Chapter 565 - Meeting Gu Tong Once Again
Chapter 565: Meeting Gu Tong Once Again
“Are you satisfied with remaining a warrior your whole life?” Mu Nanchen somewhat angrily asked.
Beside him, Mu Fuping’s expression went blank. She could not understand why Xia Fei would reject such an obviously good opportunity, feeling that it was too stupid a move to make.
Xia Fei flashed a slight smile and revealed his obstinate side again.
“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with being a warrior. It’s just that I will consider becoming an Energy Master at the same time that I’m a warrior,” Xia Fei very calmly stated. “Besides, I’m with the Yu family right now, and that makes it inconvenient for me to study with other clans.”
This was a clear-cut answer, as good as saying, “There’s no need for others to interfere with my affairs.”
Mu Nanchen was also someone with his pride. He snorted coldly there and then, no longer saying anything else of the matter. He said goodbye to the Yu family’s patriarch and led Mu Fuping back home.
…
Yu Hua joined Xia Fei on his way back to his abode.
“Actually, you ought to have agreed to Mu Nanchen’s offer. The man wields great power, and the Mu family is a top clan in the circle. That might very well be a one-time opportunity you’d be getting,” Yu Hua softly mentioned.
Xia Fei shook his head. “That’s not how I saw it. It would be fine if he were earnest in inviting me to his clan, but I have no idea why the people of the Mu family showed such great distaste for me from the very start, and it’s only after I showed them my trump card did they do a 180 degree change in attitude, which goes to show that they’re only interested in me at the last minute.
“They’re really treating me as a fool. At the end of the day, I still have my pride, and tempting me with niceties isn’t something that works on me. Besides, I hate being used by others.”
When Xia Fei said how he hated being used by others, Yu Hua briefly became slightly startled, but he did not explicitly show this in his actions and very quickly recovered.
Chuckling, Yu Hua said, “I don’t think that you showed every trump card you have today, though. You’re someone who has plenty squirreled away, incredibly domineering when you get arrogant yet able to blend into the crowd when you wish to keep a low-profile. If you consider all that, even I am afraid of getting dragged into your orbit. I guess that this is what a myriad of changes means; I’ve seen plenty of young men and women, but this is the first time I’m seeing someone like you who has such a mix of different personalities. I simply can’t make sense of you.”
Xia Fei had a helpless expression plastered on his face. “I can’t do anything about it if you don’t believe me, but this is truly all the cards I hold. Even now, I’m beginning to regret what I’ve done. All I can blame is that moment of reckless impulse I gave into.”
“That’s right. I’m about to leave for Crow City to try and make a breakthrough for the Law Sovereign threshold. Is there anything important that I should keep in mind?” Xia Fei changed the topic and asked.
“Anything important? Are you trying to ask me if there’s a key to achieving the breakthrough?” Yu Hua chuckled.
Xia Fei saw no reason to lie as he nodded.
Yu Hua then said, “Even if you didn’t ask, I’d still impart what I know to you. After all, we’ve hit off so well.”
Yu Hua had the cultivation of a Great Law Emperor, but he was also a very amiable soul. He was nowhere as secretive and profound as the Patriarch Yu Jiang, nor was he as domineering as Yu Qiqi. The two got along well, since both men enjoyed keeping a low profile.
“Honestly, I don’t really have a lot of confidence if I can help you with the critical stage of Law Sovereign. It’s because this is a very difficult transom to cross, and given how different people physically are, there’ll also be distinctions between the perplexity of the breakthrough.”
“From my experience, this particular transom is completely different from the rushing tide of energy when crossing the level 6 juncture. It’s best if you learn how to cultivate after the tide recedes.”
“After the tide recedes?” Xia Fei asked, puzzled.
Yu Hua answered, “What I mean by receding tide is a situation when the flow of energy is insufficient. Once you’re able to continue intense cultivation despite having a lack of energy circulating in your body, there’s a chance for you to enter a very miraculous state where you clearly have no energy to speak of yet have enough mental strength to persist on.”
Xia Fei instantly understood what the other meant. “I understand. That’s a state warriors will often get to after reaching the limits of the fight. Your mind will go blank, and you’ll rely on your willpower to persist in the fight, so it turns out that the key to becoming a Law Sovereign lies in that.”
Yu Hua sighed. “Don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand, but such an extreme condition is very dangerous, and all it will take is a momentary lapse in concentration for you to end up causing irreparable injury to your body, maybe even damaging your seventh brain region again. I’m sure you ought to be clear on the sort of agony that can bring you.”
Xia Fei shrugged. He was of course familiar with the pain that came with a ruined seventh brain region. The full three years of stagnation before, and the misery he experienced when he initially joined the Yu family; this was not something that he would ever forget in this life.
However, they were just half a month away from the Dragon Ascension Conclave. If he did not hurry up and make significant improvements on this front, there was no telling when he would get a second chance at this. Xia Fei had to take the risk!
Saying that, a burly hunk of a man suddenly passed them. He was not too tall but was very muscular, looking to be as unshakable as a metallic pillar. Every step he took rang loudly, leaving a slightly visible imprint on the road with every footfall.
For some reason, this hunk and Yu Hua’s eyes met with seething gazes, not once either greeted the other as they brushed past each other as if they viewed each other with great animosity.
“Who’s that?” Xia Fei asked.
Yu Hua chuckled. “That’s the esteemed Yu Jin, the strongest warrior in the family besides the old patriarch, and he’s also the head steward of the clan. These years, the patriarch hasn’t been bothering himself with family matters, so Yu Jin has taken the responsibility to deal with internal and external affairs in his stead.”
Xia Fei mused. “He doesn’t seem to be as strong as you, so why is he viewed as the second strongest warrior in the clan?”
Yu Hua pointed to himself and said, “While he might not have as high a cultivation as me, just a Peak Law Sovereign, don’t forget that I’m not considered a member of the clan anymore, so while I help the patriarch with certain matters, it’s only done in private, and I’m not involved in any other affairs.”
“Does either of you harbor enmity?”
“Not really. It’s all in the past.”
Yu Hua said this rather breezily, but Xia Fei did not think so. The look either man threw at each other seemed like they were keen to see the other dead, and the wish to fight was palpable! Xia Fei had seen this all with his two eyes.
“I’m afraid that Yu Hua’s decision to pick up business and abandon the ways of a warrior has something to do with Yu Jin, and you can tell from a glance that the latter isn’t a good guy. Those sharp eyes that exude killing intent and a scowling face that shows no smile… It’s as if the entire world owes him money.” Phantom was rattling off beside Xia Fei’s ears.
Xia Fei did not share the same sentiment. First impressions were hardly ever accurate and would very easily result in being taken advantage of. Xia Fei knew intimately what it meant by not judging a book by its cover.
“Okay, you’re home now. I still have other matters to attend to, so we might not meet again before you head off for the Dragon Ascension Conclave,” Yu Hua said.
Xia Fei laughed. “You seem to be quite certain that I can advance to become a Law Sovereign within fifteen days.”
Yu Hua replied, “I don’t know about others, but I do know that you might succeed. I haven’t known you for too long, but you’ve always surprised me.”
With that said, Yu Hua disappeared as he took a side step to his left. Xia Fei had no idea if he used a Spatial Compass or an instantaneous movement skill; the latter had a high cultivation and was capable of freely traversing through space at his leisure, which Xia Fei could only feel a bout of envy toward.
Pod was already sick with anxiety waiting back at home. The moment he saw Xia Fei, the cute little robot pouted. “From today onward, no matter where the master goes, I’ll be following, too, even if I have to stay in your spatial ring.”
Xia Fei was left speechless but had no choice but to agree.
…
Today had been quite a lucky day. Not only did he manage to get an invite to the Dragon Ascension Conclave, he even managed to make a video-call with Avril successfully.
Xia Fei could see that Avril was hard at work on the screen, wearing her pajamas and a pen stuck in her hair as a hairpin. Her two bright eyes were a little faint as if she was very tired.
“What have you been up to?” Xia Fei asked with a measure of concern and heartache.
“I’m presently drawing up a new development plan for Starlink Corporation. Father has me presiding over the logistics department and research center, so I have to put in the effort,” Avril said with a smile.
Most likely feeling that she was looking a bit too unsightly like that, Avril let her hair down and furtively rubbed some nourishment cleanser on herself as she spoke.
“Work’s work. Is there a need for you to push yourself so much? You need to remember that no matter what happens, I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.”
Xia Fei said that with great sincerity, and Avril’s two cheeks burned. Any lady would feel very blessed hearing a man say that, and Avril was no exception.
“I wouldn’t spend all my time missing you if I were busy with work.”
Avril’s voice was tiny, and Xia Fei was somewhat stunned by her words, a wave of warmth spreading in his heart.
The time they spent away from each other was by no means great, and that was the same for both Xia Fei and Avril. It turned out that the reason Avril had intentionally busied herself with work was all so she would not have any time to be lovesick.
After a moment of silence, Xia Fei earnestly said, “Earlier, I talked to Charlie, and I have a subordinate who’s done plenty of research in genetics. He’ll soon have a gene optimization fluid prepared for you, and I hope that you’ll take it.”
Avril nodded, agreeing to his request.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I hope that you can open your seventh brain region?” Xia Fei asked.
“There’s no need. I believe that you must have your reasons,” Avril said with a giggle.
Xia Fei felt even more tongue-tied upon hearing that. This sort of unconditional trust and support would move anyone. Whether a relationship was deep or otherwise, the sweet words shared would often come off as deceptive, and it was a lot easier to reflect the bond shared through the little things.
Switching off the communication with Avril, Xia Fei contacted Charlie once more.
“Let me reiterate, you must make sure to do human experiments with the gene optimization fluid first. Ensure that it is 100% safe; I don’t care even if a million people die, but you must guarantee that Avril will be 200% safe administering it,” Xia Fei said somberly.
Human experimentation was of course forbidden in the Alliance, for that was what caused Harris to be hunted down back in the day.
Charlie was slightly taken aback. “I remember you saying before that, as long as your people live, even if the entire world dies, you won’t care. I haven’t forgotten that. Don’t worry; I’ll do as per you instructed.”
Lionheart Emperor Oro, who was staying in his spatial ring, had heard what Xia Fei said and muttered to himself, ‘As long as his own people live, he doesn’t care even if the world dies? This Xia Fei sure is quite the ruthless man.’
After repeatedly reiterating his instructions to Charlie, he then had a simple conversation with the Sentinel Goddess Sophia. The robot army’s construction of the Titan had continued undeterred, progressing smoothly. Due to the overly gargantuan size of such a superwarship, the production time was long.
…
Early the next morning, Xia Fei arrived by that pier which the Family Patriarch Yu Jiang fished by and saw Gu Tong.
“Xia Fei!”
“Instructor Gu.”
The two exchanged warm pleasantries. Gu Tong appeared to be skinnier and walked with a slight limp on his left leg, seemingly having been injured.
“Your leg…”
“It’s fine. Just a minor injury,” Gu Tong hurriedly brushed over his injury.
Without a doubt, no matter where Snake Isle was, it was definitely not anywhere peaceful, or else Gu Tong would not have been in such a state in just these two short months that passed.
Frowning, Xia Fei’s hatred toward Duba deepened. Sending Gu Tong to Snake Isle despite not having too high a cultivation in the first place? Had he not managed to send him back in time, perhaps the next chance he got meeting Gu Tong would have been with his corpse. How merciless and cruel of the Energy Master!
Gu Tong had been saved from death’s clutches thanks to Gu Fei, so of course the former was extremely grateful toward him, expressing his tremendous gratitude. Xia Fei was now a Peak Law Warrior, and his status was different from before.
Yu Jiang laughed. “Alright. Leave all the talking for later. Let me escort you two to Crow City first.”