Chapter 77 Killing Fang Yuan?

Jia Jinsheng had never given up on becoming the next clan leader.

The two brothers smiled at each other and walked back toward the caravan with their arms around each other’s shoulders, appearing exceptionally close. Anyone watching would have seen nothing but brotherly harmony, while beneath the surface, both were quietly making their own calculations.

As evening fell, the caravan finally stopped and set up camp under Jia Fu’s orders. The Gu Masters set up their tents, while the mortals had far poorer accommodations, sleeping beside the Black-Skinned Fat Beetles and ostriches used by the caravan or finding whatever space they could among the cargo.

The largest tent at the center of the camp remained brightly lit as the Gu Masters sent to scout the surrounding routes returned one after another and reported their findings.

“A group of several hundred Snake-Armed Climbing Monkeys has occupied Route A. They’re extremely agile and skilled at climbing and stealing. Even if we can force our way through, protecting all the goods will be difficult.”

“The mountain path along Route B has collapsed. The terrain has changed too much, and the original route is completely blocked.”

“Tens of thousands of Ghost Fire Gu Worms have gathered along Route C. They’ll attack any living creature that enters their territory. Passing through would be too dangerous.”

“A group of Ganoderma-Eating Snow Leopards has appeared along Route D. There are only a dozen of them, but every one possesses combat strength comparable to a Rank Four Gu Master. We have no chance of forcing the caravan through.”

Jia Fu’s expression grew increasingly grim as he listened. The routes the caravan had used over the years were now blocked one after another, leaving almost none of their familiar paths usable. Worse still, the Gu Masters returning from reconnaissance were covered in wounds and completely exhausted. Several others had not returned at all, having already died to wild beasts or Gu during the scouting missions.

Most of the old routes are probably unusable. If we want to leave the Youling Mountains, we’ll have to find a new path.

However, Jia Fu had already lost several Gu Masters simply investigating familiar routes. Forcing more people to immediately explore completely unknown areas would only create resentment and further casualties. For the moment, the caravan could do little except remain in the Youling Mountains for several more days while searching for another way through.

Meanwhile, inside his tent, Lin Feng finished cultivating and slowly opened his eyes, letting out a long breath. Because of his agreement with the Zhang Family, he had once again joined the merchant caravan alongside a group of their Gu Masters, supposedly to help them profit from the journey.

Within his aperture were nearly twenty Gu worms belonging mainly to Blood Path and Bone Path, along with several from other paths. His Blood Path Gu were naturally the more important. Having inherited one of Blood Sea Ancestor’s nine true inheritances, Lin Feng possessed numerous Blood Path Gu recipes and methods, but after years of cultivating blood slaves and repeatedly replacing Gu that no longer suited him, fewer than ten Blood Path Gu worms remained in his aperture.

Among them were Blood Tax Gu, which Lin Feng had created himself, along with Essence Blood Gu, Bone Blood Gu, Blood Flow Gu, Blood Sweat Gu, Blood Walk Gu, Blood Refining Gu, and Blood Scab Gu. In addition, tens of thousands of Blade-Winged Blood Bats were hidden within the bat-shaped markings covering his back. Most of these Gu were not intended for direct combat, instead serving his cultivation, refinement, movement, and various Blood Path methods.

He possessed even more Bone Path Gu. With Feng Tianyu’s help, most had already been raised to Rank Four, but their true value lay in forming the killer moves recorded in the White Bone inheritance. When used individually, their effects were considerably weaker.

The sheer number of Gu Lin Feng possessed would have placed an enormous burden on most Gu Masters, but this was where the advantages of Blood Path and Bone Path became apparent. Gu from both paths were relatively easy to feed, and the materials required for their food were easily available.

“This caravan will pass through Qing Mao Mountain. If my calculations are correct, this should be around the time Great Love Immortal Venerable awakened his aperture. He’s still studying at the academy and only has Rank One cultivation. Although many of my Blood Path Gu are still only Rank Three, my current battle strength has undoubtedly reached Rank Four.”

“Crushing the young Great Love Immortal Venerable right now would be as easy as crushing an ant. Since I’ll eventually have to compete with him for opportunities, should I simply remove one of the future players from the chessboard while he’s still weak? I could even kill Jia Jinsheng along the way and take advantage of the chaos.”

Like many transmigrators who found themselves inside a world they once knew as fiction, Lin Feng had gradually developed murderous intentions toward the original protagonist as his own cultivation and strength increased. After all, many of the greatest opportunities in this world were limited. If he eliminated Fang Yuan before he had the chance to rise, there would naturally be one less terrifying competitor fighting him for those opportunities in the future.