Yuta let out a deep sigh, then erected a barrier, sealing himself off from the world on all sides.
His objective was to prevent any potential interference from the "Last Realm Lord Venerable," Ping Tao Xin, who sought to disrupt him by any means necessary.
Had Yuta not been an absolute entity—lacking a soul to begin with—he would have perished from the backlash caused by the failure of his previous refinement attempt. It was only his immense power that allowed him to survive; otherwise, he would surely be dead.
Next, he cast fourteen glowing, copper-colored discs—Rank 9 Enslavement Gu—which merged together to form a sphere of energy, shimmering with a greenish-copper hue.
A few seconds passed before flames from the underworld—resembling a specter the size of an eleven-year-old child's hand—shot toward the sphere, which was roughly the size of an adult bear's paw. The sphere's color shifted from greenish-copper to black, edged with striking white borders.
Moments later, the "Soul-Manipulating Amulet" and the "Eye of the Forgotten Underworld Ruler" moved toward the now-pitch-black sphere, radiating a potent, chaotic energy.
Unlike the previous attempt, the Last Realm Lord Venerable, Ping Tao Xin, failed to sabotage the refinement process.
Yuta then proceeded to incorporate the Soul-Manipulating Amulet and the Eye of the Forgotten Underworld Ruler. The energy sphere grew increasingly dark and intense, its heat rising to such a degree that Yuta's own garments began to catch fire.
Black flames consumed his clothing and his face; yet, he felt absolutely nothing. He possessed the ability to control black fire and withstand its intense heat. He had previously forged the Kamish Sword using black fire, and had even faced a raging inferno of black flames with his very own body.
Consequently, this fire was of no consequence to him; he extinguished it without once averting his gaze from the smelting process.
Yuta cast in over 16,560 souls—an essential component in nearly every stage of developing both the "Soul Manipulation Eye" and the "Soul Enslavement Eye."
As the souls surged toward the blazing sphere of energy, they let out piercing, terrifying shrieks. Yet, Yuta did not even bother to glance at them.
Upon colliding with the burning sphere, the souls fused into it with such frantic speed that they were left unable to even wail.
The sphere expanded to five times its original size. With every passing moment, a hue blending gray and light green began to emerge, while the sphere continued to grow, a greenish-gray aura radiating from its edges.
"The first part is finally complete."
Yuta spoke calmly, observing the state of the energy sphere.
He then summoned a vial of the "Water of Honor"—extracted from the Lake of Pride, located within the Land of Sins.
The water, a brilliant, shimmering gold, was levitated above the energy sphere. He began to pour it in slowly, ensuring that no dangerous fluctuations would occur during the process.
This stage demanded intense concentration; the slightest lapse could cause the entire smelting process to fail. As the water of honor flowed over the energy sphere, its physical form began to shift, gradually transforming into something resembling a gateway—hued in a blend of faded black and greenish-gray.
The gateway did not appear safe; ethereal, intangible tendrils emerged from it, striking at Yuta from time to time.
Yet, Yuta consistently parried these attacks, showing no sign of surrender or any intention to abandon his objective.
"Pride is the master of all sins, while honor is the master of both manhood and folly."
Yuta spoke coldly, even as he fended off the encroaching tendrils.
He then cast the 'Gem of Disappointment' and a fourth-rank 'Regret Gu' toward the tendrils.
Moments passed before the tendrils began to fade away, leaving the gateway as a tranquil surface, devoid of any further reaction.
Nevertheless, Yuta did not lower his guard in the slightest; this stage was still only in its infancy.
Following this, he deployed the 'Reputation Gu,' 'Honor Gu,' 'Resolve Gu,' 'Vanity Gu,' and 'Courage Gu.'
Yuta did not release these five types of Gu all at once; instead, he allowed a five-minute interval between each one.
He utilized these intervals to subdue the tendrils, employing the 'Gem of Disappointment' and the fourth-rank 'Regret Gu.'
Consequently, the entire process of deploying these five types of Gu spanned a total of twenty-five minutes. If he were to cast all the various types of Gu at once, it would agitate the gateway, forcing Yuta to spend two full hours calming it back down.
For this reason, he decided against rushing; instead, he would introduce each type of Gu only after the gateway had been properly stabilized.
After all, haste often leads to delay. A solid foundation—no matter how long it takes to build—is far superior to a fragile one, however quick or easy its construction might be.
Yuta brought out a large, pitch-black cauldron and placed it beneath the gateway. The gateway began to liquefy, transforming into a substance that blended off-white-black with greenish-gray—a fluid that emanated an ethereal aura of the very same hue.
Yuta watched the mixture for several minutes, until the ethereal aura finally dissipated and ceased to radiate from the cauldron.
"The second part is complete. Now, it is time for the third."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Yuta opened several portals, each leading to a different major sect.
Through them emerged four young men—all eighteen years of age—and two women who appeared to be thirty-six. Despite their evident confusion, their bodies radiated an aura brimming with power and authority.
Tai Sao Mei, a young master from the Tai family, spoke up in bewilderment, glancing toward Shang Seong-woo—a young heir from one of the Ten Great Clans:
"Young Master Shang, what the hell is going on? Where are we?"
"I honestly have no idea where we are. I was in the middle of managing our clan's brothels when, suddenly, I found myself here." Shang Seung-woo spoke with a sense of unease, then cast his gaze toward the young masters from the other major clans and sects.
Mao Ling-xin, the young master of the Mao family, spoke in a calm tone, attempting to mask his agitation:
"Brothers and sisters, we must leave this place; I can feel my life force draining away rapidly."
He then added:
"Time is passing far too quickly. Two months have gone by since we arrived here—or so it seems, though I cannot be entirely certain. Time flows in a peculiar way, and that is a significant matter."
Shock washed over the faces of the others, and they rose from where they sat."You are right, Master Mao Lingxin. Time is passing with strange swiftness. Furthermore, I sense the presence of Immortal Gu—not just one or two, but a great many."
These were the words of Jiang Ji Jinhai, son of the leader of the Heaven and Earth Sect.
Greed flickered across their faces as they exchanged glances.
Chai Ming, the Saintess of the Imperial Jade Sect, spoke with calm composure:
"Brother Mao Lingxin is correct. Given the abundance of Immortal Gu, I believe the best course of action is to cooperate in acquiring them and then divide the spoils. This seems the most sensible solution to me. What do you think, young masters? Do you have any other suggestions?"
Mao Lingxin, Shang Seung-woo, Tai Sao Mei, and Yuxiao Yi—daughter of the leader of the Thousand-Mile Mountain Sect—spent a few moments weighing the idea of cooperation. Time was slipping away rapidly; there was no room for bickering.
Mao Lingxin spoke in a calm, measured tone, radiating wisdom and prudence:
"On behalf of my young peers from our various sects and clans, we agree to Saintess Chai Ming's proposal to cooperate. The presence of so many Immortal Gu implies one thing: they are guarded by a formidable entity, and we must combine our strength to defeat it."
A beautiful smile graced the face of Chai Ming, the Saintess of the Imperial Jade Sect, as she looked toward Mao Lingxin. Signs of infatuation appeared on them; Chai Ming possessed a breathtaking beauty, ranking among the most stunning women in the Central Plains of the Central Continent.
The same was true for Shang Chengwu and Tai Sao Mei—all of them were captivated by her striking allure.
This stirred intense anger and jealousy within You Xiao Yi, as all the attention was focused squarely on Chai Ming.
She muttered to herself, filled with fury and deep annoyance:
"That bitch—wherever she goes, she's always the center of attention!"
You Xiao Yi knitted her brows, watching as Shang Chengwu, Tai Sao Mei, Mao Ling Xin, and Jiang Jie Jinhai vied persistently for Chai Ming's favor—while she, in turn, offered a disingenuous laugh.
Annoyed, You Xiao Yi spoke up:
"This is no time for flirting or trivialities! We need to find the Immortal Gu and get out of here; our lives are slipping away at an alarming rate. We've already wasted more than eight months!"
A flicker of irritation crossed Chai Ming's face—though, in the context of their thousand-year lifespans, eight months was hardly worth mentioning.
She realized that You Xiao Yi was simply jealous of the attention she was receiving, yet she chose to say nothing.
As for what they might encounter in their quest to secure the Immortal Gu and the other treasures hidden here—they had no way of knowing; all they could sense was the presence of the Immortal Gu itself. Nevertheless, they naturally assumed that treasures must be present; the existence of rare treasures was, to them, a given.
As they headed toward the center of the immortal energy—carefully surveying their surroundings and cautiously disabling any traps they encountered—Yuxiao Yi asked, with a hint of curiosity:
"Could this be an 'Immortal Land'? The presence of so many Immortal Gu suggests as much."
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Ji Jinhai's face as he clasped his hands behind his back.
"In truth, this is not an Immortal Land. I have previously entered seven such lands belonging to Immortal Gu Masters and have even obtained high-ranking Gu; therefore, I am well-versed in distinguishing between true Immortal Lands and other types of treasure troves or burial grounds."
He continued:
"Thus, there are two possibilities: either this is a treasure trove, or it is the final resting place of a powerful Immortal—at least a Rank 8 expert, a supreme sovereign of the righteous or demonic path."
Astonishment washed over their faces as they listened to Jiang Ji Jinhai's words, which struck them as entirely logical.
"Master Jiang Ji Jinhai, your experience is truly unparalleled! To have entered so many Immortal Lands—you are a figure worthy of great respect."
Shang Seong-wu spoke with profound respect and admiration.
Hearing this, a trace of arrogance and conceit crept into Jiang Ji Jinhai's smile. As for Yuxiao Yi, a look of greed flickered across her face before instantly transforming into a charming—yet hypocritically sweet—smile as she approached him.
Taking Jiang Ji Jinhai's hand, she said:
"Master Jiang Ji Jinhai, you are truly remarkable and extraordinary! It is no wonder you are the designated successor to lead the Heaven and Earth Sect!"
Jiang Ji Jinhai looked visibly flustered as he listened to her words, acutely aware of her body pressing close to his and the intoxicating, feminine fragrance emanating from her.
Chai Ming's expression shifted into a mix of annoyance, suppressed rage, and revulsion toward Yuxiao Yi, who had successfully managed to draw Jiang Ji Jinhai—a man with profound expertise in identifying treasures and the lands that harbor them—to her side.
Meanwhile, Mao Lingxin, Shang Seung-woo, and Tai Sao-mei were consumed by jealousy, envy, and deep-seated hatred toward Jiang Ji Jinhai. This stemmed from several factors: his exceptional skills and experience, and the fact that he was the undisputed heir to the Heaven and Earth Sect, spared from the brutal wars of succession that others might face.
Furthermore, as the only son of his sect's leader, he stood in stark contrast to them—individuals who would inevitably have to fight for the right to rule their own clans and sects.
To make matters worse, by securing the favor of Yuxiao Yi—the daughter of the leader of the Thousand-Mile Mountain Sect—he had effectively brought a formidable and significant ally into his sect's fold. After some time, as they walked toward the center of the Eternal Energy, everyone came to a halt, their faces etched with expressions of utter disbelief.
Tai Sao Mei spoke, her voice unsteady from the shock:
"An... an Alpha-rank Gu! It's an Alpha-rank Gu!"
The others remained frozen in place for several minutes, unable to utter a word; Tai Sao Mei had captured the essence of what they were witnessing in just a few short words.
An Alpha-rank Gu is hundreds of thousands of times rarer than a Rank Nine Gu. Even when compared across the infinite expanse of ordinary worlds, it remains exceedingly scarce—one might find a single Alpha-rank Gu in every ten billion worlds, or perhaps none at all. It is entirely a matter of pure luck.
As for the Fantasy World, there was only one Alpha-rank Gu in the entire realm: the Origin Tree Gu.
Furthermore,It did not emanate any detectable immortal energy, as its energy level far exceeded the limits of human perception. Consequently, it could only be sensed when one drew within a few meters—a result of the residual immortal energy left behind by the Immortal Gu that currently, or previously, resided within it.
For this reason, Jigua Island remained unclaimed by any major power for millions of years, until the Versalkin Academy eventually designated it as a testing ground for its students.
It was only after millions of years—during which Zao Li and Alessandra had utilized this Gu to propagate their lineage—that it was finally discovered by the scions of various clans and major sects.
Greed took root in all of their hearts, yet no one dared to speak; even if they had attempted to claim the "Origin Tree Gu" for themselves, its colossal size posed an insurmountable problem.
Furthermore, an "Alpha-class" Gu cannot enter a Spirit Sea.
To make matters worse, Jiang Ji Jinhai, Shang Seong-woo, and Chai Ming did not possess a Primeval Sea, but rather "Dantian Roots." This rendered it impossible to conceal the Origin Tree Gu—which was gargantuan to begin with—even if one were to emerge victorious from a fight to the death (assuming, of course, that anyone survived at all).
Nevertheless, their expressions—previously etched with shock—shifted toward caution as they turned their gaze toward Yuta. He remained in a state of deep meditation, refining the components necessary to evolve both his "Soul-Enslaving Eye" and his "Soul-Manipulating Eye." The eternal energy emanating from him was so potent that it stirred greed within their hearts as they gazed upon him.
They were unable to sense Yuta's true power, nor did they even recognize him, for his appearance had undergone a radical transformation. Where he once had black hair and violet eyes, his hair was now white—streaked with a few black strands—and reached down to his waist, while his eyes had turned crimson, tinged with a faint hint of violet.