Cultivation Nerd

Liu Bo was a simple man. He liked his clan because they cared for him and did everything they could to develop his meager talents despite being an orphan with two mortal parents who died when he was young.

Even his cousins, who went to the Blazing Sun Sect, never mistreated him. Liu Qian, the Clan Head's daughter, always made sure to convey that they were still family. The Liu Clan had to create a base within the Blazing Sun Sect, allowing their talented youth to study in a foreign environment, and Liu Qian kept that unity alive.

Still, when it came to certain duties, Liu Bo never hesitated to take the initiative and show his willingness to do anything for the clan.

Now, as he stood atop the walls of Sha Shou City, the city his clan ruled. He kept his back straight, occasionally glancing at the troublesome old man beside him.

The old man, with his white hair and long beard, was a Foundation Establishment cultivator well over a century old. But judging by his behavior, Liu Bo would have guessed the man was no older than five.

Despite his thoughts, Liu Bo didn't dare let his gaze linger too long and returned his attention to the vast grasslands beyond the city. There used to be a forest in the distance, but the Clan Leader had ordered it cut down after it became clear that it was a liability during one of the worst Beast Waves.

"It's been months since my grandson supposedly left the Blazing Sun Sect. It's clear now that he's dead," the old man said, his voice wavering, his eyes brimming with tears. "I held him in my arms when he was young. I knew then that he would be the next Clan Leader. A lion who would make the nearby regions bow. Why couldn't it have been any of my other grandsons? I have plenty to spare. Why did it have to be Liu Feng?"

Liu Bo sighed internally. The old man certainly didn't hide who his favorite grandson was.

He had learned by now that comforting the old man was pointless.

Of course, Liu Bo had reported this to Liu Qian. But apparently, everyone already knew how much of a nuisance this old goat was, and no one wanted to provoke one of their strongest elders into rebellion.

"As long as my grandson is well, I won't even aim for the Clan Head position anymore," the old man muttered. "Though that lass Liu Qian is hardly suitable. I mean, a woman? Who's ever heard of a woman leading a clan?"

Liu Bo had heard of plenty. The Azure Frost Sect, one of the most powerful sects in the world, was led by a woman, and women had ruled as long as they had the power to do so. Liu Qian had read about them, too, hoping to become a better leader without stirring internal conflict within the clan.

But Liu Bo knew better than to argue with the old man. Logic wouldn't work on him. At the same time, he couldn't voice any agreement with the elder, as that would be treason against the Clan Head's family. Sure, Liu Nu, as an elder, could get away with it. But Liu Bo wouldn't dare even try.

Liu Bo cared little about who should become Clan Head. From what he could see, both Liu Feng and Liu Qian would do a fine job. But there were pros and cons to each.

Liu Feng always seemed aloof and more interested in spending time with Song Song than leading anything. He might make a good leader if he tried, but he didn't seem like someone who cared about such roles and would rather read a book.

Liu Qian, on the other hand, was a woman. Not that Liu Bo held it against her, he knew how capable she was as a leader and diplomat. She had been the one to lead her team, and the foothold they had created in the Blazing Sun Sect could largely be attributed to her. But in a clan facing wars on all fronts, image mattered. Some might see her becoming a leader as a sign of weakness, and the last thing they needed was infighting over her leadership.

Unless Liu Qian possessed overwhelming power, there would be issues. If she were a Core Formation cultivator, no one would care. But none of them had the talents to ensure they would reach Foundation Establishment, let alone anything higher. If they hadn't been in the Blazing Sun Sect and had access to its techniques and resources, they would have had little to no chance of reaching Foundation Establishment.

Still, these were matters beyond Liu Bo's concern.

All he could hope for now was that Liu Feng would return soon before the old man conjured up wild theories about the Clan Head sending assassins. That would surely spark a civil war.

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Things had been much simpler in the sect...

Liu Bo sighed.

********

"Remember, Wu Yan, this is a Heartthrob Flower," I said, holding the delicate rose-shaped blossom between my fingers. Its petals were soft, perfectly forming the shape of a heart, its vivid red color almost pulsing with life. "Despite its romantic name, it has nothing to do with love spells or making someone fall head over heels. The reason it's called that is much darker, the poison it carries attacks the heart directly, causing it to beat uncontrollably, quite literally making it throb. Not edible."

Wu Yan nodded, her porcelain mask now carved with a face. She was a good student overall.

"Punama, suki," the voice whispered, strange and unsettling, emanating not from her lips but from the small, twisted mouth that had formed on her neck.

I had thought that creating the mouth and teaching her to control the tongue would be the biggest challenge, but getting someone who had never spoken before to say anything was just as tricky.

We sat atop Speedy's shell, the gentle sway of his movements beneath us a constant rhythm as I spread out the assortment of flowers, herbs, and other curious items we had gathered along our journey. The plants varied in color and texture, from the deep purples of a nightshade blossom to the pale greens of medicinal roots, each one carrying its own unique properties. Though my knowledge of alchemy was far from extensive, I understood the basics.

As I pointed to each item, explaining its uses, I could see the girl listening intently, her small hands mimicking my movements as I demonstrated how to crush leaves for a quick antidote or identify a flower that could ease pain. It wasn't just about knowledge; it was survival. I needed her to understand how to fend for herself and use the land to stay alive, just in case the day came when I wasn’t there to guide her. I also taught her a handful of easy poison recipes.

If the choice was there, no one would want an extreme physique user nearby. Wu Yan wasn't an exception. Extreme physiques typically had catastrophic effects when the user died, like how Ye An would unleash an explosion of ice with her Qi or how a poison physique would cause their body to rupture in a poisonous blast.

We had traveled a fair bit around the Liu Clan's territory so I could teach her these essential survival skills. I had wanted to teach her how to hunt, too, but with winter approaching, animals were scarce. Sooner or later, we would likely run into a monstrous beast, and I had to be cautious about that.

The Dragon Sleeping Mountains were nearby, close to the region ruled by my clan, which I had always wanted to visit. But with winter closing in, I would take no unnecessary risks, especially with Wu Yan around.

We had ventured into a vast grassy field, the soft green blades swaying gently in the breeze. The landscape stretched endlessly, serene and quiet, with the occasional patch of farmland dotting the horizon like lonely outposts of civilization in this sea of grass. In the distance, barely visible at the edge of my sight I saw walls, faint and hazy but unmistakable. That had to be Sha Shou City. Unless, of course, we had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way.

As we got closer, I knew it would be a while before we could set off again. Which was both a relief and a bit disappointing. At least now I had some experience traveling the world.

One thing that stood out to me in this world was that almost every town I visited had reports of people going missing in the nearby woods. Those were the cases I avoided at all costs. The last thing I wanted was to face a monstrous beast in their own territory.

Monstrous beasts in their habitat were masters at masking their presence. It wouldn't be like the Beast Waves, where they charged in large packs tightly knit together and could not dodge attacks. Here, they had the advantage.

During this journey with Wu Yan, I had broken through to become a four-star Qi Gathering Cultivator. Wu Yan, however, had yet to recover her spiritual roots, and by now, I wasn't sure she ever would. Maybe she wasn't an extreme physique user after all, or perhaps not all extreme physique users could recover their cultivation like Ye An had.

The closer we drew to Sha Shou City, and the more clearly the towering walls came into view, the knot of anxiety in my chest tightened. Meeting Liu Feng's family stirred a strange unease, an unfamiliar mix of nerves and excitment. I had never met them before, yet somehow, it felt like I was returning to a place I'd once known… though it was not an unpleasant feeling.

I had a grandfather who was an elder in the clan. As far back as I could remember he had always been kind, just like any doting grandfather, showing me gifts and affection.

Yet, I had to admit he was a bit too biased toward me. I never recalled him showing the same love to his other grandchildren.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on those thoughts as we continued along the grassy road, and the city’s towering stone walls came into full view. Here and there, patches of newer stone stood out, a clear reminder of the damage caused by the last Beast Wave. The repairs, though sturdy, seemed almost like scars on the ancient fortification, telling the tale of battles fought and survived.

Another thing that immediately caught my attention was the figure of an old man standing atop the wall. He looked like something out of a storybook, a Dumbledore-like figure with long, flowing white hair and a beard to match, but dressed in dark, muted clothes. Beside him stood a familiar youth with unremarkable looks.

That old man was my grandfather. And the youth standing next to him, was that Liu Bo?

Grandpa’s face was a mixture of emotions as tears streamed freely down his weathered cheeks, his smile soft and filled with warmth. The sight of him like that was both touching and a little overwhelming. His reaction, though extreme, wasn’t surprising… he had always doted on me, ever since I could remember.

The stranger part was Liu Bo. He looked excited to see me. We had never been close. Sure, he might offer a polite smile, but excited? That was new.

Had something happened?