The location of the Primordial Spring had long been chosen.
Shi Wu brought the Spring Egg Gu and arrived at the destination with Man Duo. Once preparations were complete, he began channeling his True Essence. First, he infused it into the Endurance Gu and the Renewal Gu, then indirectly injected it into the Spring Egg Gu.
The Spring Egg Gu hovered in midair, continuously absorbing True Essence, slowly rising and falling.
Seventeen or eighteen days passed like this. Shi Wu slept only one and a half double-hours each day, seizing every moment for meals and necessary business. Though exhausting, the results were visible.
After continuous infusion of True Essence, the Spring Egg Gu now shimmered with a layer of resplendent, treasure-like radiance.
That day, Man Duo came to inspect again. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but say with gratification, "The work is nearly done. Look—faint cracks are already appearing on the Spring Egg Gu. When it shatters completely, that will be the moment of success. Elder Shi Wu, you have truly labored hard."
"Not at all, not at all," Shi Wu said modestly while continuing to refine the Gu.
His appearance was weary, his body visibly thinned. For a cultivator of his level to forcibly drive a Fifth Transformation Gu was extremely taxing. But having actually done it, this was a meritorious deed.
Man Duo continued, "During the recent Elder Council, my father made special note of this. Everyone has seen the hardship Elder Shi Wu has endured. He asked if you have any needs, and we will do our best to fulfill them."
Shi Wu was deeply moved: "I am humbled. To trouble the Patriarch with such concern—how could I be so brazen as to make further requests? However, I have recently had a question."
"Oh? Please, speak."
"Young Master Man Duo, I've noticed that Red Flame Valley has been growing colder of late. Many of the plants, birds, and beasts nearby have frozen to death."
Man Duo's expression darkened. Red Flame Valley was indeed in trouble—it had been repeatedly raised during recent tribal councils. Investigation revealed that the underground magma supporting the valley had diminished significantly for unknown reasons.
This was completely at odds with historical records for the same period.
Just at the council meeting, Patriarch Man Tu had flown into a rage, demanding everyone come up with a solution. At the same time, they were to keep it as secret as possible to prevent public unrest.
"Elder Shi Wu is at a critical moment in cultivating the Primordial Spring. I'd better not tell him this bad news—if his mind wavers, it could ruin this important task."
With this thought, Man Duo told a few lies, telling Shi Wu to put his mind at ease.
Shi Wu suspected nothing and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. He cried out in alarm, "Oh no—it's Flying Hand Snow!"
Man Duo turned to look and was horrified beyond words. "How could Flying Hand Snow appear in Red Flame Valley?!"
The sky erupted with violent winds. Flakes of snow, shaped like palms, descended throughout the heavens, following the aura of the Fifth Transformation Gu.
"This is bad! Someone, quickly—protect the Spring Egg Gu!" Man Duo shouted, immediately summoning nearby Gu Masters.
But the snow was overwhelming, the wind cut like blades, and the furious might of heaven and earth bore down upon them. After resisting for a while, the group gradually began to falter.
"A Snow Monster!"
"A Snow Monster has appeared!!"
Calamity never comes alone. The wind and snow coalesced into a Snow Monster standing a full two zhang tall.
The Gu Masters' defensive line was quickly breached. In the sky, massive quantities of Flying Hand Snow fused together into an enormous hand. Under the resentful yet helpless gazes of the crowd, the giant snow hand seized the Spring Egg Gu from midair and crushed down upon it with vicious force.
Crack.
With a soft sound, the snow hand collapsed.
The snowflakes scattered to the ground. Inside, the Fifth Transformation Spring Egg Gu was gone.
......
Silver light was serene and hazy, like gauze, spreading across the Wang Ting Blessed Land.
Awooo, awooo...
The Azure Sky Wolf pack raced with abandon, some soaring through the sky, others diving toward the earth.
Although there were dedicated Gu Masters in the Holy Palace to feed them, the wolves were ultimately wild beasts yearning for freedom and the vast heavens and earth—not canaries in a cage.
As their master, Fang Yuan let the wolf pack roam freely. Meanwhile, he spread his eagle wings and slowly circled high above, surveying the land below.
Below was the location of the Diqiu Inheritance.
"'Light hidden within earth, radiance rising ten thousand zhang, roaming a hundred miles through the sky, singing of plum blossoms and snow fragrance'... what exactly does this mean?" Fang Yuan pondered.
Over these past days, he had come to inspect the inheritance site in person every few days.
His instincts told him this Diqiu Inheritance was far from simple.
As for the excuse each time, it was to take the wolves for a run and train the fundamentals of commanding the wolf pack.
But even so, he couldn't linger here too long.
Fang Yuan now held a position of great power and influence, second only to Hei Loulan. Every move he made drew everyone's attention. It was no longer as convenient as before.
This time too, he found nothing. To prevent others from growing suspicious, Fang Yuan had no choice but to leave for the time being.
Granted, with his current status, he could easily have this area enclosed under his personal authority.
But Fang Yuan did not do so.
If this inheritance proved to be of extraordinary value, even with his outstanding strength, others would contest him for it.
After all, without the Juyang bloodline, he needed Hei Loulan's visitor's token just to enter the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
However, he had been dispatching people to keep watch over this place.