Page 7: Past and Grudges

Long Bai's parents were full-pledged merchants.

Coming from a merchant family, traveling from one place to another is unavoidable. If a person needs to prosper, one must seek in order to find something and establish connections. Long Bai's family is situated in Da Yun city which is on the same level as the Merchant city. The family was able to progress due to Bai's mother. Since she was a child, she followed her parents wherever they go and tried to study the different herbs she encounters. Before they could send her to become an alchemist, she already discovered a formula that can treat wounds and prevent infections. The effects may be slower than a tier 1 healing pill but the materials are cheaper and can be manufactured easily.

Being a family of merchants, they saw profit in it and took her as a senior in Merchant's union. Bai's mother and family managed the production of the ointment and became rich. Even though such a formula was created, it was not able to alarm the Alchemist union since it does not have the same effects as their lowest grade pill. If such a pill can heal a minor wound for 4-6 hours, the ointment would much prevent infection while healing takes a day.

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The memories of Bai's misfortune was still vivid as he tried to recall what took place during his parent's death. No matter what world, place, or time, Bai concluded that people will always be the same; greedy, and unperturbed by the consequence of their actions. Since the old Bai was only 4 at that time, he wasn't able to comprehend everything that was going on. The memory of their caravan being attacked and ransacked by barbarians was etched into his mind but the most painful for him was watching his parents being killed as he is being dragged by a servant away from the scene. People who tried to flee from the massacre were showered with arrows, and Bai was not excluded from it. Although none of the arrows was able to kill Bai and the servant, an arrow manage to hit the servant's back. Even with the injury, they were able to escape.

After 3 days of having no food and being exhausted, Bai's servant's life was claimed by death. The injury was too deep causing the internal organs to suffer. It was a painful and slow death but if it was not for the servant, no one from the family could have survived. Bai buried the body, paid his respects, and continue to wander until he was able to reach the outskirts of the merchant city his family was supposed to reach. For over a year, Bai survived staying in the slums begging and stealing. At some point, he was also able to learn how to hunt small animals he learned from the other locals from the slums.

"Just the other day, I mistakenly entered a gang's turf and almost got beaten. Due to my small physique, I managed to escape since they cannot enter tight areas."

Long Bai ended while licking the oil left on the bone. He considered the dinner sumptuous as it was his first time eating a heavy meal since he came to this world. As for his secrets, he decided not to reveal any of them.

The three became quiet. Looking at their mood, they might have remembered their family from Bai's story. It was a good dinner for a starry night but the atmosphere was so heavy that Long Bai decided to return to his place. The group agreed to meet again tomorrow then bid each other good night.

Returning to the old hut was no challenge for Long Bai since it was night time. He need not worry about being seen so traversing the distance with full speed is not a problem. Ling Bai organized his thoughts before heading to his hay bed. It was a good day.

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Six Star Sect Council

Elder 1: So it was true then? What do you think?

Elder 2: Even if it's a rumor, we cannot just stand by. It would be better to prepare to make for the best than going the normal flow. There's no harm in it.

Elder 3: I agree with you. We just need to inform all the families here in Merchant City as early as possible so they can prepare. If we can get the alchemist tower's support, we might be able to stand a chance. Our sect is the weakest among the 6 sects in the Violet Country. We can't allow this to continue or we will forever stay at the bottom. What does the Sect leader say?

Duan Jian: Indeed, we can't be like this forever. It's time for us to gamble and rely on our disciples' talents. I believe the five families have already started nurturing their children. Inside our sect, we only have a few decent cultivators. My disciple is already at the Bone tempering layer. Maybe in 3 years, he would be able to enter the soul realm as long as he would be provided with enough resources. As of now, he is our best student among the seniors. If he won't be able to enter the soul realm within 3 years, he would be left out by his strong peers from other sects.

Elder 2: But Sect leader, we are already limited with the resources we have. what must be done?

Duan Jian: About that, let me meet up with the alchemy tower. If we can work with them, both would prosper. This is something that needs to happen. This city has a limited number of strong cultivators, instead, it is swarmed with merchants and other businesses. Let me deal with this. In the meantime, I ask the 6 elders to have the 5 families prepare for the awakening 5 months from now. It's just a month earlier than usual but I think it would suffice.

Elder 5: If we can participate in the martial competition at the Imperial city 3 years from now, our sect will be rewarded even just by participating in it. To be able to participate in an event where a major sect is present is every minor sect's dream. But alas! We first need to enter the top 6 during the inter-school competition. I've heard that the other 5 sects are also making their move. They might have even invited some experts to forge weapons for them.

Duan Jian: May it be but we can only manage what we have. For us, the alchemy tower's cultivation pills are the most important. Encourage the main families to put all their efforts. When our sect will prosper, so will them a cording to their contributions.

We shall make it this time. Go!

All elders: For the Six-star sect! We obey the Sect leader!