Chapter 183: Gu Fan’s Decision, Conflict in the Mysterious Spirit Chamber

Ruo Xi looked anxious, her face full of confusion.

“Why would the Old Ancestor make a move against you? Wasn’t it because of your Old Ancestor and the others that we were able to escape danger this time?”

Gu Fan smiled faintly:

“This is the world of cultivators. As long as the benefits are great enough, there’s nothing that can’t warrant a killing blow.”

“Moreover, the Qiao Family Old Ancestor seems unwilling to let you leave the Qiao Family…”

Gu Fan looked at Ruo Xi thoughtfully.

Ruo Xi was stunned. Not allowed to leave?

She couldn’t quite make sense of it. She had only been at the Qiao Family for a few days, so emotional attachment was naturally nonexistent.

In fact, she had rethought everything during this period. After her mother’s death, if the Qiao Family had truly cared, it would have been impossible not to see her even once.

One could only say, everyone was well aware deep down.

Of course, that wasn’t to say that all members of the Qiao Family had no feelings for her. Perhaps people like her uncles genuinely wanted to take care of her, but the thoughts of a family’s ruling faction were what truly mattered.

So, if it wasn’t about affection, then what was it for?

Strength? The Qiao Family was immensely powerful—how could they lack her as a fighting force?

In the end, with all other possibilities ruled out, only benefits remained.

“Did something come to mind?”

Ruo Xi asked softly.

While absorbing spiritual power and mysterious power to heal, Gu Fan replied:

“You have no power or influence, no strength worth envying, and no treasure to accompany you. The only thing remotely attractive about you is probably just your appearance, right?”

Ruo Xi furrowed her brow slightly:

“Though your analysis makes sense, saying such things about a girl is still quite infuriating…”

Gu Fan paid it no mind and continued:

“When beauty is used, aside from taking possession of it, it’s for forming marital alliances to consolidate power. Since you are of the Qiao Family bloodline, the first scenario needn’t be worried about. That leaves only the second—marriage.”

Ruo Xi nodded, then shook her head:

“The Qiao Family currently dominates Xuanguang City. Would they really need a marriage alliance?”

Hearing that, Gu Fan shook his head:

“Look farther ahead. What about beyond Xuanguang City? The Qiao Family will eventually seek to expand their influence. At that time, a powerful ally becomes extremely important.”

“Which major human city is closest to Xuanguang City?”

Ruo Xi paused, then finally murmured:

“Wanlin City.”

After she said that, Gu Fan nodded. Everything began to make sense.

“That explains it—Lan Die Family!”

“The Qiao Family knows you have a marriage alliance with the Lan Die Family, but because you fled, the marriage didn’t happen. Now they can marry you off under the name of the Qiao Family’s daughter and resume the alliance. Not only does it uphold appearances with the Lan Die Family, but it also gains their favor, forming a marital alliance.”

“As for whether you live or die after the marriage—that’s left to fate.”

Ruo Xi’s face turned deathly pale.

She had originally thought that the Qiao Family simply lacked emotional ties with her, and she couldn’t blame them for that.

But now, after Gu Fan’s analysis, if it truly was as he said, then they were trying to exchange her for benefits!

Even knowing she might die upon marrying, they were forcing her into it.

How was this any different from the Ruo Family’s methods?

“Heh… So this is the world of cultivators. These are the survival rules of cultivation families. Kinship, bloodline… they’re all just tools for bargaining!”

Gu Fan withdrew his aura. In just a short while, his injuries had mostly recovered.

The dual absorption of spiritual power and mysterious power greatly shortened his healing time—a new discovery indeed!

“So, you’ve decided to leave, haven’t you?”

Ruo Xi suddenly laughed. On her stunning face appeared utter despair:

“My paternal clan wants me dead. My maternal clan wants me dead too. Even those who gave birth to and raised me want me dead. I can no longer find a reason to leave.”

“Moreover, since the Old Ancestor won’t allow me to leave, he must have planted surveillance. Taking me away would be fraught with danger. I can’t keep dragging you into this.”

“Gu Fan, go on your own. The Old Ancestor won’t dare act against you. I’m already satisfied with the current outcome. You… can now find peace of mind.”

Gu Fan helplessly rubbed his nose. This was indeed the answer he most wanted to hear.

After all, things had developed to a point where he truly felt somewhat strained.

He was merely an intruder who had mistakenly entered the Void Sacred Realm. The urgent task was to leave here and find a way back to the original Destiny Continent—that was the key.

However, ever since he advanced to the peak of the Late Stage of the Celestial Profound Realm, which was the equivalent of the Late Stage of the Primordial Yang Realm, he had always had a premonition. This matter needed a perfect conclusion to minimize the emergence of heart demons later on.

As for why this premonition appeared, he didn’t understand. It was strange—clearly, he had never experienced this feeling back on Destiny Continent, yet not long after arriving in this world, such an insight had emerged.

This was also why he was willing to sneak into the Lan Die Family at night and take the risk of escaping with Ruo Xi.

Gu Fan thought for a moment, then irritably scratched his head.

“I’ll take you away, but the premise is that I’ll leave for a while first. As for what I’ll be doing during that time, you don’t need to worry about it. But there’s one thing—you must stall the Qiao Family during this period!”

Ruo Xi lifted her eyes to look at Gu Fan. Her eyes, clear as autumn water, held a hint of disbelief.

He had always said he only sought peace of mind, just to repay her for taking him in back then and giving him the Cultivation Method.

And indeed, he had helped her all the way to Xuanguang City and even intervened in the grudges between the Qiao Family and the Three Families because of her request.

But now she had already said she was content. He had done more than enough—more than worthy of her.

Logically, Gu Fan should have breathed a sigh of relief and left.

After all, he had achieved his peace of mind, and she had no further demands. So why was he still choosing to stay and take risks?

“Why…? You’ve already completed your task. There’s no need to risk yourself like this.”

Gu Fan sighed helplessly.

“I said I sought peace of mind. It’s not up to you to decide whether I’ve found it—it’s up to me!”

“So… did you remember what I just said?”

Ruo Xi nodded, then shook her head.

“In any case, you don’t need to worry about what I’m doing. I’ll disappear for a short while. If anyone asks, just say I’ve left. Understood?”

Only then did Ruo Xi nod.

“And make sure to stall for time. Don’t be dead by the time I get back. If my Dao Heart suffers damage, I’ll be at a big loss! Got it?”

Ruo Xi nodded again.

Finally, Gu Fan smiled, patted Ruo Xi on the head, and said:

“Then just wait quietly for my return. When I come back, I’ll take you out of the shadows of the Qiao Family and the Lan Die Family.”

With that, Gu Fan turned, flickered, and instantly vanished from where he stood.

Ruo Xi stood blankly in place, muttering in confusion:

“Van… vanished…”

…

Apocalypse World.

Gu Fan reappeared on the rooftop of the old hospital building as usual.

At this moment, it was just before dawn.

The entire shelter was extremely quiet. Apart from a few patrolling personnel chatting, there wasn’t a sound.

Gu Fan completely relaxed, and the spiritual power that had been suppressed by the world’s rules began to surge violently. It clashed with the mysterious power occupying the other half of his qi sea.

In an instant, Gu Fan’s body swelled like a three-hundred-jin fatty.

The two incompatible forces continued to clash, with signs of evolving into an explosive rupture!

Gu Fan clutched his head in pain. Who would’ve thought that just after returning to his old lair, he’d have to face the crisis of exploding?

He sighed helplessly and immediately went to the Blood Pool, pouring all the mysterious power and spiritual energy in his body into the Evil Lotus!

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