C2 Nine Dragons Sky Mandate(last part)

After the beautiful, yet haggard woman left the room, Gu Feng lay back on the bed, closed his eyes, and delved into the young man's memories. He was born in a place known as Tamura, where martial artists were held in high esteem and the law of the jungle prevailed. The harshness of the outside world didn't bother him; however, he hadn't anticipated that his own family could be even more ruthless. Had he not been reborn as the Gu family's second young master, Gu Feng's life might have been cut short.

"Whatever, I've been given a second chance at life. The existence of this family is irrelevant to me now," Gu Feng mused, reflecting on the world's martial hierarchy. "Body Tempering first level? Ha, the original Gu Feng was truly mediocre. From now on, I, the true genius, will alter the destiny of this world. I'll avenge your grievances, and your mother will become my mother. I'll honor her as a son should."

Genius? He had to laugh at that; the guy must have read too many fantasy novels. He wasn't even sure he could save his own skin, yet here he was, dreaming of changing the world's destiny.

Gu Feng's memories revealed the martial arts realms of this world: Body Tempering, Dawning, Qi Movement, Vital Spirit, Divine Traversing, Transcendent, Apotheosis, Holy King, Return to Void, Void King... Body Tempering consisted of three levels, with each subsequent realm divided into nine levels or sublevels. Whether there were realms beyond the Void King, Gu Feng didn't know; he only knew of these divisions from the ancient texts of his family.

Ambition was commendable. As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general is no soldier at all. With this thought, Gu Feng's ambition surged. He clenched his fists, wincing from the pain of his injuries: "Cough, cough, damn, they didn't hold back. Once I grow stronger, I'll crush each and every one of these vermin underfoot."

Ten days flew by, and Gu Feng's wounds had largely healed, thanks largely to his mother's medicinal pills. During these fifteen days, Gu Mong hadn't once come to see him. The family had written him off, and Gu Feng hadn't sought anyone out either. Throughout this time, he had been sorting through the memories of the other soul within him, learning about this world and its creatures, such as the Soul Beast.

Once a cultivator reaches the realm of vital spirit, they can harmoniously integrate the soul of a mighty Soul Beast within themselves, significantly boosting their strength. This process also allows them to wield the unique innate powers of the Soul Beast. Take, for instance, the thunder beast, which possesses attacks infused with lightning. By merging with a thunder beast, one's own power would be imbued with the force of thunderous destruction. However, it's important to note that a powerful cultivator can only merge with one beast soul.

In any given nation, those who have attained the realm of vital spirit are few and far between, and powerful Soul Beasts are even more scarce. Lower-level Soul Beasts and soulstones serve as nutritional supplements for cultivators. Naturally, beyond soulstones, there are also various miraculous pills that cultivators highly covet.

Gu Tian, who had been closely monitoring Gu Feng's fate, was aware that his straightforward and handsome younger brother had not perished. Moreover, Gu Feng was planning to depart from the Gu family that very day. As his elder brother, Gu Tian felt compelled to visit him one last time. They had shared eighteen years of life together; it was only right to bid him farewell, as they would not cross paths again.

With a sly grin, Gu Tian made his way to Gu Feng's residence. He found Gu Feng ready to go, sitting in the courtyard pavilion. Upon seeing his brother's striking face, Gu Tian couldn't resist taunting him, "My dear little brother, you've managed to survive against all odds. You really do lead a charmed life!" Internally, he was plotting, "Just wait, once you're out of the Gu family, I'll have you taken care of for good."

Having assimilated the memories of the original owner, Gu Feng was well aware that this deceitful man was his half-brother, responsible for the injuries that had led to his rebirth in this era where martial prowess reigned supreme.

Facing Gu Tian's malice with a cheerful demeanor, Gu Feng retorted, "I'm sorry to let you down, but don't get too ahead of yourself. There will come a day when I'll beat you so badly, even your mother won't recognize you."

"Really? I doubt you'll ever get that chance. But rest assured, I'll take very good care of your mother in the future," Gu Tian sneered, his voice dripping with insincerity. "And just between us, I've had a glimpse of her, and she's quite the catch." As he recalled his habitual thievery, a lascivious smirk spread across his face. "After you're gone, and once that old man is out of the picture, my friends and I will be sure to extend our warmest regards to your mother. Haha!"

"You..." Gu Feng saw Xianyue as his own mother, and he wouldn't stand for anyone hurting her. But realizing his current strength was no match for his opponent, Gu Feng had no choice but to grit his teeth and hold back his anger. He glared at the arrogant Gu Tian and vowed, "Just wait, it won't be long before I twist your head off and use it as a soccer ball."

"Come on then, hit me. If you don't, you'll miss your chance. What's the matter, scared to make a move?" Gu Tian, with his shifty eyes, saw Gu Feng's seething rage and mocked him, patting his chest, "Hmph, a loser is always a loser. Aside from being somewhat good-looking, you're worthless. Just garbage."

There's an old saying that a gentleman can wait ten years to exact revenge. It's best to be patient for now.

In the Gu family's inner hall.

"Xianyue, have you truly made up your mind? You've decided to leave the Gu family with this failure?" Gu Mong, though only in his forties, bore a weathered expression. Remembering Gu Feng's past behavior of biting someone, his disdain for Gu Feng was palpable. His gaze turned to his wife.

"Yes, I've made my decision to leave the Gu family with Feng," Xianyue declared with unwavering certainty, the epitome of a gentle, beautiful, and virtuous wife and mother.

"Very well, if that's your decision, I won't try to persuade you otherwise. Maybe with you by his side, he won't end up starving. Take him to his grandmother's house. A simple life might be what's best for him." Gu Mong was deeply disappointed in Gu Feng. Despite investing as much in him over the past eighteen years as he had in Gu Tian, Gu Feng's cultivation had remained stagnant at the first level of Body Tempering.

"Here's a letter. If he chooses to pursue martial arts, he should take it to Jade Peak and seek out Bellowfall. If not, then he can return to his grandmother's home and lead a modest life. I'm confident that a thousand taels will provide a comfortable existence for both of you."

In this world, the monthly income and expenses of an average household rarely exceeded two or three taels of silver. Initially, it was only five hundred taels, but with Xianyue also departing, Gu Mong had discreetly given her a full thousand taels—a stack of silver notes from the Tamura Empire, along with several dozen taels in hard silver.

"I know you hate me, but this is the destiny of being born into the Gu family, you're aware of that," Gu Mong said as he pulled a bronze token from his pocket and handed it to Xianyue. "If Feng reaches the second level of Body Tempering within a year, give him this bronze token. If not, return it to me after a year. You must safeguard it diligently. It cannot be lost, nor can you let anyone else see it. Don't ask why, just go."

Xianyue briefly examined the bronze token. It was adorned with nine lifelike Divine Dragons frolicking with pearls, and at the center was a small red pearl crafted from an unidentified metal. She noted two ancient characters inscribed on it, 'Heaven'. On the reverse, four characters read 'Merge into one', indicating that the token had two sides that combined to form a complete ancient mandate.

"What is this? A family token?" Xianyue pondered, recalling how Gu Mong had often studied the item since she had married into the Gu family. Despite her curiosity, she inquired.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Gu Mong gazed contemplatively at the sky before finally addressing his wife, "This is the Nine Dragons Sky Mandate, an heirloom of the Gu family for tens of thousands of years. Our ancestors claimed it contains powerful entities. If one is acknowledged as its master, they could command the heavens and earth, reigning supreme. Enough of this, though. It's not beneficial for you to know too much. Let's leave."

With a resolute bite of her lip, Xianyue secured the item Gu Mong had entrusted to her and quickly departed from the inner hall.

She then went back to her assigned residence, took Gu Feng, and left the Gu family and Pan City behind. Gu Feng, seated in the carriage, felt an immense sense of elation. What kind of person was the protagonist in a novel? What did they do first after transmigrating? Gu Feng hadn't read hundreds of such stories, but from the dozens he had perused, he had already devised numerous strategies to grow stronger.

Discussing strategies on paper and taking actual steps are entirely different matters. Moreover, would Gu Tian, who harbors a desire to kill, simply let him off the hook? Previously, within the Gu family, Gu Tian and his mother failed to kill him. Now that Gu Feng has left, do you really think Gu Tian would pass up this chance? If Gu Feng isn't eliminated, he'll never be able to comfortably take his place as the head of the Gu family. Who knows if one day Gu Tian might strike back at the Gu family to reclaim what's rightfully his?

As expected, when Gu Tian caught sight of his so-called younger brother and Xianyue, the second wife, leaving the Gu family, a malevolent grin spread across his face. He signaled to a servant beside him with a throat-slitting gesture.

"Young Master, we can't kill him in the city. If the Patriarch finds out, we'll be in deep trouble," the Gu family servant cautioned upon seeing his Young Master's signal.

"We can't let him live to return, no matter what. Have someone follow and eliminate him discreetly. Remember, this must be done covertly," Gu Tian said, his face twisted into a savage expression. Internally, he thought, "My dear brother, don't hold it against me. At the very least, after your demise, I'll ensure your mother is well cared for."

"I understand what needs to be done. Leave it to me," the devoted servant nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Gu Feng was seated inside the carriage, lost in thought, with an occasional smile flickering across his lips. This made Xianyue, sitting next to him, worry that her son had suffered some cognitive damage. Ever since he regained consciousness, she had noticed a change in Gu Feng; he would smile inexplicably and often admired his own dashing reflection in a bronze mirror, seemingly smitten with himself.

Gu Feng's maternal grandmother's home was roughly a hundred thousand miles from Pan City. From what he remembered, it would take at least half a month's journey to reach. Thanks to the Gu family's influence, his grandmother's business thrived, making them the most affluent in the small town, akin to a prominent family estate.

Gu Feng had made up his mind. For now, he needed to find a place to settle down and then focus on his cultivation. Although his physical constitution was somewhat lacking, he believed in the adage: persistent effort grinds down the hardest stone. With dedicated practice, he was confident that one day he would reach the pinnacle of martial arts. If not, he could always turn to commerce and amass wealth to rival that of the legendary Shen Wansan.

"Mother, let's take the shortcut," Gu Feng suggested, as if a thought had just struck him, to the beautiful woman who appeared to be in her late thirties.

"Taking the shortcut might save us a few days, but it's fraught with danger. We should stick to the main road," Xianyue countered, her mind filled with images of bandits and wild beasts that lurked on the less-traveled paths.

"I'm aware of the risks. But if we don't take the shortcut, we'll be in even greater danger," Gu Feng insisted, his thoughts turning to the ruthless noble families depicted in novels. "If I'm not mistaken, Gu Tian has already sent people after us, mother and son."

"What? He wouldn't dare..."

"It's not a question of daring. To secure his position, a man must eradicate any threats completely. Given Gu Tian's nature, he's capable of anything," Gu Feng said, recalling the brutality of their previous confrontations. He likened Gu Tian's actions to those of historical figures who went to extreme lengths for power. "We should take the shortcut. I'm sure we won't be the only ones. Perhaps we'll encounter other travelers along the way."