Long City – Inside the Beasts Butler
Gu Longtian's expression shifted. His playful demeanor vanished as a serious tone crept into his voice.
"What are you hiding?" he asked, staring at Zhen Huan. "I can feel a powerful energy from your hands… and your body."
Yun Sha looked at Zhen Huan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I can't sense anything," she said.
She stepped closer, circling around him slowly, studying his aura with caution. After a moment, she shook her head. "No. I really can't sense anything from him."
She turned back toward Gu Longtian. "Old man, I think you really are not in your right mind."
Zhen Huan kept his eyes on the old man. "What are you talking about? What kind of powerful energy?"
His thoughts began to race.
Did he sense the sword's aura? I don't know how powerful the sword really is, but the System said it's a weapon with infinite potential. Could its presence be leaking out even when I'm not using it?
Gu Longtian rubbed his long beard slowly, his gaze still fixed on Zhen Huan. "I don't know what kind of energy it is exactly… but it's not something someone like you should be carrying."
Zhen Huan didn't flinch. "If you don't even know what it is, then how could I?"
Yun Sha crossed her arms and turned back to the old man. "I think he's really out of his mind. Let's just go fro—"
Before she could finish, Gu Longtian raised his hand and snapped his fingers in her direction.
In an instant, Yun Sha's mouth clamped shut. She tried to speak, but not a sound came out. Her eyes widened in shock as she grabbed at her throat.
What… I can't talk? What did he just do to me?!
Gu Longtian's voice dropped low and firm. "Boy, I'll ask you again. What are you hiding that's releasing such energy?"
Zhen Huan's eyes darted to Yun Sha, panic rising in his chest. He stepped forward and held out his hand. "Hey, hey, don't do anything to her. I'll show you."
He turned toward Yun Sha, then faced Gu Longtian once again.
Reaching into his System storage, Zhen Huan withdrew a sleek, black-bladed sword — the Invincible Slayer Sword. The moment it appeared in his hand, the temperature in the room shifted.
The sword released a sudden pulse of raw power. The air vibrated, and a deep hum filled the room. Waves of crimson aura burst out from the blade, surging like ripples through space.
Gu Longtian and Yun Sha both instinctively shielded their faces with their hands. The force of the aura was overwhelming, and it cut through the atmosphere like a knife.
The entire shop trembled slightly.
Zhen Huan stood in the center, gripping the hilt tightly. He felt the power running through his veins, wild and limitless.
This is only one percent of the sword's full power… and yet, even this much is enough to make people tremble.
Gu Longtian stared at the sword in awe, his thoughts spinning.
Unbelievable… I can't even sense this sword's level. It's not just Holy grade — no, this is something above that. But what is a weapon like this doing in the hands of a kid?
The pressure that filled the room slowly began to settle. The crimson aura surrounding the sword faded, and the overwhelming presence vanished into silence.
Gu Longtian and Yun Sha slowly lowered their hands as the storm of energy passed.
Zhen Huan looked at them apologetically. "It's not my doing. It happened automatically."
Gu Longtian coughed, trying to regain composure. "Ah, it's fine. So… tell me. Is that sword really yours?"
Yun Sha's gaze drifted back to the black blade in Zhen Huan's hand.
I thought this sword was nothing special, but that aura… it's terrifying. And this old man—why did he seal my mouth? I can't even sense his cultivation level.
Zhen Huan nodded slowly. "Yeah… it's my sword."
Well, it doesn't have an owner, so that makes it mine now.
He focused inward and called out silently.
System, tell me who this man is.
As if on cue, Gu Longtian spoke again.
"Oh? Mind if I take a closer look? Don't worry, I won't steal it."
Zhen Huan blinked. Suddenly, a purple info window appeared before his eyes.
He replied without hesitation, "Okay."
He handed the sword over to Gu Longtian.
The old man received the weapon with both hands, carefully examining it. His fingers brushed against the blade with a strange reverence. Yun Sha stood silently to the side, her eyes fixed on the man.
I can't speak, but my cultivation is still intact. If he tries anything, I'll strike immediately.
Meanwhile, Zhen Huan turned his attention to the floating window before him.
Information Window
Name: Gu Longtian
Age: 121
Cultivation: Nascent Soul – Third Layer
Description: Hidden – Requires 2000 XP to unlock
Zhen Huan narrowed his eyes.
Third layer Nascent Soul... but the description is hidden?
His gaze sharpened as his thoughts darkened.
This system bastard... always asking for XP at the worst times.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the info window changed.
Now, in the center of the screen, a glowing middle finger hovered with gleaming defiance. Beneath it, in bold white text, it read:
Host, it's the hidden info. You have to see that.
Zhen Huan sighed deeply, exasperated.
I don't even have that many XP points… this damn system, one day I'll—
Gu Longtian, still holding the sword, muttered in amazement.
"This sword… it's forged from a metal I don't recognize. If this material even exists in our world, I've never heard of it."
He ran a finger along the blade's edge, careful not to bleed. The sword hummed quietly in response, its energy suppressed but still alive.
Yun Sha kept her eyes on him, her hands quietly glowing with defensive energy.
This old man… I swear, the moment I can speak again, I'm going to curse him into the ground.
Gu Longtian laughed heartily as he returned the black sword to Zhen Huan.
"Boy, this sword is something else. Go on, take it back."
Zhen Huan nodded and reached forward, carefully receiving the blade. With a thought, he sent it back into his system storage, where it vanished in a flash of light.
Yun Sha stepped forward with a scowl on her face. She stood directly in front of Gu Longtian and began making strange sounds—"Guuuu… guaaa… guuuuahaaa…"—while waving her arms dramatically.
Her face was red with frustration.
Gu Longtian raised an eyebrow and burst out laughing. "Alright, alright! I'll unseal your mouth now."
With a light snap of his fingers, the spell broke.
The moment her mouth was free, Yun Sha exploded.
"You damn old man! You'll die soon, I swear it! You shut my mouth like I'm a doll? Just wait, I—!"
Zhen Huan blinked, stunned, and even Gu Longtian was momentarily frozen. Then the old man let out a sheepish laugh and rubbed his beard.
"Haha… boy, your girlfriend is a bit feisty. You'll need to be careful if you plan on living long."
Both Zhen Huan and Yun Sha turned beet red, shouting in unison.
"He's not my boyfriend!"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
Gu Longtian chuckled again, waving his hand. "Alright, alright! My fault, I misunderstood."
He cleared his throat and continued. "Now, what do you want to sell?"
Zhen Huan raised his hand, and with a calm breath, summoned four fire-fanged wolf corpses from his system storage. Their charred bodies dropped onto the wooden floor with a soft thud, smoke still curling from their burnt fur.
These beasts won't be of much use to me. Better to sell them for spirit stones.
Gu Longtian's eyes widened slightly.
Fire Fang Wolves… Rank 1, Low-Tier demonic beasts. Even a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refining would have trouble taking down a pack of these. But how did he manage to kill four?
His eyes moved toward Yun Sha, curious.
Maybe she helped him…
But then he noticed her shocked expression. She was staring at the beast corpses as if seeing them for the first time. No pride, no familiarity—just surprise.
She didn't help him. She's just as stunned as I am.
Yun Sha leaned closer to the wolves, inspecting their injuries and scorched fur. Her brow furrowed as she muttered to herself.
He killed these…? But how? I was with him most of the time, and he didn't show this level of strength. Did he killed them before we meet? But… mean while killing them he'll be at Qi Refining – Second Layer?
Zhen Huan stood silently as the two observed the bodies. His face was calm.