The snow was white and the wind biting cold.

The streets and alleys of Heroic Spirit City were as desolate as the weather.

Scattered beams of light hurried across the sky, while the shops in the city opened their doors early. The shop assistants rubbed their hands together, starting to sweep away the snow accumulated in front of their doors.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The council bell at the center of the Imperial City rang once again, its thunderous sound causing the snow on the eaves of the city buildings to tremble and fall.

Countless beams of light rose from all directions, accompanied by deafening sounds as they rushed towards the meeting hall of the City Lord's mansion in the Imperial City.

In front of the Council Hall at the City Lord's mansion.

The Chen Long Army stood ready, their golden armor spotless. They stood on either side of the Council Hall's entrance, their long swords gleaming with a murderous intent, their faces expressionless.

Gu Liantian sat in the high seat of the City Lord, with the elders and important figures of the family on either side below him. The young members of the family were all present today, including Gu Kun, who had just advanced to the Elemental Infant Realm.

Having achieved great success in the Elemental Infant Realm, he was highly valued by the Gu Family and now stood at the forefront of the family sequence, a fact known to all.

Gu Feng walked slowly into the Imperial City's Council Hall, dressed in a brocade robe. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Gu Liantian, who was seated in the City Lord's position.

From the moment he entered the hall, Gu Feng felt numerous resentful gazes directed at him. He chose not to pay them much attention and, after completing his salute, stood calmly in place as if nothing had happened.

Gu Chunfeng stepped forward, his large belly protruding, and looked at Gu Feng with a sinister gaze. Squinting his eyes, he said, "Gu Feng, the one-year agreement has come to an end. According to the terms, if your cultivation hasn't broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm, you'll be expelled from Heroic Spirit City! The Gu Family will no longer protect you!"

Gu Feng remained silent, slowly scanning everyone present, and replied indifferently, "Naturally."

Gu Chunfeng's face quivered with excitement as he laughed, "Since you knew this would be the outcome, why did you make this bet with us in the first place? If you had relinquished the top position in the sequence early on, the Gu Family could have ensured you a life of wealth and comfort, but alas..."

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"Fifth Uncle, are you so sure I'll lose?"

Gu Feng's eyes were sharp, and he smiled confidently and calmly.

Gu Chunfeng was momentarily taken aback, a wave of worry washing over him.

Could this kid really have broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm?

As soon as this thought emerged, Gu Chunfeng dismissed it as groundless worry.

Breaking through from the Qi Refining Realm to the Golden Elixir Realm in just one year wasn't impossible, but it required both talent and opportunity, neither of which could be lacking!

Gu Feng? Impossible! He's nothing but a good-for-nothing!

Despite having access to so many cultivation resources, he's been cultivating for twenty years and is still a Qi Refining Realm failure! If he had any talent, he wouldn't be in this dire situation, surrounded by enemies!

He's just putting on a brave front! It's all a bluff!

Hearing Gu Feng's words, many young cultivators of the Gu clan began to gossip. They had long been envious and dissatisfied with Gu Feng's status, and now, seeing him in trouble, they couldn't wait to step on him to vent their frustrations.

They immediately began to mock him disdainfully.

"Our sequence lord sure has a tough mouth!"

"What, does this good-for-nothing think he can make a comeback?"

"A tough mouth is useless; in the end, the truth will be revealed. A good-for-nothing is always a good-for-nothing!"

"How did our Gu Family produce such a weirdo! It's laughable!"

"He can break through to the Golden Elixir Realm in a year? Then pigs can climb trees!"

Gu Feng's confidence instantly drew a wave of ridicule from those present, with many unable to hold back their laughter, all believing he was bluffing.

Listening to the ridicule, Gu Liantian, seated in the City Lord's position, closed his eyes and remained silent. He knew Gu Feng's situation and wasn't worried at all, choosing to stay silent and see what his son had up his sleeve.

"Haha, Gu Feng, no matter how much you boast now, it's useless! Today, you must give up your position in the sequence to Kun'er! The family sequence position should be held by the capable! You? You're not qualified!"

Gu Chunfeng laughed wildly, having already decided Gu Feng's fate in advance.

Beside him, a trace of malice flashed in Gu Kun's eyes. He wanted not only the sequence position but also to have Gu Feng expelled from Heroic Spirit City, to strip him of the family's protection, so he could personally take revenge on his enemy for his mother, Xia Lengling!

"Enough!"

Gu Huaisheng slowly stepped forward, smoothing his long eyebrows, and calmed the crowd's frenzied laughter. He said slowly, "No matter what, we have a bet in place, and we must go through the process. Elder of Passing Down Techniques, please step forward."

The so-called Elder of Passing Down Techniques was a position prepared by the Gu clan of Heroic Spirit City specifically for the younger members of the family. The main responsibility was to teach basic cultivation methods to the newcomers in the clan and also to test the cultivation level of the young members.

Since both teaching and testing required fairness, openness, and impartiality, this position was usually held by an elder of the clan who was both senior and highly respected, to ensure fair teaching of cultivation methods and accurate testing of the younger members' cultivation levels.

Hearing Gu Huaisheng's words, an elderly man slowly stepped forward, limping and unsteady, nodding to everyone and then cupping his hands towards Gu Liantian in the City Lord's position.

"I request the City Lord's order to test this young man's cultivation..."

Gu Liantian nodded expressionlessly, "Hmm, begin."

The Elder of Passing Down Techniques slowly bowed his head, turned, and approached Gu Feng. He reached out towards Gu Feng's Spiritual Platform, and after a moment, a look of surprise appeared on his wrinkled face as he murmured, "Seven... seven colors..."

The crowd was puzzled, looking at each other in confusion.

"Elder, what does seven colors mean?"

Gu Huaisheng felt uneasy and quickly asked.

"What could it mean? It's just the Qi Refining Realm; what tricks could it possibly play?"

Gu Chunfeng felt it was a waste of time, his face full of displeasure.

The Elder of Passing Down Techniques looked incredulous, trembling almost to the point of being unable to stand. He turned around and suddenly knelt heavily before Gu Liantian, bowing in panic and shouting, "Congratulations to the City Lord, the young master has formed a seven-colored Golden Elixir within him!"