Chapter 15: Seven-Star Dragon Abyss Lake

The Gu family, though now one of the most prominent clans in Haizhou, could hardly claim a significant position when viewed across the entire country. To say nothing of others, even in Haizhou, the Tang family—currently the wealthiest—was already on the verge of surpassing the Gu family in terms of assets, reputation, and influence. With the Tang family’s current momentum, it would only be a matter of years before the Gu family was left far behind.

Moreover, as the saying goes, the taller the tree, the more it catches the wind. The higher one stands, the more trouble comes their way; this, Gu Ya, being a member of the Gu family, understood all too well.

When Gu Huaishan spoke of top martial artists like Lin Le, he had used a single phrase: the “Sea-Calming Divine Needle”—a stabilizing force. To befriend such a person would be a tremendous boon for the Gu family.

Gu Ya, born into a great family, knew all too well the rules of what to do and when. She had already investigated Lin Le’s identity thoroughly beforehand, and what she discovered truly surprised her: Lin Le turned out to be the same young master of the Lin Group from years past. Even at the Lin Group’s peak, they still fell short of the Gu family, but they were no longer a force to be dismissed.

Gu Ya was well aware of Lin Le’s current predicament—he was at his lowest point. And this, she knew, was the best moment for the Gu family to forge a connection with him. That was why Gu Ya treated Lin Le with such public deference; she wanted everyone to see exactly where the Gu family stood when it came to Lin Le.

When the young scions of other prestigious families saw none other than Lin Le stepping into Miss Gu’s car, they were all beside themselves with astonishment. In the past two days, they had already heard countless rumors about Lin Le: the once fearsome presence on Haizhou’s campuses, the Lin family’s eldest son, the man who single-handedly faced off against Zhao Hu and dozens of others, who had extraordinary relations with the three campus belles—each story was enough to leave one in disbelief.

Yet none of those tales could compare to the explosive impact of what was unfolding now. The elegant Miss Gu, heiress of the Gu family, had come in person to pick up Lin Le from school. How could this impoverished young master of a bankrupt group possibly possess such influence?

Amid the envy of the crowd, Lin Le got into Gu Ya’s car, chatting and laughing with her as they left the school behind. Along the way, their conversation drifted from one topic to another, mostly revolving around Old Master Gu’s passion for martial arts.

From Gu Ya, Lin Le learned of Gu Huaishan’s relentless obsession with martial cultivation—a true martial fanatic, who would stop at nothing. Lin Le could not help but marvel; this Old Master Gu was indeed an extraordinary man.

After more than an hour’s drive, they arrived at the northernmost edge of Haizhou, near Longyuan Lake. Longyuan Lake was the largest and purest natural lake within a thousand kilometers of Haizhou, surrounded by a hundred miles of mountains, with breathtaking scenery and exceptional feng shui.

“Hiding the wind and storing the qi, as a dragon resting in the abyss. The seven stars encircle, each step ascending to the heavens. What a remarkable place!” Lin Le gazed out the window and could not help but sigh.

An outsider sees only the spectacle; an insider sees the truth. Although he had visited this area before, back then he knew nothing—he simply found the lush mountains and clear waters comforting, without understanding more. Now, after three years immersed in countless fields, including the arcane arts of geomancy and the Five Elements, Lin Le’s perspective on the area had deepened beyond recognition.

“You understand feng shui as well?” Gu Ya asked in some surprise.

Those sixteen characters—hiding the wind and storing the qi, as a dragon in the abyss; the seven stars encircle, each step ascending to the heavens—Gu Ya had only ever heard from one of her grandfather’s close friends, a famous master of feng shui. To hear them now from Lin Le’s lips was certainly astonishing.

“Just a smattering,” Lin Le replied casually. In the memories of the Celestial Emperor Lingxiao, the arts of geomancy were already second nature.

Gu Ya glanced at Lin Le, saying nothing, but grew even more convinced of his inscrutable nature.

She drove along the vast expanse of Longyuan Lake. When Lin Le spoke of the “seven stars encircling the neck,” he referred to the seven peaks of varying heights that surrounded the lake. These seven peaks, stretching from west to east, each taller than the last—thus, “each step ascending to the heavens.”

Lin Le understood that such feng shui was a rare treasure for those pursuing officialdom—a veritable land of fortune. The Gu family, spanning both military and political spheres, could not have chosen a more fitting residence.

“Wait, that mountain…” As they passed the third peak, Lin Le voiced his confusion.

“That is Dragon’s Breath Mountain. Why, is something wrong?” Gu Ya asked.

“The feng shui of that mountain seems… a bit off.”

With Lin Le’s current mastery, his ability to observe qi was highly refined. The spiritual energy before him appeared as tangible forms and colors, and the mountain mist was visible to his inner eye. The area around Longyuan Lake was a rare nexus of spiritual energy—golden qi enveloped the lake and its surrounding peaks.

Yet, Dragon’s Breath Mountain was different. Though the mountain was enshrouded in rich golden qi, like a giant steamer, atop the summit there was no trace of spiritual energy—no golden aura hovered there. This meant the summit was utterly barren of qi. Stranger still, Lin Le could faintly see a wisp of black energy at the peak—a clear sign that something was amiss.

“It seems your understanding of geomancy goes far beyond the superficial,” Gu Ya remarked, surprised by his insight.

“A feng shui master once told my grandfather that Dragon’s Breath Mountain harbored a great calamity and was ill-suited for habitation,” Gu Ya explained. That master was her grandfather’s esteemed friend, a man of high cultivation, renowned throughout the country.

Gu Ya found Lin Le all the more mysterious.

The car continued east until they reached the highest of the seven peaks—Dragon Head Mountain. They drove up the winding road until almost at the very top, where they stopped before an enormous estate.

The manor was a blend of antique elegance and modern craftsmanship—clearly the work of skilled architects. As they drove in, Lin Le saw the sprawling grounds, grand like an estate, far exceeding the Lin family’s former villa in Shengshi Huating.

But this was only natural. The Gu family had been established for generations, while the Lin Group had been built from scratch by Lin Tenghui, rising and falling within just over a decade. In terms of foundation, wealth, and resources, the two families could not be compared.

Lin Le felt a sense of nostalgia, yet no inferiority.

For his return, his ambitions were far greater than the old Lin Group or even the present Gu family—he aimed for a glory so vast it would be beyond reach for ordinary people.

His heart was set on greatness, though it was not yet apparent to others.

“At this hour, Grandfather should be waiting for you at the training ground,” Gu Ya said, leading Lin Le to the rear courtyard. There, a massive martial training ground dominated the space, equipped with every kind of weapon, more impressive than many sects.

At that moment, Gu Huaishan, dressed in martial attire, was sparring with a robust man in his forties, clad in a tunic suit. Both men were formidable; their exchange filled the air with the sound of fists slicing through the wind.

Gu Huaishan particularly surprised Lin Le. Though he was well into his seventies and long past his prime, his movements betrayed no sign of age—clean, powerful, and decisive. If one ignored his face and looked only at his figure, it would be hard to believe he was so old.

Lin Le saw that both Gu Huaishan and the man in the tunic had reached the level of intermediate inner strength, both ranking as mid-tier martial masters. The man in the tunic seemed to have just entered this realm, while Gu Huaishan was clearly the superior, both in skill and power.

Just as Gu Huaishan seized an opening to win, he was suddenly gripped by a violent coughing fit, halting his imminent victory.

He coughed so violently that he could not straighten his back.

“Old Master Gu!” the man in the tunic called out in alarm.

“Grandfather!” Gu Ya hurried over, gently patting his back.

But the coughing did not cease.

Then, Lin Le placed his palm lightly on Gu Huaishan’s back. Instantly, a soothing energy surged into Gu Huaishan’s body, calming the chaotic qi within him and easing the fit.

“Incredible! Young Lin, I have been waiting for you,” said the head of the Gu family, unable to hide his excitement upon seeing Lin Le.

“Master Gu, I did warn you before—given your current health, martial practice is ill-advised. You should give it up to preserve your wellbeing,” Lin Le chided, sounding more like the old man’s personal physician.

“I have no other passions in life—martial arts are more important to me than life itself. How could I give them up? As a fellow devotee, you of all people should understand that feeling,” Gu Huaishan replied, kindly patting Lin Le’s shoulder.

Lin Le neither agreed nor disagreed.

“The last time at the hospital, it was thanks to your intervention that I was pulled back from death’s door. I never properly thanked you. I invited you here today specifically to express my gratitude for saving my life!” With that, Gu Huaishan cupped his hands in thanks.

“You’re too kind, Master Gu. In such circumstances, anyone with the ability would have done the same.”

“That may be, but few possess such skills. I heard from Director Jia that the method you used to save me was the long-lost Qihuang Guiding Technique—hardly anyone in the country knows such arts. And yet, fate brought us together,” Gu Huaishan said, smiling broadly.

“That much is true.” Gu Huaishan’s humility put Lin Le at ease.

“Guo Zhao,” Gu Huaishan signaled to the man in the tunic.

Guo Zhao immediately understood and brought over a tray from a nearby table, upon which rested five keys.