Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8: Breakthrough!
As time slowly passed, the banquet certainly hadn’t disappointed Gu Yun.
His original plan was simply to mingle with his fellow disciples, hoping to at least learn a few names by the end of the gathering.
But at this gathering on White Cloud Peak, beyond just mingling with other disciples, the various kinds of Spiritual Food at the banquet made Gu Yun feel the trip was well worth it.
Gong Yihong was truly a credit to his great family background; not only was he courteous, but he was also disgustingly wealthy. The Spirit Wine served at this banquet...
...as far as Gu Yun knew, was the most expensive and famous wine from Hundred Fragrances Tower in the Outer Sect Marketplace, costing at least twenty Spirit Stones a jar.
Gu Yun took just one shallow cup, but he immediately felt a pleasant warmth spread from his stomach, as Spiritual Power radiated to his limbs.
The various Spirit Fruits on the table were also incredibly valuable.
Gu Yun estimated this one meal must have cost at least a hundred Spirit Stones.
’What a true tycoon.’
He had consumed over ten Spirit Stones’ worth of Spirit Wine and Spirit Fruit in this one sitting.
Spiritual Food like these Spirit Fruits and Spirit Wines could not only aid in Cultivation but also replenish various substances the body required.
This, in turn, greatly improved Gu Yun’s impression of Gong Yihong.
The gathering concluded without any major incidents, and everyone left having enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
...
After returning to his small hut, Gu Yun began to refine the Spirit Fruit and Spirit Wine he had consumed.
A vast surge of Spiritual Power erupted from his Dantian. It coursed through his meridians, reaching every corner of his limbs before completing a full Circulation.
Several days later, with a RUMBLE—
A vigorous Spiritual Essence surged through his body. The Spiritual Essence within Gu Yun had grown significantly stronger—he had broken through to the Spiritual Martial Realm Ninth Layer Middle Stage!
’I’m getting closer and closer to the True Martial Realm.’ Although Gu Yun had a special advantage to help him, he knew he would break through to the True Martial Realm one day, and even surpass it.
The strongest experts in the families of Nanming City were merely at the True Martial Realm. As Gu Yun saw himself drawing ever closer to that Realm, he couldn’t suppress a smile.
’Calm down. I can’t get complacent. The further I go in my Cultivation, the more patient I need to be.’ Gu Yun constantly reminded himself.
After completing the breakthrough, Gu Yun did not choose to leave immediately. Instead, he continued to sit cross-legged to consolidate his Cultivation Realm.
A week later, when Gu Yun walked out of his hut, his aura had been completely consolidated.
Gu Yun had no intention of staying in his hut to continue his Cultivation; instead, he planned to go out and take on more missions.
Time passed. Nearly a month had gone by since that "Demon Fiend mission," and the resources he had gained from it were almost gone.
Gu Yun knew well that on the path of Cultivation, personal effort was important, but resources were equally crucial.
Gu Yun activated his Wandering Dragon Step, leaving behind an afterimage as he sped towards the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
...
This time, the mission Gu Yun accepted was also from Zone A.
The objective was to execute Bloodman Slaughter Li Gang. This man’s strength was at the Spiritual Martial Eighth Layer Late Stage, and his evil deeds included assaulting women and murdering with impunity!
His presence had a devastating impact on the local populace.
To Gu Yun, dealing with Bloodman Slaughter would be as simple as slaughtering a chicken. But Gu Yun wasn’t the protagonist; to play it safe, he chose a mission that was just suitable enough.
The reward for this was 100 Contribution Points, plus 10 Spirit Stones.
However, there were some hidden perks, such as the Blood Butcher’s personal wealth.
...
White Stone Town, a remote town near the Cang Mang Mountain Range.
The town wasn’t large and had no tall buildings. It was surrounded by a simple stone wall.
The wall’s purpose was simply to fend off sneak attacks from low-level Demon Beasts. After all, this was the untamed wilderness, close to the Cang Mang Mountain Range, a veritable Demon Beast Mountain Range. Demon Beasts were common here, and a moment’s inattention could get you eaten.
On the road not far from White Stone Town, a young man slightly slowed his horse.
’According to the file, Bloodman Slaughter Li Gang arrived in this area three days ago. Within a hundred-li radius, White Stone Town is the only inhabited place. Unless he’s gone somewhere else in the meantime.’
The young man was none other than Gu Yun. Three days had passed since he accepted the mission. In these three days, he had traveled nonstop to reach White Stone Town, three thousand li away.
’Whatever. I’ll head in and see what I can find.’
With a slight squeeze of his legs, Gu Yun urged the Black-maned Horse toward the gates of White Stone Town.
Entering White Stone Town, Gu Yun dismounted and led his horse by the reins.
The town’s environment wasn’t very good. The roads were pitted mud-and-stone slabs, and the shops on either side looked just as old and worn.
Of course, Gu Yun didn’t care about the poor environment. His purpose in coming here was to kill the Blood Butcher.
In the center of town was a three-story tavern. It was perhaps the liveliest place in White Stone Town, bustling with voices.
On the third floor.
A burly man sat by the window. He wore black clothes, his wild, long hair draped over his shoulders.
The knuckles of the hand gripping the wine cup were massive and covered in thick, dark calluses, hard as rock. His face was terrifying.
Crisscrossing scars made him look extremely fierce, and his eyes, glinting with a golden light, radiated a savage aura.
After eating a few pieces of beef and drinking a cup of wine, the burly man turned his head to the white-robed youth at a nearby table and said, "Who are you? You seem to have been staring at me for a while."
The white-robed youth put down his chopsticks and said slowly, "You’re Bloodman Slaughter?"
"That’s right! I am Bloodman Slaughter Li Gang!" The burly man licked his lips.
"Looks like my luck is good. To have found my prey so quickly."
Hearing this, Bloodman Slaughter laughed loudly. "A mere Spiritual Martial Eighth Layer Late Stage dares to talk so big? You underestimate me, the Blood Slaughterer! Judging by your clothes, you must be a disciple of some Sect! A pity you will die here today."
He was a prolific killer. He was often hunted by disciples from Major Sects, but he always managed to survive.
However, his luck had been terrible last time. He had run into an Outer Sect Disciple from Divine Sword Manor whose Realm was comparable to his. But the opponent’s Fine Rain Sword Technique was incredibly sharp, and he had almost been killed.
Fortunately, he, Bloodman Slaughter, had vast experience living on the edge. At the most dangerous moment, he had launched a frenzied counterattack.
It was a completely reckless, life-or-death assault. That Divine Sword Manor disciple was, after all, just a newcomer to the Cultivation Realm.
His worldly experience was still lacking, and he wasn’t prepared to clash head-on, wanting instead to wear him down slowly. In the end, he was killed by a single palm strike from his opponent.
But Bloodman Slaughter Li Gang didn’t get off easy either. His face was slashed dozens of times by the sword’s light, leaving him in his current disfigured state.
The white-robed youth slowly stood up. "I’ve eaten my fill and had enough to drink. Since you’re so obstinate, don’t blame me for being ruthless. I forgot to tell you, my name is Wang Teng. And I’m the man who is about to kill you."
"Heh heh." Bloodman Slaughter also stood up. He didn’t reply, but his eyes were fixed on the space behind Wang Teng, as if someone important was there.
"Kid, you’re still wet behind the ears," Bloodman Slaughter laughed smugly. His large-knuckled right hand rose, wreathed in a bloody light, as he chopped down with his palm toward the turning Wang Teng.
Wang Teng roared in anger, "Despicable!"
He slapped back with a palm of his own.
