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The Gu Yue Clan, rooted in the Southern Border, was established by a rank 5 Gu Master who spread his bloodline across countless descendants, ensuring the clan's legacy.
This master was the clan's founding ancestor, known as First Gen Gu Yue, who created Gu Yue Village. His objective wasn't just family expansion; he had a singular aim—enhancing his own aptitude.
Originally, First Gen Gu Yue came from Central Continent's Immortal Crane Sect, where he was senior brother to Sky Crane. But when he encountered Blood Sea Ancestor's true inheritance, he schemed to claim it over his junior, acquiring powerful blood path Gu worms, notably the Blood Skull Gu.
This particular Gu excited First Gen Gu Yue, as it could elevate his talent from grade C to grade A.
Yet, perhaps due to affection for his descendants or the influence of fate, he resisted using his family for his own gain. Instead, he transformed himself into an undead existence, a zombie, holding out for the emergence of an Extreme Physique. His motivations remained ambiguous—whether love for his clan or manipulation by Heaven's Will.
"This… as I predicted," Fang Yuan murmured, a smile on his face.
"First Gen Gu Yue had been waiting for one particular Extreme Physique," Fang Yuan recalled. He still remembered the words from the ancestor's lingering memories:
"Brat, you have guts and brains. You're truly my descendant. I'll take your blood to raise my aptitude. Don't think you're going anywhere. I purified my heirs' lineage with a blood path Gu to bring out a child with the Ancient Moon Desolate Yin physique. With the blood of such a descendant, my aptitude will reach 99% A-grade!"
"And now, I am that Ancient Moon Desolate physique," Fang Yuan said with excitement.
"The Gu Yue Clan truly bore this bloodline. It's why First Gen Gu Yue used a blood path Gu, purifying their blood over generations." Fang Yuan though "Gu Yue means Ancient Moon"
Ancient Moon Desolate Yin was a physique aligned with the Time Path, granting faster cultivation and stronger abilities in that path.
Fang Yuan reviewed his own efforts. "I tried to improve my chances of getting this physique, by filling my first aperture with Time Path Gu worms and already having an immortal time path Gu my vital Gu. I even focused on raising my Time Path attainment."
He sighed, a wry smile forming. "Though I knew it was likely pointless, I did it anyway. The true reason I gained this physique should be my bloodline."
"Maybe my killer move to slow time flow in my immortal aperture, increasing the number of Time Path dao marks in it, helped. I even used a Transformation Path killer move to convert all my dao marks into Time Path marks a lot while training. But in the end, it should be the bloodline."
A thought crossed his mind, and his expression shifted. "So, Heaven's Will isn't omnipotent if it couldn't fully determine my physique." Fang Yuan then frowned slightly, remembering how Heaven's Will once helped him when he first absorbed the original Fang Yuan's memories.
"Heaven Will may be able to influence my physique, but it doesn't matter what I get— as an immortal, I can make full use of it. Besides, if Heaven Will tries to make a move, it will only reveal its presence to me. The current situation is Heaven Will thinks I don't know it exists thus making me just a pawn in the dark, Just as I want it to think for now."
Fang Yuan lay back on his bed, taking out some Gu worms to temporarily lower his aptitude.
As one with an Extreme Physique, his potential was unmatched: his aptitude surpassed A grade, his mortal aperture's capacity capped at 100%, and if he ascended to Gu Immortal, he would gain a super-grade blessed land. Such a physique granted him a cultivation and battle power far exceeding those of the same rank.
However, the same physique came with grave risks. The mortal aperture of an Extreme Physique was prone to overloading and could explode at any time, killing the Gu Master and causing severe destruction—a risk that only increased as cultivation progressed and Fang Yuan was a Rank 5 Gu master already in his first aperture.
So to prevent this outcome, certain measures were necessary, though most came at a cost. Temporarily decreasing aptitude was one solution, though it was only a stop-gap, as his aptitude would soon rise again.
After finishing, Fang Yuan returned his focus on cultivating the wisdom inheritances he had just obtained.
---
Nine days later
[Beep! The immortal recipe is now 100%. It's complete.]
Fang Yuan opened his eyes, a smile forming on his lips. "Seems it's time to meet my friend Lang Ya."
He got up and headed out, seeking his old friend. Almost immediately, Lang Ya appeared before him, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Fang Yuan, did you finish your business?" Lang Ya asked.
"Yes, everything's sorted," Fang Yuan replied. "And I have good news. I've completed the recipe for the Change Form Gu." handing over the recipe.
Lang Ya's eyes sparkled as he scanned the parchment. "Oh, this is amazing! So, Earthly Limit Astral Qi is the main material? I see…" He was so focused on the recipe that he didn't notice Fang Yuan patiently waiting with a smile on his face.
After a moment, Lang Ya snapped back to reality, realizing Fang Yuan had been waiting. "Ah, forgive me for keeping you waiting, my friend. I'll pay you extra for this recipe. I've always wanted to complete it."
Fang Yuan shook his head, feigning embarrassment. "No, I can't accept anything for this recipe, Lang Ya. Honestly, I feel like I'm the one benefiting the most here."
Lang Ya smiled warmly. "How can that be? This is valuable to both of us."
Fang Yuan nodded, then took a deep breath. "Actually, you know I'm a transformation path immortal, and I'd like to ask if you'd refine this Gu for me as part of our agreement. I'm a bit hesitant to ask…"
Lang Ya waved his hand, even if he looked slightly annoyed. "Of course, that was the deal. I'll refine it for you."
"Thank you, but there's no rush," Fang Yuan replied smoothly, sensing the slight tension. "I have another deal in mind that might interest you."
Lang Ya's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? And what could that be?"
Without a word, Fang Yuan took out a Rank 7 Gu, the Formation Flag Immortal Gu, and unveiled the formation contained within it. As he did so, a mighty creature emerged.
"This… how can it be? You have…" Lang Ya's voice trailed off as he saw the powerful beast. It was an immemorial desolate beast, the legendary Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion.
Fang Yuan nodded. "Yes, an immemorial desolate beast that can go toe-to-toe with a Rank 8 immortal. This particular one is even more valuable—it's the Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion, a natural counter to any soul path immortal."
Lang Ya stared at the beast in astonishment. "Such a creature… I could use this to protect my blessed land!"
Just then, a voice chimed in. "Master, the Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion has finally reached its peak state," the formation spirit reported.
---
Fang Yuan had been putting souls into the formation to strengthen the beast, bringing it to the peak of its power.
He had originally intended to keep this immemorial desolate beast as a trump card, but plans had changed.
The primary reason Fang Yuan needed to sell the beast was due to the six critical immortal Gu worms used to control it within the formation. He needed these for his next plan.
Also he wanted to modify the formation many times but doing so would risk losing control over the powerful beast so selling the beast was the only right option he had.
"Only by doing this can I fully prepare for the Imperial Court blessed land," Fang Yuan thought. "Without an enslavement Immortal Gu, this formation spirit is the only thing that lets me control this beast. Otherwise, I couldn't control him in the first place but now I need to change the whole formation for another purpose."
---
Lang Ya stopped studying the Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion as his attention shifted to another figure. "This… what is this? It looks almost like a land spirit."
The formation spirit huffed proudly. "Of course, you wouldn't know. I'm a formation spirit."
"A formation spirit?" Lang Ya repeated, fascinated. "This is the first time I've ever seen one."
Lang Ya had a curious look as he was examining the formation spirit.
"The formation spirit was created using a one-time consumable Formation Spirit Immortal Gu," Fang Yuan explained. "The Gu was designed by Zhen Yuan Zi to mimic a land spirit."
"Zhen Yuan Zi… there truly are many amazing people in this world." Lang Ya was then excited. "So, do you want to sell the entire formation?"
Fang Yuan shook his head. "No, only the Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion."
Lang Ya's excitement dimmed, but he quickly recovered. "Alright, what do you want for it?"
Fang Yuan's eyes sparkled. "Just a Rank 6 Gu you possess."
Lang Ya's eyes lit up, but Fang Yuan's next words tempered his enthusiasm.
"I want… the Dog Shit Luck Immortal Gu."
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