Imperial Scepter

"Grandpa! If you had arrived any later, you wouldn't have gotten to see your lovely grandson!"

Gao Chengzhi rubbed his arm and moved closer to his father, speaking in a coquettish tone. His face still showed the shock and fear of escaping death, and his eyes were slightly red. There was no trace of his usual arrogance and laziness.

Gao Chengzhi's appearance was so striking that not only Gao Chun, but even Li Daoqiu couldn't help but take a second look.

In Gao Chun's memory, his nephew had been spoiled since childhood. He was a bit lazy, didn't like cultivating, and loved reading stories. He always spoke with a bit of arrogance, was unwilling to admit defeat, and was very stubborn. This was the first time he had seen his nephew act so clingy and affectionate.

Clearly, the life-or-death battle just now really frightened this kid, making him put aside his usual mischievousness and realize the importance of family ties and bonds.

Gao Chun recalled his recklessness when he was worried about her, and also the way he was willing to step forward to save her.

A warm feeling welled up in her heart, and she reached out to pat Gao Chengzhi on the shoulder: "Alright, it's good that you're alright. Don't be so impulsive in the future."

"Who's being impulsive!" Gao Chengzhi immediately retorted, his neck stiff, but his tone softened considerably. "I just... I just didn't want anything to happen to you."

Li Daoqiu stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Old Man Gao, his expression remaining calm, and said few words but sincere: "Thank you, Uncle Gao, for saving me."

He was always calm and composed, never showing his emotions, but his gratitude towards Old Man Gao was no less than that towards anyone else.

If Old Man Gao hadn't arrived in time, the four of them would probably have lost their lives in the bandit-cultivation team.

Of the four members of the Gao Chun team, Wang Hu was the most excited.

He stretched his muscles and bones, his whole body brimming with explosive power, no longer showing any of his previous weakness.

During the battle, he was carried on Li Daoqiu's back the whole time and couldn't do anything. He could only watch helplessly as his teammates fought desperately, while he himself became nothing more than a burden.

The regret and self-blame almost overwhelmed him, and his strong sense of pride wouldn't allow him to become a burden to the team.

Now fully healed, Wang Hu's eyes blazed with fury. He knelt on one knee and solemnly addressed Gao Chun and Li Daoqiu:

"Captain, Daoqiu, I, Wang Hu, will never forget your kindness today! From this day forward, I will dedicate myself to the team to the very end! If danger strikes again, I will be the first to rush forward and protect everyone with my life!"

His voice was strong and resonant, filled with unwavering determination, and his eyes shone with a resolute light.

Gao Chun was completely bewildered. Why was it so formal, so straightforward, and so solemn?

So this is the real Wang Hu.

Once someone accepts you in their heart, they will risk their life to protect you.

Gao Chun quickly helped him up: "Wang Hu, we're teammates, there's no need for this. Your safety is the best outcome."

Li Daoqiu nodded in agreement, saying, "We're all fighting side by side, so we should support each other. It's not a question of who's dragging whom down."

Gao Chengzhi pouted and huffed angrily, "Wang Hu, are you unwilling to risk your life for me? Didn't I protect you on the battlefield? Didn't I fight for you?"

"You're a member of our Gao Chun team. I would protect every single one of you with my life. You're the youngest in the team, so I'll protect you even more with my life." Wang Hu frowned, looking at Gao Chengzhi with a serious and earnest expression.

Upon hearing this, Gao Chengzhi stubbornly retorted, "Who asked you to protect me with your life? You should protect yourself first." But his eyes couldn't hide his excitement, which shone brightly.

Old Man Gao stood aside, watching the little ones bicker, without intervening, but simply gazing at them gently.

Such pure and simple friendship between young people, such unwavering bond between them, is truly enviable.

The four little ones were constantly exchanging ideas while using Xuan Crystals or Xuan Pills to restore their Xuan Power.

Wang Hu asked, "You said that the bandit leader just now only asked us to hand over our storage bags, and he seemed to think that as long as we handed them over, he would let us leave."

"But why did their men surround us again? If they hadn't changed their tactics at the last minute, we might not have been able to reunite with Gao Chun."

Gao Chengzhi immediately rolled his eyes: "Are you stupid! This shows how meticulous that bandit leader is."

"If he makes it clear from the start that he wants to take our lives, wouldn't we fight to the death? We'd definitely take out all the treasures in our storage bags and fight to the death."

"He first pretended to only want the storage bag, acting as if he only wanted money, to lower our guard and make us unwilling to fight to the death. Then he slowly wore us down until we were injured and exhausted. At that point, wouldn't our lives be entirely in his hands?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Hu stared in disbelief for a long time, mouth agape: "There are so many twists and turns in this?"

Gao Chun smiled to himself, thinking to himself: Wang Hu, who usually seemed arrogant, was actually the most simple-minded of the four; while his seemingly lazy nephew was actually exceptionally clever.

It seems that reading more books and storybooks can indeed broaden one's mind. And one should not judge a person solely by appearances.

If it weren't for this experience, he wouldn't have known that beneath Wang Hu's pride lay such honesty and simplicity.

He was the first to rush forward when danger was imminent. Although he was less calculating in battle, he was extremely obedient and compliant. Once he recognized someone as a genius and respected them from the bottom of his heart, he would do his best. He was a rare and excellent executor.

His nephew, Gao Chengzhi, was far more mature than his peers.

Looking at the four energetic young men in front of him, Gao Changhe's eyes flashed with an undisguised sense of satisfaction, and a confident smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

This training in the Southern Wilderness Forest may seem fraught with danger and peril, but in reality, he had every step under his control, orchestrating everything from beginning to end.

The mission of "hunting the black boar" was by no means accidental, but a trial he specially arranged for the four of them.

The group of black boars was prey that Liu Neng's team had targeted in advance. He deliberately had Gao Chun and the other three set off on the same day, because he had calculated that the two teams would meet on a narrow road, causing friction and collision, forcing them to weigh the pros and cons and adapt flexibly.

Even the herd of black bulls that suddenly appeared midway through the journey was a variable he secretly guided.

He wanted to use this opportunity to test how the four of them would choose: to fight their own battles and seek their own fortune in the face of crisis, or to put aside their differences and join forces to break the deadlock. This was an indispensable part of the cultivation on the path of the Xuanzhe.

As for that group of vicious bandits, they were merely "sharpening stones" that he deliberately let slip.

With his cultivation level, wiping out this gang of bandits would be a piece of cake.

But he deliberately kept them alive, just to create a real life-or-death situation for Gao Chun and the other three.

"Only when life hangs in the balance can one truly see a person's innermost character, the level of teamwork, and the sense of responsibility when faced with difficult choices."

All of this, the original intention has never changed.

All of this was to allow Gao Chun and his three companions to shed their naivety and grow rapidly through real combat.

"Only through the tempering of blood and fire can one forge the strength to withstand storms and build the most solid foundation for embarking on the path of a higher and more profound cultivator in the future."

The outcome of this experience far exceeded his expectations, leaving him completely satisfied.

Gao Chun is loyal and righteous, and always steps forward in critical moments. His burning passion may be a little impulsive, but it fully demonstrates his responsibility and commitment as the captain.

Li Daoqiu is calm, composed, and trustworthy. No matter how critical the situation, he always adheres to the principle of "never abandoning or giving up", making him the team's most reliable support.

Gao Chengzhi may seem lazy, arrogant, and carefree, but when his family and teammates are in danger, he can unleash amazing power and do his best to protect those around him. Hidden beneath his cynical exterior is a passion and sense of responsibility that is second to none.

Wang Hu is simple, pure, and incredibly resilient. Even when he became a "burden" to the team due to a gap in skill, he never became discouraged or depressed. Instead, he turned pressure into motivation, which inspired him to unleash even stronger fighting spirit and potential. His future growth potential is limitless.

but.

Gao Changhe was also aware that although this experience had filled him with joy, it had also allowed him to glimpse a hidden danger in Gao Chun that could not be ignored.

This kid is far too loyal and devoted to his friends.

He was always ready to risk his life, and was willing to cover the rear alone for his comrades. This sincerity was certainly valuable, but it also exposed his weakness.

"Being sentimental is a good thing in human nature, but the world is unpredictable and full of dangers. Too much pure affection can often become a handle for enemies to use against you."

"Once this weakness is exploited, no matter how high his cultivation level or how strong his strength becomes in the future, he will easily fall into an irrecoverable predicament. At that time, even if he has extraordinary abilities, he will probably have little chance to turn the tide."

Normally, this kid is clever and cunning, and even has a bit of a greedy look. Anyone who sees him would inevitably think that he is someone who knows how to seek profit and avoid harm, and is even a bit selfish.

But no one expected that when it came to a life-or-death struggle, he would be so "saintly" that he would put his own safety aside in order to protect those around him.

"There is nothing wrong with loving your family and friends, but you must always act with discretion and consider the people you are dealing with. Unconditional giving and accommodation is not true responsibility; on the contrary, it may drag yourself and those around you into danger."

"It seems this kid still needs to hone his skills in understanding human relationships and the wickedness of people."

Gao Changhe thought to himself, "I must make him understand that even being sentimental requires moderation and consideration for the people involved. One must never give one's heart away without reservation. Otherwise, today's act of kindness may very well become the root of future disaster."