Just a token allowed Gu Yuan to gain such great benefits; if he really managed to live off someone else, he'd probably reach Foundation Establishment by tomorrow.
Especially this Golden Core Ascendant, whose beauty is the greatest Gu Yuan has seen in his life.
Whenever he thinks of those pink eyes, Gu Yuan can't help but feel his heart skip.
"Only the bold survive, the timid starve!"
"With Stone Liquid in hand, it's not impossible to give it a try!"
"Even if I can't live off someone, I must find a way to become an apprentice under a Golden Core."
During his time in the Demon Star Cave, Gu Yuan deeply understood the importance of having backers.
His decisive nature and latent madness were also triggered.
So, even if the odds are slim, Gu Yuan must give it a try.
"But not now; a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. The Stone Liquid offers only one chance to uncover opportunities, and if wasted on living off someone, it can't be used for tomorrow's Cave Mansion selection."
"Living off a Golden Core ascendant or becoming an apprentice under one - both are extremely unlikely. After all, the Stone Liquid only reveals opportunities, it doesn't conjure them from thin air."
"Therefore, to play it safe, it's better to first check the opportunity of the Cave Mansion. With a place to settle, I can wait for the next accumulation of Stone Liquid."
Gu Yuan's strategic mindset is grand, yet when it comes to tactics, he remains cautious and does not waste any opportunity.
"In that case, let's first check the Cave Mansion and see if there's any potential oversight to exploit."
After some contemplation, Gu Yuan finally made a decision.
He turned over his palm, and a grayish-blue stone bottle suddenly appeared.
The stone bottle, a foot tall, was entirely made of grayish-blue stone, with no patterns or decorations, appearing quite ordinary, like the crude works of an earthly farmer. However, when Gu Yuan gently shook the bottle, the sounds of liquid clashing could be heard from within, like jade stones colliding.
"I wonder what this stone bottle relies on to condense the Stone Liquid. If I can figure out the pattern, perhaps I could view opportunities daily."
Gently shaking the stone bottle, Gu Yuan let out a light sigh.
The stone bottle's origins are mysterious. Its predecessor was unexpectedly obtained from a cliff. Initially thought to be a mundane item, but later discovered to be incredibly hard, unbreakable, and thus retained.
Before discovering its ability to condense Stone Liquid, the previous owner encountered a mishap during cultivation and perished, and the bottle ended up with Gu Yuan.
Yet, before Gu Yuan could explore it, he was taken to the Demon Star Cave.
However, due to this calamity, he discovered the bottle's wonderful use.
Despite knowing its use, Gu Yuan still doesn't fully understand the mechanism by which it condenses Stone Liquid.
Currently, Gu Yuan only knows that every half month or a month, the bottle condenses two drops of Stone Liquid to view an opportunity.
"Enough thinking; it's useless to overthink. I should slowly explore it in the future."
Unable to come up with an answer, Gu Yuan stopped exhausting himself and directly took out the Stone Liquid, applying it to his eyes.
"Boom!"
In an instant, stars shifted, the sun and moon flickered, and the entire world once again turned into gray and white lines, with all things seeming to be clearly revealed in Gu Yuan's sight.
The Quiet Chamber beneath his feet, the bamboo grove, the island, everything seemed to turn into gray and white lines, exceptionally clear.
However, only the Welcome Island underfoot and a nearby white island covered with green bamboo were the clearest. The Cyan Peak Mountain further away became quite blurry, while the distant Nine Rivers Marsh was even more obscure.
Currently, the range detected by the Stone Liquid is just about this size.
Moreover, the Stone Liquid can only point out opportunities based on Gu Yuan's current circumstances and urgent needs, rather than granting wishes.
Gu Yuan wants to view tomorrow's opportunity for selecting a Cave Mansion, and the Stone Liquid can do that.
Even if he wants guidance on living off a Golden Core ascendant, the Stone Liquid can faintly indicate something.
Because these matters are entangled with Gu Yuan and have clues to follow.
But imagining becoming an Immortal overnight, becoming a Golden Core cultivator, or directly becoming the headmaster of Cyan Peak Daoist School, would be nothing but wishful thinking.
Gu Yuan had already figured out these patterns before, so he no longer indulges in fantasies.
He directly looked towards the distance, at the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute.
There, five spots of light flickered with faint illumination, standing out in the world of gray lines.
Gu Yuan knew these five Cave Mansions were the Qi Refining Cave Mansions that would be reclaimed after the fifteenth year tomorrow.
Among them, two emitted faint white light, extremely dim. If not for the gray lines of the world, Gu Yuan could barely see them.
"These should be inferior Cave Mansions with nothing but dust."
Gu Yuan understood clearly.
Most Qi Refining Disciples are quite penniless.
Even the Inner Sect Disciples of the Cyan Peak Daoist School are no exception.
The more diligent in cultivation, the less money they have.
Even if they have money, they would take their Storage Bag with them when going out, carrying their entire fortune, leaving nothing in the Cave Mansion. Therefore, every time a Cave Mansion is reclaimed, few respond.
Only when a wealthy disciple meets an untimely end do others covet the Cave Mansion.
Gu Yuan skipped over these two Cave Mansions and looked at the remaining three.
Among them, two emitted clear, dazzling white light, quite eye-catching in the gray world.
If these Cave Mansions were inherited, they would undoubtedly yield a small fortune.
But Gu Yuan's gaze directly skipped these two Cave Mansions and looked at the last.
There, amidst the blue light, was a rich, dazzling silver light, glowing brilliantly at the end of the five spots of light.
"An opportunity of blue with silver!"
Gu Yuan was first surprised, then delighted.
Among opportunity lights, white is the lowest, blue slightly stronger, silver is already quite outstanding, and gold is something that can only be encountered but not sought.
Gu Yuan obtained a token, formed ties with a Golden Core ascendant, not only surviving the Demon Star Cave unharmed but also joining a great power in the East Mountain Realm under Cyan Peak Daoist School. Such an opportunity was gold-tinged silver.
But just a Qi Refining Cave Mansion already held an opportunity of blue with silver.
Moreover, the silver light was very intense, almost dyeing the entire light spot pure silver.
This is definitely not something a few Spirit Stones can compare to.
There must be a significant secret in this Cave Mansion!
Gu Yuan's heart started thumping immediately.
He had just joined Cyan Peak Daoist School, his cultivation merely at Qi Refining Fourth Layer, with no mentor. To progress in cultivation and establish himself here, he needed opportunities to help.
This Cave Mansion must not be missed!
"Whew!"
The gray and white lines dissipated, the effect of the Stone Liquid faded, and before Gu Yuan's eyes, the walls of the Quiet Chamber reappeared.
"I just hope that the opportunity of this Cave Mansion hasn't been discovered by others."
After the initial joy, Gu Yuan started calculating his chances of acquiring the Cave Mansion.
If no one knows, then the likelihood is great since, in Qiu Mingshan's eyes, he still carries a portion of the Golden Core's legacy.
But if it's already known, there will likely be some hurdles.
"How can I ensure I get this Cave Mansion?"
Gu Yuan pondered, wanting to leave nothing to chance.
But after thinking for a long time, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"With my current cultivation, I find it hard to make a significant impact in this matter. To obtain this Cave Mansion, I must leverage others' influence, from Golden Core power to Foundation Establishment power, and also..."
"I just hope there won't be too many hurdles..."