Translator: Anubis Translations
"Is it Third Uncle?!"
Third Uncle Gu had an injured left leg, which caused him to walk with an uneven gait, making him easily distinguishable.
Second Uncle wasn't alone; he was with Third Uncle. This was the worst-case scenario Gu Feng had anticipated.
A Qi Refinement cultivator had opened their dantian, and when their cultivation method was in operation, a layer of spiritual energy would manifest on their body surface. They could also attach spiritual energy to their weapons, allowing them to engage in lethal combat. This was fundamentally different from Body Tempering cultivators.
The stories circulating in the market about someone in the Body Tempering Realm defeating a Qi Refinement cultivator were conditional—either through ambush or taking advantage of an opponent's weakness.
Of course, this wasn't absolute.
Unless it was a once-in-a-generation genius at the peak of the ninth level of Body Tempering, there was little chance of defeating a first or second-level Qi Refinement cultivator in a direct confrontation. Such individuals were rare, with fewer than ten in the entire Cloud Prefecture.
Gu Feng had an accurate understanding of his own strength. He didn't assume that he could defeat a Qi Refinement cultivator just because he had successfully killed Second Uncle.
To put it bluntly, if he had faced Second Uncle in a direct battle earlier, he likely wouldn't have been a match, let alone now facing Third Uncle, who was at the second level of Qi Refinement.
Direct confrontation was out of the question; he had to rely on strategy.
Perhaps unaware of the situation inside the cave, Third Uncle's footsteps were light, almost inaudible.
Gu Feng, with his back to the cave entrance, was thinking rapidly. Under the pressure of a life-and-death crisis, his mind was unusually clear.
His hands continued to methodically strip the robe from Second Uncle's corpse.
Outside the cave, Third Uncle, alert and cautious, crouched low as he slowly approached. The thick, pungent smell of blood wafted out from within.
Having spent years traveling and fighting, he could easily tell that there was more than one corpse inside the cave.
Gripping his weapon tightly, he was fully on guard. A faint layer of spiritual energy formed a protective barrier around his body as he hid behind a rock near the cave entrance, peeking inside.
Gu Feng!!
The sight of Gu Feng's back sent a shock through Third Uncle's body. He was about to step out when a young voice, unmistakably Gu Feng's, echoed from inside the cave.
So, he retracted his head, deciding to stay hidden for now.
"Master, what level are you actually at, to be able to kill a first-level Qi Refinement cultivator with just a single finger from a distance?"
"I'm only at the first level of Body Tempering. To me, Qi Refinement cultivators are like mythical figures; I wouldn't even dare to look them in the eye normally..."
"Right, Master, I'll work hard. I believe one day I'll reach your level."
"Never mind. The Gu family is, after all, my father's family, and I carry their blood. As long as they don't provoke me, I'll let them be!"
"When I was young, Second Uncle used to hold me. Back then, he..."
"..."
As Gu Feng's words continued, Third Uncle grew more and more shocked. He slightly poked his head out, and his eyes widened as he saw the dozen or so corpses strewn about the cave—Gu Xing and the others among them.
When he saw Second Uncle's corpse, with the bloody hole in his neck, his pupils contracted sharply, and his heart raced.
A clean, one-shot kill. Second Uncle, a first-level Qi Refinement cultivator, had been utterly defenseless.
From Gu Feng's conversation with the unseen master, it was clear that the person who had acted was an unfathomably powerful expert, far beyond Third Uncle's comprehension.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered the possibility that Gu Feng was bluffing, but it didn't make sense. A first-level Body Tempering kid wouldn't have the courage to kill someone and then calmly stay at the scene, stripping the corpse of its clothes as if nothing had happened.
Gu Feng was completely unafraid.
Thinking this, Third Uncle began to consider leaving.
The blood feud of his kin was, in the end, not worth his own life. Revenge could wait until he discussed it with his elder brother. There was no need for him to take such a risk now.
"Is someone hiding at the cave entrance?"
Damn it, he's been discovered!
Gu Feng's sudden exclamation solidified Third Uncle's decision to leave. A shiver ran down his spine, and without a second thought, he turned and fled.
At the second level of Qi Refinement, he was somewhat of a figure in Cloud Dwelling City, but outside, he was nothing. Anyone he encountered could easily kill him.
The two million spirit stones, the blood feud—none of it mattered now. What mattered was staying alive.
His face pale with panic, he buried his head and pushed his spiritual energy to its limit, running for his life.
After what felt like an eternity, he slowed his pace, but still didn't dare to stop.
Inside the cave, Gu Feng, sensing Third Uncle's departure, took a few deep breaths. The recent events had left him shaken.
It had been a close call, but he had made it through unscathed.
Huff, huff, huff—
"Looting the dead almost turned me into one of them!"
Though he said this, Gu Feng knew that it was precisely because of his greed—returning to strip the corpses—that he had avoided a direct encounter with Third Uncle outside the cave. That would have been disastrous.
Successfully intimidating a second-level Qi Refinement cultivator gave him a sense of satisfaction.
"The Gu family probably won't bother me for a while," Gu Feng thought.
Without lingering further, he stepped out of the cave and headed away from Cloud Dwelling City.
...
Seven days later, Gu Feng finally emerged from the dense mountain forests and, after traveling another hundred miles, entered Vast Vision City.
This was a city several times larger than Cloud Dwelling City, and the level of cultivators here was significantly higher. On the ancient streets, Qi Refinement cultivators were a common sight.
Most cities prohibited fighting, so Gu Feng didn't feel particularly threatened.
He found an inn, ate his fill, washed up, and slept soundly.
The next day, he headed straight to Vast Vision City's largest merchant guild—Myriad Harmony Guild.
"Young master, how may I assist you?"
As soon as he entered, a servant approached with a warm, friendly smile.
"I'd like to sell some things."
"Please follow me this way!"
Myriad Harmony Guild was renowned in Vast Vision City, known for its scale and reputation. Gu Feng's father had mentioned that this guild had branches in almost every major city across Cloud Prefecture, so there was no need to worry about being swindled.
What he saw now confirmed his father's words. Rare treasures that were hard to come by in Cloud Dwelling City were casually displayed in the guild's cabinets.
If something caught his eye, he could even take it out to examine it.
Thanks to the mysterious Three-Mouth Incense Burner, Gu Feng's cultivation only required spirit stones. Rare herbs and treasures were of no use to him.
The servant was observant. Though Gu Feng's attire was modest, his demeanor spoke volumes. This was likely a young master from a prominent family out on a training journey. Ordinary families wouldn't produce someone with such presence.
"Young master, what items would you like to sell?"
The servant led Gu Feng to a middle-aged manager before leaving. His job was done; as long as a deal was made, he would receive a commission. What was sold was none of his concern.
"Senior, could you appraise these items for me?"
Aside from the dagger he had used to kill Second Uncle, Gu Feng hadn't kept anything else.
"This bottle of pills is of average quality, with some flaws on the surface. I'd say a hundred low-grade spirit stones... This sword has no inscriptions and is made of common materials—fifty low-grade spirit stones..."
The manager was experienced and could estimate prices at a glance.
Gu Feng, lacking experience in this area, could only roughly assess that the prices were fair.
"Tap, tap, tap—"
As the manager rapidly quoted prices, Gu Feng pulled out his palm-sized golden abacus and began swiftly moving the beads.
His skill was so proficient that he calculated faster than the servant behind him.
The manager looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Young man, are you in the same line of work?"
(End of the Chapter)
🔥 Read (FD:SS) early on Patreon.com/AnubisTL – Up to c70.
🎁First 30 Chapters FREE on Patreon!
☕ $5 Tier gets you ahead of the pack!
📖 Translated 100,000+ Words and counting!