Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

When the group learned that Gu Yao’s uncle had left him an important message, Tian Feirong and the others were genuinely happy for him. Gu Yao expressed his desire to remain here for a period of seclusion and cultivation, and they fully supported his decision. It wasn’t just Gu Yao who felt the urgency; even the fatty youth had a strong sense of pressure. The environment here was perfect for secluded cultivation.

Tian Feirong, on the other hand, needed time to adapt and refine the spiritual energy that had recently increased within him, reducing his immediate need for more spiritual energy.

As for Boss Dong and Ding Dali, their opinions didn’t hold much weight. In fact, they were delighted to stay here. Gu Yao didn’t drive them out but did set boundaries, restricting access to certain spiritual materials. Taking those materials out would only attract unwanted attention and potentially expose this sanctuary.

Boss Dong and Ding Dali were thrilled. They felt they had truly made the right decision to follow along. Far from thinking Gu Yao’s restrictions were excessive, they were as elated as mice falling into a vat of rice, nearly losing themselves in joy.

Thus, Boss Dong and Ding Dali remained outside the purple bamboo forest, while Gu Yao and his three companions moved into the bamboo house. The house still bore traces of Gu Yao’s uncle’s life and contained several items left for him, including a map and a few spiritual talismans.

Tian Feirong and the fatty youth went into seclusion, while Gu Yao and Chi Changye stood at the bamboo table examining the map. The map depicted a region many times larger than the Tianlin Continent. Marked on it was the territory of a certain power, revealing the geography of the continent on the other side of the teleportation array—the very land where the Changxian Sect resided.

It was clear that the Changxian Sect was merely one sect among many on that continent. Its standing among the other sects would likely only become clear once they arrived there. However, one thing was obvious: the Changxian Sect was not the sole dominant force. People from the Tianlin Continent only knew about the Changxian Sect but were unaware of other sects on the opposite side.

“Brother Ye, do you think the cultivators from those other sects know about the existence of our Tianlin Continent?” Gu Yao asked curiously.

Chi Changye shook his head. “Maybe they know, maybe they don’t. But the latter seems unlikely. After all, a secret is hard to keep for such a long time, especially in a world with competing sects where each has spies planted in the others. Most secrets are open secrets.”

The two committed the map to memory, and Gu Yao carefully stored it away. Of all the items, aside from the teleportation array, the map seemed the most crucial. Without it, stepping into the unknown continent would leave them completely lost. With it, they felt more confident.

The spiritual talismans were all top-grade. Chi Changye handed them to Gu Yao, commenting, “It seems your uncle had exceptional talent in crafting talismans, just as you have in alchemy. Aside from thunder-element talismans, his skills far surpass mine.”

Chi Changye had initially relied on his original Golden Core-level soul control to craft talismans. Now, crafting seventh-grade talismans was much harder, and their quality had noticeably dropped. Without the harvests from the Cangkun Secret Realm, even making a seventh-grade talisman would be troublesome. He hadn’t yet mastered the ability to deduce such talismans on his own.

“Brother Ye, you’re a sword cultivator. Comparing your talisman skills to a professional talisman master is a misplaced effort,” Gu Yao said, correcting him.

Chi Changye chuckled and ruffled Gu Yao’s hair affectionately.

In the bamboo house, there was even a dedicated alchemy room. A few jade bottles lay scattered on a table, containing leftover pills that Gu Yao’s uncle had refined. Most were of low to mid quality, suggesting that while his uncle could refine pills, his alchemical skills were not as remarkable as his talisman-making. However, to most cultivators, this versatility was impressive.

Once they familiarized themselves with the area, Gu Yao began his seclusion for cultivation, leaving Chi Changye to handle the outside. As for the Wood Spirit that the kitten couldn’t stop thinking about, neither of them actively searched for it. They figured that, given time, it would emerge on its own. Gu Yao had already noticed a curious gaze following him during his walks through the purple bamboo forest. It seemed this little creature was highly curious.

Meanwhile, after the frenzy across the Tianlin Continent to locate Gu Yao and Chi Changye subsided, occasional rumors still surfaced, but none proved credible. Eventually, life returned to normal, and it seemed as though the pair had vanished without a trace.

“Guild Master, has Alchemist Gu contacted you? That cultivator who submitted the body-tempering manual has come asking again,” someone inquired of Hu Master.

Hu Master laughed and replied, “The bounty was posted by Alchemist Gu himself. Whether the manual meets the requirements is up to him to decide. If he’s in seclusion right now, there’s nothing we can do. When he comes out, he’ll deal with it.”

Hu Master had been asked frequently about Gu Yao’s whereabouts, but he genuinely didn’t know. Some speculated that Gu Yao and Chi Changye might have found another way off the Tianlin Continent and left altogether. Hu Master found this amusing. He knew the group was still on the continent and thriving.

“You’re right, Guild Master. That manual probably only interests Alchemist Gu. No other alchemists would bother with it,” the inquirer laughed. Most alchemists lacked the aptitude for body-tempering techniques. It required immense time and energy, which they preferred to dedicate to their craft.

Hu Master thought differently. Having experienced a Golden Core-level tribulation himself, he knew how perilous it was. Without the protective formations of the Tianfu Academy, his strength and physical resilience wouldn’t have been enough to survive. Chi Changye’s tribulation had shown him that the more talented a cultivator, the harsher the lightning tribulation. While others saw Gu Yao’s actions as enigmatic, Hu Master admired his foresight. Gu Yao was clearly preparing for the long term, prioritizing body-tempering not just for a few hundred years of extended life but for enduring the trials of higher realms.

Time passed, and a year quickly slipped by. Boss Dong and Ding Dali sat by a small creek, munching on spiritual fruits. A year ago, they would have carefully stashed such treasures away if they’d found them. Now, they ate them as casually as common snacks. Overindulging had even dulled their taste for the fruits. Occasionally, they grilled fish caught from the creek, using the fruit juice as seasoning. If the folks back in Yuanyang Town saw this, they’d undoubtedly curse them for such wastefulness.

Ding Dali grinned with excitement, “Boss, when do you think we’ll reach the Foundation Establishment stage?”

In truth, for cultivators in an environment like Yuanyang Town, reaching the sixth or seventh level of Qi Refinement wasn’t too bad in terms of aptitude. Now, being in such a treasure-like haven, their cultivation levels had risen significantly over the past year. Both men had fully tasted the sweetness of their improved fortunes.

Boss Dong, however, thought more cautiously. “In our situation, we’ll need at least two Foundation Establishment Pills prepared. Our foundations weren’t solid to begin with, and we’ve been delayed for so many years. We can’t compare ourselves to the likes of Young Master Tian. For us, achieving Foundation Establishment will be much harder—even if we’ve perfected our Qi Refinement.”

Ding Dali kept things simpler. “I never dared to even dream of this before. Now that the opportunity’s here, of course, I’m going to try. Even if I fail in the end, I’ll be content with how far I’ve come. When I return to Yuanyang Town, aside from those old geezers and you, Boss, I, Ding Dali, will be one of the top experts there.”

Boss Dong was more ambitious. If he got this far but couldn’t achieve Foundation Establishment, it would feel devastating. He knew Gu Yao and the others had no shortage of Foundation Establishment Pills, but he also understood that letting them stay here, granting them access to resources, and not barring them from much was already incredibly generous. Asking for Foundation Establishment Pills would be pushing it—they’d have to find another way.

Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared at the creek’s end. Boss Dong leapt up and shouted, “Quick! Get the gear ready, the silver-scaled fish are here!”

“They’re here? Fantastic! Waiting for days finally paid off!”

The creek connected to an underground river, and periodically, small silver-scaled fish about the length of a finger would swim up. Initially, neither man thought much of them due to their size. But when Chi Changye once netted some and made fish soup, the aroma alone made it clear these were no ordinary fish. It made them regret ever dismissing them.

Seizing their chance, the two men swiftly caught every silver-scaled fish that emerged, filling a bucket before heading to the edge of the purple bamboo forest. This time, to their delight, they finally encountered Gu Yao, who rarely appeared over the past year.

Gu Yao made a quick hand gesture, allowing them into the bamboo forest. The spiritual energy inside was even denser and purer than outside.

“Alchemist Gu, we caught these silver-scaled fish and brought them as a gift for you,” Boss Dong said, offering the wooden bucket.

Gu Yao had tasted the fish soup once before and found it delicious—unforgettable, in fact. More importantly, the fish had unique medicinal properties, making them a valuable resource. Seeing them again brought him joy.

He accepted the bucket and said, “Thanks for your effort. I see you two are close to Foundation Establishment. I happen to have a few Foundation Establishment Pills on hand. They’re of no use to me, so you can have them.”

Boss Dong and Ding Dali were almost moved to tears. They accepted the jade bottle with both hands and repeatedly expressed their gratitude. “Thank you, Alchemist Gu! Thank you so much!”

Gu Yao waved it off and turned back toward the bamboo house. The two men, understanding the situation, tactfully exited the forest and returned to their temporary lodgings.

Chi Changye had noticed the scene from outside. When Gu Yao entered, he gave him a helpless smile. “You’re spoiling them more and more.”

Gu Yao chuckled. “It’s fate, I suppose. We got the beast hide and iron fragments from them, didn’t we? Letting them stay here and helping them reach Foundation Establishment is a form of repayment. Unlike the three big families, they don’t have deep roots. With them around, the ordinary cultivators in Yuanyang Town will have some protection.”

“A monopoly isn’t healthy. It’s better to have multiple forces competing,” Gu Yao continued. “Besides, while Boss Dong’s actions were self-serving at first, you and I did benefit from them. Compared to others, he knows his limits.”

Chi Changye said no more, taking the fish to prepare. Eventually, he turned the silver-scaled fish into a pot of fish soup. The soup was milky white, with the fish meat practically melted into it. The aroma was so enticing that even Tian Feirong and the fatty boy couldn’t resist coming out of their rooms to share the meal. Together, they enjoyed the delicious fish soup.