Fortuitous encounters and dangers

Before going to the mountains, Gu Aoyao decided to go home first and prepare himself.

Having just ascended to Qi-Sea realm, he wanted to consolidate his foundation.

He also prepared materials for hunting, and his choice of weapon - a sword, arbitrarily chosen from the Gu family armory. With that it was finally time to go to the Thousand Stones Mountains.

Gu Aoyao entered the mountains and recollected his bearings. With his strength, it would be easy to slaughter his way upwards the mountain, but he wanted to train while doing so. He had a lot of combat experience in his head, but his body had been reborn after all. Instinct and killing intent is something that needs to be developed after all. There will be a trail of blood in the Thousand Stones Mountains today!

In a couple of hours, Gu Aoyao has slaughtered dozens of 2nd-level beasts. His figure had been bloodbathed and unrecognizable, but it didn't bother him in the slightest. What was this compared to his previously life? The people and sects that he slaughtered in his time as Sect Elder and as a slave to the Shangguan family were too numerous.

Nevertheless, he already had his fill, the number of 2nd-level beast cores were now enough for his cultivation. Only the the 3rd-level Fire Crow was left for him to hunt. He was also near the peak, so he can take his time. He saw a nearby lake and decided to bathe and clean himself.

The pool was cold and shallow, but the water is clean and clear. As Gu Aoyao entered the pool, the blood on his body seeped out and dyed the water red. He then started cleaning himself.

He remembered another thing - the Nine Exquisite Profound Sutra wasn't the only thing that came with him on his rebirth, that technique was still with him after all.

In the ruins were he found the fortuitous encounter that allowed him to break through to the Saint Realm, he also received a cultivation technique. Besides having already had a cultivation technique of his own and being too old to start over, the technique was also incomparably evil.

The Primordial Evil Devil Canon - this cultivation technique shivered his spines even as a seasoned cultivator. Besides directly feeding on other people's cultivations, it was more effective when the user caused pain and suffering to people, the more advatantage it took improved the effect of the cultivation technique - the people that practiced this technique has to be cruel beyond measure. He kept it to himself, only to prevent other people from getting it, and he never intended to practice this technique, especially now he had the Nine Exquisite Profound Sutra.

He did need a main cultivation technique to go along with the Nine Exquisite Profound Sutra. Nine Exquisite Profound Sutra builds the foundation, another cultivation technique can be practiced with it to characterize and improve the cultivator - this is also one of the main strengths of the Nine Exquisite Profound Sutra. He had a lot in his mind, but nothing seemed to be the best fit for now. But while he can delay choosing the Qi Cultivation technique, he can practice the body cultivation of his former sect in the Immortal Realm.

Goldren Dragon Scripture is the number one body cultivation technique in the Immortal Realm, while it was no longer the best in the Saint Realm, it was enough for him in this lower Mortal Realm to dominate. He's not leaving here after all.

Now that he had fixed his meridians and reached Qi-Sea realm, he can start practicing this body cultivation technique. He took a pill and started to circulate his qi in accordance to the technique's specifications. In a couple of minutes, his muscles seemed to have become tighter and larger, with his skin exuding a bronze shine - he has entered the 1st Layer of the Golden Dragon Scripture! This was too fast - he had mastered the in and outs of this technique in the past life after all.

Just as he was about to start and enter the 2nd-layer, a voice sounded out nearby.

"Hehehe senior brother seems like we found a little puppy!"

"Hahaha you're right! You there! Hand over your belongings immediately!"

A group of burly man were gathered just outside the lake he was bathing in. He had been immersed in the Golden Dragon Scripture to notice - and he didn't really care for anything in this wretched mountained.

He gathered his breath and acted. "Who are you guys? This young master does not want any trouble." He said, without being arrogant nor being afraid or weak.

"Hahahaha! He said he does not want trouble! Listen kid, we are the Iron Wolf Gang, if you know what's best for you, you better hand over everything, or else!" The large man upfront said menacingly.

"And if I don't?" Gu Aoyao said solemnly. The Iron Wolf Gang are bandits that have terrorized the vicinity around Azure Feather City and the Thousand Stones Mountain. Each member are adults that have at least stepped into the Qi-Gathering realm, and the Gang Leader is rumored to be in the Qi-Sea realm after plundering many resources.

"Obey me, or die!" The man upfront released a threatening aura.

"Gang Leader Liu! Let's kill this kid already!" A thin man suggested behind him.

"You don't have to tell me." The man in front replied. "Listen kid, you have seconds come out of the lake!"

Gu Aoyao seemed to be unbothered, but went towards outside the lake any way.

"Hahaha! This kid knows what's best after all!"

However their eyes seemed to widen as Gu Aoyao assumed a martial stance and released an aura at the peak of Qi-Gathering realm. Without further ado, Gu Aoyao quickly leaped towards the men and started attacking them.

"What?!" Most of the bandits were taken aback and were unable to defend them selves. Before they knew it, a few of their comrades have fallen.

"Retreat!" The men panicked and started running. The more powerful men drew their swords and pointed at him.

"Attack!" The bandits rushed with their swords and started ganging up on Gu Aoyao.

Gu Aoyao easily dodged and parried the swords with his hands while simultaneously attacking whoever got too near.

"Who is this kid? Peak of Qi-Gathering at 14-years old?!" Gang Leader Liu was shocked at the turn of the events. Nevertheless, he knew the situation wasn't good and also drew a sword by his side. He then rushed to Gu Aoyao attacking him.

Gu Aoyao sensed this, and surmised. Gang Leader Liu is at the peak of Qi-Gathering after all. The situation became tougher, but he was still stronger after all. He prioritized dodging Gang Leader Liu strikes, he was the strongest wnemy in here aftrrall. Due to this he was still able to keep up and knockout or kill most of the people attacking him.

Soon only 3 of the bandits were left standing. Gu Aoyao had some parts of his clothing torn and shred, but he was unfazed and okay for the most part.

"Damn it!" Gang Leader Liu exclaimed. They really kicked the iron plate today. They could still win against Gu Aoyao but they've taken too much of a loss in his hands.

"Gang Leader, this must be a genius after all, we cannot afford to offend!" One of the remaining men left were scared. He knew whoever was behind this kid must be a powerful figure.

"I know, we were tricked after all. We detected his strength to only be at most in the Early Stages of Qi-Gathering realm, but it is too late for regret!" Gang Leader Liu easily knew the situation. This kid was hiding his strength after all, and there should be a reason for this.

"He will never let us go."

"Kid, don't blame me, we want to live after all. We'll deal with what ever comes our way after solving you!" With this Gang Leader Liu pulled out a saber from his waste.

A Earth-level martial treasure!

Martial tools are weapons used by martial artists. They have been imbued with power through Qi and inscription by a blacksmith or artificer, and they significantly improve a cultivator's strength.

Martial treasures are divided into multiple grades: Yellow, Black, Earth, Heaven, and more. In the Heavenly Desolate Continent, Earth-level martial treasures are usually most powerful, while Heaven-level martial treasures are usually hidden and kept as sect guarding treasures.

The Earth-level treasure held by the Gang Leader is certainly unexpected. This guy had fortuitous encounters himself for sure. Around Azure Feather City, Earth-level treasures are extremely rare and only the top families have them, and they are only taken out when necessary. Even then they are the lowest grade.

This guy also has a low-grade Earth-level tool - this brings his combat prowess to another level. Regardless, Gu Aoyao isn't worried. At most the enemy could contend with Qi-Sea realm practitioners that recently brokethrough. Gu Aoyao's combat ability is at the peak of Qi-Sea realm after all.

"You forced me to do this!" The Gang Leader rushed with saber in hand, swinging towards Gu Aoyao's position. An invisible force seems to guide his hand and the saber exuded a glimmer that contained extra Qi, and he swung with all his might at the peak of Qi-Gathering realm. Dust and rocks exploded on the sight, and the leader immediately stood up and retreated to his subordinates.

"That should be finished, what a pity. Collect his-" just as the leader said this, Gu Aoyao immediately crushed his hopes.

"Is that it?" Gu Aoyao wiped the dirt from his body. The strike was powerful and dangerous, but the wielder is both slow and uncouth.

He rushed towards the bandits and dispatched each of the bandits with kicks and punches. The Gang Leader was sent flying, and he was the only person to still be alive and conscious.

"Damn it!" Gang Leader Liu tried his best to collect himself. He took a healing pill and brandished his weapon again.

"You forced me to do this!" As he said that, Gang Leader Liu exuded an aura belonging to 1st Layer of Qi-Sea realm.