The failure of two critical refining operations hit Liu Chen like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering his meticulously crafted plans. This sudden blow did more than just dampen his mood; it meant he no longer had the time or resources to prepare new materials. Refinement materials were not easily acquired, and even the basic wines required for the Liquor Worm upgrade were needed in vast quantities. Seeking them out again within the village would undoubtedly invite suspicion and expose his hidden progress.
Faced with this grim reality, Liu Chen let out a heavy sigh. "It seems I can only rely on hard practice now." Since he could no longer refine Gu to boost his efficiency, his only remaining path was to redouble his efforts through sheer meditation to improve his strength.
Time was running out, and Liu Chen dared not slacken for a moment. He adopted a grueling schedule, rising before dawn and practicing until the deep hours of the night, never missing an opportunity to tempered his aperture. Without a Four Flavor Liquor Worm to purify his essence, his cultivation speed slowed significantly. He was forced to wait for his soul to fully recover from the backlash of the failed refinements before he could even consider his next move.
Time flew, and soon it was December, the heart of winter. The year was drawing to a close, yet Liu Chen's cultivation remained stagnant at the Rank 2 Initial Stage, showing no further progress.
Before the heavy snows could completely block the mountain passes, Liu Chen had prepared a hoard of supplies within the Flower Wine Monk's inheritance cave. This hidden sanctuary, located in the remote wilderness, served as his safe haven, a place where he could practice in peace, far from the prying eyes of the clan elders.
Liu Chen had officially abandoned the village earlier than planned. Because of his sudden disappearance, the village had launched a brief search mission, but they found no trace of him. In the end, the elders concluded that a mere C grade student had likely been eaten by wild beasts. Given his low status, the clan did not take the matter seriously, and his name was soon forgotten.
"The jade eyes of the stone monkeys have almost all been collected," Liu Chen mused, looking at a pile of glowing orbs he had harvested. These Jade Eyes were the specialized food required to sustain his White Jade Gu.
In addition to maintaining his defense, Liu Chen had made arrangements for the other Gu in the inheritance. He had successfully refined the Earth Communication Ear Grass. To use it, he had been forced to endure the agonizing process of cutting off his own ear and replacing it with the parasitic grass. Though the pain was severe, it paled in comparison to the soul shattering backlash of his earlier refinement failures.
As for the Chainsaw Golden Centipede, it appeared ferocious, but Liu Chen viewed it as practically worthless for his current needs. He possessed enough offensive means between his Sword Embryo and the Rank 5 spider, so he simply directed the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider to drive the centipede away from his cave. He also decided to leave the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus behind for now. It remained a six petaled bud, and since the clan was constantly siphoning primeval stones from the Spirit Spring, he lacked the resources to refine it. He resolved to return for this precious treasure only after reaching Rank 3.
With the heavy snow falling and Qing Mao Mountain shrouded in white, Liu Chen seized the opportunity. He urged the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider to completely seal the entrance of the inheritance cave. He felt no lingering attachment to the mountain where he had spent the last decade.
Without hesitation, Liu Chen drove the spider to begin digging a new tunnel in a predetermined direction. The massive creature carried a large amount of daily necessities on its back, which he had stowed away before leaving.
Traveling underground was an innate instinct for the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider. As it burrowed forward, it consumed the displaced soil, which not only saved time on clearing the path but also provided the creature with its necessary nutrition.
Fortunately, the amount of primeval essence consumed by the spider during the digging process was minimal. This allowed Liu Chen to maintain the activation safely even with his Rank 2 Initial Stage cultivation. He sat firmly on the broad, furry back of the spider, swaying slightly with its rhythmic movements. From time to time, he retrieved Primeval Stones from his system inventory, absorbing them to replenish the Red Steel Primeval Essence he was constantly expending.
After a full day of unremitting effort, Liu Chen finally crossed the boundary of Qing Mao Mountain. He breathed a sigh of relief and directed the spider to dig upward. Soon, the creature's sharp appendages broke through the surface, creating an exit.
Liu Chen climbed out of the hole and stared at the world beyond the mountain. He scanned his surroundings, matching the landscape with the memories he held. Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a settlement in the distance.
"There's actually a village here?" he whispered in surprise. He had expected this region to be a desolate wasteland.
Riding the spider, he approached the village slowly. From afar, he could see houses scattered across the flat land, forming a unique landscape. There were no famous mountains nearby and no Gu Master clans sitting in power; it was clearly an ordinary mortal village.
Such settlements were common in the Southern Border, often serving as remote landing points for merchant caravans. Even though he knew it was unlikely to house a powerful Gu Master, Liu Chen remained cautious. He did not enter the village rashly.
Instead, he found a secluded spot nearby and directed the spider to dig a spacious underground chamber. Using various animal skins he had harvested, he created a warm and comfortable temporary residence.
That night, Liu Chen stayed within the safety of his hidden cave, listening to the muffled sounds of the world above.
The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the temporary cave entrance, Liu Chen directed the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider to unload his supplies. Once prepared, he sat firmly upon the spider's broad back and moved slowly toward the mortal village he had spotted the day before.
The giant, pitch black body of the spider was far too conspicuous against the pristine white snow, looking like a demonic beast emerging from the shadows. The sight was so terrifying that the villagers didn't dare show their faces, hiding in their homes and shivering in fear.
However, as Liu Chen approached the outskirts, an elderly Gu Master limped out to meet him. The man was aged and hunched, yet he held his body with a lingering strength. He saluted Liu Chen respectfully, his voice trembling slightly. "My Lord, I have seen your arrival. I wonder what instructions you have for our small village? As long as it is within our power, we shall not shirk our duty."
"No need to be so formal. I was just passing through and planned to restock some food here," Liu Chen replied with a calm, friendly smile.
Just as he was about to continue the conversation, a sound as shocking as a falling meteorite tore through the air.
Boom!
The noise seemed to shatter the world. Gravel, mud, and splinters of wood rained down in all directions. The old Gu Master had no time to react; a sharp piece of debris buried itself deep in his back, and blood instantly stained his clothes a garish red.
In the face of the sudden attack, Liu Chen reacted with practiced instinct. He instantly activated the White Jade Gu. A glowing film of white light, like an indestructible shield, surged out to cover his entire body, wrapping him in its protective embrace.
The bullet like fragments struck the light film with incredible force, but regardless of how hard they hit, the barrier stood firm without taking any damage. Beneath him, the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider's carapace proved even stronger; the flying debris failed to leave even a single scratch on its metallic hide.
"My Lord..." The old Gu Master looked at Liu Chen in horror. He was filled with fear and doubt, wondering if this young Lord was actually a demonic master who had come to slaughter the village.
"It wasn't me!" Liu Chen waved his hand and explained quickly, a look of genuine surprise on his face. He had no idea what was happening.
His eyes swept toward the source of the sound. In the distance, a fierce snowstorm had appeared out of nowhere. The wind howled and blizzards raged, turning the entire world into a curtain of blinding white.
Roar!
A deafening, wild roar cut through the sky, echoing with a majesty that made the very air vibrate. Throughout the village, screams of "Help! and "Village Chief!" erupted as houses built of wood and stone began to crumble like paper under the ravages of the storm.
At the center of the blizzard, a blue leopard as large as an ox roared, its teeth bared and claws dancing. It was enveloped in a swirling blue whirlwind that swept the terrifying blizzard along with it.
"The Wind Leopard!" Liu Chen stood at a distance and recognized the beast instantly. The memories of the Flower Wine Monk flashed through his mind, providing him with instant intelligence on the creature.
This strange beast was an extremely rare and powerful existence. It possessed a natural ability to attract wind path Gu, allowing it to move with effortless grace in battle. Even a young Wind Leopard possessed the combat power of a Beast King. Once it reached adulthood, its power would skyrocket, potentially reaching the level of a Beast Emperor.
Judging by the size of the storm, Liu Chen estimated that this leopard was not yet an adult. Despite this, its combat power was easily at the level of a Rank 4 Gu Master.
Even with his Rank 5 spider, the situation remained grim. Liu Chen was only at the Rank 2 Initial Stage. His Red Steel Primeval Essence was simply too thin to provide the spider with enough energy for a prolonged, high intensity battle against a beast of this caliber.
"Escape! I have to get out of here!" Liu Chen thought. He knew he was the spider's Achilles' heel, if he were hit, the spider would lose its master. Engaging such a beast would bring him no benefits and only put him in extreme peril.
He decided without hesitation to have the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider dig a tunnel to escape. As for the innocent villagers, he was currently in too much danger himself to care for their safety.
However, just as he was about to retreat, the Wind Leopard suddenly abandoned the easy prey of the villagers. As if stimulated by Liu Chen's aura or the spider's Rank 5 presence, it pounced toward him like a bolt of lightning.
The whirlwind following the leopard's sprint was terrifying, its momentum chilling the blood.
"Damn beast!" Liu Chen cursed. He realized that with his current speed, escaping the pursuit was impossible. He quickly pivoted, commanding the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider to intercept the charge. Though the spider was not as fast as the leopard, its Rank 5 strength was its greatest asset.
Just as the spider prepared to clash, something unexpected happened. The Wind Leopard suddenly skidded to a halt just feet away from the spider. The storm surrounding it continued to sweep forward like a torrent, but the leopard's main body lunged upward, aiming straight for Liu Chen himself like an arrow from a bow.