Gu Changgeng pinched the golden slip, his expression unchanged, but his overly forceful fingertips revealed the turmoil in his heart.
"Senior Brother Lu, I appreciate the Mystic Master's kindness, but there is no need to help me. It is merely the Qi Refining Second Layer. I will certainly break through it; I simply need a little more time."
Gu Changgeng sighed softly and handed the golden slip back to Lu Xuan.
"In cultivation, one step faster means every step faster."
"You and I will soon be heading to the East Sea. The East Sea is nothing like the inland regions. The Demon Race and Spirit Monsters there are arrogant and ferocious; they will not recognize us as disciples of the Heaven-Gazing Sect..."
Lu Xuan shook his head and stared into Gu Changgeng's eyes. "Junior Brother, where did you spend the Spirit Stones you received for slaying demons?"
Though Gu Changgeng was taciturn, Lu Xuan had seen him act during the Sword-Dueling Assembly he had organized. His talent was exceptional, far beyond that of ordinary people.
Moreover, cultivation of Grand Clarity True Qi was not slow. With sufficient spiritual resources, he should have been able to break through within a year—only somewhat slower than Lu Xuan himself.
Now that Zhou Xuanpu had set this test, Lu Xuan's first thought was—Gu Changgeng had not bought spiritual resources for cultivation.
Hearing Lu Xuan's words, Gu Changgeng fell silent again.
"Junior Brother!"
Seeing this, Lu Xuan could only sharpen his tone.
After a long silence, Gu Changgeng finally said, "I lent the Spirit Stones to Brother Qiu."
"Brother Qiu? Who is this person, daring to take your Spirit Stones?"
Lu Xuan asked with a frown.
"Brother Qiu's family once showed me kindness. Back then, my family and the Qiu family moved here together, into