The Attack of the Wastrel

The next day, a surprising incident had suddenly provided a solution to Gu Lingzhi's dilemma.

When she arrived at the Martial Arts Training Grounds, she was met with a friendly greeting from Gu Chengze. 

While she was running around the Training Grounds, Gu Chengze started to run beside her and decided to raise his questions about Alchemy whilst trying his best to sound nonchalant. 

It was then Gu Lingzhi realised that while she thought her methods for obtaining the medicinal ingredients were inconspicuous, it had actually been noticed by Gu Chengze.

"Don't worry, I wasn’t going to bring you any trouble," Gu Chengze tried to reassure her upon seeing the guarded look that crossed Gu Lingzhi’s face. 

"My father was the one who told me you were collecting medicinal ingredients and he wanted me to tell you that in the future, when you’re trying to cultivate medicinal potions, you can go to his warehouse. Since he is the manager, he can give you some medicinal herbs under his own name as long as they aren’t too rare."

Hearing this, Gu Lingzhi bent her head downwards. 

She never thought that the plan she hurriedly thought of yesterday would work out so quickly. Gu Chengze's father was indeed someone bold enough to go against the clan leader. He had already dared to put aside a large amount of medicinal ingredients for her even without confirming whether she truly had a talent for Alchemy. Wasn’t he afraid that she wouldn’t be able to fork out the money for them? 

"I… I can’t," Gu Lingzhi pretended to reject his offer, as she bit down on her lip.

"Why not? We are a family, why is there a need to treat yourself as an outsider? If you feel apologetic, then in the future, you can repay us by selling us your medicinal pills first before selling them to anyone else."

Gu Chengze had finally revealed the motive behind his friendliness. 

The medicinal pills made by high-ranking Alchemists were of high value. They were high in demand and were sold the moment they were made. Gu Chengze's father was attempting to throw a wide net by investing in Gu Lingzhi’s talent in Alchemy. 

Since the other party had already demonstrated their sincerity, there was no need for Gu Lingzhi to hold back. She immediately retrieved the bottle of Spiritual Essence Liquid from her sleeves. With a sheepish smile, she handed the bottle over to Gu Chengze as he looked at it suspiciously.

"This is the Spiritual Essence Liquid that I attempted to create yesterday, could you help me sell it?"

Gu Chengze grasped the jade bottle in surprise. "You made this?"

He had heard from his subordinates that Gu Lingzhi had only bought five sets of identical medicinal ingredients.

To a newbie, five sets of ingredients were not enough to even get the shape of the medicine, how could Gu Lingzhi have successfully created it?

Gu Chengze subconsciously removed the cap off the jade bottle, wanting to see if what Gu Lingzhi said was true. Was it possible that she had mistaken a failed cultivation of the Spiritual Fluid to be genuine and kept it? 

However, once he removed the cap, any suspicions Gu Chengze held turned into surprise.

The thick aroma was a sign of a Spiritual Essence Liquid of good quality. Gu Chengze was the son of one of the Gu Family's most powerful financiers - all his life, he had access to the best materials. From one look, he could easily tell that the Spiritual Essence Liquid that Gu Lingzhi had cultivated was a middle grade Yellow-Level Spiritual Medicine. 

"This…" Gu Chengze no longer knew how to express the shock he felt and could only stuff the bottle in his Storage Ring before saying, "It is no wonder people are calling you the natural-born Medicinal Cultivator with wood and fire Spiritual Roots. Your talent for cultivating medicine is simply too shocking."

"Why, is there a problem with the Spiritual Fluid?" Gu Lingzhi blinked, looking as if she was very innocent. In fact, she had learnt how to put on an innocent facade from Gu Linglong.

"There is no problem, I will now give you the spirit stones in exchange for the Spiritual Essence Liquid."

Gu Chengze then swiped his hand over his Storage Ring and five spirit stones appeared.

Gu Lingzhi's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't this a bit too much?"

From what she knew, a low-grade Yellow Level Spiritual Essence Liquid only cost three spirit stones on the market.

Spirit stones were the currency in the Tianyuan Continent, which could be used to buy materials that could assist in cultivation. At the moment, the spirit stones that Gu Chengze retrieved were the simplest and most basic low-level spirit stones. One hundred low-level spirit stones could be exchanged for one middle-level spirit stone and one hundred middle-level spirit stones could then be exchanged for one high-level spirit stone.

Gu Chengze laughed lightly, "It is not much. Don't you know that the Spiritual Essence Liquid that you cultivated is a middle-grade Yellow Level one?."

Gu Lingzhi had actually never thought this would happen.. 

It seemed like…she had outdone herself. Hopefully, it would not raise any suspicions. 

The day passed by in a flash, once all their training had ended, Gu Chengze could not wait to leave the Martial Arts Training Grounds.

Gu Lingzhi saw Gu Chengze's disappearing silhouette and was prepared to leave when she heard Gu Linglong's voice.

"Why were you acting so suspicious with Gu Chengze today, are you two up to something shameful?"

They were careful when they interacted and no one had given them more than a second glance. However, when their conversation ended, Gu Chengze looked distracted.

"I am warning you, his father’s acquaintances do not get along with our father, you’d better not be secretly helping them."

Gu Lingzhi initially wanted to ignore her but Gu Linglong was blocking her way, hence, she could only reply angrily, "Even if Gu Chengze's father does not get along well with out father, he is still from our clan, not an outsider. On the other hand, I have heard that you, sister, have been running around these few days sending medicinal potions and spirit stones to a man, I hope you’re not being scammed."

"How is this the same?" Gu Linglong rubbed her chin. "The Third Prince is no ordinary man. If I can marry him, our entire Gu Clan will be under great favor. An idiot like you wouldn't understand."

"Yes, I don't understand," Gu Lingzhi nodded her head. No matter how many times she was reborn, she would never be able to understand how Gu Linglong was so arrogant and selfish.

She had heard that in the past few days, the Third Prince had gotten minorly injured while catching a fourth-order peak level Wind Fox. This had created several opportunities for Gu Linglong.

Given the Third Prince’s status, he had probably attracted all sorts of women before. How would he possibly be smitten by Gu Linglong?

She had initially thought that someone labelled as the Xia Kingdom's War God could not get injured in battle. It looked like he was just an ordinary man as well. This reduced his mysteriousness and made him more human-like.

On the other hand, Gu Chengze, who was frantically rushing to get home, immediately found his father, Gu Hansheng in the Training Room once he reached home.

"Father, quickly take a look at this!"

Gu Hansheng paused what he was doing and frowned in disapproval. 

"I have told you before that someone well-versed in the martial arts must bear in mind not to be impatient, why are you making such a big fuss?"

Gu Chengze stuck out his tongue and retrieved the Spiritual Essence Liquid given to him by Gu Lingzhi out of his Storage Ring. With a face full of delight, "Father, look, this Spiritual Essence Liquid was cultivated by Gu Lingzhi!"

"Oh? She can cultivate things already?"

Surprised, Gu Hansheng grabbed the jade bottle from Gu Chengze. He stopped in shock when he took a glance into the bottle.