The icy winds of the Northern Plains were now a distant memory as Hui Jian crossed into the Central Continent. His mind was filled with the echoes of the past months—the relentless struggles, the beastman battles, and the final abandonment of the camp. He knew he had escaped a death trap, yet, in the heart of the Central Continent, a new game of survival had begun.
The landscape here was starkly different. Where the Northern Plains had been a desolate tundra of frozen death, the Central Continent was a realm of sprawling mountains, dense forests, and fertile lands teeming with life. But it was also a land filled with hidden dangers. Gu Masters of far greater power than anything he had faced lurked in every corner. The risks here were different but no less lethal. Here, strength was not merely in brute force but in politics, strategy, and control of resources.
As Hui Jian walked, he thought of Ren Zu's child, Central Earth Essence. The old stories from the Legends of Ren Zu often served as guiding metaphors in his mind. In the legend, Ren Zu had been lost, wandering through a chaotic world, until his child Central Earth Essence taught him the value of grounding oneself. Strength came not only from power but from stability. This stability allowed one to grow roots, to draw from the earth beneath, and become unshakable.
In this foreign land, Hui Jian knew he needed to find his own "earth." Something stable. His thoughts drifted to the Mind Flower Gu still nestled within his aperture. This Gu held his future, his power. But it was not yet his to command fully, not until he refined it into his vital Gu. In this foreign land, his strength would come from subtlety, from careful cultivation and quiet but persistent growth.
He had no delusions about the Central Continent. The Gu Masters here were leagues above those of the Northern Plains, and the aura of the land suppressed his Beast Strength Gu and others he had brought with him. This regional suppression was a subtle but constant reminder that he needed to evolve, adapt. His Gu from the Northern Plains, powerful though they were in their homeland, were diminished here.
As Hui Jian arrived in a bustling city, he kept his cloak drawn tightly around him, blending into the flow of travelers, merchants, and Gu Masters who passed through the streets. Every face was a potential enemy, every alley a trap. But there was something else that pulled at him—resources. In the Central Continent, he needed materials to refine his Gu, especially the Mind Flower Gu, and to feed the others. Without proper nourishment, his Gu would die, and with them, his strength.
The marketplace was a chaotic jumble of stalls and merchants, each peddling wares of dubious origin. It was not an easy place to find the exact materials he needed, but his sharp eyes and ears were attuned to any clues. The Mind Flower Gu would need unique refinement materials, and the price for even basic resources was exorbitant here. Even the most common items were valued at far more than in the Northern Plains. Hui Jian silently cursed the inflated prices but knew he had no choice. He would need to gather wealth or find less-desired materials that could serve his purposes.
While navigating the market, he overheard talk of a hidden underground auction. It was a place where powerful Gu, rare materials, and valuable artifacts were sold—things that could shift the balance of power in a Gu Master's cultivation. But attending such an event was not easy. Only the most established sects, powerful merchants, and notable Gu Masters were invited. Small players like him would have to either buy their way in, sneak in, or—his preferred option—manipulate the system.
Hui Jian kept his identity hidden, adopting the alias Wei Liang, as he moved through the city. His eyes scanned the people around him, always careful to keep a low profile. He had perfected the art of staying unnoticed, a skill that had served him well in the treacherous Northern Plains. It wasn't long before he found out about a lesser-known group, the Blue Lotus Sect, whose members had suffered losses recently. Their reduced numbers meant they were in need of extra muscle to guard their sect during the auction.
Hui Jian saw his opening. The Blue Lotus Sect wasn't a particularly powerful group, but they had just enough influence to secure seats at the auction. With subtlety, Hui Jian approached them under his new alias and, with just the right amount of charm, offered his services as a wandering Gu Master. He showcased his strength—not enough to appear threatening, but enough to be useful. His Beast Strength Gu, though somewhat weakened in the Central Continent, was still potent enough to impress them.
"Your strength is admirable," Mu Xuan, the leader of the Blue Lotus Sect, said, eyeing Hui Jian critically. "We could use someone like you for protection. But understand this, betrayal will not be tolerated."
Hui Jian bowed respectfully. "I understand, sect leader. I only wish to help, and in return, perhaps learn more about the ways of cultivation here in the Central Continent."
Mu Xuan nodded, satisfied for now, and offered him a place as a temporary guard for the sect during the auction. Hui Jian accepted the role without hesitation. His mind was already working on how to use this arrangement to his advantage.
While the Blue Lotus Sect prepared for the auction, Hui Jian gathered more materials from the marketplace. He sought out lesser-wanted resources—those that didn't catch the eyes of more powerful Gu Masters but were still valuable for his refinement process. Quietly, he secured enough to feed his Gu and begin preparations for future refinement attempts. These materials weren't glamorous, but they were the first step on a much longer path. He also paid close attention to those around him, noting the interactions of the more powerful players in the city.
One night, as he returned to his temporary lodgings, Hui Jian couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. His instincts, honed in the North, told him that eyes were upon him. Conversations in the marketplace had hinted at the presence of powerful Gu Masters who were always looking for potential allies or dangerous rivals. Hui Jian kept his movements careful and deliberate, giving nothing away. The Central Continent was a land filled with hidden dangers, and while he kept his enemies at bay, he knew it was only a matter of time before someone took notice of him.
As the auction drew closer, Hui Jian reflected on his immediate future. His ultimate goal was still far off—the refinement of the Mind Flower Gu into his vital Gu—but each step brought him closer. Once he had that power fully under his control, he would have a tool that would allow him to manipulate the battlefield and the minds of his enemies. But first, he needed stability.
He stood at the window of his lodgings, looking out over the bustling city. The stakes were higher now, but so were the rewards. The auction was just the beginning.
In the shadows of the Central Continent, Hui Jian was slowly taking root, preparing to grow stronger, silently waiting for the right moment to strike.