Becoming a Molting Crab

Brother Gu is right.

Huang Jiuzhao nodded, coughed lightly, and said:

"My father had a favor to ask, but he said he was too shy to ask in person, so he could only ask me to do it myself."

"Thin-skinned?" Gu Chen's face showed a thoughtful expression.

Huang Jiuzhao continued:

"My father wants to ask if I can work under your wing, Brother Gu, from now on."

"Follow me?" Gu Chen was taken aback.

Why?

Huang Jiuzhao coughed lightly, slightly embarrassed:

"My father said that there's no future in staying with the Huang Clan or even in the Five Continents Domain, but if I follow you, there's definitely a future."

After listening to Huang Jiuzhao's words, Gu Chen pondered for a moment and said:

"Your father said that because of my master, right?"

Huang Jiuzhao nodded:

"In my father's words, Brother Gu has a bright future, and Brother Gu's master has a very bright future."

Gu Chen smiled upon hearing this:

"Uncle is still a bit conservative."

A strange light flickered in Huang Jiuzhao's eyes, and then he asked:

"So, Brother Gu, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Gu Chen thought for a moment:

"That's certainly possible, but for the time being, we should remain within the Five Continents Domain."

Looking back, I realize that since joining the Five Symbols Sect, I've basically been staying at Hidden Origin Peak. The only change is that I've been traveling farther away.

From the very beginning of the Five Symbols Sect, to the Eastern Region, then to the Land of the Four Directions, and finally to the Five Continents Continent today.

The boundaries have widened, but the center remains the Hidden Origin Peak.

As for where he will go in the future, he is not sure; it mainly depends on his master and the system.

Huang Jiuzhao nodded and smiled:

"With Brother Gu's talent, a place like the Five Continents Domain is definitely not enough for him."

Gu Chen smiled as well:

"My elder brother is no ordinary person either. The Five Continents Domain are just the beginning; his future will surely be in a much wider world."

Huang Jiuzhao didn't say it, but his system could see it clearly.

It's normal for someone like Huang Jiuzhao to not see something like bloodline, except for someone like a master. He is the first person in a long time to possess it.

No one else, not even Xiang Li of the Xiang Clan, possessed it.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Gu Chen's mind:

"Bloodline is something quite extraordinary, and such innate advantages should be very easy to discover, so why didn't Master choose to take him as a disciple?"

I must say, this is a great idea.

After a moment's thought, Gu Chen sensed that something was amiss.

Although he has now reached the Saint Realm, this is mostly due to the cultivation resources given to him by his master.

When he first entered the Five Symbols Sect, his talent was incomparable to that of Huang Jiuzhao.

However, he himself became his master's disciple, while Huang Jiuzhao did not.

"Could it be because I have a system?"

Gu Chen suddenly thought of something.

But then he secretly shook his head, ruling out that possibility.

"Master shouldn't know these things, and even if it's because of the system, Mu Fan, Ling'er, and Fugui shouldn't have it."

I can't figure it out.

Gu Chen simply stopped thinking about it.

After all, his master's strength has reached such a level that accepting disciples is perhaps just something he does at will.

Moreover, it seems that my system suddenly malfunctioned, forcing me to become an apprentice or else it would eliminate me; it was I who took the initiative to become an apprentice first.

Once he regained his composure, Gu Chen began drinking and chatting with Huang Jiuzhao.

Before we knew it, we'd had three rounds of drinks.

Gu Chen took a sip of his drink, about to say something.

Suddenly, his movements paused slightly.

A system notification sounded in his mind:

[System notification: Task issued.]

[Current Task: Sign in at the Huang Clan Ancient Coffin and open the Huang Clan Ancient Coffin.]

[Reward for successful mission: Confidential.]

[Punishment for mission failure: Become a molting crab, completely limp and unable to harden again.]

"What?!"

Gu Chen subconsciously let out a low gasp.

Huang Jiuzhao was taken aback and looked over:

"Brother Gu, what?"

Gu Chen snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, and calmly said:

"Nothing, I just suddenly realized something."

After speaking, he gestured to Huang Jiuzhao:

"You continue, I need a moment to think."

He then closed his eyes and focused his mind on the system.

After confirming the mission information again, Gu Chen suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia, as if he were dreaming back to when he first entered the Five Symbols Sect.

When I first heard the system notification, I thought I needed to go to another place to check in.

However, upon hearing the word "mission," I vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

Looking back now, this seems really wrong.

This type of task has appeared again!

"The reward is still unknown. Nothing was given after the last apprenticeship ceremony, so will there be nothing this time either?"

Looking at the word "confidential," Gu Chen just wanted to twist his brows into a knot.

But a glance at the penalty for failure brought another wave of helplessness.

Doing it doesn't necessarily bring benefits, but not doing it is clearly not a good idea.

During this time, he put a lot of effort into this aspect. The Giant Dragon Marrow Crystal brought him both pain and pleasure, with 99% of it being pain, which finally allowed him to significantly improve the strength of his physical body.

As a result of this punishment, his whole body went limp, and he could no longer get an erection!

If this money were distributed, it would be a complete waste of time and effort!

"Fortunately, this task has a full two weeks to complete."

The task is there, there's no room for negotiation, so we can only find something comforting.

When Gu Chen opened his eyes again, he noticed something else that made him feel relieved.

Within sight, there are lines pointing to the sign-in area.

"With guidance, there's no need to search for it yourself, which gives you more time."

Gu Chen continued to comfort himself.

"Oh, right, the Huang Clan Ancient Coffin." Gu Chen suddenly remembered something and looked at Huang Jiuzhao:

"The check-in location is rarely random; it almost always involves other matters or important information."

"The Huang Clan Ancient Coffin might be related to the Huang Clan. The mission mentions opening the coffin, which likely requires certain conditions. My elder brother has the bloodline, which might be the key to opening the coffin."

Gu Chen quickly analyzed the situation in his mind and soon came up with a general idea.

Huang Jiuzhao could very well be a key breakthrough point.

"But there are still some things that are not right."

Gu Chen recalled the location of the Huang Clan.

It was clearly not the direction the guide line was pointing; they were two completely different directions.

"Let's confirm with my elder brother first."

With this thought in mind, Gu Chen looked at Huang Jiuzhao and said:

"Has Your Majesty ever heard of anything related to the Huang Clan Ancient Coffin?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Jiuzhao paused, looked at Gu Chen with a moved expression, and his eyes were full of disbelief:

"Brother Gu actually has the ability to read minds?"