The Wheel-Turning Master.

Chapter 162: Old Secrets
After only half a day, the three factions broke camp and sailed away on their respective flying boats.

On the Gu family's flying boat, Lin Bai and Zhu Jianyang were playing chess and chatting when a man from the Gu family who was practicing Qigong came to find them.

"The ancestor invites you." The man who practiced Qigong had a smile on his face, neither humble nor arrogant.

The two of them hurriedly left the cabin and went to the main hall of the flying boat to look for Gu Jinzhen.

When I got there, I saw Gu Jinzhen sitting there, looking unhappy, as if he was worried about something.

There were not many people. Gu Fang was standing nearby, and Gu Feixue and Gu Yao were also there.

They all bowed, and Gu Jinzhen nodded slightly, "We are not strangers, please sit down."

Lin Bai sat down obediently, thinking, is this the reward? The Gu family had promised one condition before, and there was also the matter of helping Sister Pei. In addition, with the face of the Yuanying family, there must be a reward.

"Is Zhu Jiancong okay now?" Gu Jinzhen asked Zhu Jianyang.

Zhu Jiancong is the current patriarch of the Zhu family, an old man.

"The head of the family is old and probably doesn't have many years left." Zhu Jianyang said.

"This is what happens when the great way is not developed." Gu Jinzhen nodded slightly, "Do you have any good seedlings at home?"

"There are a few." Zhu Jianyang smiled bitterly, "My family is small to begin with, and we have lost many pillars. Now we are lucky to have a few foundation-building seedlings."

"You don't need to look too much at your aptitude, your character is also very important." Gu Fang suddenly interrupted with a smile, "Look at Brother Yun, your aptitude is average, and you practice alchemy, but your cultivation has not fallen. On the other hand, you are lucky, you have entered the mountains three times without getting hurt at all."

Gu Feixue and Gu Yao looked at each other and said nothing.

Lin Bai smiled slightly, but he felt that it was a bad idea. If he got hurt, it would be another addition to his list of merits.

"It is indeed a blessing." Gu Jinzhen also nodded slightly, "But if we really talk about luck, it has to be the little girl from Yunxia Sect."

For a moment, no one responded. Gu Feixue and Gu Yao looked at each other, both feeling helpless.

"Let's get back to business." Gu Jinzhen looked at Zhu Jianyang, "Your family and my family have an old friendship. Everyone in Qiaoshan knows that Fengming Mountain was chosen by my ancestor for your family." He tapped the low table lightly and continued slowly, "Whether a family is prosperous or not depends on people. As long as you manage it with your heart, work together, and work as one, you will be able to hear the sound of the phoenix in the future."

These words can be regarded as a promise from the Gu family, which means to protect An Ning.

Zhu Jianyang stood up and thanked him.

Gu Jinzhen looked at Lin Bai again and asked, "Are you practicing in the Jiang family now?"

"Yes." Lin Bai answered honestly, thinking to himself that you have asked this before.

Gu Jinzhen nodded slightly and asked, "Would you like to join my Qiaoshan Sect to practice?"

"I am used to being a casual cultivator and I don't know the etiquette, so I can't join the family." Lin Bai bowed and replied.

"What's wrong with that?" Gu Yao interrupted, "We cultivators don't need to be obsessed with etiquette. You join my Qiaoshan Sect, and when you go out in the future, who can blame you for etiquette?"

"Yaoyao." Gu Fang was a manager after all, so she could understand other people's refusal. So she held Gu Yao's arm and signaled her not to say anything more.

"What's wrong?" Gu Yao was not convinced. "Brother Yun has been very kind to us. Who dares to bully him? When he gets married, I will find him a good wife."

"Yaoyao," Gu Fang said tiredly, "Brother Yun has his own Taoist partner, so you don't need to ask more."

"You have a Taoist partner? Who is she?" Gu Yao asked curiously, "I was planning to introduce Yang Bing to him!"

Don't you have a grudge against Yang Bing? One called me a bitch, the other called me a slut. Are you treating me as a disaster? Lin Bai lowered his head to drink tea, and inexplicably thought of Yao Qianyuan.

"He is a top disciple of Tianchi sect, you don't need to ask more questions." Gu Fang looked helpless.

"Okay." Gu Jinzhen said, he looked at Lin Bai and said, "Since you want to be free, we won't force you. As I said before, my Gu family is a man of our word." He pointed at Gu Fang and said, "If you need anything else in the future, you can come find Fang'er. If she can make the decision, I will definitely help her. If she can't make the decision, you can come find me."

"Thank you, senior." Lin Bai replied respectfully.

"I left in a hurry this time. I will visit you and play at Jiang's house another day." Gu Fang said with a smile.

This means that I didn't bring a suitable gift, so I plan to buy it when I get back. From this point of view, the gift will not be light.

"I'm just waiting for my sister." Lin Bai smiled.

"I'll go play with you too!" Gu Yao said with a smile, "Sister Feixue said that you are a sincere person with character, and you are a friend worth making."

Zhu Jianyang glanced at Lin Bai, smiled and said nothing.

Lin Bai quickly said a bunch of polite words.

"You are all young people, it would be good for you to move around more." Gu Jinzhen stroked his beard, "But you need to take good care of yourself first..."

Having said this, Gu Jinzhen suddenly stopped and looked towards the northwest.

That is where the Qiaoshan School is located.

Then tears rolled down Gu Jinzhen's old face. Gu Feixue and Gu Yao also had tears in their eyes. Only Gu Fang stared with wide eyes.

A cultivator would never do this without any reason. He must have some feelings in his heart, and it concerns someone very close to him.

Lin Bai and Zhu Jianyang looked at each other, both confused.

"You didn't even wait for us to come back..." Gu Jinzhen stood up, waved his sleeves to wrap Gu Feixue and Gu Yao, hurriedly left the flying boat, and headed northwest.

Gu Fang ran out to see, and Lin Bai and Zhu Jianyang followed.

When they got outside the cabin, they saw Gu Jinzhen's light escaping in the distance. All the people who were with him came out of the cabin to see what was going on, but none of them knew what was going on.

Gu Fang had a look of dejection and helplessness on her face, as if she knew something.

"Please don't spread what happened here." Gu Fang saluted towards Lin Bai and Zhu Jianyang.

This must be a big event in the Gu family.

Lin Bai and Zhu Jianyang naturally agreed and went back to the cabin to rest without asking any further questions.

The two didn't talk much, each closed their eyes and practiced.

The flying boats of the Qiaoshan Sect went straight to Xinyifang. The disciples of the four major Jindan sects and various Jindan families got off the flying boats and went back to their homes.

"It's only been four months, but I feel like a lifetime ago." Zhu Jianyang sighed as he saw people coming and going in Xinyifang.

"Senior, after experiencing the realm of life and death this time, your state of mind has become more clear, and your cultivation will surely advance further." Lin Bai smiled.

"Good and bad things go hand in hand, so I have gained something." Zhu Jianyang stroked his beard and smiled, "You don't have to call me senior anymore. We are at the same level, there is no difference between us, and we have experienced life and death together. Although I am older than you, I should just call you brother."

"I will never forget the support you provided in the past," said Lin Bai with a smile.

Zhu Jianyang did not force him and pulled Lin Bai back to Fengming Pavilion.

"Uncle!" Zhu Yumao burst into tears when he saw Zhu Jianyang and Lin Bai coming back.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Jianyang looked helpless.

“People outside are saying that many people died in Mianlong Mountain. I…” Zhu Yumao wiped his tears.

They went up to the second floor, entered the quiet room, and sat down.

"I'm back alive, is there anything else?" Zhu Jianyang asked, stroking his beard. "And..." Zhu Yumao wiped the tears from his face and said, "News came from Yushu, saying that the old master had a dream last time, which was a sign that he would not live long." He really didn't treat Lin Bai as an outsider, and he even told such a secret.

"No matter how much you cry, can it help him live two more days?" Zhu Jianyang faced life and death, and his mood became calmer. "He is 187 years old, and he was injured in his early years. He will definitely not live to 200. It's time for him to die."

As he spoke, Zhu Jianyang counted on his fingers, "Since my elder sister, Zhu Jianshan is gone, and Zhu Jiancong will soon follow. The next one is Zhu Jianyuan."

He looked at Zhu Yumao and asked, "Who will be the head of the family?"

"The old patriarch wants you to take over." Zhu Yumao said quickly, "He said that Yushu is young and hot-tempered after all, and our Zhu family needs someone to maintain the status quo and take charge."

"He is not confused, but he still underestimated Yushu! Yushu has a hot temper, but he is not a reckless person!" Zhu Jianyang smiled and said, "My Zhu family is weak and old, and I have no intention of being the head of the family. It is time to let Yushu be the head of the family and create a new atmosphere!"

Zhu Yumao said: "Yushu has just established his foundation, so I'm afraid his prestige is not enough."

"Prestige? What prestige does the Zhu family have? How come I don't know?" Zhu Jianyang shook his head disdainfully. Seeing that Zhu Yumao was about to cry again, he said, "I have made great contributions during my trip. I will let Gu Fang go there at that time. I will always be able to control the situation."

"It would be nice if someone from the Gu family came." Zhu Yumao bowed in submission.

"Are there any rumors outside?" Zhu Jianyang asked.

"It's nothing." Zhu Yumao thought for a moment and replied, "Last time, Tianchi Sect's headmaster Liu had a bad temper because of the death of his biological relative, and he had a quarrel with elder Yao Wanshan."

Zhu Jianyang glanced at Lin Bai, who frowned and looked curious.

"Anything else?" Zhu Jianyang asked again.

"If there are any other rumors..." Zhu Yumao lowered his voice and said, "Half a month ago, there were shouting sounds coming from the west, and there was a bright light at night. The pressure from the Nascent Soul was extremely heavy."

The main temple of Qiaoshan School is just west of Xinyifang.

Did something really happen to the Gu family? Lin Bai kept thinking about it. Last time, when Gu Qingshui returned halfway, Gu Jinzhen and Gu Fang looked depressed, and then they cried together... From this point of view, the matter of the Gu family was not a small matter, and it must involve Yuanying.

But the ancestor of the Gu family, Gu Qingshan, still has hundreds of years to live before his death. Who can touch him?
Did the Supreme Sect Leader Xiang Laozu attack the Gu Family? The Gu Family really had no choice. Xiang Laozu was in the late Nascent Soul stage and had a glimpse of the power of the Great Dao. Gu Qingshan was in the early Nascent Soul stage with no hope of achieving the Great Dao, so he was definitely not his opponent.

But why is it so? Even if there is internal strife in the Yuanying sect, they will not easily force it to death, let alone the two Yuanyings of the Gu family!
Besides, the foundation of a sect comes from all aspects. But in essence, the power belongs to the individual. One Yuanying is more important than ten Jindan seedlings! If a Yuanying dies, the strength of the sect will inevitably decrease.

Lin Bai thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

"Go away." Zhu Jianyang waved his sleeves and chased him away.

Zhu Yumao left obediently.

After Zhu Yumao left, Zhu Jianyang looked at Lin Bai.

"Does the Gu family have an old grudge against that Supreme Lord?" Lin Bai asked in a low voice.

Now the Zhu family has been tied to the Gu family's broken ship. After what happened at Mianlong Mountain, I am also half a Gu family member. If someone wants to cause trouble for the Gu family, they will definitely test the Gu family's vassal first, and then both the Zhu family and I may be in trouble.

"I'm not sure about this." Zhu Jianyang also had a look of doubt on his face. "The Cheng family's Nascent Soul is the oldest, more than 1,800 years old. Ancestor Gu and the Grand Master are next, both around 1,600 years old. The Yang family's Nascent Soul is just over 1,500 years old. Speaking of which, there's actually not much difference in age, it's just that the Grand Master has the highest realm and has a chance of achieving the Great Dao, while the others have no hope of achieving the Great Dao." He stroked his beard for a while and whispered, "Ancestor Gu was a person who was friendly with others. Since he had no hope of achieving the Great Dao, he went out frequently and made many good connections. My family was founded because of Ancestor Gu. With Ancestor Gu's personality, he would not offend anyone easily."

Lin Bai understood that Old Ancestor Gu had no hope of success and considering the future generations of the family, he would not do anything to offend others.

"So what happened?" Lin Bai asked curiously.

"Do you still remember about my family?" Zhu Jianyang asked with a smile.

Of course Lin Bai remembered that when he first entered Qiaoshan, the first people he made friends with were the Zhu family.

The Zhu family was originally a Jindan family. Later, the ancestor of the Zhu family took the foundation-building elites in the family out, but all of them were killed outside. Even the ancestor of the Zhu family was seriously injured and died within a few years. Since then, the Zhu family has declined.

"Who do you think my family did this for? That time, we got the order from Patriarch Gu." Zhu Jianyang whispered, "The Gu family lost three golden cores and twelve foundation building soldiers. After Patriarch Gu came back, he went into seclusion and did not see any outsiders. When the Gu family's new Yuanying achieved enlightenment and held a Taoist meeting, Patriarch Gu did not show up either, and only asked Gu Jinzhen to pass on a few words."

He never showed up at such a grand event as the Yuanying Taoist Meeting. Either he was seriously injured and couldn't go out, or he had some other reason and was afraid that other Yuanyings would see through his true intentions.

From this point of view, not only was the Zhu family's ancestor seriously injured, but even the Gu family's ancestor might have been beaten.

"So there is this layer of relationship." Lin Bai felt relieved when he learned that Ancestor Xiang had no personal grudge against the Gu family.

"If it weren't for this relationship, when my ancestor passed away, other families would have come to occupy the territory. Otherwise, how could the Foundation Establishment Family have owned the blessed land of Fengming Mountain?" Zhu Jianyang smiled bitterly.

"What did Patriarch Gu take his people to do? The dignified Nascent Soul cannot even protect everyone, but instead requires the help of a group of Golden Cores to build the foundation?" Lin Bai asked again.

"I don't know. My ancestor didn't tell me." Zhu Jianyang shook his head. "The life span of a Yuanying is two thousand years, so he must have a plan before doing anything. Ancestor Gu... probably didn't make it sure either, and there may be other reasons..."

“If it was for the Great Dao, even if he gained something, with Patriarch Gu’s initial stage, there would still be obstacles waiting for him. I’m afraid his life span would not be enough to survive until his Nascent Soul was fully developed.” Lin Bai analyzed carefully, “It could also be for that little Patriarch Gu.”

"It's possible. But compared to Yuanying, we are nothing but ants, not even chess pieces." Zhu Jianyang smiled bitterly, "The news hasn't come yet, maybe everything is fine. Even if there is something wrong, the Gu family has a new Yuanying with a bright future. With her protection, you and I have nothing to worry about."

Lin Bai nodded. The two lousy foundation-building cultivators were indeed not qualified to know about the secrets of the Nascent Soul stage.

The two chatted for a while, then Lin Bai said goodbye and left.

When I returned to the Jiang family's place, before I reached the cave, I saw Jiang Chun waiting with two little girls.

"Master!" Miaomiao rushed forward, hugged Lin Bai tightly, and said with a choked voice, "Master, you are back. Miaomiao missed you so much!"

"..." Lin Bai patted her head and thought that it was good to have a caring apprentice, and he would accept another one later.

Miaomiao let go of Lin Bai, then grabbed Lin Bai's hand again, as if she was afraid that he would run away.

"Congratulations on your safe return." Jiang Chun saluted with a smile.

"Senior," Jiang Yu bowed respectfully and said, "My sister knew that you had returned, so she asked me to come and invite you. She said she wanted to hear about the events at Mianlong Mountain."

Lin Bai touched his waist and agreed.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Chun, Lin Bai followed the two girls to Yu Lake.

Miaomiao held Lin Bai's hand and chattered all the way, talking endlessly from the Jiang family's affairs to the Zhu family's affairs, and boasting about her hard work.

Lin Bai praised her a few words and asked Jiang Yu about her homework.

The three of them talked for a long time and then saw Yu Hu again.

There was a black tower standing on a small island in the middle of the lake, and a small bamboo house was newly built under a tree on the shore.

Climbing onto the small island in the middle of the lake, Lin Bai knocked on the door of the black tower.

When we entered the tower, Jiang Xiaobai was already waiting.

She sat cross-legged on a cushion, wearing a wide robe that covered her body. But she had a small frame and a cute face, like a girl of fifteen or sixteen.

"Have you ever heard of Qiaoshan..." Lin Bai asked,

"Did you come here just to say this?" Jiang Xiaobai interrupted.

“…” Lin Bai was speechless.

"Have you suffered any hidden injuries after being away for so long? Let me check it out." Jiang Xiaobai said seriously.

Lin Bai also had the same idea. He had not tasted the beauty of slender branches and large fruits for a long time, and was about to return to his hometown to find out.

(End of this chapter)