Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 102 - 88 Heavenly Girl’s Rare Treasure

Chapter 102: Chapter 88 Heavenly Girl’s Rare Treasure

Inn.

Ao Tang transformed back into a donkey, carrying the unconscious Gu Wen on his back and trotting through the fine rain of early morning as he returned. Along the way, countless gazes were cast in his direction—fewer greedy, more wary than before.

Jiu Zhenjun followed beside him, his steps much lighter than before, chuckling, "It seems the Sanqing Taoist Sect is about to see the rise of another Venerable Yun Miao."

Venerable is a common honorific for the leaders of a sect, typically reserved for the strongest. However, as the head of the Mystical Sect, the Sanqing Taoist Sect had three Venerable positions in the union of three branches, with the highest of these being the Venerable Sect Leader.

"I think it’s more than that."

Ao Tang let out a slight sigh and said, "Had I known this would happen, I would not have let him leave. Is he not afraid of inviting the jealousy of the heavens with such high talents? He might as well be sent directly to the Three Pure Mountain, lock him away for a thousand years, and when he comes out, he would be another generation’s Venerable Sect Leader."

But at this point, the Sanqing Taoist Sect no longer had much spare strength to arrange things for Gu Wen. The strongest among them, Venerables Yun Miao and Huayang, were already preoccupied with many old monsters and, in turn, were being held back by them.

"I think this might be a good thing," said Jiu Zhenjun, shaking his head. "The deterrence that strength can provide always has its limits. Even the Heavenly Girl could not stop greed, but this young friend is the most feared variable."

He was not afraid of Gu Wen as he was now, but rather Gu Wen in the future.

Once the Immortality Pill appeared, under the assault of the entire world, the Heavenly Girl would undoubtedly die, and maybe only a portion of them would survive, but the consequences would vanish with her. But now, a Guardian with talent so extensive it defied conventional reasoning had emerged. What if Gu Wen survived in the end?

He metaphorically understood why the Heavenly Girl needed Guardians like this. It wasn’t for the present, but for the future.

If Gu Wen possessed the potential to gather Ninth Level Perfection in his foundation, then after the struggle for the Immortality Pill, there would be the worry of an Immortal who could achieve immortality without the aid of the pill.

It was already a chance of one in a thousand, now with an added layer of risk.

"I believe he might achieve Ninth Level Perfection," Jiu Zhenjun asserted firmly.

"....."

Ao Tang blinked rapidly, as he too had entertained similar thoughts.

"The Nine-Level Perfection that Lord Emperor exhausted all means to compete for, and that not even Venerable Yun Miao could obtain, do you think he can do it?"

"Did those two Venerables have his talents in their time?"

"Venerable Yun Miao could likely manage with a desperate attempt at the Fourth Level."

"They might have managed, yet he has already done it."

Ao Tang was a bit pessimistic as he replied, "But you’re only talking about the benefits; why can’t we nip him in the bud?"

Wait... Yu Hua gave him the cultivation technique half a year ago?

A thought flashed through his mind, making his scalp tingle, before he quickly repressed the odd feeling.

-----------------

Upon returning to the inn, Yu Hua had already been waiting on the first floor.

She told Jiu Zhenjun, "Have the innkeeper prepare hot water for bathing, and some towels and face cloths."

Then Yu Hua picked up Gu Wen and went up to the second floor, entering a room where she laid him on the bed.

Gently following the meridians, she reached various parts of Gu Wen’s body with a thread of warm mana, smoothing over the pain caused by the meridians being overexerted to their limits, and Gu Wen’s tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed, his breathing becoming steady.

After a cultivator undergoes a life-and-death struggle, it is natural for the meridians to be in pain, and soothing them with mana can relieve the pain. But even using all their strength, they can only ease it, because the hidden injuries beyond the pain cannot be healed by ordinary means.

This was an extremely painstaking and thankless task, yet Yu Hua was doing it meticulously, as if handling a rare treasure.

Ao Tang stood by silently, not speaking. Previously, he didn’t understand Yu Hua’s doting on Gu Wen, attributing it simply to a physical relationship. But there has never been any ambiguity between the two, no covert exchanges of affection you’d expect from men and women.

Now he understood. This was how one treats a rare treasure—fearing it may melt if held in one’s mouth, fearing it may break if held in the hands.

Ao Tang asked in a low voice, "Little ancestor, was your first encounter with him really half a year ago?"

"I was just a Direct Disciple who wasn’t very notorious, and it so happened that I entered the place of my master’s heritage. Before this, I doubt you would have even remembered me."

Yu Hua did not answer directly, yet everything was universally understood.

In just a mere six months, the ordinary-looking man on the bed had risen from a mere servant to battle beyond his Sixth Level capabilities, slaying a Seventh Level True Monarch.

Though there is only one level difference, that one level is known as True Monarch. Even the weakest True Monarch is still a True Monarch. The chasm between Gu Wen and his opponent lay in the refining of the Golden Core, the storage of mana, a foundation built over thousands of years.

And in between these disparities lay the height of his talent, which exceeded even Ao Tang’s comprehension.

"He’s not normal."

Ao Tang spoke gravely, and without raising her head, Yu Hua replied, "He is abnormal in the eyes of mediocrity."

"It’s not like that. In this world, geniuses are as common as carps crossing the river. Currently, the top three on the three lists are stronger than him, but none of them could grow to the extent he has in half a year. Even the powerful past generational Venerables Yun Miao and Huayang, who were first on the people and land lists, and who exemplified the pinnacle of thousands of years, did not have..."

Her gaze slightly lifted as she looked at Ao Tang and interrupted, "Are you suggesting that Gu Wen can’t be stronger than them?"

"No... this... Even in the Immortal Land, there shouldn’t be someone with such towering talent."

Ao Tang was somewhat incoherent. With no outsiders present and safe from the prying eyes of divine skills that listen into secrets, he could vent the myriad of incomprehensions in his heart, his confusion, his disbelief.

These questions were all addressed to the wrong person, for Yu Hua at this very moment was the most incomprehensible being in the Immortal Land.

She asked softly, "You understood why Yun Miao and Huayang, the two Senior Uncles, were strong, yet you can’t comprehend why Gu Wen could be stronger than them. I ask you, have they become Immortals now?"

Immortals...

These two words seemed to carry the weight of ten thousand catties, causing Ao Tang to step back twice as he said, "Did you always believe that? You thought he could become an Immortal?"

"Why not? Since the beginning of heaven and earth, thirty-six have become Immortals. Why can’t he be the thirty-seventh? Who decreed that a man named Gu Wen can’t achieve Immortality?"

Yu Hua was somewhat puzzled as if, in her eyes, it was an obvious matter, whereas for others, it seemed utterly unbelievable.

Plainly, every sect and school claims they strive to compete with heaven, and plainly, for thousands of years, countless geniuses have always seen themselves as extraordinary. But when a truly extraordinary person appears, they act as if their interests have been violated, with enmity, confusion, and resistance.

In the depths of their hearts, there exists an insurmountable hierarchy.

She tilted her head, even more puzzled, "Are you feeling inferior?"

Everyone strives to be the strongest, but it is hard for them to admit their shortcomings and then look for commonalities, differences, reasons to comfort themselves when faced with someone superior.

Ao Tang felt like spitting blood upon hearing this. Yu Hua’s sharp tongue this time seemed to have enlightened him a bit.

These monsters are like that, needing only to continually surpass what is perceived as normal. Whereas they, the mediocrities, have much more to consider, trying to find reasons for others’ genius while also avoiding damage to their own Daoist heart.

Damn, so it really is like that.

He recalled feeling similar emotions when he faced Yun Miao in the past, though not as intensely as today.

A feeling like ’I’ve wasted my life like a dog’.

Ao Tang spoke as if reconciled to fate, "Yes, yes, yes, little ancestor, whatever you say goes. I don’t care how talented he is, but now you must consider one thing, how to properly protect him."

Gu Wen’s display of talent, as evidenced by Jiu Zhenjun’s reaction, has its good and bad aspects—the good being that Gu Wen might dissuade a portion of the True Monarchs from taking action, especially those not adept at fighting or those who greatly value karma.

But the flip side is that Gu Wen might become the next target while he’s still not fully grown.

Do today’s slain True Monarchs, starved like refugees, compare at all to the robust soldiers nourished on fine rice and superior flour?

Cultivation can be piled up by medicinal pills, especially in the unique Immortal Land. The real focus is on being fulfilled; only the fulfilled can truly be considered notable.

Today it is a fulfilled First Level True Monarch, tomorrow it will be a Second Level Perfection, Third Level Perfection, Fourth Level Perfection, Fifth Level Perfection... all the way up to Lord Emperor who is at the Eighth Level Perfection.

Yu Hua said it as if it were the most natural thing, "I will always be by his side."

Ao Tang went on to ask, "What if you are held up, and I’m held up too, what then?"

That was a foolish question, akin to asking what to do if one encountered a formidable enemy without mana. But he still had to ask, because the nature of Gu Wen’s talents made him feel the need for contingencies.

That kid shouldn’t be the guardian; the Daoist Sect should provide one for him.

"We must call another person here, at the very least to get an item that can save his life. I want to inform the Daoist Sect about the situation here, including the fact he has only been cultivating for half a year, so I need your agreement."

At this time, the outside world was unaware of Gu Wen’s cultivation duration, as no one had decreed that a servant couldn’t secretly cultivate, nor did anyone think that the Daoist Sect was obliged to follow the Lord Emperor’s arrangements.

Yu Hua said, "Wait until he wakes up, then you can ask him yourself."

The morning sunlight scattered down, and bucket after bucket of hot water was poured into the bath.

Gu Wen’s clothes were peeled off one by one. The intense battle had reduced his clothes to shreds, so Yu Hua simply threw them away.

Ao Tang tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "How about I do it? You should show some restraint; I’m more suitable."

Yu Hua frowned slightly in displeasure, "Are you suggesting you’re closer to him than I am?"

When she was teaching Gu Wen how to cultivate, this old guy was still gobbling up Zhao Feng’s pills!

"Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving anything."

"Did the Venerable say that, or is it written in the rules of The Three Pure Ones? You even adhere to mortal etiquette, so what’s the point of seeking longevity and questioning the Dao?"

"...."

Ao Tang chose to disengage. He couldn’t match this little ancestor in a war of words; she might seem cold and aloof, but her mouth was overwhelmingly venomous.

The words she opened her mouth with were aimed at breaking a person’s Daoist heart.