This Kid Is Useless!

"Cough, cough, boss, this is the money for the meal. I'm full, Old Zhang. God Chen's Eight-Armed Four-Faced God statue isn't finished yet. If I'm late and delay the High God's important business, it would be unforgivable."

"Oh dear, I haven't even burned today's first stick of incense yet, and that's worth a meal's money! Gotta go, gotta go..."

"Great River Sect is buying Blood Vine Flowers without limit, one flower for one tael of silver. Anyone want to go into the mountains and risk it all for fortune?"

Soon, most of the customers in the eatery had left. The slightly heavy atmosphere that had settled after that person's words finally eased a bit. Even so, few of the remaining people said much more, instead lowering their heads to eat and pay before leaving.

Huang Huai sat in a corner, slowly chewing the flatbread in his hand until it was gone. He looked no different from the other diners, but inside, Huang Huai's heart was churning with boundless waves, words flashing through his mind.

"Entire village wiped out, flesh and soul cultivation, High God out of control, Malevolent Spirits, Demons, Great River Sect, Blood Vine Flower..."

Looking at the people coming and going on the street, Huang Huai couldn't help but feel endless doubt and curiosity. Was the ordinary ancient world he thought he was in truly the one he was currently in?

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a commotion from the street. Huang Huai couldn't help but look in the direction of the sound and saw a group of people excitedly rushing in one direction.

Someone in the crowd occasionally shouted to the pedestrians by the roadside: "Everyone hurry! Today, the Great River Sect's Seventh Elder, in his mercy for the common folk, will invite the Three-Eyed White Lotus God he worships to bestow blessings and relieve everyone's ailments..."

"Heavens, the Great River Sect Elder is inviting a god to bestow blessings! This is a rare fortune that only happens once a year. It's said that the Seventh Elder is a powerful cultivator who has condensed two Divine Palaces in his body. He worships both the Golden Armored Demon-Subduing God and the Three-Eyed White Lotus God. The Golden Armored Demon-Subduing God aside, under the divine light of the Three-Eyed White Lotus God, all ailments can be dispelled. Even if you're not sick, it can strengthen your body and greatly boost your vitality. Missing this will be a regret for years to come!"

Under Huang Huai's astonished gaze, the eatery owner and his wife, who had been busy serving, were now nimbly closing up shop. They rushed out of the eatery, calling out to the few remaining diners, including Huang Huai, who were still stunned and watching them, urging them to join the crowd: "Guest, what are you waiting for? That's a blessing from a High God, a rare fortune that only comes once a year. Hurry up!"

As they spoke, the eatery owner, whether out of annoyance that Huang Huai was delaying him or for some other reason, grabbed Huang Huai and, like a gust of wind, rushed onto the street to merge with the crowd. At the same time, he shouted back to his wife.

"Wife, close up and follow us!"

Huang Huai was pulled up, his face a mask of astonishment, and he instinctively said: "Boss, I haven't paid for the meal yet..."

The boss's voice rang out: "Is the meal money more important than a High God's blessing!"

The sound of rushing wind hit Huang Huai's face. He felt like a kite being pulled by a string, his legs moving desperately but barely keeping up with the eatery owner's pace. Even so, he could run so fast partly because the eatery owner was dragging him along.

"This... is this even human? They're all faster than world-class sprinters!"

Huang Huai watched in disbelief as several old men and women with white hair and beards sprinted past him, their legs moving as if they were young.

"This kid's useless, running so slow!"

An old man glanced at Huang Huai and grinned at his companion, revealing his few remaining teeth.

"What a waste of such a good appearance, to be so useless..."

An old woman, while effortlessly keeping pace with the main group, couldn't help but sigh as she appraised Huang Huai with a look of pity.

Huang Huai clearly felt their gazes and heard their evaluations, almost passing out from sheer anger.

It was true that due to being born prematurely, he was congenitally weak. It was precisely because of this that his father had sent him to Xunzhen Temple. However, ever since entering Xunzhen Temple and undergoing years of recuperation and training in the beautiful mountains and clear waters, Huang Huai felt that his physical fitness was at least in the middle tier among his peers. Yet now, he was being treated like a useless person by a group of old men and women who looked like they were on their last legs.

The sense of frustration in this situation was imaginable. But when he saw everyone, regardless of age or gender, running like unleashed horses, he felt like a weakling in comparison. Even Usain Bolt would have to kneel.

Just as Huang Huai felt his lungs were about to explode, the eatery owner's voice reached his ears: "We're here!"

Like hearing heavenly music, Huang Huai was now panting heavily, his legs aching and throbbing, his thighs trembling slightly. According to Eighth Senior Brother Chen Wei, even seven rounds in a night wouldn't be this exhausting.

A thought that inexplicably popped into his mind made Huang Huai glance sideways and see several old men and women looking at him again with sympathetic and pitying eyes.

"Little fellow, your body is so weak. Don't tell me you've been drained by those seductive Demons who specialize in absorbing the vitality of the strong!"

The eatery owner also gave Huang Huai, who was puffing his cheeks and widening his eyes, a strange look. Seemingly sensing that Huang Huai was quite angered by those old folks, he reached out and patted Huang Huai's shoulder. "Little brother, your physique is indeed too weak. But you're lucky. This High God's blessing, bathing in divine radiance, should help you replenish your vitality and strengthen your body a bit."

Huang Huai, still gasping for air, didn't have the energy to pay attention to the gossiping old men and women. After all, he, a strong young man of twenty, was like a weakling compared to them.

At this moment, Huang Huai's gaze fell upon a high platform ahead, surrounded by a dense crowd.

It was evident that this was a temporarily constructed nine-tiered altar, reaching about four or five stories high. It was entirely black as ink, appearing as one solid piece, standing at the end of the long street.

From Huang Huai's perspective, it was clear that the altar was hastily erected. It didn't match the surrounding environment or architecture. Most importantly, Huang Huai recognized the surrounding shops.

After careful observation, Huang Huai could confirm that he had passed by this very spot about an hour or two ago, but there was no multi-story altar then.

This meant the altar had been built in a very short time. And this speed, even in the modern world with the help of heavy machinery, might not be achievable so quickly.

As Huang Huai was lost in thought, a voice like a great bell suddenly rang out, silencing the noise of thousands upon thousands of people. What amazed Huang Huai even more was that the voice clearly reached everyone's ears.

"The High God has arrived! Everyone, welcome!"

Instantly, the noisy crowd fell silent. The crowded throng, as if acted upon by an invisible force, parted to create a path.

Huang Huai, who had taken a few steps back, looked towards the end of the human corridor and saw several figures striding forward.

As they approached, Huang Huai could see clearly. There were three people. The leader was wearing a dark blue robe, with a sash around his waist and his hair tied up in a high bun, a jade hairpin casually inserted askew. He had a square face, a mustache, and, accompanied by two disciples, exuded an air of dignity.

"Ah, it truly is the Great River Sect's Seventh Elder! A powerful cultivator who can construct two Divine Palaces in his dantian and sea of qi, and worship two divine and demonic statues. We are truly blessed this time..."

Someone couldn't contain their excitement and trembled.

Huang Huai heard clearly. As the Seventh Elder approached, Huang Huai's heart pounded. Part of it was nervousness, but more than that, it was a sense of anticipation. He felt he was about to truly come into contact with the real side of this world.