Chapter 350

Chapter 350: Refining the Gu

Ordinary Gu Masters would typically grind materials first before modifying the Gu insect.

But Zhou Luo, possessing the mental strength of the Foundation Establishment stage, had no need for such steps; he could multitask, grinding materials while simultaneously probing the Gu insect with his mental strength.

Under the coverage of Zhou Luo’s mental strength, the internal structure of that brown Gu insect was revealed with absolute clarity.

Such primal Gu insects, or rather poisonous insects, often possessed very simple internal structures devoid of significant power.

This made it far easier for the Gu Master to alter their internals.

Yet the more powerful the primal Gu insect, the more intricate its internals became, and the mightier its inherent abilities grew.

A Gu insect refined from such a primal Gu insect would far surpass others.

After a short while, that pile of materials had been ground into a medicinal liquid.

Zhou Luo began guiding that medicinal liquid to seep into the Gu insect’s body to initiate refinement.

Enveloped by mental strength, the Gu insect dared not move a muscle. It lay utterly motionless, allowing the medicinal liquid to wrap around it as a faint glow shimmered across its entire body.

Within the radiance, the force within the medicinal liquid began to flow into its interior.

With a composed expression, Zhou Luo guided those energies after they entered, directing them to flow through the Gu insect’s internals to begin reshaping and reconstructing it.

This process was the most critical. Any distraction causing an error would mean all previous effort was wasted.

Inside the Gu insect, a dense brilliance now surged forth. Within this brilliance, the medicinal liquid began to moisten and temper it along its bloodstream and meridians.

Streaks of light interwove within it, slowly being soaked through with fresh blood, and ultimately becoming part of the Gu insect itself.

The arrangement of these light streaks was highly meticulous, all composed of purified mana, making them exceptionally clear and bright.

Under these circumstances, Zhou Luo exhibited immense patience.

He painstakingly wove each streak of light together, fusing them with the Gu insect’s internal flesh and blood.

Within these streaks, the medicinal liquid also exerted significant influence, continuously altering the Gu insect’s body.

Approximately half an hour passed this way before the internal modification of the Gu insect was finally complete.

After its completion, the brown Gu insect’s color deepened, turning nearly black.

It lay motionless, appearing as if already dead.

Following the modification of the Gu insect, the next indispensable step was imparting it with one’s own power.

Only then could this Gu insect serve its Master.

For another to command this Gu insect, they would first need to erase this power.

Imparting power, too, required careful consideration.

Some designed Gu insects specifically to be given to others, so the power resided near the surface and could be easily erased.

Others might treat it as a lifebound Gu, never to be surrendered lightly. For these, the power infusion included added seals.

Thus, if someone tried to erase the power, they would trigger the seals and destroy the entire Gu insect.

Zhou Luo belonged to the first category, so he effortlessly imparted his power into it.

Only after receiving power did the black Gu insect gradually regain vitality, its limbs beginning to stir.

At this moment, this Gu insect was finally refined.

Truthfully, the steps for refining a Gu insect weren’t difficult.

What was difficult was mastering the control of technique intricacies.

This was also why Yao Wu’s progress had been slow without guidance.

Many techniques were insights dawned upon Gu Masters only after countless refinements. Without someone passing down these insights, others hoping to grasp them could only rely on relentless day-and-night practice.

Sometimes, if the practice went in the wrong direction, one might very well waste all the effort spent before.

Storing this Gu insect away, Zhou Luo felt assured and planned to find some time to refine the Heartfelt Gu.

After giving a few instructions, he therefore left Zhou Fu to search for the materials required for the Heartfelt Gu.

He arrived at the inner city. As the largest city in the Qinyuan Domain, its prosperity was arguably the highest.

He headed straight for the commercial district partnered with Tian Xia Restaurant.

Even before getting close, he saw numerous bustling shops built together in an orderly fashion.

The largest among them stood a full eight stories high.

The massive pavilion occupied an extremely broad area, carved with various motifs, appearing splendid and magnificent while emanating an imposing aura.

The entire pavilion was enveloped by a first-class top-grade formation, shimmering with a hazy glow.

Cultivators streamed in and out at the entrance, a very lively scene.

Above hung an eye-catching plaque.

The plaque was crafted from golden-threaded nanmu, with three large characters elegantly written upon it in jade fluid.

"Tian Xia Pavilion!"

Especially the two characters "Tian" and "Xia", carved by a specialized calligraphy master, were majestic and inspiring.

Zhou Luo walked over calmly.

As soon as he reached the entrance, a guard recognized him.

"Master Manager!"

The guard bowed deeply, his demeanor respectful and submissive, not daring to show the slightest impropriety.

He was a man arranged by Wang Lang, nominally belonging to Tian Xia Pavilion, but actually a member of Yao Yuan Pavilion; hence, he addressed Zhou Luo as Master Manager.

"Where’s Wang Lang?" Zhou Luo asked.

"Master Manager, Manager Wang should be on the fifth floor. I’ll have someone notify him immediately," the man replied with utmost deference.

"No need."

Zhou Luo glanced at the main hall on the first floor, stepped inside, and vanished from sight in an instant.

A moment later, he arrived on the fifth floor.

The fifth floor had an exhibition hall where only a few cultivators browsed the displayed rare and precious treasures.

Behind the hall stood a quaint, old-fashioned room, its doorway marked by a pale red lantern.

As he approached the door, it swung open automatically.

Wang Lang, who had been studying jade slips inside, looked up in surprise upon seeing the visitor and hastily stood up.

"Master Manager, what brings you here?"

Wang Lang welcomed him delightedly, gesturing toward a large, comfortable chair.

Once Zhou Luo was seated, he brewed a cup of superior spirit tea and respectfully offered it.

Taking the spirit tea, Zhou Luo glanced at the jade slips on the nearby table and asked, "Are those the account books?"

He noticed the characters "Yao Yuan" seemed to be on one of the jade slips.

"That’s correct, Master Manager. Business on both sides has been exceptionally booming lately, especially at Yao Yuan Pavilion, where we’re even starting to run low on manpower." Wang Lang rubbed his hands, standing half-bowed beside him, not daring to take a seat.

Though he had once been a carefree and unrestrained man, the gap in status between him and Zhou Luo had grown into an unbridgeable chasm over time.

"Business is still this hot?" Zhou Luo sounded skeptical.

Yao Yuan Pavilion had been open in Immortal City for over a decade; he hadn’t expected business to still be this good.

"Master Manager, it’s because an ancient site was recently opened in the Longfeng Mountain range," Wang Lang answered honestly.

Hearing these words, Zhou Luo raised an eyebrow, contemplated silently for a moment, and murmured, "An ancient site opened?"

The Longfeng Mountain range was the location of the ruins of the ancient Ancient Hehuan Sect, existing for over a thousand years. In theory, everything worth exploiting should have been unearthed long ago.

Wang Lang’s lips moved slightly as he began slowly.

"This matter… will take some time to explain…"