Chương 26: Resources

"Hmm?" The old man's hand lingered on the streaks of silver threading his beard.

"Must be at least an ancient specimen, though the name escapes me. What of it?" Ren stared at him, his smile widening. He raised his hand as he nudged the moonlight energy gently. It responded. A silvery light sparked to life before coating his hand in its gentle glimmer.

"I have found a way to re-establish my foundation, thanks to Ancestor giving me this tree," he said, at the same time triggering his fifth-stage Body Tempering power. His body trembled gently, a power he still found strange resonated through the air.

"Re-establish your foundation?" Master Shu's hand holding the pole jerked back, his gaze immediately turning grave.

"Brat, don't you dare try to sell me such a superfluous dream." He cracked his foundation on the pursuit of immortality, otherwise a Soul Transformation expert wouldn't waste away his days like this. Ren slightly nodded as he clenched his hand. If you don't believe this much, let me show more. He clenched his hand as if catching the glimmer in the palm, then punched the air. His fist created a popping sound, along with a small wave as it hit the straw bobber on the lake, causing it to sink for a moment.

I did it already, so you have to believe even if you don't wanna. Ren smirked. But instead of the shocked reaction, Master Shu just frowned.

"Regaining spiritual energy isn't much. What gives you the courage to re-establish your foundation?" Ren remained silent. He reached out his wrist for him to check. Seeing is believing, after all. The old man's wrinkled hand grasped his wrist like a steel clamp, his fingers burning like a cauldron. He is… shivering? Ren struggled not to frown. He knew offering hope came with benefits, but only now did he realize just how much it meant to this kindly old man.

A sharp, almost piercing energy flooded into Ren's body from the wrist at that moment. It wasn't as oppressive as the ancestor's energy, but still had a deepness that caused him to feel breathless. It spread along his meridians like a spider web, covering his body in a matter of seconds, and converged on his core— as though investigating its every detail.

"Hmm…?" Master Shu raised a brow.

"The soul is ill at ease within the body. What a strange occurrence. Has your master said anything?" he asked. Ren gave a wry smile, not surprised. Looks like I can't hide it if somebody checks my body.

"Yeah, he said the same thing. I don't know why." Smacking his lips, Master Shu continued to sweep through every inch of his body and arrived at his core.

"There's nothing here?" However, he frowned. Scowling, another wave of energy surged toward Ren's body. Minutes passed before Master Shu let out a deep sigh.

"It's beyond me for sure. I can't even probe." Ren raised a brow.

"Don't look at me like that. This old man's already past his prime. Can't have extravagant dreams anymore," murmured the old man, shaking his head. The wrinkles he had felt deepened for a second.

"Without seeing your foundation, I can't comment. But…" He let Ren's wrist go with another sigh. But instead of taking his energy back, it created a transparent curtain around where the core supposedly was, and flashed a few times before disappearing without a trace. Ren could still feel its existence, albeit faintly.

"Just a precaution," uttered Master Shu, his face a mask of melancholy.

"Such pure energy can't belong to something common. It may be the resolution to your problem, truly, a miraculous incident. It's better to hide it. With this shielding, even a Soul Transformation expert would find it hard to discover anything amiss." Ren scratched his head.

"Um, Master Shu…"

"Look, boy, don't act like you are a clueless child. Since you managed to stay as the Eldest for a long time, you must know others' desperation and greed for insignificant resources you wouldn't even move a finger to acquire?" The old man let out another weary sigh.

"So, what wouldn't they do if others learned you had a strange tree that let you restart cultivation? Even Ascendants wouldn't mind having it as a precaution in their hands, after all, nobody knows what lies in the future. In a sense, cultivation is defying heavens and their rules, a perilous path with no return." Ren nodded his head heavily. He thought his first two weeks, when he ran from one place to another to salvage the problem in the shortest time, the sense of desperation and fear had nearly driven him mad.

Furthermore, he was standing in an extremely advantageous starting line, comparable to most others' finish lines, even. Despite that, if not for this old man and Ancestor using their own resources, Ren might have lost at the very beginning of his journey.

"So," his face turned somber, "Should I tell a lie? Not many would believe I lucked out at such a coincidental moment…" he paused, gaze turning heavy.

"Do I have to hide my light?"

"You aren't as silly as I thought, child." Laughing, Master Shu slapped his leg.

"Of course, nobody would believe it if they had seen your foundation's state. But other than me, Guiren and Old Gao, who had witnessed it to tell the tale?" A cunning glimmer flashed past his gaze.

"That's why we will hide it for a time, before you burst out with a power to shock all others. This way, most people would assume you never had a broken foundation in the first place. Instead, it's a lie we used to conceal your sharp end for a special purpose. Afterwards, we can announce that we used precious resources like Bloodflame Crystal to mend your cracked foundation—""I won't hide my power." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

The old man froze, then gave him a long stare.

"Look, kid," he said, taking a deep breath. He put a hand on Ren's shoulder.

"This old man can understand your frustrations. I heard what the Second Elder tried, but don't let your pride blind you." Ren knew that was the right way to do, especially in a xianxia world. And that was actually his first plan. I planned not to move a finger until I re-reached this body's peak. But… That day in the alley flashed in his eyes. Even if just for a split second, his hands trembled. He couldn't trust others 'kindness' or 'promises.' Especially not when he wasn't alone.

Taking a deep breath, Ren refilled their cups.

"I see your concern, Master Shu, I really do," he muttered, swirling the wine. Then he chugged it once again, feeling the fiery-cold spreading to his chest.

"But as the bearer, there are some things I have to be mindful of. Looking weak for a while? That's something I can shoulder. But they wouldn't let me lie low for long. Even our own couldn't stay still for a month— who knows what kind of chaos they are stirring."" They?" Master Shu rubbed his beard.

"Right, the Eldest Meeting is fast approaching… So we can only hide it for six months."

"We don't have that time." The old man raised one brow.

"Guan appeared in my peak." Ren's gaze turned a shade darker.

"The viper itself."

"How?" Master Shu asked.

"I don't know. Someone must've opened the back door for him, but even the fact that he dared step onto my Peak means the fear of me is fading fast." The old man frowned sharply, gaze turning heavy.

"And for what, that withered husk's disciple visited you?"

"One of my disciples… has a death-tinged root. He is after her… but retreated for now, probably because he can't be certain if I fell or not."

"Take Little Crimson's scale as a protection. It can alert you to his or his master's presence," Master Shu said without hesitation.

"That bastard is nothing but trouble." Little Crimson? Unless… Without giving him a chance to react, a massive figure dashed out of the water, spraying waves equally monstrous. However, Master Shu raised his wrinkled hand and patted the air, instantly calming all.

"How many times have I warned you for not causing a clamor, Little Crimson? You are scaring all the fish," uttered Master Shu, as if somebody strangled his lifeblood.

"How unlucky am I to be surrounded by such pompous jerks?" Not caring about his tantrum, Ren couldn't turn his eyes from the creature as if bewitched. I am… truly in a fantasy world— FUCK! He had witnessed lots of things that were normally impossible since coming into this world. He had just drifted through the hair at the speed of a sports car a few hours ago. Heck, he even had a tree living inside, how could anything be more bizarre than that? But this creature became the thing that truly hammered this fact.

A neck reaching over five meters and thicker than skyscrapers' columns had risen over the waters, droplets still falling from its crimson scales glimmered under the orange sunlight like ambers. A snake-like head— no, it was definitely a viper — with two purplish horns rising above its eyes screamed regal aura. Yellow, vertical eyes studied them, though Ren couldn't say it felt good, as they were bigger than truck headlights. He even felt a hint of malicious intent.

Approaching them, Little Crimson slithered so gracefully that instead of terrified, Ren felt awe. Owning such a creature, how good it would be!" It's not like you can catch any, Master, don't blame this one," hissed Little Crimson, its tongue appearing for a brief moment." Also, you sure you want me to protect this little thief? What if I accidentally gobble him up? He looks healthy enough for breakfast." Ren felt a cold shiver in his neck." Food! Mama said food!"

"Huwgry, mmh," Suddenly, two more horned vipers shot out of the water, coiling around the Little Crimson's horns. They looked tiny compared to their mother, but only compared. They were probably longer than a few meters, but he couldn't be sure as the horns hid the rest of their tails. You arrogant little snake, why are you still resentful? I only tried, not actually stole your cub, alright? And also, you have two of them; what harm will come from me taking one?

As much as he complained inside, he didn't dare to utter such words. He didn't want to invoke her full-blown wrath; however, this didn't mean he was a pushover.

"Sure, go ahead and gobble me. Let's see if you've grown enough for Old Void to even bother chewing." Ren let out a snort, his eyes glimmering." This?!" Narrowing her eyes, a cloud of steam left her nostrils." Master, tell this arrogant prick—""Enough, Little Crimson, my order is clear." Master Shu shot a glare. Ren's lips curled, getting the message. I expected something else, but this is not bad, either, he thought, waving a hand.

"You heard her, Little Crimson. I think we should let bygones be bygones." Looking up to the pissed viper, he awaited an answer." Hmph, don't be arrogant, human. Only Master can call this one like that. On the other hand, you will call me Her Majesty, understand? Also, this one isn't and won't like you, but a being as magnanimous as me won't ignore your plight," hissed Little Crimson. With a flicker of her tongue, she spat a pendant into his hand. How the hell did it manage to 'hmph' while hissing?

Ren couldn't help but wonder, not caring about the other things she said. Talking wasn't that strange considering her cultivation, but he certainly didn't expect such an intricate use of language. Amazing. The pendant had a plain design with coarse carving. He had to focus on it before managing to make out that it depicted a snake's head. He scratched his head and smiled bitterly.

"Can a normal scale work?"

"This one will. This pendant was created from a reverse scale I shed, and carries mine Beastrune. Furthermore, in case something threatens your life, it will activate— unfortunate, but what can you do? Tsk, but only works on the verge of death, don't forget that. And don't go around provoking Soul Formation Cultivators; this one can't do anything to them. Oh, also…" chattered Little Crimson, though Ren had already stopped paying attention.

"Looks pretty neat, can't lie, thanks," he said, nodding. Little Crimson glared at him sharply, at least he thought it was a glare. Then the viper dived back into the water with a hiss that strangely reminded clicking tongue.

"You can't stop teasing her, huh?" Master Shu chuckled.

"Anyways, this is not the only reason you dropped here, right?" Ren gave an appreciative look. The old man truly knew him.

"First, I need to learn who ordered that attack on my disciples and changed the whole peak's alignment. And second…" Ren took a deep breath, his hand slightly trembling. He avoided eye-contact and instead stared toward the peak's back.

"And?"

"I need resources. My disciple chose Verdant Valley's legacy. Only you can help me gather them, Master Shu."

"And?" The old man stared at him with a strange glimmer in his wizened gaze. Ren lowered his head. Stared at his hands. Then exhaled.

"Anything tied to trees," he muttered softly.

"Ancient ones, sacred ones… anything."

"No trades? No schemes? You're just asking?" he said, and laughed once— short and almost sad.

"I don't have anything to offer." Ren looked over the lake.

"To be honest, I'm not even sure how I'm going to pay back my debt." Putting on an awkward smile, he finally found the courage to mutter the words he had held back:"So please excuse me for this presumptuous request. I just… don't know what else to do." Master Shu remained silent. What face he made, Ren didn't know. Couldn't look. Disappointment… that's what he must've. The things he asked… their worth was tremendous.

The Sacred Soil of Alchemy Peak was so precious that they were tolerating that big bastard of a tree. So he was ready for refusal. That'd make things harder for him, but he could handle the hard. He always did. Still, he felt a tiny hope. Not sure why, yet he still wanted to grasp it with both hands. A sigh. Deep, guttural.

"Why didn't you go to your master, boy?" There it was. The question before the excuse. His throat tightened. His fingers curled. He didn't answer right away. Because how could he? Because he himself didn't know. Master Shu waited for a moment. The sound of water lapping against the shore filled the silence. At last, just as Ren opened his mouth—"You stubborn brats. Always so afraid to be loved without price," Master Shu muttered, shaking his head.

"Fine. You asked. I'll answer." Ren raised his head quickly. But the old man had turned his gaze to the lake.

"You'll get your soil. I can't promise about ancient ones, but sacred is easy. You might wait a few weeks, but that's it. The resources for the Empress' legacy aren't that hard either. I'll even tap my old lines in the Supreme Empress Sect if I must. But in return—" He jabbed the pole forward, eyes narrowing.

"You'll make damn sure to return to your role, kid. As soon as you fell, hidden bastards sprouted like weeds. They even dare to mess with my peak. Show them the cost of overreaching."