As long as he could get it, he would definitely break through the Level 95 bottleneck that had held him back for so many years!
At Level 96, with steady cultivation from then on, he could absolutely reach Level 98!
He might even glimpse Level 99!
Such an enormous opportunity was right before him.
The price was swearing allegiance to the Holy Son and the Worship Hall.
Was that betrayal?
Yue Guan asked himself over and over.
Suddenly, Yue Guan thought of Dugu Bo.
That Old Poison had followed the Holy Son for only a few short months, yet not only had he received an Immortal Herb that cured his old ailment, his Soul Power had also broken through to Level 92.
And what about him?
For the Pope Palace, for the Spirit Hall, he had campaigned far and wide, risking life and limb. And what had it gotten him?
He was still struggling bitterly at the Level 95 threshold.
Besides, whether it was the Pope Palace or the Worship Hall, weren't they both part of the Spirit Hall?
Swearing allegiance to the Holy Son seemed perfectly justifiable.
Yue Guan's mind was in turmoil. Before he knew it, he had arrived at a shadowy courtyard.
This was Gui Mei's residence.
When Yue Guan pushed open the door and entered, Gui Mei was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, his whole figure nearly blending into the surrounding shadows.
He didn't open his eyes, merely speaking in a calm voice.
"You're here."
Yue Guan walked straight over and sat down across from him without ceremony, his splendid robe spreading over the stone stool.
Old Ghost, I've run into a problem.
Gui Mei didn't answer, quietly waiting for him to continue.
Yue Guan didn't beat around the bush. He recounted everything from his trip to the Pope Palace and his meeting with Bibi Dong, to Qin Yao turning him down, and finally using the "Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum" to tempt him.
A trace of reluctance colored his voice, along with an intense yearning.
"His Highness the Holy Son has a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum! A true immortal-grade herb! I can feel it: if I get it, I'll definitely break through Level 95 and reach Level 96!"
By the end, Yue Guan's voice was trembling.
Gui Mei finally opened his eyes. His cold, shadowy gaze held not a ripple in the night.
"So you're hesitating?"
"Of course!"
Yue Guan replied irritably.
"Swearing allegiance to the Holy Son means swearing allegiance to the Worship Hall! We've followed His Holiness for so many years. What would that make us? Traitors?"
Silence fell over the courtyard once more.
After a long while, Gui Mei spoke again, his voice calm and utterly level.
"Yue Guan, whatever you choose, I'll support you."
That simple sentence instantly soothed most of Yue Guan's restlessness.
He looked at the close friend he had known for so many years, his heart awash with emotion.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through Yue Guan's mind.
He slapped his thigh. "No, wait!"
"Old Ghost, I get it now!"
Gui Mei looked at him without speaking, waiting for him to figure it out on his own.
"His Highness the Holy Son isn't interested in just me!"
Yue Guan's voice grew urgent.
"What he wants is you and me—both of us!"
"Our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Two-Pole Stasis Domain! That's the real trump card he values!"
Yue Guan's thoughts were crystal clear.
"His Highness the Holy Son isn't short on powerful fighters. What he needs is a special ability like ours, one that can turn the tide of battle in an instant!"
"Though that Old Poison, Dugu Bo, became a Titled Douluo, he's at the very bottom among Titled Douluo when it comes to one-on-one combat! But his poison is incredibly useful on a large battlefield!"
"His Highness the Holy Son must have taken him in for exactly that reason! Now it's our turn!"
Yue Guan stood and paced back and forth across the courtyard, all hesitation gone from his face.
"Old Ghost, if I swear allegiance to the Holy Son, will you come with me?"
Gui Mei slowly rose to his feet and said softly:
"Yue Guan, I told you. Whatever you choose, I'll bear the consequences with you."
His voice was still calm, but the weight of his words was as heavy as a thousand jun.
They carried the bond they had forged over all these years, the loyalty between them that needed no words.
Warmth welled up in Yue Guan's heart.
He knew Gui Mei never said much, but whatever he did say, he would always follow through on.
"Old Ghost, thank you."
Yue Guan took a deep breath, and all his doubts and confusion vanished.
"Come on. We're going to the Worship Hall right now!"
Outside the Worship Hall, the white jade steps gleamed softly beneath the afternoon sun.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei walked side by side, climbing step by step toward the pinnacle of the Spirit Hall's power.
Yue Guan's resplendent red-and-gold brocade robe felt especially heavy today. He stroked the delicate chrysanthemum embroidery on his cuff, his heart a tangle of emotions.
Betrayal? No!
His Highness the Holy Son was the future of the Spirit Hall.
How could swearing allegiance to the Holy Son be called betrayal?
Gui Mei said nothing. The cold aura around him seemed to have subsided somewhat as he quietly stayed by Yue Guan's side.
He didn't care about any Immortal Herb, nor did he care who he served.
Wherever Yue Guan was, that was where he would be.
Just as they climbed the final step, each lost in his own thoughts, the Worship Hall's heavy doors slowly swung open, and two figures emerged.
At the head was a man built like a mountain, his fiery red hair and beard streaming in the wind. It was none other than Fourth Worship Qin Xiong.
Walking at his side was a tall, purple-haired youth—Qin Yao.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei stopped in unison.
"Greetings, Fourth Worship!"
The two men didn't dare delay and immediately bowed.
Qin Xiong waved a hand. His tiger-like eyes swept over Yue Guan, but he said nothing.
Qin Yao stopped and looked at the two elders before him, his expression impassive.
"Have you made up your mind, Elder Ju?"
Yue Guan lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on one knee, his voice more solemn than ever.
"Your subordinate Yue Guan greets His Highness the Holy Son!"
Gui Mei didn't hesitate. Almost as soon as Yue Guan knelt, he followed suit, dropping to one knee. His hoarse voice rang out before the hall.
"Your subordinate Gui Mei greets His Highness the Holy Son!"
That single act of kneeling signified their allegiance.
Qin Xiong watched with satisfaction. His grandson was becoming more and more like a great man, with every passing day.
Qin Yao nodded slightly, accepting their allegiance. Looking at the two men kneeling before him, he spoke slowly:
"I understand your concerns."
"Today, I'll give you my word."
"If I ever come into conflict with the Pope, the two of you need not take action."
At those words, Yue Guan and Gui Mei both shuddered.
They abruptly raised their heads and looked at Qin Yao.
They had imagined countless possibilities.
They had thought Qin Yao might use them to go up against the Pope, or that they would become a thorn planted by the Worship Hall inside the Pope Palace, keeping an eye on His Holiness the Pope for him.
But they had never imagined Qin Yao would give them such a promise.
It lifted their greatest burden from their shoulders!
"Thank you for your consideration, His Highness the Holy Son!"
Yue Guan bowed low. This time, he did so with wholehearted conviction.
Gui Mei bowed as well.
Qin Yao said no more. He wasn't a sentimental man. While he offered them respect, what he wanted was absolute loyalty—and results.
With a turn of his wrist, he produced a golden chrysanthemum, its petals splendid as downy silk.
The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!
The instant it appeared, an aura of pure, harmonious yang energy spread through the air. Yue Guan felt the Martial Soul within him leap with joy.
His breathing turned ragged. He stared fixedly at the Immortal Herb, unable to tear his eyes away.
"This is yours."
Qin Yao held out the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
Yue Guan accepted it with trembling hands, moving more reverently than if he were handling a peerless treasure.
Holding the Immortal Herb, he was too moved to speak.
With this, Level 96 was within reach!
Qin Yao's gaze then shifted to Gui Mei.
"Elder Ghost, your Martial Soul is unusual, with a cold Yin attribute. I don't currently have an Immortal Herb suited to you."
"But don't worry. I'll find one for you in the future."
Gui Mei showed no disappointment.
He had come for Yue Guan's sake in the first place. Seeing his dear friend achieve his heart's desire was enough.
Besides, His Highness the Holy Son's promise gave him more peace of mind than any Immortal Herb could.
"Your subordinate understands. Thank you, His Highness the Holy Son!" Gui Mei said hoarsely, expressing his sincere gratitude.
Qin Xiong watched in amazement, then patted Qin Yao on the shoulder and boomed:
"Good lad! Even I have to admire how you've balanced kindness with authority."
Qin Yao ignored his grandfather's teasing and began issuing his first order.
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