Hundreds of Gu Masters advanced on both sides of the giant beetles laden with goods, while some surrounded the Treasure Toads carrying precious and highly sought-after cargo. Mortal humans gathered at the heart of the caravan, rushing back and forth to carry out various orders.
At the front of the caravan stood four Gu Masters whose Rank Three auras surged powerfully. All of them stared at the back of their leader, whose gaze seemed to pierce distance and barriers alike, reaching toward Yan Zu Village.
"Lord Bao Qing Ming, this time we have brought a great deal of high-quality goods suitable for Yan Zu Clan… but I do not understand, my lord—why are we investing so many resources into Yan Zu Clan? It is merely a small clan, and even their clan leader has not reached Rank Four. He is simply not our equal."
The elderly man turned his head and glanced coldly at the elder who had spoken.
"You do not need to understand, as long as the profits continue to flow. All of you must remember this—otherwise, replacing you would be a trivial matter."
The Rank Three elders lowered their heads submissively, suppressing their anger. Even so, some of them remained unconvinced, believing that Bao Qing Ming had no right to act as he pleased and dictate what the caravan carried.
The caravan continued its ascent toward Yan Zu Village, while farmers and mortal humans gathered and followed behind excitedly, shouting and cheering. These moments were the most chaotic and least organized for the caravan.
At this very moment, atop the mountain, Fang Tian poured his crimson steel primeval essence into the Concealment Gu and activated it. An invisible and fragile energy spread out, enveloping him and concealing the aura of a Gu Master. Fang Tian then left his position and blended into the farmers surrounding the caravan, following it like ducklings trailing their mother.
The voices of the villagers rose in excited discussion, drowning out the sounds of the caravan itself.
"Look at that beast! Gu Masters are truly powerful, to be able to subdue such creatures!"
"Ah, I just want to sell my share of Arrow Mountain ginseng stems."
"You're incredibly wealthy to own that much Arrow Mountain ginseng—I estimate you could sell it for six primeval stones!"
The mortals spoke loudly, drawing killing gazes from the Gu Masters. They quickly fell silent, replaced by the low murmurs of uneasy Gu Masters.
"I've worked in the caravan for ten months, yet I still haven't saved enough to buy Green Copper Trace Gu… life is truly hard for a Gu Master with weak Talent."
"Have you heard? Several rare Gu worms were brought this time, all suitable for Yan Zu Clan's needs. My cousin heard from the concubine of the deputy goods manager that there will be nine Rank Three Gu worms displayed in Yan Zu Village, along with dozens of rare Rank Two Gu worms, and even more Rank One Gu worms!"
That Gu Master smiled foolishly as he dreamed of how wonderful it would be to obtain some of those Gu worms. This was life—everyone had dreams and ambitions. Everyone dreamed unrealistic dreams at some point in their lives. Most mortals forgot their unrealistic dreams, while others persevered until they witnessed the end of those dreams.
That was the beauty of life—nothing was certain except heaven and earth. No matter how unrealistic one's dream might be, it would always have a path, so long as one desired it. Thus, every Gu Master pursued a different dream and goal. Some had goals suited to their status and strength, while others dreamed dreams far beyond their weight.
Fang Tian smiled faintly, admiring how his mindset had begun to change since arriving in this world. On Earth, all he had ever wanted was a decent salary, enough surplus to buy simple pleasures, and to marry a beautiful wife if possible—though he would have been content with an ordinary one. He only wanted a single son to carry on his name. Back then, it was true that he dreamed unrealistic dreams, but they had faded with time. Now, it seemed as though those dreams were slowly returning the longer he lived in this world.
"I truly love this world—its beauty, its cruelty, its savagery, and its righteousness… what a fair world, offering opportunities equally to all."
He laughed softly at his own words, drawing curious glances from those around him. Ignoring them, he focused on the village built upon the mountain's terrain, like a beast forged from gray stone, steam rising from the cracks in its rocky body. Within Yan Zu Village, thousands of human figures—Gu Masters and mortals bearing Yan Zu bloodlines—moved about. All of them were heading toward the village's southern gates, where the caravan was ascending.
At the southern gate stood seventeen Rank Three Gu Masters, their silk robes embroidered with silver fluttering in the wind.
Before them stood the elderly elders of Yan Zu Clan, and in front of them was a man in his early thirties, emitting the aura of Rank Three peak stage. His face bore a gentle, calm smile radiating kindness. This was Yan Zu Clan's current leader—a Gu Master at the peak of rank three, and the clan's hope of producing a Rank Four expert.
"Yan Zu Li Bing!"
A powerful human voice rang out from hundreds of meters away, clearly amplified by a Gu worm. Following the voice came a Gu Master whose aura was at the upper stage of Rank Four—the caravan master and leader, Bao Qing Ming.
"I greet Elder Brother Qing Ming!"
Yan Zu Li Bing clasped his fists and bowed toward Bao Qing Ming. The clan elders followed, bowing even deeper under the pressure of Bao Qing Ming's aura.
"Brother Li Bing, I thank the heavens for granting me the chance to meet you once again. As you know, this world is extremely dangerous—even someone of my status could fall at any moment."
"Hahaha, Brother Qing Ming, are you not exaggerating? Someone of your caliber is a dragon among men—how could a dragon fall from the heavens? Still, even dragons need to eat. Why not come inside and talk? I personally prepared several dishes—why not try them? They are recipes passed down from my ancestors."
"Then I shall trouble you with your hospitality, brother. But have you taken care of my caravan? We have only just arrived, and the journey was exhausting."
"No problem, brother…"
Thus ended the verbal sparring between Yan Zu Li Bing and Bao Qing Ming. To outsiders, it seemed like friendly banter between close friends. But what Qing Ming was truly doing was pressuring Yan Zu Clan with his cultivation level, attempting to extort them. However, Yan Zu Li Bing did not yield, instead proposing a simple compromise—"Why not take this discussion inside?"
And so, the elders of Yan Zu Clan followed their leader, while the caravan master Qing Ming walked beside him, chatting and laughing.
The caravan settled outside Yan Zu Village's walls. Tents and huts formed from Gu worms stretched everywhere, while tall torches illuminated the night roads. The clamor of mortals and Gu Masters rose as they argued fiercely with unscrupulous vendors.
Amidst all the noise stood a small mountain of dry clay soil, thirty meters tall. Numerous cavities had formed along its cracks, light spilling from within, allowing outsiders to glimpse the bustling scenes inside. This was a Rank Four Gu House—Flowing Mud Mountain Gu.
Inside the clay mountain, Gu worms were sold and traded through public bidding, though the mountain had not yet been fully prepared for the caravan to begin official Gu sales.
Fang Tian moved about with intense curiosity, like a monkey, drawing the attention of a few observers. It was rare to see a Rank Two Gu Master behaving so childishly, with no regard for his status.
"Oh, honored sir, would you like a cup of sweet wine? This wine is brewed from spirit spring water and colorful Sky Grapes—you must try it! Two primeval stone per cup!"
A young female Gu Master in her twenties spoke up. She was only Rank One, but possessed somewhat pleasing features—a small nose, delicate cheeks, and a slightly long face that made her beauty stand out. Her physique, however, was more striking than her face. Her skin was purple, likely due to poison or a Gu worm aiding her cultivation.
Fang Tian did not refuse. He stepped forward and sat on a beetle used as a seat. Though slightly uncomfortable, it was surprisingly pleasant. The female Gu Master poured him a cup of wine and took the initiative to speak.
"It seems young master has excellent Talent. You look only sixteen, yet you are already Rank Two—at the middle stage, no less."
She sighed regretfully, then cast a seductive gaze at Fang Tian.
"Young master must have an elder backing you. What do you say, sir—help this servant, and I will be yours… I was injured on our way to the mountain. Poison Mist Hyenas attacked us, and I was struck by a Hundred Beast King. Since then, the poison has been gnawing at my body."
Fang Tian's smile turned slightly cold. He had already guessed the nature of this Gu gambling scheme.
"She wants to seduce a naive young master to gain the support of the elder behind him. How cliché. Why does everyone always think of such stupid solutions?"
Still, Fang Tian was not harsh. He reached out, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said calmly:
"As you know, there is a price for everything. And the price rises as long as you keep asking without making an offer."
The female Gu Master flinched slightly, but did not retreat. Instead, she nodded boldly.
"What a daring girl. She knows she will die without immediate help, so she gambles on any possible plan."
Fang Tian's heart softened slightly. With a light flick of his hand, dozens—perhaps hundreds—of tiny, semi-illusory leaves formed, sinking into the woman's body and purifying her from within.
After reaching Rank Two, Fang Tian could finally fully unleash the effects of Sprouting Bud Gu without any drawbacks. Combined with the natural amplification of his Boundless Forest samsara Extreme Physique, he produced a healing effect rivaling Rank Three Gu worms!.
The purple hue faded from the woman's skin, causing her to gasp in joy and astonishment. After a minute, her injuries were completely healed, and she looked remarkably beautiful.
Fang Tian did not linger. He stepped past the crowd that had gathered upon seeing the illusory leaves cover her body, slipped into a nearby corner, and donned a veil to conceal his face.
Then he emerged and headed toward the center of the tents and markets—toward the clay mountain.