But she only knew that Scarlet Plume belonged to her alone, that Scarlet Plume would forever fight for her alone!
Yet in this life, Gu Youwei had never imagined it.
She had actually seen the sword that had once belonged to her at the Cangshan Sword Sect!
The feeling was like suddenly seeing an old friend she had known for years in a strange and unfamiliar place.
It was hope—and even more, salvation!
Immediately afterward, voices came from all around Gu Youwei.
"Gu Youwei, why haven't you surrendered yet?!"
"Go apologize to Master now, and perhaps Master may still forgive you!"
"You actually dared to run to Xuanjian Pond! This is a forbidden ground of our Cangshan Sword Sect!"
The Four Great Protectors of the Cangshan Sword Sect appeared around Xuanjian Pond in an instant.
The disciples of the Cangshan Sword Sect directly sealed off every exit from Xuanjian Pond.
At last, an ancient, deep voice descended from the heavens.
"Wouldn't it have been better to stay obediently in your room?"
"You insisted on running out. It seems this master must properly teach you a lesson."
He Changsong descended from the sky, like a god descending upon the mortal world.
Everyone present bowed in salute and said respectfully, "Master!"
Seeing that Gu Youwei showed no reaction at all, a subtle change appeared in He Changsong's expression.
"Why do you not kneel?"
Gu Youwei stared straight at He Changsong, her eyes filled with hatred and hostility.
She answered him on the spot, "Does a dying man deserve my kneel?"
Gu Youwei's words made everyone present suck in a sharp breath!
One had to know that the man standing before them was He Changsong, the sect master of the Cangshan Sword Sect, with the Cultivation Level of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment!
Even across the entire East Desolation Commandery, he was one of the foremost great figures.
Yet Gu Youwei not only refused to kneel, she even called He Changsong a dying man.
Everyone could not help feeling that "arrogant" was no longer enough to describe Gu Youwei.
This was simply monstrous rebellion! Turning heaven and earth upside down!
Hearing Gu Youwei's words, He Changsong's face instantly darkened.
He glared fixedly at Gu Youwei, even wondering whether he should simply kill her right then and there.
"Gu Youwei, you truly have gall."
"Men, teach her a lesson."
The instant He Changsong finished speaking, the Four Great Protectors of the Cangshan Sword Sect attacked together!
They moved like thunderbolts, charging toward Gu Youwei from four directions.
Yet Gu Youwei did not move an inch, her face wearing the expression of one who looked death in the eye.
She had now seen through everything completely.
Her coming to the Cangshan Sword Sect to cultivate had been nothing more than a filthy lie.
At that thought, Gu Youwei's gaze grew ever colder.
At last, an intense murderous aura radiated from her body.
Gu Youwei slowly raised her right hand and spoke each word distinctly.
"Scarlet Plume!"
"Return to your place!"
East Desolation Commandery, the Wei family residence.
Wei Qingyu could not sleep at all.
Because Gu Chen had been on her mind the entire time.
She always felt that if she slacked off and went to sleep, Gu Chen would use that time to raise his Cultivation Level.
Thus, Wei Qingyu directly hugged a brazier and secretly ran to the Training Hall to cultivate.
Whenever she cultivated for ten-odd minutes, she would have to hug the brazier and warm herself thoroughly.
Sometimes, when the chill was too severe, she even had to squat over the brazier in an extremely embarrassing posture.
Once or twice at first had been manageable.
But in less than half a shichen, Wei Qingyu had to squat over the brazier five or six times to warm herself.
It simply made her unbearably impatient!
"Damn it, I am a dignified Empress, yet I have to suffer like this?"
"In my previous life, I cultivated all the way into an Empress in one breath, and I never once used something like a brazier!"
In her rage, Wei Qingyu kicked the brazier aside, her face full of displeasure.
Staring at the overturned brazier in the distance, Wei Qingyu could not help recalling scene after scene from her previous life.
She clearly remembered that Gu Chen had not used any brazier or acupuncture in her previous life.
He had merely helped her cultivate normally, and that had completely eliminated the chill.
This made Wei Qingyu unable to help wondering what method Gu Chen had used to avoid the chill.
But after a while, Wei Qingyu muttered to herself, "I understand. The reason my Cultivation Level never surpassed Gu Chen's all those years in my previous life was because Gu Chen taught me the wrong cultivation method."
"It was precisely because it was the wrong cultivation method that the Sacred Origin Great Yin Scripture did not produce any chill."
At that thought, Wei Qingyu's hatred for Gu Chen deepened even further.
She felt that Gu Chen had held her back!
If not for Gu Chen, perhaps her Cultivation Level in her previous life could have gone a step further, allowing her to become an even more powerful Empress.
Then she would not have had to hug a brazier in this life and cultivate here like some beast of burden!
"Gu Chen, you owe me far too much!"
"I have changed my mind. When the time comes, I will not kill you outright."
"I will make you serve me like an ox and a horse, living beneath my shadow for the rest of your life!"
But anger was anger. Wei Qingyu's only choice now was to cultivate while hugging the brazier.
Helplessly, she could only silently walk forward, pick up the brazier, and squat over it again to begin dispersing the chill.
After tormenting herself for most of the night, Wei Qingyu felt even more exhausted than she had after cultivating for an entire day in her previous life.
Fortunately, it was not as though Wei Qingyu had gained nothing. Her Cultivation Level had directly broken through to the Third Level of Innate Realm.
Upon realizing that her Cultivation Level had soared, Wei Qingyu was so delighted she could barely close her mouth.
"This is wonderful! As expected, this young lady has the bearing of an Empress!"
"In just one night, I have already reached the Third Level of Innate Realm."
"And that was while cultivating with this lousy brazier in my arms."
"If I keep persevering, won't I reach the Foundation Establishment Realm in two or three days, perhaps even enter the middle four realms of cultivation?"
Wei Qingyu knew very well that at this time, the height of one's Cultivation Level was the only truth for roaming the world unhindered.
There were merely the first four realms of cultivation: Body Forging, Innate, Profound Gang, and Foundation Establishment.
Anyone who could cultivate to the Profound Gang Realm or the Foundation Establishment Realm could swagger through any place unhindered.
Not to mention anything else—even the sect master of the most famous Cangshan Sword Sect in East Desolation Commandery had only reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Wei Qingyu simply did not dare imagine it.
If her Cultivation Level broke through Foundation Establishment and even entered the middle four realms of cultivation.
Then dealing with Gu Chen would be as easy as taking something out of her pocket!
At that thought, Wei Qingyu became immensely excited and hurriedly squatted over the brazier again to resume cultivating.
While Wei Qingyu cultivated, Wei Qingshan and Liu Yucui had actually been peeking through the doorway the entire time.
Seeing their daughter diligently cultivating late into the night, Wei Qingshan and Liu Yucui immediately revealed gratified smiles.
"I knew the Wei family's daughter would not disappoint us. Look at how serious Qingyu is."
Before you continue