After several rounds of back-and-forth, both sides argued without stopping. In the end, the Zhang Family set their limit at two million primeval stones.
After hearing this, Lin Yan felt it was reasonable. A mid-sized Family usually only held around one million primeval stones in liquid reserves.
It was still possible to squeeze more—three million, even four million—but that would require pressure and threats. If handled poorly, it could force the Zhang Family into a desperate fight.
In the Western Desert, with endless sand and long travel distances, large-scale expeditions were difficult. Sending too few people would not be enough to suppress them, while sending too many would bring heavy losses.
So the price was set at two million primeval stones. All Gu, Gu recipes, and materials were calculated at market value. This did not include the Yellow Golden Relic Gu or the feeding method for the Rank 5 Six-Armed Heavenly God Gu.
At the same time, the Zhang Family promised they would not use this matter to trouble Lin Yan again. Both sides signed a vow Gu, showing clear sincerity.
As for Lin Yan, he calmly refined a Gu of Broken Promises afterward, ensuring the vow would not bind him.
A righteous path Rank 5 Gu Master usually had a net worth of around two million primeval stones. This level of resources was enough to support a rising talent all the way to Rank 5.
Lin Yan first requested several sets of materials for standard refinement, worth about five thousand primeval stones. After that, he asked the Zhang Family to gather all the Relic Gu within their Family.
A few days later, the Zhang Family delivered the items. There were six White Silver Relic Gu, worth three hundred thousand in total. They explained that the remaining Red Steel Relic Gu and Green Copper Relic Gu were too scattered and would take more time to collect.
Lin Yan nodded, satisfied. With twelve White Silver Relic Gu in hand, he could combine and refine them into four Yellow Golden Relic Gu.
He couldn't have too many Relic Gu. After reaching Rank 5, advancing to peak would require three Purple Crystal Relic Gu.
If he had extra, he could either pass them to trusted people or sell them at a higher price. Because of this, Lin Yan not only demanded Relic Gu from the Zhang Family, but also issued a long-term task in the Family Gu chamber to collect Relic Gu of all ranks.
The Family found it strange, but no one questioned him. With his current strength and status, he no longer needed to explain his actions.
Inside the quiet room, Lin Yan sat in front of a blazing fire. Flames rose and shifted, forming the image of a noble phoenix. Its crimson wings shone the brightest, almost real.
With a single thought, Lin Yan activated Burning Wind Gu. A strong gale swept forward, feeding the flames.
A sharp cry rang out. The phoenix shape within the fire rose into the air. When it descended, it had already condensed into a slender crimson Gu, with wing patterns on its back.
After seven or eight failures, the Flame Sparrow Wing Gu was finally refined. A large amount of understanding flowed into Lin Yan's mind. He calmly accepted it, strengthening his Refinement Path Master attainment.
Without delay, he activated Flame Sparrow Wing Gu and attached it to his back. Intense pain spread as his muscles tore and reshaped.
A pair of crimson wings several zhang long spread out behind Lin Yan, their edges lined with shifting phantom feathers, golden patterns woven through them, shining like flowing firelight under the sun.
To stay cautious, Lin Yan entered the dream realm to attempt his first flight, but the moment he rose into the air, he lost control of his direction and crashed straight down, his body slamming into the ground.
He did not turn into a pulp thanks to his glass flame bone, but his bones were still fractured in several places, and his organs were shaken badly, pain spreading through his entire body.
"Sigh… I really need to train properly."
Lin Yan immersed himself in the dream realm, practicing again and again, adjusting his balance, control, and movement, while occasional flashes of insight pointed out the key mistakes he had overlooked.
Half a year passed in reality in what felt like a moment, and within the dream realm, Lin Yan now stood high in the sky, his Flame Sparrow Wings spread wide, steady and controlled, no longer showing the earlier instability.
Below him, dozens of phantom Gu Masters appeared, activating their Gu one after another, streams of fire, jets of water, and sharp golden needles rising toward him, filling the sky with attacks.
In mid-air, Zhang Bai, transformed into a giant bird, looked down with a cold gaze. Nets fell from above, appearing without warning and sealing off every direction around Lin Yan, surrounding him completely. Yet his expression did not change.
Suddenly, Lin Yan moved. His body shifted lightly, like a shadow slipping through cracks, weaving through the dense attacks without touching a single one. Every movement was precise and perfectly timed, calm and effortless—this was Master-level flight.
He had trained for half a year in reality which equals to ten years in the dream realm. According to the novel, flying Gu required two to three years just for basic travel, and at least five years before it could be used in real combat. Without that foundation, any mistake in the air would be fatal.
Yet he reached Master attainment in ten years. The Dream Derivation Gu played a key role, helping him correct mistakes and refine his control again and again.
Lin Yan slowly descended and landed. His body felt heavy, and deep exhaustion spread through him. Ten years of repeated training had nearly worn down his patience. If not for Clear Mind Gu maintaining his clarity, he would have long lost control of his emotions and grown restless.
Even so, he did not regret it. Flight was a necessary skill for a Gu Immortal. No matter how much time it required, it was worth it.