The Heir of the Celestial Diagram

Chapter 3: The First Gu and the First Step on the Path of Cultivation

The morning sun painted the sky with golden hues as the young people of the Misty River Village gathered in the central clearing. Today was an important day—the Ritual of the Capture of the First Gu.

The tradition required that, upon turning thirteen, each young person enter the Misty Forest and capture their first Gu insect. This test would determine their qualification for the path of the Gu Masters and, for many, it was the only chance to achieve a promising future. Those who failed ended up relegated to a life of servitude or manual labor.

Han Feng stayed at the back of the group, observing the other young people. He was not the center of attention. For the village, he was nothing more than a futureless orphan, someone doomed to failure.

But he knew better.

Unlike the others, Han Feng possessed a unique trump card—the Celestial Diagram. His brief experience with the mutant centipede the night before had already given him a glimpse of what he could achieve. Now, with a real challenge, it was time to test the true potential of his power.

The Journey in the Misty Forest

The village elders gave the final instructions before releasing the young people into the forest. The objective was simple: capture a Gu and bring it back alive. The type of insect didn't matter, but the rarer or more powerful it was, the better the evaluation received.

The first young people ran hurriedly, eager to find their prey. Han Feng, however, walked calmly, feeling the energy around him.

The Misty Forest was dense, filled with medicinal herbs, ancient trees, and constant mist, which gave the place a mysterious air. But the most important thing was that this environment was a natural habitat for countless species of Gu, from weak insects to deadly creatures.

Han Feng closed his eyes and activated the Celestial Diagram. A subtle wave of energy flowed from his mind, allowing him to perceive the presences around him more clearly. Common creatures, like beetles and grasshoppers, were everywhere, but he felt something deeper.

Something unique.

He followed his instinct to a small stream hidden among moss-covered rocks. There, he saw a peculiar larva, with blue and golden coloring, and a faint glow around its body.

Han Feng recognized the creature immediately.

The Dual Chaos Larva.

In the memories inherited by Han Feng, this larva was considered useless by most Gu Masters. She possessed two conflicting essences within her body—one representing order, the other chaos. This made it impossible to control her completely. Many who tried to tame it ended up having their meridians injured by the unstable flow of energy.

But for Han Feng, this flaw was an opportunity.

The Celestial Diagram shone in his mind, resonating with the larva. He felt the creature's instability, but he also noticed something that the other Gu Masters ignored—the two essences within it were not incompatible. They just needed balance.

Without hesitation, Han Feng released a thread of his Qi, enveloping the larva with a flow of refined energy. The Celestial Diagram came into action, harmonizing the internal forces of the Gu.

The larva trembled for a moment, as if resisting, but soon its chaotic aura began to stabilize. The conflicting energies within her ceased to collide, becoming a continuous and harmonious flow.

With a swift movement, Han Feng grabbed the larva and felt an immediate connection forming between them.

He had succeeded.

He not only captured his first Gu but also managed to do something no other Gu Master in the village had ever done—tame the Dual Chaos Larva.

The Return and the Reaction of the Village

When Han Feng returned to the clearing where the elders were waiting, the other young people were already there, showcasing their achievements. Many had captured common insects, such as Iron Beetles or Wind Cicadas, useful but predictable creatures.

When it was his turn, the looks directed at him were mocking.

— That one definitely came back empty-handed — whispered one of the young men.

"Don't expect anything from him," another murmured, laughing.

But when Han Feng opened his palm and revealed the Dual Chaos Larva, silence enveloped the place.

The elders frowned.

— That larva... — one of them murmured.

— Why would he pick a useless Gu? — asked another.

The chief elder, an experienced Gu Master, looked directly at Han Feng.

— Do you have any idea what you're holding, boy? This creature has already caused the ruin of many Gu Masters!

Han Feng remained calm. He could feel the steady flow of the larva, the harmony he had created with his Celestial Diagram.

— This Gu chose me, elder. And I chose him.

The elders exchanged skeptical glances. But when one of them tried to examine the larva and realized that its energy was balanced, his expression changed to pure shock.

— This is impossible...! — he exclaimed. — How can it be so stable?!

Everyone's attention was now focused on Han Feng. The young people who had laughed at him moments before now looked on in disbelief.

He had achieved what no one else could.

And that was just the beginning.