บท 73: Tang and Gong.
"The Treasured Plains aren't as tough as I thought it would be." Tang spoke.
"Well that's because we haven't reached one of the main areas yet. That's where the real treasures of this sacred place are." Gong responded.
"Why did Second Senior suggest we spend all our time in the Great Tower?"
"Weren't you listening Junior Brother? We would gain the most there in comparison to the other Great Areas for our current cultivation rank." Gong explained.
"So, we're too weak, is it?" Tang understood in other terms.
His Second Senior wouldn't send them to their deaths for no reason. Although it pissed him off, he wasn't too upset considering that they had someone looking out for them. He'd just have to get stronger so that no one would need to care for him like a child. And his chance for strength is staring down on him right now in the form of that stupidly big black tower.
"In harsher words, yes." Gong agreed with a pleasant tone in his voice.
"Gong." Tang was wondering something about his Fourth Senior.
They've been inside the Treasured Plains for some time now but Gong who has always been ahead of him in cultivation, has suddenly stagnated at the 9th stage. He knew a crafty bastard like him wouldn't do something like this without reason. He himself just started filling his qi sea. Tang suspected Gong knew of some advantageous secret that he didn't know.
"Yes?"
"Why are you still at the 9th stage?"
"I haven't had much luck lately in my cultivation." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
"Don't joke with me you clown. I know you're hiding something about the 9th stage. Tell me."
"Now, how could I just give out my secrets for free Junior Brother? If you're willing to part with the secret of how you actually obtained that weapon of yours then maybe I could share the secret I'm hiding about the 9th stage."
"I made a deal for it." Tang answered.
"Welp, I knew you wouldn't give up the secret that easily. I guess I'll have to... wait what?!" Gong reacted in a rare moment of surprise as Tang willingly shared the secret he's been hiding for months. Even from their master!
"Now tell me." Tang demanded.
"You made a deal for it? What kind of deal? You aren't going to betray Elder Mo, are you?" Gong asked seriously.
"Quit speaking nonsense. I answered your question, now answer mine."
Gong dropped his shoulders in defeat. Who knew his Junior Brother would actually tell him how he got his spirit weapon? Even with the combined efforts of him and Third Senior constantly asking and annoying him for weeks on end didn't break him. Gong guessed Little Tang's pride couldn't accept him having an advantage over him even though he was the one seriously disadvantaged right now.
The Stellar-ranked sword Elder Mo bought for him couldn't compare to Tang's boomerang. Little Tang's rapid growth in strength was directly related to that weapon of his. Now Gong couldn't slack off in the slightest or the junior would pass the senior. It was already a great humiliation that he lost in an official duel against Tang. But he refused to let that black mark on his history be something that defined him. He challenged Tang to another duel a week later inside their master's mansion and managed to win that time after being aware of the secret technique that vastly improved Tang's speed at the cost of taxing his body.
Gong's goal right now was to find a spirit weapon or tool that could compare to his junior's weapon. After spending several months training with him and Third Senior, he knew the type of object he needed was something that money could not buy. The Treasured Plains was his only chance to make sure that Tang doesn't slip past him. Even with his own high talent, there are some things that can't be handled with talent alone. Luck is also a required factor for one to rise to the heavens.
"I guess I have no choice." Gong sighed helplessly.
Tang's ears perked up.
"Once you reach the 9th stage of the Qi Gathering realm, you only need to do one thing. Make a sea of qi within your dantian." Tang nodded as he knew this information already.
"Before I tell you why I am staying at the 9th stage, let me ask you a question." Tang looked irritated at this statement, but Gong believed it was important.
"Hurry up."
"Why do you think it's called a qi sea?"
"How am I supposed to know?! What does this have to do with anything?!"
"At least try to answer the question Little Tang."
"Because its blue and when controlling the qi into a pool, it looks like water." Tang gave the first answer that came to his mind.
"A sensible answer but wrong." Visible veins appeared on Tang's forehead.
"In the days of past when Immortals were as numerous as clouds in the sky, it was common for cultivators to stay in the 9th stage for hundreds of years by choice." Tang willingly stayed quiet this time and let Gong finish, causing him to smile.
"The reason for this was because they realized that at the 9th stage, the amount of qi they could fill inside their dantian was only limited by how much qi control they had mastery over." Gong could see Tang in deep thought. Perhaps he was understanding exactly what he was getting at without him telling him directly.
"So, what you're saying is I can make this tiny puddle in my dantian into something as large as an ocean or the sky with enough qi control?" Tang asked seriously.
"That's exactly what I was saying Junior Brother." Gong smiled at him. Tang was not dumb in any manner. He was just as gifted as other prodigies. It was just that his emotions and pride always took prevalence over using his brain in most cases.
"Hmph. Let's keep moving then." Tang began walking in front.
"Not even a thanks Junior Brother?"
"We both exchanged information we believed that were of equal value. I don't see why I need to thank you for anything."
"Equal value!? You barely told me anything!"
"You need a better sense for business Fourth Senior. It is your own fault if you get taken advantage of in a trade." Tang spoke as if he was the wiser disciple.
"You got me this time Little Tang. I must admit, I didn't think you'd be able to trick me."
"Are you calling me dumb, you fake bastard?" Tang gripped the strap on the end of his boomerang.
"Of course not Junior Brother, I just thought you only cared about cultivation and training. Who knew you would have the mind for business and other such subjects?"
"I'm not stupid you damn fox! You're saying that I'm only good for training and cultivating while being stupid at everything else!" Tang swung his weapon towards Gong.
"Okay, you got me again Little Tang. I apologize for making fun of your intelligence. I'm learning more surprising things about you than ever inside here." Gong avoided the attack by leaning his body to the side while also aiming his sword at Tang's defenseless neck.
"Don't think you've won this either. I could've easily gotten out of the way of your stupid sword." Tang pushed his sword away with his palm.
"Whatever you say Junior Brother." Gong flashed his trademark smile. A completely fake smile that hid the true personality of Gong, in Tang's opinion.
The two went back to traveling towards the Great Tower. Gong continued to make pointless conversation to Tang with Tang sometimes responding back and sometimes ignoring him outright. Along the way, Tang spotted a figure in the distance that made him curious. Gong could sense the killing intent leaking from Tang and also looked on curiously. That distinctive hair with dark purple streaks and thin body reminded Tang of someone. A certain someone that refused to heed the warnings given by his followers. To stay away from his woman, Xiao Hong or face death! Tang walked towards the person and Gong followed behind him.
"You. With the stupid hair. Turn around." Tang commanded.
The unknown youth didn't even act like he heard Tang Wuying. He just kept walking forward.
"Hmph. An arrogant bastard huh? Sounds just like him." Tang's followers told him of Liuxian's arrogance.
He lifted his weapon off his back and threw it right towards the mysterious youth! Whether it was Xiao's stalker or not, it didn't matter. Anyone who dared act so haughty in front of him deserved to die. Especially when it was a nobody like this. His boomerang spun with enough force to distort the wind around it.
The cocky youth ducked underneath Tang's boomerang just as it was about to cleave him in half. The trees in front of him took his place as the curved weapon sliced apart the wide trees like paper. The great spirit weapon started flying back towards Tang with the young man unaware of the danger behind him. A smirk appeared on Tang's face as he imagined the arrogant bastard being split from the center with his weapon.
But unlike what he thought would happen, the youth did a small hop over the dangerous hunting weapon, avoiding it entirely. Tang Wuying skillfully caught his weapon by the strap and looked into the eyes of the figure. Those piercing eyes staring at him with enough killing intent to nearly overwhelm his own. Now he had to teach this fool a lesson for daring to look at him with such eyes. They may be at the same stage but he was a genius that was blessed by Lord Tyanir. Nobody in his age group could be his match.
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