After graduation, time seemed to move faster.
In the academy, each day had been arranged by others. Lessons, assessments, sparring, cultivation. Even conflict had rules.
After joining Chi Shan's group, Fang Ming's days became much simpler.
Accept mission.
Enter the mountain.
Return alive.
Receive reward.
Sometimes they collected herbs. Sometimes they hunted beasts. Sometimes they searched for traces left behind by wild Gu. The rewards were not generous, but the danger was real. A careless step in the forest could cost more than a month of cultivation.
Fang Ming gradually understood why many Rank two Gu Masters still looked poor.
Gu worms had to be fed. Injuries had to be treated. Primeval stones had to be saved for emergencies. The more one cultivated, the more one spent. Strength was never free.
Thus when the merchant caravan arrived again, the whole village became lively.
To many young Gu Masters, the caravan meant rare goods, strange food, and excitement. To the elders, it meant resources and trade. To the mortals, it was a rare chance to see the outside world.
To Fang Ming, it meant something else.
Opportunity.
And perhaps the last real one.
Next year, the wolf tide would be worse. The roads would become dangerous, and no merchant caravan would easily risk crossing Qing Mao Mountain. After that, this mountain itself would be buried in disaster.
If he wanted to exchange hidden things for usable strength, this was the time.
The caravan grounds were crowded when Fang Ming arrived.
Large tents filled the open spaces between bamboo buildings. Fat black beetles rested beside wooden crates, their shells covered in rope marks. Ostriches with bright feathers lowered their heads into feed troughs. A hairy mountain spider clung to the side of a cart while mortal servants shouted and pushed from below.
At the center of the caravan grounds stood the Three Star Cave.
It was not a cave, but a Gu house grown into the shape of an ancient tree. Its trunk was wide, its bark dark, and its branches stretched above the tents like a canopy.
Gu Masters entered and left through the open doors.
Fang Ming stood outside for a moment, then walked in.
The Three Star Cave had three floors.
The first floor sold Rank one Gu worms, the second floor sold Rank two Gu worms, and the third floor sold Rank three Gu worms. The higher one went, the fewer Gu worms there were, and the more expensive the price became.
Fang Ming did not go upstairs immediately.
He stood on the first floor and looked around.
There were many Gu Masters here. Some were academy students who had not yet lost their excitement. Some were clan Gu Masters who had just returned from missions. There were also elders' attendants, standing quietly before the counters and writing bids on bamboo paper.
In the caravan, some Gu worms were not bought by shouting prices in public.
If a Gu Master wanted one, he wrote a price and placed it into the counter's opening. When the time was up, the highest bidder obtained it. The seller would not reveal the buyer's name, nor the final price.
This rule was useful.
In the clan, face, seniority, faction, and personal feelings could suppress many desires. But in a secret transaction, a junior could compete with an elder, and an enemy could snatch what another person wanted without ever appearing.
The caravan relied on this darkness in people's hearts to do business.
Fang Ming's gaze swept past a Liquor worm displayed on a counter.
Several young Gu Masters stood around it, whispering. The marked price was five hundred primeval stones. But Fang Ming only looked once before moving away.
A marked price was only bait.
The real price was inside the slips.
Fang Ming had no interest in bidding for another Liquor worm. What he needed today was not chance, but conversion.
He walked to the appraisal counter.
Behind the counter sat a middle-aged Gu Master in merchant robes. His face was ordinary, and his expression carried the tired look of someone who had seen too many people trying to take advantage of the caravan.
Fang Ming placed a wooden box on the counter.
"I am selling Gu."
The shopkeeper looked at him, then at the box.
"Open it."
Fang Ming opened the box.
Inside was a Liquor worm.
The shopkeeper's brows moved slightly. After looking for a moment, he took out a thin jade stick and examined it.
The Liquor worm was in good condition. It had no injuries, and its spirit was stable.
"Four hundred and twenty primeval stones," the shopkeeper said.
Fang Ming did not speak.
The shopkeeper raised his eyes. "The caravan still has to resell it. The risk of keeping Gu worms is not small."
"Four hundred and eighty," Fang Ming said.
The shopkeeper shook his head. "The caravan can sell it for five hundred to six hundred, but that depends on whether someone needs it. Four hundred and fifty."
"Four hundred and seventy."
The shopkeeper looked at Fang Ming again.
A young Rank two Gu Master, but not like those who flushed red after hearing the first price.
"Four hundred and sixty," the shopkeeper said. "If you have more goods, I can calculate together."
Fang Ming nodded.
This was acceptable.
The caravan wanted profit. That was natural. If he insisted on selling at the same price the caravan would sell to others, he might as well open a stall himself. But opening a stall meant waiting, bargaining, and revealing too much.
He had no such leisure.
Fang Ming placed the second box down.
White Boar Gu.
The shopkeeper inspected it and said, "Four hundred and thirty."
"Five hundred and twenty."
"Young master, White Boar Gu is useful, but not everyone cultivates strength. Four hundred and seventy."
"Five hundred."
The shopkeeper paused, then nodded. "Five hundred."
The White Boar Gu had already finished its main use. Selling it now was not a loss. The strength it had given him remained in his body, while the Gu worm itself only brought feeding burden.
The third was Bronze Skin Gu.
This Gu was more common.
The shopkeeper offered one hundred and fifty primeval stones. Fang Ming pushed it to one hundred and eighty.
The fourth was Jade Skin Gu.
When the Jade Skin Gu appeared, the shopkeeper's attitude became more careful.
"Five hundred and fifty," the shopkeeper said.
"Seven hundred."
"That is the selling price, not the buying price."
"Then six hundred and fifty."
The shopkeeper rubbed the jade stick between his fingers. "Six hundred and twenty. Higher than this, the caravan earns too little."
Fang Ming accepted.
Jade Skin Gu was not bad among defensive Gu worms. Although it was not suitable to reveal in Fang Ming's hands, in the caravan's hands, it would become a proper commodity with a clean price.
The shopkeeper did not ask where it came from.
Fang Ming also did not explain.
In Gu Master transactions, asking too much was not a sign of carefulness. It was a sign of not understanding rules.
People who sold Gu might have killed others, found inheritances, stolen from rivals, or received faction rewards. As long as the Gu was real, usable, and not marked by a force that would bring trouble to the caravan, the rest was not important.
Business was business.
Finally, Fang Ming took out a sealed container.
The shopkeeper opened it.
A red light shone out.
Red Steel Relic Gu.
The shopkeeper's fingers paused.
This pause was very short, but Fang Ming saw it.
Relic Gu worms were always easy to sell. They were one-use Gu worms, but that was exactly why they were precious. They raised cultivation directly, saving time and reducing bottlenecks.
For a Rank two Gu Master, a Red Steel Relic Gu could change many things.
The shopkeeper closed the container and said, "Three thousand eight hundred."
Fang Ming smiled.
This was the first time he had smiled since entering the Three Star Cave.
The shopkeeper also smiled.
Both knew this price was impossible.
"The caravan sells Red Steel Relic Gu for around five thousand primeval stones," Fang Ming said. "If there are many bidders, it can be higher."
"That is the selling price."
"The buying price cannot be three thousand eight hundred."
"The caravan bears storage risk, transport risk, and selling risk."
"Relic Gu has no feeding burden. The risk is lower than other Gu worms."
The shopkeeper tapped his finger on the counter.
"Four thousand two hundred."
"Four thousand seven hundred."
The shopkeeper shook his head. "Impossible. At that price, the caravan makes too little."
"Then I will keep it."
Fang Ming reached for the container.
The shopkeeper pressed one hand lightly on the counter. "Young master, there is no need to hurry. Four thousand four hundred."
"Four thousand six hundred."
The shopkeeper looked at him.
Fang Ming looked back calmly.
A Red Steel Relic Gu was not like the Liquor worm. Liquor worm buyers were mostly juniors. Red Steel Relic Gu buyers were Rank two Gu Masters, and there were many Rank two Gu Masters on Qing Mao Mountain. With the wolf tide approaching year by year, any Gu worm that could raise cultivation would not lack buyers.
The shopkeeper knew this.
Fang Ming also knew this.
After several breaths, the shopkeeper nodded.
"Four thousand five hundred and fifty. This is the highest I can give."
Fang Ming did not answer immediately.
Instead, he placed another sealed container on the counter.
The shopkeeper opened it.
Inside was another Red Steel Relic Gu.
This time, his expression finally changed.
Two Red Steel Relic Gu.
If the caravan displayed them separately, each could draw Rank two Gu Masters to bid. Even if they sold each one at five thousand primeval stones, they would not lack profit. If competition was fierce, the final price could still rise.
The shopkeeper closed the second container.
"Both at four thousand five hundred and fifty each," Fang Ming said.
The shopkeeper frowned. "If there are two, the caravan takes more stones out at once. Four thousand five hundred each."
"Then sell them one by one after I leave."
"Young master's words are sharp."
"The Gu is real."
The shopkeeper stared at him for a breath, then laughed.
"Good. Four thousand five hundred and fifty each."
Fang Ming nodded.
The shopkeeper wrote the prices on a bamboo slip. Fang Ming looked over each line.
Liquor worm, four hundred and sixty.
White Boar Gu, five hundred.
Bronze Skin Gu, one hundred and eighty.
Jade Skin Gu, six hundred and twenty.
Two Red Steel Relic Gu, nine thousand one hundred.
Total, ten thousand eight hundred and sixty primeval stones.
This amount was large enough to make most academy graduates' eyes turn red.
But Fang Ming did not feel happy.
Primeval stones only had meaning when they became strength. Before that, they were just weight.
"I want everything in primeval stones," Fang Ming said.
The shopkeeper nodded. "That can be done."
He turned and gave an order. Soon, several sealed pouches were brought over and placed on the counter one after another.
Fang Ming did not touch them immediately.
He checked the seals first.
Then he opened one pouch, took out several stones, and examined their color and weight. Only after confirming there was no problem did he put the pouches away.
The shopkeeper watched this and smiled. "Young master is careful."
"Money is troublesome if counted wrongly."
"That is true."
The transaction was completed.
Fang Ming did not leave.
"What Black Boar Gu do you have?"
The shopkeeper glanced toward one of the counters. "There is one on the first floor. It was displayed this morning. If young master wants it directly, the price will not be low."
"Show me."
Soon, a servant brought over a wooden cage.
Inside was a black beetle-like Gu worm. Its body was round, and its shell had a dull black shine. It moved slowly inside the cage, occasionally striking the wooden bars with its head.
Black Boar Gu.
It could increase a Gu Master's fundamental strength. Its effect could stack with White Boar Gu.
Fang Ming had already gained the strength of one boar. If he used Black Boar Gu properly, his body's strength could rise again.
This type of strength did not need primeval essence in battle.
Primeval essence could run out. Gu worms could be restricted. But strength rooted in flesh remained.
"How much?" Fang Ming asked.
"Seven hundred and twenty primeval stones," the shopkeeper said.
Fang Ming shook his head. "Six hundred."
"Young master sold White Boar Gu for five hundred and knows the price. Black Boar Gu is rarer here. Seven hundred."
"Six hundred and fifty."
The shopkeeper thought for a moment. "Six hundred and eighty."
Fang Ming turned his gaze away.
The shopkeeper laughed. "Fine. Six hundred and fifty."
Fang Ming counted out the primeval stones.
The shopkeeper checked them, then handed over the cage.
The Black Boar Gu entered Fang Ming's hands.
But the primeval stones beneath Fang Ming's robe had become troublesome.
Too much money was also a burden. The pouches had weight, made movement inconvenient, and if he entered the wilderness like this, even running would be affected.
Fang Ming looked at the shopkeeper again.
"Do you have storage-type Gu?"
He ordered the servant to bring another wooden box.
Inside was a small grey Gu worm shaped like a cloth pouch. Its body was soft and wrinkled, and its mouth was tied shut like a drawstring bag.
"Pouch Gu. Rank one storage Gu," the shopkeeper introduced. "It can store small objects like primeval stones, dried food, medicine, and Gu food. It cannot store living Gu worms. The inner space is not large, but for daily use, it is enough."
Fang Ming asked, "Feeding?"
"Cotton thread and a little primeval essence every ten days. Very easy to raise."
This kind of Gu had no fighting strength.
But not all useful Gu were used for killing.
For Fang Ming, being able to hide and carry primeval stones properly was already worth the price.
"How much?"
"Three hundred primeval stones."
"Two hundred and forty."
"Young master, even though it is Rank one, storage Gu worms are always convenient. Two hundred and eighty."
"Two hundred and sixty."
The shopkeeper smiled. "Two hundred and seventy."
Fang Ming nodded and paid.
The Pouch Gu was also placed into a sealed container.
Only then did Fang Ming go to the second floor.
There were fewer people here.
Rank two Gu worms were not something ordinary students could touch. Even among working Gu Masters, not everyone could afford them. Each Gu worm here had its own counter, and the attendants were more attentive than those below.
Fang Ming looked through several defensive Gu.
Stone Coat Gu was strong, but it slowed movement.
Mud Armor Gu had decent protection, but it required muddy soil and was inconvenient in forests or rocky areas.
Water Film Gu was flexible, but its feeding needs were troublesome.
Fang Ming stopped before a dark cicada-shaped Gu worm.
The attendant introduced it, "Iron Skin Gu. Rank two defensive Gu. It strengthens the skin and flesh directly. Its defense is not as strong as heavy armor-type Gu worms, but it does not hinder movement. It is suitable for Gu Masters who need to run, dodge, or fight at close range."
Fang Ming asked, "Feeding?"
"Ironwood sap and powdered black beetle shell. Once every six days under ordinary use. More if used heavily."
These things could be obtained on Qing Mao Mountain.
Not cheap, but not rare.
That was enough.
"Demonstrate."
The attendant agreed.
He refined a small amount of primeval essence into the Iron Skin Gu. The Gu landed on his arm. A dim iron color spread across his skin.
The attendant took out a small blade and cut across his forearm.
A white mark appeared.
No blood came out.
Fang Ming looked at the attendant's wrist, elbow, and fingers.
The movement was not stiff.
This was more important than the blade mark.
A defensive Gu that made one unable to move freely could save a life once, then kill the owner the next time. Fang Ming did not lack defensive choices because he liked being hit. He needed defense for the moments when dodging failed.
"How much?"
"Two thousand primeval stones," the attendant said.
Fang Ming frowned. "Too high."
"This is a clean Rank two Gu worm."
"It still needs to be refined again."
"All Gu bought here need to be refined again."
"Then the price should reflect that."
The attendant hesitated, then called the shopkeeper from earlier.
The shopkeeper came upstairs and saw Fang Ming standing before the Iron Skin Gu. He immediately understood.
"Young master has good eyes," he said. "Iron Skin Gu is practical. It does not look impressive, but it is easy to use."
"Practical Gu should have practical prices."
The shopkeeper laughed. "One thousand eight hundred."
"One thousand six hundred."
"This is Rank two."
"It is also not a rare inheritance Gu."
"One thousand seven hundred and fifty."
"One thousand seven hundred."
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then nodded.
"One thousand seven hundred."
Fang Ming counted out the primeval stones and bought the Iron Skin Gu.
He also bought ironwood sap, black beetle shell powder, and some ordinary mission supplies. These things cost another one hundred and twenty primeval stones. They were not eye-catching. Every Gu Master who went into the wilderness needed tools and Gu food.
After paying, Fang Ming did not immediately go downstairs.
He looked at the shopkeeper.
"I want to see the third floor."
The shopkeeper was startled, then laughed.
"Young master, the third floor sells Rank three Gu worms."
"I know."
"Even looking at them is not free for ordinary guests."
Fang Ming did not speak. He only looked at him calmly.
The shopkeeper glanced at the servant carrying away the empty stone pouches, then at the sealed containers Fang Ming had bought.
Today, Fang Ming had sold several Gu worms and bought several more. To the caravan, this was already a good customer.
The shopkeeper smiled. "Rules are rules, but business also depends on people. Since young master has given our caravan face, looking is not a problem. But you can only look. You cannot touch the counters, and you cannot disturb other guests."
"That is enough."
The shopkeeper led him up.
The third floor was much quieter than the second.
There were fewer counters, and the spaces between them were wider. The guards here were also different. They did not shout or block people loudly, but their eyes were sharp, and their hands never strayed far from their Gu pouches.
Rank three Gu worms were already enough to make clan elders move.
Even a single one could change the strength of a small faction.
Fang Ming walked slowly.
One counter held a Gu worm like a green eye, sealed inside a glass sphere. Beside it was written: Clear Sight Gu. Rank three scouting Gu.
Another counter held a centipede-like Gu with silver legs. It was curled around a piece of black iron, motionless. The description said it could strengthen tendons and bones for a short time.
There was also a defensive Gu shaped like a white jade turtle shell. Its price was so high that Fang Ming only glanced once before moving away.
He had primeval stones now.
But there were many kinds of poverty.
Some poverty was having no money.
Some poverty was having money, but not enough strength to protect what one bought.
Fang Ming's steps finally stopped before the central counter.
Inside a short tree-stump cage, fine branches were interwoven like fingers. Between the leaves, a round Gu worm emitted a faint silver-white light.
White Silver Relic Gu.
Rank three relic Gu.
Its marked price was thirty thousand primeval stones.
The final price would only be higher.
Fang Ming stood before it, his face calm.
A Rank two Gu Master could not use White Silver Relic Gu. But Fang Ming was not looking at the present.
This caravan would not come next year.
The wolf tide would become too severe. The road would become dangerous, and merchants would not risk their lives for small profit. After that, Qing Mao Mountain itself would become a grave.
If he reached Rank three before the final crisis, this Gu could raise him by one small realm.
One small realm sounded small.
But in life and death, sometimes one small realm was the difference between escaping and becoming meat under a wolf's teeth.
In the depths of Fang Ming's body, the monthly chance stirred silently.
The Gu was within one meter.
The counter's restrictions blocked hands, primeval essence, and ordinary methods. They did not block his copying ability.
Fang Ming lowered his eyes, as if reading the description carefully.
Copy.
A cold feeling spread through his mind.
The target was higher rank than him.
The value was high.
The structure was not complicated like a combat Gu, but the effect involved cultivation itself. The time needed was not short.
Fang Ming remained still.
The shopkeeper stood at the side and did not hurry him.
Customers who came to the third floor often looked like this. Even if they could not buy, they liked to stare a little longer. A Rank three Gu worm was not something most Gu Masters could see every day.
Ten breaths.
Twenty breaths.
Thirty breaths.
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
The silver light inside the counter flickered softly.
Forty breaths.
A guest on the other side of the floor asked a question, and the shopkeeper turned his head to answer.
Fang Ming's fingers inside his sleeve tightened slightly, then loosened.
Fifty breaths.
The cold feeling disappeared.
The copy was complete.
A White Silver Relic Gu quietly appeared in Fang Ming's hidden possession.
He did not show joy.
Joy was useless.
Showing joy was worse.
He looked at the price tag once more, then stepped back.
"Rank three Gu are indeed expensive," Fang Ming said.
The shopkeeper laughed. "Of course. Even clan elders have to consider carefully before buying one."
Fang Ming nodded.
He looked at two more counters, asked no questions, and soon went downstairs.
When Fang Ming returned to the first floor, the Liquor worm counter was already surrounded by another group of people.
Someone would obtain it.
Someone would lose it.
Most people inside the Three Star Cave were like this. They entered thinking they had found an opportunity, then discovered that opportunity also had a price.
Fang Ming walked out of the treehouse.
The caravan grounds were still noisy. Mortals carried crates. Gu Masters bargained. Beast cries mixed with the shouting of merchants.
The pouches beneath Fang Ming's robe were lighter than before.
He had sold six Gu worms and bought three.
Black Boar Gu would slowly become strength in his body.
Pouch Gu would hide his wealth and reduce trouble.
Iron Skin Gu would become a public defensive method that could be explained.
As for the Red Steel Relic Gu, selling them below the caravan's final price was not a loss. The caravan earned its profit, and Fang Ming earned his.
A fair transaction did not mean both sides were equal.
It only meant both sides had obtained what they wanted.
Fang Ming stepped into the crowd and left without turning back.
Price ledger used
Sold:
Gu
Price
Liquor worm
460 primeval stones
White Boar Gu
500 primeval stones
Bronze Skin Gu
180 primeval stones
Jade Skin Gu
620 primeval stones
Red Steel Relic Gu
4,550 primeval stones
Red Steel Relic Gu
4,550 primeval stones
Total earned
10,860 primeval stones
Bought:
Gu / supplies
Price
Black Boar Gu
650 primeval stones
Pouch Gu
270 primeval stones
Iron Skin Gu
1,700 primeval stones
Gu food and mission supplies
120 primeval stones
Total spent
2,740 primeval stones
Remaining after purchases: 8,120 primeval stones.