บท 70: Chapter 70 Too Smart For His Own Good
While the trip from Earth Soul City to Wind Blade Mountain took roughly twenty five days, the descent from Wind Blade Mountain to Daydream Flame Forest was barely ten days. The entirety of the trip was downhill nestled in a valley which stretched from the East to the West.
Daydream Flame Forest was at the end of the valley, a resource point filled with numerous Illusion Path Gu materials and Fire Path Gu materials. The environment was better suitable for human habitation when compared to Wind Blade Mountain, so there were was a village that Xuanyuan and the others could stay in while they were searching and foraging for Gu and Gu materials.
While the trip towards Daydream Flame Forest was uneventful, their arrival in the village wasn't as bland.
"Is that a fairy!? She's so beautiful!".
"Which one? The red haired Gu Master looks like she was drawn from a painting!".
"That girl with long black hair... the smile on her face... I think I'm in love".
"That Gu Master with the white strands of hair... she looks so distant, like an immortal watching over the Five Regions...".
"... That girl is... very well developed...".
All of the girls on the expedition were extraordinarily beautiful. Xuanyuan never considered the idea that talent and beauty were concepts associated together, but after a careful consideration, thought it some some merit behind it.
Even if Yu Zhong Er and Long Xi were a couple years older than the rest of them, with no background behind them, they could only fall behind even when compared to Jia Yufei and Li Xiao Er. Now with Xuanyuan as their friend, with some level of backing behind them, their talents no longer lagged behind that of some of the others their own age.
Tai Yin was the descendant of an Elder, so even if she was born with a talent that could barely be considered B Grade, she would still become a Rank 3 Gu Master. After that, if she worked hard enough, she might be able to become a Rank 4 Gu Master.
Still... the villagers weren't exactly looking at her talent as the ten of them strolled into the Village.
Xuanyuan walked most of the journey but didn't seem quite that phased and just looked towards an elderly gentleman the faint aura of a Rank 2 Gu Master emanating from his body. Xuanyuan could feel the faint traces of light red primeval essence around his body, and just smiled, giving him a small bow.
"Hello. My name is Xuanyuan. My companions and I are all members of the Ancient Soul Hall and are travelling towards Dream Garden City. I was wondering if we could find lodging here for a few days?".
Xuanyuan didn't hide his cultivation, releasing faint ripples of dark red primeval essence. The old man in front of his felt his mouth drop slightly, before smiling shaking his head.
"The Ancient Soul Sect has protected this Village for tens of generations. Any disciple of the Ancient Soul Sect is more than welcome here. I will have someone prepare lodging for you for as long as you require".
The old Gu Master could feel the primeval essence of a Peak Rank 2 Gu Master coming from this young man. He barely looked old enough to undergo his Talent Awakening Ceremony, and yet his cultivation exceeded his own by several small realms.
Not just that, but the lowest level of cultivation that this entire group showed was the Initial Rank 2 Gu Master Stage. While more than half of them showed cultivations at the Peak of Rank 2!
The old Gu Master had seen numerous Rank 3 Gu Masters arrive in Daydream Village before, testing their young to see if their talent was enough to join the Ancient Soul Sect. But at the very minimum, the youngest he had ever seen was twenty one years old, and was an Initial Rank 3 Gu Master!
The young man that spoke was barely sixteen, perhaps seventeen if he just had a young face. And yet, he was almost at a level that most Gu Masters could never reach in their entire lifetime!
The old Gu Master glanced behind him, seeing a bunch of kids, aged fifteen to nineteen who had cultivations scattered between the Peak of Rank 1 and the Initial Stage Rank 1. Glancing at a young man, roughly eighteen years of age with a Peak Rank 1 cultivation, he gestured for him to step forward.
"This is Murong Chu. He will guide you to your residence for the next few days. If you have any needs, any at all, Murong Chu will be at your disposal".
The eighteen year old Gu Master stepped forward and gave Xuanyuan and the others a deep bow, his eyes flickering to Long Xi for a moment. He could see that from Xuanyuan's cultivation and by the fact that he spoke for the rest of the group that he was in charge.
He appeared younger than him, but his cultivation already exceeded him by an entire realm.
A pang of envy appeared in his heart, but a flash of opportunity appeared in his eyes.
"This one's name is Murong Chu. It is my honor to show the disciples of the Ancient Soul Sect around Daydream Village".
Xuanyuan nodded, unphased by the level of courtesy that the villagers were showing. The reputation of the Ancient Soul Sect alone was enough for villagers to get down on their knees and prostrate towards them, his cultivation was only an added bonus, not that Xuanyuan cared about formalities and hierarchies.
Xuanyuan stretched out his arm, lifting his shadow off the ground with Rising Shadow Wall. The surrounding villagers all gasped with awe, seeing the magic of Gu Masters used directly in front of them.
Reaching into his shadow and pulling out a bag, Xuanyuan gifted it towards the old Gu Master, causing his eyes to widen, seeing the contents of the bag.
Primeval essence stones! Dozens of them!
The old Gu Master lifted his head towards Xuanyuan, noticing the difference in height between the two of them. He could see the gentle smile on his face, patting his shoulder while glancing towards the group of Gu Masters behind him.
"We do not lack manners in the Ancient Soul Sect. As guests we will provide our hosts with the appropriate renumeration. If a few of the younger generation can become Rank 2 Gu Masters, you will not have to worry about the future of Daydream Village".
The old Gu Master felt tears forming the corners of his eyes, and fell to his knees, bowing before Xuanyuan. Emotions bubbled up from the depths of his heart, and overflowed like spring water, gushing freely without restraint.
"Thank you sir! Thank you! Daydream Village will never forget this bounty!".
The old Gu Master gestured for the younger generation to bow as well, but Xuanyuan just waved them off, shaking his head. Gesturing towards the Armored Scale Crocodile, he gave Song Pei a little wink.
"My companion here is capable of taming crocodiles. Are their any beasts in the area that are beyond your ability to quell? While we are staying here, inform us of any activity within Daydream Flame Forest. If there is even a single Beast King, we should remove it before it can become a beast tide".
Murong Chu nodded, speaking up trying to appear useful. Pointing in a few different directions, he gave an estimate on how many different danger zones there were within the vicinity of Daydream Village.
"To the North there is a group of Fire Swallowing Apes which occasionally wander close to the Village. To the South there is a herd of Green Steel Bulls which sometimes try and steal our harvest. To the West sometimes hunters hear the roars of beasts in the night. Grandfather tries to quell the beasts every few months, but considering his age...".
Xuanyuan nodded, understanding his meaning.
Even if he was an experienced hunter and a Gu Master, his physical body was deteriorating, nearly at the end of his lifespan. Even if he had Gu which could strength his foundation, his physical strength, speed and endurance, nothing, not even a Venerable could defeat time.
Xuanyuan wanted to ask these Villagers in order to save time searching random areas of Daydream Flame Forest. While they were in Wind Blade Mountain, Song Pei led them to areas that he knew from previous visits were secluded, yet still filled with numerous resources.
None of their group had ever visited Daydream Flame Forest, so instead of wasting their time searching random areas, asking the villagers where they could find beasts would narrow down their search areas significantly.
Where there were Gu materials there were usually beasts. Where there were beasts there were usually Beast Kings. And where there was a Beast King, there was usually Gu.
So long as it was a Hundred Beast King, Xuanyuan himself would be able to kill it, provided that the ordinary beasts it controlled were taken care of by the others. Multiple Beast Kings, or even a Thousand Beast King, he would need to rely on his Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus, in combination with hit and run tactics.
This was assuming that the Thousand Beast King didn't have any Rank 3 Gu of course. If it possessed extraordinary speed and a Rank 3 Gu, Xuanyuan would immediately abandon Daydream Village and run back towards Wind Blade Mountain.
Shame and pride only had meaning if he was still alive. If he was dead, what use were concepts such as these?
Following Murong Chu back towards their temporary residence, Xuanyuan could see a few of the younger women in the Village glance at him, smiling, blushing, some even waving at him hoping to attract his attention.
He only gave the villagers a small smile, causing a few giggles to echo throughout the group of young women.
The other four male members of the group shared a glance, while the female members rolled their eyes. They could all admit that Xuanyuan possessed a strange, magnetic sort of charisma, one that seemed to transcend common sense.
They knew he was smart. That was a given. But there were multiple different types of "smart" in their minds. There was the type of smart which allowed someone to become a scholar, knowledgeable in academics, over a wide range of fields and topics.
There was the combat sort of smart. Understanding the movements of an opponent and then countering it with their own maneuvers and formations, allowing them to strike at the enemies weakness, while maintaining their own strengths at the same time.
There was also the social kind of smart. The kind that allowed someone to sway individuals to their side. Social manipulation without letting their target realize that they were being manipulated. Grasp at an individuals wants and needs, and then prey on them in order to advance their own agenda.
Without a doubt, Xuanyuan was the scholar kind of smart, and the social kind of smart. Even if they hadn't told him, they had all discussed Xuanyuan when he wasn't present.
His A Grade talent alone caused them to go green with envy. The speed at which he comprehended the nature of Gu was significantly quicker than any of them, even Song Pei and the Tai siblings, both of whom grew up in the Ancient Soul Sect. He was handsome and ambitious, and knew how to use it in order to get people on his side.
Xuanyuan was their friend, and they didn't doubt that he would kill for them.
But none of them wanted to be the one opposing him either.
Tai Yin had discussed with Long Xi and Yu Zhong Er about how they met Xuanyuan, and how Huo Jin practically pushed them into Xuanyuan's arms, spreading false rumors about him throughout the Ancient Soul Sect.
Tai Yin laughed out loud, knowing that Huo Jin had thrown two talented and beautiful young women into Xuanyuan's embrace. She herself had decided to join Xuanyuan, hoping to both get closer to the future Abyssal Child, and to remove herself from her father's shadow.
She admitted that it was for the benefit of herself and Yang, but still... enjoyed the expedition so far.
It was... fun.
Not having to worry about appearances. The feeling of achievement after slaying a Beast King for the first time. Refining her Rank 1 Sword Shadow Gu to Rank 2 without the assistance or guidance of her father. Even spending time with others who didn't see her as "Elder Tai's daughter", and just...
Tai Yin.
Following Murong Chu and the others, Tai Yin ignored the lustful glances of the villagers, her cold expression even more frosty than Yu Zhong Er's. Focusing her attention ahead, she could see Xuanyuan glancing at her, mouthing something, causing her to roll her eyes.
She cracked a smile, forgetting about the glances of the villagers around her.
'... Too smart for his own good', she thought.
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