The shadows of Lanternrock always felt different to Hui Jian. They weren't just places to hide; they were places to grow, places where ambition festered unseen. As the city's political landscape teetered on the edge of collapse, Hui Jian knew his survival would no longer rely solely on cunning, but on tangible strength—strength that came from the power of his Gu worms.
His recent encounters with the Jade Fist Clan and Red River Sect had reinforced one undeniable truth: he was rising too quickly, and his enemies were starting to notice. The whispers about his growing influence had reached him from different sources, suggesting that both sides were beginning to grow suspicious of his intentions. Worse, a new player—Yan Hao, a Rank 5 Gu Master—had arrived in Lanternrock, and with his presence came a suffocating sense of danger.
Hui Jian had to act, but not openly. He needed to increase his strength without drawing too much attention, and that meant refining his Gu worms. He couldn't afford to remain stagnant any longer. The Beast Strength Gu and Wind Stepping Gu had served him well in the past, but they were still too weak for what was to come. As powerful as his scheming had been, sooner or later, he would be forced into direct combat, and in that arena, strategy alone was never enough.
His mind turned inward as he made his way back to his secret hideout, a place far removed from the bustling streets of Lanternrock. It was an abandoned storeroom beneath the city's old district, hidden behind crumbling walls and unused passages. No one ever ventured down there—no one except for him. It was the perfect place for the delicate work he was about to undertake.
The Mind Flower Gu pulsed in his aperture, its influence ever-present, feeding his thoughts with clarity and depth. Its true power was still far from being fully realized, but even now, it allowed him to see the complex web of opportunities and dangers surrounding him. More importantly, it helped him visualize the intricate process of Gu refinement in his mind, calculating probabilities, analyzing material interactions, and outlining possible outcomes.
Before he could begin, however, he needed to gather the necessary materials. Refining a Gu was no simple task—it required the right ingredients, immense focus, and a significant amount of primeval essence. The Beast Strength Gu, in particular, demanded rare strengthening materials, and every step of the process would have to be precise. A mistake could cost him not just the materials but the Gu worm itself.
Sitting cross-legged in the dim light of his hideout, Hui Jian reviewed the resources he had gathered over the past few days. His once-abundant store of primeval stones had dwindled alarmingly. His recent manipulations had yielded some returns, but not enough to support sustained refinements. Still, he had enough to attempt the rank-up for both the Beast Strength Gu and Wind Stepping Gu—if he was careful. He couldn't afford many failures.
The markets had been useful, though dangerous. Every time he ventured out to buy materials, he had to be cautious. His face was becoming too well-known in Lanternrock, especially after his involvement with the Whispering Shade and other underground players. He couldn't risk exposing himself to the wrong eyes. That was why he had relied on a network of intermediaries—men and women whose loyalty was bought with primeval stones and favors. For now, they served him well.
His fingers brushed over the pouch of refinement materials at his side: Violet Iron Dust, Fang Leaves, and a small vial of Fire Essence. Each piece had cost him dearly, and every grain of material carried the risk of being wasted if he failed. But failure wasn't an option. The risk was worth it. His life in Lanternrock, his rise to power, depended on it.
He began with the Beast Strength Gu. Setting the materials in front of him, Hui Jian calmed his breathing, focusing his primeval essence as it swirled within his aperture. He placed the Gu worm in the center of a small formation he had carefully etched into the ground earlier. This was an ancient formation, designed to channel energy and stabilize the refinement process, something he had learned in passing but had never fully mastered.
The Mind Flower Gu stirred in his aperture, and his thoughts sharpened. He visualized the process as clearly as if he had already succeeded, each step unfolding in his mind. There were countless ways a refinement could fail—the materials might not react as intended, or the Gu itself could resist the transformation. Hui Jian knew that even with the Mind Flower Gu, nothing was guaranteed.
He carefully sprinkled the Violet Iron Dust over the Beast Strength Gu, watching as the fine powder shimmered in the dim light. It was a temperamental material, known for its volatile reactions, but necessary for reinforcing the Gu's strength. Next, he applied the Fang Leaves, their jagged edges curling slightly in the presence of his primeval essence. Lastly, the Fire Essence—a glowing droplet that hissed as it touched the formation, sending a wave of heat through the air.
Hui Jian's eyes narrowed as he poured his primeval essence into the formation, controlling the flow with painstaking precision. The Beast Strength Gu trembled as the materials began to take hold, its blackened shell softening slightly as it absorbed the foreign energies. For a moment, everything seemed to go smoothly—but then the Gu worm resisted.
A jolt of pain shot through Hui Jian as the refinement process faltered. The Beast Strength Gu pulsed angrily, rejecting the new energy. Sweat beaded on his brow as he fought to maintain control. If he lost his focus now, the entire refinement would collapse.
"Not yet," Hui Jian growled through gritted teeth. His primeval essence surged again, forcing the Gu worm to accept the materials. Slowly, painfully, the Beast Strength Gu began to stabilize. He could feel it strengthening, its power growing as it absorbed the essence of the materials. The danger wasn't over yet, but Hui Jian could sense victory within reach.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Finally, the Beast Strength Gu settled, its once-dull surface now gleaming faintly with new power. Hui Jian let out a slow breath, his body aching from the exertion. He had done it. The Beast Strength Gu was now stronger, capable of enhancing his physical abilities to new heights.
But the process had taken its toll. His primeval essence was nearly depleted, and his mind felt drained despite the clarity provided by the Mind Flower Gu. Worse still, he knew he couldn't afford to rest. There was still the Wind Stepping Gu to refine, and with his current resources, he had to succeed on the first attempt.
He retrieved the materials for the next refinement, his mind already calculating the steps. The Wind Stepping Gu was vital for his survival—it granted him speed and agility, allowing him to slip through Lanternrock unseen. But it wasn't enough. If he was to survive the coming conflict, he needed more than just speed. He needed maneuverability. He needed power that could outclass his enemies' reactions.
The refinement of the Wind Stepping Gu would be even more delicate than the last. But Hui Jian didn't allow himself to hesitate. With the same careful precision, he began the process anew, his mind and body fully committed to the dangerous task ahead.
As the night wore on, the shadows in his hideout deepened. Lanternrock above continued to buzz with conflict, but down below, in the forgotten corners of the city, Hui Jian was cultivating a different kind of power—one that, when revealed, would shift the balance of the entire city.
In the silence of the darkened room, the Mind Flower Gu pulsed softly within him, feeding him new strategies for the future. His path was perilous, but Hui Jian had never been one to back down from danger.