Ch 7 - Creating a path through blood and sacrifice
Haru withdrew his gaze and focused on the refinement. Within the next 15 minutes, he too finished the refinement of 4 gu worms with the help of Lord Sky Crane's guidance.
Haru then walked onto the highest platform, as the elder from Five Virtues Sect left his seat and inspected his four Gu worms.
"No negative conditions, the Gu worms look like they are well fed and in good shape." The Five Virtues Sect elder inspected the gu worms and cupped his fists at Haru, saying warmly: "Elder Fang Zheng from Immortal Crane Sect, we troubled you to give the test. I didn't knew you were interested in refinement path. Please come with me."
Haru nodded, slowly walking and leaving the Disciple Selection Stage.
He walked up the mountain and after a while, an elder from Five Virtues Sect welcomed him: "Sir, please have a seat. Sect Leader would like to meet you."
Haru nodded and sat down. There were no losses in making connections. He knew they were giving him respect due to his identity as elder of the Immortal Crane Sect
"Greeting, Elder Fang Zheng, I am the sect leader of Five Virtues Sect."
Haru shook his hands with the sect leader and had a casual conversation with him for a while. Since he used to regularly deal with people back on Earth, this was easily handled by him. Sect Leader then took his leave while Haru prepared for the first round.
A short while later, Haru obtained a token.
On the token, the words 'Elder Fang Zheng' were written, at the back, there was a line of words: Immortal Crane Sect, Enslavement path, signed up at Five Virtues Sect. At the end, there was the time of signing up.
"Senior, Please continue on your way up the mountain, the fire virtue hall has the first round of the refinement competition. Only after senior passes this round can you join the second round." The disciple explained politely.
Haru took the token and left the wood virtue hall.
Before appearing for the first round, he went around the refinement grounds a bit and had a talk with few people who caught his attention. Everyone welcomed him because he was an Elder of Immortal Crane Sect at such a young age along with having genuine Rank 5 cultivation. He was easy to get along with so many people started to come to talk with him.
Haru was overjoyed to listen to so many people. What he lacked the most was the knowledge and experience of the custom of the gu world. Reading and experiencing were two different things. Hearing these people, he felt his worldview had broaden. If not for the big threat behind his back that is Fang Yuan, he would have loved to travel the mortal world and no one would oppose him with his rank 5 cultivation. He even had flying Cranes so it was very easy for him to travel. He even felt a slight ping of regret that he couldn't do so immediately.
'One day, I will definitely travel all the 5 regions as king of flying cranes.', Haru had one more reason to give his best and not get caught up in Fang Year's schemes.
After twenty minutes, he came back to his seat with a smile on his face as he received the instructions for the first round.
'In thirty minutes, I have to refine the rank one water light Gu, at least a hundred of them to pass and enter the second round. Refining a hundred and fifty would reward me with five kilograms of phantom shadow petals, a hundred and eighty would get me six basins of rootless water, two hundred would get me ten pieces of thunder strike wood, two hundred and forty is third place, two hundred and sixty is second place, and two hundred and seventy-six is first place, I would get the rank four healing Gu worm that is good at relieving heat toxins, green shine Gu.'
'This is the same as what was written in the novel. Last time I practiced with Lord Sky Crane, I was able to do two hundred and forty five in thirty minutes. It's just too bad that many of the details regarding other rounds have been skimmed over in the novel. Sigh.'
"Lad, your luck is quite good. You vehemently opposed my decision and said you would only focus on refining water light gu out of 12 possible options for round 1. I thought you would be kicked out of the competition in the first round itself.", Lord Sky Crane laughed and praised Haru for his decisiveness.
Thirty minutes later, Fang Yuan's name was on the first place spot, and he had obtained green shine Gu. On the second place was Zheng Shan Chuan, the future founder of Shan Chuan Hall, and the third place was some random gu mater. Haru missed the third spot by very small margin but he was not dissatisfied. He had tried his best and refined two hundred and fifty Water Light gu. 3rd place was given to the person who had refined two hundred and fifty six water light gu.
There was still some time until the second round.
Haru walked around a bit while thinking about the events in the novel, 'Fang Yuan must have went back to Hu Immortal Blessed Land and must have even recieved the clues to Red Lotus Demon Venerable's Inheritance from Mo Yao's will. He is also trying to complete Vaguely Familiar Face he received from Old Lord Can Yang in the Northern Plains. He is getting really dangerous every moment. If this continues, he would swallow me whole without even leaving my bones.'
Ruthless gaze passed Haru's eyes. By now, he knew that as soon as Fang Yuan has Vaguely Familiar face, and learn to control wills properly, he would pose no threat to him, and once Fang Yuan captured him, Haru knew that he would not be able to escape his fate. Now was a good time to end his life. If Fang Yuan caught him and soul searched him, everything was a lost case. Even if he decide to suicide later, he would not be able to escape the hellish life. Hell, Fang Yuan might just decide to use his otherworldly status to keep him around as his pet forever.
The thought made Haru uncontrollably shiver. He once again cursed heaven's will or whatever higher entity there was to place him in such a position.
But all living beings in this world had their survival instincts. Anyone would want to live, as long as there was hope, even Haru did not want to commit suicide. He was from Earth, where such act was really looked down upon. One shouldn't give up until all the paths are closed. Even if all the paths are closed, one should create his own path. The same was mentioned in <
'I too want to get out of this abyss and create a hope of survival for myself. I should be prepared to make any sacrifices necessary and go through all the thorns and blades. If not, I should just give myself a quick and peaceful death.'