Chapter 73

【……Several months later, it was rumored that the Chu family and the Qin family had formed an alliance through marriage.】

【One day, Xiaoyue's mother found you and asked you to leave her daughter. In return, the Chu family would provide you with protection. After much consideration, you agreed. Thereafter, you took Su Qingzhi and secluded yourselves in the Chu family's forbidden grounds for intense cultivation.】

【Seven years later, Chu Xiaoyue suddenly appeared before you, having reached the peak of the First Rank. When she saw you, she attacked like an enemy, thrusting her sword at you. You closed your eyes, awaiting death. Su Qingzhi stepped in front of you, but the sword's energy bypassed her and pierced your heart from a distance. You died at the age of thirty.】

Gu Yang sighed when he saw the final outcome.

He had reluctantly played the role of a faithless man, but at least he had gained ten years.

Who would have thought that the Chu family would form an alliance with the Qin family?

He had heard from Xu Ruomei that the Chu and Qin families were ancient enemies. The Chu family's ancestral treasure had been stolen by the Qin family.

Yet, the Chu family had willingly married their daughter into the Qin family. How weak could they be?

In this situation, if he had refused to leave Chu Xiaoyue, he would have offended both the Chu and Qin families, the top noble families, and his fate would have been even worse.

This damned heaven really doesn't give a way out.

In the end, dying by Chu Xiaoyue's sword was nothing to complain about.

【Simulation ended. You can retain one of the following.】

【1. Martial realm at the age of thirty.】

【2. Martial experience at the age of thirty.】

【3. Life wisdom at the age of thirty.】

Gu Yang naturally chose the first option.

This time, his true essence had increased significantly, by nearly fifty percent.

It wasn't easy.

"Again."

Since Gu Yang had found a way to survive for seven years, he naturally continued to simulate according to this strategy.

……

………………

Gu Yang kept simulating like this.

【……Five years later, you finally reached the peak of the Third Rank.】

【Two years later, Chu Xiaoyue appeared before you, defeated you, and you died at the age of thirty.】

Finally, the peak of the Third Rank.

On the fourteenth simulation, he finally saw the prompt for the peak of the Third Rank and felt a sense of relief.

Calculating with his fingers, it took nearly a hundred years to accumulate from the Third Rank to the peak of the Third Rank.

This was with Su Qingzhi by his side; without her, it would have taken even longer.

【Simulation ended. You can retain one of the following.】

……

Gu Yang chose the first option. In the next moment, he felt his true essence reach a limit, ready for rebirth, to scatter his powers and start anew. After that, he could cultivate to the Second Rank without any bottlenecks.

He resisted this impulse.

Now, his balance was only 220,000, enough for eleven more simulations. If he were to start over, he wouldn't even reach the Third Rank, let alone the Second Rank.

So, he absolutely could not rebirth at this time.

The most important thing now was to make money.

As for where to get the money, he already had an idea.

……

Gu Yang performed seventeen simulations in one go. Xu Ruomei, who was nearby, was already alarmed. Her gaze shifted from shock to a kind of horror.

At such close range, she clearly felt that Gu Yang's true essence would surge every so often.

And this surge happened over a dozen times.

This was something that completely颠覆ed her understanding. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't figure out what was happening to Gu Yang.

Suddenly, Su Qingzhi, who was sitting on the other side, opened her eyes. Her gaze swept over Xu Ruomei's face, and seeing her shocked expression, she smirked.

She was now at the Seventh Rank. At such close range, she could naturally sense the changes in Gu Yang's true essence.

However, this was not the first time she had seen it, and she was no longer surprised.

She had spent the most time with Gu Yang and had witnessed all sorts of miraculous things about him. Even if he said he was a First Rank powerhouse the next moment, she wouldn't be surprised at all.

After mocking the Sword Palace disciple for her shock, Su Qingzhi closed her eyes again.

……

After everyone woke up the next morning, Xu Ruomei didn't ask Gu Yang what had happened last night. She felt it was definitely a great secret.

Such secrets involving cultivation should not be casually inquired about.

After breakfast, Gu Yang suddenly said, "We won't travel today. I have something to do and will be back in about two days. Wait for me here."

Without waiting for their reaction, he disappeared on the spot.

Only Xu Ruomei and Su Qingzhi were left, looking at each other in confusion.

……

To prepare for this trip, Gu Yang spent 20,000 taels last night to perform a simulation, confirming that nothing would go wrong before leaving with peace of mind.

He wasted no time, using his lightness skills to head straight for Jiangzhou City.

He took a desolate path, avoiding people if he sensed anyone, to avoid being discovered.

Just before dark, he finally arrived at Jiangzhou City, scaling the city wall without alerting anyone.

A short while later, Gu Yang arrived at a large courtyard in the heart of the city, on the busiest street.

This was where the treasure left by the Shadow Thief was located.

The last time, Gu Yang obtained the treasure map from Jiao Shumo, which also led to him offending Cao Yiyi. Since then, this crazy woman had been targeting him.

Cao Yiyi had somehow obtained the location of the treasure from Jiao Shumo and arrived here early, waiting for him to fall into her trap.

Now, Gu Yang finally had the strength to claim the treasure.

He walked to the front gate, gently pushed it, and his true essence shattered the lock. He stepped inside.

He continued to the back courtyard and heard someone clap their hands, saying joyfully, "You finally came. It was worth waiting so long for you."

A young girl holding a lantern walked out of the house, her beauty enhanced by the firelight. Behind her was a gray-clad man, the Fourth Rank warrior named Afu.

Gu Yang bowed and said, "Last time, I offended you. It was a matter of necessity, and I hope you can forgive me."

The Cao family was one of the nine great surnames in the world, and this crazy woman was the daughter of a Divine Realm powerhouse. The proper etiquette had to be observed.

Cao Yiyi snorted and said smugly, "Now you want to beg for mercy, but it's too late. Last time, you almost killed me, and no one has ever dared to harm me like that. These days, I've been thinking about how to torture you to satisfy my hatred."

Gu Yang sighed, "It seems there's no peaceful resolution today."

"What do you think?"

Cao Yiyi smiled slightly and said to her bodyguard, "Afu, capture him. Remember, alive."

"Yes."

The gray-clad man stepped forward, taking this matter very seriously.

Last time, his negligence almost got the young miss hurt, which was a great humiliation for him. Today, he could not afford to make any mistakes.

Just as he gripped his sword, he saw the young man opposite raise his hand and point.

Not good!

Afu's mind flashed with a sense of danger. His chest felt heavy, and he instantly lost consciousness.

Third Rank?

Before he lost consciousness, he was utterly shocked.

Cao Yiyi, who had been smiling just now, suddenly changed her expression.