Cultivation: The Heaven's Fated Useless Genius

Gu Xuanyuan and Jiang Aonan, reunited after a long separation, arranged accommodations for everyone before heading straight to the City Lord's mansion in Yong'an City to drink and reminisce.

The accommodations for Gu Feng, Fang Feixue, and Hou Yixiao were arranged in the guest rooms directly affiliated with the Imperial City of Yong'an.

The maids from the City Lord's mansion led everyone to the location, where the cave dwellings were filled with abundant spiritual energy, and the courtyard was surrounded by a variety of flowers, birds, and trees, creating a refreshing atmosphere.

By the time it was the hour of Hai, the female servants in the Imperial City had tidied up the rooms and daily necessities for everyone and were ready to leave early.

Hou Yixiao, with a twinkle in his eyes, suggested, "I've heard the night market temple fair in Yong'an City is extremely lively. I have a mind to check it out. Would the sequence be interested in joining?"

Raising his eyebrows noncommittally, Gu Feng knew this guy was full of mischief and wouldn't stay idle at night. He didn't respond to Hou Yixiao but instead looked at Fang Feixue.

"Let's go, it might be nice to take a stroll!"

Fang Feixue had intended to go for a walk, but she wasn't too fond of Hou Yixiao's behavior, making her hesitate for a moment.

Seeing her concern, Gu Feng smiled and said, "Just think of him as our bag carrier and ignore him."

At that, Fang Feixue no longer hesitated and nodded.

The three of them received tokens from the maid to enter and exit the Imperial City, to avoid causing any trouble like before.

Casually rewarding a few beginner-grade spirit stones to one of the household servants, Gu Feng hoped he could serve as a guide for the night. After all, this was Yong'an City, and they were unfamiliar with the place, so having a local guide would be convenient.

The household servant, overjoyed with the reward, eagerly agreed.

The group took to the air, led by the household servant, flying directly to the most bustling night market in the city.

Along the way, the household servant enthusiastically introduced the customs and culture of Yong'an City.

Before long, they arrived at the most bustling night market in Yong'an City—Yunluo Street!

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Gu Feng was utterly amazed by the bustling scene before him.

The various lights made the street seem like a winding, colorful dragon.

Yunluo Street stretched for dozens of miles, with stalls and cultivators selling goods lining both sides, various lights flying back and forth, and the crowd was packed.

The cries of vendors and the noise of haggling filled the air, adding a lively atmosphere to the night in Yong'an City.

"Come take a look, all kinds of cultivation artifacts available!"

"Top-quality artifact refining material, Earthfire Iron! Don't miss it!"

"Mysterious Rank cultivation method, Aurora Ghost Finger, selling cheap! Only three hundred medium-grade spirit stones!"

"Luofu Elixirs for sale! Top-quality Foundation Establishment elixirs!"

Walking on Yunluo Street, even Gu Feng was dazzled by the array of goods.

Many rare treasures were things he had never even heard of, sparking his curiosity!

Gu Feng walked to a stall, where various items were displayed, including insect pupae, plants, and even what seemed like animal bones.

"Young master, these are authentic Gu sources from the Northern Wilderness. Which one catches your eye? The price is negotiable."

The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a sharp face, dressed in plain clothes, his long hair messy, looking like a beggar fleeing from famine.

"Gu sources?"

Gu Feng raised his eyebrows in suspicion.

Seeing his confusion, Fang Feixue explained, "Gu cultivators from the Northern Wilderness use various Gu techniques to harm others and protect themselves, and Gu sources are the foundation for practicing these techniques."

Gu sources are the core of Gu cultivators' techniques and the refining of various Gu poisons.

With the corresponding cultivation method and Gu source, a Gu cultivator's techniques can unleash great power.

The forms of Gu sources vary, some resembling insects or beasts, others like plants, and some even like ordinary stones.

But without exception, Gu sources are only found in the Northern Wilderness, a major specialty of the Northern Wilderness.

The stall owner, seeing Gu Feng's attire, guessed he must be a wealthy young master from a large cultivation family, seemingly visiting the border for the first time and unfamiliar with Gu sources.

Thinking he had encountered a sucker, he saw a profitable opportunity and quickly followed Fang Feixue's words, saying, "The fairy is right, sir. I have a wide variety of Gu sources here, with endless uses. Shall I introduce them to you?"

Picking up a Gu source resembling jade and examining it for a while, Gu Feng asked indifferently, "Do you have any Gu poisons that can help a cultivator break through their cultivation in a short time?"

Hearing this, the stall owner was suddenly stunned, a flash of fear in his eyes, though fleeting, it was caught by Gu Feng.

"You're joking, sir. I've collected Gu sources in the Northern Wilderness for years and have never heard of such a thing. I don't have it, truly."

The stall owner waved his hands repeatedly, his head shaking like a rattle drum.

Nodding, Gu Feng calmly put down the items and said to Fang Feixue and Hou Yixiao, "Let's go, let's look around elsewhere."

Once they were a distance away from the stall, Hou Yixiao leaned in, speaking almost simultaneously with Gu Feng, "Something's fishy."

The two were first surprised, then exchanged a conspiratorial smile.

Fang Feixue looked puzzled and asked, "What's fishy? I didn't see anything."

Rolling his eyes, Gu Feng chuckled wryly.

Indeed, Fang Feixue's worldly experience was far behind Hou Yixiao's.

He didn't bother explaining to her and instructed Hou Yixiao, "Keep an eye on that guy. If there's any movement, inform me immediately."

"Don't worry, sequence, just keeping an eye on someone? I'll be back in no time!"

Hou Yixiao cupped his hands and fished out a pile of items from his belongings. Gu Feng took a closer look—binding ropes, knockout drugs, and eye-opening pills, all sorts of little tricks and gadgets for sneaky attacks.

Not bothering with him any further, Gu Feng casually grabbed Fang Feixue's hand and said, "Let's go."

Caught off guard by Gu Feng holding her hand, Fang Feixue initially wanted to pull away, but seeing his serious expression and fearing it might delay important matters, she decided to let it be.

The two weaved through the crowd, with Fang Feixue constantly watching Gu Feng's face, as if time around them slowed down.

In the night sky, fireworks bloomed brilliantly, and despite the surrounding noise, Fang Feixue's eyes gradually focused only on Gu Feng.

Unconsciously, she gently clasped Gu Feng's hand, never letting go.

After jogging for half a mile, Gu Feng finally stopped, panting, and turned to look at Fang Feixue, only to find her staring blankly at him.

"What's wrong?" Gu Feng feigned ignorance and asked.

Fang Feixue's heart was pounding, and she turned her head away without responding, but she still let Gu Feng hold her hand.

Gu Feng had been scheming for this moment, and finally succeeded. Holding Fang Feixue's hand, he strolled through the night market.

Suddenly, a small girl approached them. She looked timidly at Gu Feng and Fang Feixue, and weakly asked, "Big brother, why not buy a flower for your lady companion?"

Gu Feng felt a headache coming on. This little girl was like a devil sent from the heavens. He hadn't even won Fang Feixue over completely yet, so why buy flowers? Why talk about companions!?

Wasn't this just adding trouble!?

Just as he was about to scold her to leave, Gu Feng looked down and saw the child dressed in thin, ragged clothes, shivering in the cold winter air. Her little face was pale and bloodless, likely due to long-term malnutrition.

She was holding a large bouquet of unknown flowers, her big watery eyes looking up at him.

Gu Feng felt a pang of compassion and bent down to ask, "Little sister, how much for a flower?"

Sensing hope, the little girl quickly replied, "Not expensive, one beginner-grade spirit stone for five. I picked these Vaitara flowers by the Little Mirror Lake at the border of the Northern Wilderness. They're very pretty."

"These are Vaitara flowers!?" Fang Feixue leaned in to smell the fragrance, which was refreshing and delightful.

The little girl nodded and said, "Yes, Vaitara flowers, also known as Ephemeral flowers. They're said to be a specialty of the Western Region. Within a thousand miles, only a small flower field by Little Mirror Lake has a few blooming. I went through a lot of trouble to gather them. Big brother, why don't you buy a few?"

Gu Feng gently patted the little girl's head, feeling a bit of pity. He directly took out a medium-grade spirit stone and handed it to her, saying, "I'll buy them all. Go home and rest early; it's cold outside."

The little girl widened her eyes in disbelief as she accepted the spirit stone, her frail body trembling slightly.

"Thank you, big brother! My mother's illness can be treated now! Thank you!"

She handed the bouquet to Gu Feng, tucked the spirit stone into her clothes, and kept bowing to him before turning and running into the crowd.

"Here, for you!"

Gu Feng handed the bouquet to Fang Feixue with a nonchalant expression.

Fang Feixue slowly accepted the bouquet, now fully aware of his intentions.

Watching the flower-selling girl's retreating figure, Fang Feixue pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Gu Feng, did you know that when I was young, I was very much like her."

Gu Feng remained silent, just quietly observing Fang Feixue's thoughtful face.

"Back then, I was still a mortal, living with my parents in Banyan Tree Village..."

As she spoke, Fang Feixue fell into her memories and continued, "My mother was in poor health, and my father was just an ordinary farmer. To help treat my mother's illness and support the family, I would go into the mountains every day to gather herbs, then carry them to town to sell. Whatever didn't sell, I would take home and brew into medicine for my mother..."

She gave a bitter smile, lowered her head, and continued, "Later, I met my adoptive father. He brought me to Heroic Spirit City, and through hard work, I became a cultivator, advancing from Qi Refining to Golden Core, and now to the Elemental Infant Realm. I never dared to slack off for a day because I knew, coming from a poor background, I had no one to rely on if I didn't strive..."

Looking at Gu Feng, Fang Feixue's eyes were misty.

"Do you know how dangerous it is for a ten-year-old girl to go into the mountains alone to gather herbs?"

"Do you know how difficult it is for a newly arrived mortal girl to establish herself in the cultivation world?"

Gu Feng remained silent and replied, "I know..."

"No, you don't..."

Fang Feixue interrupted Gu Feng, looking into his eyes, and said firmly, "You were born into nobility, protected by the Gu Family, and favored by the City Lord. How could you possibly understand the struggles of ordinary cultivators like us?"

The two fell into an awkward silence.

"I understand your feelings. Maybe I'm not as adaptable as you, but I'm not foolish."

Gu Feng's heart trembled, and he held his breath.

After a moment, Fang Feixue lowered her head and, with a hint of grievance, slowly said, "But the difference in our statuses is truly worlds apart..."

"If we were to be together, who would protect my dignity in the future?"

Fang Feixue choked up, her heart filled with turmoil. The disparity in their statuses left her feeling anxious and fearful.@@novelbin@@

Gu Feng felt a bitter smile in his heart. He had long known that what Fang Feixue cared about most was the issue of status.

In this world, aside from strength, one's background was an insurmountable chasm. Even when cultivators formed partnerships, they often considered social standing.

But Gu Feng didn't see it that way.

Having lived two lives, he was naturally carefree, daring to love and hate, unwilling to be bound by such trivial rules.

If even choosing his own partner required others' arrangements to satisfy his family, then what was the point of cultivation? What was the point of seeking the Dao!?

Might as well just bash his head against a block of tofu and be done with it!

Unfortunately, Fang Feixue was extremely traditional, deeply influenced by the ruling class of the Gu Family in Heroic Spirit City, and was immensely worried about this.

Just as Gu Feng was about to persuade her, an untimely shout came from behind!

"Feixue, what a coincidence!"

His ears perked up, and Gu Feng recognized the voice all too well, silently cursing the narrowness of fate.

Turning around, it was indeed Yan Wushuang, that pretty boy.

As soon as Fang Feixue saw Yan Wushuang, she immediately let go of Gu Feng's hand and hid the Vaitara flowers behind her.

Yan Wushuang noticed but remained composed, cupping his hands toward Gu Feng and saying, "Greetings, Young Master Gu."

"Commander Yan, are you also here to stroll the night market?"

Gu Feng suppressed his anger, forcing a smile as he asked.

Nodding, Yan Wushuang replied with an unchanged expression, "I just finished some official duties and came to relax. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Ah, what a fateful meeting from a thousand miles away!"

His words were flawless, and Gu Feng, seeing through it all, knew this guy had come specifically to see Fang Feixue. He quickly responded with a sarcastic tone, "It's just a pity that in this world, strange things happen, and often, even when face to face, hands cannot be held!"

Recalling how Gu Feng and Fang Feixue had been holding hands earlier, Yan Wushuang felt a lump in his throat but ignored Gu Feng, turning to the flustered Fang Feixue and gently saying, "Feixue, it's been a long time since we last met. Why don't we find a place to have a drink and catch up?"

Hearing this, Gu Feng was almost driven to madness!

This pretty boy! Damn it, he's challenging me head-on!

"Snatching someone right in front of me! And he wants to find a place to have a drink? Does he think I'm dead or something!?"