Lin Yan stepped out of seclusion and stood at the entrance of his courtyard. His gaze stretched toward the distant horizon, where shimmering, multi-colored lights flickered alongside low, rumbling vibrations. His expression turned solemn. The surrounding heaven and earth qi become restless, carrying a faint scorched scent.
Shajing Oasis was under siege. From the east, a wave of earth bears surged forward. From the north, a sand scorpion tribe launched a fierce assault. To the south, the Flame Wolf tribe, familiar to him—poured out from the Flame Wolf Desert, ravaging nearby areas. From the west, thick-earth giant lizards advanced steadily.
The Huang Family immediately mobilized four major battle divisions, each led by a Rank 4 Family Elder, to confront the attacks from all four directions.
However, Lin Yan understood that this was only a preliminary probe. The forces involved were merely ordinary wild beasts and beast kings, not yet posing a true threat.
"Every beast tide is both a danger and an opportunity. A large number of Gu and materials will appear. With control over the Flame Lake Gu Chamber, I can take advantage of this and obtain more Rank 3 Gu."
Lin Yan felt a slight sense of satisfaction. Being a Gu Chamber Family Elder had its advantages. For example, for every Gu sold, he could draw a small share of primeval stones. Although the amount per transaction was not large—only a few dozen for a Rank 3 Gu—it would accumulate steadily over time.
At the same time, acquiring Gu at market value also left room for flexibility. He had priority in selecting high-quality Gu, as long as he did not overstep his bounds.
"With this, I won't need to worry about lacking resources."
Lin Yan then calculated the time. More than four months had passed since he advanced to Rank 3. His full Gu set was finally complete.
Of course, this was not his greatest gain. He had immersed himself in a vast collection of Gu recipes, studying countless variations. From time to time, he would visit the Gu material market to identify different species. He could faintly sense that his understanding was deepening. Given another year, he might reach the level of a quasi-Master in both Flame Path and Refinement Path. Because of this, becoming a Gu Room Family Elder had been one of the most important decisions he had made.
Family Elders in other positions might hold authority and command many subordinates, but when a beast tide erupted, they would be directly exposed to danger and instability.
By contrast, his position allowed him to grow steadily. However, he was now approaching seventeen. There were only about eight years left before the original timeline would begin.
Time… was still too tight.
He quickly realized the problem. His aptitude was becoming a bottleneck. It had already been over four months since he advanced to Rank 3, yet it would still take another four months just to reach the middle stage. The rapid growth he once experienced at Rank 2 was completely gone. Even with the refined middle grade, Light Silver primeval essence produced by the Seven Fragrance Liquor Worm flowing through his aperture, his progress remained slow. A faint tension rose in Lin Yan's heart. If this continued, his cultivation speed would fall behind his expectations.
It seemed the time had come to visit the Family's secret vault. If there were Gu capable of improving aptitude, he had to obtain them.
At the same time, his current combat system still had clear flaws. His Flame Path Gu lacked depth in close combat and healing. His soul and mental strength were also insufficient to support more complex killer moves. He needed Soul Path and Wisdom Path Gu. By his estimate, he was still missing at least five key Gu to complete his combat system.
Not long after, Lin Yan stepped onto the fifth floor of the Flame Lake Gu Chamber. The atmosphere here was silent and heavy. An old man sat inside, his aura completely concealed, yet his body carried a dense deathly presence. He slowly raised his head.
"You wish to see the Gu in the Family's secret vault?"
Lin Yan cupped his fists slightly. "Yes. I have three chances to choose Gu."
He had only been here a short while, yet he had already learned that the fifth floor of the Gu Chamber was guarded by a Gu Master—a Rank 4 Family Elder from the previous generation. It was said that he had suffered severe injuries in the past, but even so, no one dared to underestimate him.
The old man gave a slight nod and handed over an information Gu.
Lin Yan extended his consciousness into it, and his vision instantly connected to the Family's secret vault. Countless entries flashed before his eyes. As he rapidly scanned through them, his breathing gradually grew heavier, a rare look of shock appearing on his face at the sheer depth of the Family's collection.