Stone City's Guardian
“Yeah, this situation is not right ah.”
“There’s something weird about this.”
“How did Du Shaofu became so strong? Hearsay that An Hu had stepped into Xiantian, could it be Du Shaofu also…”
Even Du Clan members found it strange before the thought hit them; their expressions were full of amazement and shock. To defeat An Hu with two moves is not something a general Xiantian warrior could do.
Entering into the study, Du Zhenwu sat down, seeing Du Shaofu coming in behind him. Pointing to a seat beside him, Du Zhenwu said, “Shaofu, about what happened yesterday, I want to know your view on the matter.”
“That young man called An Hu scolded me, I beat him up; that’s it.” Du Shaofu answered. In front of his Eldest Uncle, Du Shaofu was more polite.
“That An Hu is nothing, beating him up is not an issue. Our Du Clan does not fear the An Family; we don’t bully others, but we won’t allow others to bully us and ate loss, right?” Du Zhenwu looked at Du Shaofu. He felt these ten years he really doesn’t understand anything this nephew.
“Yes, what Eldest Uncle said is correct. I will not let others bully me anymore.” Du Shaofu laughed and said.
“Good, there is no outsiders here, talk to me about yesterday.” Du Zhenwu scowled at Du Shaofu, and his mood turned serious.
“Truthfully, I’m not sure what happened. But I find it strange, the other day it was the Ye Family came, today it was the An Family.” Du Shaofu hesitated for a moment before saying to Du Zhenwu.
Surprised was evident in Du Zhenwu’s eyes, looked at Du Shaofu and said, “Elaborate, what’s strange and not right...”
“The Ye Family was too enthusiastic; that Ye Zhijin girl, although she’s still young her temperament has always been cold and proud. With me, however, she’s over passionate. Whereby the An Family was too fake; supposedly said to have come to make trouble, despite that, all they did was yelled one or twice and left just like that. Moreover, that An Long is not simple others may not realize it, but An Long must have known coming here to make trouble would make An Family lose face, yet they still came. In truth, they came to perform a good show."
Du Shaofu paused, something rippled past his eyes as he looked at Du Zhenwu, “There must be a ghost when things out of the ordinary happen.”
Listening to Du Shaofu’s word, Du Zhenwu eyes flickered, and felt surprised; he continued to ask, “Good kid, it seems I really had underestimated you. Now, tell me honestly, why did you hit An Hu yesterday, just cause he scolded you?”
“Hei Hei,”
Du Shaofu smirked, “Ye Family’s young miss is so nice to me, I shouldn’t let her down, might as well make it bigger.”
“Despite her young age; there’s more to that girl than what she shows on the surface.”
Du Zhenwu lightly said, then looked at Du Shaofu, “This matter is really is not so simple. Stone City’s weather is about to change after a very long time. Ye Family was the first unable to resist, and made the first move, can you think of the reason why?”
“I’m a little curious.” Du Shaofu said. There was doubt, and curiosity, however, curiosity won.
Du Zhenwu raised another question, “Stone City's location is so close to the Wild Beast Mountains with various wicked beasts living in there, including Beast King level. Has it ever crossed your mind why these wicked beasts had never forcefully invaded or entered Stone City? Do you know why?”
The last two beast tides damaged many parts of the forest, yet not one wicked beast entered Stone City.
“Because Stone City has a Wicked Beast Guardian.” Du Zhenwu explained. His expression changed when talking about that it.
“A Wicked Beast Guardian?” Du Shaofu was shocked.
“All these years, Beast Kings from the Wild Beast Mountains have never stepped into Stone City. Furthermore, there are other forces apart from Stone City, they dared not recklessly take advantage of Stone City all due to our Stone City Beast Guardian, a long time Beast Hou level Guardian – Demonic Lightning Lion.
Mentioning the Demonic Lightning Lion Guardian Beast, longing waved across Du Zhenwu’s eyes. A Beast Hou is equivalent to a human warrior at Hou cultivation; to him, that level is still far out of his reach.
“Beast Hou level!”
Even Du Shaofu’s eyes lit up. A Beast Hou is higher than a Mai-Ling wicked beast, stronger than the Demonic Scale Tiger. He didn't know there was such a terrifying existence residing in Stone City.
“According to rumors, some hundred years ago, the Ye Family ancestor coincidentally saved the Demonic Lightning Lion. From that time onwards, the Demonic Lightning Lion had stayed with the Ye Family and thus remained in Stone City deterring wicked beasts from the Wild Beast Mountains. This is one of the reasons Ye Family held the Mayor’s position for several generations.” Du Zhenwu said.
“So, that’s the reason.” Du Shaofu understood a little; with such an existence behind Ye Family how could the other families compete.
Du Zhenwu sighed and said, “Unfortunately, the Demonic Lightning Lion is getting old in age, and its cultivation hasn’t been able to advance in so many years. Its nearing the end of its lifespan. From what I know, it has an old injury that did not fully healed; one of the reasons that it stayed in Ye Family for so many years. Injury on top of old age, its health diminished a little every day. A rumor spread, saying it will die soon.”
“There’ll be a day even a beast Hou lifespan will meet its end.”
Du Shaofu sighed inside his heart; even a beast Hou will one day exhausted it lifespan. Comparing a Hou warrior and a Hou beast, the latter without a doubt has a longer life. One needs to break nature’s shackles by continuously advanced to a higher level of cultivation. However, everyone knows the higher the realm the harder it is to break through.
“A beast Hou like the Demonic Lightning Lion, its arcane bone is a treasure, its blood essence is also a treasure. Once it breathed its last breath, Stone City will fall into chaos; all these years, don’t know how many eyes were secretly watching the Ye Family.” Du Zhenwu’s voice quivered slightly. A beast Hou’s arcane bone and blood essence were enough to cause a bloodbath in Stone City fighting to possess both treasures. From many years ago, these families had been planning and preparing, waiting to reap the benefits with the death of the Demonic Lightning Lion.
“When the Demonic Lightning Lion dies, it would be difficult to for Ye Family to control the situation. An Family, Bai Family, and Qin Family would not let go of this opportunity.” Although Du Shaofu understood, nevertheless he was stunned. When he was in Wild Beast Mountains, all the big prominent sect – Sky Serpent Sect, Blacknether Sect, and Mystical Talisman House experts had gone all out to snatch the same thing in the aftermath of the Golden-winged Garuda and Demonic Purpleflame Phoenix's battle. And the same thing will happen in Stone City with the Guardian Beast's death for one word - benefits.
“That’s right. Ye Family realized this fact but are helpless. Thus, they are probing which family has the intention to contend.” Du Zhenwu added.
Du Shaofu frowned, “I understand, no wonder the Ye Family is so overly warm to me, seeking an ally with our Du Clan, and then draw out those with ill-intent using our manpower when the time comes. Looks like, the Ye Family had everything arranged.”
Du Zhenwu looked at Du Shaofu, once again surprised, “Right, Ye Family made arrangements. The last time Ye Baolin came, he had already sent word that he desires to ally with Du Clan. When dividing the benefits, they will not forget about us Du Clan.”
“Uncle agreed?” Du Shaofu looked up and asked.
“Can we not agree?” The corner of Du Zhenwu’s lips curved into a bitter smile.
“Ye Family’s really got some means.”
Du Shaofu understood Du Clan can’t refuse the Mayor’s request, refusing meant Du Clan planned to go against them. But, the high profile way Du Clan and Ye Family came together surely made the other three families guarded against Du Clan.
“One month later is the Five Families Junior Competition, things may happen at that time; and I ’m afraid it is too late for Du Clan to remain neutral in this storm.” Du Zhenwu muttered, a worried expression emerged on his face.
“Eldest Uncle, what has this got to do with the Five Families Junior Competition?” Du Shaofu doesn’t quite get it.
“Stone City had been in the Ye Families jurisdiction for a long time with their five generations of Mayor, but the forces outside of Stone City had eyed the city for a long time waiting to take over, and the Ye's is unable to defend against them on their own. Even with the Demonic Lightning Lion’s existence, complaints will always exist.”
Du Zhenwu explained: “This is the reason why the Ye Family suggested the prominent families’ junior competition held once every three years many years ago. The strongest is eligible to practice in the Lightning Pool. It used to be four families participation for our Du Clan only joined around a dozen years or so.”
Regarding this Du Shaofu is very clear; Du Clan has been in Stone City as long as he can remember, but it only rose to power in the last decade.
However, Du Shaofu had never heard of the Lightning Pool, so he asked, “What is the Lightning Pool?”
Du Zhenwu explained, “The Lightning Pool belongs to the Ye Family, and it only opens once every few years. The Lightning Pool contains a small amount of the Demonic Lightning Lion’s blood essence within, thus practicing in the Lightning Pool brings great benefits. The lightning current in the pool tempers the body and is hugely beneficial for future cultivation. Recent year’s competition, most winners comes from the Ye Family juniors. Thus, Ye Family’s strength had always been stronger than other families in Stone City. It’s a pity our Du Clan is a new power, none of our juniors has ever won and enter the Lightning Pool.”
When Du Shaofu heard this, his interest was stoked. Using lighting to temper his body coupled with the Golden-winged Garuda’s physique refining law, Du Shaofu wondered if the benefits can be enhanced, perhaps it would bring other benefits as well. After all, the Demonic Lightning Lion is a beast Hou.
Note:
Ate loss – taken advantage of.