After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the two of them found a place to sit in a guesthouse.
After exchanging a few words, Gu Yuan learned that Niu Youde was only sixteen, even younger than himself. Gu Yuan looked him up and down thoroughly and was momentarily speechless.
This guy had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a robust build; even if he claimed to be thirty, someone might believe it, right?
Sixteen years old, this kid looked way too mature.
"Judging by your accent, Niu, you must not be from around here, right?"
Gu Yuan ordered some wine and dishes. Seeing Niu Youde eat with relish, he also took a few bites simply. He had already eaten at Chunlai Pavilion earlier, but somehow, eating here felt more satisfying.
"To be honest, Brother Gu, I’m from Rongyuan Prefecture."
Niu Youde had a hearty appetite, eating three buns, gnawing a fat chicken, and drinking a pot of wine before he gradually slowed down.
Gu Yuan curiously asked, "Rongyuan Prefecture is thousands of miles away. What brings you here?"
Seeing Gu Yuan’s puzzlement, Niu Youde, being an honest lad, didn’t hide anything and spoke the truth directly:
"To be honest, Brother Gu, the Pavilion Master of Jade Cauldron Tower in our county town sent me here, saying I should come to receive a test for admission from an expert of Medicine King Mountain. He also said that with my talent, I would definitely be able to join Medicine King Mountain."
"Oh? A test for admission?!"
Gu Yuan was a bit surprised. It turned out that Niu Youde was also here to participate in the examination for Medicine King Mountain.
But upon thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising.
Although Niu Youde had not practiced Martial Arts, he was not simple.
At the first sight, Gu Yuan noticed the peculiarity about him.
Since Gu Yuan’s transformation into a Water Spirit Body, his Spiritual Sense had become increasingly sharp, capable of perceiving many things invisible to ordinary people.
The other party was clearly an ordinary person, but Gu Yuan could sense that when Niu Youde’s feet touched the ground, it felt as if he were rooted firmly, impossible to move.
Gu Yuan even sensed that as long as Niu Youde’s feet touched the ground, a stream of Earth Qi was constantly connected with him.
This Niu Youde clearly had some special constitution. If nothing unexpected happened, joining Medicine King Mountain would not be a problem for him.
Thus, Gu Yuan had decisively helped him solve his earlier trouble, intending to form a good relationship.
"What a coincidence! I’m actually like you, also set to take the Medicine King Mountain examination in a few days."
Gu Yuan didn’t hide his identity either.
"Really? That’s great!"
Learning that Gu Yuan was like him, aiming to join Medicine King Mountain and possibly become a sect brother in the future, Niu Youde was quite excited, feeling they had a good fate.
After chatting for a while, Gu Yuan prepared to take his leave but was stopped by Niu Youde:
"Brother Gu, wait."
Saying this, he took out that clod-like object from his chest and stuffed it into Gu Yuan’s hand:
"This is for you."
"I dug this out from the mountains. You helped me and treated me to a meal, so I’m giving this to you."
Gu Yuan weighed the strange stone in his hand and gave it back to him:
"Forget it, this is a treasure. Keep it for yourself, and be careful not to show it easily to others, or it might bring trouble."
Initially interested in the item, Gu Yuan changed his mind upon realizing Niu Youde was an honest kid.
A treasure may be good, but one shouldn’t deceive an honest person, especially since they might become sect brothers. Losing friendship over an item wasn’t wise.
Though clumsy, Niu Youde could recognize kindness and with some stubbornness, insistently stuffed the item back to Gu Yuan:
"Brother Gu, I know it’s something good, but you helped me and treated me to a meal. I have nothing else to thank you with, so please accept it."
Gu Yuan tried to decline a few more times, but seeing Niu Youde’s persistence, he accepted the item.
After pondering for a moment, Gu Yuan took out some silver taels and handed them to Niu Youde, "I’ll take the item, but hold on to this money. Don’t rush to refuse, as you don’t have much money now, and eating and lodging might be a problem."
"Also, you know my residence. If you encounter trouble, you can come find me, and I’ll help if I can."
Parting ways with Niu Youde, Gu Yuan left the guesthouse and stopped after turning a street corner.
Swish!
Soon, a small blue shadow hopped over, landing on Gu Yuan, taking the form of a blue jade-colored fat insect, chirping something by his ear.
"Oh, it’s settled, the one’s already dead? Good, well done. You’re indeed the bug I raised."
Gu Yuan seemed to understand the bug’s language and praised it upon hearing the news.
Since he had already offended that well-dressed middle-aged man earlier, Gu Yuan wouldn’t allow potential threats to linger. He sent out Xiaoqing to eliminate any dangers completely.
Xiaoqing didn’t disappoint, stealthily following the middle-aged man and, in a secluded spot, spat out Sword Qi to decapitate him.
Back home, Gu Yuan had just taken out the clod from his Storage Pouch when Xiaoqing excitedly scrambled over.
Impatiently wanting to take a bite.
"Hold on. Let me check what this is first."
With difficulty, Gu Yuan calmed Xiaoqing and examined the object in his hands.
The clod-like object seemed unremarkable, resembling a peculiar stone, yet it was exceptionally hard and heavy.
Gu Yuan held it and sensed as if the stone felt millions of times heavier, filled with extremely dense Earth Spiritual Qi and Earth Qi.
It seemed less like a stone and more like a massive, weighty mountain!
"I’ve heard that some mountains, over long spans, gather Spiritual Qi and often yield Mountain Treasures or Earth Treasures. One type, called the Mountain God Pearl, is said to be the essence of an entire mountain or mountain range."
Gu Yuan recalled a record from a Loose Cultivator’s travel journal:
"This Mountain God Pearl, after nurturing for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, can develop spirituality, becoming a mountain spirit with Great Divine Techniques!"
"Could it be that this clod is an incomplete Mountain God Pearl, which Niu Youde dug out due to some reason, failing to mature?"
Gu Yuan speculated.
Regardless of whether this clod was a Mountain God Pearl or some other Mountain Treasure, it undeniably contained an essence of rich Spiritual Qi.
Confirming that the item didn’t have any special properties or uses for himself, Gu Yuan decisively tossed it to Xiaoqing.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
As a fat insect form, Xiaoqing excitedly climbed atop the clod, biting eagerly.
The clod was extremely hard, surpassing even the hardest steel, yet under Xiaoqing’s mandibles, it was like a crisp biscuit, making crunching sounds as debris flew.
While eating, a dense azure Spiritual Light radiated from Xiaoqing’s body, fluctuating in brightness, clearly digesting the benefits contained within.