

Even the Old Ancestor of the royal Family, under the constant supply of resources from Great Chu, only had a cultivation base at the fifth level of Nirvana.

Wanting to break through to the Peak of Nirvana was a goal far out of reach.

"Commander Gu, your appetite is certainly not small,"

Chu Tiankuo said in a deep voice, his heart filled with shock at how ambitious Gu Han was.

"Since This Gu has opened his mouth, he naturally has the ability to bear it."

Gu Han said indifferently.

"Senior, yes or no, give me a straight answer."

Chu Tiankuo was silent for a moment; he knew Gu Han was testing him.

If he could not produce something that would move Gu Han, he feared Gu Han would truly stand by and watch.

And the current situation in the capital did not allow him any more hesitation.

The well-known experts of the royal Family were already being watched.

As soon as they moved, it would be known.

They would not be able to achieve their goals at all.

"Yes!"

Chu Tiankuo finally spoke, his voice tinged with heartache.

"I do have one item in my possession that might be able to help you."

"What is it?"

A brilliant light flared in Gu Han's eyes, and his tone grew a bit more urgent.

"This item is called... the heavenly mandate dragon vein!"

Chu Tiankuo slowly spat out these words, his voice carrying a trace of gravity.

"It is a supreme treasure that has been passed down by the Great Chu Imperial Family for thousands of years."

"It contains the Dragon Qi of heaven and earth, which can help a Martial Artist cleanse their marrow and cut their veins, breaking through their own limits."

"There are even rumors that if one can completely refine the dragon vein, one can glimpse the secret of immortality."

Upon hearing this, Gu Han's breath hitched.

The heavenly mandate dragon vein! This was a legendary supreme treasure, capable of cleansing marrow and cutting veins, and even glimpsing the secret of immortality.

Such temptation was simply fatal to him.

"The heavenly mandate dragon vein..."

Gu Han repeated these four words in a low voice, his eyes flashing with an expression of disbelief.

The value of this thing was far beyond his imagination.

"Commander Gu, if you are willing to help me, after the matter is accomplished, the heavenly mandate dragon vein can be provided for you to Cultivate for three months!"

Chu Tiankuo looked at Gu Han, his eyes flashing with a hint of anticipation.

Gu Han suppressed the excitement in his heart; he knew the conditions Chu Tiankuo offered were very tempting.

But three months was simply too short for a supreme treasure like the heavenly mandate dragon vein.

"Three months?"

Gu Han chuckled, his tone carrying a touch of playfulness.

"Senior, you are underestimating the value of the heavenly mandate dragon vein."

"For such a supreme treasure, if I can only Cultivate for three months, This Gu would rather not have it."

Chu Tiankuo's expression changed slightly; he had not expected Gu Han to reject it so directly.

"Then how long does Commander Gu want?"

Chu Tiankuo asked in a deep voice.

"One year!"

Gu Han spoke without hesitation, his gaze fixed on Chu Tiankuo.

"One year. If Senior can agree to this, This Gu can consider taking action to help."

"I will surely do my utmost to wipe out all the strongholds of the Blood God Cult in the capital."

"Furthermore, if necessary, I would not mind accompanying Senior to the main altar of the Blood God Cult."

One year was enough for him to bring the effects of the heavenly mandate dragon vein to their absolute limit, and he might even be able to use it to Breakthrough to a higher Realm.

Upon hearing this, Chu Tiankuo frowned deeply.

One year was too long for the heavenly mandate dragon vein.

This concerned the Foundation of the Great Chu Imperial Family.

However, the carrot Gu Han dangled was also very tempting.

Although the Chu Family was still the imperial Family of Great Chu on the surface.

However, in some prefectures, they could no longer command obedience.

Even some forces, Sects, and Gangs no longer held the Chu Family in high regard.

These people were even less likely to help the Chu Family stabilize their rule.

They wished they could pull the Chu Family down from their horse and fight for the ruling power again.

This was why some rebel armies and the likes of the Blood God Cult could never be completely wiped out.

Therefore, Prodigies like Gu Han were always the ones the Chu Family wanted to win over.

Even many Chu Family women were tools to stabilize the likes of Gu Han.

"Commander Gu, one year is too long."

"The heavenly mandate dragon vein is the Foundation of the imperial Family and cannot be left for too long."

Chu Tiankuo said in a deep voice.

"Three months is the limit."

"In that case, This Gu must apologize for being unable to help."

Gu Han shrugged, his tone carrying a trace of regret.

He knew the importance of the heavenly mandate dragon vein, but one year was the bottom line he could accept.

"You!"

Chu Tiankuo was so angry that his beard curled up.

He had lived for hundreds of years and had never seen such a greedy young man.

"Commander Gu, you had better think clearly."

Chu Tiankuo said sternly.

"If you insist on refusing, you will be the first person eliminated in the chaotic situation of the capital."

"Then let us wait and see."

Gu Han did not care at all about Chu Tiankuo's threat; he knew Chu Tiankuo was now in a dilemma.

"At worst, I can just leave."

"With my current cultivation base, there are not many forces that can keep me."

"And they might not necessarily dare to take action against me."

"As long as it is a battle among the younger generation, I, Gu Tian, have never feared anyone."

"If some old immortal dares to shamelessly enter the fray,"

"Then I, Gu Tian, am not one to be trifled with."

"There will naturally be someone to help me deal with that bunch of shameless old immortals."