That person once said that Gu Tangdao's mind was unclear and that he would eventually suffer a great loss.
Gu Tang lay down again, feeling somewhat irritated.
He forced himself to close his eyes, trying to clear his wandering thoughts.
This may just be a test.
Or perhaps it's the inner demon he can never overcome.
Never mind!
He remembered what Qin Junche had said during the day: it didn't matter if it was a month or two.
Just thinking about that lazy, nonchalant smile on the other person's face, as if they didn't care about anything.
Gu Tang's lips slowly curved upwards.
Gu Tang was asleep in the middle of the night when he suddenly heard a sharp whistle coming from outside.
"Enemy attack!" General Donghai's voice echoed throughout the garrison.
Gu Tang also turned over and sat up.
He was already lying down fully clothed, so he quickly slipped on his shoes and dashed out the door.
At this point, the only thing that could serve as a warning to the entire army for General Donghai was probably that serpentine beast.
Gu Tang leaped into the air as soon as he stepped out the door.
He stood in mid-air, looking down over the entire garrison area.
Although it was the middle of the night, General Donghai was always good at governing, and the entire garrison was in good order, showing no signs of panic.
Gu Tang looked around but couldn't see any sign of the enemy.
General Donghai followed and flew up, saying to Gu Tang, "Your Highness, the Imperial Preceptor has chased that beast toward the sea."
"I understand." Gu Tang nodded.
He discerned the direction and, following the direction pointed out by the General of the East Sea, sped into the darkness.
Gu Tang arrived at the sea almost instantly.
The sea at night looks much more mysterious than during the day.
The sea breeze at night is far more intense than during the day.
The night wind howled, brushing past Gu Tang's ears, the salty sea breeze stinging his cheeks.
Gu Tang, however, seemed oblivious.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Not far in front of him, on the sea, a serpentine beast at least a hundred feet long lay across the ocean.
His eyes were bigger than the windows of an ordinary room.
Upon hearing Gu Tang's voice, the serpentine beast's emerald green eyes suddenly turned towards him.
Right opposite the serpentine beast, Qin Junche was still wearing that green robe.
His hands hung at his sides, his robes fluttering in the sea breeze.
It was too dark, and they were quite far apart, so even though Gu Tang was already a Grade A cultivator, he still couldn't quite see the expression on Qin Junche's face.
But he could tell that Qin Junche didn't seem to take the beast seriously at all.
"You've arrived?" Qin Junche even had time to nod at Gu Tang.
"Hmm." Gu Tang circled the strange beast and slowly moved closer to Qin Junche.
He couldn't determine the beast's cultivation level, but it was probably above Grade A.
"Would you like to give it a try?" Qin Junche looked at Gu Tang with a smile. "This beast has already gained some spiritual awareness and is very cunning. It's a good opportunity for His Highness Ninth Prince to practice his skills."
Gu Tang was stunned when he heard the title "Ninth Prince".
These past few days, he and Qin Junche have been traveling together in the same car. Except for the initial period when the other party was still calling him Ninth Prince.
From then on, they addressed each other by their given names.
Now this...
Gu Tang looked up and met Qin Junche's gaze.
The other person's smile remained unchanged, with their hands hanging at their sides and their gaze clear and gentle.
Even at night, when facing such strange beasts, they remained calm and composed.
Of course, his composure comes entirely from his own strength.
"Would you like to give it a try?" Qin Junche asked again, "After Ninth Prince advanced to Grade A, his cultivation level is probably still not very stable. Fighting against a beast of this level will be a good opportunity for you to consolidate your cultivation."
He stepped back, looked at Gu Tang with a smile, and said softly, "Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
Gu Tang was certain that it was indeed Qin Junche.
He took a deep breath and turned to look at the serpentine beast.
Qin Junche said that it had already gained some spiritual awareness, and the other party obviously understood their conversation just now.
However, when this strange beast saw Gu Tang, a hint of greed naturally appeared in its emerald green eyes.
Gu Tang recalled the previous reports, and then looked at the strange beast with the same gaze it gave him as if it were some rare delicacy.
It seems that those cultivators were indeed devoured by this beast.
That's why the other party broke through to Rank B and advanced to Rank A.
"Be careful," Qin Junche said gently from behind him. "His strongest attack is the venom in his body."
He paused, then said, "Even a Grade A cultivator would be powerless and helpless if poisoned."
"Mm." Gu Tang nodded.
He reached out and began to mobilize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Although in this world, he has already been promoted to Rank A.
But this was indeed the first time he had ever taken action.
Gu Tang had previously been a spiritual root waste among the Chu royal family, and only recently was he promoted to Grade A.
Therefore, unlike other princes and princesses, they did not receive weapons bestowed upon them by the emperor from a young age, weapons that were tailor-made for them.
Spiritual energy gradually gathered in Gu Tang's palm.
He had long ago cultivated the ability to roam freely between heaven and earth without relying on external things.
But now, facing a beast that should be of a higher level than himself, Gu Tang felt that having a weapon would be better.
With a sudden thought, he naturally drew a longsword formed from spiritual energy from his palm.
Gu Tang held the spiritual sword in his hand, his eyes fixed intently on the serpentine beast.
The beast seemed to glance at Qin Junche first, but its gaze still greedily fell on Gu Tang.
"Hiss—" Its long tongue stretched out and circled around its gaping maw.
Gu Tang felt a little disgusted by it.
He suddenly raised his spiritual sword and charged towards the serpentine beast.
"Don't rush." Qin Junche's unhurried voice sounded behind Gu Tang.
He gently reminded Gu Tang, "Even if you cultivate to the highest level, this beast is still a snake. Its weaknesses will not change; they will just be harder to find."
Qin Junche was right.
But he didn't realize that such a gentle remark, like a teacher instructing a student, was actually a sign of something else.
That's how it ended up in Gu Tang's ears.
It was like a bolt from the blue!
A note from the author:
I think everyone can probably guess by now.
Regarding the relationship between Qin Junche, Qingcheng, and Gu Tang.
Hehehe
Chapter 52 The Imperial Preceptor's Unparalleled Brilliance (8)
"Gu Tang, don't rush. Cultivation is about cultivating your mind. You have outstanding talent. If you calm your mind, you will naturally achieve twice the result with half the effort."
“Gu Tang, although the opponent’s cultivation level is slightly higher than yours, stay calm, he is no match for you.”
"Gu Tang, the attack methods of magical beasts are limited and fixed, as I've told you before. You've always been smart; what you lack now is practical experience. Be careful, nothing will happen."
"Gu Tang, go." The voice said again, "I'm here, you'll be fine."
...
Qin Junche behind him didn't speak again, but those voices, sealed in Gu Tang's memory for thousands of years, were still there.
But it was as if they had suddenly grown wings and were flying around him.
He couldn't refuse to listen even if he wanted to.
The wind at sea was strong, making Gu Tang's face sting.
Not only his face, but even his eye sockets were red from the wind.
But that person is no longer here.
Gu Tang closed his eyes and slowly gripped the longsword formed from condensed spiritual energy in his hand.
When he opened his eyes again, they were clear.
The serpentine beast was right in front of Gu Tang, its two large, window-like green eyes staring coldly at him.
“Gu Tang…” Qin Junche spoke again.