Chapter 28 - First Target
Li Tian held the newly refined Rank 5 Gu worm, the Otherworldly Demon Detector Gu, in his hands. Its appearance was both mesmerizing and unsettling. The worm had a sleek, elongated body that shimmered with a metallic black hue, as if forged from liquid obsidian. Tiny silver patterns danced across its surface, forming cryptic shifted and morphed like reflections on rippling water. At the center of its body, a single glowing orb pulsated with an eerie, otherworldly light, as though it contained a fragment of another dimension.
"This Gu worm," Li Tian began, examining it closely, "is a masterpiece of refinement. It can sense the presence of otherworldly demons within a range of five hundred Km. The pulsating orb at its core reacts to the proximity of such beings, growing brighter and more erratic the closer the target is."
He continued, his tone measured. "However, it is not without limitations. The range, while impressive, is not infinite but if this Gu was increased to Rank 6 it's range would also increase by triple."
Li Tian's gaze sharpened as he tightened his grip on the Gu. "Still, it's the perfect tool for me and my plans. With this, I'll track down every otherworldly demon and harvest their Otherworldly Dao Marks to enhance my power."
He paused, his expression darkening slightly. "But to fully capitalize on this, I need another Gu—an immortal rank Gu. Refining such a Gu requires resources I don't currently have, especially the immortal beads necessary for the process. For now, I'll capture and contain the otherworldly demons I find. Once I become a Gu Immortal, I'll have the means to refine them, eat their Dao marks, and make it into mine."
With that resolve set, he stood up, his movements deliberate and calm. He handed the keys to the pavilion back to the attendant and made his way to a nearby inn to rest for the night. The moonlight filtered through the streets, casting a silvery glow as he walked, his thoughts already racing with plans for the days ahead.
After resting for the night, Li Tian now stood near the edge of the island, where the sandy beach met the rhythmic ebb and flow of the sea. The golden sand sparkled faintly in the sunlight, and the salty breeze carried with it the sound of gently lapping waves. The water, clear and tranquil, stretched endlessly, blending into the distant horizon.
Li Tian held the Otherworldly Demon Detector Gu in his hands. Channeling his primeval essence, he activated the Gu. A soft hum emanated from the worm as its core orb began to glow, casting a silvery light over the surroundings. Tiny patterns on its body shifted and danced, reacting to the essence being poured into it. The Gu's glow intensified, creating ripples of light that extended outward, scanning the area for the presence of otherworldly demons.
His eyes fixed on the Gu, anticipation gleaming in his gaze as the Gu worm began its work. Moments later, two faintly glowing dots appeared on the Gu's pulsating orb, both situated at the very edge of its detection radius. Li Tian's eyes narrowed as he gauged the distance. "So far... nearly at the limit," he muttered.Without wasting a moment, Li Tian activated a killer move, "Reality Rift," utilizing the Reality Anchor Gu, Reality Fragment Gu, and Truth Shifter Gu. The move distorted the space around him, allowing him to traverse reality itself.
As the killer move activated, a shimmering pathway of fragmented light appeared beneath his feet, bending and warping the air. Each step he took seemed to dissolve into the path, propelling him forward in rapid bursts. The Reality Fragment Gu shaped the fragmented light into stable footholds, while the Reality Anchor Gu ensured his trajectory remained precise. The Truth Shifter Gu cloaked his movement, leaving faint afterimages in his wake to confuse any potential onlookers.
The ocean breeze grew fierce as Li Tian's figure streaked across the horizon, moving faster than the eye could track. The sound of his movement was a low, resonant hum, like the fabric of reality itself vibrating under his power. He grinned slightly, enjoying the seamless flow of the killer move.
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In the Yanmei Clan, a mid-tier clan nestled within a forested valley, a large house stood at its heart, its tiled roof gleaming in the afternoon sun. Inside, two figures sat across from each other in the main hall. The boy, tall and lean with sharp features, exuded a quiet confidence, while the girl, delicate and graceful, had a faint smile playing on her lips. They were engaged in lighthearted conversation, their voices echoing softly in the spacious room.Both were otherworldly demons, but they didn't reveal their identities to each other. Today's meeting was a formal engagement between their two clans, meant to solidify alliances. The boy leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes, as he spoke, "Hello, my name is Jian Yu. I am an A grade Gu Master with Rank 1 Peak stage cultivation, and honestly, I have no intention of marrying anyone forcefully. If you don't like me, just let me know now, and we can save ourselves the trouble."
The girl, her delicate features lighting up with a small laugh, replied, "I'm Lin Yue. I am a Gu Master with A grade aptitude and Rank 1 Peak stage cultivation as well. To be honest, I thought you'd be insufferable when I first heard about this arrangement. But now that I've met you, I think I was wrong—you seem reasonable enough." Her tone carried a mix of jest and warmth, though her sharp gaze hinted at careful observation.
Jian Yu smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Well, I'm glad to exceed your expectations. At least we won't have to fake smiles all evening."
Just as they were talking, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility. The sheer force of the blast sent shockwaves through the air, causing nearby trees to tremble and the tiled roofs to vibrate.
Flames erupted skyward, their fiery tendrils licking at the sky, casting an ominous orange glow over the Northwest side. The ground beneath the clan trembled, and a deep rumble echoed across the valley, as though the earth itself was groaning in protest.
The sudden detonation left an acrid smell of smoke lingering in the air, and the faint cries of startled wildlife added to the chaos. The clan leaders and elders, alarmed by the magnitude of the event, wasted no time and rushed toward the source, their faces etched with urgency and unease, leaving these two kids aside.
As they were confused about the situation, fear gripping their hearts, they instinctively reached out and held each other's hands for comfort. Suddenly, a chilling sensation crept over them, as if the air itself had turned into an unseen predator.
This invisible force wrapped around them like a suffocating shroud, its presence both eerie and overwhelming. It felt like a vacuum pulling at their very existence, a silent, malevolent power that defied all comprehension.
As they felt it their souls were pulled out of their bodies and got absorbed by something, their bodies fell down and in an instant their bodies also got sucked by the invisible force.