Gu Yan was exhausted from the events from the clan hall. However, the happiness from the fact that he could bring his mother to visit his father's grave kept him from collapsing.
Lin Yuan himself was very angry at what had happened to Gu Yan. The way he was treated, the way he was humiliated, the scornful eyes, the blatant contempt, he felt that it was too much for anyone to bear. He just couldn't adapt to this world.
But the rage still kept his heart ablaze. He wanted to talk to Gu Yan, but realized that it wasn't the best time to do so, so he kept quiet.
Gu Yan walked past the magnificent pagoda, grand halls that could fill a thousand people. He walked past the residential area, filled with laughter and harmony. He walked past the servant quarters, which gave Lin Yuan a 'modern' feeling.
Yes, while the immortal world is more focused on achieving the Dao, the mortal world did not lag behind in development either. However, progress was slow, since it was better to strive for immortality than spend money on 'delusional' ideas.
Those than can sponsor usually have an immortal seed in their family, since the probability of someone having immortal roots is much higher in a Great Thousand World. So the world only saw development in sectors such as architecture and medicine. In large Immortal cities, like Wu Wan City, technology is considered 'heresy'.
Occupying such a large area in a medium size city was difficult for Gu clan, but 15 years ago, Gu Yuan who was Gu Yan's grandfather's generation succeeded in forming a golden elixir, and Gu family became the leading family in Wu Wan city with Golden Core cultivators.
Of course, Gu Yan didn't know about Lin Yuan's emotions. He was much more familiar with these matters, since mortal products are much cheaper. So, even if it increased the number of topics to humiliate him with, he still purchases mortal products for daily needs.
Gu Yan walked to the edge of the Gu clan's back mountain. There lay a small community, his line of clan descendants. The entire side branch was pushed to near extinction after Gu Yang's death. The only two cultivators of the line, Gu Yan and Gu Zhen, barely held the family stay afloat.
Walking into a depilated Courtyard, Gu Yan walked straight to the main room. Inside the room, a woman was sitting in a rocking chair. Startled by the sound, she called out,
"Ling'er, is that you?"
"It's me, Mother."
Gu Yan walked to his mother and crouched down. Shen Mei used her hands to feel up her son's face. Lin Yuan observes that her eyes were fully white, the sight of which she lost after crying for days after her husband's death.
Of course, after her blindness, there were people who managed to get her to authenticate certain 'transactions' which further depraved the family of its wealth, forcing Gu Yan to sign a soul contract for his Talisman production.
Gu Yan told his mother that they were going to visit their father's grave. Shen Mei was excited to visit her husband's grave. She would have cried if it weren't for her dry tear glands.
She had pseudo spiritual roots, better than a mortal, but she could barely cultivate, and even though Gu Yang only married her to honor his late father's agreement and never loved her, he performed his duties well, and he made sure that she would never know suffering until his last breath.
While the mother and son were having a moment, Lin Yuan looked around the room. He found photos on the wall of a family of 3 standing together and another woman standing aside separately. Lin Yuan was shocked to find that Cameras existed in this world.
Gu Yan walked out of the room and looked around, the depilated state of which made him feel helpless. But he couldn't do anything about it. Although he doesn't need to provide for others, the expenses he incurs to stop his mother from dying was a huge burden for him.
He walked towards the kitchen and saw a middle aged woman running around busy.
"Aunt Ling!"
"Hm? Xiao Yan, you are back? Dinner will be ready soon."
Shen Ling was an orphan adopted by Shen Mei's father and grew up with Shen Mei. It was said that when Gu Yang accepted his late father's proposal, he mistakenly thought that it was Shen Ling who was going to be his bride. In the end, he married Shen Mei, and Shen Ling was given as a bride maid upon Gu Yang's request.
After the family's collapse, Shen Ling took care of Shen Mei and the household while Gu Yan worked to support financially.
Gu Yan reached into his sleeve and took out a pouch and handed it to Shen Ling. Looking at the pouch in Gu Yan's hands, Shen Ling's smile dimmed slightly. She knew what Gu Yan had to go through to get these spiritual stones. She wanted to scold him for his action of disregard, but she knew that without this money, their house would sink.
"Will you help mother get ready? There is still some time before the Annual Gathering Ends, and Uncle Zhen will keep an eye out for us."
Shen Ling understood what he meant and nodded. Gu Yan then walked out of the Courtyard and waited for his mother.
After Shen Mei was pushed out on a wheelchair, Gu Yan pushed it and set out. While walking, he saw a young girl, about 16-17 years old standing in his way. She was dressed in a purple dress, with her hair tied up. Upon seeing Gu Yan, a sweet smile bloomed on her face.
Gu Xun'er walked towards the two of them and greeted them. After learning that they were going to visit Gu Yang's grave, she asked to tag along, and took the handle from Gu Yan and pushed the wheelchair forward.
Gu Yan was surprised by her behavior but didn't say anything. Gu Xun'er was the only one from the family who didn't scorn him, but she wasn't very friendly either. Lin Yuan in the ring was feeling that this will be an Immortal version of a popular story he read a few decades ago.
While walking, they chatted along the way. However, Lin Yuan noticed something. Gu Xun'er was looking all around Gu Yan's body. It was sneaky enough that Gu Yan couldn't notice it, but Lin Yuan could. Her gaze stopped on the ring in which Lin Yuan was present for a couple of seconds before continuing her search, which alerted Lin Yuan.
Reaching the Family Grave, the group saw Gu Zhen waiting for them. He looked at them, paused at Gu Xuner, but opened the gate.
"You have 10 minutes. Do not delay any longer."
Gu Yan nodded solemnly. If they were seen, not only would Gu Zhen be punished for dereliction of duty, Gu Yan would also be fined for misconduct, tightening his wallet even further.
The group walked past the family graves and walked to the servant's graves. Gu Yang was buried here, and his tablet was not erected in the ancestral hall. They claimed that Gu Yang was the reason for the expedition's failure, and such a criminal must not be respected by the next generations.
Gu Yan, Gu Xun'er and Shen Mei grieved silently, while Lin Yuan looked at what would have been him. He didn't feel much about Gu Yang. He could've been him, true, but he never experienced it.
While they were grieving, Lin Yuan felt a strong compelling force, driving him to look into Gu Yang's grave. Lin Yuan suppressed the throbbing, as it was below him to disturb eternal sleep.
After the group finished, Gu Xun'er pushed Shen Mei forward, giving Gu Yan a minute. Gu Yan walked in front of his father's grave and squatted.
"Father . . ."
He poured out all his grievances. This was the only place in the world where he could open up about his difficulties. As he listened to Gu Yan's words, Lin Yuan was at a loss. He had his parents support him all the time. He had worked hard independently, but he was never alone in it.
As he was feeling terrible for Gu Yan, a strong force suddenly started to emit inside the ring, controlling Lin Yuan. He panicked, thinking someone had found him and wanted to investigate him. He cursed that bastard dragon in his heart for not doing his only job well.
Somewhere in the Immortal Realm.
"Achoo~"
The dragon realm quaked for the first time in a hundred thousand years. All the dragons were on high alert, wondering who had disturbed their ancestor. Meanwhile, the Ancestral Dragon entrenched in the heart of the Dragon realm was confused by its sneeze. It wondered who had such a strong Karmic connection with him to affect him with just their thoughts.
Back in the Black Imperial Realm, Lin Yuan felt no maliciousness from the force. He got a message in his mind. It turns out the artifact spirit of the ring wanted him to look into Gu Yang's grave. It assured him that he needed to see it.
Lin Yuan convinced himself that it was for the greater good and with the help of the ring to magnify his perception, he peered into Gu Yang's grave.
". . ."
Lin Yuan didn't know what to say. He was now convinced that the Gu family was disgusting to the core. The Artifact Spirit said that it's not just the Gu family, it felt malice from the world itself.
Lin Yuan saw a skeleton of a dog.
Gu Yan walked back the way he came from. Along the way, he found Shen Mei on a wheelchair all alone. Gu Xun'er was nowhere to be found. Confused, he walked to Shen Mei.
"Mother, why are you all alone? Where is Gu Xun'er?"
"She said she heard some noises in the front, so she went to look for the reason." Shen Mei replied in worry.
Gu Yan slowly pushed Shen Mei to see what was wrong. He was also worried. If someone was here, it would mean he has to pay a fine, again.
Near the area, he heard many voices. He swiftly hid Shen Mei near some bushes and slowly made his way forward.
He saw Gu Shou and his entourage telling Gu Xun'er that he knows Gu Yan was inside and that he needs to go in to find him. She didn't budge. She gave only one answer. "Get lost!"
Gu Shou was fuming with anger but he knew he was weaker than Gu Xun'er. No one in the family knows what her cultivation level. But he wasn't willing to miss this chance to humiliate Gu Yan, since he already missed one in the gathering.
As the commotion grew, it attracted a large crowd. Eventually, . . .
"What is going on here?!"
"Father!!"
Gu Ming's arrival soured Gu Shou's confidence. He quickly pointed at Gu Xun'er and poured out his grievances. Gu Ming didn't respond, but stared at Gu Xun'er.
Gu Xun'er stared back. There wasn't a change in expression in her face from the beginning to the end. Gu Yan however felt Gu Ming's spiritual consciousness sweep towards.
Damn it!!
Gu Yan felt Gu Ming's aura when his spiritual consciousness passed by. He knew it was over. But Gu Ming didn't call him out. He just dispersed the crowd under Gu Shou's livid expression and went back.
Gu Yan walked out pushing the wheelchair, bewildered by Gu Ming's actions. He saw Gu Xun'er waving her hands beckoning him to come over. Gu Zhen, who was almost invisible, also walked out.
Gu Xun'er told Gu Yan not to worry about it, and went her way. Right after she turned, a wave of spiritual consciousness swept Gu Yan, but he remained oblivious to it. However, Lin Yuan could feel it. It swept Gu Yan twice, and the ring he was wearing multiple times. Lin Yuan was so afraid of being discovered that he shut off contact from the outside.
Gu Yan walked back to his home with his mother and settled her in her room. He then walked to the workshop where he had to meet his quota for talisman making. He entered the room and took out his tools. The talisman brush had cracks over its body from over use so he went to the market in the morning to buy a new one from his savings. But the decrease in the annual incentive means he has to make do with it for a bit longer.
He placed the talisman paper under the faint moonlight and began to draw a Sharp Sword Talisman. As a first order medium grade talisman, it was one of the most demanded talismans in the market because of its simplicity in application.
After months of practice, he had mastered the Sharp Sword Talisman, making no mistakes when drawing one. As he drew the talisman, Qi began to flow from the cracks of the brush. This was also the reason he wanted to buy a new brush. Although he was careful enough not to let it explode, he has to expend more to make less.
". . ."
Of course, another reason why he was confident in success was the moonlight. Gu Yang was a genius in talisman making. At the middle stage of foundation establishment, he was able to draw 2nd order top grade talisman, and his fame rivalled the Mad Sword Jian WuMin.
He only passed this secret to Gu Yan. The method is to use the Lunar energy to mix with the maker's Qi to form an equilibrium. Only those with Yin spiritual roots were thought to be capable of doing it. Many tried copying him without knowing the secret.
"Haah~"
Two hours later, he was done. Exhausted, he walked out of his room to find the dining table filled with steaming hot food. He realized that he had forgotten to join his mother for dinner. Smiling, he thanked his aunt in his heart and began eating.
After dinner, he walked back to his room and started to cultivate. The Qi around him was drawn in by him, forming a torrent of Qi inside his body. He forced the QI to accumulate to maximum before practicing his exercise.
The Gu family's Cultivation technique was found at its inception 1000 years ago by the founder. The technique majors in fire elements, supplemented by wood and metal elements. The technique is a core to the family, and famous in the surroundings because it can be used by both alchemists and weapon refiners.
After 3 full revolutions, he begins to run the Qi for the fourth time. He takes a pill bottle and opens it. Inside lay a brown pill with a faint medicinal fragrance. It was a Qi Restoring pill, useful for restoring Qi after depletion, but also during cultivation, making it a popular choice for cultivators of Qi refining.
Gu Yan held it in his hand, ready to use it at the right opportunity. However, he realized that he didn't need it.
The QI in his body was exhausted before it could reach the required level. So, he can't break through today either.
Putting the elixir bottle away, Gu Yan relaxed on his bed for the first time that day. As the weight of the day's actions dawned on him, he slowly drifted into sleep.
In a courtyard far away, a young girl and an old woman were talking to each other. The Old Woman's aura was enough to crush the entire Gu family, but she remained subservient in front of the young girl.
"Did you not find anything?"
"I'm Sorry, Miss! I was incapable of finding the gem."
". . ."
The girl didn't speak. She let the Old woman go back and thought to herself about her mission. She comes from a place that the Gu family can only look up to. But a precious treasure of her mother was given to a servant who almost died multiple times to protect her before she reached a powerful position.
The servant passed away soon, and the treasure fell into his children's hands. A few years later, when she wanted to get back the stone again, she found out that all of its previous users had died because of the curse developed in it.
Not wanting to accumulate too much Karma, she sent out Gu Xun'er along with a trusted servant to find. Gu Xun'er tracked it down to Gu Yang, but before she could take it back, the curse affected Gu Yang and he died. The necklace which was supposed to fall into Gu Yan's hands disappeared.
In the end, she lurked in the Gu family for 5 years but had no luck. That day, her protector told her something odd happened to Gu Yan, so she went to check him, but found nothing.
But she was certain now. It was most likely in the hands of Gu Yuan, the rising Golden Core cultivator of Clear Sky Sect, the overlord of the Dong State of the Great Wu kingdom. Because he had denied its possession, she asked for his permission to stay in the Gu family to find it. Now , she believes that it was most likely Gu Yuan who lied to her.
But she cannot force him, since she wasn't her mother and lacked authority. And it brings a bad name to the Holy Land. So she can only use someone to force it out, and she has the perfect candidate for it. With a smile on her face, she sent a message to the woman outside.
That night, a Nascent Soul Cultivator silently flew out of Wu Wan City.
The next day, Gu Yan woke up finding himself tucked in bed. On his bedside table, there was a meat bun, the day's breakfast. Thanking his aunt in his heart, he first freshened himself up and ate his breakfast.
Walking out of his room, he went to the courtyard and found his mother and Aunty Ling in the courtyard enjoying the morning sun. Walking out, he received a summon from the main hall. Curious, he went to the main hall, only to find it packed with clan members of younger generations.
Lin Yuan also started to probe outside this time under the repeated urging of the Artifact Spirit. He understood the situation and realized that it would be the divorce plot next. Lin Yuan wanted to see who the lucky woman was.
Gu Yan hid his figure, which he was very capable of doing from experience, and lurked at the edge of the crowd. Gu Yan saw that the leader of the group was a young woman who was only a few years older than him, but the pressure indicates that she had reached foundation establishment.
Lin Yuan also saw the woman and lamented her future for despising the protagonist.
From the discussions around, he found out that the Clear Sky Sect was recruiting members after finding a spirit mine and they needed some guards, so they came to recruit.
Gu Yan saw that the leader of the group was a young woman who was only a few years older than him, but the pressure indicates that she had reached foundation establishment.
Accompanying the woman was Gu Shen, the icon of the family. Everyone was eager to participate, since the position was very lucrative. And the woman only picked 5 names. Surprisingly, Gu Yan happened to be one of them, but Gu Shou wasn't. Gu Shou was about to complain when he saw his father signaling him to quiet down.
He gave a look to the people surrounding Gu Yan. They quickly suppressed Gu Yan and dragged him out under his protest. At the same time the 4 others and Gu Shou walked to the front, and Gu Ming unleashed his cultivation of a late stage foundation establishment, and gave a speech about morality. His pressure also made sure that Wu NingYan was unable to detect Gu Yan.
Lin Yuan wanted to help Gu Yan, but too many eyes were focused on Gu Yan, which made him hesitate.
Gu Ming dispersed the crowd and kept the 5 selected behind. At this moment, Gu Xun'er walked in and was confused about something. After receiving a voice transmission, she glared at Gu Ming and walked away under the puzzled gaze of Wu NingYan.
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5 minutes after leaving the hall, Gu Yan stopped struggling. He knew he would never have a good thing under Gu Ming's eyes. The goons who stopped him wanted to mock him again, but Gu Yan reminded them that if they were late, the patriarch might forget their contribution.
After they hurried away, Gu Yan sighed and went to the back mountain. He punched the tree to vent his frustration. Lin Yuan realized that this would be the best time to introduce himself.
"What did the tree do, young one?"
"Who?!"
Gu Yan jumped back and stood on his toes, ready to run. He looked around frantically, but he couldn't find the source of the voice.
Was it my imagination? Am I so tired that I started hallucinating?, he thought.
"Are you lamenting your weakness? Every strong one starts weak. Do you want power, Gu Yan?"
These words . . . It's definitely the Demonic Dao! Only those crazy ones go around seducing people with Power!!
With that thought, Gu Yan shouted, "Where are you?!"
"In the ring. Tell me, Gu Yan, do you want-"
Without listening to the rest, without even looking at the ring, Gu Yan took it out and threw it down the cliff with full force.
"???"
Confused by the turn of events, Lin Yuan was momentarily stunned. Realizing that he was misunderstood, he used his soul power to quickly fly back to the top . . . Or he would, if he knew how to use it. So he fell.
At the bottom of the cliff, Lin Yuan was considering how to clear misunderstandings since he believed that Gu Yan would come back to pick it up considering how desperate he was.
While it was mostly likely true, he failed to notice a monkey sitting on a branch on a tree nearby that was looking at the ring with gleaming eyes, thanking the sky for the generous gift.