Liu Chen continued along the passage until he reached an extremely wide White Bone Hall. This final chamber was magnificent, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. In the center of the hall stood a massive White Bone Pyramid.
He ascended the pyramid step by step. When he finally reached the summit, his eyes widened at the sight. An purple Treasure Box was suspended in the air, emitting a soft, pulsing purple light as if beckoning him.
He reached out and opened it directly. The purple radiance intensified for a moment before dissipating. Resting inside were two jade rings one blue and one red fused together.
"Reward obtained:. A Rank 5 bone path Gu that allows the primeval essence of two Gu Masters to circulate together without being repelled."
Next, Liu Chen turned his focus to the Golden Treasure Box he had retrieved earlier. When he opened it, a dazzling golden light gushed out.
"Reward obtained:. Acquired the true legend of the Grey Bone Scholar, including his life's complete inheritance."
Liu Chen's mind was instantly flooded with a massive amount of information. This was his third time absorbing a True Inheritance, and he had become accustomed to the sensation. As the memories settled, his Bone Path Attainment soared, and his understanding of skeletal mechanics became increasingly profound.
Having stripped the Grey Bone Scholar's legacy and secured the Bone Flesh Unity Gu, Liu Chen lost all interest in Bai Gu Mountain. He summoned the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider and, like a bolt of black lightning, raced down the mountainside as if the cliff were a flat track.
By the time he left the mountain range, he discovered it was already March. The outside world had revived, and the wilderness was a vibrant scene of spring. However, he had only one goal in mind: Shang Clan City.
He trekked for half a month, crossing countless rivers and mountains, sleeping in the open air. Finally, the magnificent silhouette of Shang Clan City appeared on the horizon a fortress that looked like an insurmountable mountain reaching into the clouds. The city walls were covered with wanted portraits of various demonic Gu Masters.
Standing at the entrance, Liu Chen's eyes were immediately drawn to a Colorful Treasure Box shimmering in the sunlight. He had only seen similar iridescent boxes in his Newbie rewards. He suspected a box of this level corresponded to the Gu Immortal rank and might contain treasures like an Immortal Gu.
However, Liu Chen knew very well that with his current Rank 3 cultivation, obtaining an Immortal treasure would be a death sentence. He decided to leave the box unopened for now, waiting for a more suitable time when he could protect such a fortune.
He tucked the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider into his aperture and approached the gate. He unceremoniously threw twenty Primeval Stones to the Gu Master guards and stepped into the city.
Inside, a charming lady immediately approached him with a smile. "Big brother, do you need a room? Only half a Primeval Stone for one night!"
"Never mind," Liu Chen said faintly. At the same time, he raised his hand and allowed a ripple of White Silver Primeval Essence to leak from his palm. The people gathered nearby instinctively took several steps back in awe. In a trade focused metropolis like Shang Clan City, a Rank 3 Gu Master was a figure of significant status and received immediate preferential treatment.
Liu Chen ignored the gazes and moved deeper into the city. He noticed the specialties of various Southern Border villages being sold in every shop. His heart was full of curiosity as he reached the entrance to the Fifth Inner City.
"Stop! Do you have a token?" the guard barked, his voice cold and majestic.
"No," Liu Chen replied truthfully.
"One hundred Primeval Stones are required to enter the Fifth Inner City," the guard said expressionlessly.
Without hesitation, Liu Chen produced the stones and was waved through. He secretly lamented the city's many rules, but he didn't stop. He passed through two more inner city levels, paying additional fees at each gate. In the end, after spending a total of eight hundred Primeval Stones, he finally arrived at the Third Inner City.
This was an advanced district. The buildings lining the streets were significantly more magnificent, and the crowds were thinner, consisting only of the wealthy and the powerful.
Liu Chen strolled through the bustling streets of Shang Clan City, his eyes casually scanning the storefronts lining both sides of the thoroughfare. Suddenly, a shop named Eight Treasures Shop caught his attention.
The store's layout was simple and elegant, with several ancient paintings of Gu worms hanging on the walls and various specialized containers placed neatly on the shelves.
"I wonder if this Lord is here to buy or sell Gu?" A melodious voice drifted over as Liu Chen turned to look. He saw a beautiful young woman standing behind the counter with an affable smile. Her skin was as fair as snow, and every movement she made exuded a unique charm.
Liu Chen smiled slightly. "I am here for both. Look at these." As he spoke, he reached into his robes and produced a Ground Cage Grass Gu. He gently opened the container, revealing various grass type Gu in a dazzling array of shapes some like flowers, some like leaves, and others resembling small insects.
Even though it was a system reward, he took out the precious Wood Charm Gu without hesitation as well.
The manager's eyes lit up. She was clearly very interested in these specimens. "Sir, you have a wide variety of Gu. I need to identify them one by one. Please, wait a moment." She waved to a maid behind her and ordered, "Serve tea."
Soon, a cup of steaming, fragrant tea was placed before Liu Chen. After thanking her, he took a sip, feeling the fragrance spread through his mouth. The manager began to identify the Gu with professional, gentle movements.
As for the bone path materials like the Bone Spear Gu and Spiral Bone Spear Gu, Liu Chen did not take them out. He was worried that revealing the inheritance of the Grey Bone Scholar would affect the local plot or attract the unwanted attention of Heaven's Will. Instead, he focused only on the wood path Gu from the Mu Shen True Inheritance.
"My Lord, after a careful inventory and valuation, your items total 126,000 Primeval Stones," the manager said softly with a smile.
Liu Chen calculated the offer in his mind. While not an overpayment, it was reasonable. In particular, the Wood Charm Gu was valued at 56,000 stones, a high recognition of its rarity.
"The price is fair," Liu Chen nodded, his voice calm and composed.
The manager's smile broadened. "Since the young master is so perceptive, you must know that our Eight Treasures Shop has always prided itself on integrity ."
"Then I have a big deal I want to discuss with you," Liu Chen said, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.
The manager looked at him with surprise. "Oh? I wonder what this big deal might be?"
Liu Chen's mouth curled into a faint smile. "I want to sell a Gu Recipe."
When the manager heard this, she was visibly moved. In the Gu World, recipes are extremely precious resources. Obtaining a high level recipe would be a huge treasure for the Eight Treasures Shop and a significant credit to her career as a merchant.
"I wonder what price you have in mind?" She looked at him with watery, beautiful eyes. Though smiling, she had already secretly resolved to secure this recipe no matter what.
Liu Chen held up five fingers. "Since I came here, I've already inquired about the market situation. I won't go around in circles with you. One price 500,000 Primeval Stones!"
The manager's face shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Young master, you truly know your trade. The moment you spoke, you left no room for a small woman like me," she said with a smile. "But since you're so straightforward, we naturally won't be stingy."
In reality, as the manager of the Eight Treasures Shop, 500,000 stones was the absolute limit of her authority. Anything higher would require a transfer from the main clan branch. Liu Chen had directly quoted the maximum fixed price she could manage, leaving her no room to bargain.
After all, a unique recipe from an ancient heritage was priceless. While Gu insects are sold daily, recipes are rarely circulated on the open market.
"Okay then. I'm waiting for you here. Primeval stones in one hand, the recipe in the other." Liu Chen showed a look of satisfaction.
He produced a pamphlet he had copied himself, containing the Mu Shen True Inheritance recipes. It detailed the progression of various wood path Gu from Rank 1 to Rank 3.
The manager took the booklet and flipped through it carefully. Once she confirmed the content was accurate, she nodded. She turned to her servants and ordered them to close the shop immediately.
Not long after, with the doors tightly sealed, the manager returned holding an exquisite box. "Sir, here are the half million primeval stones. This Primeval Elder Gu is a gift from our shop. Please accept it."
She carefully took the Primeval Elder Gu out and handed it to Liu Chen. The Gu, resembling a miniature old man, appeared content. Liu Chen took it and verified the stone count was accurate before handing the recipe booklet to the manager.