Gu Wanhao took Gu Huan onto a Flying Sword and soon disappeared from the sight of Gu Shan and Fang Yurong.
"Yurong, don't worry, Father will definitely take good care of Huan'er."
Gu Shan comforted her. Although he was also reluctant, he felt more pride.
Fang Yurong nodded.
"I understand, but raising a child means ninety-nine worries out of a hundred years. What's more, Huan'er is going to a place we don't fully understand."
With Gu Huan, Gu Wanhao's speed of Flying Sword became slower. The faint red sword light was seen by the Mortals of Yuqing Town, and they all knelt down in worship.
"Greetings, Immortal!"
"It's an Immortal!"
Only after the sword light had gone far did the kneeling Mortals stand up.
"It seems the Immortal left from our Yuqing Town?"
"It should be an Immortal from the clan coming to visit their Mortal descendants, right? Yuqing Town has many descendants of Immortals," a hunchbacked old man said.
"If only I could also become an Immortal!" someone sighed.
"You? You can't even beat your own wife, and you want to become an Immortal?" The fat man standing next to him scoffed.
"You're talking about me! Zhuang Fatty! Don't you remember who was dragged out of the tavern by his wife by the ear a few days ago?" The man retorted.
Some also thought: "I saw an Immortal today, so I'll definitely win a few more rounds of Pai Gow tonight!"
A group of people chatted and joked, but their words were filled with reverence for Cultivators.
It took Gu Wanhao about fifteen minutes to arrive, but it took him about half an hour to return.
It was Gu Huan's first time flying in the air. Although she was a bit scared, she was more excited, which saved Gu Wanhao a lot of effort.
Soon, the two arrived at Bifeng Mountain.
It was Gu Huan's first time at Bifeng Mountain, and she was curious about everything. She looked around and felt like her eyes weren't enough.
Is this the Bifeng Mountain that Father and Mother often mentioned?
The scenery here is too beautiful!
The Peach Blossom Spring described in the storybooks was nothing more than this. She had never seen such tall trees, and the aura here made her feel comfortable and at ease. The nervousness from the flight was swept away.
"Huan'er, shall Grandpa take you to see the Clan Chief?
The Clan Chief is the leader of our Gu Family. All of our Gu Family's Cultivators must obey him."
Gu Wanhao said to Gu Huan.
Hearing Gu Wanhao's words, Gu Huan replied without hesitation:
"Huan'er will listen to Grandpa! Is the Clan Chief also Huan'er's Grandpa?"
"Of course!
The Clan Chief is ranked ninth in the Gu Family's Wan generation, so he is Huan'er's Ninth Grandpa.
However, Huan'er should still address Ninth Grandpa as Clan Chief to show respect.
The Clan Chief will definitely like our Huan'er too!"
Gu Wanhao stroked his beard. He was already imagining the Clan Chief's expression when he learned that Gu Huan possessed a Spiritual Body.
At this time, Gu Wanchang, the Gu Family's Clan Chief, was sitting on a futon. His left eyelid had been twitching incessantly today, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out where good news would come from.
"Ninth Brother, I'm back!"
Gu Wanhao announced his arrival with Gu Huan outside Gu Wanchang's Immortal Cave.
Gu Wanchang opened the Formation of his Immortal Cave, and the grandfather and granddaughter walked in.
Seeing Gu Huan, Gu Wanchang slapped his thigh and, before Gu Wanhao could speak, he preempted him:
"Wait!
Let me guess, this child has Spiritual Roots and they are very good!
Am I right?"
Gu Wanhao looked at Gu Wanchang with an expression of "How strange, I haven't said anything, how do you know?"
"Yes, and no.
Ninth Brother, open the Formation!"
Seeing Gu Wanhao so serious, Gu Wanchang suddenly calmed down. He opened the Formation of his Immortal Cave.
"Now you can speak.
With my Immortal Cave's Formation fully activated, not even a Zifu Stage Cultivator can detect any information."
Gu Wanhao looked at Gu Huan and did not directly reveal the matter of Gu Huan's Spiritual Body.
"This is Gu Shan's son, my granddaughter, named Gu Huan."
Gu Huan stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Clan Chief Grandpa."
It's Gu Shan's child!
Gu Wanchang felt quite relieved. He had not formed a Dual Cultivation partnership with anyone. He had seen Gu Shan many times when he was young, but unfortunately, Gu Shan did not have Spiritual Roots and was sent to a Mortal village to be raised after he turned seven.
"Good child, you are Wanhao's granddaughter. According to the clan's generational seniority, you will be called Gu Changhuan from now on."
"Gu Changhuan understands."
Gu Changhuan nodded, her small face serious and earnest.
Gu Wanchang's heart swelled with affection upon seeing her. He took out a jade pendant from his Storage Pouch and gave it to Gu Changhuan.
"This is Clan Chief Grandpa's welcoming gift for Gu Changhuan. Gu Changhuan, remember to come and play at Clan Chief Grandpa's place often in the future!"
Seeing that Gu Wanhao had no intention of stopping him, Gu Changhuan took the jade pendant with both hands, smiling so widely her eyes crinkled.
Gu Wanchang chuckled inwardly, this child was quite a little money-grubber.
"I've given the gift, Twelfth Brother, can you finally tell me about your precious granddaughter's Spiritual Roots? Is it Double Spiritual Roots?"
Gu Wanchang asked.
Double Spiritual Roots are considered a Genius in today's Cultivation World. A Double Spiritual Roots Cultivator, if nothing unexpected happens, only needs a little effort and luck to Cultivate to the Zifu Stage and protect a region.
"This child has Five Spiritual Roots," Gu Wanhao said slowly.
Five Spiritual Roots?
Five Spiritual Roots are very common, with imbalanced Five Elements, and are usually considered the worst Spiritual Roots.
Gu Wanchang was a bit disappointed, but looking at Gu Wanhao's deliberately profound expression, he felt something was off.
"This child, are the Five Elements balanced?"
If the Five Elements are balanced, it is still possible to achieve Foundation Establishment, and a Five Spiritual Roots Cultivator is virtually invincible at the same stage. That would also be a blessing for the Family.
"Five Spiritual Roots, with each attribute's Spiritual Root being nine inches and nine fen."
"Nine inches and nine fen! Each attribute!"
Gu Wanchang was greatly astonished!
This was truly extraordinary. A Spiritual Root of nine inches and nine fen is extremely broad. Gu Changhuan's future Cultivation speed might even be on par with some ordinary Triple Spiritual Roots Cultivators.
Gu Changhuan looked at her Grandpa. Did Grandpa always only say half of things because he wanted to tease Clan Chief Grandpa...?
"Our Gu Changhuan possesses a Spiritual Body!" Gu Wanhao took out the Heaven-Measuring Bead and handed it to Gu Changhuan again.
A dazzling light appeared again. Gu Wanchang excitedly stood up, staring intently at the Heaven-Measuring Bead and Gu Changhuan, as if he had seen some peerless treasure.
"Good, good, good! Ancestors' blessing! Heaven prospers my Gu Family!"
Gu Wanchang excitedly said three "good"s in a row, then burst into loud laughter.
"But Ninth Brother, the Gu Family does not have a Cultivation Technique suitable for Gu Changhuan to Cultivate."
Gu Wanhao poured a bucket of cold water on Gu Wanchang's heart.
Gu Wanchang paced back and forth a few steps.
"First, let Gu Changhuan Cultivate the basic Qi Condensation Art. During this time, us old fellows will inquire around and strive to find a suitable Five Elements Cultivation Technique for Gu Changhuan.
The most urgent task now is to first teach Gu Changhuan how to Cultivate, so that we can later ascertain what specific Spiritual Body Gu Changhuan possesses."
"Oh, and who else knows about Gu Changhuan possessing a Spiritual Body?"
Gu Wanchang asked. In such matters, one could never be too careful.
A single oversight could lead to the destruction of the entire Family.
"Only you, me, and Gu Changhuan herself know. When I tested Gu Changhuan's Spiritual Body, her parents were not present. I also warned Gu Changhuan that this matter must not be known by others."
He even refrained from using a communication talisman to inform the Clan Chief in advance, so as not to leak the news.
"Twelfth Brother, you did very well. Our Gu Family is merely a small Foundation Establishment Family. If this matter were to be leaked, Gu Changhuan and the entire Gu Family could face a tragic demise."
Gu Wanchang was not exaggerating. Cultivators can perform Possession on the bodies of Cultivators with lower Cultivation than themselves. Many high-level Cultivators, when they reach a point where it's difficult to Breakthrough, will seek out individuals with slightly lower Cultivation but exceptional Aptitude, in order to pursue a longer path on the road to Immortal Ascension.
Fortunately, a Cultivator can only perform Possession once in their lifetime.
Moreover, even Possession cannot extend a Cultivator's lifespan;
After a Cultivator performs Possession, they usually need a few days to fully control the new body. During this period, the Cultivator can only exert about one-third of the new body's Divine Ability. Therefore, Possession is not an easy task.
But as long as the benefits are great enough, there will be no shortage of people willing to take the risk.
Also, due to fear of Gu Changhuan being taken through Possession, the Gu Family cannot send Gu Changhuan into a School.