"No."
The Snow Empress simply lay down on the bed, taking up most of it.
"This is much more comfortable than the ice bed in the Far North. I'm not going back. Besides, I have to keep an eye on you so the old fox and the bad woman from Spirit Hall don't deceive you."
Seeing that she was determined to stay, Gu Wuchen sighed helplessly.
He couldn't drive away the ruler of the Far North, so he could only let her have her way.
He closed his eyes again and continued honing his Sword Intent.
The Snow Empress didn't bother him anymore. She only offered a pointer or two now and then, each one striking precisely at his problems and clearing the fog from his mind.
Before they knew it, the sky outside the window had turned the pale white of a fish's belly.
Gu Wuchen awoke from his meditation, feeling Soul Power flow smoothly throughout his body. His control over the Dustless Sword had deepened another level.
Turning his head, he saw that the Snow Empress was no longer on the bed. She had left behind only half an uneaten Ice Heart Cake and a faint trace of icy cold.
"She didn't even finish eating it?"
Gu Wuchen shook his head, gathered his things, and headed to the elementary academy.
At the elementary academy, he spent nearly the entire day being drilled on theoretical knowledge again.
However, after making his name in a single battle yesterday, many people hailed him as their big brother. He was something of a prominent figure at the elementary academy.
In just one day, Gu Wuchen had accomplished what many others had not.
He had made his name in a single battle!
After classes ended that evening, Gu Cheng came outside the academy and saw Hu Liena, whom he had met yesterday.
"Why is it you again?" Gu Wuchen frowned, sounding somewhat displeased.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Hu Liena pouted, deeply dissatisfied.
Am I that annoying?
Gu Wuchen couldn't be bothered with her and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Hu Liena hurriedly blocked his path and said in a fluster, "Don't rush off! I need to talk to you. My teacher, the Pope, wants to discuss something with you."
"The Pope? You didn't tell her what I said yesterday, did you?" Gu Wuchen asked.
He wasn't afraid of Hu Liena telling Bibi Dong what he had said.
Hu Liena giggled. "Would I say anything? You underestimate me far too much. I'm not a blabbermouth. My teacher simply wants to meet you because your First Soul Ring is impressive."
"My teacher even held you when you were little!"
The corner of Gu Wuchen's mouth twitched. How was everyone connected to him? But he agreed nonetheless. If he refused now, trouble would surely keep coming later.
After agreeing, Gu Wuchen went to the Pope's Palace with Hu Liena.
The Pope's Palace
Gu Wuchen entered the great hall and saw a woman with a graceful figure seated on the throne ahead.
"Greetings, Your Holiness. May I ask why you summoned me?" Gu Wuchen asked calmly, getting straight to the point.
Bibi Dong looked Gu Wuchen up and down. He had an impressive presence and carried himself with composure, as expected of a disciple taught by two Titled Douluo.
He was far more formidable than those she had met!
Bibi Dong smiled faintly and said, "Gu Wuchen, this is our first meeting. I visited Ice Arrival City before, when you were still just a baby. In the blink of an eye, you've grown this big?"
So much had changed in these six years. Ice Arrival City was also flourishing thanks to the suggestions Gu Wuchen had made!
To be honest, as the Pope, she liked clever children like this best.
"Your Holiness, please speak plainly. There's no need to reminisce." Gu Wuchen had no time to chat with Bibi Dong.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong said no more on the subject. "In that case, I'll be direct. Gu Wuchen, would you like to study under me? Become my disciple!"
As soon as she said this, Hu Liena's eyes widened, and her heart filled with delight.
If this little fellow became her junior brother, that would be wonderful. It would make up for the love she felt was missing from her heart every day.
Gu Wuchen refused coldly. "Thank you for your kind offer, Your Holiness, but there's no need for me to take a master. I think things are fine as they are."
"Won't you consider it?" Bibi Dong still wasn't willing to give up. If she couldn't make use of such a genius, it would be a terrible pity.
"No need." Gu Wuchen refused again.
"That really is a pity!" Bibi Dong sighed softly.
She didn't keep trying to force him to stay. A melon twisted off the vine was never sweet. If she angered Gu Wuchen, it would be no good for her.
Qian Daoliu would lose his temper, to say nothing of the enormous loss if Gu Wuchen blamed her and cut off business with Spirit Hall.
Ever since Spirit Hall began working with the Gu Clan, their annual sales had risen by more than ten percent compared with the period when Qian Xunji had been in charge of Spirit Hall.
This was also her greatest success since taking charge of Spirit Hall.
On hearing him refuse again, the little fox's eyes filled with disappointment, but she quickly concealed it.
She immediately led Gu Wuchen out of the Pope's Palace.
After the two left, Bibi Dong felt it was a great pity. How had Qian Daoliu obtained such a genius? In what way was she lacking?
Neither carrot nor stick worked on him. She refused to believe it; she had to obtain this little monster.
Meanwhile, the two made their way out of the Pope's Palace.
Hu Liena remained silent. After escorting him to the entrance of the Elder Hall, she stopped and said, "Gu Wuchen, won't you reconsider? I'd actually quite like us to be senior sister and junior brother."
Gu Wuchen understood what Hu Liena was thinking, but still refused. "There's no need. I know what you're thinking. There's no point dwelling on something meaningless."
"Spend more time cultivating. Don't let your imagination run wild all day. Time is precious."
With that, Gu Wuchen turned and left.
"I refuse to believe I can't win you over!"
Hu Liena clenched her fists. Since she began cultivating, there had never been anything she wanted that she couldn't obtain.
The more it was like this, the more motivated she became. If she could win Gu Wuchen over like in a storybook novel, she would surely feel a great sense of accomplishment, but it would take some time.
After he returned to the Elder Hall, Qian Daoliu found Gu Wuchen.
"Wuchen, did the Pope summon you?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
Gu Wuchen concealed nothing and told him everything in full.
After hearing him out, Qian Daoliu realized he should have known all along that, given Bibi Dong's character, she would never let any opportunity slip by.
Gu Wuchen was different from other people. He had ideas and opinions of his own. How could he possibly be bought off by the few scraps Bibi Dong offered?
"Then go back. Come find me whenever you need anything."
"Yes, Grandpa Qian!"
Gu Wuchen nodded and returned to his chambers.
When night fell, Gu Wuchen did not cultivate inside his room this time. Instead, he calmed his mind and meditated outside. He already had some ideas about the sword song, and only the final step remained.
He began imagining with his whole being that he was wielding the Dustless Sword in his mind.
"A heart without dust leaves the sword without blemish; intent without falsehood leaves its edge without equal. Make the Far North's ten-thousand-year profound ice its bones, the purifying intent of the Wuchen Lotus pedestal its soul, and the ice heart's righteous thought its foundation. With one sword strike, all filth vanishes, falsehood shatters, and heaven and earth become clear."
"Dustless Sword Song, First Form, Dustless in One Thought!"
Core of the Sword Intent: the foundation of the entire sword song. Command the sword with the heart; first steady the heart, then unleash the edge.
In an instant, a towering Sword Intent surged into the sky, causing Qian Daoliu, who was meditating, to open his eyes.
"This is... Sword Intent!"