Rebirth of a Quasi-Immortal Spirit

58. The Presbyterian Council

"I can't choose the bloodline I have, but I can choose the path I take in the future. Cousin, please take good care of your little cousin in the future." Gao Zhun smiled and tried to put her arm around Xuan Yuan Huan Yu's shoulder, but the latter easily dodged her.

Gao Zhun was displeased and said with great dissatisfaction, "Why are you all like this? You're my cousin! What's wrong with sisters being affectionate? I've seen Gao Qi and Gao Yaobing being very close."

Xuan Yuan Huan Yu remained unmoved by Gao Zhun's complaints. She merely smoothed her bangs, gave Gao Zhun a disdainful look, and then said rather elegantly, "I'm not like Gao Yao Bing. I'm just naturally like this; I don't like interacting with people. As for Gao Yao Bing, she only appears cold and emotionless because she has reached the state of oneness with the sword in swordsmanship. And you, you can't be compared to Gao Qi, can you?"

Gao Zhun said dejectedly, "What you said makes so much sense, I have no reply."

"By the way, you left so inexplicably that day, you must not have said goodbye to Mo Nishang, right? How are you now, are you so lovesick that you wish you could run to the Demon Realm to visit your sweetheart?" Gao Zhun winked at Xuan Yuan Huanyu, looking very gossipy.

Xuanyuan Huanyu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "You're just curious about the Demon Realm and don't want to hear rumors. You want to go there and see for yourself, right? Don't drag me into this. I'm not going to the Demon Realm."

Upon hearing Xuan Yuan Huan Yu's words, Gao Zhun's face instantly fell. Somewhat unwillingly, she continued to urge, "Cousin, aren't you curious at all? We've never even been to the Demon Realm, and we've hardly ever seen any demons, yet the two sides are ready to fight to the death the moment they meet. That's strange in itself."

After a pause, Gao Zhun dropped another bombshell: "And another thing, doesn't your cousin miss Mo Nishang at all? At least meet her, say goodbye properly, and make some kind of promise."

Hearing Gao Zhun's words, Xuan Yuan Huan Yu's heart stirred. How could she not want to go to the Demon Realm to see the truth behind the struggle between humans and demons, and also to see Mo Ni Chang? There should indeed be something between them, even if it's just to say goodbye.

"We'll discuss this later. Right now, our strength is too weak. We'd probably be killed by them before we even get any news. Wouldn't it be better to wait until we're strong enough?" Suppressing her restless desire to see Mo Nishang, Xuan Yuan Huan Yu had no choice but to make this decision. What did she mean by being a top genius of the Xuan Yuan family? Before she grew up, she couldn't do anything.

"Of course." Seeing that Xuanyuan Huanyu had relented, Gao Zhun immediately beamed with joy.

"Someone's coming." This is Gao Zhun's courtyard. If someone approaches, the alarm system inside the courtyard will automatically alert her. Needless to say, this is also the work of the Gu family. It's unclear what kind of relationship the Gao family has with the Gu family, as they have even entrusted their security entirely to the other party. Noticing someone's approach, Gao Zhun naturally left the training room with Xuan Yuan Huan Yu and came to the courtyard to wait for the visitor to appear.

In just a short while, Gao Zhun and Xuan Yuan Huan Yu, who were standing in the courtyard, both frowned. There were quite a few people who had come, and they were releasing the pressure of high-level cultivators. Although this pressure was not directed at them, the discomfort was only less than that of those who directly experienced it.

They exchanged a glance, both reading the same meaning in each other's eyes: the Gao family already knew the outcome of Gao Zhun's succession, and the purpose of these people's arrival was self-evident.

Once all eight people had landed, Gao Zhun noticed that Gao Shi was standing at the back of the group, while she had never seen any of the other seven people—four men and three women.

"Greetings, seniors." I don't know their specific status or position in the Gao family, but it's certainly right to address them as seniors.

The leader was a woman dressed in purple, who looked to be around twenty-five years old. Gao Zhun could not guess her true age. Although when her cultivation level was higher, her Eye of Truth-Seeing would be able to see how many years a person's life aura had existed, it was still too difficult for her to do so at present.

The woman first turned her gaze to Xuan Yuan Huan Yu, and said with both dignity and politeness, "Miss Xuan Yuan, your father wants you to go back to him."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Huan Yu immediately left. The other party was essentially asking her to leave, and she saw no need to stay and eavesdrop on the Gao family's internal affairs.

Seeing Xuan Yuan Huan Yu leave, the leading woman waved her hand, and Gao Zhun felt that her divine sense was completely isolated in this small courtyard. Unless she fully activated her Breaking Illusion technique, she would not be able to see anything outside, and the outside world would naturally not be able to detect the movements in this courtyard.

"Gao Zhun, with your Eye of Truth and Soul-Forging Essence, you've brought such a pleasant surprise to our Elder Council. Tell me, what reward do you desire?" As soon as the protective shield that isolated soul probing appeared, the group of eight stopped releasing their oppressive aura. Their serious faces turned benevolent. However, Gao Zhun hadn't expected that she would alarm the Gao family's Elder Council. It was said that all the elders of the Gao family were cultivators at the Tribulation Transcending stage, and their seniority and strength were the best in the living world. No wonder that even though they were still far apart, the oppressive aura made her and Xuan Yuan Huan Yu feel somewhat unable to withstand it.

"So you are an elder of the Elders' Council. Gao Zhun, I apologize for my rudeness." Knowing the other party's identity, Gao Zhun was bound to bow again.

This action, however, made the woman chuckle: "Gao Shi said you are too particular about etiquette, and now it seems that is indeed the case. It is good to know and abide by etiquette, but you must also remember that everything in excess is as bad as deficiency. As a member of the Gao family, you should have the pride of the Gao family. Moreover, you will be a peerless genius who will shock the entire Immortal Spirit Continent, so you should have your own pride."

"Gao Zhun has learned a lot." Gao Zhun bowed and lowered her brows. When she stood up, her expression became solemn, and there was a hint of arrogance and nobility between her brows. It was not excessive, just a slight touch, but it made people able to distinguish her from others. This was a unique temperament.

Seeing this, the woman nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject, saying, "Since you haven't mentioned any reward for so long, I've assumed you no longer need those things. After all, the Ancestor gave you the treasures of an entire Inheritance Hall; I might not even have your wealth." The woman chuckled and pointed to the people behind her: "I won't introduce them one by one; they're all from the Elder Council. Well, Gao Shi doesn't count; he'll have a chance to join once his cultivation reaches the Tribulation Transcending stage. Gao Zhun, do you know what the Gao family's Elder Council means? If I told you to choose one of the seven elders present as your master, would you be willing?"

The woman's words made Gao Zhun's heart pound. What did she mean? Introducing her a Tribulation Transcending stage elder as her master? Was she dreaming? She had only ever dreamed of having a Mahayana stage cultivator as her master, and now this was a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator, and a member of the elders' council at that! She had truly risen to the top in one step. People like Gao Chengtian would certainly not dare to bully her at her doorstep. Although Gao Zhun didn't consider herself someone who would use power to bully others, using power to scare away some demons and monsters was still a good idea. With that thought, she made up her mind.

"The elders should be aware of Gao Zhun's physique and immortal root attributes. Gao Zhun seeks nothing else but what is most suitable for him."

The woman smiled upon hearing this, and said in a slightly teasing tone, "I thought you would definitely choose me, the one who seems to have the highest status. You actually want the most suitable one. Hmm, not bad, you have a clear mind and know what you want."

"Ahem..." At this woman's words, one of the seven elders finally spoke up, seemingly expressing some dissatisfaction with her words.

"Elder Lei, there's no need to cough. I know that when Gao Zhun's information was submitted, you, with your similar Purple Lightning Spirit Body, already had your eye on her. It's just a pity that this girl hasn't reached the point where the family would agree to let an elder like you, a Tribulation Transcending stage member, condescend to serve you. Now that you know Gao Zhun's talent is far more than what was mentioned before, you must have been itching to get involved by now." The woman rolled her eyes without regard for her image and said with some regret, "It's just a pity that I'm not that so-called Purple Lightning Spirit Body. My immortal root attributes and yin-yang attributes are completely unrelated, which is a good thing for you."

As soon as the woman relented, Elder Lei, whom she had mentioned, stepped out from behind her. He paced around Gao Zhun for a long time, seemingly scrutinizing the young girl who was about to become his disciple. Fortunately, Elder Lei's hair and beard were snow-white, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance; otherwise, Gao Zhun would have thought he was a complete pervert.

"Gao Zhun greets Elder Lei." Seeing that Elder Lei had finally stopped directly in front of her, who was running a distance away, she knew that she had officially caught his eye. So she bowed to him with a respectful greeting. From this moment on, Gao Zhun had a master and a backer. At least for a long time, no one would dare to mess with her.

Seeing that Gao Zhun had performed the respectful greeting to her master so quickly, but hadn't changed her address to "Master" and was looking at him with some trepidation, he stroked his beard and smiled, "Elder Yan said you were too formal, but in my opinion, you're quite the little rascal. You've already performed the greeting, so why are you still calling me Elder Lei? Hmm?"

The last "hmm" sounded quite authoritative, but given Elder Lei's smiling face, it just didn't seem convincing at all.

"Greetings, Master." Gao Zhun bowed to Elder Lei again, then looked at the woman and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Elder Yan, in fact, Gao Zhun is not without desires."

Elder Yan immediately became interested and said, "Oh, tell me about it."