Villain System: Stealing the Protagonist's Harem and Luck

Chapter 92: So-called Cultivation Resources; Demonic Nature Too Deep to Be the Successor

The events surrounding Gu Changge’s return to the Daootian Immortal Palace sent shockwaves through the entire sect.

Discussions erupted across every divine island and mountain peak. Even several Elders emerged from seclusion, sensing the volatility of the situation and believing mediation might be necessary.

Most anticipated a violent retaliation from Jin Zhou. After all, he and Gu Changge shared a history of enmity, and now his own brother, Jin Yu, had been humiliated and his servant slain.

But contrary to everyone’s expectations, Jin Zhou did nothing.

He sealed himself within Solitary Peak for secluded cultivation, cutting off all contact with the outside world.

As a True Disciple of the Daootian Immortal Palace, Jin Zhou’s every move was scrutinized. His choice to avoid confrontation shocked the masses. Years ago, as a fellow Young Supreme, Jin Zhou had used his superior cultivation to suppress and severely injure Gu Changge. Now that Gu Changge had overtaken him in realm, the consensus was damning: Jin Zhou was afraid. He had chosen cowardice.

This decision caused a massive stir. Young Supremes were defined by their arrogance and indomitable will; surrender was not in their vocabulary. Jin Zhou’s silence left even his loyal followers unsettled. Facing such a blatant provocation, their master had chosen to swallow his pride?

Was he truly terrified of Gu Changge?

Amidst this turmoil, another significant event occurred. The Grand Elder, who hadn’t been seen in years, suddenly reappeared—accompanied by a young girl in green.

Disciples instantly recognized her. She was the same girl from the mountain gate incident, the one whose presence had led to Gu Changge crushing Jin Yu’s servant. Rumors identified her as a member of the Immortal Gu Family, possibly Gu Changge’s younger sister, though their relationship appeared fraught with hostility.

The Grand Elder’s return captured the attention of the entire sect. Speculation ran wild that he intended to take the girl in green as his personal disciple.

In the Daootian Immortal Palace, the Grand Elder was a living fossil, an entity standing at the very apex of the Upper Realm with unfathomable power. His past disciples were now absolute overlords of their respective regions, figures who could shake the world with a stomp of their feet.

If he took this girl as a disciple, she would essentially become a new True Disciple, with seniority that eclipsed even some of the sect’s ancient monsters.

Her identity was quickly unearthed: Gu Xianer, 17 years old, possessing terrifying talent, and already at the Holy Lord Realm.

While her origins remained a mystery to most, rumors leaked that the Grand Elder had praised her as a “Nirvana Supreme” and a “Darling of the Great Dao,” claiming her foundation was unprecedented in its depth.

This assessment caused an even greater sensation. When Gu Changge had first joined the sect, the Grand Elder had merely offered a tepid “not bad.” Did this imply the girl’s potential exceeded even Gu Changge’s?

This development drew the gaze of another True Disciple: Chu Wuji, the Crown Prince of the Great Chu Immortal Dynasty. Witnesses spotted him leading his entourage toward the Grand Elder’s seclusion grounds, intent on paying a visit.

Daootian Ancient City.

Located just outside the sect, within the opulent hall of a private estate, Gu Changge sat relaxed, swirling a cup of fine wine. His expression was one of mild, predatory amusement.

Standing before him was a woman of peerless, bewitching beauty. Her eyes were watery and enchanting, naturally exuding a charm that could topple cities. Behind her, several snow-white fox tails swayed gently, crystalline and lustrous.

Any knowledgeable cultivator would instantly recognize her heritage: a high-blooded descendant of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan.

If a disciple of the Daootian Immortal Palace were present, they would be paralyzed with shock.

This woman was Yin Mei, one of the five True Disciples of the Daootian Immortal Palace. The Heavenly Maiden of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan—lofty, mysterious, and untouchable.

“Master…”

Yin Mei stood before Gu Changge, her exquisite face pale with reverence and fear. Her legs trembled, threatening to give way, as Gu Changge idly stroked one of her sensitive, fluffy tails.

“This is the antidote for the Inner Demon Gu.”

Gu Changge continued to toy with the tail in his hand while tossing a strange pill toward her.

Yin Mei caught it and swallowed it without hesitation. Only then did the tension in her shoulders relax, a breath of relief escaping her lips.

“Thank you, Master.”

Gu Changge nodded, his expression unreadable.

Yin Mei was the most enigmatic of the True Disciples. Few ever saw her. Years ago, during a trial in a secret realm, she had the misfortune of encountering Gu Changge in an underground cavern.

Worse, she had walked in on him using the Immortal Devouring Demonic Art to devour the origins of other cultivators.

The revelation had shattered her worldview. The elegant Gu Changge, hailed as a young immortal, was secretly the inheritor of a forbidden demonic art.

A battle had ensued. Yin Mei was powerful and possessed numerous life-saving artifacts. While Gu Changge could defeat her without his forbidden arts, killing her quickly was difficult. Thus, he had been forced to reveal his true cultivation, crushing her hope instantly.

Faced with absolute death, she chose submission.

But Gu Changge, ever the pragmatist, did not trust mere words. He planted the Inner Demon Gu in her body and bound her soul with the Devil Conversion Bottle. The Gu flared every six months, devouring the heart of its host unless suppressed by his antidote.

Currently, Gu Changge was out of stock. The Gu required complex materials to refine, so he was considering delegating the task to Lin Qiuhan in the future. Of course, the core steps would remain in his hands—it involved demonic arts, after all.

“How is the collection proceeding?” Gu Changge asked, finally releasing her tail.

The sensation of stroking the fox tail reminded him of petting a cat in his previous life. In this world, he was likely the only person who dared to treat the noble Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan as mere pets. Anyone else attempting such a thing would have their hands chopped off.

“Reporting to Master,” Yin Mei replied, head bowed, not daring to ask further questions. “Over the past six months, I have collected numerous geniuses with special constitutions. Their backgrounds have been vetted and cleaned. They are currently imprisoned in the dungeon.”

“Additionally, I have acquired several powerful ancient corpses stolen from various clans. Their essence is well-preserved and awaits your use.”

She knew more about Gu Changge than almost anyone, which only deepened her fear. She understood her value lay not just in her silence, but in the vast commercial network of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan. She was his intelligence broker and his supply chain manager.

The supply? Cultivation resources.

Specifically, the “origins” of special physiques required for the Immortal Devouring Demonic Art.

The Upper Realm was vast, its population uncountable. Geniuses with special constitutions were rare, but not impossible to find. Gu Changge’s rapid ascent to the Half-Step Heavenly God Realm was largely due to Yin Mei’s clandestine work.

She was his accomplice. His confidant. Though her loyalty was forged in terror.

“Well done,” Gu Changge praised.

He stood up and headed toward the dungeon beneath the hall. With this fresh batch of “resources,” his true cultivation would soon break through to the Heavenly God Realm.

Publicly, however, he would continue to rely on the Daootian Immortal Scripture to maintain his perfect facade.

Deep within the Daootian Immortal Palace.

A solitary peak floated in the void, towering 100,000 zhang high. Immortal flowers bloomed, and holy beasts roamed in a scene of transcendent peace.

At the peak’s edge, an old man sat fishing. Dressed in white robes, with kind brows and a sage-like demeanor, his eyes were deep pools that seemed to reflect the eternal sky.

This was the Grand Elder of the Daootian Immortal Palace, an ancient existence who had lived through countless eras.

Beside him stood a young girl in green, watching with curiosity and confusion. Below them, clouds roiled like an ocean. The Grand Elder had cast a straight hook into the mist, with no bait in sight.

“Grand Elder, what are you trying to catch?” Gu Xianer asked.

She had come to join the sect, and the Grand Elder intended to accept her. But there was a condition she had to fulfill first.

“Naturally, I am fishing for a person,” the Grand Elder chuckled.

Gu Xianer secretly curled her lip. She was getting tired of these cryptic, high-minded riddles.

“You came here to defeat that brother of yours and reclaim what is yours, correct?” the Grand Elder asked suddenly, his gaze piercing through her.

“I have new bones. I don’t need to take anything back,” Gu Xianer replied after a moment of silence, her voice firm. “But I will demand justice for the suffering of those years. I will avenge the past.”

“Good. Such ambition at a young age. You are indeed the disciple that old monster took a liking to.”

The Grand Elder maintained his benevolent smile. “Gu Changge’s demonic nature runs too deep. I smelled it the first day he entered the sect. To use a Dao Bone to mask his demonic intent… only the Gu Family could conceive of such a thing.”

His expression turned serious. “The position of Successor to my Daootian Immortal Palace cannot be handed to him.”

“Xianer, I have no issue accepting you as my disciple. But first, you must prove to me that you can surpass Gu Changge.”

Gu Xianer clenched her small fists. “Grand Elder, how do I prove it?”

“The Road of Heavenly Dao. Surpass the record Gu Changge set back then. Can you do it?”

Gu Xianer paused. She knew of this trial. The Road of Heavenly Dao was one of the most difficult and mysterious paths in the Upper Realm. For any prodigy, taking even a single step further than their peers was a cause for celebration, a testament to their talent that would spread their name far and wide.

“I can do it,” she declared, her face resolute.

The Grand Elder laughed. “So confident? You should know, back then, Gu Changge suppressed all his peers and set a record unbroken for nearly 100,000 years.”

Suddenly, the rod jerked.

“Oh? Someone has taken the bait!”

He pulled the rod. From the swirling mists below, a golden True Dragon, resplendent and radiating immortal light, broke through the clouds.

“Greetings, Grand Elder!”

The dragon landed and transformed into a majestic man clad in golden armor. It was another True Disciple of the Daootian Immortal Palace—Chu Wuji.