Chapter 20: Staying with Xu Chen

In the jade pendant space, originally, there was only a spiritual field and a well. Now, the space has expanded, and beside the spiritual field, there is a new house.

Gu Yao hesitated for a moment but decided to go inside. Since they had settled in his sea of consciousness, he couldn't avoid it, whether it was good or bad.

Gu Yao's consciousness drifted inside and found that although the house looked ordinary from the outside, it revealed a completely different world inside. He entered the bottom level and, for now, could only stay there. Just as he was about to investigate further, he heard a soft exclamation, making Gu Yao's body break out in a cold sweat.

"Who? Who is in there?"

The voice was undoubtedly someone else's. The thought that someone might have settled in his sea of consciousness made Gu Yao unable to remain calm. Who knew if this person would eventually try to take over him? His current situation was like being passively possessed.

"I didn't expect it to be such a weak cultivator with such poor aptitude. However, you're lucky to have gathered three parts in your hands." As the voice fell, a figure appeared in the bottom-level space as if traversing through space. Gu Yao, currently on the lowest level, suddenly exploded with goosebumps.

"Who are you? Why are you in my sea of consciousness?"

"It should be you who brought me into your sea of consciousness." The voice continued, "I didn't expect it to be such a weak cultivator with such poor aptitude. However, you're lucky to have gathered three parts." With the voice, a figure appeared in the bottom-level space as if traversing through space. Gu Yao's first impression was that this was a beautiful man, the kind that transcended gender with an otherworldly temperament. Despite looking dusty, he seemed untouched by any speck of dirt. However, Gu Yao was not in the mood to appreciate his beauty; instead, he was filled with vigilance and caution.

"Who are you? Why are you in my sea of consciousness?"

"That's for you to answer. Clearly, you brought me into your sea of consciousness." The beautiful man reached out, summoning a chair, and then gracefully sat down, looking at Gu Yao with an ambiguous smile.

"Are you from that iron piece? Did the iron piece transform into this house? Can't you leave?" Gu Yao frowned and asked. He could receive vague information from the original jade pendant space, but here, it seemed like he was being isolated. No doubt this man was behind it.

The beautiful man suddenly showed a face of sorrow, "Do you think I want to stay in here? It's because my physical body was destroyed, leaving only my soul. I have to rely on this treasure to survive. Once I leave, my soul will naturally dissipate."

Gu Yao was chilled by this expression. "I don't care if you'll dissipate. All I know is that no one would want a stranger living in their sea of consciousness."

"Then I swear to the heavens. I will never have any intention of taking over your body. By the way, what's your name? How should I address you? I can't call you 'kid.' Let me introduce myself first. I'm Xu Chen, and you can call me Senior Xu." After solemnly making the oath, Xu Chen blinked his beautiful eyes and looked at Gu Yao with a smile.

"I'm called Gu Yao... Wait, why are you—" Gu Yao's hair stood on end again. Looking into this person's eyes, he involuntarily blurted out his name. He disliked this feeling of losing control.

Xu Chen clapped his hands together, "Indeed, there's still some skill in you. Considering your cultivation is so poor and your aptitude is lacking, yet you possess such a vast sea of consciousness, it shows that your innate soul strength is much stronger than an ordinary cultivator. There must be some merits despite your deficiencies. Rest assured, aside from the oath I just made, I have no intention of seizing your body unless I want my soul to dissipate. Besides, I'm not interested in your aptitude."

Gu Yao was speechless. He believed the oath just made; cultivators rarely swore casually. While cultivators possessed formidable strength, they were also bound by the rules of heaven and earth, and oaths were one of those rules. However, being scorned for having poor aptitude was another matter.

"So, how can you leave? You can't stay here forever, right? Will everything I do and think be known to you?" This guy seemed to be a cultivator who was strong before. Even if the danger of possession was lifted, being constantly scrutinized by such a powerful person was equally unpleasant for Gu Yao.

"The little guy surnamed Gu, my willingness to stay in your sea of consciousness is giving you face. Many cultivators would beg me for a second glance, and I wouldn't be willing. You're in good fortune, but you can rest assured—I'm not interested in peering into your every move. I'm afraid of boredom."

Xu Chen grinded his teeth. As a powerful cultivator and a beautiful person, being scorned like this was also unpleasant for him. This young man was too unruly. Of course, he wouldn't tell Gu Yao that without Gu Yao's permission, he could only move within this house and the surrounding space.

"Don't worry, I'm not leeching off your place for free. I, as a senior and a powerful figure, will give you a bit of guidance, helping you avoid some detours. I see you've planted some miscellaneous spirit herbs outside. Are you interested in learning alchemy? Perfect, I am an alchemist. Do you know where this place is?"

"Please enlighten me, Senior." Gu Yao's attitude became more respectful. Encountering an alchemist was exactly what he needed.

Xu Chen showed a face of "I can teach the young." Gu Yao would eventually find out the situation here because now the true owner was Gu Yao, not himself. Xu Chen was somewhat jealous of Gu Yao's good luck. "This is the Alchemy Pavilion. As far as I know, there are a total of nine levels, each corresponding to nine grades of alchemists. You should know about the grades of alchemists, right."