Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

Night fell as Chen Qing walked into his own wine cellar, opened a jar, and filled his wine gourd with alcohol.

Returning to his bedroom, Chen Qing spread out his hand, letting the Alcohol Gu and sword Gu go to consume the materials they needed.

The Alcohol Gu gnawed on an Iron Tree Bud, while the sword Gu lay on an ancient sword, slowly breaking off small pieces to toss into its mouth.

He took a sip of his wine, feeling a sense of tranquility reminiscent of bygone days.

It would be even better if he could go out for some fresh air right now.

Unfortunately, the Alcohol Gu was on the brink of a promotion and not suitable for going out.

This promotion would be his Eighth-Transformation, unlike Li He, who was lucky enough to brew Ginseng Ganoderma Wine at the Seventh Transformation.

After this Eighth-Transformation, everything should stabilize.

After taking another two sips of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, Chen Qing felt his body brimming with spiritual energy and began cultivation accompanied by the sound of the spring outside.

Time always seemed to fly during cultivation, and soon he heard the distant sound of the night watchman's call.

"It's midnight!"

He unfolded his bedding, assumed a sitting posture, and placed a bronze ghost mask on his face.

When he appeared on the Cloud Platform, Murong Lang and Hu Yao had already been waiting for some time.

Hu Yao was the first to speak, "Good evening, Senior Taichu."

Murong Lang cupped his hands, "Respected Senior Taichu, good evening."

Chen Qing nodded slightly, "Red Lotus, scholar, good evening."

Hu Yao probably had no more tricks up her sleeve, hoping this scholar would offer some surprises.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough money to buy the Fog Gu.

Lately, he had asked Yu to buy items worth nearly four hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and he couldn't continue like this.

The source of her spent Spirit Stones was unclear, but acquiring the Fog Gu would make things easier.

While contemplating this, he didn't expect Hu Yao to ask, "Scholar, did you bring Spirit Stones?"

Murong Lang revealed a pleased expression, "Did you get the sword Gu?"

Hu Yao opened her hand, in which a sword Gu resided, looking lackluster with restrained spiritual energy.

This sword Gu was much smaller than Chen Qing's; he only needed one glance to discern its origin.

Just a First Transformation!

Typically, when wild Gu are captured, they are usually at the Third or Fourth Transformation.

Such a newly transformed Gu can only have one origin.

Murder and Gu theft!

After the host is killed, the Gu is severely injured due to the contract.

Some may die, while others might regress.

The specific factors remain inconclusive, but there's a general evaluation standard.

That is, the longer the Gu's Life Span, the greater its chance of survival.

Of course, even if they survive, their Life Span is much lower than that of a wild Gu.

If a Gu has a short Life Span, it might die directly.

These second-hand Gu are not particularly valuable.

Yet she dared to charge the scholar one hundred sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones for this thing?

In the marketplace at the base of Wuyou Mountain, it would probably be worth only twenty or thirty mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Murong Lang extended his hand to take the lackluster sword Gu, "This sword Gu is not of good quality."

"It doesn't seem to have a long Life Span."

However, Hu Yao had anticipated this point, "With Senior here, this sword Gu could quickly reach a high-level transformation or even Butterfly Transformation, then its Life Span would be enough, right?"

Murong Lang shook his head, "This is different from what we agreed upon. One hundred sixty Spirit Stones is indeed a bit expensive."

Hu Yao said, "How much are you willing to offer?"

Murong Lang replied, "Eighty Spirit Stones, that's the highest I can go."

Chen Qing thought to himself, this scholar truly had money to spare!

For this useless item, he was willing to spend eighty Spirit Stones!

If it weren't for the need to maintain a composed demeanor and appear indifferent to such small matters, he would have been tempted to bring goods from the marketplace at the foot of the mountain for the scholar.

Hu Yao pondered; she still had another sword Gu. It was well known that when a sword Gu promotes to Butterfly Transformation, it generally requires another sword Gu.

She planned to sell the remaining sword Gu to the scholar then.

"Deal."

Murong Lang reached into his bosom, took out a spirit stone bag, counted the amount, and placed it in front of Hu Yao.

"If you manage to acquire the sword scripture, I am willing to pay a high price."

Hu Yao counted the Spirit Stones excitedly, "That item isn't easy to come by, but perhaps the leader might have a lead."

Murong Lang lightly tapped his palm with his fan, "The leader, eh?"

Hu Yao wasn't one to hoard Spirit Stones. In a place teeming with demons, hoarded treasures only attracted fatal danger.

She learned this lesson when she tried to hide a little wild boar as a child.

Quickly counting out fifteen Spirit Stones, she placed them respectfully in front of Chen Qing and showed her Iron Butterfly, "Please instruct me, Senior Taichu."

Chen Qing's gaze fell on the unassuming Iron Butterfly. By its appearance alone, it could no longer be called a butterfly, more like a beetle.

Covered in a blue sheen, it looked quite appealing.

[Mortal Iron Butterfly]

Quality: First Transformation

Life Span: 21/110

Effect: Skin as tough as iron, impenetrable by swords and spears

Trait: [Dragon Elephant] A Dragon Elephant Strength shields the body

Growth Requirements: Mystic Turtle Shell

Growth Progress: 0/100 (Waiting for promotion)

Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote

The description suggested a Dragon Elephant Strength constantly wandered on the skin, serving as protection.

Chen Qing tapped the table with his index finger, "Mystic Turtle Shell."

Hu Yao counted out twenty more Spirit Stones and respectfully placed them in front of Chen Qing, revealing her Second Transformation Power Butterfly.

"Please instruct, Senior!"

Chen Qing glanced at it, "Blood Ganoderma."

Satisfied, Hu Yao sat upright, "Thank you for the guidance, Senior."

Seeing her eager expression, she seemed desperate to spend all her Spirit Stones.

This girl couldn't save money.

However, it worked for him; he happened to need Spirit Stones.

Seeing Hu Yao had finished her queries, the scholar no longer concealed his Wind Butterfly, then counted twenty Spirit Stones and handed them respectfully to Chen Qing.

Chen Qing looked at the scholar's green Wind Butterfly. It was the first time he had seen a Butterfly Transformation Wind Gu.

[Mortal Wind Butterfly]

Quality: Second Transformation

Life Span: 33/120

Effect: Light Body

Trait: [Wind-guided] Capable of briefly treading the wind

Growth Requirements: Official Seal

Growth Progress: 0/100

Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote

An Official Seal?

Are there actually Gu that require such a thing for promotion?

The promotion requirements for Gu were truly odd and varied.

Despite his confusion, Chen Qing stated truthfully, "Official Seal."

Murong Lang was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, "It is indeed rare, although it's among the possible promotion materials, it's used the least."

Chen Qing leaned back, adopting a comfortable sitting posture, "You may start your conversation."

Hu Yao said, "Scholar, if you need more sword Gu, you can find me."

Murong Lang thought, this girl seemed to have acquired more than one item in this run. "Mm, I will contact you if needed."

"However, I am preparing for Foundation Establishment recently, so Spirit Stones might be scarce."

Hu Yao asked, "Have you prepared your Lifebound Gu?"

Chen Qing was astounded; it was his first time hearing the term Lifebound Gu.

This was something he needed to listen to carefully.