Chapter 77 - The Advanced Version of the Novice Cultivation Skill
Guo Fan lifted the Orange Cat by its back and inquired, “By the way, do you have a name?”
The Flood Dragon meowed and playfully waved its claws, responding, “How can a demon like me have a name? I'm a Flood Dragon born from a fragment of the True Dragon's soul within magma. I've absorbed copious amounts of natural energy. Let's call me the Forging Flame of Scale, then.”
The transformation brought about by the earth fire explained it all. That's why his body was engulfed in flames and why he was subdued by the Summer Bird, Containing Raze.
Guo Fan affectionately scratched the Orange Cat's cheek and suggested, “Well, how about we call you Hammer?”
“… What does that name have to do with me?”
The Orange Cat remained deadpan.
She had even expected Guo Fan to extract a name from the Crimson Afterglow Flowing Scale. Logically, wasn't that the norm? What on earth was a hammer? Why couldn't this human simply follow reason?
Guo Fan chuckled, “But you did ask for a hammer just now, didn't you? That's why I gave you the name Hammer.”
“Meow, meow, meow (protest)!”
The Orange Cat voiced its discontent with a loud meow but soon found itself nestled in Guo Fan's embrace, its chin being scratched. It couldn't help but squint its eyes, gazing upwards with a contented expression.
“Gululu… (So comfy)”
After relishing this comfort for some time, the Orange Cat suddenly jolted. Wait, something wasn't right. It was a dragon, not a cat.
But it was so comfortable…
Transformed from the ferocious Flood Dragon, the Orange Cat now rested gently on Guo Fan's arm. It swayed its tail and let out a contented sigh. Sometimes, this was just easier.
Su Feng chimed in, “My father is awaiting your presence. After the demise of Zeng Zhelan, there are numerous matters that demand attention. Our impending marriage, for one…”
Guo Fan tenderly stroked the Orange Cat nestled in his embrace and followed Su Feng upstairs.
It was time to conclude the affairs of the Wide Ocean Sect.
As the Great Elder of the Wide Ocean Sect, Zeng Zhelan stood as their sole Nascent Soul cultivator. With his passing, the sect had lost its paramount martial prowess. Moreover, the internal turmoil had inflicted severe harm, and recuperating their Yuan energy would likely necessitate an extended period.
Fortunately, being a neutral sect, the Wide Ocean Sect did not possess any antagonistic factions poised to exploit their vulnerabilities, averting a potential crisis.
The blood sacrifice ritual and the surges of demonic energy unleashed by the Demonic Dragon had attracted attention from neighboring sects. Several orthodox sects, in particular, had flocked to inquire about the situation, causing quite a commotion for a few days.
Elsewhere, Guo Fan had ventured into a hidden realm within the Frightening Slopes that he was familiar with, redirecting Su Li's focus from the Crocodile Demon Lagoon in the Frost River Manor. She was now engrossed in exploring this new secret realm.
Afterward, Guo Fan returned to the Frost River Manor and briefed Gu Min on the developments. With the Gu family's waning bloodline and limited cultivation talent, they could merely safeguard the inheritance of the Immortal Cultivators without utilizing it. Guo Fan had assumed the role of their protector, but with no Immortal Cultivators in the manor and his reluctance to engage with the outside Immortal Cultivator world, potential cultivators were left without opportunities. Eventually, the secret treasure became inaccessible.
Guo Fan had resolved the crisis within the manor and grown close to Gu Yaling. In appreciation, Gu Min bestowed the Crocodile Demon Lagoon upon Guo Fan as a token of gratitude.
Guo Fan was very speechless.
Reflecting on it, the decision made sense. The Frost River Manor, now reduced to a mortal realm, had no real use for the Crocodile Demon Lagoon, aside from attracting unwanted calamities.
Yet, Guo Fan wasn't inclined to accept it as a handout. He disclosed to Gu Min that he had taken Gu Chao under his wing as a disciple, acknowledging Gu Yaling's exceptional talent as well. He proposed retaining only a portion and generously gifting the rest to these two promising disciples of the Gu family.
Gu Min was taken aback by Guo Fan's connection to Gu Chao. Regrettably, his chosen heir had slipped from his grasp. Nevertheless, one couldn't climb higher by letting go of an extensive territory in the realm of cultivation for the power of a mortal martial arts world.
In the end, the heir of the Frost River Manor became Gu Min's second son, Gu Ju.
The tensions between the Wide Ocean Sect and the Frost River Manor were defused, leaving both factions in turmoil. Guo Fan seized this opportunity to lead Luoyang and Duan Lin across the Frightening Slopes.
Upon reaching the other side, Luoyang and Duan Lin discovered that the deceased had been found and laid to rest. A gravestone marked the spot. This development softened their stance towards Guo Fan.
“Thirty-seven of them became separated from us in the Frightening Slopes. He drew the Snowflake Mansion's pursuit away. Although Duan Lin and I managed to escape unharmed, there was no word from him afterward. We feared he might have perished, but there was always a glimmer of hope. We considered the possibility that he, like us, had hidden his identity for two decades…”
Luoyang tenderly caressed the scattered bones, extracting an intact leg bone. She purposefully snapped it in two.
The bone fractured, revealing a fragmentary page nestled within.
Bringing together the other part of the torn page, she merged them into a coherent whole. A radiant golden light emanated from it as she flipped the parchment over. With a soft rustle, the page astonishingly transformed into a book.
“A person discontented is akin to a snake attempting to devour an elephant… We once betrayed the Snowflake Mansion without hesitation in pursuit of the legendary cultivation technique, Divine Destiny Recalculating. But in the end, we met with death and ruin. Forced into hiding amidst mortals, we evaded the relentless pursuit. Twenty years have elapsed, and I remain ever vigilant.”
Guo Fan's eyes contracted, his shock palpable. Divine Destiny Recalculating?
What the fuck!
His mind whirred. Wasn't the introductory cultivation technique called the “Commencement of the Five Elemental Spiritual Technique”?
The individuals behind that analytical forum post had actually guessed it correctly!
Back then, the scorching topic on the forum had speculated that since the novice cultivation technique was the “first act,” there might be a “second act,” or even a “final act.” This theory claimed that the novice cultivation technique could potentially be the most powerful cultivation technique in the game!
And now, the Divine Destiny Recalculating book in front of Guo Fan validated the intellect of those players who had scrutinized every detail on the gaming forum.
The format was nearly identical; who could argue that it was mere coincidence?
Guo Fan gazed at the book, his heart thunderstruck. He hadn't anticipated finding the advanced iteration of the novice cultivation technique here.
Luoyang handed the book over to Guo Fan. “Consider it an apology for our previous encounter.”
Duan Lin was taken aback. “Luoyang…”
She couldn't believe Luoyang would be so lenient.
Luoyang turned to Guo Fan. “You're teaching Chang Er cultivation, aren't you? I can see it's the traditional cultivation technique of the Soaring Wisdom Sect. I had hoped Chang Er would lead a mortal life forever. Little did I expect he'd embark on the path of cultivation. At least he's chosen the right one, unlike Duan Lin and me; we had no choice.”
Guo Fan accepted the book and replied, “You're mistaken. His talent is destined to surpass that of ordinary people. Even if I hadn't taught him, he would've found this path, and it would've been even more challenging.”
He had already become the final hurdle.
After resealing the tomb, Luoyang inquired whether Guo Fan intended to take Chang Er to the Soaring Wisdom Sect. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, she seemed relieved and relinquished her cultivation entirely. She had become wholly mortal. In this manner, Gu Chao would have a clean family background.
When Guo Fan returned to the Wide Ocean Sect from Frightening Slopes, he believed that the advanced version of the novice cultivation technique was already astonishing enough. Little did he expect that Cheng Liuxian, who had just recovered from his lightning injury, would suddenly arrive at his doorstep, volunteering himself as a spy within the Devil Cult.
Guo Fan: “???”
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