"Author's Note: Sorry if there are any mistakes or unclear words, as my primary language is not English. I used ChatGPT to translate.
Thank you also to those who have given me the Power Stone.And thank you as well to my friends who have given me suggestions. Don't hesitate to share your advice with me, as I truly need your suggestions."
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After opening the bamboo scroll, Xiong Huanxian carefully read the writings left by his father. Each word carved into the bamboo brought back memories that had long been buried in his mind.
Huanxian's father wrote that during a mission for the clan, he and his wife were assigned to observe a pack of wolves gathering near the Xiong clan village. The pack's behavior was unusual and posed a significant risk of attacking the village. However, during this mission, Huanxian's father discovered something far more dangerous that changed his fate.
In a secluded cave deep within the forest, he and his wife stumbled upon a priceless inheritance—a legacy left by a Rank 3 Gu Master.
Unbeknownst to them, their actions drew the attention of a Rank 2 peak-stage demonic path Gu Master specializing in Poison Path. This demonic Gu Master, who had been monitoring them, realized the immense value of the inheritance and decided to seize it.
A fierce battle ensued between Huanxian's father and the demonic path Gu Master. Although Huanxian's father was a mid-stage Rank 2 Gu Master and his wife a peak-stage Rank 1 Gu Master, they faced a formidable enemy with deadly poison powers. Together, they fought valiantly and managed to defeat the demonic Gu Master, but the cost was severe.
Both were gravely injured by the poison unleashed during the fight. The toxins were so potent that even after returning to the clan, their bodies were too ravaged to recover. A few days later, Huanxian's father passed away, leaving behind a five-year-old Huanxian.
After recounting the story of his and his wife's fate, Huanxian's father wrote that he had hidden the inheritance they found in the cave in the backyard of their home, buried beneath an inconspicuous small tree. He hid it out of fear that the clan members might discover it, inviting greed and causing significant trouble.
"I hid the inheritance so that no one in the clan would find out," his father wrote. "If the clan members knew, their greed would bring countless problems."
The message revealed the location of the hidden inheritance. Huanxian's father hoped that one day Huanxian would find it and use it wisely.
Huanxian felt a heavy heart as he read the message. He knew how dangerous the inheritance would be if others found out. Nonetheless, he also realized that it could be the foundation for his future.
Yet, Huanxian hesitated. If he retrieved the inheritance during the day, many might grow suspicious or notice his actions. Thus, he decided to wait for the right moment. "I must be careful," Huanxian thought. "If I take it, I need to ensure no one finds out."
With firm resolve, Huanxian carefully stored the message and began planning his next steps.
After midnight, Xiong Huanxian quietly slipped out of his room. The night was silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. He made his way to the backyard, where the inheritance was hidden. Beneath a small, inconspicuous tree, the soil appeared slightly looser, indicating the location of the buried treasure.
Cautiously, Huanxian began digging. Working quickly yet silently, he unearthed something solid after a few minutes. Pausing briefly, he carefully brushed the dirt away to reveal a small hole. Inside, a unique plant was growing—a Gu in the form of a plant. The plant had three tightly closed flower buds, emitting a faint aura that made Huanxian certain it was a Rank 3 Gu.
Next to the plant was a small wooden box made of old bamboo. Opening it, Huanxian found two books inside.
However, his focus remained on the plant Gu. He reached out and touched one of the closed flower buds. Immediately, the bud slowly opened, emitting a faint glow. Inside were five small Gu neatly arranged. Though weak in appearance, Huanxian knew their value was immense.
Curious, he touched the second flower bud. Like the first, it opened, revealing three Gu inside. While fewer in number than the first, these Gu emanated a stronger aura.
Finally, he touched the last flower bud. This one opened slowly, revealing only one Gu. However, this single Gu seemed more powerful than all the others combined. Its aura was dense and overwhelming.
Carefully, Huanxian took all the Gu from the flower buds and examined them briefly. Overjoyed, he hadn't expected to find such a significant inheritance. He also took the bamboo box and its books to study later.
Ensuring no one was watching, he returned to his room quickly but cautiously. Once inside, he locked the door and placed all the items on his desk.
He then opened the two books. The first was a record left by a Rank 3 Gu Master who cultivated the Illusion Path, a rare and obscure path. This path, originating in the Late Antiquity Era, used illusions to mislead and confuse enemies. The book contained recipes for Illusion Path Gu from Rank 1 to Rank 3, as well as the master's experiences with the path.
The second book was a journal left by his father, containing recipes for Wind Path Gu from Rank 1 to Rank 2 and his father's experiences with the path.
It turned out that his father had been a rare Wind Path Gu Master in the Xiong clan, where most members cultivated the Strength Path due to their clan's unique Gu, the Bear Strength Gu, a Strength Path Gu.
"It seems my father was extraordinarily fortunate. First, he discovered the inheritance of a Rank 2 Wind Path Gu Master. Then, he found the inheritance of a Rank 3 Illusion Path Gu Master, although the latter cost him his life."
Wasn't his father the very definition of a failed protagonist?
End of chapter.