The Precious Light Bronze Toad was not only a Gu with formidable defense but also possessed an extraordinary weight bearing capacity. It was a very rare Rank 3 Gu worm.
Perched atop the head of this massive toad was a round bodied, middle aged Gu Master. His face was pitted with pockmarks, yet his smile was exceptionally affable. He waved enthusiastically to the villagers on both sides of the road, greeting them with practiced warmth. This man was the leader of the caravan, Jia Gui, a Rank 4 Gu Master. He was a veteran of the trade routes, possessing extensive experience and an intimate knowledge of the treacherous paths winding through the Southern Border. Under his leadership, the caravan had enjoyed several years of smooth and profitable travel.
Following closely behind Jia Gui were various strange and exotic mount type Gu. There was the massive Mudskin Toad, which groaned under a heavy load, appearing to struggle with every step; the agile Mountain Spider, its eight long legs skittering steadily across the rugged mountain path; and even the Quetzalcoatl, which slithered smoothly through the muddy terrain.
Though these mount type Gu differed in shape and size, they were all burdened with massive quantities of merchandise, which slowed the caravan to a crawl. Yet, this slow moving procession formed a unique and formidable sight.
The 100,000 Mountains of the Southern Border harbored countless dangers and challenges. The terrain was a chaotic maze of rolling peaks, dense primeval forests, and crisscrossing rivers, with vast unexplored regions waiting to swallow the unwary. For merchants, traversing these mountains was a recurring nightmare. The condition of the business roads was entirely unpredictable; a path that was unobstructed one year could become a deathtrap of landslides, mudslides, and territorial beast groups the next.
Yet, despite these lethal risks, the merchant industry remained irresistibly attractive. Through trade, caravans could exchange the unique specialties of various stockades, often yielding profits nearly ten times their initial investment. This allure of immense wealth drove many to risk their lives on these unknown paths.
It was never easy to become a merchant. Typically, only those who could not gain a solid foothold within their own clans or those forced by the harshness of life chose to fight for their survival on the road. Driven by a burning desire for wealth, they stepped into the dangerous wilderness, hoping to change their destiny through sheer effort. Unfortunately, those who succeeded were always a small minority.
"Brother Jia Gui, you are a little early this year! It seems you have had a fortunate journey. Truly gratifying!" Gu Yue Bo, the Clan Leader of the Gu Yue clan, stood at the village gate with a welcoming smile. Behind him stood a group of clan elders. This reception was not only a show of respect for Jia Gui's Rank 4 status but also an emphasis on the long term cooperative relationship between the two parties.
Seeing this, Jia Gui hurried forward a few steps, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. He responded with a loud, confident laugh: "Haha, Chief Gu Yue is too kind! This year's journey was indeed much smoother than previous years, which is why I arrived at your village ahead of schedule."
Gu Yue Bo waved his hand warmly. "It is all Brother Jia Gui's own skill. Come, come! The tribe has prepared a sumptuous banquet for our noble guests. I hope my brother will appreciate the gesture."
Jia Gui did not stand on ceremony. "In that case, I shall respectfully accept!." Without hesitation, he accepted the invitation and stepped into the village alongside the Clan Leader.
While the leaders dined, the other caravan members were methodically busy. With practiced skill, they began to set up camp, dividing the labor efficiently: some pitched tents, others unloaded goods, and some organized the site.
In what seemed like a moment, temporary shops sprang up like mushrooms after a rain. Although simple, they were arranged in a neat and orderly manner, transforming the village square into a lively market. Merchants stood before their stalls, hawking their wares loudly to attract the passing crowd.
"Come and take a look! The best Confidant Grass, only one Primeval Stone!"
"A fine wine, only half a Primeval Stone a glass!"
"Wind Walk Gu! It can double a Gu Master's speed for sixty breaths!"
The variety of goods was dazzling, and the villagers were quickly drawn in by the commotion. Curious, they gathered around the stalls, carefully examining the items and bargaining with the merchants.
Liu Chen stood among the crowd, his heart pounding. "This is so unexpected! My previous guess actually came true. The caravan's arrival has spawned treasure chests here and they are precious Golden Treasure Boxes! What's even more exciting is that Jia Fu actually has a golden box on him as well! This is incredible!"
From a distance, Liu Chen could see the golden radiance emanating from Jia Fu. Even through the drizzling rain, the chest shone brightly, as if beckoning him. The same was true for the golden chest sitting amidst the caravan's cargo, exuding an alluring aura.
Liu Chen's heart raced as he wondered what these two high level rewards could be. Would it be rare Gu materials, powerful Gu worms, or perhaps another high level inheritance?
As the caravan settled into its destination, Liu Chen followed the other clansmen into the market area. His eyes never left the golden chest in the cargo area, fearing it might suddenly vanish. As he approached, his pulse quickened. He took a deep breath, reached out carefully, and gently touched the surface of the chest.
Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Chen "swiped" the golden treasure box and moved it into his inventory. He then continued to wander through the stalls as if nothing had happened, though his heart was already leaping with joy.
He mingled with the crowd, equally interested in the legitimate products on display. He wandered between the stalls, carefully selecting items he actually needed. After some deliberation, he spent two primeval stones to buy a bundle of Confidant Grass.
These grasses were a complementary food for Moonlight Gu. By incorporating them into the Gu's diet, Liu Chen could significantly reduce the pressure and cost of feeding his Moonlight Gu a very practical purchase for his current stage of cultivation.
During the three days the merchant caravan remained within the stockade, Liu Chen led a very leisurely life. In addition to his daily cultivation, he had plenty of time to wander through the temporary market. Unlike the Clan Leader, Gu Yue Bo, who was rarely seen by commoners, the Rank 4 master Jia Fu frequently appeared within the caravan to oversee transactions.
In a moment of opportunistic timing, Liu Chen managed to "swipe" the Golden Treasure Box from Jia Fu. Brimming with excitement at this unexpected haul, he returned to his dormitory to examine his prize.
As the lid of the golden chest slowly opened, a dazzling golden light erupted, illuminating every corner of the room.
"Reward obtained: A Rank 4 Golden Path mount type Gu. It can manifest as a giant golden python."
Liu Chen looked at the snake like Gu in his palm and let out a soft sigh. Although this Rank 4 Gu was exceptionally precious, it wasn't of much practical use to him at his current level. Furthermore, the Golden Snake Gu had a voracious appetite for heavy gold. In the Gu World, while gold was used for materials and Gu food, it was relatively cheap; however, this Gu required a staggering one hundred kilograms of gold every month to stay fed.
In desperation, Liu Chen could only place the Golden Snake Gu into his system inventory, setting it aside for the future.
After wandering the caravan further, Liu Chen purchased a variety of Gu materials. He carefully selected these ingredients with the intention of refining his own Gu worms later. He wasn't particularly interested in buying ready made Gu to strengthen his combat power; with the protection of the Rank 5 Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider and his two inheritances the Nameless Sword Path and the Flower Wine Monk's legacy he felt no urgency.
Judging by the hoard of primeval stones he had accumulated, he knew it was wiser to save them for his own cultivation. Ready made Gu were expensive and often didn't fit his specific needs as well as those he could refine himself.
Liu Chen searched the caravan for a stone gambling shop but found none. Naturally, he did not see Jia Jin Sheng either. He mused that such a key character would definitely have brought a high value treasure box with him. He secretly speculated that perhaps the Jia family had not yet sent Jia Jin Sheng out to handle business due to internal family divisions.
Despite wandering the caravan several times with eyes as wide as bronze bells, Liu Chen found no other treasure boxes. He felt a flicker of disappointment, having expected more surprises from such a large trade group.
However, he refused to be discouraged. He returned to his room, took a refreshing shower, and changed into clean clothes. As his mood improved, his gaze fell upon the second Golden Treasure Box the environment reward he had swiped from the caravan grounds earlier.
When he lifted the lid, a beam of light shot out, then faded into a gentle glow.
"Reward obtained: [Treasure Light Gu] A Rank 4 Light Path Gu. It can release a 'precious light' that identifies all treasures in the world. The more valuable the treasure, the brighter the light. It can also locate hidden treasures on its own."
The Gu resembled a golden firefly and emitted a beautiful, soft golden radiance. A wave of ecstasy flooded Liu Chen's heart. He hadn't expected another Rank 4 treasure! With the Treasure Light Gu, finding rare materials and hidden inheritances in the future would become significantly easier.
Liu Chen knew that the concept of "Treasure light" was highly significant in the Gu World, most famously associated with Treasure Yellow Heaven the supreme trading platform formed by an Rank 8 Gu. While his Rank 4 version was not nearly as powerful as the Rank 8, it was still a rare and invaluable tool.
Three days later, as the caravan packed its goods to depart, Liu Chen stayed quiet in his dormitory. He sat cross legged on his bed, eyes closed, concentrating on mobilizing the green copper primeval essence within his aperture.
As the essence flowed, his primeval sea began to rise and fall as if stirred by an invisible tide. Under the constant nourishment of the essence, the aperture walls began to undergo a fundamental change. The original flickering light membrane grew thinner and thinner, until eventually, it became as transparent as a cicada's wing, transforming into a sparkling water membrane.
In that instant, Liu Chen felt a powerful surge of strength. His cultivation had finally broken through to the Rank 1 Middle Stage! The original green-copper essence became deeper and more concentrated, resembling a deep pool filled with endless energy.
Inside the aperture, the Liquor Worm continued its work, seemingly unaware of the change. It greedily absorbed the new middle-stage essence and purified it further, spitting out an even higher quality of dark green copper essence.
"Is this what it feels like to make a breakthrough? This is incredible!" Liu Chen marveled silently. The feeling of absolute strength made him extremely excited.
However, even though he had already surpassed all of his classmates in progress, his outward behavior did not change at all. He remained as he always was: keeping a low profile, staying unobtrusive, and maintaining his persona as a unremarkable student.