So I Already Have an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique?

Go to the Xiao Clan?

Gu Fengchen frowned.

That wouldn't do. It wasn't that Gu Fengchen couldn't—it was that the Taotie Seal couldn't.

What Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could that impoverished Xiao Clan possibly have for the Taotie Seal to enjoy?

As for winning over Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu?

He wasn't interested for now.

Still, Gu Fengchen felt that if the chance arose, he could lure Old Yao over.

At this point in the timeline, Xiao Yan had only just begun cultivating. There were still several years before Yao Chen started absorbing his Dou Qi.

So, could he just snatch the ring outright?

He could, but Yao Chen should have been conscious all along. What if stealing the ring made Yao Chen resent him?

Resent him, then. I'll have the Taotie Seal swallow you whole. What the hell can you do if you resent me?

Gu Fengchen had no favorable impression of Xiao Yan. Besides, he was bound to steal some of Xiao Yan's opportunities in the future. That was the cruel Great Dao Struggle, the Destiny Struggle. Even if they became opponents someday, Gu Fengchen wouldn't think much of it.

For now, though, Gu Fengchen didn't want to get close to the Xiao Clan.

After some thought, Gu Fengchen said, "I won't be going to the Xiao Clan, but I'll probably head to the Jia Ma Empire as well. I plan to train in the Magic Beast Mountain Range."

Gu Fengchen decided to first establish a "good connection" with Xiao Yi Xian, and while he was at it, see whether he could run into Yun Yun. Though according to the timeline, he might have to wait a few years.

He had already gotten ahead of everyone with Gu Xun'er, so naturally he couldn't let Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun slip away either. If he had time, he could also take a look around the Misty Cloud Sect.

Sorry, little brother Xiao Yan.

Leaving Old Yao for you was already generous enough!

Just then, a faint, lotus-like fragrance suddenly drifted beneath Gu Fengchen's nose. His heart stirred, and he instinctively turned his head to see a pair of watery eyes.

Gu Xun'er said resentfully, "Why is everyone so obsessed with pursuing strength? Why do they have to cultivate day and night?"

Because they're weak.

Gu Fengchen grumbled inwardly. If everyone had talent like yours, they'd naturally just lie down and coast through life.

Starting in the Gu Clan, with a supreme bloodline and Heavenly Flames inside your body—if I had the opening of a chosen one like you, I'd slack off right away, okay?

Of course, as a "considerate" big brother, Gu Fengchen still comforted and guided her. "Strength is what humanity has desired from the very beginning. Those with reasons desire strength, and those without reasons still desire it.

Strength is like money. It's one of the indispensable hard currencies for surviving in this world. You may choose not to use it, but you cannot afford not to have it."

Gu Xun'er nodded, seeming to understand.

"Come on, let's go out for a stroll." Gu Fengchen patted Gu Xun'er on the head and led her to gently push open the door.

The instant they opened the door, they found a group of people gathered outside, pointing and whispering at Gu Fengchen.

Gu Fengchen was already used to it and casually walked outside.

"Look, that's the bastard. Our Clan Head took him in out of pity, but he's gotten too big for his boots. He even dares to hang around Xun'er."

"Exactly. With someone like him around, the Gu Clan's reputation has been utterly ruined."

"He only broke through to Dou Practitioner at eleven. Who knows where this piece of trash came from!"

Gu Fengchen heard similar insults every day, but he did not care in the slightest. They were merely petty clowns—and, well, they were telling the truth.

An eleven-year-old One-Star Dou Practitioner would absolutely be considered a heaven-blessed genius in the outside world, but in the Gu Clan, he could only be regarded as average.

The person leading them was Ling Quan, the commander who would later cause Xiao Yan plenty of trouble because of Gu Xun'er.

So this brat had been this obnoxious since he was young?

Ling Quan's talent was certainly not weak. Otherwise, he would not have become a commander of the Black Annihilation Army in the future.

And these lackeys of his not only mocked Gu Fengchen, but knew how to flatter Ling Quan as well.

Someone said, "The true genius of the Gu Clan is still Brother Ling Quan. Why is this world so unfair?"

"Who knows? Maybe Brother Ling Quan saved the world in his previous life."

Gu Fengchen: "..."

Hearing their barbed mockery, Gu Xun'er softly said in front of Gu Fengchen, "Brother Gu Fengchen, I'll give you an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique later. Cultivate properly, I believe in you! Once you break through, you must beat all these people up!"

Gu Fengchen froze. What? She was giving him an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique already?

You're so extravagant. Does Clan Head Gu Yuan know about this?

Xiao Yan did not obtain an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique until much later in the story, yet Gu Xun'er was just giving one away?

In this world, the first and most important factor in determining a person's strength was, naturally, their own power.

As the saying went, iron must be hard before it can be forged.

If one's own strength was only at the level of a One-Star Dou Practitioner, then even if one cultivated a rare Heaven Rank High-Grade technique, it would still be difficult to defeat a Dou Shi who cultivated the most ordinary technique.

Cultivation techniques and Dou Skills could only display their effects when built upon one's own strength.

A Dou Skill was a special skill that could unleash Dou Qi. Dou Skills on the continent were also divided into ranks, the same as cultivation techniques: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.

In short, higher-ranked cultivation techniques and Dou Skills were naturally far superior to lower-ranked ones. Especially in the later stages of cultivation, the gap between cultivation techniques would become extremely obvious.

Theoretically, it was as difficult as ascending to heaven for ordinary people to obtain high-grade cultivation techniques. But someone like Gu Fengchen, whose starting point was a colossal force like the Gu Clan, naturally had no shortage of good things.

Moreover, Gu Xun'er gave him this and that every day, but this was the first time she had given him an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique.

She must have known that he was leaving and wanted to do something for Brother Gu Fengchen.

Gu Fengchen glanced at Ling Quan as if he were an idiot and sighed inwardly.

Brother, I'm begging you to mock me. Please, before Sister Xun'er leaves, let the mockery come even harder.

Gu Fengchen ignored those petty clowns entirely and continued forward.

Beat them up to vent some anger?

With the Three Thousand Burning Flame Body, he truly had no fear of them.

But what would be the point of beating them up?

Gu Xun'er would no longer have an excuse to stuff Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques into his hands.

Keeping quiet and getting rich was the proper path!

At that thought, a hint of barely noticeable cunning flashed through Gu Fengchen's eyes.

As they passed a courtyard, Gu Fengchen heard a succession of dull, whistling sword winds from deep within. It sounded as if someone was practicing swordsmanship.

Gu Fengchen glanced inside. A young man in his twenties held a longsword, his gaze resolute as he repeatedly thrust forward. Each thrust made the air hiss, as though Sword Qi filled the surroundings.

The Third Commander of the Black Annihilation Army, Yang Hao—he would also become someone capable of standing on his own in the future. His relationship with the original owner was not particularly close, but there was no conflict between them either.

Aside from that, most disciples of the Gu Clan were exceptionally diligent.

At the Training Ground, some carried stone blocks to invigorate their blood and Qi. Some practiced fist techniques to temper their muscles and bones, while others punched wooden stakes, leaving one dent after another in them.

Gu Clan servants also swept the fallen leaves from the ground, and everything seemed quiet and peaceful.

It had to be said that a family with a Dou Di Bloodline like the Gu Clan truly had a sense of tranquil, unhurried years.

But Gu Fengchen's inner thoughts were—

Everyone else was cultivating diligently, while he was waiting to "eat."

Everyone else was honing their Dou Skills, while he was waiting to "eat."

There was nothing he could do about it. Even if Gu Fengchen slacked off, he could still cultivate quickly.

Gu Fengchen asked, "Xun'er, is there anywhere you want to go? I'll take you around."

Having accepted her Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, Gu Fengchen felt somewhat embarrassed.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Xun'er suggested, "Let's go take a look around the marketplace."