Morning arrived with the sound of iron bells echoing across the outer sect.
Disciples flooded toward the mountain gates, each carrying crude refinement tools, spirit nets, or containment jars. Excitement mixed with fear — today determined who would rise… and who would fall behind.
Above the gates hung a massive wooden plaque:
Outer Sect Trial — Gu Capture Grounds
A deacon stood before them, expression cold.
“You will enter the western hunting valley. Wild Rank One Gu are abundant there. You have three days.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Rules are simple: survive, capture, refine. Death inside the grounds will not be investigated.”
The gates opened.
The disciples rushed in.
The hunting valley was dense with mist and ancient trees. Qi flowed unevenly through the land, forming natural traps and nourishing countless wild Gu.
The moment Shen Yu stepped inside, the world changed.
He felt them.
Hundreds.
No… thousands.
Gu hidden beneath bark, buried in soil, fluttering through branches.
And all of them sensed him back.
The Devouring Presence stirred, eager and restless.
Food.
He exhaled slowly, suppressing the urge.
If he lost control here, rumors would spread beyond repair.
Behind him, Lin Mei caught up. “Stay alert,” she whispered. “Outer disciples hunt each other more than Gu.”
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Shen Yu nodded.
Already, distant clashes echoed through the forest.
Not far away, Luo Sen watched Shen Yu disappear into the trees.
Two disciples stood beside him.
“That monster humiliated you,” one muttered.
Luo Sen’s eyes hardened. “Today ends that.”
He opened a small jade box.
Inside crawled a crimson worm covered in tiny barbs.
“Blood Tracking Gu,” Luo Sen said quietly. “Once it smells him, he won’t escape.”
The worm twitched eagerly.
Deep within the forest, Shen Yu walked alone.
Gu naturally revealed themselves to him — a bark beetle Gu crawled out from a tree trunk, trembling; a leaf mantis Gu lowered its blades and retreated.
None attacked.
Submission followed him like a shadow.
Eventually, he stopped before a shallow pond glowing faintly blue.
Ripples moved against the still water.
A slender silver worm surfaced, its body shining like liquid moonlight.
Shen Yu’s eyes narrowed.
This one was different.
It did not tremble.
It watched him.
The Devouring Presence inside him reacted sharply — not hunger alone, but caution.
The silver Gu circled slowly, releasing waves of calming qi.
Recognition dawned in Shen Yu’s mind.
Emotion-type Gu.
Rare.
Dangerous.
The worm suddenly leapt from the water, darting toward his forehead.
Instinctively, Shen Yu reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it—
Pain exploded through his mind.
Memories surged violently: the burning village, dying screams, loneliness, fear buried deep within his heart.
The Gu was testing him.
Emotion Reflection Gu.
It fed on instability.
Shen Yu’s breathing grew uneven.
The Devouring Presence reacted instantly.
Dark warmth surged upward, swallowing the emotional storm like a black tide devouring waves.
The silver Gu trembled.
Its resistance vanished.
Slowly, it lowered itself onto his palm.
Submission.
Shen Yu stared at it, surprised.
This time… it had not been devoured.
Instead, it waited.
Alive.
“…You want to be refined,” he murmured.
For the first time, he attempted true refinement.
He guided his qi carefully, remembering the basic methods taught during orientation.
Normally, refinement required struggle.
But the silver Gu cooperated completely.
Light wrapped around his hand.
Moments later, the worm dissolved into a gentle mark within his dantian.
Success.
Shen Yu exhaled slowly.
His first refined Gu.
And it had chosen him willingly.
A sharp whistle cut through the forest.
Too late.
A red streak shot from the shadows — Blood Tracking Gu.
It burst against Shen Yu’s shoulder, spreading crimson mist.
Luo Sen stepped out from behind the trees, smiling coldly.
“Found you.”
Two accomplices surrounded Shen Yu from behind.
“No elders here,” Luo Sen said. “Let’s see how special you really are.”
Shen Yu’s expression remained calm.
Inside him, the newly refined silver Gu stirred gently, soothing his emotions.
At the same time, the Devouring Presence awakened — slow, pleased, anticipating.
The forest grew quiet.
Even nearby wild Gu retreated instinctively.
Shen Yu lifted his gaze.
“…You chose the wrong hunting ground.”
The air around him seemed to darken slightly.
And somewhere deep beneath the valley soil…
Something ancient began to wake.
To be continued…
