6 Preparation For Exodus

It was in the middle of the day, that Zhao Mei fondled her baby, sitting on a rocking chair and conversing with Arthur having their mother-son talk when suddenly Lu Donghai appeared and asked excitedly, "Sansan, did you practice the soul cultivation technique that I imparted to you?"

"Yes, Grandpa Hai, it was very easy...I have already mastered it completely." Replied Arthur.

It was the easiest and the most basic technique but to master it entirely within a few days of his absence made Lu Donghai completely speechless. After a long pause and bewildered stare, Donghai asked, "How about the memory crystals, did you comprehend them?"

Arthur answered, "Yes, it was only some redundant memories of his past, nothing important. The only thing which might be valuable is that he left his soul imprint in a place called desolate rock tomes. All his useful memories were shattered when he was annihilated so I think if I could find that place and absorb his soul imprint it will be interesting but let's keep that for the future."

Donghai nodded and said, "Sansan, the spiritual energy source is very valuable. I have benefited from it greatly so utilise it carefully."

"Grandpa, don't worry and if you need it then tell me," said Arthur. Arthur never had a proper family in his previous life, he grew up in a broken family and he thought money was above everything else as he was taught that way since childhood. It was his first time learning about the love and care of the family. He was dotted by his grandfather and also by the entire clan. Thus, he was deeply moved by familial affection, making even the selfish Arthur offer his treasure to others.

"No Sansan Grandpa doesn't require it, keep it for yourself," Donghai responded. Although it was very beneficial for him, how can he take it from his beloved grandson who is the hope of the Lu clan? He cannot commit that crime especially when it pertains to Sansan.

Life went on smoothly for Arthur. He had robust spiritual power beyond his age. He didn't start practising any body cultivation techniques yet because his physical body was too fragile. For soul cultivation, besides the one which he has already mastered, he learned another technique called the soul defending system but it was also a low-levelled one.

The clan didn't have any proper soul cultivation techniques, the village also had none possessing it. Thus, limiting the soul of the martial practitioners to face a bottleneck at Pinnacle Stage Alleviation Realms, unable to go beyond and challenge heavenly tribulation. Inborn talent is the most important thing to determine how far a person's cultivation would rise. Then comes external factors such as cultivation techniques, luck, hard work, medicines, treasures and pills, etc.

All Arthur learned during this time was theories about basic cultivation techniques which his clan amassed, some theories about plants, medicines, animals, wild beasts, treasures, etc. He absorbed all the knowledge that was taught to him by his parents and grandfather.

Time went on, it was Arthur's 6th month since birth but he didn't allow anyone to carry him except for his parents and grandfather, whenever someone attempts to take him, he would start crying immediately. He didn't like it when people starts pouring kisses all over his face as soon as they see him, especially the girls. Most of all why he prefers staying with his family is that he was treated by others like an idiot or appropriately, like a baby.

He was the most obedient infant. He had a schedule for everything, albeit controlling over his bowels and bladder was not yet fully achieved, he still didn't summon them unnecessarily. Now that they could converse with one another, he simply has to call his mother mentally whenever he needed her. To the surprise of the neighbours and people in the clan, they never heard Sansan crying like any normal baby disturbing the sleep of anyone. He was the quietest and most understanding baby ever, therefore he became the coolest and silent baby in the entire clan who was loved by all. Resulting in regular pestering of the neighbours and clan members alike to take away Sansan with them. Zhao Mei, knowing her son best would rescue him every time by making excuses to refuse and send them away.

However one particular morning, to Arthur's dismay, being unable to decline the continual nagging of aunt Nuan, his mother agreed to send him with her. And it was at granny Nuan's place that Arthur learned about the actual plight of the Lu clan. The younger generations were not entitled to know the difficulties the clan was suffering. Arthur came to know only through granny Nuan and the gossiping ladies about his clan suffering injustice from the Liu and Bai clan. Not only did they lose three big shops to those clans but they were frequently suppressed in many matters too making the livelihood of the Lu clan riddled with difficulties. In addition, they also lived with constant fear regarding Pseudo Tribulation Pill. It was common knowledge that once Liu Longwei reaches the Pseudo Tribulation Realm, the Lu clan would then be defeated altogether.

Later, that same evening when Lu Donghai came to see his beloved grandson. Arthur asked casually, "Grandpa Hai, what is our clan's preparation against the Liu clan if their clan chief becomes Pseudo Tribulation Realm?" "You know it too, how did you know, who told you?" Surprised, Lu Donghai asked back.

"Grandpa, just answer it. Who, how or why do I know this is not important. What's important is how we are going to solve this problem."

"Sansan, you don't need to think about it. You should not worry at all, this is not for you to bear. Leave this to the clan chief and us, clan elders we can solve this problem easily," said Lu Donghai?

Seeing the heavy burden on his grandpa's shoulders Arthur voiced, "Grandpa Hai, I'm not stupid, don't try to brush it away from me like that. I'm not a weak-hearted person who would cower easily, even if the heavens are about to fall on my head I'll either face it directly to challenge it or find a solution to escape from it. I won't spend my time worrying unnecessarily like a coward and submitting to fate. Moreover, I'm tired of doing nothing so please discuss this openly with me."

"Such a brave child," muttered Lu Donghai and smiled satisfactorily. Then he said, "we have decided to send some instructors to Blooming Lily Town by the first week of next month to find a good place to settle down and if they can arrange a suitable place for a clan to flourish then we will migrate the whole clan slowly by sending in batches."

"How far is Blooming Lily Town from here?" Arthur asked.

"It takes half a month to travel by horses," answered Lu Donghai.

"Are there any possible bandits on the track?" Questioned Arthur.

"It is a trade route so there are bandits, if we are lucky we can avoid it," Donghai replied.

"Will Liu clan and Bai clan let us go without any disturbance?" Asked Arthur.

Donghai responded, "No, they will never let us move out easily. They are eyeing both our wealth and people, that's why we are going to send our younger generation away first while we older ones stay and fight, paving a way for our children to escape."

On hearing everything Arthur closed his eyes and began to think of a solution.

Donghai told, "Sansan, it is not for you to worry, we will let you live."

Arthur said, "Grandpa, will you be able to reach Tribulation Realm if I let you use the Spiritual energy source that I have?"

Lu Donghai's eyes lit up but he felt disappointed soon and replied, "It is good, the energy is very pure and helpful but I'm not talented so it'll take me at least five years for me to reach Tribulation Realm even if I use your spiritual energy source. Liu Longwei is also like me, therefore he should take around two years to assimilate and stabilise his cultivation after taking Pseudo Tribulation Pill. He is not going to face the real Tribulation Realm therefore he will still come out of his seclusion earlier. And six months have already passed so we have only around a year and a half more to arrange everything."

"Do we have a good relationship with town folks? Is the situation in Town better than in our village or the same, I mean will our clan be welcomed and accommodated by people living there?" Asked Arthur.

"To be honest, we only go there to sell off our stocks. Our relationship with merchants is decent but it is only limited to a business relationship and nothing much. We are primarily comprised of hunters, woodcutters and herb gatherers, we have to find a new livelihood. The competition in town is more brutal than here, with more cultivation experts, bigger clans and a more hostile environment," Donghai lamented.

Arthur asked again, "Grandpa Hai, what about migrating to the Forbidden forest instead of moving to town?"

"Jinzhi forest is filled with beasts and monsters it will be more dangerous for our children to survive, despite losing many of our lives in the battle at least our children have chances to survive in town and if an expert find favours in our children they may get to live safely." Told Lu Donghai.

"Suppose, if no one has to sacrifice then which is the better option, moving to Blooming Lily Town or Forbidden Forest?" Asked Arthur.

"If no one has to die then going to Forbidden Forest will be the better choice, at least we can protect our children there. We know the landscape of the forest and most of us understand the way of survival in the jungle. But, leaving the village is the main problem, those clans are already watching all our moves. They will not want us to leave, they wish to enslave us. We can fight with Liu Clan to the last man but the Bai clan and many smaller clans want to join the fray too. Now, they are just waiting for Liu Longwei to reach Pseudo Tribulation Realm to reduce their war casualty. The Bai clan is also likely to have Pseudo Tribulation Realm in their midst after three to four years. They have connections outside so they won't be subjected to humiliation but our clan has no one to look for, " said Lu Donghai. "Our clan was once very powerful ...If not for that..." he muttered to himself and then his voice trailed off.

Arthur didn't get to understand what his Grandpa was muttering about. Arthur then said, "Grandpa, I might have a solution to the problem and we will move to the forest but I need to understand the terrain first so I want to study the map. Secondly, seeing the gravity of the situation I think I need to speak to the clan elders. Thirdly, I want to know if there are any betrayers or I should say if there are any chances of disloyalty among our clan members because I need at least forty loyal members of the clan to plan things out."

Lu Donghai was both astonished and disbelieved at the same time. He asked, "Sansan, do you really have a solution to our problem."

"I don't exactly have a way out yet, I have an idea, but I need to ask and confirm more about it before putting it into action," replied Arthur.

Arthur spoke again, "Grandpa, read and explain to me about all the books on plants, beasts, pills, medicines, geography tomorrow. From now on I want to study and learn about everything that is in our library. I also want you to use the spiritual energy source that I have and reach the Tribulation realm within five years if possible. Don't try to refuse me, I'm not doing it for you but I have my valid intention behind it. Until I grow up to be able to protect myself I need you to be strong to keep me safe." He knew his Grandpa won't be able to refuse after hearing the last sentence so he put greater emphasis on his safety and protection as the main reason. He wanted to help his grandpa but it was also true that he wanted protection, after all, he was too weak to be of any help. Forget about saving others, he cannot even wipe his ass.

During the following twenty days. Arthur begins learning about everything his grandfather provided him from the library. His learning capacity was beyond compare which surprised his parents and grandfather greatly. The only thing that limits his learning was his physical body, as the days grew he became stronger too. He was older than six months so he was tougher than before. His parents were completely cooperative with him. Specifically, with his mother feeding him both knowledge and milk, he grew wiser and healthier.