Night fell over Qing Mao Mountain.
The moon rose like a silver disk, casting its pale glow across the forest. The air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. In the shadows, crickets chirped softly, and the occasional hoot of an owl broke the silence.
Fang Yuan slipped out of Gu Yue Village unnoticed. He wore a simple cloth sack over his shoulder, containing a few dried sweet potatoes and a flint. His steps were light and swift, far more agile than an ordinary thirteen-year-old's.
Five hundred years of experience had honed his body and mind to perfection. Even in his weakened, youthful state, his senses and movements were already superior to those of the adults around him.
He headed for the western cliff of the village, a place where moonlight streamed down unobstructed, and the rocks were warm from the day's sun—ideal territory for Moonlight Gu.
Moonlight Gu was a small, white Gu worm, about the size of a thumb, shaped like a tiny cicada. It fed on moonlight, hiding in crevices or clinging to leaves during the day, emerging only at night to absorb the lunar energy.
It was a Rank 1 Gu, weak in itself, but it was the foundation of all cultivation for beginners.
"These days, Moonlight Gu is quite abundant on the western cliff," Fang Yuan muttered to himself as he walked. "In my previous life, I caught three in one night. But this time… I'll be satisfied with just one."
He had no need for more. His priority was to stabilize his foundation and become a Rank 1 Gu Master as quickly as possible. Extra Gu worms would only attract attention.
As he reached the cliff, Fang Yuan slowed his pace. He scanned the area carefully, his eyes sharp from years of hunting and fighting.
There!
A flash of white flitted across a moonlit rock.
Moonlight Gu.
Fang Yuan held his breath. He did not rush. In his previous life, he had learned that capturing Moonlight Gu required patience and precision. A wrong move would scare the Gu away, and it might not appear again for several days.
He moved slowly, step by step, circling the rock until he stood directly beneath it. The white Gu worm was clinging to the underside of a ledge, its body glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Now.
Fang Yuan struck with lightning speed.
His right hand shot out, fingers closed into a precise claw. He did not grab directly—instead, he hooked the Gu worm with his fingernail, using a technique he had perfected over five centuries.
The Gu worm twitched, trying to escape, but Fang Yuan's grip was unshakable. He curled his fingers inward, gently pinching the small creature between his thumb and forefinger.
"Got it."
A sense of satisfaction surged in his chest. This was the first step toward his new life. The first Gu worm. The first step to becoming a Gu Master.
He carefully placed the Moonlight Gu into a small clay pot he had brought with him—an ordinary container used to keep Gu worms safe. The pot was lined with soft moss, which helped soothe the Gu and prevent it from becoming stressed.
But capturing the Gu was only half the battle. The other half was refining it.
Refinement was the process by which a Gu Master merged their consciousness with the Gu worm, forming a bond. Only after successful refinement could the Gu be controlled and its power harnessed.
Refinement was dangerous. A careless mind, a moment of hesitation, or even the wrong attitude could cause the Gu to reject the host, leading to severe backlash—headaches, internal damage, or even madness.
But for Fang Yuan, this was a routine he had performed countless times.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, the clay pot resting on his lap. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed his mind.
Five hundred years of experience meant he knew exactly how to approach refinement. He visualized the Moonlight Gu, its shape, its energy, its nature. He let his consciousness flow toward it like a gentle stream.
The Gu worm inside the pot stirred, its tiny legs scratching against the clay. It emitted a soft, silver light, as if resisting.
"Be still." Fang Yuan's voice was quiet, steady. "You are mine now."
His consciousness merged with the Gu. A faint tickle traveled up his arm, a sign that the bond was forming.
The Moonlight Gu trembled. Its silver light flickered, then steadied.
Success.
The refinement was complete.
A clear connection had formed between Fang Yuan and the Moonlight Gu. He could feel its presence—a small, gentle, silver energy. It was like a tiny flame, warm and delicate.
Now, all he needed to do was open his Hollow Aperture and circulate his True Yuan to activate it.
Fang Yuan opened his eyes. He raised his hand, and the Moonlight Gu flew out of the pot, hovering in the air above his palm. It glowed brightly, bathing his hand in silver light.
He focused his mind. True Yuan, which had been accumulating in his body since the Awakening Ceremony, surged from his Hollow Aperture.
The True Yuan flowed through his meridians, reaching his hand, and merged with the Moonlight Gu.
The Gu worm let out a soft, silvery hum.
A beam of silver light shot out from the Gu, hitting a nearby tree trunk. The tree shook, and a small patch of bark was charred black.
It was weak, but it worked.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly.
"I am a Rank 1 Gu Master."
It was a simple moment, a simple achievement. But to him, it was the culmination of five hundred years of longing, of failure, of rebirth.
He tucked the Moonlight Gu back into the clay pot and stood.
The night was still young.
He had much to do.
First, he needed to return to the village before dawn. Second, he had to find a way to increase his True Yuan reserves. Third, he had to plan his next move—gaining more resources, finding hidden opportunities, and slowly building his power.
Beneath the moonlight, Fang Yuan's figure disappeared into the shadows.
No one in Gu Yue Village knew that that night, a boy who everyone thought was merely B-grade had become a Gu Master.
No one knew that the calm before the storm had settled over Qing Mao Mountain.
And no one knew that the path of the demonic, which had once shaken the world, was being quietly reborn.