Chapter 9 – A New Journey
The enormous cranes soared through the endless sky.
Their snow-white feathers gleamed beneath the afternoon sun while their long necks stretched proudly through the clouds.
These were Cloud Crane Beasts.
A species commonly raised by Enslavement Path Gu Masters.
Standing atop the leading crane was the commander of the expedition.
A Rank Four Enslavement Path Gu Master from Blazing Mountain Clan.
His specialty...
Controlling cranes.
With a single thought...
The entire flock obeyed his every command.
Beneath them...
Endless mountain ranges stretched across the land.
Ancient forests covered the earth like a green ocean.
From time to time...
Powerful beast kings and enormous mutated beasts could be seen roaming below.
None of the Rank One Gu Masters dared make a sound.
This was their first time leaving their clans.
Everything they saw felt new.
...
Several hours later...
The atmosphere gradually became livelier.
The young Gu Masters began introducing themselves.
Most were around twenty years old.
Some were slightly older.
Others were younger.
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They all came from nearby clans.
Although they belonged to different forces...
There was little hostility between them.
After all...
Their enemy was not each other.
It was the variant humans.
A broad-shouldered youth suddenly sat beside Li Tianyu.
"Brother Li."
"I heard you're a refinement master?"
Li Tianyu nodded.
"I know a little."
The youth scratched his head.
"Then why volunteer?"
"Wouldn't staying in your clan be much safer?"
Several others quietly looked over.
They had been wondering the same thing.
Li Tianyu smiled faintly.
"I've remained inside my clan for over thirty years."
"If I continue hiding forever..."
"Then what's the point of cultivating?"
Another youth sighed.
"Brother Li..."
"Your aptitude is only D-grade."
"You can't even advance to Rank Two."
"Isn't this simply throwing your life away?"
Li Tianyu remained silent for several moments.
Finally...
He spoke.
"That was true."
"In the past."
Everyone looked toward him.
Li Tianyu slowly released a portion of his primeval essence.
The surrounding Gu Masters immediately sensed the vast amount contained within his aperture.
Their expressions instantly changed.
"This..."
"Impossible!"
"A D-grade aperture can't hold that much primeval essence!"
Even several Rank Two Gu Masters turned toward him.
Shock filled their eyes.
Li Tianyu smiled.
"Many years ago..."
"I obtained a talent-raising Gu through a fortunate encounter."
"It permanently increased my aptitude."
"Now..."
"I possess A-grade aptitude."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The surrounding Gu Masters stared at him in disbelief.
Talent-raising Gu.
Every Gu Master had heard of such treasures.
Yet very few had ever seen one.
One young man swallowed nervously.
"Brother Li..."
"Where did you find it?"
Li Tianyu merely smiled.
"A fortunate encounter."
"I was simply lucky."
Naturally...
No one believed the explanation was that simple.
Yet no one continued asking.
Every Gu Master possessed secrets.
Prying into another person's opportunities was among the greatest taboos in the Gu World.
Even the Rank Three Gu Masters merely glanced at Li Tianyu before withdrawing their gazes.
Only the commander of the expedition...
The Rank Four elder from Blazing Mountain Clan...
Quietly observed everything.
His expression remained calm.
After a long while...
He finally spoke.
"Fortune is also a form of strength."
"So long as your opportunity was obtained through your own ability..."
"No one has the right to covet it."
The surrounding Gu Masters immediately nodded.
Blazing Mountain Clan...
Was one of Southern Border's great super clans.
For countless years...
It had stood at the forefront of humanity's war against the variant humans.
As one of humanity's protectors...
It could not openly covet the opportunities of its own people.
If even they robbed human Gu Masters of their fortunes...
Who would still be willing to fight for the human race?
Li Tianyu quietly cupped his fists.
"Thank you, Senior."
The elder simply nodded.
Nothing more was said.
...
The Gu World of today...
Was very different from the world described in the ancient legends.
Back then...
Humanity had long stood at the peak of the world.
Without powerful external enemies...
Humans gradually turned their blades toward one another.
The distinction between righteous and demonic paths became increasingly extreme.
Countless internal wars erupted.
But the current era was different.
The Gu World had only recently entered a new age.
The variant humans still occupied vast territories.
Humanity had yet to become the world's undisputed ruler.
Every year...
Wars broke out across the Five Regions.
Humans.
Beastmen.
Feathermen.
Rockmen.
And countless other variant human races.
All fought endlessly for land and survival.
In such an era...
Most human Gu Masters shared the same goal.
Protect humanity.
Expand humanity's territory.
Only after every external enemy had been defeated...
Would humanity once again become its own greatest enemy.
Li Tianyu quietly gazed toward the distant horizon.
His expression remained calm.
Whether humans fought variant humans...
Or humans fought one another...
It made little difference to him.
His goal had never changed.
Resources.
Strength.
Immortality.
And one day...
To surpass every Venerable that had ever existed.
The flock of Cloud Crane Beasts continued flying toward the horizon.
Its destination...
The battlefield.