A person's name is like a tree's shadow.
Ever since Gu Fangchen's ascent onto the Lesser Heaven List, discussions about him among the younger generation had never died down.
All the more so after the unexpected outcome of the real and fake heir incident, which only heightened Gu Fangchen's notoriety.
If Great Wei had something like "Weibo," Gu Fangchen's name would have been trending at number one for a long time.
Regarding Gu Fangchen's sudden reversal in strength and reputation, there were admirers, skeptics, and conspiracy theorists alike.
The reshuffling of the Lesser Heaven List's top ten always stirred attention, and with Gu Fangchen being such a controversial figure, the topic only burned hotter.
Cultivators pursued either fame and fortune or the Dao itself.
Both could be achieved through ranking on the Lesser Heaven List. The former was obvious, but for the latter, cultivators often sought targets on the list to challenge.
Those with enough courage and confidence in their strength might even climb the rankings step by step, challenging those above them.
Therefore, in Gu Fangchen's case, the focus wasn't only on him but also on the reactions of those he had displaced.
Especially the unlucky one who had previously held tenth place.
That unfortunate person was Wang Mingzhi, a leading young talent of the Wang Family of Jiangnan, who had reached the peak of the sixth grade. He had just barely edged out Gu Lianqian to take the tenth spot.
The Wang Family ranked just beneath the Dugu Clan among the noble houses of Jiangnan, not to be underestimated.
Unlike the immortal sects, who isolated themselves from worldly affairs, noble families developed their roots deep within the mortal realm. They had perfected the "wealth" and "companionship" aspects of the cultivation saying "wealth, companions, techniques, and land."
The noble families controlled merchant guilds, their businesses stretching across taverns, shops, and trade houses, not only for ordinary folk but also for cultivators.
And since they were merchants, they needed to advertise.
The best advertising came naturally from the young elites of their own bloodlines.
One sentence, saying that the sword they wielded or the clothes they wore came from a certain store, was enough to make countless people rush to imitate them.
However, the Wang Family's hard power simply fell short.
Among the younger generation, the strongest of the Dugu Clan, Dugu Xian, ranked third on the Lesser Heaven List, below Xiao Yinghao and Gu Youren.
As for the Wang Family, they had only one heir, Wang Mingzhi, who, despite various efforts, had only managed to secure tenth place.
And everyone knew, when it came to rankings, only the top ten truly mattered.
He couldn't aim for the top three, but at least he should have held on to tenth place.
Then Gu Fangchen suddenly appeared out of nowhere, knocking Wang Mingzhi down to eleventh. Overnight, even the Wang Family's business took a massive hit.
To cut off one's source of wealth was like killing one's parents!
When the Wang Family received the news, they immediately sided with Gu Yuandao, publicly condemning Gu Fangchen. They claimed he must have used elixirs or secret arts to advance so rapidly.
Behind closed doors, they spread rumors that he had colluded with the Demonic Sect and used its evil methods.
Yet soon after, it turned out that Gu Yuandao himself was the one who had colluded with the Demonic Sect, and had been sent away by a Saint for reflection!
That was the Wang Family's own stone crushing its foot. Their business plummeted instantly.
Now, the only way for them to recover was to defeat Gu Fangchen outright and prove he was a fraud.
Cultivators might care about many things, but ultimately, they respected strength.
If Wang Mingzhi's fists were strong enough, then everything else would be secondary.
The problem, however, was that while Gu Fangchen's battle record was unclear, the near first-grade sword in his hand was definitely real.
Rumors spread that Gu Fangchen was actually the disciple of the Martial Saint, a secret supposedly suppressed by the Prince's mansion.
And indeed, Martial Saint Ding Xingfeng had appeared at the Purple Extremity Hall during the celebratory banquet, standing publicly in support of his disciple.
With that revelation, Wang Mingzhi's chances of victory became almost nonexistent. Even with the aid of medicine, it would be impossible.
So, the Wang Family made a desperate decision, to poison Gu Fangchen.
...
"How many have come to challenge now?"
The servants of the Dugu Clan whispered among themselves as they watched the martial arena.
At the head seat sat Dugu Xia, current patriarch of the Dugu Clan, elder brother of Ning Caiyong's mother, thus, Ning Caiyong's uncle and Gu Fangchen's great-uncle.
Beside him sat Ning Caiyong herself, veiled and dressed in an ornate crimson gown, her regal presence radiating quiet authority.
Though younger in generation, as the consort of the Northern Garrison Prince, her status was equal to Dugu Xia's.
Next to her sat "Gu Fangchen," casually leaning back with a fan in hand, his posture arrogant and relaxed.
In truth, this was merely an illusion created by the Mirage Formation.
Ordinary illusions could never appear so lifelike.
The ones Gu Fangchen had created during the Qionglin Banquet, of Old Ding and Qing Jian, hadn't even been able to speak, lest they be exposed immediately.
To ensure safety, Gu Fangchen had left a wisp of his own divine intent within the Mirage Formation, allowing the illusion to respond and act exactly as he would.
As a sixth-grade Realized Intent cultivator, splitting his consciousness this way did not affect his true body.
His spiritual power was strong enough to easily multitask.
However, that also meant the Mirage Formation itself had to be much higher in quality, not a disposable construct like before.
So, Gu Fangchen chose Ning Caiyong's wrist bracelet as the vessel for the Mirage Formation.
As the consort of the Northern Garrison Prince, all of Ning Caiyong's adornments were made from top-tier spell materials.
By inscribing the Mirage Formation upon it, Gu Fangchen not only strengthened the illusion's stability but also anchored his divine intent within.
The only downside was that the illusion had to remain near Ning Caiyong at all times. To outsiders, it appeared as though the two were constantly together. Even though they lived in separate quarters, the closeness was unmistakable.
Still, Gu Fangchen and Ning Caiyong had always been close.
Before the age of sixteen, he often lived in her courtyard.
Only in recent years, after repeated mistakes, had some distance formed between them.
To outsiders, this closeness now only added evidence that Gu Fangchen had long been hiding his true abilities.
The Princess Consort was surely his accomplice, pretending to alienate him to lower Gu Yuye's guard. Truly, this youth's mind was deep as the sea.
No wonder he had fooled even the "Saint of War."
Gu Fangchen narrowed his eyes and turned toward the martial field.
Beside him, Xuexiang fanned him carefully, mindful not to let the fan touch the illusion's body.
To others, it appeared as though even his personal maid was terrified of him, serving so cautiously, as if the smallest mistake might provoke his wrath.
Below sat the Dugu Clan's younger generation, Dugu Yue, Dugu Zhuo, and others.
Dugu Yue also held a folding fan, but his calligraphy was far more refined than Gu Fangchen's scrawling mess.
It bore the phrase "Bright Wind and Clear Moon," accompanied by an ink bamboo painting, elegant and cultured.
With his refined looks and graceful posture, Dugu Yue was the very picture of a true gentleman.
He glanced toward Gu Fangchen, his eyes flicking briefly over the fan in his hand. Behind his polite smile, a flash of disdain appeared.
Pretending to be cultured, yet too lazy to even practice his writing.
Even the three-year-old children of the Dugu Clan could write better.
And that delicate little beauty beside him, she looked pitiable, likely bullied often by him.
Rumor had it that Gu Fangchen's treatment of women was cruel and perverse, devoid of any compassion.
The courtesan Zhu Xiuxiu, the Flower Queen of Huangtian City's Pleasure Bureau, had once been redeemed by him to return home to Gushe.
Yet Gu Fangchen had deliberately set a trap, ambushing her carriage mid-journey, taking her captive again, and bringing her along as his private plaything. She was now imprisoned and forbidden to leave.
A cat toying with a mouse.
His servants had witnessed Zhu Xiuxiu step down from his carriage pale and trembling, as though terrified beyond words, weak and shaken like one recovering from a grave illness.
This proved Gu Fangchen's sheer brutality.
Surely, he tormented all those around him.
Such a delicate beauty, what a waste to fall into the hands of this beast.
If she were with him instead, at least she would know some tenderness.
Those from the Wang Family thought the same. Their men could test Gu Fangchen's true strength. If he was merely bluster and empty bravado, then here in Gushe, far from the Northern Garrison Prince's mansion, he could no longer act as he pleased.
Dugu Yue's gaze darkened. He had just begun to turn his fan when he suddenly met Gu Fangchen's half-smiling eyes.
"!"
His heart lurched, nearly betraying his composure.
How could that be?!
Wasn't this man merely a martial cultivator? A sixth-grade warrior, how could he sense the gaze of someone in the fourth-grade Divine Path?
For a martial cultivator to sense a divine cultivator was nearly impossible. The Divine Path had a natural advantage in perception, forming a complete barrier of awareness.
In their eyes, martial cultivators were nothing but brawny fools.
No, it must have been coincidence.
Dugu Yue steadied himself as Gu Fangchen looked away, his heart easing slightly.
He had overthought it.
"The Prince's household truly produces talent! Even his guards possess such strength!"
Dugu Zhuo's eyes shone as he watched the duel unfolding in the arena, sword at his waist trembling with excitement.
As a sword cultivator himself, he found such battles fascinating, especially at this high level.
These past days, cultivators from the Lesser Heaven List had arrived one after another, hoping to make a name by defeating Gu Fangchen.
In their minds, though Gu Fangchen had Sky-Eye Division certification and wielded a treasured sword, as a noble scion he would be too proud to use it easily.
And the rumors spread by the Wang Family lingered still, many believed his cultivation came from drugs or dark arts.
In a sense, they weren't wrong. They simply didn't understand the concept of brute-force balance.
If one's stats were high enough, what did it matter if the cultivation was "real" or not?
But those opportunists had misjudged entirely.
Gu Fangchen was just an illusion, he couldn't physically fight anyone. If touched, the illusion would shatter instantly, exposing his trick.
Thus, he refused all challenges.
According to him, "Not every random stray cat or dog has the right to challenge me. Otherwise, wouldn't that lower my noble dignity?"
To face him, they first had to defeat his personal guard, Xu Zhenguan.
And in these few days, Old Xu had truly become the MVP.
He fought seven or eight duels per day, often against opponents stronger than himself.
But for the Adversity Bodhisattva, that was nothing.
The greater the pressure, the faster his cultivation grew. The faster it grew, the greater his strength, and the less the pressure.
When Xu Zhenguan first arrived in Gushe, he had only just reached early seventh grade, barely stable.
Now, after days of high-intensity combat, he was already on the verge of breaking into sixth grade.
Ordinary seventh-grade challengers could no longer last a few moves against him.
Most of these opponents ranked between twentieth and fiftieth on the Lesser Heaven List.
Above twentieth were the sixth-grade cultivators.
In other words, in just a few days, Xu Zhenguan's name would soon appear on the Lesser Heaven List itself.
From the shadows, Ding Xingfeng watched Xu Zhenguan defeat yet another challenger and shook his head.
"What a damn oddball..."
Old Ding had likely been teaching Gu Fangchen too long, he couldn't resist giving this promising young man a few pointers.
But soon, he was utterly speechless.
Under normal instruction, Xu Zhenguan was like a block of dead wood, so hopeless that even Gu Fangchen's nonsense seemed reasonable by comparison.
After a few attempts, Ding Xingfeng finally understood why this man had remained an unknown errand boy in the Sword Pavilion.
Where on earth had Gu Fangchen found such a freak?
"Thank you for the guidance!"
Xu Zhenguan sheathed his sword solemnly, feeling the faint loosening of his sixth-grade bottleneck. Joy filled his heart, and his gratitude toward Gu Fangchen deepened.
The Young Master had kept him here for a reason, to temper him!
Not only to sharpen his strength but to refine his heart as well.
These past few days, countless experts he had once admired had fallen beneath his sword. The inferiority he once carried had gradually disappeared.
Just as the Young Master had said, he was becoming a true swordsman.
He was worthy of the treasured blade his Young Master had bestowed upon him.
Across from him, the defeated man gritted his teeth, face unwilling, yet finally bowed with a clasped fist.
"Lesser Heaven List rank twenty-three, Han Nan, admits defeat."
He then left, dejected.
Xu Zhenguan stepped behind Gu Fangchen's illusion and said solemnly,
"Master, I did not fail your expectations!"
Gu Fangchen nodded slightly, flicking his fan.
"Good. You did not disappoint me. Continue working hard."
Xu Zhenguan's face lit up.
"Thank you for your praise, Master!"
The members of the Dugu Clan all stared, expressions complex.
Such a simple sentence, with no tangible reward, was enough to make such a genius devote himself utterly?
Chapter 182 I'll Take the Exam Twice (Combined Chapter)
Gu Fangchen focused intently on refining the Golden Hairpin Pendant, but due to the properties of the toxin, his expression was especially ferocious.
Ying Liangxin might have been useless, but she had still served as the Dao Lord of the Path of Emotion for a hundred years.
At first, her mind was in chaos and she was half a beat too slow, but soon she realized something was wrong with his state.
She quickly noticed that Gu Fangchen still carried the Heart-Poison Mark within him.
Connecting the effects of the Heart-Poison Mark with those of the Golden Hairpin Pendant, she understood, these two toxins were conflicting, and the only reason Gu Fangchen had not succumbed to his bestial nature was that he was currently working to suppress them.
Ying Liangxin exhaled deeply, but her expression shifted quickly. Her eyes flickered as she stared at Gu Fangchen, quietly summoning her sword.
Since Gu Fangchen had managed to walk out of that secret chamber alive, it proved that he had now completely cemented his position as the Dao Lord of the Path of Emotion.
And now, the only ones who knew his true identity were the traitor Guan Yue, and herself!
She was both a victim and a witness. Based on her long experience surviving within the Demonic Cult, she knew that while Gu Fangchen might possibly show mercy, the chances were slim.
Better to strike now, kill him first!
Ying Liangxin tightened her grip on her sword.
Right now, Guan Yue had likely withdrawn voluntarily so as not to disturb Gu Fangchen's... business. If she didn't strike now, she would probably end up dead later.
But this man's schemes ran deep... What if he was only pretending to be weak, waiting for her to make a move, and would then wake up to sneer, "I was just testing you, never expected some fool would actually take the bait"?
Ying Liangxin found that quite possible too.
After all, Gu Fangchen had just toyed with five Dao Lords at once. She had to admit, he truly was far more suited than her to lead the Path of Emotion.
She didn't want to be a fool, but neither did she want to die...
Still, if death was inevitable either way, she would rather die fighting than die as an idiot.
Her face alternated between determination and hesitation, her sword rising and falling as she tested Gu Fangchen's reaction again and again. Once, she even came so close that the blade was about to strike, but she still couldn't bring herself to do it.
Gu Fangchen remained unmoved, while she was already exhausted.
"Huff... huff... Forget it. Do whatever you want, kill me, torture me, just make it quick!"
Ying Liangxin glared at him, panting, raising her sword and pointing it at his chest.
At that moment, the young man's eyelashes fluttered slightly before he opened his eyes, seeing the sword tip in front of him.
He raised a brow, tracing the blade up until his gaze met hers, his tone puzzled and feigning confusion.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
He waved his hand, opening the door.
"I even told Guan Yue to send everyone else away, and prepared a bundle of money and supplies for you. Enough to live a simple, free life among the common folk."
Because of her background, Ying Liangxin had been forced to remain bound to the seat of the Dao Lord of Emotion for a century. In the original storyline, she had died under the name Shang Zizhi, never once getting a good ending.
Players only learned her true identity and small final wish through the equipment and manuals she dropped.
A tragic fate, truly.
Gu Fangchen had no personal conflict of interest with her. Taking her identity was one thing, but he'd repay it with her freedom.
Ying Liangxin: "..."
Her movements stiffened as she slowly turned her head to see the open doorway, and the small bundle lying on the floor.
Taking a deep breath, she realized she couldn't very well admit that she had stayed only because she'd been suspicious of him, convinced his offer of freedom was a trap...
So she had foolishly stayed behind, only to be caught like this.
Keeping her face composed, she lifted her chin arrogantly and said coldly, "Hmph. And how do you know that what I want is to live as some commoner in the marketplace?"
"I'm a cultivator. To cast that aside and mingle with mortals, wouldn't that be a disgrace?"
To be fair, she managed to sound rather convincing.
But knowing her nature, Gu Fangchen could tell she was just bluffing, likely regretting not acting earlier and now trying to save face.
He rubbed his chin, smiling slightly.
"Then what do you want? Since you don't wish to leave, give me a reason to let you stay. Otherwise, keeping you would only leave a hidden danger."
Ying Liangxin regretted it bitterly, she could have wept blood. Damn it, why did I have to open my mouth?
But having said it, she had no way back.
"If you wish to control the Path of Emotion," she said stiffly, "I can serve as your right hand. I know the workings of the organization far better than you."
Gu Fangchen nodded, smiling faintly.
"Reasonable. But I use Guan Yue because she's useful. How can you prove that you are?"
Though Ying Liangxin was relatively harmless, keeping her around would still require precautions.
Biting her lip, she knew she had no choice but to swear a Heart Demon Oath.
And so, after all her scheming, she ended up binding herself to the Path of Emotion again, this time tied directly to Gu Fangchen.
Still, at least she no longer had to keep pretending to be the Dao Lord in constant fear.
She comforted herself with that thought.
...
"These next few days, you and Zhaohua will go and arrange formations at these locations according to my instructions."
Gu Fangchen stood, taking out a prepared map and the Dao Lord's command token, handing them to Guan Yue.
The Path of Emotion had two guardians: "Moon in the Well" Guan Yue, and "Flower in the Water" Zhaohua.
Guan Yue nodded and withdrew.
Gu Fangchen stepped outside, glancing down at the Heart-Poison Mark on his hand. He recalled the sensations from earlier, there was even a trace of lingering pleasure.
Refining the Golden Hairpin Pendant had taken an entire hour, mostly because he had to be cautious not to trigger the Heart-Poison Mark.
He had also mingled a thread of divine sense with Xuexiang's essence to assist in detoxifying her.
In truth, most of his focus during that time had been on healing Xuexiang; by the second half, he was already fully conscious. If Ying Liangxin had truly attacked him, Guan Yue would have entered immediately.
Still, the experience of that divine connection, truly extraordinary.
In terms of sensation, it surpassed even physical pleasure. The body might have limits, but the ecstasy of the spirit could be elevated to unimaginable heights.
And that was with Xuexiang lacking any cultivation, he hadn't dared to go too deep.
If it had been with another divine cultivator, in a full dual-cultivation session... he could hardly imagine how overwhelming that would be.
However, refining the Golden Hairpin Pendant hadn't improved his Demon Refinement Method much; it still couldn't push him from the second layer to the third. Only the pendant's special effect had some practical use, perhaps if combined with the Night Warden's buff, it could yield surprising results.
He looked toward Ying Liangxin and smiled.
"You'll come with me to the Dugu Clan. We're going to have a little chat with Dugu Yue."
...
Seven days later.
By the banks of the Jiangling River, before the Tower of Literature and Martial Arts.
A group of young cultivators gathered there, gazing up at the tower as the fourth floor lit with five-colored brilliance. Cheers erupted.
This Yao Mountain stood between the Lingtai Path and the Gushu Path, at the confluence of waterways. The Tower of Literature and Martial Arts had been erected here without restriction, anyone with high aspirations could enter to face its challenges, a testament to the Confucian belief that "education knows no class."
Even outside the academies, the Dao was still being spread to all.
As its name suggested, the tower was divided into two sections: one for literary tests, the other for martial ones.
It had nine levels in total, each holding a Monument of Transmission engraved with the insights of cultivators ranked from Ninth Grade to Second Grade.
At the very top rested a wisp of Dao rhythm left behind by the Sage of Confucianism himself, Xie Qian.
Those recognized by the academy could even add their own insights to the monuments.
This tower was equivalent to the Scripture Pavilion of great sects and aristocratic clans, of immense value.
Far more desirable than any collection of rare treasures!
Regardless of cultivation level, be it martial or divine, anyone who passed the corresponding trial could improve their strength.
Every year, countless aspirants came hoping to make a name for themselves, to prove their ability.
Yet so far, no one had ever touched that wisp of Dao rhythm at the top.
Now, a cultivator had just passed the Sixth Grade trial.
That was an impressive feat, his name might soon appear on the Lesser Heaven List, so naturally the crowd cheered him on.
But their attention wasn't entirely on the tower. Many whispered among themselves, exchanging the latest gossip.
"I heard uprisings have broken out everywhere, it must be the work of the Demonic Cult!"
"Not necessarily. Some regions truly had no choice but to rebel..."
"Careful what you say!"
"I say it's best we prepare early. Down south, Zhuang Pengju has already taken three Paths, razing sects left and right, establishing an unshakable foothold. Even a few immortal sects have defected, their momentum is terrifying!"
"What's the panic? The court has already sent the Northern Garrison Prince to redeem his sins and suppress the rebellion. With the 'Saint of War' in action, these so-called rebels are nothing but rabble."
"But I heard a new Dragon Vein is forming in Jiangnan. Could it be that..."
"Don't say it aloud! But with the rebels nearly at the gates, and the Dugu Clan still silent, it all feels rather strange..."
"Maybe not. The young heir of the clan is close to uncovering the truth of those past events. The Dugu Clan's likely helping him."
"Eh, enough talk, the pleasure barges are coming!"
That instantly ended all other conversation.
Those young cultivators who'd been pretending to be serious scholars all turned their heads toward the distant river, where several ornate pleasure boats drifted into view.
The multi-tiered boats were luxuriously adorned, each bearing the crest of a noble clan, these were the daughters of great houses, out for a riverside excursion.
Of course, such noble ladies were not so easily glimpsed. Both riverbanks were guarded by clan retainers; without connections, one couldn't get close.
Only around the Tower of Literature and Martial Arts was the distance close enough, yet beyond the guarded zones.
Thus, many young cultivators had gathered there hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauties aboard.
It was said that the Northern Garrison Prince's consort herself was among them.
The once-acclaimed greatest beauty under heaven!
Even a distant glimpse would be worth it.
Unfortunately, the tower was still too far; one could only make out the silhouettes of the boats, and the figures upon them were no bigger than sesame seeds.
Only those at Third Grade or higher could hope to see clearly by extending their vision with spiritual power.
Otherwise, there was another rumor, that from the seventh floor of the tower, one could clearly see the faces of the ladies aboard the pleasure boats.
But that rumor had never been confirmed.
Suddenly, the crowd felt a stir of energy and collectively looked up, seeing several figures speeding through the air toward them.
Someone's pupils shrank as he cried out, "Those are academy scholars!"
"Aren't those teachers of the academy? All of them at Fourth Grade! For them to come here, could it be that some great personage is arriving?"
The leader was a Confucian scholar of the Poetic Lineage, Master You Shao. Upon landing, he clasped his hands toward a young man standing quietly in the corner, gazing up at the tower.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Heir. The academy humbly invited you, but to think you would personally come, it is truly our honor."
You Shao smiled warmly, courteous to the extreme.
The crowd erupted in astonishment, only now noticing the handsome youth in a white robe embroidered with silver qilin patterns, a strikingly elegant figure.
Behind him stood a veiled maidservant, her apricot eyes clear and refined, with just a hint of seductive charm at the corners. Her skin was flawless, her hands cradling a sword.
A scholar and his sword-bearing maid, an eye-catching sight indeed.
However, the fan in Gu Fangchen's hand bore several hideous characters scrawled across it, somewhat ruining the image.
Strangely, none of them had noticed his presence earlier at all.
Now, hearing the teacher address him as "Your Highness the Heir," they realized, this was the famed Northern Garrison Prince's son, Gu Fangchen!
Gu Fangchen flicked open his fan with a laugh.
"No need for formalities. Sage Xie himself once invited me to serve as a lecturer in the academy, perhaps one day we'll be colleagues."
You Shao: "..."
Did he have to be that casual?
Still, they had their orders and wouldn't quibble with him.
Smiling mildly, You Shao said, "The Sage himself acknowledged Your Highness's scholarly aura, becoming a lecturer would be effortless."
"However, the academy still requires procedure. For an outsider to serve as a teacher, one must at least pass the fifth floor of the Tower of Literature and Martial Arts."
"Of course, it's not that we doubt Your Highness's ability. It's just that some of the students, remembering the Sage's words about learning humility before the heavens, have grown a little... arrogant. It would do them good to be reminded of their place."
"Perhaps Your Highness could use this opportunity to give them that lesson."
Gu Fangchen snapped his fan shut with a crisp pa, his expression turning solemn.
"Well said!"
"Whether or not I become a lecturer, the one thing I cannot stand in life is arrogance. They must be shown that talent does not belong solely to the academy!"
His voice rang with bold confidence. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Let them watch closely. Today, I will clear this Tower of Literature and Martial Arts!"
With that, Gu Fangchen strode toward the tower.
Behind him, Xuexiang followed in small steps, sword in arms.
You Shao blinked.
"Your Highness! Is your maidservant entering as well?"
Gu Fangchen raised a brow, glancing back.
"Why not? The sword's heavy, I'll need her to carry it."
"This..."
You Shao hesitated. There had never been such a precedent before.
Gu Fangchen waved his hand lightly.
"The tower allows only those who pass its trials to leave, correct? Then I'll simply take the exam twice."