Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

Tian Feiyang looked at Gu Yao in surprise and said, “Fifth level of Qi Refining!”

As for Chi Changye, he seemed much the same as when they had last met with his aunt.

Tian Feiyang’s father, who had come to see them off, was also somewhat shocked. The four spiritual roots he had were, in the eyes of cultivators, almost like a death sentence—how could someone with such poor aptitude progress so quickly?

Tian Ru glanced over and said indifferently, “Don’t forget, they’re not lacking spirit beads or pills. With enough resources, they can force their cultivation up. But with such aptitude, the further they go, the harder it will be to progress. There’s no need to be surprised.”

“Yes, Aunt,” Tian Feiyang replied, his expression now more restrained, though he was still curious. After all, Gu Yao had been in the Gu family for so many years, only reaching the second level of Qi Refining, and now, after leaving the Gu family, he had skyrocketed in progress. This result was likely a slap in the face for the Gu family, and they were the ones who couldn’t make sense of it.

He glanced over at the Gu family’s group, and sure enough, he saw their expressions. Some looked surprised, while others appeared embarrassed.

After Gu Yao and Chi Changye arrived, Tian Feiyang’s father, acting on his behalf, arranged a better position for them. His younger son was happy to be around them, and this way, he could keep a closer eye on him. Gu Yao and Chi Changye thanked Tian Feiyang’s father and Tian Ru, and two other elders from the Tian family were assigned to accompany and protect them.

Joining the Tian family’s group in front of the Gu family members, some of the Gu family’s expressions were as if they had eaten something unpleasant. Seeing the other people watching with interest only made the Gu family members more resentful of Gu Yao, who, instead of accepting the olive branch offered by the Gu family, chose to join forces with the Tian family, who was at odds with them.

“This bastard! He’s humiliating the Gu family in front of the whole town!” one elder exclaimed angrily. “Hmph, I don’t know how he advanced to the fifth level of Qi Refining, but with his aptitude, how far can he really go? Once he leaves Yuanyang Town, he’ll be eaten alive by others—there won’t be a single bone left of him!”

“I think it’s most likely that his good uncle secretly left behind some valuable items, which allowed him to advance so quickly. But for a little Qi Refining cultivator like him, it’s really a waste,” someone said sourly. If they had known he had such valuable things, they shouldn’t have let him leave the Gu family’s territory. It was unexpected that Gu Yao, so young, was so scheming, never showing a hint of it while he was in the Gu family.

“I’ll be curious to see if, when they encounter danger, the Tian family will protect him or focus on their own people.”

“Let’s go!”

The several hundred-strong team slowly began to move, embarking on their journey away from the town. The people who came to see them off waited until they couldn’t see the team anymore before turning back toward the town.

Tian Feiyang’s father was the same. With both of his sons gone, the absence of the younger son’s chatter made him feel a little unaccustomed.

He encountered Big Brother Dong and cupped his hands, “Big Brother Dong, you’re here to see us off as well? Or just to join in the excitement?”

Big Brother Dong, riding on his horse, laughed heartily, “Just here for the excitement. Maybe there’s someone among these younger generations who’ll stand out. I think a few of your Tian family’s juniors are quite good.”

“Thanks for your kind words, Big Brother Dong,” Tian Feiyang’s father replied with a smile.

After the Tian family members had left, Steward Fu, who was next to Big Brother Dong, said, “Big Brother, that kid, Chi Changye, left just like that. Didn’t he uncover any secrets of the map?”

They had been keeping an eye on Chi Changye’s movements, but they found that he showed no intention of setting out. Now, he had just followed the Tian family to the Immortal Ascension Conference.

Big Brother Dong’s face darkened with disappointment as he said, “Maybe that kid thinks the map is just a worthless scrap of paper and didn’t take it seriously. Or perhaps he figured it out but knew his own strength was limited and could stay calm. Luckily, he’s not the only one with a piece. I suspect these two pieces are essential together.”

At this moment, Big Brother Dong once again pulled out a piece of tattered hide similar in texture to the one in Chi Changye’s hand. Despite all his efforts, he had been unable to make this piece of hide show any changes. The more this happened, the more hopeful he became. If such precious hide could be used to draw a map, then the contents hidden within this map must be far from ordinary. Thinking this, his gaze grew fiery with excitement. As long as Chi Changye ever cracked it, he would surely come to him sooner or later.

In the Tian family’s convoy, inside the carriage, Chi Changye took out a piece of tattered hide from his storage pouch. It was the same piece that Big Brother Dong and Steward Fu had been discussing.

Gu Yao, curious, asked, “What are you doing with this? Why don’t you try to restore this hide?”

Chi Changye smiled and explained, “Some spiritual herbs are too special. I haven’t found any in the market after several trips. Maybe I’ll find some outside. I’m thinking that now that we’re leaving Yuanyang Town, maybe I’ll return for this hide someday in the future.”

He felt that this piece of hide was connected to this place, and although he had thought about asking the Tian family to help gather the special spiritual herbs, he knew that Big Brother Dong and his group were always keeping an eye on him. After some thought, he decided against it. He’d wait and see how things unfolded in the future. If the opportunity was missed, it would mean the connection was too shallow.

Gu Yao nodded. “Safety first.”

The alchemist’s inheritance site caused such a big stir, if this piece of hide were really significant, the consequences wouldn’t just involve Big Brother Dong and his group. Even the Tian family would be tempted, and at that point, both he and Chi Changye would be like lambs waiting for slaughter.

Once the journey began, Gu Yao stayed huddled in the carriage. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go out, but every time he did, he was pointed at by others. Rather than deal with that, he preferred staying inside the carriage to read and study. When the team set up camp at night, he would go out to stretch, collecting plants and spiritual herbs that appeared along the roadside.

In the past, he would read in his own room. The alchemy books from the Pill Pavilion had never been shown in front of Chi Changye. However, since the journey would take at least a month, he couldn’t just sit idly the whole time. After testing once and finding that Chi Changye didn’t ask about the books he was reading, Gu Yao began reading openly and made good use of the time to study.

Usually, when Gu Yao read, Chi Changye would be outside controlling the Horned-scaled horses. Since they were traveling with the larger convoy, the trained Horned-scaled horses didn’t wander off on their own, so Chi Changye often sat in front of the carriage, resting with his eyes closed. However, Second Young Master Tian often came over to chat with Chi Changye.

After dark, the convoy would set up camp and rest, continuing the journey when the sun rose the next day. Although the entire convoy traveled together, there were small groups within it, and they didn’t mingle much. Of course, they didn’t stay too far apart, and one could easily see what the other groups were doing.

At the Lu family’s campsite:

“That’s Gu Yao, right? I don’t think he’s much worse than Gu Yan. I heard the talisman techniques of that Chi Changye are pretty amazing. The thunder talismans that the Tian family uses are all drawn by him. Look at how good he is to Gu Yao, he always brings the best food to him first.”

“Exactly. I think Gu Yao really turned misfortune into a blessing this time. Some people look down on him, but Gu Yao has people who like him. Some people think they’re all that, looking down on Gu Yao, always talking about ‘Cousin Gu Yan,’ but in the end, Cousin Gu Yan is going to join the Changxian Sect. How could he still have time for his cousin? Heh heh.”

The young ladies from the Lu family chatted carelessly, knowing full well that Lu Minzhu could hear the conversation from inside the carriage. They didn’t care about Lu Minzhu’s feelings and laughed at her for losing the sesame seed and not even picking up the watermelon, instead making a big fool of herself.

They weren’t truly praising Gu Yao, but using him to trample on Lu Minzhu was their real goal.

Lu Minbai walked over and scolded, “Shut up! All you do is gossip. Do you have any dignity as young ladies of the Lu family?” After silencing them, he entered the carriage with the food and comforted his sister. “Don’t listen to their nonsense. They’re just jealous of you. You’ve lost weight.”

Lu Minbai knew that the family had treated his sister unfairly recently, but when it came to family interests, he couldn’t defend her. Just recently, he had received a mid-grade detoxification pill from the Gu family, making it even harder for him to justify going to Gu Yan to demand an explanation.

Leaning against the carriage, Lu Minzhu’s face was expressionless, but when she heard her brother’s words, she showed a mocking look. “I know what they’re after. They want to step on me to secure a marriage with the Gu family. As for that marriage, if they want it, let them have it. Do they really think I care?”

“Sister…” Lu Minbai knew that the Gu family and the Lu family needed to continue the marriage alliance to strengthen their relationship. Originally, their grandfather had chosen his sister as the one to marry into the Gu family, but his sister and mother had flatly rejected it. He understood that his sister and mother had not gotten over the issue with Gu Yan.

“What’s wrong? Does being a Lu family daughter mean my only path is to marry into the Gu family? Senior Tian Ru from the Tian family never married, but she is still respected by everyone. Even our grandfather has to respectfully call her ‘senior’ when he sees her. I want to be a cultivator like her!” Lu Minzhu clenched her fist, her eyes flashing with determination. This time, she would not compromise. Why should a woman’s entire life be controlled by men? That’s why she was fighting for the opportunity at the Ascension Conference, willing to exchange the grievances she had suffered for it.

Lu Minbai hadn’t expected his sister to have such thoughts. The blow from Gu Yan had affected her so deeply.

He hesitated and said, “This path won’t be easy…”

“If men can walk it, why can’t women? Senior Tian Ru has done it, and she’s done better than many men! Brother, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. I’ve made up my mind, and I won’t change it.” Lu Minzhu insisted. Whenever she thought of the words Gu Yan had said to her, her resolve became even stronger.

In the past, she had given her heart to Gu Yan. Perhaps she would never catch up to Gu Yan’s height, but she would not regret her choice. She didn’t want to marry another man just to fulfill the family’s wishes and bear children with spiritual roots.

Lu Minbai sighed, left the food behind, and exited the carriage. From a distance, he saw the confident Gu Yan and the young girls surrounding him, and there was no doubt that he still held some resentment.

Looking over at the Tian family’s camp, he furrowed his brows unhappily. With Gu Yao present, it constantly reminded others of the engagement that his sister once had with Gu Yao, which people used to ridicule her. So why was Gu Yao traveling with them?

Tian Feirong circled back to Gu Yao and Chi Changye, lowering his voice as he looked at Gu Yao and said, “I just found out that Lu Minzhu is also here. The Gu family’s twins didn’t come, though. It seems Lu Minzhu’s life in the Lu family isn’t easy, even the illegitimate daughters dare to laugh at her.”

Gu Yao finished the dried food he had brought with him, sipped the spiritual tea made with boiled water, and looked at Tian Feirong, who was watching the drama unfold with excitement. He said, “Second Brother Tian, why are you paying attention to these things? Whether they come or not has nothing to do with us.”

Tian Feirong had been waiting for Gu Yao to respond. Upon hearing this, he clapped his hands and said, “It’s a big deal. You don’t know, whenever the girls from the Lu family mock Lu Minzhu, they also bring you and…” He gestured to Chi Changye beside him. “Brother Chi speaks out.”

“Ha, they’re using me as a shield. They don’t truly think highly of me,” Gu Yao said disdainfully. That’s why he was too lazy to leave the carriage during the day. He could already sense the hostility in the eyes of the Gu family members; it was all so strange.

Tian Feirong stroked his chin and said, “True. I heard the two families are still planning to form an alliance. I guess those girls are all trying to fight for a chance to marry into the Gu family. As for Lu Minzhu, she seems to have changed a lot. I haven’t seen her come out at all in the evenings. Gu Yan is really a piece of work, yet so many little girls are worshiping him.”

He didn’t stop to think that the opportunity was something Gu Yao had given up. What was there to be proud of?

Gu Yao shook his head. There was no point in arguing with these people. Whether it was Lu Minzhu or Gu Yan, he felt that their opportunities to interact in the future would be limited. Of course, if the chance came later, he would still settle the score with Gu Yan, as he owed his past self that much.

Just after leaving Yuanyang Town, the road was still relatively safe, and the younger members of the group seemed quite lively. However, as they moved farther away from the town and deeper into the wilderness, the lively atmosphere began to fade. One day, while a few young masters and young ladies were hunting and playing nearby, one of them nearly got dragged away by a demonic vine. Though they were rescued by the elders of the clan, the shock was still significant. After that, they no longer had the carefree attitude they had before.

Before leaving, the elders of the family had warned them about the dangers in the wilderness, but they hadn’t taken it seriously. After experiencing the danger firsthand, they finally realized they had underestimated the risks outside.

At night, while camping, the sounds of the roars of demonic beasts nearby made it impossible for anyone to fall asleep. Some of the younger members began to feel regret.

“Wake up! We are about to enter Xiong Ju Pass. The terrain there is complicated, filled with monsters, and there are also evil forces lurking. Everyone be careful not to fall behind. If there’s any emergency, signal immediately!”