Lin Yan decided to cultivate the killer move Prairie Fire. Even if he chose not to specialize in it, he would still acquire the Rank 3 Sparks Gu for its unique ability to generate flames out of thin air.
Although Water Path and Ice Path cultivators were rare in the Western Desert, caution was still necessary. If his Flame Path Gu were ever countered, he needed a way to maintain his advantage.
There were two development routes for Prairie Fire, and he chose the path involving Burning Wind Gu, Splash Gu, and Exploding Fireball Gu.
On one hand, Exploding Fireball Gu possessed immense destructive power, aligning perfectly with his refinement direction. On the other, Splash Gu of the Rule Path and Burning Wind Gu of the Wind Path introduced cross-path synergy. Their effects were significant, and when combined properly, their versatility could not be underestimated.
Afterward, Lin Yan turned his attention to the final killer move—Flame Extreme Sky Blade. Its core Gu was Flame Blade Gu, which began at Rank 3. It also required coordination with Intuition Gu, Fire Eye Gu, and even Blazing Serpent Strength Gu, a dual-path Gu belonging to both Flame Path and Strength Path.
Lin Yan pondered for a moment. He could obtain Flame Blade Gu and study it on a surface level, ensuring his close-range combat was not a weakness. However, cultivating too many paths at once was not sustainable, as every Gu required resources to maintain.
No one could afford to support dozens of Rank 3 Gu needed for three separate killer moves.
After fully comprehending the Flame Path True Inheritance and clarifying his direction, Lin Yan began preparing to refine the Gu he already possessed. With the complete set of Fire Pattern, Fire Aperture, and Glass Flame Bone, his combat strength had already risen significantly. If he refined a few more Rank 3 Gu, his strength would firmly reach the peak of Rank 3.
The Four Elements Gu Formation was no longer as essential. If necessary, he could sell it to the Family in exchange for resources.
For the next two months, Lin Yan remained within the Flame Lake Gu Chamber, living in seclusion. He continuously studied various Gu recipes and practiced refinement within his dream realm. With Dream Derivation Gu accelerating time tenfold, this equated to nearly two years of refinement experience.
He thoroughly mastered dozens of refinement methods for the Gu he possessed, covering multiple development paths.
Although time flowed faster in the dream realm, everything still depended on his own effort. This progress was achieved purely through relentless practice. By the end, he even felt a sense of nausea whenever he entered the dream realm—he had refined to the point of exhaustion.
Lin Yan could have saved considerable effort by focusing only on the refinement recipes of the single path he intended to follow, but he understood that if he wanted to ascend to immortality, his foundation could not be shallow. This accumulated knowledge would surely yield unexpected returns in the future.
Setting everything else aside, he was now confident that even if he lost all his Gu and was expelled from the Family, he could rise again in a short time, relying solely on the refinement experience and Gu recipes stored in his mind.
Another pleasant surprise for Lin Yan was the group of elderly Gu Masters guarding the Flame Lake Gu Chamber. They were experienced and perceptive, well-versed in the refinement of many Gu, capable of identifying countless Gu effects, and had accumulated rich combat experience over decades.
His respectful attitude earned their approval, allowing him to seek their guidance at any time. Many of his doubts were resolved through their insights, greatly accelerating his progress.
In addition, guarding the Gu Chamber brought another advantage—he was permitted to borrow any Gu below Rank 3. He made full use of this opportunity, practicing with not only Flame Path Gu, but also unfamiliar types such as Water Path, Wood Path, and even Space Path Gu, broadening his experience significantly.
This was also a way to strengthen his foundation—learning to identify different Gu, understanding their effects and weaknesses, and even testing details such as attack range, limits, and countermeasures. This would prevent him from suffering heavy losses when facing unfamiliar Gu in the future.
Lin Yan increasingly felt that coming to the Flame Lake Gu Chamber had been the right decision. The vast collection of Gu and refinement recipes here was rapidly filling the gaps in his knowledge and building a solid base.
By his estimation, it would take at least two years to absorb most of the Huang Family's accumulated foundation. This period would be his stage of rapid growth, and it was of utmost importance.
The process was far from easy. True strength required enduring solitude. Only by persevering through it could one achieve a profound transformation.