Gang Boss

At dawn the next day, when the distant horizon had just begun to pale, Yuan Tianzong told Bone that he was going out for a while. He told him to wait around the house and not wander off.

Bone nodded repeatedly. His timid, cowering manner was completely at odds with the savage serpent skull on his head.

Yuan Tianzong couldn't help laughing. He knew that even without being told, the fellow would hide in the most secluded spot he could find and wouldn't dare move around.

The reason it was relatively safe here was that he had recently killed quite a few mutated creatures, and had disposed of their corpses by the pool. The powerful auras lingering there were enough to intimidate most other creatures, making them think a beast king had claimed the place.

Yuan Tianzong had left to get a cellphone from the modern era.

He had already realized that he had virtually no access to information. The feeling of being unable to learn anything about the outside world was terrible.

As a cultivator who had "smuggled" himself here from the Dharma-ending era, he naturally had no identification from this age. But Yuan Tianzong had never been one to fuss over little things, and he didn't care. He went straight to the cultivation underworld that had taken root in the city, gave its boss a thorough beating, then demanded that he hand over two phones.

The gang boss, beaten into a swollen mess, wailed as he covered his face. "Big bro! They're only two phones! You could've just said so! Why'd you have to start throwing punches the moment you showed up..."

"Got any money?" Yuan Tianzong asked calmly.

The gang boss hurriedly nodded, ingratiating himself. "Of course, of course. How much do you need, big bro?"

"Three hundred."

The gang boss's face fell. Then he gritted his teeth and said, "Big bro, if you mean three million, it'll take a few hours. Have you eaten? Why don't you grab a bite here while I send someone to get the money?"

Yuan Tianzong couldn't help laughing. He waved a hand. "You misunderstood. I mean three hundred. No 'million.'"

The gang boss thought he'd misheard. Looking bewildered, he dug a finger into his ear and asked uncertainly, "Big bro, what did you say? Three hundred, no million? You mean three hundred yuan?"

"Right. Three hundred yuan." Yuan Tianzong's tone was flat.

The gang boss stared at him, unable to react for a moment.

"What? Is that a problem?" Yuan Tianzong asked, raising an eyebrow.

A problem, my ass!

He only wanted two phones and three hundred yuan?!

He should've said so earlier! With that skill and bearing, how could I not give it to him?!

I took that beating for nothing. The medical bills alone would be more than three hundred!

If word got out, how would I ever show my face again?!

In the end, the gang boss hurriedly fished three hundred yuan in cash out of one of his underling's pockets and respectfully handed it to Yuan Tianzong. "Big bro, if you need anything in the future, just come to me~"

It was no wonder the gang boss had managed to hold on to his position. Even after being beaten into a swollen mess, he could still be so respectful and restrained. That kind of breadth of character was truly exceptional.

"We'll see." Yuan Tianzong took the money and phones, then turned and left.

As soon as Yuan Tianzong was gone, an underling hurried over, indignant. "Boss, should we get some people to take him out? That punk was clearly shaking us down, and he actually had the nerve to do it to us. What a piece of work!"

The gang boss whipped around and glared at his underling, then raised his hand and gave him a resounding slap.

"What do you mean, 'what a piece of work'? Have you got your eyes up your ass? Can't you tell he's a top expert? He flicked a finger and sent me flying three or four meters! You want to find people to take him out? You got a lot of connections? Know a bunch of experts?"

"He only wanted two phones and three hundred yuan. Can't we just treat it as making a friend?"

The underling covered his face and hurriedly begged for mercy. "All right, all right, boss, I was wrong. I won't do it again."

"Damn it, get out!" the gang boss snapped angrily.

"Wait. Come back!"

The underling, still covering his face, stopped at once, turned around, and bowed. "Yes, boss?"

"Pass the word around. If that expert comes back, make sure he gets the warmest welcome. Don't you dare show him the slightest disrespect!"

"Boss, will he come back?" The underling looked confused.

The gang boss, whose patience for fools had run out, was furious. "How the hell should I know? I hope he does! And starting today, you're on parking duty at the KTV on North Street!"

"Uh, brother-in-law, is that really necessary?" The underling finally came clean, reminding him who he was.

"Call me boss when we're outside!"

"..."

Elsewhere, Yuan Tianzong took the three hundred yuan and two phones to a supermarket to buy some seasonings. Then he said goodbye to the bustling town and headed back toward Wangwu Mountain.

The bustle and splendor of the mortal world had long since lost its appeal to him.

Now, all he cared about was cultivation. His desires were pure and singular.

When he returned to the wooden house, there was still some time before dusk.

Yuan Tianzong casually hunted a mutated beast. After preparing it, he eagerly opened his phone and started surfing the web.

On a popular app with an astonishing number of daily users, he searched for "Kunlun Heavenly Pool." In an instant, countless videos and posts came up.

"So the Golden Lotus of the Heavenly Pool is a treasure that can improve one's comprehension and talent!"

Many of the videos mentioned that the Golden Lotus of the Heavenly Pool had greatly benefited the cultivators who had gone to Kunlun. Not only had their comprehension improved, but their innate potential had been further awakened as well.

Several Great Sects and Noble Families had extended invitations, explicitly saying they were willing to take these fortunate cultivators into their ranks.

The news set the entire cultivation world ablaze. That very day, many cultivators who had returned from the Kunlun Heavenly Pool hurried to various sects and Noble Families in search of better cultivation resources.

Quite a few disciples who had originally belonged to the forces of the Nine Great Mountain Sects of China left their sects as well, choosing instead to join these more powerful giants with deeper foundations.

Yuan Tianzong kept scrolling through the information, his expression unchanged.

He had already witnessed the Golden Lotus's effects firsthand.

Comprehension was something one was born with, and it was extremely difficult to change.

Many cultivators who hadn't been able to visit the Kunlun Heavenly Pool were filled with regret and remorse when they learned all this.

Yuan Tianzong's thoughts stirred, and a wisp of pale white flame appeared from nowhere. It swayed gently in the approaching dusk, giving off an indescribably mysterious aura.

His comprehension had also improved tremendously, but compared with the other cultivators who had obtained the Golden Lotus, he had clearly gained something extra.

The sun sank in the west, its last light falling over Yuan Tianzong. Staring at the pale white flame in his palm, he pondered silently.

Based on his experience searching ancient books and uncovering hidden secrets in the Dharma-ending era, the ancient Daoist sects and certain Noble Families with long lineages might hold secrets from the earliest ages.

If he wanted to uncover the origin of this wisp of pale white flame, he would probably have to start with those places and see if he could get lucky.

There was a Daoist Sect within Wangwu Mountain.

That night, Yuan Tianzong left the wooden house once more and headed for a certain place in the mountains.