Back in the hidden inheritance cave, Liu Chen held a milky white, silkworm like creature in his palm the Liquor Worm. This Gu was only Rank 1, and in the face of the overwhelming aura of the Rank 5 Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider, it didn't even harbor a single thought of resistance.
In an instant, the pressure of the Rank 5 Gu surged out like a stormy wave. Liu Chen's mouth curled into a confident smile. He precisely controlled the spider's aura to envelope the Liquor Worm. Almost in the blink of an eye, the Rank 1 Gu was refined, as if its very soul had been extracted and replaced by his will.
"It's exactly as I thought," Liu Chen nodded in satisfaction. He had discovered from the Flower Wine Monk's memories that as long as a Gu worm's rank is two or more levels higher than another, it can use its aura to pressure lower ranked Gu into submission, making refinement effortless.
Relying on the Rank 5 Earthwolf Spider, Liu Chen could easily refine any Gu at Rank 3 or below. However, he knew that if he encountered a Rank 4 Gu, he might face some resistance, as the gap was narrower and the Gu's own will would be stronger.
After a short rest, he mobilized the spider's pressure once more and subdued the Rank 1 Moonlight Gu. In just a few breaths, he had successfully refined three Gu worms. If any other student or elder knew of this, they would be stunned beyond belief; refining three Gu in such a short time was an impossible feat for a mortal.
With the task complete, the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider retreated into his aperture, its six legs tucked together as it sank to the bottom of the primeval sea like a small, dormant crab.
The Moonlight Gu and the Liquor Worm also found their homes. The Moonlight Gu attached itself to Liu Chen's right palm, forming a unique, crescent-shaped mark. The Liquor Worm appeared even more spirited; it swam happily through the green-copper primeval sea, greedily soaking up nourishment. It began to continuously absorb the initial stage green-copper essence and spit out a more refined, higher quality version: middle stage green copper essence.
This refined essence was heavier and darker, settling at the bottom of the sea and creating two distinct layers of color. With the Liquor Worm constantly working, Liu Chen's efficiency in warming and nourishing his aperture walls was several times higher than that of his peers. Not only did this accelerate his cultivation speed, but it also ensured his primeval essence was purer and more powerful in combat.
Time flew like a white horse passing a crevice; half a month vanished in the blink of an eye.
During these two weeks, the students worked tirelessly to refine their Moonlight Gu, each hoping to be the first to claim the reward. Finally, the results were announced.
Gu Yue Qing Shu won with an outstanding performance, becoming the well-deserved first place! His success drew a wave of envy and jealousy from the other students. Gu Yue Chi Shan and Gu Yue Mo Yan performed equally well, finishing only half a day behind Qing Shu.
In comparison, Liu Chen's results appeared mediocre. Although he was technically the first person to refine his Gu, he had waited until five or six other students had already reported their success before revealing his own. This level of achievement was neither outstanding nor poor, perfectly matching his strategy of maintaining a low profile.
By this time, most of the apprentices had successfully refined their Moonlight Gu, marking their first true step on the path of Gu cultivation. Those who failed to refine the Gu were simply given up on by the academy elders due to their poor aptitude.
Faced with these results, Liu Chen was greatly satisfied and seized every opportunity to practice more diligently. Through his daily cultivation, he could feel the threshold of the middle stage approaching. With just a little more effort, he would be able to break through.
"Listen up, kids! Moonlight Gu is the signature of our Gu Yue clan. Just like the Bai clan's Stream Gu and the Xiong clan's Bear Strength Gu, it is a unique skill that defines us. Today, you will see the true power of the Moon Blade!"
The Academy Elder stood in the center of the wide martial arts arena, his voice loud and powerful, echoing through the venue. About ten meters in front of him stood a Grass Puppet, its texture nearly identical to that of a human body the most practical training target in the Southern Border.
The Elder stretched out his right hand. The crescent mark in his palm flickered with a cold light. As he poured his primeval essence into the Gu, a translucent blade of light began to condense. It was shaped like a new moon, emitting a chilling radiance.
His eyes fixed on the target, the Elder's arm suddenly swung forward. The Moon Blade rushed out like a bolt of lightning, turning into a stream of silver light that shot straight for the puppet's neck.
Click!
With a crisp sound, the head of the Grass Puppet was severed cleanly. It hit the ground and rolled for several meters.
The students were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. A moment later, they erupted into thunderous cheers. Their eyes gleamed with a desire for strength, eager to test the power of the Moonlight Gu for themselves.
The Academy Elder nodded with a satisfied smile. "In three days, I will hold a Moon Blade assessment. Whoever takes first place in this exam will be rewarded with twenty Primeval Stones!"
The cheers became even louder. The youths rubbed their palms together, full of expectation.
"Alright, you can now begin training on your own. Remember, come one by one; don't crowd."
The Elder waved his hand, signaling the start of the practice session. Liu Chen watched the silver light of the Moon Blades flickering across the arena, his gaze calm. The twenty primeval stones were a pittance to him now, but the assessment was another opportunity to observe the progress of his rivals.
The Moon Blades fluttered through the air like translucent butterflies, but sadly, the skills of the students were so unrefined that most could not even graze the corners of the Grass Man puppets.
Despite their failures, the students' enthusiasm remained undampened. The Academy Elder stood by, his sharp eyes observing every movement, occasionally correcting their postures to help them channel their primeval essence more effectively.
Primeval essence was a precious resource for Rank 1 beginners. Even an A grade genius could only manifest nine Moon Blades at most before their aperture ran dry. For C and D grade students, that number was significantly lower, forcing them to be extremely conservative with every strike.
Compared to his struggling peers, Liu Chen found the application of the Moonlight Gu to be effortless. Possessing the life experiences and combat insights of the Flower Wine Monk, controlling a Rank 1 Gu was as natural as breathing. However, he had no intention of attracting unwanted attention. He deliberately made his Moon Blades fly at awkward, crooked angles, perfectly mimicking the clumsy form of a beginner.
Not only did he mask his accuracy, but he also feigned inefficiency. After launching four consecutive blades none of which hit the target he quickly retreated to the side, pretending to be exhausted and gasping for air as if his essence were depleted. He blended into the background of mediocre students, precisely as he had planned.
The morning session concluded, and the afternoon transitioned into a close combat training block.
The instructor for this course was a bald, imposing Rank 2 Gu Master. His muscles were so well-defined they looked like copper poured over iron. His skin carried a distinct bronze luster the result of using the Bronze Skin Gu, which made his flesh difficult to pierce even with a sharp blade.
This was the harsh reality of the gap between Gu Masters and mortals. No matter how hard a mortal trained their body, they could never match the supernatural durability granted by a Gu worm.
"In the early stages, your primeval essence is limited. When it runs out, your physical strength is the only thing that will keep you alive!" the instructor barked, his voice booming like a temple bell. "If you face a taller opponent, do not hesitate! Attack their lower half!"
As he spoke, he demonstrated by seizing a Grass Man puppet and slamming it into the ground with a thunderous bang, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
It was a pity that no matter how exciting the demonstration, the students showed little interest. Having witnessed the flashy, ranged power of the Moonlight Gu, ordinary boxing and kicking seemed like "pediatrics" to them mere child's play that couldn't compare to the path of Gu. Their minds drifted, and the instructor's words were treated as nothing more than a passing breeze.
The instructor felt a familiar sense of helplessness. Having been a youth himself, he knew their arrogance well. However, he also knew that battle did not rely solely on Gu insects. The more intense the fight, the faster the primeval essence would vanish.
This was why Gu like the Black Boar Gu and White Boar Gu which could fundamentally and permanently increase a Gu Master's strength were always in such high demand. When essence was gone, raw power decided who lived.
To force his students to understand, the instructor arranged for them to spar in pairs.
Liu Chen was matched against a round-cheeked, chubby boy named Gu Yue Jiao Gua.
"Gu Yue Jiao Gua, we have an agreement," Liu Chen whispered as they squared off. "No slapping in the face. Do you hear me?"
Jiao Gua, looking equally intimidated, nodded frantically. "Okay, I got it."
In truth, Liu Chen was under immense pressure not from Jiao Gua, but from the need to suppress his own power. Thanks to his earlier treasure box, he possessed Innate Strength, and combined with the Monk's combat memories, he could have ended the fight in a split second. If he weren't careful, he might accidentally beat the fat boy to tears or, worse, reveal his true strength.
The two "green chickens" pecked at each other clumsily for a while. Finally, Liu Chen saw his opening. He deliberately allowed Jiao Gua to land a punch on his shoulder. With a dramatic display, he acted as if he had lost all his strength, falling softly to the ground while gasping for air.
Satisfied with his performance, Liu Chen eventually returned to his dormitory. He didn't even have the energy to change his clothes before closing his eyes to immerse himself in the state of warming his aperture.
In the Southern Border during this period, the sky was permanently shrouded in heavy, leaden clouds. A constant, drizzling rain fell like a curtain of beads, bringing a persistent chill to the mountain.
Standing on the high ground of the Gu Yue Village and looking into the distance, one could vaguely see a long, winding shape moving along the mountain path. Like a giant snake, a merchant caravan was slowly approaching the village.
This caravan was unique in its composition. Instead of traditional carts or pack animals, it relied on a variety of strange Mount Gu. These creatures came in all shapes and sizes, all burdened with massive amounts of merchandise.
Leading the procession was a massive Precious Light Bronze Toad. The creature possessed a simple bronze hue and emitted a faint, shimmering radiance. Its back was broad and flat, laden with crates, marking it as one of the caravan's most vital transport assets.