Ju Gui Submits! Holy Son Grants Immortal Herb to Dispel Worries

As long as he could obtain it, the level 95 bottleneck that had held him back for so many years would surely be shattered in one fell swoop!

Level 96, and with steady cultivation in the future, he would definitely be able to reach level 98!

He might even catch a glimpse of level 99!

Such a heaven-sent opportunity was right before his eyes.

The price was to pledge his loyalty to His Highness the Holy Son and the Worship Hall.

Could this be considered betrayal?

Yue Guan asked himself repeatedly.

Suddenly, Yue Guan thought of Dugu Bo.

That Old Poison had only followed His Highness the Holy Son for a few short months, yet not only had he obtained an immortal herb to clear away his old ailments, but his soul power had also broken through to level 92.

And what about himself?

He had campaigned east and west, risking life and limb for the Pope Palace and Martial Soul Hall, but what was the result?

He was still struggling bitterly at the threshold of level 95.

Besides, whether it was the Pope Palace or the Worship Hall, weren't they both Martial Soul Hall?

Pledging loyalty to His Highness the Holy Son seemed justifiable.

With his mind in turmoil, Yue Guan walked unconsciously to a dim courtyard.

This was the residence of Gui Mei.

When Yue Guan pushed the door open and entered, Gui Mei was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, his entire being almost merging with the surrounding shadows.

He did not open his eyes, merely speaking indifferently.

"You've come."

Yue Guan walked straight to the opposite side of him and sat down without ceremony, his ornate robes spreading out over the stone stool.

"Old Ghost, I've run into trouble."

Gui Mei did not respond, waiting quietly for him to continue.

Yue Guan did not beat around the bush; he recounted the entire process, from going to the Pope Palace and seeing Bibi Dong, to being rejected by Qin Yao, and finally being tempted by Qin Yao with the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

His tone carried a hint of unwillingness, as well as an intense craving.

"His Highness the Holy Son has the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum! A true immortal-grade treasure! I can feel it—as long as I obtain it, I can definitely break through level 95 and reach level 96!"

By the time he finished, Yue Guan's voice was trembling.

Gui Mei finally opened his eyes, those cold, ghostly pupils showing not a ripple in the dark night.

"So, you are hesitating?"

"Nonsense!"

Yue Guan retorted irritably.

"To pledge loyalty to His Highness the Holy Son is to pledge loyalty to the Worship Hall! We have followed Her Excellency for so many years; what does this count as? Betrayal?"

The courtyard fell into silence once more.

After a long while, Gui Mei's voice sounded again, calm and without a single fluctuation.

"Yue Guan, no matter what you choose, I will support you."

This simple sentence caused the agitation filling Yue Guan to subside by more than half.

He looked at this close friend of many years, a thousand emotions surging in his heart.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Yue Guan's mind.

He slapped his thigh hard. "No, that's not it!"

"Old Ghost, I understand now!"

Gui Mei looked at him without speaking, waiting for him to work it out himself.

"His Highness the Holy Son, what he values is not just me!"

Yue Guan's voice became rapid.

"What he wants is you, it's me, it's both of us!"

"Our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Two-Pole Stasis Domain! That is the trump card he truly values!"

Yue Guan's train of thought was crystal clear.

"His Highness the Holy Son does not lack powerhouses; what he lacks is our special ability to instantly turn the tide of a battle!"

"Although that Old Poison Dugu Bo has become a Title Douluo, when it comes to one-on-one combat, he is at the bottom of the barrel among Title Douluo! But his poison is incredibly effective on a large-scale battlefield!"

"His Highness the Holy Son must have recruited him for exactly that reason! Now, it is our turn!"

Yue Guan stood up and paced back and forth in the courtyard, the hesitation on his face completely swept away.

"Old Ghost, if I pledge my loyalty to His Highness the Holy Son, will you join me?"

Gui Mei slowly stood up and said in a low voice:

"Yue Guan, I said it before, no matter what you choose, I will bear it with you."

His voice remained flat, but the weight of his words was as heavy as a thousand jun.

Carried within his words was the bond of so many years between them; the camaraderie they shared needed no further explanation.

A warmth spread through Yue Guan's heart.

He knew that Gui Mei never spoke much, but whatever he said, he would certainly do.

"Old Ghost, thank you."

Yue Guan took a deep breath, and all his hesitation and uncertainty vanished into thin air.

"Let's go, we are heading to the Worship Hall right now!"

Outside the Worship Hall, the white jade steps reflected a soft glow under the afternoon sun.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei walked side by side, stepping one by one onto the path leading to the pinnacle of power in Martial Soul Hall.

Yue Guan's magnificent red and gold brocade robe felt somewhat heavy today; he stroked the exquisite chrysanthemum patterns on his cuffs, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Betrayal? No!

His Highness the Holy Son was the future of Martial Soul Hall.

To pledge loyalty to the Holy Son—how could that be called betrayal?

Gui Mei did not say a word. The cold, gloomy aura that usually surrounded him seemed to have receded significantly, and he simply accompanied Yue Guan quietly by his side.

He did not care about any immortal herbs, nor did he care about whom he served.

Wherever Yue Guan was, he would be there too.

Just as the two, each lost in their own thoughts, reached the final step, the heavy doors of the Worship Hall slowly creaked open, and two figures emerged from within.

The person in the lead had a physique as sturdy as a mountain, with fiery red hair and beard blowing wildly in the wind; it was none other than the Fourth Worship, Qin Xiong.

Walking beside him was a tall, upright youth with purple hair—Qin Yao.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

"Greetings, Fourth Worship!"

The two dared not be negligent and immediately bowed in salute.

Qin Xiong waved his hand, his tiger-like eyes sweeping over Yue Guan, but he remained silent.

Qin Yao stopped walking, looking at the two elders before him with an expressionless face.

"Has Elder Ju made up his mind?"

Yue Guan lifted the hem of his long robe and knelt on one knee, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"Subordinate Yue Guan pays respects to His Highness the Holy Son!"

Beside him, Gui Mei did not hesitate at all. Almost the moment Yue Guan knelt, he followed suit, his hoarse voice echoing in front of the vast hall.

"Subordinate Gui Mei pays respects to His Highness the Holy Son!"

This kneeling signified their pledge of allegiance.

Qin Xiong watched from the side, quite satisfied; his grandson's methods were increasingly showing the bearing of a great figure.

Qin Yao nodded slightly, accepting their loyalty. He looked down at the two kneeling before him and spoke slowly:

"I am aware of your concerns."

"Today, I shall give you a promise."

"If there is ever a conflict between the Pope and me in the future, you two need not intervene."

As these words fell, Yue Guan and Gui Mei both shuddered.

The two looked up abruptly, staring at Qin Yao.

They had considered countless possibilities.

They had thought Qin Yao would use them to deal with the Pope, or that they would become a thorn planted by the Worship Hall into the Pope Palace to monitor the Pope.

Yet, they had never imagined that Qin Yao would give them such a promise.

This was equivalent to removing their greatest burden!

"Many thanks to His Highness the Holy Son for your consideration!"

Yue Guan bowed his head, this time with sincere and heartfelt submission.

Gui Mei bowed along with him.

Qin Yao said nothing more. He was not a sentimental person; while he offered respect, what he demanded in return was absolute loyalty and value.

With a flick of his wrist, a chrysanthemum that was entirely golden, with petals as magnificent as velvet silk, appeared in his hand.

Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!

The moment it appeared, an extremely pure Yang energy instantly spread out, and Yue Guan felt his martial soul within him rejoice.

His breathing instantly became rapid, and he stared intently at the immortal herb, unable to tear his gaze away.

"This is for you."

Qin Yao handed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum over.

Yue Guan's hands trembled as he carefully took it, his movements more reverent than if he were handling a peerless treasure.

He held the immortal herb, too excited to speak.

With this, level ninety-six was within reach!

Qin Yao's gaze then shifted to Gui Mei on the other side.

"Elder Gui, your martial soul is special and has a Yin attribute. I don't have a suitable immortal herb for you at the moment."

"But rest assured, I will definitely find one for you in the future."

Gui Mei showed no disappointment upon hearing this.

He had come for Yue Guan in the first place, and seeing his close friend's wish fulfilled was enough to satisfy him.

Moreover, His Highness the Holy Son's promise was more reassuring than any immortal herb.

"This subordinate understands. Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Son!" Gui Mei said gratefully in a hoarse voice.

Qin Xiong, standing nearby, watched with admiration. He patted Qin Yao's shoulder and said in a deep voice:

"Good lad, your display of both kindness and authority is impressive, even to me."

Qin Yao ignored his grandfather's teasing and began to issue his first command.