Seeing Xu Lianying again, Gu Yuanqing felt differently about him.
Last night, he had "died" at the man's hands several times in a row.
Barring any surprises, Xu Lianying would stand in his way in the Spiritual Mountain Trial for a long time, just as Kong Shengbing, the North Spring Sword Sect Leader, once had.
It was only natural for Xu Lianying to possess considerable cultivation. After all, he served at the emperor's side every day. Gu Yuanqing had originally guessed that his cultivation was at profound martial high rank, but finding out that he was a Grandmaster had come as a complete surprise.
The Great Qian Imperial Family's ability to hold the realm and the sects in check really wasn't so simple. First, Miaoxuan became a Grandmaster at twenty, and now even the Chief Eunuch was a Grandmaster.
Gu Yuanqing could not resist examining Xu Lianying with Mountain Observation.
He saw that the man's aura was drawn entirely into his body, without the slightest trace leaking out. Barely perceptible true qi circulated within him; without close scrutiny, it would have gone completely unnoticed.
When he tried to look deeper, everything became shrouded in clouds and mist, impossible to make out clearly.
Was this the seamless unity of a Grandmaster? It really was different from the True Martial Realm.
Just then, Xu Lianying seemed to sense something and looked up toward North Spring Mountain.
Gu Yuanqing rose to his feet. At a thought from him, the birds gathered around him reluctantly took flight and left.
He headed toward the Front Mountain, while his paper, brush, ink, and inkstone rose into the air and returned to his study.
After he had stood there for quite some time, Xu Lianying and the others came into view.
Gu Yuanqing waited with a smile.