That Old Dog Wants to Steal My Opportunity!

Although he had no idea what was going on, Goto Hitori still began living with the girl whose name was exactly the same as his.

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 Fortune!

Gu Chengming had no idea that three elders were currently worrying themselves sick over his Disciple Assessment.

Right now, he was in a rather delicate predicament.

To be honest, as a veteran GALGAME player, this was the first time he'd run into a situation where none of his past experience applied.

In the games he'd played before, the Target of Affection was either tsundere, yandere, or emotionless. Once you figured out her personality, all that remained was to raise her Favorability step by step.

But this Hundred Bones Clang... was something else.

Sigh, it was all because the GALGAME developers in his previous life hadn't been up to snuff. Otherwise, why would he be stuck agonizing over this?

At least he'd figured out one rule by now. It seemed that as long as he showed off enough talent or spent enough money, her Favorability would shoot right up.

As Gu Chengming circulated his Cultivation Method, he pondered the logic behind it.

While Gu Chengming was still grappling with this bizarre Cultivation Method...

Elsewhere, Old Man with Wine Gourd, who'd been secretly watching Gu Chengming all along, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

At first, he'd only considered Gu Chengming a rare Sword Dao prodigy.

When Gu Chengming started cultivating a Body Refining Technique, he'd shaken his head over and over.

"Neglecting your proper path. What a waste."

Old Man with Wine Gourd drank as he grumbled to himself.

As an elder of the Hunyuan Sect, he knew Body Refining Techniques like the back of his hand.

In his eyes, Gu Chengming's build and Qi and Blood made his talent in body refinement simply appalling.

Compared to his astonishing brilliance in Sword Dao, it was like night and day.

"Sword Dao geniuses always have a few odd quirks."

Old Man with Wine Gourd consoled himself.

Just like him. Though he was an elder of the Hunyuan Sect, he was obsessed with Sword Dao, and had drawn plenty of criticism for it at first.

Geniuses were always headstrong. It didn't affect the bigger picture.

However...

As time passed, Hua Daiyi's expression gradually shifted from "utter disdain" to "utter disbelief," and finally settled on "I must be seeing things."

Wasn't this kid improving a little too quickly at Body Refining Techniques?

Just a few days ago, he'd been a rookie who'd only just started. How had he already reached such mastery?

The ease with which he circulated his Qi and Blood, the rhythm of his bones and sinews ringing in unison—it even gave Hua Daiyi the illusion that this kid was a body-refining prodigy too.

What did you mean, the Sword Dao prodigy I found was also a body-refining prodigy?

With the Wenjian Sect apparently about to approach Gu Chengming as well, Old Man with Wine Gourd finally couldn't sit still.

After watching him these past few days, he'd more or less figured out Gu Chengming's character.

Steady and composed, neither proud nor impatient; grateful to those who'd helped him, and undeniably gifted. He was making equal progress in both Sword Dao and body refinement.

If they let a talent like this wait any longer, who knew when he'd suddenly soar to fame?

By then, once those old fogies from the Wenjian Sect came to their senses, they'd protect him like a mother hen guarding her chick. It'd be much harder for Hua Daiyi to make his move.

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

He'd originally planned to take Gu Chengming as his disciple right before the Disciple Assessment, but Old Man with Wine Gourd decisively abandoned that plan.

Better to seize the day than wait for an auspicious one. He'd do it now!

Old Man with Wine Gourd casually laid down two Formation arrays, sealing off the courtyard's aura from the outside world. Then he flashed away, vanishing into the treetops.

In the courtyard.

Gu Chengming was practicing his swordsmanship.

Suddenly, the sword in his hand paused.

It was a strange feeling, like a smooth-running video had suddenly dropped a frame, or the clamorous world had suddenly been muted.

The wind stopped. The birds fell silent. Even the dust motes in the air seemed to freeze in place.

It was the keen intuition granted by Clear Sword Heart.

The surroundings had changed.

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

He was an old man wearing a battered bamboo hat and patched coarse cloth linen clothes, with a dark red Wine Gourd hanging at his waist.

The old man held a chicken leg in one hand, munching on it as he smiled at Gu Chengming.

"Little fellow, not bad with a sword."

Gu Chengming's heart jolted. He quickly sheathed his sword and took two wary steps back, keeping his eyes on the man.

To slip in here without making a sound and set up a barrier that even Gu Chengming couldn't detect, the old man before him was no ordinary expert!

"This junior is Gu Chengming. Greetings, senior." Gu Chengming cupped his hands in salute, keeping his posture deferential. "May I ask why senior has graced my humble abode with his presence?"

Old Man with Wine Gourd chuckled. He tossed aside the chicken bone, wiped the grease from his mouth, and struck the pose of an otherworldly master.

"I never change my name or surname. I am Hua Daiyi, the Wine Sword Immortal!"

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and raised his chin slightly, waiting for Gu Chengming to fall to his knees and cry out in shock, "So it's you, senior!"

After all, although his reputation in the cultivation world was a mixed bag, the title "Wine Sword Immortal" was famous far and wide.

However...

One second passed.

Then two.

Gu Chengming blinked. His face showed nothing but confusion.

"Um... please forgive me, senior. This junior is ignorant and has never heard of your great name."

"..."

Hua Daiyi's smile froze.

At that moment, it was as if a bleak autumn wind swept dead leaves between them.

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

Gu Chengming honestly shook his head.

Hua Daiyi felt as though someone had punched him square in the chest. It was a heavy blow.

Kids these days... One generation was worse than the last. They didn't even recognize someone like him.

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

"Never mind, never mind. A mere reputation is like clouds drifting past. If you haven't heard of me, so be it."

As he spoke, he grabbed the Wine Gourd at his waist and took two long gulps, as if he were swallowing down all his frustration.

"Since you haven't heard of my name, all the better. Now you can see what I'm capable of."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Hua Daiyi casually plucked a falling leaf from the air.

He gave it a gentle wave.

There was no ripple of Spiritual Power, no earth-shaking sound.

Yet in Gu Chengming's eyes, the entire world seemed to split apart in that instant!

An invisible chasm stretched across heaven and earth, as if cleaving the world in two.

It was Sword Intent in its purest form, devoid of the slightest trace of worldly clamor, yet so domineering it left one gasping for air.

Gu Chengming shuddered. The hairs all over his body stood on end. It was the fear of a living creature facing death.

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

The terrifying chasm vanished in an instant. Heaven and earth returned to normal, as if everything just now had been an illusion.

Only the frantic warnings of his Clear Sword Heart reminded Gu Chengming that it had all been real.

"Well?"

Hua Daiyi looked at him with a pleased smile in his eyes.

Gu Chengming took a deep breath and cupped his hands in salute once more.

"Senior's realm is profound, and your Sword Intent has reached the divine. This junior is in awe!"

There was no doubt about it: that move had been no ordinary sword technique.

To wield such tremendous power with such ease, to reshape heaven and earth—that was something only a Great Cultivator of at least the Third Realm... no, even the Fourth Realm or Fifth Realm could accomplish!

This disheveled old man was a true big shot!

Seeing the awe on Gu Chengming's face at last, Hua Daiyi nodded in satisfaction.

Now that was the proper reaction.

"Since you know what I'm capable of, I'll get straight to the point."

Hua Daiyi cleared his throat and introduced himself.

"I am an elder of the Hunyuan Sect. You've heard of the Hunyuan Sect, haven't you? We're as renowned as the Wenjian Sect. We specialize in Body Refining Techniques, tempering the body until it's sacred and making it impervious to all arts."

"But..."

He changed tack.

"Although I belong to the Hunyuan Sect, I'm particularly skilled in Sword Dao. Within the Hunyuan Sect, my Sword Dao attainments rank among the top three."

With that, he fixed his gaze on Gu Chengming and made his offer.

"Kid, you have an extraordinary build and look like a natural swordsman. What do you say? Would you join my tutelage and become my last disciple?"

"This..."

Gu Chengming was stunned.

To be honest, the offer was tempting.

An expert at least at the Fourth Realm was personally offering to take him as a disciple, and the man came from the Hunyuan Sect, a sect as renowned as the Wenjian Sect.

If Gu Chengming agreed, he would not only gain a renowned master but also the vast resources of the Hunyuan Sect.

Spirit Stones, pills, Magic Treasures—he could have as many as he wanted!

And judging from the old man's appearance, he was surely loaded.

Even the scraps that slipped through his fingers would be enough to last Gu Chengming a lifetime.

But...

Gu Chengming was hesitant.

First of all, leaving his sect and joining another was no small matter in the cultivation world. He might even have to abandon the Cultivation Method he'd been practicing.

Though he'd been getting nowhere in the Wenjian Sect, it was still an upright sect, and he owed Yu Wenqiu a debt of gratitude.

More importantly...

There was the attitude of his several "harem members."

[Clear Heart Art's attitude was rather complicated.]

[It was a fun-loving spirit, but clearly disliked people who had no firm principles and betrayed their friends for profit.]

[Huiyuan Sword Art was much gentler. It thought you could go wherever you wanted, as long as you became better. But if possible, it hoped you would stay in the Wenjian Sect. After all, that was its home, and where the two of you had met.]