Emerging Talent

"Yo, aren't these the Gu siblings? You came to participate too?" Gu Heng sneered.

"Hehe, participate in what? We're just looking around," Gu Bei said with a smile.

"Has Gu Lan's health improved?" the First Elder seated in the middle asked.

"It has improved somewhat. Thank you for your concern, First Elder."

"Sigh, Gu Lan's meridians are blocked throughout her body. She is practically crippled. Heaven truly does not favor our Gu Clan. If Gu Lan were healthy, Gu Heng's talent would be worlds apart from hers."

"It's quite lively today. Since the younger generation of our family is competing here, I'll join in the fun as well," Gu Bei said with a smile.

"Oh? Our family happens to be looking to uncover one or two geniuses among the younger generation. Cousin Gu Bei, why don't you give it a try?" Gu Heng said with a sinister grin.

"Gu Kuan is also at the peak of the Earth Fate Realm, just like you. The two of you can have a match." Gu Heng immediately sent Gu Kuan out to fight. How could he have known that Gu Bei had already reached the Destiny Fourth Realm? Yet Gu Bei did not refuse.

"Fine," Gu Bei readily agreed.

"Is Gu Bei looking to die? He's at the bottom even among Earth Fate cultivators. Every time he competes, all he can do is take a beating."

"Exactly. He's supposed to be a Seventh Grade Heavenly Spiritual Root genius, yet he spends all day without cultivating properly."

The surrounding crowd began chattering, but Shangguan Ye and the others had great faith in Gu Bei.

"Gu Kuan, beat him to death for me," Gu Heng secretly transmitted.

"Yes!" A burly man stepped out from the side, his dark skin making him appear even more imposing.

Gu Kuan leaped onto the martial platform, while Gu Bei slowly flew forward as well.

"Hello," Gu Bei greeted him politely.

"Hmph, Gu Bei, I despise spoiled playboys like you the most. What a waste of a Seventh Grade Heavenly Spiritual Root. Trash like you does not deserve to remain in our Gu Clan!"

Gu Kuan showed no mercy with his words, and even Gu Bei felt anger rising within him.

Gu Kuan immediately fused with his demon spirit, the Ironback Eagle, and charged forward. His talons slashed toward Gu Bei, but Gu Bei merely dodged to the side and sent out a palm strike, blasting Gu Kuan away. The tremendous force hurled Gu Kuan off the martial platform, where he crashed heavily to the ground and reverted from his demon spirit form.

"Hehe, I didn't expect Gu Bei to have hidden his strength. Gu Heng, send a First Fate cultivator to test him," the First Elder said with a smile.

"Alright..." Gu Heng felt a flicker of panic.

This brat... He's younger than me. If he displays greater talent than mine, the family will definitely begin valuing him. I can't let that happen!

"Gu Yun, you go." Gu Heng turned to a sturdy man.

"Yes!" Gu Yun jumped onto the martial platform.

"Let me see just how strong you really are." Gu Yun burst forward, but he did not fuse with his demon spirit immediately. Instead, he used his War Record. Red Heavenly Dao Power clung to his fist as he charged at Gu Bei.

A gleam flashed through Gu Bei's eyes. In an instant, he appeared behind Gu Yun, causing Gu Yun's attack to miss.

"Get down. If this were a battle of life and death, you'd already be dead," Gu Bei said coldly.

"What are you talking about? Again!" Gu Yun had not realized it, but the First Elder below the platform spoke up.

"Enough, Gu Yun. You are no match for Gu Bei. Step down."

"Yes..." Gu Yun understood then that his cultivation had been insufficient for him to see what had happened.

"Gu Bing, you are at the Heavenly Fate Third Realm. You go."

"Yes." A man leaped onto the martial platform.

"Gu Bei, I admit that we all underestimated you. Your strength is beyond expectations. But since Elder Gu Ya sent me here, I won't hold back." Gu Bing slowly removed his shirt before fusing with his demon spirit. Flames continuously ignited across his body as his form gradually changed into a giant bear. It was a god-level growth demon spirit, the Crimson Flame Giant Bear.

"It seems the Gu Clan is stronger than the Azure Flame Family. The Azure Flame Family only has Li Yufeng with a god-level growth demon spirit, yet aside from Gu Heng, someone else in the Gu Clan also possesses one," Shangguan Ye said slowly.

"That's true. But while both are god-level growth demon spirits, Gu Bei's has mutated. Besides, Gu Bei has hidden himself for so many years. His true strength is not something a Third Realm cultivator can compare to," Nie Li said with a smile.

As they spoke, Gu Bei fused with his demon spirit, the Dragon Bone Winged Tiger. A pair of bony wings grew from his back, and his body expanded into a purple tiger.

Roar!

Gu Bei's Destiny Fourth Realm aura erupted instantly. Gu Bing was momentarily frightened by that pressure, but Gu Bei gave him no time to think. One swipe of his claw heavily injured Gu Bing and forced him out of his demon spirit form.

"This... This is a god-level growth demon spirit! And it has mutated! Where did Gu Bei get such a demon spirit?" Gu Ya stood up, his eyes shining with astonishment.

"Gu Bei! He'll definitely be listed as one of the family's heirs now. Dream on! The sister has already been crippled, and now the brother wants to try his luck too? But poison can't be used a second time. I can only find a way in the Greater World..." Gu Heng gritted his teeth.

"Younger members of the Gu Clan, from this day onward, Gu Bei is one of the heirs of our family. As for his ranking, the elders will convene to discuss it," Gu Ya announced.

"Gu Bei, bring your sister. Gu Heng, you come as well," Gu Ya said to Gu Bei and Gu Heng.

"Yes."

"Brothers, it seems we'll have to help Gu Bei secure the position of first-ranked heir," Shangguan Ye said with a smile. A fiery red figure had already appeared at his side.

"My lord."

"Ning'er, this is Feng Yu. She is one of my subordinates and is temporarily staying in the Mountain River Space," Shangguan Ye introduced.

"So strong... Hello, Sister Feng Yu." Xiao Ning'er swallowed.

"You are my lord's fiancée. I should be the one greeting you," Feng Yu said with a smile.

"Brother Shangguan, come along as well." Gu Bei walked over while pushing Gu Lan's wheelchair.

"Fine. Today, we'll help you secure the position of first-ranked heir."

Gu Bei led them outside the meeting room. Gu Tianlong, the Gu Clan Patriarch, and the elders had long been waiting there.

"Gu Bei! You dared to fuse with a precious demon spirit without reporting it to the family, and you even brought a group of unrelated outsiders to our family's meeting room. Do you know your crime?" An Elder immediately demanded.

"Hehe, Third Elder, are you going to punish a genius who has just fused with a god-level growth demon spirit? Gu Lan's meridians were blocked, and Gu Bei has suffered greatly these years. Now that he has finally made a name for himself, do you want to break his heart?" First Elder Gu Ya questioned.

"Besides, plenty have violated the clan rules. Gu Heng is one of them. It is merely a god-level growth demon spirit. What is the big deal?"

"When did Gu Heng violate the clan rules?" the Third Elder asked.

"Hehe, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it. Do I really need to spell it out?"

Gu Heng felt somewhat guilty, but he still pretended nothing had happened.

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder lowered his head as well.

"Enough. Let's discuss this in the meeting room. And this is a matter of our Gu Clan. Outsiders should leave as soon as possible!" Gu Tianlong spoke.

"Patriarch Gu, I think you have misunderstood something. We came precisely to help Gu Bei secure his position as the first-ranked heir, so whether you hold this meeting or not makes no difference," Shangguan Ye said coldly.

"What did you say? A mere brat dares interfere in the affairs of my Gu Clan!" Gu Tianlong struck through the air with a palm, but Feng Yu casually raised a hand and dispersed his attack.

"Hm? May I ask who you are?" Gu Tianlong could hardly believe that his attack had been so easily blocked.

Feng Yu did not answer. She merely unleashed her aura in full. Instantly, everyone present apart from Shangguan Ye and the others was forced to their knees beneath the pressure of her peak Martial Ancestor aura.

"You're a Martial Ancestor! How is that possible?" Gu Tianlong was greatly shocked.

"Can we speak properly now?" Shangguan Ye said from above.

At that moment, Gu Lan slowly stood up, shocking the Gu Clan even further.

"Gu Lan! Your illness is cured?"

"Shangguan, they are still the people in power in our family. Could you let them stand and speak?" Gu Lan asked gently.

"Since Sister Gu Lan has said so, then so be it."