Without delay, Lin Yan escorted Mo Han and hurried toward the location. The surroundings were a barren stretch of grassland, sandy soil mixed with scattered thorns, gradually giving way to rolling yellow sand further ahead. They were already close to the edge of the desert.
Between heaven and earth, the space felt vast and empty, offering nowhere to conceal oneself.
To be cautious, he activated Fire Eye Gu. A faint flame flickered within his pupils, and the world turned crimson in his vision. He swept his gaze across the surroundings—no one had followed them, and his own servants had not secretly interfered or taken anything in his absence.
Then his gaze settled on an unremarkable bush. Through its surface, he could vaguely see clusters of warm halos beneath the soil, indicating living things underground, their outlines resembling tightly packed flower buds.
Lin Yan did not dare act carelessly and immediately ordered a servant to dig. Before long, a shallow pit was opened, and a faint, ethereal fragrance began to drift out.
"Wait… this scent—rich yet restrained, luxurious yet elegant… could it be Di Zang Flower Gu?!"
The thought flashed through Lin Yan's mind. In the next moment, a trace of dark golden light bloomed within the pit. He signaled the servant to withdraw, then activated Fire Armor Gu and the Four Elements Gu Formation, personally stepping forward.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Strands of crimson flames coiled around his body, condensing into layers of red steel armor that tightly covered him from head to toe, forming a complete suit of armor. Five flame patterns shimmered faintly, and the armor's color shifted toward a reddish-gold hue, noble and imposing.
Compared to the loose defensive flames of Fire Cloak Gu, Fire Armor Gu was far more solid, as if condensed from illusion into substance, its defensive strength increasing by several times.
At the same time, five more Gu worms flew out from Lin Yan's aperture. Four-colored light—blue, yellow, red, and green—circulated and intertwined, their auras merging into one. Above his head hovered the Formation Core Gu, surrounded by four radiant points. With Earth Path as the core, a vast yellow-brown glow erupted outward, pressing down with a heavy, suffocating force.
Earth Path transformation excelled in suppression and sealing. Rank 1 Gu were directly restrained and rendered unusable, while even Rank 2 and Rank 3 Gu suffered noticeable suppression, their power greatly diminished.
With both Fire Armor Gu and the Four Elements Gu Formation active, Lin Yan's defenses were layered and airtight. Whether it was a trap left behind by that Demonic Path Gu Master, or Mo Han attempting something reckless out of desperation, he had nothing to fear. His caution had reached its peak.
Mo Han, who had originally entertained some hidden thoughts, felt his heart tremble at the sight and immediately suppressed them. "With this level of defense… even Rank 3 Gu might not be able to break through…"
Not long after, Lin Yan carefully brushed away the surrounding soil, gradually revealing a dark golden flower bud buried beneath.
It lay about two inches underground, roughly the size of a millstone, shaped somewhat like a tightly closed cabbage. Its surface was smooth and delicate like silk, dark gold in color, exuding a quiet sense of mystery and nobility.
This was Di Zang Flower Gu—a Rank 3 consumable Gu used specifically for sealing other Gu worms.
Since Gu worms required feeding to survive, Gu Masters had developed various sealing methods to place them into dormancy. Di Zang Flower was one such method. It was more commonly seen in Southern Border, while in the Western Desert, a similar function was fulfilled by Stone Bud Gu.
Lin Yan gently peeled back the soft, thin petals. Everything proceeded smoothly, without triggering any danger.
Soon, within the golden liquid of the pistil, several Gu worms could be seen sleeping quietly. He first picked up the bookworm that stored information and refined it on the spot. This should contain the true inheritance left behind by that Demonic Path Gu Master.
A moment later, Lin Yan closed his eyes, letting the information flow into his mind. Countless fragmented memories and records merged together, and he quickly grasped the essence.
"So… the one who left this inheritance was called 'Bone Herb Devil,' a Wood Path Gu Master. No wonder he used Di Zang Flower Gu."