Chapter 454: Chapter 454: Go on a Spur-of-the-moment Trip
Gong Yu was stunned and said:
"You’re going alone to Shenlongjia? Let me accompany you; the Giant Eagle can carry two people."
Yang Xiao thought for a moment and said:
"You can’t come with me. Right now, Xia Luo and the others are dispersed in various cities. Our territory has expanded, and someone needs to be in charge of Nanmu City, controlling the overall situation. Xia Luo has the strategy for it, but lacks combat power.
In terms of combat power, you’ve already got no rivals below King Level. With me not being home, you’ll need to take on the responsibility of protecting everyone."
"Just flattering me, huh? No rivals below King Level? I’m not even your rival."
Yang Xiao smiled and said:
"Next time, we’ll concentrate the resources of six cities to let you break through to Enhanced Gene Advanced first. I estimate about eighty million Crystal Coins should be enough."
Gong Yu’s Beast Soul is the Lightning Leopard, a mid-high-tier Beast Soul. Eighty million to upgrade to Enhanced Gene Advanced sounds about right.
"But I’m still worried about you going alone to Shenlongjia. Even if the locals can’t defeat you, when you go to hunt monsters in Shenlongjia, you’ll need to rest at night, right? Alone, with no one to keep watch, a mere blink could expose you to an attack from monsters. It’s too dangerous. I suggest you think it over."
"Right, you make a good point. I’ll consider bringing one or two people with me, but not you. While I’m not home, you need to take my place and protect our home. First, no internal strife should occur. Second, don’t let anyone bully our own brothers and sisters."
Having said that, Yang Xiao patted Gong Yu’s shoulder and said with a deep voice:
"Greater power comes with greater responsibility. You are now the person capable of protecting everyone. Understand?"
Gong Yu felt a heavy weight on his heart all of a sudden. He had never thought that one day he’d have to shoulder the responsibility of protecting a large group of people.
Yang Xiao’s trust in him had already gone beyond brotherly friendship, which made him both excited and nervous.
"Yang Xiao, as long as you trust me, my life, Gong Yu, is yours!"
"What nonsense are you speaking? We still have a long time ahead. The apocalypse will eventually pass, and the task of saving humanity must fall on us. As long as we strive hard, one day, every place touched by the sun will be warm."
Yang Xiao spoke very passionately. At this moment, a savior’s glow descended on him in his heart. From self-rescue to helping friends, saving a school, a city, and then a nation, up to all living beings on Earth, this evolution of emotion and responsibility made Yang Xiao firmly believe that he must continually strive to become stronger.
He then thought of the immense power behind the Genetic Store in that mysterious planet. To defeat this mysterious force, he still had a long way to go.
Yang Xiao chatted briefly with Gong Yu and then turned towards the teaching building, suddenly stopping and looking back to ask:
"What do you think about Lan Xin’s junior sister, Xiao Lan?"
Gong Yu was startled and replied:
"She’s great, beautiful, with a fine temperament. Her Ancient Martial Arts skills aren’t bad either, and she has a nice personality."
"Holy shit, seems like you have thoughts about her, knowing so much about her?"
Gong Yu’s face reddened, and he immediately defended himself:
"No, I heard it from others."
"Hehe, why shy? Xiao Lan admires you. You take the initiative yourself; that’s all I can help you with."
Gong Yu was stunned, foolishly watching Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao chuckled softly and walked away.
Gong Yu stood on the sports field, feeling quite at a loss, excited, thrilled, pleasantly surprised, and nervous all at once.
Ever since the last emotionally upsetting incident with Liu Yiyi, which deeply affected him, added with the loss of a hand, Gong Yu, originally a cool and handsome young man, became somewhat insecure.
Fortunately, Yang Xiao brought him to Nanmu City in time. Here, Gong Yu regained his confidence through the respect he received from Yang Xiao and everyone else.
Especially since he started practicing Ancient Martial Arts, he trained day and night, diligently, no less than Yang Xiao. He focused on mastering all nine Finger Skills from the Seventy-two Skills of Shaolin Temple, which dramatically transformed his combat power.
Yang Xiao just complimented him, saying he had no match below the King Level, and it was not just flattery.
Capability instills confidence!
Now, although Gong Yu had lost a hand, his increased abilities had restored his former ease and confidence, radiating vitality; of course, he was less cold than before because, in front of friends like Yang Xiao and Xia Luo, there was no need for the aloofness.
He naturally admired Xiao Lan, but he didn’t expect that Xiao Lan admired him too. He was initially worried about being disliked by Xiao Lan for losing a hand, but now this concern was completely dispelled.
Gong Yu suddenly smiled and hugged the neck of the Giant Eagle, excitedly saying:
"Giant Eagle brother, I’ve finally been reborn!"
The Giant Eagle seemed to understand but not comprehend, softly chirping a few times.
...
Yang Xiao returned to the teaching building and met Monk Ben Yin in the corridor.
"Brother Ben Yin, been busy lately?"
"Amitabha, I’ve been so busy that I’m almost smoking; I have to teach so many people to cultivate, including former monks of Shaolin Temple and new secular disciples, totaling five or six hundred people, and have so many things to handle!
You are quite at leisure, able to seclude yourself in the Scripture Pavilion all day, unconcerned about external affairs—I’m envious!"
"Pfft, can we drop the ’old monk’ in our conversations?"
Monk Ben Yin smiled, "Amitabha!"
"Feel like getting some fresh air?"
Monk Ben Yin: "..."
"I want to head to the Divine Dragon structure in the Primitive Forest of North City; there are many high-level Mutant Monsters there, and I can only acquire enough resources to increase my Evolution Level by going there. How about you accompany me, and we go together?"
Monk Ben Yin’s eyes lit up,
"Can I really do that? I’ve been dreaming of going out, but—"
"Stop the buts. Let’s go on a spontaneous trip. Leave everything here to brothers Ben Guo and Ben Xun, don’t worry, Shaolin Temple won’t collapse or perish without you."
Monk Ben Yin was initially shocked, then joyfully said:
"Amitabha! Brother Yang, you always manage to awaken people from their dreams! Alright, I’ll come with you."
"For now, just go and inform Ben Guo and Ben Xun that you’ll be gone with me for a few days and ask them to take good care of Shaolin Temple on your behalf; I’ve already spoken to Gong Yu."
"Only a few days?" Monk Ben Yin looked somewhat disappointed.
Yang Xiao was startled, then chuckled:
"Saying a few days is just to pacify them; what if we say several months? Wouldn’t they panic and refuse to let you go?"
"Amitabha, a monk does not speak deceit!"
Yang Xiao rolled his eyes at Monk Ben Yin, turned, and walked away, leaving behind a remark:
"I’ll wait for you tomorrow morning at the teleportation station in Nanmu City; if you don’t come, I’ll find someone else. So many people are eager to join me on such a fun trip."
Watching Yang Xiao’s departing figure, Monk Ben Yin hesitated,
"Amitabha, I’ve already eaten meat and drunk wine, breaking another precept shouldn’t matter, right? I’m helping Yang Xiao advance his Genetic Evolution. Only a strong Yang Xiao can better protect us, allowing Shaolin Temple to develop steadily and long-term. Buddha, this is a sacrifice of self for the greater good, a noble act of feeding the eagle with one’s own flesh; please don’t blame me! Amitabha!"
Monk Ben Yin excitedly went to find brothers Ben Guo and Ben Xun.