Southern Border.
A five-man team of Gu Masters was racing along the road at full speed.
The lead Gu Master had Fourth Transformation cultivation. His features were plain, but his bearing was exceptionally sharp and decisive.
This was none other than Xiao Yan, a Gu Master of the Shang Clan.
Walking Fire Gu.
He was currently activating an Fire Path Gu worm to aid his travel. Each footstep left behind a small trail of flame, painting a long line of fiery footprints along the road.
Behind him followed four Gu Masters, all at the Second Transformation realm, gritting their teeth as they struggled to keep pace.
"Lord Xiao Yan, please rest a while — our True Essence is running low!" one of the Second Transformation Gu Masters called out during the sprint.
"Mm…" Xiao Yan slowed marginally, but continued running without stopping.
This was the wilderness. If a Gu Master lacked sufficient True Essence, the risk of survival would skyrocket. Moreover, Second Transformation Gu Masters were barely qualified to explore the wilds — their ability to stay alive was still sorely lacking.
But at this moment, Xiao Yan had an urgent task on his hands.
"According to the intelligence, if I'm any later, the fire disaster in that mountain village will erupt. I have to get there as quickly as possible!"
"Last time, I was misled by the enemy's false intelligence. I insisted on heading out to search for exotic fire-type Gu materials, only for a crisis to arise at Young Master Shang Xin Ci's location."
"This time, I'm going to give this mission everything I have and make up for my previous failure!"
With this thought, Xiao Yan made his decision. He issued orders immediately: "The four of you rest right here. I'll go on ahead. Once you've recovered, catch up at once."
"Yes, sir!" The four Gu Masters answered in unison.
Xiao Yan's speed surged dramatically, and he vanished into the mountain forests in the blink of an eye.
Several hours later, he arrived at his destination — a small mountain stronghold affiliated with the Shang Clan.
"My lord, you've finally arrived! The stronghold has prepared some humble wine…" The stronghold's master was a Fourth Transformation Gu Master, and he was exceedingly courteous toward Xiao Yan.
But Xiao Yan waved him off at once. "The fire comes first. Let's deal with the crisis."
The stronghold master was delighted. "A wise decision, my lord! Then please, right this way — honestly, I've been beside myself with worry these past days!"
The stronghold master led Xiao Yan to the rear mountain.
There, in a valley hollow, Xiao Yan saw a vast expanse of brilliant white flames blazing fiercely.
"That's it — Light Fire!" Xiao Yan squinted from a distance, his pupils contracting slightly. "This Light Fire is enormous, covering an area of at least two hundred steps across. It's a bit beyond what I can handle alone."
Light Fire was a type of exotic flame, classified as a Fifth Transformation-tier Gu material. According to what Xiao Yan knew, this material could be used to refine Fifth Transformation Light Path or Fire Path Gu worms.
From the perspective of an Immortal Gu Master, the essence was clear: this Light Fire contained traces of both Light Path and Fire Path Dao marks.
"Who would have thought — I searched so hard for exotic fire before and found nothing, yet the moment I accepted this mission, I'd be handed such a massive deposit of Light Fire."
"Young Master Shang Xin Ci deliberately saved this task for me. She truly is benevolent and magnanimous."
"Sigh, this kindness…"
Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, gradually coming to understand Shang Xin Ci's intentions.
He walked slowly toward the Light Fire.
The closer he drew, the more his emotions churned — an inexplicable fury welling up inside him.
This was not unusual.
It was an effect of the Light Fire. The nearer one got to this type of Gu material, the more it stirred wild, baseless anger in living beings.
Xiao Yan tried activating a Fire Path technique, and soon successfully collected a single clump of Light Fire about the size of a washbasin.
He nodded to himself.
His earlier assessment had been correct. This much Light Fire was too much for one person to handle alone, but he could still collect the vast majority of it. On top of that, four more Second Transformation Gu Masters would be arriving shortly. With their full support, this mission could be completed.
But speed was essential.
Light Fire, this particular Gu material, expanded and spread rapidly during the daytime. Fortunately, it was currently night, which kept the Light Fire's scale suppressed.
This was exactly why Xiao Yan had raced here at full speed without a moment's hesitation, even willing to temporarily leave his subordinates behind.
"While they haven't arrived yet, I'll set up some perimeter defenses as a warning system." Xiao Yan got to work immediately, establishing a complete network of alarm formations around the Light Fire.
One could never be too careful.
Besides, collecting this deposit of Heavenly Fire was going to require everything Xiao Yan had.