Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Elder Gu’s Gift
The Archive Tower was located in a quiet, secluded part of the Five Elements Dao Sect. The bustle at the mountain gate did not disturb the peace here.

“Elder Gu.”

Elder Gu was still holding an old book, sitting at the entrance of the Archive Tower, reading with full absorption. When he heard his name, he lazily lifted his head and glanced over, and fine wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes.

“So it is Girl Yu. Has your trial ended?”

“Yes.”

Yu Zhao had only met Elder Gu a few times, but she respected him very much. When Elder Gu asked, she answered respectfully, without any extra movements.

Elder Gu stroked his beard, secretly very pleased.

Like an elder of the sect, he asked kindly: “Did you gain anything from the trial?”

Yu Zhao nodded: “I gained some experience and also found two ores for forging my Life-bound Dharma Artifact.”

Elder Gu’s eyes lit up: “Which two?”

“Starry Sky Stone and Geng Essence.” Yu Zhao answered honestly.

Her Illusory Tide Art had been taught to her by Elder Gu, so there was no need to hide anything.

Elder Gu laughed: “Good, good. I was planning to give you a surprise, but I did not expect you, little girl, to give this old geezer an even bigger surprise first.”

Yu Zhao did not understand.

Elder Gu flicked his finger, and a flash of silver light shot over.

Yu Zhao instinctively grabbed the silver light that flew toward her.

She opened her hand.

A silver bracelet shaped like bamboo joints lay quietly in her palm.

Yu Zhao looked at Elder Gu in confusion.

Elder Gu encouraged her: “Use your Divine Sense to take a look.”

Yu Zhao followed his words and sent her Divine Sense inside. Only then did she realize it was a Storage Bracelet. The storage space inside was huge, at least ten times larger than the Storage Pouch she was using now.

But the vast storage space was almost empty. The items inside only took up a tiny corner.

A guess suddenly rose in Yu Zhao’s heart.

She focused and looked carefully. Those items were all materials needed in the Illusory Tide Art to refine a Life-bound Dharma Artifact. Among them was even a piece of Starry Sky Stone.

She only needed to find three more artifact forging materials, and she would have everything required for her Life-bound Dharma Artifact.

Yu Zhao withdrew her Divine Sense from the space and, with a serious expression, handed the Storage Bracelet back to Elder Gu.

“Elder Gu, the things inside are too valuable. I have done nothing to earn them. I cannot accept this. Please take it back.”

She was already very grateful that Elder Gu had been willing to find a suitable cultivation technique for her. How could she still have the nerve to take his things?

Besides, she did have some doubts in her heart.

Elder Gu folded his hands into his sleeves, glanced at Yu Zhao, and said: “What is it? Are you afraid this old geezer has evil intentions, so you do not dare to accept it?”

Yu Zhao’s thoughts were exposed. She smiled awkwardly: “I am just feeling uneasy.”

Elder Gu snorted twice: “You little girl, you really do not know what is good for you. Do you think I can look favorably on just anyone in this Five Elements Dao Sect? To tell you the truth, among all the disciples in the entire sect, only you and the Sect Master’s first disciple, that Zhou girl, are people of note. The others are not even worth mentioning.”

When Yu Zhao heard that Elder Gu actually mentioned her in the same breath as Senior Sister Zhou, she could not help the proud curve at the corner of her lips.

“What are you so happy about!”

Her pride did not even last three seconds before Elder Gu, beard bristling and eyes glaring, scolded her until she could not even lift her head.

He said: “You were blind for so many years. Only in these last two years have you finally sobered up a little and started looking for a way to live for yourself. Otherwise, this old geezer would not even bother to look at you, no matter how much you cried, made a fuss, or threatened to hang yourself!”

Yu Zhao mumbled softly and did not dare talk back.

She knew very well how terribly wrong she had been before.

It was a black mark on her life that she would never be able to erase.

As Elder Gu lectured with spit flying, Yu Zhao’s head was almost buried in her chest. Only when she looked completely enlightened and full of regret did he finally stop.

“Yu Zhao.” His voice was low, carrying an indescribable authority.

Yu Zhao’s expression tightened: “Disciple is here.”

He said slowly: “The Illusory Tide Art has been in the Archive Tower for over a thousand years, yet very few have been able to cultivate it even to the first level. After training in the extremely difficult Sea Moon Scripture, you were still able to cultivate the Illusory Tide Art to a decent level in a short time. That is enough to prove your talent is far beyond ordinary people.”

Elder Gu’s gaze turned distant, as if he were looking through Yu Zhao at another person.

“You have already started one step behind your peers. Now that you have truly repented, I want to lend you a hand. I also want to see how high and how far you can go.”

Elder Gu’s words carried many hidden meanings.

Yu Zhao silently digested them for a moment, then looked up: “Elder Gu, is there anything you need me to do?”

Elder Gu looked at her: “Cast aside distractions, focus only on cultivation, and achieve the Great Dao!”

“Alright!”

Yu Zhao met Elder Gu’s burning gaze and agreed solemnly.

Elder Gu’s wish was also her wish.

In this lifetime, she would not fail herself.

“Take these things.” The old geezer said, “This is all I can do to help you.”

It seemed that Elder Gu’s energy had been exhausted by this conversation with Yu Zhao. He waved his hand tiredly and picked up the ancient book on the table again.

Yu Zhao gripped the Storage Bracelet tightly, stepped back, and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Elder Gu. I will remember your teachings in my heart.”

At this time, the sun was high and bright.

As Yu Zhao stepped out of the Archive Tower, the sunlight rushed to spill over her body.

Elder Gu sat at the entrance of the Archive Tower. The heavy doors blocked the sunlight, leaving him in the shadows, his old face blurred and unclear.

He watched as Yu Zhao merged with the brilliant sunlight, hard to tell them apart.

He murmured softly: “Go on, walk forward with big strides. Your era is still ahead of you.”

…

Yu Zhao had gone to the Archive Tower just to visit Elder Gu, but she had not expected to gain something extra.

Feeling the cool touch on her wrist, her heart was filled with mixed emotions and a faint unease.

She had always been the type who would repay tenfold if someone showed her a bit of kindness.

With Elder Gu treating her so well without asking for anything in return, she felt truly uneasy if she did not do something for him.

Yu Zhao was still thinking about how to repay Elder Gu’s kindness when Su Ming suddenly appeared from who knew which corner, blocking her path with a wicked grin.

He said proudly: “Yu Xiao Zhao, you are finished. You finally went out once and already caused trouble. You had better start thinking about how you are going to calm Master down later.”

The gloating on Su Ming’s face was completely undisguised.

Yu Zhao gave him a faint glance and walked straight past him.

“Yu Zhao! Why are you walking away! Did I say you could go?”

Su Ming was furious. He turned around and reached out to grab Yu Zhao’s arm.

Yu Zhao seemed unguarded and was caught by him in one grab.

Su Ming snorted: “Yu Zhao, do you think you can get away just by running? I am telling you, Master is very angry. If you still dare talk back like last time, locking you in the Black Prison will be getting off lightly!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yu Zhao trembling, her face showing a pitiful, flattering look: “Third Senior Brother, you must have a way to help me, right? I am begging you.”

Yu Zhao’s voice was soft and sticky-sweet, making half of Su Ming’s body go numb.

[Damn, so Yu Xiao Zhao is actually pretty cute when she acts spoiled!]