Lin Yan acted decisively. He personally mobilized his servants, preparing to search the grasslands near Han Family Village for traces of the possible Legacy, while specifically warning them to stay discreet and avoid drawing attention. Fortunately, three months had already passed since the Newcomer Grand Competition, and the storm of his fame had long settled.
As for the earlier attention from various mission teams, Lin Yan had already handled it in advance. He deliberately leaked news that he had traded killer moves and obtained a large amount of primeval stones, claiming he needed time in seclusion to stabilize his foundation, successfully buying himself a period of quiet peace.
"No wonder. If I had ten thousand primeval stones, I'd shut myself in and cultivate too."
"I'm envious. When he comes out again, who knows how strong he'll be… truly, talent makes all the difference."
The surrounding Gu Masters discussed it for a while before gradually losing interest, though deep down, their anticipation only grew stronger.
Because of this, when Lin Yan quietly set out for Han Family Village, he encountered no suspicious followers.
With Fire Eye Gu activated, his vision turned into a crimson world, every living presence outlined in heat and vitality. Within that range, no one could hide from his perception.
Arriving at Han Family Village on the edge of the oasis, Lin Yan immediately split his forces, sending his subordinates to conduct a carpet search across the surrounding grasslands, while he himself went straight for Doctor Mo. The latter was the key—whether this trip succeeded or failed depended entirely on how much he could extract from him.
At this moment, Mo Han, the stationed Gu Master of Han Family Village, had already noticed unfamiliar faces appearing in the village. His expression darkened as he instantly realized that the inheritance information he possessed had been exposed. Otherwise, why would outsiders suddenly come to such a remote and impoverished place?
"Damn it… I was so careful, how was it still discovered?"
Mo Han's thoughts churned, and he quickly recalled the Huang Family Gu Master who had inexplicably visited the village a few months ago. A cold sneer appeared on his face. "It must be him… damn it."
"If I can't obtain it, then you won't have it easy either."
He made up his mind to spread news of the inheritance and stir the waters. However, before he could act, a young Gu Master with an extraordinary bearing appeared before him.
Lin Yan smiled faintly. "Doctor Mo, it's been a while."
Mo Han's heart tightened. In an instant, he understood that any chance to sabotage had already slipped away. Forcing a stiff smile, he replied, "Gu Master Lin… what a coincidence. I happen to be busy at the moment."
"That's fine," Lin Yan said calmly, his smile unchanged. "I have time. Wherever you're going, I'll accompany you."
Mo Han's anger surged, and a trace of killing intent flickered in his eyes. But the moment that thought appeared, it was crushed by reality. Killing a Huang Family disciple meant being hunted down by the entire Huang Family—three Rank 5 experts and more than a dozen Rank 4 elders. The sheer weight of that power pressed down like a mountain, leaving him suffocated.
His momentum instantly collapsed. He was only a Rank 2 Gu Master, not some notorious demonic expert, and he was already past his prime.
Then he carefully observed Lin Yan and felt another shock. In just a few months, the other party had already reached Rank 2 Middle Stage. If they truly fought, he might not even win—he might even be the one silenced.
Mo Han let out a bitter laugh. "Fine… I admit defeat."
"A wise man submits to circumstances."
Lin Yan smiled and nodded, but inwardly remained vigilant, his hand subtly ready to activate Fire Armor Gu at any moment. In the Gu world, no one could be taken lightly. Even Fang Yuan, with five hundred years of experience in his second life, had suffered losses from underestimating others.
For now, Lin Yan had no intention of acting rashly. He would first secure the inheritance, then decide what to do with Mo Han based on the situation. As a member of the righteous path and part of the Family system, he could not casually kill. Even a direct descendant would face scrutiny. The Family was both a shield and a set of chains.
If it were a Rank 3 or Rank 4 inheritance, Lin Yan was confident he could secure it. Even if the news spread, it would not cause too much trouble. But if it were a Rank 5 inheritance, the situation would be completely different—he would have to force Mo Han to swear a vow using a vow Gu, or directly enslave him with a slave Gu. As for the servants who knew anything, they could not be left untouched.
There was no alternative. The Gu world was never kind. Even someone like Mo Han, a mere Rank 2 Gu Master, could commit atrocities, using the lives of children to refine Human Medicine Gu.
Mo Han had no intention of resisting and quickly revealed the clue to the inheritance. His aptitude was poor, and his lifespan was nearing its end. Wanting to extend his life, he had searched for solutions, but Longevity Gu was something he could never hope to obtain. In the end, he could only turn to old records, looking for any possible method.
By chance, he found a record in the Family's local gazette. It described an incident from years ago—a Demonic Path Gu Master had once infiltrated Shajing Oasis, capturing talented children and refining them daily into longevity-type Gu. Eventually, his actions were discovered, and he was hunted down by Huang Family experts.
Yet, despite being surrounded, he had mysteriously vanished. The place where he disappeared… was Han Family Village. The Family at the time believed he had escaped. After all, Han Family Village stood at the very edge of the oasis. Beyond it lay the boundless desert. Once someone entered that wasteland, tracking them down would be like searching for a needle in the sea.
However, Mo Han pieced together scattered clues from old records and reached a startling conclusion—the Demonic Path Gu Master back then had most likely been gravely injured and had died on the spot.
At this point, Mo Han let out a long sigh. "I originally planned to rely on my identity as the stationed Gu Master and search slowly over time… but now…"
"So that's how it is," Lin Yan thought, his gaze deepening. Opportunities in the Gu world were everywhere, and it was not uncommon for even a Rank 2 Gu Master to rise because of a single encounter.
At the very beginning of the original story, on Qing Mao Mountain where the Heaven Refining Demon Venerable once started, there had been such a case. Wang Da, a mere Rank 2 Gu Master, had stumbled upon a inheritance and comprehended the poison path, mastering the infamous Love Separation Gu. He was ruthless enough to refine Gu by killing his own wife, yet in the end, he provoked Fang Yuan and was killed.
Not long after, Lin Yan received a report from his servants—something unusual had been discovered within a patch of shrubs on the grassland.
Lin Yan glanced at Mo Han and said calmly, "Let's go."
_____
Bonus Chapter - 100 power Stone.
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