By the time Gu Erin and his group were done hunting it was well into the night, and a festive mood swept over the campsite, as the liquid funds reach the point that made even Gu Erin feel slightly more secure. They had managed to kill the Valley Wolf, which was the outlier, and 10 other low Rank 1 beasts.
All of which were weak enough that Gu Erin felt comfortable letting the group fight, although there were some injuries throughout the day Gu Erin managed to mitigate most of the damage through the 'gifts' of the old alchemist. The small number of herbs and the corpses obtained by the group managed to gain them a net sum of 8 low grade spirit stones.
That did not include the beast cores and the normal animals they managed to bring in along the way. So, the camp had a large amount of food, and now wealth to spend on a bit of luxury. Gu Erin allowed for the purchase of three more tubs, and some more weapons and tools. There was a basic fence around the camp now, and the makings of a few log cabins.
Some were still amazed from the sight of a few people alone lifting the main trunk of a tree by themselves. However, the sight only helped motivate those of the camp continue to cultivate even if they were a bit slower than others.
Gu Erin himself was sitting on the edge of camp, sitting by the beginning of the stream that was fed by the source, working his way through his own head, trying to figure out how to refine his brain. A few had already caught up to him in refining their nerves, so the guidance to refine their brain was the final step into proceeding to the second stage of the Blood Transformation realm. From there it would be a race to the peak of the realm. In which Gu Erin would tell people about the continual refinement.
Gu Erin was currently working his way through the natural pathways every living human had and shared, besides those who were born with defective qi pathways. He studied on how they intersected and ran along with his new spirit root. The Divine Origin Defying Root was needless to say very strange. Paired with his new cultivation technique, the first chapter of the Cosmic Returning Origin, and Gu Erin was wholly unfamiliar and inefficient with circulating his own qi.
If Gu Erin were more experienced in formations, he would have noticed that his pathways in conjunction with the spirit root formed a natural formation. However, that went right over Gu Erin's head as he tried to circulate his qi more efficiently, slowly going through the process of trial and error.
Until he finally reached his head, and started to include those pathways, although this wouldn't refine his brain, it would make it more efficient, and in turn make any pain go by faster. Although Gu Erin wasn't sure what might happen when he starts to refine his brain, all he knew was that it would not be pleasant.
With some hesitation Gu Erin finally started to refine his brain, only to have his concentration immediately broken, by the greatest feeling of vertigo. Right before Gu Erin opened his eyes, he felt like he was looking down on his own body. With a gasping breath Gu Erin's eyes shot open as he clutched his head.
The feeling of thousands of burning hot needles stabbing into his brain and shifting around nearly drove him to pass out. Gu Erin Felt the eyes on him as his pained groans no doubt broke more than a few people's fragile concentration.
Gu Erin just sat there, trying to recover, although some approached him to check on him, he waved them away. He was slowly growing in popularity in the camp thanks to their recent successes, but people were still confused, and trying to adapt. So more than one or two glares were shot his way for the amount of noise he made.
After another ten minutes, and the searing pain slowly lessening to the point Gu Erin could start assessing what just happened to him. However, he wasn't actually sure what happened to him. Even now the memory was growing hazy. So, with a growing dread he started the process over again, this time trying to convince himself to keep at it.
The pain was no less severe or intense, Gu Erin swore he started to taste blood, as he tried his best not to scream. But, just as he was about to give up and relegate himself to the following suffering Gu Erin felt the same shift.
He once again found his consciousness looking down on his body, yet he still felt like he was within it. The absurd disconnect nearly made him throw up as he watched himself gag. Only to watch blood stream out the side of his mouth. Gu Erin could see it now even in this pain, how he was biting his own lip.
Not wanting to suffer this pain anymore, Gu Erin tried his best to continue refining his brain. He pieced together that he was forcefully using his divine soul to refine his brain, and he knew all too well that there was a price for stepping beyond your means. He would not prolong this any longer than necessary.
After ten excruciating minutes Gu Erin had finally managed to step into the first stage of brain refining. When he let go of the trance like state he had fallen into he found that the pain was no longer as prominent. However, he could feel tears and sweat falling down his face. When he went to wipe them away he noticed that they were not the watery substance he was expecting, but the impurities he had forced out.
Nodding as if it made sense Gu Erin went to go bathe in the stream before he stunk up the entire area. Only for him to start hearing a commotion on the other side of the camp, that ran perpendicular to the stream.
After dousing his head Gu Erin made his way to the ruckus, and found two groups, one was on his side of the fence, while the other was yelling from the other side. Gu Erin frowned, this was too soon for his liking, his hand gripped tightly around the hilt of the cheap iron blade at his waist. It seemed the conflicts between groups was going to start tonight.
Gu Erin made his way between the two groups, his appearance causing multiple reactions from both sides. From the opposing side was just more anger and annoyance as whatever conversation/argument was interrupted. While his own group seemed slightly relieved or overly smug now that he was present.
Gu Erin didn't bother to address the people behind him as he asked one of his own the question he already guessed the answer to.
"What do they want?' he asked curtly, his aura and voice making it so that his displeasure was known.
The person Gu Erin addressed was one of the Blood Jackets, who weathered Gu Erin's aura like a champ. "They want in, and for us to stop polluting the stream."
"Oh?" Gu Erin was a little surprised, these people most likely had found the stream that day and formed a small camp of their own. Only to have their camp stunk up and their drinking water tainted. The crowd of nearly fifty people looked rough, Gu Erin could already tell that most of them were trash just by their bearings.
Gu Erin did not bother with anymore questions as the yells from the crowd started to become annoying in his eyes. Honestly, were fellow humans always this annoying? All that noise just made his newly refined brain ache something fierce.
He looked to the crowd on the other side of the wooden barricade, Gu Erin drew his sword, the song resonating through the air. Making the opposing group come to an abrupt silence. Although Gu Erin didn't want to be the one to do this, he would not hesitate to remove potential obstacles.
If word spread about his groups location and how unwilling they were to give in to public demands, they would be quickly targeted and find themselves the common enemy. Although Gu Erin did not mind this, it would limit their maneuverability in the future.
Soon after the first event hunting spots would be monopolized, once that happens small skirmishes of guerrilla warfare would start between the groups as they fought for dominance over the limited resources around the town. Which is why Gu Erin desperately needed to do his best in the upcoming event, there the best contributor would get a sect creation order.
Bringing up the others was his way of heightening his own chances of receiving the sect formation order. Although the sword was drawn Gu Erin found it hard to move, like something was holding him back.
This slight feeling made Gu Erin feel a bit angry, he would not have anyone standing in his way this time. This time, no matter who it was they would either die by his blade or follow behind. He refused to suffer the same fate of his past life, crawling, and fighting for every scrap.
He refused to allow his people to be treated like animals. Even if that meant he had to kill his fellow Earth cultivators to achieve his goals, he would not hesitate. With his resolve and dao heart firming the weight on his blade disappeared as it seemed to hum. No, it was humming.
The sword hum broke through the silence of the camp, everyone's attention now on them, that eerie stillness was broken by Gu Erin's first step.
***
Little Devil here, please feel free to join the Discord server mentioned in the previous chapter. This Little Devil can answer questions about the book. Or this Little Devil can help you with your own writing if you're thinking about publishing on the platform. This Devil loves to read and write so come one come all!
Also take a lot at the Auxiliary Chapter! The next one for characters is in the works.