A hill-sized dark-green cauldron floated in the air. Its surface flickered with a gentle green light before the lotus relief sculpture on its surface bloomed into life. A specter of a magnificent lotus covered the entire cauldron, protecting it from any and every harm.
'No wonder a gu house can allow several weaker gu immortals to contribute in battles related to stronger gu immortals. This defense alone would render several rank 7 gu immortals helpless.'
Lo Jik observed while he stood inside the cauldron. He glanced up and observed the massive opening. It was an obvious sign of weakness. Enemies could attack him through this opening unless he spent his entire focus keeping this defensive killer move active the entirety of the battle.
However, this was the best he could create with the limited number of immortal gu worms he possessed. Sure, he had a number of rank 6 and 7 immortal gu worms. He even possessed a rank 8 immortal gu worm. But none of these could be used for this particular immortal gu house. Incorporating immortal gu worms like Treasured Oil Immortal Gu and Space Connect Immortal Gu only led to the grim fate of spending a lot of time deducing the new recipe and making the steps of refining this immortal gu house exponentially more complicated.
Lo Jik was simply unwilling to spend so much effort on something like this when the purpose of this immortal gu house was never to face an enemy.
'Using Rank 7 Lotus Armor Immortal Gu makes this a rank 7 immortal gu house. But only its defensive capabilities are on the level of a rank 7 immortal gu house. Its speed is relatively slow and its offense is only threatening to ordinary gu immortals. Furthermore, its primary function is to refine, which is stuck at rank 6. For all intents and purposes, Undefeated Refinement Cauldron can only be considered a rank 6 immortal gu house.'
Lo Jik set the cauldron and flew out from the open mouth of the structure.
He had already rested for some time and mobilized Old Man Desolate.
Prepared for this, Old Man Desolate took out several materials. All of these were immortal materials! Lo Jik and Old Man Desolate spent a long time acquiring these items in Treasure Yellow Heaven. Strangely enough, there was only one set of these materials. It was different from the convention.
Most gu immortals would prepare tens of sets of immortal materials to refine an immortal gu worm. Such challenges ensured that the early requirements to refine an immortal gu worm itself was difficult, forcing the gu immortal to spend years storing and saving these immortal materials.
Lo Jik took out an Accumulation Gu Worm with a thought and tossed it into the refinement cauldron. He activated the gu house as a ghostly-blue flame sparked to life, instantly consuming Accumulation Immortal Gu with a cold hiss. The fire grew in intensity and size, quickly filling the insides of the cauldron like a lake of greyish-blue ghost fire.
They tossed in materials after calculating the right moment. The ghost fire burning in the cauldron consumed and refined it all, not even letting out a trail of smoke as it processed countless mortal and immortal materials. Others would feel shocked seeing this situation.
<<<>>>
"Too complicated." Feng Chan Zi smiled bitterly as he groaned in exhaustion. They were called to the refinement chamber again—it was already the eighth time. Feng Chan Zi still had some hope earlier. After all, Yuan Qiong Du was an established expert. But he underestimated the challenges of refining an immortal gu worm.
"It's not unexpected." A calm and gentle voice replied Feng Chan Zi. Feng Chan Zi couldn't help but shoot the speaker a curious glance. Next to him walked a beautiful individual. Although a man, this person was even more beautiful than several renowned fairies of Central Continent.
"What do you mean, Brother Yu?" Feng Chan Zi inquired respectfully. He could not use his relationship as a rank 8 gu immortal's lone grandson to even try suppress this individual. Like Chan Zi, this man was here from Ancient Soul Sect to assist Yuan Qiong Du. However, Feng Chan Zi was here without paying anything. His grandfather paved the road for him to interact with the few of Central Continent's greatest expert and broaden his horizon. Meanwhile, the young man walking next to Feng Chan Zi did not have such a luxury. He paid heavily in sect contribution points to be here and witness Yuan Qiong Du refine an immortal gu worm.
"Every recipe is modified to fit one's refinement techniques and killer moves at a later stage. This mostly boils down to the preparation of materials. Some immortal materials can even take years to process properly. Processing such materials, us refinement path gu immortals utilize several killer moves. The dao marks from such killer move leave their traces on the processed materials. So, we can either account for this change and add few more materials to counter this imbalance of dao marks or we could further treat the materials until they reach a satisfactory state."
Feng Chan Zi digested these words before feeling slightly complicated.
"No wonder even rank 7 seniors seek your counsel, Brother Yu."
Yu Yi Ye Zi smiled and shook his head. He was one of the more well-known rank 6 refinement path gu immortal. Most gu immortals of the ten great ancient sects often sought his suggestions and paid him good sum of immortal essence stones to study and revise certain recipes.
"How can I feel happy about that?" Yu Yi Ye Zi sighed. "I'm far from reaching an acceptable stage. Do you know, Brother Fang, there are still times I fail refining rank 1 and 2 gu worms. The greatest enemy of us refinement path gu masters is none other than the natural chance of failure when refining a gu worm."
"Refinement path existed for hundreds and thousands of years," Feng Chan Zi blurted out. "Has there been no advancement in this aspect, Brother Yu? Aren't there already many refinement path gu worms that can increase the chances of success? There are several mortal gu worms that can increase the chance of success to 100%."
Yu Yi Ye Zi chuckled.
"Those? Yes, there are certainly a few examples. Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu and Immediate Success Gu belong to this category of gu worms. But there has never been any immortal gu worm capable of completely removing the natural chances of failure. The only good example of such a possibility will be the Success Dao Marks, but even they are expendable."
Feng Chan Zi fell silent before smiling.
"I suppose it's a good thing. What if something like this existed in real life and fell into the wrong hands? Haha, I cannot even imagine a demon making such an imagination a reality—"
"God." Yu Yi Ye Zi corrected calmly.
"Eh? What was that, Brother Yu?" The duo got closer to the refinement chamber as Yu Yi Ye Zi explained his thoughts. "Gu refinement is the process of combining two or more gu worms with several materials. In reality, this is the fusion and modification of the dao marks and fragments of the great dao inside the gu and the materials. To achieve a 100% success rate implies successfully creating new creatures—what is that if not a domain extremely close to something far surpassing us gu immortals? Be it demon, a lone figure, or a righteous hero, anyone capable of reaching this stage far exceeds our realm. Holding such a 'being' in the same spectrum of morality binding us all… heh, that would be quite foolish."
Feng Chan Zi felt a chill run down his spine.
Indeed.
Would it matter if this person was a demon or a hero?
Being able to refine immortal gu with a guaranteed success rate of 100% meant only utilizing one set of immortal materials and amassing untold wealth! Immortal gu were unique!
What is such a person accumulated hundreds of immortal gu worms?
Would every super force not want to befriend this person?
Their history and past crimes would no longer matter!
"But!" Yu Yi Ye Zi smiled brightly, assuring Feng Chan Zi. "It is merely a dream. An imagination. Not even the Three Olds achieved anything closer to this. Forget about rank 7 and 8 immortal gu worms, just accomplishing a 100% success rate in rank 6 gu worm is already extremely terrifying. You saw it yourself, Brother Feng. Even First Elder Yuan boast a success rate no greater than 40% when it comes to rank 6 immortal gu worms. That is already the level of a refinement path great grandmaster expert!"
<<<>>>
Lo Jik held an immortal gu worm while trying to control his emotions. He no longer felt great joy during success and sadness with failures. But it was truly a great challenge to keep his expression straight as the corner of his lips twitched and curled into a soft smile.
In his hand was a tiny, nail-sized golden immortal gu worm. This insect had six pair of legs and thin cicada wings on its back. Lacking eyes and mandibles, this insect resembled a silhouette more than a living being.
Rank 6 Accumulation Immortal Gu Worm.
Lo Jik couldn't help but recall the entire process.
It was simply too smooth!
Undefeated Refinement Cauldron used soul refinement techniques since Lo Jik included rank 6 Soul Claw Immortal Gu in its creation. Yet, the added soul path dao marks when processing the materials failed to create any nuisance due to the gu house's function of dealing with all the natural chances of failure. It accomplished this effect by isolating the insides of the cauldron, utilizing Undefeated Myriad Battles Immortal Gu to manage and remove all the unnecessary dao marks. Lo Jik had a great control over this process. Since he added several gu worms like Heaven and Earth Before My Eyes, Particle Viewing, and Perceivable Dao Gu, he dealt with the additional soul path dao marks with a ridiculous precision!
He used Undefeated Refinement Cauldron's investigative killer move and signature method at once to achieve this stage of great success.
Lo Jik played with the immortal gu while collating his experience.
'It is a rank 7 gu house, so my immortal essence is far from enough to completely activate it and refine immortal gu with 100% success. Thankfully, I can use Old Man Desolate's rank 8 immortal essence. So, this is not a problem for me. I will accumulate enough of Old Man Desolate's immortal essence and store them inside Undefeated Refinement Cauldron.'
One of the benefits of a gu house was its ability to use everyone's strength. It could make use of others' immortal essence! It was exactly why weaker gu immortals could still contribute in major battles using an immortal gu house.
'There are other issues. First, I cannot replicate this success with rank 7 immortal gu worms, not unless I deduce the recipe for rank 7 Undefeated Myriad Battles Immortal Gu and refine it successfully. Second, this gu house was just created through limited resources. It has a huge growth potential, especially if I replace Lotus Armor Immortal Gu and Soul Claw Immortal Gu with refinement and human path immortal gu worms.'
Thinking about this, Lo Jik considered fusing Accumulation Immortal Gu into this gu house. One of the characteristics of Accumulation was its ability to be used in any killer move. Gu Houses represented the essence of formation path and were nothing more than formation path killer moves. Adding Accumulation Immortal Gu Worm into the gu house was not a challenge for Lo Jik.
'I could even get rid of the issue of being unable to refine rank 7 immortal gu worms.' Lo Jik's gaze brightened at the thought before he shook his head.
He would only consider refining rank 7 immortal gu worms when he needed them. How could he waste his time and resources refining rank 7 immortal gu worms when he was a rank 6 gu immortal? It was more resourceful to employ Accumulation Immortal Gu in many of his killer moves and raise their power by an astonishing margin.
Instead, Lo Jik started thinking about refining the necessary immortal gu worms to upgrade his immortal gu house itself.
The majority of the cost in refining an immortal gu worm could be credited to the need of gathering several sets of immortal materials and the subsequent number of failures. However, Lo Jik only needed one set of materials. This was a truly outstanding benefit.
Considering things, Lo Jik skimmed through the thousands of recipes he obtained from Lang Ya Blessed Land and realized something hilarious.
'The true obstruction in refining immortal gu worm for me, aside from gathering some rare materials, is none other than the existence of immortal gu worms themselves. No matter my success rate, I won't be able to refine an immortal gu worm if they exist. If only I had a way of finding out if the immortal gu worms I want to refine exist or not… I could still deduce some matters related to this based on all the information available in Treasure Yellow Heaven.'
'Furthermore, instead of refining immortal gu, why shouldn't I try plundering them? My immortal gu house is based on Refinement Cauldron. The actual thing will surely have gu immortals more suited for my needs.'
Thinking of this, Lo Jik took out one of the Dreamer Gu Worm.
'I've been spying on Lang Ya Blessed Land, but it has too many dao marks. It far surpasses ordinary blessed land and is only second to grotto-heavens like Immemorial Desolate Grotto-Heaven. I need to prepare fully before sneaking inside Lang Ya Blessed Land even if I know almost everything about it through Long Hair Inheritance.'
'Dream path alone won't be enough for this… I need to employ theft path as well. Hopefully Xin Cheng has better results after all this time.'
Lo Jik couldn't help but smirk mischievously.
"It also helps that Lang Ya has issues of its own," he muttered under his breath. He turned to look at Old Man Desolate, instructing calmly.
"Get the materials prepared for Dreamer and Second Aperture Immortal Gu Worms. We can keep going for a few more days!"
<<<>>>
It was the scene of immortal beauty tarnished by traces of battle. The sky was white and everywhere was a stretch of white clouds. There were no gaps in this sea of clouds. It covered the entire region of the blessed land, exuding purity and aloofness. Standing tall, with signs of earlier battles, were twelve cloud buildings. These buildings were grand; their surfaces marked with murals and depictions of ancient history. Colorful cloud hung around the twelve buildings. The scent of sandalwood with hints of smoke and decay pervaded the scenery, and around the twelve buildings were many recovering crane groups and feathermen slaves.
*Whoosh*
The twelve buildings were not the only structures in the blessed land despite being the most impressive ones. A figure appeared inside a refinement hall. He was tall and handsome with a straight and high nose. His eyes flashed a cold and eerie light. His well-built frame was hugged by garments of leather and fur. Around his neck was a pendant with a wolf's fang. This was the characteristics of Northern Plains' fashion.
Indeed, this man was a Northern Plains' gu immortal—
"You're here, you brat! *Cough* *Cough* Ah, my injuries! Quick! Share some of your recipes with me, Chang Shan Yin! Who knows how long I will last!"
Chang Shan Yin's gaze scanned the hall before landing on a white-haired old man. The old man's arms were bound by several qi path seals. His white beard reached his chest and his face was ruddy and soft. The old man rolled on the floor and howled in pain.
"Oh, Chang Shan Yin! I'm sure you have even more exciting recipes. How about you ease this old man's pain?"
Chang Shan Yin narrowed his eyes.
"Pain? Your seals have decreased in number and you can already display a good portion of your strength, Lang Ya Land Spirit." Saying so, Chang Shan Yin casually sat on a nearby cushion and inquired calmly.
"Do you still remember your promise?"
Lang Ya Land Spirit's expression froze before he snorted and sat up. He wished to point at Chang Shan Yin's nose, but his arms were bound. He could only glare with grievances, scolding, "You are not cute at all, young man! And to think I refined an immortal gu worm for you!"
Chang Shan Yin smiled lightly.
"The immortal gu was refined as per the promise made hundreds of thousands of years ago—the agreement between your main body, Long Hair Ancestor, and Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable. As Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's inheritor, I'm entitled to three chances of asking you to refine gu for me."
Lang Ya Land Spirit was none other than the legendary Long Hair Ancestor's land spirit.
Long Hair Ancestor, alongside Old Eccentric Tian Na from Remote Antiquity Era and Old Immortal Kong Jue from Olden Antiquity Era, was known as one of the Three Olds. Three Olds were recognized to be the only three supreme grandmasters of refinement path.
Old Eccentric Tian Nan had a weird personality and once tried to refine the sky of the immemorial nine heavens and the five regions of the gu world into his aperture, resulting in his death.
Old Immortal Kong Jue had the deepest research in apertures and helped gu masters with extreme physiques ascend as gu immortals.
Long Hair Ancestor was a rank 8 refinement path gu immortal from Medieval Antiquity Era and lived past the era of Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable and also refined gu worms for Giant Sun Immortal Venerable. His refinement path talent was so outstanding that even the two venerables sighed in admiration countless times and conceded to his skills in this aspect of cultivation. They had both requested Long Hair Ancestor to refine gu for them. The later generation collected conclusive proofs and evidence before realizing that Long Hair Ancestor refined at least 38 immortal gu worms! This number did not include the many legends, stories, and rumors. Including them, the number far surpassed a hundred immortal gu worms!
This was the origin of Lang Ya Blessed Land and Lang Ya Land Spirit. Long Hair Ancestor could not defy the flow of River of Time and eventually succumbed to his mortality, leaving behind his immortal aperture. Yet, despite being a rank 8 gu immortal, his grotto-heaven had already fallen to the level of a blessed land.
Chang Shan Yin's words pointed out Lang Ya Land Spirit's weakness and awkward position.
The old land spirit deflated.
"Back then, Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable requested Long Hair Ancestor to refine a gu for him. Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable made a bet with him and won three rounds out of five; thus Long Hair Ancestor had no choice but to accept his loss and agreed to refine the gu. Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable wanted to enter the legendary secluded domain of heaven and earth, Space Door, all his life. He requested Long Hair Ancestor to refine the Immortal Gu, that is 'Space Escape Gu.' Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable placed all his effort in researching the recipe for it. Long Hair Ancestor was very excited and felt that the recipe was good and proper, but there were some places that could be improved. After discussing with Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable, the Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable became very happy and exclaimed that Long Hair Ancestor's Refinement Path attainment far surpassed his."
"The two cooperated and spent 21 years to successfully refine 'Space Escape Gu.' However, although the 'Space Escape Gu' was refined and Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable could activate 'Space Escape Gu,' he could not enter the Space Door no matter what he did. Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable felt discouraged and the proud Long Hair Ancestor also suffered a huge setback."
"Refining this gu, however, involved huge costs. Long Hair Ancestor was proud and helped Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable refine other immortal gu worms to make up for the losses. Eventually, Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable left the remaining three chances of refining the gu for his inheritor and left, never to be seen again."
Saying so, Lang Ya Land Spirit pinned Chang Shan Yin with a complex look in his eyes.
"I already refined that time path immortal gu for you. But we were fortunate. According to the agreement, I will have to successfully refine any mortal gu worm you ask no matter how many times I fail. The cost of the materials will also be borne by me. But the same will not apply if you request to refine an immortal gu worm. I will still provide the materials, but I will only refine it once. Failure or success won't change the outcome. You still have two chances, Chang Shan Yin."
Chang Shan Yin fell silent before he shook his head.
"How can you refine gu worms in your current state?"
Lang Ya land spirit laughed arrogantly and shrugged.
"Indeed. I won't be personally participating in the refinement process and will have to instruct my subordinates. There is nothing I can do."
Chang Shan Yin fell silent as Lang Ya prompted.
"Actually, we have already traded a fair bit. My Lang Ya Blessed Land has always been good to you, Chang Shan Yin. What do you think? Help me defend the blessed land and I shall reward you with rare time path immortal materials."
Chang Shan Yin revealed a hesitant expression.
***
Alternate Title: Swindlers everywhere; Chang Shan Yin and Lo Jik eyeing Lang Ya Blessed Land *Shadow Sect from behind the scenes: Bonjour?*; Endless immortal gu worms; The domain of a god; The gu world: Who do you think you are? *YE Jik:I just told you all—a GOD!*; I miss the old Bai Shou, the one with huge jugs and fat ass Bai Shou; *Laughing in 100% success rate*; Refining Accumulation, Second Aperture, and Dreamer Immortal Gu Worms; A shocking achievement; Heaven's Will nearly rage quitting; Heaven's Will never seen this level of bullshit even with other venerables— *Limitless casually refining worlds in his secret lair*; Soul refinement method; Impressive cauldron; Let's see Paul Allen's immortal gu house; Cute Lang Ya Land Spirit; Long Hair stylin' on two venerables with his big dick lifespan; Chang Shan Yin's mysterious time path immortal gu; A northern plains' expert; The limits of a great refinement path expert: 40% *One coughing baby with Love Gu on his shoulder: 100%*; Rich!
***
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