Generous Gift

Chapter 18: Generous Gifts

Half-Step Collapsing Fist!

The Form-Intent Grandmaster Guo Yun Shen once got into trouble with the law for eliminating a bully, resulting in a death sentence. While imprisoned, he continued to diligently practice his martial arts. Due to the cangue around his neck and the shackles on his feet, he developed a unique technique that only allowed him to take half a step – the Half-Step Collapsing Fist!

Later, when he sparred with others, he would win with a single "Half-Step Collapsing Fist." Posterity praised him, saying, "The Half-Step Collapsing Fist conquers the world!"

Gu Shaoshang unleashed his Innate Divine Ability, "Tail-Feathered Mantis Shrimp," amplifying his entire body's muscular strength by 120 times and accelerating gravity and speed by 10,000 times! What kind of power did this "Half-Step Collapsing Fist," renowned for its ferocity, possess?

A sun suddenly erupted from Gu Shaoshang's body, radiating infinite light! Within the radiance, a pale, tender fist tore through the sky at an unimaginable speed, traversing heaven and earth!

The Gu Ji projection, bearing the brunt of the attack, instantly shattered and vanished! The ground within a hundred-zhang radius violently cracked, collapsed, and churned, even vaporizing! The solid bluestone road disappeared like black lines erased from white paper, extending to a distance beyond sight!

Only a pure white shockwave, seemingly burning intensely, extended beyond Gu Family Village and lingered for a long time without dissipating!

In the light, Gu Shaoshang only saw himself throw a "Collapsing Fist." Gu Ji, along with the entire Gu Family Village, flipped and shattered like an earthquake's roar! He himself vaporized in an indescribable agony, leaving behind only a massive, hundred-zhang-wide pit in his original spot!

"Ah!"

Gu Shaoshang cried out and sat up in bed! His entire body trembled uncontrollably, drenched in cold sweat as if he had just been pulled from water!

"This feeling!" Gu Shaoshang's face was pale. His entire body was disappearing, bit by bit, inch by inch! This soul-piercing agony was far more terrifying than death!

Gu Shaoshang lay back down and pulled the covers over himself. He didn't even have the strength to enter the Mirror World to see what had dropped. Trembling, he fell asleep.

Gu Shaoshang, unusually, slept in. When he opened his eyes, it was already bright daylight.

Gu Shaoshang slowly sat up, his pale complexion gradually becoming resolute. His clothes billowed as if in a strong wind, and a "whooshing" sound of blood flow, like a mountain stream, emanated from him. All sounds in the world vanished, as if only he remained.

Slowly, Gu Shaoshang's face regained its color, the divine soul trauma from yesterday having been removed.

"Too dangerous! Just a projection throwing a punch instantly caused severe divine soul damage! And that was with the protection of the Myriad Heavens Mirror! If someone else awakened this Innate Divine Ability, just one activation would not only vaporize their body but shatter their divine soul!" Gu Shaoshang was still shaken. The power of this Innate Divine Ability was terrifying, and its danger was even more so! It was truly a first-rate Innate Divine Ability that meant mutual destruction!

"Shaoshang! Hurry up and get up, your granduncle has come to see you!" His father, Gu Jiu, shouted, banging on the door.

"Okay, I'm getting up." Gu Shaoshang put on his shoes and performed the Three Body Form, his energy returning.

"Haha! Little Nine, Uncle Zhen has come to see you! Lianxing, greet your uncle!" Gu Xuanzhen laughed heartily as he entered with his granddaughter. Two servants followed behind, carrying two round platters covered with red cloth.

"Uncle," Gu Lianxing bowed demurely and greeted him in a clear voice.

"Ah! Good child! Come in and sit!" Gu Jiu's face was flushed with pride. With the Minister of War and an elder of the Divine Blade Sect visiting, Gu Jiu's vanity was satisfied, and he ushered them inside.

Gu Lianxing entered the room and scanned her surroundings. Although the house wasn't bare, it was close. However, it was clean and tidy, indicating that the owner had meticulously cleaned it.

"Where is Shaoshang? Hasn't he come out to greet his granduncle?" Gu Xuanzhen asked casually, glancing around.

"This child usually wakes up early. Why hasn't he gotten up yet today?" Gu Jiu frowned. If there hadn't been guests, he would have roared by now!

Gu Shaoshang slowly finished his Three Body Form. He had already guessed Gu Xuanzhen's intentions to some extent. Although he had prevented the subsequent phenomena like "Immortal King Descends Upon Nine Heavens," the Divine Body was still not to be underestimated!

"Uncle Zhen, our home is humble, and we only have simple tea. Please forgive us for any lack of hospitality!" Gu Jiu spoke politely with Gu Xuanzhen, while Gu Lianxing stood to the side, suppressing a giggle!

As they spoke, Gu Shaoshang strode into the room.

"Father! Lord Gu, Miss Gu." Gu Shaoshang cupped his fists and greeted them.

Gu Lianxing stood gracefully to the side. Hearing Gu Shaoshang call her "Miss Gu," she frowned slightly and said playfully, "Why are you calling me Miss Gu? You should call me sister!"

"Your granduncle has been away for a long time and hasn't returned home often. You young people should get to know each other better."

Gu Xuanzhen laughed heartily and stood up.

Gu Xuanzhen was tall, with snow-white whiskers but a face like an infant's, clearly indicating his martial arts were at the pinnacle.

As he stood up, Gu Shaoshang felt an indescribable pressure.

"I lost track of time practicing martial arts last night and woke up late this morning! Please forgive me, Granduncle!" Gu Shaoshang went along with the flow.

Of course, he pretended not to hear Gu Lianxing's words. Calling a young girl "sister" was still difficult for him, an "old man" who was over thirty when combined with his previous life.

After a few pleasantries, they all sat down.

"The Vast Continent is filled with myriad nations and a hundred tribes rising together! There are countless heroes and dragons and snakes in the world! Within our Great Yan alone, besides the Grand Governor Chen Ang suppressing all the sects and various powerful demons, the three major sects also have geniuses like rain and masters like forests!" Gu Xuanzhen suddenly changed the subject, shifting from trivial neighborly matters to the heroes of the world.

"Gao Jinyang, the commander of the Martial Arts Hall; Fu Sand Blades of the Divine Blade Sect; Kun Xiang of the Hanging Temple; and Mu Qingliu of Mount Tai Sword Sect! They are known as the Four Great Suns of our Great Yan! They are all invincible figures of their generation! All of them are peerless geniuses who reached the Qi Sect before the age of twenty!" Gu Lianxing interjected, glancing at Gu Shaoshang with her starlike eyes as she spoke.

Gu Shaoshang's heart stirred. "Are they all Divine Bodies?"

"Indeed! They are all Divine Bodies!" Gu Xuanzhen suddenly exclaimed loudly.

"I began practicing martial arts at seven, joined the Divine Blade Sect at sixteen, and Established Fate at twenty-four! I was considered a minor genius at the time!" Gu Xuanzhen stroked his long beard, looking at Gu Shaoshang.

"But! The year I advanced to the Qi Sect, I was already fifty-seven years old!" Gu Xuanzhen's tone was low, a sense of desolation pressing down on everyone in the room.

Gu Shaoshang was inwardly astonished. "I don't know how the Divine Body is, but this granduncle's emotional fluctuations can actually affect my state of mind! His martial arts are incredibly high!"

"Grandpa!" Gu Lianxing hugged the old man's arm and gently shook it.

"Heh! I'm old, so old. As I talk, I just recall the past." Gu Xuanzhen gave a self-deprecating laugh and clapped his hands.

"Someone!"

"Master!"

Two guards entered, holding round platters, and bowed respectfully.

"What is this?" Gu Jiu, sitting to the side, listened quietly as the others talked before speaking.

Gu Lianxing lifted the round plate.

On the plate were placed hundreds of purple-gold coins and a silver-white beast egg about the size of a fist.

"This is! So many gold coins!" Gu Jiu stood up abruptly.

These were the "gold coins" officially issued by Great Yan, which could be used in many countries and among various races across the Vast Continent.

One coin was enough to buy ten strong water buffaloes, enough for a family of five to live for two years!

One hundred purple-gold coins! What kind of wealth was this? It was comparable to a million US dollars in his previous life!

Even Gu Shaoshang's heart skipped a beat, but his gaze was drawn to the silver-white beast egg!

"A Golden-Eyed Eagle's beast egg?!"

Thanks for the cool moonlight, the reward from Zhou Hua 420! And the recommendation and support from many fellow readers!