The previously fierce Three Thousand Burning Flames fell into Gu Xiong's hands, becoming as soft as cotton, without any resistance.
"Thank you, Senior Xuan Kong Zi, for your generous gift!"
After Gu Xiong took away the Three Thousand Flames, Gu Fei smiled and turned to thank Xuan Kongzi.
Xuan Kong Zi feels speechless and embarrassed, Emotion Value +40
Gu Fei's words made Xuan Kongzi twitch slightly at the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit helpless. Generous gift? This was clearly being taken by force! Facing a Three-Star Dou Saint, Xuan Kongzi didn't dare utter a single word of refusal.
Of course, Xuan Kongzi didn't show any of this on his face.
"In the end, it's because Gu Fei has a special connection with the Three Thousand Burning Flame!"
Xuan Kongzi nodded amicably towards Gu Fei. Since things had come to this point, the more generously he spoke, the stronger the bond with the Gu Clan would be.
"Yes, it certainly seems like fate!" Gu Fei responded with a smile.
"This guy changes his tune so quickly!" The elder Qiu Ling, standing nearby, had a strange expression. He had previously heard Gu Fei dismiss fate as nonsense.
"Gu Fei, when do you plan to return to the Gu Clan?"
Gu Xiong feels concerned, Emotion Value +10
Gu Xiong glanced at the Three Thousand Burning Flame, now casually held in his hand, and then asked Gu Fei.
He asked this purely out of concern for Gu Fei's safety. Gu Xiong had heard that in the regions where Gu Fei was training, Hun Clan experts had been sighted. When a Hun Clan expert briefly passed by outside the Jia Ma Empire's skies, an elder from the Gu Clan accompanying Gu Fei had detected it.
Though the Hun Clan expert's path didn't directly overlap with Gu Fei's, many of the places where Gu Fei trained bore signs of Hun Clan activity. Given Gu Fei's exceptional lineage, he was of immense importance to the Gu Clan, and they couldn't afford to lose him. If the Hun Clan discovered him, who knows what they might do?
The Hun Clan, after nearly a thousand years of recuperation, seemed to be gearing up for something big, making caution all the more necessary.
So Gu Xiong asked this question out of worry, not to rush Gu Fei but to offer a reminder.
Even though Gu Fei possessed extraordinary talent, reaching the Dou Venerate level at just seventeen, he still wouldn't stand a chance against an elder Hun Clan expert. Only within the Gu Realm could he be truly safe.
"Grandpa Gu Xiong, I originally planned to return after obtaining the Three Thousand Burning Flames, but now I might need to stay a bit longer."
Hearing Gu Xiong's concern, Gu Fei smiled and replied. He wasn't alone anymore- there were more people by his side now.
If he were to return, he would definitely bring Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin with him. He wanted to bring Xiao Yi Xian home, hoping for his elders' recognition and blessings for their relationship.
However, given Gu Fei's status, his elders in the clan would certainly have high expectations for his chosen wife. His reluctance to return immediately was partly due to his desire for more training and partly because he feared Xiao Yi Xian might face unwarranted difficulties if she returned with him now.
In the Gu Clan, strength was revered. Although Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation had advanced rapidly due to her Woeful Poison Body, she still couldn't match the young elites of the Gu Clan who had been honing their skills for over a decade. If she couldn't command respect, even if the elders didn't say anything, others might, potentially driving her away from him.
Gu Fei's expression remained calm, but his gaze unconsciously drifted to a spot outside the star realm.
"Kid, are you worried that the clan won't accept my new granddaughter-in-law?"
Seeing Gu Fei's change in expression, Gu Xiong suddenly laughed and asked.
This confirmed something for Gu Fei: even Gu Xiong, who had long guarded the ancestral shrine, was well aware of his relationship with Xiao Yi Xian, this meant that his actions had likely been under the watchful eyes of his clan's elders.
They probably knew all about Xiao Yi Xian.
For once, Gu Fei felt a bit nervous, his gaze flickering before settling on Gu Xiong. He didn't know how his beloved Grandpa Gu Xiong would react.
"The Woeful Poison Body, which had never been cultivated before, reaching the Dou Spirit level within a year- such talent isn't that bad…"
Gu Xiong continued, his words clearly heard by Gu Fei, with no hint of dissatisfaction towards Xiao Yi Xian.
"Just bring her back; the opinions of others in the clan don't matter!"
"As long as you like her, that's what's important!"
Gu Xiong stepped forward, smiling as he patted Gu Fei on the shoulder, his words full of authority and affection.
After all, this was the child he had watched grow up. Even though the clan elders insisted that Gu Fei should marry someone of equal standing, with comparable talent and family background, to be a suitable wife, Gu Xiong never thought this way.
He couldn't stand the elders' self-righteous 'concern'.
Even though they truly wanted the best for Gu Fei, they never asked him what he wanted.
So, now that Gu Fei had found someone new, Gu Xiong was genuinely happy for him and didn't care about her strength, looks, or family background—as long as Gu Fei was happy, that was enough.
If those old guys dared to oppose it, he would be the first to stand up for Gu Fei.
Moreover, Gu Xiong knew that since Gu Fei had a new love, he had likely moved on from his feelings for Xun'er.
'I hope this new granddaughter-in-law isn't as willful as that girl, who broke his heart…' Gu Xiong sighed inwardly.
"Grandpa Gu Xiong, you're the most reasonable!"
Hearing Gu Xiong's words, Gu Fei smiled gratefully. Such understanding elders were rare.
Next, Gu Fei's gaze fell on the now-docile Three Thousand Burning Flames in Gu Xiong's hand. After a moment, he spoke.
"Grandpa Gu Xiong, please take the Three Thousand Burning Flames back to the clan for safekeeping. When I have the strength to refine it, I'll return and handle it myself! I will make it mine in the future!"
Gu Fei spoke earnestly. Given his current strength, refining it was still too risky, and he didn't want to take that chance.
Gu Xiong feels appreciative, Emotion Value +10
"Haha, Gu Fei, I have to say, your talent for controlling flames is even stronger than those from the Yan Clan!"
"I've never heard of anyone being able to refine three different Heavenly Flames simultaneously!"
Gu Xiong praised, his face full of smiles. In his memory, even the Yan Clan leader, Yan Jin, had only refined two Heavenly Flames. But Gu Fei was already planning to fuse a fourth flame, a feat that astonished even the experienced Gu Xiong.