"Bear Habitat Pass," just hearing the name is associated with Bear Head Fortress.
Gu Yao stepped out of the carriage, having heard about Bear Habitat Pass from Tian Feirong, but seeing it with his own eyes was undoubtedly more vivid.
"Gu Yao, you finally came out," Tian Feirong immediately ran over. "You're either reading or practicing all day. On this journey, I haven't seen anyone more diligent than you."
Tian Feirong deeply admired Gu Yao. It's no wonder he became a Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivator at such a young age with a Four Spiritual Roots aptitude. It couldn't be separated from Gu Yao's diligence. It wasn't just the merit of elixirs; after all, Gu's family also had an abundance of elixirs.
Wait, the young lady from the Lu family is also rarely seen. However, in Tian Feirong's view, it's probably because she had a falling out with Gu Yan, hiding in the carriage and refusing to meet anyone.
"Yeah, just coming out to take a look. In case of any situation, it's better to be prepared," Gu Yao said, and as he came out, various appraising gazes and spiritual senses fell on him. Gu Yao shrugged, ignoring them.
Looking around, they were on a mountain trail, surrounded by towering mountains. Gu Yao could sense the dangerous aura of many beasts hiding in the mountains. If not for the deterrence of Foundation Establishment cultivators, these beasts might have rushed out to attack them eagerly. For beasts, cultivators' flesh and blood are excellent nourishment.
Chi Changye remained calm. The dangerous aura around did not affect him at all.
Suddenly, he looked up to the front right and said, "There's something flying over there."
"Where? What is it?" Tian Feirong was startled.
Before Chi Changye could answer, an alert sounded from the front of the team: "Be on guard, archers prepare. A group of birds is flying towards us. Reinforce the protection on both sides to prevent other beasts from ambushing us!"
Just as the warning ended, a flock of birds came from the front right, covering the sky and sweeping over them. The light dimmed, and the prepared archers shot arrows into the sky as soon as these birds entered the shooting range.
Meanwhile, the lurking demonic beasts on both sides indeed became restless. With a roar, a giant python thrust its enormous head out from the woods. The python swung its tail, sweeping through trees and causing them to break in half, with rocks tumbling down.
The advancing team had already come to a halt. Many cultivators engaged in the battle. Chi Changye stood in front of the carriage, vigilant about the surroundings and the sky.
Gu Yao looked up. Some lower-level birds had fallen from the sky with arrows piercing them. Feathers and blood scattered, but some birds skillfully evaded, and the arrows shot at them changed directions mid-air.
One crystal purple eagle, ignoring the arrow rain, swooped down towards a cultivator below. Just as its talons were about to seize a cultivator's head, beneath it was the Lu family's team. An elder from the Lu family threw out a sword, shouting, "Evil creature, behave yourself and retreat!"
"This crystal purple eagle has extremely fast flight speed. It would be a good flying mount if we could subdue it. Second Elder, let me help you!" Another person flew into the air, standing on a flying sword, and clashed with the crystal purple eagle using a hammer-shaped magical tool.
Tian Ru remained seated on the dragon-scale horse without moving. These demonic beasts weren't worth the action of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, she glanced at Tian Feiyang, who seemed eager to participate, and said, "You go down and practice. Aunt will watch from the side."
"Thank you, Aunt. Nephew will go now." Tian Feiyang leaped off the horse, joining the battle between cultivators and demonic beasts.
Seeing this, Ge Yan and Lu Minbo, two young cultivators in the town known alongside Tian Feiyang, unwilling to fall behind, stepped forward to showcase their skills. This led to cheers from the family disciples hiding behind the guards, rallying in support.
"Oh, my brother, isn't my brother brave and mighty? Go, big brother!" Tian Feirong, excited to see his brother in action, cheered and waved his fists.
The crystal purple eagle in the air couldn't withstand the combined efforts of the two elders from the Lu family. It screeched, beat its wings, and flew away. Although it suffered some injuries, dropping purple feathers, for a swift creature like the crystal purple eagle, escaping wasn't an issue. Lu family cultivators could only watch as it flew away.
Hearing Chi Changye's words, the Tian family guards felt relieved. They were most afraid of people with strong abilities and eccentric temperaments, those who could turn hostile at any moment. However, the young master Chi, whom their Second Young Master had befriended, seemed more approachable.
Chi Changye walked back to Gu Yao's side, wearing a smile. "I heard the meat near the heart of a rhinoceros rhino is the most tender. I've cut some, and we can roast it during the rest. This kind of meat is hard to find in Yuan Yang Town, and even if it exists, it won't appear before us."
"Sounds good." Gu Yao was completely unaffected, responding happily.
Tian Feirong and the Tian family guards exchanged strange looks, observing the two.
Only now did Tian Ru retract her attention from them. A hint of regret appeared in her eyes. This battle raised her evaluation of Chi Changye once again. However, the more talented he was, the more challenging it would be to recruit him into the Tian Hai Sect. She hoped such a genius wouldn't be buried and instructed to elevate the treatment for Gu Yao and Chi Changye.
The entire battle lasted for more than two hours before gradually coming to a stop. The giant python was killed at the cost of some casualties on Gu Yan's side. The cheers from the Gu family were heard, and this python's defeat was no small achievement. During the battle, Gu Yan displayed considerable strength compared to Lu Minbo, who had withdrawn due to injuries. The morale of the Gu family's team surged.
However, compared to Chi Changye's earth-shattering sword strike, it seemed somewhat lacking.
Several cultivators were lost, and more were injured, but the team didn't stop for recovery. They continued forward; otherwise, the scent of blood here would attract more demonic beasts.
When they reached the resting point, the Gu family became the most popular spot in the area. Many cultivators went to them to purchase healing and detoxifying pills. However, Tian family members didn't move. Gu Yao had traded some pills with them, and they kept quite a few for themselves. Therefore, the injured individuals from their side sat in place, swallowing pills for recovery.
There were people from more than three families in the team, including those who joined through various means. They also needed to participate in the battle, and it was normal for some to get injured. Gu Yao propped up his chin, surveying the situation everywhere. Suddenly, he said, "Big Brother Ye, what do you think about me selling pills here?"
Observing people discreetly asking the Gu family for pills and the Gu family's confident expressions, Gu Yao couldn't ignore it. Of course, he didn't want to miss out on such a good money-making opportunity.
Chi Changye smiled and said, "If Little Yao wants to do it, go ahead. I'll protect you."
Gu Yao instantly became excited, flexing his fists as if gearing up for something big. He glanced at Tian Feiyang, called him over, and after a hushed conversation, they hung a piece of cloth with the words "Selling Pills" above their carriage, blowing in the wind.
Tian Feiyang, holding a fan beneath the flag, shouted, "Selling pills! Revitalizing pills, detoxifying pills, qi nourishing pills, gathering elemental pills. Pass by and don't miss out. The quality of our pills won't make you regret it. If you want to buy pills, prepare some spirit pearls and spirit stones. No cash accepted?"
Not all Tian family members knew about the dealings between the Tian family and Gu Yao. Seeing their Second Young Master behaving like this, they stared and then collectively looked at Tian Ru, asking, "Second Young Master, what is he doing? Where did he get those pills? Could they be from the family?"
How could pills from the family be sold outside? The Second Young Master was indeed clueless!
A dismal scream erupted from the side. Surprisingly, the giant python that had rushed out first could spew poisonous mist. The unfortunate cultivator it touched soon had a blackened face and emitted screams. Nearby fellow cultivators swiftly produced detoxifying pills, helping him control the injuries and taking him away. Only after Gu Yan came out did he manage to restrain this giant python, preventing it from further harming the Gu family guards.
"Watch out! A rhinoceros is charging! Everyone, be careful! Quickly, move away from the front!"
Someone shouted, catching Gu Yao's attention. Turning around, he saw a massive, black-skinned rhinoceros with a faint black glow around its horn, breaking through the blockade and charging in. The cultivators ahead, fearing the rhinoceros's strength, quickly scattered to the sides. Unfortunately, the carriage where Gu Yao and Chi Changye were located got exposed. The rhinoceros seemed to smell a tempting fragrance, dashed towards them, and the ground beneath its hooves trembled, causing the scaled-horned horse to neigh, wanting to escape.
"Gu Yao, run!" A cultivator who understood the situation shouted.
"Oh no, Gu Yao, Brother Chi, run!" It was Tian Feirong. Realizing the danger, he rushed forward, intending to rescue them. With his strength, rushing in meant giving himself as a meal.
"Little Yao, protect the carriage." Chi Changye glanced at Gu Yao, reassuring him, and then pulled out a sword from his embrace. He walked boldly towards the rhinoceros.
While calming the scaled-horned horse, Gu Yao looked towards Chi Changye. Just that one look, for no apparent reason, made him believe that no matter the danger ahead, this person would always intercept it for him. Hence, he felt no shiver of fear from impending danger.
"That guy is foolish. Instead of escaping quickly, he's delivering himself there. It's suicide."
"Maybe he's extremely skilled and can kill that demonic beast with one sword... uh..."
All words stuck in their throats because, just as the man said "kill with one sword," Chi Changye indeed swung his sword towards the rhinoceros. Although it seemed like a casual strike, it exploded into a towering sword energy. Those close to him seemed to be surrounded by the sword energy in an instant, making it impossible to breathe.
"Boom!"
The rhinoceros, cleaved in two, collapsed with a thunderous roar, raising a cloud of dust. Only after falling did blood from the rhinoceros's body spurt out like a released dam. The cultivators who saw this scene fell into silence, staring at Chi Changye, who stood in front of the rhinoceros, seemingly smelling the tempting fragrance. That man appeared like a god descending, and his figure instantly became towering.
Chi Changye sheathed his sword after effortlessly killing the rhinoceros, then slowly put the sword back into its scabbard. His sharp gaze swept around before ignoring everyone's astonishment. He continued to approach the fallen rhinoceros to collect valuable parts.
A god had been momentarily cast down to earth.
Especially since his robe had accidentally caught some bloodstains, the people around, who were still in shock from the previous scene, gradually regained their senses. They cast strange glances at Chi Changye, wondering where this monster had come from and how his strength could be so terrifying.
Tian family guards and Tian Feirong were the first to rush over. Tian Feirong exaggeratedly patted his chest. "You scared me, Brother Chi, you're too amazing. I thought you..." He thought about uttering the words "were going to send yourself to death," but quickly swallowed them back. What if it angered Chi Changye, and that sword turned towards him?
"Brother Chi's strength is outstanding. It was our negligence to let such a rhinoceros in." The guards expressed apologies, their attitude much more respectful now.
Chi Changye shook his head. "It's unrelated to you. Gu Yao and I are sheltered by the Tian family, so naturally, we should contribute."
Tian Ru naturally knew that Gu Yao was selling pills. With fewer concerns after leaving Yuan Yang Town, what could the Gu family do even if they knew Gu Yao's pill refining skills were outstanding? The foundational ancestors and the Gu family head, Gu Father, were not in the team, so Gu Yao became somewhat arrogant.
Tian Ru didn't mind this approach. On the road, she could intervene to protect these two, but when they reached the location of the Ascension Summit, their lives and deaths would be their own responsibility. Thus, she said, "The pills from the Tian family were exchanged from Gu Yao's hands. He is an alchemist, and his skills are excellent."
This statement caused a collective gasp, especially among the younger generation of the Tian family. They could hardly believe their ears. They hadn't taken Gu Yao seriously, but the pills they consumed were actually refined by him?
Anyone who had used the pills would know that their quality far exceeded those of the Gu family. They hadn't forgotten the previous incident with the detoxification pills.
"Can we go buy some too?" a Tian family member asked. Who would complain about having too many pills?
"Of course."
Tian Ru's words ignited excitement among many Tian family members. Even the family guards felt the same way. With the Second Young Master present, they should be able to get a relatively fair price. Unlike the Gu family members who demanded money without any guarantee, many times you'd spend the money and still not get what you wanted.
So, while other cultivators observed the strange behavior of the Second Young Master, negotiations had already started between the Tian family members and him.
"Second Young Master, how much for Revitalizing Pills and Detoxification Pills?"
"Revitalizing Pills are one hundred spirit pearls, Detoxification Pills are one hundred and fifty spirit pearls." Tian Feirong looked at his clansmen with shining eyes. "How many do you want?"
If it weren't for Tian Ru's assurance, these family members wouldn't dare to buy pills from the Second Young Master. The first person to ask considered for a moment and said, "Two Detoxification Pills and four Revitalizing Pills."
"Alright, bring the spirit pearls, and Gu Yao, provide the pills!" Tian Feirong stretched his hand forward, calling out to Gu Yao behind him.
Gu Yao handed over two porcelain bottles. The person first paid the spirit pearls and then received the pills. Opening the bottle, the wafting scent of the pills instantly invigorated him. Delighted, he quickly closed the bottle, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Second Young Master, and thank you, Alchemist Gu Yao."
Other Tian family members who came afterward were not fools. They quickly bought pills. Although pills were also distributed within the family, how much could each person receive?
Especially for healing pills like Revitalizing Pills, no cultivator would complain about having too many. Some even took the opportunity to buy a Concentration Pill to prepare for their family's children, avoiding the need to figure out ways to exchange pills with the Gu family later.
Those who bought pills from the Tian family left happily. Having consumed the family-distributed pills, it was evident that they came from the same hands as these pills. Without Tian Ru saying anything, they spontaneously began to spread the word about the quality of Gu Yao's pills.
It turned out that not only was Chi Changye exceptionally skilled, but the companion with him, Gu Yao, was equally remarkable. Otherwise, Chi Changye wouldn't have stayed by Gu Yao's side.
Other cultivators couldn't help but be moved by what they saw. Instead of queuing up to beg for pills from the Gu family, why not take a look here? Perhaps these pills were genuinely good. The Tian family wasn't entirely foolish, and with Tian Ru overseeing, would Gu Yao dare to deceive the Tian family with fake pills? If he dared, Tian Ru would have smacked him down long ago.