They lack consciousness, only instinct for slaughter, and retain some combat experience and Martial Techniques from their lifetime, making their fighting strength extremely powerful! Most crucially, they ignore physical defenses and specialize in attacking the Divine Soul!
A residual soul at the early Sect Realm often requires three or four Martial Artists of the same realm to barely fend off or expel. In places without a stronghold, incidents of having one’s Divine Soul drained in the night by a residual soul sneaking into the house happen from time to time."
He paused, then added.
"Therefore, the price of inns in the camp varies greatly depending on whether a stronghold is maintaining them. Although the Lucky Inn is expensive, it guarantees safety."
"Let’s go to the Lucky Inn."
Gu Sheng decided directly.
"You stay too, I’ll cover the cost."
Gu Yuan was taken aback, then overjoyed.
"Thank you, big brother! Thank you, big brother!"
Being able to stay for free in a secure inn with a Heavenly Martial Realm powerful figure is like a pie falling from the sky!
He hurriedly led the way.
"This way, big brother!"
The two passed through the still bustling workshop and camp, arriving at a relatively quiet area in the north.
A three-story stone-wood mixed building stood before them, with a slightly old wooden sign hanging at the door—"Lucky Inn."
Consistent with the camp’s rugged style, but obviously larger in scale, there were also two men with calm auras and sharp eyes guarding the entrance, both at the peak of the Earth Martial Realm.
Entering the inn’s lobby, which was quite spacious with more than a dozen rough wooden tables, many Martial Artists were already eating or whispering. The air was filled with a mix of wine, meat, and sweat.
Behind the counter, an old man with a goatee and shrewd eyes was fiddling with an abacus; his concealed aura, faintly revealed, was even stronger than that of the two guards at the door, clearly having Sect Realm cultivation!
A laborer in a gray short coat, efficient with his movements, approached with a professional smile on his face.
"Esteemed guests, are you here for a meal or to stay?"
His gaze quickly swept over Gu Sheng, carrying a subtle hint of scrutiny, and when he saw the poorly dressed and low-cultivation Gu Yuan behind, his eyes held evident surprise and bewilderment. Clearly, it was rare for someone of Gu Sheng’s stature to lodge with a Martial Artist of such standing.
"To stay, two superior rooms."
Gu Sheng said directly.
"Alright! A superior room costs ten pieces of Low-Grade Spirit Jade per day, so two would be twenty."
The employee quoted the price, which was indeed considered expensive in the camp.
Gu Sheng casually took out twenty pieces of Low-Grade Spirit Jade and placed them on the counter, then asked.
"Is there dining available?"
"There is, there is!"
The employee put away the Spirit Jade, his smile growing warmer.
"Our establishment has fresh ’Iron Armor Rhinoceros’ meat recently hunted, stewed with ’Red Sun Grass’ to greatly supplement Qi-Blood! There’s also ’Clear Wind Rabbit’ meat stir-fried with ’Jade Bamboo Shoots’, tender and delicious! Mainstays include Spirit Grain Rice and meat patties. What do you think?"
"Two servings of each, delivered to the room. Also, prepare sufficient rations and water for three days."
Gu Sheng instructed.
"Understood! Arranging it right away for you!"
The employee noted it down, taking out two wooden plaques engraved with room numbers and handed them to Gu Sheng.
"Rooms Heaven Three and Four, third floor on the left-hand side, the innermost two, they’re quiet!"
Gu Sheng took the wooden plaques and led the still somewhat apprehensive Gu Yuan up the stairs.
The stairs and corridors were paved with solid wooden planks, producing a slight creaking sound underfoot.
The third floor was indeed much quieter; at the end of the corridor were two rooms, with plaques marked "Heaven Three" and "Heaven Four."
Opening the door to room Heaven Three, it was much better than Gu Yuan had imagined.
The room wasn’t large, but it was clean and tidy, with a wooden bed, a square table, two chairs, and a wooden basin stand in the corner.
The window facing north avoided the camp’s clamour. Though simple, it was considered luxurious in this ruins camp.
Soon, the employee delivered steaming hot meals.
Two large earthenware bowls, one of meat stewed to tenderness, glistening with oil and exuding a rich meat aroma mixed with a faint herbal scent; the Iron Armor Rhinoceros meat was in one, while the other had sliced bamboo shoots stir-fried with tender rabbit meat, releasing a mouthwatering fragrance.
The chopsticks holding a piece of rabbit meat abruptly froze in mid-air; he looked up, still chewing, a bit bewildered gazing at Gu Sheng.
"...Huh? Brother, what did you say?"
Gu Sheng raised the cup, taking a sip, his deep eyes seemingly capable of piercing one’s soul.
"You said your family has been making a living around Wuya Ancient City for several generations, knowing some inside news."
"Yes... yes."
Gu Yuan answered instinctively, but his heart began to race.
"Your foundation is unstable, your True Qi is mixed and impure, clearly raised forcefully to the Second Realm of the Earth Martial Realm through Elixir resources."
Gu Sheng’s tone was flat, yet each word was like a needle.
"In this camp, any Martial Artist with some family heritage would not have such a weak foundation. If your family had a Martial Artist heritage, they wouldn’t let you end up like this."
Gu Yuan’s face instantly turned pale, his hand gripping the chopsticks trembled slightly.
Gu Sheng continued, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"More critically, your Cultivation Technique’s pathway is obscure and strange, carrying a cold, death-like aura, far from common techniques circulated currently. It seems more like... something unearthed from some ominous place within these ruins."
Clatter!
Gu Yuan’s chopsticks could no longer hold steady, dropping onto the table with a crisp sound.
He was frozen in his chair, mouth slightly ajar, the food stuffed in completely forgotten to chew, his eyes filled with unparalleled shock and deeply rooted panic!
His most guarded secret had been laid bare by the other in just a glance!
Gu Yuan was stiff as a board in his chair, his face as white as a sheet, eyes overwhelmed with fear.
He (or rather she) had their most guarded secret, the deep-rooted, life-sustaining reliance, utterly exposed by the person before them with just a few simple words!
The other’s gaze was calm but felt like it could pierce through everything, leaving her with nowhere to hide.
"You... you..."
Gu Yuan’s voice was dry and tight, barely able to form complete words.

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