Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Not-So-Serious Old Man
Gu Xiaopang, as if he had been terrified out of his wits, suddenly sprang upright from his half-submerged position in the lava, as if jolted from the dead! He grabbed the precious artifact—the rhinoceros horn—and unleashed all his senses, swiftly scanning the surroundings of the lava at lightning speed...
"Quite a cautious little fellow, aren't you!"
"Who’s there? Stop pretending to be mysterious! If you’ve got guts, come out and fight me—no, at least show yourself!"
"Hahaha, you? Calling yourself 'young master'?!"
"Even the old ghost buried in your family’s ancestral tomb would have to respectfully address me as elder upon meeting me."
...
"My family’s ancestral tomb? That old ghost?"
"Where’s it buried again? Grandpa never mentioned it."
"I don’t think I’ve ever paid respects there—how unfilial of me."
"Is there smoke rising from the grave, I wonder?!"
...
"Brat, is worrying about smoke rising from your ancestral tomb really your priority right now?!"
"Has your mind always been this jumpy?!"
"Don’t you want to ask who I am? Where I am? Whether I’m handsome or not...?"
...
As the conversation drifted, Gu Xiaopang found his fear fading; slowly, his young master's bravado returned. The unseen elder, whose voice alone could be heard, seemed aggrieved by the lack of attention. His tone suddenly lengthened, rising and rambling in a cascade of words.
...
"Oh!"
"Who are you?"
"Where are you?"
"You think I care whether you’re handsome or not?"
...
"You little rascal!..."
The elder’s voice faltered, sounding both infuriated and, perhaps, a little shaken.
...
"If you won’t show yourself, I’ll be on my way then."
"Oh, right, elder—what about the Essence of Earth Fire? Could you return it to me?"
...
Just as Gu Xiaopang feigned innocence, scratching his head, a phantom figure appeared before him out of thin air.
How should one describe it! Judging by the voice, it was indeed an elder. In his youth, he must have been a dashing gentleman, and now... he could barely be considered a distinguished old man. The phantom elder hovered in midair, exuding an air of contempt for all beneath heaven, yet possessed the bearing of a celestial sage. At this moment, however, his expression was animated, and he looked at Gu Xiaopang with a sideways glance, full of disdain...
"Ahem.”
“Well... greetings, venerable elder.”
...
"Years ago, when you were plagued by a deadly illness for three years and your soul-flame was on the verge of extinction, fate took a turn and I awoke from slumber, saving your life in passing."
"Later, when you rashly trained with fire, I pitied you and infused a trace of soul-force into your body, helping to soothe your meridians and laying the foundation for your Fire Spirit energy."
"And then, when I controlled the stone pendant’s transformation, I dispelled the poison of the black needle for you..."
...
Through their ensuing conversation, Gu Xiaopang learned how the elder had helped to mend his ruptured meridians, guided him in harnessing the pure energy that threatened to explode within him, and dragged him back from the very gates of death.
At this moment, Gu Xiaopang could clearly sense the newfound strength in his body, now robust and brimming with mid-foundation energy—a true reversal of fortune.
"Many thanks for your repeated assistance, venerable elder!"
"The elder’s kindness flows like the mighty river, endless as the boundary streams..."
...
"By the way, elder, about my Essence of Earth Fire..."
The elder’s phantom, hands clasped behind his back and eyes narrowed in enjoyment of the young rascal’s florid praise, suddenly trembled with irritation.
...
"My true name is Qin Haotian, sole disciple of the Wind God."
"In the world, all revere me as the Supreme Sovereign."
"In my youth, I resembled the Wind God—divine and flawless. My cultivation reached its peak, surrounded by countless beauties."
"After my master ascended, I reigned supreme in this realm, unbeaten anywhere; who, in the overseas domains, dared disrespect or fear me?"
"Wherever I wandered, mountains and rivers bowed to my presence."
...
"Then why are you in this current state?"
"Why do you reside in my little stone pendant?"
"Are you so destitute that you’d even withhold my tiny bit of Essence of Earth Fire?"
...
"Truly! Insolent brat! You’ll be the death of me..."
Just as the Supreme Sovereign was basking in his nostalgic pride, Gu Xiaopang’s mention of the Essence of Earth Fire sent his phantom into a fit of agitation, clearly provoked once more.
...