Li Gang thought. 'Even though it is risky, I have no other choice. My cultivation is too low to travel long distances.'
Li Gang started looking at multiple spirit beasts and paid special attention to flying spirit beasts. Hu Xin noticed this and immediately began introducing flying beasts even more enthusiastically.
Li Gang remained calm but wondered, 'Was I that obvious?'
He looked intently at Hu Xin and said, "What I want is a very fast spiritual beast, rank 4 or rank 5 at most."
Hu Xin nodded and showed many of them. There was even the Whirlwind Eagle among them:
Azure Windglider (Rank 4)Price: 8,999Info: Strong attack power and fast speed. Can cover tens of miles within a minute and is even able to go toe to toe with Rank 4 peak.
Thunderclap Talon (Rank 5)Price: 19,999Info: Strong attack power, endurance and speed. Able to fly at speeds of thousands of meters per second and can parry attacks of Rank 5 head on.
Whirlwind Eagle (Rank 4)Price: 14,999Info: Very strong attack power and endurance. It can also fly long distances continuously at around 100 m/s. Able to fight Rank 5s with just Rank 4 cultivation.
Arcane Stormrider (Rank 5)Price: 7,999Info: It has no attack power, but is able to fly very fast. It is able to cross the entire Central Region within a year at speeds of thousands of meters per second.
Looking at these, Li Gang started analyzing.
'Although I need the Thunderclap Talon, I don't have enough spirit stones. But given my situation, the Arcane Stormrider suits me best. The Azure Windglider seems to balance strength and speed, but I know it won't cover longer distances. I also have to avoid risks. If it's the Arcane Stormrider, I can avoid any fatal blows it might suddenly deliver because of its low attack power.'
Even though these spirit beasts are captives, they can attempt sneak attacks to win their freedom.
Li Gang looked at many of them and finally decided on the Arcane Stormrider.
Hu Xin looked at him and frowned. He said, "Are you sure? It has no attack power!"
Li Gang nodded. "I am sure."
Hu Xin said no more, took out the Arcane Stormrider, prepared the spatial ring specifically made to keep this beast, and brought Li Gang back to the counter.
The middle-aged man said, "It's 7,999 spirit stones."
Li Gang looked at him and said, "Is there no discount? You see, it doesn't have any attack power."
The middle-aged man replied, "Don't worry, young friend. We give the most reasonable price. Even though it has no attack power, its speed is enough to justify the price. It is even faster than many Rank 6 beasts. And don't forget it is very cheap for a Rank 5 beast."
Li Gang didn't say anything. Not because he was convinced, but because he was not familiar with the market price of these beasts. He found the explanation both reasonable and suspicious at the same time. 'A Rank 5 beast should be more costly—why is it so cheap?'
He paid the money anyway, looked at his spatial ring, and murmured inwardly, 'I have only a little over a thousand spirit stones left now.'
The middle-aged man took the spirit stones and handed over the spiritual beast. He also gave Li Gang one token and taught him the method to issue instructions to the Arcane Stormrider through it.
Li Gang left after understanding everything.
He first went to a nearby forest region and began practicing there. In the Small World, Huang Ling had been controlling the bird, but now he had to learn on his own. The rider also had to face the strong air drag caused by the bird's speed.
After practicing for a month, Li Gang was able to fly properly, though not like an expert. He gained enough proficiency to move from one place to another if there were no obstacles.
At the same time, Li Gang felt scammed. Its food was too expensive and would cost around 700 spirit stones per month! He now possessed very few spirit stones—only a few hundred after feeding it.
After completing his practice, Li Gang murmured, "It's time to go back."
He immediately started moving toward the inn on the Arcane Stormrider.
On his way, he heard a commotion. He looked down and found many people discussing something. Li Gang descended, walked near them, and politely asked one of the members, "What happened?"
The man, a young disciple in his thirties, looked at Li Gang and replied in a serious voice, "The Sword Gate has announced the closure of the entire Bladehaven town. We are disciples of the Sword Gate and were ordered to return to the sect immediately. I advise you to return home at once; otherwise it may become dangerous."
Li Gang nodded. "Thank you. I will return immediately."
Saying that, he left. After moving a short distance away, he stopped, looked deep into the forest and murmured.
"It seems that old man did leave something on me. Is it on that sword?"
"I wanted to go to the Heavenly Demon Sect, but it's no longer possible in this situation." Li Gang looked in a certain direction and his eyes turned sharp.
He murmured, "Verdant Forest Territory is the only option as of now. It's really true: 'Plans can't keep up with changes.'"
He mounted the Arcane Stormrider and immediately set off. At the same time he began meditating on the cultivation technique: the Celestial Serenity Technique. This technique had been given to him by Wang Xueyao. He had been cultivating with it since he obtained it. Not only is it one of the best techniques, it also enhances cultivation speed.
One month later
12th June, Year 42022 of the Elemental Era
Li Gang had already entered the Verdant Forest Territory. The whole region was covered in forest. He stopped every ten days during the journey to hunt beasts to feed the Arcane Stormrider and to rest.
This time he stopped because he saw a huge battle. He hid himself atop one of the taller trees and took back the Arcane Stormrider.
He activated his Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye to watch the battle.
He was surprised to find that a young man, about seventeen years old, was already fighting a Rank 4 beast: a Shadowstalk Panther.
The young man's temperament was ethereal, and he was very handsome. He was effortlessly suppressing the panther.
Meanwhile, another young man, roughly Li Gang's age, was fighting several beasts and protecting a beautiful woman beside him.
Suddenly a sound resounded through the sky.
"Nine Heavenly Lightning Slash: First Slash. Lightning Blade."
A sharp lightning blade surged from the young man's sword and severed the head of the Shadowstalk Panther.
Li Gang gasped at the scene. 'So strong! This technique is definitely very high level—at least Rank 7!'
The young man's battle strength was probably among the strongest in this area. He had focused on a few techniques—though only Grade 2, his proficiency was so high that he could rival Rank 5–6 techniques with them. The only problem was that lower-grade techniques were inefficient against higher-rank cultivators.
But what surprised Li Gang most was that the young man looked only about seventeen years old.
The young man sheathed his sword after killing the Shadowstalk Panther and murmured inwardly.
'System'
Ding!
Name: Ji ChangchenAge: 17 years oldIdentity: Holy Son of Celestial SectPhysique: Immortal and Demon Emperor BodyCultivation: Rank 3 peakSoul Cultivation: Rank 4 early stageTalent: S gradeBattle Strength: Rank 4 mid stageCultivation Techniques: Chaotic Sword Scripture, Heaven Devouring TechniqueDestiny Points: 1,478
Ding. Congratulations to the host for saving the Daughter of Destiny and taking away the chance of the protagonist! Rewarding 300 destiny points.
Ji Changchen smiled inwardly. 'Just wait. I will play every protagonist to the death. Don't blame me—blame the heavens for choosing you pieces of trash.'
He looked at Qin Hongyi and smiled gently. "Are you all right?"
Qin Hongyi looked at him and felt warmth. She hurriedly bowed and replied, "Thank you, young master, for saving my brother and sister. We are fine."
Qin Feng hid Hongyi behind him and cupped his fists. "I thank you for saving my sister's life, but now we have to return to Harmony Fang Sect."
Ji Changchen smiled. "Oh, you are going to Harmony Fang Sect? That's good—I am also heading there. We can travel together."
Qin Feng frowned upon hearing that, but as he was about to say something...
Suddenly, a sharp arrow flew and passed just by Ji Changchen's shoulder, embedding itself in the dead Shadowstalk Panther.
Ji Changchen looked at the fallen panther and narrowed his eyes. He shouted, "Come out."
A young man stumbled out from the woods and stuttered, "He—hel-lo, young master. I—I was j-just passing by..."
Ji Changchen interjected, "You don't have to be nervous. Just tell me your name."
The young man replied, "My name is Ren Ying, young master."
Ji Changchen looked at him and murmured inwardly, 'System, show his profile.'
Name: Li GangAge: 20Identity: A mediocre villain in the early stagePhysique: NoneCultivation: Rank 3 early stageSoul Cultivation: Rank 5 mid stage (unstable)Talent: D gradeSpiritual Imprint: Unable to determineBattle Strength: Rank 4 early stageCultivation Technique: Unable to determine
Ji Changchen frowned. 'System, explain. What do you mean by "Unable to determine"?'
Ding! Reply to the host: When a cultivation technique is beyond the system's recognition, or when the technique is self-made and not present in the current memory space, it is deemed undeterminable by the system. It is also possible that someone hid it or that the person never used it, and thus the system is unable to calculate.
Ji Changchen was surprised. 'He can't possibly have created a spiritual imprint. That leaves only one possibility—he has never used his spiritual imprint. Most likely he doesn't have one. This person is not simple!'
He said sharply, "Do you think I can't see through your disguise?"
Li Gang was surprised. He immediately removed the disguise and replied modestly, "Young master is really strong. You can even see through my disguise!"
But inwardly he thought, 'This man is not simple. How did he see through me?'
Ji Changchen thought, 'He can be a useful tool, especially against the protagonists.'