After My Favorability Level Is Up to the Top

C68 – Monkey King’s Treasure

“Creak!”

With the advent of the first sunbeam into the precincts of the Wide Ocean Sect, Guo Fan swung open the door.

Following behind him was a young girl, her gaze brimming with curiosity as she observed him.

“Hu…”

Guo Fan exhaled deeply. His weary eyes gazed toward the distant lake, a weariness mingling with a tinge of sadness.

It was just a cigarette after the mission.

Fatigue weighed heavily on him, both physically and emotionally.

“This is nothing short of a disaster zone, damn it.”

Guo Fan’s countenance turned somber. Some people considered them heroic; one was in the Core Formation Stage, the other in the Nascent Soul Stage. In theory, both were formidable figures. None of those weaker stood a chance against them.

“But, as the saying goes, time can heal…”

It wasn’t as dire as he had envisioned.

Amid the struggles, moments of happiness still persisted, though frequently interlaced with pain.

“Regardless, as a significant milestone in my reincarnation journey, from this day forth, I’ll bid farewell to the single life, hahahahaha…”

Guo Fan closed the door behind him, straightened his posture, and strode out. A sense of self-satisfaction enveloped him, and he indulged in silent laughter.

With a confident gait, he strolled onward, his demeanor unwavering.

“Kacha.”

“Sss~ My waist… physical conditioning, it’s time for me to start training.”

Guo Fan let out a couple of strained coughs and adjusted his posture to a regular walk. Behind him, Yijun suddenly extended her hand and playfully poked his back.

Guo Fan turned around with a helpless expression and asked, “What’s the matter?”

He felt like he was giving up on himself.

In reality, even if Yijun wasn’t standing there, she would likely be observing from some undisclosed spot.

Realizing this, his sense of embarrassment alleviated quite a bit. Hahahaha… Damn it, there’s nothing advantageous about this situation at all!

Yijun stared at him. “Why?”

“?”

Guo Fan was confused.

After pondering for a moment, Yijun queried, “Why do you have to do something more after kissing?”

“…” Guo Fan was momentarily at a loss for words. It seemed like Li Xieren’s directions had reached their conclusion. Perhaps, once the process was over, she assumed that the rest would unfold naturally. It was all left to Guo Fan.

She hadn’t imparted any further guidance to him.

“Yijun.” Guo Fan slightly stooped and affectionately patted her head. “Now that you’ve done as your mother instructed, whatever follows doesn’t matter.”

Yijun nodded and said, “So why?”

“……”

Wasn’t it that difficult to fool children nowadays?

Guo Fan’s expression took on a rather nuanced quality. He felt somewhat akin to a parent confronted with the age-old query of “Where did I come from?” from their child, not knowing quite how to respond.

“Yijun, not everything in this world follows a logical thread. Sometimes, delving too deep only leads to unnecessary complications. We must learn to let things go. Otherwise, we’ll be ensnared by our own curiosity, unable to free ourselves. It’s akin to not knowing why an apple falls to the ground.”

Guo Fan earnestly imparted his words, continuing, “Young folks should strive for a good life. Children should be allowed to be children. Avoid pursuing needless inquiries, alright?”

With that, he strode ahead, leaving behind the silhouette of his receding figure. In truth, he was making his escape.

Yijun watched his departure, her head tilting as a sudden question flitted through her mind: why indeed did the apple fall to the ground?

Unbeknownst to Guo Fan, his words had spurred a God Forming Stage Immortal Cultivator into pondering the intricacies of gravity in the Upper Central Realm. He planned to first visit Homeless Mountain, care for those monkeys, and then acquire Jixin Wine.

Afterward, he intended to revisit the Frightening Slopes. Despite a previous adventure’s mishap, the overall experience remained unmarred. This time, he was prepared to navigate the terrain with greater caution.

The only known aspect was the ancient remnants of a bow-style weapon buried within the Frightening Slopes.

The bow bore the moniker “Purple Cloud.” Its quality wasn’t exceptional, sporting a fire attribute skill. Its suitability extended to levels 20 to 30, covering the range from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation. The weapon corresponded well with Guo Fan’s inherent abilities.

Yes, Guo Fan had already reached Foundation Establishment.

The interplay of yin and yang was indeed incredible. In just one night, Guo Fan’s true strength had surged to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, surpassing the combined prowess of three Gu Yalings. Now, he stood on equal footing with Huo Bai in combat capability.

Although Guo Fan did recall the location of a higher-level weapon, for safety’s sake and barring unforeseen events, he would prioritize the Purple Cloud bow. The traumatic memory of the Sealed Dragon Pond lingered, deterring him from risking another scenario where he’d be at level 20 and find himself in a level 50 dungeon.

Yet, what caught Guo Fan off guard was that the monkeys in Homeless Mountain remembered him all too well!

As he set foot within the monkeys’ territory, their clamorous cries pierced the air. An alarm resounded, followed by a string of echoes.

The forest came alive with rustling. A horde of monkeys charged toward him, fangs bared and claws unsheathed. They wielded leaves and debris, prepared to engage their adversaries to the bitter end.

Guo Fan grinned. He stood his ground, raising his hand in a gesture.

“Hmph. Today, I, Liu, shall teach you ignorant monkeys the consequences of treating others differently after three days of separation!”

“Boom!”

Flying Fire Flowing Flame!

Igniting a mountain, ensnaring within fiery bars — this was his favored large-scale fire-type skill.

He lifted his hand, casting an area-of-effect spell. A Nascent Infant Stage spell held the power to effortlessly handle this monkey swarm. Instantly, cries of agony filled the air as they scattered in every direction.

Casually releasing a few more attacks to eliminate the strongest and fiercest among them, the remaining monkeys quivered in fear. They no longer dared to assault; instead, they grappled with the flames that licked their bodies, writhing in anguish. These monkeys had hounded him the entire day. It was the most grueling battle since his arrival here. Such a somber history… If he didn’t take revenge, would it simply be fodder for future discussions?

At the sight of this, the monkey king of Foundation Establishment Stage appeared to be filled with remorse in its aged eyes. Astonishingly, it knelt before Guo Fan like a human, pleading for clemency. It regurgitated a sleek green pearl from its belly, presenting it to Guo Fan as if proffering a treasure.

“……”

Disgusted, Guo Fan glanced at the saliva coating the surface. Utilizing Spiritual Energy, he lifted it into the air, letting the flames burn away the stomach’s saliva.

He recalled that this item was named the [Treasure of the Monkey King]. The quest item for this side mission had been provided by an NPC at Frost River Manor. Though the specific name eluded him.

“Who would’ve thought I’d find it here.”

Guo Fan waved his hand, restoring the monkeys’ health. He meticulously burned the bead thrice before holding it in his palm, examining it for a while.

[Water Cleansing Pearl]

The name aptly described its practical function. It bolstered resistance against water damage and allowed free breathing underwater, preventing saturation of the user’s body.

While not a groundbreaking discovery, it was certainly an unexpected gain.

Guo Fan journeyed back to where he’d acquired the Jixin Wine previously. Armed with an empty wine jar, he filled it and prepared to return to Frost River Manor, ready to deliver it to Huo Bai.

Following that, he headed to the other side of Frightening Slopes to retrieve the Purple Cloud bow.