"The Huang Family itself is the strongest Legacy," Lin Yan sighed.
In the Gu World, without Gu Immortals, Rank 4 meant status and territory, and Rank 5 was like a mortal emperor. The Three Kings Inheritance that allowed Fang Yuan to rise, setting aside the Immortal blessed land, was essentially just a Legacy left behind by three Rank 5 peak Gu Masters.
The Huang Family had never lacked Rank 5 experts throughout its history. Its Legacy could truly be called powerful.
He headed straight to the Family's Gu Chamber, located beside Wen Lake. A basement had been dug beneath it, and a Gu House stood above, heavily guarded. The ones recording entries at the entrance were all Rank 3 Gu Masters.
People came and went from time to time, most of them young Gu Masters preparing for the Family's Gu battles.
Lin Yan registered his name, took a Rank 1 bookworm Gu, and used his mind to browse the information stored inside. There were many types of Gu, from Rank 1 to Rank 3.
"The Huang Family has more than one Gu House. The three most important ones are on the three lake islands, and they also store Rank 4 and Rank 5 Gu."
With this thought, he focused his search and quickly found his target.
Rank 1 [Fire Pattern Gu]: A single-use consumable Gu. After use, it can imprint a crimson divine pattern on the host's body, increasing skin defense by 10% and enhancing the power of Flame Path Gu by 10%.
(Note: Human skin has limits. Each person can use Fire Pattern Gu at most nine times, forming nine flame patterns and increasing Flame Path power by up to 90%.)
Seeing this, Lin Yan took a sharp breath. As expected of the Huang Family's signature Gu, its effect was terrifying, almost doubling the combat strength of a Flame Path Gu Master.
Of course, Fire Pattern Gu was still only Rank 1. Even with nine patterns, it gave a 90% boost to Rank 1 Gu. For Rank 2, the effect would drop to about 45%, and for Rank 3, just over 20%.
By Rank 4, it would be almost negligible.
"That makes sense. If it kept that effect, it wouldn't be Rank 1, but a Rank 6 Immortal Gu." Lin Yan had also read about its drawback.
This kind of body-modifying Gu conflicted with others. Once used, Gu from other paths, like the Rank 1 White Pig Gu that increases strength, could no longer be used.
"Then I'll walk the Flame Path to the end. Gains and losses go together. This kind of enhancement will still be useful even at Rank 5."
Lin Yan spent six hundred primeval stones to buy two Fire Pattern Gu, feeling a bit of pain. They were much more expensive than normal Flame Path Gu.
He continued browsing, searching for other suitable Gu. Soon, Lin Yan's gaze stopped, fixed on a Rank 1 Gu—Formation Core Gu. He was both surprised and pleased. He didn't expect such a rare Formation Path Gu to appear here. After thinking for a moment, he spoke to the Family Gu Master beside him and managed to get it at a lower price.
A moment later, he left the Gu House with three Gu, having spent all one thousand primeval stones. Fortunately, he only needed to provide food for the Formation Core Gu, otherwise his finances would become very tight.
Formation Core Gu was considered rare, but since no one in the Huang Family cultivated Formation Path, it was sold at a reduced price.
Back in the quiet room, Lin Yan took out the Fire Pattern Gu. It looked like a crimson centipede, its translucent shell forming red patterns. He injected primeval essence and activated it.
At once, the Fire Pattern Gu bit into his palm and drilled into the wound. Lin Yan broke out in cold sweat. Pain spread through his entire body. He gritted his teeth and endured it, watching as a crimson pattern spread from his palm, covering his arm and glowing faintly.
Body-modifying Gu were always like this, bringing intense pain along with the change.
He could feel a stronger affinity with Flame Path Gu. He clenched his fist slightly. His skin tightened and gave off a faint reddish-jade glow, his defense clearly enhanced.
Then Lin Yan used another Fire Pattern Gu. He stood up, both arms now marked with crimson divine patterns that reflected each other, looking quite striking.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The large training ground was already filled with spectators. Two to three hundred young Gu Masters stood ready, full of anticipation. Some were Huang Family disciples, some came from affiliated Families, and some were even mortals.
Soon, the three well-known Grade A Geniuses appeared, drawing exclamations from the crowd.
"Lin Qingyao, the granddaughter of the First Elder. I heard she specializes in the Flame Path. Huang Xin, the youngest son of the Clan Chief, has the most outstanding talent among his siblings. He's a Grade A Genius, cultivating the Earth Path."
"And Huang Xi, from a poor background. After awakening his aptitude, he was taken in by the Second Elder as a disciple."
The three geniuses stood with different temperaments, glancing at one another. Their eyes were filled with fighting spirit, completely ignoring everyone else around them.
Indeed, only they had reached Second Rank among those present. They possessed Liquor Worm and had refined Relic Gu, completely surpassing ordinary people.
Lin Yan stood within the crowd. At first, he felt a bit tense facing such a large gathering, but soon he noticed that most people around him were only at Rank 1 Middle Stage. A smaller number were at Upper Stage, and only a few had reached Peak.
Only then did he realize that with his Grade B top-tier aptitude and the resources he had, his cultivation speed was already quite fast.
Lin Yan understood that the Huang Family, as a major power, had three Rank 5 experts and more than ten Rank 4 elders. It could be called a peak period. Internally, it was divided into three factions: the Clan Chief, the First Elder, and the Second Elder.
The Newcomer Grand Competition seemed like a contest among juniors, but in truth, it was also a contest between these factions, comparing their future strength.
The three Grade A Geniuses each represented one of the three factions and the Rank 5 experts behind them.
Lin Yan looked at the three geniuses, surrounded by others like stars around the moon, and smiled slightly.
"But all of you… are too arrogant."