Gu Changhuan had a leisurely stretch of days on Emerald Maple Mountain, focusing on cultivation, and his cultivation base grew rapidly.

Even though higher cultivation levels become harder to break through, Gu Changhuan could vaguely feel that his cultivation had already reached the latter part of the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer.

Broad Spirit Roots really did help cultivation. The old teachings had been right!

Several months flashed by, and the day of Gu Xuanzhan's Purple Mansion Celebration soon arrived.

The sky was clear and cloudless. They could hardly have wished for a finer day.

Gu Xuanzhan, dressed in ceremonial robes, sat in the main seat, smiling contentedly.

Gu Wanchang had pressed Gu Changhuan into service receiving gifts at the mountain gate.

The gifts were an education in themselves. With so many guests, almost anything could turn up.

The rogue cultivators brought the most curious offerings.

Some sent so-called fragments of Dharma Treasures.

There were also people who sent a strange-looking stone, claiming it was a meteorite from beyond the heavens.

Some sent a piece of cloth with characters Gu Changhuan had never seen before. The rogue cultivator giving the gift said it recorded some kind of Daoist secret technique.

There were even those who directly brought their own daughters, saying they wanted to give them to Gu Xuanzhan as concubines. Gu Wanchang directly refused these.

Gu Changhuan had never seen anything like it.

With about an incense stick's time left before the ceremony, the Fang and Zhang clans' ancestors arrived.

Gu Xuanzhan personally welcomed them.

"Congratulations on reaching Purple Mansion, Brother Gu!" The Fang ancestor and Zhang Wendao cupped their hands in greeting.

The Fang Clan's Purple Mansion ancestor was named Fang Xuhua, who had entered the Purple Mansion Realm many years ago. His cultivation was much higher than Zhang Wendao of the Zhang Clan, already reaching the Mid Purple Mansion level, and he held a position in the Haoran Sect.

"You honor the Gu Clan by coming in person, Brothers," Gu Xuanzhan said politely.

"It's a great day for the Nine Perches Mountains! But here I am talking when I should be giving you this. A gift to mark the occasion, Brother Gu. I hope you'll accept it."

Fang Xuhua's hand passed over the Storage Bag at his waist, pulling out two gift boxes, one large and one small.

Zhang Wendao also took out a gift box.

Gu Xuanzhan took the gifts and handed them to Gu Wanchang; these were all to be announced publicly.

"Please, take your seats."

The Gu Clan had reserved places for both ancestors, even without advance notice that they were coming.

Gu Changhuan swept over the three gift boxes with his Divine Sense.

Truly worthy of Purple Mansion ancestors, their generosity was impressive!

Fang Xuhua had brought a third-tier artifact and a high-grade Spirit Stone.

The Magical Artifact was one thing, but a High-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, and one Middle-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. This was essentially gifting ten thousand Spirit Stones to the Gu Clan!

Moreover, High-Grade Spirit Stone mines were rare, so High-Grade Spirit Stones were naturally scarce.

Ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, if they could obtain a High-Grade Spirit Stone, would save it for use in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks. Not everyone was willing to use a High-Grade Spirit Stone as a gift.

Zhang Wendao's gift was a low-grade third-tier Demon Core.

A third-tier Demon Core could be used to make Foundation Establishment Pills, but the refining process was extremely difficult and required many other herbs.

Moreover, the Gu Clan did not have the pill formula for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, so this Third-Tier Demon Core could only be used for other purposes.

Fang Xuhua's gifts were worth more. Still, without Zhang Wendao escorting them safely home from Cloudheaven Market, Gu Xuanzhan might never have reached Purple Mansion.

The Purple Mansion Celebration and the Foundation Establishment Celebration basically followed the same process, just more solemn.

After the celebration began, the gift announcements started.

The Fang and Zhang Clans' gift announcements naturally came last, but the gifts from the two Purple Mansion ancestors stunned all the cultivators who came to attend the celebration.

Third-Tier Magical Artifact!

High-Grade Spirit Stone!

Third-Tier Demon Core!

Any single one of these could fetch at least ten thousand Spirit Stones if taken to the market!

Only Yu Daoyan of the Yu Clan could barely maintain her composure. After all, the Yu Clan also had a Purple Mansion heritage and would not be easily intimidated by a few Third-Tier spirit items.

Still, she inevitably felt bitterness and unease in her heart.

After the banquet, Gu Xuanzhan began lecturing on the Dao.

Gu Changhuan, with sharp eyes, noticed many rogue cultivators and minor clan cultivators taking out jade slips and small notebooks.

Naturally, Gu Changhuan did not need to do this. He could go to Gu Xuanzhan anytime for answers to his cultivation questions. Moreover, the Gu Clan's Scripture Pavilion had detailed records of Gu Xuanzhan's insights on breaking through to the Purple Mansion. Gu Clan disciples only needed to spend a certain amount of Clan Contribution Points to borrow and read them.

After the celebration ended, the two Purple Mansion ancestors and Gu Xuanzhan entered the Gu Clan's council hall.

Yu Daoyan of the Yu Clan finally found an opportunity to speak a few words with Gu Wanchang.

Gu Wanchang had been busy all day and almost forgot about this matter.

"You're looking well, Fellow Daoist Gu. Joy agrees with you! I imagine you'll reach the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment soon."

This Yu Daoyan was truly patient. Gu Wanchang smiled and said,

"Speaking of good news, hasn't the Yu Clan had plenty lately too?"

Yu Daoyan sighed,

"How can it compare with Senior Gu reaching Purple Mansion? I envy you. An elder to shelter the clan, and a younger generation with such promise. Not like me..."

This time, she finally stated her purpose.

"You're too modest, Fellow Daoist Yu. You may be a Foundation Establishment clan for now, but you still have a Purple Mansion clan's heritage. And the sky isn't falling, is it?"

Gu Wanchang said this.

He could not help but feel fortunate internally: if today's Purple Mansion Celebration were held by the Yu Clan, then these words might have to be spoken with their roles reversed.

He would have been the one feeling anxious, and she the one able to reassure him.

Upon hearing Gu Wanchang say this, the joy on Yu Daoyan's face could not be concealed.

"Thank you for reassuring me. I won't forget it. I hear Gu Wanhua is very skilled at making talismans. If she has time, might she visit us? We would give her a warm welcome."

"I'll thank you on Wanhua's behalf, then."

"You've been busy all day. I won't keep you any longer."

As a clan leader herself, she knew how much work remained even after a celebration. She tactfully took her leave.

After Yu Daoyan left, Gu Wanchang nodded.

She knew when to press and when to yield, and could sacrifice a little to protect the clan as a whole. The Yu Clan had a capable leader.

On the other side, in the Gu Clan's council hall.

Gu Xuanzhan looked very serious, and Zhang Wendao also had a stern expression.

"So the next Beast Tide is less than ten years away?" Gu Xuanzhan asked again.

Fang Xuhua nodded. "I came back both to celebrate your breakthrough and to discuss the Beast Tide."

"Every two hundred years, this Beast Tide nearly ruins the four clans. At least you've reached Purple Mansion now, Brother Gu. That should ease the burden on the two of us."

Zhang Wendao first lamented, then turned his gaze to Gu Xuanzhan.

He and Gu Xuanzhan were of the same generation, just having formed his Purple Mansion a few years earlier than Gu Xuanzhan. Naturally, he had also heard of the title 'Number One Foundation Establishment Cultivator in Nine Perches Mountains' back then.

"You give me too much credit, Brother Zhang." Gu Xuanzhan had only just reached Purple Mansion. He had no intention of taking on too much.