Chapter 16: Preparing for Departure
Hello, here are the questions:
1. If you were to create a Totem Killer move, what would that move do?
2. Do you think there exist superior and inferior dao marks?
3. What path do you think primeval and immortal essence are a part of? (My guess is Human Path)
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Zhao Wen POV
Entering his residence after concluding the meeting with Lord Han, Zhao Wen was in a contemplative mood as he prepared for his coming cultivation session.
During the meeting, he had been told that Lord Han had accepted another mission on his behalf, tasking Zhao Wen with collecting souls as he traveled outside the Ye clan.
Initially, Zhao Wen had been confused as to why another mission was being foisted on his shoulders, but after thinking about the mission details, he realized why the old man had accepted it on his behalf.
Taking out the Gu that he needed to use during the mission, Zhao Wen observed it carefully as he thought about the mission.
[It seems it wasn't a bad idea to tell Lord Han about the food my Phantom Fiend Gu needs. With this mission as a cover, I can gather human souls covertly, using some as food while getting primeval essence stones for the remaining souls.]
Placing the Gu inside his aperture, Zhao Wen couldn't help but feel disappointed with himself. Frowning as he thought,
[I have been neglecting to cultivate social connections during my stay in the Ye clan. If I had spent some more time exploring the clan missions and interacting with the other elders, I might have taken that mission myself.]
Easing his frown, Zhao Wen continued to contemplate,
[Well, I might as well take this as a wake-up call. Although any connections I cultivate probably won't help me after rank 4, this doesn't mean that I should ignore them.
I might as well begin tomorrow by socializing with the rank 3 elders that will be accompanying me on the mission.]
Relaxing his facial expression, Zhao Wen ruminated,
[Hmm, isn't the young clan leader in charge of this mission? If I manage to get on Xie Long's good side, I might be able to mend the bad relationship I have with the Xie branch.
Although, considering that the previous Zhao Wen almost killed his younger brother in a sparring match, it might be an uphill battle to improve his opinion of me now.
Who knows? If I succeed, I might be able to use them as a counterweight to Lord Han, perhaps even extracting more benefits from the Han branch.]
Shaking his head, Zhao Wen started focusing on assaulting his aperture walls with his primeval essence. As his primeval essence sea was slowly expended, Zhao Wen estimated the remaining time left before he reached rank 3 peak.
He was making steady progress towards the rank 3 peak stage, but Zhao Wen knew that there was still at least a year left to go before he reached the peak of rank 3. Observing this, Zhao Wen commented,
[No wonder it took Xie Long and Chen Wu over 15 years to reach rank 3 peak stage. If I didn't know the precarious position I am in as an otherworldly demon and didn't come from a world without magical powers, I would probably also take my time cultivating.]
Sighing to himself, Zhao Wen continued to cultivate, the threat of any random wisdom path immortal deducing his otherworldly origin or of Heaven Overseeing Tower Lord accidentally finding him during one of his scrying attempts making him commit wholeheartedly to rushing towards the higher cultivation ranks.
As Zhao Wen continued cultivating, the heavens kept turning with black heaven usurping white heaven, signaling the end of the day, and prompting Zhao Wen to start resting for the following morning.
Rising at dawn, Zhao Wen made sure his previous preparations were in order before leaving the Han Branch's estate and moving towards the gathering point.
Observing his storage Gu, Zhao Wen smiled as he observed the resources contained within.
Zhao Wen had packed enough food for his Gu and for himself for the coming half-year inside the storage-type Gu lent to him by the Han branch.
Contained within the Gu were all of the resources, tools, and equipment Zhao Wen had thought he might need. Ranging from mortal tools like axes and hammers to various spices and clothes, Zhao Wen had it all.
Although chances were that this mission would take no more than a month or two, Zhao Wen had insisted that it was better to be overprepared than underprepared.
His persistence had won out in the end as he got his extra months of rations, giving him a safety buffer if he lost access to the Han branch's resources.
After Lord Han had received a report on how many resources Zhao Wen had requisitioned from the treasury, he had asked Zhao Wen about them during one of their lessons.
In response, Zhao Wen had explained that since he had enough storage space for these things inside the Gu the Han branch had lent him, he might as well put that space to good use.
Facing Zhao Wen's insistence, Lord Han had greenmarked the acquisition, allowing Zhao Wen to have half a year's worth of cultivation resources with him on the mission to hunt down the bandits.
Arriving at the gates made Zhao Wen return his focus to the present situation. Looking around for a few seconds or two, he quickly spotted the flock of sandgulls to the side and the 12 people waiting with the birds.
Arriving before the group of Gu masters, Zhao Wen sensed that two of them radiated rank 3 peak stage aura while the remaining auras were all rank 2, ranging from rank 2 middle stage to rank 2 peak stage.
Seeing a familiar face, Zhao Wen moved towards the two chatting rank 3 Gu masters. Both of the Elders were clearly from a previous generation, both sprouting grey hair and giving off an experienced and wary air.
Approaching the rank 3 Gu masters, Zhao Wen cupped his fists in greeting, saying,
"Junior Zhao Wen greets Senior Du and Senior Luo."
In return, Zhao Wen received a quizzical look from Elder Luo while he received a mirthful chuckle from Elder Du.
"Stop with that, you don't need to call us seniors. We are all Elders of the Ye clan, not members of a Central Continent Sect. Call us Elder Du or Elder Luo if you want to be polite."
Smiling in response to Elder Du's soft rebuttal, Zhao Wen said,
"Nonsense, I might have an appropriate cultivation rank to hold the title of elder, but I am still not experienced enough to earnestly call myself an elder."
Hearing this, Elder Luo, who had been standing to the side during this conversation, joined in happily,
"Ha, you're good kid. To tell the truth, I had been worried that you would be one of those muscle brains like your father, but it seems like you know how the world works. Lord Han truly knows whom to invest in."
Seeing Elder Luo's amicable attitude, Zhao Wen was happy internally. He knew that in any organization, there existed an official or unofficial pecking order, and this was also true of the Han faction inside the Ye clan.
Elder Du and Elder Luo both probably held some internal grievances that a junior like Zhao Wen, who only a few months ago was a rank 2 upper stage Gu master, had made a rapid class journey from grunt to elder this quickly.
Zhao Wen therefore used this opportunity to show a humble attitude, placing himself beneath these two experienced Elders and satisfying their egos.
Now, did these two realize what he was doing? Of course they did. In fact, it was this willingness to place himself beneath these two elders that Elder Luo was praising.
As in their estimation, a 19-year-old with rank 3 upper stage cultivation would act as if they were a giant sun reborn, flexing their achievement for everyone to see.
With Zhao Wen establishing a good atmosphere between the three elders, the conversation quickly progressed, eventually ending up on the topic of Zhao Wen's previous grudge with the Xie Branch.
"Sigh, I don't even remember the fight with Xie Lian. I have been told that I acted the way I did because he ridiculed me in one of the academy classes, but I am unable to fathom how I could escalate such a small conflict to a battle of life and death."
As Zhao Wen said this, he showed a helpless expression, his tone filled with remorse and helplessness.
Elder Luo and Elder Du, who observed the downtrodden youth, gave each other a look, contemplating the veiled request Zhao Wen had made.
With Elder Du giving a soft incline of his head as confirmation to Elder Luo, the enslavement path Gu master took a step forward, placing his hand on Zhao Wen's shoulder, saying,
"Don't worry, we all made mistakes in our youth. It is the responsibility of the older generation to help the younger overcome these mistakes and learn from them. I will talk with Xie Long and mediate any lingering bad feelings from that day."
Raising his head to look at Elder Luo, Zhao Wen thanked him earnestly, saying,
"I will definitely repay you for this. If you or your descendants need my help in the future, I will definitely give it."
Laughing happily to Zhao Wen's promise, Elder Luo denied,
"No, no, I am happy to do this for the future Lord Han. As I said before, it is the duty of the older generation to pave the way for the younger."
Cupping his fists in response, Zhao Wen thanked Elder Luo with a grateful expression while thinking to himself,
[Humans are the same no matter the world. Older people in positions of power enjoy helping juniors as long as the favor asked isn't too big.]
People in positions of power hungered for opportunities to show off their benevolence and generosity, actually wishing for people to ask for small favors so that they could prove their power by granting them.
And in this case, it also helped that by granting this favor to Zhao Wen, Elder Luo would get in the good grace of the future leader of the Han faction, with Zhao Wen owing him for this intervention.
After asking for this favor, Zhao Wen turned the conversation towards Elder Luo's enslavement path cultivation and towards the sandgull group surrounding them.
With Elder Luo happy to continue conversing with Zhao Wen, the two talked about the Enslavement Path right until they spotted the remaining two Elders approaching the group.
Elder Song, a Blade Path upper stage Gu master, and Xie Long, a peak stage Soul path Gu master and the heir apparent of the Ye clan, walked towards the gathering of Gu masters together, clearly conversing about something.
As they approached, Zhao Wen observed Xie Long carefully. The 32-year-old heir looked gaunt, his seeming emaciated frame making him resemble a skeleton.
He had a small beard struggling to grow on his chin and piercing green eyes that observed everything with a cold gaze.
As the two made eye contact, Zhao Wen could see Xie Long's eyes widen slightly in recognition. Zhao Wen couldn't sense any clear hostile intent, but he recognized that Xie Long might be a good enough actor to conceal it. He was the heir apparent, after all, being experienced in the field of clan politics.
As Xie Long arrived before the group of elders, he inclined his head slightly towards Elder Luo and Elder Du, saying,
"Elders, it's good you're here already. It means we can begin our assignment once I have briefed the Mo Zu."
As he said this, his gaze slowly moved towards Zhao Wen, keeping his facial expression neutral. Before he had the chance to speak, however, Zhao Wen cupped his fists, bowing slightly towards him and saying,
"Elder Zhao Wen greets the young clan leader."
Xie Long observed Zhao Wen for some time before saying,
"Right… You're the new addition to this group." Squinting his eyes slightly, Xie Long continued, "After I have informed the Mo Zu about our mission, we will have a discussion on how you will fit into our battle plans."
Having said his piece, Xie Long walked towards the rank 2 Gu masters and was quickly followed by Elder Luo, who started talking quietly with him as they walked twourds the waiting group of rank 2 Gu masters.