96: You can't handle Bu'er.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Leng Yue frowned and said, "Is it that boy who was chasing you last time?"

Gu Yin nodded. "Yes, his name is Chu Hao. I came this time to ask my Adoptive Mother to help preside over our engagement ceremony."

Leng Yue said in confusion, "Little Sister Yin, why the rush? Engagement is a major event. Can't we wait until your mother comes out of seclusion to discuss it?"

Gu Yin shook her head and said, "Adoptive Mother, I don't want to wait any longer."

No one knew how miserable she had been these past few months.

Because of Gu Yun's matter, the clan members looked at her with strange eyes, and there were even rumors that she and Gu Yun had been inappropriately close since childhood.

Every time she heard these things, she hated Gu Yun even more.

Although she and Gu Yun were biological siblings, there was a large age gap, so they weren't close to begin with. Additionally, she liked to be alone, and Gu Yun had moved out after getting married, so the two had very little contact.

Ultimately, her relationship with Gu Yun wasn't particularly good, but there were no conflicts either.

However, she couldn't withstand the constant rumors. Who would want to stay in such an environment forever?

The clan members were respectful to her face but cursed her behind her back. If she didn't leave soon, she didn't know what she would become.

Besides her, Li Xinxue's situation was equally difficult.

She now held an awkward status; the glory of being the former Young Mistress was gone, and even ordinary clan members only treated her as a commoner.

Li Xinxue spent her days drowning her sorrows in alcohol, and her Cultivation had long been neglected.

When the loneliness became unbearable, she would seek out Cao Bu to drink with her.

Seeing Gu Yin's determined attitude and recalling the recent gossip, Leng Yue understood in her heart, yet felt helpless.

Even if she possessed immense power, she couldn't control what the clan members thought or discussed in private.

Standing from Gu Yin's perspective, she fully understood the other's eagerness to leave.

Leng Yue hesitated before asking, "Little Sister Yin, where is he from? What is his character like?"

Gu Yin replied, "He is from the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty in the Eastern Wasteland. He is the Crown Prince of Great Chu, and he is a very good person."

Leng Yue still wanted to delay: "Little Sister Yin, your mother will be out of seclusion in a few years at most. Can't you wait a bit longer?"

Gu Yin said firmly, "Adoptive Mother, I considered this for a month before coming to find you."

Leng Yue was helpless and instinctively turned her seeking gaze toward Cao Bu.

It was a woman's reliance on a man; when faced with a difficult problem, one always hopes their beloved will step in to solve it.

This scene was fully captured by everyone's eyes.

Gu Feng's fists were tightly clenched, and his hatred for Cao Bu deepened.

Yun Shang's gaze shifted between Leng Yue and Cao Bu.

As a woman herself, she was more perceptive than Gu Feng; there was definitely something fishy going on between these two.

Gu Yin also looked at Cao Bu in confusion. Could it be that whether she could get engaged depended on her eldest brother's word?

Cao Bu coughed lightly and spoke, "Adoptive Mother, I think we should test that Chu Hao."

"The previous matter with Ling Shuang and Lin Dong was a lesson; we must be on guard."

He looked at Gu Yin, his tone gentle but unquestionable: "Little Sister Yin, how about this? If Chu Hao passes the test, then you can get engaged."

Cao Bu had been secretly paying attention to Gu Qingtian's three daughters.

As for this Chu Hao, he had already investigated the man's background thoroughly.

A native of the Eastern Wasteland, the Crown Prince of the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty, with a cultivation at the Void Breaking Realm Peak.

His father, Chu Tianxuan, is the Great Chu Emperor, known as Emperor Xuan, a Rank 5 Quasi-Emperor.

His mother, Tang Shuying, is the Great Chu Empress, a Rank 1 Quasi-Emperor.

As soon as Cao Bu spoke, everyone remembered the incident with Gu Lingshuang and Lin Dong.

Leng Yue followed his lead: "Little Sister Yin, listen to your eldest brother. Test Chu Hao first. If he passes, you can get engaged first and wait until your mother finishes her seclusion to get married."

Gu Yin pursed her lips and finally nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to Adoptive Mother and Big Brother."

Leng Yue's expression softened slightly. "How about this, after your second brother ascends the throne, either Concubine Su or I will accompany you to the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty."

"Thank you, Adoptive Mother. Then I shall take my leave."

Having achieved her goal, Gu Yin did not wish to stay longer.

She had noticed that the atmosphere was a bit off as soon as she entered.

Leng Yue nodded. "Go on."

After Gu Yin left, the hall fell silent once more.

Leng Yue stood up, gave Gu Feng a cold glance, snorted, and left with a flick of her sleeves.

Aunt Bai quickly followed her.

Gu Feng watched his mother's back, his face looking somewhat grim.

He turned to look at Cao Bu, only to see the other man stand up and walk toward him.

"Brother Feng, don't take what Adoptive Mother said to heart. As for the missing Materials, I will find a way myself," Cao Bu said in a gentle yet certain tone.

After saying that, he turned and left.

It was no exaggeration to say that within the Gu Clan today, nine out of ten things he wished to accomplish would succeed.

The emperor bone in Gu Feng's body would fall into his hands sooner or later.

Even if he didn't ask, Leng Yue would find a way to get it for him just to please him.

Watching Cao Bu's receding back, Gu Feng's face was as dark as water.

Yun Shang said worriedly, "Husband, what do we do now? Looking at Mother's attitude, she definitely won't let it go easily."

Gu Feng let out a long sigh. "We'll take it one step at a time."

If anyone else dared to scheme for his emperor bone, he would have acted long ago.

But the person who wanted it happened to be his own mother.

Cao Bu left Moyue Residence and went directly to Xiang Xiao Courtyard.

He knocked gently, and the Maidservant Xiao Ya opened the door. Seeing it was him, she smiled and said, "Steward Cao is here, please come in."

After spending time together recently, the two had become very familiar.

At first, when Cao Bu accompanied Li Xinxue for drinks, Xiao Ya was wary of him, but after seeing Cao Bu's proper conduct, she felt at ease.

Entering the courtyard, he indeed saw Li Xinxue sitting in the pavilion as usual, drinking while facing the moon.

Cao Bu walked over slowly.

Hearing footsteps, Li Xinxue said without turning her head, "The old rules: finish a pot first before we talk."

Cao Bu skillfully picked up the wine pot from the table and drained it with his head back.

"Do you really intend to continue being this decadent?" Cao Bu asked.

Li Xinxue smiled. "What's the point of Cultivating? Tonight we only drink; don't talk about anything else."

An hour later, both of them were extremely drunk.

Li Xinxue instructed Xiao Ya, "Xiao Ya, bring two cups of Sleepless Drunken Dream."

"Yes, Young Miss." Xiao Ya responded and withdrew, returning shortly with two cups of wine.

As usual, Cao Bu's cup was not the real Sleepless Drunken Dream.

Li Xinxue didn't pay much attention, drained her cup, and immediately passed out drunk.

"Xiao Ya, I'm leaving now." Cao Bu pretended to be drunk, stumbling as he walked out of the courtyard.

But not long after leaving, he secretly entered Li Xinxue's bedroom.

An hour later, Cao Bu quietly left Xiang Xiao Courtyard.

The next morning, Cao Bu went to Moyue Residence.

The one who opened the door was Gu Feng, which was somewhat unexpected.

"What are you doing here?" Gu Feng's tone was full of dissatisfaction.

Previously, because Cao Bu had saved Leng Yue, he still felt a few hints of gratitude, but after yesterday's matter with the emperor bone, that bit of gratitude had vanished completely.

Before Cao Bu could speak, a graceful figure walked over from a distance.

"Big Brother, you're here. Come in quickly."

The newcomer was Gu Lingshuang. She stepped forward quickly, took Cao Bu's hand, and led him into the courtyard.

Fifteen minutes later.

In the pavilion of Moyue Residence, Gu Feng and Yun Shang sat opposite each other, staring with unfriendly eyes at the two people not far away.

They saw Cao Bu pressing close to Gu Lingshuang, holding her soft hand and teaching her swordplay step by step.

Yun Shang glanced at the sword technique and said, "This swordplay looks beautiful, but it always carries a sense of heartlessness."

She turned to Gu Feng: "Husband, do you know what swordplay this is?"

Gu Feng narrowed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "This swordplay is not simple. Every move and every form contains incredible power; it is at least an Emperor Art."

He paused and added, "Perhaps it is even stronger than all the Emperor Arts of our Gu Clan."

Half a day passed, and Cao Bu left Moyue Residence under Gu Feng's extremely displeased gaze.

On the top floor of Moyue Residence, Leng Yue had taken in everything that just happened.

She frowned and said in a deep voice, "Ling Shuang, you can't handle Bu'er."

At night, inside Scholarly Fragrance Courtyard.

Cao Bu took out the Pill Formula for the yin-yang emperor venerable pill from the System space.

He handed it to Su Li: "Find a way to get the Materials circled on this for me. If you can't find them, tell me, and I'll find a way."

Su Li took the Pill Formula and asked in confusion, "What is this?"

"An emperor pill," Cao Bu explained simply.

Su Li quickly scanned the Pill Formula and memorized the required Materials.

The Gu Clan's treasury held many good things, all of which were treasures Gu Qingtian had obtained from exploring various Forbidden Grounds after becoming an Emperor.

Later, when Gu Qingtian ascended, he had no use for these, so he left them all with the clan.

If Gu Qingtian knew that the treasures he had risked his life for ended up benefiting Cao Bu, he would probably spit blood in anger.

Su Li put away the Pill Formula and fell into a deep sleep while holding Cao Bu.

Cao Bu chanted in his heart: "System, lottery, four times."

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Pure Restoration Card.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a supreme dao emperor weapon — yin yang emperor armor.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a supreme dao emperor weapon — Vast Cold Emperor Palace.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the "Reincarnation Ten Thousand Transformations Art".]