Chapter 5 Family_1

Boom!

As Gu Chen's words fell, the inner energy he had cultivated for up to sixty years surged like a river within him, flowing along his flesh and blood to his palms.

At this moment, Gu Chen's hand turned a fiery red color, and faintly, a layer of flames emerged, enveloping his palm.

Only a Red Flame Palm that had reached the perfect realm could manifest such a phenomenon!

Liu Zheng, upon seeing this, flashed a look of horror in his eyes. He wanted to dodge, but Gu Chen was too fast, and it was already too late to avoid the attack.

Bang!

The instant Gu Chen's Red Flame Palm came into contact with Liu Zheng's Iron Sand Palm, a cracking sound was heard, and Liu Zheng's entire arm twisted into an irregular shape. Then, Gu Chen's palm, unstoppable as a bamboo splitter, solidly imprinted on Liu Zheng's chest.

"Ah—"

With a miserable scream, Liu Zheng was sent flying by Gu Chen's palm, tumbling out of the arena and falling to the ground with his eyes tightly shut, having fainted.

It was visible that Liu Zheng's clothes on his chest had been burned away, leaving behind a charred palm imprint.

Due to the Jing Tian Department's internal rules that sparring should not result in loss of life, Gu Chen had held back at the last moment, withdrawing seventy percent of his strength. Otherwise, that palm could have exploded Liu Zheng's entire body.

One must know, the Pure Yang Technique is inherently a masculine type of internal energy. With sixty years of inner energy cultivation, Gu Chen could bring the Pure Yang Technique to its peak state, making his inner energy burn like flames.

In addition, there was the perfectly mastered Red Flame Palm, also a masculine martial art. Combined together, their power doubled, and Liu Zheng, merely at the initial stage of energy cultivation, naturally couldn't withstand it.

With that palm strike, many of Liu Zheng's bones were broken, and the organs and meridians within his body suffered extremely severe burns. Even if he didn't die, the hidden injuries he sustained from today's battle meant his martial path was essentially over; there was little chance he would achieve anything significant in this lifetime.

Many of the onlooking Royal Sword Guards below the stage were stunned. Liu Zheng had been dominating throughout, but somehow, the roles were suddenly reversed.

"Master Gu had been recuperating for over a month, hasn't he? How come his cultivation seems even more terrifying than it was a month ago?"

"Master Gu's palm strike just now was too frightening. If I'm not mistaken, Master Gu must have perfected the Red Flame Palm!"

"What?! How is that possible, for real? I've been practicing this martial art for three years, and I've only achieved minor success!"

…

Gu Chen was unaware of the other people's discussions, nor was he interested in listening to them.

His purpose for coming to Jing Tian Department today was to exchange the original owner's remaining merit points for soul crystals to enhance his own strength.

Within the Jing Tian Department, there was a building known as the Hall of Merits. Following the original owner's memory, Gu Chen easily found his way there and exchanged the remaining merit points for two soul crystals at the hall's office.

It is well known that soul crystals are the remnants left behind after the death of demons and ghosts. The higher the level of the demon or ghost, the more powerful the energy contained within its soul crystal.

Being extremely yin and wicked in nature, the force within soul crystals is of the same origin as the demons and ghosts themselves, which is why sometimes soul crystals are used as materials in alchemy or weapon forging.

Of course, some cultivators who practice yin attribute techniques also use soul crystals to cultivate.

Therefore, Gu Chen wasn't worried that swapping merit points for soul crystals would arouse suspicion.

The only regret for Gu Chen was that the merit points left to him by the original owner were too few, only enough to exchange for two of the lowest-level soul crystals.

Merit points have many uses within the Jing Tian Department; they can be exchanged for various elixirs, martial arts manuals, weapons, and items like soul crystals, among other things.

And only by completing tasks assigned by the Jing Tian Department can one obtain merit points.

These tasks include, but are not limited to, slaying demons and strange creatures.

After all, the responsibilities of the Jing Tian Department are not limited to just this.

After exchanging for the two soul crystals and returning home, Gu Chen absorbed them, resulting in ten more merit points on his panel.

However, Gu Chen did not immediately convert the merit points into cultivation because it had only been a day, and his body was still in a "satiated" state, needing some time to digest.

If he were to blindly convert, it might cause some irreparable hidden dangers or injuries to his body.

If that's the case, then it would be a big loss.

Fortunately, Gu Chen was not the type to panic or rush; he was a patient man and never hurried his actions.

So, for the entirety of the next day, Gu Chen stayed at home to cultivate.

Following the methods recorded in the Pure Yang Technique, he continuously circulated the thick internal energy within his body to nourish his flesh. Over the course of the day, his physical strength subtly improved once again.

At dinner time, his second uncle Gu Chengfeng paid a visit.

"Second Uncle, what brings you here?" Gu Chen was somewhat surprised. His second uncle had just returned home two days ago and had already come back.

Gu Chengfeng was dressed in his official uniform, with a long saber hanging at his waist. He was a commander of the Royal Sword Guard in Tiandu, holding the rank of a seventh-grade official. He was mainly responsible for maintaining the peace within the capital city of Da Xia, patrolling daily with his subordinates.

"Your aunt heard that your injuries have healed and has specially prepared a table full of delicious dishes today. She is waiting for you at home right now. I came to fetch you as soon as my patrol ended," said Gu Chengfeng with a smile.

Gu Chen thought about it for a moment. He didn't want to refuse the kindness of his uncle and aunt, so he nodded and said, "Alright, Second Uncle, please wait for me for a moment. I'll get ready and then follow you there."

"Good, then hurry up, big lad. Don't keep your aunt and your sister waiting too long," Gu Chengfeng instructed.

"Don't worry, Second Uncle."

Gu Chen said as he went to the inner room and swiftly changed his clothes. Then he followed Gu Chengfeng out, passing through the bustling streets and shops to reach Gu Mansion.

As a seventh-grade official of Da Xia, Gu Chengfeng received an annual salary of over two hundred taels of silver. Although Tiandu city was the foremost place of excellence, he resided in the outer city where he had bought a house with three courtyards in and out and maintained some servants and maids, the entire estate having over a dozen people.

"The master has returned."

Upon reaching the front of the estate, an old servant saw Gu Chengfeng return and hurriedly pushed open the main gate.

"Hmm."

Gu Chengfeng nodded, entered through the gate, and there were maids who quickly came over to take his official uniform and saber.

"Young Master." A young maid greeted Gu Chen sweetly.

Gu Chen smiled and nodded in response.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Gu Chengfeng's eyes, but he said nothing more and led Gu Chen through the outer courtyard to the inner hall.

All in all, the Gu Mansion was pretty decent. Although it couldn't measure up to some of the sprawling estates of the nobility within Tiandu, it was already considered very good in the outskirts of the city.

The young maid was slightly astonished, as in the past when Gu Chen came here, he would always have a cold face and was unenthusiastic toward everyone, softening only in the presence of Gu Chengfeng's family.

There was no helping it, given that the original owner of the body had lost his parents at a young age, and despite Gu Chengfeng's care, it was inevitable that he developed such a solitary personality.

Inside the inner hall, there were a woman and a young girl sitting there, with seven or eight dishes laid out on the table, looking colorful and emitting a delicious fragrance.

The woman had a melon-seed face with fair and beautiful skin. It was clear that she had been a delicate beauty when she was young. Even though she was nearly forty now, she still took good care of herself and retained her charm, though slight crow's feet betrayed her age.

This beautiful woman was Gu Chengfeng's official wife and Gu Chen's aunt, Xu Qinge.

The young girl sitting next to Xu Qinge was Gu Chengfeng's daughter, Gu Chen's sister, named Gu Qingyan.

Gu Qingyan could be said to have perfectly inherited her mother Xu Qinge's looks, and perhaps even surpassed her, born extremely beautiful.

She had a melon-seed face just like her mother's, with fair, translucent, glowing skin, bright and animated eyes, eyelashes flicking like dancing butterfly wings, a high, aquiline nose, and fresh, rosy lips. Her face was exquisitely pretty, truly a rare beauty in the world.

"My boy is here, come sit." On seeing Gu Chen, Xu Qinge's face immediately lighted up with a warm smile.

"Auntie."

Gu Chen greeted Xu Qinge and then sat down at the dining table next to Gu Qingyan.

"Qinyan, long time no see," Gu Chen smiled at his sister.