Once I was returned to my friends I barely had any time to react before the sound of rushing wind hit my face, swooped up and held by Maria.

  "There you are! I was so worried when you disappeared. And this old man was saying you were safe and everything, but I didn't see you so I didn't believe him..."

  Maria kept going on with worry, but Pangu wasn't paying attention, instead hanging out with the golden toad and pouring out drinks.

  In between them was a board game.

  And it was... monopoly?

  Huh. I would've thought they would play something mysterious like chess or xiangqi or something more refined. But no, they're playing monopoly.

  Does seem oddly fitting for this pair of eccentric men though.

  "Hah! I passed go! Collect 200 dollars!" Leon shouted excitedly, collecting 200 dollars under Pangu's annoyed gaze.

  As for why he was annoyed, looking at the boat that was currently in jail, I could guess why.

  Jin Chan on the other hand, had a doting smile on his face, with a large wad of money in his hand.

  Willow was also playing. Even though she was quiet, her clenched hands and serious expression were extremely cute.

  The two elven kids were even distracted, unaware of my reappearance.

  But Pangu noticed.

  "Oh! You're back kid! And you passed the first test! Congratulations!" He praised, and I couldn't help but ask.

  'How did you know?'

  "Well we haven't been booted from the field yet, so clearly you passed." He said matter-of factly.

  Where was here? I wondered, looking around, quickly realizing that we were no longer in that forest, but instead a small... garden?

  It was clearly a garden, though lacking those ornaments and decorations common to a garden. It had the image, not the spirit.

  The whole thing was rough as if seeking to mimic that which it did not understand. It had the image, but not the spirit.

  The old toad spoke up at this moment, his tone very wistful.

  "This garden is a replica of our original home. In hindsight, it quite resembles the gardens that you humans have built. I suppose that explains those weird tangents she often went off on about decor and feng shui and couches."

  'She could see the future?' I asked astonishedly.

  To this Jin Chan showed a complicated smile. "Somewhat, though her visions were erratic, incomplete the further she looked.

  But short term? She had very good future vision, to seek good and avoid evil." At this, his face dropped as sorrow covered his face.

  "Yet she ultimately couldn't escape death. Or chose not to..." He murmured dejectedly before swigging more alchohol down, this time in depression.

  Pangu didn't seem to care much as he asked bluntly. "I heard her killer is among the examiners assigned to this inheritence. I'm surprised you didn't try to stop him or anything."

  "I did, yet it was pointless. All those years ago he was already a 6th level being. He's only grown stronger since. I, a mere early 6th level being, stand no chance against him. Perhaps if brother Dijun was here we might have a chance, but besides me, none of her other garden companions have reached the same level.

  What chance do we have?" The old man was sullen, no longer as joyous as before.

  Pangu stopped talking to him and instead asked me. "So, did that old charlatan give you anything good?"

  'He gave me a guide on how to refine ore so that he can become a suit of armor in human form amongst other things.'

  Hearing this, Pangu clicked his tongue. "That's it? Usually, he's more generous than that.

  Then again, the only thing he can really give you is techniques, and since you're not a taoist, the number of techniques he's allowed to share are probably much lower."

  "Do daoists withhold their techniques from those not taoists?" Servante asked.

  Pangu shrugged. "It's for the good of everyone. While taoist techniques are profound and difficult for normal people to learn, they are easily twisted in the wrong hands. Old taoism and buddhism rely on qi yes, but also on mental energy, which makes the users affected by their mental state. One wrong though can make one become a demon.

  Their techniques aren't that different. Even I, a father to the three pure ones, have only received one technique." Pangu complained.

  "What kind of technique?" Borsche asked innocently, but his words caused Pangu to shut up instantly.

  Sensing a chance, Maria teased. "Oh? Old man what is this amazing technique you recieved? Surely it can't be anything too bad for the father of taoism?" she asked, poking the old man.

  Seeing how dark his face was, I realized that this technique... might not be that serious.

  Rather, it might be rather embarrassing to reveal.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Jin Chan's mood seem to switch up at this moment, revealing a teasing grin.

  "Young friend, you might be able to hide it from them, but you can't hide it from me. May as well tell them, or I will"

  Hearing this, the old man's face visibly flushed like an embarrassed child being exposed, before sullenly saying it.

  "It's called casting gold bricks to attract wealth."

  Huh? Well it still sounds a bit mystical-

  "Tell them what it does Pangu." The old man prodded, poking the grumpy bulky old man, and Pangu's face showed even more reluctance.

  However, Pangu eventually conceded.

  "Fine, fine, fine! I'll tell them. It's a technique that only works when you hit someone from behind with a gold brick, knocking them out. It increases your chance of finding something good on them, and stealing a bit of fortune."

  "That's just robbery." Lenore said the obvious, Borsche nodded in honest agreement, and Maria was laughing nonstop, I could feel her chest heaving in and out of pure laughter, and honestly it was embarrassing.

  "Does it have to be from the front?" Servante asked and Pangu reluctantly nodded before hurriedly adding. "If you use this technique it increases your chance of knocking someone out clean cold! It's great for infiltration!"

  "If you mean infiltrating someone's pockets, sure!" Maria teased.

  "Could we learn?" Leon asked curiously, only for the two adult elves to shake their head frantically, absolutely refusing to let them learn.

  I'm guessing it was more about Willow, but honestly if I were an adult, I would never let a child learn this technique.

  As a turtle however...

  'Could you teach me this technique?' I asked earnestly. My question silenced everyone as they looked at me in disbelief.

  Pangu however, seemed relieved that the focus wasn't on him anymore. "Sure, sure! He said, transmitting the technique to me.

  [ Casting gold bricks to attract wealth: hitting someone one level higher than you from behind with a gold brick guarantees knock out, and allows you to plunder 5 percent of their fortune for the next few days, and increases the chance of finding something good on them.

  Includes a technique for refining a gold brick with increased weight and attack power. Taught by Yuanshii Tianzun to his troublesome disciple Guangchengzi and even more troublesome father Pangu.]

  Reading the description, I was left speechless. What kind of son teaches his father such a despicable technique?

  "Do you ever think that giving him such a crude technique was a bit mean-spirited?" Tongtian asked his brother Yuanshi Tianzun.

  The three of them had gathered to have a small meeting at a sushi restaurant in the Sakura nation. Partially to plan their expansion into Sakura, yes, but also to gather since they hadn't had a small party between the three brothers since the Journey to the West.

  Yuanshi snorted. "You know our father. If we had given him something truly wonderful, I have no doubt it would've spread worldwide. You know our father. He's a blabbermouth. Only when he is ashamed and too embarrassed to spread a technique will he keep quiet." He retorted before putting an eel roll into his mouth before continuing.

  "Besides, the technique is still a very useful skill. If he wants to pass it onto someone, it will be of great use to them. He'll just have to get over his embarrassment, something he'll do only for someone he really cares about."

  To this, Tongtian was left speechless, but was also perfectly aware that his older brother was correct. Their father was more martial artist than taoist; boisterous and loud-mouthed, he was the type to share easily and straightforward.

  Helpless, he turned to their eldest, Taishang Laojun, only to find that he was sitting at the table, eyes closed , seeming mysterious, his green bull quietly resting as well.

  In reality, he was just asleep. A faint snoring could be heard as the bull quietly chewed on a nonexistent orange, still dreaming of food.

  Inaction my ass! Tongtian was exasperated, turning back to argue with his older brother.

  Once their attention was away from him, Taishang quietly opened one eye, slipped a slice of sashimi into his mouth and pretending to meditate once more. His bull did the same, snatching up an orange quietly before sleeping again.

  His brother's statement reminded him that their father's line of fate would soon intersect with Ygdrasill's.

  'Speaking of father, I should go meet him soon and make sure he doesn't cause another fuss again.'

  Reading the technique, I was speechless, but that didn't stop me from copying it down for later use.

  Highbrow: gaining wealth by disposing of foes

  Lowbrow: hitting someone over the back of the head with a golden brick and robbing them blind.

  It was still useful though, clearly capable of stealing something so mysterious as fortune and the refinement of a gold brick seems quite useful, albeit a bit shameless.

  Knocks you out clean cold! As a B-rank with A rank skills, the ability to sneak up on a S-rank and knock them clean cold seemed quite useful.

  I also quietly shared it with Leon, feeling like his shadow skill would pair great with it.

  The boy had a bright smile on his face, as did Pangu, who readily shared his input and experience with the child.

  I would have to buy a gold brick one of these days, two more likely.

  'You'll have to put me down for this.' I said, patting Maria's arm, and she did put me down, albeit reluctantly.

  Once down, I activated the armor change, as Ore exploded, wrapping around me and changing my body shape into a human form.

  Once I was done, I felt weird.

  I was still a turtle, but I wasn't. To be more precise, Ore had become an entire set of armor, covering my body, becoming my nerve endings, but in reality, I was still a turtle.

  Seeing my new form, Maria spoke, trying to praise it.

  "It's certainly very... unique."

  Hearing that, I knew that its appearance was likely a little off.

  Pulling out a mirror, I understood why she thought it was weird.

  My armor looked nothing like classic armor, but more like something an actor would put on to act as the heroic knight.

  Two shell gauntlets and shoulder armor designed similarly with a chest plate with a tree on the forefront, the shin plates were designed with the insignia of ants.

  And the helmet was some weird mix of a classical knight helmet and horns emerging from the back. Whatever wasn't covered in armor was covered by a liquid metal, since there wasn't a real person underneath all of it, merely more liquid metal.

  Maria had always been practical, so seeing this weird set of armor was probably lacking for her, but for me, it didn't really matter, since as long as it worked, it worked.

  Leon however, exclaimed. "So cool!" he said, with shining eyes, and Willow nodded slightly.

  Pangu shrugged. "Is cool. A bit exaggerated, but I have a hunch about where Fuxi got that from."

  To this, the golden toad old man nodded. "Indeed, say what you want, but that stuff is still very useful. Though the appearance is a case of you like it, or you don't."

  "But is it useful?" Servante asked, pointing out the problem, and Lenore nodded.

  "I can feel that you grew a little stronger at least. But you could already turn into an elf, so how much of an upgrade is it?"

  As I explained, Lenore couldn't help but whistle, "that is quite useful. The best part is that there is no external needs here. As long as Ore is here, you can always access these abilities."

  Although I outwardly agreed with her, Maria and I shared a look at that comment. All players had this benefit, making this benefit significantly less beneficial, but its uses weren't lost on him.

  "So, are you ready for the next test?" Pangu asked, pointing to the next problem at hand.

  Hearing this, I had a unsure look on my face. 'I'm not sure. This first test was surprisingly easy, but I recognize this is due to my unique circumstances, but I can't guarantee the same outcome for this next test.'

  Hearing this, Jin Chan nodded in approval, glad that I hadn't begun to grow overconfident.

  "Good, I was worried that you would begin to grow overconfident after one test. The next one won't be so easy."

  'Could you tell me something about this next test then senior?'

  Hearing this, Jin Chan smiled, merely revealing a mysterious smile and making a simple comment.

  "The next examiner will be a rabbit, a descendent of an old friend of mine. As for what the text is?

  I'll let you find out for yourself."