Gu Xuanming had spent most of his time in his dorm room, never leaving.
Why?
Because he was cultivating.
He didn’t have time to think about many things other than cultivation and the black market.
He had spent a lot of time searching his own astral body, and by now, he had only managed to get about 56% of them.
His progress began to slow due to a lack of focus.
He knew it would be hard, but trying it made him realize the task was of even greater difficulty when said.
Of course, with a pill, he should be able to open them more easily.
He never understood why there were ‘ethics’ in cultivation.
His father had told him many stories.
He knew of the bloodshed that a cultivator may have to reap if he desired to rise in the world.
After all, everyone desired to reach the top, to become an immortal.
From what he knew, when you become an immortal, the materials on Blue Star might as well be useless.
It was said that the only way to get stronger as an immortal was to enter the abyss.
Not much is known about this place, so Gu Xuanming has been doing his research so that when he becomes an immortal, he will be ready for whatever is thrown at him.
But about ethics.
He found such things stupid.
Ethics halted progress, and he knew that.
If he were to cultivate, he would not allow himself to be held back, not by rules, not by ethics, and certainly not by people.
He stood up, leaving his dorm room.
‘I will not allow myself to be held back.’
‘If anyone dares to stand in the way of my freedom, I will kill them.
If not, they can step aside and scram!’
A faint smile was on his face as he marched out of the premises.
Unknown to him, Jiang Haotia had spotted him from the large building he was inside, sitting by the window with a cup of liquor.
The sect leader was silent, his gaze locked like a shackle to Gu Xuanming.
He understood more than anyone else that this boy carried a presence that seemed wicked, yet not malicious.
Many cultivators could be wicked, both righteous and demonic, so it wasn’t enough to deduce whether he was the demon.
Moreover, he agreed with the elder that Nangong Xuanhe fit the role of a demonic cultivator anyway.
After all, heart demons were the spark that ignited the dark flame of evil.
…
Gu Xuanming arrived at the village once again, and the sun had set.
The streets were dark, with every corner lurking with shadows.
People, both of normal status and beggars, were on the streets, remaining silent as they did their business.
Gu Xuanming noted the many beggars who were desperate for stones and food, noting their fragile bodies.
It was pretty common for beggars to be around here.
After all, they could beg for a cultivator’s grace in exchange for slavery.
This was usually because clans fell due to a lack of resources.
Over the years, many clans fell because they were unable to produce a cultivator to be a symbol of their clan, leading to their slow decline.
The only way they could save themselves was by adoption.
A clan could adopt someone with potential or at least someone who has the traits of a genius.
This could save their clan, but to adopt, you would have to show what you could offer the cultivator.
They had no obligation to join your family if they didn’t benefit.
This led clan leaders to make empty promises, hoping they could fulfill them if the cultivator met their expectations.
This has gone on for years; many clans rose and fell.
And now here they were, begging for scraps.
Gu Xuanming passed them, caring not for their situation.
Many dared not aggravate or beg him, knowing who his father was.
They didn’t want to anger him.
It was a big building with 5 floors, lanterns illuminating the inside and outside.
He could hear the overlapping voices, laughter, and cheering from within.
‘I should be able to tune out unnecessary voices.
Although the main concern is whether or not the market will be mentioned tonight.’
‘I hope it is mentioned.
I would rather reach my first stars quickly than wait any longer.’
Stepping into the Inn, the smell of liquor was the first thing to enter his nose.
Because of his heightened smell, the fragrance was a little distracting.
However, he could deal with it, especially since he’s smelt far worse.
Walking over to the counter, he met eyes with a man who seemed to be in his middle years.
“Welcome, young master.
How can I help you?”
Gu Xuanming pulled out something from his robe.
It was the emblem of the Gu Clan.
A circular piece with the face of a demonic beast, shrouded in black, red, and gold.
The man also noticed his robe, which had the pattern of a demon as well, making his connection all the more clear.
Realizing he had spoken so casually to the son of the famed Gu Chenyin, he immediately bowed his head and apologized!
He snapped his body into a bowing position and begged.
“I apologize for addressing Lord young master so casually!”
“At least you understood your mistake.”
Gu Xuanming kept up face.
He needed people to see him as what he was: the son of the strongest cultivator in the central continent.
Even if he cared not for this status, others did, and that was why they were stupid.
‘Of course, he fears me because of a mere blood relation.’ Looking at the man, he could help but use his eyes to see the strings once more before blinking and removing them from his sight.
‘Just a puppet without life.
Just dolls that do as they’re told without knowing.’
‘I can’t stand them.’
“I would like a feast for myself.
Use your best ingredients to make the food and deliver it to me.”
Gu Xuanming threw his primordial stones onto the counter, letting the man pick them up himself.
Some servants noticed Gu Xuanming; some wanted to approach and try to seduce him, but they knew better.
If it failed, they were screwed, so they would rather take the risk with mortals who happened to live in a clan with decent status.
All but one.
This person, Gu Xuanming, noticed.
A single glamorous beauty accentuated by heavy makeup, yet she still looked natural in spite of that.
One would think she was natural, and nothing on her face suggests she wore any, but Gu Xuanming could smell the makeup easily.
Her hair, the color of aged mahogany, was styled into twin cloud buns that adorned either side of her head.
From beneath them flowed long, lustrous tresses, straight as a waterfall and smooth as silk.
The carefully maintained arrangement spoke of careful grooming, while the absence of excessive ornaments lent her an understated elegance.
Clad in a moon-gold ruqun, she stood with the poise of a noble daughter despite being a mere mortal.
A plum-purple shawl robe draped over her shoulders, its broad sleeves embroidered with faint spirit-flower patterns.
A cinnabar sash bound her slender waist, securing a jade-white clasp.
She began to walk clothed to him, her turquoise ornaments swaying gently from her ears and necklace, their soft gleam complementing her composed demeanor.
Her blue heels tapped on the floor as she got closer, the tapping coming to a halt when she stood before Gu Xuanming, holding her paper fan in her hand.
“Young Master, will you allow me to accompany you and feed you?” She teased.
Everyone couldn’t help but feel pity.
They were certain she was going to be humiliated, or at worst, ‘put in her place’ as some say.
Which was really just raping them and humiliating them to an even greater extent.
She had her gentle smile, and the way she bowed was just enough to expose her plump breasts and show off her voluptuous form.
‘…odd.
She doesn’t seem that much older than me.’
Gu Xuanming glanced over at the old man, who was sweating while looking down, seemingly writing down his demand.
Is this a seduction attempt?
Well, let’s see just how much she can offer me.’
‘If she can offer me plenty, then I should be able to use her to my benefit.
I also need to find myself a dao companion.’
Thinking back to his father once more, he recalled the day his father told him that he would require a dao companion if he wished to rise even as an immortal.
From what was said, as an immortal, it is impossible to continue rising in your stars unless you possess a dao companion, so finding one early was better than later.
You also needed a sort of bond between them, as the bond itself was required along with the affinities for Yin and Yang.
Lin Suwen was a girl he first considered, but after learning of her lack of loyalty, he realized she would only halt him.
She was useless.
But, if this girl here proved her worth, he would certainly take her into their adulthood and make sure her life is extended long enough that he can use her.
“Very well.
Make sure you bring the highest quality and flavor liquor too.
Make sure the excess balance is brought to me.”
The girl smiled, bowing her head.
“Yes, Young Master!”
She shot a glare at her father, who was the man behind the counter.
“Hurry up and prepare the food!” She said quietly.
“If I can seduce him, I’ll become his concubine and pay off your debt.”
“You may be his concubine, but isn’t it forbidden for young masters to engage in sexual activities until they reach 18?
Young Master Xuaming is only 15, and so are you.”
“I still will never understand why you asked a cultivator for a more mature body…”
Her father said, a hint of disappointment in his words.
Hearing her father argue back, she gave him a nasty look.
“Don’t forget, this is to clear the debt YOU put us on.
I don’t want to be a servant forever.
I would much rather be his concubine than live with you forever.”
Hearing his daughter say those words, he felt a little disheartened, but he knew his daughter was just tired of everything.
He had put too much on his daughter.
***
After a while of waiting, sitting at a random table, the girl brought with her 2 bars of their best-selling wine: the Purple Bamboo Wine.
This wine held a fragrance that is rumored to addict a person to its smell.
Not even those ascending the stars could reject such a rich aroma.
Even more so, the rumors state that if a woman feeds wine to someone, that person will find them more favorable.
Fully aware of this rumor, she has every intention of making him fall for her by feeding him wine directly from her mouth.
She had learned over the years that she might as well try.
If she didn’t, then she would regret never trying to escape her servant status.
She was fully aware she might get raped, but she didn’t care.
In fact, it was her backup.
If Gu Xuanming did intend to rape her, then she was sure he would be satisfied with her and possibly keep her for himself.
After all, even if the rules state that a young master cannot engage in sexual activities until they are 18, many young masters have broken that rule and never got caught.
It was a desperate gamble!
The food was set onto the table, enough to fill the bellies of 20 mortals, but for someone like him, this was an average meal now that he was stepping into the realms of cultivation.
The amount of calories combined would be burned when he cultivated by himself.
‘This reminds me of the times with my father.
I always asked him why there was so much food for him and how he never got fat.
To think meditation could burn so many calories.’
Taking his first bowl, he took his chopsticks and picked up the rice.
He brought it to his mouth and bit into it.
Double Upload on Monday