Seeing someone ahead, Wang Sheng simply patted Da Bai and asked it to pick up the pace.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t encountered people before, and it’s not like the existence of Martial Artists was unknown in this world, so there should be no big issue.
Furthermore, the person was wearing a Taoist robe and looked far from simple; Wang Sheng did not want to get involved—who knew what the situation was?
However, just as Da Bai passed by, a voice reached Wang Sheng’s ears.
“Hold on!”
Wang Sheng ignored the call, and naturally, Da Bai ignored it even more.
Hilarious, Da Bai couldn’t even understand these pompous words.
Seeing that neither the man nor the tiger paid any attention to him, Yue, who was sitting on the rock, felt a bit embarrassed.
He had already posed as a high-minded hermit, and yet, the person he wanted to find paid him no attention at all.
Having no other choice, he jumped down from the rock and took off after them, all legs flailing.
“Fellow Taoist, please wait!”
He had used Grandmaster level power in his voice, so Wang Sheng heard him loud and clear, and it gave him quite a start.
“Da Bai, stop!”
Seeing Wang Sheng stop, Yue showed a pleased expression on his face, finally having made them halt.
But before Yue could say anything upon approaching Da Bai, Wang Sheng spoke first, “Can you take back that phrase you just said?”
Yue was puzzled.
Wang Sheng felt somewhat helpless. The phrase ’Fellow Taoist, please wait’ was terribly powerful. Those who heard it in the ’Investiture of the Gods’ were pretty much doomed, and seeing that this person looked set on persistently following them was why he stopped.
Looking at this person’s baffled expression, he sighed inwardly and then said, “Alright, what do you want? And don’t say ’Fellow Taoist, please wait’ anymore!”
Even though Yue didn’t understand Wang Sheng’s thoughts, he was after all seeking protection, so he lowered his stance.
“It’s like this, fellow Taoist, could you allow me to follow you?”
“Are you out of your mind?” Wang Sheng asked bluntly. They had just met and he was already talking about following him. Wasn’t that crazy?
“Fellow Taoist, it’s destiny’s guidance.”
Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow; had he encountered a con artist?
And one with not weak ability at that.
Just when he thought Yue was going to say something more to bamboozle him, the man spoke again.
“Of course, that was just an opening line. In truth, I think you are very strong. My junior brother went courting death by following the ’Heir of Destiny’, and I thought it necessary to find a powerful Protector to safeguard our sect’s inheritance.”
Yue had already figured out that Wang Sheng was not someone who favored dragging things out and quickly stated his intentions.
“How did you find me?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yue, one of the Inheritors of Stargazing Valley, and my greatest skill is divination. You are the one my divination pointed to as the most likely to protect me!”
“Stargazing Valley?”
Divination-based powers existed in almost every world, some were incredibly annoying, and others stayed out of worldly affairs.
Just not sure what the situation with this person named Yue was.
Regardless, based on the current impression, he seemed quite alright.
Of course, about the protection issue—
“Why do you think I would definitely protect you? Did your divination tell you that?”
“It’s not certain; just that the Stargazing Skill reminded me that you are the most suitable person. That’s why I came to give it my all. Stargazing Skill is not about certainties.
However, seeking protection naturally doesn’t come without a price. Aside from Stargazing Valley’s core inheritance, anything I have can be offered. Moreover, Stargazing Skill will be at your service.”
Yue didn’t feel the need to remain proud when seeking protection, so he put all his cards on the table.
“Apart from the core inheritance, anything you have? Do you have Grandmaster Level Cultivation Techniques?”
“Yes, the Valley Master made us memorize a lot of things long ago. I’ve memorized twelve Grandmaster Level Cultivation Techniques, several Martial Techniques, and even some that involve space, as well as various auxiliary methods. Although I haven’t cultivated them, I can recite them.”
At this point, Yue also paused for a moment.
He suddenly thought, one of Stargazing Valley’s ancestral commandments was to not leave the valley unless absolutely necessary, but why were they, the Inheritors, tasked with memorizing such knowledge that seemed utterly useless as per the ancestral teachings?
They would need to spend a lifetime just on the cultivation of Stargazing Skill.
Was this anticipated? Or had the ancestor already considered the possibility of a situation entirely opposite to his own divination when writing down the commandments?
Of course, this thought was fleeting. If something could be put to use, then it was a good thing.
“What do you think, can these possessions pay the price?”
Theoretically, these items should be enough to tempt a Great Grandmaster. If it still wasn’t enough, then he would no longer insist.
He still adhered to his belief: The Stargazing Skill was merely a possibility.
After hearing everything, Wang Sheng felt like he might have just stepped in a pile of dog shit luck.
To casually run into someone so incredible.
But—
“Would you go all out in a fight with me?”
Yue felt curious inside, though he did not object.
“Sure!”
Wang Sheng smiled a little, then drew the Black Dragon Spear hanging from Da Bai’s side: “Then let’s begin!”
Yue naturally accepted the challenge!
When the two Grandmasters used their full power, at first there wasn’t as much commotion as one might imagine, nor the kind of obvious destructive force that seemed particularly appalling.
However, upon closer inspection, one could discern the subtleties.
It wasn’t that there was no destructive force, but that both were concentrating their destructive power into their attacks, targeting their opponents specifically.
As the battle continued, Yue started to feel outmatched and began dodging Wang Sheng’s attacks.
Wang Sheng’s spear thrust directly into a nearby tree, and his Qi Blood Power instantly caused the trunk, as thick as a waist, to burst and fall, and the Qi Force that followed blasted a hole in the ground ten meters across.
One could imagine the immense power behind Wang Sheng’s nonchalant strike.
“I concede!”
Without hesitation, Yue conceded defeat. He was not adept at fighting to begin with, and Wang Sheng before him was outrageously strong, no match at all!
Hearing the submission, Wang Sheng retracted his spear.
“You’re a Grandmaster? You don’t seem like it.”
Are all Grandmasters this feeble?
He had been gradually increasing his power, and without using even four-tenths of his strength, Yue had already given up.
“I am not fond of combat, and you seem excessively strong, so naturally, I am no match, and more importantly, if I were stronger than you, what need would there be for protection…”
Wang Sheng: “…”
Of course, he understood this point. Firstly, he wanted to test just how strong a human Grandmaster could be, and secondly, he wished to assess Yue’s strength to keep things under his control.
“Cough, cough, the test is over. If you still want to follow me, then come on up!” Wang Sheng patted Da Bai.
This person named Yue, by finding him, had already proven his extraordinariness. Wang Sheng wasn’t tempted by Cultivation Techniques or martial skills, but as someone who could deduce information, Yue likely knew much, which Wang Sheng valued the most.
Besides, Yue was weaker in strength and Wang Sheng detected no malice, so it wouldn’t be bad to keep him around.
“Thank you, my Lord!”
Yue had come for this purpose and naturally wouldn’t give it up.
With Yue joining him, the two set off together, and along the way, Wang Sheng and Yue got to know each other again.
“Introduce yourself. My name is Wang Sheng, you could say I’m a bit of a recluse!”
“Lord Wang Sheng, then please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Yue, from Stargazing Valley. I am skilled in the art of Stargazing Skill and deduction. From now on, I am your follower.”
Yue appeared very respectful, but not at all obsequious.
After getting to know each other again, the two became more familiar.
Wang Sheng also asked his questions.
“Yue, you said you came out together with Xing? Who is Xing? Your junior brother?”
“I am on equal standing with Xing, not related as senior or junior brothers. After Master’s instructions, I left the valley to seek my own path. Xing decided to aid the Heir of Destiny in his heart, to bring the so-called trajectory back on track, and perhaps I feared death, hence I chose a Protector to preserve the legacy of Stargazing Valley…”
“Heir of Destiny, the right track? Do such things really exist? If they do, they are but manipulations of the stronger, not so-called destiny.” Wang Sheng didn’t agree with the idea of destiny.
If there was a set trajectory, then it must be manipulated by someone more powerful.
“It seems my choice is correct. Lord Wang Sheng, you are indeed the most suitable person for me to follow, your viewpoint is similar to mine.”
Wang Sheng was curious, “As a person from Stargazing Valley, you don’t believe in this?”
“It’s not that I don’t believe, but I think that Stargazing Skill is just one possibility, not a certainty.”
“Hahaha!” Wang Sheng laughed, finding Yue to his liking.
Their relationship seemed even closer now, and Wang Sheng didn’t dwell on it anymore.
He had never wanted to use Stargazing Skill to peer into the future.
He was more curious about the strong people in this world, like Yue, who had been defeated by just over 30% of his strength.
“Yue, how do you rank in terms of strength among the Grandmasters?”
“In the hierarchy of Grandmasters, I’m roughly in the lower middle, Lord Wang Sheng. Do you have any questions?”
Wang Sheng didn’t hide his intention, “Nothing much, I cultivated on my own, so I want to understand both Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters.”
“Lord Wang Sheng, you cultivated alone?” Yue was somewhat surprised but quickly composed his expression. As a follower, he would not pry into the secrets of the one he followed.
“As for Grandmaster Level martial artists, compared to you they might be well aware that at the Grandmaster Level, the use of Qi Blood Power has reached a pinnacle far beyond the crude utilization by martial artists, and that’s why they are known as Grandmasters.”
“The use of Qi Blood Power has truly reached the realm of external release, which can be controlled ’As You Wish’.”
“As for Great Grandmasters, I’m sorry, Lord Wang Sheng, that’s something I don’t quite understand.”
“You don’t understand? Doesn’t Stargazing Valley have an Inheritance?” Wang Sheng was surprised, wondering if there wasn’t a single Great Grandmaster among their Protectors.
Yue shook his head and said, “The Valley Master mentioned that the legacy of Stargazing Valley is special. Once one cultivates the core inheritance to a certain level, naturally, one would understand Great Grandmasters. However, I do know one thing; Great Grandmasters and Grandmasters aren’t the same concept at all. Despite being just one realm apart, they are almost like two different species…”