7 Awakening ceremony and schemes everywhere

8 hours later.

The sun had already dropped on the horizon and the sky gradually turned from orange to black.

The long lines of applicants had advanced slowly although the length of the line remained about the same as the beginning due to the applicants that kept coming in.

"10 primeval stones." a young disciple with an exhausted expression spoke in a monotonous tone.

Finally, it was Liang Lu's turn.

After paying the entrance examination fee and providing a name the young disciple gave Liang Lu a wooden plaque.

"Get in, just follow the signs and you'll reach another tent." The young disciple didn't even wait for Liang Lu's response instead shouting "Next!"

The next events were uneventful after following the signs Liang Lu along with other applicants were given puzzles and ambiguous questions for 1 hour and a half.

"I am ancient, I was there from the beginning, what am I? Explain."

"You are suddenly ambushed, what do you do? Explain."

"There is a small fire on the ground. How do you extinguish it? Explain."

"Which is stronger? the pen or the sword. Explain."

Those along with other questions were given along with paper and a brush. Although the instructors said there were no wrong or right answers they only gave 5 minutes to respond per question and they had to be written if the applicants shared their answers with others the ones responsible would be kicked out from the entrance examination and wouldn't get a refund but they could reapply the next day after paying the fee.

"Are they trying to test our personalities and which path is suitable for us?" Liang Lu inwardly thought. In the novel, it was mentioned that the gu master's personality often indicated which path they were suitable for.

If they were cold-headed and calculating they were suitable for the wisdom path, Fang Yuan fit that description. If they were hot-headed and brave they were suitable for the fire path Feng Jin Huang was mentioned to fit that description by Duke Long.

Having that thought in mind Liang Lu decided to show how suitable he was for the wisdom path by writing long answers and also asking questions.

"Depends if we are talking about a non-living thing or a living thing. Time would be the former thoughts would be the latter as…" followed by a lengthy explanation.

After collecting the answers the instructors spoke, ordering the applicants "gather into groups and follow your assigned instructor we will awaken your apertures soon."

Hearing this the applicants that were previously scratching their heads became alert and lively as they quickly obeyed and followed the instructors.

"I didn't answer any questions. I thought I was going to be kicked out." a youngster with brown hair, an average face, and dressed in patched brown linen clothes sighed in relief.

"Hao Ye you are worrying too much it doesn't matter if you don't know how to read didn't I tell you my cousin didn't know how to read, write, or count but he was accepted into the sect after his A grade aptitude was discovered." a pretty girl dressed in a white silk dress then paused looking at Liang Lu with an amorous gaze "Besides we have a genius senior brother to rely on."

Hearing her cheeky remark Liang Lu didn't bother correcting her instead laughing in his mind "If I was an impressionable teenager I might have fallen into her scheme of fake love but I don't want or can afford to carry burdens."

Seeing Liang Lu's unmoved and focused expression the youngsters surrounding him thought even more highly of him.

At first, everyone thought highly of Liang Lu due to his dazzling appearance that was unmatched by anyone present but after the questions were given he wrote at lightning speed shocking even some of the instructors.

When Liang Lu read out loud the questions for those who couldn't read it showed his compassion and friendliness if he had been punished by the instructors he would have lost 10 primeval stones and time of course Liang Lu had read the rules beforehand when he was waiting in line and knew there was no risk or inconvenience for him instead it would benefit his reputation by showing he fitted the righteous path.

Although the other applicants didn't know Liang Lu's true motivation they unconsciously thought he was easy to approach. But most importantly he kept to himself afterwards and didn't show any arrogance.

From everyone's perspective, he had great looks and had demonstrated high intelligence there was a high possibility he had an A-grade aptitude or at least a B-grade aptitude most importantly he was approachable and properly behaved.

Additionally based on his humble clothes everyone thought he was poor meaning that if they gave him a bit of benefits when he was struggling financially they could start building relationships with him and even have him owe them favors.

For those reasons not only that pretty girl but almost everyone tried to win the favor of Liang Lu.

Liang Lu looked far away into another group just like him another youngster had been surrounded and praised endlessly by those who wanted to suck up to him while just like his group those who didn't stand out were ignored and those who appeared mediocre were cast by the side.

"This world is too harsh. It is simply the survival of the fittest. I expected that from the gu masters and gu immortals but I didn't think it was to this degree even with these teenagers." Liang Lu thought having guessed the thought process of the surrounding youngsters by putting aside emotions and only thinking with logic.

"Humans no matter in what world or how technologically advanced they are, retain their instincts and adaptability. Just like me, just like people on earth, these people also want to keep living, the survival instinct and thought process are just the same. Everyone wants to keep living and to do so they adapt." Liang Lu paused his steps for a moment feeling that his understanding of the human path had increased again.

"This advantage of mine… Is this my own strength, my own understanding or is it just like a system, a loaned tool that can be taken away at any moment by the loaner?" Liang Lu paused for a moment feeling that his advantage was too good to be free.

"If this tool is taken away from me… what will happen to me? Will I be able to survive without it? Would the loaner have a strong hook and take control of me by just threatening to take it away from me?" The question that he had asked himself for a long time finally resurfaced once again in his mind but was suddenly interrupted before he could think further.

"Liang Lu, is something wrong?" The assigned instructor worriedly asked with a concerned tone.

As one of the assigned instructors of a group, he would have first dibs on choosing the members he wanted to teach using that advantage he could build relations with them and slowly pull them into his faction for that reason he treated everyone with due respect as he didn't know which of them could be an A grade or B grade aptitude. Likewise, if something happened to the applicants while in his care not only would he be responsible and punished accordingly but others could use that mistake of his to antagonize him.

From his perspective Liang Lu had stopped walking out of nowhere, pausing for a few moments and looking into the nothingness, remaining deadly silent as if he was lost in thought.

"It is just…" Liang Lu paused his face showing joy, disbelief, grief, and a myriad of emotions. Unknowingly tears fell down his face. His acting skills had improved by leaps and bounds but Liang Lu still didn't know if he could even come close to Fang Yuan in that aspect.

The instructor guessed what went through Liang Lu's mind based on his emotions, humble clothes, and arms filled with bruises exposed when he raised his arms to wipe his tears.

The instructor guessed Liang Lu came from a family that looked down on and even abused him.

The instructor decided to gamble before knowing Liang Lu's aptitude. After thinking about it even if he abandoned him later on he would only lose a bit of his reputation. He patted Liang Lu's shoulders.

"Son you don't have to worry anymore, the soul toad sect is like a loving household while the instructors, elders, sect leader, and disciples are the family members. Once you join the soul toad sect you will have me and the sect to rely on."

Liang Lu was shocked as if he were a kid who had just been given a bit of love after years of mistreatment, he quickly cheered up embarrassingly regaining his composure while he put on that front he quietly kept planning.

"This way I can show that although I'm a genius I'm easy to control and influence as I'm still young and naive. If the higher-ups decide to investigate my background there won't be any problems. I have to thank my dear father Lu Yao for that. The higher-ups will be even more exhilarated after knowing that even after being mistreated I still kept trying to reconcile with Lu Yao. These are already characteristics the organizations search for as they can make loyal subjects and when my extreme physique is revealed they will probably make me an immortal seed… hmm I feel there might be something I overlooked I need to revise my plans again."

Liang Lu soon stopped planning, feeling that if he kept going he would get a headache. "Making plans, contingencies, thinking from different perspectives, and reviewing plans is too taxing on my mind. I need to get wisdom path gu worms to help me plan or else I might make a mistake that will cause my downfall."

Liang Lu inwardly sighed "My strength is simply too low. I'm completely dependent on the will of others. A single mistake could bring me a horrifying end."

"So that's why he was so quiet."

"To think he would have a soft side to his serious demeanor."

"Hmpt I'm better than him. I didn't cry."

The youngsters gossiped among themselves, the girls fantasizing while the boys wanted to compete with Liang Lu.

The group kept moving and soon the group arrived at a wooden building with large wooden doors with carved dragons. On top of the doors, a big plaque made of jade had the words 'Spirit springs' written on it.

The doors opened but the group soon found that the building was only for decoration as it only covered wide stairs that led to the underground.

After walking for 5 minutes at a decent pace the group stopped descending and moved forward on a naturally formed rocky ground for some reason from this point onward the ground hadn't been man-made like the stairs.

Although it was deep underground the surroundings were not dark. Instead, they were brightly lit with white lights the entire way down, and even as they kept walking forward the lights didn't diminish.

"Is that…"

"This… is this the work of an immortal!"

"Amazing! The Fua clan was a mid-sized clan and only had 1 spirit spring when it dried. The whole clan collapsed but from how many they have here even if 5 dried up I don't think it would make a difference just how many does the Soul Toad Sect have here?"

The youngsters were amazed. Even a youngster who heard of the recent collapse of a clan was so shocked he started spouting everything he knew.

"This sect definitely has gu immortals but how many and on what ranks?" Liang Lu thought in this cave that extended beyond the eye could see there were tens of spirit springs almost reaching 40 in number but they were too orderly to be naturally formed. Soon he remembered a gu worm that could make spirit springs.

Spirit egg gu was rare as it was only obtained by killing specific eggmen or killing a strong eggman emperor an existence that rivaled a rank 5 gu master for a gu master it was almost impossible to obtain spirit egg gu not only were eggmen extremely rare as heavenly court killed almost all variant humans to the point of extinction but to kill an Eggman emperor won't be an easy task for a gu master.

But for a gu immortal it was the complete opposite, they were nothing more than resources they could raise like any other and frequently traded with spirit egg gu as they could cut down on the use of immortal essence.

'Just how many immortal essence stones did they use?' Liang Lu thought as he acted like everyone else to avoid gathering attention.

The group soon arrived at an unoccupied spirit spring that had a slight layer of vapor and various plants in its surroundings.

The waters were milky white but were transparent enough to see the bottom that housed many living beings. Fishes, crabs, insects, and even aquatic vegetation coexist from the bottom to the surface of the waters.

"So beautiful."

Some youngsters couldn't help but sigh in amazement except for a few no one in the group had seen a spirit spring not to mention this close.

The instructor gave instructions after which he started calling people forward.

"Dou Wei!"

After a few seconds, a youngster dressed in cheap linen clothes with no remarkable features stepped forward. Although he didn't stand out in any way his brown eyes had a fierce and arrogant aura like that of a proud wild beast that wouldn't submit to anyone.

"You can do it! I believe in you!" His friend, a fat young man nicknamed Fatty Fang who sweated every time he moved dressed in a yellow silk robe with a big belly that couldn't be hidden and a double chin called out to him encouraging him. He was the son of Lao Fang, a rich merchant and a peak stage rank 4 gu master. By chance, Dou Wei had befriended Fatty Fang.

Although he smelled bad and didn't have good looks his bed was never empty even when knowing of his reputation as a womanizer many girls still approached him trying to win his favor as they knew he was the only son of Lao Fang the richest man in Soul Toad Sect and therefore inheritor of the immense wealth of his father.

While his friend was surrounded by girls Dou Wei stood just one step away from entering the spirit spring.

"I cannot afford to fail. My family is drowning in debt. Everything depends on this moment. If I awaken as a gu master I will be given a free rank 1 gu worm, an allowance, education, and a free place to live for 1 year. I will sell the gu worm and pay off my family's debt. I can then buy another by taking the missions issued by the sect."

Dou Wei thought before moving his head to the side and looking at Liang Lu who looked at the spirit spring with a calm expression his beautiful blue jewel-like eyes met him. Surrounding Liang Lu many people, mostly girls tried to win his favor including Dou Wei's childhood sweetheart, a beautiful girl with a well-endowed body named Wang Mei.

"Since the moment I reincarnated to this world I knew I was the protagonist everything checks out. I have a heavenly beauty as my childhood friend, a rich fat friend, and a legendary background. My aptitude will be A-grade at the bare minimum I'm the descendant of a famous righteous hero, a rank 5 gu master born with the boundless forest samsara physique. Liang Lu, you will pay for taking away my Wang'er"

Although Dou Wei had never confessed his feelings and Wang Mei had treated him like her little brother he was still madly in love with her and was possessive of her.

After throwing a defiant gaze at Liang Lu the instructor lost his patience and unleashed his tyrannical rank 4 initial stage aura while raising his voice "If you are going to keep wasting everyone's time then leave and lose your 10 primeval stones if not move forward."

Feeling the aura of a rank 4 gu master, Dou Wei was frightened he quickly dispelled his contempt and moved forward.

After taking a step on the spirit spring he felt as if the weight of a mountain fell on his shoulders he tried to take another step but no matter how much he struggled he couldn't move forward by even a centimeter.

"Are you unable to continue?" the instructor asked.

"N-No! I… I st-ill can!" Dou Wei kept struggling trying to move forward but after 15 seconds the instructor had enough of his antics he quickly wrote on his book as he spoke.

"Dou Wei one step no cultivation talent!"

"No! I still can!"

The instructor grabbed him by the collar pulling him out of the spirit spring.

"Don't force what cannot be forced. If you had continued you would only end up hurting yourself." After quickly lecturing Dou Wei the instructor continued calling out names.

After a hundred people walked on the spirit spring about eighty had no cultivation talent while the rest either had D-grade or C-grade aptitude they all would be rejected as they needed at least B-grade aptitude to be recruited into the soul toad sect or had previously showed a talent for a path in the puzzles and questions they answered earlier.

Even after knowing the numbers, Dou Wei was still licking his emotional wounds as he angrily looked at Liang Lu hoping that at the bare minimum, Liang Lu would have no cultivation talent as well.

"This guy has been staring at me for a while and I feel he has a deep hatred towards me and not just jealousy, lust, or admiration like the others. I'm sure I didn't offend anyone except for Yan Wei but she is already dead. Maybe he is a familiar of hers?" Liang Lu quickly discarded that though how would anyone know he killed her and the possibilities of finding the family of Yan Wei in the vast world were extremely low.

"Maybe…" Liang Lu felt what could only be described as a gut feeling ever since he reached master attainment in the human path. He could more easily read people and know the emotions others felt towards him.

After Liang Lu increased his wisdom path attainment to quasi-master his intuition became sharper and more precise as his human path attainment increased not only did his intuition become stronger he could even feel he could control that intuition to a certain extent.

After concentrating for a while Liang Lu found what could be the answer "Is this a typical love triangle?"

Liang Lu was baffled. He didn't think that was possible in this cruel world but after thinking further he didn't find this as hard to believe.

In the novel, there were all kinds of characters he remembered apart from Red Lotus who loved his wife so much to the point of regressing countless times and eventually losing his love.

There were many more who loved others. There was a southern border gu immortal who loved his sister so much that he gave her lifespan gu, essentially cutting off his life for the sake of someone else.

"I don't think he is a threat to me. What was his name? Dou Wei? If he steps in my way I will kill him he is just a mortal and based on his clothes he is from a mortal family hmm… fuck it I need to kill mortals to get used to killing if I kill Dou Wei I would be killing 2 birds with one stone getting used to killing on one hand and eliminating a threat on the other hand."

Liang Lu suddenly paused realizing something "Wait based on what those girls said Fatty Fang is his friend and has the backing of at least a rank 4 gu master hmm… how close are they."

Liang Lu looked at Fatty Fang, he still hadn't been called and was surrounded by girls along with some that had no cultivation talent being even more desperate than the others. The moment Dou Wei was out of the spirit spring Fatty Fang had tried to approach his friend but stopped as he noticed Dou Wei needed time to be alone.

'Dou Wei, you are safe as long as you don't force my hand.'

Having noticed this Liang Lu discarded his thought of killing Dou Wei even if Fatty Fang wasn't that close to Dou Wei he still wouldn't risk offending Fatty Fang.

Liang Lu then looked at the girl that he felt had a connection with Dou Wei.

Wang Mei was beautiful. She wore a silk blue dress that paired well with her blue eyes and pronounced her alluring figure. She had long black hair that extended to her waist, a beautiful face with delicate features, small pink lips, pale skin, and a tall slender body with a small waist and big breasts that made any man pay attention to her.

Liang Lu had to admit Wang Mei was beautiful. She was the most beautiful he had seen so far he momentarily had lewd thoughts but quickly suppressed them as quickly as they came.

Liang Lu imagined his death if he strayed from his plans. He imagined The towering Spectral Soul effortlessly grabbing him with one of his countless hands, shoving him into one of his mouths, and chewing him into a meat paste to then swallow and digest his remains in stomach acid. Although it was an exaggeration as Liang Lu knew Spectral Soul was a soul and only ate souls it was effective in keeping his little dong down.

Wang Mei noticed Liang Lu looking at her to avoid a conversation. Liang Lu simply threw a charming smile making Wang Mei look away while blushing.

"You!" Dou Wei noticed this and threw threatening gazes filled with hatred at Liang Lu. If gazes could kill, Liang Lu would have died countless times already.

"Yi Fang!" The instructor indirectly stopped anything Dou Wei would have tried.

"Fatty Fang." Dou Wei looked at his friend expecting his results to be worse than his. Dou Wei had long classified Yi Fang as a supporting character and comedic relief.

Yi Fang looked at Dou Wei who encouraged him, causing him to nod.

First step, second step, third step…

Yi Fang effortlessly walked 30 steps feeling that it was too easy to be true. He thought something was wrong but the enormous amount of hope gu that had entered his body told him otherwise as more kept being attracted to him and entered his body.

He only started feeling pressure weighing on his body after the fortieth step.

'Finally the first A grade in this batch.' The instructor watched the process as he opened his book on the right page.

"Yi Fang son of Elder Lao Fang.

Showed talent in the food path.

Aptitude.

Must be recruited."

Even before Yi Fang's aptitude was revealed just with his status as the son of such a reputable elder it was a foregone conclusion he would join the sect no matter what. Elder Lao Fang was only 40, had B-grade altitude, and was already a rank 4 peak stage gu master. It was reasonable to think that he would reach rank 5 and be almost equal in status as the sect leader and maybe he could even attempt to ascend to rank 6.

The instructor was glad he was on the side of the Lao faction now that Yi Fang, regarded as a genius of the extremely rare food path had shown A-grade aptitude and was expected to have the full support of Elder Lao Fang the instructor could only imagine how terrifying Yi Fang would be in the future.

Yi Fang had long lost count of his steps he tried to take another step but no matter how hard he tried it was useless with a bang in his abdomen he realized he couldn't keep going he turned around and walked back.

"Yi Fang 49 steps, 98 percent aptitude!" The instructor spoke after he checked Yi Fang's aperture and wrote in his book.

"98 percent aptitude!?"

"That is almost 100 percent had he taken a single step forward he would have an aperture filled to the brim!"

"Is that really Fatty Fang?! I thought he was just a womanizer!"

The applicants were shocked and quickly talked among themselves.

"How can this be!? Am I not the protagonist!" Still kneeling on the ground, Dou Wei was dejected as he looked at Yi Fang with disbelief, almost shouting.

Yi Fang only smiled at Dou Wei not knowing what was going through his friend's head.

"Brother Yi Fang." Wang Mei cupped her fists congratulating her friend.

"No Wang Mei, not you!" countless thoughts passed through Dou Wei's mind. His sanity was slowly crumbling apart. "Maybe Yi Fang was the protagonist all along."

"Wang Mei!" the instructor spoke.

After a few seconds, Wang Mei too walked on the spirit spring seemingly having forgotten about Dou Wei.

First step, second step, third step…

It was almost the same as when Yi Fang walked on the spirit spring.

"Wang Mei walked in the same place as Yi Fang! Did Yi Fang attract hope gu to that place?!"

"Had I been called after Yi Fang would I have walked further?"

The youngsters were filled with disbelief.

"Is there going to be another A-grade right after the previous one?" The instructor was amused, he knew such situations didn't happen often.

Wang Mei carefully counted her steps giving her all in advancing forward. She diligently took care of her appearance and minded her demeanor but when it came to such a situation that could change her life around she couldn't care less about appearances and kept going forward even when her face was filled with sweat, breathed roughly, her nose was dripping with snot, and her hair was disheveled. She didn't stop.

Soon after 46 steps she heard a bang in her abdomen and realized she couldn't keep going, deciding to go back.

After repeating the same process the instructor said "Wang Mei 92 percent aptitude!"

Another wave of discussion was heard.

Dou Wei looked at her without much shock, he had long ago classified her as the main female lead that would be a member of the protagonist's harem.

"Yi Fang he doesn't deserve her." Dou Wei inwardly cursed.

"Liang Lu!" the instructor called out a name looking at Liang Lu's direction.

"Is this a coincidence?" Liang Lu thought that such a situation was too forced, he thought it was either caused by his luck or heaven's will but after thinking further he realized he could use this situation in his favor in the future if he wanted to leave the sect.

Liang Lu walked forward, his back straight as a sword, hands behind his back, exuding a silent yet confident and dominating aura that warned others not to mess with him. If it weren't for his clothes, he would have had an elegant demeanor.

"Knowing one's place is important." Liang Lu casually remarked as he passed by Dou Wei who looked at him with a fierce gaze like a rabid dog that could bite at any moment.

'This youngster seems too extraordinary compared to anyone here. Common logic tells that he will have A grade aptitude but heaven is cruel and punishes those who are arrogant." The instructor saw a glimpse of his former self in Liang Lu.

The instructor had shown extraordinary talent and intelligence from an early age as everyone had told him he was special and superior; he believed it and grew up to be arrogant.

When the day of the awakening ceremony came everyone expected he would have A grade aptitude but in the end, it was only the lowest B grade aptitude possible he barely managed to enter the sect and his brothers who had more talent gradually took their parents inheritance leaving him penniless.

In the end, he ended up here as an instructor although he had a decent reputation and a fair pay that allowed him to live comfortably he wasn't satisfied. After so much hard work he was 56 about to reach his sixties and just barely broke through to rank 4.

'Sigh I've grown too sentimental." the instructor sighed wishing good luck to Liang Lu.

'Hmm This is weird I still haven't walked on the spirit spring but there are already so many reactions.' Liang Lu found this surprising. He wanted to stop and analyze what was happening and hopefully increase his human path attainment but he knew that was not possible he could only once again emphasize his need for wisdom path gu worms and move forward.

Liang Lu took off his shoes not wanting to get them wet and stepped on the transparent milky white waters. It was not deep, only about a foot or so but it was filled with life. Fishes, crabs, insects, aquatic plants etc. Lived in the spirit spring.

With each step he took he felt he stepped on rocks, plants, or even squishy things that he thought could only be fishes. He wanted to watch his steps to avoid a crab but soon that thought was forgotten as countless balls of dim light gently approached him, their numbers ranging in the thousands and the number still kept increasing creating a mini sun that shone radiantly.

"What is happening Yi Fang had 98 percent aptitude but the amount of hope gu he gathered wasn't even a fourth of Liang Lu's!"

Many youngsters called out in shock. The instructor was speechless and the other groups undergoing their awakening on other spirit springs also turned to look at the blinding sight that was happening on that spirit spring.

"Is this the awakening of an extreme physique?! Am I witnessing the awakening of an extreme physique?!" The instructor momentarily lost his composure speaking his thoughts out loud.

'An extreme physique? What is that?' everyone had that question apart from the instructors, elders, clan leader, and of course, gu immortals Dou Wei also knew the answer.

"How can this be possible!? Any extreme physique is on equal standing to the boundless forest samsara physique of my ancestor" Dou Wei was speechless.

While all kinds of reactions happened behind Liang Lu he ignored all of them and was focused on what was in front of him.

'A human path gu that resided on spirit springs a common heaven path resource point. Human and heaven were opposites. The former had emotions and searched to break the balance of the world to benefit himself while the latter was emotionless seeing everything as nothing but chess pieces to maintain the balance in the world. But they both shared a characteristic they both wanted control.' Liang Lu judged the human path gu worms based on the knowledge he had of them.

'Hope gu one of the first gu to be introduced in the legends of Ren Zu and the gu Gu Zhen Ren mentioned to be the key to refining eternal gu. It was also the first human path gu worm to be introduced in the novel.'

Liang Lu felt he had an intimate connection with these gu worms as if they were a part of him, something very dear to him that had long been separated and forgotten about only for countless emotions to resurface once reunited with them.

Liang Lu kept walking along the way a crab had pinched his feet and caused blood to ooze out but he didn't care and kept walking as more and more hope gu moved towards him and entered his body.

"Such an important gu a human path gu hope gu that defies the heavens by allowing living beings to cultivate dwells in spirit springs resource points filled with heaven's will but why is that?" As Liang Lu asked that question he felt his understanding of the human path rising like never before at a speed that he was starting to get scared of but under the gentle and sweet embrace of the thousands of hope gu that entered his body, he started losing his fear feeling as if he was being enlightened as if he was being reborn.

From beginning to end, Liang Lu didn't feel any pressure weighing upon him. Instead, he felt lighter and more energetic. After he reached the fiftieth step, he didn't stop walking. When he was in the middle of the spirit spring, a loud bang resounded in the underground cave, followed by a gentle wave of blue light that extended everywhere.

Those hit by the blue light felt their minds being refreshed and working twice as fast.

"What just happened?!"

"Am I hallucinating? Was this really real?"

"I feel smarter all of a sudden."

A wave of shocked, confused, and amazed reactions resounded in the underground cave.

After experiencing this the instructor immediately knew what extreme physique this was. "Carefree wisdom heart physique! I need to report this to the sect leader."

"Hmm… I feel… incredible." Liang Lu stepped out of the spirit spring as soon as he awakened his aperture the hope gu gathering around him dispersed and went back into hiding.

Liang Lu hummed, his senses had become sharper than ever before his mind moved like lightning. Now he didn't even need to wait or concentrate to activate his gut feeling, it became a thing that was always active, almost like a passive skill.

'What attainment did I reach?' Liang Lu had that question in his mind. Grandmaster attainment allowed the gu master to imitate other paths but he had just awakened his aperture and although he had 2 gu he hadn't refined or used them.

Liang Lu put that matter to the side and looked at his surroundings filled with people with shocked expressions.

"I cannot be blinded by the current sight. Currently, I'm like a fat and delicious sheep disguised as a wolf, surrounded by wolves that would tear me apart once my disguise is seen through. I need to keep planning if I want to survive." With that thought in mind, Liang Lu began planning his next moves.