Looking around at the wreckage of his room, Liu Chen sighed bitterly. The sudden appearance of the giant spider had not only left his dormitory in a state of absolute chaos but threatened to draw unwanted attention.
Fortunately, the academy dormitories were located in a relatively remote area of the village, and the clan's Gu Masters rarely patrolled this far inward at night. Given the late hour, it seemed his secret remained safe for now.
Liu Chen took a deep breath to steady his nerves and began to clear the debris, his mind racing as he processed the "lottery" results.
"I actually pulled a Rank 5 creature from the Flower Wine Monk's legacy. I don't know if this is supreme luck or a looming disaster," he muttered to himself while gathering his broken belongings. His heart was still hammering against his ribs, a physical reminder of the danger. This experience had hammered home a cold truth: in this world of the unknown, even a small oversight could lead to unintended, potentially fatal consequences.
He eventually collapsed onto his bed, eyes closed, appearing peaceful to any outside observer. In reality, his mind was in a state of total upheaval. He remained awake throughout the night, maintaining a high level of alertness, listening for even the slightest sound from outside the room.
As the long night finally faded and the first light of morning touched the window, Liu Chen felt a deep sense of exhaustion. It felt as though every ounce of his strength had been drained by the tension. He forced himself upright, splashing his face with cold water to mask his haggard appearance. Taking one last deep breath, he left the room and walked toward the academy.
When he arrived, the other students had already gathered. Their faces were alight with excitement and anticipation. They huddled in groups, animatedly discussing the most important moment of their young lives: the selection of their Vital Gu. Liu Chen noticed that several others had dark circles under their eyes as well, which made him feel slightly less conspicuous.
"Today is the day you select your Vital Gu. This is the most critical step for you to enter the path of a Gu Master," the Academy Elder announced from the podium. His voice was deep and resonant, carrying a natural majesty that commanded immediate silence.
The Elder turned and led the class out of the academy toward the Gu Room. The structure was an architectural marvel, featuring intricately carved beams and painted murals that exuded an air of ancient authority.
At the entrance, two Rank 2 guards from the Gu Hall stood like iron statues. One of them barked at the students: "Enter one by one! No loud noises allowed!"
The apprentices began to file in. Some found Gu they liked almost immediately, emerging from the room with faces full of joy. Liu Chen stood at the end of the line, watching his peers with a mounting sense of anxiety. Finally, it was his turn.
Inside, the Gu Room was filled with a faint, herbal aroma. Countless Gu worms were displayed in various containers, their collective presence enough to dazzle the eyes. Liu Chen circled the room, his gaze scanning every shelf. He was looking for a Sword Path Gu that would complement his Nameless Sword Path True Inheritance, but to his disappointment, he found none. Time was running out, and he couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.
Reluctantly, Liu Chen selected a Moonlight Gu. The Gu resembled a translucent, crescent shaped jade plaque, emitting a soft, moonlight like glow. As he picked it up, he felt it tremble slightly in his palm before he turned and exited the chamber.
Once everyone had made their choice, the Academy Elder addressed the group. He looked at the energetic young faces and smiled. "You have all chosen a Gu worm; this is your first step. Now, I will give you your first assessment whoever is the first to refine their Vital Gu will be rewarded with twenty Primeval Stones!"
The students erupted into excited chatter. For a group of Rank 1 beginners, twenty primeval stones was a significant fortune, and being the first to succeed would bring immense prestige. Immediately, the apprentices scrambled back toward their dormitories, desperate to begin the refinement process.
Liu Chen followed the crowd out of the academy, but he did not return to his room. Instead, he slipped away from the village and circled around the mountain for a long time before finally returning to the hidden inheritance cave.
Once inside the safety of the Cave, he opened his system inventory. With a thought, the Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider materialized, landing heavily on the cavern floor.
The spider, being a system reward, showed no hostility toward him. Liu Chen stepped forward and pressed his hand against its cold, sturdy carapace. Having successfully refined the Innate Sword Embryo Gu previously, he already possessed significant experience in the art of refinement. He immediately mobilized the green-copper primeval essence within his aperture and began to refine the Rank 5 beast.
Before long, the process was complete. Liu Chen looked at the massive creature, a question forming in his mind: "Can a successfully refined Gu still be stored in the inventory?"
He decided to test it. He carefully selected the spider and commanded it to enter the inventory. To his surprise and delight, it worked even as a refined Vital Gu, the spider could be stored and summoned at will. This meant he could carry Rank 5 combat power with him at all times, hidden from the world.
The Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider was a Rank 5 entity with extraordinary power and speed. What made Liu Chen feel even more fortunate was its dietary requirement: it consumed ordinary dirt, which could be found anywhere. He wouldn't have to spend a single primeval stone to keep it fed.
"Come on, let me try your power!" A glint of cold anticipation flashed in Liu Chen's eyes. He took the spider back into his aperture, preparing to use the crushing aura of a Rank 5 Gu to suppress and refine his other Gu worms with ease.