Four days to the First Level!?
Impossible!
Yù Huá was at a loss for a moment, falling into a long silence.
The greatest surprise was not in exclamations, but in silence, a wordless astonishment.
She had seen many geniuses, witnessed disciples who built their foundation in a day, worshippers who attained a golden body before the Buddha, swordsmen who slayed the Demon King at sixteen, and even divine beings born with a Golden Core...
The world never lacked geniuses; Gu Wen was not the only one.
But their shock was different from Gu Wen's.
For her, who had spent countless days and nights cultivating at the edge of the towering Enlightenment Cliff, enduring wind and rain, until her spirit was exhausted, he had achieved what she could never reach.
With his first step, Gu Wen embarked on the path to immortality, a path that many great beings could never aspire to in their lifetime.
And yet, such talent was abandoned by the sect, reduced to a servant of the Zhao family!
At this moment, Yù Huá was not just lamenting the unfairness of the world, the injustice of the sect, or the lack of virtue in the Zhao family.
She now harbored a concern that had never arisen before.
To snatch away such a great opportunity from someone was to make a formidable enemy of the Three Clearings.
Even she couldn't suppress this thought.
If that donkey were here, she reckoned he would have already seen Gu Wen's corpse.
Simply because of his talent, like the Jade Clear Heart Technique, he was the best in the world, the top under heaven.
"You..."
Yù Huá's thin lips parted, but she found herself at a loss for words.
Help him regain his opportunity?
But that was beyond her capability at the moment.
All she could do was solemnly advise, "Do not reveal the Jade Clear Foundation to others, especially the donkey and the Zhao family around me, or you will undoubtedly meet your end."
Gu Wen asked, "Why? Just because I didn't end up in the mud like they wanted, just because I can stand on my own without relying on divine luck?"
"In this world, you must have absolute strength to distinguish right from wrong, and you do not possess it now."
Yù Huá could not deny the sect's ugliness, arguing would not change the facts.
She could only explain the severity to him.
"Your talent can be considered top-notch in the world. If you were to join the Three Clearings Sect, you might become the next sect leader. But my senior brothers would not allow your existence. If you can overlook past grievances, I can contact my master to have someone from the Jade Clear Sect come and guide you into hiding."
Gu Wen had long anticipated the irreconcilable conflict between him and the Three Clearings Sect, but he couldn't help but smile at the reminder from this celestial maiden.
He wasn't a good person, but he certainly wasn't detestable.
Shaking his head, he said, "I have no intention of hiding. I remember the fairy saying that the Three Clearings Sect does not resist outsiders learning their techniques."
"Are you asking me to teach you more of the Three Clearings techniques without joining the sect?"
Gu Wen was straightforward, and Yù Huá was a clever person.
This was a dangerous topic and a test.
It was almost impossible for other sects to allow outsiders to learn their techniques, except for joining or being eliminated.
From the moment Yù Huá gave Gu Wen the Jade Clear Heart Technique, only four days had passed.
During this time, he was not at home all day, and it was said that he even stayed overnight at the Flower Tower...
Truly, his playful nature needed discipline!
Although he still had some Yuan Yang left, under such busy circumstances, there was not much time for him to cultivate.
Gu Wen had to reduce his time for cultivating the Jade Clear Heart Technique by half in these four days.
Two days to cultivate the first level of the Jade Clear Heart Technique.
This was a genius comparable to the disciples of the Upper Clear Sect! And he was a genius without any backing, without any power behind him!
The former was not important; geniuses were countless in the world, and prodigies were never unique.
But the latter was extremely rare.
She only needed to invest a little now, and in the future, she might reap a thousandfold return.
Gu Wen himself was already a great opportunity.
"When the disciples of the Upper Clear Sect first entered, they meditated for a month before comprehending the Upper Clear Foundation. Just this act alone caused chaos among the True Immortals of the three sects. If news of your four-day cultivation spreads, not to mention the Three Clearings, even other sects will come to snatch you away."
Yù Huá looked at the silent Gu Wen and, with a mischievous thought, said, "And your karma with the Three Clearings Sect is enough to make the True Immortals defy fate and try to kill you here."
"..."
Gu Wen was speechless.
I'm already at the Second Level, what now? And I probably won't be far from the Third Level.
Why does your Three Clearings Sect have such low-quality techniques?
Thinking that the other party was afraid, Yù Huá chuckled lightly, "Rest assured, I won't inform anyone inside the sect."
Gu Wen regained his composure and said solemnly, "For the kindness shown by the fairy, in the future, if Gu Wen is needed, I will definitely go through fire and water."
Revealing one's talent to attract others was just the beginning.
The crucial part was promising benefits.
The other party might not accept them, but he had to offer them.
If you don't promise someone a pie, how can they willingly invest in you?
Promising pies was an art.
Yù Huá hesitated and asked, "Can you repay your karma with the Three Clearings Sect with this favor?"
After all, it was the sect that nurtured him, and she didn't want the person who cultivated the Jade Clear Foundation to fight with the Three Clearings Sect.
Gu Wen grinned and said, "Every debt has its debtor. The Zhao family wronged me, and I only want the Emperor and Zhao Feng's heads. There is no need for the fairy to repay the debt with kindness. The kindness shown will be remembered for eternity."
He wasn't inclined to kill, nor to involve others in his anger.
And if the debts were mutually canceled out, how could he continue to demand benefits?
Human relationships were also bridges to close relationships.
"Very well."
Yù Huá nodded, quite pleased.
She didn't lack opportunities, nor did she lack manpower.
If needed, the entire Three Clearings Sect could be at her disposal, even the True Immortals could come to her aid.
But all of this required legitimate reasons, it required going through the proper channels, so even in the face of the annoying harassment from the Zhao family, she was helpless.
Gu Wen, however, owed her a personal favor.
"This is not the place for conversation. Please follow me to the courtyard."
Glancing around, Gu Wen saw that it was quiet, mostly textile factories nearby, with few people at night.
But there were likely night watchmen and patrolling soldiers.
The Great Qian was not under curfew like Longqiao, but it was forbidden for people to move around at night in residential areas and factories.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the two returned to the courtyard.
Gu Wen looked at the fallen door and smirked, while Yù Huá said seriously, "I have no money to compensate you."
No money, yet so tough?
Gu Wen smiled and said, "Just a door, no need for the fairy to compensate."
"I can compensate you with pills. This is the Heart-Protecting Pill, as long as you have a breath, it can restore you."
Yù Huá took out a pill from her sleeve, and Gu Wen quickly took it.
His smile became more sincere, and he corrected himself, "Of course, a person of your stature would never let someone like me..."
"Hmm?"
"...let Gu Wen suffer a loss."
How many days of essence does this pill contain?
Gu Wen pondered inwardly, but he didn't plan to use it for cultivation.
The life-saving function was more important than accelerating his cultivation.
The two entered the house.
The courtyard was simply decorated, with a bed, a bookshelf filled with various books, a dining table, and an office desk and chair.
The atmosphere was homely, indicating that he had spent more time here than in the royal palace.
Yù Huá's nose twitched slightly.
There was no strange smell in the air, unlike the royal palace, which was filled with the scent of cosmetics.
There should have been no women here on normal days.
She saw many account books on the table, with one white paper scroll standing out.
As Gu Wen poured water, he said, "It's hard to keep hot water here. Please forgive me, fairy."
A glass of cold water was placed on the table, and Yù Huá pushed aside the account books.
The desk was messy, with various papers mixed together, and a line of incomplete sentences immediately caught her eye.
This is a humble abode, but my virtue shines brightly.
Yù Huá remained composed, looking at the seemingly ordinary man in plain clothes.
Even his accessories and clothes were only slightly better than those of commoners, and the style was extremely ordinary.
But such an ordinary person could build a foundation in four days, effortlessly grasping the principles.
On the outside, he was like a weed, but his roots ran deep.
Yù Huá grew even more curious.
How much was he hiding? In his early twenties, he never revealed anything, behaving like an old monk who had meditated for a thousand years.
He had the ability to hide and flee when needed, like an eel or a turtle, truly a legendary figure.
With a playful thought, Yù Huá looked at the plain-clothed man pouring water and fixed her gaze on his now seemingly ordinary features.
Senior Brother Huáyáng, it's your bad luck.
You reap what you sow, and you have to swallow the bitter fruit.