The sun slowly rose from the east, casting its light over the vast, boundless grasslands of the Northern Plains.
Giant iron-shelled flowers bloomed at a speed visible to the naked eye. From within their chambers, a small pink-skinned rabbit hopped out.
This was a Pollen Rabbit, one of the most common animals on the grassland.
It did not dig burrows, but instead lived in the heart of the iron-shelled flowers. The petals of these flowers were as hard as steel, effectively warding off the attacks of jackals and birds of prey.
The Pollen Rabbit hopped along, pressing its nose to a wildflower. It sniffed first, confirming there was no poison, then swallowed it in one bite.
Suddenly, the Pollen Rabbit's ears twitched, and a strong sense of alarm surged within its heart.
Swish.
Before it could react, an iron-feathered arrow pierced clean through it, killing it on the lush green grass.
Two scout Gu Masters, riding camel wolves, galloped over from the distance.
"Brother, your Iron Feather Arrow Gu simply never misses."
"Sigh, the food back home is getting scarcer and scarcer. I have no choice but to hunt some wild game to keep the family fed."
The two discussed the recent situation of the Ge clan, both looking worried.
Although Fang Yuan had reduced the number of wild wolves, and the dead wolves had been made into jerky, for the enormous Ge clan, this could only barely alleviate the supply-and-demand crisis.
As the clan's provisions grew ever scarcer, the Ge clan members grew increasingly anxious.
The two scout Gu Masters continued onward.
Not long after, the Ge clan's main force also moved into the area like an aging giant beast.
Most of the mortals led Great Stomach Horses. Slightly wealthier families had Curved-horn Rushing Oxen pulling flatbed carts, loaded down with belongings.
The Gu Masters mostly rode atop camel wolves, and since there was no fighting, the wolves' backs were also bound with large quantities of supplies.
Besides these, there were also numerous Lizard House Gu. Like elephants among a herd of deer, they moved forward on their four legs, walking in turns.
Fang Yuan was inside one of the Lizard House Gu, resting with his eyes closed.
Ever since he had subdued such a large pack of wolves, the burden on his soul had been heavy. He had to ensure at least two full hours of sleep every day, and besides that, he needed to rest and recuperate his spirit from time to time.
Being a Slave Path Gu Master was no easy task.
Gu Masters of every school had their glorious side and their strengths. At the same time, they had their drawbacks and their own hardships.
His body rose and fell gently with the Lizard House Gu's stride as Fang Yuan directed his mind into his Empty Orifice.
Inside the Empty Orifice, the surface of the True Gold sea rippled faintly. The crystal walls were bright and clear. At this level, within the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land, he could have already charged toward the Fifth Transformation.
But now, with Fang Yuan in the Northern Plains, his cultivation was temporarily stalled.
He checked on his Gu insects.
His Sixth Transformation Life Gu, the Spring Autumn Cicada, still concealed its form, resting and slumbering at the very center of his Empty Orifice.
Above the sea surface, a wolf-shaped dark cloud hovered. This was the Wolf Smoke Gu, specifically used to heal injuries in wolf packs.
On the surface of the True Essence sea, the Fifth Transformation War Bone Wheel still bore numerous cracks, drifting along with the waves.
The same was true of the Snow Wash Gu. It floated on the surface like a snow-white willow leaf.
As for the Spider Thread Trail Gu, it swam through the True Essence sea like a squid.
On the seafloor, a large number of Wolf-Commanding Gu were stored away — mostly Second Transformation, with fewer Third Transformation, and not a single Fourth Transformation.
In addition, there were two Ten Jun Strength Gu. Fang Yuan had originally purchased five, but had used up three, leaving two.
A Gu insect with a wolf's head and a fish's belly lay at the depths of the seafloor, occasionally stirring a few times.
This was the Wolf Swallow Gu, a Fourth Transformation storage Gu.
Fang Yuan had one more storage Gu. Shaped like a cup, it was the Fifth Transformation Push Cup Change Cup Gu. Of course, its original effect had been only at the Fourth Transformation.
Besides those inside his Empty Orifice, within Fang Yuan's left eye there was a faint double pupil — this was the Wolf Gaze Gu.
Hidden in his throat was the Wolf Howl Gu.
Beneath his tongue resided the Ghost Fire Gu.
On his chest was a blue wolf tattoo, which was in fact the Azure Wolf Fur Gu.
On his back was a pair of eagle wing tattoos — the Third Transformation Eagle Wing Gu.
The Bone Bamboo Gu and Wolf Soul Gu he had previously possessed had all been used up.
On each of his two feet was a Fourth Transformation Wolf Run Gu, used for movement.
The Immortal Gu Immortal-Setting Journey could not go unmentioned — it was currently buried underground in the Rot Poison Grassland.
"Chang Shanyin's set of Gu insects has essentially been inherited by me. Now, with tens of thousands of wolves under my command, I could say I've achieved some minor success in the Slave Path."
But at this level, bullying the weak was feasible, but in a battle against an expert, there were still many deficiencies.
What Slave Path Gu Masters feared most was a decapitation strike. Previously, Fang Yuan had cooperated with the Ge clan, and the opponents had been wolf packs with limited intelligence. But fighting against Gu Masters — that was far more difficult.