"The dream is yet to be realized, comrades must continue to strive!"
Gu Qingfeng secretly resolved to work harder on his cultivation after returning, as a good life is created through relentless effort.
So... how should he get back?
Gu Qingfeng looked around blankly at the desolate surroundings, devoid of any human presence.
Who am I? Where am I?
Standing still for a moment in confusion, Gu Qingfeng vaguely recalled that Wutong Prefecture was roughly to the west. However, knowing the general direction was useless—the west was vast, and the distance was immense. Even a slight deviation could lead him astray by thousands of miles.
After some thought, Gu Qingfeng decided to head west first, hoping to encounter someone and ask for directions.
Thus, he set off. To avoid being recognized, Gu Qingfeng had removed the Phantom Spirit Mask before leaving, revealing his naturally handsome face.
The face of "Shen" (God) could no longer be used casually, as he and Demon Pu had stirred up too much attention while chasing each other across half of the Great Yan Dynasty. That face was far too conspicuous.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that after today, the legend of "Shen" would spread throughout the Great Yan Dynasty.
Moreover, Gu Qingfeng dared not travel by wind anymore, as that method was too similar to "Shen." He had no choice but to run on the ground, though his speed wasn’t slow—just a bit more obstructed.
Gu Qingfeng’s arms dangled limply, swaying in the wind generated by his speed. His body leaned low, his steps swift, and occasionally he kicked off tree trunks to propel himself forward, leaping like a ninja from a certain village.
After running for a while, Gu Qingfeng reverted to normal running, realizing that his previous method didn’t actually increase his speed. In fact, normal running was faster. As it turned out, anime had lied to him.
Time passed minute by minute. Gu Qingfeng sprinted from noon until sunset. As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, he quickly activated his Shadow Step technique, drastically increasing his speed. However, he was cautious not to teleport too far at once, as he still couldn’t determine the exact direction.
After several teleportations, Gu Qingfeng finally sensed the presence of a living being not far away with his formidable soul power. Overjoyed, he immediately teleported over.
There, he saw a hunched figure dressed in luxurious robes, resembling an elderly man. However, the person’s light and quick steps suggested otherwise—perhaps a young hunchback. Since the figure had its back turned, Gu Qingfeng couldn’t see its face.
This individual was walking alone in the pitch-dark wilderness, and just the sight of their back gave off a sinister vibe.
Moreover, under Gu Qingfeng’s soul perception, he detected a faint trace of demonic aura emanating from the figure. However, the aura was so weak that Gu Qingfeng couldn’t muster any interest.
Still, Gu Qingfeng wasn’t disappointed. With his current strength, only a great demon like Demon Pu could pose a challenge. Anything lesser wouldn’t help him improve.
Oh well, he just needed directions. No point being picky.
He quickly called out to the figure, "Hey, wait up! I need to ask for directions."
The figure paused, seemingly startled by the sudden appearance of someone behind them. They turned around sharply to face Gu Qingfeng, and upon sensing that Gu Qingfeng was only at the Qi Gathering Seventh Level, they smiled.
When Gu Qingfeng saw the figure’s face, he understood why their posture was hunched yet their steps were light—it was a weasel dressed in human clothing.
The weasel hadn’t fully transformed. Apart from being able to walk upright, it bore no other human characteristics. It was quite large, standing about the height of a person.
The weasel grinned at Gu Qingfeng, "You need directions?"
"Yeah."
"I can give you directions, but first, I’d like you to answer a question."
"Go ahead."
The weasel’s smile grew increasingly human-like, as if it were a person wearing a weasel’s skin.
"Do I look like a human to you?"
Gu Qingfeng immediately understood that the weasel was seeking a "verbal seal." Weasels had a unique method of transformation—they would stop people and ask, "Do I look like a human?" If the answer was yes, their transformation would progress significantly. If not, their cultivation would suffer.
Those who answered "no" would often face the weasel’s wrath, while those who answered "yes" wouldn’t be spared either. The weasel would cling to them, draining their life force.
Whether the answer was yes or no, it was a matter of dying sooner or later.
Unfortunately for the weasel, it had asked the wrong person.
"You look like an idiot!"
The weasel’s smile froze. In that moment, it felt as though its transformation progress had been reset to zero.
"You dare ruin my cultivation? I’ll kill you!" The weasel flew into a rage, its face contorting into a vicious snarl. Its mouth stretched wide, revealing sharp fangs dripping with foul-smelling saliva.
Gu Qingfeng feigned surprise, "Wait, an idiot is still a human, right? Saying you look like an idiot means you look like a human. How does that ruin your cultivation?"
"Die!"
The weasel dropped to all fours, transforming into a black shadow as it pounced at Gu Qingfeng like a wild beast, its gaping maw aiming straight for his neck.
Gu Qingfeng had initially considered taking a hit to see if he could gain a new skill, but the sight of the weasel’s drooling mouth made him abandon that idea.
Instead, he calmly extended his pale, powerful hand and, with a flick of his wrist, grabbed the weasel by the neck as if it had deliberately thrown itself into his grasp.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..." The weasel squealed in terror, its earlier ferocity completely gone.
*Slap!*
Gu Qingfeng smacked the weasel across the face, leaving it dazed.
"Shut the hell up," Gu Qingfeng said impatiently.
"Now, tell me, how do I get to Wutong Prefecture?"
"Spare... spare me..." the weasel pleaded weakly.
"Stop wasting my time. I’m asking for directions, not your life. Got it?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the dark sky, his patience wearing thin. At this hour, he would usually be dancing at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower. Instead, he was stuck in some godforsaken wilderness. The contrast was infuriating.
"I... I don’t know..."
"You don’t know!?" Gu Qingfeng’s eyes blazed with fury. "You don’t even know basic directions, and you want to become human? Just die!"
With that, he tightened his grip, ready to strangle the weasel.
The weasel struggled frantically and cried out, "I don’t know, but I know where people are nearby! You can ask them for directions!"
*Thud.*
The weasel fell to the ground in a heap.
"Lead the way," Gu Qingfeng said coldly.