Gu Lingzhi had already expected this circumstance. She had asked the Third Prince to help her cover up some truths for her whenever possible.u 

Whether it was Gu Linglong or Gu Rong who would go ask the Third Prince for the truth, the answer that they received would be the same as what Gu Lingzhi had told them.

“Everyone in the Xia Kingdom knows about your close relationship with the Third Prince, he would definitely help you to lie,” Gu Linglong stated sourly. Until now, she felt that if it was not for Gu Lingzhi, the Third Prince would have fancied her instead. It would be her who would have attracted the attention of everyone in the Royal School.

“Little Sister, please think before you speak,” Gu Lingzhi said to Gu Linglong.

“Whatever the rumors say, you know exactly why the Third Prince enrolled me in the Royal School. Even if you don’t, how could someone like the Third Prince go against the rules to send a woman into the Royal School? What’s more is that he has an outstanding fiancée, why would he fancy a wastrel like me?”

“I…”

“That’s enough, Linglong. Your sister just came back, don’t be so rude.” Gu Linglong wanted to retort in protest, but Lin Yue-er promptly interrupted, “It is true that your sister is close to the Third Prince. Can’t you see that he deployed the Silver-Armored Troops just to ensure her safety?”

“So what if he did?” Gu Linglong was indignant. “If it was not for her relationship with the Third Prince, he would not have deployed the Silver-Armored Troops.”

Lin Yue-er and Gu Linglong were colluding to hint that Gu Lingzhi had a shady relationship with the Third Prince.

Gu Rong pretended to chide them but he looked at Gu Lingzhi with suspicion. Evidently, under the influence of Lin Yue-er and Gu Linglong’s words, he had started to doubt Gu Lingzhi.

However, Gu Lingzhi did not wish to earn their trust, she only wanted to change the topic so that they would stop asking about the source of her abilities.

As for Gu Rong, she had long ago given up trying to rekindle whatever kinship that existed between them before.

After dinner, Gu Lingzhi was about to leave when Gu Rong stopped her.

“Lingzhi, the Flower Hunt organized by Wunian City in the Snow Mountain is round the corner. Why don’t you come with me?” Gu Rong asked.

“Flower Hunt?” Gu Lingzhi furrowed her brows, not knowing what it is.

Gu Linglong was shocked when she heard this. “Father, how could you bring her there?”

The Flower Hunt was organized every three years with the intention of helping Martial Students and Practitioners prepare themselves for a certain destiny to come.

At the end of the year when the snow accumulates in the Snow Mountain, people come to search for the Yuli Snow Lotus, which was able to make one’s Spiritual Roots more penetrating.

Whoever who wished to find the Yuli Snow Lotus may participate, the only concern was that it was far beyond the territories of the Four Great Clans which cost a substantial amount of money to be able to ascend the mountain.

Since Gu Lingzhi was labelled as a “wastrel” in the past, no one had ever bothered to mention the Flower Hunt to her. Prior to this, Gu Linglong had already participated in a Flower Hunt which ended up in failure.

Gu Linglong was not happy to hear that Gu Lingzhi now had the chance to participate in the Flower Hunt as well.

Gu Lingzhi was greatly valued by Gu Rong already, if she managed to find the Snow Lotus, Gu Linglong would become invisible.

“Your sister is a Martial Practitioner now. Naturally, she has to go try her luck at the Flower Hunt,” Gu Rong frowned.

Seeing that Gu Lingzhi was still confused, he gave a simple explanation of the process of the Flower Hunt. He also added, “To be fair to everyone, the Flower Hunt only allows Martial Students and Practitioners who need the Yuli Snow Lotus to ascend the mountain. If you see the flower, you must consume it in less than a minute.”

After Gu Lingzhi acknowledged his words, Gu Rong let her go back to her quarters to rest.

When she was back in her quarters, Gu Lingzhi immediately went into her Inheritance Space to find out more about the Yuli Snow Lotus.

According to what Gu Rong had said, she searched the Handbook of Treasures passed down in the Spirit Tribe, but she did not find anything. However, she found something that was very similar to what Gu Rong had described – the ‘Palm Lotus’.

The Palm Lotus grew in the depths of the Snow Mountain at the end of the year when the snow was thick, and it got its name because the flower was as big as a palm. The Palm Lotus was as white as snow, which made it difficult to find.

After understanding the uses and qualities of the Palm Lotus, Gu Lingzhi was sure that the Yuli Snow Lotus was just another name for the Palm Lotus.

“You only need to consume one Palm Lotus to rejuvenate all your Spiritual Roots. The greater number of Spiritual Roots a person has, the more beneficial it is. For someone that has five Spiritual Roots like me, it would increase my powers and skills by one tier. I must get my hands on this Palm Lotus!” Gu Lingzhi exclaimed softly, her eyes filled with determination.

Two days later, at the Gu Clan’s Martial Arts Training Grounds, there were more than ten griffins that stood at the center. With Gu Rong in the lead and a few other Martial Students from the Gu Clan, they were all ready to set off to Wunian City’s Snow Mountain.

After three days of tiresome travelling, they had finally reached Wunian City at dawn on the fourth day. They landed near the city gates.

Dismounting the griffin, Gu Linglong complained, “If it weren’t for the fact that we had to wait for someone to go on vacation, we could’ve had a comfortable trip taking our time here instead of rushing.”

Gu Lingzhi knew very well that Gu Linglong was referring to her. She got off from the griffin silently and pretended that she had not heard what she said. Gu Chengze, however, decided to retort, “It’s better than some people who can’t even get into the Royal School.”

“You…” Gu Linglong whipped her head around to look at Gu Chengze. “Who said that I could not get in? Just you wait. During the recruitment period next year, I’ll definitely get in through my own abilities and not through shortcuts, unlike some people.”

Gu Chengze laughed in mockery, “Compared to certain idiots, it is indeed a shortcut when you are naturally gifted.”

Gu Linglong was stunned that Gu Chengze was insinuating that she was an idiot. She flared up and responded, “Who are you calling an idiot?”

Gu Chengze picked at his ear and said coolly, “If the shoe fits.”

“You!” Gu Linglong rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight him. Gu Lingzhi saw that Gu Rong was displeased. Gu Rong went up to Gu Chengze and Gu Linglong, “We’ve already reached the city, why are you two still being so hot-tempered? If you have issues with each other, wait until we are back home. What would people think of us if you two behave like that?”

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