121. Coming Out of Seclusion

Tong He smiled faintly and answered with great ease, "If I were to fully control this body now, it would take me about half a month. As for regaining my former cultivation, that is harder to gauge; it could take a month, or perhaps a year. It all depends on how well I master the cultivation of this body hereafter."

"Heaven rewards the diligent." The ancients did not deceive me, Qi Fei thought to himself. Grandpa Tong had spent decades seeking a suitable soul-host, and having finally found him—a half-finished vessel—he then had to wait months more because the body could not be reshaped immediately. Qi Fei had never experienced the scorching frustration of having success within reach yet unable to grasp it, but he imagined it must be akin to the searing pain of physical tempering. Yet, Tong He had never complained, nor had he ever urged Qi Fei to do anything. He had merely asked Tong He for guidance on his cultivation, completely forgetting the immense debt of gratitude he owed him.

Effort. Tong He had been striving to reshape his own body, searching for caves, killing dragon-fish, and battling demonic beasts. Step by step, his hard work had finally paid off.

Although Tong He could not pinpoint the exact time for his full recovery, he had waited for thousands of years; a few months or even a few years more meant nothing to him. Compared to the endless flow of time, this brief duration was truly like a single hair from a bull or a grain of sand in the desert.

Qi Fei understood this logic, so seeing Tong He so relaxed, he felt there was no need to say anything. He had no objections to staying in the cave; at the very least, until he had fully comprehended the first nine moves of the Eight-Armed Wind-Thunder Fist, he had no intention of leaving anyway. Cultivation required endurance against hardship and boredom. If one could not settle their heart to work hard, aspiring to become a powerhouse was nothing more than a pipe dream.

And so, in the days that followed, Qi Fei studied his martial arts while caring for Tong He, who was still unable to manage daily life on his own. Their days were fulfilling and simple. As winter passed and spring arrived, and snow once again blanketed the demonic beast forest, Tong He finally completed his metamorphosis, transitioning from an infant-like state to possessing the capabilities of a grown man. His martial arts had also recovered significantly; though not yet at the entry level he spoke of, he was not far behind a peak first-class warrior.

Having reached this level, it stood to reason that Tong He would next face the breakthrough from the Houtian to the Xiantian realm. Yet, before this hurdle—which the world deemed as difficult as ascending to heaven—Tong He showed no concern at all. When Qi Fei asked why, the answer was that Tong He had already experienced this breakthrough; now, he only needed to digest the memories and experiences of his past life, and the breakthrough would occur as naturally as walking or running.

However, despite Tong He’s nonchalance, the reality of breaking through was not so simple. Another year passed, spring turned to winter, and Qi Fei was now eighteen, yet Tong He had still not reached his so-called entry-level state. Facing this, Tong He suggested that he might still be lacking in opportunity. After discussing it with Qi Fei, the two decided to leave the cave and venture into the Divine Continent together.

Before leaving, Qi Fei opened the cave’s protective array and instructed the Golden-Silver Wolf King to stand guard. To his surprise, the little creature seemed extremely reluctant. It whimpered and squeaked for a long time, and seeing it could not convince Qi Fei to stay, it abandoned its entire pack of hundreds of kin and followed Qi Fei. No matter how hard Qi Fei tried to drive it away, it refused to leave his side.

Tong He watched the little creature and laughed, "It seems this little fellow wants to follow you." Qi Fei, feeling quite troubled, couldn't help but voice his concerns. Perhaps seeing Qi Fei’s hesitation, Tong He added, "All animals have spirits. Even an untrained dog will develop deep attachment to its master after being kept for a long time. You have spent nearly three years with this highly intelligent creature; it is only natural for it to be accustomed to you."

Qi Fei frowned and replied, "It’s not that I mind it being a living creature, but its home is the demonic beast forest. Is it not cruel to take it away from its home to live in the mortal world?" Though he said this, he had another thought: the creature was a treasure from head to toe; keeping it might invite unnecessary trouble.

In this world, one should not flaunt their wealth. "An innocent man is guilty of the crime of possessing a jade ring." Who knew what kind of schemes people might harbor! This thought was not hard to voice, and under Tong He’s gaze, Qi Fei quickly shared his worries.

However, as soon as Qi Fei finished, Tong He scoffed, "Boy, I thought that after roaming for so long, you would have developed a fearless heart. I didn't expect you to still be so timid. With your current level, do you really need to fear others coveting your possessions?"

Qi Fei hesitated and said, "I am not afraid, but I believe that one less trouble is better than one more, so as not to delay my cultivation." Even Qi Fei felt his voice sounded pitifully weak; he knew he was merely making excuses.

Qi Fei knew that his current mindset was undesirable, but this nature was hard to correct overnight. Tong He seemed to see through this and sighed softly, "It seems that although you have reached the Xiantian realm, you are still far from being a true powerhouse. Only by experiencing the trials of life and death can one forge a heart worthy of a master. How about this? Since we have no specific destination, why don't you follow me to challenge the geniuses of various sects and families? Let real combat elevate you!"

"Challenge the geniuses of various sects... isn't that too premature?" Qi Fei was taken aback. "Wouldn't that offend everyone? Wouldn't it be too..."

"Too what? Just do it! Listen to me. If you dare to disobey, I’ll make you suffer for it!" Seeing Qi Fei still hesitating, Tong He’s expression turned cold, and he barked sternly, "What are you afraid of, you silly boy? They are just sects. So what if you offend them? Are you afraid of being targeted, or are you worried you cannot rise under their pressure?"

Qi Fei immediately countered, "Of course not. I do not lack the courage to challenge the strong!" Having said this, he realized his behavior had been too cowardly. A man born in this world should hold a long sword, roam freely, and laugh at the world. He needed the determination to soar above all others to live up to his past efforts. Let all the unpleasantness go to hell; only those who can move against the tide under pressure have the chance to reach the summit.

Thinking of this, Qi Fei nodded solemnly. "My previous concerns were indeed superfluous. It seems that even though I’ve reached the Xiantian realm, I still lack the heart of a true powerhouse. Very well, Grandpa Tong, let us do as you say. On this journey, we shall visit all the renowned families and sects and meet these so-called geniuses!"

Feeling the boundless killing intent rising from Qi Fei, Tong He nodded happily. "Truly, a child worth teaching!"

Once the decision was made, Qi Fei did not hesitate. Fortunately, the Spirit-Gathering Jade contained many aged medicinal herbs, so there was no fear of the Golden-Silver Wolf King going hungry. Since Tong He could not yet fly, and Qi Fei could not carry another person in the air, the three of them—two people and one beast—set off on foot. In the snow-covered mountains, the long trail of footprints left by the trio made for an interesting sight.

Three months later, at the end of winter, hunters gathered in Yunshan City noticed two people—one old, one young—emerging from the demonic beast forest. (Do not be mistaken; Qi Fei was the older one, while Tong He, having not yet grown up, maintained a youthful appearance.) They were accompanied by a small beast. Emerging from the forest at this time was a rarity. Winter in the forest was treacherous, and with the heavy snow, most beasts vanished or went into hiding. For the hunters, winter was a time of rest.

Yunshan City was desolate in winter, and only as spring approached did the hunters return. With only twenty or thirty people in the gathering point, the sight of the trio caused quite a stir.

A bearded man remarked, "How strange. They just emerged; did they really enter the forest in the middle of winter?"

Another swordsman replied, "Unlikely. A friend of mine stayed here all winter and never heard of anyone entering the forest."

A cautious man added, "Then when did they enter? If it was in autumn, they would have stayed for at least five months. That would mean they ventured deep into the territory of level-six demonic beasts!"

"Don't be ridiculous. Look at their martial rank. Would level-six beasts threaten them? I’d say they were in the level-eight zone."

"Tsk tsk, two young men deep in the level-eight zone. The world is full of surprises. By the way, what are their levels? I can't tell."

"You’re only at the first stage of Xiantian; it’s no wonder you can't tell. The older one is definitely a peak first-class warrior, but the younger one—I can't fathom his depth. But just by the way he walks, I’d wager his level is not lower than the other."

"Not lower? You lot are truly frogs in a well," a middle-aged man sitting in the corner sneered. The crowd fell silent, staring at him, fearing they might miss a word. A familiar-looking man mustered the courage to ask, "Old Man Liu, a master like you rarely speaks. Is there someone here who can compare to you?"

"Compare to me..." the man called Old Man Liu hummed thoughtfully. "I wouldn't dare compare myself to them."

Seeing everyone staring, he added with a hint of pride, "Did you see that small beast on the young man’s shoulder? Do you know its name? You might not, but I do. That is the Golden-Silver Wolf King. It is a level-eight beast. Anyone who can keep a level-eight beast as a pet is not someone a mediocre Xiantian warrior like me can compare to."

"What?" The crowd gasped. A level-eight beast and a Xiantian master—either one would be rare, but together? The two must be disciples of a major family or a top-tier sect. Even the local powers would not dare provoke such figures.

Yet, there are always those who would risk their lives for a chance at glory. A few heard the mention of the legendary Golden-Silver Wolf King and, seeing its immense value, quietly slipped out of the gathering point. Moments later, after the two travelers checked into a tavern in Yunshan City, the city began to stir. People gathered in hushed rooms to discuss unknown plans.

Soon, the tavern was surrounded by merchants and travelers who seemed to be browsing, but their eyes constantly flickered toward the building, as if waiting for something.

Sitting in an upstairs room, Qi Fei dined with Tong He, glancing out the window. They hadn’t eaten a proper meal in three years, so he had chosen this tavern. But more importantly, he knew they were being followed. Since reaching the Xiantian realm, his spiritual sense extended thirty zhang. It was impossible for anyone to trail him unnoticed.

"Old man Tong, shall I go out and beat those fellows up? They keep loitering at the door; it’s ruining my appetite," Qi Fei said impatiently.

Tong He didn't look out the window, focusing entirely on his food. "No need to rush. Why care about a few small fry?" He savored a piece of boiled meat, then added, "It’s been so many years since I’ve tasted human food. This is quite satisfying. Hehe, let me have another bite."