Chapter 8 – Leaving the Clan
After making his decision...
Li Tianyu did not leave immediately.
Instead...
He spent the following week refining Gu.
Not Hot Gu.
But genuine Rank One Gu worms with considerable market value.
Thanks to Flame Lotus Gu, his primeval essence recovered almost endlessly.
He no longer needed to interrupt his refinement to absorb primeval stones.
One refinement succeeded after another.
The resulting Gu worms were quietly sold throughout the village.
By the end of the week...
His savings had grown considerably.
Only then did Li Tianyu begin preparing for his departure.
Although he intended to rely primarily upon Ember Spark Gu...
That did not mean he would neglect his own combat strength.
The Gu World was merciless.
Without strength...
One could not even protect one's own life.
...
The first Gu he refined was an offensive Gu.
**Blazing Sun Gu.**
A Rank One Fire Path Gu.
It resembled a tiny golden beetle with crimson patterns across its shell.
After refinement...
It transformed into a small crimson sun tattoo upon the center of Li Tianyu's right palm.
By expending five percent of his primeval essence...
He could condense a blazing sphere of fire before launching it toward his enemies.
Its power greatly exceeded ordinary Rank One offensive Gu.
Naturally...
Its primeval essence consumption was equally astonishing.
For ordinary D-grade Gu Masters...
Such consumption would be unbearable.
To Li Tianyu...
It meant almost nothing.
...
The second Gu was defensive.
**Wind Barrier Gu.**
A Rank One Wind Path Gu.
It resembled a pale cyan moth.
Upon activation...
The surrounding wind condensed into several transparent layers capable of deflecting attacks.
Primeval essence cost...
Five percent.
...
The third Gu...
**Swift Gale Gu.**
Another Rank One Wind Path Gu.
It resembled a slender emerald dragonfly.
Once activated...
His body became remarkably light.
His movement speed increased dramatically.
Primeval essence cost...
Five percent.
...
The fourth...
**Spring Water Gu.**
A Rank One Water Path healing Gu.
It resembled a tiny crystal-blue water droplet.
Although incapable of healing serious injuries...
Minor cuts.
Bruises.
Broken skin.
All rapidly recovered beneath its gentle flow.
Primeval essence cost...
Eight percent.
...
The fifth...
**Heat Vision Gu.**
A Rank One Fire Path investigative Gu.
It resembled a crimson butterfly no larger than a fingernail.
After activation...
Everything emitting heat appeared clearly within his vision.
Even complete darkness became meaningless.
Primeval essence cost...
Three percent.
...
The sixth...
**Wood Pouch Gu.**
A Rank One Wood Path storage Gu.
It resembled a smooth jade-green seed.
Although its internal space was modest...
It easily stored food.
Water.
Spare clothing.
Refinement materials.
Even an entire month's worth of Gu food.
Primeval essence cost...
One percent.
...
Finally...
Li Tianyu carefully refined the Gu he valued the most.
**Pilfering Hand Gu.**
A Rank One Thief Path Gu.
It resembled a tiny black spider covered in silver markings.
Unlike ordinary combat Gu...
Its true target was not the opponent.
But the Gu worms hidden inside the opponent's aperture.
After activation...
Pilfering Hand Gu would silently leave the user's body before attempting to enter the enemy's aperture.
If successful...
It would randomly steal one of the opponent's Gu worms before returning.
However...
The process was extremely dangerous.
The Gu itself could be intercepted and destroyed before reaching its target.
Because of this...
Its primeval essence consumption ranged from thirty percent to one hundred percent.
The greater the investment...
The higher the chance of success.
Likewise...
The lower the backlash suffered if the theft failed.
At one hundred percent primeval essence...
Even failure produced almost no backlash.
Li Tianyu gently placed the tiny spider into his aperture.
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
This...
Was the cornerstone of his future plans.
Refining every Gu he required would consume far too much time.
The Gu World already possessed countless Gu worms.
Since others had refined them...
Why shouldn't he simply take them?
After all...
Dead men had no use for Gu.
...
Several days later...
The quiet village suddenly became lively.
A large group of flying beasts descended outside the Black Stone Clan (Hei Shi Clan).
Dozens of Gu Masters stepped down.
The one leading them wore robes embroidered with golden flames.
A powerful Rank Four aura quietly spread across the surroundings.
Several Rank Three Gu Masters stood behind him.
Followed by numerous Rank Two Gu Masters.
They all bore the same emblem.
A blazing golden mountain.
They came from one of Southern Border's great super clans.
**Blazing Mountain Clan.**
They had arrived for only one purpose.
Recruitment.
The war against the variant humans had intensified once again.
Every clan within the surrounding region had been ordered to contribute manpower.
Naturally...
Rank One Gu Masters formed the overwhelming majority.
They were the most expendable.
Also...
The easiest to replace.
Simply put...
Cannon fodder.
Within a few months...
Nearly half of them would likely perish upon the battlefield.
Yet...
Very few hesitated.
Protecting humanity had become the common belief of this era.
Soon...
Names were called one after another.
Many young Gu Masters stepped forward.
When Li Tianyu calmly walked out from the crowd...
Quite a few people froze.
"Him?"
"Li Tianyu?"
"Isn't he from the Refinement Hall?"
"He actually volunteered?"
Several elders looked equally surprised.
Over the past twenty years...
Li Tianyu had become almost synonymous with refinement.
Few had ever seen him fight.
One elder couldn't help speaking.
"Tianyu."
"Your refinement talent is exceptional."
"The battlefield is dangerous."
"Remaining within the clan would contribute just as much."
Another elder nodded.
"The clan still requires refiners."
"You needn't risk your life."
Li Tianyu merely smiled before cupping his fists.
"The variant humans threaten every member of our race."
"How can I hide safely behind others?"
"If humanity requires me..."
"I naturally cannot refuse."
His tone was calm.
His expression sincere.
The surrounding Gu Masters immediately looked at him with newfound respect.
Only Li Tianyu himself knew...
Those words were only half true.
The battlefield...
Contained what he desired most.
Resources.
Gu worms.
Countless opportunities impossible to obtain within the clan.
The battlefield...
Was where Ember Spark Gu could truly begin to grow.
As for the clan elders...
They eventually sighed.
None attempted to stop him again.
In truth...
Several had long felt that Li Tianyu was somewhat unusual.
A D-grade aptitude.
Unable to advance beyond Rank One.
Yet somehow...
He had remained comfortably self-sufficient for decades.
Most simply assumed he had quietly accumulated considerable wealth through refinement.
No one investigated further.
This was an age of war.
Humanity faced p
owerful external enemies.
Compared to internal disputes...
Such trivial matters were insignificant.
Had this been an era of peace...
Things might have unfolded very differently.
But now...
The hearts of most humans remained united.
At sunset...
The recruitment force departed once more.
Li Tianyu followed without looking back.
His quiet life within Hei Shi Clan...
Had finally come to an end.