In the following days, Zhou Ming continued to travel between various Markets and Families, constantly changing his appearance with Deception Gu and Ghost Face Gu, buying and selling Gu, and earning a large number of reward points.
For four consecutive days, Zhou Ming's reward points surged past the 80,000 mark. However, the nearby Markets had been thoroughly scoured by him, and their remaining value plummeted, making it almost impossible to continue fishing for profit sustainably.
On the fourth day, which was also the seventh day since his return to the Gu World, the day agreed upon with the shop owner arrived, and Zhou Ming once again came to that Market.
"Honored guest, you have finally arrived!"
The shop owner was overjoyed to see Zhou Ming arrive and quickly led him to the private room.
"Guest, please see, all the Gu you ordered are here, not a single one missing."
The shop owner carefully displayed the several Gu, looking eagerly at Zhou Ming.
There were a total of seven Gu, all relatively rare. Six were Rank Three Gu and one was a Rank Four Gu. Their total value exceeded 110,000 primeval stones, so the shop owner had to be cautious.
"Hmm, not bad." After inspecting the Gu and confirming they were intact, Zhou Ming nodded and also took out the Gu he had brought from his Aperture.
"Ten Silver Relic Gu!"
The shop owner was so surprised by the Gu Zhou Ming took out that he almost jumped, followed by an unexpected surge of ecstasy.
Silver Relic Gu can raise a Rank 3 Gu Master's cultivation by one minor Realm, and its value is 50,000 primeval stones!
This was still the most basic price. In fact, due to its scarcity, it usually commanded a very high premium, sometimes even selling for more than 60,000 primeval stones!
Its value was far, far higher than the Two-turn Scarlet Iron Relic Gu.
One must know that a Rank 3 Gu Master was already a pillar of strength among Gu Masters; many Family Elders were of the Rank Three level.
Ten Silver Relic Gu were enough to instantly boost the strength of several Family Elders in a Family, providing immense benefits to a Family!
His shop didn't even have that many Silver Relic Gu!
At this moment, the shop owner heard Zhou Ming's voice.
"This is our second transaction. If this cooperation is pleasant, I will bring even better Gu next time."
Better?!
Could it be... Gold Relic Gu?!
The shop owner licked his lips, his heart pounding violently.
Soon, he found his wild fantasy laughable. Gold Relic Gu, which could raise a Rank 4 Gu Master by one minor Realm, was a controlled item for any force. Internal consumption was already insufficient, and it was rarely released for trade.
However, despite saying so, the shop owner still held onto this thought, which gave him a faint expectation, making him even more enthusiastic and willing to offer concessions for the current transaction.
The ten Silver Relic Gu were finally sold for 530,000 primeval stones.
After deducting the 110,000 primeval stones Zhou Ming spent on those Gu (the small change was also rounded off by the shop owner), he ultimately received 420,000 primeval stones.
After completing this transaction, Zhou Ming temporarily set aside the idea of continuing to resell Gu. Instead, he returned to his Family and went into secluded cultivation to prepare for his Breakthrough to Rank Three.
Since Zhou Hao and the others returned from their perilous encounter, Zhou Ming's heart had been heavy, as if something bad was about to happen.
Zhou Ming's intuition had always been accurate, so he no longer deliberately suppressed his cultivation, hoping to have enough strength to protect himself before the crisis arrived.
Indeed, just three days later, an order issued by the Family confirmed Zhou Ming's accurate intuition.
The hunting Tournament, originally scheduled for May, was moved up to eight days later!
Such a change caused an uproar within the Family, with everyone discussing it.
However, the Family Elders remained silent. The commotion below could not influence the decisions of the upper echelons, and it soon subsided.
Zhou Ming did not participate in any discussions, remaining fully dedicated to his secluded cultivation to Breakthrough to Rank Three.
Five days passed in a flash.
Whoosh... In Zhou Ming's Aperture, waves surged. The dark red true essence of Two-turn Peak continuously pounded and scoured the Aperture wall.
At this moment, the Aperture wall was already a translucent crystal membrane, thick and solid, but under the incessant scouring of the dark red true essence, cracks had gradually appeared.
The 99% true essence sea provided Zhou Ming with immense power for his Breakthrough, allowing him to continuously scour the Aperture without worrying about insufficient true essence or the Aperture wall recovering on its own when absorbing primeval stones to replenish true essence.
As time passed, the cracks continuously expanded, spreading like a spider web, gradually covering the entire crystal membrane.
Then—crack, crack!
The crystal membrane suddenly shattered at a certain moment, turning into countless crystal fragments that fell like meteors into the true essence sea, transforming into countless white light spots, fusing with the dark red true essence, and gradually forming a trace of light silver true essence.
That was the mark of Rank Three initial stage.
At the same time, a white light membrane had already reappeared on the Aperture wall, re-enveloping the entire true essence sea.
The Breakthrough to Rank Three initial stage was a Success.
Just as Zhou Ming was about to let out a sigh of relief, suddenly, the entire true essence sea churned again, the surface of the sea surged wildly, and in an instant, it filled the last bit of space in the Aperture!
100% true essence!
A Ten Extreme Physique was born!
At the same time, an indescribable realization arose in Zhou Ming's heart, and various strange changes appeared on his body.
Creak, creak!
The newly formed light membrane, squeezed by the 100% true essence sea, emitted sounds as if it could no longer bear the pressure.
The entire Aperture trembled continuously.
"Danger!"
Zhou Ming secretly cried out in alarm, trying to maintain the stability of his Aperture. At the same time, he took out the prepared Gu one by one, ready to use them immediately when he could no longer hold on.
Unless absolutely necessary, Zhou Ming did not want to use Gu.
After all, this was a Ten Extreme Physique, possessing extraordinary power. If Zhou Ming used Gu to suppress it now, whether it was to reduce Aptitude or increase the Aperture's foundation, it might cause the suppressive effect of similar Gu to become weaker and weaker later on.
In that case, the higher his cultivation, the less Zhou Ming would be able to deal with his Ten Extreme Physique Physique.
Fortunately, after the initial turbulence, the Aperture gradually stabilized, and the crisis of it bursting from unbearable pressure did not occur.
Zhou Ming also saved himself from having to use Gu now, allowing him to use them when his cultivation was higher.
Introspecting the Aperture with 100% true essence and feeling the unusually active Wood Path Gu within the Aperture, Zhou Ming slowly exhaled a turbid breath.
"Forest Sea Reincarnation Body, ah..."
"The Legends of Ren Zu" records that Forest Sea Reincarnation was Ren Zu's fourth daughter, born in the Ordinary Abyss, emerging from a large tree planted by Ren Zu using his heart blood.
The Forest Sea Reincarnation Body has a unique affinity and talent for the Wood Path, as if it is an Incarnation of the Wood Path itself. Using any Wood Path Gu provides a huge bonus, with power increasing exponentially.