40: Innate Sword Embryo, Dipping into Myriad Stars!

Upon hearing Gu Qingchen's question, Luo Jinghong's cold eyes flickered slightly.

Then she said plainly, "Among 'wealth, Dao Companion, technique, and land,' 'Dao Companion' mainly refers to like-minded Fellow Daoists during the Cultivation process, guides who can offer help and guidance on the path of Cultivation, and connections within the Cultivation world.

After you acknowledge me as your Revered Master, I am naturally willing to be your Fellow Daoist and guide on your Cultivation path, and my connections will naturally be yours as well."

Gu Qingchen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"It seems Elder Luo truly wants to take me as a Disciple, but why?"

He was a bit puzzled.

Previously, he had tried to become her Disciple multiple times, but she had always refused.

But now that he had already acknowledged the Holy Lord as his Revered Master and had a lineage, she insisted on taking him as a Disciple.

One must know, with Luo Jinghong's strength and status, if she merely uttered a word, which of the many Prodigies in Xuantian Holy Land wouldn't want to become her Disciple?

Yet, she was willing to fall out with the Holy Lord just to snatch him as a Disciple, which was truly perplexing.

"Of course."

Luo Jinghong glanced at Gu Qingchen, then turned and walked deeper into the sea of stars.

As she walked, she said, "In a narrower sense, 'Dao Companion' also specifically refers to a Dao Companion. If you want a Dao Companion, I can help you find one.

How about Jiang Lingxue?

She is the Saintess of our Xuantian Holy Land. Whether in talent or strength, she ranks first among the many female Disciples of the Holy Land.

Even her appearance and temperament are top-notch, even better than that little maidservant by your side."

"…"

Gu Qingchen was speechless upon hearing this.

Good heavens, in order to take him as a Disciple, Elder Luo even 'sold' Senior Sister Jiang Lingxue?

Did Senior Sister herself know about this?

As a Reserve Holy Son and a direct Disciple of the Holy Lord, Gu Qingchen naturally had some interactions with Jiang Lingxue.

Speaking of which, she and Elder Luo Jinghong truly had some similarities in certain aspects.

The same coldness.

The same reclusiveness, preferring to act alone.

The same indifference that kept others at a distance.

However, in Gu Qingchen's view, Luo Jinghong's coldness was more like putting on a hard shell, sealing off her inner self.

Whereas Jiang Lingxue's coldness had an Innate detachment, as if it were world-weariness after seeing through the wickedness of human hearts and the complexities of human nature.

But for some reason,

Although he hadn't met Jiang Lingxue many times, he always felt that when she was by his side, her expression was much more lively.

The gaze she directed at him wasn't her usual calm, placid indifference, but rather held the curiosity and exploration a normal girl should have, making her whole demeanor much brighter.

"What? You don't like Jiang Lingxue?"

Seeing Gu Qingchen's speechless expression, Luo Jinghong frowned, "Although she is perfect in every aspect like appearance and strength, she is taciturn and lacks Life Qi. It's normal for you not to like her.

But there are no other female Disciples more outstanding than her in the Holy Land. Then... do you mind someone a bit older?"

Seeing Luo Jinghong furrow her brow in thought, seemingly seriously considering candidates, Gu Qingchen waved his hand, a wry smile on his face.

"Elder, there's no need to trouble yourself. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would abandon my sect and switch allegiances for such things?"

"The Holy Lord and I are Senior Brother and Senior Sister, sharing the same..."

Luo Jinghong paused in her speech, her expression subtly changing, before continuing, "He and I have the same Revered Master. Strictly speaking, if you were to acknowledge me as your Revered Master, it wouldn't count as abandoning your sect or switching allegiances."

"Then I have a question for Elder."

Gu Qingchen asked the biggest doubt in his heart: "Why do you insist on taking me as your Disciple?"

Luo Jinghong fell silent.

Before this, she had never thought of taking a Disciple.

She only wanted to Cultivate to be strong enough to uncover the truth of what happened back then and rescue the person who, in her eyes, was once the strongest and most magnificent.

Later, the System Awakened, giving her hope for rapid growth in strength, but the prerequisite was to take a Disciple.

Initially, she just thought of the child who had repeatedly asked her to take him as a Disciple, so she sought out Gu Qingchen.

Now, however, she found that besides Gu Qingchen, no one else could enter her sight.

But she couldn't voice any of these reasons.

"Never mind."

Seeing Luo Jinghong's silence, Gu Qingchen shook his head, "If Elder Luo truly wants to take a Disciple, you might as well pay more attention recently; perhaps you'll find a satisfactory Disciple."

"Ding! Detected that host failed to take a Disciple. Mission incomplete. Punishment: Deprivation of the emotion 'anger' for one hundred years. The punishment will be canceled upon successful discipleship."

After Gu Qingchen's clear refusal, the System's notification sound echoed in Luo Jinghong's mind again.

"Ding! Please note, after seven failed attempts to take a Disciple, the System will be permanently stripped, and the punishment duration will become permanent.

System friendly reminder: Timely change of target can increase the success rate of taking a Disciple. Do you wish to change the target?"

"No change."

Luo Jinghong's voice was utterly devoid of emotion: "No need to prompt again in the future."

"Ding! System received."

Seeing Gu Qingchen preparing to leave, Luo Jinghong raised a hand, and in an instant, the entire sea of stars erupted.

Terrifying stellar energy formed monstrous waves, and a stream of light burst forth from the depths of the sea of stars with a boom, landing in Luo Jinghong's hand.

She presented the three-foot sword, crystal clear and like condensed light, to Gu Qingchen.

"This is an Innate Sword Embryo formed from Star Source Divine Gold, with the potential to become an Emperor Weapon. When I discovered it, it hadn't reached Perfection, so I used the Gu Family's sea of stars to continue nurturing it. Now, I give it to you."

"Hm?"

Gu Qingchen was startled.

With a thought, he guessed that this was a gift Luo Jinghong had prepared for a successful discipleship.

But hadn't he refused her?

"Take it."

Luo Jinghong tossed it to Gu Qingchen, as if this Supreme treasure, which even Supremes would find hard to come by, was just worthless trash.

Before Gu Qingchen could refuse, she flickered and vanished directly.

"What's this for? Displaying wealth?"

Gu Qingchen shook his head with a smile.

...

Over the next few days, Gu Qingchen spent time with his Family.

He properly disciplined his younger sister, Gu Familys Youngest Ancestor, making her rein in her temper, and also studied the Momentary Divine Eye.

At this point, the Momentary Divine Eye had perfectly integrated with him, and could manifest some Divine Abilities.

For example, accelerating his own time, seeing through the essence of Divine Ability operations, and so on.

Gu Qingchen couldn't help but marvel at the power of the Momentary Divine Eye, truly worthy of being ranked among the Ten Great Divine Eyes.

On this day, the Gu Family Patriarch once again sent someone to invite him.

As Gu Qingchen happened to have free time, he went to meet the Clan Chief.

After some pleasantries, the Clan Chief got straight to the point: "Qingchen must already know about the 'Momentary Divine Eye' matter, right?"

"Yes."

Gu Qingchen nodded, "This time, my mother indeed went a bit too far. I hope the Clan Chief will be more accommodating."

"Your mother is protective of her daughter, I understand."

The Gu Family Patriarch waved his hand, saying, "I had already suppressed this matter, but some time ago, Gu Sangning, that little girl's Life-Lamp shone brightly. Perhaps some change occurred over at the Black Calamity Abyss..."

Hearing this, Gu Qingchen immediately understood what the Clan Chief wanted to express.

A Life-Lamp is closely related to the flame of life.

By observing the state of a Life-Lamp, one can know the recent condition of the person who left it.

And Gu Sangning's Life-Lamp shining brightly clearly indicated that she had obtained a major Opportunity in the Black Calamity Abyss, causing her flame of life to surge.

"I was right, this Gu Sangning is indeed a Daughter of Destiny."

Who would have thought that a crippled girl, under desperate circumstances, would enter a Forbidden Ground like the Black Calamity Abyss and not only survive but also obtain a great Opportunity?

Only a Daughter of Destiny could be so Heaven-Defying.

"Thank you, Clan Chief, for telling me this news. Is there anything Qingchen can do to help the Clan Chief?"

The Gu Family Patriarch deliberately showed goodwill, so he must have had a request. Gu Qingchen simply asked first.

"Does Qingchen still remember the Myriad Stars Grand Offering?"

...