Wiggles coils itself in Shen Cui's lap, getting itself more comfortable. Meanwhile Shen Cui is currently petting Wiggles's head, while Wang Luli's hand is hesitatingly hovering above the centipede's long body. My aperture is almost at the limit of how many gu it can currently hold, advancing to the next rank will allow me to hold more. "You can keep it with you if you want, just don't let it leave this room."
Mortal gu don't have extremely strong aura's, such that they would easily pass through walls and doors, so letting Shen Cui keep the rank 4 iron chainsaw golden centipede gu won't be a problem. It can even serve as an emergency bodyguard, just in case she was to be put in danger. Shen Cui begins playing with the chainsaw jaws of the centipede. "Thank you young master! This one is most thankful for your kind gift!"
Wang Luli finally gets the courage to touch the centipede. She lowers her hand and rubs the back of the centipede. "Wow, it feels like marble. I expected it to be gross."
Shen Cui shakes her head as she is playing with the centipede. "It's really smooth to the touch, Wiggles is the bestest centipede, isn't that right Wiggles?"
I don't think that Wiggles has enough sentience to hold affection, telling her that however would just feel like kicking a sad pupp- Did that thing just nod its head at her?
Shen Cui continues cooing at the nodding centipede. "Yes you are! You are the bestest centipede!"
It did. Wang Luli continues rubbing the centipede's body, its chainsaw-like feet beginning to wiggle in what I presume to be satisfaction. "Such a good boy."
Out of all of the pets that they could have asked for, they chose the chainsaw murder centipede. At least it's going to protect them really well. "By the way, I heard all of your gossip."
Wang Luli freezes, she begins to blabber. "I- Uh- We- Ah-""If the young master wishes to know we will tell you without hesitation. It is just meaningless gossip."
Shen Cui saved Wang Luli. I shake my head. "Not really. If it becomes more then tell me, otherwise I don't really care."
Wang Luli sighs in relief, Shen Cui continues patting Wiggles.
—
The Jia clan clerk points towards the tent of their clan leader. "The clan leader wishes to personally hand you your gu worms, please follow me."
I give the man a nod and proceed to follow him into the tent of Jia Fu. The chest of primeval stones that I am dragging along with one hand leaves a trail of earth behind us. As we keep getting closer the sounds of an argument between two people begin to be heard. I recognize one of the voices as Jia Fu, the other I don't.
The voices become clearer as we get closer. "Brother, I guarantee you that someone in our caravan has been stealing the gambling rocks that contain gu worms! Ever since we left Ja Gun mountain three months ago we have not had a single person open a gambling rock containing a gu!"
The clerk starts to walk faster as the voices become clearer. By the time that the speaker has finished his tirade we are at the clan leader's tent, ready to enter. The clerk ushers me in just as Jia Fu was about to give a response.
I did not recognize the man by his voice, but the content of his tirade revealed who he was to me. I glance at the brown haired twenty year old man. This is Jia Fu's youngest brother, Jia Jin Sheng. Unlike Jia Fu, who has a cultivation base of rank 4, Jia Jin Sheng is still at rank 1. The man has the lowest aptitude out of all of the Jia clan, at a solidly useless low D-Rank.
Jia Fu glances at his brother. "We have guests, brother. We will continue discussing this later, let's see to them first."
Jia Jin Sheng frustratingly glares at his brother, before storming out of the tent. Jia Fu sighs. "I apologize for greeting you with such a scene, we are having an issue with our gambling den."
That tracks. Last time they came here I got a whole bunch of useful gu, this time I only ended up getting three. I hand the chest to the clerk to brought me here, he lurches down once I let go of it. I shrug. "These kinds of things can happen. Maybe it's just bad luck?"
Jia Fu shakes his head. "Perhaps. But let us get to your winnings. You have won the auctions for the rank 3 iron bone gu, the rank 3 steel tendon gu and the rank 2 iron relic gu by either a single primeval stone once again."
He's probably assuming I have some form of predictive gu worm, which allows me to predict the exact offers anyone else in the clan is planning to offer for any gu. Jia Fu leans on his table. "I wish to purchase the predictive gu worm that you hold, it would be a great asset for our clan."
If he goes to our clan leader with this manner he loses the opportunity to get this supposed gu worm that he believes me to hold. I shake my head in denial. "I don't have any such gu worm. I'm just lucky."
I can clearly see that he does not believe me. Jia Fu sighs. "Very well then. If you ever change your mind feel free to tell me. My previous offer is also still on the table."
Jia Fu motions for a nearby clerk to bring the gu worms. I say. "I apologize, but I still cannot accept your offer."
The clerk puts the glass cases containing the gu worms on a table, I carefully inspect each gu for any signs of weakness or wounds. Jia Fu gives me a nod. "The offer will still be available if you happen to change your mind."
It's a good thing that I remembered to leave some gu in the tavern, otherwise I wouldn't be able to put these three in my aperture. I open each glass case, take the gu inside and quickly refine the cooperating gu inside before putting it into my aperture. I give Jia Fu a bow after I'm done with the third gu. "I thank you both for your offer, and for your understanding of my refusal."
Jia Fu gives me a nod. "There is no need for such formality between us, feel free to come and go at your leisure."
Looks like he still wants to get his hands on that nonexistent gu of mine huh?
—
I give the rank 3 iron bones gu an apprehensive look.
I'm currently sitting cross-legged on my bed, trying to talk myself into using it. Shen Cui is out buying food for my gu and Luli is working in the tavern's kitchen.
Its effect is powerful, especially for me. It increases the strength of a gu master's bones, making them much harder to break and also allowing for the gu master to display more of their empowered strength.
Even a regular human does not use all of his strength at once, even the most elite of athletes on earth could barely summon half of their muscle mass voluntarily. Using any more would lead to the body severely damaging itself. Tendons would snap, muscles would be ripped off of the bones and, under enough pressure, even one's bones could be broken under the force of one's own power.
These types of gu worms are critical for cultivating strength path. The rank 3 iron bones gu is one that is stronger than usual for its rank. The only problem with it is that using it causes an immense amount of pain as one's bones are turned into iron bones. My 'instant success' perk is supposed to make this process instant and painless, but there is still some apprehension present considering how that damn vampire obsessed gu immortal described this gu.
I take a deep breath and use the iron bones gu along with the amplify effect gu. I immediately feel my bones turn into iron, becoming even stronger than before. Looks like I was being a pussy for no good reason. Doing the same with the rank 3 steel tendons gu turns my tendons into steel tendons.
My 'Dao Carver' perk has also contributed significantly, stacking multiplicatively with the amplify effect gu. The increase in strength of my bones and tendons is four times as great as the usual effect of the iron bones gu and steel tendons gu!
I've heard rumors that the clan leaders of the three clans in Qing Mao mountain will be meeting soon to discuss the incoming beast wave, which means that I need to get to rank 2 middle stage as quickly as possible in order to have as much combat strength as possible.
The good news is that I can now act much more brazenly in regards to showing my true strength. With all of the worry regarding the incoming beast wave the clan will need to retain as much power as possible.
Using the rewind gu to create more vitality leaf gu will not be a practical way to increase my cultivation, since the rewind gu uses a large enough amount of primeval essence to counteract the primeval stones from selling vitality leaves.
—
The rest of the year passes without much fanfare. My breakthrough to rank 2 upper stage is uneventful, as is the usage of the steel relic gu to advance to rank 2 peak stage. With my cultivation having once again reached its peak I began to stockpile primeval stones and resources. Shen Cui does not bring up her gossip again, neither do I. Although I do occasionally catch her and Luli discussing the topic a couple of times, apparently whoever they're talking about is extremely shy.
During this lull I form a complete set of rank 2 body refinement gu, complementing the rank 3 iron bones gu and the rank 3 steel tendons gu. A full complement of strength path gu worms is also assembled, used once and then sold, increasing my battle power beyond my expectations.
Negotiations between the clans do not go smoothly. Everyone hates and distrusts each other, leading into a stalemate. In the end it takes until the end of the year for a consensus to be reached. An alliance will be temporarily formed in order to begin exterminating as many lightning wolves as possible in preparation for the wolf tide. Eating the lightning wolves will help me advance my physical cultivation.
The awakening ceremony is just as uneventful as the rest of the year, nothing interesting is revealed. Once I get back to the tavern from the ceremony I continue my preparations for the incoming opportunity.
My hammer smashes violently into the red-hot block of iron, flattening it as if it was struck by a boulder. I continue shaping the block of steel, slowly but surely giving it the shape of a longsword. Rank 2 white jade skin gu allows me to shape the pommel and handguard directly with my hands.
I wait for the blade to cool before beginning to sharpen and form its edge while it's still soft and unlikely to chip. When that's done it's time to anneal the blade.
I put the blade back into the forge and carefully watch as it changes color from dark red, to bright red and finally into a bright yellow. I pull it out of the forge and quickly dunk it in its entirety into a barrel of oil mixed with primeval essence dust.
What comes out of the barrel is a rank 2 red steel longsword gu, made out of the rank 2 red steel refinement material. Weapon path gu will make for a fantastic combination with my physical strength.
The limits of Gu Yue village are slowly starting to become apparent. The village specialises in the moonlight gu series, everything else is underdeveloped compared to it. Metal path, Strength path and many other paths refinement materials and gu worms are unavailable.
My greatest strength right now is not my physical ability, that is merely a consequence of it. My greatest strength is the 'heaven refining' perk.
Dao marks are carved on the body, they are the most important thing for battle power. Dao marks of a certain path will boost gu worms of the same path when used, making their effects just that much stronger. Dao marks of a certain path also conflict with all other dao marks of different paths, reducing the effects of gu worms from both.
This is the reason that not everyone has enhanced themselves with strength path gu. These gu worms cave strength path dao marks on the gu masters body, increasing their strength. Those dao marks will then conflict with the dao marks present in a gu masters gu, decreasing the power of those gu worms!
The same is true for gu worms present in a gu masters aperture, the dao marks between them can conflict as well. A water path gu master using a fire path gu will have a greatly reduced effect.
Others are forced to specialize in a single path, meanwhile I can use anything and everything freely. This is currently my biggest strength. Other strength path gu masters would experience dao mark conflict with the rank 2 red steel longsword gu. I can instead freely use my strength to wield this weapon.
I give it a couple of test swings and thrusts, finding its balance to be just right. This gu eats iron, so feeding it is not an issue for me.
My new nemesis has not yet attacked me yet. I'll be leaving for the alliance grounds tomorrow, that should draw them out. The rest of the clan will leave in two days.
—
The alliance meeting ground is three days away from the village, giving plenty of time for my nemesis to attack me. It is on the second day of the journey that they bite the bait.
Only this time, instead of simply ambushing me, they've decided to challenge me to a duel to the death instead of just ambushing me.
"We will use this poison vow gu to promise not to destroy our gu worms before death, do you agree Fang Yuan?"
I stare at the unnaturally beautiful purple haired woman in front of me. She is wearing immaculate robes, too clean for someone traveling in the forest. Her hair and skin are just as clean, devoid of any grime or dirt.
I mentally prepare myself in case they want to take me by surprise. "Can you answer a couple questions of mine first? I promise to agree if you do."
She briefly thinks about my offer, before giving me a nod. "I will vow to do so if you vow to agree."
I give her a nod. She throws the rank 2 poison vow gu towards me, grabbing it in the air is easy. There's no feeling of dread or danger when I think of accepting her offer, so it's most likely not some form of trap. Intuition tells me the gu worm is not tampered with as well. I take a deep breath. "I vow that I will agree to a fight to the death with you without detonating my gu worms if you answer honestly to my questions in good faith of this agreement."
That should be more than enough, the good faith clause will cover any possible loopholes. She gives me a solemn nod. "I vow to answer your questions honestly and in good faith."
First question. "Where are you from?"
She answers. "Earth."
I blink. "Wait, like the planet earth?"
She nods. "The very same one that you had lived your first life in."
I did not expect that. "How did you get here?"
"I was dying of cancer. One of the doctors made me an offer, I thought the guy was just fucking with me back then. He had me complete this choose your own adventure sheet, next thing I knew I'm stuck here and forced to kill you."
I blink. Out of all of the ways that I had expected my nemesis to appear, that was the very last. "What was the title of the choose your own adventure? And how are you being forced to kill me?"
She closes her eyes and sighs. "If I don't kill you in a year's time I will get replaced by a doppelganger. I think the title was 'Fang Yuan's nemesis generator', I don't remember that well."
Fucking great. That explains some things.
At the smaller ranks it is trivial to find someone unnaturally strong for their rank to come at me, the higher my cultivation becomes the harder this becomes. Only nine rank 9 gu masters have ever existed in this world, those guys are called venerables, they are so strong that heaven itself limits how long they are allowed to live. How is that perk going to find an unnaturally strong venerable to chuck at me every single year after I reach rank nine?
I sigh. "What did you pick?"
Her face goes pale, having realised that she just agreed to tell me everything about her battle strength. "I picked a time path extreme physique, a set of combat time path gu worms and a perk that makes all gu that I use be stronger by one rank. I got a perk that makes me fight at maximum potential regardless of my emotional state for free. I only have the drawback that if I don't kill you in a year, I'm replaced by a doppelganger."
I beggin tapping my foot. "What options did the CYOA have?"
She looks like she's about to cry. "I- I don't remember all of it. The entire thing had over a thousand pages total. I was bored and read through some of it, but couldn't read everything. The doctor told me the cyoa had anything and everything, I just had to have enough points for it."
I continue interrogating her, making sure to cover all possible bases that I can think of. By the time that I'm done I already have a plan put in place to easily kill her now that I know all of her strengths and weaknesses. Her eyes now have a blank look in them.
The sad part is that she isn't my blood relative. If she was I would have been able to easily increase my aptitude all the way to 99% in one go. What a pity. I give her a nod. "I am done asking questions."
As soon as those words leave my mouth I use the dream travel gu and dream wings gu killer move to teleport right behind her. I mimic biting. The phantom of an alligator appears from behind me and chomps her head off, before disappearing.
This was the beast phantom of the rank 2 alligator strength gu worm. Gu worms such as the rank 1 white boar gu, the rank 2 brown bear strength gu, etc have a unique property. They can generate beast phantoms.
In order to do so you have to mimic the movement of said beast, so for an alligator a bite will be able to trigger this. For a bear a paw swipe will do so. The resulting movement will be much stronger, bringing about all of the strength granted by the gu worm along with the effect of the phantom itself.
Triggering a beast phantom is a matter of luck, which is something that I've got in spades. I kneel down on her corpse and loot her set of time path gu worms.
Most of them are both useful to me and have simple feeding requirements. All of them are rank 2, there's even a copy of my rewind gu. The most useful one is the rank 2 self rewind gu. It resets the gu masters body back to how it was five seconds in the past, removing any and all injuries. Sadly it has no effect on one's aperture.
There's a rank 2 self accel gu worm, that makes a gu master move twice as fast for ten seconds. The only other interesting gu worms are six rank 2 aging gu. They are single use gu that can instantly make an enemy gu master twenty years older. If I had not known of these beforehand I would've literally been killed by old age.