In the Northern Plains, near Crescent Lake, a boy with black hair and grey eyes walked ahead, followed closely by two elderly individuals. The boy was Li Tian, and the elders were Yong Zhiwei and Feng Lianchi.
Crescent Lake is a notable landmark in the Northern Plains, spanning approximately 7,500 km in length and 2,500 km in width. Shaped like a crescent moon, the lake is tranquil and sparkles like crystal. Its surroundings are rich with aquatic plants and diverse wildlife, including Three-Horned Rhinos and Water Wolves.
According to Fang Yuan's description in the novel, Li Tian moved along the lakeside towards the east and arrived at a vast stone forest. Towering stone pillars dominated the landscape, varying in hues from pale grey to deep purplish shades.
Some pillars leaned slightly, while others stood perfectly straight, creating a labyrinth of rocky spires. Mist clung to the base of the stone pillars, swirling gently as the cool lake breeze passed through, giving the place an ethereal atmosphere.
As Li Tian carefully observed his surroundings, searching for the distinct purple pillar described by Fang Yuan, with its stone base shaped like a stool, Yong Zhiwei suddenly called out. "Master, there it is!" he exclaimed, pointing toward Li Tian's left side.
"You guys stay here. If anything happens, I'll send you a signal. Only then should you come in." As he said this, he moved towards the pillar alone.
Li Tian sat on the stone, its surface smooth from the passage of countless years. He took out a dagger, the blade glinting sharply in the pale light, and made a precise cut across his palm. Blood welled up and dripped onto the stone's cold face, spreading in thin rivulets as it seemed to seep into the ancient rock, almost as if being absorbed.
His voice, steady but laced with pain, echoed softly, "I want..."
Before he could finish, a sudden pulse emanated from the stone. His figure flickered and then disappeared in a flash of violet light, reappearing in a dimly lit room.
"So, you are the inheritor of the Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable," the man spoke, his voice echoing slightly.
Li Tian met his gaze unwaveringly. "Yes, I am the one."
The Gu Immortal nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. "Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable told me that any person who comes here using the formation set by him, I need to refine three Gu personally. Even though I think it is just a small wish for a boy of 22 years old like you, and who is a Rank 5 Peak Gu Master. Tell me, which Rank 5 Gu do you want?"
"Senior Long Hair, I am not here to waste this precious opportunity on mere mortal Gu. I have come seeking your expertise in refining an Immortal Gu for me."
The hairy Gu Immortal narrowed his eyes, his voice a low growl. "You are bold, young one. Even though you are greedy, I do not care. But you must understand that no mortal can wield an Immortal Gu without severe consequences. Your body simply cannot withstand an Immortal Gu."
Li Tian bowed slightly but held his ground. "Senior, I am fully aware of the limitations of a mortal body. However, I do not seek this Immortal Gu for myself. I have several immortal subordinates under my command.
I need Immortal Gu to empower them further. But this request is different—these Gu are not of ordinary paths. They belong to a new path, one that has never been seen or recorded before. I created this path myself. I could have refined a Gu myself but my refinement may fail, and I don't have enough materials to attempt it again. Therefore, I need your skills to refine these Gu perfectly."
The Gu Immortal's expression remained impassive, but his eyes glinted with curiosity. "A new path, you say? Tell me which one, I wish to know it," his pride as a Gu Immortal was momentarily set aside, curiosity overtaking his initial skepticism.
"I created a path called the Creation Path. This path enables me to create anything from nothing, and I want your help to refine an Immortal Gu when the time comes."
"Creation Path? That's amazing! I've never heard of such a path before. Show me the recipe, and I will decide after reviewing it."
Li Tian handed a recipe for an Immortal Gu to Long Hair. "Here, take it, Senior."
Long Hair examined the scroll closely, his eyes widening in amazement. "Oh my heavens! To think there would be a Gu like this. But why is this an incomplete version?"
Li Tian nodded solemnly. "I can only give you the complete version once you approve its potential, Senior. Otherwise, I cannot risk exposing its secrets to anyone."
Long Hair narrowed his eyes, rolling the scroll shut with a thoughtful expression. "Very well. I will help you refine this Gu, but young one, refining an Immortal Gu is no trivial matter. Failure could mean irreversible loss of rare materials. So, it is better you bring double the materials to account for any risks involved."Li Tian nodded with a smile. "I understand, Senior. I am already close to obtaining double the materials, but there is one more matter I wish to address before we proceed. I have one more request—could you share insights on the refinement path with me? I am currently on the verge of breaking through to the Great Grandmaster level, and your wisdom could help me overcome this bottleneck."