Swapping the Tou She Ancient God Jade! (Please Keep Reading)

Time flew by. Three years had quietly passed since Gu Long and Xun Er first arrived in Wutan City.

Thirteen-year-old Gu Long had grown considerably taller. Though his face still retained a boyish softness, the calmness and depth in his black eyes far surpassed those of his peers.

Over the past three years, he had obtained all manner of resources through the sign-in system.

Using the obscure knowledge related to souls, restrictions, and artifact forging among them, he had secretly carried out a plan capable of affecting the future balance of the continent—replacing the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

As one of the guardians of the Ancient Emperor Jade, the Xiao Family had kept that jade fragment secretly hidden by Xiao Zhan within a concealed compartment protected by mechanisms.

Yet under Gu Long's Dou Emperor-level Soul Power perception, the location of the Ancient Emperor Jade had quickly been found.

With the sections on breaking restrictions from the Compendium of Array Knowledge, along with several special materials acquired through sign-ins that were specifically used to simulate and forge energy fluctuations, he intended to duplicate and replace the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

Although the process took time, it proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

First, he repeatedly scanned it with his Soul Power, thoroughly analyzing the genuine Ancient Emperor Jade's internal structure, energy patterns, and that faint trace of Emperor Aura originating from ancient times.

Then, after several months, he used a rare material provided by the system called the Phantom Source Crystal, supplemented by his own blood essence and soul imprint, to perfectly reproduce an imitation Tou She Ancient God Jade identical in appearance, weight, and even the most subtle energy fluctuations.

One night while Xiao Zhan was away, Gu Long slipped silently into his study like a ghost of the night and opened the hidden compartment using the mechanism-breaking method he had long since figured out.

He took out the genuine Ancient Emperor Jade, which carried the fate of the Xiao Family and had drawn the covetous attention of the Soul Clan, carefully placed the imitation inside, and restored everything to its original state.

The entire process flowed as smoothly as clouds and water. No alarm was triggered, and not a trace was left behind.

Even if the Soul Clan came to investigate in person someday, they would find it exceedingly difficult to distinguish the real from the fake unless they completely destroyed and dissected the jade fragment.

The true Tou She Ancient God Jade now lay quietly deep within Gu Long's System Space, sealed beneath layers of soul restrictions that cut off all traces of its aura.

After finishing all this, a great weight lifted from Gu Long's heart.

One of the Soul Clan's greatest objectives had fallen into his control.

This eliminated a massive potential threat for the Xiao Family and for himself.

Meanwhile, over these three years, the Dragon Domain far away in the Black Corner Region had developed at a breathtaking pace.

Under Zhao Yun's iron-fisted reforms and the strategic planning of the new member Zhou Yu, the Dragon Domain was no longer the underground organization it had once been, with only a few hundred core members.

Its reach had spread to every corner of the Black Corner Region and had even begun infiltrating the neighboring Jia Ma Empire, Chu Yun Empire, and Luo Yan Empire, gradually building an enormous and hidden intelligence network and commercial empire.

Dragon Domain Headquarters, central Black Corner Region.

There stood an underground palace that appeared unremarkable on the surface but was heavily guarded inside and covered in arrays.

Through the system, Gu Long's consciousness was communicating remotely with two figures.

One of them was naturally Zhao Yun, still clad in silver armor, his aura growing ever deeper and more restrained.

The other was a handsome young man wearing a blue scholar's robe, holding a feather fan, with a faint smile at the corners of his lips.

Though his aura was not as sharp and intimidating as Zhao Yun's, it was like a vast sea of stars, unfathomably deep.

He was another summoned figure Gu Long had obtained through a sign-in one year ago—Zhou Yu, whose strength was at the level of a Five-star Dou Ancestor.

The moment Zhou Yu had been summoned, Gu Long appointed him strategist of the Dragon Domain, placing him in charge of its overall development.

"Lord, the Dragon Domain currently has three thousand core members and over ten thousand peripheral members.

"Two new Dou Zong experts have joined us. Both were independent cultivators recruited and admitted into the core after passing evaluation.

"We have fifteen Dou Emperor experts and over a hundred Dou Kings. We control eight major cities, with resource sites spread throughout the Black Corner Region."

Zhao Yun reported in a deep voice, carrying a trace of pride.

In merely three years, they had developed the chaotic Black Corner Region to this extent. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Zhou Yu lightly waved his feather fan and added:

"Lord, following your instructions, the Dragon Domain still maintains the appearance of several forces coexisting openly, with several submissive Dou Emperors serving as their public leaders.

"The Dark Division intelligence network now covers over seventy percent of the important regions across the Northwest Continent. Every year, our commercial channels provide the Dragon Domain with over thirty million Gold Coins in net profit, as well as vast quantities of cultivation resources."

Gu Long listened to the reports with considerable satisfaction.

The Dragon Domain's development had even surpassed his initial expectations.

This was inseparable from Zhao Yun's ability to command armies and Zhou Yu's talent for governance.

"You have both worked hard." Gu Long's voice came through the system. "Gong Jin, I have something that may benefit your cultivation."

As he spoke, Gu Long sent two items over through the system.

One was a scroll exuding an ancient aura—the complete Flame Mantra!

The other was a cluster of dark-blue flames that flickered restlessly, emitting energy fluctuations as vast as the sea—the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!

Gu Long had obtained this Sea Heart Flame from Han Feng.

When Zhou Yu received the scroll and flame, a look of emotion appeared on his handsome face for the first time.

He carefully sensed the profundity of the Flame Mantra and the immense power of the Sea Heart Flame. A moment later, he bowed deeply toward the empty air.

"Yu thanks Lord for this generous gift! With this Cultivation Method and Heavenly Flame, I will surely advance further and devote all my strength to Lord's great undertaking!"

Zhou Yu himself cultivated a fire-element Cultivation Method, making the Flame Mantra and Sea Heart Flame a perfect match for him.

With the complete Flame Mantra as his foundation and the Sea Heart Flame to devour, his future would be boundless.

"I entrust this Cultivation Method and Heavenly Flame to you. I hope you put them to good use.

"The Dragon Domain's future direction, internal management, and external strategies will all be under your full command. Zi Long will assist you from the side.

"Unless it is a major decision, there is no need to report everything to me."

Gu Long granted Zhou Yu tremendous autonomy.

If he doubted someone, he would not use them. If he used someone, he would not doubt them.

"Yu will certainly not disappoint Lord's trust!"

Zhou Yu's expression turned solemn. He felt the heavy burden on his shoulders, as well as Gu Long's complete and unwavering faith in him.

"Also, continue closely monitoring developments in the Central Continent, especially the Soul Hall. As for Jia Nan Academy, maintain the current situation. Any unusual activity at the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower in the Inner Academy must be carefully recorded," Gu Long gave his final instructions.

"Understood!"

After the communication ended, Gu Long's consciousness returned to the small courtyard in Wutan City.

The Spirit Gathering Array in the courtyard continued operating.

Three years had passed, and Xun Er had grown into a graceful young lady. Her cultivation had also reached the level of a Three-star Dou Grandmaster, an astonishing rate of progress.

She was currently resting her chin on her hand, watching Gu Long as he had just "come back to himself."

"Brother Gu Long, were you thinking about something again just now?"

Xun Er asked softly. Over the past three years, she had long grown used to Gu Long occasionally "spacing out."

Gu Long looked at Xun Er, his gaze gentle.

After growing up together day after day for three years, the bond between them had long since seeped into their bones.

He smiled faintly and rubbed her hair. "Mm, I was thinking about some trivial matters. What do you want to eat today?"

"I want to eat the steamed fish Brother Gu Long makes!" Xun Er immediately smiled brightly and named the dish.

"Alright," Gu Long replied with a smile.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful routine, the undercurrent had already changed course.

The Tou She Ancient God Jade had changed hands. The Dragon Domain stood dominant in the shadows, with powerful generals gathered like clouds and strategists by its side.

The power Gu Long held in his hands had long surpassed anything ordinary people could imagine.

He took Xun Er's hand and walked toward the kitchen.

Sunlight fell upon them, warm and gentle.

Yet Gu Long knew clearly that this brief tranquility was merely the final breath before the storm.

The Soul Clan's shadow still shrouded the continent, and the struggles ahead would only grow crueler, but he feared nothing.

Because he was no longer the boy from three years ago who could only rely on the system and foreknowledge to lay careful plans.

Now, he possessed the strength of a Dou Emperor, commanded the Dragon Domain's powerful forces, held the Ancient Emperor Jade, and had loyal summoned Generals to conquer new territories for him.

The board was set, and the pieces were in place. All that remained was to seize the heavens when the winds and clouds began to stir!

Behind the Xiao Family estate, inside a hidden cave.

Xiao Yan was surrounded by somewhat impure dark-red Dou Qi, his aura lingering at the level of a Five-star Dou Shi.

Several bottles of freshly refined Second-grade Pills sat before him, yet there was little joy on his face.

"Teacher, even after the Flame Mantra devoured the Purple Flame, it only barely evolved to Yellow-tier Intermediate. And I always feel that my Dou Qi is unstable and difficult to condense," Xiao Yan complained inwardly.

Over these three years, he had relied on Han Feng's "guidance" and the continual plundering of other factions' resources to barely advance to the Dou Shi level, but the process had been arduous and fraught with hidden dangers.

"Hmph, be satisfied! Being able to evolve at all is already a stroke of fortune! Your unstable Dou Qi is a problem with your own aptitude. Just cultivate harder!"

Han Feng's cold voice rang out from within the ring, tinged with impatience.

The rate at which he absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was also growing faster and faster, as though he were anxious to recover something.

A shadow flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He did not dare say more, merely turning his dissatisfaction with his own condition and anxiety about the future into hatred for someone once again.

"Gu Long, just you wait..."

He seemed to have forgotten that if he had not harbored improper desires and committed that disgraceful act back then, how would he have ended up where he was today?

He had gone too far down the wrong path to turn back.

Beneath the skies of Wutan City, the fates of two youths had long since headed in utterly different directions.

One gathered strength in the sunlight, while the other struggled and sank into darkness.

And the giant hand that would truly stir the winds and clouds had already quietly opened.