Lin Yan did not lack foundation. With Dream Derivation cultivation, his attainment would rise rapidly, allowing him to perfectly digest the increase in his strength. What he lacked was time.
The further one progressed as a Gu Master, the slower cultivation became. If one wanted to ascend to the level of a Gu Immortal within ten or twenty years, then in the early stages like Rank 1 and Rank 2, one had to advance as quickly as possible and not be stingy with resources.
After that, Shan Xia proposed to purchase the construction method of the Four Elements Gu Formation.
Lin Yan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately refused. Although selling it would bring great profit, the Four Elements Gu Formation was still useful to him and formed the core of his strength. He planned to consider selling it only after reaching Rank 3.
Shan Xia was not disappointed. On one hand, the Family had already instructed her not to force him. On the other hand, Formation Core Gu were rare, and Formation Path was difficult to cultivate. Even if one possessed the method, it did not mean they could successfully construct a Gu formation.
Did he think anyone could control five Gu at the same time, maintain their sequence, and complete the activation without error?
Even Lin Yan himself did not fully realize that constant use of Dream Derivation Gu had strengthened his mind, making his thoughts far more stable and resilient than ordinary Gu Masters.
In the end, Shan Xia once again invited him to join her team, but Lin Yan used an excuse to delay.
After Shan Xia left, Shan Shayuan took out a bookworm containing information and smiled. "Inside are the Rank 2 refinement recipes for Fire Cloak Gu, Fire Coal Gu, and Fire Line Gu. Some were left by your parents, and some I collected. Take them."
Lin Yan was slightly surprised. It had come without any effort. He said sincerely, "Thank you, Uncle."
"No need to thank me." Shan Shayuan waved his hand. "These aren't worth much. Flame Path is widespread, so these recipes are common, only costing a few dozen primeval stones each. Focus on your cultivation and refine your Gu well. That is the most important thing."
Hearing this, Lin Yan felt a bit emotional. A mainstream path was indeed convenient. In the original work, Fang Yuan cultivated Strength Path, where not only were Gu difficult to obtain, but most also lacked refinement recipes and had long been lost. Even when available, they were extremely expensive.
After everyone left, Lin Yan immediately entered seclusion to digest his gains. Inside the quiet room, he first took out two Fire Pattern Gu, activated them, and endured the intense pain of body modification.
Crimson divine patterns spread across his legs, while another coiled around his abdomen. His entire skin glowed with a reddish-jade luster, appearing smooth yet tough.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
A moment later, Lin Yan's body trembled. Wisps of orange-yellow flames intertwined around him, forming a flame cloak. Crimson divine patterns spread across his limbs and abdomen, coiling like dragons. The entire Fire Cloak instantly thickened by fifty percent, giving off a noble aura.
His slender figure stood upright as golden firelight illuminated his face, making him look like a descending fire deity, carrying an imposing presence. The originally simple Fire Cloak now appeared refined and powerful.
But Lin Yan paid little attention to appearances. What he cared about was its strength. "The Fire Cloak's enhancement has increased by fifty percent. The effect is obvious. Combined with the body's fifty percent defensive boost, it nearly doubles, approaching the defensive level of a Rank 2 Gu, and it does not consume additional essence."
He nodded in satisfaction and began refining the two newly obtained Rank 2 Flame Path Gu.
First was Fire Eye Gu, also a body-modifying Gu. After successfully refining it, he took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and placed it over his eyes.
A sharp pain struck instantly.
"Ah—!"
Even Lin Yan, who was used to enduring pain, could not help but let out a low cry. Fire Eye Gu split into two parts, like soft flesh merging into his eyeballs, flickering faintly with firelight.
After nearly an hour, the intense pain finally subsided. Lin Yan was soaked in sweat, breathing heavily. He picked up a mirror and looked at his reflection. His calm face remained the same, but his eyes had turned completely crimson red.
He slightly activated his primeval essence, and his vision instantly changed, as if a layer of fresh blood covered everything, turning the world into a crimson hue. Looking toward the doorway of the quiet room, through a faint red illusion, a clear and graceful figure appeared, glowing with bright orange-red.
It was the maid standing outside. "Infrared… thermal vision?" Lin Yan clicked his tongue in amazement. "The range is at least three hundred meters. Excellent."
He was both surprised and pleased. The consumption of primeval essence was minimal, and it could be used even at night, making darkness no obstacle. Its drawbacks were also clear—it would be ineffective against cold-blooded beasts or concealment-type Gu, and it conflicted with other eye-modifying Gu.
Even so, it was more than enough. The pain he endured had not been in vain. Thinking back to the torment just now, Lin Yan still felt a trace of lingering fear. The Gu world truly produced ruthless individuals. In the original work, Fang Yuan's reconnaissance Gu, the Earth Listening Flesh Ear Grass, required cutting off one's ears.
"The Fire Eye Gu also has a refinement path. Combined with Golden Gaze Gu, it can become Rank 3 Fire Eyes and Golden Gaze, which is highly effective against transformation path Gu and illusions. There's even a Rank 4 version."
Recalling the Family records, he felt somewhat relieved. At least he would not have to go through such pain repeatedly.
Next, he refined Walking Fire Gu. It smoothly merged into his aperture. When activated, flames burst beneath his feet, granting explosive speed. The drawback was obvious—it left behind clear flame footprints.
However, in a sea of fire, its consumption was nearly zero, and his speed would increase by another thirty percent.
Creating a sea of fire was simple for Flame Path Gu Masters. As long as an attack landed on dry ground, it could easily ignite into a raging blaze.
Lin Yan refined four Flame Path Gu in succession, greatly increasing his combat power and giving him several new trump cards. With the amplification from Fire Pattern Gu, he was confident that his burst speed was among the best at his level.
"All that's left now is refinement."