GAL Martial Saint

Although he didn't know what was going on, Goto Hitori ended up starting a cohabitation life with the girl who shared his name.

The reason was simple.

He couldn't bring himself to tell her to leave.

Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Five - The Old Dog Actually Wants to Steal My Opportunity!

Gu Chengming was unaware that, at this very moment, "three" Elders were agonizing over his disciple assessment.

He was currently in a rather peculiar state.

To be honest, as a veteran GALGAME player, this was the first time he'd encountered a situation where none of his previous experiences applied.

In past games, the romance targets were either tsundere, yandere, or kuudere. As long as he understood their personalities, the rest was just a matter of systematically increasing their affection points.

But this Hundred Bones Cry... was truly something else.

Sigh, it was all the fault of the shoddy game developers in his past life; otherwise, he wouldn't be this conflicted.

However, he had at least figured out one pattern now: it seemed that as long as his talent was displayed strongly enough, or he spent enough money, the affection points would skyrocket.

Gu Chengming pondered the logic behind this as he circulated his Cultivation Method.

While Gu Chengming was still battling wits with this divine Cultivation Method...

On the other side, the Old Man with Wine Gourd, who had been secretly observing Gu Chengming all along, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

Originally, he had only seen Gu Chengming as a rare seedling for swordsmanship.

When Gu Chengming started practicing body-tempering Cultivation Methods, he had initially shaken his head repeatedly.

"Not focusing on his main profession, not focusing on his main profession."

The Old Man with Wine Gourd grumbled inwardly as he took a drink.

As an Elder of the Hunyuan Sect, he was intimately familiar with body-tempering Cultivation Methods.

In his opinion, Gu Chengming's physique and vitality showed a talent for body tempering that could only be described as dismal.

Compared to his astounding talent in swordsmanship, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

"Sword prodigies always have a few quirks."

The Old Man with Wine Gourd consoled himself.

Take himself, for instance; as an Elder of the Hunyuan Sect, he was inexplicably obsessed with swordsmanship, and he had faced considerable criticism at first.

Geniuses were always willful, and it didn't affect the bigger picture.

However...

As time went by, Hua Daiyi's expression gradually shifted from "disdain" to "incredulity," and finally settled on "seeing a ghost."

The speed at which this kid was progressing in body-tempering Cultivation Methods... was it a bit too fast?

He was a complete novice just a few days ago, and now he had already reached an intermediate level?

The proficiency in circulating vitality, the rhythmic resonance of muscles and bones... it even gave him an illusion:

--Was this kid also a body-tempering prodigy?

What do you mean the sword prodigy I found is also a body-tempering prodigy?

Seeing that the Wenjian Sect seemed to be getting close to Gu Chengming as well, the Old Man with Wine Gourd finally couldn't sit still.

After these days of observation, he had basically figured out Gu Chengming's background.

He had a steady temperament, neither arrogant nor impatient; he knew how to repay kindness, and his talent was undeniable. He could cultivate both sword and body simultaneously and make progress in both.

If he waited any longer for such a seedling, he might achieve greatness overnight one day.

By then, those old guys from the Wenjian Sect would react and protect him like a mother hen protecting her chicks, and it would be difficult for him to make a move.

"No, I can't wait any longer."

The plan to take him on as a disciple just before the disciple assessment was decisively abandoned by the Old Man with Wine Gourd.

There's no time like the present; now is the time!

The Old Man with Wine Gourd casually set up two concealing formations to isolate the aura inside and outside the small courtyard, then his figure flashed, and he disappeared into the treetops.

In the courtyard.

Gu Chengming was practicing his sword.

Suddenly, the sword in his hand paused slightly.

The feeling was strange. It was like a smooth frame suddenly dropped in a flowing video, or like the noisy world had suddenly been muted.

The wind stopped, the birdsong disappeared, and even the movement of dust motes in the air seemed to have frozen.

This was the keen intuition brought by "Clear Sword Heart."

The surrounding environment had changed.

Before Gu Chengming could react, a figure appeared out of thin air before him.

He was an old man wearing a tattered bamboo hat, coarse linen clothes patched with darns, and a dark red wine gourd hanging from his waist.

The old man held a chicken leg in his hand, gnawing on it while looking at him with a smile.

"Little one, you've trained your sword well."

Gu Chengming's heart leaped in surprise. He quickly sheathed his sword and took two steps back, warily watching the other person.

To be able to sneak in here silently and set up a barrier that even he couldn't detect meant this old man was definitely a master!

"This junior, Gu Chengming, greets Senior." Gu Chengming cupped his fists in a salute, his posture very humble. "May I ask why Senior has graced my humble abode?"

The Old Man with Wine Gourd chuckled, casually tossed aside the chicken bones, and wiped the oil from his mouth, striking a pose like an otherworldly expert.

"This old man's name is neither forgotten nor changed. I am the Wine Sword Immortal, Hua Daiyi!"

After speaking, he put his hands behind his back, tilted his chin slightly, and waited for Gu Chengming to show the shocked expression of someone who would immediately bow down and exclaim, "So it's you, Elder!"

After all, although his reputation in the cultivation world was mixed, the title "Wine Sword Immortal" was undeniably famous.

However...

One second passed.

Two seconds passed.

Gu Chengming blinked, his face showing nothing but confusion.

"Um... Senior, please forgive my ignorance. This junior's knowledge is shallow and I have never heard of Senior's great name."

"..."

Hua Daiyi's smile froze on his face.

At that moment, it felt as if a desolate autumn wind, carrying fallen leaves, swept between the two of them.

"You... haven't heard of me?" Hua Daiyi asked again, unwilling to give up.

Gu Chengming honestly shook his head.

Hua Daiyi felt as if his chest had been heavily punched, deeply disheartened.

Young people these days... they're just getting worse and worse. They don't even recognize someone like me anymore.

A moment later, he took a deep breath, waved his hand, and pretended to be nonchalant.

"Never mind, never mind. Fame is just a fleeting thing, like clouds passing by. If you haven't heard of me, then so be it."

As he spoke, he picked up the wine gourd from his waist and took two large gulps, "glug glug," as if swallowing all his frustration.

"Since you haven't heard of this old man's name, then it's perfect. Let me show you my skills."

Before his voice even fell, Hua Daiyi casually plucked a falling leaf from a tree.

With a gentle wave.

There were no spiritual power fluctuations, nor any earth-shattering sounds.

But in Gu Chengming's vision, the entire world seemed to be torn apart at that instant!

An invisible chasm stretched across the heavens and earth, as if splitting the world in two.

It was a sword intent that had reached the peak of purity, devoid of any worldly taint, yet so domineering it was suffocating.

Gu Chengming was startled, his hair standing on end. It was the primal fear of his life.

Before he could recover, Hua Daiyi waved his hand again.

The terrifying chasm instantly vanished, and the world returned to its original state, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

Only Gu Chengming's frantically warning "Clear Sword Heart" reminded him of the reality of what had just occurred.

"How was that?"

Hua Daiyi looked at him with a smile, a hint of pride in his eyes.

Gu Chengming took a deep breath and cupped his fists in a salute again.

"Senior's realm is profound, and your sword intent is divine. This junior is extremely impressed!"

Without a doubt, that move just now was definitely not ordinary swordsmanship.

Such effortless mastery, capable of changing the world, could only be achieved by at least a third-realm... no, even a fourth or fifth-realm cultivator!

This seemingly disheveled old man before him was a true powerhouse!

Seeing Gu Chengming finally display a look of reverence, Hua Daiyi nodded with great satisfaction.

This was the correct way to interact with him.

"Since you now know of my abilities, I won't beat around the bush."

Hua Daiyi cleared his throat and began to introduce himself.

"I am an Elder of the Hunyuan Sect. You must have heard of the Hunyuan Sect, right? It's a sect as famous as the Wenjian Sect, specializing in Body Refining Techniques, achieving sainthood through the physical body, making one impervious to all arts."

"However..."

He changed his tone:

"Although I am in the Hunyuan Sect, I happen to specialize in the way of the sword. Within the Hunyuan Sect, my attainments in the sword can still rank among the top three."

As he spoke, he stared intently at Gu Chengming and extended an olive branch:

"Boy, I see you have remarkable bones; you are a good prospect for practicing the sword. How about it, are you interested in joining my tutelage and becoming my final disciple?"

"This..."

Gu Chengming was stunned.

To be honest, this was a great temptation.

A powerful figure, at least starting at the fourth realm, was actively seeking a disciple, and moreover, from the Hunyuan Sect, which was on par with the Wenjian Sect.

As long as he agreed, he would not only receive guidance from a renowned master but also gain access to the Hunyuan Sect's vast resources.

Spirit Stones, elixirs, magical treasures – they would have as many as he desired!

And judging by the old man's appearance, his wealth must be considerable.

Even a casual crumb falling from his grasp would be enough for him to live on for a lifetime.

But...

Gu Chengming felt some hesitation in his heart.

Firstly, leaving one's sect and changing allegiance was a major affair in the cultivation world; it might even require abandoning the Cultivation Method one had originally practiced.

Although he hadn't fared well in the Wenjian Sect, it was still a reputable sect, and he also owed Yu Wenqiu a favor.

More importantly...

Was his attitude towards his "harem."

[The Clear Heart Art's attitude was quite subtle.]

[Although it was a fun-loving entity, it clearly disliked those who were indecisive and forgot righteousness for profit.]

[The Huiyuan Sword Art was more gentle. It believed you could go anywhere as long as you could improve. However, if possible, it would prefer you to stay in the Wenjian Sect. After all, this was its home, and where you met.]