Chapter 212 – The Essence of Gu Insects

Jade Bamboo Forest.

Lu Chen looked at the cultivators who had returned and immediately asked, “Well? Are there any towns in the surrounding area?”

Hong Hua of the Giant Spirit Gate stepped forward and said with a serious expression, “Yes, just outside this bamboo forest, there is a small town called Jade Bamboo Town.”

“But since we remembered you saying not to easily interact with the people of this world, we returned after catching a distant glimpse of that town.”

Lu Chen nodded, then turned his gaze to another group.

Seeing Lu Chen look at him, an Immortal Fiend from the Hundred Refinements Sect spoke up, “Just as you said, Fellow Daoist Lu, not far from Ancient Moon Immortal’s Residence, there are gradually some Yao Beasts beginning to move about.”

After hearing these two pieces of information, Lu Chen nodded, appearing to have learned what he wanted to know.

Ordinary cultivators might not understand what Lu Chen was doing.

But the seven Immortal Fiends present from the Giant Spirit Gate, Formless Valley, and Nine Profound Gate clearly understood Lu Chen’s purpose in doing this.

After all, for the people of this world, those participating in the True Immortal Trial were, in a sense, a group of Sky Demons from beyond.

Even if their appearances were similar to the people of this Great Luo Paradise,

Neither side would consider the other as one of their own.

After all, they were only here to participate in a trial and would leave directly once it ended.

Whether this world prospered or suffered, whether their actions would cause significant impact on this world—

The vast majority of trial participants wouldn’t actually care.

In this regard, the Immortal Fiends coming from the Ancient Fiend World to the cultivation world were actually in a similar situation to Lu Chen and the others arriving in this world.

No one could say for sure what attitude the people of this world would have toward them.

For Lu Chen, who was accustomed to preparing for the worst in all matters, he would absolutely not rashly contact a group of beings he didn’t understand.

Now that he understood that there were indeed people of the Human Race living within this Great Luo Paradise, Lu Chen immediately formulated a strategy.

He looked at everyone and instructed, “The current situation is unclear. First, set up some formations around Ancient Moon Immortal’s courtyard, then watch to see if anyone enters the bamboo forest.”

“If anyone enters the bamboo forest, restrain them temporarily.”

“Without understanding the specific circumstances of this paradise, we’d better not act recklessly to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.”

Hearing Lu Chen’s words, the seven Immortal Fiends from the Giant Spirit Gate, Formless Valley, and Nine Profound Gate, as well as the people from Jade Void Mountain and Azure Cloud Sect, all voiced no opposition.

But disciples from some other schools didn’t think the same way.

After all, although they already knew there wasn’t only one Wine Worm,

Only the first person to bring a Wine Worm to Gu Yue True Immortal would receive the reward.

Therefore, for them now, time was the most important thing.

A Direct Lineage Disciple from Hundred Refinements Valley couldn’t help but say, “Fellow Daoist Lu, aren’t you being too cautious?”

“While we’re wasting time here, what if someone else finds a Wine Worm first and beats us to it?”

Before Lu Chen could speak, Hong Hua of the Giant Spirit Gate mocked, “Idiot, do you think this is your own sect where you can come and go as you please?”

Hearing this, the Hundred Refinements Valley disciple’s face instantly darkened.If these words had come from Lu Chen or a True Disciple of any of the Ten Great Sects, even if he were dissatisfied, he wouldn’t have said much.

But hearing them from Hong Hua, a mere disciple of the Giant Spirit Gate, he simply couldn’t hold back.

Since when could a barbarian from the Eastern Divine Continent dare to spout such nonsense at a disciple of a major sect from the Central Province?

Thus, the disciple from Hundred Refinements Valley spoke coldly, “Fellow Daoist Hong, be careful—words can bring disaster.”

Faced with the threat from the Hundred Refinements Valley disciple, Hong Hua paid it no mind.

His rogue demeanor was like a piece of tough meat that feared no heat.

Such an attitude naturally angered the Hundred Refinements Valley disciple even more.

Fortunately, someone stepped in to mediate at that moment.

“Enough arguing, kid from Hundred Refinements Valley. Didn’t your elders teach you that whenever you enter an unknown grotto-heaven, you must remain as vigilant as possible?”

“Even this king knows that. How could you, a True Disciple of Hundred Refinements Valley, not know? Don’t let the True Immortal Inheritance cloud your mind, or you might end up with the desire for the legacy but not the fate to obtain it.”

“If you’re unhappy with my Junior Brother’s arrangements, it’s simple—leave on your own. No one here is stopping you.”

After being lectured by Meow King, Ye Guangze from Hundred Refinements Valley finally calmed down.

Because everything was just as Meow King had said—they truly needed to be cautious at this moment.

Just as the group was about to say more, another batch of cultivators returned from their exploration.

This time, however, they brought back a severely injured, dying cultivator with them.

This person was none other than Sui Shaobao from the East Sea Gate.

Seeing this, Lu Chen immediately frowned, as if he had noticed something.

“Where did you find him?”

“Right by the bamboo forest near that town. He was already unconscious when we discovered him.”

“Set him down first.”

Hearing this, the five cultivators who had found Sui Shaobao instinctively placed the unconscious man on the ground.

Lu Chen then walked up to the five, a crimson longsword suddenly appearing in his hand.

Staring at the eerie vertical eye on the crimson longsword, the five cultivators felt as if they were being watched by some ancient monstrosity.

Almost instinctively, one of them couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist Lu, what are you…”

Before he could finish, the crimson longsword released a massive cloud of red mist.

As the red mist enveloped the five cultivators and the unconscious Sui Shaobao on the ground, a sizzling sound immediately erupted.

It was as if something was being devoured.

Not only that, but the red mist also seeped into the bodies of the five cultivators.

Under the influence of the red mist, they finally noticed the condition inside their bodies.

Unbeknownst to them, they had been invaded by tiny Gu insects.

These Gu insects seemed naturally capable of evading the perception of a cultivator’s Spiritual Power.

Which was why they hadn’t detected them throughout their journey.

After Lu Chen’s Gluttonous Fiend Weapon finished devouring the Gu insects inside the five cultivators,

he turned his gaze to Sui Shaobao on the ground.

[Name: Sui Shaobao (True Disciple of East Sea Gate)]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Perfection]

[Foundation Quality: Fifth-Grade Earth Dao Immortal Foundation]

[Status: Severely Injured/Parasitized]”Junior Brother, this fellow is beyond saving. The Spirit Roots within his body have been gnawed away more than halfway by those insects. Even if we save him, he’ll be nothing but a cripple.”

Meow King approached Sui Shaobao and after a brief inspection, spoke with a grim expression.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chen said, “Senior Brother Wu Miao, please step back first.”

Hearing this, Meow King immediately retreated some distance away.

Under everyone’s astonished gazes, Lu Chen put away his original Gluttonous Fiend Weapon.

He replaced it with a pale, ethereal Spirit Sword.

Gripping the Severing Heaven Sword, Lu Chen thrust it fiercely toward Sui Shaobao’s Dantian.

Strangely, after piercing through Sui Shaobao’s body, the sword didn’t cause the slightest physical injury.

Yet in everyone’s perception, the Gu Insects that had been entrenched around Sui Shaobao’s Spirit Roots were now dying in large numbers.

Even after dealing with these, Sui Shaobao’s danger hadn’t been completely eliminated.

Since these Gu Insects could devour Sui Shaobao’s Spirit Roots, they naturally could consume his other bodily organs as well.

Although the blood mist Lu Chen had released earlier had swallowed most of the Gu Insects inside Sui Shaobao,

the organs that had been eaten by the Gu Insects couldn’t be fully restored.

Not to mention that Sui Shaobao’s Spirit Roots were now basically half-destroyed.

But what ordinary people couldn’t accomplish didn’t mean Lu Chen couldn’t.

Unless one’s soul flew away and spirit scattered, the current Lu Chen could pull Sui Shaobao back from death’s door.

And he had to pull Sui Shaobao back.

Because he needed the information from Sui Shaobao’s mouth.

Undoubtedly, Sui Shaobao’s current miserable state was definitely related to the people in that town.

And being able to reduce a Direct Lineage Disciple of a major Sect to near-death,

that town was absolutely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

“Diting…”

“Woof!”

As a scroll appeared behind Lu Chen’s back,

Diting immediately jumped out from the scroll.

“Brother, what do you need me for?”

Lu Chen pointed at Sui Shaobao on the ground and said, “Can he be saved?”

After examining Sui Shaobao’s condition, Diting unusually frowned and said, “Brother, this is somewhat difficult…”

“Just keep him breathing is enough.”

“That’s simple!”

Diting initially thought Lu Chen wanted him to restore Sui Shaobao to his peak condition, which wasn’t impossible for Diting but would require consuming some Origin power.

But if it was just about keeping him breathing, that was too simple.

Diting approached him and immediately channeled large amounts of Innate Nine Qi into Sui Shaobao’s body.

Nourished by this Innate Nine Qi, Sui Shaobao’s previously riddled organs gradually began to repair themselves.

Even his Spirit Roots recovered somewhat during this process.

After a short while, Sui Shaobao opened his eyes.

Looking at Lu Chen and the others gathered around him, his original despair was quickly replaced by the relief of surviving a catastrophe.

Thinking of the Gu Cultivators from the Luo Family in the town, Sui Shaobao said in a hoarse voice, “Whatever you do, don’t approach that town, or you’ll end up just like me…”

Hearing Sui Shaobao’s words, the expressions of those around turned serious.

Lu Chen looked at him calmly and said, “Tell us what you encountered.”

Through Sui Shaobao’s explanation, Lu Chen and the others finally understood what had happened to them.

And they understood their current situation.

After all, when Sui Shaobao first arrived at the Luo Family, to make them let their guard down, the other party had been quite forthcoming with answers initially.Through this process, Sui Shaobao also learned much basic information about the Great Ying Dynasty, as well as some intelligence regarding Gu Cultivators.

As the name implies, Gu Cultivators are a special type of cultivators who utilize ‘Gu Insects’ for their cultivation. All their power originates from the Gu Insects within their bodies.

The strength of a Gu Cultivator depends on two factors: the Realm of the Gu Insect inside them, and the quality of that Gu Insect.

Among Gu Cultivators, the Realms of Gu Insects are divided into four stages, corresponding to the cultivators’ Qi Condensation Stage, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul.

The quality of Gu Insects is categorized into four grades: ‘Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow’.

Among these, ‘Heaven-Grade Gu Insects’ not only possess uniqueness but also often have terrifying power. At birth, they possess strength comparable to a second-stage Gu Cultivator. Upon reaching adulthood, they are guaranteed to have the power of the fourth stage at Perfection, capable of breaking through the void and achieving Ascension.

That’s right, within the current Great Luo Cave Heaven, the maximum cultivation one can attain is the Nascent Soul Stage. However, Lu Chen speculated that Nascent Soul Stage cultivators in this world likely wouldn’t act lightly.

After all, Gu Yue True Immortal’s goal is to refine Gu, and currently, they are the so-called Gu Insects. If they were to encounter a Nascent Soul Stage Gu Cultivator, it wouldn’t be Gu refinement but rather slaughter.

Therefore, Lu Chen speculated that the Nascent Soul Stage Gu Cultivators in this world might exist independently from the Great Ying Dynasty, serving a role similar to ‘referees’. As long as neither side in the competition violates the rules, the referees wouldn’t intervene.

By this point, Lu Chen had largely figured out the situation of the current True Immortal Trial. Only some minor details remained unresolved.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chen asked Sui Shaobao, “You mentioned earlier that when you entered Jade Bamboo Town, you felt as if someone was watching you?”

Sui Shaobao nodded.

“Do you know who was watching you?”

Sui Shaobao shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

Initially, Sui Shaobao thought the one watching him might be from the Luo Family. But upon reflection, he realized that after arriving at the Luo Family, he hadn’t sensed that feeling again. Moreover, he didn’t believe the Luo Family members had such capability.

The core reason why the three Senior Brothers ended up with one dead, one severely injured, and one fleeing was primarily because they were unaware of the Gu Cultivators’ methods beforehand, leading to them being caught off guard by a premeditated attack.

Had they known about these methods in advance, given that the Luo Family only had two second-stage Gu Cultivators, Sui Shaobao was confident he could have single-handedly defeated them. Unfortunately, he had been poisoned by Gu beforehand, leaving him with less than ten percent of his strength, which led to their current predicament.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Chen speculated, “In the natural world, insects have certain ways to distinguish their own kind. If what you said is accurate, then Gu Cultivators might be able to sense the absence of Gu Insects within someone’s body. Otherwise, how could they have determined from the start that you weren’t cultivators from the Great Abundance Dynasty?”

“Therefore, if we want to deceive those Gu Cultivators, we either need to find a Gu Insect and implant it into our bodies like the Gu Cultivators do, or we need to keep a Gu Insect by our side.”

“But this second method would likely only fool ordinary Gu Cultivators; it probably wouldn’t work against those at the third stage or above.”

“Thus, if we want to leave the Bamboo Forest and infiltrate the Great Ying Dynasty, our best approach for now is to first find some Gu Insects to disguise ourselves.””But before that, let’s first entertain those distinguished guests who have come from afar.”

As he spoke, Lu Chen raised his head toward a certain direction beyond the Bamboo Forest.

Seeing Lu Chen’s movement, Meow King and the others nearby also stood up one after another.

For they could sense that quite a number of people had already gathered outside the Bamboo Forest.

And these people were following the ‘information’ left by Sui Shaobao, making their way deep into the Bamboo Forest…

(End of Chapter)