32 RI
Swish swish swish~
In the aperture, waves of primeval essence ebb and flow, rushing towards the surrounding aperture walls.
The sea was jade green, crashing continuously, it was rank 1 initial stage primeval essence.
Rank 1 Gu masters have green copper primeval essence, initial stage being jade, middle stage is pale green, upper stage is dark green and peak stage is black green.
The surrounding aperture walls were shining brightly; under the attack of the jade green waves, his foundation was slowly built up.
Afterwards, the white light burst, and dimmed. White light condensed with each other, forming a water-ish light ripple.
At this point, the aperture light wall turned into a water wall.
"Finally, from rank 1 initial stage to middle stage." A light excitement emerged in Fang Yuan's heart.
Initial stage aperture walls are light walls, middle stage is water walls.
Once the water walls are created, it means Fang Yuan was back to rank 1 middle stage.
"It has been over 20 days since we killed that demonic female Gu master. During this period, I've been cultivating non-stop, not wasting a single minute. It is no wonder I advanced to middle stage." Fang Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
"What a pity I do not have the liquor worm on me, otherwise my cultivation would be even faster."
Liquor worm can cause a Gu master's primeval essence to be refined into one small realm higher. Using it to assist in cultivation, can achieve a greater result with less effort.
Since Fang Yuan's rebirth, other than the Spring Autumn Cicada, the first Gu worm he got was the liquor worm.
After that, he purchased a second one and refined the two into the four flavor liquor worm.
A pity though, was that the four flavor liquor worm only works on rank 2 Gu masters, being useless to the current Fang Yuan.
The truth is, Fang Yuan had gotten three liquor worms in Qing Mao mountain. The third was from Gu Yue Yao Le's body.
This liquor worm was kept in Fang Yuan's hands, but after the Tie father and daughter came, to prevent himself from getting exposed, and being worried about Tie Xie Leng's investigative methods, he destroyed the liquor worm along with his other loots.
After it happened, whether it was the right move or not, since Fang Yuan did it, he had no regrets.
Even though now, if he had kept the liquor worm, it would be use to him, but at least, during that time, it did not allow the Tie father and daughter to investigate the matter on Gu Yue Yao Le.
"If I reverse refine the four flavor liquor worm, I can get the rank 1 liquor worm, but there are many requirements to reverse refine, I cannot fulfill the conditions.
Gu masters nurture Gu, use Gu, refine Gu. For refining Gu, it is split into fusion and reverse refinement.
Fusion, is to turn low rank Gu worms into a higher rank. Reverse is the opposite.
To reverse refine the four flavor liquor worm, there are many ways. Using the prodigal son Gu, will obtain two rank 1 liquor worms. Using the revert Gu, only 1 liquor worm is obtained. The butterfly transformation Gu will get the eerie qi butterfly. Using the unpredictable Gu, what Gu is obtained will be unknown, possibly something new all together.
For Fang Yuan, the best case was the prodigal son Gu.
But prodigal Gu was rarer than the liquor worm, and was hard to obtain. Best case scenario was revert Gu.
Using revert Gu, although he will lose a liquor worm, Fang Yuan would not hesitate to do it.
Retaining the four flavor liquor worm, and wait for rank 2 cultivation, that is under a safe environment. Now that Fang Yuan was in danger all the time, everything he does has to be for survival.
The higher his cultivation rose, higher the chances to live.
Cheep Cheep Cheep~
Outside the cave, monkey screeches and footsteps could be heard.
Fang Yuan's ears twitched, he was familiar with the owner of the footsteps.
As expected, not long after, Bai Ning Bing appeared.
Her entire body was covered in a layer of thorn clothing. This special clothing, is completely made of green vines and black sharp thorns, giving Bai Ning Bing defense and also used for attacking purposes.
To those fighting barehanded, these thorns that were as sturdy as steel would leave a lasting impression on them.
This thistle shirt, was formed by the iron thorn thistle Gu.
After killing the demonic female Gu master, Bai Ning Bing wanted this rank 3 grass Gu, requesting for it and refining it as her lifebound Gu.
"So troublesome. Every time I leave and return, I have to be so careful of those charred thunder potatoes. Can't you bury less of them?" She said as she begrudged, staring at the ground below her, jumping around as she avoided some pitfalls.
"Better to be safe than sorry." Fang Yuan replied lightly, turning his gaze towards Bai Ning Bing's waist.
On her waist was a string of monkeys.
These monkeys were tiny, the largest was merely arm length. They had round heads, and thick black monkey hair, smooth and shiny. What was most prominent, was the tree leaves growing on their waists.
These green leaves formed a circle, linked together around the monkey's hip bone and butt, like a grass skirt.
These were the grass skirt monkeys.
The grass skirt monkeys were delicious, being the source of food for Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing these days.
These captured grass skirt monkeys were aware of their outcomes, struggling intensely but to no avail.
The entire cave reverbed with their cries, and horrified screams.
It was lunch time.
"Grill them, I am a little hungry." Bai Ning Bing rubbed her tummy, throwing the tied grass skirt monkeys on the ground.
"Let me prepare them first, you can grill them later. Your grilled meat tastes much better than mine." She squatted down, about to kill them.
Fang Yuan stopped her: "Let me teach you a new eating method."
Afterwards, he moved his finger, and a Gu flew out of Bai Ning Bing's aperture with a bloody light.
The blood light landed on Fang Yuan's palm, turning into a blood moon insignia.
It was blood moon Gu.
Fang Yuan's palm started to glow with red light.
Although the blood moon Gu was rank 3, Fang Yuan was not using it to attack, thus he could still barely control it.
Bai Ning Bing did not know his intentions, her blue eyes staring intensely.
Only to see Fang Yuan stretching his hand, raising a grass skirt monkey. He grabbed its neck, causing its head to be unable to move.
Soon after, the palm shining with red light landed on the monkey's head, and circled one round.
Back then, he used the moonlight Gu to open the gambling rocks, now he used the blood moon Gu to cut the monkey's head.
After one round, Fang Yuan's primeval essence hit rock bottom.
As the red light vanished from his palm, Fang Yuan smiled as he grabbed the monkey's head, pulling it, and opened its skull.
The white monkey brain was revealed from within.
The grass skirt monkey struggled profusely, screaming in utter pain, its shrill screams echoed in the cave.
But Fang Yuan has the strength of two boars, his arms like steel, not moving at all. The grass skirt monkey's limbs were tender and did not have claws, unable to harm Fang Yuan at all even if it tried.
"Have a taste of this fresh monkey brain." Saying so, Fang Yuan handed a spoon to Bai Ning Bing.
"Like this, raw?" Bai Ning Bing looking at the white brain with some blood traces, hesitated.
Fang Yuan smiled, demonstrating.
He placed the spoon into the monkey brain, scooping and placing it into his mouth, as he swallowed, the brain flowed down his throat.
At that moment, the grass skirt monkey's screams intensified, its body spazzing like it was electrocuted.
Bai Ning Bing tried too, scooping the monkey brain and placing it into her mouth.
At once, a fragrant grass smell spread from her tongue, without a tint of blood. Like the texture of beancurd, with just a little strength, the entire monkey brain melts in your mouth, with a little sweetness, giving a refreshing taste, in the entire mouth.
Her throat gulped, swallowing this monkey brain. Her blue eyes shone with bright light, crystal clear, as the fairy like face showed an enjoying expression.
"So incredibly delicious!" The young girl exclaimed.
"Only this grass skirt monkey can have such a taste. Their brain is a natural delicacy." Fang Yuan said as he scooped another into his mouth.
He advanced to middle stage, and it calls for a mini celebration, this monkey brain is a good reward.
Bai Ning Bing laughed heartily, moving faster than before, swallowing the second mouthful.
This grass skirt monkey whose skull was cut open, after a temporary madness, was at death's door. Its bright jewel like eyes had already turned dim.
Other grass skirt monkeys seeing their companions' state, struggling like crazy trying to escape.
Under the restrain of the ropes, their struggles were futile, only allowing them to roll around on the ground.
Eating this monkey brain feels like eating ice cream on earth, the two worked together and very quickly finished this monkey brain.
"One more, one more." Bai Ning Bing did not have enough, licking her lips and waving the spoon, demanding.
Fang Yuan's primeval essence had recovered to 90% already, he did the same thing and cut open another skull.
At once, the two continued their meal, satisfied. In the cave, the echoes of the screaming grass skirt monkeys were shrill and painfully heard.
After eating the monkey brains, they grilled the monkey meat.
The monkey meat of the grass skirt monkey were fresh and succulent, especially their breast meat. The entire taste was like fish grilled on bamboo leaves.
Rice bag grass.
Fang Yuan willed, and a green light shot out of his aperture.
The light landed on the ground, growing green buds.
In a few breath's time, the bud grew into leaves, and the leaves expanded, turning into vines. The vines extended, and after covering ten metres, a few branches grew large leaves.
These leaves looked like buckets. Firstly, only a finger could fit. But eventually, it became fist size, bowl size, and finally ripe.
Bai Ning Bing meticulously plucked a leaf.
Opening the leaves at the top, rice could be seen inside. Large plump kernels, perfectly white.
Bai Ning Bing raised her head and opened her mouth, pouring a mouthful of rice into her mouth, after chewing, she ate some monkey meat to add some flavor.
"Eating till full is satisfaction." She exclaimed.
"How are those grass skirt monkeys." Fang Yuan asked.
Bai Ning Bing's mind came back: "No issue if we do not enter that forest deeply. But once we do, three monkey kings show up. The wine you want to get is at the most central area of the forest, it will not be easy to obtain."
-x-X-x-
In this world, humans weren't the only ones who knew how to brew wines.
The earliest records of wine came from the legend of Ren Zu.
Ren Zu's two eyes turned into his eldest son Verdant Great Sun and daughter Desolate Ancient Moon.
Verdant Great Sun was always with Desolate Ancient Moon, and this close association created feelings towards his own sister. However, Desolate Ancient Moon refused his wooing.
Verdant Great Sun was annoyed because of this, and knew he needed some help, thus he asked the Wisdom Gu.
At first, the Wisdom Gu ignored him and avoided him as much as it could. But Verdant Great Sun kept on persevering, and the Wisdom Gu couldn't endure this annoyance any more, so it told him a way - "In the east dwells a group of honey peach monkeys. Drink the wine brewed by them and come find me."
Thus, Verdant Great Sun went to the east and drank the wine.
The wine brewed by the honey peach monkeys was fruit wine. And ever since Verdant Great Sun drank the wine and returned, his face had a rosy flush. He smacked his lips as he recalled the taste: "So, wine is sweet."
The Wisdom Gu smiled and said: "In the west lies a group of psychic monkeys. Go taste the wine brewed by them."
The wine brewed by psychic monkeys was bitter wine. Verdant Great Sun went to the west and drank the wine; since then, his tongue had a yellowish-brown hue to it. He recalled the taste with a bitter expression: "So, wine can also be bitter."
Wisdom Gu said to him again: "Wine is both bitter and sweet, love is the same and human lives are even more so. At the north dwells a group of vajra monkeys. They also brew wine, go taste it."
The vajra monkeys brewed strong wine.
Verdant Great Sun enjoyed this wine very much, and drank till he was dead drunk.
He felt this wine was really to his taste, and wanted to drink even more after getting drunk. He drank from the bowl at first before trying to drink it directly from the wine jar.
Finally, he started throwing up. The wine started showings its effects, making him feel an unbearable pain.
He felt the insides of his body was on fire, as if lava was flowing through them.
"It's too hot!" He screamed. All the fire flowed in reverse towards his head and his hair started burning. From then on, his hair burned endlessly like fire.
When Verdant Great Sun woke up, he saw the Wisdom Gu looking at him.
"What did you think of the strong wine?" The Wisdom Gu asked.
Verdant Great Sun heaved a sigh: "I understand now, no matter how good the wine is, you will vomit it out if you drink too much; everything should be taken with moderation."
The Wisdom Gu laughed out loudly: "In the north dwells a group of Skywater monkeys. Their wine is also quite good, go taste it."
Skywater monkeys' wine was clear wine and was completely opposite of the strong wine.
Verdant Great Sun lightly tasted the wine, and the moment he did so, he completely forgot all his worries and felt like he was floating in the air, with a hazy and intoxicated look in his eyes.
The Wisdom Gu again asked him about his experience. He lightly waved his hands: "Having known the joys of wine, I will not pass it on to those who are sober."
The Wisdom Gu chuckled and left quietly....
Thus, humans weren't the first species to brew wine, rather it was the monkeys who were ahead of the humans.
Ordinary monkey groups all knew how to brew wine.
The wines were different from one monkey group to another, with all kinds of taste. However, humans collectively called the wine brewed by the monkeys as monkey wine.
Fang Yuan had chosen this cave to rest because he sensed the sign of the breakthrough in his cultivation and stopped at this cave to concentrate on breaking through the bottleneck. Another reason was for the monkey wine.
The higher the rank of the Gu worms, the more food they consumed and at the same time, the period for their feeding increased.
Fang Yuan had made sufficient preparations, but there was a limit to the storage capacity of the tusita flower; after the consumption in this whole journey, there was some space cleared up which would be more than enough to store some monkey wine.
Wine had other uses as well - disinfecting the wounds and warming the body. The reverse refinement of four flavors liquor worm also required wine as an auxiliary ingredient. Even if the conditions for the reverse refinement weren't met, having wine as a backup food for the four flavors liquor worm was good enough.
However, getting the monkey wine wasn't easy.
This grass skirt monkey groups were hundred beasts group but their scale was close to that of the thousand beasts group, and had 3 hundred beast monkey kings.
Monkeys were a united bunch and faced their enemies in groups. Bai Ning Bing might be a rank three peak stage Gu master, but she was alone and trying to brute force her way through, would only lead to disaster.
And although Fang Yuan had advanced to rank one middle stage, the amount of help his advancement could give was next to nothing in this situation.
However, Fang Yuan was determined to get the monkey wine and Bai Ning Bing was worried about this.
"So, we need to use our brains, follow me." Fang Yuan stood up and patted Bai Ning Bing's shoulder. He carefully stepped on the ground, avoiding the buried Charred Thunder Potato , and walked out of the cave.
Outside the cave were lush trees, bright sunlight, with the bird songs and fragrance of flowers in the air.
In moments, the two neared the territory of the monkey groups.
Fang Yuan carefully observed and finally chose a sloped area.
He surveyed the area from the higher grounds before nodding his head in satisfaction. He stepped around on the ground and said: "Let's dig here."
After enough time passed for an incense stick to burn, this sloped area that faced the sun was dug out by the two, with a depth of thirty feet and a diameter of fifty feet.
Charred Thunder Potato Mother Gu.
Fang Yuan crouched on the bottom of this pit, and summoned the gu with a thought.
This gu resembled a potato, with uneven surface and tiny little holes all over it. Regardless of its appearance, it was a genuine rank three gu.
"My primeval essence won't be enough, I will lend it to you." Fang Yuan handed the Charred Thunder Potato Mother Gu to Bai Ning Bing.
Bai Ning Bing held the gu and poured her primeval essence to it; soon, green sprouts sprouted out from those tiny little holes in the potato mother gu's surface.
The sprouts grew rapidly, blossomed and bore fruit.
After several breaths of time, the finger thick dark green fruit was fully matured. The sprout withered and came falling down with the fruit on Bai Ning Bing's hands.
Fang Yuan took these dark green fruits and carefully filtered through them; removing the bad, dead or empty shells. After the selection, there were less than one-third of the fruits left.
These fruits were the Charred Thunder Potato Gu, a rank two gu. Once they were buried in the ground, they grew with the help of the fertility of the soil, and as long as any living beings stepped near it, the vibration would cause the Charred Thunder Potato Gu to self-detonate.
Fang Yuan held one of the fruits and refined it instantly. As he pinched it in between his fingers, he poured his green copper primeval essence towards it; the Charred Thunder Potato Gu started giving off a faint green light and slowly hovered up.
With a shift of his mind, the Charred Thunder Potato Gu quickly drilled into the ground.
Fang Yuan deliberately buried it deep on the ground, stopping only when the potato gu was buried an arm's length into the ground.
The primeval sea in his aperture rapidly decreased as the surrounding fertility of the soil gathered towards the Charred Thunder Potato Gu. In Fang Yuan's perception, this tiny grass gu instantly grew up to a fist sized potato.
This was a matured Charred Thunder Potato Gu which could explode with even a slight vibration.
Bai Ning Bing marvelled at this scene: "Looks like that demonic path female Gu master buried the Charred Thunder Potato Gu near the surface of the earth, making it easy to self-detonate. The way you buried it, it should not explode even if I step above it, right?"
"Naturally." Fang Yuan replied and continued on his work.
Bai Ning Bing's mouth twitched, Fang Yuan didn't reply her properly, and with her proud demeanour, she didn't question anymore, but rather concentrated her gaze and began to ponder upon it herself.
After being with Fang Yuan for such a long time, she knew Fang Yuan never made useless moves.
Fang Yuan stood up only after burying this layer of the pit; he wiped the sweat on his forehead before calling Bai Ning Bing to bury the pit together.
But after just covering the pit for a bit, when the bottom of the pit was raised by fifteen feet, Fang Yuan ordered to stop, then he continued burying another Charred Thunder Potato Gu.
Bai Ning Bing immediately realized Fang Yuan's plan upon seeing this.
"So it was like that. Charred Thunder Potato Gu is only a rank two gu and self-detonation of just one has a limited power. By burying them like this, once they explode, even thousand beast kings might not get off easy. But how will you lure those three monkey kings here?"
Charred Thunder Potato Gu was a offensive gu, but it couldn't be moved, which greatly lowered its practical value.
"How difficult can that be? At the opportune time, we will just capture two to three young grass skirt monkeys and taste their brains here. At that time, their miserable screeches will definitely attract the furious monkey groups. It will only be ordinary monkey groups at first which you will be able to block and fend off. Then it should be those three monkey kings." Fang Yuan replied while burying the grass Gu.
Bai Ning Bing couldn't help nodding her head.
Wild beasts were wild beasts, possessing limited intelligence. Fang Yuan's plan might be very rough, but it was absolutely practical.
"As long as we kill the three monkey kings, getting the monkey wine will be as easy as a pie. Of course, it will be even better if we can take the Gu worms on those monkey kings." Bai Ning Bing mulled over it.
Following this, they spent the whole afternoon in this pit.
Bai Ning Bing produced the Charred Thunder Potato Gu continuously, after which Fang Yuan would personally bury them into the ground, and then the two would bury that layer of soil. After one layer of soil was another layer of soil, till the pit was filled to the surface.
The two were drenched in sweat. Fortunately, Fang Yuan possessed the strength of two boars and Bai Ning Bing had also fully cultivated the strength of one crocodile.
However, the next day, Fang Yuan wasn't showing any signs of stopping and continued to dig out another pit.
Bai Ning Bing was puzzled by it.
Fang Yuan replied: "Just one pit isn't enough of a guarantee, there should always be backup plans. Being a bit more prepared is always a good thing."
Like this, in the following three days, Bai Ning Bing finally became aware of Fang Yuan's close to perverted 'cautiousness'.
They had dug no less than five pits and buried great numbers of Charred Thunder Potato Gu. Naturally, the scale of the first pit was the greatest.
Due to all these preparations, the grass skirt monkey plan went by extremely smoothly.
The monkey groups were all defeated with just two pitfalls.
Out of the three monkey kings, two died and one was injured; the injured monkey king escaped with the remaining monkey groups. The dead monkey kings were blasted to pieces, the Gu worms on them didn't survive.
Fang Yuan stored great amounts of monkey wine till the tusita flower couldn't store anymore.
The amount of wine was enough to reverse-refine the four flavors liquor worm. There wouldn't be a problem in feeding the liquor worm for at least two years. And if they came across a caravan, these monkey wine could also be sold for good price.
"Before we go on, we need to clean the battlefield and fill up the two exploded pits."
"Is there a necessity for such cautiousness?" Bai Ning Bing felt pain whenever she thought of the pitfalls, now.
Fang Yuan glanced at her before saying one sentence which made Bai Ning Bing obediently work-
"Did you forget how we chased that demonic path female Gu master?"
It was by relying on the tracks left by the demonic path female Gu master on her way.
Those pitfalls that you dug, don't end up burying yourself with it!
-x-X-x-
"Bai Gu mountain, I am finally here." Fang Yuan sighed as he stared at the white mountain from a slope.
Bai Ning Bing was beside him, standing silently.
The two were in rags with tiredness showing all over their faces.
Just earlier, they had escaped from the Steel Rage Boars family of five.
Steel Rage Boars were a peculiar beast group, having small numbers and moved around in families of less than ten members. But any mature Steel Rage Boars were at least a hundred beast king.
In the family of five that was chasing after Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing - Grandpa boar was a thousand beast king, while daddy boar and mother boar were hundred beast kings, and even their son and daughter had rank 1 Gu worms in them.
It has been 5 days since they stole the monkey wine. After a long and arduous journey, Bai Gu mountain was finally in reach.
The southern border was full of mountains, ordinary hills were not called mountains, only when they were at least ten thousand feet can they be qualified to be called a mountain.
Bai Ning Bing stood on the slope, staring at the faraway mountain.
This was her first time seeing Bai Gu mountain.
There were many hills surrounding the Qing Mao mountain. But this Bai Gu mountain was like a solitary general, rising high above the ground while the surroundings were flat, and the scenery around it was deathly white.
This white, was not the snow-like white, but more of a bone-white color.
Bai Gu mountain, as the name implied, every rock on the mountain were made of bones. People called it bone rocks.
Bai Gu mountain was not an absolute dead area, there were many special vegetation and large numbers of bone beasts living here. At the same time there were many bone type wild Gu worms.
Bai Ning Bing looked and looked, frowning.
Any tall mountain and long river, were the condensation ground of primeval essence. Bai Gu mountain was uninhabited, a completely wild mountain. There were many wild beasts, Gu worms and fatal plants. This is such a dangerous place yet Fang Yuan insists on entering the mountain, what intentions does he have?
Or rather, what thing was there that deeply attracted him?
Fang Yuan was flipping through his memories at this moment.
Bai Gu mountain was still a wild mountain now, without any human inhabitants. But this situation will change completely 10 years later.
A large size village will move their base here and develop.
This clan was named Bai, the Bai village.
In the future, with Bai Gu mountain as their center, they would become the overlord of the surrounding thousand miles of land.
What Fang Yuan remembers most clearly, is not the rise of the Bai village's power, because in this world, a single person's strength can be above a group's.
Rather, he was thinking of a pair of twins in the Bai village.
Bai Sheng and Bai Hua.
This pair of siblings discovered a cave by accident during a test at Bai Gu mountain's back area, when they were eighteen.
In this cave, they activated an inheritance; it was a complete inheritance of a rank four Righteous Gu Master.
This Gu Master's name was unknown, only his title was left behind--- "Flesh Bone Lord".
Bai Sheng and Bai Hua benefited greatly from this, and became the twin stars of the righteous path after getting the inheritance. A hundred years later, they both rose to rank five, taking over Bai village.
The strength of two rank five Gu Masters pushed the clan's strength to an apex.
"The gu worms in a complete inheritance would cover all six aspects of attack, healing, defense, movement, storage and investigation. After getting this inheritance, I will be able to hold my own and have the ability to advance or retreat."
Earlier when Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing escaped from Qing Mao mountain, their gu worms were not well-rounded because of their low cultivation; they were like a boat moving against the tides, moving up the cliff. With just a little bad luck, they would be in danger.
After a tough struggle, their chance came, and they killed a heavily injured demonic female Gu Master. By taking her gu which included the rice bag gu and jumping grass gu, they could barely get by.
But they still had weaknesses.
Not only due to the lack of healing gu, but also because of their low cultivation.
Even if Fang Yuan advanced to rank 1 middle stage, so what? Green copper primeval essence was still green copper primeval essence.
What he was relying on now was his A grade talent and the heavenly essence treasure lotus' recovery speed to sustain his consumption.
But to be strict, his battle strength was negligible. If not for Bai Ning Bing he might have died to the crocodiles during the battle in the beach.
He was able to get this far due to Bai Ning Bing.
But relying on others could never compare to relying on oneself. @@novelbin@@
"If I can get the Bai Gu mountain inheritance, many problems would be easily resolved." Fang Yuan thought to himself.
Firstly it was the jade bones Gu. With this Gu, the bones in his body would cast away the brittleness of mortal bones, and become more firm and tougher. His current body can only sustain the strength of two boars, but after he used the jade bones Gu, he would be able to add the strength of a crocodile on top of this.
After that was a healing Gu, Fang Yuan remembered this inheritance has a very famous rank three healing Gu, 'flesh white bones'. In his previous life, it was received by Bai Hua, causing her to become a famous healing Gu Master.
Finally, it was the one Fang Yuan ranked as the most important, "bone flesh unity Gu."
This Gu was the Bone Flesh Lord's innovation, the only one in the world. This Gu's incredible usage riled up many large forces in the southern borders, in his previous life.
If gu worms were to be classified according to their use, they could be divided into seven categories.
Attack, Defense, Healing, Investigation, Storage, Movement and Cultivation.
Liquor worm, four flavor liquor worm, man-beast burial Gu, relic Gu, or heavenly essence treasure lotus - they were all under cultivation category.
And this bone flesh unity Gu was a mystical Gu under the cultivation category.
Similar to yin yang rotation Gu, it was a pair of Gu, used on two Gu Masters. It could let the two Gu Masters undergo dual cultivation 1 and advance their cultivation together, getting greater effects with less effort.
"If I can obtain the bone flesh unity Gu, with Bai Ning Bing's help, I can advance my cultivation quickly. My cultivation will be shocking after I reach rank three stage! Especially in early stages, its effects will be even better than the liquor worm. I must get it no matter what!"
Fang Yuan glanced at Bai Ning Bing through the corner of his eyes.
Bai Ning Bing realized nothing, still staring at Bai Gu mountain.
Fang Yuan laughed coldly in his heart. When they were about to move out, a few silhouettes suddenly flew towards them.
"Eh? Righteous Gu Masters!" Both Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were taken aback.
A total of four Gu Masters were approaching them. When they were a hundred steps away, they landed on the ground and moved towards Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing.
The leader was an old Gu Master, giving off a rank three aura while the remaining three were all rank two.
Their uniform were the same and their movements were in synergy, showing the signs of an elite group.
"How can we encounter righteous Gu Masters in this desolate mountain range?"
"Gu Masters and wild beasts are completely different, even though I am rank three peak stage, with the chainsaw golden centipede's razors dulled and Fang Yuan as a burden, I might not be their match. We're in trouble now..."
The four Gu Masters got closer amidst Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing's bitter sighs.
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Dusk.
The last few rays of the sun were like blood, and crows screeched as they flew back to their nests.
Tie Ao Tian walked in the center of the group with a cold expression.
There were eight people in their group when they had set out of Qing Mao mountain, each were an expert of the clan. But now only three of his group remained.
Tie Ao Tian's heart bled when he thought of the sacrifices.
The losses were too severe!
This was way out of his expectations. The losses were not because their cultivations were insufficient, but because their luck was too bad!
After finding out Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing's traces, they started to move along Huang Long river. But Huang Long river flowed too rapidly, leaving behind barely any traces. Even if they used gu worms and had investigative experts, they still deviated from the path.
With no choice, they had to move against the current, spending a lot of time before discovering Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing's raft.
However, troubles came soon after.
They encountered a large number of six legged crocodiles and were attacked.
To be honest they were pretty unlucky, this beach was the breeding ground of the six legged crocodiles, and after it was destroyed, the six legged crocodiles that dominated the area were wiped out.
Beast groups were also split up into different forces. After the original owner died, this place became free for all, and many surrounding groups of six legged crocodiles competed for it.
Just when they were about to take control of this area, Tie clan's group arrived on the shore.
"What thing dares to invade our territory?"
"This land belongs to us six legged crocodiles!"
"Snatching territory from us, you're asking for it..."
The territorial concept of wild beasts was not to be trifled with. Thus, a huge battle broke out, and under the united attacks of two groups of thousand beast groups and three groups of hundred beast groups, the Tie clan group lost two members and were forced to escape.
Fang Yuan's methods of removing traces were very experienced. Thus, their investigations did not make much progress.
With the help of Gu worms, they eventually found out the direction Fang Yuan was headed to.
But then, a colorful nightmare descended.
The Xuan Yuan Divine Pheasant descended from the sky, staring at them and thinking of them as food.
Even now, the entire escape process was deeply buried in Tie Ao Tian's heart. The image of the Xuan Yuan Divine Pheasant became his nightmare, waking him up from his sleep every night.
Xuan Yuan Divine Pheasant took away three of his companions' lives. Among them were their most professional investigative Gu Master, and even a rank three defensive Gu Master.
Truly insane losses.
Right now, the Gu Master in charge of investigation was a half-baked one.
Even with such a loss, Tie Ao Tian did not think of giving up.
He was the fourth young master of Tie clan, with A grade aptitude and carried the hopes and dreams of the clan since young. He cultivated intensely, inheriting the iron will personality of the Tie clansmen.
Reinforcing Tie Xue Leng and his daughter was his first mission out of the village.
But he only managed to save Tie Ruo Nan, and the divine investigator was sacrificed. This was a great contrast to his original intention.
However, if he caught the demonic bastard that got the blood sea inheritance and take revenge for Tie Xue Leng, it would be a great success.
Such a merit would turn into his asset when vying for the clan leader position in the future, getting him more support from the clansmen.
He was not worried about the strength of the demonic bastards. In the process of chasing them, they had discovered from the traces that the two had limited battle strength, or maybe they had suffered some injuries, only having the collective strength of one rank three Gu Master.
"Even though I lost many companions, I am a rank three Gu Master, and so is Tie Dao Ku. With two other rank two Gu Masters to assist, our strength dominates those two. Once we capture the demonic bastards, the loss of manpower will turn into proof of my "iron will" and "never give up" traits!" Tie Ao Tian's eyes shone with determination.
"Fourth young master, we have found some traces ahead, it seems the direction we are heading is not wrong!" At this moment, the investigative Gu Master reported.
"Oh? Quickly bring me there."
After the time taken to drink a cup of tea, two holes were dug open, revealing corpses of a large number of grass skirt monkey.
"These grass skirt monkeys have died for less than a week, it seems we are catching up to those two!" Tie Dao Ku said in joy.
Tie Ao Tian breathed in deeply, his mood was suddenly lifted!
"Finally, we're nearing the end." He clenched his fists, walking forward excitedly.
He stared at the beautiful sky, the night lights shone on his young face, reflecting brightly in his eyes.
All his patience and efforts were not in vain, he was finally getting the results!
"Although the sun is setting, I can see hopes and the future from it..." He sighed in his heart, suddenly having the mood to ascend this slope, and enjoy this beautiful moment.
The few Gu Masters near him, gazed at him with admiration.
"Fourth young master is indeed fourth young master!"
"On this journey, we had thought of giving up, but fourth young master persevered alone, and now he is about to get the fruits of his labor."
"In fourth young master, I can see the clan's hopes, and a bright future ahead."
"I swear I will only follow fourth young master in this life!"
They stared in daze at Tie Ao Tian ascending the slope. They could almost see the scene where one day, Tie Ao Tian ascends to the position of the clan leader.
But at the next moment, an intense explosion occurred.
BOOM!!!
-x-X-x-
Bai Mo Xing was already sixty-eight years old.
He should have retired already at this age. However, Bai clan was in a rough situation these few years, and as an important clan elder and the uncle of the clan leader, he - who had always been working hard and doing his best - couldn't abandon the clan. Now, during this crucial moment of his clan's fate, he undertook the orders to leave the mountain, but during the journey, he accidentally sensed the aura of two Gu Masters.
Were they demonic Gu Masters?
This trip was very important to Bai clan and there could be no mistakes. Thus, he immediately led his group and approached the source of the aura.
"Two youngsters?" He was shocked when he saw Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing.
His gaze paused on Bai Ning Bing first.
Bai Ning Bing looked frosty and her blue eyes gave off cold light as she stared fearlessly at Bai Mo Xing, revealing her rank three aura.
"So young and already a rank three — a genius!" Not only Bai Mo Xing, the other three in his group also had such thoughts after seeing Bai Ning Bing.
At once, four pairs of eyes were fixated on Bai Ning Bing.
Bai Ning Bing had transformed into a girl; her beautiful features gave off a cool aura, causing her to appear like a snow fairy. Her pearl-like brilliance that couldn't be concealed by her tattered clothes, portrayed her firm personality, causing others to love yet pity her.
Compared to her, Fang Yuan's presence was much dimmer.
He had an ordinary look, with cultivation of merely rank one, many gazes swept through him and went back to Bai Ning Bing.
Fang Yuan liked this; the less attention he receives, the better.
Bai Mo Xing, however, was different, his gaze quickly turned towards Fang Yuan.
Bai Ning Bing was protecting Fang Yuan and her stance showed that she would not give up without a fight. And Fang Yuan had a calm look, even though he was hiding behind her.
"To be closely protected by this young genius girl, this young man seems to be the leader of the two, who is he?" Bai Mo Xing was after all very experienced, his discerning skills were very accurate.
He had thought they were two demonic Gu Masters, but now his heart wavered.
Seeing Bai Ning Bing and Fang Yuan's appearance, as well as their righteous Gu Masters clothing, they seemed more like young masters in distress.
"If they are demonic Gu Masters, just kill them. But if they are young masters from other clans, we have to watch out. If we cause the forces behind them to take revenge on our Bai clan, I, Bai Mo Xing, will become the clan's sinner! But thankfully our side is stronger than them, thus the situation is under control."
Bai Mo Xing was still thinking, when Fang Yuan suddenly took a step forward. He cupped his fists: "I am Gu Yue Fang Zheng, young master of Qing Mao Mountain's Gu Yue clan, my respects to senior."
"Qing Mao mountain?"
"Gu Yue clan young master?"
The people were bewildered.
Bai Ning Bing was also shocked, but she lowered her head so as to cover her gaze from giving them off.
She knew that Fang Yuan was starting to cook up a story again. The enemy was stronger than them, thus they had to rely on wits to get out of their predicament.
She clearly understood the situation, the rapport they had built up these few days caused her to move one small step back towards Fang Yuan's side. She continued staring at them angrily, like a close bodyguard who was not afraid of dying.
"Young lad, you are lying! Qing Mao mountain has long been destroyed, you think I don't know that?" Bai Mo Xing shouted with a cold expression.
Fang Yuan smiled bitterly, waving his hands: "Exactly because Qing Mao mountain is destroyed, I ended up here. Could I be so presumptuous as to ask for senior's name?"
Bai Mo Xing hesitated, but a young man beside him quickly spoke: "Then listen closely, we are the elites of Bai clan and this is our Bai clan's number one elder, also my uncle — Lord Bai Mo Xing!"
Bai Mo Xing really wanted to strangle this nephew to death. This secret operation by Bai clan this time, was on a large scale, but their true intentions were unknown to those who were not higher ups. Thus, these people were completely in the dark.
On the surface they were out hunting to temper the young masters' bravery. But their true motive was to find the spirit spring in Bai Gu mountain, and start their wild beasts extermination operation.
"But there's no way they can guess it." Bai Mo Xing calmed down as he looked at Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing.
"As expected, it was Bai clan." Fang Yuan laughed coldly in his heart.
He had already guessed the situation from these four Gu Masters' appearance.
Bai clan's spirit spring was drying out; they needed to find a new one and relocate their clan.
The act of relocating a clan was very important, and many preparatory work went into it, and secrecy was also one of them.
Otherwise, once the enemy forces found out, they could disrupt their plans and cause the entire Bai clan to fall into danger of getting wiped out.
What Fang Yuan had not expected was the Bai clan leader planning so far ahead, starting the preparations ten years earlier; sending these clansmen to Bai Gu mountain occasionally to carry out their scouting.
There were indeed reasons beyond luck in Bai clan's eventual prosperity.
The appearance of Bai clan Gu Masters was a surprise to Fang Yuan and this would have a great impact on his following actions.
On the surface, however, Fang Yuan smiled and cupped his fists: "Oh so you are from Bai clan, a fellow clan from righteous faction, nice to meet all of you!"
He then turned to Bai Ning Bing and said: "Ning Bing, stay down, we are safe. Bai clan does not have demonic Gu Masters."
Bai Ning Bing felt goosebumps all over her body when she heard Fang Yuan speak in such a gentle manner.
She held in her disgust, and withdrew her battle intent, taking another step back while still remaining silent.
This act caused the four opposing Gu Masters to sigh in relief.
After all, she was a rank three Gu Master.
"So her name is Ning Bing..." Bai Mo Xing's nephew repeated the name in his heart, his expression slightly dazed. @@novelbin@@
Bai Mo Xing narrowed his eyes and probed: "It sounds like Junior Gu Yue has met some demonic Gu Masters along the way?"
"Yes, my heart still palpitates when I think about it." Fang Yuan patted his chest with fear in his eyes: "But luckily, the clan leader and a few clan elders came in time, and killed that rank three Gu Master."
"Clan leader and elders..." Bai Mo Xing's heart jumped as he quickly followed up: "Don't tell me your clan leader and elders are nearby?"
Fang Yuan shook his head, sighing: "We got lost from the main team."
Bai Mo Xing's heart eased. But Fang Yuan's next sentence caused him to be alert again: "But I believe that before long, we will regroup again. Because our destination this time is Bai Gu mountain."
Bai Mo Xing was nervous: "Bai Gu mountain? Why are you all coming to Bai Gu mountain?"
"This..." Fang Yuan hesitated and didn't speak up.
Bai Mo Xing snorted while a bad feeling emerged in his heart.
Now that Qing Mao mountain was destroyed, what would the remains of the Gu Yue clan do? Obviously finding a new location and rebuild their home!
"Don't tell me they chose Bai Gu mountain too? Damn it!" In an instant, Bai Mo Xing's heart surged with killing intent.
If his guess was correct, then Qing Mao mountain's main team was his Bai clan's enemy.
But he soon contained his killing intent. He was old and was no longer as impulsive as back when he was young.
When an elder handled matters, stability was their main priority.
He calmed down and thought about it, even if he killed these two immediately, it might not salvage the situation!
Killing these two would not stop the remaining Qing Mao mountain inhabitants from coming, it would instead worsen the situation, creating foes even before they met.
These enemies had no foundation here but were powerful. Didn't you hear what the Gu Yue young master said? The main team had the clan leader and several elders. The most troublesome part was these people wouldn't hesitate to fight to death if the situation became desperate.
Furthermore, even if he attacked now, that girl called Ning Bing was a true rank three Gu Master. His side would still have casualties, although they were stronger.
Finally, such an important matter should not be decided by him. The clan leader was not far away, why not ask her for instructions?
Bai Mo Xing decided to stabilize the situation with Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing first as he thought of this.
He started smiling and said enthusiastically: "This is really a coincidence junior, our Bai clan's main team is just nearby. We are holding an annual hunting event, as half the landlord, we invite you to come and be a guest. Please allow us to host you."
"This..." Fang Yuan hesitated purposely.
"Come, our Bai clan's grilled lamb leg is top tier." Bai Mo Xing's nephew also began to persuade, but his gaze was fixed on Bai Ning Bing.
Fang Yuan touched his tummy, showing a conflicted expression - a bit of hesitation but also yearning.
Bai Mo Xing's eyes shone and laughed loudly: "Junior don't hesitate, anymore and you are not giving me face."
Only then did Fang Yuan bow: "Then I shall impose upon your clan."
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A banquet was held inside a spacious tent.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing took a seat next to each other.
A few clan elders sat opposite each other, and in the head seat was the Bai clan leader.
The tent's roof was opened, allowing them to see the blue sky. And in the center was a lamb being grilled, its fragrance extending throughout the entire tent.
"Come, lamb leg is the most tender. Guests from afar, please have a taste." Bai clan leader said with enthusiasm.
She was a middle-aged woman, and under her indication, the servants grilling the lamb, cut the lamb leg and offered it to Fang Yuan. Soon after, they cut off the other leg and placed it in front of Bai Ning Bing in a silver plate.
The lamb leg was still sizzling hot, Fang Yuan took a bite; he could taste the crispy fragrant skin and the tender juicy meat. If it had been marinated with some honey or some cumin powder, it would have been even tastier.
"Indeed a delicacy, no less than the grass skirt monkey's brains." Even Bai Ning Bing was full of praises.
"Our guest's happiness is our utmost pleasure. Hahaha." Bai Mo Xing laughed.
Fang Yuan ate and ate, when suddenly, his tears started flowing out.
Everyone was shocked. Bai clan leader asked: "Junior Fang Zheng, why are you crying?"
"The taste is truly divine, but thinking of the last few days where I and Ning Bing could barely survive, going through one danger after another, and thinking of our clansmen suffering in the wild without food to eat, I can't help but feel heartache, please forgive me Bai clan leader." Fang Yuan stood up and cupped his fist.
The few clan elders glanced at each other and sighed.
Bai clan leader asked: "My clan feels deep sympathy towards Gu Yue clan's disaster. Junior, can you tell me what in the world happened at Qing Mao mountain?"
-x-X-x-
The once lively Qing Mao mountain had turned into a world of ice and snow. Such a change had long attracted the attention and investigations of nearby forces. In these few months, news of Qing Mao mountain being destroyed had gradually spread far.
"I don't dare to recall, every time I think of it, it feels so painful." Fang Yuan sat down, his face full of grief.
"Servants, bring the wine." Seeing Fang Yuan unwilling to speak, Bai clan leader did not pursue the matter, but ordered her servants to bring two vats of wine.
Bai Ning Bing was indifferent, she never drank wine, only water.
Fang Yuan opened the seal immediately, gulping and drinking a mouthful as his tears fell once again.
Bai clan leader was stunned: "Junior, why are you crying again?"
"Your clan's wine is intoxicating, but it makes me recall our green bamboo wine and of those days when I drank on Qing Mao mountain." Fang Yuan wiped his tears as he said.
The clan elders' sighs became even louder, and many started consoling Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan's encounter caused them to feel a sense of resonance. After all, Bai clan's spirit spring was starting to dry out, and if they couldn't find a new spirit spring, Gu Yue clan's sorry state would be their Bai clan's future.
Bai clan leader consoled him once more, only then did Fang Yuan stop crying.
"Who would not feel pain when their home is destroyed? I can understand junior's feelings. But as long as people remain, there is hope. Junior, don't grieve. I believe that in a few days, you will be reunited with your clansmen." Bai Mo Xing probed.
Fang Yuan acted as if he was unaware, wiping his tears and answering casually: "Yeah, it should be in a few days."
Hearing this reply, Bai Mo Xing and Bai clan leader glanced at each other.
After the banquet, Bai clan leader called Bai Mo Xing and entered a secret discussion.
"Clan leader, the situation is bad. Gu Yue village was destroyed, why did these remaining people come to Bai Gu mountain? It is likely that they want to snatch this territory, should we strike first instead?" Bai Mo Xing was worried.
"Hehehe." Bai clan's female leader laughed lightly instead.
Bai Mo Xing was bewildered: "Why is clan leader laughing?"
The female clan leader squinted and explained: "Don't be rash Elder Mo Xing, this situation has boon and bane. As long as we operate this well, we can save much effort."
Bai Mo Xing started to ponder the clan leader's words deeply.
That's right!
Bai clan's spirit spring was running dry after so many years of usage. They needed to find a new spirit spring as soon as possible, and this time they were searching for a suitable spring on Bai Gu mountain under the cover of hunting.
Bai clan's main group had just arrived and could not find anything yet. But if Gu Yue clan's remnants were coming to Bai Gu mountain, they had to know some intel.
It could even be deduced that Gu Yue clan definitely held information on that spirit spring.
Bai clan leader saw Bai Mo Xing's expression change and continued: "Looks like you got it. Actually, any large mountain is a gathering of primeval essence, and thus a spirit spring will be there. But to find the spirit spring's specific location, it is not easy and requires a lot of manpower and resources."
"There are Fang, Liao and Fan clan around our Bai clan, they are all strong clans with equal power. If the matter about our Bai clan's spirit spring running dry gets out, they will take advantage of the situation and attack our weakness, thus we decided earlier that we have to secretly find the spirit spring's location under the guise of a hunting competition. But by doing this, we are greatly restricted and have to expend even greater manpower and resources in searching for the spirit spring."
Bai clan leader was full of worries, but could not express her helplessness.
Bai Mo Xing continued: "Thus, clan leader wants to obtain information about the spirit spring from Gu Yue clan?"
"That's right." Bai clan leader nodded, her eyes shining brightly: "Gu Yue clan's leader and elders won't be easy to deal with, but with those two youngsters in our control? This is a godsend opportunity!"
Bai Mo Xing frowned: "But, I see that those two are not stupid. That lass is obviously one of those iron-willed stubborn type, while that young lad, although weak, was unfazed in dangerous situations, being calm at all encounters. The first time we met, even when he was surrounded by us, he did not show a hint of panic. It will not be easy if we want them to divulge information."
Bai clan leader chuckled: "If he did not have such composure, how would he be a clan's young master? These two young masters are very outstanding, but if they weren't, I would be doubting their identities."
Bai Mo Xing continued: "Thus, you have to think twice clan leader. If we interrogate them forcefully, they might not submit to us. With the traces they left behind, Gu Yue clan will be here soon. These are the type of desperate people with nothing to lose, except their lives."
Bai clan leader waved her hand: "That is not a worry, clan elder, I have a plan."
"Oh? This old one shall listen."
Bai clan leader said it softly while Bai Mo Xing's old eyes kept on getting brighter.
After Bai clan leader finished, Bai Mo Xing could not help but praise: "This is a good plan! I saw that Gu Yue Fang Zheng is very attached to his clan, he even cried twice for his clan in the banquet. He is after all a youngster, clan leader, this plan that you came up with is like placing honey in front of a young bear or placing a carrot before a young rabbit. There will be no issues getting him hooked."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fang Yuan opened a corner of the tent's cover.
It was night time already, but Bai clan's temporary camp was well lit.
The tents were placed perfectly in order, with iron racks and torches at every certain distance, and patrolling gu master groups all night round.
"Young master Fang Zheng, what is the matter?" Fang Yuan had just opened the cover, and the two guards at the door immediately walked over.
Fang Yuan burped out some wine: "I drank a lot of wine at the banquet, is there anywhere I can relieve myself?"
"Young master, right this way. You are our esteemed guest, the clan leader has arranged a special spot for you, no further than thirty steps away." One of the guards immediately said.
"Give me a direction, I do not like anyone near me when i pee." Fang Yuan rejected.
"I do not dare to disobey young master, the wooden lavatory is right there." The guard pointed towards it, bowed and left.
Fang Yuan got to the wooden lavatory, and after peeing, he pretended to be drowsy and walked in an opposite direction. He was not even twenty steps out when a few patrolling Gu Masters came over: "Esteemed guest, that is the wrong direction, your tent is over there."
"Is that so? I remembered it was there." Fang Yuan burped.
"Esteemed guest, this way please." Bai clan gu masters smiled hypocritically, with a forceful tone.
Fang Yuan was brought back to the tent again.
In the tent, the lights were turned on.
There were two beds on eastern and western side in the tent. Bai Ning Bing was sitting on her bed and cultivating, using primeval essence to nurture her aperture.
Hearing Fang Yuan enter, she opened her eyes, inquiring with her gaze.
Fang Yuan glanced at her, before falling down on the bed: "Ning Bing, sleep early. You were exhausted these few days. Don't worry, we will join up with our clansmen in few days."
His words slurred at the end, and eventually he closed his eyes, snoring, evidently falling asleep.
Bai Ning Bing's pupils shrunk. She knew Fang Yuan was acting, purposely saying that as a precaution against any surveillance type Gu worms. He had gone out earlier to pee, but returned so early which meant the area was tightly secured and it was impossible for them to escape quietly in dark.
She couldn't help but be worried. Although she was at rank three peak stage, her Gu worms were not optimal, causing her battle strength to be insufficient.
While in this camp, Bai clan leader was at rank four, and there are five to six clan elders, and a lot of rank two Gu masters.
" To be meat on somebody's chopping board. " That was the current situation. Although Bai clan was a righteous faction, people die for fortune and birds die for food, once the benefits exceeded the risk, they would definitely commit murder in secret.
Bai Ning Bing knew the Gu worms in Fang Yuan's possession were all extremely rare. Heavenly essence treasure lotus, blood skull Gu, once exposed, would definitely attract the greed of Bai clan Gu Masters.
The reason they did not act yet was because Fang Yuan used the threat of the non existent Gu Yue clansmen to temporarily lie to them.
A few days later, when they do not see Gu Yue clansmen arrive, they would be suspicious. By then, Fang Yuan and her would be at a tight spot.
"How do I get out of this predicament?" Bai Ning Bing frowned, staring at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan had already turned around, his back facing her, and he seemed to have really slept from the sound of his relaxed breathing.
"You sure take it easy!" Bai Ning Bing snorted, feeling anxious and helpless in her heart.
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The next day. It was a bright sunny day. @@novelbin@@
There were three loud drum beats which signified the Bai clan leader summoning the clansmen.
"Our Bai clan annual hunting competition starts from today and will continue for the next seven days, it is time for you to display your strength. According to our rules, those who get a decent ranking will be heavily rewarded! Next, feel free to display all your bravery and strength."
Bai clan leader waved her hand, and the village gates opened. The Gu Masters were eager to start the competition, rushing out impatiently.
Not long later, they entered the forest from their respective positions, vanishing into the wilderness.
The crowded camp had become more spacious and empty.
"Junior Fang Zheng, did you sleep well last night?" Bai clan leader turned around, asking Fang Yuan with a smile.
Fang Yuan cupped his fist: "Thank you clan leader for the hospitality. Last night I fell asleep immediately after lying down, and it was morning already when I woke up."
"Hahaha." Bai clan leader smiled, patting Fang Yuan's shoulders, giving off a kind and affectionate feeling: "Does junior want to enter our clan's hunting competition? Let us see the valor of a Gu Yue clansman!"
Fang Yuan showed a difficult expression, rejecting: "I am ashamed! Junior was heavily injured not too long ago, and my cultivation fell from rank three. Thankfully I was saved by the clan, but now I only have rank one middle stage cultivation."
Even without Fang Yuan mentioning it, his rank one aura was clear to the eyes.
"No worries junior. As our clan's esteemed guest, you will definitely be well treated. How about this, as long as junior can hunt an adult black bear, this green copper relic Gu will be your reward." Bai clan leader clapped her hand, and a Gu Master beside her opened his palm, as a finger-sized round ball shaped Gu emerged.
Fang Yuan laughed coldly in his heart, but showed an earnest expression: "Then this junior shall take up the invitation!"
-x-X-x-
Howl!
In the forest, a plump black bear as large as two meters was standing on its two legs.
It growled towards Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing, but the two were indifferent, causing the black bear to become furious. It landed on all fours and pounced towards the two youngsters.
Do not be fooled by the bear's clumsy looks, its running speed was, in fact, very fast - twice the speed of ordinary humans.
Seeing the black bear nearing fifty steps from him, Fang Yuan's lips curled up into a smile as if he had achieved his target.
Bam. @@novelbin@@
With a loud bang, soil was sent flying.
The black bear cried out pitifully, its advancement came to a stop as if it had suffered a blow to the head.
Overcame by anger due to suffering such an absurd attack, it quickly changed to another direction and rushed towards Fang Yuan once again.
But after only stepping out for ten steps, the ground exploded again.
Howl!
The black bear's chest was blown to a bloody mess, its eyes turned red as its rage reached a tipping point, rushing forward once again.
"A wild beast after all, lacking in intelligence." Fang Yuan sighed as he retreated.
The black bear chased relentlessly, but there would be an explosion every few steps it took.
After rushing for another few dozen steps, the black bear's body was full of injuries with none of its fur intact. It was limping as its four limbs were crippled, there was no longer the fearsomeness of before.
Its anger had subsidaed, and the instinct for survival kicked in.
Even though Fang Yuan was standing no further than twenty steps away, it chose to retreat.
But Fang Yuan had already anticipated its retreating path, and dug a deep hole on the path, burying at least five Charred Thunder Potato Gu in there.
BOOM!
With a loud explosion, the battle ended.
At the same time, in the tent, wisps of smoke hovered in the air..
In the smoke, images flashed, as they portrayed the process of Fang Yuan's battle in real time.
"Elder Mo Xing, what do you think?" Bai clan leader spoke after the battle ended.
Only she and Bai Mo Xing were inside the tent.
"If I am not wrong, this Gu Yue clan young master is using the Charred Thunder Potato Gu? This Gu is an expendable type, absorbing energy from the ground to grow, and explodes after impacted with vibrations. Among rank two Gu worms, it has strong attacking power but this Gu is severely weakened on Bai Gu mountain. Bai Gu mountain has no soil, and even the mountain rocks are made of bones, the Charred Thunder Potato Gu cannot be planted." Bai Mo Xing continued evaluating.
Bai clan leader shook her head: "You analyzed well, but that's not the point. Did you not notice, Fang Zheng did everything by himself - from burying the Charred Thunder Potato Gu to the end of the battle. He has a rank three bodyguard but chose to use the rank two Charred Thunder Potato Gu himself through a tedious process. Every time he buries a seed, he has to use primeval stones to recover his primeval essence, but he insists on doing it himself, what does that say?"
Bai Mo Xing's eyes shone: "I understand, this Fang Zheng is an upright person, not one of those who like to scheme and skive. He agreed to enter the hunting competition, thus no matter how hard it is, he will not use outside forces to cheat."
"Scheming and skiving characters have weak will, while upright characters are indomitable. If we want to find out the location of the spirit spring from these two people, the best way is to do so is indirectly, by using our wits. Hehe, my confidence in last night's plans have increased again." Bai clan leader smiled.
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"Luckily I was able to accomplish my goals." After half an incense was burnt through, Fang Yuan placed a torn bear skin in front of the Bai clan leader.
"Hehehe, in such a short time, junior managed to kill an adult black bear, as expected of Gu Yue clan's young master." Bai clan leader's face showed a trace of shock, which immediately turned into a smile.
"Junior might as well go back to rest, the Green Copper Relic Gu will be sent over shortly."
"Thank you clan leader, this junior will take his leave."
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing moved out of the central tent and back to their tent.
Soon after, a Gu Master brought over the Green Copper Relic Gu.
Fang Yuan took it, and immediately used it on the spot, raising his cultivation from middle to upper stage.
Gu Master's small realms were easy to break through and was just a matter of efforts and time. Big realms, however, needed aptitude to breakthrough.
Relic Gu, Stone Aperture Gu along with many other Gu worms could reduce the time needed by Gu Master to raise their cultivation.
As for rank one upper stage, it is still rank one. This small growth could not change or affect the situation at all.
At night, Bai clan leader organized a banquet again, inviting Fang and Bai.
Bai clan's tradition was to hold banquets everyday during the hunting competition. Large bonfire banquets were held in the open areas. As for the small banquet in the central tent, only the first few ranked participants would be invited.
But because Fang and Bai had different identities, they still remained on the guest seats.
"Come, let me introduce to junior our clan's rising star. You youngsters should interact with each other." During the banquet, Bai Mo Xing started the conversation.
There were four youngsters in the tent; two males and two females, all were rank three Gu Masters.
One of the guys was Bai Mo Xing's nephew, Bai Mo Ting; he had a slim body and was ranked third in today's hunting.
Among the two girls, one was called Bai Cao Shuai who looked very careless, but was ranked fourth. The other was called Bai Lian, she had white skin and thick eyebrows which gave her a fresh aura; she was the most beautiful girl in Bai clan.
The two girls sat opposite each other, forming a stark contrast.
"Bai Zhan Lie greets the two esteemed guests." A young male Gu Master took the initiative and stole the words out of Bai Mo Xing's mouth.
He was muscular and his manners contained arrogance along with strong battle intent. Looking at Fang and Bai, he first paused at Fang Yuan before showing a smile of disdain. Next his gaze was locked onto Bai Ning Bing.
Bai Ning Bing was like a snow fairy with her silver hair and blue eyes, surpassing Bai Lian in terms of beauty. More importantly, she was at rank three peaks stage, attracting Bai Zhan Lie's attention.
He snorted: "It seems that your Gu Yue clan has strong women and weak men?"
Bai Ning Bing was like an ice block, showing no reaction.
Fang Yuan's expression turned cold and slightly ugly.
Bai clan leader interrupted: "This is the number one youth expert in our clan, junior don't blame him for his inconsiderate words."
"Of course not." Fang Yuan moved his lips, facing Bai clan leader: "Brother Zhan Lie is a dragon among men, I am deeply amazed."
His tone was complex, and his expression was perfectly displayed; some tolerance due to being under others' roof, the helplessness of his own weak cultivation and some indignant pride of a youngster.
Even Bai Ning Bing was taken by surprise.
Bai Zhan Lie snorted, while Fang Yuan laughed coldly in his heart.
He knew the Bai clan situation, but Bai clan did not know his true trump cards. The situation might seem dire for him, but he had a strong grasp on the advantage he had - information.
"How to make good use of this advantage, that is the key to getting out of our predicament. Green Copper Relic Gu is a good sign, showing that Bai clan is worried about the non-existent Gu Yue clan remnants. They do not want to do it by force, but instead trick and manipulate us. Is this Bai Zhan Lie the next chess piece? Now that I think about it, his tone earlier was too forceful."
"If he really is the Bai clan's next move, there will be some problems. I might as well give my 'handle' to them, and expose my 'weakness'..."
If he allowed the Bai clan to set up traps this casually, Fang Yuan would no doubt fall into a more passive situation.
Instead, he might as well give others a hold on himself, and expose some fake weaknesses, to gain some initiative.
Thinking so, Fang Yuan's gaze swept through the tent, a ploy brewing in his scheming mind.
He looked at Bai Lian, opposite him.
After staring for a while, Bai Lian seemed to have noticed his gaze, but Fang Yuan turned his head over, seemingly observing something else.
As the banquet continued, Fang Yuan took peeks at Bai Lian from time to time, but avoided eye contact with her.
When the banquet was almost over, Fang Yuan peeked more often.
This situation was easily noticed by the Bai clan leader, and some clan elders.
The clan elders showed some amusement in their eyes.
It was a common thing for youths to get infatuated. Bai Lian was the beauty of Bai clan, it was natural for her to attract the attention of Gu Yue clan young master.
After the banquet was over, Bai Mo Xing excitedly went to see the clan leader: "Clan leader, did you see what happened during the banquet?"
Bai clan leader smiled: "Let me plan a bit more."
The night passed by silently.
During the second day of the hunting competition, Bai clan leader called Fang Yuan again, telling him to hunt a earth horn rhino.
Fang Yuan reenacted the same method, using the Charred Thunder Potato Gu and blasting the earth horn rhino, bringing back its horn.
Bai clan leader praised him and rewarded him with a Clearing Heat Gu.
Clearing Heat Gu was like an armored worm fossil, with a half transparent jade rock texture. He felt a cool air passing on to him when he held it in his hand.
This Gu was a rank two healing Gu, used to cure poison.
Fang Yuan had finally fixed his greatest weakness after getting this Gu.
During the campfire banquet that night.
"This is my son and daughter. Bai Sheng, Bai Hua, stand up and toast this brother." Bai clan leader said.
A pair of twins stood up, raising their cups like an adult, saying together: "Bai Sheng (Bai Hua) toasts Gu Yue young master."
They bowed slightly with a solemn expression, showing their good upbringing. There was no hint of any childishness.
Fang Yuan was slightly stunned and sized up this pair of siblings attentively.
According to his previous life, these two kids would be the famous Righteous Twin Stars, their fame would last a long period of time. Both cultivated to rank 5 and expanded the Bai clan village to an unprecedented height.
At the same time, they were the inheritors of the Bai Gu mountain inheritance, and Bai Sheng even became the Bai clan leader eventually.
In a clan, the clan leader position was usually inherited by the clan leader's own children. But for Gu Yue village, where the clan leader does not have children, they would choose an outstanding youngster from their pure bloodline descendants.
People have a growing process. Bai Sheng and Bai Hua might be grand heroes in the future, but now they were still too young, not even students yet.
Fang Yuan retracted his gaze and concentrated on Bai Lian again.
The banquet continued.
During the period, Fang Yuan continued to peek on Bai Lian, as Bai Zhan Lie continued to find problems, his tone haughtier than before. Bai Mo Xing's nephew Bai Mo Ting was instead peeking at Bai Ning Bing.
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