Gu Fall into Seven Categories

This time, the one responsible for implanting the Exotic Gu Eggs in them was not Lu Yao, but Third Senior Brother Zhu Li.

Beneath the dense shade of the trees, the Gu Children arrived before the Gu Rearing Pool in the forest.

They immediately noticed that this Gu Rearing Pool was much smaller than the one used by new arrivals to receive their Gu, yet a hazy mist drifted across its surface—something the Gu Children had never seen before.

Before even entering it, everyone by the pool felt comfortable all over.

"This Gu implantation really is different from what the newly arrived Gu Children get."

"What a rich medicinal fragrance. When I was begging outside before, I heard people say that there were spirit herbs deep in the mountains."

"A great tonic! Spirit herbs formed by absorbing the primordial qi of heaven and earth—this is the first time any of us have enjoyed such a thing."...

Whether demons, devils, spirits, monsters, Daoists, or Gu Masters, all needed to refine the primordial qi of heaven and earth into qi. But absorbing the medicinal power of spirit herbs was like picking up ready-made benefits, far faster than Qi Refining.

As for the Qi-Nurturing Pills that Insect Valley occasionally distributed to the Gu Children, they were merely concocted from some uncommon herbs. Their purpose was to stimulate the body's meridians and speed up Qi Refining. They were fundamentally different from pills refined from spirit herbs.

"All of you, get in and rest quietly for half an hour. After half an hour, I will personally implant the Exotic Gu Eggs in you." Third Senior Brother Zhu Li sat cross-legged beside the pool, with a clay jar half a man tall placed beside him.

The Gu Children's gazes converged on the clay jar, their eyes burning. Whether they became men or dogs in the future would be decided by this attempt.

"Trash, still not awake?" Liu Xing slapped the Gu Child surnamed Gong across the face, then flung him into the Gu Rearing Pool.

The other Gu Children entered the pool one after another. Liu Feng brought along Split-Tooth, the Soldier Gu clinging to his back, and sank into the medicinal liquid as well.

The next moment, all manner of strange, delighted noises rang out from the Gu Rearing Pool. Some Gu Children could not suppress their low cries.

The medicinal power in the pool was not only strengthening their bodies; even old and new wounds alike were being repaired.

The four bloody holes torn open by the Soldier Gu on Liu Xing's body had not only stopped bleeding, but were beginning to heal.

"Compared to the medicinal power in this pool, Qi-Nurturing Pills are simply not worth mentioning." Thinking of the little Qi-Nurturing Pills he had left, Liu Feng lost all interest in them.

Once the people in the pool had quieted down, Zhu Li, seated cross-legged by the pool, shifted his gaze and looked over the forty of them.

Just as Lu Yao had hoped, there were not even half as many as during the previous implantation of Exotic Gu Eggs, but every one of them was clearly more vigorous and spirited.

"Before implanting the Exotic Gu Eggs, as a senior brother who successfully hatched one, I have a few things to explain to you first."

"Please instruct us, Third Senior Brother."

"Third Senior Brother truly is a good man, not someone those deranged Gu Servants can compare to."

"Isn't that nonsense? Third Senior Brother is a dragon among men and a phoenix among people. How could those crippled failures of Gu implantation compare to him?"...

As the Gu Children ignored Gu Servant Liu Xing's gloomy expression and lavishly flattered him, Third Senior Brother Zhu Li's next words sent their delighted moods plunging straight to the bottom.

"What I wish to say is that although you forty are stronger than the previous batch, I estimate no more than five of you will be able to hatch Exotic Gu Eggs."

Before the Gu Children could recover from the shock, Zhu Li continued, "And hatching an Exotic Gu does not count as true success. You must still go to Master and complete the final step. I fear only one person will return alive—at most, no more than two."

Within the Gu Rearing Pool, apart from Liu Xing, who had witnessed the cruelty of Exotic Gu Eggs firsthand, the other Gu Children found it hard to believe. Their faces turned deathly pale all at once.

According to Third Senior Brother, most of them would either die miserably from failed Gu implantation or become Gu Servants like Liu Xing.

"What do we have to do when we go to the Valley Master? What final step?" A Gu Child finally could not help asking.

Third Senior Brother by the pool had deep eyes as he answered calmly, "If you hatch an Exotic Gu, you will naturally find out! I went through the same process. In my batch, I was the only one who became an Insect Valley disciple."

For a time, the Gu Rearing Pool fell into dead silence.

Regardless of what the Gu Children thought, Zhu Li rose on time half an hour later.

"Alright, starting with you." He lifted the clay jar one-handed and walked straight behind Liu Xing.

"Thank you for your help, Third Senior Brother." Liu Xing tore open his own collar in one motion.

While the other Gu Children were still puzzled, Third Senior Brother Zhu Li swiped with his fingernail, ripping open the flesh over Liu Xing's chest. Then an unusual insect egg, its shell covered in specks like stars, was pressed into the torn flesh.

"Ah, it isn't implanted in the arm! It's being implanted over the heart!"

The heart was one of the body's five viscera, driving the circulation of qi and blood through the body. It was a vital place. Placing an Exotic Gu Egg that urgently needed to draw nourishment near the heart—the danger was plain to imagine.

Seeing Liu Xing's hunched body tremble without end, the other Gu Children's faces grew even paler.

"Liu Feng, you're second."

"Please trouble yourself, Senior Brother."

Liu Feng's eyes were resolute. No matter how great the risks, he had finally gained hope of formally stepping into the ranks of cultivators.

"Father, Mother, and little brother, you must wait for me..."

The flesh over his heart was torn open, and an Exotic Gu Egg about as long as a thumb was implanted within. The instant it entered his flesh, Liu Feng's eyes lit up.

Threads of wondrous things invisible to the naked eye seemed to melt from the Exotic Gu Egg and flow into his flesh. While strengthening his body, they were also drawing something from within him.

Only by undergoing such a wondrous transformation could Gu Children like them have a chance of becoming Gu Masters, gaining the strength to fight demons, devils, spirits, monsters, and wicked Daoists.

"Worthy of being an Exotic Gu. Before it has even hatched, something is already merging into my body." Liu Feng did not dare slack off. He immediately soaked himself in the medicinal liquid and circulated Poison Qi through his entire body with all his strength, aiding the flow of qi and blood.

A short while later, everyone in the Gu Rearing Pool had finished receiving their Gu.

After adapting to the excruciating pain brought by the Exotic Gu Eggs, the tall Gu Child named Yan Hongda asked, "Third Senior Brother, how long will it take for the Exotic Gu Eggs to hatch?"

He had asked what all the other Gu Children wanted to know. Another Gu Child also spoke up. "Yes, I don't feel any discomfort. How long will it take for the Exotic Gu Eggs to hatch?"

The moment that Gu Child finished speaking, before his mouth had even closed, his eyeballs suddenly bulged out. He clutched his chest with both hands and began convulsing.

After only a few convulsions, his body sank down limply.

Not far away, Ma Kun and the Gu Child surnamed Gong witnessed the scene. Both of them could not help swallowing, cold sweat beading across their foreheads.

"Good that he died. The sooner he dies, the less medicinal power he'll get to share." Liu Xing sneered disdainfully.

Third Senior Brother Zhu Li walked over, casually fished the dead Gu Child out of the pool, and tossed him into the woods.

"At the least, half a month. At most, no more than twenty days. Whether you succeed or fail, there will be an outcome." Zhu Li answered the Gu Children.

Seeing every Gu Child staring at him nervously, Zhu Li pondered briefly and guessed that many of them had no idea what they needed to do while hatching the Exotic Gu Eggs.

He set the now-empty clay jar aside and explained, "Gu fall into seven categories: Mortal Gu, Intermediate Gu, Exotic Gu, Soldier Gu, Savage Gu, Spirit Gu, and King Gu. Gu Children only possess Mortal Gu and Intermediate Gu within their bodies."

"While hatching the Exotic Gu Eggs, you must rid yourselves of all the Mortal Gu in your bodies. Use the Mortal Gu as nourishment to raise stronger Intermediate Gu. Only with a body full of Intermediate Gu to help you can you endure the bodily transformation brought by the hatching of the Exotic Gu."

After finishing, Zhu Li said no more. He closed his eyes again and sat cross-legged by the pool.