Gu Yongze's plan

The three people surrounding Chu Li and Gu Xiaoyue were all wearing masks, their faces hidden from view.

Chu Li looked at them, not the least bit nervous, and asked arrogantly with his hands in his pockets: "Who are you people?"

His tone carried a great deal of annoyance at having his mood disturbed.

The three looked at each other, not expecting this young boy to have such a temper.

"You don't need to worry about who we are. If you know what's good for you, hand over the gathering spirit stone on you!" one of the masked men said viciously.

"So it's for the gathering spirit stone. I advise you to stop now, otherwise, I will reduce you, and even your family members, to ashes!"

There was still a trace of a smile in Chu Li's words. Gu Xiaoyue tugged at his sleeve; she was already considering running away.

She was calculating—summoning Xiao Hei, having it turn invisible first, and then dragging Chu Li to hide in Xiao Hei's Yu Beast Space. Was this method feasible?

Gu Xiaoyue certainly didn't want to expose Xiao Hei, but in a life-or-death situation, since Chu Li could even give her a gathering spirit stone as a birthday gift, she couldn't just escape on her own.

Another masked man said disdainfully: "You two haven't even graduated from middle school, what can you do to us? I see you had bodyguards before, but to pick up girls, you left them behind."

"Exactly, hmph! Even if they were here, we wouldn't be afraid. We are Quasi-Legendary level!"

"Even if those two bodyguards of yours are also Quasi-Legendary, us three against two is a guaranteed win! Hurry up and hand over the gathering spirit stone!"

The three masked men didn't take Chu Li's words seriously at all, thinking he was just trying to scare them.

Chu Li gave them a mocking smile, snapped his fingers, and two bodyguards in black suits appeared directly among the three masked men.

"Quasi-Legendary is impressive? My bodyguards are—Quasi—Mythical!" Chu Li waved his hand, and the three masked men were seized by his bodyguards.

With a difference of two major levels, even if the three wanted to fight back, they couldn't win, and they immediately started howling and begging for mercy.

"Robbing me? You didn't even bother to find out who I am." Chu Li said, taking out the gathering spirit stone and tossing it around while saying: "You want it, right? I'll absorb it right now and show you."

After speaking, Chu Li activated the gathering spirit stone in his hand, and several strands of golden light drilled into his brow.

Would it succeed? Gu Xiaoyue was worried for him.

He wasn't even afraid that another two robbers would jump out, steal the gathering spirit stone, and interrupt his absorption.

The gathering spirit stone in Chu Li's hand visibly shrank until it disappeared.

Chu Li revealed a mischievous smile, drew a summoning formation, and the Fire Phoenix and Teng Snake appeared on his left and right.

It succeeded!

Gu Xiaoyue was happy for Chu Li, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lock them up for me. Don't kill them until their families are ruined."

Although the gathering spirit stone was successfully absorbed, the atmosphere for the confession had been completely ruined, and Chu Li's mood wasn't exactly great.

Gu Xiaoyue was not a saint, so naturally, she wouldn't plead for the robbers.

If they hadn't met Chu Li, wouldn't those they had robbed previously have been ruined?

People must pay the price for their actions.

Returning to the doorstep, the newly moved-in neighbors next door were still unpacking. They were a young couple, and they greeted Gu Xiaoyue when they saw her return home.

Because today was Gu Xiaoyue's birthday, Gu Yu and Mu Qingning did not scold her for returning home too late.

Gu Xiaoyue only told them that today's auction was wonderful and the big meal was delicious.

She didn't tell them about her and Chu Li being robbed.

Returning to her room, Gu Xiaoyue took out the gathering spirit stone.

A treasure worth 300 million star coins. She was somewhat hesitant; what if she failed?

But when she thought of the scene of being robbed just now, a trace of unwillingness surfaced in her heart.

Today, it was thanks to Chu Li being there, but why should she be the one protected? Why couldn't she stand on her own and protect the people she wanted to protect?

She wanted to become stronger!

Even if she failed this time, she had to keep going, striving to become strong!

Having made up her mind, Gu Xiaoyue was no longer hesitant; she calmed her heart and activated the gathering spirit stone in her hand.

Just like when Chu Li absorbed it, several strands of golden light drilled into Gu Xiaoyue's brow.

The needle-like headache made Gu Xiaoyue frown, but she didn't stop; instead, she closed her eyes and felt the changes in her Yu Beast Space.

The originally boundless dome now seemed even more vast.

Gu Xiaoyue used her Mental Power to explore the previous grassland; not only had it expanded significantly, but a beach and a coastline had also appeared.

Deep blue seawater, waves lapping against the beach, one after another, like rhythmic breathing.

Gu Xiaoyue lay down on the bed, somewhat exhausted; she knew she had succeeded.

With a thought, she couldn't help but be stunned—Xiao Qi, Xiao Jiu, Qingqing, and Xiao Hei all appeared beside her.

Fortunately, they were all Young life stage pet beasts, otherwise her room wouldn't be able to hold them; it would probably be burst open!

When others successfully use a gathering spirit stone, they can summon one more pet beast, but she could actually summon two more!

Although happy, she had no energy to be excited at the moment, only exhaustion remained.

Recalling the little ones, Gu Xiaoyue fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Family Study

Gu Xiaoxing stood in front of Gu Yongze's desk with red eyes, "I don't know when Chu Li and that little wretch—and Gu Xiaoyue got together."

"You don't know? Aren't you in the same class?" Gu Yongze was a bit angry. It was Chen Butler who told him that Gu Xiaoyue had entered the Elite Class.

Gu Xiaoxing bit her lip. How could she say that Chu Li had long been taking Gu Xiaoyue out for training alone, and the whole school was full of rumors about the two of them.

She didn't know Gu Yongze's thoughts. Since he asked her, it must be that Grandfather had long wanted to curry favor with Chu Li, but Gu Xiaoyue had beaten him to it.

Gu Yongze waved his hand, letting Gu Xiaoxing return to her room to rest. He leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples with his hands, and fell into deep thought.

Twenty years ago, Gu Yongze's original intention was to have Gu Yu marry the daughter of the Lin Family, but Gu Yu had secretly pledged his life to the young lady of the Mu Family.

Originally, marrying into the Mu Family wouldn't have been impossible, but unfortunately, South China experienced a beast tide at that time.

That beast tide was very tragic; the Mu Family's combat power was lost in the beast tide, and the Mu Family's assets were divided up.

Almost overnight, the Mu Family collapsed.

Gu Yongze opposed Gu Yu and Mu Qingning being together, so Gu Yu left the Gu Family.

Without the family's help, without resources, Gu Yu could only be an ordinary young couple with Mu Qingning, and their days were somewhat tight.

More than a year later, they had Gu Xiaoyue; they were even poorer, but also happier.

Gu Yongze felt sorry for Gu Yu, so he often had Chen Butler go to visit them.

But regarding Gu Xiaoyue, he really hadn't paid much attention to her.

Unexpectedly, today, Gu Xiaoyue actually called him Mr. Gu.

Gu Yongze sighed deeply. He thought of Gu Xiaoyue sitting between Chu Li, Lin Zhiyi, and Ye Wanrou. These children from big families were all giving the good resources they could get to Gu Xiaoyue.

Perhaps this was the treatment Gu Xiaoyue should have enjoyed all along. Had he really done something wrong?

Should he let Gu Yu and the others come home? Would the Gu Family's business rise to a higher level?