In the Empty Orifice, tides rose and fell ceaselessly, continuously washing against the surrounding orifice walls.
The tide was a brilliant emerald, its waves churning without end. This was First Transformation, Initial Stage True Essence.
A First Transformation Gu Master possessed Bronze True Essence — emerald at the Initial Stage, dark green at the Middle Stage, deep green at the High Stage, and ink-green at the Peak Stage.
The surrounding orifice walls gleamed with bright light, and under the wash of the emerald tide, their foundation deepened bit by bit.
Suddenly, the white radiance flared brilliantly, then immediately dimmed. The white light condensed together, forming water-like ripples of luminescence.
In this moment, the Light Film of the orifice walls had deepened into a Water Film.
"Done. Finally advanced from First Transformation Initial Stage to the Middle Stage." A faint joy welled up in Fang Yuan's heart.
An Initial Stage Gu Master's Empty Orifice had walls of Light Film; at the Middle Stage, they became Water Film.
With the Water Film formed, it meant Fang Yuan's cultivation had returned to First Transformation, Middle Stage.
"It's been over twenty days since I killed that Demonic Path female Gu Master. During this time, I've cultivated day and night without rest, wasting not a single moment. Advancing to the Middle Stage is hardly surprising." Fang Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
"What a pity. If I had a Wine Worm on hand, the speed would be even faster."
A Wine Worm could elevate a First Transformation Gu Master's True Essence by one minor level. Using a Wine Worm to assist cultivation could achieve results with half the effort.
Since Fang Yuan's rebirth — excluding the Spring Autumn Cicada — the first thing he had obtained was a Wine Worm.
However, he later acquired another one from the merchant caravan and combined-refined the two into the current Four Flavor Wine Worm.
Unfortunately, the Four Flavor Wine Worm was only effective for Second Transformation Gu Masters and offered no help to Fang Yuan in his current state.
In fact, Fang Yuan had obtained a total of three Wine Worms on Qing Mao Mountain. The third was the spoils of war from killing Gu Yue Yaole.
This Wine Worm had been kept in Fang Yuan's possession until the Tie father and daughter's sudden arrival on Qing Mao Mountain. To prevent exposure and fearing Tie Xue Leng's investigative methods, he proactively destroyed the Wine Worm along with some other spoils of war.
What was done was done. Whether this decision was right or wrong, once Fang Yuan had made it, he never harbored any regrets.
Though now, if he had kept the Wine Worm, it would certainly be of help to him. But at least, throughout the entire process, the Tie father and daughter had truly never uncovered the matter of Gu Yue Yaole.
"If I reverse-refined the Four Flavor Wine Worm, I could obtain a First Transformation Wine Worm. Unfortunately, the conditions for reverse refinement are numerous, and I don't meet them yet."
Gu Masters raised Gu, used Gu, and refined Gu. Refining Gu was broadly divided into two aspects: combined refinement and reverse refinement.
Combined refinement was the process of promoting lower-Transformation Gu into higher-Transformation ones. Reverse refinement was the exact opposite.
There were many methods to reverse-refine the Four Flavor Wine Worm. One could use a Wave Gu, which would yield two First Transformation Wine Worms. Or a Sudden Realization Gu, though this method would produce only one Wine Worm. Using a Butterfly Transformation Gu would yield an Ethereal Mist Butterfly. With an Unpredictable Gu, the resulting Gu would be uncertain — it might even be an entirely new species.
For Fang Yuan, the best option was, of course, to obtain a Wave Gu.
But a Wave Gu was far more precious than a Wine Worm, and acquiring one was far too difficult. The most practical option was still the Sudden Realization Gu.
Using a Sudden Realization Gu would mean losing one Wine Worm. But Fang Yuan would choose to do so without hesitation.
Keeping the Four Flavor Wine Worm for when he reached Second Transformation — that was the move under stable circumstances. Now, with Fang Yuan's precarious existence and wandering life, survival was the absolute priority.
And the faster his cultivation advanced, the higher his chances of survival.
Squeak, squeak, squeak……
From outside the mountain cave came the cries of monkeys and the sound of footsteps.
Fang Yuan's ears twitched — he knew these footsteps better than anyone.
Sure enough, it was not long before Bai Ningbing appeared before Fang Yuan.
She was covered head to toe in a coat of thorns. This peculiar garment was composed entirely of verdant vines and sharp black wooden spikes, providing Bai Ningbing with defensive capabilities while also serving as a means of attack.
For those who fought hand-to-hand, these wooden spikes — as hard as steel — would leave a lasting impression.
This thorn coat was none other than the Iron Thorn Bramble Gu transformed.
After Bai Ningbing killed that Demonic Path female Gu Master, she had taken a fancy to this Third Transformation Grass Gu. She claimed it and refined it into her Life Gu.
"What a bother. Every time I go in and out of this cave, I have to be so careful. That Scorching Thunder Potato Gu of yours — can you plant fewer of them?" she grumbled while staring at her feet, sometimes leaping, sometimes striding, carefully avoiding certain spots.
"Better safe than sorry. Prevent trouble before it happens." Fang Yuan replied mildly, then turned his gaze to Bai Ningbing's waist.
Hanging from her waist was a string of monkeys.
These monkeys were diminutive in size, the largest no longer than a forearm. They had round little heads, their bodies covered in fine, dense black fur that gleamed with a dark luster. Most notably, each of them grew leaves around its waist.
These green leaves formed a ring, connected together, covering the monkeys' hips and rear ends. They looked exactly like grass skirts.
These monkeys, naturally, were the Grass-skirt Monkeys.
Grass-skirt Monkeys were delicious, and these past days, both Bai Ningbing and Fang Yuan had been eating them.
These captured Grass-skirt Monkeys also realized what awaited them. They struggled desperately, but it was to no avail.
The entire cave echoed with their shrill, panicked cries.
Judging by the time, it was lunchtime.
"Roast them up. I'm getting hungry." Bai Ningbing patted her belly and tossed the Grass-skirt Monkeys — strung together with hemp rope — onto the ground.