188: Chapter 188 Soul-Devouring Demonic Insects! The Life-Substitute Gu is Completed! Xin Ruyin Breaks Through!

Chapter 175: Soul-Devouring Demon Insect! life-substituting gu Completed! Xin Ruyin Breakthrough!

White Water Tower, third-floor VIP room.

Seeing that Lu Qiu had not replied for a long time, the warm smile on Gu Yuan's face froze for a moment.

His gaze was like a torch as he stared intently at Lu Qiu, as if trying to see something on the other's face.

"Elder Lu, what's wrong? Is there some difficulty?"

"Hall Master Nangong has such intentions; you cannot let her down."

Gu Yuan spoke slowly, his voice still gentle, but a flash of sharp light, hard to detect, crossed his eyes.

Lu Qiu's heart tightened.

It seemed that trying to fool his way through easily today would be quite difficult.

His face remained expressionless as he quickly adjusted his mindset, explaining in a calm tone: "Elder Gu, you overstate things. However, This Lu is currently refining an important Medicinal Pill. This pill is of vital importance to This Lu and requires constant monitoring of the heat, so I truly cannot spare any time. Furthermore, This Lu's Dao Companion Xin Ruyin is currently in seclusion preparing for Core Formation, and also needs This Lu's care nearby. At this critical juncture, I really cannot leave."

These words of his were half-true and half-false.

The Alchemy was true, and Xin Ruyin's preparation for Core Formation was also true, but "being unable to leave" was not necessarily so.

However, such a reason was reasonable and fair; even Gu Yuan found it hard to say anything further.

Hearing this, Gu Yuan fell silent for a moment, the scrutinizing look on his face gradually fading, replaced once again by a smile.

"So that's how it is. Since Elder Lu needs to perform Alchemy and also look after his Dao Companion, he is indeed stretched thin. I understand, I understand." He nodded, his tone softening.

But then his tone shifted as he added: "However, Elder Lu, I must give an account to Hall Master Nangong. Do you think... you could give me a rough timeframe? It would make it easier for me to report back."

Lu Qiu cursed inwardly: This guy is really latching onto me.

After a brief contemplation, he said slowly: "Fifteen years, then. By that time, This Lu's Dao Companion should have successfully completed Core Formation, and the Medicinal Pill in This Lu's hands should also be finished. At that time, This Lu will certainly follow Elder Gu to the headquarters to pay a visit to Senior Nangong."

Fifteen years.

This amount of time was neither long nor short.

For a Core Formation Cultivator, fifteen years was but a blink of an eye.

But for Lu Qiu, fifteen years was enough for him to do many things.

Raising his cultivation, nurturing Spirit Pets... making full preparations to deal with the threat of the Nixing Alliance.

Hearing this, a flash of satisfaction appeared in Gu Yuan's eyes, and he nodded: "Good! A fifteen-year term. With this answer from Elder Lu, I can also report back."

He paused and added: "I will be returning to the headquarters in a few days. As for Kuixing Island, I'll have to rely on Elder Lu to guard it. If there is any need, contact me anytime."

Lu Qiu cupped his hands: "Rest assured, Elder Gu, This Lu will certainly do his utmost."

Gu Yuan nodded with a smile, picked up his spiritual tea, and took a sip.

Just then, Lu Qiu suddenly spoke: "Elder Gu, This Lu has a presumptuous request, though I don't know if I should mention it."

Gu Yuan was startled, then laughed: "Elder Lu, don't be a stranger. We are all on the same side, feel free to speak."

Lu Qiu took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Gu Yuan, his tone sincere:

"What This Lu is currently refining is an ancient Pill Formula called the 'Spirit-Concentrating Pill,' which has miraculous effects for Core Formation Cultivators in nourishing the Divine Soul and breaking through a Bottleneck. This Pill Formula was obtained by This Lu through a chance Opportunity, but one of the main ingredients is extremely rare. This Lu has searched in many places to no avail and would like to ask Elder Gu to help keep an eye out for it."

Gu Yuan took the Jade Slip, sent his Divine Sense inside, and quickly browsed through it.

The list of medicinal Materials recorded in the Jade Slip was quite detailed, but the most crucial one was a type of Yao Beast insect called the "Soul Devouring Insect."

Gu Yuan's eyebrows twitched slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "Soul Devouring Insect? This insect is ranked fifty-sixth on the list of strange insects. It loves to devour Divine Souls and is extremely rare."

Lu Qiu's heart tightened, but his face remained calm as he said frankly: "Elder Gu is truly knowledgeable. To be honest, this pill is required for a secret technique This Lu is practicing. As for the specific use... please forgive me, Elder Gu, this is an unshared secret of my master's sect."

Although Elder Gu was surprised in his heart, he did not press further.

In the world of immortal cultivation, everyone has their own secrets, and prying into others' secrets is a major taboo.

He nodded and handed the Jade Slip back to Lu Qiu, saying: "So that's it. In that case, after I return, I will certainly mobilize the channels of the Liulian Hall to do my best to search for this insect for Elder Lu. It's just that this item is indeed rare, so I cannot guarantee whether it can be found."

Lu Qiu cupped his hands in thanks: "If Elder Gu is willing to help, This Lu is already deeply grateful. If it can truly be found, This Lu is willing to purchase it with Spirit Stones or treasures; the price is negotiable."

Gu Yuan laughed loudly: "We're all on the same side, why talk about Spirit Stones? Once I find it, I will naturally send someone to deliver it."

Two people exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lu Qiu rose to take his leave.

...

Leaving the White Water Tower, Lu Qiu restrained his aura and circled around Kuixing City several times. After confirming no one was following, he quietly returned to Tianmen Peak.

Back at the Immortal Cave, he sat quietly on a prayer mat, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Soul Devouring Insect—he naturally wasn't using it to refine any "Spirit-Concentrating Pill."

The Soul Devouring Insect on that Pill Formula was something Lu Qiu added himself.

The true use of this insect was to refine a type of malicious Gu called the "god-controlling gu"!

The god-controlling gu was an extremely insidious type of Gu recorded in the Myriad Poisons Gu Scripture.

Once this Gu was refined, it could forcibly invade a Cultivator's Primordial Spirit and control them like a Puppet!

Once afflicted by the Gu, one would be like a Puppet, their life and death no longer their own, and all their thoughts and ideas would be under the control of the Gu master!

Lu Qiu collected this item precisely to prepare for dealing with the threat of the Nixing Alliance in the future.

If it truly came to a point of no other choice, he might be able to use this Gu to plant spies within the Liulian Hall, or even... control key figures!

"Fifteen years..." Lu Qiu murmured to himself, his gaze profound.

Fifteen years was neither long nor short.

It was enough for him to do many things.

He returned to Tianmen Peak and went to Hei Sha's Quiet Room, handing over one of the two portions of Level Six Yao Beast Essence Blood to Hei Sha.

"Use the blood devouring pearl to refine it into a blood pearl, then feed it to the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis," Lu Qiu instructed.

Hei Sha took the jade bottle, a flash of solemnity appearing in his crimson eyes: "Yes."

Lu Qiu came to the nest of the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis.

The dark-gold giant mantis lay quietly in the shadows, dark-gold light flowing over its carapace, its aura as heavy and still as a mountain.

Sensing Lu Qiu's arrival, it slowly opened its compound eyes, and a hint of closeness appeared in those cold eyes.

Fifth Tier Peak.

The Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis had stayed at the Fifth Tier Peak for many years.

It had followed Lu Qiu even earlier than the Bloodline Flood Dragon.

Over the years, Lu Qiu had never mistreated it, feeding it various resources, only hoping it could achieve a Breakthrough soon.

Now, the Opportunity had finally arrived.

Hei Sha placed the refined blood pearl into the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis's mouth.

The moment the blood pearl entered its stomach, a dazzling blood-red light suddenly erupted from the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis's entire body!

The light was so strong that it almost dyed the entire nest red!

Immediately after, its aura began to fluctuate violently, surging and ebbing like a tide. A thick layer of blood-colored mist rose from its body, enveloping it completely.

Lu Qiu stood quietly to the side, watching all of this.

After a moment, the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis's aura gradually stabilized, and the blood mist slowly receded.

Its massive body trembled slightly, and then it slowly lay down and closed its compound eyes.

Slumber.

This was a sign of a Yao Beast absorbing essence and beginning to advance.

Lu Qiu's heart settled, and he turned to leave the nest.

With these two portions of Level Six Essence Blood, the Golden-Backed Demonic Mantis should be able to take that final step.

...

One month later.

Inside the Alchemy room, steam billowed and the fragrance of medicine filled the air.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged before the Pill Furnace, his hands forming seals, his expression solemn.

Under his exquisite control, the furnace fire showed a stable blue-red color, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

Inside the Pill Furnace, a thousand-year snow lotus, pure white as jade and emitting a cold, holy radiance, was slowly melting under the burning of the Natal True Fire, turning into a pool of crystal-clear spiritual liquid.

Supplemented by the medicinal power of over a dozen rare Spiritual Plants, it was gradually Fusion with this spiritual liquid.

This was the most critical moment.

Lu Qiu's eyes were slightly closed, his Divine Sense fully deployed like the most precise detector, monitoring every slight change inside the furnace.

The temperature of the Natal True Fire, the degree of Fusion of the medicinal power, the thickness of the spiritual liquid... every detail was under his control.

Time passed minute by minute.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

When the medicinal power in the furnace finally fused completely, turning into a ball of spiritual liquid flashing with seven-colored light—

"Condense!"

Lu Qiu gave a low shout, the hand seals changing, and the final Pill Condensation Art was struck into the furnace!

The Pill Furnace jolted violently!

The furnace lid flew up on its own!

Three streaks of light, interwoven with white, green, and blue, shot out from the furnace!

They circled and danced in mid-air, emitting a crisp and mellow medicinal fragrance. The scent was so refreshing that it cleared the mind and even made the circulation of magic power a bit smoother!

Lu Qiu reached out, and the three streaks of light obediently fell into his palm.

Three Medicinal Pills the size of longan, perfectly round and with faint cloud patterns flowing on their surfaces, lay quietly in his hand.

Each one emitted a warm radiance; they were precisely the snow lotus pills!

This pill has the effect of increasing cultivation for Middle Stage and Late Core Formation Stage Cultivators.

Using a thousand-year snow lotus as the main medicine, supplemented by more than ten kinds of rare Spiritual Plants, and after three months of hard work, it was finally refined!

A satisfied smile appeared on Lu Qiu's face.

He took out a snow lotus pill and placed it in his mouth.

The pill entered his stomach, and a cool and mellow medicinal power instantly dissolved, surging into his Meridians like a stream. Lu Qiu did not dare to be careless and immediately operated the Crimson Sky Burning Heaven Technique to begin refining this medicinal power.

Cultivate began once again.

...

Inside the Quiet Room, Lu Qiu slowly opened his eyes.

Three years of seclusion, day and night without stopping, the snow lotus pills had all been consumed.

His cultivation had improved quite a bit compared to three years ago, his magic power was more condensed, and his Golden Core was more rounded.

But there was still a significant distance to the Late Core Formation Stage.

"Moving from the Middle Stage to the Late Stage of Core Formation is indeed not that easy," Lu Qiu murmured to himself, though he was not in a hurry.

With a thought, he took out an exquisite jade box from his Storage Pouch.

Opening the lid, more than ten kinds of Materials lay quietly inside—soul-quelling grass, Spiritual Essence Milk, Nether Spirit Stone, Blood Soul Crystal, Nether Spider Blood...

During these three years, through the channels of the Liulian Hall, he had already gathered all the Materials needed to refine the life-substituting gu!

"Finally, I can begin refining," a flash of anticipation appeared in Lu Qiu's eyes.

The life-substituting gu—the life-saving trump card he had coveted for a long time!

Once this Gu was refined, it could be linked to the master's life.

If the master encountered a fatal attack, the life-substituting gu could withstand a certain-death injury for the master, at the cost of the Gu itself being annihilated.

This was truly a second life!

He took a deep breath, took out the Jade Slip of the Myriad Poisons Gu Scripture, and carefully studied the refining method once more.

After confirming that every step was etched in his heart, he finally began to work.

...

Half a year later.

Inside the Quiet Room, Lu Qiu's face was pale, and cold sweat was dripping from his forehead, but his eyes shone with irrepressible wild joy!

In his palm, a small insect only the size of a fingernail, entirely gray with faint silver patterns on its back, lay quietly!

That small insect looked unremarkable, even somewhat ugly.

But Lu Qiu could clearly feel a mysterious connection established between him and it—it was a connection at the level of life, as if it were a part of him!

The life-substituting gu—its initial form was complete!

"Finally succeeded!" Lu Qiu let out a long breath, his face full of exhaustion, but also full of joy.

For half a year, he had worked day and night without rest, his mind highly concentrated, consuming countless efforts, and finally succeeded in refining this life-substituting gu!

Although it was only an initial form at this moment, not yet mature and unable to exert its true effect.

But as long as it was fed with Essence Blood to make it grow gradually, in time, it would truly become his "second life"!

Lu Qiu did not hesitate to bite his fingertip and force out a drop of Essence Blood, dripping it onto the small gray insect.

The small insect greedily absorbed the Essence Blood, the silver patterns on its back flashing slightly, appearing a bit more cheerful.

Then, it slowly crawled and burrowed into Lu Qiu's sleeve, pressing close to his skin and falling into a slumber.

"Grow well," Lu Qiu said softly, his eyes full of anticipation.

He stood up and left the Quiet Room, coming to the main hall.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

His Divine Sense sensed a violent fluctuation of spiritual power coming from a certain Quiet Room deep within the Immortal Cave!

That was Xin Ruyin's Quiet Room!

With a flash of his body, Lu Qiu was already outside Xin Ruyin's Quiet Room.

Sending his Divine Sense inside, he saw Xin Ruyin sitting cross-legged, her aura rapidly climbing!

Late Foundation Establishment Stage!

Xin Ruyin was having a Breakthrough!

Lu Qiu was delighted, but he did not disturb her, only quietly guarding the outside.

After a moment, that aura finally stabilized.

The stone door of the Quiet Room slowly opened, and Xin Ruyin stepped out, her face carrying a faint blush and her eyes full of joy.

"Husband Lu, I have broken through," she said softly, her voice carrying an irrepressible excitement.

Lu Qiu stepped forward, gently embracing her, and said softly: "Congratulations, Ruyin."

Xin Ruyin leaned into his arms, her heart full of peace.

Lu Qiu, however, was thinking: Xin Ruyin has reached the Late Foundation Establishment Stage; next, she needs to prepare for Core Formation.

There was also Zhao Wen, who had long been at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and Xiao Mei, who was not far from it...

He would need to prepare at least three sets of Core Formation spiritual items to be enough for them.

"It seems I need to get more Core Formation spiritual items," Lu Qiu thought to himself.