First Stepping Stone

Gu Erin walked out of the spire like building, while circulating the Universal Heart Sutra, however he nearly broke his partial concentration, when he saw that there was nobody he recognized outside the tower. There were a few natives who were walking about the central square. And a few Earth cultivators who were approaching the spire in wonder.

Gu Erin sighed before resigning himself to roam about the central square, he could not leave this area for now. What he truly wanted to do was to explore Haymire and start looking for money making schemes. He had just spent all of his recently obtained wealth. That amount of wealth was enough to outfit and obtain cultivation techniques for his entire group. The leftover funds would have been enough to buy herbs and powders to aid them in entering the Blood Transforming Realm. One of the best ways to cultivate in the early stages would be to concoct an herb bath to help refine your body and supplement it with qi.

Gu Erin could only helplessly shake his head as he started to roam about the central square. However, much to Gu Erin's annoyance he was approached by someone. It would have been fine if he recognized this person, but he didn't so he could only guess what this youthful man wanted.

Already having switched out his worn robe for a nice and refined suit the young man waved kindly at Gu Erin. "Brother you look like your lost, would you like to join me and my friends? Perhaps we can pool our knowledge?" The young man asked.

However, Gu Erin just looked at this man who was only a year or two his senior with cold eyes. Soon this would be common but, right now this was a foreign concept, it was about reading another's aura. In this world aura was subdued by qi, but it was still present. An outstanding aura would stick out, while those who hid their auras would slip by without notice.

The only feeling Gu Erin got from this man was a cold and domineering temperament, Gu Erin was sure that he was looking for either lackies, or wanted to build an information network.

Gu Erin replied coldly as the young man's groupies started to join him. "I refuse, leave me be." Gu Erin's voice was normal once again, but, the sharpness of his words could still be felt. Like an unsheathed sword Gu Erin's aura made it quite hard to look at him directly.

The youth not understanding why he was afraid turned his fear into anger and immediately lashed out at Gu Erin. "How dare a country bumpkin take such a tone with me, Ye Huang. Brothers teach this trash a lesson!"

Ye Huang pointed his finger at Gu Erin, and was starting to raise a ruckus, but where was this? This was the central square of the town, right in front of the Temple of the Heavens.

Immediately two different groups of patrolling guards pointed their attention at them, and immediately made their way over. Gu Erin who was the only one who noticed this smiled internally. The last thing you ever wanted to do in a town or city was to besmirch the honor of the guards by causing a commotion, or by committing a crime in broad daylight.

Every guard was at least of the Bone Fusion stage, this stage allowed one's very skin to become hard like bone and their strength to be twice or even three times stronger than the previous Blood Transforming realm. Put simply, all of these guards were capable of massacring every single mortal cultivator from Earth with ease at this moment.

Without paying much attention to the group who was currently approaching him menacingly, Gu Erin bowed towards the nearest group of guards with cupped hands. "Honorable guards, I ask for your help in this time." Gu Erin asked with a helpless tone.

Gu Erin did not know when, but his acting skills have been slowly starting to blossom, but they were still far from the levels of Lee Tao the shameless monk.

As soon as the guards heard Gu Erin's plea, they perked up, and Gu Erin caught more than one malicious smile. He would have to be careful with this bunch. They wouldn't hesitate to include him in whatever crime.

So, Gu Erin cut off any path forward with his next words. "I had just exited the Temple of the Heavens with my technique and was about to find my friends, when these men surrounded me and were about to assault me. I hope I can rely on martial uncles to help me seek justice."

The guards frowned as Ye Huang started to argue. "look here, this trash spoke impolitely, its within my right to teach him a lesson!"

Hearing this Gu Erin felt the urge to palm his own face, it was fine that your stupid, but could you be stupid somewhere else? This was no doubt a spoiled second generation who never had someone deny him a request. There was a proper way of doing things within Heaven's Mercy, and he had just ignored all of this.

Like Gu Erin thought all of the guard's faces darkened, before a ferocious smile crossed one's face. Gu Erin felt a burst of qi, and just like he thought the clothes the youth and his friends were wearing started to crumble away. The fabric practically dissolved in the air as each of them was laid bare.

Seeing this Gu Erin found his business opportunity, taking out his suit Gu Erin presented it to Ye Huang. "Would brother perhaps like to buy this suit; the price is six rings." Gu Erin asked easily.

The youth's face turned beat red, his eyes slipping to his lackies rings, as the others around him started to take out their robes to wear them. "Brothers, hand over your rings. "The others looked hesitant but eventually resigned themselves to it. Afterall, it was just a ring, from what they already gathered everyone had one. So, it should not be difficult to obtain another.

After Gu Erin received all the rings he handed over the suit. "Happy business." He smiled warmly, but the snarl he received in return was comical.

Gu Erin however, would not forget about the guards, he knew that if he did not satisfy them they would continue after this problem. So, Gu Erin bowed to them while cupping his hands again. To the two patrol leaders he offered a ring each.

"Martial uncles these should get a good price, take it as a token of my appreciation, it should be enough to get drinks, and thank you for helping me seek justice, this junior will remember your kindness." Gu Erin said loudly, so that all the passersby could hear him.

That way the guards wouldn't be able to exploit more out of him, these natives may have the interests of the town in mind, but that would not stop them from harvesting a fat sheep. So, when Gu Erin saw that the group of Ye Huang had taken this time to escape he was not surprised, but judging from the look on his face he knew that this youth would not forget this.

Gu Erin smiled, though he didn't seem formidable hopefully he would offer a good challenge. One needed enemies to fuel conflict. That way you had sufficient stepping stones. If one only made friends they would soon stagnate within this world. Conflict was always the path of the Humans.

Gu Erin now free of that little fiasco continued to roam about looking for any trace of his group. His feet were starting to get sore walking on the cobbled square. It was probably the nicest street in the town, but for Gu Erin who was used to the standards of both the cities of Earth and the cities of Heaven's Mercy he found it quite lacking. Perhaps he should invest in Haymire, as it will be the nearest settlement to his sect.

Starting to go down another rabbit hole Gu Erin's thoughts immediately stopped when he saw a familiar head of long red hair. With a grumpy demeanor Lucy walked into the square with a small group of people, as she pulled at her robe uncomfortably. Behind her was Lee Tao, and a few others Gu Erin did not recognize.

But, seeing Lee Tao talk to a few of them easily, he assumed they were either a part of the North Spirit Dojo, or the Rain Sword Pavilion.

Gu Erin smiled at her annoyed look as they locked eyes, Lucy somewhat hesitated at Gu Erin's look. Granted Gu Erin hadn't noticed it himself, but most of his upper chest was showing through his burnt robes. When he followed her gaze Gu Erin looked down at himself blankly. Had he forgotten, yes, yes indeed he had.

Without a second of hesitation, he found Ye Huang's robe and switched it with his own, the smoothness transition that didn't even require movement, startled the small group who was approaching him.

"Amitabha, greetings to benefactor." Lee Tao bowed lightly. "But, this monk would like some answers now. This monk is quite overwhelmed."

"Shut up you bald donkey!" Lucy practically yelled back at him, which earned her a hurt look in response. "Oi Bastard Gu start talking! Not only was I pulled into this grungy ass town, I had to listen to this annoying baldy the entire time!" Lucy lividly thumbed at Lee Tao behind her.

Gu Erin didn't know if he should laugh or cry, this female Tigress was going to kill him one of these days, and he wouldn't even know how he died. The only thing he could do was to try and appease this female demoness.

However, he wouldn't lower his head to this girl, although Gu Erin wasn't set on it yet, he was sure that if her talent was good he might consider asking her to dual cultivate with him. Although he knew that conversation might result in an all out fight he was slowly growing on this tigress, so it might be worth it.

"Lucy, have you seen anyone else?" Gu Erin asked in response, keeping a straight face. Completely ignoring her previous statement.

Gu Erin could practically see the bulging veins on her forehead as she voiced her response through gritted teeth. "Bastard Gu you better start talking."

Gu Erin could only helplessly smile; he guessed it was time to start explaining part of the situation. Unfortunately, he was still being watched. He did not know when, but Gu Erin could sense faint presences of multiple divine souls around him ever since he left the Temple of the Heavens.