Picture book...

After a short rest, Grandpa Xu and the gang stood up ready to leave. Xu Shaoze turned his head sideways to look at his grandpa and curiously asked. "Where are we going?"

Grandpa Xu still smiling as he said. "Xu manor!"

Xu Shaoze after some time of hesitation finally asked about what's bothering his mind for a while.

"Is this how the cultivation world works?"

Grandpa Xu didn't know the implying meaning behind Xu Shaoze's word as he only knew that his grandson came from a remote place and never cultivated before. He answered without a single doubt. "Yes, it is!"

Walking in the front inhaling some air as he breathed.

"In the cultivation world, you need to be strong in order to survive, to compete for resources from other cultivators so that you can get more powerful!"

Xu Shaoze was in doubt.

"Why need to get powerful? Isn't it enough to have sufficient strength to survive?"

Grandpa Xu patted Xu Shaoze's head as he said in a playful tone.

"What is sufficient, what is not?"

Grandpa Xu sighed, his breath materializes as it formed a wave of current making way in the vast space.

"This world is cruel, there's a mountain above the mountain, peak above a peak! remember that there is always someone above you! Sufficient strength? that's an ideal dream that many yearns."

Grandpa Xu scoffed. He looked at the vast sky as if pondering of something.

"To have sufficient strength, you need to be the top of this world! How hard can it be to become the very top of this world? Even I am only at the Soul Formation stage and already has one foot in the grave."

Grandpa Xu shook his head helplessly.

"There was a time where I have the opportunity to become an elite of this world but I chose my family."

Grandpa Xu suddenly turned to look at his grandson Xu Shaoze.

"The top is very lonely, you have to sever ties in the mortal world so that you can aim higher and enter the world of the Immortals! However I can't do that, I cannot take the huge leap and sacrifice my own family for my own selfish desire, that's why I'm here at Soul Formation stage."

"That's why in the future, you have to choose what you desire the most! Don't be affected with such a silly matter, your grandpa will deal with it for you!"

Grandpa Xu raised his arm and made a thumbs up as he grins like a fool. Xu Shaoze felt pity for his grandpa, he was shackled in the mortal world because of the family yet here I am yearning for what is so-called 'Family'.

Grandpa Xu is what you called a dragon in a pond however before it can soar, his wings were clipped. He sacrificed a lot for his family, stayed to manage the whole clan, fought others to defend his home. Now, here he is staring at the sky, smiling like a fool, awaiting his death.

Xu Shaoze felt so sad deep in his heart, his eyes were moist, he reaches out to hold his grandpa's hand. Xu Zhong Kui snapped at his daze and was shocked by the sudden affection. His heart softened and turned gentle, warmth flowed in his eyes as tears threatened to pour down on his cheeks.

Xu Shaoze embraced him as he comforted his grandpa.

"Don't worry grandpa, I'll protect you and those I love!"

...

The duo both left with their carriage towards the Xu Manor.

Inside the carriage.

"Right! I was just about to hand you something!"

Grandpa Xu turned to Xu Shaoze as he put out his hands and with a flip, a book emerges. It appeared out of the blue without warning at all, It was like magic, storage magic.

"Whoa! W-What was that!? How did it suddenly appear out of nowhere!?"

Xu Shaoze appeared shocked. He was like a kid who saw a magic trick. He started observing the book in the hands of his Grandpa Xu but can't find anything, he then turned to look at Grandpa Xu questioningly.

Grandpa Xu laughed out loud, looking at his grandson's questioning look, he smiled as he patted a pouch hanging on his waist.

"This is a storage pouch! It stores any items but not a living, in a certain dimension with a fixed size."

Grandpa Xu took out Xu Shaoze's hands and put the book on it.

"In the future, I'll give you one as well!"

Delighted, Xu Shaoze's eyes sparkled like a star twinkling in the night sky.

"Really?! ... Uhh... This is....?"

Suddenly, Xu Shaoze remembered the book that his grandpa gave him. He gave it a look and when he saw the title on it, he was dumbfounded.

"This is a cultivation manual for beginners!"

Grandpa Xu enunciated clearly what is the book about. Still dumbfounded, Xu Shaoze read the title of the book in his head.

'A Start to Cultivation for Dummies...Cultivation for Dummies...for Dummies...Dummies.'

Xu Shaoze threw the book on the floor as he cursed loud in his head.

"F*ck!"

Grandpa Xu bewildered by the action of his grandson, he couldn't understand why would he throw a precious manual just like that as if trash.

"Ah! Little Ze, careful! It's such a precious manual, why would you throw it like that?"

When Grandpa Xu saw that Xu Shaoze threw the book on the floor, he immediately dove catching the book. He patted the book as if it's his own son. He gave his grandson a pitiful look, his eyes were round and watery as he stared at Xu Shaoze.

"Why would you do that?... It's such a precious book... It can even be considered as a national treasure!"

Xu Shaoze momentarily blanked out as words repeated on his head.

'Precious... Precious... Treasure... National Treasure!?'

Grandpa Xu once again handed the book on his grandson as he convinces him.

"This manual is really useful! it is very effective, you should try reading it!"

Xu Shaoze still silent as he accepted the book. There was doubt in his eyes as he gave his grandpa sidelong glance, he started opening it and reading. He was left speechless when he opened the first page, then hurriedly flipped them until the last page.

It was... It was a Picture book!

Xu Shaoze gritted his teeth as he cursed between his teeth.

"Bullsh*t!"

Then he threw the book outside the carriage. Grandpa Xu was scared witless as he instantly flew out to catch it. When he went back in the carriage, he was panting, his breath ragged, his heart is pounding so hard but he was relieved that the manual was unharmed, no scratches can be found. He hugs the book unwilling to let go, he doesn't want to hand it to anyone anymore like a child protecting his lollipop from strangers.

He sat in the couch inside the carriage silently still hugging the book when the chauffeur shouted.

"We have arrived!"

Instantly, Xu Shaoze pried open the curtain in his window to look at his surroundings. He saw many people leaving and going inside the capital, there are lines of people waiting for the check on the gate, then they have to pay an entrance fee for a fixed duration inside. They were given a jade token and it will become dim if the time of stay expired, they need to recharge it and pay to extend their stay.

There are also carriages waiting in line, these carriages are from merchants who want to trade with many cargoes behind them or a noble's carriage with their gaudy design. They waited for some time before it's their carriage's turn.

When the guards saw the people who are inside the carriage, their face immediately drained colors as they stepped out respectfully. They were scared when they saw the Demon General's knitted brows and angry face, they thought that it will be the end of the world soon.

At this time, Grandpa Xu was still hugging the book with a knitted brow as he pouted, unwilling to let go. He didn't know that people outside misunderstood him and were shivering. They were already planning to escape this pandemonium going to happen.

...

The carriage stopped in front of a large manor when they alighted the carriage, they were greeted by a large number of servants and disciples who bowed in unison.

"Welcome back, Master!"

Xu Zhong Kui nodded in return as he flung his sleeves and put his hands behind his back, his nose slightly tilted upward as his imposing manner exploded.