Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Dark Echoes and Unexpected Rumors

In the weeks following Gù Ti?nháo's advance to Level 2 of Body Refinement, a new tension began to permeate the air of the City of Maplewood. It was not the usual tension of family rivalries or competition for resources, but something darker, coming from outside the protective walls of the city. He began as whispers in the markets and tea houses, fragments of conversations caught by Ti?nháo during his discreet forays into information or the sale of his few belongings. Caravans arriving from neighboring counties to the east brought disturbing stories: attacked villages, outposts of smaller sects looted, travelers missing. The perpetrators, the rumors said with choked voices, were not ordinary thugs, but demonic cultivators - practitioners of dark arts who left behind only death and corruption. At first, many in Maplewood City dismissed stories as exaggerations or distant problems. Demonic cultivators were like ghosts, legends whispered to scare children, not a tangible threat. But as more reports arrived, each darker than the previous one, the apprehension began to spread like a silent plague. Guards at the city gates became more vigilant, the local militia stepped up its patrols, and an unofficial curfew began to be watched by ordinary citizens after dark. Ti?nháo listened to everything, his keen senses absorbing the growing anxiety around him. The mention of demonic cultivators intrigued and alarmed him. In his past life, demons were fantasy figures. Here, they seemed to be a real and lethal threat, yet another layer of danger in this already unforgiving world. This reinforced his determination to gain strength - not only for the examination of the sect, but for his own survival. Then the official confirmation arrived. One day, messengers riding on fast Beasts of the Wind, bearing the emerald green insignia of the Green Cloud Sect, galloped through the city. A decree was posted in prominent locations - at the main gate, near the Lord of the City Mansion and on the warning board of the merchant guild. Ti?nháo was on the market that day, quietly trying to assess potential interest in his future incense when he saw a crowd forming near the guild's bulletin board. Curious, he approached, staying on the periphery. A guild official read the decree aloud to the illiterate or weak-sighted crowd." ..."considering the growing demonic threat in Black Mountain County and the need to ensure the safety of travel routes and to concentrate the sect's resources on regional defense," the official's voice echoed, "the Green Cloud Sect announces the postponement of the annual examination of admission of external disciples. The exam, originally scheduled for next month, will be held in four months. New dates and procedures will be announced in due course. The sect calls for the understanding and vigilance of all citizens... The news fell like a bomb on the crowd. Then followed a moment of shocked silence, then a growing murmur of voices. Four months! An exclaimed young man in worn clothes, his face falling into despair. I spent all my savings coming here for the exam next month! How am I going to survive another four months? It's a disaster! He lamented another. But maybe it's good? More time to train? "Train? If the demons are so close, there may not even be an examination! A third said, his voice trembling with fear. Ti?nháo swept the crowd with his gaze and spotted a familiar figure near the front: L? H?.. The robust young man stood still, his fists clenched, his face a mask of stubborn determination mixed with a hint of frustration. The postponement had clearly affected him, but he did not seem desperate, only more determined. Inside the Gu Mansion, the news also caused ripples, albeit of a different nature. Ti?nháo heard in passing, through gossipy servants, that Patriarch Gù Zhànlóng had convened an emergency meeting with the elders. The main concern was not delayed examination - the entry of Tiany and Tianf?ng was considered certain anyway - but rather the safety of the Gu Family itself and its business interests if the demonic threat spread to Maplewood County. Defensive measures were discussed, patrols reinforced. For Gù Tiany and Gù Tianf?ng, postponement was probably a non-issue, perhaps even a slight annoyance in their plans. They were already far beyond the minimum requirements and probably focused on larger goals within the sect. For Ti?nháo, however, the news was an electric shock. Four months! It was a gift from heaven, a window of opportunity that he would not dare waste. Reaching Level 3 of Body Refinement in a month seemed almost impossible. But in four months? It was feasible. Challenging, yes, but feasible, especially if he could get the Meridian Opening Pill. The initial relief was quickly replaced by renewed pressure. He had to use that time. He had to get stronger, not just to pass the exam, but to face a world that contained threats as demonic cultivators. The Black Mist Forest, once a risky plan, now seemed like a necessity - a place to train real combat and find the resources it desperately needed. That night, back in the relative safety of his room, Ti?nháo began working on his first rudimentary "alchemy" project. He had collected the sticky sap from an ordinary tree called Pinheiro Chorão on the outskirts of the city during one of his discrete exits. He carefully grinded the Cold Dew Grass, which had dried under moonlight the previous nights, until it turned into fine dust. Then, following the fragmented instructions of the Account, he mixed the powder with a small amount of the sap, forming a thick paste. With careful fingers, he shaped the paste into small cones, the size of his nail. The process was simple, almost primitive compared to true alchemy, but required focus. He let the cones dry in a hidden corner of his room. While working, his mind was focused on the future. Four months. Enough time to try to reach Level 3, maybe even longer if you could get the pill. Enough time to hone your combat skills in the Black Fog Forest. Enough time to find 100-year-old Ginseng. The dark echoes of the demonic attacks were a reminder of the cruelty of the world, but the unexpected postponement of the examination was a ray of hope. Gù Ti?nháo felt the balance of fate, which had always seemed to weigh against him, to swing slightly in his favor. It was up to him to seize this opportunity with both hands.