I Once Saw the Heavenly Lightning That Wanted to Strike You

Qin Chuan had arranged to meet Gu Hao, and the two had come to Gu Hao's cave residence. Jin Pang was supposed to have joined them, but after causing trouble, he was afraid Yun Yao would hunt him down, so he could only hide back on Pill Peak.

Gu Hao warmly welcomed Qin Chuan into his cave residence and brought out high-grade spirit fruits and Dao comprehension tea without hesitation. "Brother Qin, these are from my personal collection. Have a taste."

Qin Chuan didn't stand on ceremony with Gu Hao. Only a fool would pass up a free advantage. Remembering his experience with the mind-awakening tea last time, he picked up the Dao comprehension tea and took only a tiny sip.

But all the Dao comprehension tea entered his body on its own. In that instant, his mind became incomparably clear, and he seemed to have found ways to solve the problems he had encountered in cultivation. He had to seize such an opportunity. With no time to exchange pleasantries with Gu Hao, he immediately began to comprehend.

Gu Hao drank his tea by himself, looking perfectly at ease. He had brought out the Dao comprehension tea to curry favor with Qin Chuan. He had only that one leaf, and he couldn't even bear to drink it himself.

He studied Qin Chuan with a complicated look. "You can't catch a wolf without risking your child. I hope you won't disappoint me."

Qin Chuan couldn't hear Gu Hao. He had long been stuck as a fifth-grade formation master and had been thinking about making prefabricated formations. The Dao comprehension tea was his opportunity.

Two hours passed, and he finally understood everything about formations that had puzzled him. He still had no ideas for the prefabricated formations, but he couldn't force it. He stopped comprehending, opened his eyes, and cupped his hands to thank Gu Hao. "Many thanks, Brother Gu."

"Brother Qin, try the golden scale fruit too. It can temper the body and strengthen qi and blood, which helps with cultivation." Gu Hao pushed a jade platter holding two golden scale fruits toward Qin Chuan.

This time, Qin Chuan didn't accept. He hadn't fully digested the Dao comprehension tea he had just consumed, so eating a golden scale fruit now would be a bit of a waste. Besides, he wanted to discuss business first, so he got straight to the point. "Brother Gu Hao, what did you want to see me about?"

"Since you've asked so directly, Brother Qin, I won't beat around the bush either. I'd like to form an alliance with you."

"This token marks me as a succession candidate of the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild. With it, you can buy anything from the guild at half price, command a portion of its forces, and enjoy the same treatment as a Body Integration Stage guest elder." Gu Hao pushed a token engraved with the character for "nine" toward Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan didn't take it. He glanced at the token and found it somewhat familiar; it looked a lot like the one that Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild simp had given Gu Xiran. Keeping his expression neutral, he asked, "This is a valuable thing. What would I have to give in return?"

"I want to form an alliance with you, Brother Qin. I'll use my position in the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild to help you. Whether it's cultivation resources or anything else, just ask for whatever I have. Once you've succeeded in your cultivation, I hope you'll support me in taking over the guild."

Qin Chuan didn't agree immediately. His mind raced. The story hadn't said much about Gu Hao, who had been violently taken out of the picture by the protagonist's group early on. Qin Chuan had only met him twice and didn't know much about him either.

Seeing that Qin Chuan remained silent, Gu Hao continued to show his sincerity. "Actually, after joining the Pure Void Sect, I also approached Pei Xuan, but Pei Xuan refused without a moment's thought. Besides, I had doubts about Pei Xuan's way of doing things, so I dropped the matter."

"This token represents a fair exchange. I trust your character, Brother Qin, and I'm willing to gamble on you. It's fine if you're unwilling. The mind-awakening tea and golden scale fruits are my gifts to congratulate you on your results in the martial and formation competitions."

Gu Hao was indeed a merchant by upbringing. Everything he said and did was watertight, and Qin Chuan felt as though he were basking in a spring breeze.

"Brother Gu, aren't you afraid I'll take the token and its benefits, then turn my back on you later? Or that I might fall along the way, leaving you drawing water with a bamboo basket, with nothing to show for it?" Qin Chuan was tempted. He had wanted to get to know Gu Hao in the first place, and now Gu Hao had offered him such a generous gift. How could he not be tempted?

Gu Hao personally poured Qin Chuan some tea. This time, it was only ordinary spirit tea. He smiled faintly and said, "First, I don't think you're that kind of person, Brother Qin, and I trust you won't fall along the way."

"Second, I'm a merchant. I understand that if I'm willing to gamble, I have to accept a loss."

"You don't have to decide right away, Brother Qin. I'll leave the token here. If you're willing, it's yours."

"I have one more question. How many succession candidates does the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild have, and just how much authority do they hold? Or rather, how sincere are you toward me, Brother Gu?" Qin Chuan raised his eyes to meet Gu Hao's gaze.

Gu Hao knew that Qin Chuan was agreeing to the alliance. He took a deep breath and voiced the decision he had made long ago. "I'm willing to share wealth and prosperity with you, Brother Qin."

"If you don't let me down, Brother Gu, I certainly won't let you down." Qin Chuan put away the token and accepted the tea Gu Hao had personally poured for him, then poured a cup for Gu Hao himself. Gu Hao accepted Qin Chuan's tea as well. Having formed their alliance, the two exchanged a smile.

They drained their cups, and Gu Hao spoke again, answering the question he had left unanswered. "Brother Qin, the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild has eleven succession candidates in all. I became the ninth because I entered the Second Elder's tutelage and have the Gu Family behind me."

"The authority of the succession token is tied closely to me. Because I'm young and my cultivation isn't high, it doesn't have much authority."

"Right now, it can only command Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild elders whose cultivation is below Body Integration. It can also have the various branches do things that don't touch the guild's fundamental interests."

Gu Hao wasn't embarrassed in the slightest to admit that his authority was limited. He believed that, given time, he would surely suppress all the other succession candidates and even grind all those old undying bastards beneath his feet, becoming the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild's sole decision-maker.

"Then let's work hard together, Brother Gu. As it happens, there's something I'd like to ask of you right now. I want a detailed list of the items the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild will auction at the Cloud Province Auction House over the coming year." Qin Chuan put his new ally to use as soon as they formed their alliance.

The Origin Spirit Continent was divided into sixteen provinces. The Pure Void Sect held three of them for itself, and Cloud Province was where the sect was located.

In about half a year, an auction in Cloud Province would offer a sword technique manual left behind by a Tribulation Transcendence Stage sword cultivator. At the time, everyone thought it had only been left by a Body Integration sword cultivator, so Gu Xiran had snapped it up for a bargain.

Although the manual contained only one sword move, its power was immense, and Qin Chuan was determined to obtain it.

"No problem. I'll ask the manager in charge of the Cloud Province Auction House for a copy directly. But auctions are only announced a month in advance, and the detailed list is only finalized then. I'll send you the detailed list as soon as possible, Brother Qin." Gu Hao agreed to such a small matter without a second thought.

"Many thanks, Brother Gu."

"No need to thank me. It's just a small matter."

Qin Chuan had been here for more than two hours. He wanted to go back and see Shen Qingyuan, to share his joy with her. There were also the two promises she owed him. Shouldn't he take a little advantage?

The thought made him itch with anticipation, and he wished he could rush straight back to Supreme Mystery Peak. He coughed lightly twice, preparing to take his leave.

Just then, Gu Hao said something else that left Qin Chuan utterly astonished.

"Brother Qin, I once saw the heavenly lightning that wanted to strike you."