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Qi Tian caressed the oval-shaped sapphire in his hand.

"Star Gate Gu, finally in my grasp."

Ghostly Shadow re-entered Langya Blessed Land. As expected, the Langya Earth Spirit had already refined the Star Gate Gu and stored it in his collection.

The Earth Spirit only allowed Gu trades using secret recipes. Ghostly Shadow exchanged a five-turn recipe to obtain the Star Gate Gu.

"With the Star Gate Gu, it's time to head to Langya Blessed Land!" Qi Tian thought to himself.

Fox Immortal slightly consumed some true essence to activate the Star Gate Gu. The sapphire-like Gu gently floated into the air.

A swarm of Starfire Gu fluttered in the sky, emitting a deep blue starlight. Drawn by the Star Gate Gu, the light converged to form a circular archway—brilliant as a dream, elegant as an illusion.

Qi Tian summoned a pack of water wolves, using the Star Gate Gu to teleport them to Northern Plains. As soon as Ghostly Shadow entered the blessed land, Qi Tian immediately shut the Star Gate.

The other Star Gate Gu in Northern Plains fell to the ground, guarded by the surrounding water wolves.

The entire process took less than ten breaths. Twenty-eight Starfire Gu perished.

---

Half a day later...

The Star Gate Gu opened again. Qi Tian arrived at Crescent Moon Lake. Ghostly Son, concealed within his body, remained hidden.

It was nighttime in the Northern Plains. The stars were bright, the sky cloudless.

Qi Tian led his wolf pack nonstop to a stone forest. Leveraging the arrangements left behind by Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable, he entered Langya Blessed Land.

The blessed land was filled with pure white cloud seas, mist swirling and rising.

Within the cloud sea stood twelve grand pavilions, each adorned with exquisite carvings, radiating elegance and magnificence. Some pavilions had celestial cranes dancing, others had feathered men soaring, some were surrounded by multicolored clouds, while others exuded the fragrance of sandalwood.

"This cloud soil—when stepped on, feels solid. Its fertility far surpasses mundane land. Truly, the grandeur of an immortal ancestor!"

This was Qi Tian's first time in Langya Blessed Land, and he couldn't help but marvel.

Though he knew this was merely the upper layer of Langya Blessed Land, its splendor still surpassed most ordinary blessed lands.

---

"Eh? So this is your true body?"

Though phrased as a question, the Earth Spirit's tone was certain.

"That's right! Qi Tian!" Qi Tian did not hide his true name.

"You carry the aura of an Immortal Gu."

The Earth Spirit squinted, scrutinizing Qi Tian.

Ghostly Shadow revealed a Gu worm from within, placing it into Qi Tian's hand.

"Spirit Travel Gu! This is actually the Spirit Travel Gu! Do you wish to trade this?"

The Langya Earth Spirit was ecstatic, waving its arms wildly, its expression crazed, eyes burning with fervor.

Ghostly Shadow, possessing profound Dao traces, was adept at concealing his presence. He had barely managed to suppress the Immortal Gu's aura to pass through the Star Gate Gu undetected.

Qi Tian responded instantly:

"Immortal Gu are priceless. Naturally, Gu are traded for Gu. That is the long-standing rule of Gu Immortal transactions."

The Earth Spirit's face stiffened.

"Though that is the rule, your Spirit Travel Gu is not very practical. It's merely an escape method in desperate situations. If you teleport into lava or deep underground, you'll only be courting death."

Qi Tian had never expected to exchange Spirit Travel Gu for anything overly precious. This was just part of the bargaining process.

"Immortal Gu are unique. If you miss this chance, you won't get another! I know Langya Blessed Land holds many Immortal Gu. Spirit Travel Gu is a six-turn Immortal Gu. I won't be greedy—just give me another six-turn Immortal Gu in exchange."

"You wish! What else can I do with Spirit Travel Gu besides refining it into something else?"

The Earth Spirit ranted and raved.

Qi Tian calmly waved the Spirit Travel Gu in front of him.

"You still want it, don't you?"

"I do! I do! I dream of it!" The Earth Spirit's expression shifted instantly, taking on a fawning look.

The Langya Earth Spirit was amusingly expressive, its emotions transparent. Dealing with it was far easier than dealing with people.

---

"Fine! I'll compromise. You can take a consumable six-turn Immortal Gu. Once you use it, I can always refine another."

"Deal!"

Satisfied, the Earth Spirit spread his hands, summoning five Immortal Gu out of thin air.

Qi Tian examined them one by one, finally setting his eyes on one.

The Muddy Harmony Immortal Gu.

"I'll take this one."

The trade was swiftly completed. Qi Tian obtained the Muddy Harmony Immortal Gu, which he couldn't store in his aperture, so Ghostly Son swallowed it instead.

The Earth Spirit, delighted with his Spirit Travel Gu, suddenly turned back to Qi Tian.

"Is there anything else? If not, leave quickly!"

"Haha! I do have another matter. Earth Spirit, I have three chances to refine Gu here, correct?"

The Earth Spirit frowned. Now that he had obtained the Spirit Travel Gu, he wanted nothing more than to begin collecting materials for refining the Second Aperture Gu.

Being interrupted dampened his joy.

"Correct. As Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's successor, you have three chances. But whether the refinement succeeds or fails, each attempt counts. If refining mortal Gu, I will guarantee their completion and hand them to you."

"Have you decided what to refine?"

Qi Tian was not lacking five-turn Gu. He could either refine them himself or purchase them from Treasure Yellow Heaven.

These three opportunities should be used to their fullest—following in Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's footsteps to refine three Immortal Gu.

However, refining Immortal Gu had its difficulties.

First, he needed to provide the Immortal Gu recipe himself. Second, refining an Immortal Gu had a failure risk—if he failed, he would gain nothing. Lastly, as a mortal, he would struggle to wield an Immortal Gu's power.

But Qi Tian had already made up his mind.

He would refine Second Aperture Gu.

He had acquired its recipe when he searched Fang Yuan's soul.

Furthermore, by using Spirit Travel Gu to refine another Immortal Gu, the difficulty would be significantly reduced. With Langya Earth Spirit handling the refinement, the success rate would be high.

Lastly, it was a one-time-use consumable Gu, capable of granting a Gu Master a second aperture—perfect for Qi Tian's current needs.

"Second Aperture Gu?!"

The Earth Spirit's expression twisted.

He had planned to refine this Gu himself. Now, the Spirit Travel Gu he had just obtained would be consumed in its refinement, ultimately benefiting Qi Tian.

"This is the recipe. I have it, so we can begin refining, yes?"

Qi Tian handed over the Immortal Gu recipe.

Though he knew the Earth Spirit already had the recipe, without presenting one himself, the Earth Spirit could refuse.

The Earth Spirit gritted his teeth, pointing at Qi Tian.

"You humans are all cunning and deceitful! I barely warmed my hands with Spirit Travel Gu, and you've already tricked me into using it! I knew you had ulterior motives!"

Qi Tian laughed heartily.

"This isn't my doing, but the promise you made to Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable. Now, shall we begin refining Second Aperture Gu?"

Despite his frustration, the Earth Spirit had no choice but to proceed.