Chapter 9: The Master Takes Action (Part 1)

Ku Mu asked in surprise, “You ran back just to ask a question?”
Guo Shier said seriously, “Master, this question is extraordinary… I think it’s very important.”
Ku Mu replied, “Alright, tell me then.” He straightened up and looked at Guo Shier intently.
Guo Shier said, “Master, have you ever seen a altar that can help one advance in rank?” On his way home, he realized that relying solely on their master-disciple relationship wasn’t enough to get the master to act. If he talked to his master’s wife, he was pretty sure she would go—she would definitely do it as soon as asked. But it was different with the master; only by using an altar as a lure could he get the master to take action.
Ku Mu frowned slightly, surprised. “An altar? An altar that can help one advance? Where is it?”
Guo Shier replied, “It’s in a secret realm.”
Ku Mu said, “Describe it in more detail…”
Guo Shier carefully described the altar’s appearance, as well as the smaller altars surrounding it. He also mentioned that spending the night at the altar could bring great benefits to professionals, even allowing them to advance in rank.
Ku Mu’s expression became extremely serious. He asked, “Shier, have you mentioned this altar to anyone at the Chenxiao Sect?”
Guo Shier shook his head. “No.”
A smile appeared on Ku Mu’s face, though it remained stiff. He nodded. “Good, very good!”
Guo Shier asked, “Master, what exactly is this altar?”
Ku Mu smiled. “This is an altar passed down from ancient times. Its function is similar to that of the Xu Mi Dao, except you haven’t actually activated it yet… It’s a treasure of inestimable value. Even people from the higher continents would consider it a great find… I never expected you to discover such a place.”
Guo Shier said with a wry smile, “But Master, this place has already been discovered. And it belongs to a family from the same continent as ours… I went to Wuyu Town to take a mission and happened to visit the altar’s secret realm. I almost didn’t make it back—I was chased for three days before managing to escape by luck.”
Ku Mu immediately lost his smile and asked, “They chased you? Didn’t you tell them you were from the Chenxiao Sect?”
Guo Shier replied, “There wasn’t even time to speak before they started chasing me.”
Ku Mu said darkly, “What boldness—daring to chase my disciple! Very well! Take me to that secret realm. I want to see who’s so audacious.”

Guo Shieru hesitated for a moment before saying, “Master, there are so many of them—thousands… and there are flying chariots that move at high speeds. You alone… although you’re not afraid of them, but…”
Kumu thought for a while and said, “Go call your wife. Let her handle it.”
Guo Shieru stood up and said, “Okay, Master. You should come out too and discuss it with her.” Seeing Kumu nod, he left the underground talisman-making hall and went outside to the courtyard.
Monier had already arrived. Upon seeing Guo Shieru, she immediately walked up with a bright smile, hugged him tightly, and said, “Baby, why did you decide to come back today? Did you miss me?”
Guo Shieru had become addicted to acting like a child. He wrapped his arms around Monier’s neck and said, “Yes, I missed you.”
Delighted, Monier kissed him and stroked his head, saying, “Then stay at home for a few days before going back. Hehe, have you seen your wooden master?”
Guo Shieru replied, “I just came from the master. Wife, I need to talk to you about something.”
Monier took Guo Shieru’s hand and led him into the room. After sitting cross-legged, she hugged him again and asked cheerfully, “Baby, what’s the matter? Tell your wife… Do you need money… or did someone bother our baby?”
Guo Shieru told her about the altar. Upon hearing this, Monier’s expression changed. The altar had functions similar to those of the Virtual Mist Path; in the eyes of experts like them, it was an invaluable treasure, and no sect would overlook such important information.
Monier said, “They chased you for three days? Those bastards… I’m not done with them!” Her reaction was much more intense than Kumu’s, and she seemed to have suffered a great loss.
Guo Shieru felt warm inside—it was the feeling of having someone to protect him, care for him, and love him. He said, “It’s okay. I managed to escape, and they also suffered heavy losses. I think at least a few hundred of them died.”
Monier became very interested and asked in detail about what had happened, listening with great enthusiasm. She stroked Guo Shieru’s head and praised him, “Baby, how did you think of cutting open that mound-shaped tower?”
Guo Shieru smiled bitterly and said, “It was just a stone tower at that time. I still had to break it open. Whatever came out would be better than me dealing with hundreds of chariots alone.”
At that moment, Kumu also came out. Guo Shieru quickly called out, “Master, you’re here.”
Kumu nodded and said, “Ni’er, just the two of us as saints isn’t enough. Call Zhu Juan too. His strength is sufficient, and you’ve always had a good relationship with him…”

Monier rolled her eyes and said, “Nonsense! What do you mean ‘always had a good relationship’? Is my relationship with you not good?”
Kumu had no expression on his face as he said, “The three of us… are enough to sweep away any family. Hmph, they dare to hunt down my disciple? Let me destroy their family!”
Guo Shieru broke into a cold sweat—this master was truly insane. Monier, on the other hand, acted coquettishly, saying, “Baby, look at your master—he’s just a piece of dead wood, rotten wood… He doesn’t think before speaking… No, his brain is just a big piece of wood!”
Guo Shieru gave a wry smile. He wrapped his arms around Monier’s neck and whispered in her ear, “Master, the altar is more important.”
Monier nodded repeatedly and said, “Okay, I’ll listen to baby.” She immediately called a servant to go to Zhu Juan’s manor to fetch someone.
Kumu asked, “Shieru, do you have a talisman gate?”
Guo Shieru nodded and said, “I only have one talisman gate. After using it, it takes three days before I can use it again. Sigh, otherwise I wouldn’t have been hunted for three days… It’s so annoying!”
Surprise appeared in Kumu and Monier’s eyes. Talisman gates weren’t something ordinary people could possess—they were talismans produced in the Advanced Continent, and even Kumu couldn’t make them. Although he had a few talisman gates, they all came from the Advanced Continent, being extremely expensive and rare.
Monier asked, “Baby, where did you get this talisman gate?”
Guo Shieru replied, “I got it in a secret realm, exchanged it from someone… That person was very powerful, incredibly powerful. I can’t describe it. Any talisman he took out was rare. It’s a pity we didn’t have many things to exchange at that time.”
Kumu wondered, “What was his profession?”
Guo Shieru said, “I don’t know. We asked him, but he said… he was just a merchant.”
Shock appeared on Kumu and Monier’s faces. Kumu asked, “What did he look like? What was his name?”
Guo Shieru described Li Ran’s appearance in detail and also mentioned how he exchanged a meal of talisman food for a life talisman ball.
Kumu repeated, “Luck, just luck… It’s a pity, such a pity…”
Guo Shieru curiously asked, “Master, Master, do you know who that person is? Is he from the Advanced Continent?”
Monier said, “He probably isn’t from the Advanced Continent. But that person is even more terrifying than those from the Advanced Continent. He must be the legendary wandering merchant. It’s a shame you don’t have enough materials; otherwise, you could have exchanged for more valuable things.”

Kumu said, “It’s already quite good. Twelve and the others are just professionals from the lower-tier continents. To be recognized by a senior… well, I guess it’s also because of Twelve. After he ate a talismanic meal, the senior gave him a life talisman ball—something extremely rare. Otherwise, Twelve wouldn’t have advanced so quickly.”

As they spoke, Zhu Juan walked in, his bulky frame being his most striking feature. Dressed in a purplish-red robe, he burst into laughter as soon as he entered. “Hey, you two… Tsk tsk, have you reconciled? Twelve is here too…” His strength was on par with Kumu’s—he was also a high-level Talisman Saint.

Kumu said coldly, “Fatty, shut up if you don’t want to die!”

Zhu Juan waved his plump arms nonchalantly and said, “Hey, it was you who invited me!”

Monier said, “Fatty Zhu, ignore him. He’s just a block of wood! Twelve, call him Uncle!”

Kumu replied coldly, “Call him Uncle-in-law!”

By Kumu’s status, he indeed should be called Uncle-in-law, but by Monier’s status, Guo Twelve should be called Uncle. This left Guo Twelve at a loss, not knowing what to call him.

Zhu Juan smiled and said, “Twelve, just call me Fat Uncle-in-law. Ignore those two scoundrels—one’s a block of wood, the other’s a madman… Hehe.”

Monier shouted, “You fat idiot, who’s the madman?”

Zhu Juan said seriously, “Ni’er, don’t scare Twelve.”

Monier was speechless for a moment. She angrily picked up Guo Twelve and said, “Baby, they’re all bad people. Let’s ignore them!”

Guo Twelve almost burst into laughter. Holding back his smile, he said, “Hello, Fat Uncle-in-law.”

Zhu Juan had a deep impression of Guo Twelve—this kid who had advanced to a high-level Grand Talisman Master at the age of ten. He was extremely envious of Kumu having such a talented disciple. He said, “Good, good, Twelve is good! Woodhead, Ni’er, why did you call me over?”

With Monier around, Kumu hardly spoke. Monier explained the matter of the altar secret realm. Zhu Juan also stopped smiling and said in surprise, “An ancient altar? Why didn’t you report it to the sect?”

Kumu replied coldly, “If we had reported it to the sect, what business would you have in it?”

Zhu Juan immediately understood what the two meant—they wanted to keep the altar to themselves, which was why they tried to pull him in. After thinking for a while, Zhu Juan smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll join! Do I have enough strength? If not, I’ll find more people!”

Withdried Wood shook his head and said, “There are too many people… secrets can’t be kept. Of course, even if the news leaks, as long as we don’t report it, the sect has no way to do anything… There’s no need to recruit more people; the three of us are enough.” They were all top-tier fighters in the sect, and the sect wouldn’t want to offend such experts over this matter.
Monier nodded and asked, “Hmm, baby, how many experts do they have?”
Guo Shieru shook his head and said, “I haven’t seen a single one. It’s all groups of hunting vehicles chasing after us. If there really were experts like our master, I wouldn’t be able to get back.”