Gu Yuan turned and entered the bedroom, packing what he needed into his storage ring. He first found Elder Wang to inform him that he needed to go on a trial, and thus couldn't accept his inheritance. Elder Wang generously agreed, but still cautioned him to protect his life, as only then could he have a future.
Following Di Liu's footsteps, he then left the First Martial Arts University.
At the same time, in Qingshan, Qin Chuan Prefecture, a man clad in black martial robes, a black halberd on his back, bid farewell to his senior brothers and friends, and resolutely set off on the road to the border.
Xia Jing.
In the Xuanyuan family, the Xuanyuan clan leader looked at the cold, stern young man before him and asked with some concern, "Tian Xia, are you sure you've made your choice? The ancestral land of our clan is no mere trial ground. I ask you again, are you certain? There will be life-threatening danger."
"Clan leader, I know your worries, but as the young clan leader of the Xuanyuan clan, I must set an example for all future clan members, and also forge our Xuanyuan clan's spirit in this world." Xuanyuan Tian Xia's gaze was firm, his tone very serious.
"Yes, this old man is getting old. Alas, it is as you say. As the young clan leader of the Xuanyuan clan, I won't say anymore. Go on, and come back alive." The Xuanyuan clan leader patted Xuanyuan Tian Xia's shoulders firmly.
Xuanyuan Tian Xia nodded, and under the watchful eyes of all the clan members, he resolutely stepped into a blue teleportation array ahead.
A similar situation was unfolding across all the prefectures of Tian Xia. The younger generation of this era, after breaking through to the True Qi realm, had all reached a consensus: they must become stronger as quickly as possible.
The far western reaches of the world.
Within an underground palace, upon a throne crafted from bones, a half-beast man, wreathed in a majestic demonic aura and with muscles like stone, sat astride the throne.
"You say that the great prodigies of the human race are all embarking on various trials?" The demon king's majestic voice echoed through the empty hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Demon King." A kneeling half-beast man below replied respectfully.
"Heh heh, interesting. It seems the human race is planning a major move. Convey my command: all fierce beast prodigies reaching the third tier within the thirty-six great demon mountains shall enter the Beast Ancestor's secret realm. The specific selection will be decided by the thirty-six demon kings." The demon king immediately issued the corresponding command and tossed a token to the half-beast man below.
"Your Majesty's decree is obeyed." The half-beast man below took the token from the demon king's hand.
"You may withdraw." The demon king closed his eyes once more.
"Yes!" The half-beast man bowed and slowly retreated, finally turning and leaving the hall.
That day, roars of beasts echoed through the Myriad Beasts Mountain. The human side had no idea what was happening within the beast race.
On the road to Da Long Pass.
Gu Yuan took out the new weapon Di Liu had given him, a metal sphere.
He squeezed a drop of his vital blood onto his index finger and dripped it into the metal sphere.
The vital blood was rapidly absorbed by the metal sphere, which then began to float in mid-air.
Gu Yuan reached out and caught the metal sphere, feeling a faint connection being established between it and him. With a thought, the metal sphere slowly transformed into a pool of liquid, enveloping his palm.
Gu Yuan, with some surprise, felt the metallic liquid as if it had a life of its own.
With another thought, the metallic liquid slowly receded from his arm, finally coalescing in his palm into the Autumn Water long saber, indistinguishable from its original form.
Di Liu watched Gu Yuan handle the blood-refined gold and asked with a smile, "Not bad, I upgraded it for you."
"Thank you, Teacher Di. I am very satisfied. This will greatly supplement my combat system." Gu Yuan's eyes shone with the look of a child gazing at his beloved toy.
"Hahaha, I'm glad you're satisfied." Di Liu laughed heartily, feeling that his decision to secretly take out his own prized metal to enhance Gu Yuan's weapon was the right one, seeing the delight in Gu Yuan's eyes.
Di Liu was such a person, possessing very traditional teacher's virtues. He could dedicate himself selflessly to his students. Once he recognized a student, he would wholeheartedly devote himself to them. Although Gu Yuan hadn't reached that level yet, Di Liu found him congenial and was very willing to offer him assistance within his capabilities.
Gu Yuan silently noted Di Liu's gesture. How could he not perceive it? Di Liu's help was unusual; most people wouldn't offer such assistance. After all, he and Di Liu had known each other for a very short time, yet Di Liu was helping him like this. Gu Yuan was grateful to this teacher from the bottom of his heart.
After a day's journey, Gu Yuan finally arrived at Da Long Pass, one of Tian Xia's nine passes.
When this majestic pass was first built, a martial arts titan had slain a malevolent flood dragon, and its skeletal remains, along with metal bricks and stones, were used to construct it. Through continuous additions over the years, it became one of the nine passes of the world.
Entering the majestic pass, Gu Yuan saw a towering city wall in the distance, approximately a hundred meters high.
Within the pass, there weren't just armies, but also many organized beast hunting groups, hunters, merchants, and all sorts of people living there.
Except for the technological facilities being inferior to those of a large city, Gu Yuan felt that Da Long Pass, one of Tian Xia's nine passes, was no worse than an ordinary city. The facilities within the pass were all quite complete.
As flight was not permitted within Da Long Pass, the two quickly advanced by channeling their True Qi. Led by Di Liu, they swiftly headed towards the city area within the pass.
Upon reaching the city area, they were met with a magnificent building, above which a plaque bore three large characters: City Lord's Mansion.
Di Liu presented the token from the First Martial Arts University, and the guards then let them pass.
Entering the City Lord's Mansion, Gu Yuan observed that while the exterior was imposing, the interior was quite simple, lacking any flowers or trees. Instead, it was filled with various military facilities.
"This must be a good City Lord," Gu Yuan thought to himself.
Di Liu pushed his way through, holding the token from the First Martial Arts University. The patrolling guards within the City Lord's Mansion dared not stop them, and he went straight to the central area.
Gu Yuan watched Di Liu's behavior, feeling a bit worried. Would this really be alright?
Finally, they arrived at the deepest part of the City Lord's Mansion.
It was a very ordinary room, with an antique charm.
Di Liu stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Please come in," a gentle male voice responded.
Di Liu directly pushed open the door and entered. As Gu Yuan hesitated whether to go in, Di Liu grabbed his shoulder and pulled him in, and the door closed automatically.
"Teacher Di, you're as impetuous as ever," a voice that was both amused and exasperated echoed within the room.
Gu Yuan quietly observed the internal structure of the room.
It resembled the principal's office at the First Martial Arts University, with a wall-length bookshelf, a desk, a sofa, and a coffee table. Nothing else.
"So, this is also a graduate of the First Martial Arts University," Gu Yuan mused.
"Enough nonsense, Xiao Qingzi. This is Gu Yuan, a seed student from this batch. Get acquainted. I'm going to have some tea." Di Liu waved his hand impatiently and then sat down on the sofa, helping himself to tea.
Gu Yuan stood still, hesitant to move. A gentle voice sounded from behind him, "Hello, junior. I am the City Lord of Da Long Pass, my name is Jiang Qingyuan. I am also a student of the First Martial Arts University, your senior. You can call me Senior Jiang or City Lord Jiang."
Gu Yuan slowly turned around and saw an extremely gentle-looking man sitting at his desk, smiling at him.
Gu Yuan respectfully bowed and said, "Greetings, City Lord Jiang."
"Don't be nervous, little brother," Jiang Qingyuan replied with a continued smile.
Then, he stood up, walked over to Di Liu, who was drinking tea, and sat down, asking with a smile, "I wonder what arrangements Teacher Di has in store this time?"