In the Eastern Sea, beneath the vast azure sky that shimmered with traces of golden sunlight, a boy with long, jet-black hair stood at the edge of a verdant barrier. He wore a flowing robe of black and crimson, intricately designed with subtle patterns resembling swirling smoke. His presence radiated a quiet confidence as his sharp, gray eyes observed the towering Licorice Regional Wall in front of him. The wall glowed a vibrant green, stretching high into the heavens and forming an impassable divide.
This was the Regional Wall separating the Eastern Sea from the Northern Plains, a realm starkly different from the lush coasts and endless waters he had traversed. The boy was none other than Li Tian, his thoughts hidden beneath a calm exterior as he prepared to cross this regional wall.
Li Tian had spent 2 years in the Eastern Sea, his mission clear and relentless. Using the Otherworldly Demon Detector Gu, a Rank 5 Gu of his own refinement, he had methodically tracked and captured seventeen otherworldly demons. Each capture was a calculated step toward his ultimate plan, though he had faced numerous challenges. The detector's limited range often forced him to let certain targets escape, his primeval essence stretched thin over countless days of pursuit.
He sighed as he looked at the wall before him. "Seventeen… not a bad haul," he muttered to himself. "But there are still others I'll have to come back for. Due detector's limitations I couldn't find them when they got out of my range, but it's still invaluable." His voice was steady, betraying no sense of defeat despite the unfinished work.
The Eastern Sea had been a fertile ground for his operations. The sprawling cities, hidden coves, and scattered islands provided ample opportunities to blend in, manipulate events, and capture his targets. Yet, as with any hunting ground, it had its limitations, and Li Tian knew it was time to move on.
He was already Rank 5 Peak Stage but he still doesn't want to become a Gu Immortal because he has his plans.
Li Tian had one clear goal before ascending to Gu Immortal status: to collect as many Otherworldly Demons as possible. He knew this endeavor would take over a decade, a daunting timeline that demanded relentless speed and efficiency. At just 18 years old, he was acutely aware of the limited 100 years of life afforded to him, and though he had many decades left, an unseen urgency drove him.
He slowly walked into the Regional Wall. Due to his low rank cultivation it was easy for him to walk to the other side of the wall. In mere moments, he emerged on the other side, greeted by the vast expanse of the Northern Plains. Rolling meadows of emerald green stretched out before him, dotted with occasional clusters of trees and small villages nestled in the landscape.
After checking his surroundings, Li Tian ventured forward, covering a distance of approximately 100 kilometers before stopping. He reached into his aperture and brought out the Otherworldly Demon Detector Gu. The Gu worm pulsed faintly in his hand, a semi-transparent orb with swirling patterns of light that shifted and twisted like a kaleidoscope. Activating it with his primeval essence, he focused on the Gu's range. A signal appeared—350 kilometers away.
"That's far, but manageable," he muttered, his voice steady. Without hesitation, he prepared to move toward the signal. The distance was significant, and the terrain unforgiving, but Li Tian was no stranger to such challenges.
As he neared the location, the signal led him to a seemingly ordinary clan nestled amidst the plains. From the outside, it appeared unremarkable, but Li Tian's instincts whispered otherwise. His Real Sense Gu, a reality path Gu worm designed to detect danger, began to pulse faintly, its warning signal low but persistent. The sensation wasn't new—he had experienced similar alarms in the Eastern Sea—but this one felt different. It was subdued, yet ominous.
"There's something here," he thought, narrowing his eyes. "Something… potentially lethal."
The realization dawned on him quickly. "The only threat capable of triggering this kind of response is a Gu Immortal," he deduced, his mind racing. Though the alarm wasn't severe, it was enough to put him on edge because as a Rank 5 Gu Master he can't fight against a Gu Immortal. Wasting no time, Li Tian activated a killer move: Shape Shifter.
Shape Shifter was a complex reality path killer move utilizing several Gu worms. At its core, it relied on the Morph Essence Gu, Illusion Shell Gu, and Reality Fragment Gu. Morph Essence Gu allowed him to alter his physical body, changing his facial features, height, and even his body shape. Illusion Shell Gu added a layer of concealment to ensure any changes appeared natural, while Reality Fragment Gu ensured the alterations were stable and resistant to detection.
Together, these Gu worms allowed Li Tian to adopt an entirely new appearance, making him unrecognizable even to those familiar with him. Illusion Shell Gu, Morph Essence Gu came from the Gacha and the Reality Fragment Gu was advanced to Rank 5, and to advance it to Rank 5 it took one-fourth of the inventory of illusion and rule path materials.
"If there's a Gu Immortal here, I can't take any risks," Li Tian muttered as his form shimmered and shifted, adopting a nondescript appearance. With his presence masked, Li Tian adopted the appearance of a completely average man. His new form featured a plain face with a mustache, medium height, and a lean frame.
To enhance the facade, he added visible injuries to his body and face—a gash running down his left arm, scratches across his cheeks, and bruises darkening his forehead. His clothes, torn and dusty, were selected from his inventory to complete the look of a weary traveler who had faced hardships. As he walked closer to the clan, the blazing sun reflected off the beads of sweat he had deliberately added to his brow to enhance the disguise.
Li Tian adjusted his gait, limping slightly as though injured, and approached the guards stationed near the clan's entrance. His breathing became labored, and he allowed his steps to falter. Finally, as he reached a point just within earshot of the guards, he stumbled dramatically and collapsed to the ground.
The guards, who had been standing alert but indifferent, immediately noticed the commotion. "Hey, someone's collapsed!" one of them shouted, rushing forward. Another guard followed, his expression a mix of caution and concern.
Li Tian, feigning pain, gasped weakly. "Help… please…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. His body trembled as though from exhaustion, and his eyes fluttered closed. The guards exchanged a quick glance before lifting him up by the arms.
"Bring him inside," the senior guard ordered. "He's in no condition to be left out here." Li Tian let himself be carried, his mind already working on the next phase of his plan as he maintained the perfect facade of a helpless, injured man.