Chapter 11: Spirit Stone is the Bridge between the Immortals and this World

May 1st, early morning.

Hu Yao lightly counted her savings, left home early, and scooped a handful of water from a nearby stream to drink.

"Today's the gathering, but I wonder when that mysterious mentor will come."

"If we miss it, it would be such a pity."

She glanced around to see no one was nearby.

Finding a secluded path, she hurried into the depths of the forest.

Deep in the dense woods, she found a large tree, climbed up, and chased away the squirrel hiding in the tree hole. She grabbed the pine nuts and dried fruits the squirrel had stored for winter and ate some.

Feeling full, she lay at the depth of the tree hole and put on the bronze ghost mask.

As her consciousness appeared on the Cloud Platform, across from her, the strong scholar was already leisurely shaking a folding fan.

Murong Lang saw Hu Yao appear and spoke before she could ask, "I've been waiting here since noon yesterday."

Hu Yao asked, "Did your Thunder Butterfly successfully transform too?"

Murong Lang nodded.

"After just feeding for ten days, my Thunder Butterfly successfully molted and reached the Fourth Transformation."

"By the looks of it, your Power Gu must have transformed too."

Hu Yao spread her hands, and a bright red moth, like a flame, slowly appeared, spreading its wings between her fingers.

After Hu Yao's Power Gu Butterfly Transformation, it resembled a moth more.

Hu Yao felt inexplicably nervous, "What Senior Taichu said, is it all true?"

Murong Lang pondered for a moment and then said, "Someone who can see through the existence of Gu wouldn't deceive us about such trivial matters."

"Just like how an eagle flying in the sky has no reason to deceive an ant."

Hu Yao marveled, "Who exactly is that senior?"

Murong Lang shook his head, "I don't know. I've checked many records but found no mention of Taichu."

"What I can determine is that he should be from a very long time ago, almost an existence close to the Dao, perhaps even an immortal."

"I advise you not to inquire about this senior's identity."

"It's very likely that a new game of chess has begun."

Hu Yao's body trembled inexplicably, a game of chess?

A game in which the immortals above the heavens use all beings as their pieces?

Murong Lang continued, "You should understand that when we appear here again, we've already become part of it."

"You've made your choice."

Hu Yao nodded slowly, realizing that being directly guided in Gu promotion and transformation was a gift she couldn't refuse.

Even if it meant being a piece on Taichu's chessboard.

The two fell into silence for a moment, then Hu Yao said, "I wonder what Senior Taichu is doing, when he'll arrive."

Murong Lang didn't seem very concerned and sat quietly, "I can wait here all day."

...

Meanwhile, Chen Qing was skillfully flipping a fried egg in a pan, cooking the other side.

"Having an egg for breakfast is good for nutrition."

Next to the frying pan, Chen Qing placed two strips of bacon, sizzling with oil and giving off a mouthwatering aroma.

With two buns and half a raw cabbage, Chen Qing ate heartily before heading out for work.

As the sun was about to set, Chen Qing collected eight inferior Spirit Stones, returned to his dwelling, casually ate something, and then began to peruse "Gu Promotion Hundred Solutions" again.

Night fell, and outside, the cicadas and crickets chirped endlessly, some accompanied by the croak of frogs, then fell silent.

Chen Qing unearthed the bronze ghost mask buried in the ground, spread out a black cloth wrap, settled in a sitting posture by his bed, and prepared to put on the bronze ghost mask.

Wearing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing's consciousness once again appeared on the seat of the Cloud Platform. His gaze pierced through the mist on the ghost mask, scanning the surroundings to find the two people already seated in their previous positions.

Chen Qing's appearance here was that of a figure in a black cloak. He raised his right hand, placed it on the table, and began tapping his index finger on the tabletop.

"Good evening."

Hu Yao quickly responded, "Senior Taichu, good evening."

Murong Lang bowed his head in salutation, "Respected Senior Taichu, welcome back to the gathering."

Hu Yao glanced awkwardly at Murong Lang; indeed, her father was right, scholars are skilled at deception!

This guy was surprisingly polite!

She cautiously looked at Chen Qing, relieved to find no changes in his demeanor.

Murong Lang said, "Unfortunately, the position of the mask's seat is fixed; otherwise, we should have invited you to sit at the head."

Chen Qing naturally shook his head, "No need; I quite like this setting, where we all sit facing each other. It reminds me of the past."

He didn't inquire whether Murong Lang and Hu Yao's Gu had been upgraded, as if he knew they surely would.

Hu Yao, no longer hesitating, displayed her Gu, "Thanks to your guidance, senior, my Power Gu has undergone the Butterfly Transformation."

Chen Qing looked at the red moth,

[Mortal Power Butterfly]

Quality: First Transformation

Life Span: 24/110

Effect: Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers

Trait: Tiger Shape, gaining double strength burst within ten breaths

Growth Requirements: Foundation Establishment Tiger Demon Teeth

Growth Progress: 0/100 (Awaiting Promotion)

Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote

It seemed that mortal-grade Gu could only undergo the Butterfly Transformation once; this was their extreme growth.

The ability gained after the Power Gu Butterfly Transformation was extraordinary, allowing for a power burst effect.

Combat is unlike farming; victory could be determined in an instant.

Those ten breaths could indeed be a matter of life and death.

Murong Lang also displayed his transformed Thunder Butterfly, "Senior, my Thunder Butterfly has also successfully transformed."

[Mortal Thunder Butterfly]

Quality: Fourth Transformation

Life Span: 56/140

Effect: Call Lightning, converting Spiritual Energy to electricity; able to cast Palm Thunder.

[Traits]: Lightning Control, partially immune to and control over lightning to a certain degree

Growth Requirements: Thunder Cloud Mother Qi

Growth Progress: 0/100

Promotion Requirements: Unable to further promote

An additional ability was gained, able to cast Palm Thunder.

Not sure what this Palm Thunder was or how to cast it.

He sat squarely in his seat, "I told you, it's a gift."

Undeniably.

Murong Lang was silent, waiting for Hu Yao to ask.

Hu Yao did not disappoint him, "Senior Taichu, is there a chance for us to receive your guidance in the future?"

Chen Qing thought, this little girl wasn't learning well, always thinking of getting something for nothing.

"Such karmic ties are beyond your current capacity."

Murong Lang appeared dejected, "Is it the price we can't bear?"

Once guided by this senior, they would inevitably be entwined in karmic ties with him.

The karmic ties from this senior, even a slight involvement, they couldn't endure.

Indeed, having received one gift was already a stroke of luck, how could it happen twice every month?

Chen Qing saw the two were already captivated by his guidance but weren't coming to their senses. He said to himself, "Everything that escapes must have its path."

Hu Yao said, "Senior Taichu means that by elevating our Gu this way, we skip some processes, but the Spirit Stones saved must have a destination."

Murong Lang said, "I see, the senior means for us to conduct a transaction, where the senior guides us and we provide..."

He left his sentence unfinished; what could they offer?

For a senior like this, ancient, perhaps even from antiquity, what could they possibly offer that he would deem worthy?

Chen Qing remained silent, watching them converse without saying a word.

Seeing they truly didn't get it, he continued spouting nonsense, "Spirit Stones are the bridge between the immortal beings and this world."