16 Middle Stage
In an old, fragile wood house, Yan sat on his bed with his eyes shut, holding a primeval stone in both hands.
Inside his Aperture, the primeval essence quickly depleted, causing a sharp drop in the water level.
Splash, splash, splash…
The relentless waves crashed, eventually bringing about a change. The once serene white wall suddenly trembled, emitting a piercing brilliance.
Witnessing this scene, Yan paid full attention, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived. He swiftly activated all of his primeval essence, rushing towards the walls.
The white light grew brighter, with rays of light distorting and intertwining, creating a sense of thickness. After more than ten breaths, strips of white light bands appeared on the wall, colliding with each other like flowing water. In the process of collision, they continued to combine and merge, forming a flowing white light.
Finally, the flowing light converged into a single entity, completely covering the light wall.
The white light dimmed, and the original white light wall of the aperture vanished, replaced by a smooth, impurity-free spherical white water wall. The water wall was thicker than the light wall, with flickering ripples of light flowing upon it.
The primeval sea regained its calm, with the aperture still retaining 70% of the primeval essence.
"That was easier than I thought! Finally, Middle Stage!" Yan exclaimed, lying flat on his bed.
He looked at the ceiling blankly while his aperture converted and produced the new Middle stage Pale Green primeval essence.
It had been ten days since he joined the Black Banner Troops. Counting the overall time, it would be nearly three weeks since he started cultivating.
"Honestly, my cultivation speed is well in line with someone of an Unsealed Ten Extreme Physique, and I also don't need to worry about exposing the insane cultivation speed," a smirk unconsciously formed on his face when he thought of that, "What a foolish tribe!"
The reason behind his thought process was very simple: he understood his situation very well.
He is currently a lamb being fattened to be sacrificed.
After all, without an Immortal Gu or other methods to restrain his Mortal Aperture, he'll only become a human bomb that will explode on the enemy bases. As for becoming a Gu Immortal? That's impossible without an Immortal Gu of Fire Path.
At least, that's what the Hei Tribe believed…
The higher his cultivation, the greater a chess piece he is.
Time passed, and soon his aperture finished producing new primeval essence. There was no difference in his aperture except for the water membrane wall and Pale Green essence.
The three Gu Worms could be seen playing around in the Primeval Sea.
Normally, he should have five Gu Worms, including the Battle Thought Gu and Battle Will Gu, the Black Banner Elites used in wars. But, after considerations, he rejected it, and the higher-ups also appreciated his decision.
As a future High Rank Gu Master, those two Gu Worms would only take unwanted space in his aperture.
"At least, I can pick a Gu Worm for advancing," Yan laughed bitterly. Other than picking a Gu Worm, he can also take missions after promoting to a Middle Stage.
Right now, it was already late into the night. Fresh cold winds blew from the opened window creaks. Because it just finished raining, the air was fresh, and the turbid energy between the mountains had been washed away.
He lived in the Tree Houses specially built for the Captains. Even though it's a special privilege, nobody voiced out any concerns.
Gusts of wind blew along with the dripping water droplets of remnant rain. The Dragonpill crickets that were active under moonlight started singing a rustling song of life. The entire house went silent except for the steady breathing sound revealing the person in deep sleep.
…
Surrounding the Obsidian Tower in three directions were the Three Halls and Gu Houses of Commanders.
Within one of such halls, exactly, the Mission Hall, Yan browsed through the Information Path Gu worm used to store various missions for Rank 1 Gu Masters.
"Most of these missions only give me 10 Mission Points (MP). If I want to buy the materials I need to refine that Rank 2 Gu worm, I need about 100MP," Yan sighed ruefully.
The Gu he wanted to refine would affect his future plans. So, no matter how much it will cost, he has to refine it.
"Not to mention, it's a one-time consumable Gu worm…"
"Hm?"
After searching around a bit, he found a mining mission from Hei Jiao.
Even though Black Banner Troops reside here, it isn't their duty to guard or mine in Fiery Lava Pit. They will only mobilize if it's a mission or Tribe's order.
"A Group Mission. Mining the Rank 2 Fiery Lava Crystal Grass overgrown due to lack of manpower. Mission Points - 70"
"Woah!" Yan's gaze shined; he immediately spoke to the Hall Master cultivating in the center of the Hall, behind his desk.
"Senior Shi, I'm taking this mission."
"Hmm, oh?" Hei Shi, the Hall Master, frowned upon getting interrupted but immediately smiled upon seeing Yan.
"The duration of the mission is 1 Week," Hei Shi reminded and went back to cultivating.
Yan nodded and departed the Hall, marching towards the Eastern Campsite. Unless he is a Rank 2 Gu Master, he can't take missions outside of Fiery Lava Pit. Also, due to the recent beast tide, there were casualties among Miners. It will take more than a week to recover and go back to normal.
While traveling towards the East, he saw Hei Jiao entering the Central Mine. Yan immediately changed his direction and went towards the Mine.
A hot breath assaulted his face when he entered the Large Quarry. Even though it's extremely hot, his body felt warm and relaxed.
Ignoring the looks in his direction, he greeted Hei Jiao, who noticed him upon his arrival; "Sir Hei Jiao, I hope you have been well."
Hei Jiao smiled widely and nodded; "Haha, brat, I'm good. What are you doing here?"
"I took the mission for Mining the Rank 2 Fiery Lava Crystal Grass, Sir."
"Hahaha, very well, and stop calling me Sir; call me Uncle Jiao."
"As you wish, Uncle Jiao."
Both of them conversed and entered the layer where the overgrown Grass was being already mined by a group.
Hei Shou was among them.
He scoffed at Yan immediately and murmured something under his breath.
Hei Jiao ignored the weird looks the Miners were giving Yan and explained to him; "Fiery Lava Crystal Grass is a Rank 2 Grass grown on the Rank 1 Fiery Lava Crystal Rock if we let it unmined for a long time. It will suck all the minerals present on the Rock and grow as grass. But, in the market value, the Rank 1 Fiery Lava Crystal Rock is more profitable as it could be used for more purposes like feeding the Gu, refinement material, and formation."
Yan listened attentively and noted down all the things needed and the method to pluck the Grass without damaging it.
Yan hasn't been idle in the past weeks in the Black Banner Troops. He always borrows books from the Resource Hall about basic knowledge of Gu Worms, resources, refinement, places, and traditions in the Northern Plains, among many other miscellaneous topics.
While he couldn't be said to be an all-knowing person, he can be called a knowledgeable Northern Plainsman.
