Lin Yan then checked the Gu within his aperture.
His Rank 3 Gu included Exploding Fireball Gu, Flame Armor Gu, Treading Fire Gu, Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze Gu, Borrow Fire Gu, Fire Source Gu, Accumulated Ash Gu, Flame Blade Gu, Burning Wind Gu, Splash Gu, and Sparks Gu. Glass Flame Bone Gu and Fire Soul Gu had already been consumed.
He also had Dream Derivation Gu, Seven Fragrance Liquor Worm, Elder Gu, White Silver Relic Gu, Soul Travel Gu, and Clear Mind Gu. Strengthen Soul Gu had already been used.
In total, he had twenty Gu. Excluding those that had already been consumed, seventeen remained, and the feeding pressure was enormous.
Fortunately, Lin Yan had sufficient wealth, and Aunt Liu usually handled the purchase of materials and the feeding of his Gu, saving him a great deal of effort.
At this point, his Rank 3 setup was finally complete. With his current configuration, his combat strength was no weaker than that of an ordinary Rank 4 Gu Master.
Just then, Lin Yan received news—his uncle, Shan Shayuan, had returned.
Thinking about it, the caravan had been away for eight months. They had also encountered Ember Passage Ridge, so the timing made sense.
Lin Yan returned to the small courtyard by Wen Lake and saw Shan Shayuan already waiting there. His clothes were dusty, his expression tired, yet his presence felt sharper than before.
When Shan Shayuan saw him, he smiled with clear relief. "I've heard about you. You've done well. I didn't expect you to catch up to me so quickly."
"I still have you to thank for your guidance," Lin Yan replied. As he spoke, he carefully observed his uncle and faintly sensed that he was close to advancing to Rank 4.
Shan Shayuan shook his head. "Not so fast. My aptitude is only mid-tier B, far worse than yours. I've been stuck at this step for years."
Hearing this, Lin Yan understood immediately. Without hesitation, he asked about the location of a major force's marketplace where he could buy a Silver Relic Gu.
He now had enough wealth. What he lacked was time, and he had no intention of staying at Rank 3 any longer than necessary.
Shan Shayuan, experienced and well-traveled, spoke slowly, "If we're talking about the most famous marketplace in the Western Desert, it has to be the Xiao Family's Ten Thousand Li Silk Corridor."
Ten Thousand Li Silk Corridor… Lin Yan's eyes lit up. He remembered this name. In the original story, it was a super Immortal Gu House, formed from several Immortal Gu as its core, supported by countless mortal Gu.
This Gu House had a very special function. As long as there were enough spider-type mortal Gu, it could continuously spread outward, extending across vast distances. Though called ten thousand li, its actual reach went far beyond that. From above, it would look like a massive web covering the Western Desert.
Inside the Ten Thousand Li Silk Corridor, the ground was smooth like silk. Anything moving within it would gain a significant speed boost, similar to a transport network. It greatly improved trade efficiency and also carried immense strategic value.
With the harsh desert terrain, only the Xiao Family could maintain trade across multiple regions. Shan Shayuan nodded and said, "There's a Silk Corridor passage near us. Every year, dozens of nearby oases send their largest caravans to travel along it to a central marketplace." He paused, then added with some nostalgia, "When all those caravans gather, it's an impressive sight."
His tone then turned serious. "But this year is different. Ember Passage Ridge is passing through and blocking the route. We'll have to wait until the beast tide ends. When that happens, a Rank 5 Family Elder will personally lead the caravan."
Lin Yan felt a bit of regret. It looked like he would have to wait another month or two. Right now, the beast tide was at its peak. Only after it passed, and Ember Passage Ridge moved on, would things settle down.
He then asked casually, "How are the other oases doing?"
Shan Shayuan shook his head. "Not good. The small oasis closest to Ember Passage Ridge has already been wiped out. That medium-sized Family, whose only pillar was a Rank 4 Clan head, has already been destroyed."
"And this is just the beginning. Three or four more will follow. A Beast Emperor has already appeared in this tide."
Lin Yan fell silent for a moment. Ember Passage Ridge itself could contain desolate beasts comparable to Gu Immortals, so the appearance of a Beast Emperor was not strange. What troubled him was something else—his own strength was still not enough. Without the protection of the Family, if he were alone in the wilderness, a beast tide like this would crush him completely.
He was about to speak when—
Rumble!
The ground suddenly shook violently. The entire courtyard trembled, tiles rattling as dust fell from above. Lin Yan's expression changed slightly as he steadied himself.
"What's going on?"