In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 182 Willing to Make a Deal with the Divine Marquis in Exchange for Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom (Third Update, Please Vote!)

Gu Shaoan's voice suddenly became colder.

She turned slightly, her gaze from beneath the veil falling on Dongfang Bubai.

Even through the veil, Dongfang Bai could feel the coldness and indifference in the eyes beneath it.

"I held back this time not because I wanted to befriend the Eastern Cult Leader, but because I revealed the power of heaven and earth earlier not simply to give him pointers, but to make him understand that his strength is not invincible."

"Even at my age, I still have the ability to kill the Eastern Cult Leader, let alone in such a vast world where there are many martial artists capable of destroying the Sun Moon Cult."

"Those who do many evil deeds will surely perish. If the Eastern Cult Leader cannot restrain the people of the Sun Moon Cult, nor can he restrain himself from continuing to do evil, then in our next encounter, I may not hold back."

Gu Shaoan didn't dislike Dongfang Bai, but he certainly didn't like him either.

He is not Liu Zhengfeng.

Dongfang Bai is not Qu Yang.

However, the two have opposing identities.

The relationship could never become truly close.

Four years ago, if Gu Shaoan hadn't been strong enough, who knows what would have happened if he had faced Dongfang Bai.

This time, it was because Dongfang Bai's attitude was good and he took the initiative to tell the story of Qu Yang and Qu Feiyan, thus avoiding a small trouble for the Emei Sect, that Gu Shaoan did not take drastic measures.

Furthermore, there is no prior enmity between the Sun Moon Sect and the Emei Sect. Even if Gu Shaoan can eliminate the Sun Moon Sect, what will other evil sects and demonic sects think? The Emei Sect will also become a target of both evil sects and demonic sects!
But in a few years, when Gu Shaoan has the strength of Zhang Sanfeng, at worst Gu Shaoan can also carry out a Jiazi Demon-Slaying Ceremony!
Having thoroughly explored the martial arts world, who dares to disagree?

But once or twice is not enough!

If the Sun Moon Cult provokes Gu Shaoan again, even if Gu Shaoan takes his sword and storms Blackwood Cliff to kill Dongfang Bai, other evil sects or demonic cults will only think that Dongfang Bai asked for his own death!

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Bubai narrowed his eyes slightly.

But the next second, Dongfang Bai chuckled and said, "I have taken note of Young Master Gu's advice."

The moment the words reached his ears, his figure vanished like a ghost.

As Dongfang Bai left, Gu Shaoan's thoughts were still on the message Dongfang Bai had just mentioned.

Before long, Gu Shaoan had already locked onto a particular faction in his mind.

After all, in the world, besides Shaolin, there is only one other force that has been able to spend so much money to invite people to join, using the Great Rejuvenation Pill as a bargaining chip. In the past few hundred years, there has only been that one force that almost wiped out Shaolin.

"Have they already started planning this early?"

After thinking for a moment, Gu Shaoan sighed: "Forget it, no matter what, let's get our hands on the 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill' in the capital first. The most important thing right now is the problem of the Demon Master Palace."

With that thought in mind, Gu Shaoan took off his bamboo hat again and sat cross-legged on the bed.

April, the seventh day.

The April winds had already shed their last trace of chill, gently caressing the world like warm silk. The sky was a clear, almost transparent light blue, as if washed by ice water, spreading out crisply, with only a few wisps of thin, almost ethereal clouds drifting by occasionally.

Shen Shi.

Beijing.

The sun lazily climbed to its zenith, generously showering its warm golden light upon both banks of the Jinshui River.

The moat shimmered, reflecting the thousands of heads that swarmed like ants on both banks.

Colorful flags fluttered in front of taverns, teahouses, and silk shops, their vibrant colors almost blinding.

The carriages and horses lined up one after another on the wide Zhuque Avenue, where eight large carriages could walk side by side, like an endless river.

The sedan chair with its green curtains was steadily carried by strong sedan chair bearers, weaving through the gaps in the traffic like a fish. Occasionally, the curtains would be lifted by the wind, revealing the elegant hairpins and the fragrance of clothes.

In the south of the city, in Sitongfang, inside Xiangminglou.

The lobby on the first floor was already bustling with people.

The waiters, like butterflies flitting among flowers, rushed through the steaming kitchen and the noisy dining area, beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the first floor, the second-floor private room was much quieter.

Gu Shaoan, sitting by the window, wore a blue brocade robe with cloud and water patterns, which exuded an undeniable sense of nobility despite its simple elegance.

However, if Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo were to enter the private room at this moment and see Gu Shaoan sitting at the table, they would only apologize and leave quickly.

This is because Gu Shaoan's appearance at this moment is completely different from his usual appearance.

His former handsomeness is gone; his face now looks extremely ordinary.

So mediocre that you'd be lost in a crowd and no one would even remember you.

Even her originally long and slender fingers had become slightly shorter and thicker.

It is clear that he has changed his appearance using a clever disguise technique.

Setting down a warm, lustrous Ru ware celadon teacup, the delicate porcelain touched the small rosewood table, producing a very soft and pleasant "ding".

Gu Shaoan leaned on the railing and looked out, his gaze sweeping unobstructed across the surging crowds and carriages below, landing on the opposite side of the street.

It was a vast and magnificent mansion that stood out starkly from the surrounding rows of shops.

The house is not small, covering nearly twenty acres.

To be able to build such a manor in a place like the capital city, one can only imagine the immense wealth one possesses.

His gaze fell on the five large characters "Number One Manor Under Heaven" on the plaque, and Gu Shaoan's fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, his thoughts flowing through his mind like a gentle stream.

Just then, a figure slowly approached from the opposite side of the street.

The newcomer was dressed in a white, fitted outfit, with his hair casually tied up with a hairpin. Although he was dressed as a man, his features were exceptionally beautiful, with a touch of radiance.

As he walked, his striking appearance and unique, composed demeanor drew frequent glances from those around him. The guards at the manor's gate all bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

"Master of the Manor".

Four years later, when Gu Shaoan saw Shangguan Haitang again, a smile appeared in his eyes.

When his gaze swept over Shangguan Haitang's exaggerated pectoral muscles, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but mutter softly.

"Sure enough, just like four years ago, this woman dressed as a man has absolutely no sincerity."

Watching Shangguan Haitang enter the number one manor in the world.

After guarding the Xiangminglou Restaurant for five consecutive days, Gu Shaoan exhaled a breath of stale air, and his expression suddenly became sharp.

He took out a tael of silver, threw it on the table, got up, and walked out of the private room.

Like any ordinary citizen of the capital, he mingled in the crowd, occasionally glancing around at both sides of the street.

When they were less than five zhang away from the number one manor in the world, they turned and disappeared into the alley.

After a stick of incense.

After the steward left, Shangguan Haitang turned and entered the study behind her.

The study was very large, and the interior decoration was elegant.

After closing the door, Shangguan Haitang walked to the bookshelf. Following a fixed order, she pressed the mechanisms in some unseen locations behind the bookshelf, and the entire bookshelf slowly slid open to the side, revealing a small, black steel compartment on the wall, barely big enough for a fist.

Shangguan Haitang reached into a tiny protrusion on the upper wall of the hidden compartment and twisted it open with her fingertips.

That protrusion was not a mechanism or hub, but rather a very well-hidden bolt on the inner wall.

The steel plate at the bottom of the hidden compartment silently sank down, revealing a stack of neatly arranged documents bound with black silk thread.

However, just as Shangguan Haitang's hand touched the secret document in the hidden compartment...

"call out--!"

The next instant, a chillingly sharp whistling sound, almost piercing eardrums, pierced through the exquisite paper window of the study—made of three layers of oiled paper and a layer of specially made mulberry bark—without warning, and then embedded itself in the wall.

It made a dull "plop" sound.

The moment the sound of something tearing through the air entered the room, Shangguan Haitang's pupils constricted sharply.

With a tap on the bookshelf, Shangguan Haitang activated a mechanism to move the bookshelf back, while simultaneously circulating her inner energy within her body.

He darted out like a gust of wind, rushing straight to the window at an extremely fast speed.

As she approached the window, Shangguan Haitang flicked her wide brocade sleeves, creating a sharp gust of wind that instantly swept away the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on her desk.

The heavy, carved window frame was smashed open with a powerful palm strike, sending countless wood chips flying out like a rainstorm, and the window paper turning into a shower of shattered butterflies.

As the paper window shattered, Shangguan Haitang's body darted out of the window and into the courtyard outside.

"Who?"

The sudden commotion startled Shangguan Haitang.

He immediately restarted the mechanism, allowing the wooden frame to be moved back, and his body instantly broke through the window and rushed outside.

However, as Shangguan Haitang rushed into the courtyard, she scanned the area but found nothing unusual.

Leaping onto the roof, Shangguan Haitang's brows were furrowed on her face, which looked as if it were carved from jade.

His sharp gaze swept across every pillar, every floor tile, and every shadow of the artificial hill with the speed of lightning.

She then moved to several high vantage points with excellent views and scanned the surroundings, but still found nothing unusual.

There wasn't a single footprint on the roof or the surrounding walls.

It was as if everything just now was merely Shangguan Haitang's illusion.

Upon seeing this, Shangguan Haitang immediately realized that the person who had just made the move must be a master whose lightness skill far surpassed his own.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to leave so quickly after launching that hidden weapon.

"Who is it?"

After a fruitless search, Shangguan Haitang had no choice but to return to her study.

Focus your gaze on the wall.

A dagger had appeared on the previously smooth wall inside the room.

A rough hemp rope was tied to the end of the dagger, from which hung a crude bamboo tube about the size of a finger joint, which was still swinging.

He took out a cloth pad from his pocket and removed the bamboo tube with his hand. Then, he activated his inner energy and applied slight force with his fingertips. The entire bamboo tube shattered instantly, revealing the rolled-up paper strip inside.

After slowly unfolding the paper with a cloth over her hand, a line of small characters immediately caught Shangguan Haitang's eye.

The handwriting, however, was extremely ordinary official script, so neat that there was no traceable personal characteristic.

"At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), I wish to make a deal with the Divine Marquis using Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom."

Upon seeing the contents, Shangguan Haitang's expression changed.

His gaze couldn't help but lock onto the four characters "Tianxiang Doukou" on the note, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The next second, Shangguan Haitang, who had just returned to her study, moved swiftly towards the eastern suburbs like a shadow.

Just as Shangguan Haitang emerged from the east gate of the city, a figure naturally followed suit, slowly walking out from inside the gate.

A moment later, it also moved like a shadow and headed straight for the eastern suburbs.

　It took a lot of time to rewrite the previous chapter, so this chapter is a bit shorter! Please forgive me! If you feel there are any problems, please let me know as soon as possible! Sometimes when I feel inspired, I'll add plot points or rewrite things on the fly, which might lead me astray. If there are any issues, I, the author, will definitely adjust them immediately to make the book as good as possible! Those who have read this far must all be supporters of Tuanzi, so no matter what, my attitude must be sincere! I admit my mistakes and accept the consequences!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)