Ancient Being Predecessor of the Primordial Era: An OP Mc LitRpg - Cultivation - Development, page 26
They would be his test parameters. See what they could accomplish with their unlocked abilities. Then compare that with what he could do. From there he would figure out how strong he was in comparison to two individuals he would be studying and testing. Building the very strength they use.
A perfect method if he was to be asked. Yin Hu couldn’t think of a way it wouldn’t give him the information he needed.
Just a matter of time.
“Good, Jun,” he said again. “Prepare to move onto the next kata. Both you and Shui. After this one, we won’t need to work in isolation and away from distractions. The base of your meridians would already be established.”
“Yes, Ancestor!” Jun shouted and jumped to her feet.
Then rushed to drag the snoozing Shui into doing more katas. Said little girl was tucked into the bed with her favorite new toy, a supposedly overpowered hammer that had a spirit she unlocked and connected to.
Yin Hu had done her first. A test before attempting it on the older and wiser Jun. Just in case he needed to lean more heavily on his ancient being persona one more time. Thankfully, he did not. Working out perfectly in the end. Maybe he had a talent for developing disciples after all.
It was unexpected, but better than the opposite to be true.
Add onto that his miraculous items within his spatial bag, and his dream of creating nukes could be reality.
Yin Hu opened the Compendium again. It would take another two weeks before they could finally return to the town. More time for him to relax and lounge. Enjoying the atmosphere and the natural ambience of the area. It was serene.
An ambience he was thoroughly enjoying. Even if it resulted in random strangers popping up and finding them here. After YagWan, two more individuals located them. Both of whom walked into the clearing with blades drawn only to run away as soon as there was someone there.
More proof to Yin Hu about his mental weakness theory.
Yin Hu moved to the entrance of the cave. After the way the trio of master and disciples had appeared and were hidden, he hadn’t let the girls go out without his supervision. He had almost forgotten what type of world they were in. Tricked by how weak the spider assassins were in comparison to what a cultivator worth their salt might have been.
Would he have even noticed if YagWan had not been a con artist? Would the girls be dead already? While he was busy lounging and sipping on the tastiest tea on the planet?
He would not allow it to happen again.
Now, he kept his lounging chair there. With a perfect view of the surrounding forest line around them. His spear stabbed a few feet away. Sinking into the stone. Like a hot knife through butter. It was a good warning for anyone else that appeared who didn’t have significant mental weaknesses and actually posed a threat.
Yin Hu had bemoaned his fate of appearing so far away from civilization. In some backwater village. Full of refugees and the incredibly weak, but considering everything that had happened, he probably was lucky instead. He didn’t need to deal with anyone strong. The power level a better form of tutorial and gradual ratcheting up in difficulty than the island was with its system.
Now he just needed to figure out where the closest city was and whether it was infested with demonic cultivators.
It would be best to find a righteous sect affiliated city. Even if they were profit motivated monsters compared to the actual real righteous block. He would be able to speak their language. The amount of money he carried at all times would flood their economy if he so desired.
Another source of strength he could take advantage of actively.
The bandit town didn’t have potential to build and create businesses with. No trade routes. No real economy. Everyone wallowed in self pity and abject poverty unless you were powerful.
Chapter 53 - Dong ZhenKang and his Plots
Dong ZhenKang felt the drain on his core and Qi of the tree again. More than he expected every time. No matter what he thought, or the measure he created in his mind for this situation. It would always not be enough.
They’re back.
He let out a long sigh. The fear had been that the Hu Ancestor had felt the impending doom that was the Dark Palace Gate coming. Quickly gathered his things and made a hasty escape. Leaving Dong ZhenKang alone in this bandit town with the soon to be ire of a Pinnacle Immortal. An Elder coming for blood.
Dong ZhenKang knew he would not be able to sate the old Demonic Cultivator with the death of the majority of his town. Not even his elites would be a large enough morsel. Only someone at his level. A game of cat and mouse they would play until the old monster grew tired and ended him moments later.
Thoughts of having dignity and refusing to participate crossed his mind, but he was quick to dismiss them. His tainted Dao would not allow him this.
He would struggle. Fight for every possibility and infinitesimal chance to survive. Refuse to die.
Even if he had to use the Hu Ancestor as his shield.
The barrier closed back up. The Hu girls and their ancestor had fully returned to the town from their hiatus. Gone for nearly a month. The drain on his Qi occurred and it kept going. Draining him until he was weak. Every time the Ancestor crossed; his superior spiritual item hit his reserves harder.
“Are you sure it's a Spiritual Item?” Wu Xui said. She was sitting in front of a mirror. Brushing long dark silver hair, a stark contrast to her pale white face.
Dong ZhenKang nodded as he leaned heavily on his throne seat. Body shaking and core slowly recovering.
The gathering hall had been cleaned up and fixed properly. Wu Xui had made it her home. At least until she had a shot at the Hu girls or even a shot at the ancestor themself. She had done a number to keep it clean. Prim and proper.
Quite frankly, he was embarrassed. The suffering he inflicted on the men responsible for keeping this place tidy and clean, including the damnable squeaking gate maintenance keeper, had been a tale for centuries. He hadn’t gone that far down his demonic taint in decades. It was good to finally have some release after being repressed by the mere existence of an old monster.
So many of them and they all seem to find their way here! How unlucky can a single man be?!
Wu Xui stopped brushing her hair for a second. Turning to look at him. “Are you sure the Sentinel Demonic Spirit Tree won’t just feast upon them? I couldn’t risk fighting it openly. The damage alone would have made me your enemy.”
“It’s been with them for longer than they’ve been here. Jun planted it the first day.” Dong ZhenKang stood up on shaky legs. Hiding any sign of his weakness from his current guest. He had a persona to keep. One he would not compromise for any reason at all.
It had saved him enough times already.
Wu Xui giggled. Quickly turning on her seat and began to brush her hair. Hiding her mirth filled face.
“What? What is it?” Dong ZhenKang knew he had nothing on his face. Wore perfect robes and clothes becoming of a cultivator of his rank. Nothing was askew. Hair tidied through Qi manipulations. What could she be giggling about—
Did she notice my weakness? Do I need to kill her before she kills me? Then again, she isn’t interested in being stationary. Or at least that is what she claims.
“Nothing much. Just funny how much you seem to mention the elder Hu girl. Her name keeps coming up. As though you know her personally and are quite familiar with her. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with lording your position over your juniors.” Wu Xui giggled again.
Dong ZhenKang felt heat rise to his head.
He wasn’t sure why he was reacting this way. He hadn’t felt embarrassed about anything in ages ever since he killed all his friends with his own hands. Not even when Jun is mentioned, but not for Wu Xui. She was different. Made him react in strange ways.
“That’s not…” He stopped himself.
I am not about to defend myself. Let her believe whatever she wants to believe. Not that she’s wrong. Jun will be mine. Soon enough. Soon enough.
He still needed to change the subject.
“What do you plan to do? The Dark Palace Gate is coming and not long now. They might even be outside the town within a few days now.” Dong ZhenKang said, letting out a mental sigh when it worked on Wu Xui.
“I can’t run. That ship has sailed the moment I arrived without knowing any better. Cai Xuefang. Eighth elder of the Dark Palace Gate. No escaping him. Better chance just sitting still and acting like I don’t exist. He’ll do the same. Neither one of us is worth the time it takes to kill.”
Dong ZhenKang frowned. She was far too comfortable with the whole situation. Then again, she didn’t have the whole having a righteous foundation thing to deal with.
“What of Shao Yating? Won’t he think himself strong enough to challenge us?”
Wu Xui laughed. “Shao Yating? No. He’s a typical male demonic cultivator. Pick on the weak. Dodge anyone close enough to be your equal. Only thing I respect about those righteous dogs. Them and the blade demons.”
Dong ZhenKang felt the creases on his forehead grow in number just listening to how unaffected by it all she was. As though none of it concerned her. Maybe that was true, but it did concern him and his territory. He could see why she made her intention to not gun for his seat clear so quickly. She simply had no interest in politics, planning, and plotting.
Choosing to hide and wait dangers out before escaping the situation entirely.
He hated the very idea of it. Being so out of control and letting the wind carry you. No. He needed to plot and plan. Make his own decisions and dictate in which direction the currents would go. Build dams and divert rivers. Manipulate people and things to get what he wanted.
It was how he got here. How he accomplished all he had done. There was no chance he would leave his life and existence up to a whimsical fancy of an elder he could not fight back. At least with a righteous cultivator, he could rely on the concept of restraint. The Hu ancestor would not kill him for breathing wrong. Shifting irritatingly. Coughing at the wrong time.
Already he could see how he would force them to collide before Cai Xuefang got to him. Let them kill each other while he escaped with Wu Xui. She seemed amicable to a long term relationship between them. As much as two Demonic Cultivators could have at least. Which wasn’t much.
But it was not unheard of at least.
“I can see it in your eyes.” Wu Xui said, looking at him from the mirror reflection. “You’re plotting something. It won’t work.”
“Why wouldn’t it work? If my plans had not been perfect so far, I’d be dead.”
“Kang-Kang. You forget a very important fact.”
Dong ZhenKang hid his smile at the term of endearment. Very reminiscent of a certain buxom village widow he clearly remembered. “And what might that be, Dearest Xui?”
“Power trumps all,” she pulled her hair tight, wrapping it into a bun. “It’s the rule of all cultivators. Righteous, neutral, or demonic. Might makes right. Strength stands tall. And all the metaphors and sayings you can come up with. Each one with the same thought. Plots and plans only take you so far before the gap in cultivation simply becomes too gaping to cross.”
“And I have both. The power to enact the plots and plans.” Dong ZhenKang said.
There would be no convincing him.
He turned and exited the door. Right out the building and planning to figure out his next plan and how he was going to do it. It would not be easy, but it would happen. Regardless of whether ancient beings were there or not.
Dong ZhenKang would make it out alive. By hook or crook. He would make sure of it even if it meant sacrificing every single person in the town to do it.
Chapter 54 - Still Ocean Calm
Dragon Emperor Yazhu’s Miraculous Potion. Otherwise known by him and others, but mostly just Yin Hu as D.E.Y.M.P. sat before him. Two bottles he was studying. Wondering how long they had before expiring or if they could expire at all considering they were supposedly super drugs. Plus, he didn’t think things aged much in the rice bag anyways.
His rice never changed. Even after spending more time than he could possibly imagine on the island. Always the same exact thing. Taste, look, and feel. Even cooking it mattered little when it always came out near perfect.
Yin Hu smiled as he put them back into his spatial rice bag.
The day when the girls could finally use the miraculous drug. Upgrade their potential and the speed at which they were going to develop into his nukes. Then he would need to make more. Multiple stages of drinking D.E.Y.M.P. in order to push beyond the greatest limits of their bodies and souls. It would be glorious.
Maybe Jun would finally reach a rank that was on the Compendium’s list of at least average.
He was lounging again on his seat.
Doing his best to ignore the clearly obvious changes that had happened to the courtyard in their absence. Neither Shui nor Jun seemed to notice. Not that it wasn’t obvious, the exact opposite was true. Things were not hidden nor were they made to appear otherwise.
The demonic tree seemed to be lush with leaves. Not much larger than usually, but still bigger than the small sapling it had been before. All its branches were pointing at him. Slightly bending its now larger stem and trunk to extend its reach out. Attempting to touch him.
Greedy little demonic tree. I’d cut you down if I didn’t need you to strengthen my persona!
Said tree shivered slightly before righting itself up. As though it could hear him. Not that Yin Hu would believe that at all. It was a crazy thought. Things like that could end up with him spiraling down a dark path of hallucinations.
Trees weren’t alive and had human and sapient reactions. They were trees. Existing however they usually exist, in whatever state they find themselves in.
He wasn’t quite sure what that would look like.
Other than that, the ground looked different. None of it was solid and hard packed after the years of Jun and Shui sparring and training on it. Turned into loose dirt ready to be tilled. Perfect for cultivating plants. Farming.
The grass was double the height it had been. The large tree he had buried the assassin ladies at seemed larger and more gnarly. Thick branches twisting oddly. Very unlike the pretty average tree it had been not even a few weeks ago before they left to the cave for Koi Fish stir fry.
Vines ran along the entire house. Weeds running wild. He could imagine the amount of pollen in the air from the dandelions during the right season. It made him shiver.
Everything was vibrant and growing without any containment. Considering there had been clear demarcations made by the girls that kept the grass from invading their training territory.
It had turned into a busy job for the two girls as they dug and worked the dirt and weeds out of their courtyard. With the majority centralized around the Demonic Greedy Tree. It seemed like the source of all the clean up problems they were having.
Some of its roots stretched outside of the small stone barrier it had around it. Stretching out like grasping limbs. Sharp and quite terrifying if he was asked.
Hence the girls.
Trimming the tree. Cleaning weeds and grasses. Cutting the patches they did plan to keep around for esthetic purposes. All with basic tools they carried. Found in the back of the house they lived in and quite rusty. Breaking apart quicker than expected.
Yin Hu could have provided them with some tools. He was quite sure he had a ton of gardening items for them to make this a breeze. Very similar to his shovel, but that defeated the purpose he immediately made up for them to do it manually with less overpowered things.
Build character.
Enjoy the moment of planting and weeding out problems. Noting the difference between the good plants and the bad plants. When good plants become bad in certain areas and even bad weeds were good in some parts. All things he made up on the spot.
Mostly to keep them busy.
His attempts to lounge comfortably had been consistently interrupted. Every few hours. Whether it was the girls creating chaos around him, shouting and being generally unable to stop themselves from causing the cave to rumble. Or the appearance of mortal bounty hunters.
We really need to leave this place. The amount of bounty hunters is getting ridiculous at this point.
Unlike the first week of them after YagWan, these idiots would crash and bumble into the clearing. Swearing oaths to sever heads and crush skulls. Take prizes to receive monetary benefits for killing the girls and him all in the name of some gate within this palace somewhere.
If he was to assume that some prince or high ranking individual with enough power to own a palace had a vendetta against them inside demonic cultivator territory, it would not be a good idea to stay for long. Another item that solidified his desire to leave.
Of which he eliminated them all before the girls could find out.
None of them were strong enough to give either girl any issues. Making them terrible sparring partners. Too many easy foes in a row would inflate the girls' image of themselves greater than what it really is. Only a rude awakening would await them. Just a matter of time before someone strong enough to be on their level punches them in the face while they aren’t ready. Losing a battle they could have won.
Yin Hu was determined to do this right the first time around. His prosperity relied on it.
Buxom women feeding him grapes relied on it.
Jade Beauties galore!
For now, they would remain oblivious. Slowly working themselves up for D.E.Y.M.P. Which seemed only a few weeks away at most once they complete the twelfth set of katas. Fully prepping their meridians for the boost.
“Ancestor,” Jun said from under the large tree in the corner. “Doesn’t this look strange? I don’t remember it this way, with all the knots and twisting branches. It looks…” She shrugged. Unable to put her thoughts into words.
Yin Hu gave the tree his attention for a moment. “Nah. Don’t worry about it. Just an average tree and nothing more. Unlike the Hu ancestor… I mean, my tree. Special in make and quality.”
