Utmost
Du Zhenwu paused before continuing, “The reason the Ye Family opened the Lightning Pool for two reasons; on one hand, they shared the benefits brought by the Demonic Lightning Lion to quell the other families dissatisfaction. At the same time, it also acts as a deterrent. Du Clan rose to where we are today in the last decade, and in these years Du Clan juniors had won compared to the other families, and this indirectly added another deterrent factor. One month later during the juniors’ compet.i.tion, you must think of a way to enter the Lightning Pool.”
“My injury has yet to heal, I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill Eldest Uncle’s expectation.” Du Shaofu said.
“Don’t pretend; you’re craftier than your Dad. I really don’t know how Third Brother has such a mischievous son like you. You think I don’t know, that what Imperial Knight, Du Hao’s cousin brother lost face after you injured him, ran away from our compound in the middle of the night. You truly think I can’t tell?” Du Zhenwu snapped at Du Shaofu; the different between his stubborn Third Brother and this sly nephew is just too great.
“Hey Hey,” Du Shaofu snickered. Looks like Eldest Uncle already knew everything, since it is family, it wasn’t necessary to pretend.
“Behave; I know what you’re aiming for.”
Du Zhenwu rolled his eyes at Du Shaofu, saying, “The Clan Elders are not stupid. I already discussed with them, as long as you partic.i.p.ate in the Five Families Juniors Compet.i.tion and take the first place the clan will reward you with the ‘Purple Qi Sunwors.h.i.+p Scripture’ for your practice.
“That’s all?”
Du Shaofu’s eyes dimmed a little. If it were before, he would be overjoyed getting the Purple Qi Sunwors.h.i.+p Scripture, but now he cultivated the Golden-winged Garuda exercise law, he no longer has any desire for the said reward.
“What else do you want? You took the Violent Stone Demon Wolf blood essence and two base-building dans from Du Hao and your two cousin brothers, is that not enough?” Du Zhenwu rolled his eyes again.
“Okay, I will try my best.”
Du Shaofu nodded his head helplessly in agreement, looks like he won’t be able to squeeze out some other benefits. Although he has no interest in the Purple Qi Sunwors.h.i.+p Scripture, the Lightning Pool, however, is another matter, he wanted to have a look. Perhaps, it would help to strengthen his body.
“This elixirs and materials are things a Spirit Talisman Master can use, you’re the one who wanted it?”
From the inner part of the study Du Zhenwu took out a big wooden box and opened it. Inside, were things generally required by a Spirit Talisman Master amounted to quite a large sum of xuanbi; Du Zhenwu was skeptical, his gaze fixed on Du Shaofu asked, “Du Ping sent this over, you bought all these materials?”
“Yes, I want to try if I can be a Spirit Talisman Master.” Du Shaofu nodded. He had expected purchasing the list of items from Du Clan’s store will spread the news back to Du Clan, but he doesn’t mind.
“You want to be a Spirit Talisman Master?” Surprise flitted across Du Zhenwu’s face as his gaze was kept on Du Shaofu. In the past, he had invited someone to test for Du Shaofu’s spiritual root. Regrettably, the result determined Du Shaofu does not have the potential to be a Spirit Talisman Master.
“I just want to give it a try; it matters not successful or otherwise.” Du Shaofu said.
Du Zhenwu looked at Du Shaofu for a very long time before his expression returned to normal, “Our store invited a Spirit Talisman Master Alchemist, although only a Two Star Spirit Talisman Master, if you really want to try, I can go and talk to him. He can give you a little guidance; self-exploration and burying your head in books won’t bring you much success.”
“Many thanks Eldest Uncle, it’s not necessary for now, I want to explore around it myself.”
Du Shaofu knew there was a Two Star Spirit Talisman Master in the Du Clan stores, he was also one of many Spirit Talisman Master who came to treat him when he was sick. Although only a Two Star Spirit Talisman Master, it is equivalent to a Xiantian level warrior, and due to their unique status, even Eldest Uncle need to be courteous with a Two Star Spirit Talisman Master, occupying a high position in Du Clan business.
However, according to Zhen Qingchun"s argument, a Five Star Spirit Talisman Master is just fart before him, what more a Two Star Spirit Master. Thus, Du Shaofu decided to wait and see if Zhen Qingchun hoaxed him.
“Okay, since you have decided; the compet.i.tion is not far away, as long as you don’t overlook this matter, it will be fine. This round, Du Hao and the rest of them probably won’t achieve a favorable result; three years ago your sister and brother missed it, and now both of them are not in Stone City. This time, it solely depends on you.”
Du Zhenwu said earnestly; not lingering on the Spirit Talisman Master topic. What used to be waste martial veins could cultivate now, maybe a miracle will happen.
If a Spirit Talisman Master could appear from Du Clan, it only brings benefits and increases Du Clan’s reputation. That’s why some things he need not question too much; everyone have secrets, Third Brother’s son had secrets is normal.
“I will do my utmost.” Du Shaofu felt grateful, and he knew Eldest Uncle is concern about him. The brother and sister of Du Zhenwu’s mouth referred to his daughter and Second Uncle’s son. Both of them ventured out of Stone City to train since young, and Du Shaofu hadn’t seen them for a long time. He remembered when he was still small, sister and brother had always protected him.
Du Shaofu chatted with his Eldest Uncle for a while, left the study carrying the wooden box.
When Du Shaofu reached the door, Du Zhenwu called out, saying, “Shaofu, this year"s compet.i.tion, many extraordinary juniors came out from the other families, quite a few of them already stepped into Xiantian territory. Can you tell me what your current strength is, so I know what to expect.”
Du Shaofu looked back with a faint smile on his face, answered, “The Lightning Pool, I’m entering.”
Leaving that sentence, Du Shaofu quickly left the study. The Lightning Pool can temper the physique, this kind of opportunity must not be missed.
“This kid, what level did he reach, even I can’t see clearly ah? What domineering words!” Du Zhenwu sighed, when Du Shaofu was in the study, he had tried to probe Du Shaofu’s cultivation, but the strange thing is, he was unable to determine exactly…
“Dad, you’re back.”
Du Shaofu returned to his courtyard carrying the box in his arms, delighted when he saw his unkempt drunkard father sitting the yard, holding his wine jug.
“En,” Du Tingxuan replied. Dazed, unmoving, staring at the sky.
“I’ll put it here. I’m going out for a moment; don’t drink so much.”
Du Shaofu placed a few set of newly bought clothes and a new wine jug next to the chair, turned to look at his father’s face, half covered by his messy hair for a second, then left the courtyard.
A long time after Du Shaofu had left, Du Tingxuan moved; he carried the clothes and new wine jug in his arms as he sat in the yard, an unnoticeable fluctuation flashed across his dull eyes.
“Rumble~! Rumble~!”
From the Du Clan back mountain, rumbling sound resounded through the mountain. Once again Du Shaofu immersed himself in tempering his body.
When the sun rose, Du Shaofu stopped and sat down to adjust his breathing. The Demon Scale Tiger kept watch, unable to take its eyes off Du Shaofu.
Night, the moon hung high in the sky.
“Long’er, what do you think of Du Clan’s Du Shaofu?” Standing in front of a courtyard, An Qingsong looked at his eldest son and asked this question.
An Long tilted his head up, looking the moon hovering in the sky his hands clasped behind, and his robe fluttered in the wind, An Long said, “Dad, you already have an opinion, why are you asking me.”
An Qingsong gave a faint smile, “That Du Shaofu although young but there’s much more to him. An Hu’s loss was justified.”
“Indeed, he"s absolutely not simple; his strength is hard to determine. The Bai and Qin Family are making their preparations. It seems in this one month, I should go into closed-door retreat, otherwise, I don’t have full grasp of victory ah.”
An Long nodded, smiled and said, “But before that, there"s a need to tempt Bai Family, and Qin Family to join in the excitement. We can’t let others to only stare at our An Family.”
“Meeting a tough opponent will help your cultivation, this is a good thing.”
An Qingsong looked towards the Ye Family’s direction, a sharp light flitted across his pupils said, “If we can get that huge treasure, that is the most secure immeasurable future. For An Family, for all of you, I will do my utmost.”