C9 Meeting a Beauty

As Chu Tianyu immersed himself in cultivation, countless streaks of light converged from every direction. The formidable presence caused the wild and Demonic Beasts below to shiver with fear and unease, breathing life and energy into the once desolate battlefield.

These individuals, typically seen in groups of three or five, were accustomed to donning high crowns and luxurious robes, commanding others with an air of entitlement. Yet now, subdued by the residual aura of the great battle, they wore solemn expressions and proceeded with extreme caution. They dared not venture deep into the battlefield, instead cautiously skirting its perimeter.

Chu Tianyu, whether on Earth or as his younger self, had always been discontent with his reality. Having lacked the opportunity to cultivate before, he was determined not to let this chance slip by.

On this occasion, Chu Tianyu devoted himself to five straight days of cultivation, ceasing only when hunger became unbearable. The rewards for such prolonged dedication were significant. While the initial two days of Genuine Qi enhancement had minimal impact on his physique, possibly due to insufficient Qi strength, the subsequent three days yielded remarkable results. Chu Tianyu felt a surge of power throughout his body, effortlessly lifting a stone as large as a washbasin. Ao Xingyun noted that his strength had nearly reached 300 pounds, comparable to that of an average person.

Despite not achieving the 300-pound milestone in one attempt, which slightly disheartened Chu Tianyu, he was nonetheless content. After all, just ten days prior, he could only lift a stone the size of his fist!

Having addressed his hunger, Chu Tianyu set out to clean up his appearance. Even without the presence of others, he took pride in his cleanliness. Having not bathed for several days and spending so much time beneath the battlefield, his once elegant clothing was now ragged and soiled, his hair disheveled and entangled with cobwebs, his face smeared with grime, resembling a refugee. For someone with even a slight obsession with cleanliness, this was unbearable.

As he neared the pond, he was taken aback by the sound of laughter, clear and melodious as a bell. Chu Tianyu felt embarrassed; he hadn't anticipated encountering a woman bathing. Thankfully, he was still a good distance from the pond, and his presence went unnoticed. It was a relief, as being mistaken for a voyeur would have been a serious predicament.

Just as he was about to slip away quietly, Ao Xingyun stopped him: "Kid, if I'm not mistaken, they're definitely heading to the site of the great battle. Find a way to have them take you with them!"

Over the past few days, Chu Tianyu had learned that Ao Xingyun could hear his thoughts, so he inquired mentally, "Big brother, why do we need to go there?"

"Do you want to know why I didn't let you return home to continue your training?" Instead of answering, Ao Xingyun posed a seemingly unrelated question.

Chu Tianyu had been puzzled about this from the start. Why couldn't he train anywhere? Moreover, as the eldest son of the South Guarding Marquis, he had access to abundant resources, which would allow him to train even faster. But since Ao Xingyun hadn't brought it up, neither had he, trusting his big brother's judgment.

"Do you want to reach Level Three sooner? To return home earlier?"

"Yes, I do. Is there something about that place that could accelerate my training?" Chu Tianyu thought excitedly.

"You'll find out in due time!"

"Big brother, who are you, really? Were you involved in that massive battle?" Chu Tianyu deduced that Ao Xingyun had appeared after the battle, with only his soul and vital essence remaining, which suggested he must have fought in a significant conflict.

Ao Xingyun remained silent, the memory of that day a deep wound in his heart.

Chu Tianyu was astounded. Ao Xingyun's silence was confirmation enough. "My heavens, he was part of that epic battle!" He vividly remembered the scale of that conflict; it was nothing short of divine might!

Overwhelmed, Chu Tianyu sought to distract himself by listening to the voices coming from the pond, though he hadn't intended to eavesdrop.

"Senior Sister, did you hear about the event ten days ago? Even from a distance, I could sense the sheer force of it. It was utterly frightening." A melodious voice carried over the water, its sweetness suggesting the speaker's beauty.

"Ah, Xiaoyu, please stop. No more splashing water on me," the voice said with a gentle tone, devoid of any irritation.

"I'm just as clueless. A battle on that scale is beyond our comprehension!" The woman's voice carried a note of awe.

"Even the Martial Ancestor doesn't know?" Xiaoyu, curious as a cat, wasn't deterred in the slightest; her curiosity only grew stronger.

"It seems the Martial Ancestor was injured that day, his aura weakened. He vanished after giving the order to investigate, and I suspect he's gone into seclusion."

"He gave the order himself? It must be a matter of great importance, considering the Martial Ancestor hasn't been seen for decades," Xiaoyu mused, her curiosity intensifying. "Ah, you mentioned the Martial Ancestor was injured. Was he involved in the fight?"

"I doubt it. The Martial Ancestor probably isn't that powerful. Consider that we've traveled thousands of miles without a glimpse of the battlefield. That gives you an idea of their strength."

Even Xiaoyu, usually not one to worry, sensed the gravity of their task and fell into a rare silence.

"Let's hurry and wash up. We've already lost too many days on our journey."

"Senior Sister, those guys are despicable," Xiaoyu complained with frustration. "They're always around you, boasting about their prowess, but when it mattered, not one stepped forward. You're the one who's truly considerate of the bigger picture. What's worse, they didn't have the courage to join you, but at least you have me!"

The gentle woman fell silent for a moment, her thoughts struck by Xiaoyu's words, before responding softly, "The heavens are heartless, and what feelings can cultivators have? Seeking fortune and avoiding disaster is human nature." She harbored a bitter sentiment, pondering to herself, "Can men ever truly be relied upon?"

Both women remained silent, their minds not on bathing. They began to dress, ready to continue their journey.

To avoid leaving a negative impression on them, especially since he relied on them to reach his destination more quickly, Chu Tianyu cautiously stepped back to a distance of a hundred steps after the two women fell silent.

Soon after, Chu Tianyu watched as the two women approached. The sight of their faces took his breath away, leaving his mind a complete blank. One woman appeared to be in her early twenties, tall with refined features: arched eyebrows, bright eyes, a slightly upturned nose, and thin lips as delicate as flower petals. Her skin was as flawless as the finest porcelain, accentuating the tenderness of her red lips. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist, giving her an ethereal presence in her flowing white garments.

Mu Wan'er and Mu Xiaoyu were already in a sour mood due to the disappointing behavior of their male peers, with Mu Xiaoyu firmly believing that no man was worth her time. So when they noticed a disheveled man, who resembled a beggar, staring at them, both women frowned in distaste.

Mu Wan'er was the more composed of the two, while Mu Xiaoyu had fewer reservations. She confronted him loudly, "Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?" Even in her scolding, there was a beauty and civility that could not be denied.

Mu Xiaoyu's raised voice snapped Chu Tianyu out of his stupor. Initially irritated—how dare she interrupt his admiration of beauty?—his annoyance vanished when he saw that she was a woman of twenty-nine, with petite, doll-like features and a beauty that rivaled the first. Chu Tianyu had seen many beautiful women, but the artificiality of makeup on Earth paled in comparison to the natural allure of these two.

As Chu Tianyu found himself lost in thought once more, Mu Xiaoyu's anger flared, her eyes wide and cheeks puffed in indignation. Yet to Chu Tianyu, this only added to her charm.

Fuming at being ignored, Mu Xiaoyu was about to give this rogue a piece of her mind when Mu Wan'er's reminder that they needed to continue on their journey reached her ears. Reluctantly, she pursed her lips and walked over to join Mu Wan'er.

Seeing the two beautiful women about to depart, Chu Tianyu panicked. He needed their help to reach the battlefield, and beyond that, they were such rare beauties he couldn't help but want to steal a few more glances.

"Ladies, please wait a moment!" Chu Tianyu quickly intercepted them.

The women's frowns deepened. Mu Xiaoyu snapped, "You scoundrel, if it hadn't been for my sister's kindness earlier, I would have taught you a lesson by now. What more do you want?"

Chu Tianyu realized he had indeed acted impulsively and offered a heartfelt apology. "I'm sorry, I truly didn't mean any harm. It's just that I've never before encountered women as breathtaking as you two, and I momentarily lost my composure!"

Sensing Chu Tianyu's genuine remorse, and noting that his gaze wasn't as offensive as that of other men, the women's expressions softened considerably. "Alright, what do you want to know?"

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Chu Tianyu inquired, "Could you tell me where we are?"

"This is the northern part of the Jiannan Mountain Range, the Huajian Branch. Are you not aware of that?" Mu Xiaoyu's curiosity was reignited, and she pressed him for an answer.