《Verdant Heart Seed - A Reverend Insanity fan-fiction》


 Ch. 1 - The seed of new hope

    The face of Bao Zhi was contorted as he sat in his pavilion overlooking the vast greenery under it. He had a pale face, his body malnourished and sickly. His fingers clenched into a tight fist.


    A soft sigh was heard as he stood up to face the outside scenery, putting his hands behind him, with a slight tremble in them.


    "It has already come to this, I have exhausted all my methods and connections in trying to resolve this injury. All I can do is delay the inevitable."


    "Husband, you have to preserve your strength! There is still hope. Why not ask Wen clan for help, they surely have some of their findings as well."


    Said Wen Ming in a sobbing tone, a stream of tears flowing down her white skin.


    "My beloved, you already know the situation. Our Bao clan and Wen clan have a close relationship. We suffered the same fate against Ming You. Now with a strict alliance agreement binding us together on top of it, if they had a way, I would already have used it by now."


    "The methods of Ming You are truly profound, its weakness is unknown. Ordinary methods have no effect on his attacks. Truly a genius of this era." Continued Bao Zhi.


    He had to admit, he was not the match for this junior who was the direct cause of their sudden downfall.


    Just the mention of Ming You triggered intense emotions in Wen Ming''s heart. The sorrow of losing her relatives, the helplessness, the bottled-up anger, she couldn''t suppress them as she flared up:


    "That demon Ming You!!! How can he be so unreasonable? We even tried to appease him... He wantonly attacks and plunders our righteous path. The other clans are useless! Covering in fear, publicly condemning him, while only giving excuses when we ask for assistance. Where is Heavenly Court at a time like this to uphold righteousness?"


    Bao Zhi had a solemn expression as he replied.


    "What''s done is already in the past. We should be looking ahead and making our future plans. We need to make the most of the situation at hand and place our hopes on the future."


    "I decided to leave behind this grotto heaven as the new foundation of the clan. Wen clan has a similar intention, we will cooperate to restore our glory."


    At this moment Bao Zhi turned around facing his wife with a light smile.


    "Go, gather the remaining immortals. I''m handing down my inheritance."


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto.


    Leaves danced in the gusts of wind, through branches and bushes. A leaf landed next to an inconspicuous clearing within a dense forest. This was a remote location inside the grotto heaven, situated far from resource points and out of travels way.


    A formation was operating silently in the middle. Hidden from the outside, the formation space had a single tree inside.


    The tree was not big, only taller than a small shack. The tree''s bark had the color of white ash, the branches short and claw-like, they twisted in many directions. Oddly, the tree did not have a single leaf, be it winter or summer. Only one fruit was growing on it.


    It was an unusual sight for a plant. If someone saw it, they might find a close resemblance to an ancient desolate plant, the Thousand Wish tree. This tree was not a desolate plant though, it was formed from the killer move Thousand Wish Perpetual Refinement.


    Suddenly the fruit started falling, it landed on the ground with a soft thud, rolling a distance of two steps from the plant.


    A will in the formation was paying close attention to the events, holding great anticipation.


    "Soon the last step of refinement is completed. I need to be really mindful of any potential disturbances."


    This was the will of Bao Zhi, he was controlling this formation, it was left behind by his main body many generations ago, before his inevitable death.


    Looking at the fruit on the ground, it did not stay still for long under the effect of the formation, soon it started shining in golden-green lights, faintly at first. The aura surrounding it fluctuated between mortal and immortal.


    Then the flesh of the fruit started rotting! The lights intensified in strength until only the single seed from the center was left in a halo of colors. The shining seed slowly sunk into the ground...


    Rumble.


    Bao Zhi was focusing on the formation now, suppressing this tremor to the minimum. Thanks to his efforts, outside the formation not even a leaf were shaken, completely silenced.


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    The final stage of this refinement commenced. The tree had shrunk in the meanwhile, it seemed as if time was reversed, the tree disappeared into the ground like it was never there, returning every bit of its essence to the ground.


    "This will be the last cycle."


    A new tree started growing from the seed in the ground, by the looks of it identical to the previous one. There was only a minuscule difference between the two, imperceptible to the naked eye or common methods. But with his great grandmaster wood path attainment, Bao Zhi could detect these fine details regarding wood path dao marks. He nodded in satisfaction observing the changes meticulously over and over.


    The tree finished growing to its previous size, on one of its branches a new fruit was nurtured.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    Great Root Manor was located at the center of Ancestral Grotto. There stood a huge azure crown oak tree. It reached above the clouds. From top to bottom, this tree filled the grotto heaven. It was so humongous, that one could not fit the whole tree in his vision. Only the available space could restrict this rare tree!


    The azure crown oak tree''s leaves were pale, seemingly translucent. But in reality, the tree tried to imitate the color of the sky. When one planted it in the five regions, it had black leaves at night and white leaves during the daytime. It originated from Azure Heaven. It truly was a treasure, an extinct species now, even if there was no practical use for it, it was part of the ecosystem in the grotto, sustaining uncountable lifeforms.


    At his moment a single immortal arrived at Great Root Manor.


    "Reporting to Grotto Lord, the preparations are complete. The elders have taken their positions, the defense formation is ready for activation."


    Said Bao Xu Lian as he cupped his fists with a bow.


    "Good, good. Stay in the formation, father will take care of the tribulation."


    Came the reply from Bao Lang Chao, the current supreme elder of Bao clan.


    "But I-"


    Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Bao Lang Chao interrupted:


    "Calm your heart, son! I know you are eager to contribute to the clan, but everything has its time and place. You are only at rank six, your strength is insufficient in the face of heaven and earth''s might. You would perish without an intact corpse!"


    "Yes, father- I meant- This unfilial son thanks Grotto Lord!"


    "Good. Go now. You already contributed enough."


    Bao Xu Lian cupped his fists in respect before leaving.


    "Sigh... The might of heaven and earth."


    Bao Lang Chao carefully hid it, but he was deeply troubled. It was a myriad tribulation he had to face!!! Just what was a myriad tribulation? Earthly calamity, heavenly tribulation, grand tribulation... myriad tribulation!


    Even rank eight immortals were fearful of myriad tribulations. Like a silent guillotine, hanging above their heads, striking down every hundred years taking the lives of many strong experts in the long history of gu cultivation.


    Luckily this was not a tribulation targeting Bao Lang Chao''s immortal aperture, or his death would be certain, without a doubt. A rank seven couldn''t hold a candle to such powers. He had the support of the clan, but more importantly, the formation they relied on time and time again to pass the calamities and tribulations: rank eight Flying Leaf Coiling Vine Formation.


    * * * * *


    "Let''s begin."


    Under the manipulation of Bao Zhi, the final fruit floated in the air. Slowly bobbing up and down with a steady rhythm. The halo around the fruit intensified to the highest degree so far, this was the unquestionable aura of an Immortal Gu.


    Bao Zhi''s will entered the Gu at this moment. Taking control of the gu worm he started activating it.


    Immortal Gu - Verdant Heart Seed!


    The fruit flesh around the seed disappeared into the Immortal Gu inside, like a ravenous beast devouring its prey after starvation.


    Small tendrils started growing out from the center of the gu worm. Thicker and thicker, they continued to grow. Then the myriad tendrils started fusing with the neighboring ones, the overall shape resembling a small fetus.


    A throbbing sound!


    The heart started to beat rapidly. The human body was taking shape over time.


    Outside the refinement formation, an intense battle was ongoing. The contesting forces were the immortals defending their homeland, against the merciless onslaught of the myriad tribulation.


    "The timing is impeccable. With the ongoing tribulation, my revival will go unnoticed. This is the perfect storm for me. Good descendants, go and face this last tribulation for grandpa Zhi."


    Tribulation clouds started gathering above. Heaven and earth were enraged. Revival went against the path of humans decreed by Fate. It could not be tolerated!


    The dark tribulation clouds whirled and rumbled, expanding over a hundred li in width.


    "This..."


    "What is happening?"


    "The tribulation was already showing signs of ending! Why?"


    "How could this be? There is a second phase to this tribulation?"


    The immortals in the formation were gritting their teeth, desperation was written on their faces.


    The newly formed tribulation clouds started merging into the myriad tribulation, their might continued to increase to new levels under the eyes of everyone.


    "We need to act now, the formation is reaching its limits!"


    Bellowed Bao Lang Chao as he instilled even more of his immortal essence into the formation, sweat dripping from his body from the intense pressure.


    A sea of green emerged as flying leaves assaulted the still transforming tribulations. Every second could be the difference between life and death at this moment.


    Roots emerged from the ground, firmly stabbing into the clouds. The wave of flying leaves could split seas and level mountains, yet in the face of the tribulation, it was torn apart, already dissipating. The roots were similarly not faring better, pieces of wood were raining upon the ground as the might of heaven and earth rampaged.


    "Hold on! We need to persevere!"


    One of the immortals shouted trying to boost their morale. Puking a mouthful of blood as he endured the intense backlash, nearly fainting.


    There was no forewarning.


    It was a flash, yet it was not bright. It was thunder, yet it was not loud. A black lightning bolt has formed from the combined strength. It was thick like a carriage, wildly blitzing downwards.


    "The tribulation is stronger than what I anticipated. I hope you won''t let my grotto be ruined by it. Oh no! The tribulations are merging, the main body did not predict this! I need to-"


    Contrary to the expectations, the black lightning bolt was not headed towards the core of the grotto heaven. No, it was targeting the refinement formation at this moment.


    The massive bolt of lightning struck down, time seemingly slowed, the surrounding noises coming to a deathly silence.


    BOOM!


    An earthshaking shock-wave spread through the area.


    When the dust and flying debris settled, an illusory hole could be seen where the small formation previously stood.


    The wall of the grotto heaven was punctured.

 Ch. 2 - Getting your feet wet

    The will of Bao Zhi in the refinement formation was to assist the newly refined immortal gu, in forming a human body. The formation used the earth qi which the active Immortal Gu Verdant Heart Seed graciously absorbed, converting it to a new human form.


    The will of Bao Zhi noticed the abnormality of the tribulations a moment sooner than the new body. The formation had basic investigative abilities, which the new body could not match with just its five senses.


    "Danger, save the body!"


    This single thought rang in the will within the formation like a siren, there was no time to waste. Stopping the current operations would take at least a breath of time to conclude. The situation was urgent, destruction and peril were imminent at this moment.


    The formation creaked and shook as the body was forcefully transported with the greatest haste this formation could muster.


    Bao Zhi has just noticed the problem when his view turned blurry, intense pain assaulted him immediately.


    "Guh!"


    He suffered a backlash as the activation of the immortal gu was interrupted midway.


    He fell to the ground, in a half-kneeling position. His ears were ringing, the world seemingly spinning around him,  overwhelming dizziness assaulted Bao Zhi. A small pool of blood was gathering under his feet. He was seriously injured.


    Bao Zhi gritted his teeth, he started to regulate his breathing gradually, focusing on stabilizing his mental state.


    He began inspecting his body. He found out that he was recovering already, faster than expected, his body was unusually filled with vitality.


    Wounds on his body were mended, skin growing with a perceptible quickness.


    "The body formation was interrupted midway. It injured me, but part of the energy meant to form my immortal body is still present. This is why the healing is quickened."


    He was guessing the cause of this phenomenon.


    His attention turned to the outside now. He turned his head to look around, but there was nothing he could discern. There was only darkness.


    "Did I lose my vision?"


    He raised his hands to touch his face and eyes. He tried to feel his surroundings next. The ground below him was cold, hard to the touch.


    "This is most likely a cave, the formation teleported me here."


    He came to a logical conclusion.


    "If that is the case I should first recuperate here until all my injures are healed. Then I should look for an exit."


    Bao Zhi sat down in a meditating position, his heart and breathing already calm, working with clockwork-like precision.


    He started to collate his old and new memories.


    "I secretly set up this revival method as my soul was beyond saving."


    "I left my inheritance and core gu worms in the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine Formation. I saw it activate so those gu are still preserved to this day. But it is too early to think about those now. A rank eight gu would not help me at this stage, it would just put a huge target on me."


    "Then the refinement formation teleported me out just in time... The formation could not resist the attack."


    "Unfortunately, the cultivation resources I left behind are also destroyed. I need to formulate a new plan of action."


    * * * * *


    Great Root Manor.


    The gu immortals were still shell-shocked. Even though this wasn''t their first time cooperating to pass a myriad tribulation, the sheer destructive power left a lasting impression on them, filling their hearts with after-fear.


    "Never have I heard of such a vicious tribulation. It directly pierced the aperture wall!"


    "We were fortunate to have supreme elder redirect the lightning bolt at the crucial moment."


    Bao Lang Chao did not object to the false credit he was attributed. Who would turn down any prestige? Certainly not the old fox, Bao Lang Chao. He had a glib tongue and great political skills.


    He diverted the topic at hand: "The more important matter is that the hole was quickly sealed with the help of the formation. We cannot risk exposing the grotto to outside forces. We are at our lowest now."


    A rank six immortal arrived with urgency:


    "Reporting to supreme elder, Bao Deng Hai''s injuries are still critical. He requests that lord pays a visit."


    Bao Lang Chao turned to the immortals around him:


    "Tend to your injuries, I will be back shortly."


    "What about Wen clan, should we involve them?"


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    Came the question from the second supreme elder, Bao Yijun.


    Bao Lang Chao hesitated for a bit, this was a serious matter involving the two clan''s relationship.


    "I will contact them. We will need to rely on them to repair the damaged formation after all."


    He knew this favor would cost them a small fortune, to restore the rank eight Flying Leaf Coiling Vine Formation sufficient formation path and refinement path expertise was needed.


    They could not get around this, the formation was indispensable to the clan''s future. Bao clan specialized in wood path methods, only their aperture management skills were exemplary.


    ...


    Bao Deng Hai passed away that same day.


    This time the tribulation has taken the lives of two elders, an unprecedented event in the clan''s long history. There were accidents, of course, sustaining injuries was not uncommon, and rarely did deaths occur. But never to this extent.


    The most frightening part was that the tribulation didn''t even attack them directly, they died from the backlash while operating the formation. Just thinking about the consequences in case the black lighting hit true, to the aperture core, was a thought they did not dare entertain.


    This was a huge loss of face for Bao clan, with many implications for the future political landscape.


    * * * * *


    Inside a nameless cave.


    Bao Zhi was walking with careful steps. His hands brushing against the cave walls beside him, he was feeling his way forward.


    "Hm? The air is moving here. I''m getting closer, there''s an exit nearby."


    He abandoned the cave wall, following the weak draft he felt. After hours of walking and climbing in the cold and damp caves he saw an opening. It was radiating the light from outside. Dazzling to the eyes, he raised his arm to shield his eyes as he squinted. He picked up his pace reaching the mouth of this cave.


    For the first time since his rebirth, he took a deep breath. Fresh air filled his lungs, he felt the warmth of light all over his body. This was a rare moment, he let his emotions free, tasting them through and through. He felt a kind of happiness, this was a long-lost feeling, he even forgot this sort of sensation. Fires of ambition were burning in his eyes. He felt eagerness and anticipation for the future. He looked down at his palms:


    "Ha-ha-ha..."


    "Be it a different body."


    "Be it a newly formed soul."


    "Be it life and death!"


    "My ambition is ceaseless! My will is unbroken!!!"


    He raised his fist into the air exclaiming to himself.


    He was inside a thick forest now, a common sight inside this small world. He walked leisurely, he was immersed in the sensations, that he was deprived of for hundreds of years. Sensations that his new body let him experience once again. This was a mysterious feeling that engulfed him.


    "I get it! I understand now, this feeling. This is not just nostalgia of the lost senses, it is not just the joy of living."


    "This body I refined, contains the profundity of human path. I am following in the steps of Ren Zu himself!"


    "I have stepped on the road of true freedom! Only now could I comprehend this profound truth."


    A new kind of purpose was materializing in his heart, it could be summarized in one word:


    Freedom!


    "Human path. This feeling, did my human path attainment advance to quasi-grandmaster?"


    He had a foundation in human path already. In his previous life, he had researched it. This was linked to his first major fortuitous encounter, he had obtained a genuine branch of the Thousand Wish Tree.


    This tree was special, after three hundred years it would finish growing, flowering after six hundred years. Upon the nine hundredth year, the tree would bear exactly a thousand fruits. These fruits could be turned into gu worms with the right gu recipes, even immortal gu could be produced in such a way.


    In his early immortal years, he had understood the wood path meaning of the tree. He furthered his wood path methods.


    In his middle age, he unraveled the refinement profundity of the tree. He created the killer move Thousand Wish Perpetual Refinement.


    Only in his later years did he realize the true value this plant guarded. It was a human path desolate plant!


    "Originally I did not know the recipe for Verdant Heart Seed Immortal Gu when I began the refinement. I had no time left to deduce it. I was aiming to create a wood path body. But over thousands of cycles of perpetual refinement, I guided the process in the right direction. Minuscule incremental changes accumulated, through this refinement method, I created Verdant Heart Seed."


    "So is this a wood path gu worm with human path effect?"


    His intuition was unclear on this part, he only had a vague feeling.


    Absorbed in his thoughts, Bao Zhi has reached the end of this forest. A sizable red reed marsh filled his vision now. He did not remember having this kind of swamp in his aperture. But he recognized the flora.


    "This was either created by the resident immortals or a tribulation influencing the environment."


    "Going around takes too much time, I need to cross it. The sooner I can reach the inhabited areas the better."


    He had no delusions about his safety, he might have half an immortal body, but there were mutated beasts and mutated beast kings roaming the lands. These beasts had rank 4 and rank 5 strength respectively, with wild gu on their bodies, they were not to be underestimated.


    On the contrary, he had currently no cultivation, only a strengthened body.


    He started treading the marshland. His feet sunk deep into the mud. Some parts were shallow, the water only reaching up to his knees, some parts were deep enough to swallow a horse.


    Bao Zhi noticed some commotion on the horizon. A grayish-blue cloud was rolling on the surface of the swamp increasing in size if one focused on it. The pupils of Bao Zhi shrunk to pin size, he recognized this cloud. It was a huge swarm of insects, teal winged mosquitoes!


    Teal winged mosquitoes fed on the large animals that wandered into the swamp and got stuck, in this sense Bao Zhi was prey on a silver plate in their eyes. Each insect was the size of an infant''s fist.


    "Too late, I cannot make it back to the shore now."


    "Not that there is a need for that..."


    An eerie expression appeared on his emotionless face.


    He charged towards the oncoming swarm of ten thousand insects fearlessly!


    He smelled the air carefully, it was putrid and nauseating.


    "This way. It should be close now."


    He continued charging towards the smell. The swarm has noticed him already. Detecting their new prey they lunged themselves towards Bao Zhi with mad abandon.


    The stench was now nearing unbearable levels around him.


    "Where is it? Where do you hide?"


    He has stopped treading the murky waters, standing still in the mud. Not caring about the looming danger, he was observing the still water surface.


    "Show yourself."


    The first mosquitoes were already upon him, jabbing their needle-like proboscises into the nearest part they could reach.


    Blub! - A small bubble.


    "There!"


    He dove into the water headfirst, insects still clinging to him desperately trying to get their fill. He reached into the mud right under where the bubble emerged from. After a short moment, his hands found purchase. He grabbed onto the squishy object he found and pulled it up.


    He surfaced again, his right hand firmly holding a gu worm!


    Rotten Mud Gu!


    Bao Zhi raised the gu worm above his head, tightening his grip on it. His other hand tightly pinched his nose. The frightened gu worm, violently removed from its habitat, now trapped and squeezed in his hand activated trying to free itself.


    The previous smell that the gu passively emanated - already difficult to bear - was nothing compared to the now unleashed violent stink, it was painful to smell it.


    The previously orderly swarm turned into a chaotic mob, disorderly crashing into each other and the water surface. Soon all the earlier crazed insects were floating on the marsh water, their legs twitching.


    Heaven and Earth were fair, like how the antidote for a venomous snake often exists near it, the Rotten Mud Gu was the natural counter to teal winged mosquitoes.

 Ch. 3 - Trading life

    A cart was rolling on the winding roads, surrounded by tall trees on both sides. The wooden wheels were rattling and creaking on the uneven surface. There were songbirds chirping their pleasant melody.


    Rays of light shone on the path through the canopy overhead. An old man was pulling the cart with steady steps. He wore a grey robe and a flat, conical bamboo hat covering most of his face.


    He stopped the cart and pulled it to the roadside. He called out:


    "Jin Ju! Get out. This is the place we stay for tonight."


    A youth emerged from the cart wordlessly, his head hung low. His expression was covered by dark, unkempt hair. He approached the old man. A chain was rattling on his neck, bound to the cart itself.


    The young boy was Jin Ju, a slave of Xing Zan, the wandering merchant.


    Jin Ju presented himself before his master with a deep bow:


    "Master, please."


    Xing Zan reached out his hand. He did not touch the iron chains, only motioning in its direction. The chain fell to the ground with a clang.


    "Go, gather firewood! Remember, stay within two hundred paces, or I can''t guarantee your safety."


    Jin Ju nodded as he left to fulfill his task. Meanwhile, Xing Zan started to lay down defensive measures, setting up a temporary camp around the cart he was pulling.


    After enough time passed for an incense stick to burn, he inspected the surroundings again. After finishing the campsite, he rubbed his old and wrinkled palms:


    "This should be sufficient. With this rank 3 Beast Repelling gu and rank 2 Dark Shroud gu we are safe from the wildlife encountering us."


    He was an old and experienced traveling merchant. He had his methods to keep himself and his wares safe. His cultivation was only rank 2 upper stage, but strength was not everything in this world.


    "I sent out Jin Ju, has he encountered trouble? No matter, it is also his duty to distract any beasts if there was any nearby while I set up the defenses. But I didn''t hear any commotion, he should be back shortly."


    More annoyed with than concerned about his travel companion, he began preparing rations from the cart and checking the wares in the cart. The gu worms and gu materials were all in order. He sat down on a rock with an empty stomach, waiting for the firewood to arrive.


    "He''s still not back, what''s taking so long?"


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto Heaven, Golden Peak Pagoda


    Bao Lang Chao was admiring the scenic view around him. He saw the many islands floating around him, slowly orbiting and chasing each other. It seemed chaotic at first glance, but the more one observed their graceful dance, the more mesmerizing it became.


    Some islands were rocky and bare, some were lush with exotic plants, some were just single mountains with snow-covered peaks.


    Another immortal entered the Golden Peak Pagoda. It was Fairy Wen Jie:


    "Lord Chao, welcome to Lingering Mountains Grotto. I wonder what brings you here."


    Said Wen Jie with a coquettish smile half hiding behind her fan.


    "Fairy Wen Jie, it''s been a long time. Yet your beauty is as captivating as ever."


    Replied Bao Lang Chao with a stern face.


    "You already know the intention of my visit."


    "Of course, I do. Let''s talk... business."


    Fairy Wen Jie leaned closer as she whispered.


    Bao Lang Chao had a heated expression, he was struggling to maintain a straight face.


    "Enough already! Fairy, I am here to negotiate the terms for our continued cooperation."


    "Lord Chao, you are going to break my fragile heart with such boring talk."


    She said as she caressed gently his chin and neck.


    Wen Jie was a wisdom path cultivator. Wisdom path focused on three aspects: thoughts, wills, and emotions. She was most proficient in the control and manipulation of emotions. It became a habit of hers to play around with others.


    Bao Lang Chao had to swallow his pride and endure the rolling waves of his emotions because he was here to ask an important favor from Wen clan and Wen Jie was the supreme elder of Wen clan!


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    Her tone turned colder than a winter blizzard:


    "I know the results of your clan''s last tribulations, spare me the details. As per the agreement, we will help you repair your formation. The question is: what price are you willing to offer?"


    "We can increase the number of resources we contribute to the annual competition, by five portions and-"


    "Two thousand years!"


    Bao Lang Chao fell into an awkward silence, he knew the conversation would come to this, but he very much wanted to avoid it. Wen clan wanted Lifespan gu. It was scarce, only in the recent few decades did the Ancestral Grotto start producing lifespan gu. The immortals'' appetite for lifespan gu was insatiable, it was the only reliable method to attain longevity.


    There was simply not enough! Who would want to die of old age, after only living one hundred years? That was the lifespan humans were bestowed by the heavenly dao.


    Wen Jie faced her grotto lord counterpart, her voice turned sweet and melodious again:


    "Or would you rather see this beautiful face wither in the river of time?"


    "Too much, two thousand years is way too much. We can agree on one thousand years of lifespan gu in total, over multiple installments. This is my bottom line."


    "Add in the five portions of immortal materials as well. Do that and I will give the order for an immediate departure. After all, you wouldn''t want to risk delaying the reconstruction of your clans'' lifeline..."


    Bao Lang Chao had an ugly expression, maintaining his cool took a huge toll on him in the face of this temptress extorting him in broad daylight.


    "Fine!"


    He threw an information path gu worm to Fairy Wen Jie and left right away, the same route he came: through a Hole Earth Gu, the two clan''s grotto heavens were connected.


    * * * * *


    Rustling was heard in the thick shrubs, old man Xing Zan raised his head to look in the noises'' direction. He saw Jin Ju emerging from the woods. He had his hands full of dry twigs and branches as expected.


    "You''re finally back to take your deserved beating? What took you so long?"


    Scolded Xing Zan. Seemingly to answer his question another young man appeared behind Jin Ju. He had short hair and cold eyes.


    "I''m sorry master! He wouldn''t leave, he kept following me around."


    The newcomer was in a sorry state, his body was covered with mud and filth all over. Half his body was swollen and dotted in red marks, a pitiful sight.


    "Jin Ju!! Who is this beggar you picked up? How dare you give some of my clothes to him?!"


    He pointed at the rags the unknown youth was wearing. He was already hungry and impatient, and now this?


    The dirty young man instantly dropped to his knees, kowtowing in front of Xing Zan. He reached out with one hand offering something, while his other hand grabbed onto the old man''s ankle in a desperate manner.


    "Lord gu master, please help me! I offer lord gu master this gu worm. Please take it, it has saved my life it is very precious!"


    "Get your hand off me, you filthy brat!"


    Berated Xing Zan, as he stepped back but not missing to take the gu worm. A stinky smell reached his nose, he recognized the gu worm at a moment''s notice. It was Rotten Mud Gu. A common rank 2 Gu worm. The youth kneeling before him was naturally Bao Zhi.


    "Please, lord gu master, spare my lowly life, help me reach the next village."


    Xing Zan was pondering whether to kill him on the spot as he didn''t see any benefit in having a straggler with them. Another mouth to feed another burden to look out for. But he couldn''t be sure, what if killing him just brought more trouble?


    He asked with suspicion:


    "Who are you with? Why are you here on this road?"


    Bao Zhi didn''t raise his head to look at him, he continued to kowtow as he replied in a sobbing tone:


    "My, my father. We came to gather gu materials. We were looking for Green Boots Mushrooms... But, but we ran into a wild tusk bear when we headed back."


    He choked on his words, seemingly in great distress and shock.


    "And?"


    "My father is definitely alive! He, he promised to meet me again in the next town."


    "Did you lose your father? What happened? Speak clearly!"


    "I ran away, father told me to find the nearby swamp so the bear would lose my scent. But the mosquitoes attacked me there, so I dove down and... and found this gu worm."


    Xing Zan squinted his eyes, he couldn''t make heads or tails of the underlying truth.


    "If this brat''s father could fight a tusk bear then he is definitely a gu master, he also should have some tracking skills venturing this far out, and instructing the kid to head for the swamp in the heat of battle shows seasoned thinking... I should not risk offending him, no matter how small the chance of meeting him. On the contrary, it is not difficult to take this boy with me, and should he still be alive I can collect some of his ''gratitude''." Xing Zan opened his mouth as he smiled amiably:


    "Good child. Every cloud has a silver lining. Look, you found this gu worm that saved your life. Then you also found us heading towards the village. Your misfortune is already turning around!"


    "I accept your gu worm. Come, come! We were just about to have some grilled meat. Tell me more about your journey, we will definitely find your father. We wanderers should stick together in a dangerous place like this and help each other when we can."


    Jin Ju had goosebumps, he never heard his master talk this sweet. Of course other than when he was peddling his wares.


    Bao Zhi got up and sat next to Xing Zan. His tears have washed the mud off his face in two trails.


    The tense atmosphere turned lively, old man Xing Zan was telling his stories, how he escaped dangerous encounters time and again, how he started his career as a wandering merchant...


    Bao Zhi was listening attentively, admiration and renewed hope glimmering in his eyes as they ate their meals. Time passed quickly, night has arrived.


    Xing Zan was already sleeping in his tent. Jin Ju got back inside the cart to which he got chained again. Bao Zhi was lying on a makeshift bed under a shoddily assembled roof made from leaves and branches. He was lying there motionlessly, staring at the night sky above him.


    He got up and looked around carefully. The silence was disturbed only by the creaking and chirping of crickets, occasionally a roar of a wild beast could be heard in the distance. Oh, and the snoring of old man Xing Zan.


    "It is time."


    Bao Zhi approached the tent, his steps as light as a cat''s, soundlessly treading forwards. He reached his goal.


    His killing intent surged as he suddenly locked his elbow around Xing Zan''s neck from behind.


    "Nggh!"


    Xing Zan woke up immediately, robbed from his breath, he instantly grabbed towards his neck. He could not peel off the arms constricting him like a fierce anaconda. Xing Zan tried to activate his gu worms in his panic.


    No effect!


    "How can this be?! My primeval essence is chaotic, I can''t control it to activate my gu!"


    This was the last thought that ran through his mind before Bao Zhi strengthened his grip further, snapping the old man''s neck.


    "Those who prepare, prevail."


    Bao Zhi sneered to himself: "You were blinded by your own greed... Would you have otherwise missed that I smeared poison on your leg if I didn''t offer you a gu worm at the same time?"


    "You have traded your life for a gu worm."


    As the saying went:


    Birds die for food, humans die for wealth.

 Ch. 4 - Out with the old, in with the new

    Bao Zhi crouched down and placed his palm at the abdomen of Xing Zan''s corpse. He was inspecting his aperture.


    He felt the stone membrane walls of the rank two upper stage aperture. After focusing more, he could feel there was some crimson red primeval essence swirling and splashing inside.


    "The aperture is about one quarter filled. D grade as expected."


    Bao Zhi did not find any intact gu worms, only their remains were floating on the surface of the primeval sea.


    This was nothing surprising. For a gu master, it only took a single thought to destroy their gu worms, which they had their will inside. Taking gu worms was difficult, even theft path had its limitations. This was common knowledge among gu masters.


    Bao Zhi grabbed the body at its waist and carried it on his shoulder into the woods. He went in the same direction that he and Jin Ju came from earlier. He spotted a conspicuous mound. He laid the body next to it, before taking three steps backward.


    This was an anthill reaching almost up to his chest in height.


    "You did your part. Now rest and return to your roots where you came from."


    Bao Zhi turned around and left, leaving nature to run its course. After a day only the bones would be left before those too would be consumed by animals.


    Bao Zhi did not feel contempt or sorrow for Xing Zan. In his eyes, everything in this aperture was his, to begin with!


    He inspected the camp once again. It was midnight already when he walked back to his temporary bed. He soon shut his eyes and fell asleep.


    Morning came quickly.


    Bao Zhi woke up early, he collected the Beast Repelling gu and Dark Shroud gu that Xing Zan has laid down in a primitive formation.


    "Wake up."


    Bao Zhi slapped the top of the cart, as Jin Ju was laying inside half-awake.


    Jin Ju crawled out, rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes:


    "You...? Where''s Master?"


    "That''s what I want to talk about. He is dead."


    Jin Ju stammered at the shocking news:


    "W-what? How can this be?"


    "I broke his neck." Said Bao Zhi with a cold expression while he imitated the strangling motion from yesterday with his arms.


    "A-aah!"


    Jin Ju fell back, landing on his butt in fright. He started crawling backward subconsciously until his chain clanked in tension.


    "Get up."


    Bao Zhi reached for the chain and pulled Jin Ju up to his face. He grabbed Jin Ju''s iron collar in his grip and exerted force. The muscles bulged on his arms, his veins turned an eerie green color.


    After a breath of time, the piece of iron was ripped in half with a loud noise. Without the chain holding him, Jin Ju fell back on his butt again.


    "With your former master dead, I am your new master and now I grant you freedom. Our ways part here."


    Bao Zhi threw the chain on the cart and pulled the cart back on the road to continue ahead without hesitation.


    * * * * *


    Great root manor


    This was Bao clans headquarters. All the immortals of Bao clan were present in the main hall, sitting around a long table.


    Bao Lang Chao sat at the main seat, next to him Bao Yijun and the rest according to their status. At the far end of the table sat two mortals as well.


    Bao Lang Chao raised his hand and motioned for the immortals'' attention, to end their discussions.


    "Let''s begin our talk."


    The crowd quieted down and faced their supreme elder.


    "We have suffered losses, but also made great gains in the last period."


    "As you all have heard, two of our brothers have sacrificed their lives for the glory of our clan! Today their inheritance shall be passed down, continuing in the steps of our ancestors, furthering our clans'' grandeur and dignity!"


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    "Deng Hong, son of Bao Deng Hai. From today onward your name shall be Bao Deng Hong. You will carry on your father''s legacy and cultivate to the immortal realm. Do you accept?"


    Deng Hong hurriedly stood up from his place and bowed in a ninety-degree angle:


    "Yes, lord supreme elder!"


    "Good." Nodded slightly Bao Lang Chao with a solemn face.


    "Li Mu, son of Bao Li Tai. From this day I grant you the name Bao Li Mu. You will carry your father''s legacy and cultivate to the immortal realm. Do you accept?"


    "I accept it, lord supreme elder."


    "Good. You two will receive further instructions. Now leave and enter closed cultivation. Familiarize yourself with your inheritances. Don''t forget, the glory of Bao clan depends on you."


    Bao Deng Hong and Bao Li Mu bowed again in respect as they replied:


    "Thank you, lord supreme elder."


    When the two immortal seeds left the discussion hall Bao Lang Chao continued with their agenda:


    "Next topic at hand is the nurturing of our next generation of immortal seeds. We need to keep our heads above the waters, this incident was a timely reminder for our clan to not get complacent. To keep up with Wen clan, to keep up with the future tribulations the clan''s foundation needs to be strengthened. Lady Yijun, please."


    Bao Lang Chao sat down, and let Bao Yijun continue:


    "The current resource allocation is not sufficient! Firstly, we will increase the support all the villages receive. Secondly, we will hold the awakening ceremony twice a year, so talents can be found quicker and nurtured sooner. And most importantly, every mortal under the age of fifteen shall participate in an awakening ceremony. This way we will have a greater number of immortal seed candidates."


    The immortals started murmuring to each other breaking their silence.


    Third supreme elder, Bao Chi Ping interjected:


    "I object! The purity of our bloodline needs to be preserved. We cannot let outsiders dilute our noble clan''s blood, can we? Going after these short-term gains to nurture more gu masters will cost us dearly in the long run, not just in resources but the quality of our foundation will be threatened."


    Bao Lang Chao replied:


    "Chi Ping, in this grotto there are no outsiders to speak of. They have lived here for many hundreds of years. A branch family is still our family. As for where the resources will go? Only the most talented will deserve our true backing, this will be unchanged."


    Bao Chi Ping heard his arguments refuted and nobody showed agreement. He could not stay standing, he sat back.


    Bao Xu Lian asked:


    "Lord supreme elder, but what about the academy? How will we support our outstanding gu masters once they enter the academy?"


    Bao Lang Chao was proud to see his son discover this problem.


    "The issue of the academy is both simple and difficult. Since the academy is founded on the joint and fair cooperation of Bao and Wen clans we cannot act overbearingly. But there are still methods at our disposal that we can employ to support them without going over the line."


    The foundation of the Bao Wen Academy was a part of the agreement between the two clans. It was their goal to create competition and cooperation between their gu masters. They imitated the style of the sect system from Central Continent: only the contribution was to be accounted for and not their family background. This system combined the advantages of both systems, of course, it wasn''t perfect. Political undercurrents still highly influenced the workings of the academy.


    * * * * *


    Jin Ju was bewildered, this was a big shock to him. He did not know what to make of this situation. He felt sorrow that he has lost his master. Even though Xing Zan did not treat him well, he was the only close person he knew, the only person who vaguely filled a parent''s role in his life. On the other hand, he felt relief. Leaving his slave status behind was something he could only dream about. He still couldn''t decide what he should do now that there was nobody to order him.


    He sat on the ground with reddened eyes as he collected his disorganized thoughts.


    "I can''t stay here. Too dangerous!"


    Bao Zhi was pulling his newfound cart, it was packed with wares. The cart rattled on the pothole-filled dirt road. He thought to himself:


    "After selling these materials and gu worms I will have enough primeval stones to last through the early cultivation. I should have no problem with this body''s aptitude. It will be higher than my previous 81 percent, which was already exceptional."


    He calculated in his head.


    "My plan is to lay low until I reach rank two, but before that, I have to figure out when the aperture awakening ceremony will be held. It would bring me trouble if I sold everything and had to wait a long time."


    "I already know many inheritances, not even counting my own, I have plenty of options to choose from..."


    He was a rank eight expert before he died, it was common that experts of his caliber purchased inheritances and immortal gu recipes. Most of them were remnant, incomplete ones. What meant a huge fortune to rank six immortals, to him only amounted to scraps. Their use was also different, he got them only to draw inspiration from them. But now these could come in handy, now that his cultivation path isn''t already set.


    "It is not a problem to innovate and create novel gu with my attainment. I should still focus on wood path, this grotto heaven is very beneficial to wood path cultivation. It is probably the mainstream path even to this day. My body also has dao marks that will help me amplify my gu and killer moves. Sadly, wood path dao marks give no protection against wood path attacks by themselves, but other paths should be no problem..."


    Bao Zhi pondered on the specifics now, as his previously prepared gu worms did not survive the tribulation of his rebirth his plans needed to be adapted.


    "Please wait! Wait for me please!"


    There came a distant shout from behind, interrupting his train of thoughts. Bao Zhi had a faint smile:


    "It was about time."


    Jin Ju was running as fast as he could, still a thousand steps from catching up to Bao Zhi.


    Jin Ju was drenched in sweat, he ran like his life depended on it. He was panting heavily when he caught up, he said:


    "Please... lord... gu... master..."


    "I already told you, you are free. I have no business with you."


    Bao Zhi continued forward like it was the most natural thing to do.


    "Please... I can repay... you later... I can work for you!"


    Bao Zhi stopped the cart to let Jin Ju catch his breath:


    "Work what? As I see it you are weak for a slave of your age, what use do I have for you?"


    "I kept inventory... and did accounting for the old man... I have my uses! I can, I can also do whatever you ask, just take me to safety. Please!"


    Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow:


    "So Xing Zan kept you for your wits, huh? Then tell me what this gu material is called!"


    He threw a small pouch over to Jin Ju to test his knowledge.


    "This... It has the smell of yellow ginseng char. But the color and texture are different, it resembles tree bark... It should be a rare wood path material with, healing properties?"


    Jin Ju did not know what this material was called, he saw it for the first time as he studied it now, he could not name it.


    "C-Can I try again? I know all the wares that the old man was selling, please give me another chance! I can be useful!"


    "No, I already decided."


    As Bao Zhi said this, he threw a flask of water to Jin Ju:


    "Drink up, you have five minutes to rest. When the five minutes are up, it is your turn to show your sincerity and pull this cart."

 Ch. 5 - Sun Lotus City

    Ding Shuren was sitting at his desk, reading one of the many reports piled onto his desk. He was thinking about the upcoming harvesting season for the main resource his city was responsible for: Sun lotus plantations. Sun lotuses contained wood and light path dao marks, they were commonly used as light sources when planted properly or as Gu refinement materials by Gu masters. The plant could even evolve into rank one Sun Lotus gu or more rarely rank two Brilliance Lotus Gu. These Gu were portable light sources without much else to offer. It was the main commodity Sun Lotus city exported.


    Ding Shuren looked out his window. He saw the fields of sun lotuses shining faintly on the horizon. They were not far from blooming and being ripe for harvest. He felt satisfied with the progress he achieved governing this city.


    "Compared to the previous years'' mediocre yield, this year will be a turning point in Sun Lotus City''s development."


    Ding Shuren thought to himself as he was caressing his long beard. He was already old by mortal standards. His eyes were reflecting his wisdom, his wrinkled and callous hands evidenced his hard work.


    The old days flew before his eyes now when he was only a young boy picking Sun Lotuses in the field. It was his work that took him up the rankings. He had to work tirelessly for every resource he used on his cultivation as he didn''t have outstanding talent or powerful backing.


    Because of this, he had an appreciation for those who weren''t gifted but were not willing to give up. But now old age has caught up to him, it was a bottomless chasm he could not cross no matter how hard he worked!


    "My only hope now is to have an exceptional evaluation. I''m at the mercy of the immortals'' benevolence. I can''t let them discard me, I need to show my worth!"


    Just as he was drifting in his thoughts, a will has descended in his office:


    "Greetings, city lord Ding Shuren!"


    "Oh! Greetings, lord immortal!"


    Ding Shuren was startled by the unexpected guest, but he quickly got his act together.


    "I did not expect a visit, please excuse my rude reception. I will immediately arrange a banquet."


    Said Ding Shuren as he bowed towards Bao Xu Lian''s lifelike will.


    "That will not be necessary, I am only here to pass on the orders from Lord Supreme Elder."


    Bao Xu Lian smiled as he said. He was currently the youngest immortal of Bao clan, he was even a few years younger than Ding Shuren. This was the difference that background and talent meant! He enjoyed the flattery from his ''senior'', he also liked to flaunt the authority of his blood relation to Bao Lang Chao. But now he also felt pity for the old man before him, he told him in an encouraging tone:


    "The high order is to nurture immortal seeds for the clan, your part is finding and nurturing the talented ones. Based on your performance, you might have a chance yourself."


    As Bao Xu Lian said this he passed two gu worms to Ding Shuren. One was an information path gu worm the other a storage type gu worm with cultivation resources inside.


    "You can find the details here."


    "Thank you Lord Immortal! I will not disappoint!"


    Bao Xu Lian was about to take his leave when he turned back:


    "How much resources you take will also affect your evaluation, remember the clan values results over excuses."


    He gave this hint to the old city lord to show his goodwill. Ding Shuren was already an experienced rank five Gu master. If he were to eventually succeed in ascending to an immortal it would be Bao Xu Lian''s merit.


    "I will treasure Lord''s words, thank you."


    Said Ding Shuren respectfully as he bowed, when he raised his head again Bao Xu Lian was already gone.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi and Jin Ju were traveling together for two days now. They pulled the cart in turns, it was currently Bao Zhi''s turn while Jin Ju was resting inside the cart.


    After a sharp turn in the road they came to a sudden halt. Jin Ju poked his head out:


    "Why did we stop now?"


    He asked curiously. But his answer was right in front of them now. A huge tiger was blocking their way, about twenty steps ahead of them. Bao Zhi was holding the two handles, he slowly lowered the cart on its front two legs.


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    "Whatever happens, do not leave the cart!"


    He commanded.


    The tiger noticed them at the same time as they appeared, it was just crossing the road beforehand. But now it saw that food came knocking on its door, it turned its attention towards the two travelers. It assumed a stalking position, ready to jump at a moment''s notice. It put paw behind paw as it slowly approached them.


    Jin Ju got spooked, he immediately pulled back his head inside, only daring to peek through the gaps of the cart.


    Bao Zhi thought to himself:


    "What luck this is... I should rather take this as an opportunity."


    He stepped forward to create some distance from Jin Ju and the wares behind him. One of his hands behind his back, the other motioning towards the beast in a ''come at me'' manner.


    The tiger stopped to observe him carefully, it did not understand human gestures.


    "Not coming then?" - Snickered Bao Zhi.


    What happened next was something Jin Ju was never going to forget. Bao Zhi turned his back towards the hungry beast in front of them, calmly smiling at Jin Ju.


    "Aaah, watch out!"


    Screamed Jin Ju. The tiger immediately took advantage of the opportunity. It pounced towards Bao Zhi silently with ferocity glimmering in its eyes.


    Bao Zhi wasn''t oblivious to the sudden attack. Just as he provoked it, he welcomed it with a quick sidestep. The attack only missed by a hairs width, the tiger struck at the ground. Realizing its failure it swiped its head-sized paw with razor-sharp claws in the direction Bao Zhi dodged.


    But Bao Zhi wasn''t to be hit so easily, like a slippery eel he continued to evade and slip away at the last moment every time. This happened multiple times. The tiger roared in anger and frustration, its attacks increasing in speed and viciousness.


    Jin Ju was watching the events from his relative safety. He was gripping onto the wooden cart as his nails left a mark in them without him even noticing it. He didn''t want to interrupt Bao Zhi, he could only wail in his mind:


    "Why is he not attacking? A wrong step and he could die at any moment! He''s not even using any gu worms! Aah, I can''t watch this!"


    Meanwhile, Bao Zhi was calmly assessing his body''s capabilities now:


    "Not bad, my speed is already comparable to using low-grade movement gu."


    A low grade in his estimation meant, anything not exceptional. Back in his old days, he was renowned for his movement methods, the most famous of them was: Immortal killer move - Earth Root Travel. It allowed him to travel anywhere underground under a breath of time as long as there were interconnected roots present in the ground. It was an exemplary method for escaping or ambushing.


    But this was all in the past now, he focused back on the ''task'' at hand before him:


    "I should test out the defensive aspect as well."


    After a quick dodge, he did not evade again, he reached out his right hand toward the savage creature. He pushed it sideways with his palm, gently diverting the monstrous strength behind the attack. The tiger attacked, again and again, one could see the incredulity in its eyes: How could a small creature like this be so troublesome?


    "Not bad. Not bad. Now I should take this seriously."


    With this thought Bao Zhi took a strange stance, and the tiger came again, but now Bao Zhi counterattacked! He first struck at the head of the animal with great force. This gave him just enough time as the tiger stammered to jump up, his leg chopping downwards like a battleax.


    Bam! He hit the creature on its spine.


    The tiger cried out in pain, now fueled by rage. The prey has struck back!


    "What is this? Why is he using his hands and feet only?"


    "He is a battle maniac!"


    Jin Ju has not seen anything like this since he spectated a tournament once with his master. Now he recalled something:


    "Could he be a rarely seen strength path cultivator?"


    He has only heard about this weird and old-fashioned path from Xing Zan. He was not sure, but it fit the description.


    The battle now reached its apex in intensity, Bao Zhi was now not dodging at all, letting injuries accumulate on his body, only focusing on attacking, chaining kicks and punches one after the other. The tiger was not faring better, it had multiple broken ribs, one of its eyes blinded, its body limping to one side. Its instincts started to kick in: escape!


    "Not so fast!"


    Shouted Bao Zhi as he jumped on the back of the beast. He locked his legs around its body and struck its neck with great strength. Again, and again... The anguished cries of the poor animal soon came to an end as it breathed its last, laying in the dust, lifeless.


    "Too brutal! Too barbarous!"


    These were the thoughts in Jin Ju''s mind now. In the later parts of the fight, he even started to take pity on the animal that was foolish enough to attack Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi walked back to the cart, leaving bloody footsteps in his wake. He reached inside and took one of the jars with healing ointment inside.


    He sat down to tend to his injuries. These were only light wounds, but he was bleeding all over his body. It made him look like a deity of carnage.


    Jin Ju observed from inside as he pondered on what he has just witnessed:


    "Xing Zan has never confronted a beast head-on like this. He always used gu worms to distract or immobilize the creature before striking it down."


    He felt that Xing Zan probably wouldn''t be able to take a single hit in a similar fight. A kind of admiration and fear emerged in him. This was the way to fight! Direct and forceful! Could he also be so powerful one day? He quickly dispelled the thought, he wasn''t even a gu master and he wanted to match up to this monster Bao Zhi?


    "Let me pull the cart, you can tend to your injuries on the cart." - Offered Jin Ju.


    "No need. It is not the time yet to switch."


    Bao Zhi picked up the handles, the cart steadily rolled onward.


    Bao Zhi''s purpose was twofold. He could have used some expendable gu worms to chase the tiger away. They even would have saved some time and effort. But this was also an opportunity for him to suppress Jin Ju. Later he would place himself in a lower position by himself. He knew deep down that winning a person''s heart was winning the person himself!


    Even though it seemed like he set Jin Ju free from his master, was he truly free?


    ...


    It was now Jin Ju''s turn. He was giving it his all to maintain a steady pace, not too slow, not too fast. Bao Zhi was resting now, laying inside the cart leisurely. He was calculating what to sell and what to keep when the time comes for making his sale.


    In the distance Jin Ju noticed something.


    "Bao Zhi, look! Those are sun lotuses. We are close to Sun Lotus city now! Half a day and we''ll reach the city gates."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 6 - Aperture awakening ceremony

    "Zhao Min, where are you? Come out!"


    Called out the head of Zhao family, looking for his grandson.


    "Have you not heard the announcement of the city lord?"


    He was referring to Ding Shuren''s announcement just now.


    "Calm down grandpa. I heard it the first time. I''m here already."


    Came the reply from the young man as he walked down the stairs. He raised his arms as he lazily stretched, yawning in the meanwhile.


    "Of course, I heard it, how could I not wake up when city lord shouts in my mind? I was sleeping so well though. What a pity. Such a splendid dream, I was a white crane soaring above mountains and rivers. I was chasing... something. Ah, I seem to have forgotten the details already."


    Zhao Min said this as he scratched his disheveled hair.


    "Such disrespect for his seniors, the young master should be beaten!"


    Snorted the head of servants, voicing his displeasure.


    "Haha, Zhao Er is aloof as usual. Come before grandpa!"


    Zhao Min presented himself with a slight bow and cupped fists:


    "Zhao Min greets patriarch."


    "The awakening ceremony''s date has been brought forward this year-"


    "I know, I know. I heard it already. Grandfather can be at ease, this genius will uphold our family''s name. No need to remind me, I know Patriarch has his expectations. How could I, the great Zhao Min disappoint? The awakening ceremony is a trivial matter, no need to be so tense."


    The patriarch thought to himself:


    "Don''t interrupt me, I haven''t finished speaking!"


    Even though he could not add anything to the subject matter.


    "Go then!" - He grunted.


    "As you wish patriarch. Expect the good news, I will be back shortly. Please prepare my room for when I come back, oh and also I''d like to-"


    "Go already!" - Flared up the patriarch, veins bulging on his head.


    "As you wish, as you wish."


    Zhao Min bowed again and left the hall in a leisurely manner.


    "Your clothes! Are you going to represent our family in your sleep attire?"


    Shouted the patriarch at the leaving figure. Zhao Min replied over his shoulder:


    "My bad, I thought grandfather has already dismissed me. I still wanted to change. Don''t be angry at me now."


    One could hear the patriarch''s teeth grinding as he watched his grandson leave nonchalantly.


    "This spoiled brat! If he comes back with anything less than an A-grade aptitude, I''ll skin him!"


    He was blaming himself now internally, he shouldn''t have doted on his grandson so much. He has spoiled him. But Zhao Min was the young genius of the family. Did he not deserve special treatment? He wondered.


    * * * * *


    "Your names?" - Asked the gu master standing guard at the city gate.


    "Bao Zhi and Jin Ju."


    "Bao? What noble blood we have here. Haha." - Sneered the guard as he mocked Bao Zhi. The guard noted down the two names as he looked over the wanted posters next to the city gate. He confirmed they weren''t among them.


    If this guard knew that he hit the nail on the head as the young man in front of him, in fact, was the original owner of this whole small world, senior even to the high and mighty immortals he only heard about, who knew how he would feel after mocking him.


    "Purpose of your visit?"


    "We are humble traveling merchants. We came to trade and sell our wares." - Replied Bao Zhi with a calm expression.


    "Trading? Hehe... What''s in your cart?" - He motioned at the cart behind them. Jin Ju produced a list of wares they carried and passed it to the guard.


    "Hmm, this qualifies you as a medium-sized merchant. The tax will be a one-time fee of one hundred primeval stones."


    "Lord officer please reconsider, this is the list we departed with. We encountered many troubles and lost half of our wares on the way. Lord can check them if you don''t believe my words."


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    Pleaded Bao Zhi as he bowed towards the officer and sneakily passed a pouch of primeval stones. He had an earnest smile as he gazed at the guard.


    "Oh, why didn''t you say this sooner? Then that means you only have to pay fifteen primeval stones as a small-scale merchant."


    The guard felt the contents of the pouch, it was about twenty primeval stones. It went straight into his pocket. He had a better mood immediately.


    Next Bao Zhi openly took out fifteen primeval stones as payment for their entrance.


    Jin Ju quietly observed the procedure, it wasn''t the first time he witnessed such actions.


    "Here are your merchant tokens, keep them well."


    "Thank you, lord officer."


    After finishing the paperwork they parted their ways and went inside. Sun Lotus city was bustling, even more so than usual.


    "What a lively city!" - Exclaimed Bao Zhi. He could not only see the commotion of people but feel the vigorous human vein the city had.


    "It wasn''t like this the last time." - Remarked Jin Ju.


    "No matter. With this commotion, our wares will be flying off the shelves in no time! First, we should head towards the marketplace. Let''s get going."


    They went on the main street towards the inner parts of the city. There were many people coming and going. Stalls lined both sides of the busy street. Vendors selling their street food, and delicacies. They overheard many conversations on their way:


    "Ha, this is the chance of a lifetime! I have sent both my son and daughter to the ceremony. Just imagine our good fortune if one of them succeeds!"


    "The city lord is truly benevolent, giving this opportunity to us common folks shows he did not forget his roots."


    "This isn''t goodwill at all! He is getting so old, he clearly wants to find a good inheritor for himself, someone not from the big families."


    "I doubt that, why would he do that openly? He can''t just blatantly oppose the big families, can he?"


    "Haha, that doesn''t matter to me. This is like the New Year festive coming early, I''m going to get rich with this windfall of customers. I already made two weeks'' worth of profit today!" - Commented one of the sellers.


    Most of the people were in high spirits, some were suspicious of this grand event, and some did not care as they weren''t affected, but they were in the minority.


    ...


    "We''re here, this is the big market."


    Bao Zhi looked around and dragged the cart to an open spot among the many sellers. He started peddling their wares.


    * * * * *


    It was already afternoon, Jin Ju was roaming the streets now by himself. He got a pouch of primeval stones from Bao Zhi. He carefully tucked it away in his clothes not daring to reveal it, fearing he would get mugged or worse.


    His fears did not come to pass. He arrived at his target of a district.


    "This is the place. Now I should look for a suitable house to rent."


    He walked along the row of houses, keeping his eyes peeled, looking for the ''for rent'' plaques. Bao Zhi has given him the task of looking for accommodation, while he tries to sell the rest of their inventory.


    Jin Ju was deep in thought, he walked absentmindedly, evaluating the different houses by the criteria he was told. He did not notice the person coming his way, he bumped into him by accident.


    "You! Look where you are going!" - Came the sobering scolding.


    "Ah, sorry! My bad."


    He bumped into a rank two gu master by accident. The gu master looked over him, then asked:


    "Do you live here? Have you been to the awakening ceremony already?"


    "No-no, I''m just looking. I need to find a good house for-"


    The gu master did not care for Jin Ju to finish, he grabbed Jin Ju by his arm.


    "You come with me then!"


    "No. This is a misunderstanding! Please let me go!"


    "How could that be? Are you not a youth who hasn''t been to the ceremony yet? Follow me if you know what''s good for you!"


    Jin Ju wasn''t clear of the circumstances, but he knew that he could not argue with a gu master, that would only spell him more trouble. He noticed the small group of youngsters behind the gu master. He joined them reluctantly.


    "I hope this can be finished quickly. I''ll be in trouble if Bao Zhi thinks I left with the money..." - He thought to himself.


    The gu master leading them was given the task to round up any young mortals and take them to the awakening ceremony, by force if needed. Jin Ju could only comply, he was powerless in this situation.


    He sized up the group he was in now, there were only about a dozen of other youngsters. He concluded they were poor people or maybe orphans based on their clothes.


    He listened to the conversations around him:


    "We might not have any aptitude at all. Yu''er, don''t get your hopes up."


    "For all we know, we both might be peerless geniuses, unpolished jades waiting to be discovered. You never know, sister!"


    "The best would be if one of us had an aptitude, then she could earn for the family while the other could take care of mother at home."


    "Look, another new guy!"


    Suddenly, a girl came up to Jin Ju:


    "Nice to meet you! I''m Yu Lingxin, but you can just call me Yu''er. I have not seen you around, are you new here?"


    She had a rosy face and a lively aura.


    "Yu''er! Don''t just go talk up random people, have some decency!" - Came another female voice from behind her.


    "I''m sorry about my younger sister, please excuse her." - Appeared the older sister.


    "No problem, I don''t mind honestly. I''m Jin Ju, nice to meet the both of you." - Replied Jin Ju awkwardly after eavesdropping on their dialogue.


    "Could you tell me what is going on? Where are they taking us?"


    "Do you not know? The city lord has announced this morning that everyone must be tested for their aptitude. Anyone can become a gu master now!" - Replied Yu Lingxin with bright eyes, full of anticipation.


    "Haha, I did not know. Thanks for telling me. This is really an opportunity I can''t miss!"


    "Brother Ju, come join us. It is better to have company. We poor people should stick together and help each other."


    Yu Lingxin''s older sister furrowed her brows at Yu Lingxin''s unrestrained behavior.


    "Sure, sure." - Replied Jin Ju with a forced smile.


    He didn''t want to explain himself more than necessary, not to risk losing this peerless opportunity. If it was found out that he wasn''t from Sun Lotus city, would that not disqualify him? He did not know.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi sold a few wares after Jin Ju left to look for an abode. Shortly after that, he started packing up.


    "Young man, how much for that gu worm?" - Came a middle-aged customer asking.


    "Not selling, I''m closing for today."


    "That''s not how you do business, young man. If I want it, I''ll buy it!"


    "Then one hundred thousand primeval stones." - Replied Bao Zhi plainly, quoting a price multiple orders of magnitude higher than the rank one gu worm was worth.


    The middle-aged man choked on his words, he would slap himself if he could. He definitely wouldn''t pay that outrageous price, but he also wouldn''t go back on the words he just spoke.


    "Not buying? Then goodbye."


    At this moment Bao Zhi has finished packing up and took off with his cart leaving the man dumbfounded.


    ...


    "If I understood correctly, the grotto decided to nurture gu masters en masse. This might be a consequence of the last myriad tribulation. The reason is not important, I need to take advantage of this now."


    Bao Zhi has sent Jin Ju to look for a house because he had to maintain his gu master identity in his eyes. Why would a gu master go to the awakening ceremony? Thus they split up.


    "If I am like a tiger now, after I awaken my aperture I will be like a tiger with wings, a Biao!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 7 - Separating the wheat from the chaff

    Groups of youths were arriving one after another led by gu masters.


    "Pay close attention, all of you! Stop the chattering. City Lord will personally instruct you soon." - Raised his voice one of the gu masters at the youths behind him.


    They have arrived at a large square next to the city hall. One could see many gu masters standing guard at the sides. The location was well secured. In the middle of the square stood a sturdy tree, its trunk was thick while its crown spread over most of the place.


    "Form into rows of three under the sacred tree." - Came the order seemingly from every direction.


    Jin Ju was startled, he looked around for the source of the voice.


    "This is the technique of the city lord." - Explained Yu Lingxin, as she noticed his confusion.


    "Come, I heard it''s better to stand closer to the front. You have a higher chance of getting noticed by the seniors." - She said encouragingly.


    After a moment of commotion, the youths organized themselves into an orderly formation surrounding the tree from all directions. The atmosphere was tense.


    At this moment the city lord stepped onto his balcony, overlooking the square. Now he addressed the crowd personally:


    "Greetings citizens! Today will be a fateful event for most of you. For many of you, this will be the day you leave behind your mortal past and step on the road of gu cultivation. With my authority as the city lord, I, Ding Shuren decree the commencement of the awakening ceremony!"


    "I wish all of you good fortune!"


    His voice, amplified by gu worms, reverberated and spread far and wide among the onlookers.


    The crowd around the square cheered and applauded his words at the beginning of the grand event.


    * * * * *


    "Young master, please mind the time. The ceremony is soon to begin." - Urged the servant next to Zhao Min.


    "Patience is a virtue. Please stop nagging me. There''s no hurry." - Came the reply from Zhao Min as he ate his second serving at one of the stalls.


    "Young master has already missed one of the ceremonies, we are fortunate to have another opportunity in the afternoon. We need to make it in time!" - Pleaded the servant again and again.


    "How could it be fortune? Are you dimwitted? The city lord clearly stated that every youth has to participate. How many youths are there in this city, can you even count them? One event is clearly not enough. There will be more even after this one. Do you think I missed it by chance? How could I have any peace if I always did what others told me..."


    "Young master is truly wise, I''m ashamed. But you still promised to get back early, patriarch is surely eager for the results."


    "And why would I hurry back when I couldn''t even have breakfast or dress up properly before I was chased out like a dog?" - He retorted, twisting and exaggerating the morning events in an annoyed tone.


    "This... At least the young master should change his clothes. I have brought them with me for your sake."


    "Sigh... It is so tiresome to use my brain to think in your stead as well. Just tell me. Should I change clothes here in the middle of the street? Do you think that''s fitting of my status?" - He continued to argue...


    "Ah well, never mind. I''m bored of arguing, let''s just get on with this." - Next he slurped up the rest of the soup before him.


    Seeing that his tireless nagging finally had some effect the servant rejoiced, he wouldn''t get reprimanded at home.


    "Give me that cloth." - Zhao Min ordered as he took the folded robe and wiped his mouth with it.


    "Young master!"


    "Now we can go, haha!"


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi pulled his cart out of sight into an alleyway. He locked it before covering it with a tarp.


    "Alright. Let''s see this awakening ceremony."


    He approached the square and carefully observed the arrangements. He saw through them with a single glance.


    "There are not only gu masters standing guard at the sides, some of them are mingling in the crowds without their uniforms. The youths will receive the hope gu from the sacred tree. It''s best if I just blend in, and play along to get my share."


    But next, he noticed something unexpected.


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    "Why is he here of all places? I clearly sent him to another part of town."


    He wanted to avoid Jin Ju, that would have been for the best. But this was a typical example of plans being unable to keep up with changes.


    "I still need to participate. I''ll just stay further behind out of his sight."


    Bao Zhi had high expectations from Jin Ju. He could be turned into a useful pawn. The moment they met, he could feel his abundant human qi. Even though human qi was not talent, the two were related. Talented people always had abundant human qi. It was even the prerequisite for immortal ascension, but let''s not talk about that now.


    Talent and aptitude were also similar. Talent referred to one''s ability to comprehend the dao. With higher talent, one could raise their attainment of the dao twice as fast with half the effort. On the other hand, aptitude referred to the body. It determined how fast and how far one could reach in the ranks of cultivation.


    Aptitude was more important in mortal cultivation, one needed to be able to reach rank five before one could become an immortal. While attainments defined immortal cultivation. The two were also often overlapping, so the distinction was rarely made. But there were individuals like the rank nine Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable who had started with the lowest, D grade aptitude, but also had heaven-defying talent. This clearly showed as well that no rules were absolute.


    Bao Zhi had both talent and aptitude, he was looking ahead of replicating, no, surpassing even his previous life''s achievements.


    He pondered no more as he made his way into the crowd, blending in as he copied the other''s behavior. The event was about to begin.


    * * * * *


    "Stand your ground. Do not be startled, water will wash over you. This is part of the test." - The voice rang in the youth''s minds again, instructing them.


    Soon deep gurgling and surging water noises could be heard, it came from the sacred tree''s direction. The water erupted upwards from the hollow tree trunk like a fountain. The drops of liquid fell onto the branches and leaves. From the tree''s canopy, the water was distributed evenly as it poured on the youths below.


    "This is water from a spirit spring, it has abundant primeval energy. Do not budge, resist it! The longer you can endure the higher your aptitude is."


    As the first drops landed on them, the youths started to feel a formless pressure weighing on their mind and body. The pressure increased droplet by droplet. Soon there were ones who started to shake or breathe roughly. After five breaths of time, the first youth couldn''t endure it anymore, he collapsed in exhaustion. He had no aptitude.


    After ten breaths of time, most of the participants had some degree of difficulty, half of them had already laid on the ground in exhaustion. The droplets stopped falling on them, they were diverted to the rest of them. It further increased their pressure!


    "No! Sister, you need to endure, don''t give up yet!" - Yu Lingxing could only shout this in her mind. She could not open her mouth even if she wanted to. She gritted her teeth under the formless burden pressing down.


    But her sister was already overexerting herself, next she fell to her knees. Even though the pressure lifted from her, she could only say a single sentence before laying on the ground powerlessly:


    "I''m proud of you, Yu''er."


    Another change occurred at this moment: bright lights started to descend from the sacred tree. Flying and dancing around the youths, seemingly looking for something. Soon, more and more lights appeared, and they started to gather onto their bodies and enter their abdomens without resistance. Some people had abundant lights gathering around them, while having a calm expression, some only had two or three lights while they were already at their limits, about to collapse.


    "About half of them have an aptitude, this is an expected ratio." - Thought to himself Ding Shuren as he evaluated the events.


    "The more important question is how many of them will have A or B grade aptitude." - He continued to observe attentively.


    Jin Ju was standing next to Yu Lingxin, he had less difficulty than the others around him: "Shouldn''t this be more difficult? I certainly feel the pressure, but it isn''t unbearable. Maybe I am talented?"


    Just as he had this thought a wave of people collapsed. They were the second most numerous group, they had D grade aptitude. This group was over half of the remaining ones, with their downfall the pressure on the rest increased steeply! Now the spirit spring rain was falling on them like a monsoon.


    After five breaths of time the next group could not endure anymore, they fell like dominoes one after another. They had C grade aptitude. Yu Lingxin was among them. She almost reached B grade, she was on the higher end of the C grade.


    "This pressure is getting really intense, I can also barely see from these annoying lights. Buzz off already!" - Thought Jin Ju with irritation, bitterly holding on. Little did he know, these gu were the key to awakening his aperture.


    Meanwhile, Bao Zhi was observing the event from the back lines.


    "Jin Ju is performing quite well, I was not wrong about him. Sadly A grade is not something just anyone can reach, B grade should be his limit. Only the most exceptional ones can reach A grade."


    His gaze moved onto another cloud of swarming lights ahead of him. There stood a youth, seemingly unconcerned with the world around him. He was looking upwards while holding his palms up before him. He looked bored, or was he questioning the heavens themselves? He was Zhao Min.


    "Now that is what A grade looks like!" - Bao Zhi exclaimed.


    Although he similarly had a lot of hope gu around him, he was faking great difficulty. He did not want to attract any more attention than strictly necessary. Thinking of this he noticed that there were only less than ten of the youths standing. The ones with B grade aptitude started to fall as well. Like what he predicted, Jin Ju managed to reach B grade before collapsing.


    Meanwhile on the balcony:


    "Oh, this is exceptional. It seems like there are three A grade geniuses in this batch. I''ll need to clearly mark them down. My coming evaluation is looking brighter and brighter." - Remarked the city lord to himself.


    Water was pouring down on them like a waterfall at this point, Bao Zhi''s vision got obscured even more.


    "What is going on? I surely should feel some pressure by now. Right?"


    A sense of bad premonition took root in Bao Zhi''s heart. Too much of a good thing was also detrimental. Then the realization hit him like lightning from a clear sky.


    "Dao mark conflict!"


    "I have too many dao marks on my body, so the rank one hope gu is ineffective!"


    He was stupefied by his discovery. This situation was unthinkable and without precedent. There has never been another mortal, who had this many dao marks yet no aperture. It has never crossed his mind that hope gu could be ineffective due to this simple yet extraordinary condition. He wanted to curse profusely at this moment, but he had to stay in character.


    Bao Zhi had no time to further contemplate his problem now, as he has gotten into quite the predicament. He immediately fell to the ground and stayed motionless.


    "My performance already showed B grade or higher. Yet, if they investigate me I will have no aperture to show. Problems will only pile on me from then on if I can''t explain myself."


    "Damn it!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 8 - Taking a step backward

    Two immortals were flying above the clouds.


    One of them transmitted: "This is the location, the last formation core is right before us. Yun''er, please release the immortal gu here."


    Lady Wen Yun did as instructed, she took out a rank six immortal gu from her aperture.


    "Rank six Leaf Edge Immortal Gu." She announced softly as she pushed the gu worm gently forward in the air.


    This gu worm was one of the formation cores for Bao clan''s Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation. It got previously damaged during the myriad tribulation. Lady Wen Yun was the one tasked to restore this crucial gu worm. She was the refinement expert Wen clan has sent over as per the two clan''s agreement.


    Lady Wen Yun: "Uncle Wen Bo, this formation is truly profound. I wouldn''t have believed it if I haven''t seen it for myself. I wonder what your evaluation is on the matter."


    "Indeed. I had the same idea the first time I witnessed it. This is already my second time interacting with it, but I still only managed to comprehend sixty to seventy percent of it..." Replied Wen Bo humbly.


    "Only that much? Is this formation beyond the level of a formation path great grandmaster?" She called out incredulously.


    "No, that is not the case. How should I say this..." Wen Bo paused to come up with a good analogy.


    "Let''s say a formation expert can build many houses, big or small, tall or wide, plain or ornate. But they are all static and motionless when compared to this formation. Then this formation would be a growing treehouse on top of a walking turtle! This formation is the work of a wood path great grandmaster! It contains the essence of nature and vitality, it almost feels like the formation is another living entity itself. The formation cores can rearrange themselves as needed and mortal gu can be refined to restore a damaged part. Even an immortal gu would be repaired if given enough time and resources and it wasn''t destroyed instantly." Wen Bo has subconsciously raised his voice as he was explaining with great fervor, he was truly in admiration of this unique formation.


    "Refining gu worms when needed? That is the specialty of refinement path. I thought this formation was only a wood path formation." Remarked Lady Wen Yun.


    Wen Bo: "Haha, this is simple. You''ll experience this yourself when your attainment reaches grandmaster and beyond. At grandmaster attainment, you will be able to use your main path to understand and imitate other paths. You should be close to this level already, right?"


    Lady Wen Yun: "Uncle is perceptive as always, indeed I''m at quasi-grandmaster in refinement path. So is this formation imitating refinement path with wood path?"


    "Among many others, yes. I could make out some aspects of blade and earth path as well. This formation''s profoundly is comparable to our clan''s Revolving Mountain formation." Stated Wen Bo solemnly.


    "No way! That formation was created by many generations of our formation experts. How can Bao clan have such a formation as well?"


    "This is a matter of fact. Bao clan also has a deep history, don''t forget they were once a super force just like our Wen clan. I heard that their rank eight ancestor has innovated the core of this formation by himself. But enough talking. I need to focus now, the most critical part is here." As Wen Bo said this, he activated his immortal killer move, it spread out engulfing this part of the formation.


    After a few breaths of time the operation of the formation came to a crawl, it greatly slowed down. A small formation space was opened now and the rank six Leaf Edge Immortal Gu was sucked into it.


    "Success!" Called out Wen Bo as he released a turbid breath. It wasn''t easy on him to influence this rank eight formation with his rank seven cultivation.


    "Uncle, if this is such an important formation like our Revolving Mountain formation, why does Bao clan let us interact with it? Are they not afraid if we learn of their secrets?" Came the question from Lady Wen Yun.


    "You are still young Yun''er. There is no problem with this. Bao clan is dependent on us for our expertise while we are dependent on them for the abundant resources they can produce in exchange. Also, remember the immortal oath you''ve taken? Every immortal has taken that as well. Even if one wanted to harbor malicious intent to harm the other, their oath would trigger. At that point even the first supreme elder would be powerless to save that person."


    Just as they were conversing, a third immortal appeared from thin air.


    "Greetings to Grand Formation Wen Bo and refinement expert Lady Wen Yun." Came the greeting.


    "Greetings Fairy Bao Yijun!"


    Bao Yijun was inside the formation previously, controlling it and assisting the Wen clan immortals to repair it.


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    "You two did a satisfactory job, I will not stint on the praise when I report it to the first supreme elder." Said Fairy Bao Yijun with a friendly smile. "There is just one more thing I''d like to discuss. Care to join me at my banquet?" She asked this as she looked at Lady Wen Yun, then she glanced at Wen Bo.


    "This is a good opportunity for you to build some connections. Go Yun''er, I''ll return to the clan now." Transmitted Wen Bo as he noticed the second supreme elder''s subtle hint, she had business to discuss with Lady Wen Yun.


    Lady Wen Yun: "But... uncle?"


    "Thank you for the kind words Fairy Yijun, but I''ll have to hurry back and report. Take care!" With that said, he left his junior and Fairy Yijun behind.


    "I- I wonder what Fairy wants to discuss with me." Said Wen Yun awkwardly.


    Fairy Bao Yijun: "Don''t be so tense. Haha. Just some personal matters, I want you to refine gu for me. Of course, I''ll personally provide the materials and remuneration."


    Lady Wen Yun: "Ah, so it is like that. Senior please lead the way!"


    * * * * *


    The awakening ceremony has already ended. Bao Zhi was in the district where he previously sent Jin Ju. His cart was parked outside the house he rented. He was inside, already deep in thought.


    "The problem is that the number of my wood path dao marks overpower the rank one Hope Gu. Even though human path has the nature of not conflicting, mortal gu only has fragments of dao marks. I would need an immortal level Hope gu. I''m not sure if it even exists. But I definitely can''t refine it now or any gu if I have no primeval or immortal essence."


    "If I can''t have any essence, I can''t use gu worms. I am facing both the external problem of having drawn attention with my performance at the ceremony and the internal issue that I can''t cultivate Gu worms... What a wretched situation this is."


    Bao Zhi did not despair though. He knew deep down that the most important factor was not luck, it wasn''t talent or aptitude either. The most important thing was not up to Heaven and Earth to decide: this thing was the mindset. With an iron will, no matter how many setbacks and failures one faced, as long as they were willing to walk, there was always a road to walk on.


    "Wait, I still do have one Gu worm, and it is a rank six at that." He realized this as he placed his palm on his chest. He could feel his heart beating steadily, it was the immortal Gu he revived with, Verdant Heart Seed.


    "Do I dare to activate it again? No, I almost died last time as well. I simply do not know enough about this gu worm."


    One thing was knowing, another was putting it into practice. Experimenting with a new immortal gu was very dangerous even for immortals, not to mention a mortal. It was certain death for Bao Zhi to start testing the specifics of this gu worm. He put this idea behind himself. Bao Zhi put down the book beside him he was holding till now.


    It was the most common book, yet it held great wisdom. It was The Legends of Ren Zu. Everyone knew this story, it was widely circulated, yet most people could only scratch the surface of its profundities. Even the rank nine venerables were unable to comprehend it entirely. This was nothing strange, Ren Zu was a legendary figure, the human ancestor himself.


    With some new inspiration Bao Zhi contemplated his situation:


    "The Legends of Ren Zu states that Ren Zu met Strength Gu before Hope Gu. Does this mean he has obtained strength even though he had no cultivation?"


    This was a question with deep implications.


    "Let''s suppose this allegory is truthful. How would Ren Zu have strength? What was cultivation like when there was no aperture?"


    The answer was self-evident: "It has to be dao marks. Strength gu has carved strength path dao marks on his body, making him strong. This is the simplest explanation."


    Bao Zhi felt like he had uncovered a long-forgotten history as he suddenly exclaimed: "Body cultivation! Desolate beasts! They naturally have dao marks on their bodies granting them different abilities. They do not need Gu worms to form these killer moves, because they already have the dao marks in the arrangement of a killer move!"


    The first killer moves were based on imitating and improving the beasts'' natural "killer moves". This in essence was just studying heaven and earth and applying that knowledge through Gu worms.


    "I already have dao marks on my body, but they do not form any killer moves yet. Even though this path of cultivation is inflexible, this seems like my best shot currently to cultivate. Next, I need to find a method to change my dao marks'' arrangement. Then, with sufficient strength, I can take what I need!"


    A concrete plan has started to take form in his mind, the details still blurry. He did not put down the idea of awakening his aperture, the end goal was clear before his eyes:


    "In the end, I need to obtain rank five Man Triumphing Heaven Gu!"


    This gu worm was special, it was a forceful way to awaken an aperture even if the person had no aptitude for cultivation. But it is a rank five gu worm it was prohibitively expensive for anyone other than the most influential leaders and immortals. One could not purchase such Gu worm in a market.


    * * * * *


    Jin Ju just woke up after he passed out during the awakening ceremony. He found that he was no longer drenched in water and also his fatigue was gone. He looked around, he was now in a hall laying on a futon-style bed. He noticed the many others around him. Soon a girl''s voice attracted his attention:


    "Brother Ju, you woke up finally!" Came the greeting from the now-familiar Yu Lingxin as she made her way over between the beds on the ground.


    "Brother Ju, I never imagined you would be so talented!"


    Jin Ju didn''t know whether to laugh or cry.


    "What, you know my results?"


    "Yes, I read it on the evaluation list. You got B grade aptitude! They told me B grade would have a bright future in cultivation, only surpassed by the few A grade talents." She exclaimed with eyes full of excitement.


    Jin Ju: "I wonder what grade you got, is it also B grade?"


    Yu Lingxin: "I wasn''t far off, but it is only C grade. Still, it is a very good outcome. I''m satisfied with it. With some extra work, I will make up the difference!" She exclaimed in a competitive manner.


    Jin Ju laughed playfully: "I''m sure of it."


    Yu Lingxin: "Will you join us? We''ll have a celebration tonight." Asked Yu Lingxin as she suddenly hugged Jin Ju.


    Realization dawned on Jin Ju, he still had the primeval stones on him. "Sorry, I just remembered I have something to take care of." He blurted out.


    But Yu Lingxin was already running away with a reddened face: "Then see you tomorrow in the academy!"


    Jin Ju was dumbfounded, at what just happened. Anyway, he adjusted the pouch he has hidden at his waist. "Good, I wasn''t robbed when I was unconscious."


    ...


    "Sister, this Jin Ju is such a player. He did not show it, but I felt his crotch when I hugged him, I think he has feelings for me."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 9 - Back to school

    It was already nighttime. Sun lotuses dimly illuminated the streets of the city.


    Jin Ju came back looking for Bao Zhi. He didn''t find him at the marketplace after the awakening ceremony so he came to the district where he was supposed to rent a house. As he was strolling around, he noticed a familiar sight:


    "Isn''t that our cart?" He exclaimed to himself as he recognized it. Jin Ju collected his courage and knocked on the door.


    As expected it was Bao Zhi who opened the door.


    "Ah Jin Ju, it''s you. So you finally found a house to rent, I see, haha." He remarked with sarcasm and a smiling face. "Come on in, come on in!" He invited Jin Ju.


    Jin Ju felt ashamed. He felt like he has betrayed the trust Bao Zhi has given him by not completing his task. He went in with his head hung low.


    Bao Zhi didn''t seem to mind it in reality: "Come. You must be hungry, the food''s almost ready. Let''s have a talk while we eat."


    Jin Ju thought to himself: "Am I going to get scolded or beaten? Oh wait, what am I thinking? I''m not a slave anymore!" He looked at his benefactor, Bao Zhi with gratitude as he remembered how Xing Zan would beat him for the smallest reasons. Before even taking his seat at the table, he took out the pouch he was entrusted with:


    "Here, I return the money. I didn''t spend any of it! I''m incompetent."


    "No matter, no matter. Take a seat and have a chat." Answered Bao Zhi without taking back the primeval stones. He continued: "Although I have to say, you did mess with my future plans."


    Jin Ju: "I''m so sorry. I''m so useless, I was-"


    Bao Zhi: "No, let me finish. It''s not about the primeval stones or that I had to look for you. I don''t mind that, it''s already in the past. Originally I had planned to go to the capital after selling the wares and settle down there." He sighed as he continued: "I had a suspicion about you and it turned out to be true in the end."


    Jin Ju almost choked on his soup as he had a bad premonition hearing this: "Oh no, in the end, he''s dismissing me? What am I to do?"


    Bao Zhi: "B grade, eh? I went to the city square and I saw your name on the list. You have a good aptitude for cultivation but you are still too green... I can''t bear to see you waste away here."


    Jin Ju: "I don''t understand, is this not a good thing?"


    Bao Zhi: "They will take you by force if they need to, you should not go against them. In their eyes, you are nothing more than a future pawn to be discarded at the opportune moment. They do not see you, they only see your B grade aptitude."


    Jin Ju: "..."


    Bao Zhi: "I can only help you now. Even if you don''t want my guidance, that bag of primeval stones is yours. Treat it as my gift to celebrate your aperture''s awakening."


    Jin Ju: "I can''t accept it, I have not earned this money!"


    Bao Zhi: "You will need it. You don''t know it yet, resources are the cornerstone of Gu cultivation. Even if your foundation is great, you still need the bricks to build a proper house. Without resources, your cultivation will stagnate and your gu worms will starve."


    Jin Ju: "But I can''t take this much with me. I''m going to get robbed, this is such a huge sum. I cannot keep it."


    Bao Zhi: "Hmm, indeed this is a problem. How about this then, I will go with you to the academy to make sure things don''t go south."


    Jin Ju had a surprised look, he asked: "Will they let you in?"


    "No need to worry about that, I have my methods." Remarked Bao Zhi smiling mysteriously.


    Jin Ju did not know that they were expecting Bao Zhi there as well as he didn''t notice him participating in the awakening ceremony.


    After they finished their meals Bao Zhi stood up and looked at Jin Ju solemnly: "Come, I will explain to you the ways of gu cultivation. While you listen, sit there comfortably." He tossed a gu worm to Jin Ju casually. It had a spherical shape and a faint glow around it.


    Jin Ju: "Oh, I know this gu worm. It is Green Copper Relic Gu! It is used by gu masters to raise their cultivation by a small realm. But relic gu are rare and expensive, how could I take this?" He felt his palms burning with excitement as he caught the gu worm. Then he sat cross-legged and listened attentively.


    Bao Zhi: "It''s yours. Start refining that gu worm, but don''t use it yet. Cultivation of small realms is increasing in difficulty: Initial, middle, upper, and peak stage. Relic gu has the greatest use when going from upper to peak stage. It saves the most effort and time that way..."


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    Jin Ju placed the gu worm on his palm while he held his other hand above the gu worm as he gently clasped the relic gu. Next, he tried to force his primeval essence to move towards his palms with great difficulty. He followed the instructions he was given and managed to refine a portion of the gu worm before he went to sleep. He was wondering to himself:


    "This Bao Zhi is so knowledgeable about cultivation. Every word he says has great meaning... He is also really strong. He beat that tiger miserably only with his bare hands... But he looks just my age. Can I be as powerful eventually as well? Did he use lifespan gu or does he have a superb inheritance? I cannot ask him, personal matters regarding cultivation and gu worms people owned are a huge taboo."


    Curiosity and anticipation were burning his mind before he fell asleep soundly. Today''s matters have exhausted him in both body and mind.


    * * * * *


    Soon it was morning, a knocking was coming from the front door.


    "Students Bao Zhi and Jin Ju, present yourselves!"


    Bao Zhi was the one to get up and receive the man outside. He already woke up early, not needing much sleep was one of the subtle perks of his half-immortal body.


    "I am Bao Zhi, is there a problem?" He asked feigning ignorance why the man visited.


    "I''m here on behalf of the Brilliance Lotus Academy. Here is your personal token of studentship and the official rank one gu master clothing." The man passed over a package of neatly folded clothes with a small circular token on top of them. It had a "One" symbol on it with a lotus image on the backside. He continued:


    "Is student Jin Ju here as well?"


    "Yes, should I call him over? Or I can pass the items to him." Said Bao Zhi as he motioned behind him and then extended his hand to take the other pile the man had prepared.


    "That won''t do. I have orders to personally deliver it. Please notify him then change into your clothes. I will be waiting for both of you here."


    "Alright."


    After enough time passed for two incense sticks to burn, two youths presented themselves dressed in green robes. Their attire was plain, some floral patterns were the only decoration on them. Their green color also denoted their rank one status, corresponding to the color of green copper primeval essence.


    Now that both of them were ready the man instructed:


    "Follow me. I will take the two of you to the academy and show you your classes."


    Jin Ju was still sleepy as he rubbed his eyes on their way, he was thinking to himself as he sneaked a glance at Bao Zhi: "Sure enough, he was invited as well. How did he do it? It''s been such a short time since we arrived here. Did he bribe someone?"


    The more he thought about this the more mystified he felt about his traveling companion. But he pushed this train of thought aside as he couldn''t come to a satisfying conclusion. He observed his surroundings, he saw many similar sights: Youths in green robes led in the same direction.


    "I can''t wait to start cultivating! My father told me yesterday that our family had a rank two inheritance he could not cultivate because of his lack of talent. He told me I can have it if I make it to rank two!"


    "Ha, you only have C grade aptitude. You can dig out those trash gu worms from your family grave before you reach rank two."


    "Shut up! Nobody asked you. I will show it to you!"


    "Frog in a well... Want to bet?"


    "Don''t mind him. He''s stuck up even though his aptitude is B grade, it is just barely. The difference is not much between you two. I saw his results yesterday."


    "Aptitude is only one thing, but you commoners have no idea. I can have my aptitude raised straight to A grade if I asked my grandfather. You can''t even dream of what''s possible for me. Just my breakfast costs more than what your family earns in a week''s time!" - This young master continued to boast.


    "Humph, typical spoiled lazy brat. I bet you never knew what hard work is. Try asking your grandpa to buy some of that for you as well. Hehe."


    "You!"


    "Behave yourself!" - Berated their designated leader.


    "A lowly servant dares to scold me?" - Fumed the youngster.


    "I represent the academy here. Do you wish to get expelled?" - He asked in a threatening voice as he pulled out an official document with the academy''s seal on it.


    "You''ll all regret this..." - The young master mumbled under his breath.


    Not long after, Jin Ju''s group joined this other group and another small mass, their leaders greeted each other cordially and made some small talk as they soon reached the gates of the academy. They were led inside, taking a small tour around the buildings of the institution.


    Jin Ju had an amused expression as he took in the sight of the multiple-story buildings ornately decorated with intricate wooden carvings.


    Between the buildings were pathways lined with benches, flowering trees overhanging them. There was also an open space further in, for the students to train and the occasional events to be held.


    After finishing their tour, the students arrived in their respective classrooms.


    "Good morning students. I''m pleased to meet you, I will be your teacher from now. You can just call me teacher Tao." - Introduced an old man standing before them.


    Teacher Tao had a hunched back and a walking cane. His red robes were embroidered with golden leaves and a big "Teacher" character on his back denoting his status and cultivation realm.


    The youths paid their respect in unison as they cupped their fists and bowed to their elder before taking their seats.


    "First I will introduce to you the history of our academy. It was the first academy established shortly after Sun Lotus City was founded. It dates back to..."


    Bao Zhi was sitting close to the back rows. He was not interested in such mundane trivia, so he ignored it. He decided to use his time more wisely while he was stuck here.


    "My biggest immediate problem is securing a steady flow of resources. With the two of us cultivating we will live up the savings of Xing Zan quite quickly. While I figure out a better solution, I can just sell some mortal inheritances under a false name or anonymously."


    As he decided on that, he started to piece together some rank three and rank four inheritances. It was actually quite difficult to achieve this, but not for the usual reasons. A mortal gu master would have to painstakingly innovate and improve their techniques and combination of gu worms. But for Bao Zhi, with great grandmaster attainment in wood path, creating some mortal techniques was as easy as drinking water. The difficulty lay in making it seem authentic. Most of the rank three and four inheritances were full of underlying flaws and discrepancies in the eyes of an immortal. He had to replicate these and imitate the thought process a gu master would take.


    Before he noticed, today''s class has already ended.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 10 - Im from the Scholarly Merchant Association

    The first day of school has ended, and the students were free to mingle or take their leave. Some students went home, mentally exhausted after the lengthy and boring classes. Some were chatting and exchanging ideas with their newly acquainted classmates. Jin Ju and Yu Lingxin were walking among a small group of students.


    Yu Lingxin: "I''m so excited, we will start cultivating next week when we have finished going over the basics."


    "Oh, sister Yu Lingxin is knowledgeable. Please explain it to us."


    Yu Lingxin: "I went and asked one of the seniors and she told me all this. Firstly, they will give us primeval stones each week!"


    Jin Ju: "Should we go and claim it then?"


    "Yes, sister Yu Lingxin, please instruct us."


    "Sure, sure. Follow after me. Usually, they would give it out by the end of the week, but if we go and claim it ourselves we can have it by the start of the week." Replied Yu Lingxin enthusiastically. She glanced at Jin Ju covertly before leading the group to claim their funds.


    To someone with an upbringing like Yu Lingxin, this fistful of primeval stones was not a small amount. Not to mention, it was on the house, they got it free of cost! As the gates of cultivation were opened for everyone, regardless of status, there were a lot of families who felt gratitude for the sudden windfall of primeval stones. It was a huge sum compared to what a mortal could earn. But later they would realize, that cultivation was a previously unimaginably expensive endeavor.


    On the other hand, there were also individuals who became emboldened and haughty as their greed wanted more of the easy money. One such person was Su Kang. He had a strong and well-built body, his frame towered over his peers. With a troublesome upbringing and his physical prowess, it was already in his nature to resolve problems with force. As the proverb said: A body acts according to physical strength.


    Su Kang was standing outside the academy gates, he was looking for students coming from a particular direction. He wasn''t without wits, not long ago he noticed one of his classmates claiming his allotted primeval stones. After beating up that unfortunate individual, Su Kang moved into this position to catch more unsuspecting students and extort them.


    "Jackpot! Other weaklings are coming." - He thought to himself as he stepped out blocking their way with his wide shoulders. "Pay up or get beaten!" Su Kang raised his voice and pushed the weak-looking young man back in front of him.


    Jin Ju was startled, he took a step back almost falling backward.


    Yu Lingxin was also not expecting her plan to backfire. The bigger your hopes, the bigger your disappointment. Falling from highs to lows was the worst. "Oh no, why did I have to go and get the primeval stones? Why couldn''t I just wait for it?" She was blaming her impatience now.


    This was no coincidence, those students who claimed their allowance in advance were expected to be able to take care of it. It was an unwritten rule of the academy. It was also tolerated that others picked on the foolish students who dared to take the stones but had no strength to back up their choices. Some of the seniors even instigated the greenhorns to their own enjoyment.


    But the timber''s already a boat; the rice is already cooked. Yu Lingxin expectantly looked at Jin Ju, maybe he could stand up for them in this troublesome situation. But she quickly realized, Jin Ju was no match as she saw the impatient Su Kang punch Jin Ju without warning.


    "Guh!" Jin Ju collapsed to the ground as he took the hit in his stomach.


    "Pay up! Or do you want another one?" - Su Kang threatened.


    "This money, I cannot give it to you." - Jin Ju tried to get his act together and put up a tough facade.


    Su Kang: "You asked for it. Don''t blame me if you get crippled."


    Yu Lingxin: "Nooo, Jin Ju! Just give him the stones, we''ll get more next week."


    Jin Ju would not mind the few primeval stones they just got, but he also had the ones on him he got from Bao Zhi. It was many times their allowance! But he could not disclose this. He feared even his new friends would look at him with envy and get in line to take it from him.


    Hearing the commotion ahead, a young man with cold eyes raised his head. "There is misfortune only where there is wealth." - He sighed.


    Su Kang was about to deliver his punishment in the form of his fist when suddenly a passerby tripped over his own feet and stumbled into his way from the sides.


    Su Kang missed his target, punching in the air. His momentum carried him on as his body bumped into the young man falling his way.


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    "Aah!" - Su Kang fell back. He was holding his chest with one hand. He sucked in the cold air as he gritted his teeth in pain.


    "Ouch! Sorry, sorry. I didn''t mean to! Are you alright?" - Asked the new arrival with an apologetic face.


    The young man was Bao Zhi of course. He was keeping a watchful eye on his investment, tailing Jin Ju in secret. He stepped forward from the background of people. He could not let Jin Ju get robbed like this.


    "Let me help you up." Said Bao Zhi with an honest and regretful expression, like it was an accident he headbutted him in the chest. But who would believe that he had such intentions to aggravate the one-head-taller Su Kang?


    "Agh, no need. Just let me... catch my breath. You all... can go..." - Su Kang tried to play it cool, but it was evident that every breath was painful as his chest heaved up and down.


    "Serves you right, a broken rib is the least you deserve!" - Thought to herself Yu Lingxin.


    "Oh, Bao Zhi, it is you!" - Exclaimed Jin Ju. "Yu''er let me introduce him: He is my partner Bao Zhi, I met him on the way to the city. Bao Zhi, this is Yu Lingxin from our class." Introduced Jin Ju as he and Bao Zhi helped each other up from the ground.


    "Hm, nice to meet you." Replied Yu Lingxin. "Is this the other guy who got A grade aptitude in our class besides Zhao Min? That Zhao Min didn''t even show up... I finally know who Bao Zhi is. I wouldn''t have guessed it''s him, he looks quite unremarkable. Wait, what did he just say? His partner...?" Thoughts were racing in Yu Lingxin''s head as she looked back and forth between Jin Ju and Bao Zhi.


    They left the still struggling Su Kang behind. After some small talk, they parted ways. Bao Zhi and Jin Ju headed home.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi and Jin Ju arrived at home. Jin Ju was still rubbing the painful bruise he got from Su Kang.


    Jin Ju: "I think, I''ll lay down and rest a bit for now."


    "Does it hurt?" - Asked Bao Zhi the rhetorical question.


    Jin Ju: "Yes?"


    "The past can hurt, you can''t change that. But you can accept it and decide what you will do with it. Will you run away from it or will you learn from it?"


    Jin Ju: "..."


    "What was the cause you got beaten? You were too weak! Here, take this." - Offered Bao Zhi a stack of paper notes.


    "I don''t understand. Did you note down the whole history lecture?" - Asked back Jin Ju with a confused look. With one hand he was holding his painful stomach while he took the papers with his other.


    "This is something much more valuable. Why would I give you some notes from a history lesson? Take a look."


    Jin Ju raised the pages and started reading them. His eyes became the size of saucers in his shock: "This is a gu master inheritance!"


    "I''ve been keeping it for you. After you memorized it, burn the pages. Jin Ju, I hope you realize you need strength to protect yourself. I can''t be there every time to save you."


    Jin Ju looked at the honest and caring expression of Bao Zhi. Jin Ju wiped his eye, he was fighting back his tears now. There was no person that has cared for him to this extent. He could feel the genuine trust of Bao Zhi.


    "Th-Thank you! How can I repay this?"


    "Cultivate well, make every minute count. You already have an advantage, don''t squander it. If you can place first in the class by cultivation realm, you will get extra benefits. Now go and continue to refine the relic gu, but don''t refine it fully yet. You don''t want an expendable gu to be your vital gu."


    "Yes, yes. What is a vital gu?"


    "I will tell you shortly, but now I have some business to take care of. Cultivate as described in the inheritance if you''re done with the gu." - With that said, Bao Zhi left Jin Ju and headed outside.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi stopped before his destination. It was a multiple-story building with grand decorations and two guards standing beside the entrance. He looked up at the plaque on the front of the building.


    It stated in big golden letters: Auction Hall.


    Bao Zhi stepped inside and was greeted by an attendant right away:


    "Welcome to the auction hall, esteemed guest. May I know if you have a seat reserved? Today''s small auction is about to begin."


    "I''m not here for today''s small auction."


    The attendant was a rank one gu master, he led Bao Zhi to a spacious room with an octagon-shaped table and comfortable chairs around it. Tea was freshly steaming, already prepared on the table by the servants as Bao Zhi and the attendant entered.


    "Please wait, auction hall master will be here shortly."


    "Mhm." - Nodded Bao Zhi as he took a seat and reached for the tea.


    After an incense stick of time, a middle-aged woman entered the room. She had long hair and was elegantly dressed, not concealing her rank three cultivation. She was the auction hall master tasked to run this place by the city.


    "Pardon my lateness, esteemed guest. I wonder what business you bring to my establishment."


    Bao Zhi put down his cup of tea and stood up to welcome the lady.


    "My humble self is just an intermediary. I''m here to pass on our business offer from the Scholarly Merchant Association." - He said this with a straight face as he presented a document with a stamp on it. "Please evaluate." He passed over a stack of papers among which were three inheritances recorded. Bao Zhi came up with them, these were the results of him "taking notes" in today''s class.


    She looked at the documents one after another. Her face showed surprise and joy as she continued to flip the pages.


    "These cultivation inheritances are all exceptional. What is the background of this Scholarly Merchant Association, I have never heard of them before." - She thought to herself.


    Looking at the last pages, her expression turned to shock and concern. She put the papers on the table between the two of them as she regained her calm.


    "I can agree to sell two of the three inheritances on your behalf, but not the third one."


    "Oh, why is that? Please explain and I will relay it to the higher-ups. A price cut is negotiable." Bao Zhi wondered what the reason could be, in his eyes the third inheritance had no difference in quality from the rest of the two.


    "To tell you the truth, I wouldn''t dare to sell this inheritance if I had a thousand guts, Esteemed customer. The reason is simple. This inheritance is related to the influential Zhao family, is that not the case?" Meanwhile, she wondered: "What kind of merchant group is this?! They could get their hands on such an inheritance. This was a test and a trap from their side. If I did not recognize it, I would have not just lost this transaction but probably my life as well..."


    "Pardon my insolence, I wasn''t aware of such details. I did not know." - Replied Bao Zhi with genuine surprise.


    "There are no problems with the other two inheritances, they will be presented at the end of the month''s big auction." - With that, she kept two of the inheritances and returned the third.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 11 - Sending a message

    Bao Zhi left the Auction Hall satisfied. His two inheritances were to be sold soon while he held onto the third one.


    "Zhao family... Similar inheritance..." - He recalled from the previous conversation.


    Not to waste his time, he started to look into the matter of the Zhao family. He felt this was a good opportunity he should grab onto, but he also wanted to be careful first and foremost.


    "If I don''t perform my due diligence, this could backfire."


    He wasn''t sure if the Auction Hall would leak his information to the Zhao family. Whatever the case was, he had to get ahead of matters and gather information before acting.


    Bao Zhi headed towards the inner city, on his way he stopped by a beggar on the side of the street. The poor man had a wide straw hat and tattered clothes with an alms bowl in front of him.


    Upon seeing the gu master stopping in front of him the beggar leaned back in fright to take a straighter sitting posture.


    Bao Zhi unceremoniously took out half a primeval stone and tossed it towards the alms bowl.


    Before the stone could land with a ''clink'' sound, the beggar nimbly caught the valuable item in his hands. With the same forward momentum, he placed the stone carefully in his alms bowl and kowtowed towards Bao Zhi.


    "Ten thousand fortunes upon lords magnanimity!"


    "Tell me all you know about the Zhao family, don''t leave out any details!"


    Even though a lowly beggar wasn''t privy to matters of gu masters, they were the eyes and ears on the streets, overhearing many rumors and gossip.


    As the beggar noticed Bao Zhi had plenty of stones to spare, he put forward his best behavior in hopes of getting more.


    "The Zhao family? Yes, yes, I know about them. Where should I begin...? Oh, yes, the Zhao family is one of the influential big families in the city, that is widely known. They own many shops and businesses here." - He pointed around the street.


    "But what not everyone knows... I heard they got into controversy some decades ago, the then young master - now head of the family - was said to have an unexpectedly low aptitude. The head of the family had to lay off some of their servants to raise the young master''s cultivation. My old mother was one of them. She served the Zhao house for most of her life..."


    "Rumors say, to this day the family is still controlled by the old patriarch. His son was nurtured painstakingly to save face and he''s only the head of the family in name. When this incident occurred, the Zhao family lost their place as the most influential family and were pushed back by the other two... Or so I''ve heard."


    "Some say the Zhao family''s bloodline was poisoned by a demonic gu master as revenge! Even the current young master is without proper manners and constantly slacking, not one worthy inheritor to take over the family..."


    Then the beggar just realized he might have gone overboard with his last remark.


    "I didn''t say these, I wouldn''t dare badmouth the Zhao house. I''m not that kind of person!" - He said with a grin on his face.


    The old beggar recounted a lot of hearsay he knew, some of them were outlandish claims if one thought about them for just a bit, but there were always some nuggets of truth to be gained by sifting through these gossips.


    Bao Zhi gained a rough understanding of the Zhao family''s current and past situation. He took out the other half of the primeval stone and tossed it in the same manner to the beggar as he left.


    "Thank you kind sir!" - He heard the voice from behind.


    The previous scene played out a few more times after which Bao Zhi felt there was no more information he could get his hands on for just a few primeval stones.


    Information was also an asset, if he wanted reliable and accurate intel, he would have to pay by the word by dealing with an information broker. But that approach also had hidden dangers. What if the information brokerage was connected to the Zhao businesses? A city was intertwined with relations and interests, he could not be sure he wasn''t walking into a tigers'' den to ask about hunting tigers. It was also very unlikely they could provide him with relevant details about the Zhao family''s inheritance.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Golden Peak Pagoda


    An immortal has arrived, he landed gracefully before he entered the main hall. He had a tall frame, his appearance was that of a middle-aged man, but his silver-grey beard and mustache exuded an aura of an old master. He was Grand Formation Wen Bo the current generation formation expert of Wen clan.


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    He cupped his fists and greeted the immortal present in front of him with due decorum, Fairy Wen Jie, the supreme elder of Wen clan.


    "Grand Formation, has your mission been successful? Were there any issues?" - Wen Jie inquired.


    For a moment Wen Bo''s face twitched, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.


    "It''s been done to completion. Lady Wen Yun has stayed behind for Bao Yijun''s personal invitation." - He passed a gu worm over that recorded his mission and the details of repairing Bao clan''s Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation. He recounted the events he and Wen Yun spent in Ancestral Grotto during their mission:


    "The formation is in orderly operation again. It has not received any major changes since the last inspection. The newly refined Leaf Edge immortal gu was successfully marked inside the formation. With this, we have already reached a significant threshold." - Cold sweat was rolling down Wen Bo as he detailed.


    "Mhm, good work. How is your condition?" - Asked Wen Jie, with a perceptive look on her face.


    Wen Bo: "This mission has taken a bigger toll on me than expected. Some symptoms have surfaced again."


    The work of a formation expert was not easy on the mind, one needed to keep in mind relevant aspects of many paths and make deductions with them when working on formations. Bao clan''s rank eight formation overexerted Wen Bo.


    Wen Jie looked at Wen Bo with understanding and she activated one of her killer moves.


    Soundless ripples spread out in the air around Wen Jie in all directions. The formless waves spread toward Wen Bo and engulfed him fully.


    Immortal killer move - Clear Mind Unity!


    Wen Bo stood still like a statue, he embraced it without fear. It wasn''t the first time this occurred.


    The killer move lasted the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.


    When the ripples receded, Wen Bo thanked her with renewed sharpness in his eyes.


    Wen Jie: "Don''t miss to report it if your condition changes. The gears are in motion already. Precisely so, because we can''t afford to find a new vessel in a short time frame, we will have to depend on you." - She explained in a cold tone before she handed out a gu worm.


    This gu worm looked like a coiled ginseng root, an ordinary appearance. But in reality, it was a precious item, a fifteen-year lifespan gu! Even though lifespan gu was a mortal gu, it was a hard currency in the gu world. Everyone wanted to live longer, the demand was always bigger than the supply.


    "Naturally. I will fulfill my duty as Grand Formation." - Wen Bo received the lifespan gu with a solemn expression without a hint of joy.


    * * * * *


    The next day a sealed letter was delivered by a courier to the Zhao family''s mansion. A servant took the letter before the head of the family.


    "My lord, this letter just arrived. It is addressed to lord patriarch." The servant passed on the delivery with due respect.


    "I''ll take it, you may leave." - Replied Zhao Feng, the current head of the family.


    He was curious why a letter was sent instead of an information path gu worm. He was expecting it to be some nonsense pleading from mortals or something similar unbefitting his status. He was already ridiculing the fool in his mind who had the gall to send a letter to the head of Zhao. He was entertaining this idea when he started reading the contents. Line after line, as he read his face went from curiosity to bewilderment. By the end his breathing was rough and anger was shaking his hand as he gripped the letter.


    "Who sent this?!" - He shouted in anger.


    The letter had only two portions the first part was a detailed description of a wood path inheritance. The second part only stated: "Sincerely, Scholarly Merchant Association"


    Zhao Feng was fuming, he had trouble regaining his calm.


    "Sincerely my ass! This is blatant blackmailing! Who are these people? How did they get their hands on our inheritance?" - These were the thoughts racing in his mind.


    "I need to show this to patriarch..."


    Just as he was about to look for him, the patriarch of Zhao family entered.


    "Son, tell me what happened." - He said in a plain tone.


    "This, this! They dare to blackmail our family!" - Zhao Feng raised the letter while shaking it.


    The patriarch took the letter from his hand. He noticed it was addressed to him directly, he cast a disdainful glance at his son and continued reading on. This made him remember the times when he had to step in personally to save the family from his son''s inadequacy.


    Zhao Feng could reach his position because he was the only son of the patriarch. Luckily for the family, Zhao Feng''s son Zhao Min was a promising genius, but the patriarch took over raising Zhao Min as he could not let another failed family head emerge. Zhao Feng was content with his lack of responsibilities and the hollow authority he had. He was a narrow-minded and shallow person.


    When the patriarch was done with the letter, he put it down on the table beside him.


    Zhao Feng was eagerly waiting his father''s conclusion.


    "Yes, you can look at this as extortion. But there are many clues you glossed over. You can see that whoever sent the letter was careful not to use a gu worm. A gu worm would contain the will of the owner and it could be used to deduce or target the owner of the gu. Not many would go to these lengths to distance themselves."


    "They are highly confident, they were not afraid of someone intercepting the letter and gaining its contents, they would have used a gu worm instead."


    "Another clue is the inheritance itself. Have you not noticed it? This is not our inheritance, it has been altered."


    Patriarch Zhao could see some novel ideas incorporated into the techniques and the ingenuity behind them.


    "Whoever wrote this has a deep knowledge and vast wisdom. Inheritances cannot be casually modified. Yet they did modify it! Sending it to us in its original form would simply be blackmailing. ''We have your inheritance, pay us or we will publicize it!'' But they improved upon it and then shared it with us, this shows goodwill and the intent of cooperation." - Continued the patriarch.


    "Lastly, it was signed as a ''merchant association'', this implies they are most likely after monetary gains."


    Zhao Feng: "They haven''t provided a contact, how do we reach them?"


    "This is a test. What they are saying with this is, that you aren''t even worth blackmailing if you can''t contact us. They are clearly looking down on us! So investigate first! Send men around the city and find out everything you can about this ''Scholarly Merchant Association''. If you fail to contact them, just wait, they will contact us again eventually." - The patriarch didn''t set high expectations for his son, he already told him what to do if he doesn''t succeed. Next, the patriarch took the letter and headed back to his study to properly evaluate this inheritance.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 12 - Refining gu is arduous

    A week went by since Bao Zhi and Jin Ju were enrolled in Brilliance Lotus Academy.


    Teacher Tao stood before the class to make his announcement:


    "Last week you all have learned the very basics so far. Now you know how to inspect your apertures and control your primeval essence. This is the fundamental requirement for you to refine gu worms. The first gu worm a gu master refines will become his vital gu. The vital gu has a special relationship to the gu master..."


    The students were listening attentively, they felt the weight of these words. In their hearts the notion of a gu master was high and mighty, they wanted to cultivate and fulfill their desires!


    Jin Ju was also paying attention, but he had already known these from Bao Zhi''s explanation, he recalled it in his mind.


    "It is important to choose the right vital gu as it is troublesome to change it later. The vital gu is easier to elevate in rank because the gu master and the gu worm''s life are linked together. Even if the advance refinement fails the gu master would take some of the backlash and the gu worm would not perish."


    Teacher Tao came to the end of his talk:


    "With all that said, now all of you will have the chance to choose a vital gu for yourself."


    Teacher Tao led his class towards a small secluded building on the academy premises.


    The students'' excitement was spurred, they weren''t shown this building when they went around the academy.


    "Let me go first! I''m going to choose the strongest gu worm."


    "There is no strongest Gu worm in this world, only a Gu worm that is most suitable for oneself." - Bao Zhi thought to himself upon hearing the naive student in front of him.


    "I don''t know any gu worms, how will I know which ones are good?"


    "Wood path, I will definitely choose a wood path gu worm."


    Teacher Tao stopped before the inconspicuous small shack:


    "Form into a line. You''ll go in one by one and choose one gu worm for yourself." - He instructed the students.


    The students headed in one by one. It was Jin Ju''s turn now.


    He went inside, there stood two guards like still statues on each side of a stairway leading down.


    Jin Ju headed down and arrived in a cold underground room. His eyes needed a bit of time to adjust to the dimly lit gu storage room.


    The walls were lined with rows upon rows of misshapen holes for the many kinds of gu worms they were housing. They were all rank one gu worms. Some were small some were as big as a plate. Most of the gu worms here were of wood path. Wood path was the mainstream cultivation path in this grotto heaven, but one could still find gu of other paths. Fire path was second in popularity due to its good match-up against wood path. But the resources were scarce for fire path, not to mention cultivating wood path was more prestigious in the eyes of people here. Unorthodox paths were mostly used by commoners or demonic gu masters.


    Jin Ju went around and studied the gu worms curiously, he recognized a portion of them from his traveling merchant days under Xing Zan, but most of them were beyond his knowledge.


    He stopped to look at one of the gu worms closely, his eyes glinted with excitement.


    "Oh, this should be it. The description is matching."


    He took the gu worm into his palm and inspected it closely.


    The gu worm had a flat and oval body, its color was leaf-green with a tinge of grey luster.


    "This should be the rank one Carve Wood gu." - He confirmed to himself and put the gu worm away.


    Jin Ju emerged from the storage room with steady steps and a satisfied expression, this gu was exactly what his inheritance described. Before this, he was anxious, what if he couldn''t find a relevant gu worm? Having a complete inheritance was like standing on the shoulders of giants, using the accumulated wisdom of predecessors. Having or not having an inheritance with gu worms was the difference between day and night later on.


    Bao Zhi waited for his turn with a calm expression, over half the class has chosen a gu worm when it was his time to head down to the gu storage room.


    He looked over the many rank one gu worms on display one by one. None of them caught his eye.


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    "This is to be expected, they wouldn''t hand out exceptional or rare gu worms. Whichever gu I choose, I''ll have no use of it in the short term without an aperture... I might as well choose something easy to feed." - He thought to himself. He knew he couldn''t decline to choose a gu worm, it would be too suspicious, why would anyone not choose a vital gu?


    In the end, his choice landed on a common wood path gu worm. He took the gu worm in his palm, to inspect it quickly.


    This gu worm was a defensive gu worm. It had a leaf shape with a rugged surface and jagged edges. This was the rank one leaf skin gu.


    ...


    When all the students had their chosen gu worms, teacher Tao told them:


    "With your gu worms in hand, you can now start cultivation. Go home and refine your chosen gu. The first one of you to refine his vital gu will receive three weeks'' worth of primeval stones. Today''s class is now over."


    The students were in high spirits, they could not wait to start refining their new gu. They headed home.


    * * * * *


    Zhao mansion


    Zhao Min was lying lazily on his bed. He was rolling an object on his fingers back and forth. He was playing with his gu he got from the academy today.


    "What should I do with you?" - He asked the gu worm, not expecting an answer.


    Zhao Min already had his cultivation path set for him, he didn''t need to rely on the academy. To him, it was mostly a formality to attend the academy. For knowledge and cultivation resources he had the Zhao house to rely on.


    As he was locked in his room, ordered by the patriarch himself, he didn''t have the mood to refine the gu worm, he continued to play with it. He heard heavy footsteps approaching his door, he quickly put away the gu in his hand.


    The door opened and a familiar old man entered.


    Zhao Min got up and stretched his arms, he asked mid yawning:


    "Grandpa, should you disturb someone who''s refining gu?"


    "Tsk, I have good news to tell you." - The patriarch dismissed Zhao Min''s attitude. He knew his grandson''s nature, Zhao Min wasn''t cultivating, to begin with, but his good mood couldn''t be spoiled just by this.


    "Look at this my good grandson!" - Saying so he presented the modified inheritance he was studying for the past week.


    "With this and your aptitude, our Zhao family will reclaim our number one spot! So cultivate diligently, and don''t slack off. Our family can''t bear another useless young master."


    Zhao Min sighed, he knew he couldn''t put off cultivating endlessly.


    "Yes grandfather, I will do as you say." - He took the notes and cupped his fists in respect.


    "Good, good. I won''t disturb you any further. Make sure you have your vital gu refined soon. Let me know when you are done or have any questions." - With that said the patriarch left and closed the door on Zhao Min.


    Zhao Min felt conflicted, he wanted to live a simple life, and he didn''t want authority or to compete for resources. Not to mention, be the head of the family.


    "Such a bother... But a wise man submits to circumstances. Maybe I really should cultivate. If I have power and authority, wouldn''t I be free of these shackles?"


    With this newfound motivation, he began to refine his vital gu.


    * * * * *


    Jin Ju was sitting cross-legged on his mat. He was focusing his attention on his newly acquired Carve Wood gu. He was using his green copper primeval essence to subdue the natural will of the gu worm.


    Gu worms were creatures, they naturally had their own will inside them. Refining a gu meant replacing this will with the gu master''s own will which was carried by the primeval essence. Of course, the gu worm would try to resist this process as much as it could. If a gu worm was not refined fully it would regain its natural state in a few hours or a day or so. Precisely because the refinement required a steady flow of essence, those with higher aptitude had a natural advantage in refining gu. Why was that the case? Someone with a higher aptitude could hold more primeval essence in their aperture and the rate of replenishment was also related to the aptitude.


    This meant that someone with a C grade aptitude would need to use primeval stones to replenish his essence in time before the gu recovered, while an A grade talent could rely on his natural replenishment to win this war of attrition with the gu worm.


    Jin Ju had some experience in refining gu, he has practiced it on the green copper relic gu over and over without refining it fully. Now he was already halfway there refining Carve Wood gu.


    His only competitors in the class would be the B and A grade talents in refining their vital gu first. But Jin Ju had some practice while the only real A grade talent in the class, Zhao Min had a half-hearted attitude. This way Jin Ju had a good chance of coming in first if he didn''t slack off.


    At this moment he ran out of primeval essence, only one-tenth was sloshing around at the bottom of his aperture. He opened his eyes and stood up to take a stroll and stretch his sore limbs.


    After his short break, he sat back down and took a primeval stone in his hand, and started to absorb it, accelerating the recovery of his primeval essence.


    Half an hour later he was back again, assaulting the gu worm, slowly wearing its will down.


    By midnight he was already on the cusp of success, only a sliver of the original will was remaining inside the gu but he ran out of essence again. The gu worm recovered some of its control while he rested.


    After a short session of refilling his aperture, he continued the process and finished the refinement in the early dawn. He did not sleep at all this night.


    "I did it! I refined a gu worm!" - He called out in excitement. This was a major achievement for a gu master, it made him feel proud and warm inside.


    "Good work. You worked yourself hard. Your prize of first place will not be undeserved." - Remarked Bao Zhi as he stood in the doorway. He was anticipating this moment as well.


    "Do you want some tea? It''s strong, it''ll help you keep awake."


    Jin Ju took the cup of tea, his face was beaming with glee as he gulped the drink down.


    ...


    Back in the academy, the students were baffled. When they went home and started refining, they quickly discovered the difficulty of the task. But precisely because of this, they didn''t expect anyone to finish so quickly!


    "I heard someone already claimed the prize. Who was it?"


    "It should be one of the A grade talents, obviously, Zhao Min or Bao Zhi. My bet is on Zhao Min, he has a huge background so naturally, it is he."


    "No, it wasn''t either of them. I arrived early so I saw it myself. It was Jin Ju."


    "What? How can that be? Are the A grade talents a joke nowadays? Damn, I lost my bet again."


    Jin Ju was finding it hard to be the center of attention that day. He was praised for his hardworking nature and good cultivation prospects.


    On the other hand, Bao Zhi didn''t care to explain himself, how could a B grade overtake him? Thoughts of strangers were just that, thoughts. Simply, why should he care about them?


    * * * * *

 Ch. 13 - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    Three Immortals were gathered in the Bao clan''s headquarters this time. They were discussing the latest events and needs of the clan currently.


    The supreme elder - Bao Lang Chao - was looking over the aggregate reports from the different locations in the grotto heaven. He cleared his throat before saying:


    "So far the numbers are promising. We''ve hit our target of newly awakened gu masters. The A grade talents are also sufficient in number and in line with our expectations." - He laid back in his chair with satisfaction.


    Bao Chi Ping: "Yes, the chance of successfully nurturing immortal seeds is high with this many talents. But this has an adverse cost at a grand scale to our Bao clan. It is not obvious now as these gu masters are only rank one, but the thousands upon thousands of them will add up to a considerable expense. Now that we even increased our portion of resources contributed to the annual competition, my worry is that the clan will run into a deficit in the future." - Commented the third supreme elder, Bao Chi Ping with a concerned frown.


    Upon the last remark, Bao Lang Chao''s brow wrinkled deeper as he recalled his negotiation with Wen Jie about the five portions previously.


    Bao Yijun: "Worry not, Lord Chi Ping. The second phase of our plan has not started yet. We have obviously thought of this issue beforehand." - She said calmly.


    Bao Yijun was the mastermind behind this project, she had to have great attention to detail.


    "Oh, Fairy Yijun, please don''t leave me hanging and explain the details." - Asked Bao Chi Ping respectfully.


    "Naturally, the next step involves addressing the problem you just outlined. And you are right, we can''t afford to nurture the mass of new gu masters, not all of them, of course. With my calculations, even after paying the five extra portions for the annual competition with Wen clan, we stand a good chance of winning back most of those resources with our new talents. As for how the selection will proceed, it is best to leave nature to run its course... As said, a calamity is the natural whetstone of greatness." - She smiled meaningfully.


    "Indeed a great plan. Often the boldest measures are the safest. Now my heart is at rest, Fairy has thought of every detail. I was ready to select talents and promote them to attend the competition from my Chi Ping blessed land. Looks like it won''t be necessary." - Bao Chi Ping nodded and praised with newfound understanding. But he was actually surprised at how willing the other two were to go a great distance in nurturing the clan.


    A man wouldn''t cut off their limbs if it wasn''t necessary for survival. But in the end, the mortals were only mortals. Even if all of them were to perish, all three immortals present carried their lineage of cultivators in their own aperture. It was a way of self-preservation, not putting all your eggs in one basket ensured the clan would have hope even if just one immortal was left.


    Bao Lang Chao: "You can still decide to send your nominees, Lord Chi Ping. But you know that once you sent them to the academy they won''t be able to return to your blessed land."


    Bao Chi Ping: "Thank you for your reminder, Lord Supreme Elder. I will act in accordance to that."


    "Mmm. Remember, the next stage will take place one month before the annual competition. In the meanwhile, we will fast-track the development. Spending now is saving costs later." - Added Bao Lang Chao.


    Bao Yijun: "Also, for this plan to succeed, keep this information to yourselves. We need a period of peace for them to develop."


    After the three of them discussed the details they bid farewell to each other. Bao Chi Ping and Bao Yijun left in the same direction.


    Shortly afterward, Bao Yijun came back to the main hall where Bao Lang Chao waited for her.


    Bao Yijun: "He went straight back to his post, nothing out of the ordinary. I don''t think it''s him."


    Bao Lang Chao: "We cannot be sure. So it''s better to be cautious. Now we wait. Sooner or later we will find out who is leaking information based on Wen clan''s response.


    * * * * *


    A week has passed since Jin Ju managed to refine his first gu worm, the Carve Wood gu.


    By now, two gu worms were floating in his aperture''s sea of primeval essence. His essence was jade green and had a copper luster to it. He was still at the initial stage of rank one. He has already refined the Green Copper Relic Gu as well without problems.


    Jin Ju was sitting cross-legged, he was cultivating diligently every day, not sparing his free time or spirit stones to replenish his essence. He could feel the effect of his aperture getting nurtured by his primeval essence day by day. It filled him with a satisfied feeling.


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    "My progress is already very good compared to the others in the class. I even managed to refine my gu worm before Zhao Min!"


    He couldn''t help but compare himself in his mind to the talented Zhao Min with A grade aptitude. It had to be said, Jin Ju''s progress shocked the academy.


    Teacher Tao expressed his satisfaction with Jin Ju''s diligence and made him a role model to follow. The other students looked up to him, it stimulated their sense of competition. The message was clear, look at what you can achieve if you work hard enough, even an A grade talent was left in the dust. This made the usually carefree Zhao Min feel his reputation was stepped on by a B grade busybody with no background. He was also spurred to action.


    Next, Bao Zhi entered the room.


    "Are you ready to practice?" - He asked Jin Ju.


    Jin Ju nodded and silently focused his mind on his Carve Wood gu. After a breath of time the middle of his palm started to glow with a faint grey aura, after another breath of time, the glow rippled around his hand and reached his fingers. The glow at the tip of his fingers turned sharp and well-defined.


    In the meanwhile, Bao Zhi made his upper body free and sat in front of Jin Ju with his back against him. He slowly exhaled and readied himself.


    "You may begin." - He instructed Jin Ju plainly.


    Jin Ju hesitated for a moment before he raised his hand and placed it on Bao Zhi''s back. The glow on his hand stabbed under Bao Zhi''s skin and left a line on it as Jin Ju moved his fingers.


    Bao Zhi gritted his teeth as he endured the pain without flinching.


    The marks left behind healed quickly on Bao Zhi''s body. After Jin Ju completed a cycle to start from the beginning the first scar has already faded.


    Jin Ju wasn''t surprised by this sight now. At first, he was really reluctant to use this technique on Bao Zhi. The reason was that he almost cut off one of his fingers by accident when he previously trained on wooden pieces.


    The method Jin Ju was using was a technique described in the inheritance he received. This technique required fine control and was an effective close combat technique against wood path cultivators. At least, this is what the inheritance stated.


    In reality, though, this technique was designed by Bao Zhi, especially for his condition. He figured that he needed a method to utilize his wood path dao marks and the key figure to carving his dao marks was Jin Ju.


    "I can already feel the effect slightly. This method is working. What I''m doing is treating my body as a high-grade wood path gu material, and naturally, wood path methods are the best to process such material." - He pondered.


    At this moment Jin Ju made a mistake and deviated from the described pattern he was supposed to follow.


    A sharp pain struck Bao Zhi as he sucked in cold air.


    "Sorry, I''m sorry!" - Apologized Jin Ju immediately. "I think, we should take a break. I still can''t control this gu worm well."


    Bao Zhi: "No, this is the proper way. Because you can''t control it, you have to practice it."


    "Maybe I can go back to carving the wood pieces?" - Asked Jin Ju with worry. He felt bad for hurting and taking advantage of Bao Zhi for his training. But he had to admit, working on a piece of wood was like cutting butter with a hot knife compared to carving Bao Zhi''s body. His body was really tough! It gave him resistance when he executed the technique.


    "Don''t mention this again. I already agreed to this because it is suitable for me, I have a tough body. Where else will you find someone willing to be cut up?"


    Jin Ju: "..."


    Bao Zhi: "Now continue as described in the inheritance. I can still feel some uncertainty in your hand."


    ...


    After another two weeks of diligent cultivation each day, Bao Zhi stood up after today''s session of dao mark carving. He stretched his back and arms, he had a good mood as he began to inspect his abdomen and thought to himself: "This should be it. It reached the least viable stable state."


    Bao Zhi praised Jin Ju for "mastering" this technique.


    "Now your training''s first part is complete, you can fully focus on just cultivating for now." - With that said, Bao Zhi left and went back. He held back his excitement as he wore a plain expression.


    Why was he so excited?


    "Now I can finally start to cultivate!"


    "It was truly a good decision to recruit Jin Ju, he has helped me refine this fake aperture! With this, I can finally store gu worms and primeval essence. My possibilities are slowly opening up, I can see the path forward."


    The fake aperture he developed was not comparable to a regular aperture. When he inspected his aperture, its wall appeared like they were carved of wood instead of the light membrane that a regular aperture had.


    The fake aperture had some severe shortcomings as well. Firstly, it could not produce primeval essence, he needed to use primeval stones to create his own primeval essence. The essence created was only the rank one jade green copper essence. The other shortcoming was that this aperture was fixed, he could not cultivate it into rank two in the traditional way. It had to be carved according to the technique that created it.


    Bao Zhi took out two primeval stones and sat down in a cultivating manner, he held the two stones in his hands.


    After a while, his fake aperture started to fill up with primeval essence.


    But Bao Zhi frowned, the two primeval stones ran dry before his aperture was filled just over halfway.


    "The conversion rate is worse than with a regular aperture. I need at least twice the primeval stones for a given amount of essence. Add on the fact that I need to source all of my essence from stones..."


    He sighed to himself.


    "But beggars can''t be choosers, this is already a cause for celebration."


    "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This is only the most basic solution currently. I can improve upon it in the future."


    With that thought, he continued to absorb the primeval stones and create primeval essence. He made a surprising discovery when he finished: he could fill his aperture fully with essence!


    Normal apertures could not be filled above their aptitude grade. Only the ten extreme physiques had this characteristic of having a hundred percent primeval sea. But those with the extreme physiques had incomparable talent and aptitude compared to their peers, even the heavens couldn''t tolerate them! Their apertures would explode by themselves as they couldn''t withstand their cultivation automatically rising rapidly. This was not a concern to him though as he wasn''t an extreme physique.


    The fully filled aperture was a bit of consolation to Bao Zhi. This meant he could have a larger reserve of primeval essence to go into battle. But he had to be wary of drawn-out battles as the other gu masters could recover essence naturally while he would have to stop and absorb primeval stones.


    "Such expenditure... The financial strain of cultivation will be bigger than on any other rank one gu master."


    Bao Zhi went to rest and looked ahead to the next day. It was the day the auction hall would put up his inheritances for sale.

 Ch. 14 - Auction begins

    Sun Lotus City, City Lord''s Office


    Ding Shuren caressed his long beard as he pondered in his office. He held a rank five storage type gu worm, his will exploring its contents.


    This storage type gu worm was filled with valuable cultivation resources. If anyone in Sun Lotus City saw its contents, they would be shocked and astonished at the number of rare gu worms inside.


    There were thousands of Wood Origin Gu, it could raise the aptitude of wood path gu masters. Hundreds of relic gu of various ranks, mostly rank one and rank two. There were many other miscellaneous gu worms that could help gu master cultivation one way or another.


    Ding Shuren had a strange expression. The contents baffled even him. This gu worm was given to him by Bao Xu Lian''s will as a part of the gu master development plan.


    "Immortals are... unfathomable."


    Ding Shuren sighed to himself. If he had even a small fraction of these resources as a young gu master he could have spared decades of tireless cultivation.


    But now these rare aptitude and cultivation raising gu worms were useless to him. Time has passed over him as the spring wind, now only blowing autumn leaves in his wake. He was old already, over a hundred years old in fact. His cultivation has plateaued at rank five peak stage. But the method of immortal ascension was a well-kept secret he wasn''t privy to, he could only rely on Bao Xu Lian.


    "There are no lifespan extension methods among these... These are clearly only intended to support the younger generation."


    He felt glad that the immortals showed some care towards the mortal gu masters. It made him hopeful of getting in favor of Bao Xu Lian. Thinking of him, he recalled Bao Xu Lian''s words of advice:


    "How much resources you take will also affect your evaluation, remember the clan values results over excuses."


    The more Ding Shuren thought about this the less he felt he understood its meaning.


    "Why would I take the resources? They are of no use to me already."


    "Or does it simply mean the amount used by the younger generation?"


    "These are worth more than a whole year''s yield of Sun and Brilliance Lotus gu the city produces... I can''t be careless to splurge it."


    "For now it is still too early to hand out rewards in the academy. There needs to be an occasion and proper reason, I can''t just hand these out unilaterally."


    With this train of thought, he decided to take out a small portion of each gu worms for now and auction it away to the masses. This way he would support the wealthy families to reinforce his good relations with them and also bolster the affluent prodigies before he rolled out the plan further.


    Satisfied with his decision, Ding Shuren contacted the city''s auction hall and influential families about the good news.


    * * * * *


    Sun Lotus City, Auction Hall


    There was a huge commotion around the city''s auction hall. Gu masters and servants were crowding the street near the entrance. It was hard even to get near it, people were trying their best to participate in the auction as soon as the list of items was publicized.


    "Let me go! I represent the Luo family, who dares to block my way?"


    "Just the Luo house? Since when does my Dong family submit to lowly houses? Know your place and get in line!"


    "I need to get in. This opportunity doesn''t come often."


    "Praise the city lord''s benevolence, he offered up so many cultivation resources."


    "It''s not about the quantity, these are rarely seen precious gu worms. You might not see another in your whole lifetime!"


    People were clamoring and arguing, nobody wanted to get left out. They felt like an opportunity of a lifetime was dropped in their laps.


    Bao Zhi was also among the crowd. He was surprised at the scale of commotion at first. Wasn''t this auction held every month, why be so agitated?


    He could only forcefully make way for himself. Nobody would inconvenience themselves to make way for a rank one student. He parted the people standing before him like he was brushing aside wheat in a field.


    "Watch where you are going!" - Berated one of the disgruntled men as Bao Zhi pushed him aside. But as soon as their eyes met, he didn''t dare scold him further and the man cast his eyes down.


    Bao Zhi was inching closer and closer, he could already see the entrance under the golden letters getting nearer.


    "Make way to the head of Zhao! Move aside!"


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    A well-built servant shouted at the people ahead of him while he flailed his arms left and right. The commotion quieted for a moment as the people raised their heads to look toward the voice''s origin.


    Zhao Feng was attending the auction personally. Two servants were accompanying him. The crowd parted ways to form a straight path. Nobody dared to offend one of the prestigious families in Sun Lotus City.


    "Tsk, so it is the Zhao..."


    "They act like royalty as if gold runs in their veins."


    The commoners complained under their breath about the preferential treatment the elite enjoyed.


    Zhao Feng walked with confidence, he had an air of arrogance and indifference in the observers'' eyes. He had a room reserved in advance, he could enter without any issues.


    Just as the crowd was getting back to its previous fervor, just as Zhao Feng went in, an even bigger commotion erupted.


    "It is City Lord himself!" - Someone exclaimed.


    Indeed, the old city lord has decided to pay a visit personally. He did not announce his arrival, but the people recognized him instantly. He enjoyed a great reputation among his subjects.


    "I''m just passing by. Don''t mind me." - He waved to the crowd of people with a grin on his face.


    Ding Shuren, the old city lord had great charisma. The people made way for him as well, without even being instructed. The people were cheering and greeting him enthusiastically.


    "Seems like some important figures will be present as well." -  Bao Zhi noted to himself. Shortly after, he made it into the building finally.


    The main hall was already full, every seat was taken or reserved. Only those could get in now who had arranged seats or a room beforehand.


    "Sir! Esteemed customer, please this way." - One of the attendants recognized him and directed him to one of the VIP rooms.


    "Originally, your items would have been the main attraction of today''s auction. Let me apologize on behalf of the Auction Hall. We could not foresee that the City Lord would steal the show, please understand."


    "Mm. I''m also just a small figure, I don''t deserve such attention."


    Bao Zhi was secretly relieved. He wanted to avoid scrutiny if he could. It also pleasantly surprised him, that the city lord would put up such mortal treasures for sale. He sat down in his private room.


    It was a gallery overlooking the main auction hall below.


    "Esteemed guests of our Auction Hall, the auction now officially begins!" - Taking the stage, a female gu master announced.


    The crowd was waiting impatiently. They followed the announcement with perked-up ears.


    "The first item is a rare gu worm. Known to everyone, it is a rank one green copper relic gu. It can raise a gu master''s cultivation realm. The initial bid is one hundred primeval stones."


    "One hundred and fifty primeval stones!"


    "One hundred and eighty!"


    "Two hundred!"


    "Two hundred and ten primeval stones!"


    ...


    The people competed viciously, they often spent more than the gu worms would be sold for. But these were rare gu worms. They were sold like cabbages now, who wouldn''t want to grasp this chance even if the price was a bit inflated? It was useless to have good prices if the supply was nonexistent.


    "The tenth item is also no less exceptional than the previous ones. It is a gu worm capable of changing one''s fate itself."


    Bao Zhi perked up as he heard this, he scoffed to himself. Changing fate? What a joke, even if it was just a figure of speech.


    "This gu worm is the consumable rank three Reform gu. It can raise one''s aptitude even from D grade up to B grade. The initial bid is eight thousand primeval stones."


    Bao Zhi: "Although that is not wrong, raising the aptitude from D to B grade would take not just a single Reform gu." - Bao Zhi saw through this simple ploy.


    The announcer purposefully omitted such information.


    The bidding continued.


    "Ten thousand!"


    "Twelve thousand!"


    "Twelve thousand once..."


    "Twelve thousand twice..."


    "Twenty thousand primeval stones!" - A middle-aged man with grey hair shouted.


    "Oh, old master Ye made a bid. I bet, he wants this gu for the young master. I heard his aptitude didn''t even reach B grade."


    "Shh! Are you tired of living? Don''t spread such nonsense, someone might take notice of you."


    Nobody else dared to make a higher bid.


    ...


    "Twenty-ninth item coming up. This is one of the highlights of our auction. This item is an inheritance of a rank four wood path gu master. The methods inside cover all aspects, including movement, attack, defense, recovery, and information gathering."


    Upon hearing this the people''s clamoring raised a notch higher. The practical significance of a rank four inheritance was monumental. With this, they could rise above others and establish a faction no weaker than the Ye or Zhao houses.


    "There is one important detail I have to mention. Although the inheritance is only complete in the aspects it covers, it is incomplete as it contains no gu worms."


    "What a scam! No gu worms?"


    "Selling empty air nowadays at the auction hall?"


    Some participants yelled in anger.


    It was like cold rain, washing away their sudden ambitions of ascending the heavens in one step.


    Others felt that this gave them a better chance to get the inheritance if others let go of it. They could collect the gu worms on their own.


    "This inheritance has been verified by independent experts. It is genuine." - The host tried to salvage the situation.


    "I have a question. Does the inheritance contain techniques that require rare gu worms?"


    "No, all gu worms mentioned in the inheritance are considered common. The starting bid is thirty thousand primeval stones." - Replied the host of the auction with a smile.


    Bao Zhi noticed the man who asked the incisive question and committed him to his memory.


    The audience''s fervor was reignited. Common gu worms were easy to gather!


    "I pay thirty-five thousand!"


    "Forty thousand!" - Called out the man who asked previously.


    "Forty-three thousand."


    "Forty-four thousand primeval stones!"


    "Forty-five thousand!"


    The increments have shrunk to the single thousands. Most of the bidders were already eliminated, and only a handful of affluent bidders were left now.


    "This is a good time as any. I can''t let this inheritance land in just anybody''s hands." - With this thought, old master Ye exclaimed:


    "Sixty thousand primeval stones!"


    "..."


    The competition was swept aside. Old master Ye won this auction as well.


    In the meanwhile, a letter gu has arrived at the Zhao house. It landed directly before patriarch Zhao. This letter came from Zhao Feng. It mentioned the two suspicious inheritances.


    "It must be them! Buy the inheritance. We need to contact the Scholarly Merchant Association." - Replied patriarch Zhao as he sent the letter gu back.


    "Damn you, Ye clown!" - Thought Zhao Feng as he crushed the letter gu in his anger. He had some bad blood with old man Ye, and now he snatched the inheritance he was supposed to get.


    "The other one, I need to get the other one!"


    ...


    Bao Zhi was satisfied with the final price. This sum could last him for a good while, but considering he would rise in cultivation ranks, this might as well be a drop in a bucket. He already had an indifferent attitude toward material gains and his sight was set at distant goals. He coldly evaluated:


    "There are only two kinds of quantities. Enough and not enough."


    "This is not enough!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 15 - Auction concludes

    Many precious and rare gu worms were put up for auction. The atmosphere was lively in the auction hall. Most people had their sights on a specific item they wanted. Their demand outweighing the items auctioned, they couldn''t help but enter into a bidding war until their pockets were empty in many cases. This was usually the case if a wealthy buyer didn''t put up a particularly high bid to deter the competition.


    "Item number fifty-three. This next item is a rare gu worm: Unprocessed Jade gu. This gu worm is extraordinary, it can raise the user''s aptitude and enhance their earth path affinity. It is most suitable for earth path gu masters."


    "Oh, interesting. Another gu to raise aptitude!"


    "Regrettably, it''s only good for earth path..."


    "So what if it''s earth path? I can worry about it after I''ve broken through with the raised aptitude!"


    "Mm, earth path is still the second most cultivated path."


    "The demand for this gu worm should be lesser than the Reform gu or the Wood Origin gu, I might have a chance to get it."


    These were the thoughts of some of the people.


    "For the Unprocessed Jade gu, the bidding starts at seven thousand primeval stones!" - Announced the auction host.


    "Eight thousand primeval stones!"


    "Nine thousand!"


    "Nine thousand five h-"


    "Ten thousand primeval stones!"


    ...


    As the bidding continued on, the cost of the Unprocessed Jade gu was steadily increasing.


    The final price of the Unprocessed Jade gu reached over fourteen thousand primeval stones.


    Bao Zhi waited for his other inheritance to come up next. In the meanwhile, he was observing the events. He occasionally took a sip of his tea as he thought:


    "Why did the city lord put forth these gu? Why now?"


    "The timing is too coincidental, this should be the immortals'' doing."


    "Otherwise, why would he act so? Feeling sentimental with one foot in the grave? Very unlikely."


    "I have to make use of this trend while I can."


    With this thought, he signaled to his attendant.


    "Credit me a hundred thousand primeval stones." - Bao Zhi said plainly.


    The attendant lady was perplexed at the sudden request.


    "S-Sir, this auction house does not conduct lending business, I''m afraid. If you wa-"


    "You already sold one of my items for sixty thousand primeval stones, and there''s another one of similar value still left. Think of this more as a kind of prepayment."


    "I can''t make a decision on this, I have to ask the auction hall master."


    "Let me talk to her."


    "You don''t need to. Please wait here until I return."


    "Go then."


    The attendant left respectfully.


    After a short while she returned and explained:


    "The auction hall master has agreed, with the following terms: The auction house is willing to prepay the sixty thousand primeval stones and lend forty thousand primeval stones for the duration of the auction. The balance of the second item will be handled as normal." - She reported factually. The auction hall master''s attitude surprised her to grant this request. Now she paid extra attention to this important customer, not wanting to displease him.


    Bao Zhi: "Mm. Good."


    "Is there anything else I can help our esteemed customer with?" - She humbly asked.


    "No, thank you."


    Bao Zhi turned back his attention to the main stage of the auction. The items were going up one by one, not idling for long in the spotlight as they were quickly snatched by the highest bidders.


    Bao Zhi had just received an initial sum of one hundred thousand primeval stones as credit from the auction house. Now he could freely bid if something would catch his eye.


    "The next item for auction is a rank four gu master inheritance. It is a wood path inheritance, covering all the basic aspects. The movement technique is at the level of a wood path master! It''s been verified by our expert."


    "Woah, Wood path master!"


    "Those who can reach master attainment are very few in one generation. This is from a great expert, I must get it."


    "It is a rank four inheritance, yet the creator had master attainment. Why have I not heard of such a genius?" - Pondered Ding Shuren. He was sitting in the middle of the front row of the main hall.


    "This is it. The other one is here." - Noticed Zhao Feng, ready to start bidding as soon as the introduction ended.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Bao Zhi frowned a little: "Rank four is rare enough, master attainment is even more uncommon. It seems I didn''t hold back enough."


    "Does this one have gu worms?" - Shouted someone from the last rows.


    A scene played out in a similar manner as the other inheritance''s case, the cat was out of the bag.


    "No gu worms again?"


    "Was this wood path master a pauper? Where are his gu?"


    The same young man who spoke up at the previous inheritance''s turn now turned the public sentiment back in a favorable direction again.


    Bao Zhi was keeping an eye on him. He noticed that he was one of the few men the auction hall planted among the crowd.


    They even made bids to raise the prices! The cut of the auction house was a fixed percentage, thus they benefited from higher prices.


    Bao Zhi did not mind it, he would not uncover it either as this was also beneficial to him currently, his items would sell for more.


    To keep things discreet, the undercover personnel took turns jacking up the prices, they also only bid on the high-value items.


    "The starting bid for the rank four inheritance is thirty thousand primeval stones!" - The host announced.


    "Thirty-five thousand primeval stones!"


    "Forty thousand!"


    "Forty-two thousand primeval stones!"


    ...


    Each individual family struggled to outbid their rivals in order to acquire the rank four gu master inheritance.


    Zhao Feng made his first bid:


    "Fifty thousand primeval stones!" - He shouted with moderation.


    This got the crowd''s attention as they looked at Zhao Feng with contempt.


    "Tsk, little Feng wants to obstruct me? Fine by me." - Called out an aged voice. It was old master Ye.


    "Fifty-one thousand primeval stones." - He announced with a grin showing his yellow teeth.


    "Fifty-five thousand! Don''t bite off more than you can chew, old man." - Retorted Zhao Feng.


    "This senile fool! Why does he want this inheritance too?" - Grumbled Zhao Feng internally.


    The atmosphere turned awkward. This was no longer a fair auction, but a political fight of two great houses. Nobody dared to interrupt their bidding war.


    "Seventy thousand!" - Roared Zhao Feng, his anger obvious in his voice.


    "Seventy-one thousand primeval stones!" - Came the reply.


    Old man Ye laughed heartily. He seemed to enjoy toying with the other party.


    Zhao Feng: "Eighty thousand primeval stones! Ye Ruogang! Now you are going too far! Don''t drag family matters into this!"


    Ye Ruogang: "You are right, little Feng. I changed my mind, I don''t need this inheritance, you can have it." He smiled meaningfully as he thought to himself: "I already got the inheritance I came for. I don''t mind letting you have the other one, but I paid sixty thousand primeval stones for it, I can''t let you have yours for any less..."


    Zhao Feng sat back in his seat, his head still having a tinge of red from the previous shouting from the bidding war. As he collected his calm, he released a letter gu to inform the patriarch of his success. He did not mention the part about old man Ye interfering.


    "Eighty thousand? You had to spend eighty thousand primeval stones, just to contact the Scholarly Merchant Association?"


    He could already imagine the patriarch''s reply. But he wouldn''t care to explain further. The patriarch being dissatisfied with him was the status quo to him already.


    "I will not forget this... Old man Ye."


    Up in the gallery, Bao Zhi was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events.


    "There is a conflict between Ye Rougang and Zhao Feng? It seems my inheritance was like fuel to fire." - He thought.


    "Congratulations on selling another item." - Praised his attendant with a high spirit.


    But Bao Zhi''s face showed no such jubilation. He simply nodded.


    The auction was still not over. About a third of the items were still left, but so far he hasn''t found anything exceptional he wanted.


    ...


    Bao Zhi looked at the list of auction items.


    The list wasn''t exhaustive, there were some special items that were not disclosed ahead of time.


    He quickly combed through and gathered the remaining portion in his mind.


    "There are still some aptitude-raising gu left, I should get one for Jin Ju. I need him to advance quickly and reach rank two, the sooner the better."


    "The reckless bidders should have already emptied their pockets, the ones remaining should be waiting for an opportunity, not wanting to overspend. But the last few items''s price will shoot up again as the people who couldn''t get one panic."


    This was part of human nature, everyone wanted a good deal. But how could everyone succeed? Someone had to get the short end as well as people competed.


    Bao Zhi bid for a rank two Wood Origin Gu. The price kept increasing as two other parties entered a bidding war. It soon exceeded the limit Bao Zhi mentally allotted for it.


    "Forget the Wood Origin Gu, it is too popular. I''ll wait for the next Unprocessed Jade Gu."


    ...


    "Item number ninety, rank two Unprocessed Jade. Starting bid is seven thousand primeval stones."


    There was way less interest in the Unprocessed Jade Gu compared to the Wood Origin Gu, the difference was clear.


    "Seven thousand primeval stones!" - Someone offered.


    Bao Zhi: "Eight thousand."


    "Eight thousand and five hundred primeval stones." - Called out the same bidder as before. He looked anxiously in the VIP room''s direction. He could not see Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi: "Nine thousand."


    No other bids came after this. The people were either not interested or they wanted it but already spent their money.


    The Unprocessed Jade Gu was sold to Bao Zhi.


    "That was easy." - The lack of resistance pleasantly surprised Bao Zhi.


    "Ninety-first item coming up. Our next item is the highlight of our auction. This is a rare rank three gu worm, it was thought to be extinct! It is the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu. This gu worm can provide rank one consumable gu, Golden Fruit Gu. The Golden Fruit Gu can strengthen the body of wood path cultivators."


    The crowd burst into an uproar!


    Gu worms that could produce other gu worms were not common. More importantly, they could provide an abundant source of income. Especially if it was an extinct gu worm. What did that mean? There would be no competition on the market for Golden Fruit Gu, it would be a monopoly!


    Bao Zhi was also interested!


    "The starting bid is thirty thousand primeval stones."


    "Thirty-five thousand primeval stones!


    "Forty thousand primeval stones!"


    "Fifty thousand!" - A wealthy bidder upped the limit by ten thousand directly.


    "Fifty-five thousand primeval stones!" - Old man Ye, stood up and looked around for anyone daring to up his limit.


    Zhao Feng was contemplating if he should take the opportunity to get back at old man Ye. But he didn''t want to embarrass himself again, what if old man Ye is just baiting him to act and humiliate him further in public? He decided to watch from the sidelines.


    "Seventy thousand!" - The voice came from one of the VIP rooms.


    "A fifteen thousand increment. What is this?"


    "Who dares?" - Bellowed old man Ye.


    "Such guts. I wonder if it''s another big family."


    Old man Ye narrowed his eyes in displeasure:


    "Seventy-three thousand primeval stones!"


    "Ninety thousand!" - Replied Bao Zhi plainly.


    "..."


    The mass went into silence.


    "Too overbearing!"


    "Another huge increment, an even bigger this time."


    "Shouldn''t the increments keep decreasing? Does he not know how auctions work?"


    "Who is tired of his life to this degree to dare to offend the Ye family?"


    Nobody said a word, the silence was deafening.


    What broke the silence was the host''s announcement:


    "Ninety thousand, going once... Going twice..."


    "Since there are no higher bids, the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu is sold to the sixteenth VIP room for ninety thousand primeval stones."


    "Thank you all for attending our auction. You can proceed to claim your items in the next two hours."


    Zhao Feng looked at the sixteenth VIP room as many others did too. He was satisfied that old man Ye had his face slapped in public. It made his previous embarrassment disappear.


    Zhao Feng: "Who is the other party? I should contact him."


    Bao Zhi was collating his losses and gains after the auction.


    "With the fee of the auction hall deducted, I should have almost thirty thousand primeval stones left and a rank two Unprocessed Jade Gu and the rank three Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu."


    "What a bountiful day!"

 Ch. 16 - Leaving an impression

    Sun Lotus City, Auction Hall


    The auction has just concluded. Many of the participants were taking their leave after collecting their items.


    Zhao Feng was making his way toward a particular VIP room. He wanted to meet the person behind the inheritances and establish a connection with the Scholarly Merchant Association. He arrived before the room.


    A nervous servant stood at the entrance of the VIP room, he was politely blocking the way in.


    "Please understand, Lord Zhao. Our esteemed customer requested to participate anonymously." - Explained the man in front of Zhao Feng with a troubled expression.


    Zhao Feng felt wronged. Just as he was about to berate the servant who dared to ignore his status and not give him face, when a young man parted the curtains behind the servant. It was Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi: "Mm. Thank you for your services. You may leave now." - He gestured to the servant. Next, he looked at Zhao Feng:


    "Lord Zhao, shall we?" - He looked at him with an understanding gaze, inviting him inside.


    Zhao Feng frowned. To him, Bao Zhi seemed very confident. Why was Bao Zhi acting like they knew each other? This was the first time they met. After a fleeting moment of awkwardness, he entered Bao Zhi''s VIP room.


    "Please take a seat." - Bao Zhi gestured to the seat across from him. He was smiling helplessly, looking at Zhao Feng.


    Zhao Feng sat down.


    Before Zhao Feng could start his talk, Bao Zhi addressed him with a question:


    "I wonder what Lord thinks of our wares. Are they to your liking?" - He asked as he drank a sip of his tea nonchalantly.


    Zhao Feng had a solemn expression. Previously, he couldn''t uncover anything about this organization. This made him feel exposed while the other party was hidden in the shadows.


    Zhao Feng: "Mm. How can I address you, Sir? And also, why is the Scholarly Merchant Association targeting my family?"


    Bao Zhi: "My identity is not important, I''m just an intermediary. Lord Zhao can address me as Bao Zhi. Our organization had no intention of harm towards Lord." - He explained with a helpless expression. His act was without flaws, not exposing his fabricated story.


    Zhao Feng: "Oh?" - Zhao Feng raised his eyebrows, visibly wanting to hear more.


    Bao Zhi: "The Scholarly Merchant Association has a long-established tradition. We deal in knowledge and nothing else. Our aim is to spread the Great Dao and bring enlightenment to the people. Precisely so, we do not wish to gather fame or power. We did not target your family." - Bao Zhi explained.


    Zhao Feng: "What you say is very strange. If your aim is not to seek fame or power, then why are you becoming involved with the Zhao Family? I can''t imagine how this would further your cause."


    Bao Zhi: "Lord, this is a misunderstanding. We are one of the most discreet organizations in the world. We do not wish to stir trouble." - Bao Zhi talked slowly and placed emphasis on the word ''discreet'' and ''trouble'' while his face showed a faint smile.


    Zhao Feng was not convinced. He was racking his brain internally: "Who would believe this? You sent our inheritance to us in the letter clearly to blackmail us. Where did the other two inheritances come from you sold today? Did they not comply with your demands so you sold their inheritances? How did you get them in the first place? Does our house have a spy?"


    Zhao Feng did not reply, he was troubled by too many unknown scenarios he guessed. He felt cornered. Not wanting to play along with Bao Zhi''s schemes, he directly cut to the chase:


    "Tell me, what do you want?"


    ...


    Two servants from the Zhao family were waiting for their lord in front of the auction hall. They gossiped about the auction events when Zhao Feng appeared.


    He had a satisfied expression. He wouldn''t have thought that the Zhao family received the letter with the inheritance, not with the intent of blackmail. Instead, he learned, that the inheritance was meant to be sold on behalf of the Scholarly Merchant Association at the auction by Bao Zhi originally with the other two inheritances. This revelation equally shocked and terrified Zhao Feng. He thought they had a special relationship as they were targeted. It turned out their inheritance was not any more important and was sold as common cabbage. This meant that the Scholarly Merchant Association had boundless foundation, for one thing.


    Zhao Feng subconsciously had already rejected the idea of offending such an organization. As the saying went, a hidden blade was the most dangerous. Wasn''t this then a hidden ox-cleaver he faced?


    The other thing that surprised him was the fact that Bao Zhi was willing to sell the inheritance to them directly. He wanted to save face for the Zhao family by not selling their inheritance to others, but he was still required to send back the earnings to the organization as he explained. This left a favorable impression on Zhao Feng. He felt that Bao Zhi was willing to gamble by contacting them and going against this mysterious organization. Bao Zhi offered that he would only report thirty thousand primeval stones back about their inheritance as a show of his goodwill.


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    The other two inheritances were sold for sixty and eighty thousand, thirty thousand was letting them off easy. Was it worth thirty thousand primeval stones that their inheritance did not end up in one of their rivals'' hands next door?


    It absolutely did!


    This made Zhao Feng think, Bao Zhi could be trusted as long as enough benefits were offered. He saw a reliable ally in him, thinking he had a man of his own in the enemy camp already. And he was worried about spies in their family previously?


    They have agreed on directly transacting in the next time when Bao Zhi would be ''assigned'' inheritances to sell at a lower price if Bao Zhi got his ''cut''.


    Back in the Auction Hall, Bao Zhi waited for Zhao Feng to leave before he left as well. He was also having similar thoughts about their ''cooperation''.


    "This Zhao Feng is a good pawn. The rumors were true about his character, he can be exploited further."


    Zhao Feng was simply led by his nose by Bao Zhi. The moment he entered the private room he was already entangled in a web of manipulation. Even before they met, Zhao Feng was put under mental pressure. When he thought he saw through Bao Zhi was actually the moment he fell into his trap. Bao Zhi had vast experience compared to Zhao Feng, Zhao Feng was suppressed without even knowing it.


    Obtaining benefits had many ways, and fighting was only a third-rate option. Winning a battle without it even occurring was clearly a superior and more efficient method.


    Bao Zhi examined the Primeval Elder Gu he received. It was floating inside his fake aperture. This rank three gu was a storage type gu, specialized in storing primeval stones. It looked like a ball made of crystal, half-transparent and fist-sized. The inside was cloudy and an elderly figure could be seen in it. The Primeval Elder inside showed a sad and wrinkled face, his back hunching, it was a sorry sight. The primeval elder gu would show a happy expression when full and sad and pitiful when empty.


    But this sad image did not discourage Bao Zhi, because the Primeval Elder Gu could hold up to a million primeval stones!


    This gu was given to him by the auction hall, of course, its cost of seven thousand primeval stones was deducted. It had to be said, this was a precious gu worm.


    Now, this gu worm held roughly fifty-three thousand primeval stones.


    Bao Zhi had yet to refine this gu worm. He had to refine it as soon as possible, he could not continue to have this gu lent to him, it still contained the will of another gu master from the auction hall.


    He was careful on his way back, intentionally taking a detour and only heading home when he was sure he wasn''t being tailed by someone from the auction. The privacy of the auction hall could only go so far, even if the participants didn''t know who he was, all they needed to do was figure out who left the sixteenth VIP room and follow him.


    He reached his house without problems, but he didn''t let his guard down. He stopped before his door and respectfully bowed.


    "Master, your disciple has completed his mission."


    He did not know if anyone was secretly watching him or not. It was better to be safe than sorry. Another layer of deterrence was worth a few words in his opinion.


    After five breaths of time, he straightened his back. Seeing that nothing happened he calmly entered the house.


    Two hundred meters from him, a gu master stood on the rooftops with a frowning expression. Bao Zhi was indeed tailed by someone!


    * * * * *


    Brilliance Lotus Academy


    A few days had passed.


    Today was a big day for the students of the academy. Today would be the first opportunity for them to pit their strengths against each other in a mandatory tournament.


    This event was organized each year multiple times. This was a way for this school to simultaneously motivate the students with prizes and assess their fighting abilities.


    Teacher Tao was looking over his class of students, he assessed their morale. He wanted to know if they were ready for the tournament. He was pleased with what he saw.


    Many were eager to participate and establish their name.


    He wanted to ensure that his students would bring honor to the academy. However, there was a problem that he was aware of. The problem was with his top student.


    Zhao Min was the number one student in his class. He was incredibly gifted and displayed his talent often. He had not just achieved this position by chance, everyone was aware of his background and high aptitude, placing great expectations on him. However, his personality was not a good fit for the academy. He was aloof and arrogant. He would often not listen to the teachers. He also already had a powerful background, so he could not be easily roped in.


    Teacher Tao had already disregarded Bao Zhi as a genius. That kid was simply put, disappointing. Never had he encountered such a person before. Bao Zhi would not put much effort into anything. He didn''t participate in events not mandatory, nor did he interact with the other students on his own.


    This defied Teacher Tao''s expectations, he wanted to nurture a leader figure from this A grade talent originally. Yet, he did not create his own sphere of influence among his classmates. Teacher Tao remembered how lucky he felt when he was informed back then that two A grade talents would be entrusted with him by the academy. Now he felt bitter.


    "This Bao Zhi couldn''t even refine his vital gu to this day." - He cursed in his heart.


    Everyone else was already done refining their own vital gu in the class.


    He felt helpless to motivate him, Bao Zhi''s indifferent attitude felt like an immovable rock to him.


    He was not concerned about Bao Zhi''s performance.


    Teacher Tao felt he was a lost cause, he had given up on him long ago.


    His focus was on the tournament today. He wanted to make sure his students were in the best of their condition. He was ready to help his students if they needed him. He was concerned with their results, it would influence his status if they performed well.


    Zhao Min was his top student. He was expectant of him getting the first prize. It was not just a way to promote the academy''s reputation but also a way to boost the morale of his students. He wanted his top student to show off his prowess.


    Teacher Tao took a brief look at his students. He did not want to waste any more time.


    "Class is dismissed! You all know how important the tournament is, I hope you all will bring honor to our academy! Good luck! You can go to the tournament now!" - Teacher Tao shouted.


    The students gathered their things and left the class.


    Teacher Tao gave a glance at Bao Zhi, who was sitting in the last row of the class.


    Bao Zhi looked back at him calmly.


    Bao Zhi stood up to leave the class.


    Teacher Tao had a bitter expression on his face.


    Zhao Min: "Bao Zhi! I hope you will not disappoint me today!" - Zhao Min said as Bao Zhi passed by him.


    Bao Zhi looked at him with a cold glance.


    "I hope you don''t disappoint yourself." - Bao Zhi said.


    Zhao Min was silent.


    Bao Zhi ignored him and turned around.


    Zhao Min looked at his back, he felt frustrated.


    Bao Zhi continued to walk forward.


    Bao Zhi was not interested in the tournament. He was only interested in the rewards being offered.


    Even though this was a trivial amount compared to his newly acquired wealth, he wasn''t willing to slack off and wanted to grab every opportunity he could.


    Bao Zhi felt that he had nothing to prove. He wanted to win, but he wasn''t going to go all out.


    He didn''t want to draw attention to himself. He wanted to stay low-key.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 17 - Awkward situation, fighting begins

    Bao Zhi was not slacking in his free time. In the days leading up to the academy''s tournament, he was busy refining gu.


    First, he had to refine the Primeval Elder Gu.


    Only then could he access his fifty-three thousand primeval stones contained in it!


    But the Primeval Elder Gu was a rank 3 gu and Bao Zhi only had rank one initial stage primeval essence. It was a huge hurdle to refine it even with his hundreds of years of experience as an immortal. That knowledge could only help him so much when the difference was two ranks between the gu and him.


    He was not discouraged. He calmly accepted his current situation. This was a good thing as well.


    He spent his free time every day refining the gu worm without pause. He sat in his room, one hand holding the Primeval Elder gu the other holding a fistful of primeval stones.


    He was refining gu and absorbing primeval essence at the same time!


    If any established gu masters saw this they would be shocked.


    Multitasking like this was not just impressive, it was also reckless.


    In general, refining gu required the full attention of a gu master. One wrong step and he could suffer a backlash.


    He had no choice in the matter. If he stopped refining to replenish his essence every time, he estimated, he couldn''t refine it at all. He even brought the gu with him in his fake aperture and refined it while his essence lasted during the classes.


    The next gu worm on his list to refine was the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu. But that was still something he could not start on. Processing his gains would take a while. This was already like the tale of a toad trying to swallow a swan.


    For now, he urgently needed the primeval stones. The amount he acquired from Xing Zan, the traveling merchant, was mostly spent.


    His funds were about to run dry!


    It was ridiculous to think about this situation. Like dying of thirst in a desert, while one had a gourd of water they couldn''t unseal.


    But Bao Zhi has planned accordingly. In his calculations, he just had enough to get over this hurdle.


    "The reward from the upcoming tournament will give me a bit of leeway." - He thought.


    In the next room, Jin Ju was also doing his best to refine a gu worm. He had a serious attitude. The pride he had in the first days when he refined his gu worm first in the class was gone now. He had to realize that Zhao Min''s talent was still above his in the end. But not for long!


    Currently, he was sitting cross-legged on his mat and focusing on a gu.


    This was already his third gu worm!


    The vast majority in the class still only had their vital gu and no other gu worms. Jin Ju had already refined Carve Wood Gu and the Green Copper Relic Gu.


    Now he was refining the Unprocessed Jade Gu.


    Although having three gu worms sounded impressive, two of the gu were consumable gu worms. Otherwise feeding them in the long term would be a headache for Jin Ju.


    He had some understanding of the gu world economy, he knew about the cost of keeping gu worms. Too many gu worms could bankrupt a gu master''s finances!


    Thus, his plan was to use these two gu worms as soon as possible. First, he would use the Unprocessed Jade Gu to raise his aptitude. With his new aptitude he could reach the third stage of rank one, the upper stage, and then use the Green Copper Relic gu to advance to rank one peak stage in one step.


    Jin Ju nodded to himself as he thought of his plan.


    He was already imagining a scene before him where his teachers and classmates stood in shock at his rapid advancement.


    But he quickly dismissed this fleeting thought, now he had to give it his all! This was a rank two gu worm, he was only a rank one gu master. His experience was only outstanding among his peers, he could not hold a candle to experienced gu masters, not to mention Bao Zhi. Otherwise he would also know that gu masters with higher rank gu were abnormal.


    "I need to hold on, when I refine this gu worm, the rest will be smooth sailing!" - Jin Ju encouraged himself.


    When the day before the tournament came, Bao Zhi had dark circles around his eyes. They were bloodshot from the lack of sleep as well. He had not rested at all since starting the refinement. Refining gu day in, day out.


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    But he was finally close to refining his Primeval Elder Gu!


    * * * * *


    The day of the Brilliance Lotus academy''s tournament.


    The students were gathered around a designated fighting arena. Bao Zhi and Jin Ju were among their classmates, awaiting the event.


    Yu Lingxin was also present, she had a troubled expression. She had a natural disadvantage as a girl. She had to rely more on her gu worm than the boys. She thought back to the incident with Su Kang trying to extort them. She wanted to face other girls. That would be the fairest, they couldn''t expect them to be fighters after a bit over one month of cultivation, right?


    The format and the matchups of the event were yet to be announced.


    The students were discussing in a hubbub.


    "I heard that the format will be a single-elimination, best of three. The matchups will be drawn randomly."


    "That''s right. I heard that too. We also heard that there will be a surprise element to the event."


    "Oh? What is it?"


    "Don''t know. Nothing is definite yet."


    "Maybe we will be fighting underwater or in the air or something."


    Yu Lingxin sighed. She hoped that the event wouldn''t be unfair. If it was, she would be at a disadvantage.


    Teacher Tao announced: "The tournament''s format will be a single-elimination, best of three. The matchups will be drawn randomly."


    "The surprise element for this event will be that there will be a time limit for each match. If the match lasts more than ten minutes, the winner will be decided based on the number of blows landed."


    The students were puzzled, but then they understood the reasoning behind it. So that would be the surprise element.


    Teacher Tao continued: "You will be fighting in the arena. Get ready."


    Teacher Tao announced the matchups in advance. Their order would still be drawn randomly.


    Yu Lingxin was relieved that she was fighting another girl, but she was also worried when she looked at the next match.


    She was fighting in the first round!


    She went up the stage with visible nervousness.


    The girl before her stood in the opposite side. She did not know this girl, she was from another class. They bowed and cupped their fists before teacher Tao instructed them:


    "You may begin!"


    Yu Lingxin was not sure of her strength, she straight away activated her vital gu.


    Her skin gradually turned a deep green color.


    "Look at her skin! It is completely green!"


    "Oh, she''s using the Leaf Skin Gu. It is very wise to activate it straight away."


    Yu Lingxin wanted to win by technicality, either by enduring and exhausting her opponent or landing more hits in the ten-minute time frame.


    She collected her courage and attacked!


    The other girl was caught off guard, she expected Yu Lingxin to be more reserved.


    Yu Lingxin''s opponent also activated her vital gu. It was a movement-type gu worm, rank one Spring Twig Gu.


    Yu Lingxin failed to land her hit, her opponent successfully dodged it.


    "I have to change my tactic, I can''t catch her like this!" - She thought.


    She recalled the lessons of teacher Tao on the importance of the first strike. Now the opportunity was gone. She also realized she held the advantage in defense while her opponent had her advantage in movement.


    A back and forth battle ensued, where Yu Lingxin tried to hit her opponent but was getting hit by her opponent instead.


    "This can''t go on! Since I can''t land a hit, I need to counterattack when she attacks."


    She stopped chasing her opponent and waited for a strike.


    Yu Lingxin landed her first blow!


    "Haha, I did it!"


    "There is still time, don''t get cocky! If I can''t knock her out or make her admit defeat she still wins by how many times she hit me."


    "But I have never fought like this before, I have never fought in a tournament. I am so nervous!"


    Yu Lingxin was under immense pressure. She couldn''t afford to lose.


    The ten minutes were almost up! Both Yu Lingxin and her opponent had a rough expression, they were panting heavily in exhaustion.


    Yu Lingxin thought: "I''m almost out of primeval essence, I need to end this quickly. Come already!"


    In the meanwhile, her opponent was in a worse state.


    "I have run out of essence already, as soon as she realizes this, I lost. Now I can only draw this out to win by a technicality."


    Jin Ju and Bao Zhi were among the crowd. Bao Zhi noticed the peculiarity of the events.


    "Oh, she seems to be out of primeval essence." - Bao Zhi commented.


    Jin Ju: "Who? Sister Yu Lingxin or her opponent?"


    Bao Zhi: "Her opponent, of course. Observe carefully you can learn from others'' fights."


    "I think you''re right. Her opponent has not used her gu worm and been passive for a while." - Added another student.


    Bao Zhi: "Mm. Spring Twig Gu consumes more essence than Leaf Skin Gu. If they have a similar foundation, Leaf Skin Gu will last longer."


    Jin Ju looked at the countdown, not much time was left. Did Yu Lingxin know these as well? Why did she not attack?


    "She''s already out of essence!" - Jin Ju suddenly shouted.


    The rest of the students didn''t know who he referred to, but this was just the intel Yu Lingxin needed. She clearly had essence left, so she attacked again!


    Her opponent cursed the random spectator exposing her flaw, but she had little time as she had to endure till the timer ran out!


    A solid hit connected!


    Yu Lingxin stood victoriously as the time ran out.


    The crowd was cheering on her!


    She managed to turn around her situation of passively taking hits by her nimble opponent.


    She was exhausted not just in essence and body, but also mentally.


    She passed the first round. She went down the stage to find Jin Ju''s group.


    Just as they started their small talk, teacher Tao said some words to praise the contestants for their good performance.


    "Yu Lingxin had advanced to the second stage. The next fight of the first stage is..." - Teacher Tao looked at his notes to not make a mistake.


    The students listened, holding their breaths in suspense. Some wanted to go up the stage, some wanted to delay it as they were afraid.


    Teacher Tao: "...between Su Kang and Jin Ju!"


    Jin Ju''s face turned white. He still vividly remembered getting beaten by Su Kang on their first week.


    They both went up the stage.


    It was almost like a matchup of David vs Goliath. Jin Ju was average in height, with a narrow frame. He wasn''t weak, but he looked like a thin twig next to the burly Su Kang who towered over him.


    Su Kang looked Jin Ju in the eyes, at first he didn''t recognize him just by his name.


    "It is you!" - He recalled the humiliation when he failed to extort him.


    "Give up, if you know what''s good for you." - Although Su Kang wanted to beat him, he put up a show of letting him off. In his eyes, the other fellow was too weak.


    Jin Ju didn''t reply to his provocation. He looked at him coldly and paid his respects.


    "Hmph!" - Su Kang followed suit, bowing and cupping his oversized hands.


    Jin Ju could see the glint in Su Kang''s eyes. He knew he didn''t have a chance in an all-out brawl, but he had to try his best!


    Teacher Tao: "You may begin!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 18 - Shocking power, steady progress

    Brilliance Lotus Academy, Tournament ground


    Two students were facing each other on a raised platform.


    The crowd was spectating from all around it. The atmosphere was tense, the contestants were about to make their first move.


    The two youths on stage were Jin Ju and his opponent Su Kang.


    "In a direct confrontation, I clearly have a disadvantage. What do I do?" - Jin Ju panicked inside. He tried to calm down, but couldn''t steady his mind.


    Looking at the hulking Su Kang the crowd was also of the same mind. They saw little chance for Jin Ju. Some were feeling sympathy for Jin Ju, some were just disappointed with the matchup.


    "Seems like this match will be a bust. Too one-sided..."


    "Haha! Get ready, you might be up next in just a moment!"


    At the next moment!


    Su Kang attacked!


    He struck out in a wide arc with his right fist.


    Jin Ju barely avoided the blow, but was still hit by a strong shockwave!


    "This... This is too much!" - Jin Ju thought in panic. He was sure that he was going to die.


    But Jin Ju was not the only one who was surprised.


    The crowd was also in an uproar.


    "What?! What kind of power is that?!"


    "Impossible! How can he be so strong?!"


    "He is just a student of the academy! There is no way he can be that strong!"


    ...


    Everyone was shocked. No one had expected Su Kang to be this strong.


    "What gu did he use?"


    "His fist clearly missed, yet the small guy was almost blown away!"


    Bao Zhi sat calmly as he took in the events.


    "This is good. A good lesson for you." - Bao Zhi thought.


    Su Kang was using an uncommon gu worm, rank one Wind Strike Gu!


    This gu could let the user create small but strong gales in the wake of punches and kicks. This strength of the wind was still dependent on the user''s physique, it was suitable for Su Kang.


    Back on the stage, Jin Ju was running around like a headless chicken. He kept dodging, ducking, and doing anything he could to avoid Su Kang''s relentless attacks.


    It was a sorry sight. Even when Jin Ju got away, he was still hit by the small shockwaves and tumbled around.


    Jin Ju''s body was already covered in bruises, yet they haven''t made contact.


    "This can''t go on. I can''t do anything to him."


    He was already contemplating giving up!


    On the other hand, Su Kang''s initial confidence was already gone, now replaced by frustration. He held the upper hand since the match began. But he could not land a decisive hit.


    "Just one. Give me one good hit and it''s all over."


    Su Kang had an idea. He stopped his attacks and raised both his hands and activated his Wind Strike gu worm.


    Su Kang''s body started to glow with a faint light. His muscles started to bulge.


    "Was he showing off his muscles?" - The crowd didn''t understand what they were seeing.


    "What is he doing?" - Jin Ju was confused.


    "Hahaha! Now you will see my true power!" - Su Kang laughed maniacally.


    He started sprinting at the perimeter of the stage. There was a faintly visible veil of air around his body. The more he ran the bigger and more visible the aura became.


    Jin Ju was looking on nervously. He managed to catch his breath finally.


    "I don''t know what he''s trying to do, but this might be my only chance to use my technique."


    With this, he stood still and focused on Carve Wood gu in his aperture.


    A grayish glow appeared around his palm. They were like pointy spikes at the end of his fingers. He was pouring more and more of his primeval essence into Carve Wood Gu.


    He kept an eye on Su Kang, not sure when he would attack again.


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    Su Kang was running like a mad man. He was already running his second lap. His speed and wind veil was increasing.


    "I wasted so much essence already, I can only run one more lap and I''m out."


    On his third lap, Su Kang dashed towards Jin Ju with an explosive speed.


    Jin Ju''s eyes widened in horror. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.


    Su Kang''s right fist still connected with Jin Ju''s shoulder.


    Jin Ju only managed to clumsily strike at Su Kang''s abdomen, but he could not avoid the incoming hit.


    "Guaaah!" - Jin Ju screamed in pain as he was sent flying.


    He flew out of the stage and crashed into the barrier around the platform and collapsed to the ground.


    "Haha! I did it!" - Su Kang was overjoyed. He finally landed a hit.


    But a moment later the coughed up blood and fell to his knees.


    The crowd was in an uproar. No one could believe what they had just seen.


    "What a strength!"


    "He was sent flying! Did you see that?"


    "Look, he punched that guy so hard he injured himself in the end."


    Jin Ju''s attack wasn''t flashy and overbearing like the mad charge that Su Kang just pulled off. Many did not notice that Jin Ju landed a hit on him.


    Bao Zhi was not surprised. He knew that Su Kang had been hiding his true strength. Jin Ju''s performance was also not bad, he felt.


    The match ended with Jin Ju getting eliminated from the tournament. Su Kang progressed to the second round.


    Gu masters were tending to their injuries behind the scenes.


    Jin Ju had his shoulder dislocated and also broke his arm when he landed. He was lying on his bed. Most of his injuries were healed by the medical team, now he needed to rest.


    From the room next to him Jin Ju could hear Su Kang screaming in pain. He did know what his condition was.


    A gu master was standing beside Su Kang''s bed and manipulating her gu worms.


    "Stay put already, if you keep moving it''s only going to take longer."


    It was already troublesome to heal this injury.


    "How did you injure your aperture?" - She frowned.


    Su Kang could not reply, he was gritting his teeth and letting out painful grunts occasionally.


    Su Kang didn''t know, he was also lucky, if he weren''t at the initial stage already, his aperture could have dropped a rank from an injury like this!


    "Such a vicious technique... What are the students cultivating nowadays?" - The healing gu master lamented.


    Su Kang felt that Jin Ju should have given up the moment the match began. Yet, in a last-ditch effort, that brat still struck him with an underhanded move!


    Now he hated Jin Ju to the core!


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi was silently spectating the matches. He gained a better understanding of the students'' temperament and gu worms.


    It was already two hours since the tournament started when Bao Zhi was called onto the stage finally.


    He walked up the stage. The students cast weird gazes because of his looks.


    His eyes were bloodshot and in dark circles.


    "What a weird fellow."


    "I''ve heard of him, he''s the worst A grade talent in the academy."


    "An A grade is still an A grade."


    "No, you don''t get it. He still couldn''t refine his vital gu."


    "He''s pathetic."


    Bao Zhi let these remarks go. Wasn''t this the image he created?


    He did not recognize his opponent, who stood opposite him.


    Bao Zhi placed most of his focus on his aperture.


    He was still refining the Primeval Elder Gu with his full effort!


    Teacher Tao glanced at Bao Zhi''s condition, but in the end, he didn''t care what this good-for-nothing disciple was up to so he kept his thoughts to himself.


    Teacher Tao: "You may begin."


    Just as teacher Tao uttered the last syllable, Bao Zhi''s figure shot out like a bullet!


    "Uuugh!" - His opponent grunted and fell to the ground like a bag of grain. Knocked unconscious before he even hit the ground.


    His opponent couldn''t react at all.


    "What gu is he using?"


    "He is just too fast."


    "What happened!?"


    Teacher Tao was not the only one who was baffled.


    The crowd was also murmuring to themselves.


    "Is he using some sort of movement gu?"


    "He must have had his gu worm ready before the fight already!"


    "I heard that he had no gu worms. Now I feel that might not be true."


    "This must be a fluke. His opponent was just a paper tiger!"


    The match ended in a breath of time. This was the quickest match so far. The audience was shocked but also dissatisfied.


    They wanted a good battle, not a one-shot knockout.


    Bao Zhi paid his respects and left the stage as if nothing happened.


    "I''m very close to refining the Primeval Elder Gu!" - He evaluated his progress as he sat back down.


    The students around Bao Zhi looked at him strangely, but their attention was soon attracted by teacher Tao''s announcement of the next match.


    ...


    A few hours passed by.


    The first round has come to its end. Half of the students were out of the tournament. The ones who progressed were resting before the second round.


    Everyone was discussing the results.


    "I wonder who can match up to Su Kang. His match was really something."


    "I doubt he could beat Zhao Min."


    "That might be true, we couldn''t see. Zhao Min did not show his full strength in his first match."


    "Some of the matchups are really unfortunate. Like that guy, I don''t remember his name, who straight up fainted at the first hit."


    "The second round will be definitely more interesting to watch!"


    "I''m already out, but I will stay till the finals!"


    Those students with injuries were cared for in this brief resting period. The rest of them only had to replenish their essence before being ready to continue.


    Some had given up as their condition needed more time to recover or felt like winning the first round was enough for them.


    Yu Lingxin was in the latter group. She was clear about her own abilities and didn''t feel like relying on a lucky matchup again.


    She went to find Jin Ju and discovered he was bedridden.


    Jin Ju was silent for a while before he spoke.


    "Aren''t I pathetic?" - He shook his head, not meeting Yu Lingxin''s gaze.


    Yu Lingxin wanted to comfort him but did not know what to say.


    The silence was only broken by Su Kang''s screaming next door.


    "At least you didn''t end up like the other guy." - She consoled Jin Ju.


    Jin Ju let out a dry laugh.


    "When I came by, I heard the healing gu master tell him, that he has to be careful not to overexert his aperture in the future."


    It was true.


    Who was the one who ended up worse?


    It was Su Kang.


    "What did you do to him?" - She couldn''t help but be curious.


    Jin Ju smiled helplessly. He couldn''t spill his technique just casually.


    "I learned it from an inheritance. But look at me, I still lost."


    "I cultivated diligently! Not skipping a single day! Yet..." - His eyes became watery as he spilled his heart to Yu Lingxin.


    Yu Lingxin was touched by Jin Ju''s emotional state.


    "You are too hard on yourself. I think you already did better than most. I couldn''t win against you." - She encouraged him.


    Jin Ju was silent.


    "You should focus on your recovery. If you''re still sick, I will come to visit you tomorrow." - She said jokingly and bid him farewell.


    Jin Ju waved her goodbye.


    ...


    Teacher Tao: "Get ready! The second round is beginning now."


    The matches continued in full force one after another.


    The upcoming match was a highly anticipated match.


    Zhao Min was taking the stage now!


    As he arrived on the stage, he had a confused expression. Where was his opponent?


    Just as teacher Tao was about to call again, the person in question finally showed himself.


    "Su Kang, I was afraid you wouldn''t show up." - Zhao Min was reassured when he saw his opponent enter the stage.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 19 - Trouble is brewing, tournament continues

    Brilliance Lotus Academy, Tournament ground


    The crowd was rowdy and excited. They were looking forward to the upcoming match.


    Even Jin Ju got up from his bed, albeit with some difficulty, to sit at his window and check out what the commotion was about.


    The spectator''s expectations weren''t baseless. On one side stood the bulky Su Kang, a strong contender in this tournament. Facing him on the opposite side stood the number one talent in the class with A grade aptitude, Zhao Min.


    Zhao Min had a straight posture and a dignified semblance. He sized up the hulking figure before him with nonchalance.


    Su Kang was apprehensive of Zhao Min, he has already shown off his strongest move while Zhao Min advanced effortlessly in the first round. He felt like he was playing with open cards now.


    "It is my fortune to have a match against young master Zhao." - Su Kang cupped his burly fists respectfully.


    They might stood before each other as two students of the academy, but he was clear of their social hierarchy. He did not want to fall out with the Zhao family, no matter what. Giving them face was the least he could do.


    "Mm, whatever..." - Zhao Min narrowed his eyes.


    Su Kang has unknowingly struck a nerve with his flattery.


    Zhao Min was not conceited because of his background, he knew his self-worth clearly.


    But in the eyes of others, it was natural that the young master of a powerful house was exceptional. His own self was overshadowed by his name.


    Zhao Min wanted none of this!


    He cultivated so he could live a carefree life, to get rid of this burden and responsibility that was placed upon him.


    He wanted to show off!


    Subconsciously, he wanted to avoid his father''s fate: all bark and no bite.


    Hearing Zhao Min''s bland reply, Su Kang cursed in his heart, but he did not dare to voice his dissatisfaction.


    "Too arrogant! I gave you face. But it wasn''t enough, now I''ll give you my fist then!"


    Teacher Tao sized them up apprehensively and then nodded to them.


    "You may begin."


    Zhao Min had his hands behind his back as he said:


    "Attack me with your strongest move. I won''t interfere." - He told Su Kang.


    Su Kang had a strange expression upon hearing this provocation.


    "I hope you won''t regret your decision." - He replied to Zhao Min and readied himself.


    "I''ll make you eat your words, bastard! It was your mistake to underestimate me!" - Su Kang thought to himself.


    He took a step, steady and unmovable like a mountain, one after another. His speed kept increasing as he started to run wildly.


    His momentum kept developing rapidly, his Wind Strike Gu was activated to its limit. Soon a wind veil enveloped his whole body, making his features blurry and hard to distinguish.


    Zhao Min was so far standing still, he hasn''t moved since the match began, but he was keeping a close eye on his opponent''s movement. He was ready to activate his own gu at the opportune moment.


    "Get ready!" - Su Kang roared as he reached his top speed.


    "This should be enough, I can''t exert my aperture now in a drawn-out fight. He-he-he. Little did you know, but your arrogance played into my hand now. Finishing you off with a single strike is the best outcome for me!" - Su Kang was full of confidence as he evaluated this situation in his mind.


    "Look! It''s this move again. Su Kang''s signature move!"


    "Why is Zhao Min just standing there?"


    "Ah, I can''t bear to watch!"


    The crowd was excited, it looked like the match was about to be decided right away. There wasn''t a long build-up, no struggling, a confrontation of all or nothing!


    Su Kang charged at Zhao Min with reckless momentum. Each of his heavy steps left an imprint on the ground.


    Zhao Min could not stay still anymore, he activated his gu worms now!


    Green roots started to emerge from the ground under his feet in every direction.


    Su Kang arrived before him in a flash. A blur of a huge fist hurling towards Zhao Min was filling his vision!


    Boom!


    The stage shook from the shockwave. This was already at the limit of the power of a rank one gu master.


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    A huge cloud of dust and debris emerged as Su Kang''s fist landed. The spectators were on edge, not sure what the outcome was.


    "What happened? I can''t see from the dust." - One of the students covered his eyes in the first row.


    As the visibility slowly returned, one could see the silhouettes of the two contestants again gradually.


    "What is going on? How can this be?"


    "That''s an A grade talent for you. I should have known to bet on him."


    "I knew he was powerful, but... but to this extent?"


    "Hmph! It''s all thanks to his family''s inheritance."


    The onlookers were stupefied.


    Zhao Min stood on a thick root in the air, about two meters above the ground.


    He was totally unscathed from the violent attack directed at him!


    Below him was a huge clump of thick roots, growing and twisting with vitality. Su Kang''s figure was tangled among them, his right fist was stuck in the middle of the clump.


    The thick roots pounced and twisted around him like a giant snake, constricting and engulfing him!


    Zhao Min was using two gu worms now. One was Root Sprout Gu. It could grow roots out of the ground as long as there was soil around. The second gu worm was Wood Sensation Gu. When used, a gu master could extend their sense of touch and position to a plant they had contact with.


    When the two gu worms were used together, they formed a primitive killer move.


    Zhao Min could feel and use these roots as if they were his own limbs!


    Su Kang struggled with all his might, but it was in vain. The vegetation around him was unyielding, growing thicker and thicker. Soon it formed a huge ball and buried Su Kang''s tall figure fully.


    He was subdued without Zhao Min lifting a finger!


    Teacher Tao was proudly watching his top disciple''s performance. He was already seeing his evaluation rising as a result of this. Only Su Kang''s muffled cry for help from inside the blob of greenery startled him back to reality.


    Teacher Tao: "Quickly release him! Don''t let him suffocate inside!"


    ...


    The match concluded with Zhao Min''s victory and Su Kang''s elimination from the tournament.


    The students were captivated, they were still talking about this match. The next matches simply couldn''t capture their attention after this show of power.


    One of such matches was Bao Zhi''s. There was not much to comment on his fight. It ended just as his first-round match.


    His opponent was knocked unconscious by a well-aimed palm strike before he could activate any gu and retaliate.


    Teacher Tao couldn''t help but adjust his opinions about Bao Zhi.


    "Maybe this kid is useless in cultivation, but his fighting instincts are quite sharp."


    He was conflicted internally, he already had a preconceived bad opinion of Bao Zhi. But he knew that he was supposed to treat his students fairly, so why did he feel contempt against him? He couldn''t put his finger on it but felt that something was off. He called for Bao Zhi after the match.


    Teacher Tao: "What was this again? You gave no chance to your opponents to show their techniques. Explain yourself."


    "One must strike with precision and determination. In a life and death fight, ending it quickly is better than giving the enemy time to turn the situation around. I thought the most direct way to obtain victory was to strike first, I couldn''t know what techniques my opponent has prepared. I was afraid to face them head-on... Was I wrong, teacher?" - Explained Bao Zhi with a helpless expression, but his bloodshot eyes showed defiance and cold indifference. He was still refining the Primeval Elder Gu in his fake aperture without pausing.


    Teacher Tao didn''t reply immediately, he thought:


    "Tsk! You are not wrong. But this is not a life and death battle. Where does this kid get such ideas? How are we supposed to assess the students'' abilities now if you end the match before it even begins?" - This gave him a headache, he would have to explain the matter later on why some students had missing info.


    This tournament was organized by the academy mainly to test the students and tell the baseline of their skills.


    Teacher Tao: "Good. But you need to remember to take care of your classmates. Listen, this is just sparring and not a life-threatening situation. Be rest assured, the elders are here as well, there''s no real danger to be afraid of."


    "You may leave."


    Bao Zhi bowed and cupped his fists respectfully then headed back to his seat.


    A message arrived at Teacher Tao. He recognized it immediately.


    Teacher Tao gulped, then activated the letter gu to read its contents.


    It was sent by one of the academy''s elders, Ye Xuegang.


    The letter told teacher Tao that he wasn''t doing a good enough job disciplining his students, and should deal with troublemakers. They didn''t mention Bao Zhi, but the meaning was clear from the timing.


    "So quick!" - Teacher Tao panicked. He almost forgot that Bao Zhi had an A grade aptitude. The higher-ups were clearly paying close attention!


    Teacher Tao looked at Bao Zhi''s leaving figure, then at the urn in front of him from which the matchups were drawn. He frowned and narrowed his eyes.


    "Hmm... Should I?" - He hesitated for a moment but then decided to reach into the jar to fish out a certain name.


    "I can''t help it. You troublesome brat, why did you have to attract elder Ye Xuegang''s attention now?" - Teacher Tao felt wronged.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Golden Peak Pagoda


    Many floating islands were making rounds and orbiting each other in a seemingly chaotic manner. On the biggest island stood a mountain, its peak glistening in golden colors. This was Wen clan''s headquarters.


    Wen clan had a similarly deep foundation as the Bao clan. But there was a clear difference in the routes of development they took.


    Bao clan''s immortals only cultivated wood path, this way when they died they could fuse their blessed lands into the Ancestral Grotto without much conflict of dao marks. It could strengthen and expand the small world without becoming a typical public blessed land.


    Public blessed lands had obvious weaknesses because they were stitched together from different immortal apertures. Public blessed lands usually had low defenses, as the different dao marks from the various paths conflicted.


    Wen clan was taking a different approach.


    Their grotto heaven was fused with a fragment of the Immemorial Nine Heavens!


    What did this mean? When one fused their immortal aperture with a fragment, no more tribulations would occur! It would be treated as a part of the gu world by the heavenly power.


    This also meant that the aperture could not be picked up again by the owner of the grotto. It would be a permanent change, immortals wouldn''t do it recklessly.


    But it also meant that they were safe from tribulations, but without tribulations,  the grotto heaven wouldn''t gain dao marks. This stifled long-term development. It was a tradeoff.


    The original owner of Lingering Mountains Grotto was long dead, only her will remained. Her situation was similar to Bao Zhi back in the time of their calamity. Her grotto was placed down in the gu world, hidden from prying eyes to provide a way of survival for the defeated Wen clan.


    Wen clan decided to merge many small and different environments together, they had a method to turn most of the resources in a blessed land into a floating island. It was an exquisite and ingenious solution to their unique problem.


    Most of the floating islands were resource points of various sizes. The core behind them was the rank eight Revolving Mountain formation. This is where the name of the grotto came from. Each floating island had a mountain on it, this was a requirement by the formation to act upon.


    Inside the Golden Peak Pagoda, Wen Jie opened her eyes after days of deducing matters with her wisdom path methods.


    "The crucial person has indeed arrived. I need to contact ancestor now." - She told herself as she flew out in a particular direction.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 20 - Dominating the young and old alike

    Brilliance Lotus Academy, Tournament ground


    The tournament was nearing its pinnacle, and the round of the finals was just about to start.


    Teacher Tao: "The next match will mark the beginning of the finals." - He exclaimed as he stood before the audience in his red robes with a golden teacher symbol embroidered on its back.


    He raised his walking stick and motioned to the contestants: "Zhao Min and Bao Zhi, take the stage!"


    The students we sitting on the edge of their seats with impatience.


    "Too bad the Ye family''s young master got eliminated in the previous round. I really wanted to see him fight with Zhao family''s young master."


    "I smell a conspiracy. I can''t believe he was taken care of in just three hits by his opponent..."


    Unknowingly the students'' suspicions hit the nail on the head. That matchup was indeed tampered with by teacher Tao. He wanted to suppress Bao Zhi and directly promote the Ye clan''s young master to the finals.


    Hitting two birds with one stone!


    It seemed like a flawless plan, his experience told him that even talents needed time to blossom. Overcoming the difference in background and techniques was not something anyone could do.


    Too bad this plan of his backfired and now teacher Tao not only failed to suppress Bao Zhi, he even figuratively slapped the academy elder, Ye Xuegang in the face.


    Bao Zhi used three strikes to obtain victory. This was three times the length of his previous matches.


    Teacher Tao couldn''t find trouble with him, due to Bao Zhi''s malicious compliance.


    Teacher Tao knew he had to solve this conundrum somehow, so he decided to change the matchups again.


    With Bao Zhi losing the next match, he wanted to break his indifferent and stubborn attitude. Then, with his head hung low in defeat, Bao Zhi would be more receptive to the academy''s teachings.


    He could not let go of nurturing a talent with A grade aptitude, even if he disliked that person.


    The two contestants took their places in the arena.


    Zhao Min''s usual calm and nonchalant attitude were gone.


    Zhao Min: "Bao Zhi! How much longer are you going to hold back? Or is this competition too mundane for you?"


    Bao Zhi raised his eyebrows curiously, but he didn''t reply.


    Seeing Bao Zhi''s reaction Zhao Min continued: "I feel the same. There are no other opponents here that could fight me to the end."


    The match began with teacher Tao''s instructions. He explicitly told them to use all their methods and don''t hold back.


    Teacher Tao was already rubbing his palms mentally.


    "Bao Zhi has no chance to knock out Zhao Min directly as he did so far. Even the powerful Su Kang''s charge was directly stopped by Zhao Min." - He thought.


    Teacher Tao: "You may begin!"


    Zhao Min did not stand on ceremony, he used his primitive killer move. Green roots sprouted and emerged around him, like a living wall. Next, he used another portion of roots to lash out at Bao Zhi''s direction.


    Both defense and offense in one move!


    Bao Zhi was still focusing on his aperture mostly. Failing to refine the Primeval Elder Gu would be a huge setback currently. He would have to accumulate primeval stones from zero and by that time all his progress in refining the gu would also be gone. He didn''t want to waste his time and effort!


    But that gu was two ranks higher than him!


    Winning this tournament was secondary to him, only a contingency plan if he were to run out of primeval stones.


    Seeing the group of roots snaking their way towards him, Bao Zhi did not stand still either.


    He did not attack as he did in his previous matches, he changed his tactic now. He wanted to stall for some time.


    Bao Zhi kept evading and dodging at seemingly impossible angles. The wooden snakes could not catch this slippery eel!


    "Does he have an eye on his back? How is this possible?"


    "Now I understand, he is a different kind of genius, too bad he''s so poor at refining gu."


    "Yeah, it is a pity. There is only so much you can do with martial arts. He will be left behind eventually."


    "It''s easy to look down on him. You haven''t had to face him yourself!" - Exclaimed one of Bao Zhi''s previous opponents in dissatisfaction. Praising Bao Zhi would also make his loss seem more acceptable.


    Meanwhile, back on the stage, Zhao Min was thinking hard: how to catch Bao Zhi?


    Time and time again the seemingly cornered Bao Zhi slipped through the grasp of the roots.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Zhao Min thought: "If this continues on, it will be only a draw. Hmm, how about this?"


    He split his forces again, now forming three sets of roots. Two chasing and pincer attacking Bao Zhi while still not abandoning his defense either.


    Bao Zhi''s mental pressure has increased!


    He was risking suffering a backlash if his refinement was forcefully interrupted. His fake aperture was only rank one now. Could it endure the backlash of a rank three gu?


    Who would be so stupid to do such a thing during a fight?


    Even though his moves became less precise, no harm has reached Bao Zhi so far. He continued to take a passive stance.


    "What''s going on? Is this guy a monkey? How can he be so hard to hit?"


    "I can''t believe my eyes, this is impossible!"


    "He must be cheating, there is no other explanation!"


    Even teacher Tao''s eye twitched as he was observing the match.


    Zhao Min did not lose his composure so easily. He narrowed his eyes, then raised his arm in an upward grabbing motion. His fingers curled like claws.


    "How about this?" - He called out in his mind.


    Suddenly a group of roots attacked Bao Zhi from underground!


    But unfortunately what Zhao Min could not know, was that Bao Zhi sensed these roots as clear as daylight. Even without the usage of gu worms.


    How was this possible?


    Normally it would not be, but Bao Zhi had great grandmaster attainment in wood path!


    Wood path moves contained wood path dao marks, he was highly sensitive to them. He could "see" them coming with his eyes closed.


    This turn of events was a mental blow to Zhao Min. He was getting increasingly nervous as the fight dragged on.


    "We both have A grade aptitude, but my expenditure is definitely higher. He wants to win in a battle of attrition it seems like." - Zhao Min thought to himself in dissatisfaction.


    "Nevermind, I can''t fall into his rhythm. I''ll go all out!"


    Zhao Min activated his rank one Root Sprout Gu and Wood Sensation Gu to their limits. The primeval essence in his aperture declined steeply. Now only twenty percent was left.


    "Wow! Look at that, the arena turned into a forest of roots!"


    "Now Bao Zhi has nowhere to run. This match is finished."


    "The Zhao family''s inheritance is just too scary." - Shuddered a commenting student.


    At a moment''s notice, the myriad roots were upon Bao Zhi. He gritted his teeth as he pulled his limbs closer to himself.


    "Almost done. Just a little bit more!" - He could feel it already, the breakthrough in his gu refinement was imminent.


    A huge ball has formed in the meanwhile. Zhao Min was panting heavily, controlling this many roots individually was impossible for him, he could only move them all at once. But his efforts were finally showing results.


    Bao Zhi was captured!


    Zhao Min looked at teacher Tao expectantly, he was waiting for him to end the match already.


    "Quickly end it! My essence is running dry soon!" - Zhao Min thought.


    But teacher Tao did not end the match just now. He activated his investigative method to check on Bao Zhi''s condition.


    "Good, I''ll let you suffer a bit more. There''s still some time left. Don''t blame me, this is for your own good as well." - Teacher Tao reassured himself about his methods.


    At this moment!


    The arena tremored. Loud cracking and tearing sounds could be heard.


    "What is going on? Is Zhao Min going to grind him to death?"


    "Why won''t the match end already?"


    The students were also looking at teacher Tao now with their questions.


    The sounds were indeed coming from inside the huge wooden ball as it continued to squirm.


    Bao Zhi: "Primeval Elder Gu, you are finally mine!"


    He immediately put his mind solely on the fight now!


    The strange sounds continued.


    Zhao Min''s face was taking on an ugly expression, contrary to the spectators, he could feel what was happening inside.


    Bao Zhi was tearing the roots apart with his bare hands!


    The ball of roots started to shake with increasing intensity.


    Suddenly a hand poked out from the tangled mess.


    Then another!


    Bao Zhi held his palms facing away from each other. Next, his muscles bulged as he exerted his strength. The veins on his forearms protruded and had an eerie green color.


    Seconds passed like minutes.


    Now even the spectators have caught up to what was happening previously. They did not dare to divert their attention, afraid of missing the decisive moment. They held their breaths subconsciously.


    CRACK!


    The roots were torn in half before Bao Zhi. He jumped out in a flash, clearly intending to strike at Zhao Min.


    Zhao Min scrambled in fright. He quickly let go of his control of the massive amount of vegetation. He gritted his teeth and desperately focused on his last line of defense.


    The roots around Zhao Min regained their liveliness and fine motion, they struck out towards Bao Zhi.


    Zhao Min wanted to stall for time now, only seconds were left from the timer.


    But Bao Zhi was done with running around, he directly grabbed onto the pieces of wood and uprooted them! Throwing them to the wayside.


    Zhao Min''s eyes widened in shock, he lost control of those roots immediately because they no longer formed a continuous entity.


    "Oh no! He has already figured out this technique''s weakness!"


    Just as he had this thought, Bao Zhi closed in on him with haste.


    Zhao Min shouted: "I surrend-"


    Bao Zhi''s first stopped just inches away from Zhao Min''s frightened face.


    Bao Zhi couldn''t help but evaluate Zhao Min again, he approved of Zhao Min''s choice. He would have done the same.


    Those who can''t yield will break eventually. A true expert is one that can tell apart which situation is which.


    "..."


    "The scene changed so quickly!"


    "It was a totally winning position for Zhao Min... Just how?"


    "This fight was already a battle of experts."


    Now even the gu masters who underestimated Bao Zhi needed to readjust their opinion of him.


    Jin Ju was also spectating from his window. He couldn''t help but recall the scene where Bao Zhi fought the huge tiger, similarly bare-handed. This cemented his impression of Bao Zhi as a fighting maniac.


    Opposite of him, on the other side, teacher Tao was livid.


    "Bao Zhi, come into my office! Now!" - He shouted.


    Instead of announcing Bao Zhi as the winner, he was now in trouble?


    "I see, now it makes sense. He clearly cheated!"


    "Nobody could be so strong, right?"


    "Yes. I couldn''t even tell what gu worms he was using. Someone must have helped him from outside."


    The students started murmuring and guessing wildly.


    Teacher Tao was looking at Bao Zhi sternly as the youth presented himself respectfully.


    "Come here! Let me check your condition."


    With that said teacher Tao reached out to sense Bao Zhi''s aperture.


    Bao Zhi showed a confused expression but complied without resistance.


    "Wanting to play dirty? You should know the best about inspecting other''s gu worms is a huge taboo." - Bao Zhi snickered in his mind.


    When teacher Tao placed his hand on his fake aperture he could not sense anything but a small amount of primeval essence.


    "What is this? Does he really have no gu worms? But why is he missing essence then? None of this makes any sense."


    Seeing his teacher''s confusion, Bao Zhi looked him straight in the eyes. His eyes seemed cold as ice, teacher Tao felt like a beast was eyeing its prey before him.


    Rank three aura!


    "Teacher should know, not to look into matters too deeply." - Bao Zhi said flatly as he released the Primeval Elder Gu''s rank three aura.


    Teacher Tao fell back in horror, only his walking stick prevented him from falling over.


    "Rank three? Rank three! How... This is..."


    One had to know, rank three gu worms were only something rank three gu masters would possess.


    What did this imply? At least a rank-three gu master was supporting Bao Zhi from the shadows! Rank three meant an elder status at the minimum!


    "Curse you, Ye Xuegang! You dragged me into your internal conflict!" - Teacher Tao grieved internally as he dismissed Bao Zhi.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 21 - Momentary peace, preparation interrupted

    Sun Lotus City


    The Brilliance Lotus Academy''s tournament has ended. The students were surprised to find out they won ample compensation of primeval stones from the academy. Even the ones who lost in the first round.


    It was very generous. The teachers and senior students knew this as well. Usually, only the finalists would be rewarded.


    But now this change was implemented to help the young gu masters.


    Ye Xuegang was one of the elders of the Brilliance Lotus Academy. He was responsible for the distribution of rewards this time.


    Ye Xuegang took a list in his hand. It was the final ranking of the first-year students.


    Bao Zhi''s name was at the top. In second place was Zhao family''s young master, Zhao Min.


    This made Ye Xuegang frown momentarily. The Ye family''s young master wasn''t even in the top ten. A shameful result for a prestigious house. But he didn''t take the matter to heart, it was the young master''s misfortune or lack of ability. Either way, Ye Xuegang had more important matters at hand, than worry about face. He did not ponder much on the matter, he had a detached attitude towards such matters.


    Next, he took out a Primeval Elder Gu and retrieved a few thousand primeval stones from within, and started to portion them out for the students. This took him over three hours.


    When he was finished, the primeval stones were all put in sealed bags and ready for the students to collect tomorrow.


    Done with his duties for today, he decided to head home.


    Back at the Ye Family''s mansion.


    A middle-aged man, with long silver hair, was sitting out in the courtyard.


    He was Ye Ruogang, also known as old master Ye, the patriarch of the Ye family. He was having tea and discussing matters with his guests currently.


    His yellow teeth flashed as he laughed heartily.


    "Haha. My friend, you are right! The younger generation is full of surprises."


    "But they lack the qualities of the long years of experience." - He continued as he fondled his short grey goatee.


    "Indeed, indeed. Lord Ye knows the best." - Praised his company, not missing to fawn on old master Ye whenever they could.


    Ye Xuegang arrived at this moment.


    "Ah, Xuegang, you''re back. Perfect timing. We were just discussing the younger generation now. Tell me about the academy tournament! How did our house perform?"


    Ye Xuegang hesitated for a moment, not sure how he should phrase this in the best possible way.


    "The young master has made it to the third round successfully."


    "And then?"


    "Then, misfortune struck. He was matched against the eventual winner of the tournament and got eliminated." - He recounted factually.


    The atmosphere lost its previous cheerfulness. This was not what Ye Ruogang wanted to hear, especially in front of his guests.


    "Was it the Zhao brat?"


    "No, he too got eliminated as well."


    "Hmph! So be it then! I have already given our rascal a Reform Gu to raise his aptitude. Xuegang, be sure to teach him properly!" - Ye Ruogang pushed the blame directly on his second son, Ye Xuegang.


    Ye Xuegang did not reply, he endured silently.


    Old master Ye''s mood was already soured, but he acted his part before wrapping up the tea session and bidding farewell to his acquaintances.


    Now only he and Ye Xuegang were present.


    "Tell me something good. What''s the status on Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu?"


    "I sent one of our men to tail the buyer. His identity was exposed. He is a first-year student in the academy."


    "Impossible, how could a student pull out ninety-thousand primeval stones? What is his background? Which family is he from?"


    "That is unclear so far, but he definitely has some backing. He placed first in the tournament as well. I tried probing his background, but this was the result."


    "It was the same person? He has slapped our face not once, but twice now!" - Ye Ruogang stood up in shock.


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    "Tsk. Good. Good! This person is not afraid to cross our family it seems. Then he should not be afraid to lose his head as well!" - Threatened old master Ye in a fit of anger. His petty personality was shown in full.


    "Xuegang, I entrust this matter to you."


    * * * * *


    Jin Ju was sitting cross-legged in his room. He tried to focus on cultivation, but intrusive thoughts kept interrupting his focus.


    This made him even more frustrated.


    After his crushing defeat at the tournament against Su Kang, his fragile ambition was shattered. He felt overwhelming helplessness. He tried to rationalize his situation and encourage himself, but it was without any success.


    When he was just a slave, he had accepted his fate, that was all he knew then, he had no hope of accomplishing much. It was a simple life. He was told what to do, he did not need to do anything else.


    It was Bao Zhi who freed him and gave him hope. Because of this, Jin Ju awakened his aperture. He became a gu master, now he could cultivate. This was a huge advancement for him. He expected a bright and effortless future.


    But the reality was cruel.


    Now he experienced that no matter one''s status, they still had to face difficulties in their lives. Failures and setbacks were the norm, not the exception.


    Even the invincible rank nine venerables were not carefree.


    Because of his mental state, Jin Ju''s progress at refining the Unprocessed Jade Gu has regressed to the baseline already. Now he was halfheartedly cultivating his aperture.


    He did not dare to stop cultivating, he felt anxious that Bao Zhi would leave him behind if he found out about his situation. Guilt was burning his heart when he thought of the sum of primeval stones he "wasted" on his cultivation that Bao Zhi has given him.


    A knocking startled him out of his troubled thoughts. Then his door opened as Bao Zhi came in to check on him.


    Bao Zhi was clear about Jin Ju''s mental condition after a single glance.


    "How are you? It seems your loss has gotten to your head." - He stated with a faint smile.


    Bao Zhi took the opportunity and sat beside Jin Ju.


    "Let me tell you something. There is not much difference between success and failure. Many even confuse the two."


    Jin Ju listened quietly, not sure where this was going.


    "But there is a clear difference. Do you know what that is?"


    Jin Ju shook his head in embarrassment.


    "When someone succeeds, it means that he did the right thing. It means he was lucky. It means everything happened in just the right way. But this is one''s personal tragedy! One can not learn anything when success is achieved right away. Like giving a man a windfall of wealth, he will not be prepared to handle it. You can only be sure of your actions after you failed countless times."


    "Improvement has a cost, and that cost is a failure. Those who don''t pay that cost are damned to repeat their mistakes over and over without realizing the reason for their failings."


    Jin Ju was listening attentively, these words resonated with him very much.


    "Thus, the worst thing one can do after failing is to stop. Do you not feel the same? Do you not want to continue walking ahead?"


    Jin Ju: "I do want to... But I don''t know if I can."


    "Nobody does. This is why you need courage. Courage to take the next step, to overcome uncertainty, to conquer the unknown. "


    "There is no single path that can be considered the ''correct'' path. The path of Gu cultivation is like a river. It is vast and boundless, and there are many tributaries. There are also many experts who have gone down different paths and have achieved great success. There is no single path that is ''correct'', and there is no single path that is ''incorrect''. The key lies in finding the path that is most suitable for you and walking down it."


    Jin Ju felt like clouds were parted and the fog dissipated. He could feel that what Bao Zhi told him was just what he needed to hear. He was silent for a good while, thoughts racing in his mind before the responded.


    "T-Thank you Bao Zhi!" - Jin Ju replied with genuine sincerity. He had his emotions stirred.


    "I think you already know what you should do. All you needed was just a reminder." - Bao Zhi smiled as he left and let Jin Ju continue his cultivation.


    * * * * *


    The days went by one after one.


    Bao Zhi''s situation has gradually improved. Accessing his wealth in the Primeval Elder Gu now was possible, but it was still a rank three gu, he had to spend dozens of primeval stones and half a day to activate the gu. The efficiency was abysmal to activate the gu. He would do this sparingly to reduce his losses and time spent.


    The next point on his agenda was refining his other rank three gu, the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu.


    He did not have the urgency as before, now he had enough funds so he could afford to spend some of his time sleeping as well.


    Even though that was the case, Bao Zhi decided to only sleep two hours until he finished this refinement. With his special body, this would still be sufficient.


    In his free time he decided not to sit at home, he wandered around Sun Lotus City while refining the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu.


    He went to markets to browse the wares. He passed by shops and food stalls.


    He arrived at the city square, carefully observing the buildings and people coming and going.


    Like a curious tourist taking in the beauty and ambiance of the place, he immersed himself.


    He was like a leaf drifting in the wind aimlessly. But in fact, he was searching for something.


    "It is probably here underground, or below the city lord''s office." - He thought as his gaze stopped on the balcony of the city hall.


    "This place is too open, and well observed. If I want to have my way, some distractions would be needed. And then I still would not have much time." - He analyzed, thinking to himself.


    "There are too many pitfalls, I only have one shot in the end, so I will need to prepare-"


    Killing intent!


    "Who is it?" - Bao Zhi whipped his head around and surveyed his surrounding. But he didn''t see anyone targeting him in any shape or form.


    "I clearly felt my human qi wavering... There is no mistake."


    Bao Zhi had a heightened perception thanks to his quasi-grandmaster attainment in human path. When someone would target him with intensity, be that killing intent or otherwise, his human qi would be disturbed.


    Human qi was formless and invisible to the naked eye. But for experts like Bao Zhi, human qi could not be hidden. He clearly felt it just now.


    "What is happening?" - He thought to himself.


    "Is it possible that I am imagining it? No, I am not."


    "There is someone targeting me... but why?"


    Bao Zhi did not linger much and headed back after his casual reconnaissance. On his way back he felt the strange phenomenon multiple times.


    "Could it be that the city lord is suspecting me? Or one of his subordinates?" - He thought to himself.


    "No, it is not him... and it is definitely not his underlings. They have no basis to suspect me, and I have no grudges with any of his people."


    He was eliminating possible scenarios one by one as he was walking leisurely.


    "It must be the auction. If so, it is either the Zhao or the Ye family. One of them is easy to verify."


    With this, he decided to change his direction. He headed towards the Zhao mansion.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 22 - Hoodwinked again, hasty arrangements

    Sun Lotus City, Zhao Family''s mansion


    "Who are you? I don''t recognize you." - Called out one of the guards at the main entrance. He did not recognize this youth in front of the gate.


    "I am Bao Zhi. You can inform Lord Zhao of my arrival, I''ll wait."


    The guard narrowed his eyes but still signaled to one of the servants to go. "So pretentious! Just who do you think you are to look for the family head unannounced?" - He grumbled under his breath to his counterpart next to him.


    Shortly after, the head of servants himself came to welcome Bao Zhi and escort him to the surprise of the guards.


    "Esteemed guest Bao Zhi, please follow me." - Instructed the head of servants with respect and cordiality.


    The guards looked on strangely and gave way to Bao Zhi.


    "The lord will soon receive you in his study. In the meanwhile you can take a seat in the garden''s pavilion on the left." - The head of servants explained as they passed through the ornate garden between the gates and the mansion itself. Songbirds were chirping on the branches of trees. The atmosphere was tranquil.


    Bao Zhi sat down and waited patiently. Only a few minutes have passed while he idled.


    He was sitting comfortably, seemingly carefree, admiring the lush green garden.


    But he was alert mentally. The reason he came here was that someone was tailing him during his trip through the city.


    "The feeling has disappeared since I entered the gates. It seems whoever followed me had to stop."


    "This most likely rules out the Zhao family."


    "Seems like it is the Ye family then." - Bao Zhi contemplated his situation.


    Suddenly he heard a commotion from inside.


    "Young master! Where are you going? The patriarch has forbid you to leave the house. Please return to your room and cultivate diligently."


    "I''m going out to get some gu materials. I need them for cultivation."


    "We have everything here the young master can require. If not, I can arrange a servant to get them."


    "You don''t understand..." - Replied Zhao Min, nonchalantly dismissing the head of servants'' complaints.


    "Listen to him, son." - Instructed Zhao Feng as he passed by the two of them and continued towards the pavilion.


    Zhao Min stood there, frustrated and not willing to go back. He felt disdain at hearing his father''s condescending tone.


    Now he wanted to leave even more so!


    He followed after his father. Riding on his coattails he''d have an excuse to leave.


    But Zhao Feng did not go further than their lavish garden.


    "If it isn''t Bao Zhi! Good to see you again." - Zhao Feng''s forced courtesy was glaring.


    Bao Zhi did not mind it.


    Bao Zhi: "Greetings Lord Zhao, I hope you''ve been well."


    Zhao Feng: "What brings you here? Why didn''t you send a letter gu?"


    Bao Zhi: "I''m here to discuss some sensitive business. It''s better to do it in person."


    Bao Zhi didn''t have a single letter gu, but he couldn''t expose that.


    Zhao Min caught up to Zhao Feng at the mansion''s entrance.


    "Bao Zhi? You came to visit... me?" - Asked Zhao Min curiously, not understanding what was going on. Why was his classmate here?


    Bao Zhi did not answer, just nodded and cupped his fists briefly.


    Instead, the reply came from Zhao Feng.


    "Business."


    With that said the two of them left for Zhao Feng''s study, leaving Zhao Min dumbfounded at the events.


    "What business could Bao Zhi have with my father?"


    "And why didn''t he even talk to me?"


    "Why would he want to talk to my father in the first place?"


    Zhao Min''s emotions were in a mess.


    He felt jealous, confused, and angry.


    Inside the study...


    "What business do you have with me?" - Zhao Feng sat down and asked in a low voice.


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    "I have a lead on another inheritance. Similarly wood path, as the previous ones."


    "But there are some complications that need to be solved first."


    "Just tell me straight."


    "Someone wants to intervene. I was tailed when I came here."


    This startled Zhao Feng, he asked with an alarmed expression:


    "Is the Scholarly Merchant Association onto our business?"


    "No, this is not their style. I''m suspecting the Ye family to be behind this."


    "I don''t see how this is my problem then. You can settle this with the Ye family yourself. I don''t wish to deepen our existing feud with the Ye family."


    "We are in this together, Zhao Feng. If my master has to personally act, the events will escalate out of our control. Our dealings will be investigated by the association and our cover will definitely be blown then."


    Zhao Feng''s face turned ashen, he was nervously tapping on his desk now.


    "How strong is your master?"


    "Rank five."


    Zhao Feng had the urge to curse and slam his fist into something. A rank five gu master was on the level of the city lord already.


    "Alright. Let''s think this through. Why is the Ye family targeting you?"


    "Probably the auction."


    "Right, old geezer Ye wanted to buy the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu that time too. You slapped his face masterfully, I couldn''t have done it better." - Recalling the events brightened Zhao Feng''s mood somewhat.


    Bao Zhi remained silent for a moment.


    "The Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu represents immense profits, it is something they will not let go easily." - Bao Zhi explained.


    "How about this, I will lend this gu to the Zhao family and share the profits."


    "Oh, you didn''t buy the gu on behalf of the Scholarly Merchant Association?" - Asked Zhao Feng curiously.


    "No, the Scholarly Merchant Association does not care about material gains, other than keeping themselves afloat."


    Zhao Feng connected the dots and immediately understood the situation. Bao Zhi could not seek help from the organization, because the gu he bought was from cheating the organization in the first place. Bao Zhi could only rely on him for help now.


    Sensing the convenience of the circumstances, Zhao Feng revealed a warm smile.


    "Dealing with the Ye family is not a big deal. They are not above us, as much as they would like to think that." - He remarked arrogantly.


    "I will help you, but first we should discuss how we share the profits of selling the rank one Golden Fruit Gu."


    "Seventy-thirty." - Offered Bao Zhi.


    "Forty-sixty. My friend, who''s the one in need right now?" - Countered Zhao Feng shamelessly.


    "Make it fifty-fifty, the gu still belongs to me. If push comes to shove, I can sell it to someone else. I won''t go lower." - Said Bao Zhi with a pained expression.


    Zhao Feng accepted these terms readily. The profits of the Golden Fruit Gu would be comparable to multiple mid-sized shops they owned!


    Bao Zhi took out the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu from his aperture. This gu had an exquisite appearance. It was like a small, palm-sized bonsai tree. It was faintly glowing with golden lights. If observed from up close, one could see five buds along the small branches.


    "But first, let''s make the contract." - Said Bao Zhi before passing the gu worm over.


    "Mm. Naturally."


    Zhao Feng retrieved a spiky-looking gu worm from his aperture. It was a green ball, dotted with thin and long needle-like spikes, it was the Needle Pledge Mother Gu. Zhao Feng pinched one of the needles with two fingers and plucked it.


    This needle was the consumable rank three Needle Pledge Gu.


    Next, Zhao Feng poked his palm with one end of the pointy Needle Pledge Gu then passed it to Bao Zhi who similarly jabbed the other end of the gu into his skin.


    The gu drew a drop of blood from the both of them and started to shake as it floated in the air between them.


    Pop!


    The Needle Pledge Gu split in two and quickly vanished into the bodies of Bao Zhi and Zhao Feng.


    If one of them violated the terms of the contract that they agreed upon, then the Needle Pledge Gu would activate and stab itself into the brain and other organs until the target who broke the pledge died.


    "You can send the earnings to me through Zhao Min while I''m in the academy. I can''t come here to collect it, nor should you send it to my house, that would be too suspicious."


    "Not a problem."


    "It is settled then." - Bao Zhi inspected his body and passed over the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu.


    Zhao Feng released a letter gu and instructed an expert to escort Bao Zhi within the city.


    They made some small talk before Bao Zhi took his leave.


    On his way back he could still feel that someone was targeting him, his human qi exposed his follower time and again.


    About an incense stick''s worth of time later, the sensation disappeared.


    A crashing sound, then a wail could be heard.


    "Oh, it seems like they found each other already."


    "The Zhao can be relied on for now."


    Zhao Feng was now not just taking care of the foe for Bao Zhi, he was even refining the rank three gu in his place. Not just that, the cost of caring for and activating the Five Fruit Golden Sapling Gu was also taken care of by the Zhao family.


    What master, what merchant association? If Zhao Feng knew how he was played by Bao Zhi, who knew what expression he would show?


    * * * * *


    City lord''s office


    Ding Shuren has just finished his daily duties when a will descended.


    It was Bao Xu Lian''s will, the immortal responsible for this region that Sun Lotus City was part of.


    "Greetings Lord Immortal!" - Ding Shuren greeted nervously. Bao Xu Lian wouldn''t visit him so often. What was the occasion, he wondered. A bad feeling was rising in his stomach.


    "City Lord Ding Shuren, your progress is the slowest in the region. It is below average. Where are the results you promised?"


    Cold sweat was rolling down Ding Shuren''s neck. He didn''t know what to say.


    Bao Xu Lian raised an eyebrow and asked mockingly:


    "How long are you going to withhold the resources? This is my final warning to you. The clan will not tolerate subpar results."


    Ding Shuren fell to his knees in fright. He was kowtowing non-stop. His long beard was sweeping the dust off his office floor.


    "I was wrong, I was wrong! Please give me another chance! I will do my best to correct this!" - He pleaded pitifully, if anyone from the city saw this sight, they wouldn''t believe this was their mighty rank five city lord.


    "I already told you what to do. Nurture the gu masters! Distribute the rewards. No excuses." - Berated Bao Xu Lian in an irritated voice.


    "I will, I will!" - Ding Shuren wanted to find a hole and hide in it in his shame.


    Bao Xu Lian''s will disappeared in an instant, but Ding Shuren did not dare to raise his head for minutes.


    "I will nurture the gu masters, I will nurture the gu masters..." - He repeated over and over like he was in a trance.


    His hair was disheveled, and tears and snot were covering his face. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he got himself together.


    "I''m such a fool. What am I doing?" - He firmly grabbed the storage gu worm in his hand he got previously from Bao Xu Lian.


    Next, he activated his gu worms. Everyone in the radius of Sun Lotus City could directly hear his next words:


    "Citizens and travelers of Sun Lotus City, the city lord is speaking."


    "Today I am announcing the cultivation board. Every gu master''s cultivation and advancement will be registered on the board. The best performers will receive primeval stones and rare gu worms!"


    The city got into unprecedented excitement. A crowd was already forming before the city lord''s office on the square.


    An assistant suddenly barged into Ding Shuren''s office.


    "What cultivation board? My lord, we have nothing like that prepared."


    "I know! So quickly arrange it!" - Ding Shuren snapped at his assistant.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 23 - A wise man submits to circumstances

    Sun Lotus City


    Ding Shuren''s sudden announcement has rocked the hearts of gu masters in the city. Ambition and curiosity have drawn them forward, and a sizable crowd was gathering in the city square to find out more about the circumstances.


    "City Lord, tell us! Where is the cultivation board?"


    "What are the rewards?"


    "How many primeval stones do we get?"


    These were the recurring questions of the people who showed up before the city hall.


    Their muffled and overlapping voices from the outside filled the rooms inside with an illegible cacophony.


    Ding Shuren and company were inside, still working out the specifics in a hurry.


    "The amount is final! We will reward those who advance more generously." - Ding Shuren concluded their haphazard assembly.


    His advisors thought the rewards were too much. How could their city''s economy sustain this new expense? But voicing their disagreement was in vain, Ding Shuren was resolute in this matter.


    Not knowing about the matters regarding Bao Xu Lian, they even questioned in their mind if this was the same pragmatic city lord they knew.


    "Good. Now set up the ranking and reward boards outside. I''ll hold my speech in the meanwhile." - Ding Shuren instructed his subordinates.


    Next, he stepped outside onto his balcony and sized up the crowd blow him.


    The space was filled with people, even the adjacent streets were starting to get crowded.


    As the mass discovered his presence they started cheering and shouting at the city lord.


    They only quieted down as Ding Shuren started to address them.


    He explained the rules of the cultivation board and how the benefits will be distributed.


    In the meanwhile, two officers exited the building''s aged and sizable doors.


    "Give space!" - One of them commanded.


    The crowd reclined back inch by inch with difficulty until there was ample place freed up.


    The officers released two gu worms at this moment. The two gu each turned into a massive slab of finely chiseled stone. They were reaching up to the heights where Ding Shuren was speaking from.


    The two stone boards were rectangle-shaped and dark grey in color. The smooth front sides were lined with rough edges like they were a slice taken from a mountain.


    A line of characters appeared at the top of them:


    "Cultivation ranking"


    "Cultivation rewards"


    Line by line the slates were filled with information. The ranking board was filled with names, but their order was arbitrary, so far nobody had any progress. Everyone had a zero beside their names.


    Meanwhile, the rewards board had many items listed, each requiring a certain number of points in exchange.


    The people were looking left and right not sure which one they should focus on for now.


    "That gu costs a hundred points. Is that a lot?"


    "How long will it take me to break through? I have to increase my ranking."


    The people were in a ruckus, trying to take in all the information.


    Suddenly the ranking board changed. A name jumped to the top, its points were shown two hundred and fifty in value.


    "Look, so many points! Someone just advanced at this moment."


    "Two hundred and fifty? Is this a small realm or a big realm?"


    More and more people saw this scene, and a singular thought has taken root in their minds.


    "I need to hurry back and cultivate."


    Everyone wanted to claim the rare and precious gu worms on offer. Once they were gone so would be their opportunity as well.


    The crowd dispersed even faster than it has assembled.


    Half an hour later the square was empty except for a few lingering individuals who missed the event and came to check the two newly erected boards.


    Ding Shuren was satisfied with the event. His uneasiness was diminished. He also enjoyed the silence that replaced the crowd''s previous buzzing.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi was on his way back when the city lord made his announcement. A flow of people soon came in the opposite direction he wanted to go.


    Bao Zhi stopped for a moment to think things through.


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    "A merit board with rewards? What is going on?"


    "This would be a method to employ at times of war or a catastrophe. Yet there is peace and no unrest. Very strange..."


    "But this is in line with the city lord''s behavior at the auction hall. It is not him who''s pulling the strings. The immortals are most likely planning something."


    "I need to find out all I can."


    Thinking of this, he turned around to follow the crowd.


    When he arrived at the city center, it was filled to two-thirds already by the questioning people.


    As the reward and ranking boards were revealed, Bao Zhi quickly scrutinized them.


    "The exchange rates are too generous. So many primeval stones will be handed out." - He calculated internally.


    Then the ranking board changed. The two hundred and fifty points showed up from nothing!


    "So much? This is really bad!" - Bao Zhi was shocked.


    Even if this was given to someone who advanced from peak stage to initial stage, a big realm, it was too much.


    Why would the higher-ups hand out resources so recklessly?


    Bao Zhi felt like the situation was similar to a peasant fattening his pigs before butchering them.


    "A man-made calamity is approaching. Maybe a neighboring city will attack? Or a horde of wildlife?" - He frowned. Even if he knew something was up. As his current self, as a single person, he was powerless in front of events arranged by immortals.


    He accepted this situation calmly. If it was outside of his control, what mattered was how he reacted to it.


    Bao Zhi was among the first people who decided to leave the square immediately.


    Back at his house, he found Jin Ju cultivating with renewed diligence.


    "Jin Ju, you have heard the announcement as well. A huge change is about to happen, it holds ample opportunities for those who can grasp it." - He explained.


    "You know something by any chance?" - Jin Ju inquired.


    "Yes, I''ve checked out the specifics. Have you refined the Unprocessed Jade gu already?"


    "Mm. Just finished refining it yesterday. I plan to use it by the end of the week. Why do you ask?"


    "Use it right away. The Relic gu as well."


    "I thought I should use the Relic gu to go from rank one upper stage to peak stage. To save the most eff-"


    "Things have changed now. If you can cultivate now a minor realm you can claim rewards from the cultivation board. You can exchange those points for another rank one Relic gu or other rewards."


    Jin Ju''s eyes shined as he heard this.


    Bao Zhi did not want to tell Jin Ju about his conjecture, it would only place an unnecessary burden on him.


    "Jin Ju, listen to me. Use the Relic gu as soon as possible. The cultivator who holds the most Relic gu has the biggest advantage in this contest. I believe the price of Relic gu has already skyrocketed. That is if there are still any left for sale."


    "..."


    "Remember, speed is the most important at this moment. Being first is the best. As a rank one initial stage gu master, you should be able to advance easily."


    "But what about you?"


    "Don''t worry about me, I have another plan for myself. But for that, I need to get some gu worms." - Bao Zhi said.


    Jin Ju nodded.


    He sat down and focused on his aperture. There was the Relic gu, floating on his sea of initial stage jade green primeval essence. He started activating the Relic gu.


    An unfamiliar but comfortable feeling washed over his body. He felt like he cultivated months in the span of minutes. This feeling was addictive.


    Despite this feeling, Jin Ju couldn''t help but think that he was wasting the Relic gu. He estimated that he would reach the middle stage by himself in a few weeks. Maybe even faster if he used the Unprocessed Jade gu and raised his aptitude.


    "I hope this is worth it."


    The Relic gu''s effects were slow but tangible.


    Jin Ju''s cultivation increased in a span of half an hour, reaching rank one middle stage directly!


    "My aperture has increased a rank! It started producing a new kind of essence." - Jin Ju exclaimed in shock as he inspected his tiny amount of pale green primeval essence.


    It was denser than jade green primeval essence, it sank to the bottom.


    A rank one gu master''s essence was called green copper primeval essence in general. According to the gu master''s small realm, it was subdivided into jade green, pale green, dark green, and black green.


    In the meanwhile, Bao Zhi left and headed to the market to buy some gu worms. To cultivate his fake aperture to rank two a rank two Carve Wood gu and a rank two gu master would be needed. Short of that he could only think of other ways to strengthen himself.


    * * * * *


    Zhao family''s mansion


    Patriarch Zhao was pacing up and down in his study. The city lord''s speech was audible to everyone, he was notified as well.


    "Send for Min''er." - He called to a servant.


    His grandson presented himself shortly.


    "Are you looking for me, grandpa?"


    "Come, I have some matters to discuss." - Patriarch closed his door and turned around to face his grandson he doted on.


    "Is it about the cultivation board?" - Zhao Min guessed internally. He felt like his cultivation was about to be put under even more scrutiny.


    The patriarch sighed.


    "Listen to this old man''s teaching. This is the tiny wisdom he has grasped in his life." - He humbly introduced.


    "The wise man strives for no purpose;"


    "He does not attempt to shine."


    "He cherishes what is within him;"


    "He does not value what is without."


    "The best thing is like water."


    "Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive."


    "Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth."


    "In dwelling, live close to the ground."


    "In thinking, keep to the simple."


    "In conflict, be fair and generous."


    "In governing, don''t try to control."


    "In work, do what you enjoy."


    "In family life, be completely present."


    "When you are content to be simply yourself"


    "and don''t compare or compete,"


    "everybody will respect you."


    "Fill your bowl to the brim"


    "and it will spill."


    "Keep sharpening your knife"


    "and it will dull."


    "Therefore the sage is sharp but not cutting,"


    "Pointed but not piercing,"


    "Straightforward but not unrestrained,"


    "Bright but not blinding."


    "In the world, there are things that are soft and yielding,"


    "But they are also at the cutting edge of the world."


    "None can escape being cut..."


    The patriarch finished his recital and sighed again.


    "The matter of fact is... I have not much longer to live."


    "I know this might be too sudden for you. I wished it could be otherwise..."


    "Grandpa..." - Zhao Min was fighting back tears. His grandpa was his most beloved family member. The patriarch has doted on him since his young age.


    "Listen, my grandson, I know you don''t like cultivating. But our family''s future depends on you now."


    "On the surface, I will enter secluded cultivation. I already made my arrangements."


    "While your father is still unaware, you have to become the new family head. As soon as he finds out, he will scheme against you. Don''t tell your mother either, she will try to use you to gain authority."


    Zhao Min had a concerned face as he gulped, imagining an unfortunate scenario.


    "I am a useless father, I couldn''t nurture the next generation properly... I am a sinner of the family."


    "But I won''t be a worthless grandfather!" - Patriarch Zhao''s absent gaze landed directly on Zhao Min.


    Only now did Zhao Min notice his grandfather''s sobbing as tears rolled down his face.


    "Zhao Min, can you bear this heavy burden?" - He reached out, with a trembling hand and held Zhao Min.


    "Can you fulfill this old man''s dying wish and wash away my regret?"


    Zhao Min was wordless, but his damp and quivering eyes revealed his answer.


    "I- I will do my best." - He forced out the words. He wasn''t even sure himself if he truly meant it or not. But he knew, he could not bear to disregard his grandfather''s last wish.


    "I truly have a good grandson. I am thankful for the heavens." - Patriarch Zhao embraced Zhao Min for the last time.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 24 - The way forward, sinister gu worm

    Sun Lotus city, marketplace


    There was a huge commotion at the city''s marketplace. The people were coming and going hastily. The merchants were having trouble keeping up with the flock of customers. Some have even run out of merchandise to sell and had to pack up their stand.


    This all was the consequence of the cultivation frenzy that the city lord Ding Shuren unleashed with the announcement of the cultivation boards.


    Gu masters needed resources to cultivate. Primeval stones to replenish their essence, gu worms to help their cultivation, and gu materials to feed their gu.


    And the city lord''s decree ensured that the prices of these things would go up.


    Some people were not happy about this. They were the commoner gu masters who could not afford the higher prices. But there were also those who were excited about it. The merchants and wealthy gu masters were in an advantageous position now.


    In the middle of all this commotion, there was a young man who was calmly making his way through the crowd. He was neither in a hurry nor did he look flustered. He was just strolling through the marketplace as if he didn''t have a care in the world.


    Bao Zhi was browsing the wares on display at a particular stand.


    "How much for this gu worm?" - He asked the seller, pointing at a rank one gu worm.


    The seller was preoccupied with haggling with another gu master, he turned to Bao Zhi and said:


    "These rank one gu worms are one hundred primeval stones. If you want a rank two gu worm, you will have to pay eight hundred primeval stones." - Came the reply before the seller turned back to the other customer.


    Bao Zhi frowned. The prices of gu worms have risen above their previous market value. He considered only for a moment.


    "I will buy three of this gu worm." - He said, taking out a bag of primeval stones.


    Bao Zhi was not the only one who had acquired a gu worm. Many gu masters have also bought their own gu. The gu worms that could aid cultivation were the hottest items currently.


    Gu worms were not easy to find. They were rare and precious in the wild. There were only a few who knew how to tame and cultivate gu worms among gu masters.


    Bao Zhi put away his newly acquired gu worms, the rank one Earthworm gu. The Earthworm gu had an unremarkable appearance. It was fat and fist-sized with a dark brown color. This gu worm could burrow into the ground and move around as its owner controlled. Naturally, it was not very popular among the buyers due to the current circumstances.


    Next, he visited another stand. He found the gu worm he was looking for. It was a rank one Powder gu.


    Powder gu was a gu worm known for its ability to produce a dust-like powder. It was mostly useless in combat or cultivation but it could be used as an ingredient for many things, such as creating gu poisons, or gu refinement.


    Bao Zhi bought the Powder gu for two hundred primeval stones.


    As he turned away from the stand, he bumped into someone.


    "Sorry." - Bao Zhi said.


    "No problem."


    Bao Zhi turned to the other person. He was a young man wearing a green robe. He was handsome and had an elegant bearing.


    The other person looked at Bao Zhi.


    "You!" - He exclaimed.


    "You are?" - Bao Zhi did not recall who this person was.


    "I was your opponent, at the academy''s tournament. Ye Jianhong!" - Replied the young master of the Ye family angrily.


    Bao Zhi took a step back.


    "What do you want? You lost to me fairly. Why are you angry?" - He asked, pretending to be confused.


    "This fool is looking for trouble with me. Typical and hot-headed." - Bao Zhi thought to himself.


    "I am angry because you humiliated me! I lost to you because I was not strong enough. But I will not lose to you a second time!" - Ye Jianhong said, grinding his teeth.


    "I don''t want to fight you. Aren''t you here to make a purchase? Let bygones be bygones. Both of us are better off that way." - Bao Zhi said, trying to placate Ye Jianhong.


    "I am not like you! I will not rest until I take my revenge! If I can''t fight you directly, then I will defeat you in the competition on the cultivation board!" - Ye Jianhong declared.


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    Bao Zhi sighed.


    "You are really not giving up, are you? I don''t want to fight you, but if you insist, I will not hold back." - He said.


    Ye Jianhong did not reply. He turned away and walked in the opposite direction.


    Bao Zhi watched him go.


    "What a pain." - He muttered to himself, before turning back his attention to the marketplace.


    * * * * *


    Later that same day Bao Zhi returned to his house. His trip to the marketplace was successful, he could buy each of the items he set out to get.


    Meanwhile, in his own room, Jin Ju was still cultivating quietly. He was using the Unprocessed Jade gu to raise his aptitude to A grade.


    Bao Zhi looked at the silent Jin Ju and couldn''t help but sigh, this little fellow was quite impressive now compared to before.


    Bao Zhi did not disturb him and headed to his own room. He sat down and started to unpack his newly acquired goods.


    He inspected them once again, now even more thoroughly than at the stalls.


    After the third round of inspections, he carefully arranged them in order.


    "Let''s begin." - He muttered.


    He first took out the Powder gu and instilled his primeval essence into it. The rank one gu worm was already refined by him on his way home.


    Soon a small pile of dark powder was produced.


    Bao Zhi took a bowl of powder and started to throw in various gu materials.


    Three stalks of spring dew grass...


    One catty of white silkworm...


    Twelve petals of scarlet dusk flower...


    Bao Zhi added more and more items from his list.


    Once all the gu materials were thrown into the bowl, he used his primeval essence to crush them into a fine dust.


    "It seems like it is enough." - He muttered.


    He took the bowl in his hand and shook it very gently. When the materials were evenly mixed, he took out his bag of primeval stones.


    One primeval stone...


    Two primeval stones...


    Ten primeval stones...


    ...


    Fifty primeval stones later a thin, white colored film started to form on the top.


    Bao Zhi knew this was the critical amount. He stopped his actions to observe carefully. Next, he took out the rank one Earthworm gu and skillfully tossed it into the center of the bowl.


    The bowl started to rock left and right, and the thin layer of film engulfed the Earthworm gu all around.


    The fat Earthworm gu started to rise above the bowl. It was connected by a thin pillar to the mass below in the bowl.


    The Earthworm gu started to rotate faster and faster, and it was engulfed by the film all around.


    This was the last step. Bao Zhi concentrated and reached out with his primeval essence toward the gu worm.


    But then! At the very last moment, the bowl started to shake violently, and the thin pillar to the Earthworm gu was broken.


    The gu worm started to fall!


    Bao Zhi reacted very quickly, reaching out with his primeval essence he grabbed the gu worm and stopped its fall.


    The gu worm was still shaking and going through spasms. The entire process was very painful, and the gu worm was trying to escape the pain.


    Its entire body was distorted and turned into a strange shape. A moment later the gu worm perished.


    "A failure." - Bao Zhi accepted calmly.


    Refining new gu worms were difficult. One needed not only good materials and refinement expertise, a good portion was simply up to random chance.


    Precisely because of this, gu refinement was an endless sink in the history of gu cultivation. The higher the rank of the gu the smaller the chance.


    A good gu recipe could mitigate the resources wasted and raise the chance as well.


    "I still have two Earthworm gu left. But before I start again I have to recover my essence."


    Bao Zhi took out a fistful of primeval stones and started to absorb them.


    "Let''s try again. I need to be more careful at the last part." - He reminded himself.


    This gu recipe was a new creation of his. So he still needed some practice with this specific gu recipe.


    One thing was theory and another was practice. The gap between the two needed to be bridged now.


    During the second try, the Earthworm fully absorbed the mass from the bowl below. Its color has changed to an off-white, and small green veins were showing on its sides.


    Bao Zhi observed the still transforming gu worm before him, there were no more steps in the refinement left.


    "Oh no!"


    Before Bao Zhi could react, the gu worm exploded with a small puff. It splattered on the ground as a small patch of viscous goo.


    "Tsk. It seems the last step was too fast. I need to proceed more slowly, and let it absorb at a more gradual pace." - He analyzed the events.


    "The last batch..." - He sighed.


    Bao Zhi estimated the success rate of this recipe to be about sixty to seventy percent. But that was only the recipe. If he made a mistake, the refinement was destined to fail regardless.


    He cleaned up the failed refinement and prepared to try again.


    This time he was more careful, and he proceeded with the last step even more slowly.


    The process was very tedious, and it took him a full night to complete.


    But, the results were satisfactory. The last batch was a complete success, and he finally refined this gu worm!


    A brand new gu worm!


    Bao Zhi took the gu in his palm. He was a little excited.


    The gu has shrunk in size compared to its original form. Now it was only the size of an adult''s thumb. The color of the gu was milk-white with some green marks on the sides.


    It was wiggling left and right on Bao Zhi''s palm as he willed it.


    "What should I name you?" - He hasn''t thought of a name yet while deducing this new gu recipe.


    He did not want to name it something too common. But giving it an intricate name would also be meaningless as he would keep the gu for himself.


    "Hmm... I''ll name you simply Flesh Worm gu." - He decided.


    "Now then..." - His expression turned serious.


    Bao Zhi was eager to test out his new creation. He took a sharp knife in his hand. Next, he pointed the tip at his left forearm. Then with determination, he made a shallow incision on his skin.


    His blood started to drip on the ground, but he was undisturbed by this.


    Next, he took the Flesh Worm gu and placed it next to the fresh wound.


    The worm wiggled on his skin, feeling its way around. Soon, it latched onto the cut and burrowed into Bao Zhi''s arm directly!


    Bao Zhi gritted his teeth as he endured the harsh pain. He could feel the worm crawling around under his skin. It maneuvered around his tendons and bones delving deeper and deeper.


    "Good. Now let''s try its effect."


    He activated the gu worm. The Flesh Worm bit at his flesh and started to consume his muscles from the inside!


    Bao Zhi was sweating profusely, he had to concentrate to endure this intense agony and not faint.


    As the worm was eating its way forward, it was leaving a path filled with new material behind it. The wound that it created slowly healed back again due to Bao Zhi''s strong vitality.


    ...


    An hour later he had to stop, as he was shaking from exhaustion. His breathing was rough.


    "The side effects are stronger than expected, this will limit the speed of my progress... But this method is working!" - He collapsed to the ground with an eerie grin on his face.


    "This gu can finally refine the dao marks on my body!"


    "With this, I can cultivate these dao marks into a killer move eventually."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 25 - Life-changing turn of events

    Sun Lotus City


    The days went by one after another.


    Diligent cultivation became the norm in Sun Lotus City. A glance at the cultivation boards was all it took to realize this. The names were moving up and down, switching places almost at a constant rate.


    People were gaining and spending points, exchanging them for Relic gu, Reform gu, Unprocessed Jade gu, and other miraculous rare gu worms. Of course, some still decided to exchange for primeval stones. Those could always be put to good use, even in cultivation.


    Jin Ju has arrived at the city square. He came to spend his points for the first time.


    He stopped and looked at the two towering slates before him.


    "So massive." - He thought to himself.


    "Where is my name? I wonder how much I''ve accumulated in the past two weeks."


    He soon found his name on the list.


    The ranking board stated:


    "Jin Ju : 500 points"


    This was already very impressive, not many people had more than two hundred and fifty points so far. Five hundred points placed Jin Ju in the upper third of the ranking.


    The people have already figured out, that two hundred and fifty points were rewarded for advancing one small realm.


    That''s right after Jin Ju used his Relic gu he advanced to rank one middle stage. Then he used his Unprocessed Jade gu as well. It raised his aptitude. It surpassed the threshold of B grade advancing him to A grade.


    Now his aperture could fill up to ninety-three percent!


    His previous B grade was already praise-worthy...


    With his exceptional cultivation aptitude and his relentless cultivation, he managed to break through to rank one upper stage just today!


    But Jin Ju was still a newcomer to cultivation, he simply had no base to compare against. So to him, this only seemed a little special.


    "Now that this is the situation, other people will also get better and better. I can''t get complacent." - He reminded himself humbly.


    "Let''s see what I can get for this much." - He thought as he headed for the rewards board.


    He noticed a familiar face among the small crowd.


    "Sister Lingxin!" - He called out.


    "Brother Ju. Come, come! Help me choose, I can''t decide how to spend my points."


    "I''ll do my best to advise. How many points can you spend?"


    "Two hundred and fifty. I could exchange it for a rank one Relic gu. But that is only a one-time offer for each rank. Or I could exchange for a sum of primeval stones. Both of them are tempting options."


    Jin Ju collected his thoughts and remembered what Bao Zhi has told him.


    "If you ask me, it is better to raise your aptitude. That is an improvement you will carry with you in the future. While primeval stones and small realms can be achieved with time and effort."


    In Jin Ju''s view the answer was obvious, just save up until you can get a precious gu.


    "But I can''t afford any of the expensive gu on the list... I''m already spending all my primeval stones to cultivate." - Yu Lingxin lamented.


    "Not to mention the amount I spend on mother''s medicine... I''m totally broke." - She sighed to herself in her mind.


    "How about this? You can exchange for a Relic gu now, and I will exchange for an aptitude-raising gu worm. Then we swap." - Offered Jin Ju his idea.


    "But that''s a huge loss for you! I can''t accept such a favor." - Replied Yu Lingxin justly.


    "You misunderstood me. I have no use for Reform gu and such. I already used one." - He pointed at his aperture in his abdomen as he smiled widely.


    "Just make sure to repay me in the future. A Relic gu is exactly what I need now." - He explained.


    Yu Lingxin was speechless.


    "B grade... So already at A grade?" - She had to adjust her mind as she thought about it more.


    Jin Ju placed his palm on the bottom of the slate and retrieved the cheapest aptitude-raising gu worm, he could only afford this one. It was the rank two Water Source gu. It was similar to the Unprocessed Jade gu, but with a water path aspect.


    The gu looked like a blue gem that was polished. There was clear liquid sloshing on the inside.


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    Yu Lingxin saw Jin Ju''s sincerity, he wasn''t just teasing her.


    "Okay, then I''ll get the Relic gu for you." - She blushed at Jin Ju''s kindheartedness, and couldn''t look at him directly.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Icy Peak Mountain


    On a snow-covered floating island stood an icy mountain. Cold winds were howling around the peaks and valleys. Bare stone poked through the frigid snow and ice cover occasionally.


    The place had a barren and tranquil ambiance.


    A lone figure was scaling the mountain, making slow progress. He was wrapped in furs and heavy clothing, his breath coming out in clouds of steam. The figure finally reached the top of the mountain and looked around.


    In every direction, there was only snow and ice. There was no sign of life anywhere. The figure let out a disappointed sigh and began the long climb back down to the other side.


    A day later, the lone figure was carrying another person wrapped in thick furs on his back.


    ...


    The only marks of habitation were the small huts sparsely scattered on the face of the mountain.


    One of these huts had black smoke swirling out of its chimney.


    Inside, a young man was kneeling beside a bed. He had a tall stature with wide shoulders. His long black hair covered most of his face. The dark circles around his eyes were evidence of his restlessness.


    He was clearly in a distressed state.


    "Please! Please, wake up." - He muttered while holding a gu worm that radiated gentle warmth.


    On the bed before him lay a girl with a slender figure. Her hair was shoulder length and silver in color.


    The girl''s usually fair skin was covered with bruises and marks of frostbite now. Her eyes were lacking their natural spark of liveliness. They were dull and closed.


    Her eyelashes were trembling slightly.


    The girl''s breathing was weak and irregular. Her heartbeat was barely there. She was in a critical state.


    "Why? Oh, why?" - The young man started to sob quietly. He tried his best to save the girl on the bed for two days in total. He could not come to terms with this failure.


    "This is the last Warming gu I brought. I don''t care! I use it now!" - He intensified the heat that the gu produced. He did not care about his palm getting burned either. He held the gu adamantly.


    After a short while, a sudden change occurred.


    The girl opened her eyes widely and took a sharp breath! But just as quickly as it came she jolted back into a still posture, now with her eyes fully closed. Her breathing returned to normal!


    "Qinyang!" - The man wiped off his tears, but the tears of joy wet his eyes again.


    The girl''s skin gradually recovered its natural tone. Not much later her lips started to move. She was clearly trying to say something.


    "Co..."


    The man leaned closer to not miss it.


    "Cold." - She formed the word with difficulty.


    The man increased the warmth of the gu worm, not sparing its remaining uses.


    After an incense stick of time the girl''s lips twitched, she was trying to say something.


    "Cold." - She said with a hoarse voice.


    "Don''t worry Qinyang, I''ll protect you." - With that said he turned the heat up to the limit. He gritted his teeth to endure the searing pain.


    A short while later the girl awoke from her dazed state. Her body shook and she groaned loudly.


    "Give... me... COLD!" - She fainted.


    "..."


    The young man was stunned. He extinguished the source of heat. Then he placed his palm on the girl''s forehead.


    "You have a fever. No wonder, no wonder..."


    Three hours later the girl finally awoke. Her forehead was covered with a wet towel.


    Next to him, her savior was sitting as he was keeping vigil.


    "Where... am I?" - Asked the weak voice.


    "This is our family''s mountain hut. Do you not remember?" - He asked jokingly.


    "..."


    The girl''s eyes were darting left and right in panic, she couldn''t even turn her head to look around.


    "What is going on? Mountain hut? ... Ah, my head is killing me. What the heck happened?" - She thought to herself in a confused state.


    "What... happened?" - She asked.


    "You really don''t remember? You really shouldn''t have gone against the patriarch''s order... He has sent you up the mountain as punishment. But then there was an avalanche three days ago... It engulfed the whole cave where you were staying."


    "I came here as soon as I could! It took me a whole day just to dig you out!"


    The girl''s eyes opened wide as she listened.


    "Huh? Patriarch? Staying in a mountain cave? No, don''t tell me... Is this a different world?" - Her inner voice was erratic.


    "I don''t remember... Who are you?"


    The young man''s face was horror-stricken as he heard the question.


    "I''m your little brother, Wen Tu!" - He gulped as he said.


    "..."


    "Don''t worry you have just woken up, your memories will surely return a while later..." - He tried to console his sister, and himself as well.


    "This is definitely it. I have transmigrated to another world! Keep calm, keep calm... I have fantasized too much about this scenario. I can''t wait... But first, I have to gather some information. I have no clue about this place at all. What kind of world have I landed in?"


    "Tell me more. It might make me remember." - She said in a hoarse voice before listening expectantly.


    Wen Tu started to explain their situation. His face had a pained expression as his sister didn''t seem to recall anything he mentioned.


    ...


    Wen Tu laid down to get some well-deserved rest after his lengthy explanation.


    Now Wen Qinyang was left to her own thoughts.


    "I see, people of my clan live on the foot of this frozen mountain. I was banished to cultivate in seclusion because I offended another clan''s elder. But it seems like it was also to protect me as well? Maybe I wasn''t in the wrong, based on what this guy told me. Right, Wen Tu. I have to memorize these names to blend in... Why did I not inherit the original body''s memories? So unfair!"


    "Wait! I haven''t even tried the most important thing yet!"


    "Status menu!" - She called out in her mind excitedly.


    Nothing happened.


    "..."


    "Inventory!"


    "..."


    "Item store!"


    "..."


    "No system? What the f**k! I''ve been cheated!" - She thought with a frantic expression.


    "How will I cultivate now? How will I defy the heavens and slaughter deities?"


    "Wait, wait! There is still a chance! Maybe the system is only activated after a certain condition?" - She guessed blindly.


    There was nothing she could do now, she was unable to move her body. Trying to do so was only met with pain and futility.


    "First and foremost I have to recover." - With that thought, she closed her eyes to get some sleep.


    ...


    Clank!


    The next morning she was rudely woken by Wen Tu dropping a pot while he was preparing food for both of them.


    "Ah, I''m sorry Qinyang! I didn''t mean to wake you. You should rest a bit more. I''ll prepare breakfast." - He said with a flustered expression.


    "Since you''ve already woke me, now you have to entertain me. Tell me about cultivation."


    "Don''t mock me, sister, you know how much I struggle with cultivation... Oh, you forgot this as well?"


    "Just tell me."


    "Fine, fine. In total there are nine ranks in cultivation. Each rank has its own corresponding primeval essence. The ranks are also divided into small realms. There are four small realms for each." - He stopped to scratch his head.


    "But I don''t know much. You see, I''m only a rank two gu master now... Oh no! The food caught on fire!" - Wen Tu hastily turned back to the pot to put out the fire.


    Wen Qinyang''s face drained of all life as she heard this.


    "Did- did you say gu master?!"


    "Oh no! Am I in the f*****g GU WORLD?"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 26 - Puzzle pieces fall in place

    Sun Lotus City, Brilliance Lotus Academy


    "Today''s class is dismissed. Don''t forget to practice your techniques! Just raising your cultivation is pointless in itself." - Called out Teacher Tao.


    The students were eager to continue cultivating, mainly motivated by the generous rewards. They did not waste much time on teacher Tao''s genuine advice, they headed home.


    "Bao Zhi, wait for me!" - A voice called out from the students.


    "Zhao Min, what is it?" - Turned around Bao Zhi.


    "I have something for you." - Zhao Min handed over a common storage-type gu worm.


    Bao Zhi nodded before taking the gu worm and putting it away casually.


    Zhao Min had an inquisitive gaze as he walked beside Bao Zhi.


    "So, what''s inside?" - He asked Bao Zhi.


    "Oh, you don''t know?" - Bao Zhi stopped for a moment and looked at Zhao Min.


    "..."


    "I guess there''s no harm in telling you. Just a few primeval stones."


    "Why? Did you sell something to my father?"


    "Yes, you could say that."


    Zhao Min furrowed his brows for a moment.


    "Bao Zhi, I admire your strength, but you should avoid my father in the future."


    "Oh, why''s that? Your father, Zhao Feng seems like a good business partner. The Golden Fruit business is handled quite well by him." - Bao Zhi remarked.


    Zhao Min did not answer.


    "The Golden Fruit business is related to Bao Zhi? How is that possible?" - Zhao Min''s shock was written on his face.


    They walked quietly for a while. Each of them pondered on the situation.


    "I see, so Zhao Min didn''t know about my business with Zhao Feng and wanted to distance me from him? Seems like there''s a rift between the two. The current and the future family head not being on good terms is something I could exploit." - Bao Zhi was already weaving a possible scheme in his mind.


    "Bao Zhi, speaking of the Golden Fruit, I have some here." - Zhao Min said after a long pause with embarrassment.


    Zhao Min handed over a leather pouch to Bao Zhi.


    "I just wanted to give you some." - Zhao Min answered.


    Bao Zhi opened the pouch and inspected the content.


    "This much? It''s worth a lot of money." - Bao Zhi raised one eyebrow.


    "It''s fine, take it." - Zhao Min insisted awkwardly.


    Zhao Min had no idea originally. He planned to persuade Bao Zhi with his own merchandise.


    "So is there anything else?"


    "No. Just be careful who you deal with. You can just tell me if you want to deal with my family, and I''ll see to it."


    "Alright, if there''s anything I''ll look for you. Then see you next time!" - Bao Zhi continued on, leaving Zhao Min behind.


    "Hehe, trying to rope me into your internal strife? By playing both sides I can only come out on top." - Bao Zhi smirked to himself on his way home.


    As for the Golden Fruit gu. He casually took out one from the pouch and ate it.


    "Hm, as expected. It has little to no effect on my body."


    "But time is of the essence. I don''t know how much is left until the immortals'' arrangement. I can''t fool around chasing small gains."


    Thinking of this, he activated the Flesh Worm gu that resided in his body.


    Immediately, the dormant gu worm came to life. It started to chew away at Bao Zhi''s insides.


    The pain was extreme. Anyone else would consider this torture, but Bao Zhi continued walking on.


    Over the dozens of his cultivation sessions, he got more and more accustomed to the feeling of using the Flesh Worm gu.


    Only the cold sweat rolling down his neck betrayed his performance.


    "About five percent of my wood path dao marks are refined." - He estimated in his mind.


    "There''s no way around it. Refining a whole dao mark with a rank one mortal gu would be impossible. Mortal gu only contains dao mark fragments, so breaking down my dao marks first is a must."


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    "With this amount, I should be thinking about the next step. What killer move should I use these dao marks for?"


    Gu cultivation encompassed many aspects, the killer moves could be classified under these main categories: offense, defense, movement, investigation, concealment, healing, cultivation etc.


    Bao Zhi''s carved fake aperture could also be classified as a cultivation-type killer move.


    "The most important is survival. My body is already tougher than normal, plus I have a defensive gu worm, the Leaf Skin gu. So my defense is set. Healing methods can also wait, my innate vitality is even better than my defense."


    "Also, rather than taking a hit, avoiding it is better. That needs either good investigative methods to let me know of a threat ahead of time, or a concealment technique to avoid detection..."


    "The most direct way is still movement, escaping is an indispensable skill."


    "Movement it is then. That''s still the aspect I''m most proficient in."


    When he arrived home, he sat down and continued to cultivate, refining his dao marks on his body.


    Now his limit of enduring the Flesh Worm gu was already two and a half hours continuously. The problem was not his willpower anymore, but running out of primeval essence. He had to stop and recover it.


    The main door opened as Jin Ju returned from the cultivation boards.


    "I''m back." - He announced in a good mood.


    "Jin Ju, come here for a bit."


    Jin Ju presented himself in Bao Zhi''s room.


    "Look, I got the relic gu!" - Jin Ju beamed with joy.


    "Haha, very good. Use it well. You can''t reach rank two soon enough! I also got something. Here take it."


    Bao Zhi passed over the pouch of Golden Fruit gu, there were nine Golden Fruits inside.


    "What are these?" - Jin Ju was not sure.


    "Golden Fruits, of course. I got them for you."


    Jin Ju has only heard some gossip about this costly expendable gu.


    He was tongue-tied, not knowing what to say. He already felt like his debt to Bao Zhi just kept piling up. He wouldn''t have accepted if Bao Zhi didn''t shove it in his hands directly.


    "I know what you are thinking. ''I can''t accept this. How will I repay you?'' But don''t worry, to me these are of very little use." - Bao Zhi patted Jin Ju''s shoulder.


    "But there is actually something you can do to repay me. Just lend me your Carve Wood gu for a while."


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Icy Peak Mountain


    A group of elders has gathered.


    "This girl is pushing her luck! I gave her time to think it over again. Now she still wants to weasel her way out of the marriage?" - The elder grumbled sitting at the head of the table.


    "She''s our family''s daughter! I don''t want to see her unhappy. She''s just not ready yet." - An old woman pleaded.


    "Qinyang has already come of age. Yet she still toys with us. Who would believe she lost all her memories?"


    "What can the medicine hall say about this?"


    "With respect sir, her physical condition has recovered. But her memories in fact are missing. We can rule out that she''s trying to deceive us. Her soul suffered a backlash during her exile- I mean, secluded cultivation. Sadly we have no methods to heal a soul. But with time, her memories might come back as her soul naturally heals." - Reported the elder of the medicine hall.


    "Then what is your suggestion? Let her choose the right husband or keep living on this mountain like some kind of freeloader?" - One of the elders barked.


    "Elders, I don''t think we should push her too much. We should look into how she lost her memories. Maybe something happened up in the mountain. Perhaps some people were planning something in the background. It''s better for us to wait for the results of the investigation before we decide." - Another elder spoke.


    "Bunch of cowards! This is your problem! You don''t dare to take responsibility for your own mess! This girl is going to be married to someone who will ensure the prosperity of our branch family! Have you forgotten why we live on this forsaken and frozen land? We have to mend relations with the main branch. This is the only way we can raise our heads again in the future."


    The hall fell into an awkward silence.


    "This is right. If Qinyang has to be taught again, she will be taught once more. If she has to be trained again, she will be trained once more. The marriage cannot be annulled. This is her contribution to the clan." - The elder at the head of the table concluded.


    ...


    In the meanwhile, Qinyang was sitting in her room. She looked out her window gloomily.


    There was only snow and ice till one could see.


    "This place... It can''t be the famous Snowy Mountain Blessed Land as I first thought. The Snowy Mountain blessed land has many peaks and demonic immortals rule each. But this lone mountain is controlled by the Wen clan, it seems."


    "Oh, what am I thinking? They are just mortal gu masters, how could they have any idea about the affairs of immortals? For all I know, an immortal could be watching my every move from a thousand miles away."


    "Are my thoughts even safe?" - Qinyang shuddered at this uncomfortable idea.


    "I''m an otherworldly demon, I bet any immortal would be more than happy to extract my soul and do god knows what with it..."


    Just the thought of Old Ancestor Xue Hue - the rank eight overlord of Snowy Mountain blessed land - showing up made Qinyang''s skin crawl.


    She dazed at the slowly falling snow outside.


    "This land is the same cold wasteland as far as I can see. It is most likely just another ice path aperture or blessed land in the gu world. This would mean there is definitely at least one gu immortal or a land spirit in charge."


    "Oh wait. Wouldn''t that mean that Fang Yuan would want to attack and annex this place?" - She broke out in cold sweat as she remembered the main character from the novel she read.


    "Calm down. I need to calm down! Knowing too much is almost worse than not knowing anything."


    "But I also don''t know anything about my circumstances." - She lamented.


    "One way or another, I need to adjust myself to this world if I want to live."


    Qinyang controlled her breathing and closed her eyes as she tried to regain her calm but her mind kept wandering.


    "Ah! It''s easier said than done... This world is filled with ruthless villains and thousand-year-old two-faced schemers." - She couldn''t even focus for five minutes.


    "But I''m not a psycho. I don''t belong in this place, for goodness sake! Good people are exploited even for their dying breath here. My life is as cheap as grass."


    "What should I do?"


    She hugged her knees as she rocked back and forth on her bed, mulling through what she knew about the gu world.


    "Why, why did I have to land in this cruel place? Even if I die my soul will be eaten by that murder hobo Spectral Soul..."


    "Or, or what if Giant Sun will force me to be his concubine, locked away as a slave for the rest of my life?"


    "Hahaha..." - She mocked herself.


    "I''m just a regular, ordinary person. I haven''t even graduated from university before I came here. Cut me some slack, you stupid Heaven''s Will or whoever it is!"


    Qinyang grabbed her pillow and threw it at the wall in frustration.


    "Look at yourself! Enough with the self-pity!" - She warned herself self-consciously.


    "Wait, what is this?" - She noticed a small book that was tucked away under the pillow.


    She opened it curiously and started reading it.


    "Dear Diary, today was the awakening day. I was really afraid at first. I skipped eating all day..."


    "The ceremony got me really tired, but it was worth it. Dad was even more excited than I was at the results. He said I''m the hope of the family. My heart is still racing just thinking about it..."


    "A diary of the previous Qinyang? This is my ticket! With this I can ''recover'' my memories!" - Qinyang already forgot her previous worries as she immersed herself in the inner thoughts of this oh-close yet foreign person.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 27 - Time carves ones heart

    Ancestral Grotto, Sun Lotus City


    Bao Zhi was strolling on the street. His classes in the academy have just ended. He was on his way home while replenishing his primeval essence to continue cultivating. This was his daily routine.


    He was quite content with his current situation. Life in the academy was very easy. There were only lessons in the morning, followed by lunch, and then he was free to do whatever he wanted. He usually went back home to cultivate. Life in the academy was very monotonous. He was not disturbed by anyone and his cultivation was progressing smoothly.


    He suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at his palms questioningly.


    "This monotony. Unknowingly, days fly by really quickly!"


    He closed his eyes and recalled the memories of the past hundreds of years while he was refining gu. He was just a will in the refinement formation. Looking back now, each day seemed indistinctly the same.


    Now he felt like falling into a similar routine.


    "In this incessant sameness, one is in danger of losing the experience of time, which is so closely related to the feeling and instinct for life that the weakening of the first is inevitably accompanied by the sad dimming of the second."


    There are many misconceptions among people about boredom.


    "It is generally believed that novel, interesting content banishes boredom, i.e. shortens time, and that monotony and emptiness slow down and inhibit the passage of time."


    "But this is not necessarily true. Emptiness and monotony may stretch the moment of right now, making it boring, but they can shorten the largest chunks of time, or even make them insignificant."


    "And vice versa: the rich, interesting content can shorten the hour or even the day, but when converted into large units it gives breadth, weight, solidity to the passage of time, and so the meaningful years pass much more slowly than the poor, empty, light ones that are blown away by the wind and drift away."


    "What one calls boredom, long-windedness, is rather the morbid shortening of time, and the cause of this is monotony; in the uninterrupted sameness even long periods of time shrink in a heart-rending way."


    "If one day is like another, then all are like one day, and in complete uniformity, the longest life would feel short and fly by unnoticed."


    "Habituation is the drowsiness, or at least the dulling, of the sense of time; it is obviously also based on habituation that one lives their young years slowly, but their later lives are faster and faster, more and more hurried."


    "One knows well that introducing new habits, habits of adjustment is the only way to slow down their lives, to refresh their sense of time, to stimulate, strengthen, slow down their passage of time, and thus to renew their zest for life, their sense of life in general."


    "This is the crux of every change of place, every change of air, every journey, the secret of the exhilaration of the episode and of variety. The first few days in one''s new place of residence are ''youthful'', i.e. vigorous, wide-ranging; they last about a few days or weeks."


    "Then, as one ''acclimatizes'', one notices a slow shortening of the days: those who are hanging on to life, or rather, those who want to hang on to life, are horrified to find that the days begin to ebb and flow again."


    "The refreshment of one''s sense of time, of course, continues, and when one returns to their regular life after the relaxation, it reasserts itself; the first days at home, after the change, are again experienced in a new, fresh, youthful way, but only the first few: for one gets used to regularity again more quickly than one gets used to breaking it; and if their sense of time has been worn out by old age, or has never been strongly developed, which is the sign of an inherent lack of vitality, it very soon falls asleep again, and after just a day it seems as if one had never been away, and the journey had been nothing but a dream of a night."


    "The sense of time is the sense of life''s richness and density. The sense of time is not the same as the concept of time, it is the sense of the passage of time."


    Bao Zhi was not a time path expert, he was clear on that. But the sense of time was something every living being experienced. It was an aspect that every human eventually encountered during their lives.


    Bao Zhi clutched his fists and turned on his heels.


    "I''m wasting my time with this way of cultivation. Too much of it is wasted on managing my primeval essence."


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    He was referring to painstakingly retrieving primeval stones from his Primeval Elder gu. He could not carry enough primeval stones with him, nor could his fake aperture produce his own essence naturally.


    If he wanted to cultivate further, he needed to find a way to make the most of his time.


    He suddenly had an idea.


    "What if... What if I could refine a gu worm that could solve this? It would also be a change of pace for me. I think it would be worth a try."


    Bao Zhi sat down at one of the stalls on the street and started to deduce a mortal gu recipe. But he eventually encountered a problem. He needed a rare gu material.


    "Leaving out this gu material is possible, but it would increase the refinement steps by two-fold. The success rate would also be lower as a result." - He calculated in his mind.


    "I''m not going to compromise on this." - He decided.


    Bao Zhi raised his gaze at the sky. His vision landed on the gigantic Azure Crown Oak tree. It was like a mountain towering over the land, piercing through the clouds.


    This tree was a landmark visible from the entire grotto heaven.


    Bao Zhi estimated the location of Sun Lotus City compared to the tree and where the hidden refinement formation was.


    "If I remember correctly, a resource point is nearby, and my movement killer move is already usable."


    "This is hitting two birds with one stone." - He finished his meal and stood up confidently.


    Next, Bao Zhi headed toward the city gates.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Icy Peak Mountain


    "Sister you got this, the next try will surely succeed." - Encouraged Wen Tu.


    Qinyang looked at her brother with a complicated gaze. She couldn''t understand this guy''s unending positiveness.


    "This Qinyang has always written harsh words about him in her diary. Yet he is always there to help..." - She pondered on the history of the previous owner of her body.


    "Sister?"


    "I''m concentrating, give me some time."


    Wen Tu nodded at her.


    Qinyang took a deep breath and then breathed out. She lifted her arm again and pointed at Wen Tu once more.


    She called out in her mind: "Icicle Gu!"


    At a moment''s notice a pointy piece of ice condensed out of thin air.


    "Go!" - She flicked her finger.


    The icicle trembled for a breath of time before it shot out.


    It flew at an awkward angle and missed Wen Tu completely.


    Crash!


    Wen Tu was ready to receive the icicle using his defensive gu. He turned around and saw that the fist-sized icicle pierced into the ground behind him again. There were many similar marks around from before.


    "Missed again..." - Qinyang muttered.


    "Try again. I know you can do it!" - Said Wen Tu.


    "Okay, this time for sure!" - She enthusiastically nodded.


    Qinyang activated the Icicle Gu once more. This time the result was even worse.


    The icicle was at least three times thicker than the previous one. It was clearly too big to be controlled by her.


    "Argh! I hope this won''t be a problem when I fight a real battle..." - She complained.


    Qinyang sat down in the snow and put her face in her hands.


    "Why is this so difficult?" - She muttered.


    "Sister, you''ve used this gu for many years. You just need to remember how you did it before. I''m sure you can do it." - Wen Tu said.


    "I''m sure you can do it." - He repeated.


    Qinyang stood up and looked at Wen Tu.


    "How can you still be so positive? I''m already sure that this Gu is defective." - She lamented, trying to find an excuse.


    "You shouldn''t think so badly, this Icicle Gu is definitely not a defective Gu. You just need some time to get used to it again. Let''s try one more time!"


    She readied herself and activated the gu again.


    "Take this!" - She shouted and flicked her finger.


    The next icicle flew in a high arc over Wen Tu''s head.


    Crash!


    The icicle pierced the wall. A large chunk of the wall fell down.


    "No! I missed again?" - Qinyang angrily yelled.


    Wen Tu walked towards the wall. He looked at the hole and then looked at Qinyang.


    "It''s okay, you''ve tried your best. You''ll surely succeed the next time." - He said.


    "We should take a short break." - Qinyang suggested with a flustered expression on her face.


    "Controlling gu worms is more difficult than I thought. It was never explained really how gu masters did it. It feels like I have another arm I can control, but it''s not even attached to me. It''s hard to even explain. Like learning to walk again, it will take some time." - She summarized her experiences in her mind.


    Wen Tu sat beside her to take a rest. He exhaled loudly.


    "You always told me I had to do better. To keep pushing myself to reach your level." - Wen Tu recalled.


    "Do you remember how we used to race who could shoot icicles further?" - He asked.


    Qinyang nodded slowly.


    "Did this happen? Strange. This wasn''t mentioned in the diary." - Qinyang thought.


    Wen Tu kept silent for a moment before continuing.


    "I hated it! I was always the little useless brother that everyone looked down upon. I thought you did it to show off how amazing you were." - He shook his head.


    "I was indignant and weak." - He continued.


    "I wanted to prove to you, and to myself, that I was better than you. I wanted to beat you in everything. I wanted to be stronger. I wanted to be the one that saved you."


    Qinyang was surprised. She never expected to hear him say anything like this.


    "Now I saved you! Now I became the better shot... And now I kind of understand it, hahaha. You just wanted me to step out of your shadow, right?"


    "You made me the person I am today. Looking back, I wouldn''t choose another way even if I could." - He said.


    Qinyang looked at him in silence. She was touched by his words.


    "I''m sorry." - She said after a while.


    "For what? Now I know you were right! This is why I''m not going to let you down when you need me, Qinyang. This brother is here to repay your kindness!" - Wen Tu''s expression couldn''t be seen as his head hung low, but drops of tears landed in the snow before him.


    "Sister, you have to get better again. I won''t rest until I get back my brilliant sister!" - Wen Tu stood up and proclaimed his goal as he looked into the distance.


    Qinyang sat there silently but she was not unaffected. She felt warmth in her heart as if the cold had melted away.


    "This guy... Maybe this place isn''t home to just wretched people." - A faint smile appeared on her face as she stood up as well.


    "Wen Tu..." - She whispered.


    "Yes?" - He turned back to her.


    "Thank you." - She said with a sincere smile.


    He nodded and turned back to gaze into the distant snow.


    "Come on, let''s continue training."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 28 - Success and failure

    Bao Zhi left Sun Lotus city behind him. He walked along the trodden path. In the distance, hills could be seen. On both sides, dense forests lined his way. They were like two walls of green.


    After waking for an hour, he went off the path.


    His destination was now at the center of the forest.


    When he was in the city, he had heard that there were many monsters in the forest. That was why it was not safe to go there.


    But he knew the real reason was that places with more dao marks like a resource point would naturally attract wild beasts.


    Bao Zhi did not care about monsters in the forest. His plan was not just to go as deep into the forest, but deep underground as well.


    He started to activate his movement killer move. He felt a tingling sensation all over his body.


    After two breaths of time, his body''s contours started to morph.


    At once, he turned into a piece of green-colored root!


    He looked like a green snake with tails on both ends.


    This wooden snake of a root coiled in a spring-like manner and dove straight into the ground as if it was a pool of water.


    Bao Zhi was completely blind as he moved underground. He could sense the vegetation getting denser with dao marks. He knew he was nearing his objective.


    "The speed of this move is not bad. It''s because I used my old technique - Earth Root Travel - as a reference. "


    "But there are still some shortcomings. I need to prepare it in advance and it needs an investigative killer move to complement it."


    Bao Zhi pondered as he moved. If he could make a move that did not need to be prepared in advance, it would be even better.


    He moved deeper and deeper. He had already been underground for an hour.


    "This is it." - He stopped and started to head straight down.


    He did not know how deep he had gone when he suddenly felt a gust of wind as he fell and landed with a soft thud.


    Bao Zhi canceled his movement killer move and transformed back to his original form again.


    He saw that he was in a large cavern. The walls of the cavern were filled with a greenish-black fungus.


    The air was stifling, filled with spores. The walls of the caves were overgrown with fungus. They were slowly pulsating in a dim glow.


    He recognized the place at once, this rare fungus was what he came for, the missing refinement material.


    It was Ling Zhi!


    He immediately started to collect the fungus.


    He did not expect to find it so easily. He had only searched for a while before he found an entire cavern of it.


    He took out a small jade bottle and started to pick the Ling Zhi.


    He was very careful as he did not want to damage the precious fungus.


    He was about to leave when he suddenly heard a noise.


    He froze and listened carefully.


    The noise was getting closer and closer.


    He quickly put away the jade bottle and hid behind a rock.


    A small group of mushroom men ran past him.


    "Run! The beast is catching up!" - Shouted one of them.


    "Why did you have to keep poking him? Now it broke free!" - Argued one of the mushroom men.


    "What beast? These variant human slaves should have the resource point under control." - Thought Bao Zhi.


    He was about to follow them when he heard a loud scream.


    He turned around and saw a creature running toward him on four.


    The beast looked eerie as multicolored fungus covered its whole body. It looked like corals and twisted antlers. Its moves were irregular and twitchy.


    Bao Zhi did not recognize it at first, but the beast was actually humanoid.


    He started to activate his movement killer move to get away quickly.


    The beast stopped chasing after the group of mushroom men.


    Bao Zhi saw its face has become unrecognizable as a human face anymore. Among the twisted fungi, two crazed eyes were sweeping the surroundings.


    As it stood up on two legs, it opened its mouth wide.


    "Kekeke." - Its jaw started to shake.


    A cloud of spores erupted in all directions. It filled the caves in an instant.


    Bao Zhi was caught in the middle of it and started to cough violently.


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    His killer move was almost interrupted, he just finished transforming into the green root.


    As he transformed the urge to cough persisted but lacking a mouth his coughing fit was silenced right away.


    "I''ll... eat... your... heart!" - The creature took deep breaths of the miasma it released.


    "Xu Lian! Die!" - The horrific creature shouted in a hoarse voice and pounced on Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi was shocked, he did not expect to be discovered this easily.


    He reacted quickly and dodged to the side.


    Visibility was low in the cave and the spores made it even harder to see, yet the creature always knew which direction Bao Zhi jumped.


    He turned around and slithered in the opposite direction.


    The beast trotted on four closely behind him.


    "Xu... Lian! Come... and play!" - The figure roared after the snake-like Bao Zhi.


    The beast crashed into the wall and left a big hole.


    It opened its mouth wide and sprayed more spores in all directions.


    The spores filled the cave and Bao Zhi started to feel dizzy.


    "These spores are poisonous! So it''s not just for investigation." - Bao Zhi realized at once.


    He knew he had to get out of there as soon as possible.


    "I can''t outrun it for long. My essence wasn''t refilled since I arrived." - Bao Zhi thought through his situation as he was escaping.


    "Then I''ll fight." - He made the cold decision.


    He stopped and slid into a crevice with half his body. He could clearly feel the vibrations getting closer and closer.


    "Now!"


    He lunged forward like a human-sized spear. He stiffened his body in mid-air and activated his defensive gu.


    Leaf Skin Gu!


    It all happened in a flash.


    Bao Zhi''s lunge hit true. He pierced into the chest of the beast with his great momentum.


    The creature released a ghoulish scream and grabbed onto Bao Zhi''s snake-like body as it tried to bite into the green root!


    Bao Zhi''s "upper" body came out on the beast''s back. In his transformation, he could twist and turn his body not restricted by bones and joints.


    Bao Zhi right away entangled the beast''s limbs and neck.


    The creature lost its balance and fell to the ground as it struggled desperately. With each breath it took, fresh blood gurgled from its chest.


    Each time Bao Zhi increased his grip and did not relent.


    "So tough! I can''t break the neck. Then you''ll either suffocate or bleed out."


    The beast was writhing on the ground. It tried to claw Bao Zhi off of him, but it only left marks on Bao Zhi''s leaf skin.


    "Die! Die! Die!" - The beast shouted in a frenzied voice.


    Bao Zhi was calm as he felt the beast struggle.


    He increased his grip even further and the beast''s breathing became more and more labored.


    "Xu... Lian! Help... me!" - The creature gasped out in a hoarse voice.


    The beast''s eyes were bulging out of its sockets as it gasped for air.


    Bao Zhi did not let up and the beast slowly stopped struggling and moved less and less.


    "Xu... Lian!" - The creature breathed out another small puff of spores before it breathed its last.


    Bao Zhi released the dead and limp body and slowly transformed back to take a glimpse of the corpse.


    "This man. How did he survive in this place?" - He wondered looking at the fungus-covered remains and innards of the creature.


    "Is this a case of adaptation? No, it is too extreme. No human could adapt like this."


    He stepped closer and placed his hand on the abdomen below the chest''s gaping hole.


    "A gu master indeed. Rank four cultivation. But his two gu is only rank two and both fungi related."


    "Strange. Who is Xu Lian, he kept shouting?" - He could not uncover the crux of the situation.


    Bao Zhi did not want to stay in the cave for a second longer, the stench of the spores in the air was making him feel nauseous.


    He did not hesitate and left.


    When he emerged from the cave, he took a deep breath of fresh air and felt much better.


    He looked at the jade bottle in his hand and felt very satisfied.


    With this, he had everything he needed to refine the gu.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    This was a small and remote floating island. It was a unique one among the many floating islands in this grotto heaven. It did not have imposing mountains, it only had a small mound on it. There were no resources produced here either.


    Despite all these, it only took one glance to figure out that the purpose of this place was special.


    In the center of the island was a towering building. It radiated white light. It looked to be carved of pure jade.


    This building was an immortal gu house of Wen clan.


    Rank seven Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda!


    An immortal landed gracefully a hundred steps before the gu house.


    She approached it on foot before respectfully bowing in front of it.


    At this moment another figure just appeared, this one leaving the gu house.


    "Wen Yun pays her respect to the supreme elder." - Said Wen Yun, the rank six refinement path immortal.


    "Child, what brings you here?" - Asked Wen Jie while fanning herself casually.


    "I did not mean to disturb grotto lord''s business. I just wanted to meet with Lord Old Refinement."


    "You can go ahead. I''m already finished." - Replied Wen Jie plainly as she walked past Wen Yun and disappeared into the sky.


    Wen Yun collected herself and sized up the building once more before taking a breath and entering.


    "Refinement grandpa! I''m here again for your advice." - She called out expectantly.


    From the ground, a pool of ethereal water emerged. It took the shape of an old man.


    "Yun''er!" - Called out the will of Lord Old Refinement.


    "Tsk! Don''t call me refinement grandpa! What if the other wills hear of this?" - He lectured Wen Yun jokingly.


    "This old man only has his name and title left. What can he do for you?" - He asked humbly.


    Wen Yun: "Grandpa, there''s this gu recipe. I can''t figure out the final steps. It has stumped me for months now. Can you take a look?"


    Lord Old Refinement stoked his beard in a sage-like manner.


    "I can''t think for you. I would just expend my will."


    "But I can help you figure it out on your own." - He raised a finger and started to explain.


    "Give a man a fish and you feed him-"


    "I know, I know. So here''s the situation. I keep getting stuck when I try to complete this immortal gu recipe, look!" - She passed over an information path gu worm.


    Lord Old Refinement''s will did not take her attitude to heart, he continued without taking the gu worm.


    "...for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."


    "Refining gu is the deepest aspect of gu cultivation. It is not a simple matter, but it is actually not complex either."


    "Have you tried refining the gu yet?"


    Wen Yun: "No. Because, I don''t have the recipe yet?" - She raised an eyebrow questioningly.


    "Then you should try. Deducing is for the wisdom path, refinement is for the refinement path!" - He explained.


    Wen Yun: "But with an incomplete recipe the refinement will definitely fa-"


    "So what?" - Interrupted Lord Old refinement''s will this time.


    "Young Lady, haven''t you read the Legends of Ren Zu? Success and failure are intertwined. One does not know in advance whether they grasp success or failure in their hands. But does this mean they should not reach out?" - He looked at Wen Yun before continuing.


    "Treat success and failure in the same manner! Do not be emboldened when chance works out in your favor; and do not be discouraged when it does not."


    "Discipline yourself, remind yourself; and when you did your best to succeed, you have no reason to be disappointed."


    "Concern yourself only with what you can control, and leave the rest to the heavens."


    Wen Yun: "But I would waste the materials. I still can''t succeed with a bad recipe."


    "The only way to refine like a grandmaster is to refine oneself first. One cannot refine themselves by refining others. You still hold the idea that failure is bad and success is good. Why is that?"


    "It is just your preconception that things are like this. Failure brings inspiration and success brings complacency!"


    "The refinement path is not afraid of failure. On the contrary, it wants to fail in the process of refinement. The purpose of refinement is to refine itself! Cultivation is refinement!"


    "So cultivate your mind. Be steady and embrace failure. What good is it if you plan for a long while and then stumble at the first step? Do fail! Fail faster! Speculating is useless, only actions can do refinement!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 29 - Unearthed past, coming calamity

    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    Bao Lang Chao sat in his office. He was doing administrative work when his face contorted for a second. He stopped and turned his attention to his immortal aperture.


    His divine sense swooped down in Lang Chao blessed land and arrived at a small building.


    It looked like a gate with an ornate roof, but it wasn''t a gate, there were no doors on it. The two pillars on the side held a solid wall in between.


    There were many rows of name plaques lining the front. Each of the names had a corresponding hole below the nameplate.


    An old woman was kneeling before this board. Her chest was flat and her back was hunched. Her white hair was hanging in a messy bun. Her skin was wrinkled and had many age spots.


    She held a shattered life tablet gu in her old hands.


    "Our son, Chun''er has died." - She mourned quietly.


    Bao Lang Chao''s divine sense took a human shape. He observed the wall of plaques.


    Only one spot was empty: Lang Chun.


    He sighed and walked beside her.


    He stood there for a long time silently. His gaze was indiscernible. From time to time he looked at his old second wife who was kneeling beside him then back to the board.


    A few minutes later, he finally spoke up.


    "I will avenge our son." - He declared.


    The old woman lifted her head. Her eyes were red and swollen.


    "But I want to know why..." - She said pleadingly.


    "Bao Lang Chao, why did our son have to die?" - The old woman asked.


    Bao Lang Chao was silent for a while before he finally answered.


    "I don''t know." - He admitted.


    The old woman''s shoulders trembled. She lowered her head and started to cry again.


    Bao Lang Chao''s heart ached. He wanted to console her but he didn''t know what to say.


    "You should go back." - He finally said with difficulty.


    The old woman nodded. She stood up with the help of her cane.


    Her eyes were dull and lifeless. She had no more tears to shed.


    "A parent should never bury their child." - She muttered.


    Bao Lang Chao nodded silently. He watched as she slowly walked away.


    After a long time, he sighed.


    "Chun''er..." - He said softly. But his gaze was fierce. If looks could kill, the target of his gaze would have turned to ashes.


    In the next second, his divine sense rushed out of his immortal aperture and returned to his body.


    He opened his eyes and took a deep breath.


    This was a decades-old mystery. His second son had one day disappeared without a trace in the ancestral grotto.


    Lang Chun''s whereabouts could not be deduced. Bao Lang Chao knew that Lang Chun was alive someplace because of his intact life tablet gu. This made him even more suspicious at the time that this was the work of Wen clan.


    Contrary to Bao Lang Chao''s expectation there were no notices of ransom or blackmail. The trail has run cold.


    But now Lang Chun''s life table gu has shattered. This was a new clue!


    Bao Lang Chao took the shattered life tablet gu in his hands, closed his eyes, and activated his killer move.


    This technique imitated wisdom path. He was trying to deduce the culprit. But he did not get any results.


    "Failure."


    But he did not give up. He kept trying. First, he tried to deduce the culprit. But the results were all the same. Next, he tried to deduce a location.


    After half a day of deduction, there was a result.


    "Ancestral Grotto?" - Even he was surprised at the result.


    Could it be that the culprit was hiding in plain sight? It was not impossible. Maybe the culprit was not from Wen clan, but from inside Bao clan!


    Bao Lang Chao''s eyes flashed with cold light. He finally had a concrete clue.


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    * * * * *


    A gu worm flew at high speeds toward Bao Xu Lian. He reached out calmly and grabbed the gu in his hands.


    This was a letter gu.


    Shortly after reading its contents, his expression turned ashen.


    "These idiots!"


    He immediately rushed toward one of the resource points under his jurisdiction.


    Thoughts were racing in his mind wildly.


    "How could this happen?" - He thought anxiously.


    A short while later he arrived at the Ling Zhi cavern.


    "Greetings to lord immortal!"


    Three mushroommen knelt on the ground where Bao Xu Lian arrived. They were frightened out of their wits.


    "Where is he?" - Bao Xu Lian asked in a cold tone.


    "The- the specimen has escaped his confinement and died to unknown causes. We could not determine-"


    The mushroomman slave''s report was suddenly interrupted as Bao Xu Lian kicked him so hard he flew through the air.


    "Bullshit! What could kill him here? It''s only you!" - Bao Xu Lian shouted. He was furious.


    The two remaining slaves did not dare to raise their heads from the ground as they cowered in fear. Their hearts were beating like drums in their ears.


    "How did he escape the formation?"


    The slaves listened in trepidation. At any moment their heads could be rolling if it continued like this.


    They did not understand the importance behind this ''specimen'' Bao Xu Liang was so obsessed about. Why would someone want to turn a human into a mushromman?


    The only explanation was that Bao Xu Lian wanted to replace them as the keepers of the Ling Zhi cave!


    They could not let this happen. When he succeeds all the mushroommen would be disposed of!


    At least this was their reasoning. So they tried to subtly sabotage this ''experiment'' by removing some mortal gu from the formation.


    "Useless trash!" - Bao Xu Lian continued to berate them. He was so furious that he was about to explode.


    He waved his hand and sent the two of them flying against the wall.


    One of them broke their neck and died on the spot. The other one crawled on the ground with a broken leg.


    "Lord immortal, please spare us!"


    "Take me to the corpse!" - He commanded as he healed the surviving slave''s leg.


    The variant human slave gu master led Bao Xu Lian along the winding caves toward their destination.


    As they walked Bao Xu Lian unwittingly recalled some memories:


    Two youths were making their way through a jungle-like thick forest.


    "Xu Lian, where are we going?" - Asked the younger of the two.


    "Shh, keep it down. Listen, I found an immortal inheritance near the Ling Zhi caves." - Xu Lian replied.


    "That place? We shouldn''t go there. It''s dangerous." - The young man grabbed the robes of Xu Lian who walked before him.


    "That''s why I''m here. You will take the inheritance while I stand guard. Then we get out. It''s simple." - He explained.


    The young man was Xu Lian''s younger half-brother, Lang Chun.


    They reached the entrance of the Ling Zhi caves.


    "Come on, this way." - Xu Lian said as he entered the cave.


    Lang Chun followed behind him hesitantly.


    They went deeper and deeper into the cave.


    "This is far enough. You go on." - Xu Lian said as he stopped.


    "But..." - Lang Chun protested.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll be right here. Nothing will happen to you." - Xu Lian reassured him.


    Lang Chun reluctantly went on.


    He soon found himself in a large chamber.


    In the center of the chamber was a stone platform with a sword on it.


    As he approached the sword, a voice spoke to him.


    "This sword is the key to the inheritance. Take it and leave this place." - The voice said.


    Lang Chun hesitated for a moment before he reached for the sword.


    Suddenly, the ground shook and the sword turned into chains that bound him to the platform.


    "Xu Lian, help me!" - He shouted.


    But Xu Lian did not rush to his help. He looked on with a satisfied smile as his half-brother struggled vainly.


    "Xu Lian! What have you done? Why!?" - Lang Chun shouted.


    "I have taken what is rightfully mine." - Xu Lian replied with a smug expression.


    He walked closer and continued his monologue.


    "I am the one who should inherit our family inheritance! I am the only one who deserves Father''s care! I will become an immortal and not you!" - Xu Lian looked directly at Lang Chun as jealousy flashed in his eye.


    Lang Chun''s face contorted with pain as the chains tightened around him.


    "You won''t get away with this! The immortals will find out what you did." - Lang Chun gritted his teeth in anger.


    "I won''t kill you, my little brother. But leaving this cave will be a fantasy for you." - Xu Lian said as he turned and left his brother to his fate.


    ...


    Bao Xu Lian and the mushromman slave arrived at the mangled, fungus-covered corpse that remained of Lang Chun.


    Bao Xu Lian frowned. The sight reminded him of his naive approach back then. Even as a mortal, he knew that if Lang Chun were to die, his life tablet gu would shatter and that would leave a clue to his death.


    So the plan he came up with was to keep Lang Chun alive as a captive.


    He wanted to turn him into a mushroomman! If he was a variant human he could forget about any inheritance even if they found him. The clan would even help to conceal this shameful fact or directly get rid of him!


    At least this is what he figured as a mortal.


    But how could a mortal gu master change the race of another gu master just like that? This idea was destined for failure. The result was the monstrosity that lay before Bao Xu Lian''s feet right now.


    He felt disgusted.


    But even after he ascended to rank six and became an immortal he could not resolve this problem. The reason was simple.


    Every immortal was forced to take the immortal oath when they ascend, a binding agreement that forbids them to harm their clansman among other things.


    So the status quo remained as Lang Chun was imprisoned in the Ling Zhi cave.


    This was the main reason that Bao Xu Lian was stationed in this area, he wanted to keep an eye on the Ling Zhi cave.


    The mushromman felt anxious as he stood beside the silent Bao Xu Lian. He tried easing the tense atmosphere.


    "This is it master. The place where-"


    He could not finish his sentence as Bao Xu Lian flicked his finger and ended him on the spot.


    "So noisy, I''m thinking."


    "How will I resolve this conundrum? His life tablet gu has shattered." - He walked back and forth as he racked his brain.


    "How much can father deduce?" - He wondered.


    He knew that he did not have much time so whatever he came up with he had to act fast.


    "I should assume the worst and hope for the best." - He urged himself.


    Next, he used a killer move and fungi started to grow rapidly in the vicinity. They quickly consumed both of the bodies before him.


    "The hard evidence is disposed of. But my identity could still be exposed."


    "Is contacting Wen clan my only option now?"


    "No, only father knows of this because this is a family matter. If it gets exposed it will also hurt his reputation as the supreme elder of the clan."


    "Also, the clan''s development plan is still the main focus currently, so maybe I can use this to gain some time?" - An idea hatched in his mind.


    This was a gamble. If Bao Lang Chao couldn''t deduce that he was the culprit then his decision to trigger the mortal calamity could be chalked up to his eagerness to contribute to the clan. On the other hand, if he was exposed, this short brief of reputation would be his only shield in the clan.


    Bao Lang Chao couldn''t deal with him directly, but if his crimes were exposed to the clan that would be another matter.


    "Yes, I must trigger the mortal calamity in advance and show good results."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 30 - The first wave of calamity

    Sun Lotus City


    Bao Zhi was back in his room. He has collected all the materials for his upcoming refinement. Now, he checked them one last time.


    He nodded to himself in satisfaction. After separating the damaged and impure gu materials he portioned them into separate batches.


    "I''ll need to recover my essence before I begin." - He noted as he inspected his fake aperture.


    He checked his bag of primeval stones. He didn''t even have to look into it, by weight he knew it only had a dozen primeval stones left.


    "Just barely enough." - Bao Zhi sighed.


    He took out his rank three primeval elder gu in one hand while holding the primeval stones in his other.


    Next, he started absorbing the stones and created rank one green copper primeval essence.


    His fake aperture was slowly filling up with essence. When it was close to full Bao Zhi activated the primeval elder gu in his left hand.


    The rank three gu drank up the rank one primeval essence like a thirsty traveler in a desert. As a consequence, Bao Zhi''s essence started to decline at a sharp rate.


    The primeval stones in his hands turned to fine sand one after another as they got depleted.


    Bao Zhi focused on his multitasking. He couldn''t be interrupted or this essence would be wasted.


    After a long time, the last of his primeval stone was gone as well.


    Bao Zhi lowered his right hand and rested it on the small pile of fine sand beside him.


    At the same time, his essence was only about ten percent in his fake aperture.


    He looked at the primeval elder gu in his left hand with a hint of anxiousness as he continued to channel his essence.


    Five percent primeval essence left.


    "Success." - He breathed out in relief.


    The primeval elder gu activated finally. Bao Zhi gained access to his wealth again. Now he could retrieve a few hundred primeval stones from the primeval elder gu.


    But he wasn''t satisfied. This process was needlessly expensive and lengthy.


    He looked out his window, the daylight was already gone. Now only the scattered lights of the sun lotuses shone into his room.


    "This was the last time. After this refinement, I will get access to primeval essence much easier."


    * * * * *


    An injured and exhausted gu master arrived.


    "Scout from the northeast region, reporting." - He was panting as he tried to catch his breath.


    The gu master officer didn''t catch onto his state, he asked indifferently:


    "Why are you here? Can''t you just submit your report?"


    "This cannot wait. Something happened on the outskirts of the region. Wild beasts are approaching Sun Lotus City. There is a beast tide!" - Reported the scout.


    "A beast tide?" - The officer almost fell off his chair in shock.


    "Yes!" - Confirmed the scout with a hurried expression on his face.


    "There should be no migrations at this time. This is very strange. What beasts formed the tide?"


    "There isn''t just one species. I witnessed at least two hundred beast king Forest Apes and a thousand beast king Long Feather Python."


    The officer''s expression turned grave.


    "This is serious, we have to report this to the city hall. Follow me!" - The officer got up.


    "Scout from the southern region, reporting. There are sightings of a horde of Stone Skin Rhinos heading this way." - Arrived another scout abruptly.


    "What? Another one?" - The officer was dumbfounded. This was getting more and more bizarre.


    "What is going on?"


    "I don''t know. This is all I could find out." - The scout shook his head, looking just as perplexed as the officer.


    "You too, come with me!" - The officer said and left with the scouts in tow.


    In the city hall, the atmosphere was tense.


    "Two reports of migrating beast tides? This is unprecedented." - Said one of the officials.


    "What should we do? Should we send out troops to investigate?" - Asked another.


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    "There is no time. We have to evacuate the city immediately. Take the mortals to the underground shelter. Fortify the city walls. Organize the gu master teams." - Ordered the city lord.


    City lord Ding Shuren used his voice transmission to inform the citizens.


    The officials hurried to carry out the orders. The city bells rang out, warning the citizens of the impending danger.


    In a panic, the people rushed to gather their belongings and evacuate the city. It was complete chaos.


    As the people were fleeing, the twilight sky darkened and a shadow loomed over the city.


    "What is that?" - Someone cried out in terror.


    It was a gigantic creature, at least fifty meters long. It had a snake-like body and a pair of wings.


    "A dragon! There''s a flying dragon!" - Exclaimed a mortal when they saw the Long Feathered Python.


    The thousand beast king python landed loudly. The soundwaves shook the city walls.


    The people were in a panic, some were even trampled to death in the stampede.


    The gu masters teams were hastily assembled and deployed to the city walls. They launched their long-range attacks on the python, but it was ineffective.


    The Long Feathered Python opened its mouth and breathed out a stream of fire. The houses caught on fire and the people screamed in terror next to the city walls.


    "Watch out! It has a fire path gu in its mouth!" - Shouted a gu master from his cover.


    City lord Ding Shuren was desperately trying to maintain order, but it was hopeless. The city was being destroyed before his very eyes.


    "This is only the first wave. But our defenses are already in this state." - He muttered to himself in despair.


    Ding Shuren left his office to personally fight the invading beast king. Stabilizing the situation was the most important for now.


    He noticed a green shadow jumping on the rooftops before him.


    It was a familiar sight.


    "Vile beast! You can only dream of ruining my residence!" - The green shadow stopped and his shrill voice called out.


    It was old master Ye.


    "Elder Ye!" - Ding Shuren arrived and greeted Ye Ruogang.


    "City lord, leave this python beast to my humble self." - He laughed lightly showing his yellowed teeth.


    "Be careful of its breath." - Ding Shuren reminded.


    "Thank you for your concern city lord, but I''ve been itching to try this new inheritance I bought at the auction."


    The city lord nodded at him. He was confident that a rank four gu master like old master Ye would be sufficient to fight the Long Feathered Python.


    Ye Ruogang put together his palms and activated his gu worms.


    His skin turned to a dark-colored bark. His body started to grow and thicken. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a gigantic tree-man.


    "Hahahaha! This is the power of the Wooden Giant Transformation! Come, let me show you the might of a rank four gu master!" - Ye Ruogang''s voice boomed as he stepped forward to engage the Long Feathered Python.


    The Long Feathered Python was startled by the sudden appearance of the giant. It immediately shifted its attention from the ant-like gu masters in front of him and attacked the tree giant.


    "Gee whiz! This is the first time I''m facing such a huge enemy! This is exhilarating!" - Ye Ruogang shouted and punched the Long Feathered Python''s face.


    The impact sent the beast king flying. It crashed into the city wall flattening houses on its way. When it stopped, it was still momentarily stunned.


    Anyone who couldn''t get out of the beast''s way was left without an intact corpse, turned into meat paste.


    "Be prepared to meet your maker, you beast!" - Ye Ruogang dashed towards the python and continued his assault.


    The Long Feathered Python recovered and blew out a stream of fire at the tree giant. It hit him squarely on the chest.


    "Ack! This is not good!" - The tree giant crashed loudly into the streets below. Flames were spreading rapidly, charring his bark skin.


    The giant tried to put out the flames by hitting and quenching them with his palm.


    "Let me help you." - The city lord said to him.


    "No, not yet!" - Ye Ruogang gritted his teeth.


    Old master Ye focused his consciousness on his gu worms. He still had a technique left he wanted to try.


    "Four arms holding the sky!" - He called out the name of the killer move as another pair of arms grew out of his body.


    The giant proceeded to put out the flames while the Long Feathered Python looked on warily.


    "This technique is quite powerful!" - He exclaimed in joy.


    The extra arms were very useful. He was able to put out the flames much quicker and with less effort.


    The Long Feathered Python flapped its wings and took to the air wanting to breathe out another stream of fire once more at the charred black behemoth.


    But Ye Ruogang acted one step quicker. He grabbed the beast king by its tail with two hands and slammed it into the ground. His other pair of hands were locked into a hammer as they came striking down in succession.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    "Die, haha!" - Ye Ruogang shouted as he smashed the Long Feathered Python into the ground.


    The beast king was dazed. It tried to get free, but the tree giant held firmly onto it. Unable to escape, it fiercely counterattacked like the cornered beast it was.


    The python coiled around Ye Ruogang. It opened its mouth again, and many rows of needle-like teeth were ready to bite into the giant''s head.


    "Hmph! Wishful thinking." - Roared the giant as it grabbed the snake''s neck with one hand. Two hands grabbed onto the wings of the beast. The last hand still held the beast''s tail.


    "Aaaaah!" - Howled the giant loudly.


    The people on the ground looked on with dumbfounded expressions.


    The struggling beast king was ripped into four by the powerful arms like it was made of noodles.


    Blood was raining to the ground for a short while before the torn body parts came crashing down as well.


    The people who had been trying to escape were now cheering and hugging each other.


    Ye Ruogang collapsed to the ground. His body was smoking. He turned back to human form and was enveloped by burns.


    "Ah, this is not good! All the injuries are concentrated on my human body now." - Ye Ruogang said in a pained voice as he lost consciousness.


    Ding Shuren frowned. Old master Ye was an important pillar of Sun Lotus city.


    He even suspected that the sly old schemer deliberately wanted to excuse himself while putting on a good show. But it could not be helped, his injuries were real. He could not be relied on for the time being.


    Suddenly, the ground started shaking.


    "What''s happening?" - Someone cried out.


    "It''s an earthquake!" - Exclaimed another.


    The shaking became more violent and the city walls started to shake.


    "The Stone Skin Rhinos are here!" - Someone shouted in terror.


    A horde of Stone Skin Rhinos came crashing through the city walls. They were followed by a pack of Forest Apes.


    The people were being trampled and torn apart by the beasts. The gu masters were fighting desperately, but they were outnumbered and outmatched.


    The city was being overrun by the beasts. There was no hope for the people of Sun Lotus City.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi was in the middle of his refinement when Ding Shuren''s announcement came via voice transmission.


    "So soon?" - He was surprised the calamity was already here.


    Bao Zhi had to stop his refinement.


    A moment later Jin Ju rushed into his room anxiously.


    "Did you hear it? They are calling for every gu master."


    "A calamity is coming. Take off your gu master clothes and go with the mortals." - Bao Zhi instructed as he pointed at the red uniform that Jin Ju was wearing now.


    While Bao Zhi was gone to collect the Ling Zhi for his refinement, Jin Ju managed to break through to rank two initial stage. His red robes matched his rank two red steel primeval essence.


    "You don''t have any experience in fighting and you have just advanced to rank two. Just try to stay alive for now."


    "Are you coming as well?"


    "No. I will look for you when I''m done." - With that said Bao Zhi turned around and left the puzzled Jin Ju.


    Bao Zhi headed toward the city hall.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 31 - Good fortune as one wishes

    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    A young man was sitting gloomily at the edge of a cliff.


    He watched the clouds drift by before his eyes. He felt the cold wind rushing past his ears.


    The chirping of songbirds echoed in his ears. But he did not find any joy in it.


    Their songs were like laughter and mockery to him.


    He wished he could just disappear and never be seen again.


    He''s been like this for the past weeks.


    Pain gnawed at his chest and emptiness filled his heart.


    A voice called out from behind. It was his mother.


    "Meng''er, she is gone now. I know this is hard on you, but you have to move on. You need to focus on your cultivation, everything else is just distraction." - His mother said in a sorrowful voice.


    "Her flowing sliver hair, her slender figure... Those willful eyes... I can still see her clearly whenever I close my eyes." - Hao Meng replied.


    "Come, let mother embrace you. It hurts me to see you like that. Come enter my immortal aperture, mother will protect you from the harsh world." - A jade-like beauty landed gracefully next to the young man. She wore a white dress and had a head of snow-white hair tied into a bun. Her eyes were sharp like blades and her face was fair and beautiful.


    "No, mother. I do not want to go back into your frozen blessed land. I am not a kid anymore! Not only that, but I don''t need you to watch over my every step!" - Hao Meng said with a chilly voice.


    Hao Meng''s mother narrowed her eyes in displeasure.


    "Why do you do this to me? Mother knows what''s best for you!"


    Suddenly, a messenger gu worm arrived. It rushed towards the two of them and then circled around before stopping.


    "A Frost Sparrow gu! This is from Icy Peak Mountain!" - Hao Meng''s eyes flashed with hope.


    His mother reached out to receive the gu, but the Frost Sparrow changed course and landed on Hao Meng''s shoulder.


    "Give it to me. Let me read it. I''m the holder of Icy Peak Mountain." - She said coldly.


    "Mother, what do you mean by that? That''s my gu! I have the right to know what''s inside it." - He said angrily.


    Hao Meng didn''t yield and read the contents of the gu worm himself.


    "Mother, what is the meaning of this?" - He asked in confusion.


    "What does it say?" - She asked impatiently.


    "Mother, Qinyang is alive! She''s been rescued from the avalanche by a gu master. She is currently resting and recovering from her injuries." - He said in disbelief.


    "I can''t believe my eyes. Mother, Qinyang is still alive! She survived!" - Hao Meng repeated. He was almost jumping up and down from happiness.


    Hearing this, his mother''s eyes twitched. She thought:


    "How can this be? I made sure to kill that wench. My killer move extinguished her life force. How can she still be alive? A mortal can''t survive an immortal killer move..." - She thought incredulously.


    But then her expression turned from disbelief to fury in a flash.


    "How dare that vixen! How dare she survive! This is unacceptable! Unacceptable!" - She shouted angrily.


    Hao Meng looked at his mother with a hint of confusion.


    "Mother, what''s wrong? Qinyang is alive! We can go meet her soon!" - He said.


    "No, Meng''er. You can''t go meet her." - She said in a stern voice.


    "Hao Meng, my dear son, listen to me. That low-born vixen wants to take you away from me. She is just using you to join the main family branch!" - Hao Meng''s mother said anxiously.


    "No, mother. Qinyang would never do that." - He said in a firm voice.


    "You are too na?ve, Meng''er. You need to stay away from her. She''s just a scheming vixen! She wants to steal your inheritance! You must not see her again!" - She said desperately.


    "No, mother. I am going to see her. I have to make sure she''s alright." - He said stubbornly.


    "Meng''er, her parents are revolting scum! I will not allow you to marry that woman. She is not worthy of you! Do you understand?" - She said angrily as she raised her hand threateningly.


    "No, mother. I love her. I will go visit her right now. Don''t try to stop me! You can freeze my body but you can''t freeze my heart." - With that said, Hao Meng passed the Frost Sparrow gu over and flew away.


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    "You ungrateful brat! Come back here right now!" - His mother shouted after him, but he was already long gone.


    A few hours later, Hao Meng arrived at the foot of Icy Peak Mountain.


    * * * * *


    Sun Lotus City


    There was great chaos. The people on the streets were kicking up the dust, trying their best to escape the calamity. The sea of people flowed onward between the houses like a wild river.


    The sounds of screams and crying filled the air as the waves of people surged forward.


    Suddenly, the ground rumbled and shook violently.


    The moment it started, the flow of people froze.


    Bang!


    A loud explosion was heard from afar. Then another, and many subsequent ones.


    "Stone skin rhinos! Run!" - Shouted someone.


    "The city wall has shattered!" - Came another panicked yell from the same direction.


    Not far away, Bao Zhi has also felt the tremors. He was currently traveling underground with his Earth Root Transformation killer move.


    "Good. Hopefully the city''s forces are preoccupied for long enough." - He continued forward, searching for his goal.


    After an incense stick of time, he finally reached an obstacle he couldn''t dig into.


    He started to follow its edge carefully, looking for a gap to dig into. Not much later he found a spot where the reinforcements were weaker.


    "This is it."


    Bao Zhi pried his way in inch by inch. He arrived in an underground room.


    He turned back into his human form and looked around.


    The place was cold and dimly lit. The tremors caused loose dust to fall from the ceiling.


    "Is this the backroom of the guard post?" - He guessed.


    The room was empty, with a few tables and chairs strewn about.


    The door was open, and he could hear the sounds of the battle raging above.


    He carefully sneaked out to the hallway.


    There stood a single guard at the end of the hallway next to a sturdy door.


    "There''s no way to avoid him." - Bao Zhi assessed the situation.


    "Who are you? How did you get down here?" - The guard spotted him almost immediately.


    Bao Zhi did not get flustered.


    "Sir, is this the treasury? Did city lord send me to the right place?" - He asked with a confused expression as he approached the guard.


    "It is. Why are you here? Stop right there, or I won''t be polite!" - Said the guard suspiciously.


    "There''s no time! The city defenses have fallen! City lord sent me here directly with his technique. We have to evacuate the valuables or everything will be destroyed. The city lord is currently putting his life on the line for the people to escape." - Bao Zhi told his fabricated story with an honest expression.


    The guard hesitated.


    "I need to confirm if what you say is true." - He took out a gu worm and talked into it.


    "Are you going to get buried here alive?" - Bao Zhi urged, looking back and to the guard anxiously.


    There came no reply from the gu worm in the guard''s hand.


    Seeing the opportune moment, Bao Zhi took out his Primeval Elder gu.


    "City Lord gave me this gu worm. It is rank three, I can''t use it." - He gestured at his dirt covered green robes.


    "A primeval elder gu? That''s a rare rank three gu. A rank one gu master can''t possess something like that." - The guard pondered.


    Bao Zhi knew he was about to succeed. He directly tossed the primeval elder gu in the guard''s hands and proceeded to approach the door.


    "You can use the gu worm, right? Come help me open this. There''s no time to waste. City lord will come pick us up very soon, but he won''t wait if we miss the opportunity!" - Bao Zhi explained as he pushed the door open.


    The guard''s mind was in a jumble, but he soon recovered.


    "No, wait! I haven''t turned off the defensive formation!" - He shouted.


    But Bao Zhi had already entered the room.


    The formation activated at once and a shining thorn the size of a fore arm shot towards Bao Zhi.


    The guard acted just in time and used his method to shut the formation off.


    The metallic looking thorn landed on the ground with a clang.


    "Don''t go! Let me lead the way."


    The guard had no other choice. He entered the room with trepidation.


    The room was large, with a high ceiling. A thick layer of dust covered everything.


    As they ventured deeper, rows of shelves caught their eyes.


    In the far side of the room, large piles of primeval stones were gathered.


    Bao Zhi: "You go get the primeval stones. I''ll start with the gu worms."


    The guard nodded and they split up.


    The guard approached the huge piles of primeval stones and held the primeval elder gu in front of him.


    The stones were sucked in one after another in quick succession, and one of the piles was soon all gone.


    The face of the primeval elder in the gu worm was still sad, but its back wasn''t hunched and its wrinkles have smoothed out. It was about one third full.


    At this moment, the tremors continued again, now even stronger.


    The guard''s face turned pale. He redoubled his efforts and started to collect the other piles.


    In the meanwhile, Bao Zhi was busy looking through the gu worms. He knew he couldn''t take everything, not even with his helper''s assistance. He had to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each gu on the spot.


    His gaze landed on a specific gu. It looked like an aged, thousand-year-old ginseng root with a yellow color. Its lower part of the root split in two, resembling human legs.


    "There it is!" - He grabbed it without hesitation.


    It was the rank five Man Triumphing Heaven gu!


    The name was fitting, this was the gu that could awaken an aperture forcefully, even if the person had no cultivation aptitude.


    The gu worms here were sealed away to preserve them for a long time without the need to feed them so often. But this meant that they were also unusable until unsealing them.


    Bao Zhi did not hesitate to store away the Man Triumphing Heaven gu worm and continued to look through the many gu worms on display.


    The atmosphere was tense. The guard was getting anxious as the time passed.


    "Come on, what are you doing? We need to leave now!" - He shouted.


    "Did you get the primeval stones?" - Bao Zhi asked.


    "It''s almost full." - The guard showed the smiling Primeval Elder inside the gu.


    "Just a little longer. Top it off. I''m almost done here as well." - Bao Zhi called back.


    "No, we''re leaving now!" - The guard was adamant.


    Now the guard was the one urging the matters as larger and larger pieces fell down from the ceiling.


    He felt like the whole structure could collapse at a moment''s notice.


    He was getting more and more uneasy.


    "Okay, let''s move." - Bao Zhi nimbly grabbed another gu and put it in his storage gu.


    The exit was now blocked by a large boulder. They had to use their combined strength to push it away.


    As soon as they moved the boulder out of the way Bao Zhi exclaimed:


    "You dropped this gu worm just now."


    The guard turned back to take a look.


    Bao Zhi held a black star-shaped gu in his palm. He crushed the gu and its seal, and the gu burst forth with an explosive force.


    Rank four consumable gu: Star Assassination!


    The five edges of the star flew out and nailed the guard to the tunnel''s wall.


    He died immediately. A pool of black blood was slowly gathering at his feet.


    Star Assassination was a special poison path gu worm, it could be activated by only crushing it. As the name implied, it was suitable for assassins. Its power was also formidable. But no regular gu masters would choose this gu, because the range was really subpar, and the gu would be destroyed after a single use.


    "Spending a rare rank four gu is still worth it." - Bao Zhi thought as he retrieved his Primeval Elder gu from the corpse.


    The primeval elder had a bright smile as it floated proudly in the Primeval Elder gu.


    The gu contained a million primeval stones!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 32 - Sun Lotus Brilliance

    Icy Peak Mountain


    Hao Meng arrived riding an icy cloud. He landed softly and stepped on the frozen path before him.


    His steps were hurried. He was excited to meet Qinyang.


    A guard of Icy Peak arrived to greet him.


    "Lord Hao Meng, welcome to Icy Peak."


    "I came for Qinyang. Take me to her."


    "Of course, just follow me."


    The guard led the way, and after a few steps, a beautiful woman in a white dress appeared.


    "Qinyang! You''re alive! I''m, I''m so, so glad you are well!"


    "You¡­?" - Qinyang narrowed her eyes questioningly.


    "Who is this man? Should I know him?" - She wondered as she looked over the young man before her.


    The young man had a short stature. His face was lively, and his eyes were full of vitality. The long black hair hung in a ponytail on his back.


    "You don''t remember me? I''m your lover! Your suitor! You future husband! It''s I, Hao Meng!" - The young man said as he stepped forward.


    Qinyang had a puzzled expression as she tried to recall the name from the diary with difficulty.


    Hao Meng had a strange expression. He turned to the guard, who was on his way to leave them to themselves.


    "What''s wrong with her? She hasn''t cursed or hit me yet." - He whispered to the guard.


    In the meanwhile, Qinyang remembered something: "Oh, it must be him! The original Qinyang referred to him as the ''snotty brat''. She wrote in a cold attitude about him every time. The higher ups want me to marry him? Seems like I was the only one against it. I can''t have the appearance of just changing my judgement of him suddenly, even if I have no memories."


    "So it''s you! I might have amnesia, but how could I forget you falling off your cloud when you tried to peep in my window?" - She tried to act according to what she imagined the original Qinyang would say. She didn''t want to expose her situation to him.


    Hao Meng turned red, and he was about to say something, but Qinyang spoke first.


    "How about we go and sit down? I''ll tell you about my recent experiences." - She took his hand and led him inside.


    They walked on the frozen path. After a few steps, they reached a small garden, where the flowers were blooming.


    Qinyang sat down on the stone bench. She was about to begin her story, but Hao Meng interrupted her.


    "I have something to ask you." - He said as he sat down next to her.


    "What is it?" - Qinyang was confused as she looked at him.


    "Do you¡­ Do you love me?" - He asked as he looked into her eyes.


    Qinyang remained silent for a moment.


    Hao Meng continued: "Sorry. I didn''t mean to- I mean, I do love you... You, you just held my hand for the first time. I thought you liked me as well."


    "What the hell? They were so distant, yet he has the face and calls himself my lover and future husband?" - Qinyang was shocked. She adjusted her attitude again.


    "Ha, dream on! If you want to be my lover, then you have to prove yourself!" - She announced matter-of-factly.


    Hao Meng''s face changed. From a momentary delight, he became serious and looked at her with determination.


    "What do you want me to do?" - He asked.


    "I don''t know. You have to prove that you love me. Employ your imagination." - Qinyang said as she crossed her arms.


    "In that case..." - He looked at her and took out his icy cloud he arrived on.


    "Come, I''ll show you what''s outside Icy Peak and how big the world really is!"


    * * * * *


    Sun Lotus City


    A lone figure was standing among the piles of debris. Not long ago, this place was the city''s main square. Now the only things distinguishing it from its surroundings were the scattered black shards of the two cultivation boards that proudly stood before the city hall.


    "Zhao Feng''s nowhere to be found, Ye Ruogang is gravely injured."


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    Ding Shuren was panting heavily. He became the last supporting pillar of the city.


    The horde of Stone Skin Rhinos stampeded through the buildings and crowds like they were made of thin paper.


    "No!" - Shouted Ding Shuren as he struck at another beast.


    Killer move - Sun Lotus Burial!


    The rhino stumbled in its own feet and skid on the ground before coming to a stop. It turned into a moss covered statue under Ding Shuren''s hands. At the next moment, yellow lotus flowers bloomed from the dead body.


    Huff. Huff. Huff.


    He stopped for a brief moment to catch his breath.


    "My health isn''t as it used to be. If I were forty, no, just twenty years younger..." - He cursed his inability.


    Ding Shuren fought valiantly. He decimated the incoming horde of beasts as a rank five gu master. But they just kept on pouring, dozens after dozens breached the city walls, or what little remained of it.


    "Not yet!" - Ding Shuren got back on his feet to intercept a pack of Forest Apes that headed toward the evacuated people.


    The forest Apes were the weakest of the bunch. They numbered only a few hundred. But even the weakest of them had a body the size of a house. Their fists were like boulders and their claws were like daggers. They were the easiest prey to hunt among the other beasts. But they were also the most dangerous, they were the fastest and their mobility was not restricted by the buildings.


    "To hell with it!" - Ding Shuren was exhausted, he was aching all over. He was not even sure if he could still kill a few of them at this point.


    The pack of apes neared the survivors.


    Ding Shuren was still a distance away.


    "No. This can''t be the end." - He gritted his teeth.


    "I need to use the last measure!" - He shouted. This time, his voice was transmitted to all the remaining gu masters.


    There was a moment of silence.


    A faint glow emerged throughout the whole city.


    "Is it daybreak already?" - A confused survivor looked around.


    The light further intensified. Like scattered little stars.


    The small sources shone brighter and brighter till it looked as if they merged into one.


    It was dazzling, it was blinding.


    From far away, one could see, that the location of Sun Lotus city was in a bubble of light.


    Inside, there were no shadows.


    Thousands of Sun Lotus and Brilliance Lotus gu were activated by the gu masters!


    Rank five Sun Flower gu, Gather Light gu!


    Rank five killer move - Sun Lotus Brilliance!


    Ding Shuren raised his palm and attacked mercilessly.


    Each of his strikes were fast like lightning and weightless like feathers.


    The pack of Forest Apes were lit on fire as the strikes landed. Immediately after, their flesh and bones were stripped and vaporized into thin air.


    Ding Shuren was exhausted, but he did not stop. He kept on fighting the horde of beasts.


    The Sun Lotus Brilliance was a move that could only be used once. Even the gu masters that have been collecting the gu for decades could only muster this much. Their essence would soon run dry and gu would be burned out. But if it could lend them even a bit of strength, then it was worth it!


    The horde of beasts was scattered by the explosion of light. The survivors were saved from certain death.


    The intense light in Ding Shuren''s vision slowly turned from white brightness to a pitch black darkness. The tears in his eyes now were replaced by tears of blood. He lost his sight from the intense radiance.


    His disheveled hair and beard fluttered in the wind.


    He fought and didn''t back down. These were his people. The children and grandchildren of his generation.


    After an incense stick of time, the dome of radiance, Sun Lotus Brilliance receded and disappeared.


    The scared onlookers and beasts alike slowly regained their vision.


    "No! No-o-o-oh..." - Ding Shuren collapsed on his knees as he heard the beast''s furious shouts from outside the city.


    He was already a spent force.


    The beast rushed ahead.


    The people were not spared. The apes pounced on them and ripped them limb-from-limb.


    A blood covered ape landed among the evacuated crowd. It pounded its chest triumphantly with human remains still clutched in its huge hands.


    Screams of agony and feral howls resounded.


    Ding Shuren''s body twitched as he tried to gather his strength and get up, but it was in vain.


    Next, a voice resounded from seemingly every direction.


    "This is enough."


    "This voice!" - Ding Shuren recognized it.


    An immortal descended from the clouds. It was naturally Bao Xu Lian. He recalled the beasts and stored them away in his aperture.


    Ding Shuren, albeit blind, could still sense it with his gu worms. His jubilant face contorted at once.


    Ding Shuren: "This... You- You did this? You killed my people!"


    Bao Xu Lian: "I just killed the useless ones."


    "Oh and the unlucky ones. The clan has no need for unlucky people." - He added plainly.


    "You... You!" - Ding Shuren seethed in anger.


    "Ding Shuren, I''m really disappointed in you. You could have become an immortal. But you still lack the mindset of an immortal. You failed to see through the mortal dust!" - Bao Xu Lian answered in a displeased tone.


    Ding Shuren gathered his courage, he had nothing to lose anymore as he rebuked the immortal in front of him: "Mortal dust? Are human lives as cheap as grass for you? They are loving families, friends and acquaintances! You killed their parents! You destroyed their homes! Not only that, but you robbed them of their future! Are you even human?!"


    Bao Xu Lian raised an eyebrow and scoffed.


    Bao Xu Lian: "I am a cultivator. I just happen to be a human. I am no different from the beasts, I am not bound by mortal ethics and morals. I stand solely on the path of an immortal."


    Ding Shuren: "Hah! Whoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or an immortal... If that''s the mindset of an immortal, I''d rather die honorably than become a sinner for eternity! Oh immortal, you will surely fail on your path! I will be waiting for you in the netherworld!" - Laughed Ding Shuren maniacally as tears of blood streamed down on his face.


    Bao Xu Lian''s eyes twitched.


    "The mortal texts recorded the Eighteen Levels of Hell, but those are just the imaginations of those who have not died yet. What is hell, there is no such thing as eighteen levels of hell, there is only one level of hell, and that is this world!"


    "The so-called Eighteen Levels of Hell is merely a state of mind, it is just a mental state, it is not real! The ancient texts also said that there is only one heaven, but what is heaven? Heaven is just a state of mind, a mental state, it is not real! Heaven and hell are just two mental states, one is a state of mind that is mired in desire, and the other is a state of mind that is free of desires."


    "There is no heaven, there is no hell, there is only this world!"


    "This is the only world, the only place where one can pursue immortality!"


    "This is the only place where one can pursue the ultimate!"


    ...


    Bao Xu Lian got carried away as he preached, he didn''t even notice that Ding Shuren''s body was already lifeless up until he finished his monologue.


    "Tsk." - He felt annoyed as he realized he spoke into thin air.


    He felt, that the frozen grin on Ding Shuren''s face was mocking him even after his pitiful death.


    "I am right! And a dead man has no say!" - He thought, but he couldn''t take off his eyes of the corpse.


    Bao Xu Lian waved his hand and turned the body to dust with an irked expression.


    "Right, I came here to gather the talents."


    Next, he activated his investigative killer move and turned his attention to the few surviving people among the wreckage, and the remaining evacuated people underground.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 33 - Into a new world

    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Icy Peak Mountain


    Hao Meng steered his icy cloud with his gu worms. He and Qinyang were sitting on the snow-like cloud as cold wind blew around them.


    "We are so high up. Is this safe?" - Wen Qinyang asked as she looked at the ever further Icy Peak Mountain below.


    "Of course, nothing bad is going to happen. My gu worm is the Ice Cloud gu. It won''t be easy to drop us." - Hao Meng reassured her.


    "I''m not a person to have vertigo, but this is scary. If I fall from this height, I''ll definitely die." - She gulped as she thought to herself.


    Seeing her unease, Hao Meng enlarged the cloud by twofold.


    "See, you are not afraid now, are you?" - He chuckled.


    "Yeah, but it''s still cold." - She rubbed her arms to fight off the chill.


    "We will soon reach the edge of Icy Peak Mountain. It''ll get better, you will see what I mean."


    Qinyang thought to herself: "This is quite the romantic trip you''ve taken me to... It better be worth it, I''m freezing to a popsicle here!"


    They soon reached the boundary around Icy Peak Mountain.


    "Hold on a bit, I need to gain some speed to pass the boundary." - Hao Meng yelled.


    The cloud accelerated at a rapid pace. The wind was so powerful that her silver hair was blown around wildly.


    Qinyang clung onto Hao Meng''s clothes. She closed her eyes tightly and hoped that Hao Meng knew what he was doing.


    Qinyang felt like a wave of water splashed over her or a strong gust of wind hit her. She felt like she was floating in the air.


    At the next moment she felt like she was falling, and she opened her eyes.


    Qinyang was surprised and happy to find that she was still on the cloud, and the feeling disappeared right away.


    "Now you can look around, Qinyang. Welcome to the Lingering Mountains Grotto!" - He said proudly.


    "Lingering Mountains Grotto?" - Qinyang was confused. She looked around, and she saw dozens of floating islands around them in every direction.


    "Indeed, Icy Peak Mountain is just one of the many mountains here."


    Qinyang stood up on the cloud in her shock, even forgetting about her previous fear of this height.


    Hao Meng: "I know what you are thinking. You lived all your life on Icy Peak Mountain. It must be hard to take in the greatness of the world."


    "But now your horizons are broadened." - He continued in a cheery voice.


    Qinyang was still in shock. She saw a lot of people flying around on clouds. Some of them were even further away in the distance.


    "This, this wasn''t a blessed land. What is this? Is this a grotto heaven?" - Qinyang thought to herself.


    "Is this all Wen clan''s?" - She asked.


    "Naturally." - Came the proud answer.


    "Let me explain. Each floating island is a resource point of Wen clan. For example, Icy Peak Mountain is where snow and ice path gu are produced."


    "I underestimated the foundations of Wen clan." - She muttered.


    "You haven''t seen anything yet! Come with me!" - He grabbed her hand and brought her closer to him.


    "This is the best part!" - He exclaimed.


    Qinyang looked around and saw that they were moving towards a floating island that was even higher than Icy Peak Mountain.


    Hao Meng steered the cloud around the island.


    "Look below us!" - He said.


    Qinyang looked down, and she saw a giant palace.


    "That''s the Golden Peak Pagoda. That''s where our clan leaders live." - He told her.


    "How is that possible?" - Qinyang was baffled.


    "You''ll see. My clan has many secrets. I''m sure you''ll be impressed." - Hao Meng said with a smile.


    "Do immortals live there?"


    "Oh, you guessed it?" - Hao Meng''s enthusiasm was deflated.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Sun Lotus City


    Bao Zhi was hiding underground where the city hall stood. He kept looking for an opportunity to escape, but the fighting was too intense above ground. Just the shockwaves of the clash could seriously injure him.


    "The battle has escalated to this degree... I might as well use my time while I wait it out." - Bao Zhi thought to himself.


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    He carved out a small hollow in the ground. It was pitch black inside.


    He took out a rank one Sun Lotus gu and set it aside as a light source. Next, he prepared the ingredients for refinement.


    "Refining gu in the face of adversity. Why did it become the norm?" - He thought amusingly as he recalled the prior events. How he refined Verdant Heart Seed gu during a myriad tribulation, the Primeval Elder gu during the tournament matches and then this gu worm that he already tried to refine when the city''s calamity interrupted it.


    "This gu worm... I have to refine it. This might be my only chance." - Bao Zhi decided to ignore the ruckus above and once again started the refinement process.


    He added in the Ling Zhi that he collected. The other materials were all common and easily available.


    There were no problems during the refinement.


    The whole process was done within three hours.


    Bao Zhi had a strange feeling, the human qi of Sun Lotus City that he could feel had sharply decreased.


    Bao Zhi took the refined gu worm in his hands to inspect it. It was a plant-type gu, a flower. It had a red color with white spots of warts on it. Five thick petals lined the flower''s pot-like hollow center. The gu had no stem, leaves or roots because this was a parasitic plant, it only had a root like appendage to attach itself to its host.


    "Success! Rank one Rafflesia Essence gu is refined!" - He exclaimed to himself softly.


    He took out the rank three Primeval Elder gu from his fake aperture and put it under the Rafflesia Essence gu. Next, he activated the flower gu.


    The Rafflesia Essence gu extended its appendage and grew around and into the round Primeval Elder gu.


    The two gu combined into one.


    "Let''s call it simply Primeval Rafflesia gu house." - Bao Zhi thought to himself.


    This was a portable gu formation so technically a gu house, albeit a very primitive one, only having two gu worms.


    Bao Zhi controlled the gu house carefully.


    The flower gu''s petals perked up with vitality as they visibly expanded and become fuller. Its hollow pot-like center started to be filled with rank one green copper primeval essence.


    "My essence problem is sorted out with this." - Bao Zhi was very relieved.


    Bao Zhi stored away his new asset into his fake aperture. The level of his primeval essence started to rise at a visible rate.


    As he was putting away the remaining refinement materials, he noticed that the Sun Lotus gu started to act up, its light intensified and seemingly wanted to escape the confines of the small room.


    A short while later, the intense tremors returned, but just as quickly abated.


    "Strange." - Bao Zhi had a bad premonition. He activated his Earth Root Transformation and tunneled into the ground. Ready to escape at a moment''s notice, he lay there motionless.


    Suddenly, a terrifying force blasted the ground and sent debris flying everywhere.


    The small room where Bao Zhi was hiding was completely destroyed.


    Bao Zhi was barely able to keep himself from being blown away by the force of the blast by using his Earth Root Transformation.


    "What happened?" - He was dumbfounded.


    As the debris settled, Bao Zhi cautiously poked out his root out and listened.


    He was ear-witness of Ding Shuren''s and Bao Xu Lian''s heated conversation.


    "Indeed, an immortal was behind it." - Bao Zhi had his conjecture confirmed.


    ...


    "No heaven and hell? This immortal is really ignorant, he couldn''t even comprehend this truth from the Legends of Ren Zu. It is one thing that you grew up in my grotto heaven, not knowing the Immemorial Heavens or the Door of Life and Death, but it is another thing to be a human without an understanding of human path. It brings me shame to have a descendant like you. How can your human path attainment be so shallow? Even the human path of the mortals are deeper than yours." - Bao Zhi scolded Bao Xu Lian in his mind.


    The more he observed, the more displeased he got.


    "If you want to truly develop human path, you must first understand heaven and earth! Only by understanding heaven and earth can you understand the path of humanity. The way of heaven is impartial, and the way of humanity is virtuous. The way of heaven is ruthless, and the way of humanity is merciful. The way of heaven is eternal, and the way of humanity is mortal. To understand heaven and earth, you must first understand yourself, and to understand yourself, you must first cast aside your attachments." - Bao Zhi sighed.


    "You are strong, but you are not impartial! You are rich, but you are not benevolent! You think pursuing the ultimate justifies every action, but going down this route is discarding the core of oneself. Even if you reach eternal life this way, there will be no fulfillment. You will be an empty husk of yourself."


    "It is easy to squander what isn''t yours! Using such heavy-handed measures are only counterproductive in the long term. The development of human path is the gradual accumulation of each generation! The tall tree protects the small tree not because it''s good for itself, but because it is good for the forest. Now you have hurt the forest. You have failed to see the forest for the trees. You only think about your own benefit, but fail to see that you are just a speck of dust in the world. The human path is not something that can be pursued by force. It is something that must be accumulated over time. Even if you have the strength of an immortal, you cannot change this fact." - Bao Zhi sighed with frustration as he listened to Bao Xu Lian.


    * * * * *


    Bao Xu Lian gazed over the broken remains of Sun Lotus City with indifference. The city was in ruins, with only a few walls still standing. The rest of the city had been destroyed, and the streets were littered with corpses. The area was filled with the stench of blood and death.


    Bao Xu Lian stood in the air, his eyes closed as he slowly extended his senses.


    As he activated his investigative killer move, small clumps of green fires appeared in his vision. The flames were illusory and in various sizes. A small green flame floated over a nearby rank one gu master, but Bao Xu Lian ignored him. A small flame like this meant that gu master only had an average aptitude.


    Thousands of flames floated throughout the area that only Bao Xu Lian could see. These were all the survivors after Sun Lotus City''s calamity. Less than one in ten has survived since the beasts attacked.


    Bao Xu Lian adjusted his killer move''s sensitivity, and each green flame shrunk in size in his vision. The small flames have disappeared entirely. The remaining ones were small fist-sized flames that burned weakly and a few that were basin sized.


    These were the B and A grade aptitude gu masters respectively.


    He was even able to vaguely discern the difference in quality between each gu master with A grade of aptitude. He gathered the gu masters with A grade aptitude.


    The mortal gu masters floated unconsciously behind him as he surveyed the ruins.


    Bao Xu Lian watched as the flames burned in the air with a cold look on his face.


    "Too few." - He muttered with a dark expression.


    Bao Xu Lian slowly opened his eyes.


    A trace of green light flashed in them.


    "There aren''t enough A grade talents. I will need to take in a few B grade talents as well." - He furrowed his brows in dissatisfaction.


    "Maybe I can still raise their aptitude forcefully... Are any of the aptitude raising gu worms left? Or do I have to take back the gu from the other cities before I unleash the beasts?" - He wondered to himself and soon activated another investigative killer move.


    Every inch of Sun Lotus City was laid bare before his sense.


    He quickly found the gu that he was looking for.


    "Hm, there''s only three aptitude-raising gu left." - He frowned.


    "Wait, what is this?" - Something else caught his attention suddenly.


    "Oh, an immortal material! Ding Shuren, you sly old fox." - He flew closer to inspect it.


    Bao Zhi felt his human qi waver as Bao Xu Lian''s gaze landed on him. He felt as if countless needles were piercing into his body.


    Bao Xu Lian: "Hmm, it is full of vitality. This root will be perfect to develop my immortal aperture."


    With that thought, Bao Xu Lian grabbed Bao Zhi and tossed him into his immortal aperture.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 34 - Getting your bearings

    Jin Ju opened his eyes slowly. What greeted him was an unknown environment and a small group of young gu masters.


    "You''re finally awake." - Came the remark from one of the youngsters.


    Jin Ju rubbed his eyes and looked towards the voice''s origin. It was Zhao Min.


    "Zhao Min? What happened? What is this place?" - Jin Ju turned with his questions to Zhao Min.


    Zhao Min stared into thin air in front of him with a blank expression. He replied plainly:


    "Does it matter? Sun Lotus City is destroyed. Most of the people died, even the protector of the city, the city lord, died. Yet here we are. Someone has saved us." - Zhao Min answered calmly.


    "What? What did you just say? Sun Lotus City is destroyed? How can that be? There were thousands of gu masters protecting the city!" - Jin Ju was plainly shocked.


    "How can that be? I don''t know. But it is. Surely you''ve seen the destruction yourself. Don''t tell me that you forgot?" - Zhao Min''s voice became tinged with exhaustion.


    "Well, I don''t know. I don''t remember anything other than the chaos." - Jin Ju''s face became grim.


    "The memories of the event are probably sealed. Many people suffer from amnesia. You must be one of them." - Zhao Min answered.


    "Sealed? What do you mean by that?" - Jin Ju was puzzled.


    "I suspect it''s a method used by the gu masters to seal the memories of the battle." - Zhao Min explained.


    "Why? What''s the purpose of that?" - Jin Ju was more confused than ever.


    "I don''t know. If I knew, my memory would be sealed as well. Maybe they want us to forget the trauma. Maybe you saw something you shouldn''t have. That''s all I can think of." - Zhao Min said with a disheartened expression.


    "What I know is that we are in the capital." - Zhao Min pointed at the window.


    One could see the landmark of this world, the gigantic Azure Crown Oak Tree through the window.


    "That''s the World Tree! We''re in the capital! How did we get here?" - Jin Ju was startled again.


    "I can''t recall." - Zhao Min shrugged.


    "What about the others? Maybe they can tell us something." - Jin Ju was eager for answers.


    "If that girl doesn''t have the answer, then none of us have it." - Zhao Min glanced at the still unconscious Yu Lingxin.


    "Sister Lingxin!" - Jin Ju''s eyes were immediately drawn to Yu Lingxin.


    Jin Ju tried to wake her up without success.


    "What happened to her? She''s completely exhausted. I''ve never seen her like this." - Jin Ju was worried.


    "It''s not just her. You were the same too, and everyone else. All you can do is wait for her to recover." - Zhao Min sighed with a hint of irritation.


    Zhao Min''s words were correct.


    Despite his best efforts, Jin Ju could not wake up Yu Lingxin.


    At the next moment, the door of the room opened. Two people stepped inside.


    "Attention!" - A voice boomed through the room and everyone''s ears.


    Suddenly, the bodies of Jin Ju and the others started to tremble. Their faces twisted in pain.


    "What''s going on?" - Jin Ju groaned in pain.


    "I don''t know. I can''t move my body at all." - Zhao Min tried to move his body but failed.


    Everyone turned their gaze towards the source of the voice.


    It was an aged man.


    His face was pale. His body was thin. But his eyes were sharp and intimidating.


    He noticed the still unconscious Yu Lingxin and gestured with his hand.


    "Awake!"


    Yu Lingxin rose to her feet like a puppet. She glanced around in shock, but she was fixed in place, just like the rest of them.


    "That''s enough, Steward Jie." - The other person beside Steward Jie said solemnly and stepped forward.


    He had the looks of a middle-aged man. He had an average height and board shoulders. His face was square and plain. He wore a pristine white robe, which differed from the usual robes of the gu masters.


    "Greetings to the Bao Wen Academy. My name is Bao Li Mu. I am the elder responsible for your group." - Bao Li Mu bowed slightly.


    "This is Steward Jie. You will be under his care until you familiarize yourself with the place. Please treat him with respect." - He continued.


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    "Greet your senior!" - Steward Jie commanded.


    Everyone''s mouth moved in unison as they said the words: "Greetings to senior Li Mu!"


    "From now on, you are students of the Bao Wen Academy! Congratulation!" - Bao Li Mu declared and left the room by himself.


    Steward Jie narrowed his eyes as he stared at the group of youngsters.


    "Senior Li Mu is an esteemed member of the Bao clan, currently he is busy preparing for his ascension, so I will be in charge of you. Follow me." - He instructed.


    "Ascension? Is he going to climb the World Tree?" - Jin Ju asked in his mind as he glanced out the window from the corner of his eye with some confusion.


    Next, the students formed two rows and marched like orderly soldiers behind Steward Jie.


    "What going on? My body''s moving on its own?" - Whispered someone.


    "Silence!" - Steward Jie said coldly.


    The person''s mouth was forcefully shut closed.


    "You will be here for a long time. Your fate lies in the hands of your seniors. You must remember that." - Steward Jie said with a hint of threat.


    "But the academy is fair. We follow the model of a sect system. Work diligently and you will be rewarded. Disobey and you will be punished. The choice is yours." - Steward Jie''s voice softened as he continued.


    "The academy is divided into two major branches. One is the branch of the Wen clan, the other is the branch of the Bao clan. This is the Bao clans branch, but don''t be surprised to meet fellow sect members from the other branch here. You, too, will eventually have missions at the Wen clan''s location. But let''s not get ahead of ourselves." - Steward Jie said with a smile.


    "It is no secret that the Bao clan is the most powerful clan in the world. The Wen clan is the second-most powerful. The distribution of power is not exactly equal, but it has been this way for a long time. It is the fate of the two clans to be linked together. You will treat the members of the Wen clan as your brothers and sisters. Of course, you should never forget your roots." - Steward Jie explained.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi had a strange feeling.


    "I''ve entered an immortal aperture!" - He realized suddenly.


    Xu Lian blessed land''s entrance opened and swallowed Bao Zhi''s transformed body.


    He ended up in the air inside the immortal aperture and started falling rapidly.


    Bao Zhi did not panic. He activated his defensive Leaf skin gu on top of his Earth Root Transformation and waited for the eventual impact. He was not going to give up easily.


    "One. Two. Three. Four..." - He counted in his mind as he plummeted towards the ground rapidly.


    Thud!


    Bao Zhi landed on something, cushioning his fall greatly, before he tumbled to the ground.


    "How long did I fall for? I need to know the height at least." - He thought to himself.


    "Fourteen seconds... That means I''ve fallen about two li in height." - He estimated.


    He lay on the ground motionless and extended his sense. The information he gathered made him satisfied.


    "Hm. I can sense wood path dao marks all around. With this, I can conclude that I''m in a wood path blessed land. It is probably the immortal who destroyed the Sun Lotus City..."


    "Have I been discovered?" - He wondered.


    "Not likely. Or he would have acted differently. I couldn''t sense the aura of immortal gu from him. Without an immortal gu or killer move, he couldn''t see through my dense dao marks?"


    "Maybe, maybe not. But I can''t afford to be careless. Transforming back right now is risky. And if I''m already exposed, it is hopeless anyway." - He evaluated calmly.


    "Since my primeval essence is abundant, while I wait, I will continue to refine the remaining dao marks on my body." - Bao Zhi activated his Flesh Worm Gu inside his body and started cultivating.


    He spent the next few days refining dao marks in his body, before finally stopping. His progress had steadily accumulated. Now another five percent of his dao marks was refined, making it a total of ten percent.


    He was starting to get accustomed to his new situation, when Bao Xu Lian''s divine sense suddenly returned.


    The thing that interrupted Bao Zhi was something that landed on him.


    He had no eyes to look, he could only feel the wood path dao marks of the item. He could not tell exactly what it was.


    "It''s a wood path resource that was collected by the immortal. This is good. He probably mistook me for an immortal material as well."


    Bao Zhi continued his cultivation in peace. The only thing he could do was to wait it out. He could not take any action, otherwise, he could attract unwanted attention.


    He did not know how long he was left alone, but he was sure that days had passed.


    The next disturbance interrupting him was a formless force. It grabbed onto his body and transported him somewhere else.


    When the force carrying him disappeared, he started to transform back into his human form to gather some information. He had to be quick.


    "He just left, it is the least likely that he returns right now. I have my window of opportunity." - This was the moment Bao Zhi waited for. He could not afford to waste it.


    He looked around and saw a forest of Elephant Ears plants in the direction he came from.


    "That explains my landing." - He nodded to himself.


    "He tried to plant me like a seed." - Bao Zhi could not help but chuckle as he found himself buried waist deep in dirt.


    "Little does he know that I''m not a plant, but a human. Let''s keep it that way." - Bao Zhi smirked to himself.


    He hopped out and dusted himself off.


    Once again, he extended his sense and started taking in information about his surroundings.


    He observed the surrounding area, and saw trees everywhere, with an occasional plant or two. Here and there, he could see some trees bearing fruit.


    "There is no animal life here. The development of the aperture is still in the early phases." - Bao Zhi shook his head.


    His eyes caught something peculiar behind one of the bigger plants. He approached it cautiously, taking care not to make any unnecessary noise.


    He peeked from behind and observed the object.


    "It''s a huge lotus root." - He was surprised.


    "He probably received it from the clan. Good choice." - He praised.


    He continued observing it for a few minutes, until he noticed a glowing sphere near the lotus root.


    He moved closer and inspected it.


    "Is that the aperture origin core?" - His eyes flashed with excitement.


    Aperture origin core was the most important thing in a blessed land. It was the foundation of the immortal aperture, the base of it all.


    Once the aperture origin core was destroyed, the aperture would slowly collapse and all the resources inside would be lost.


    It was also the source of the immortal essence that the immortal produced.


    The immortal essence slowly coalesced into a drip at the bottom and dropped before the eyes of Bao Zhi.


    The green grape immortal essence beads were in a small pile under the aperture origin core.


    Bao Zhi carefully inspected the patterns on the spherical object.


    "Seven, no! Eight earthly calamities passed." - He concluded.


    Before his seasoned eyes, the aperture origin core was like an open book. He could see the effect of the calamities like the growth rings on a tree''s trunk. The most recent one was only a few years ago.


    "This all makes sense now. This is a mid-sized aperture. The immortal advanced without refining any immortal gu and is now trying to develop it to prepare for the heavenly tribulation after the ninth earthly calamity." - He nodded to himself.


    "The rate of time is different inside than the outside. Since this is a medium-sized blessed land, its time flow should be about three to eight times faster compared to my aperture. Since my aperture is placed down in the five regions, its rate of time is close to the five region''s rate of time. This is good. The faster the rate of time is, the harder it is to keep it under surveillance."


    After a short while, Bao Zhi did not dare linger any longer and returned to where he was transported by Bao Xu Lian.


    "If you want to nurture me, why don''t I turn into a tree?" - Bao Zhi''s eyes flashed as he came up with a crazy idea.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 35 - Putting down roots

    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    "This junior has completed his mission and returned for seniors'' summon." - Bao Xu Lian cupped his fists and bowed.


    He stood there anxiously as he waited. He was trying his best to hide his nervousness. He had just returned from the academy and was summoned to the Great Root Manor.


    In front of him sat his father, the supreme elder of Bao clan, Bao Lang Chao. He seemed to be lost in thoughts as he held an information path gu worm in his palm. He was looking at it intently, his expression was unreadable.


    Next to him sat Fairy Bao Yijun, the second supreme elder. She had an indifferent expression as she patiently waited for Bao Lang Chao''s evaluation.


    The hall was dead silent.


    Bao Xu Lian waited for a while, but no one spoke. He felt his palms sweating and his pulse quickening. He had no idea what was going on in their heads.


    "Grotto Lord, second supreme elder, why did you summon me here? How can I be of use?" - He finally asked.


    Bao Lang Chao finally lifted his head and looked him in the eyes. Bao Xu Lian felt his heart jump.


    Bao Lang Chao was a powerful immortal. Bao Xu Lian could seemingly feel his blood and immortal essence trembling when he met his gaze.


    After a long while, Bao Lang Chao broke the silence:


    "Bao Xu Lian, you brought a group of talents to the academy successfully. That part you accomplished well. As per the rules of our Bao clan, you can receive an immortal material as your reward." - Bao Lang Chao said in a plain voice.


    "The expended mortal lives are also not few, but we have planned for that. This result is still within acceptance." - He continued. He did not look happy, but he wasn''t unhappy either. He was as expressionless as usual.


    "You will receive a portion of the immortal material and a portion of merit points as your reward." - His voice was plain and emotionless.


    Bao Xu Lian was overjoyed. He was expecting to be punished for deviating from the plan. But the fact that he was rewarded for his performance put him in good spirits.


    Bao Xu Lian graciously accepted his result, but then Bao Yijun interjected.


    "What made you decide to bring forward the date of your performance and deviate from the planned event?" - She asked casually.


    Bao Xu Lian froze for a moment before replying:


    "I wanted to be the first to finish this mission and show my dedication to contribute to the clan! I wanted to make an example for the others!" - He immediately made up an excuse.


    Bao Xu Lian glanced at his father with suspicion. But he was unable to gleam any information from him and set his gaze back on the ground.


    "I see." - Came the simple acknowledgment from Bao Yijun.


    Bao Xu Lian felt time was passing very slowly. He was unsure why they were not letting him go.


    "This question! Have I been seen through? She shouldn''t know about Lang Chun''s death. But is father suspicious of me? I need to keep up my act!" - He was inwardly worried. He did not want to give himself away.


    But then Bao Lang Chao seemed to have remembered something:


    "Son, you seem to be distressed. Have you seen or noticed anything unusual recently? Be honest with father." - Bao Lang Chao asked nonchalantly.


    "No, not that I remember." - Bao Xu Lian had a pondering look on his face as he replied.


    Bao Xu Lian could feel the sharp gaze on him, like a sword piercing and passing through him coldly.


    "Wait, I remember! I did find an immortal material that one of the city lords has hidden away. I have taken the item and punished the culprit." - He admitted shamefully.


    Bao Lang Chao narrowed his eyes, his thoughts were indiscernible as he listened.


    Bao Yijun noticed the oddity and spoke up to extricate Bao Lang Chao from seeming like giving preferential treatment to his son. She then proceeded to ask:


    "What is this item?"


    "It is an immortal root of some kind. I have not identified it yet. It is a wood path material filled with vitality." - Bao Xu Lian answered truthfully.


    "A root-like immortal material?" - Bao Yijun was surprised.


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    "What did you plan to do with it?" - She asked.


    "I thought to keep it and cultivate it to support my aperture''s development." - He replied.


    "That''s good. If it is an immortal root, it would be a rare and precious material. You have done well to find and collect it." - Bao Yijun praised him.


    "But you did not report this matter to the clan. You also did not take into account the other clansmen. You only considered your own benefits. You should have reported the matter to the clan and let the clan decide what to do with it. It is not wise to keep such a precious material to yourself." - Bao Yijun scolded him.


    "I understand, second supreme elder. This junior will reflect on his actions and report any future findings to the clan." - He immediately admitted his mistake.


    Bao Lang Chao finally spoke up:


    "You upheld justice and acted on our clan''s rules to punish the thief city lord. There''s no problem with you keeping the immortal material. But your reward will be halved for completing the mission."


    "This junior is thankful." - Bao Xu Lian answered with a bow.


    Bao Lang Chao took out a wood path immortal material and split it in two.


    "This is for your hard work. Keep it well."


    Bao Xu Lian took his share and put the material away into his immortal aperture. He bowed again before respectfully leaving the hall.


    Bao Yijun looked at Bao Lang Chao meaningfully. She seemed to be troubled by something.


    "Lang Chao, we have a problem."


    Bao Lang Chao''s face was dark. He knew what she was going to say.


    "The Wen clan has been probing our clan''s defenses. We cannot allow them to continue their actions. They have been testing our limits for a long time now."


    Bao Lang Chao nodded. He had been expecting this.


    "Xu Lian has deviated from our plans. The timing of the development plan was deliberately set for each member of the clan differently. I do not believe it is he. But you know what this could mean." - Fairy Yijun stated.


    Bao Lang Chao nodded seriously. He knew the implications of this very well.


    "I will look into this carefully. You know my nature, I wouldn''t let anyone tarnish my own or my clan''s reputation. If Xu Lian really is the spy, I will not hesitate to do what''s necessary." - Bao Lang Chao''s voice was cold.


    "Good. I trust your judgment on this. I believe there''s little chance that Xu Lian would have any tie to the Wen clan as a newly advanced immortal. It probably is just a coincidence. But it''s also indisputable how valuable the son of the supreme elder would be as a chess piece for them." - Bao Yijun said.


    Hearing her last sentence, Bao Lang Chao''s face darkened.


    "I will go and probe Wen clan on this matter." - He said, and left in an agitated state.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian blessed land


    Bao Zhi inspected his fake aperture. It was filled to the brim with green copper primeval essence.


    There were gu worms floating in the sea of primeval essence. The most eye-catching was the thousand-year ginseng-looking rank five Man Triumphing Heaven gu. It was still sealed by a thin layer, it would not require feeding for a long while.


    The second most notable thing there was the rank three Primeval Rafflesia gu house. It sank to the bottom of Bao Zhi''s aperture. It was slowly trickling primeval essence out, keeping the level full at all times.


    There were other less important gu worms, like the defensive Leaf Skin gu, the miscellaneous Powder gu and a common storage type gu.


    Outside his aperture was two additional gu, the Flesh Worm gu and Verdant Heart Seed.


    This was already a lot. Just a single rank five gu worm would put a lot of pressure on a lower ranked aperture. If there was a second rank five gu, it would be even harder.


    "This fake aperture has another advantage I only just now considered. Mortal gu''s dao mark fragments can''t overpower the dao marks that my aperture is carved from. But the capacity is still limited, I can''t fit many more gu worms in." - He noted to himself.


    Time flew quickly in Xu Lian blessed land. Bao Zhi spent his time cultivating. He focused on his root transformation, intent on perfecting it.


    Bao Zhi was using his time well and cultivated tirelessly. He experienced the world through his root system.


    He observed the other plants, he observed the flow of the primeval essence underground.


    He observed the gu worms that were in his fake aperture.


    He observed and observed, many ideas came to him along the way.


    Bao Zhi was a very patient person.


    "The next step is creating a variation killer move on top of my Earth Root Transformation killer move that allows me to turn into a tree." - He thought.


    A tree-like transformation would need not just roots but a trunk, branches and leaves at the  minimum as well.


    "Activating my transformation killer move drains my essence at a constant rate. But that''s something I don''t need to worry myself about, my reserves are plentiful."


    "First and foremost, I have to consider disguising and integrating myself into the environment."


    With this direction, he started to deduce his new transformation.


    ...


    After five days have passed. Bao Zhi attempted to activate his new method.


    With a single thought, his body transformed into a tree.


    His upper body was the trunk, his arms were branches and his lower body were the roots.


    Bao Zhi''s head was hidden in the trunk.


    He was in a tree form, barely resembling a human.


    His new transformation was not perfect yet. But it was a good start.


    "This is a good start, I will continue to work on this. I will add leaves and other necessary details later." - He thought to himself.


    But next he returned to his root-like transformation to avoid suspicion.


    "I will gradually ''grow'' into this tree. I can''t set too high of an expectation for this immortal about this tree. I have ample time till the calamities and tribulations arrive. Not only that, but I need to be at least one step ahead to account for unexpected events." - He thought.


    Bao Zhi moved on with his plan.


    His next step was to form a better connection with the plants of Xu Lian blessed land.


    He could already feel the connection, but he wanted to make it stronger.


    He needed to understand the current plants of Xu Lian blessed land and the direction that Xu Lian wanted to develop it. Blending in and going with the flow was beneficial for both him and his environment.


    He started to expand his root system first. His roots were already spread out. But they were not as connected as he wanted them to be.


    He needed them to be interconnected, like a huge net that was spread out under the ground.


    He wanted to connect to every plant, every tree and every flower within Xu Lian blessed land eventually.


    Bao Zhi''s roots were not just for him to absorb the essence of the earth. He could also pass information through them.


    A plant''s root system was a complex thing. There were many different ways that plants communicated between each other.


    Bao Zhi could use this to slowly expand his grasp over this place. It was a necessary step to contend with Bao Xu Lian''s overwhelming control.


    "This is just the beginning. I will start from here, but eventually I will spread my roots far and wide." - He thought.


    "This world, it is too small to house my ambitions for long!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 36 - First mission, culprit exposed

    Bao Wen Academy, Ancestral Grotto


    "This mission is simply unbefitting of my status!" - Exclaimed one of the students in a disgruntled voice.


    A senior disciple passed by and heard the remark.


    "Oh, who might you be?" - She asked with an amused expression.


    "Ye Jianhong, the young master of the Ye house! The illustrious Ye family is one of the main pillars of Sun Lotus city!" - The student said with a proud voice.


    "Sun Lotus... city? Never heard of it. Who is in charge there?" - She said with a confused tone.


    "The city is ruled by the city lord, of course. He is the most powerful gu master and a good friend of our Ye family. I even met him personally." - Ye Jianhong boasted shamelessly.


    "Hahaha! You silly country bumpkin. I mean which immortal is in charge there. But you don''t seem to even know that." - She ridiculed him.


    "Immortal?" - Ye Jianhong asked back with a confused voice.


    "Every region is controlled by one of the immortals. This is proof that your city is a mere speck of dust on the map." - She said.


    "Hah, who needs to know about that? A person is either strong or weak. I am worth a hundred of you anyway!" - Ye Jianhong retorted angrily.


    "Haha! Young man you are such a droll, this is the first time I''ve seen someone this foolish. I hope you won''t be offended, but I would be better off talking to a rock." - She said and left.


    The other students chuckled, and Ye Jianhong''s face reddened with anger.


    "You can all laugh at me, but I will definitely show you all!" - He said loudly.


    A muscular disciple pulled Ye Jianhong to the side to have a word with him shortly after.


    "Young friend, don''t stir trouble. The woman you just spoke to is one of the elder''s relative. Don''t let her looks fool you, she has used lifespan gu to retain her youthful appearance. She is far stronger than any of us." - He warned.


    "Hmph! I don''t need you to tell me that. I know full well who she is!" - Ye Jianhong replied softly. In fact, he had no idea.


    Seeing his advice falling on deaf ears the disciple sighed to himself and left.


    Zhao Min and the others were observing the events on the sideline.


    Ye Jianhong suddenly turned to them.


    "Zhao Min! How can you sit by and let others badmouth our home?" - He questioned.


    Zhao Min looked at him with an irritated expression.


    "Shut up! They are not mocking Sun Lotus city, they are mocking your ignorance. Even if they mocked that place, they would be right. That place is not a city anymore. It was destroyed! The Ye family are nothing but insects on a leaf, so spare me your self-importance and come. We have a mission to complete." - He said with a cold voice.


    Ye Jianhong''s face reddened with anger.


    "How dare you order me! We are of the same age. Don''t think you are any better just because you were selected as the temporary group leader." - He shouted.


    "Maybe. It is not up to you to decide, and I''m not going to argue over this. The mission has to be turned in by the end of the week, and we haven''t started yet. So if you don''t want to be punished, then come now!" - Zhao Min said with a stern voice.


    "Fine! I will go, but not because you ordered me, but because I want to!" - He said and followed along.


    "I''m surrounded by idiots!" - Zhao Min thought to himself as he dragged along Ye Jianhong, and Jin Ju.


    Jin Ju didn''t miss his chance to stop and gawk at every occasion: the academy''s framework, the decorated pavement or just the various plants growing like weeds.


    "Stop staring at the plants! You can pick them after we are finished." - Zhao Min reprimanded Jin Ju.


    Jin Ju cast down his gaze in embarrassment. He put his hands in his pocket where he grasped a small clump of herbs he collected.


    "These are worth half a primeval stone per stalk on the market. They are growing everywhere around the academy grounds!" - He thought to himself.


    Zhao Min noticed Jin Ju''s attitude, but didn''t comment on it further.


    "Just when I thought I escaped my responsibilities finally, now I''m entrusted with leading this team. But it is only temporary. I just have to make sure they complete the mission." - He thought to himself.


    They approached the academy''s gate, where a student was on duty. He was wearing a yellow uniform with a green sash.


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    "Excuse me." - Zhao Min said.


    "What is it?" - The student asked.


    "We are here to embark on the academy''s mission." - Zhao Min said.


    The student looked at them.


    "First year''s herb gathering mission?" - He asked.


    "Yes!" - Zhao Min replied.


    "That way." - The student motioned with his hand and stepped to the side.


    Zhao Min thanked him.


    Jin Ju nodded politely.


    Ye Jianhong ignored him.


    Then a voice called out from behind them.


    "Hey, wait for me! I found some clues about the mission."


    The three of them turned around. They saw Yu Lingxin hurrying towards them.


    "Sister Lingxin! Where were you?" - Jin Ju perked up.


    "She has finally turned up. That''s good. The minimum headcount was set at three, but four is advised." - Zhao Min remarked.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Golden Peak Pagoda


    Bao Lang Chao arrived in the Lingering Mountains Grotto unceremoniously. He floated down towards the mountain of Golden Peak Pagoda.


    Suddenly, a solid cloud crashed into him with a high momentum. Bao Lang Chao was almost sent flying by the impact as he tumbled in the air.


    After a few seconds, he finally stabilized himself.


    "What was that?" - He looked at the cloud angrily.


    "Qinyang! I trusted you to fly it straight. We almost hit something in the air!" - Called out Hao Meng and took back the Ice Cloud gu from Qinyang.


    "I didn''t do it on purpose. That was turbulence! " - She excused herself.


    Hao Meng looked at her direction strangely.


    "The wind, I say! There was a gust of wind that came suddenly." - Qinyang clarified.


    Hao Meng continued to stare, his face drained of color as he noticed the person standing in the air.


    Bao Lang Chao dusted off and tidied his clothes. He looked at the young couple with disapproval.


    "Young man, young lady. What are you two doing? Flying around without a care." - He addressed them.


    "Never mind, you two come with me." - He said plainly and captured the two of them.


    A huge leaf appeared and rolled around the two of them tightly. Hao Meng and Qinyang were packed tight like sardines in a can.


    Bao Lang Chao entered the Golden Peak Pagoda with the leaf roll floating behind him.


    "Who is this? Are we going to die?" - Qinyang whispered in trepidation.


    "I''ve never seen this person. He was standing in the air just now, he must be an immortal." - Replied Hao Meng reassuringly.


    What he implied was that if this was an immortal, he would have to give face to his mother, who''s also an immortal. Thus, they would be let off.


    But this sentence just cemented Qinyang''s worries even further.


    "I''m becoming refinement material..." - She lamented to herself. She felt that it was better to be eaten by a snake monster, than to be turned into refinement material.


    A few minutes later, Bao Lang Chao arrived in a room in the Golden Peak Pagoda, which was filled with all sorts of exotic flowers.


    A beautiful woman wearing a pink dress, with a huge fan in hand, was sitting on a chair.


    "Lord Chao, you are here again." - Greeted the woman with a sweet smile.


    "Mm, greetings, Fairy Wen Jie."- He greeted the supreme elder of Wen clan formally. He bowed slightly.


    "What''s the occasion? I see you''ve brought something with you."


    "Oh, this? I wonder if fairy can make some deductions for me as per our agreement. I wonder, what''s in the leaf roll?"


    Wen Jie fanned herself and peeked at the leaf roll from behind her fan. A hint of laughter played on her face.


    "Hm, playing a game? Lord Chao must be in a good mood. So be it!" - She pinched her fingers and started deducing.


    Qinyang and Hao Meng felt weirdly comfortable in the leaf roll. They felt as if they were being wrapped tightly in a blanket. The material of the leaf roll was smooth and soft.


    Qinyang''s heart was racing. She felt excited and nervous at the same time.


    A moment later, Wen Jie was already done with deducing.


    "I can feel it. I can feel love. Despair. Oh, the confusion! There are two mortal people inside." - She said plainly.


    She didn''t deduce further, as her interest drooped. She didn''t really care about the love lives of mortals.


    Bao Lang Chao nodded and brought the leaf roll in front of him and unfurled it.


    Hao Meng and Qinyang fell on the floor awkwardly. Qinyang was flustered, while Hao Meng was red in the face.


    "These two young fellas have been flying around recklessly. I brought them here to teach them a lesson." - Bao Lang Chao said lightly.


    Wen Jie looked at the two of them as she chucked softly. She recognized Hao Meng by his face. She nodded in recognition.


    "I see. So it''s little Meng and his girlfriend." - She said with a faint smile.


    "Young men these days fly around recklessly. I apologize on their behalf." - She continued.


    With a wave of her hand, she transported the two of them to another room.


    "Now, Lord Chao, what is the real occasion? You are here for more than the usual." - She asked in a flowery voice.


    "As I said, I''m here for fairy to deduce some matters for me." - Bao Lang Chao replied with a solemn expression.


    "I need you to verify some information for me." - He continued.


    Wen Jie sat down on the chair and beckoned him to sit down too.


    Bao Lang Chao sat on the chair opposite to Wen Jie.


    Bao Lang Chao presented his questions one by one. He asked a few more unrelated questions to disguise this one. Now, he held two items, one in each of his palms.


    In his left hand was the remains of a Life Tablet gu. It belonged to Lang Chun.


    In his right hand there was a wood path immortal material that was visibly split in two.


    "Are these two items related to the same person?" - Asked Bao Lang Chao.


    Fairy Wen Jie took the items in her hand and studied them. Then she activated her killer move to start the deduction.


    "I can feel sorrow, jealousy, hope and anger..." - She narrated as the two items chased each other floating in the air.


    Bao Lang Chao carefully observed Wen Jie''s every movement.


    After an incense stick of time, Wen Jie finished this deduction.


    "Yes. These two items are related to the same person." - She confirmed.


    "How?" - Asked Bao Lang Chao.


    "The remains of the Life Tablet gu are obviously related to a mortal. The wood path immortal material, on the other hand, is related to the mortal''s death."


    "What happened to this mortal?" - Asked Bao Lang Chao.


    "Hm, according to the deduction, this mortal was betrayed."


    Bao Lang Chao stood there silently for a moment. His expression was unreadable. Then he spoke in a low tone.


    "I see. You''ve helped me a lot, Fairy Wen Jie. You can have this wood path material as a reward." - He said, and handed the wood path material to Wen Jie.


    "This confirms two things. First, my suspicions are confirmed. Xu Lian is really the culprit behind Lang Chun''s death. Second, Xu Lian is not a spy from Wen clan. If he was, they would not have exposed dirt on their own agent. That would just put him under an investigation." - He evaluated in his mind.


    Bao Lang Chao asked a few more question. Sometimes he pretended to be surprised or angry, mostly just nodded and said something along the lines: "Hm, as expected."


    After the session of deductions ended, Bao Lang Chao left with a few immortal materials shorter. But now he was in possession of the information he wanted.


    On the way home, Bao Lang Chao''s face became grim as he thought of his son, Bao Xu Lian.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 37 - Oh, its a gu worm

    Ancestral Grotto


    "So, like I said, there is a better spot to collect the herbs we need." - Yu Lingxin prompted the team to change their route.


    "Are you certain that information is reliable?" - Jin Ju asked with concern.


    "Yes! I asked two of the senior disciples for guidance. They both told me to avoid the route we were given because everyone else is going there as well. The place they told me about is a bit farther, but our results will definitely be better if we don''t have to compete with the other teams." - She explained.


    Jin Ju thought back to the painful experience where Yu Lingxin led him to claim their allowance, and he got a beating as the result.


    Before Jin Ju could voice his concerns, Ye Jianhong interjected.


    "I think, we should go! Getting more herbs will give me a better evaluation. That''s the right thing for us to do." - Stated Ye Jianhong as he glanced at Zhao Min next to him.


    Zhao Min had the final say in the matter as the appointed team leader.


    "The goal isn''t to collect the most herbs, but to collect a given amount and quality. Doing anything other than that is not our mission. We are already short on time. Can we afford to take a longer route? If this idea is a bust, I will be the one to blame." - Said Zhao Min plainly.


    "Why can''t we collect the ten catties of herbs and keep the rest to ourselves? Who knows if we can get enough if we follow the beaten path. The good quality herbs are the first to be picked. Since we are already late, can we afford to do anything else?" - Countered Ye Jianhong.


    "Yes, we can sell the rest for a profit. We can make this trip doubly worth it." - Hearing of the profits, Jin Ju supported the idea as well.


    "Look here. This marks where the plants are. The difference in distance is not that much, but it''s in the other direction." - Yu Lingxin produced a folded map and presented it to the group.


    Zhao Min looked at the three of them who stood around him, then back at map.


    "So be it! We will go to the suggested location." - He sighed with frustration.


    "Brother Zhao is really wise! A good leader listens to his companions. Haha." - Ye Jianhong gloated.


    "We''ve wasted enough time. Let''s get going!" - Zhao Min ordered.


    "We will go through the pass. It''s faster. Then we can take the path to the left." - Yu Lingxin said as she pointed out their route on the map.


    "You can lead the way, sister Yu. Show us the way." - Ye Jianhong said politely.


    "No problem. Follow me." - Yu Lingxin responded.


    Yu Lingxin took the lead, with Jin Ju and Zhao Min side by side behind her. Ye Jianhong brought up the rear.


    The group crossed a valley and entered a dense forest. The air became more humid and the temperature rose.


    "This place gives me the creeps." - Jin Ju said with a shudder.


    "Be careful. There might be wild beasts around here." - Zhao Min cautioned.


    "I don''t see anything." - Jin Ju said as he looked around.


    "You won''t see anything until it''s too late." - Zhao Min said with a serious expression.


    "Be on your guard. We don''t want to run into anything we can''t handle." - Zhao Min said to the group.


    They continued to move forward cautiously. The underbrush became thicker the further they went.


    "I think we are getting close." - Yu Lingxin said as she stopped to consult the map.


    "I hope so. I don''t like this place." - Jin Ju said with a shudder.


    "There it is!" - Yu Lingxin exclaimed as she pointed to a clearing ahead.


    The group moved forward and entered the clearing. The area was filled with tall grass and weeds.


    "This doesn''t look like a good place to find herbs." - Ye Jianhong said with disappointment.


    "There are plenty of herbs here. We just have to look for them." - Yu Lingxin said as she began to search the area.


    The group spread out and began to search the area. They were looking for a herb called the Three-Leaf Grass.


    "I found some!" - Yu Lingxin called out.


    The group converged on her location. She was kneeling down and carefully digging up a plant with three leaves.


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    "Good job, sister Yu." - Ye Jianhong said with a smile.


    "We should keep looking. There are bound to be more around here." - Yu Lingxin said as she stood up.


    The group spread out and continued to search the area. They found several more plants and began to fill their bags.


    Suddenly, Ye Jianhong''s scream interrupted their search.


    Three heads emerged from the grass to look in Ye Jianhong''s direction.


    "What''s wrong?" - Yu Lingxin asked with concern.


    "I was bitten by a snake!" - Ye Jianhong said as he held his arm.


    "Let me see." - Yu Lingxin said as she tried to examine his arm.


    "I''m fine. I can keep searching." - Ye Jianhong gritted his teeth, as he tried to stand up, but lost his balance and fell on his face.


    "We need to get out of here!" - Zhao Min said as he grabbed Ye Jianhong''s arm and started to drag him.


    "Leave me! I... can walk!" - Ye Jianhong said as he tried to pull away from Zhao Min, but his speech was getting noticeably slurred.


    Zhao Min ignored him and continued to drag him towards the edge of the clearing.


    "Sister Yu, help me!" - Zhao Min called out.


    Yu Lingxin hesitated for a moment, then she ran over and grabbed his other arm.


    Jin Ju appeared from the tall grasses as well.


    "Guys, this is bad. I found the ''snake''. But it is actually a gu worm." - Jin Ju raised his hand that clutched the ''snake'' at its neck.


    "What gu?" - They turned to him.


    "This is a rank one Leaf Warden Serpent gu. It is a venomous gu that is used to protect crops from vermin." - Jin Ju recalled from his memories when he was a traveling merchant.


    "Is it deadly?" - Asked Yu Lingxin in fright. She checked around herself not to stumble into one herself.


    "No, but a single bite can paralyze an adult." - Jin Ju said as he anxiously looked at Ye Jianhong who was now completely paralyzed.


    "Can you do something about it? Do any of you have a healing gu worm?" - Zhao Min questioned.


    They shook their heads.


    "I- I can try to make an antidote. But I need to go look for two more ingredients." - Suggested Jin Ju.


    He pulled out one of the stalks from his pocket.


    "Here, make him chew this. It will slow the poison."


    "I will be back shortly." - Jin Ju announced as he gathered his courage.


    "Wait! Do you have a defensive gu? What do we do if something happens to you?"


    Jin Ju slapped his forehead.


    "I''m such an idiot! I almost forgot."


    "Here, take my Leaf Skin gu with you." - Offered Yu Lingxin.


    Zhao Min activated his gu worms and created a raised platform of crudely woven roots above the tall field of grass. Ye Jianhong was lying on it the others gathered around him.


    "Alright. Jin Ju you go and gather those ingredients. Sister Yu, please look after brother Ye while I collect the remaining Three-Leaf Grass." - Zhao Min decided.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi was cultivating peacefully. He has transformed into a living tree. His roots already reached a shocking length of one li when measured from his trunk.


    Compared to that, his above-ground body was much less impressive, it only reached a height of ten meters at the top of his crown.


    "Dao marks are the basis for all things. They are the carriers of the Great Dao. Dao marks are the mechanism for the world of myriad things to exist and function."


    "My body has wood path Dao marks, on the level nearing what an immortal would have. But they are unordered and thus without a function."


    "Now I refined a part of them and turned it into a killer move. This killer move imitates transformation path, but is wood path at the core. This way I don''t have to worry about transformation path''s drawback of the residual dao marks."


    A pure transformation path killer move would use the transformation path Dao marks to turn into a different type of Dao mark temporarily. If a cultivator turned into a water type beast, their transformation path dao marks would be water path in that case. But these Dao marks would conflict with the user''s existing cultivation of transformation path if left unchecked. In serious cases, the transformation could become permanent if the Dao marks were not turned back or removed in time.


    But Bao Zhi already cultivated wood path. A wood path transformation was not a problem this way.


    At this moment, Bao Xu Lian''s will descended to manage his aperture.


    Bao Zhi could feel some of the other plants being relocated or harvested through his root system.


    Bao Xu Lian was busy developing this small world. He kept bringing in new types of plants to broaden the diversity in this small world.


    Bao Zhi stopped his activity and waited patiently.


    Bao Xu Lian''s will hovered above the transformed tree that was Bao Zhi and observed its progress.


    He nodded to himself in satisfaction and dispersed a bead of green grape immortal essence in the air.


    The immortal essence was diluted into a vast amount of primeval essence. It would last for a good while, raising and sustaining the aperture''s ambient primeval essence.


    "Now that I successfully have hidden under your nose. It is time to deceive you further. Even if you find out eventually, I will be indispensable." - Bao Zhi thought to himself as he looked at the leaving figure of Xu Lian''s will.


    His plan has reached the next phase. He started to adopt the form of the Thousand Wish Tree. The basis for that was his refinement killer move, Thousand Wish Perpetual Refinement. But now he was at the core of the killer move.


    The tree''s barks slowly started to take on the color of white ash. His branches started to twist in many directions.


    "It doesn''t need to be perfect. I just want a hint of the original, since I''m not going to wait for a thousand years to bear fruit, I don''t need to mimic the tree''s appearance exactly either." - Bao Zhi thought to himself.


    "This will increase my general gu refinement ability. It will help me refine the rank five Man Triumphing Heaven gu as well."


    "Dao marks produce the effect. Essence activates the Dao marks. Will controls the essence that carries it."


    "The gu worms are convenient because they are the containers of dao marks and the user''s will at the same time. But a killer move is just the same, just without something to contain it externally." - Bao Zhi pondered.


    His view on cultivation has changed since he acquired his new body. He found the mainstream way of thinking about the Dao narrow-minded and restricting.


    "The only thing limiting me currently is how I use my Dao marks. The quantity of essence is not an issue." - He checked on his Primeval Rafflesia gu house in his fake aperture.


    The primeval elder in the gu still had a bright smile, over nine hundred thousand primeval stones were in reserve.


    A month has passed.


    Bao Zhi was very patient. He didn''t want to rush things.


    The tree of Bao Zhi did not grow much, but the appearance was vastly different from before.


    Bao Xu Lian noticed the change as well. Now he was observing intently as he floated around it.


    The tree had half a dozen small fruits hanging on the branches. Some were round, some were covered with spikes, and some were of irregular form.


    The largest one among them has ripened. With a soft popping sound, it dropped to the ground.


    Bao Xu Lian caught the fruit in his hand and studied it. He opened up the fruit.


    "There really is a gu worm inside. Just like in the records!" - He was overjoyed at his findings.


    "This tree is a treasure trove! It can supply me with mortal gu and it hasn''t even matured yet."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 38 - Think, Xu Lian! Think!

    Xu Lian blessed land


    Bao Xu Lian''s will floated in the air. He was in a good mood.


    In his hand was a round palm sized gu worm. It was a small gu worm, not much to look at.


    He instilled essence and activated the gu to check its effect.


    Pop!


    The gu worm cracked open and revealed rows upon rows of small seeds inside of it. The seeds were about the size of a nail.


    "Oh, seeds inside of seed. Intriguing." - Bao Xu Lian''s eyes lit up.


    This gu was refined by Bao Zhi with his Thousand Wish Perpetual Refinement method. Thus, the result was a seed inside a fruit, a gu that also held seeds.


    He extracted them into his palm.


    It was a handful of flat black seeds with a pointed end to them. They were soft and flexible to the touch.


    "These are the Thousand Wish Tree''s seeds?" - He wondered.


    "If I can grow an entire forest of this gu producing tree. Within a few years, I could populate half the grotto with this plant. At that point, the first milestone of developing my immortal aperture would be taken care of by this tree type alone." - Bao Xu Lian calculated in his mind.


    The development of immortal apertures were different from mortal apertures.


    Aperture development started from the first step of gathering external resources. These materials would be used to establish mortal resource points that could produce mortal gu and mortal gu materials in the aperture.


    The second step would be to elevate the resource points to immortal level and be able to feed the immortal gu. Bao Xu Lian didn''t even have immortal gu at the moment.


    After this, the next step in development was connecting the disjointed resource points into a coherent environment and making it self-sufficient.


    The next level of aperture development after this was producing more resources than needed. This allows trading the surplus for more beneficial resources. Turning a quantity into quality. This was a level that established rank seven cultivators with blessed lands were at.


    Beyond producing many immortal resources, was the natural refinement of immortal gu. This needed a vast foundation in dao marks and a long time to happen. Only rank eight grotto heavens had the chance to achieve this step.


    At the next stage of immortal aperture development, millions of humans and variant humans would be raised inside and immortals would emerge among them.


    The pinnacle was when the aperture could start producing lifespan gu. This was the final stage of immortal aperture development.


    These stages were not independent. They were intimately linked together.


    Each step was more difficult than the previous!


    This last phase was where the Ancestral Grotto was at. The Lingering Mountains Grotto was similarly developed, but it could not produce lifespan gu, because it had annexed a fragment of the Immemorial Nine Heavens and has been extensively modified by the Revolving Mountains Formation.


    Wood path was good at growth and aperture development. Unlike most other paths, it starts out weak but steadily accumulates foundation. But because it needed to work with living beings from the beginning, the bar was also raised for their initial development difficulty. They had to immediately fulfill the fundamental needs of the plant life.


    This was the opposite of mortal wood path cultivation. Mortal wood path gu were easy to feed and nurture because they relied on the environment.


    But an immortal had to create the environment!


    Bao Xu Lian decided on the spot.


    He marked out an undeveloped area and sprinkled the place with the seeds in hand.


    Next, he activated a killer move. - Budding Trees, Flowering Fields!


    This was a wood path killer move that directly caused plants to grow and advance their life cycle. This move depended on the life force of plants.


    Bao Xu Lian''s wood path attainment was not high, so it could not immediately produce the intended results.


    But it did not matter to him. He wanted to know the effect of the Thousand Wish Tree''s seed on the environment.


    The seeds germinated and took root. They grew rapidly, branching outwards and upwards.


    One hour, one day, three days!


    The plants grew to a certain height and then curled up tendrils started to sprout.


    The green stems grew leaves and then flowers bloomed.


    Bao Xu Lian watched in awe.


    The plants that he cultivated in his immortal aperture were mostly isolated from each other. They had no interaction with each other.


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    But these plants were growing together!


    The tendrils were entwined together like a net, the leaves interlaced together!


    The flowers were opened in full bloom. They were purple and yellow, fragrant and beautiful. They would be attracting bees and other insects, only if there were any.


    Bao Xu Lian was dumbstruck.


    For one, he expected an orchard of ash-barked, twisted-branched trees to emerge. Similar to the  Thousand Wish Tree.


    But these were clearly not Thousand Wish Trees. These were some herbaceous plants, without a hint of bark or branches!


    "What is going on?" - He was baffled.


    Bao Xu Lian landed to take a closer look.


    He could not tell the different plants apart, they formed a single and interconnected entity.


    "So a different plant emerged. It is already in the flowering phase. Why not see what it will produce?"


    Budding Trees, Flowering Fields!


    Bao Xu Lian''s wood path killer move activated again.


    The flowers closed up and withered away one after another.


    Round and dark green fruits were growing in their place. They were swelling bigger and bigger as time went on!


    Bao Xu Lian continued to use his killer move.


    The fruits stopped their growth after they reached their final shape. They had a shiny, wrinkled surface with deep grooves on it. They were about one foot in diameter.


    Bao Xu Lian plucked one to inspect it.


    But just as he did, the fruit turned gray in his hand and crumbled to pieces. The plant trembled slightly, before returning to rest.


    "What the...?" - Bao Xu Lian furrowed his brows, not understanding what just happened.


    "Could it be the wood path killer move forced the plant to accelerate its life cycle and produce the fruit too early?" - He guessed.


    Bao Xu Lian was not too disappointed. He was used to experimental failures.


    Why not have a closer look?


    Next, he tried to inspect another one without plucking it.


    But just as he got close enough, his will was sucked inside without any warning. He tried to resist, but he has helpless.


    Bao Xu Lian was alarmed!


    His will suddenly found himself hovering in an empty green void.


    "What is this place? What happened?" - He thought to himself in surprise and confusion.


    Just as he did so, voices came from every direction like a distorted echo: "What? This place? I don''t know. What are these voices? Voices? I don''t know. Know. What''s happening? Happening?" - The voices rang like a thousand bells, overlapping each.


    Bao Xu Lian was confused, and almost in a panicked state. The voices were getting louder and louder the harder he tried to figure out what was going on. He felt like he would lose his mind.


    By the end, it was an incomprehensible cacophony, preventing him from hearing even his own thoughts. He started to feel dizzy, as if he would lose consciousness at any moment.


    But he soon realized that the voices were the reflections of his own thoughts.


    As soon as he calmed down and cleared his mind of excess thoughts, the voices also abated.


    After this, he focused on one single thought only.


    "Where am I?"


    Thoughts after thoughts arose again. He had difficulty managing their quantity.


    He stopped again before trying again.


    He slowly contemplated what he has seen and what he knew.


    He discovered that these aren''t voices, there were no sounds here.


    These were thoughts! Thoughts produced by the plant.


    This was the final clue that made him discover what this plant was.


    It was called brain melon!


    Brain melon had an extraordinary background. It was created by the progenitor of wood path, the rank nine expert, Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable.


    Similar to the rank six Heavenly Essence Treasure Imperial Lotus, only mortal versions were circulated, like the rank five Heavenly Essence Treasure King Lotus.


    The real brain melon was an immortal plant. This was just a mortal version.


    While the treasure lotus was incredible in its ability to produce essence, it was a very expensive gu to refine.


    The brain melon''s use was different, it could produce not immortal or primeval essence, but thoughts.


    Thoughts were one of the pillars of wisdom path. Wills, thoughts and emotions.


    "This plant can let me scheme and deduce!" - Bao Xu Lian was very satisfied as he realized he had just used the brain melon to deduce its origin.


    This was an intoxicating feeling.


    Wills could think and plan, but it would expend them over time. Thoughts on the other hand were simpler, one thought had a singular meaning. Colliding thoughts could produce new and different thought as a results. This was how wisdom path operated.


    He started to get the hang of using brain melon, his thinking speed has accelerated by five-fold overall.


    He tried deducing other matters too. He wanted to improve on one of his killer moves in his inheritance.


    But it failed. He could not comprehend the core profundity no matter how hard he tried, as he was only a wood path master.


    Wood path master attainment was only exceptional, one in a million among mortals. But it was the norm for rank six immortals like Bao Xu Lian.


    Bao Xu Lian did not let the failure get to his heart and continued. He was entranced as he deduced one matter after another.


    But soon he realized a problem.


    "My will has produced too many thoughts. It is already depleted by more than half."


    He thought of an even more pressing issue.


    "But how do I get out?!"


    After a long while, he has exhausted all his methods, but he was still inside the green void space.


    "How long has it been..." - He could not tell.


    "What a useless trash this plant is! I can''t even take out my gains and return them to the main body." - He grumbled angrily. Almost as if mocking him, this only created more angry and desperate thoughts as a result.


    Now only a sliver of his will was left. It was very weak, it would dissipate at any moment.


    "Is. This. The. End?"


    His will started to become fragmented. It gradually lost memories and the overall ability to think.


    Woosh!


    Bao Xu Lian''s will abruptly found himself outside again.


    He could not think of anything else, he hurried back to the main body to report before he would completely disappear.


    Bao Xu Lian received the will. It entered his mind.


    "Oh. What an unexpected gain! Brain melon." - He pieced together the remaining memories.


    "It seems like if a will enters it, it has to expend itself to leave. That''s a minor drawback I can deal with."


    "I will have to invest more into this and grow more of it. The more I have, the better the deduction ability will be." - A satisfied smile appeared on Bao Xu Lian''s face.


    "What a good timing! With wisdom path abilities, I can face my internal and external threats better. I can prepare for the impending ninth earthly calamity, then the heavenly tribulation after that. I can also deduce my situation in the Ancestral Grotto." - He could already picture how he would use this to his advantage.


    He continued to cultivate brain melon plants.


    One step at a time, he approached his goal.


    He realized, he will have to spend more and more time deducing and scheming in the future.


    The brain melon plantation grew to an impressive size. Compared to the initial batch, this was already four times the size of that.


    When he injected his will inside, it could think at a fifteen-times speed!


    His wisdom path attainment was only at the ordinary level. Yet, all he needed to do was plant more and his capability in deduction would increase.


    Of course, compared to a real wisdom path cultivator using an immortal killer move to deduce, this was nothing. Wisdom path cultivators could hold millions of thoughts simultaneously and calculate matters in the blink of an eye. But they also needed such abilities, as their killer moves were overly complicated and complex in comparison.


    But for a wood path cultivator like Bao Xu Lian, this deduction ability was of great importance. And it could be developed even further with little cost!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 39 - Fake becomes real

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    "How do I increase my combat strength?"


    This was the question currently on Bao Xu Lian''s mind. His upcoming ninth earthly calamity put great pressure on him.


    The reason was not the earthly calamity itself but the upcoming heavenly tribulation ten years after that. He had confidence in passing the earthly calamity. He already had eight of them behind him. But if the losses were too big this time, the heavenly calamity could be disastrous.


    Many immortals feared this downward spiral. The calamities and tribulations came unceasingly with increased strength. If the cultivator could not keep up and their losses outweighed their gains, it would spell their doom.


    Bao Xu Lian injected his will into the brain melon plantation to ponder on the issue.


    He did not waste time and thoughts started to fly and collide rapidly inside the green void space as he deduced.


    "The best would be if I had an immortal gu. The effect of immortal gu would make the calamity trivial. I could even create immortal killer moves with it. But refining an immortal gu is not feasible. I don''t have the time or resources for it." - He thought.


    It wasn''t a coincidence most of the rank six immortals had no matching rank six immortal gu. Immortal gu were unique and hard to obtain.


    "Creating new killer moves is also out of the question. What moves my inheritance contains is already something my current self can''t surpass. Creating new ones would be wasted effort."


    This was a good problem to have. But he wasn''t satisfied, he wanted to go above and beyond!


    Suddenly a flash of inspiration hit him!


    "I should create a gu house!"


    "Even if it''s not an immortal gu house, the advantages are numerous. A gu house combines movement, defense and offense into one. It is also easier to use than killer moves."


    In a killer move the user had to activate each gu by themselves, while in a gu house the gu were integrated into a single entity, a formation. It reduced the complexity and activation time.


    Bao Xu Lian continued deducing.


    An endless stream of novel ideas flooded his mind. Piece by piece a rank five gu house materialized before his mind''s eye.


    It seemed like a flash to him, but he was deducing for a whole week before he reached his limits.


    "I shall name this creation Eight Layered Leaf Nest!"


    His tattered will left the brain melon with a satisfied expression and quickly returned to his main body.


    "Hah! What a nice gu house. Formation path is not so hard after all."


    "Now all I need is to source the gu worms and assemble them."


    Bao Xu Lian summarized the results and produced a list of the required gu worms, most of them were rank five gu.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    Bao Lang Chao sat at his desk. His expression was alternating between calm and troubled.


    The matter on his mind was how he should deal with Bao Xu Lian.


    It was revealed to him that Bao Xu Lian killed his half brother to snatch his inheritance and become an immortal. This matter could be swept under the rug, he would even gain a hold over Bao Xu Lian.


    The only problem was that Bao Xu Lian recently came under suspicion as the spy of Wen clan. If Bao Xu Lian was thoroughly investigated, Lang Chun''s death could also be uncovered. Even just the wrongful accusations of his son could undermine his authority.


    If this matter got exposed it would be something his political opponents could exploit.


    Bao Lang Chao could not let that happen!


    If he lost his position as the grotto lord, he would not likely ever reclaim it.


    Right at this moment he noticed some movement at the passage of the immortal Hole Earth gu that connected to the Lingering Mountains Grotto.


    This spot was the only exit and entrance to the grotto, it was heavily monitored.


    He checked on the details and found out it was Bao Xu Lian who has just passed through.


    "An opportunity!" - Bao Lang Chao exclaimed in his mind.


    He got up and summoned Bao Yijun right away.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi cultivated calmly in his tree form. His root system kept expanding further and further.


    They were already in range of the core areas of the blessed land.


    Bao Zhi noticed a change in the flora at a particular location.


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    "Oh, he planted the brain melons already. This is a good time to start refining then."


    Bao Zhi concentrated on that area. His roots connected and intertwined the plantation.


    "In you go!" - He called out softly and Bao Xu Lian''s will was sucked into the brain melon.


    "The opportunity is here. I will take ownership of the rank five Man Triumphing Heaven gu in one go!"


    While Bao Xu Lian''s will was trapped in the brain melon, Bao Zhi released a trace of Verdant Heart Seed''s immortal gu aura.


    The difference between mortal and immortal was like heaven and earth. The will of the rank five gu was intimidated into submission by the immortal aura.


    Bao Zhi acted quickly and activated his refinement method before the gu would realize his trick and try to resist.


    He multi tasked and started to refine.


    A week has passed in blink of an eye.


    Bao Zhi observed Bao Xu Lian''s will.


    It was about to dissipate so Bao Zhi let it out to report back.


    Not much later a new will returned and entered the brain melons to deduce again.


    "Good, good. He already values the broom as his own! Haha. It can''t be helped, deducing results is a stimulating feeling."


    Bao Zhi continued his refinement. It was already in the final stages.


    Success!


    The Man Triumphing Heaven gu was successfully refined by him.


    He checked the gu and didn''t find any faults with it.


    He started to instill his essence to activate the gu.


    It had to be said there was no shortcut here, the gu was rank five but he only had rank one essence.


    But he had a lot of it!


    He placed the Man Triumphing Heaven Gu in the center of his fake aperture and let it absorb the essence. Like a bottomless pit it started to suck his aperture dry of the essence. The Primeval Rafflesia gu house could not produce essence fast enough to keep up.


    Time has passed.


    Bao Zhi inspected the expanding brain melon plantation time and time again.


    Bao Xu Lian''s thoughts caught his attention this time.


    "So he''s planning for the calamity. That''s good. There''s no harm in lending you a helping hand. It is better if I don''t have to intervene and reveal myself during the calamity." - He thought to himself.


    Bao Zhi decided to interfere in the deduction. He injected his own thoughts and disguised them among Bao Xu Lian''s.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto


    Bao Xu Lian returned from the Lingering Mountains Grotto.


    "This Wen Yun is quite talented. She could refine all the gu I asked for really quickly." - Bao Xu Lian was in a good mood.


    He started to assemble the Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house piece by piece in his immortal aperture.


    The process was simple and natural. Bao Zhi has taken special care to create this gu house to be not difficult to use.


    He headed to return to his station and cultivate in peace.


    But a voice transmission arrived.


    "Attention! A traitor has infiltrated our ranks. Immediately come and apprehend the culprit at the immortal treasury." - Arrived the voice transmission from the grotto lord.


    Bao Xu Lian quickly arrived at the immortal treasury. He looked around.


    The surroundings were peaceful and quiet.


    "Am I late? No. There is no commotion, the traitor is still inside. Should I wait?" - Bao Xu Lian gulped, but ultimately decided to enter.


    He didn''t have fantasies of single-handedly solving the situation, as he was the youngest immortal in the clan.


    "Even just holding them up would be a merit and help is also on the way." - He thought and entered cautiously.


    But even inside, he was surprised to find that he was alone there.


    "What''s going on?"


    Suddenly the gates shut close behind him and two figures emerged.


    "Stop right there, traitor!"


    Bao Xu Lian turned around in confusion.


    "Where?" - He couldn''t sense anyone else.


    "There''s no point in further pretending, Xu Lian. You have betrayed the Bao Clan. Obediently surrender yourself now!" - Said the voice of the grotto lord.


    "W-what? I don''t understand. What did I do? I would never harm the clan!" - Bao Xu Lian looked at Bao Lang Chao with confusion.


    "Don''t deny it. You leaked the secrets and plans of Bao Clan! You have just returned from Wen clan and slipped inside the immortal treasury. The facts are as clear as day." - Bao Yijun explained coldly.


    Bao Xu Lian trembled like a candle in a storm.


    "Impossible! Father, it was you, who summoned me here! I have no other reason to be here!" - He shouted in indignance.


    The other immortals arrived at this moment.


    A faint smile appeared on Bao Lang Chao for a moment. He sent the same message to everyone indded, but he notified Xu Lian in advance.


    "What''s going on? Where''s the traitor?" - Asked the third supreme elder, Bao Chi Ping.


    Bao Lang Chao pointed at Bao Xu Lian: "Ungrateful descendant. From this day, I disown you, you are no son of mine. With my authority as the supreme elder of Bao clan, I, Bao Lang Chao expel you from the clan. Surrender and accept your punishment!"


    Bao Lang Chao had an aggrieved but stern expression. He wiped his tears with his hand.


    The immortals narrowed their eyes and blocked the entrance.


    "So the traitor was him all along. Who would have guessed!"


    "Clan leader is truely resolute."


    "I am not the traitor. You are framing me!" - Bao Xu Lian shouted with a trembling voice.


    "You don''t have to deny it. We can search your immortal aperture for proof." - Bao Chi Ping said coldly.


    "N-no! This is unjust, I am not the traitor!" - Bao Xu Lian shouted.


    "It''s no use. Your crimes are unforgivable. You will be executed!" - Bao Chi Ping said as he started to attack.


    Bao Xu Lian panicked and tried to dodge.


    "Clan leader, elders, I am not the traitor!" - He shouted.


    But nobody cared to listen to him.


    "Traitors must be destroyed!"


    "This is the will of the clan!"


    Bao Xu Lian was struggling to dodge. One of the moves hit him and severed his arm.


    "Ahh! I speak, I confess everything. Please spare my life!" - He fell on his knees and begged.


    The attacks ceased and then the immortals encirceld him with disdainful looks.


    Bao Xu Lian hurriedly sent multiple wills into his aperture. One of them entered the brain melon and started deducing, his other wills were assembling the Eight Layered Leaf Nest as quickly as they could.


    Bao Xu Lian was at his wits end, he could only delay and hope for a breaktrgough.


    Minutes were passing like days. Bao Xu Lian was under immense mental pressure as he tried his best.


    "Just a little bit more." - He thought to himself.


    Bao Lang Chao had an ugly expression as he listened to the confession. He wanted put an end to the matter as soon as he could.


    "We''ve heard enough. What are your last words?"


    "I... I just want everyone to know..." - He paused for a moment.


    "YOU CAN EAT SHIT!" - Bao Xu Lian quickly retireved the gu house from his aperture and entered it.


    The Eight Layered Leaf Nest broke through the treasury walls and flew away like a green arrow.


    The immortals were shocked. They quickly chased after it.


    They hurled long range attacks at the fleeing gu house.


    Bao Xu Lian tried his best to dodge left and right, but half the attacks still landed.


    When an attack landed one or two layers of the outer shell of leaves turned from green to yellow then brown as they absorbed the attack. The withered leaves revealred another layer of green below it.


    Bao Xu Lian was getting thrown around inside the gu house as the powerful attacks rocked it. He instilled his immortal essence furiously into the gu house.


    He was in a sorry state.


    As marvelous as this gu house was, it had no chance to hold out against immortal level attacks for an extended time. The layers were falling off one after another. Their replenishment could not keep up, the walls were wearing thinner and thinner.


    "Almost there!"


    Bao Lang Chao noticed the direction, he quickly guessed where Bao Xu Lian headed.


    "Close the passage now!" - He shouted.


    But nobody was manning the passage, he had summoned everyone to himself.


    Bao Xu Lian slipped through the Hole Earth gu passage just in time before it closed.


    "He escaped."


    "What a good method. This gu house isn''t in our clan''s inheritance."


    "Wen clan didn''t send him unprepared it seems."


    Bao Lang Chao cursed in his mind. Now that Bao Xu Lian was backed into a corner, he would naturally ally with Wen clan.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 40 - Have mercy

    Ancestral Grotto


    "How is he? Will he recover?" - Asked Yu Lingxin at the still unconscious Ye Jianhong.


    Jin Ju wrinkled his brows. He already gave the medicine he made to Ye Jianhong, but he did not show signs of recovery yet.


    "I''m not sure. We can only wait for a while to see if the medicine will take effect." - Jin Ju shook his head.


    Jin Ju carefully applied the medicinal paste to Ye Jianhong''s wounds, but there was no sign of improvement.


    "What could be wrong?" - He muttered to himself, feeling a sense of growing urgency.


    Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the bushes and a stranger emerged from the trees, his eyes narrowed and his hand on a small pouch at his belt. "What are you doing here?" - He demanded, his voice sharp and hostile.


    Zhao Min stepped forward, he readied himself. "We are just passing through, collecting herbs for our sect. We mean no harm." - He said calmly, trying to defuse the situation.


    But the stranger was not convinced. "This is my garden!" - He growled.


    "And I won''t allow you to steal from it. Prepare to defend yourselves!"


    With that, he unleashed a handful of gu, sending them flying towards Zhao Min and Yu Lingxin. The insects buzzed and swarmed, their tiny bodies glowing with a mystical energy.


    Zhao Min activated his rank two root sprout and wood sensation gu. A group of roots quickly emerged from the ground and struck out towards the incoming gu.


    Zhao Min''s heart tightened at what he saw next.


    The roots did not connect! They passed right through the mysterious gu flying at them.


    "It is useless!" - Laughed the stranger.


    Zhao Min had to recall his roots, he could not stop the threat in time, he had to dodge.


    A thick root carried him into the air. His clothes fluttered in the air as he evaded time and time again.


    Another root carried the unconscious Ye Jianhong closely behind him.


    "These gu are strange, don''t let them close to you. You can''t block them." - Warned Zhao Min.


    Yu Lingxin was chased by a pair of the flying gu, she did not have another choice but to run.


    The man commanded the flying gu worms. It was hard to escape them.


    Jin Ju looked on, his heart racing with adrenaline. He ducked in the tall grass to remain unnoticed. He knew that he had to act quickly in order to turn the tide of the battle. With a burst of speed, he summoned his own gu, the carve wood gu and attacked the stranger from behind.


    Beheading the leader tactic!


    The man groaned in pain, his face contorted with fear. He lost his control over his gu, they fell to the ground like a kite with strings cut.


    "Please, have mercy!" - He begged, his voice shaking.


    "I am not your enemy. I am Zhu Feng, from the Bao Wen sect, like you, but I was exiled as punishment for my crimes. I have been living in these woods, trying to survive on my own."


    Zhao Min looked at Zhu Feng with a mix of pity and disgust. "We cannot trust you. But we will not kill you." - He said firmly.


    Zhu Feng gritted his teeth. What bad luck! He wanted to teach these juniors a lesson they wouldn''t forget.


    "What a sinister technique! What did you do to me?" - Zhu Feng''s face turned ashen as he inspected his aperture. Its walls were cracked, and a huge cut gaped at the side.


    His primeval essence was flowing out before the eyes of Zhu Feng.


    Jin Ju looked at him strangely, unsure what to say.


    "It was you who attacked us. Your life is spared, what else do you want? Count your blessings." - Yu Lingxin lectured the middle-aged man.


    "What are these gu?" - Asked Jin Ju.


    He picked up one of the strange insects that attacked them. It looked vicious and like it was made of gray tinted glass.


    "Those are my Phantom Mantis gu. Give them back!" - Grumbled Zhu Feng.


    Jin Ju narrowed his eyes, he took a fancy to this exotic gu.


    He calmly put some of them away. He cast down his eyes and did not look at Zhu Feng again, he felt guilty, but he also enjoyed it.


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    "You!"


    "Since you said you live here, show it. Prove that you are not a demonic gu master." - Said Yu Lingxin.


    Zhao Min wanted to head back already. But the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he got. What if Zhu Feng was really up to no good?


    "You juniors come and trample my plants. You uproot my hard work. Then you, you cripple my cultivation and also take my gu worms?" - Zhu Feng was shaking from anger as he pointed at Jin Ju who didn''t even dare to meet his gaze.


    "Who is this madman?"


    "Brother Ye, you finally woke up. This scoundrel is the one who planted the Leaf Warden Serpent gu that bit you." - Said Yu Lingxin.


    Ye Jianhong stepped closer and towered over Zhu Feng who laid on the ground in his pain.


    "You are the one who planted that gu, aren''t you?" - Asked Ye Jianhong in a menacing tone.


    Zhu Feng gulped, he knew that he was caught. He could only nod his head. His hot temper vanished like a puff of smoke. He was actually scared of this junior?


    "So it was you." - Ye Jianhong said in a cold voice.


    He stepped on Zhu Feng''s neck.


    "Eeek!" - Zhu Feng screamed in pain.


    "You are lucky that I am in a good mood today, otherwise you would be dead already." - Ye Jianhong said in a cold voice.


    "Enough with this already. Get up and show the way. If you are a fellow sect member, we will let bygones be bygones." - Zhao Min said, he was visibly annoyed already.


    "Hehe. If not, then you better watch out old man." - Added Ye Jianhong.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    Bao Xu Lian arrived at Wen clan''s Lingering Mountains Grotto Heaven, his heart heavy with the knowledge that Bao clan had framed him as a traitor. He had nowhere else to turn, and so he sought refuge under the protection of Wen clan, based on the alliance agreement between the two clans.


    "These despicable immortals! Not one of them dared to question father''s baseless accusations." - He thought to himself in bitterness.


    "Bao Lang Chao, there will come a day when I have my revenge. Just you wait, I will trample on your Bao clan!" - He called out softly. Just as he said this, he suffered a backlash and vomited a mouthful of blood.


    "Ah, the immortal oath is still in effect?" - He furrowed his brows in anger.


    As he approached the gates of the Golden Peak Pagoda, he was met by a group of Wen clan guards, their arms crossed and their faces stern. Bao Xu Lian knew that he must present his case calmly and carefully, for his life depended on it.


    "I am Bao Xu Lian of the Bao clan" - He said, his voice steady despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.


    "I have been falsely accused of treason by my own clan, and I seek protection under the terms of the alliance agreement between our two clans."


    The guards looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They were hesitant to offer him refuge without first consulting their clan leaders. After a tense moment of deliberation, the guards nodded and allowed Bao Xu Lian to enter the Golden Peak Pagoda.


    Bao Xu Lian walked into Wen clan''s main hall, he didn''t even notice his face flush with anger and fear as he entered.


    "Fairy Wen Jie, I beg of you, grant me protection." - Bao Xu Lian said, dropping to his knees before the first supreme elder of Wen clan.


    Fairy Wen Jie sat on her throne, her eyes narrowing as she examined the injured Bao Xu Lian before her. She could sense the fear and desperation emanating from him, but she also detected a hint of arrogance in his demeanor.


    Fairy Wen Jie raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her lips. "Why should I protect you, young man? Your presence here will offend our ally, the Bao clan."


    "Why should I not capture and hand you over to Lang Chao personally, haha!" - She said in a flowery voice.


    Bao Xu Lian gritted his teeth, trying to hold back his emotions.


    "I am innocent, Fairy Wen Jie. The Bao clan is framing me for treason, and if I don''t find shelter soon, they will catch me and kill me. I truly have nowhere else to go."


    Wen Jie studied the one-armed Bao Xu Lian for a moment, a calculating look in her eyes. She knew that hiding Bao Xu Lian would cause problems with the Bao clan, but she also had her own intentions.


    "For what reason would they frame you?"


    "They accuse me of being a spy of Wen clan. What nonsense is that? You know it just as I do."


    Wen Jie silently nodded.


    Bao Xu Lian continued.


    "I suspect the real reason is different. I am the most talented young immortal in Bao clan. My father must feel threatened that I will overtake him. So he decided to use underhanded methods to suppress me..." - He boasted shamelessly, before realizing his situation and lowering his head again.


    "But I do not dare brag. Fairy Wen Jie, you can see for yourself. This is the gu house I made, the reason I could escape with my life today." - He took out the tattered gu house Eight Layered Leaf Nest.


    Now only two and a half layers were intact, it showed visible marks of combat.


    Fairy Wen Jie inspected it up close. She was in deep contemplation.


    "Let me check something..." - A sharp light flashed in her eyes.


    She attacked Bao Xu Lian without notice!


    Bao Xu Lian was caught unprepared and was hit by Wen Jie''s surprise attack directly.


    "Ah!" - The fear of death overwhelmed Bao Xu Lian at that moment, he couldn''t lift a finger he was so frightened.


    "Nothing happened? What was that?" - He looked at Wen Jie and his unchanged body in confusion. His heart was beating rapidly. Did he just imagine that?


    "Indeed. You are no longer a member of Bao clan. Otherwise I would have suffered a minor backlash now." - Wen Jie fanned herself with a self-satisfied expression on her face.


    "This woman is crazy!" - Bao Xu Lian did not dare voice his thoughts. Cold sweat dripped down his neck. He felt that offending her would be worse than death.


    Bao Xu Lian still had the effect of the immortal oath restricting him, he could not harm either the Bao or Wen clans. But others could target him, as he was formally expelled from the clan.


    "Very well, Xu Lian. I will grant you protection, but you must swear loyalty to the Wen clan and follow my orders." - She said, her voice cold and commanding.


    Bao Xu Lian nodded, grateful for the protection but wary of Wen Jie''s intentions.


    "I swear loyalty to the Wen clan, and will follow your orders, Fairy Wen Jie."


    Wen Jie smiled, satisfied with Bao Xu Lian''s response.


    "Good. You will be hidden in the Lingering Mountains Grotto. Recuperate and tend to your injuries." - Wen Jie''s voice was like a gentle breeze, soothing and calming as she spoke.


    "One more thing, I am soon facing my earthly calamity. I need a place where I can place down my aperture to face the calamity."


    With a wave of her hand, Wen Jie called for someone.


    A figure landed in a flash before her.


    "Grand Formation, this is Xu Lian. Take him to the Ascension Peak and accommodate his needs." - She ordered.


    "This is the crucial person in the two clan''s prophecy." - She transmitted secretly to Grand Formation Wen Bo.


    Wen Bo nodded solemnly and led the way.


    Bao Xu Lian breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to have found shelter. But he knew that he was not safe yet, and that he would have to be careful around the manipulative Wen Jie. He was trapped in a web of politics and intrigue, and he would have to navigate carefully to avoid getting caught between the two forces.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 41 - No turning back

    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    The atmosphere was heavy as the immortals of the Bao clan gathered for their meeting.


    Bao Lang Chao sat at the main seat, surrounded by the other supreme elders and various immortals from the Bao clan.


    "We must act quickly," Bao Lang Chao said, his voice grave. "Xu Lian, has betrayed us. He has conspired with the Wen clan against our own, he violated our rules. He will be held accountable for his crimes! We must strike with an iron fist!"


    The faces of the immortals were solemn.


    "But what do we do now? He escaped to Wen clan''s territory." - One of the other immortals asked.


    The simplest way was the most direct. Demand the extradition of Bao Xu Lian. What if Wen clan doesn''t comply? Force them!


    But they couldn''t voice these thoughts. Openly opposing the Wen clan would violate the Immortal Oath.


    After all, harming others means you first harm yourself.


    "The Wen clan relies on us for resources, and we need their expertise and goods in return. We cannot simply break off relations, and neither can we harm them directly. We can only put pressure on them."


    Bao Yijun, the second supreme elder, nodded gravely. "We must tread carefully." - She said.


    "The annual competition of the Bao Wen Academy is approaching. If we win, we will secure a greater share of resources for our clan. We must use this event to our advantage and show the Wen clan that we will not be trifled with." - She continued.


    Bao Chi Ping, the third supreme elder, spoke up. "We must not let our emotions cloud our judgment." - He said.


    "We must act in the best interests of the Bao clan, no matter what the cost may be. We will use the competition to demonstrate our strength and determination, and make the Wen clan pay for their betrayal."


    "Yes, we won''t stoop to their level. Our Bao clan can suppress them fair and square!"


    The immortals of the Bao clan nodded in agreement. They knew that the path ahead would not be easy, but they were determined to protect their clan and uphold their dignity, no matter the cost.


    The immortals of the Bao clan began to discuss their plans for the upcoming Bao Wen competition.


    "We must gather our strongest gu masters and cultivate their powers quicker." - Bao Lang Chao said.


    "We must also devise strategies to outmaneuver the Wen clan and secure victory for our clan."


    "But we cannot simply rely on brute force." - Bao Yijun noted.


    "We must also use our intelligence and cunning to outwit the Wen clan. We must use every tool at our disposal to ensure our victory."


    "We must also prepare for any potential setbacks or surprises." - Bao Chi Ping added.


    "The Wen clan is not to be underestimated. We must be ready for anything they may throw at us."


    The immortals'' determination grew stronger by the minute. Bao clan has already wagered more resources this year than usual. The reason was the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation had to be repaired. Wen clan would naturally not let these go. The Bao clan immortals knew that the competition would be especially fierce this year, but they were determined to emerge victorious and protect the honor of their clan.


    The immortals of the Bao clan were deep in discussion when an envoy from the Wen clan arrived.


    "Greetings, esteemed members of the Bao clan." - The messenger said.


    "I bring a message from the Wen clan. Wen clan denies the accusations that Bao Xu Lian is a spy, and they request that the Hole Earth Gu passage be reopened so that our two clans may resume our business relations as allies." - He humbly said.


    How shameless!


    The immortals of the Bao clan looked at each other in surprise, and ridicule.


    Bao Lang Chao spoke up.


    "We cannot simply trust the words of the Wen clan" - He said. "They have already betrayed us by sheltering Bao Xu Lian. Hand him over, only then will the passage be opened again."


    Bao Yijun nodded in agreement.


    "We will not reopen the passage until Bao Xu Lian is delivered to us dead or alive." - She said firmly.


    "The Wen clan must take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences."


    Bao Chi Ping: "We do not believe you. The evidence against the Wen clan is clear. Unless they hand over Bao Xu Lian and prove their loyalty to the Bao clan, we cannot reopen the Hole Earth Gu passage and resume our business relations. This is Bao clans unanimous decision."


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    The messenger from the Wen clan looked taken aback. He had not expected such a strong reaction from the Bao clan.


    "I will convey your message to the Wen clan." - He said after a moment.


    "But I must warn you, this decision may have serious repercussions for both of our clans. The Wen clan will not take kindly to being pressured in this manner."


    "We are aware of the risks." - Bao Lang Chao''s eyes flashed coldly.


    "But we will not back down. The Bao clan''s dignity and honor are at stake. We will do what is necessary to protect them, no matter the cost."


    The messenger nodded and left, carrying the message back to the Wen clan. The immortals of the Bao clan continued their discussions, determined to emerge victorious in the upcoming competition and protect their benefits.


    Bao Lang Chao was satisfied with the way the meeting had gone. The immortals of the Bao clan had rallied together, united in their determination to protect their clan and seek justice for the betrayal of Bao Xu Lian. He had successfully seized control of the narrative, making it clear to the Wen clan that the Bao clan would not be trifled with. He felt, his authority was stabilized again.


    "Troubled times distinguish a leader from the rest." - He thought.


    Despite the challenges that lay ahead, Bao Lang Chao was confident in the strength and resilience of his clan. He knew that together, they could overcome any obstacle and emerge victorious in the upcoming Bao Wen competition.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    "Could we return to the Icy Peak?" - Asked Qinyang.


    Hao Meng looked at her strangely.


    "I thought you wanted to come with me... Did I do something wrong?"


    "No, it''s not like that. I wouldn''t dare go against that immortal''s order. It''s just that I want to say goodbye to someone before I go."


    "Oh, but you know you can return to the Icy Peak even after you join the academy."


    Qinyang shook her head.


    "I don''t want to return, I don''t feel I belong there. But I owe my life to my little brother. He should know that I''m alright, lest he rushes out to save me again." - She said, chucking at the end.


    "Why not bring him as well? I can give him a position in the academy. All it takes is a word from me." - Hao Meng said plainly.


    Qinyang looked at him strangely. She just recalled, even that immortal knew who Hao Meng was.


    "Just who are you exactly?"


    Hao Meng looked at her in surprise.


    "It is I, Hao Meng of the Wen clan. Who else?" - He replied unassumingly, but he quickly realized, he hadn''t even told his background to Qinyang.


    "Hehe, I forgot to tell you. I''m one of the elders of the Bao Wen Academy." - He straightened his posture and flashed his teeth with a healthy grin.


    "You, an elder? How can that be? You barely look my age." - Qinyang teased him.


    "Hmph! Of course, I am. What else would a rank five gu master be? I would bring shame to my ancestors if I be anything less."


    "Already rank five? So impressive?" - She thought as she narrowed her eyes warily.


    "Tell me straight. How old are you, have you used lifespan gu to look this young?" - She asked with suspicion.


    She racked her brain quickly, why would an old fox want to charm her? To take her yin energy or make her his slave? Qinyang was horrified as any of these could happen in her mind. This was the gu world after all! The methods of gu were myriad and unfathomable, anything was possible.


    "No, I swear I didn''t! Mother would only let me have a lifespan gu if I became an immortal. She uses them all on herself just to keep her face pretty." - Explained Hao Meng indignantly.


    He wasn''t an old man trying to trick her with ulterior motives!


    Qinyang stared at him silently for a moment.


    "That makes sense. With his temper, he can''t be that old. Wait! His mother is an immortal?" - Qinyang''s eyes opened wide in shock as she realized.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this sooner? You have an immortal supporting you! That''s so imposing!"


    "Well, I guess." - Hao Meng shrugged. To him, this was normal, he grew up like this.


    "So, shall we pick up your brother then?" - He steered his icy cloud towards Icy Peak.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed land


    Near the center of the immortal aperture stood a tall tree. It towered over the surrounding greenery, it stood out with its distinct color and twisted branches.


    This tree, of course, was Bao Zhi.


    His attention was focused on his fake aperture. He inspected the Primeval Rafflesia gu house. The Primeval elder gu was depleted by over two third! The elder inside had a hunched back and looked unhappy.


    "The essence consumption has steeply increased." - Bao Zhi thought.


    "But it was worth it!"


    He shifted his attention back to its previous target.


    Rank five Man Triumphing Heaven Gu was about to absorb all the essence it needed.


    Bao Zhi checked, Bao Xu Lian''s will was still inside the brain melon to deduce matters.


    It started to glow in a brilliant golden light, and Bao Zhi could feel its power coursing through his body. He felt invigorated and strong, like he could take on the world.


    Bao Zhi could feel the fake aperture expanding, growing stronger and more powerful with each passing moment.


    As Bao Zhi entered a mystical state brought on by the Man Triumphing Heaven Gu, he felt a sense of peace and calmness wash over him. He felt as if he was in a state of transcendence, where his mind and body were completely in harmony.


    He could feel his senses heightening, as if he was more attuned to the world around him. He could hear the smallest sounds, see the tiniest details, and feel the subtlest changes in the air around him.


    His body felt light and weightless, as if he was floating on air. He felt a sense of freedom and liberation, as if he was free from the constraints of his physical body.


    Finally, when the Man Triumphing Heaven Gu had absorbed all the primeval essence it needed, it let out a loud, triumphant roar in Bao Zhi''s mind.


    Bao Zhi shuddered.


    He felt the fake aperture fully awaken, and he knew that he had achieved a new level of strength and power.


    With the Man Triumphing Heaven Gu spent, he was now a proper gu master.


    As Bao Zhi exited the mystical state brought on by the Man Triumphing Heaven Gu, he was surprised to see that his fake aperture had not been replaced by the real one!


    But his shock was brief and temporary. He was a man of unassailable mind, and he quickly regained his composure.


    Instead, he saw that his aperture now had two layers, with the real aperture layered on top of the fake one. Like two spaces that overlapped each other, distinct, yet connected.


    "Interesting" - He said, examining the two layers of his aperture.


    "I''ve never heard of anyone having two apertures before. I wonder what the implications are."


    He continued to experiment with his new aperture, testing out its abilities and capabilities.


    "I see. The fake aperture is made of wood path dao marks, while the real aperture is a human path creation. Human path is naturally complementary and non-conflicting so the two can co-exist." - He pondered.


    He stopped the Primeval Rafflesia gu house. The second layer of his aperture was currently still empty. But it didn''t take long, it started to naturally produce primeval essence.


    He was gratified to see that the second layer was soon filled up to ninety-five percent, indicating that he had an A grade aptitude.


    "One layer can hold a hundred percent primeval essence but can''t produce any, while the other can be filled up to ninety-five percent and can rapidly produce the rank one green copper primeval essence."


    Bao Zhi did not waste time. He activated the Primeval Rafflesia Gu house again. Both layers of his aperture filled to the limit.


    "This much essence... If I pour all of this continuously into nurturing the human path aperture, what would happen? I should be able to break through from rank one initial stage to rank one middle stage without my essence running out."


    Advancing cultivation effortlessly, this was something only one of the ten extreme physiques could replicate!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 42 - Desperate struggle; gratifying result

    Ancestral Grotto


    "This way, this way." - Zhu Feng lead the way.


    A cave loomed before them, dark and foreboding. Zhu Feng, led the group into the depths of the earth, his eyes glinting with a sinister light.


    "You live in this hole?" - Ye Jianhong sneered at him.


    Zhu Feng gazed at him momentarily, but did not answer his provocation.


    The air was heavy, and the ground was wet beneath their feet.


    As they ventured further into the cave, Zhao Min began to feel a sense of unease wash over him. He tried to shake it off, but the feeling only intensified.


    Suddenly, the entrance to the cave collapsed behind them, trapping them within its dark and winding corridors.


    "What have you done, Zhu Feng?" - Zhao Min demanded, trying to remain calm despite the danger they were in.


    Panic set in as they realized they were trapped, and their situation only worsened when a swarm of Phantom Mantises emerged from the shadows, their razor-sharp mandibles glinting in the dim light.


    Zhu Feng chuckled, a sly smile spreading across his face. "This is my revenge!" - He hissed. "You ruined my cultivation, I have no hope left, and now I am willing to take you all to the grave with me."


    Jin Ju let out a whimper. "Why are you doing this? We can still find a way out of here."


    Zhu Feng''s face darkened, he cackled maniacally.


    "You! I''d strangle you to death with my own hands. But this is better. Let''s be the witness of your comrades getting torn to pieces by these Phantom Mantises. Our deaths will be long and agonizing!" - His sharp voice was filled with malice.


    Ye Jianhong puffed out his chest, trying to appear brave. "You will pay for this, Zhu Feng. I will not let you get away with this."


    But Zhu Feng only laughed at Ye Jianhong''s threats. "You are all doomed. I have no reason to fear death now that my cultivation is gone, I''m already a walking dead man."


    Yu Lingxin stepped forward, trying to find a way to help the group. "We must work together if we are to survive this. Let''s see if we can find a way out of here. If there''s an entrance, there must be an exit."


    They had no more time to converse, as the swarm quickly closed in from the depths of the cave.


    The wild Phantom Mantis swarm attacked them relentlessly, their sharp mandibles could tear through flesh and bone. Even Zhu Feng, was not spared from their wrath.


    Zhao Min, always one to take decisive action, quickly activated his killer move. A root emerged from the ground, wrapping around Zhu Feng and binding him tightly.


    The Phantom Mantises proved to be a formidable foe. They were able to temporarily turn phantom, passing through objects and making them difficult to fight.


    Jin Ju took out a Phantom Mantis gu that he had refined on the way and sent if flying towards the swarm. This gu confused the other Phantom Mantis gu, giving the group a chance to escape deeper into the cave.


    As they fought for survival, the group knew they had to find a way out before it was too late.


    After many twists and turns, the passage opened up.


    "What is this place?" - Asked Ye Jianhong suspiciously.


    "This is unnatural, the walls are too straight and smooth." - Zhao Min looked around.


    The group''s gaze soon landed on the bound-up Zhu Feng. But Zhu Feng paid no heed to their words, he only showed a bitter expression.


    "Look, there is a stone pillar at the end and a plaque on it." - Jin Ju pointed at the far end of the place.


    "Second stage of the inheritance ground?" - Yu Lingxin exclaimed in shock as she read it aloud.


    Zhu Feng''s face turned ashen, his eyes almost popped out in disbelief.


    "How can this be? I was looking for this for five years already." - He cursed indignantly.


    Ye Jianhong could not hold it anymore and grabbed Zhu Feng''s arm and twisted it forcefully.


    Zhu Feng was still bound by Zhao Min''s method. Unable to resist, he wailed in agony as his joints were stressed to their limits.


    "Speak." - Ye Jianhong said coldly.


    The others did not stop him. Any lingering sympathy for this man had vanished in their eyes.


    One time should be forgiven, a second time should be punished! This was their common thinking.


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    Zhu Feng clearly knew more about this place than them. They decided to interrogate him before going any further.


    "Twist it that way and pull on it. He deserves it!" - Advised Yu Lingxin.


    Ye Jianhong got better and better at torturing Zhu Feng.


    It did not take an incense stick of time for Zhu Feng''s tongue to get loose.


    "Just kill me. I will tell you everything I know, just let me die." - Sobbed Zhu Feng.


    The group surrounded him with renewed interest, before he began to tell his story.


    "I found this inheritance place by accident when I was on a mission. There was a landslide that uncovered the cave entrance. So I naturally checked it out." - Zhu Feng stopped to catch his breath.


    "The same kind of plaque was inside, it said ''first stage of inheritance ground''. I destroyed it, so others wouldn''t know, even if they found the place."


    "But I found out this place was bigger and harder to explore than I thought. I had to come back many times, so I purposely offended one of the academy elders. I knew what my punishment would be, exile. But this gave me the opportunity to focus on this place." - He stopped again before continuing.


    "First, I discovered the troublesome Phantom Mantises. So I lured them out of the cave and managed to painstakingly capture some of them! With those of my own, I could produce an effect on the larger group. Soon, I discovered the group had a leader. I could not get past no matter how I tried, it would not be fooled by my methods. It commanded the swarm against me. So I continued to capture them! One by one, I amassed my own group and managed to get rid of the leading Phantom Mantis eventually in a decisive battle."


    "Sound like you passed the first test then, no?" - Asked Zhao Min.


    "After that point, I could explore the cave relatively freely, but I did not find this passage..." - He looked at them resentfully.


    He did all the hard work, and they reaped the rewards.


    "What else? Tell me everything." - Demanded Ye Jianhong.


    "This is all I know, I''ve never been further than this."


    "What shall we do with him then?" - Asked Jin Ju.


    "Just put him out of his misery, he already begged for it." - Said Yu Lingxin.


    "I''ll do it." - Said Ye Jianhong solemnly.


    The group looked at Zhao Min. The final say was his.


    Zhao Min took a deep breath and sighed.


    "This isn''t a grudge we can resolve. Zhu Feng, your choices have forced my hand."


    With that said, Zhao Min clenched his hand into a fist tightly. At the same time, the thick roots around Zhu Feng came to life and crushed his body with violent force.


    Broken bones punctured the soft flesh and blood splattered in all directions.


    The group was shocked, as Zhu Feng died in an instant.


    When Zhao Min released the wooden root, the remains collapsed to the ground like a wet rag, twisted and unrecognizable.


    Jin Ju gulped, not feeling well at the sight of this. The others had similar reactions.


    "Let''s move on. Our time is tight." - Zhao Min announced solemnly.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi was absorbed in cultivation. Now that his aperture has finally awakened, he could step on the path of conventional cultivation.


    "Walking on the beaten path is faster to yield results. I will make up for the lost time now." - He thought.


    He focused on his aperture.


    A surge of primeval essence, the color of green copper, began to amass and churn like a body of water. Under the direction of Bao Zhi''s mental power, the waves steadily grew in magnitude and surged forward, crashing against the walls of the aperture with relentless force.


    The aperture walls of a Rank one initial stage Gu Master were like a white barrier, and when the green copper primeval essence collided with it, it cast shadows of light that were indescribable, producing a captivating sensation.


    It was so long ago he did mortal cultivation. This was like a nostalgic euphoria to Bao Zhi.


    "I can feel it clearly. I''m making steady progress. The breakthrough is near."


    A small fragment of primeval essence was spent each time, transforming into a delicate, unseen energy which permeated the white-hued aperture of light. This energy, however small, was the catalyst for a momentous change which was to come.


    The waves of primeval essence continued crashing on the aperture walls and nurturing it without showing signs of abating.


    Any gu master would quickly expend their primeval essence at this pace and would need to stop and recover.


    Cultivation was akin to a long distance run. One needed perseverance and determination. But one couldn''t sprint from start to finish, they had to adhere to their limits.


    But Bao Zhi''s primeval essence was simply unceasing!


    He had the support of the Primeval Rafflesia gu house producing essence as well as his natural essence recovery.


    Just based on his recently awoken aperture''s ninety-five percent aptitude, he could be considered a cultivation talent. An A grade aptitude like this usually meant a smooth sailing till rank five, ignoring outside factors.


    Rank five was the peak of the mortal world!


    But in the eyes of Bao Zhi, all of mortal cultivation was just a step he had to take in his journey.


    "It is here." - He focused.


    "Rise!"


    All his primeval essence gathered into a single wave and clashed against the aperture walls.


    As the white light grew ever brighter, its rays seemed to twist and untangle, giving it a feeling of solidity. In the span of more than ten breaths, white strips of light bands appeared on the light aperture wall, seemingly dancing and colliding with each other as if they were an unceasing river.


    As they collided, they continued to mingle and merge, forming a river of white flowing light, before finally congealing together and completely enveloping the wall of light in its brilliant glow.


    The brilliant white light which had filled the aperture before began to dim, and in its place, a layer of shimmering white water appeared. It was smooth, and round in shape, and far thicker than the original light wall. The surface of the water was alive with ripples of light, flickering and dancing in its depths.


    Success!


    Rank one middle stage achieved!


    Bao Zhi stopped for a moment to inspect his result. His sea of primeval essence came to a still, without a single ripple on its surface.


    "There don''t seem to be any problem. The other layer, from the fake aperture is also unaffected."


    His human path aperture was elevated a minor realm, soon it started to produce its corresponding primeval essence, rank one middle stage pale green primeval essence.


    The two kinds of essence did not mix, the pale green essence sank to the bottom, while the remaining initial stage jade green essence rose to the top. The two formed a clear line of separation.


    It had to be mentioned, the Primeval Rafflesia gu house was rank one. It could produce the same stage of rank one primeval essence as the user activated it with. Now it was also turning the primeval stones into the middle stage jade green primeval essence, albeit with a slightly worse conversion rate.


    Bao Zhi did not idle for long, his will whipped up another storm in his primeval sea.


    The initial stage essence was soon all used up and fully replaced the middle stage essence.


    As a result, the waves became heavier and more impactful. The water-like aperture walls shook and swayed under the hammer-like tides.


    The middle stage was tougher to break through. But Bao Zhi was not daunted.


    "I will succeed!" - He declared with absolute confidence, and then, the storm grew wilder, the waves grew larger and the walls of his aperture began to tremble as it tried to resist the onslaught.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 43 - Advancing by leaps and bounds

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    The time flow in Xu Lian blessed land was faster than the outside world. While Xu Lian would experience a day, the beings in his aperture would feel that about a week has passed.


    Bao Zhi''s cultivation was calm and uninterrupted. His cultivation has advanced at a fast pace. He was at rank one peak stage, close to breaking through to being a rank two gu master. He was on the cusp of a major realm now.


    He recited in his mind:


    "The gu master, he cultivates with care and skill,"


    "Nurturing the primeval essence within his will."


    "He creates crashing waves to strengthen the wall,"


    "This cultivation, it never ends at all."


    "In the initial stage, the walls are light and bright,"


    "The essence is jade green, a beautiful sight."


    "But as he progresses through the middle stage,"


    "The walls become water-like, the essence pale."


    "In the upper stage, the walls are like stone,"


    "The essence turns dark green, never alone."


    "But as he nears the peak, the walls turn crystal clear,"


    "The essence black green, a sight to hold dear."


    "After the peak, the walls are shattered and broken,"


    "But they reform stronger, a new cycle awoken."


    "The gu master''s cultivation never ends,"


    "As he continues to nurture and comprehend."


    Bao Zhi currently had crystal-like aperture walls after advancing from middle stage. This was the result of his primeval essence continuously strengthening and nurturing his aperture walls.


    From illusory to becoming solid.


    But the next step was different.


    "Strengthening then breaking. This is the cycle of mortal cultivation." - Bao Zhi thought to himself as he prepared for the breakthrough to rank two.


    Bao Zhi was in a state meditation, focusing all his energy and attention on breaking through to the next realm.


    His will commanded and his black green peak stage primeval essence surged to rush at his aperture walls. The crystal walls shook under the pressure. Soon cracks started to form on the surface, a sign that the breakthrough was imminent.


    Bao Zhi''s heart pounded with excitement as he pushed harder, determined to break through and reach the next realm.


    The cracks grew larger, spreading across the surface of the crystal walls.


    Finally, with a loud cracking sound, the walls shattered, and Bao Zhi''s cultivation advanced to rank two initial stage.


    A new aperture wall started to form. It was similar to the rank one initial stage''s light membrane aperture walls, but its strength even surpassing the previous crystal walls.


    His primeval essence has also had a qualitative change, from the rank one green copper essence it became the rank two red steel primeval essence.


    A portion of red steel primeval essence was equivalent to ten portions of green copper primeval essence. The difference between small realms was smaller.


    Bao Zhi inspected his new essence.


    The rank two initial stage essence had a light red appearance.


    Bao Zhi had officially become a rank two gu master, a major milestone in his cultivation journey.


    But he knew that this was only the beginning. There were still many realms to conquer and challenges to overcome on his path to becoming a true master again.


    With renewed determination, Bao Zhi settled his mind and began to cultivate once again, ready to continue his journey towards greatness.


    Time passed as wind blew.


    "As expected. Passing rank two will take a longer time than rank one. Now that the Primeval Rafflesia gu house can''t provide assistance I have to rely only on myself to cultivate." - He thought to himself as he settled into his meditation.


    Even though gu houses were classified into ranks like gu, it didn''t necessarily reflect their abilities. The Primeval Rafflesia gu house would be considered a rank three gu house because of the rank three Primeval Elder gu''s rank. But the Rafflesia Essence gu was only rank one, it could not produce rank two primeval essence, it was the bottleneck of this gu house''s capabilities. Without the gu house''s help, Bao Zhi had to rely solely on his own strength to progress.


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    Of course, Bao Zhi could raise the Rafflesia Essence gu to rank two and rank three thereafter.


    "Raising the Rafflesia Essence gu''s rank is pointless if it has no target to act upon." - He thought to himself.


    A single glance was all it took to know the Primeval Elder gu was near depletion. Its primeval essence was almost completely drained and it would take a huge amount of primeval stones to refill. One had to know primeval stones were next to useless to gu immortals. Xu Lian wouldn''t keep primeval stones in his aperture that Bao Zhi could snatch.


    "Unless...!" - Bao Zhi did not finish his thought as he shifted his focus to his expansive root system.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Ascension Peak


    Xu Lian and Wen Bo arrived at a bubble-like boundary. Ascension Peak loomed before them, a barren and lifeless place where not even a blade of grass could grow. The surface of the whole mountain was made of black stone, and strange patterns glowed upon it, hinting at the ancient and transcendent powers that had been wielded here.


    Xu Lian looked up at the peak of this place.


    The top of the peak was cleanly chopped off, as if by a blade of unimaginable sharpness, and upon it rested an immortal formation, a nexus of energy that seemed to pulse with an incredible force.


    "This place..." - Xu Lian couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe wash over him.


    "It is just like your... I mean, Bao clan''s formation. The design is based on Wen clan''s inheritance, on which I have improved upon." - Great Formation Wen Bo explained with pride in his voice.


    "No, the mountain. It is just strange." - Xu Lian couldn''t put a finger on it what he exactly meant.


    "Oh that. This mountain was originally a cultivation ground for Wen clan''s sword prodigy. When he comprehended his technique, he split the top off in a single strike. Later the mountain was brought into the Lingering Mountains grotto as a core and turned into the current ascension peak. This is already ancient history." - Wen Bo explained as he landed at the flat top of the peak.


    Xu Lian nodded in admiration. If he had to replicate such results he wasn''t sure if a hundred moves of his could achieve it or not.


    "We are here, this is Ascension Peak. You should already know how the formation operates, I will be controlling it from the outside while you are inside at the time your calamity begins. Do you have any questions or requests before that?" - Wen Bo turned to Xu Lian solemnly.


    "There is actually something. I want to borrow some wood path resources to adjust the earthly calamity''s might." - Xu Lian stated his request with some visible nervousness on his face.


    Wen Bo raised an eyebrow.


    The power of the calamities and tribulations were in accordance to the immortal aperture''s prosperity. Bringing in more resources would mean the heavenly power would create a stronger tribulation to balance the surplus.


    But a stronger tribulation would also bring more dao marks!


    "Hmph, this kid seems confident in his ability." - Wen Bo thought to himself.


    "You can borrow as much as you want." - Wen Bo said with a hearty smile on his face.


    "This junior is grateful." - Xu Lian cupped his fists.


    Seeing Xu Lian still bowed before him, Wen Bo knew he had other requests.


    "What else? Speak your mind." - He got straight to the point.


    "I would like to know if senior could share his knowledge about earthly calamities. It would greatly help this junior''s success." -  Xu Lian stated his request hesitantly.


    "Hmm, that might be possible." - Wen Bo pondered for a few moments before finally giving in.


    "I will give you a few pointers, but remember, this is still something you need to figure out on your own." - Wen Bo said as he started pointing out a few key points.


    Xu Lian listened intently,  absorbing all the information that Wen Bo was giving him. After a few hours, Wen Bo finished and Xu Lian thanked him profusely.


    A third immortal has arrived at this moment.


    "Reporting to Great Formation, I have brought the wood path resources."


    Xu Liand opened his immortal aperture''s entrance.


    The resources were transferred to Xu Lian blessed land without a hitch.


    "There is still some time. I will be preparing my arrangement in the meantime and let senior know when the calamity descends."


    Wen Bo nodded and left Xu Lian in the middle of the formation.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Xu Lian got absorbed into managing his aperture. He put the new wood path resources into key locations to protect them. He had to protect them so he could return them after the calamity.


    He also inspected the newly repaired Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house. It was easy to maintain, he just had to get a new batch of rank five gu to replace the ones he lost during his escape from Bao clan.


    "With this, the preparations are complete."


    "Let''s see how much immortal essence I have left."


    His will descended into his aperture''s center, his aperture origin core was located here. Below that a small pile of green grape immortal essence was gathered.


    Xu Lian counted them in his mind.


    "Twenty-five beads left." - He frowned.


    Recently he has expended some immortal essence to use the Eight Layered Leaf Nest and even more immortal essence to raise the blessed land''s ambient primeval essence.


    The living beings inside needed this to develop properly. This was also an investment. If he could sustain a bigger environment, it would raise his aperture''s foundation, resulting in more immortal essence beads produced each month. This was a positive feedback cycle, the sooner one got in the bigger the results would be. Granted, he had enough immortal essence left to protect himself.


    What were long term investments worth, if one couldn''t keep his life till tomorrow? Nothing.


    Xu Lian noticed something else. He looked at his aperture origin core. Now a root was curled around it.


    "This lotus root has developed really well. Too bad it will take some time till it blooms and I can reap the rewards." - Xu Lian''s will nodded to himself in satisfaction.


    The lotus root had a very mysterious ability. Xu Lian couldn''t understand the underlying mechanism, but he knew, as long as the lotus root matured it would attach itself to the aperture''s origin core. When it flowered, two beads of immortal essence would be produced within its flower, as time passed the two would turn to four then to eight each month.


    This was only an eight petal lotus root. Xu Lian had only heard about ones that could reach a higher level and produce even more beads.


    But where there were gains there had to be losses. When the lotus root produced two beads, the aperture origin core would produce one fewer that time. Also, the immortal essence beads that the lotus root produced were inferior in their quality when compared to the real deal.


    But the overall effect was still positive. Two inferior essence beads could be considered better than a single one.


    Xu Lian was about to return, when he saw something from the corner of his eyes.


    The lotus root started to bloom!


    "How? This should take at least some months to reach this stage..." - He pondered incredulously.


    But reality was right before his eyes.


    "Could this be the effect of the resources I moved inside? Did it raise my aperture''s foundation and the lotus root to flower sooner?" - Xu Lian wasn''t sure, he knew the theory, but he was still lacking the experience in aperture management.


    "Whatever the case may be, the more essence the better." - He started to observe the flower as it slowly opened up.


    "What? Only a single bead?" - He scratched his head in confusion.


    "Whatever. A total of twenty-six green grape immortal essence beads it is." - He noted the final sum and returned to his main body.


    In the meanwhile, not far away from the aperture origin core, Bao Zhi was also looking at the results of his work.


    "It worked! The lotus root worked!"


    Bao Zhi focused his mind at his wood path aperture. There, a water-like green ball sat under his sea of primeval essence.


    Green grape immortal essence!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 44 - The power of an immortal

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi felt his wood path aperture, the bead of rank six green grape immortal essence calmly sat at the bottom. It was a deep green color and contained a powerful aura.


    He did not dare to put this bead in his other aperture. The reason was simple, if any problems occurred, a mere mortal aperture would not withstand such pressure and explode.


    What was immortal essence?


    Immortal essence was akin to primeval essence, but the difference in their quality was enormous.


    It is widely known, that among the ranks of cultivation the biggest gap was between rank five and rank six. One was called rightly mortal while the other immortal.


    It was a difference of heaven and earth!


    A rank five gu master could only fight as long as their limited rank five primeval essence lasted. It could only sustain a handful of rank five gu, before they had to replenish their essence.


    This was the reason that fights between mortal gu masters did not usually last long, the winner would be decided if one ran out of essence. Without essence, gu worms could not be activated at will, and the gu master''s strength would plummet.


    On the other hand, rank six immortals could stockpile their essence without limit. A single bead of immortal essence could be diluted to a near-infinite amount of primeval essence. Thus, gu immortals could fight with mortal methods near endlessly.


    Only immortal gu would put them in the same situation, where they again had to be mindful of expenditure. They did not have to worry about the expenditure for mere mortal gu. Only if their amount was really high would it put a dent in their reserves of essence.


    Primeval essence and immortal essence had another important trait. Just as refined gu worms, they also contained the will of their owners.


    In the case of gu, one could lend it to someone else to use. In that case, the will inside the gu would cooperate with the other gu master and the gu would activate.


    But it was not the case for essence, even though it contained owner''s will, it wasn''t as flexible. One''s own essence could only be used by themselves, it was useless for others'' gu worms.


    There was one exception to this rule. Gu houses could be operated with foreign immortal essence. Gu houses were different from gu. Gu houses didn''t even have to be composed of gu from a single owner.


    This was often the case for immortal formations, such as gu houses owned by organizations with multiple immortal gu in them.


    So what use was this bead of immortal essence to Bao Zhi? It clearly did not have his will inside it, because it was not his immortal essence.


    But it wasn''t Xu Lian''s immortal essence either!


    This bead of immortal essence was special. It came not from an aperture origin core, but from the lotus root itself. It contained a type of plant will inside. This plant will was incomparable to a human''s will.


    If the cultivator had a wood path aura, the immortal essence from the lotus root was usable. The will inside could not tell the difference or resist. It could be considered neutral.


    This was the reason that using such immortal essence beads were considered inferior. They had a minor conflict when used and would not be the same as immortal essence with the owner''s will.


    It was also less suitable for refinement. If someone used this essence to refine gu the gu would have its natural will replaced by the neutral plant will and not the owner''s will.


    But to Bao Zhi this special essence was a good thing! It meant he could get access to a much more potent kind of essence.


    Xu Lian even footed the bill for him unknowingly. The foundation for the lotus root was still the aperture origin core.


    Bao Zhi carefully observed this green bead. He still had some leftover essence in his wood path aperture.


    Rank one green copper essence surrounded the rank six green grape essence.


    It was a strange sight to behold.


    Bao Zhi found it amusing.


    There was a correlation among the ranks of primeval essence and immortal essence.


    "Rank one green copper, rank six green grape. Rank two red steel, rank seven red date. Rank three white silver, rank eight white litchi. Rank four yellow golden..." - He stopped at this point.


    "It should be the mystical rank nine yellow apricot essence. Only the eight venerables possessed it. As for rank five''s purple crystal essence..."  - He was not sure.


    Before going into endless speculations, he returned his attention to the task at hand.


    After a while of reassuring inspections, he decided to dilute a very small amount in his wood path aperture.


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    There was no way around this, he could not cultivate a rank two aperture with rank six essence. A single bead of green grape immortal essence could have devastating results even on a rank five aperture.


    He could not control this essence as freely as his own.


    This essence felt like a mountain of cast iron, sturdy and immovable. Bao Zhi had to expend much of his mental effort to have a tiny effect.


    After a long while, he split off a small speck of immortal essence. As soon as it separated from the main bead, it instantly expanded into primeval essence. It was one rank lower, rank five peak stage purple crystal essence.


    Even though Bao Zhi calculated carefully, this sudden pressure of primeval essence almost caused irreparable damage to his wood path aperture. Luckily, it was carved from wood path dao marks on his body, so the burden was lessened.


    "The most critical part is over. It is now much safer to transfer to my other aperture." - He thought.


    A trickle of essence left his wood path aperture and flowed into his human path aperture. He felt the human path aperture shiver from the influx of essence.


    His human path aperture was only rank two, it was still in its infancy.


    The reaction was immediate.


    Even without stirring up waves and clashing it against the aperture walls, Bao Zhi could feel the essence nurturing this rank two aperture.


    "Ten times, a hundred times... a thousand times! The difference between rank two and rank five is not small, after all." - He noted to himself.


    He watched with delight as his cultivation rose at a visible speed. His human path aperture was improving at a speed that made him feel excited.


    But this was a double-edged sword. The more essence he used, the greater the risk of the aperture exploding.


    "Oh no!" - He noticed a sudden change.


    His aperture walls started cracking, even tough he was only at the initial stage of rank two.


    Breaking his aperture at this stage would not lead him to rank three, it would directly shatter and cripple his aperture!


    He quickly removed some of the essence and diluted the rest into rank four essence.


    The cracks stopped spreading, but only that, they didn''t mend. The pressure was still great.


    "I''ll leave these there as a reminder for myself." - He thought to himself solemnly.


    If an outsider could witness his situation, they would watch with popping eyes and gritting their teeth. An aperture was most important, to trifle with it was like dancing on the edge of a knife.


    How could Bao Zhi dance on a knife''s edge like this? A wrong step and he would end up with the same fate as someone who had the ten extreme physique.


    Exploding by too rapid cultivation!


    But compared to other''s, there was a crucial difference at play here. Bao Zhi had a place for his essence to advance and retreat in the form of his wood path aperture. It was unaffected by the presence of essence, it could not be cultivated in this way.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Ascension Peak


    Xu Lian stood at the center of the formation. He closed his eyes and exhaled. His earthly calamity was here, and he was ready to face it. He opened his eyes, and the bright light of the formation shone on his face, making him appear like he was made of gold.


    For a gu immortal to fight off a calamity or tribulation, they usually had to enter their own aperture to defend it.


    This was possible through placing down an immortal aperture.


    Normally, the small world of the immortal aperture would be inside while the gu immortal''s body would be outside. Placing down the aperture would reverse this and the body would enter the aperture.


    Once placed, an immortal aperture took up no space. It was hard to detect if its entrance wasn''t opened.


    From the outside perspective, the gu immortal''s body would vanish, and the immortal aperture would appear at that location.


    But there was a problem!


    This was only the case when an immortal aperture was placed in the gu world and not in a grotto heaven, which itself was another small world.


    When someone placed an immortal aperture into another immortal aperture, the one inside would self-detonate and its foundation would be added to the outer immortal aperture in the form of dao marks.


    Because the inhabitants of the two grotto heavens could not leave to face their tribulations outside, they had to come up with the ascension formation so they could place down their immortal apertures while they faced their calamity.


    This was the formation that isolated the two immortal apertures, so the one inside did not self-detonate.


    Xu Lian vanished on the spot. This was the signal.


    Seeing this, Wen Bo activated the formation, and the space was locked around the center area.


    But this was only the first part of the problem of facing calamities and tribulations inside another small world.


    Where did the tribulations come from, how did they form?


    They were formed from heaven and earth qi!


    Heaven and earth qi had to be in balance inside an immortal aperture for it to be stable.


    Normally, an immortal would open the entrance of their immortal aperture to the outside gu world and draw in the heaven and earth qi from there.


    The tribulations would form then.


    But doing this inside a grotto heaven would diminish its heaven and earth qi. The difference in foundation of even the largest grotto heavens and the gu world were truly unimaginable. While it had no effect on the gu world when someone drew in heaven and earth qi, drawing qi from the grotto would damage its foundation over time.


    This was unacceptable to the Bao and Wen clans! They naturally had their countermeasures.


    Next, Xu Lian opened his blessed land''s entrance.


    Yellow colored earth qi started to rise on the surface of the black stone of ascension peak. The patterns of formations lit up in full force throughout the mount.


    The yellow earth qi was drawn towards the top, at first slowly, then as the streams of qi coalesced towards the top, a surging yellow river reached the formation core.


    Xu Lian''s blessed land''s entrance looked like an illusory rounded hole. It floated in the air.


    Like a hungry mouth, it sucked in the earth qi. The streams of qi got bigger and bigger, and soon the whole area was filled with a yellow hue.


    It was a breathtaking sight.


    The streams of earth qi circulated around, weaving together with the formation''s arrays.


    As the earth qi circulated in the formation, the arrays of the formation were slowly being filled and emptied.


    The formation core was like a giant furnace, slowly heating up with the yellow earth qi.


    A similar scene was happening above the formation as well.


    White clouds gathered, growing bigger and denser gradually. The clouds were white and crystal clear.


    The clouds were pulled downwards, and soon the white clouds were like a white waterfall.


    Soon, white strands of clouds were drawn towards the center. It looked almost like a white tornado.


    If one looked from outside the boundary bubble of Ascension Peak, they would see a web of yellow and white streams running towards this place, originating from the other peaks of the Revolving Mountains Formation.


    An icy cloud stopped in the air as their path was intercepted by such a stream.


    "Senior brother Hao Meng, what are these lines in the sky? They just appeared in front of us." - Asked Wen Tu in amazement.


    "Junior brother, I''m not sure myself. But what I know is that these phenomena are related to the immortals. Traditionally, it is a cause for celebration." - Hao Meng explained to Wen Tu and Qinyang.


    "You were right, sister. This place is way more exciting than Icy Peak Mountain." - Sighed Wen Tu gratefully.


    This was the extent of Wen clan''s foundation. Worthy of a former super clan.


    The formation on Ascension Peak was only a sub-formation of the Revolving Mountains Formation!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 45 - Earthly calamity

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    The earthly calamity was here.


    Xu Lian floated in the air with a solemn expression. He looked at the entrance of his blessed land.


    Two streams of qi were surging and mixing.


    His robes and hair fluttered in the wind whipped up by the heaven and earth qi.


    "Soon the two qi will merge and transform into tribulation clouds. Only after that will I know what tribulation I have to face." - He thought.


    This was already Xu Lian''s ninth earthly calamity. He wasn''t a greenhorn, but his experience wasn''t deep either.


    The streams of qi dispersed as they reached deeper into the blessed land.


    Dark-colored tribulation clouds started to emerge in their place.


    The clouds churned and rumbled violently in front of Xu Lian''s eyes. They already covered one third of the lands of the blessed land.


    "Worthy of my ninth earthly calamity! It is stronger than my eight one. But I''m not without preparations!" - Thinking this, Xu Lian took out the object of his confidence.


    Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house!


    Xu Lian entered and waited impatiently the descent of the calamity.


    Minutes passed like hours.


    "Why is it not beginning yet?" - He looked at the vast tribulation clouds.


    The clouds were still expanding, now already engulfing half the sky of the small world.


    Xu Lian''s impatience slowly turned to anxiety.


    "I can''t wait any longer. I''ll directly attack the tribulation clouds!" - He determined himself.


    Xu Lian preemptively activated his offensive killer move from the safety of his gu house.


    Killer move - Pale Green Vine Flame!


    A green creeping plant formed at Xu Lian''s palm and shot out.


    The vine curved left and right as it grew to new heights from his palm.


    The leaves that sprouted from its stem flickered with green light. They were little flames lining this vine like a barbed wire of nature.


    This was a wood path killer move that imitated the effect of fire path. It wasn''t Xu Lian''s creation, it came from the inheritance he cultivated from Bao clan.


    The flaming vine reached the tribulation cloud quickly. As soon as it made contact, the single stem split in two, then it split again. Countless tiny branches appeared and continued to weave through the dark tribulation clouds.


    "Burn!" - Xu Lian commanded.


    The small leaves grew to three times their size. They flared up and burned with vigor.


    The dark tribulation clouds started to shine brightly around the Pale Green Vine Flame.


    The tribulation clouds rumbled, but stopped expanding.


    Xu Lian observed quietly with a satisfied expression on his face.


    "Since I cultivate wood path, the tribulation is also wood path. But my killer moves can imitate fire path. This is the perfect counter!"


    The rumbling abated for a moment. Then, a thundering sound! A crescendo thunder erupted!


    "The heavens are enraged. I must have thwarted its preparation in advance."


    Just as Xu Lian was thinking this, he lost control of his killer move.


    The Pale Green Vine Flame was stripped from his hand and sucked into the tribulation cloud like a strand of noodle.


    "How can this be? I lost connection to my killer move. What calamity is this?" - Xu Lian was getting a bad premonition, things weren''t going as he expected.


    A change occurred. Wisps of green balls descended from the tribulation clouds.


    The balls of light looked soft and gentle, but Xu Lian knew they were anything but.


    On the ground, Bao Zhi also paid attention to Xu Lian''s calamity.


    "Wood Spirit Charms! What rotten luck. This will be troublesome." - Bao Zhi recognized the unusual calamity at a glance.


    Countless tiny balls of light fell like snow, the sky was full of them.


    Xu Lian launched another attack to annihilate the Wood Spirit Charms.


    Pale Green Vine Flame!


    The Pale Green Vine Flame struck out once again, it branched in many directions and pierced the tiny lights in its path.


    "Good, these strange orbs can be dispersed. I just have to keep attacking them." - Xu Lian heaved a sigh of relief.


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    But next, the Wood Spirit Charms rushed towards Xu Lian''s killer move like a swarm of angry bees.


    "What?" - Xu Lian looked at the strange phenomenon. But soon he understood what happened. A horrified expression appeared on his face.


    "These things... They are counteracting my killer move. I can no longer control it!"


    The Pale Green Vine Flame was quickly consumed by the swarm of Wood Spirit Charms. Xu Lian''s attack was not just ineffective, the killer move Pale Green Vine Flame broke apart and more Wood Spirit Charms emerged from it.


    "What a powerful calamity!" - Xu Lian was shocked.


    "Deduction! I need to deduce a solution!" - He thought.


    He sent out a will of his quickly to use the brain melon plantation and start deducing.


    The Wood Spirit Charms kept coming, it was like an endless sea.


    Xu Lian was now filled with unease.


    Bao Zhi also was concerned about Xu Lian''s ability to resolve this.


    "He should have already realized by now. These Wood Spirit Charms feed on wood path. They need to be either contained or destroyed before they can multiply further." - Bao Zhi recalled in his mind.


    "If the falling Wood Spirit Charms reach the ground, the whole aperture''s wood path foundation will be decimated." - Bao Zhi frowned. This was also a threat to him.


    The origin of this tribulation was a killer move from the medieval antiquity era. It was created by the experts of Li clan in their feud against the Huang clan. The Li clan was successful in their attack, the foundation of Huang clan was raised to the ground. They were forced to withdraw their forces and concede to Li clan.


    Since then, the heavens would also use this method to deal with wood path cultivators.


    Xu Lian was now facing a tribulation of the same kind.


    "I''m not resigning to fate!" - Xu Lian clenched his teeth.


    He waved his hands and released a series of wood path killer moves.


    The killer moves formed a protective wall of green vines in front of Xu Lian, blocking the Wood Spirit Charms in its way.


    "I must fight!" - Xu Lian roared.


    The Wood Spirit Charms were now attacking nonstop. The protective wall of vines was already almost depleted.


    Xu Lian had no choice but to use the Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house to protect himself in the air.


    The Wood Spirit Charms struck the gu house with their full force, but their attacks were still ineffective for the time being.


    Under the protection of the gu house, Xu Lian finally saw the situation clearly.


    The Wood Spirit Charms had already spread to the entire aperture. His methods were already almost completely destroyed.


    Xu Lian was now in a state of despair.


    "No! I can''t give up, giving up now is certain death..."


    "I need time, time to deduce a solution! I can''t let them reach my resources!"


    "These things fall towards the ground aimlessly, but when they sense wood path they would fly towards that and latch themselves to it." - He observed as his killer moves were dismantled by the Wood Spirit Charms before they returned to their aimless descent again.


    "This is it! If I attack from above, then they would chase upward. I just need to be quick to not let them reach my move and multiply."


    Xu Lian controlled the Eight Layered Leaf Nest and sped through the sea of Wood Spirit Charms in the sky.


    He activated his killer moves left and right, before quickly retracting them.


    The Eight Layered Leaf Nest rose higher and higher. In its wake, a dense trail of Wood Spirit Charms followed.


    "Not enough. Faster, go faster!" - He instilled his immortal essence into the gu house amply.


    Xu Lian swooped down like a green comet to attract another group of Wood Spirit Charms nearing the ground, then quickly regaining his elevation. This happened multiple times as he was circling above the lands to gather all the Wood Spirit Charms behind him.


    But Xu Lian couldn''t attract all of them, despite his best efforts to gather them all together. He was just one person, and the blessed land was too big.


    Two fists can''t beat four palms, not to mention hundreds of thousands.


    Some of the Wood Spirit Charms reached the ground and started to destroy Xu Lian''s foundation. They engulfed the trees and plants. The wood path resources were ravaged.


    "Nooo!" - Xu Lian roared. He was helpless to stop them.


    Some of these resources were lent to him by Wen clan. How would he return them? He would end up with nothing and then some debt!


    Xu Lian''s heart ached as he saw his accumulations disintegrating.


    The situation was getting worse and worse. The sea of Wood Spirit Charms was getting wilder as they were multiplying from Xu Lian''s resources.


    Bao Zhi was worried as he saw the Wood Spirit Charms sinking further into the blessed land.


    "This kid doesn''t know how to deal with the situation. He is just stalling for time. He waited for too long already." - Bao Zhi sighed to himself.


    Bao Zhi couldn''t wait any longer, he had to intervene.


    Xu Lian''s will in the brain melon plantation was expelled by Bao Zhi. It looked around in confusion at the dire sight of the blessed land. But it soon regained its senses and sped upward to rejoin with the main body.


    Xu Lian was almost at his mental limits, but he still refused to give up.


    "I can''t give up! I must find a way to resolve this!" - He thought.


    At this moment, the will sent to the brain melon plantation returned.


    Xu Lian was surprised.


    "The will returned!" - He quickly absorbed the will into his mind and learned the results of the deduction.


    "I see, the solution really is simple. I just have to stall the tribulation until all the heaven and earth qi are used up. When they are depleted, the tribulation would dissipate. Brilliant! I was so troubled by them absorbing my wood path that I forgot that their source can also be depleted. The more of them there are, the faster the depletion." - He summarized in his mind quickly.


    "I was already on the right path. With the solution in hand, I will pass this tribulation!" - Xu Lian''s confidence returned once more.


    He started to activate his killer moves wildly. Offensive moves, defensive moves, investigative moves. He used them all.


    Xu Lian was giving it his all. His killer moves erupted like fireworks all around him. This patch of sky was full of them.


    The Wood Spirit Charms were gathering around the killer moves, feasting on them like hungry locusts. But with the sheer number of killer moves, they couldn''t consume all of them. They were at a delicate equilibrium.


    Xu Lian instilled another bead of immortal essence into his gu house to keep its speed up and used one for his many killer moves.


    Xu Lian''s eyes were bloodshot and his hair was in a mess. He was now a wild beast, his body completely focused on the battle.


    He moved his gu house as if it was his own body, curving it left and right to avoid the Wood Spirit Charms and to use his killer moves to draw them away.


    Likewise, he could let the Wood Spirit Charms consume his killer moves, but he had to keep his distance, or he would be engulfed.


    This continued on for more than a day.


    Xu Lian was already exhausted, but he still forced himself to continue.


    "The tribulation must be almost over. I just need to hang on a little longer!" - He thought.


    Xu Lian noticed that the spread of the troublesome light balls slowed, as many of them were drawn to the bigger commotion in the sky. His killer moves contained more fragments of dao marks than regular trees and plants.


    He checked on the Eight Layered Leaf Nest. The outer four layers were already depleted. The next layer was dotted with many wisps of light trying to eat their way through.


    Xu Lian activated the gu house once more, its outermost layer started to spin.


    The Wood Spirit Charms on its surface were thrown away.


    But the damage was accumulating bit by bit, he couldn''t dodge all the Wood Spirit Charms.


    "Just how much longer? I can''t sustain this longer." - Xu Lian lamented to himself.


    In the meanwhile, Bao Zhi prepared to make his move on the ground.


    "Originally, I prepared this method for you. Who would have expected I''ll end up helping you with it instead?" - Bao Zhi thought.


    Next, a huge change occurred. All the flying lights froze in the air like bugs trapped in ember. Even the tattered Eight Layered Leaf Nest was stopped.


    "What power is this?" - Xu Lian was equally shocked and frightened. He couldn''t control his gu house anymore!

 Ch. 46 - Stomped to death

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    "Ah! Why can''t it move?" - Xu Lian called out anxiously.


    He started to instill the last of his immortal essence in panic into the Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house. But no matter what he tried to regain control over the gu house, it was in vain.


    "Did the light balls take control of this gu house as it happened to my killer moves?" - He quickly thought to himself.


    This situation was getting worse and worse!


    Xu Lian turned his attention to the outside. He saw the floating Wood Spirit Charms fixed in place as well.


    "What''s going on? The tribulation also stopped?"


    The Eight Layered Leaf Nest gu house was shaking lightly. It gave out creaking and rustling sounds, a great power was clearly having an effect on it!


    Xu Lian forcefully tried to calm himself. He continued to observe. Soon, he noticed a faint gray light enveloping the gu house.


    It was not the only change.


    A pattern of gray light emerged from the ground throughout the blessed land.


    Xu Lian furrowed his brows at this sight. Another inexplicable phenomena!


    "What are these lines on the ground? They look like veins..." - He traced them with his eyes.


    "...or the roots of a tree!" - His gaze stopped on the tree that Bao Zhi transformed into.


    The gray lines of light were the densest around Bao Zhi, this was clearly the center.


    "This tree has such an effect? How could this be..."


    In the meanwhile, Bao Zhi was concentrating intensely.


    The gray lights on the ground were the result of a formation he prepared.


    To be more precise, the formation was prepared by Xu Lian unknowingly!


    "This aura! Immortal aura?" - Xu Lian was dumbstruck. He did not have a single immortal gu, where was this aura originating from?


    This was an immortal formation!


    How could this be?


    An Immortal formation required immortal gu to function, this was common sense.


    The key here was Bao Zhi''s great grandmaster wood path and grandmaster formation path attainment. With grandmaster attainment, one could use immortal materials in immortal formations or killer moves. But the resources would be used up in the process.


    This was to be expected, Immortal gu were a unique, intact fragments of the great dao, while the immortal materials only contained dao marks.


    This formation could exist thanks to Bao Zhi''s efforts to influence Xu Lian''s deductions in the brain melon plantation. Whenever Xu Lian deduced the optimal location for an immortal material or immortal plant, the location would be determined by Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi could use his extensive root system to fill in the gaps and create an immortal level formation this way.


    "This formation is only designed to activate once. I have no room for error." - Bao Zhi sighed and continued to operate the formation.


    The wisps of Wood Spirit Charms were meat on the chopping block in front of Bao Zhi''s expert methods.


    The green wisps started to move again, but their movement was forced and unnatural.


    Bao Zhi controlled them carefully.


    The Wood Spirit Charms rushed towards a single point in the sky.


    They were compressed tighter and tighter, while new ones were still impacting the clump that formed in the air.


    Xu Lian watched with his breath held back. He couldn''t even leave the gu house.


    The newly formed single Wood Spirit Charm was getting larger and larger. Soon, its size was even larger than the Eight Layered Leaf Nest. It continued to absorb more and more wisps of green light as time passed.


    "I need to gather them to a single place and strike decisively. There is no other way to resolve this." - Bao Zhi thought to himself.


    Even the final Wood Spirit Charms reached their destination from the furthest points of the aperture. Stripped from vegetation and resources, they all merged into a single entity now.


    Bao Zhi controlled the formation, it started to hum loudly and released a gray beam of light.


    The ray of light headed straight upwards to hit the huge orb.


    But then, the tribulation clouds rumbled and churned violently. A bolt of lightning struck down!


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    The ray of light and lightning hit the green orb at the same time.


    Boom!


    "What happened?" - Xu Lian was taken aback at the power of this.


    "Oh no! This again?" - Bao Zhi had a bad premonition. A similar thing happened during his revival.


    When the dust and smoke dissipated, the green orb was still floating in the air.


    Strange ripples appeared on its surface. Some spots started to bulge out while some receded. It was undergoing a transformation now.


    After three breaths of time, the green mass took a misshapen and rounded humanoid form. It looked like a crudely made clay figure.


    Two black eyes opened on the green creature.


    It looked around in confusion at first, but it could barely turn its head. It noticed the resistance that fixed him in the place. It stared to flex its arms and legs outward to break away.


    While the creature struggled in the air to free itself, Xu Lian noticed that a trace of control has returned to his gu house.


    He once again tried to control it.


    Crack!


    The gu house forcefully broke free of the formation''s restraints, as its power was dissipating by the minute.


    "A chance!" - Xu Lian charged with his gu house.


    He accelerated to full speed and crashed into the creature before him.


    Gu houses had strong defense, it was a common method to use them directly like this. It was faster than activating killer moves.


    The damaged Eight Layered Leaf Nest arrived with great momentum and tore through the unprepared creature like a cannonball.


    The green giant was ripped in half. Shock was frozen on its face as it tumbled in the air. Its two halves flew in different directions.


    "Yes! Take that!" - Xu Lian rejoiced, he held the initiative again.


    The upper half of the green giant roared in anger. While the lower part fell to the ground.


    The upper half stabilized itself in the air. Its body started to change again, and it was whole soon again. The upper body grew a lower half, and the lower body grew an upper half.


    Now there were two of them!


    The formerly upper body charged towards Xu Lian in the air, while the other set its sights on the tree that was Bao Zhi.


    "This Wood Spirit Charm gained intelligence. What should I do?" - Bao Zhi fell into a predicament. He already spent his trump card. He was only a mortal gu master, how could he take on this calamity?


    The transformed Wood Spirit Charm arrived before Bao Zhi in a flash. It grabbed the branches of the tree and broke them off before stuffing them in his mouth!


    Intense pain assaulted Bao Zhi''s mind, this tree was currently his body.


    The branches disappeared into the giant''s bottomless stomach. Next, the creature started to gnaw on the trunk, taking out huge bites each time.


    "It won''t have time to transform back, I need to escape through the roots!" - Bao Zhi began to transfer his body through his root network. He would leave a common tree behind for the creature to consume while he hid away at a corner of the blessed land.


    The creature noticed something and suddenly stopped its ravenous actions. It spit out the piece he bit off and roared in anger as it grabbed the tree with both arms. The tree was forcefully torn and uprooted from the ground.


    Bao Zhi''s mind went blank for a moment as the jolt of pain hit him. When he regained his senses, all he saw was the gaping maw of the Wood Spirit Charm.


    The giant opened its mouth, like a snake eating its prey, and swallowed Bao Zhi whole.


    Darkness.


    Bao Zhi noticed his situation was dire.


    The Wood Spirit Charm was still the Wood Spirit Charm in the end, it started to assimilate Bao Zhi''s wood path dao marks!


    "This can''t go on like this." - Bao Zhi made a cold decision.


    He concentrated on his remaining immortal essence in his wood path aperture and determined himself.


    There was one bead of immortal essence, it was mostly spent from activating the formation previously.


    The leftover was all turned to rank five primeval essence at once!


    Boom!


    Bao Zhi''s wood path aperture bulged for a split moment, then shattered like a broken bowl.


    This power was beyond mortal means. The amount of primeval essence released was greater than what a rank five gu master would produce in his whole life.


    The explosion''s force was so violent it ripped the Wood Spirit Charm to many pieces. Chunks of dirt and wood flew in every direction. A huge cloud of dust obscured the crater that was left behind.


    Xu Lian noticed the commotion from up in the air.


    "My aperture core!" - Xu Lian called out in fright.


    If the aperture origin core was damaged, his blessed land would be ruined for good.


    At the same time, the flying Wood Spirit Charm stopped its attacks and looked towards the explosion as well.


    The dust slowly settled and revealed a broken figure lying on the ground.


    It was Bao Zhi''s human form.


    His limbs were missing, while his abdomen had a gaping hole. His ribs were broken and exposed, and his lungs punctured. It was a miserable sight.


    The scattered Wood Spirit Charm returned to its original form and started to engulf the nearby trees and plants mindlessly again. Some of them landed on Bao Zhi''s body and absorbed the remains of his wood path dao marks. Bao Zhi was still alive, but he couldn''t lift a finger to defend himself.


    "Heh, so I die again." - He resigned himself to death. He already died once, the second time only seemed natural to him.


    Bao Zhi wanted to laugh in the face of the heavens with his dying breath, but all that came out was a gurgling of blood.


    The other Wood Spirit Charm''s eyes twitched as it noticed Bao Zhi. It left Xu Lian stunned in the air for a moment, and dove below to finish what the other Wood Spirit Charm couldn''t.


    "Get back here, I''m not finished with you!" - Xu Lian hurried after it. He didn''t have any more immortal essence, when the gu house runs out, it would be easily broken apart. He had to settle this as quickly as possible.


    Bao Zhi''s vision was blurry. What he saw was a green mass approaching, it was already above him.


    The two-story-tall giant arrived foot first and stomped directly on Bao Zhi''s skull.


    Splat!


    Like a watermelon, it was crushed underfoot.


    Bao Zhi was dead.


    His life force was extinguished.


    The giant looked up at the remaining tribulation clouds with satisfaction.


    Xu Lian only now noticed the remains of a human body on the ground, his attention was on the aperture origin core before. Who would have guessed, the tribulation didn''t target that?


    "A spy got into my aperture? How can that be? No matter, he''s already dead." - He thought to himself.


    Xu Lian didn''t have the time to ponder on this further, as the green giant turned its attention back to him and lunged at him again.


    Their battle was about to continue again, when a change occurred!


    The ground started to quake violently.


    The Wood Spirit Charm sensed the danger and looked behind worriedly. It stammered in fright before it flew up in the air to escape.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Ascension Peak


    Wen Bo was paying close attention to Xu Lian''s tribulation. He had to control the formation to ensure everything went smoothly.


    "It''s been already more than a day. A common tribulation can be passed in this time so he should be ready at any moment now." - Wen Bo calculated. Earthly calamities were among the weakest tribulations. They shouldn''t pose a threat to a well prepared immortal in his opinion.


    Xu Lian Blessed Land''s entrance was already closed, Wen Bo couldn''t spy on the events inside so he could only guess.


    Suddenly a tear appeared in space in the middle of the formation!


    Illusory holes started to manifest one after another.


    "Oh no, the blessed land is destabilizing! I can''t let it be destroyed!"


    Wen Bo triggered the formation''s method and chains shot out from the eight corners of the platform. The chains wrapped around the blessed land and tried to hold it together.


    "It''s absorbing earth qi one more time?"


    "Why is this happening, what tribulation could he encounter?"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 47 - The way of human path

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Xu Lian didn''t believe his eyes.


    His blessed was shaking, the earth quaked and the wind wailed.


    Long cracks spread throughout the landscape, forming many chasms and valleys.


    Thick streams of earth qi rose from the depths.


    The earth qi flowed and swirled towards the center like a huge vortex.


    Even tears started to appear in the aperture walls, drawing in even more earth qi.


    Xu Lian stood there dumbfounded, unsure what to do.


    "I have failed this calamity... The heavenly judgment is here..." - Xu Lian closed his eyes and fell on his knees hopelessly.


    He was powerless to do anything now. His blessed land was on the brink of a fatal cataclysm.


    Then a burst of aura erupted.


    "Immortal gu!" - Xu Lian opened his eyes in shock.


    The headless corpse in front of him levitated up into the air. It was at the eye of the earth qi storm and the source of the immortal aura.


    "How... Didn''t he... What..." - His eyes were about to pop from their sockets in disbelief.


    What was going on?


    The mangled headless corpse rose higher in the air. There was a violent torrent of yellow qi engulfing it.


    The earth qi accelerated. In the blink of an eye the torrents of earth qi merged in the middle.


    The lingering Wood Spirit Charms had strands of yellow earth qi sucked away from them. Even the giant could not escape this. The Wood Spirit Charms started to shrink quickly.


    The escaping Wood Spirit Charm had a frantic expression as it tried to distance itself from the focal point. It felt a powerful force dragging it backwards. Its speed fell lower and lower as it leaned forward and dug its feet in the ground in desperation.


    But the formless force was not letting go. The giant Wood Spirit Charm, now on all fours, was plowing grooves in the ground as it was dragged back against its will.


    The Wood Spirit Charm couldn''t keep up, its body started to release yellow streams of earth qi as it roared in anguish.


    Xu Lian turned around at the noise, he saw the earth qi stripped bare from the giant Wood Spirit Charm. Only a blob of heaven qi remained in its place like a white ghost, before it completely dissipated.


    The same thing was happening to the dark tribulation clouds overhead.


    Xu Lian traced the streams of qi with his eyes, from all over the blessed land the qi has gathered into a cocoon.


    Rays of green and yellow light burst out in every direction.


    Xu Lian covered his eyes with one hand. He saw the earth qi being devoured in front of him.


    Ba-dum! Ba-dum! Ba-dum!


    A strong throbbing sound could be heard.


    From the yellow qi, root-like tendrils grew out. They started to take a distinct shape, like the veins and nerves of a human body.


    After ten breaths of time, the phenomena came to a still. The streams of earth qi were gone. The ground no longer quaked and the winds no longer blew.


    Bao Zhi stood in the air, his body encased in a brilliant aura that seemed to stretch out in all directions like an ever-expanding wave of energy.


    His new body formed a perfect harmony of muscular strength and divine grace. His skin shone a radiant gold, like the sun itself, and was smooth and unblemished. His eyes were a deep and mysterious green, like two jade stones that had been polished to a perfect sheen.


    His hair was long and black, flowing down to his waist like a river of ink. It framed his face, which was strong and proud, with a look of wisdom and power. His lips were full and his jaw was well defined, yet his expression was indifferent and serene.


    The now white clouds parted as Bao Zhi descended in a ray of light.


    Bao Zhi recited:


    "One born of earth, yet soaring past the skies,


    A human form, unbound by deathly ties;


    A life that lived and died, then rose anew,


    A spirit that defied fate''s grievous view."


    "No more to die, no more to suffer pain,


    This body, forged of immortal''s domain;


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    The freedom of will, so strong and pure,


    A will that won''t accept fate''s allure."


    "The cycles of life and death, I have seen,


    The pain of mortality, I have been;


    But I will not be tamed, I will not bend,


    But instead, I will find my own end."


    "I stand now, a master of my own fate,


    To live, to strive, and never abate;


    My will to freedom, unyielding and strong,


    Defies fate and rises with a song."


    The green and yellow lights gradually dissipated around him and his body''s golden luster revealed a light skin beneath.


    Bao Zhi finished reciting and his feet touched the ground.


    "S-senior..." - Xu Lian mumbled in awe.


    Xu Lian did not recognize the person before him, but he felt an indescribable closeness. He did not dare meet Bao Zhi''s gaze as Bao Zhi landed in front of him.


    "Rise." - A deep voice rang in Xu Lian''s ears.


    Xu Lian slowly stood up. The person in front of him stood eight feet tall. When he looked into the eyes of the stranger for a brief moment, he felt a chill run down his spine, for it seemed like the stranger was looking into his soul.


    "Your clothes, give them to me, now." - Bao Zhi said expressionlessly.


    Xu Lian quickly complied and produced some mortal clothing gu. He handed them over to Bao Zhi, who quickly used them.


    Bao Zhi simply nodded, and then turned to face the horizon.


    "Your calamity has been averted." - Bao Zhi stated as he slowly looked back at Xu Lian.


    Xu Lian was vexed inside. He did not dare question the other party rashly. He had an immortal gu! Xu Lian didn''t even have immortal essence left, not to mention he never owned an immortal gu.


    "Thank you, Senior, for saving me." - Xu Lian said, bowing deeply.


    "Are you not going to acknowledge your ancestor?" - Bao Zhi asked, his gaze piercing.


    "Ancestor?" - Xu Lian was taken aback.


    Xu Lian sank to his knees, the enormity of the situation finally sinking in.


    "Yes, I acknowledge you, Ancestor." - Xu Lian''s voice trembled.


    "Good child." - Bao Zhi said approvingly before turning to leave.


    "Ancestor! Where are you going, if I may ask?" - Xu Lian asked in a hurry. He still felt anxious about another immortal being in his blessed land.


    "You have taken my arrangement. Why else would I have revived here? But it is your blessing to have me here."


    Xu Lian''s thoughts raced. What arrangement did he take?


    "The immortal root!" - Xu Lian blurted out.


    Bao Zhi nodded and then said, "Your blessed land is now my home. You shall not speak of my identity, nor will you tell anyone what I have done here today. Do you understand?"


    Xu Lian nodded vigorously in agreement.


    Bao Zhi sat down atop a rock not far away and started to meditate.


    Xu Lian watched Bao Zhi as the immortal gu''s aura slowly faded away, leaving only a faint trace of its presence in the air.


    Xu Lian felt a deep sense of reverence but also some anxiety.


    Bao Zhi was in a good mood. He has returned to life once again!


    "This gu is truly mysterious." - He placed his hand on his chest as he felt his heart beating.


    "I have not seen your true effect until today." - He smiled faintly as he looked at his new body.


    When he inspected his aperture, he found that his wood path aperture was gone. It completely shattered when he detonated the bead of immortal essence inside it. At that time his human path aperture also suffered damage, but it didn''t shatter. Unfortunately, his mortal gu perished in the explosion.


    Bao Zhi frowned. He still only had a mortal aperture. Shouldn''t he have an immortal aperture now? The immortal gu Verdant Heart Seed was not interrupted this time. Did his will deduce wrongly when it operated the refinement formation?


    He sat still and closed his eyes. To his surprise he could distinctly feel Xu Lian''s aura, even though he was over a hundred steps away.


    "How could this be?"


    He focused on this sensation. He noticed he could get a feel of Xu Lian''s state. He could sense his emotions, and intentions.


    "Is this because I revived using the earth qi of his blessed land?" - He guessed.


    There were no others he could inspect here to compare against.


    He focused back on himself. This was a mysterious feeling. He felt his senses have sharpened and his movements were fluid and effortless. He could feel the gentle pulse of his heart and the air passing through his lungs. He could feel the warmth of his skin and the sensation of his clothes against every strand of hair. He could feel the gravity on his feet and the light on his face.


    He felt alive and powerful, yet completely in control. His mind felt clear and focused, as if he could think through any problem in record time. A new level of awareness connected him to the world around him, as if he could sense the energy of everything in existence.


    He turned his attention to the vegetation around him, he could still feel an innate closeness, but now it wasn''t exclusive to the dao marks of wood path.


    "Strange."


    Next, he checked the clothing gu he received from Xu Lian. Their effect was not amplified nor reduced.


    "Were my suspicions right when I first revived?" - He thought excitedly.


    "Verdant Heart Seed does not produce a body with wood path dao marks. It produces a body with human path dao marks!" - He realized the crux of the situation.


    Why was this so shocking?


    The reason was simple, there were no tribulations and calamities of human path. Accumulating human path dao marks was very troublesome. This is why there were almost no human path immortals.


    "The paths of humans and heavens are in opposition. The heaven''s can''t act like the humans, it won''t turn the balance into imbalance." - He pondered.


    There were the so called human tribulations, but they were not real tribulations. Those were the scheming and actions of other people that manifested a hurdle for someone.


    So it was not impossible to cultivate human path, as long as one could find a way to bypass the heaven''s.


    Bao Zhi was truly thrilled. He had a new way to cultivate!


    "Now that I have a human path body, I should cultivate human path." - He reassessed his future plans.


    Which path had better future outlooks, wood path or human path? The answer was obvious.


    Bao Zhi signaled for Xu Lian.


    "You called, Ancestor?" - He humbly arrived.


    "Here''s a list of gu I require, note them down." - Bao Zhi specified a number of various mortal gu worms one after another.


    "Ancestor must be refining gu. There are some common refinement ingredients. But I don''t know what he''s refining, maybe it''s multiple gu and not just one? But why is he not asking for the completed gu? These are just mortal gu, in the end..."  - Xu Lian thought to himself.


    Bao Zhi could feel the human qi around Xu Lian fluctuate as he was making his guesses. This feeling fascinated him. It wasn''t like mind reading, but he could peer behind the other person''s mask of attitude and tell their true feelings.


    "Are you not trusting your ancestor?" - Bao Zhi probed.


    Xu Lian''s gaze became awkward as his thoughts were exposed. He was stumped for a moment before he could reply.


    "No, it''s not like that. I am just curious. I would even refine the gu for ancestor!" - He tried to explain.


    Bao Zhi smiled mysteriously. He began to give Xu Lian some pointers about his wood path inheritance.


    Bao Zhi knew all the Bao clan inheritances, he naturally knew the one that Xu Lian cultivated as well.


    Xu Lian confirmed to himself, this person was not fooling him, it was really a big shot from Bao clan''s past. His inheritance was something he couldn''t improve, yet in a few words Bao Zhi made some suggestions to it.


    "This junior is thankful. I won''t make Ancestor wait long for the gu worms." - He cupped his fists.


    "One more thing. Give me a copy of The Legends Of Ren Zu." - Bao Zhi added casually.


    "Even though Ancestor is mighty, he is still humble, and looking to learn from humanity''s ancestor." - Xu Lian thought to himself.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 48 - Recollection comprehension

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    The earthly calamity was gone. But the aftermath it caused was quite severe.


    Xu Lian flew in the air as he assessed the state of his blessed land.


    "This... My ninth earthly calamity can''t be considered a success. The losses are too severe. I lost all the resources that the Wen clan lent me." - He sighed to himself.


    "Luckily the lands weren''t fully developed, there were many empty locations that didn''t have anything important yet." - He thought to himself as he looked over the torn up terrain.


    Casams and deep cracks scarred the lands.


    But every cloud had its silver lining. As long as one was alive, they could start over anew.


    Xu Lian glanced at Bao Zhi who situated himself on a sizable rock.


    Bao Zhi was sitting cross-legged as he read The Legends of Ren Zu again and again.


    "Oh, Ren Zu. What a life you''ve lived." - He sighed deeply.


    His understanding of this human path inheritance has deepened once again. He peered back another layer of its profundity.


    Many of his questions were answered. But those answers gave birth to even more questions.


    This is what knowledge was like. The more one knew, the more aware they became of their own limitations.


    "What is a human? To be a human is to have two feet to stand up high and travel the lands. To be human is to have two hands that grasp the world within. To be human is to have a heart that''s steadfast and true."


    Bao Zhi was itching to act, he felt his understanding was on the cusp of something significant.


    "Enough with the reading." - He put the book beside him and got on his feet.


    He walked up to the crater that his self detonation created not long ago. He climbed down and picked up a heavy stone that was twice the size of his head.


    He carried it back up and laid it on the ground before climbing back for another one.


    This continued on and on. He stacked the rocks carefully next to each other.


    Xu Lian noticed Bao Zhi''s actions from up in the air. He stopped to observe him.


    "Just what is Ancestor trying to accomplish?" - He wondered as he looked at Bao Zhi laying down another sizable piece of stone.


    Xu Lian did not descend to ask Bao Zhi, it wasn''t his place to interrupt him. He continued to observe silently.


    Soon, a rectangular shape emerged as Bao Zhi pieced them together resolutely. He only used his physical strength and no gu worm to do this.


    "Ancestor seems to be building something." - Xu Lian mused.


    When the platform was done, Bao Zhi went to look for something else. He returned with some flat rocks and sticks.


    He took a flat rock in his hand and started to strike it with a hammer-stone in his other. Sharp flakes were spit left and right. The flat stone soon had a rough but sharp edge.


    When Bao Zhi was done with the flintknapping, he split a stick at its end in the middle and attached the sharpened rock to it.


    A primitive axe was made.


    Bao Zhi headed into the woods and started to hack away at a good sized tree. It took him long hours to fell this single tree. But he wasn''t deterred, he pushed on.


    He cut off the branches and carved beams out of the tree''s trunk.


    Xu Lian watched on dumbfounded. He didn''t understand why one would choose such roundabout and primitive methods.


    "I''ll lend a helping hand to Ancestor." - He descended to use his gu worms.


    Xu Lian cut down a tree as well and chopped it into long and even pieces.


    But Bao Zhi stopped him midway and didn''t use them. He continued to do things his way.


    Xu Lian frowned but didn''t take it to heart. If anything, this made him even more curious.


    Days passed like this.


    Bao Zhi stopped before his creation now.


    It was a wooden house that rested on a stone foundation. It wasn''t big. It was plain and simple.


    Bao Zhi''s hands showed marks of wounds on it. His bare feet were covered in dirt and mud. But his face showed a satisfied expression.


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    "I''m parched, thirsty as a desert." -  He wiped off the sweat from his forehead.


    He did not stop to rest for long, he was at it again.


    Bao Zhi created a shovel and stared to dig.


    After a day of digging, a well was created next to the house. Clear water was slowly gathering at the bottom of it.


    From the dirt he had dug up, Bao Zhi separated the clay and created various pots.


    He took two pieces of dry twigs and started rub them to each other. Amidst the smoke, a small ember was born as the result of the strong friction.


    Bao Zhi put the dried pots into the pit of fire to harden them.


    When firing the pots was done, he finally drew water from the well and filled his pot.


    Bao Zhi drank the fresh water relish.


    He offered some to Xu Lian as well.


    Xu Lian did not dare to refuse his ancestor, he took a clay cup and drank the water.


    "This is just regular water. Nothing special about it..." - He thought as he drank it anyway.


    Next, Bao Zhi headed inside his self-built house and rested his body.


    The next day he rose with vigor. He raised a small fence around the house and portioned a small garden in the back.


    He hoed the soil and planted wild vegetables in row after row.


    He motioned for Xu Lian to join as well.


    Xu Lian was reluctant, but decided to play along.


    Both of them were on their knees in the mud as they planted the greens with bare hands.


    Xu Lian couldn''t recall the last time he did something this lowly. Did he ever do anything like this even?


    But without the use of gu worms to replenish his stamina he soon started to tire. His neck and back already ached from bending down.


    Xu Lian looked at Bao Zhi who worked adamantly. Xu Lian didn''t dare complain to his ancestor when his attitude was like this.


    The bodies of immortals were still human in the end, without gu worms Xu Lian was not much different from mortals.


    By the end of the day, Bao Zhi drew water again from the well for both of them.


    This time, Xu Lian drank the water hearthily.


    "Is this the same old water?" - Xu Lian wondered to himself. After toiling in the garden, he felt like this jug of water was the most tasteful drink.


    Days passed by.


    Bao Zhi continued his work around the house. He cut firewood. He laid out a stone path between his house, the garden and his well.


    Xu Lian got back to manage his blessed land as he got used to Bao Zhi''s antics. From time to time he stopped by to take a look at him.


    "Why? To what end? Why is ancestor living like this?" - He asked himself.


    The day came when the vegetable garden was ready for harvest. In this wood path environment, one didn''t have to wait long for plants to mature. They were like fish in water.


    Bao Zhi harvested some and cooked some soup from it. He invited Xu Lian to eat with him.


    Xu Lian didn''t enjoy it. He found it bland and tasteless, lacking salt and spices.


    The next day, Bao Zhi instructed Xu Lian to make the same soup himself, but forbid him to use gu worms.


    Xu Lian complied out of respect, albeit somewhat unwillingly.


    Xu Lian gathered the vegetables from the garden. Then he drew water from the well to wash them thoroughly. Next, he had to chop firewood and prepare the kindling-wood as well.


    With some effort he managed to light the fire, as he saw it from Bao Zhi. It wasn''t easy!


    He finally could begin to cook the vegetables in the boiling water.


    When he was done, he set the table and presented his cooking.


    Bao Zhi ate his soup with gusto. It made Xu Lian feel relieved.


    He took the carved wooden spoon into his hand to taste his own making.


    "Ancestor, how can this be?" - His spoon almost fell out of his hand as he asked incredulously.


    This was the same bland soup they had yesterday.


    "Tastes better, right? This is the taste of your own efforts." - Bao Zhi commented between two spoonfuls of soup.


    "So it is like that." - Xu Lian''s eyes flashed with understanding.


    "Thank you, Ancestor. I think, I understand." - Xu Lian cupped his fists respectfully.


    Bao Zhi just nodded along.


    He wiped his mouth and put down his empty bowl on the crude table.


    "This is the house I grew up in." - Bao Zhi began to reminisce.


    "My father built our house with his own two hands, to have a roof above their head by the time I was born."


    "He was a hardworking man, not one to ever complain about hardships."


    "He worked on the fields from morning till evening, while my mother kept to the house and raised me. I waited his return each day."


    Bao Zhi told his story with deep emotions in his voice.


    Xu Lian listened intently.


    Bao Zhi''s childhood was such a distant memory to him already...


    "One should cherish the good times while they last." - Bao Zhi cleared his throath.


    Next, he stood up and headed to the fireplace.


    He took a piece of flaming wood and chucked it into the corner!


    The flames licked the wooden walls, and the fire started to spread quickly.


    "Ancestor!?" - Xu Lian called out.


    Bao Zhi did not answer him, he let the flames advance and walked out of the house.


    Xu Lian hurriedly followed him. The two of them watched side by side as the house was engulfed in fire. Bao Zhi''s hard work was undone in a matter of minutes.


    Bao Zhi stood there, his expression was unreadable for a long time.


    "I''m sorry." - He said softly.


    At this moment his eyes turned wet.


    "I''m sorry, I couldn''t be there..." - He sobbed quietly.


    Xu Lian stood there in silence, not sure how to react.


    After a while, Bao Zhi wiped his tears off and approached the still smoldering ruins.


    He grabbed the stones from the foundation and layed them into two elongated piles beside where this house once stood.


    He placed two big flat rocks at the ends as headstones.


    He kowtowed three times before the graves.


    When he stood up, his eyes flashed with renewed light!


    "To comprehend humanity, one has to first comprehend themselves. To comprehend oneself, one must have a deep understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and actions." - Bao Zhi explained.


    Bao Zhi turned to the solemn Xu Lian.


    "Remember, it is not weakness to show emotions. It takes great strength to embrace and recognize them for what they are. Because they are part of who you are. Suppressing and discarding them is akin to disfiguring your own mind!" - Bao Zhi said sternly.


    "But Ancestor, being controlled by emotions is a detriment, rather than a gain." - Xu Lian objected.


    "Only those are led by their emotions who cannot accept them. One must know themselves truthfully, doing otherwise is deceiving their very self. When one walks astray from their true path, they are the undoing of themselves." - Bao Zhi said slowly.


    Xu Lian did not reply, he ruminated on these words deeply.


    "Are you the person you thought yourself to be? Go, comprehend your true self." - Bao Zhi instructed.


    Xu Lian bowed and left quietly.


    Bao Zhi stood there alone, his green eyes glinted in the dim evening light.


    "Success!"


    "The core of understanding humanity is being a human. We all have the same beginning, but as humans cultivate further and further, they lose thier very self that made them who they are."


    "Their minds become cold and detached, their bodies become tainted and infertile."


    "Recalling and reliving my oldest memories were the last push I needed to comprehend this truth."


    "My human path attainment has finally reached the grandmaster realm!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 49 - The paths of gu masters

    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda


    A small circle of immortals gathered inside Wen clan''s immortal gu house. The atmosphere was serious.


    Great Formation Wen Bo arrived at this moment.


    "Great Formation, now that you''re here we can begin." - The will of Old Refinement nodded solemnly.


    "You are late. What is the current status?" - Asked Wen Jie with a hint of impatience.


    "The crucial person has passed his calamity. He is still resting inside the formation." - Wen Bo explained briefly.


    "That''s good. Let him stabilize his aperture for now." - Remarked one of the immortals present.


    "Before his calamity, he has requested a batch of rank six immortal resources to raise the calamity''s strength. I provided him with however much he took. This is why I took so long." - Wen Bo explained with a faint smile.


    "Hahaha! Great Formation, you sly old schemer. You let him raise the strength of the tribulation. You have no mercy even for the younger generation. Tell me, which calamity did he face?" - Called out the will of Old Refinement.


    Wen Bo turned to him.


    "Hah, the guilty talking about the crime of the innocent... Calling me old, you who even has ''Old'' as his title?" - Wen Bo raised an eyebrow as he smiled.


    "You should know what I meant." - Old Refinement''s will replied.


    "And who counts their vessels anyway? ... It''s not like I''ve been waiting on one for a hundred and fifty years." - Joked Old Refinement.


    "Wen Yun has still some time to reach rank seven. We can''t accommodate you for the time being, Old Refinement. Great Formation, continue your report." - Told Wen Jie plainly.


    "He has also inquired about common earthly calamities. I told him what he wanted to know. The calamity he faced, the Wood Spirit Charm tribulation was thus not among them." - Wen Bo stated.


    Lord Old Refinement''s will gave a thumbs up as he chucked quietly. Wen Bo smiled back before continuing his report.


    "Excellent work. With this, his reliance on us has only deepened. Keep an eye on him for now and follow the previous arrangements." - Wen Jie ordered.


    Wen Bo nodded respectfully.


    The immortals discussed for a bit more before Wen Jie spoke up again.


    "Old Refinement, how is the progress with the reverse refinement killer move?" - She asked.


    "Close to completion. Very close. But it would be very helpful if I could work on the crucial person himself. I would be already done by now."


    "That won''t do. He needs to be a willing party. If you start experimenting on him, who knows what his attitude would be?" - Explained Wen Jie.


    "Can''t you deduce it? You are the Wisdom Will, after all." - Asked Wen Bo.


    "I can, but there''s always some uncertainty. Emotions are fickle and unreasonable. They don''t abide by logic." - Wen Jie stated.


    The immortals continued to discuss their plans before the topic turned to Bao clan.


    "What is with them? Do we know what they are scheming?" - Asked Old Refinement.


    "Bao clan has closed themselves up after the traitor incident. They are not willing to trade until the yearly competition. They want us to compensate them to earn their trust back."


    Old Refinement: "What? I thought Leaf Will couldn''t be exposed!"


    "You don''t get the news here. The supposed traitor is the crucial person. He had no ties to our clan, so this story is just Bao clan''s fabrication to frame him." - Clarified Wen Bo.


    "So the crucial person could be a double agent..."


    "Not likely. I tested it myself, and they have truly abandoned this person. It is just an internal conflict." - Reassured Wen Jie.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto


    Zhao Min and company were hurrying back from their mission to gather a batch of three leaf grass. They were already late, but they were confident that they could make it in time if they pushed themselves.


    But as they got closer to the academy, their confidence started to fade away. They had pushed themselves to the limits and they were completely exhausted.


    "Can we make it in time? I don''t want our first mission to be a failure." - Yu Lingxin sighed.


    "We are too late. Even if we don''t stop for resting, we will arrive two hours after the deadline." - Calculated Ye Jianhong.


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    "What if... what if we use the inheritance we found?" - Asked Jin Ju. He was out of breath already.


    "Do you not remember what they told us? If even just half of it is true..." - Yu Lingxin couldn''t bring herself to continue the thought.


    Zhao Min suddenly stopped.


    "Why did we stop? We need to hurry!" - Demanded Ye Jianhong.


    "If we can''t catch the praise, why hurry to the scolding?" - Zhao Min shrugged and asked plainly.


    "But we need to discuss the matter of the three demon inheritance before we head back. What do you think we should do, I want to hear it." - He continued in a serious tone.


    "Use it, of course! This is the inheritance of three rank five experts, if I can use it for myself, my future will be bright and effortless." - Stated Ye Jianhong.


    "We cannot cultivate these inheritances since they are not wood path. In my opinion we should turn it in to get an appropriate compensation from the academy." - Suggested Jin Ju.


    "Even though they called themselves the three demons, I don''t think they are bad people. But cultivating the three demons inheritance would label us as demons too. I''m not sure if there is a way around this." - Yu Lingxin said.


    Zhao Min nodded, they raised good points.


    "This has been on my mind, ever since we passed the final stage of the inheritance ground..." - Started Zhao Min.


    "The three demons yearned to become immortals. Yet, they left behind an inheritance that condemns immortals."


    "Maybe they left their inheritance before they became immortals." - Jin Ju guessed.


    "Maybe. Or maybe they knew their situation was dire and later on they were killed by an immortal. Who else could end the existence of the three demons combined?" - Zhao Min''s cold words made the group realize the situation they were in.


    "So what do you think we should do?" - Asked Yu Lingxin.


    "We can''t turn it in but we can''t cultivate it either." - Jin Ju sighed.


    "We cannot tell anyone! If they find out we have this inheritance..." - Ye Jianhong gulped in fright.


    "Let me finish. That is only one of the possibilities. The inheritance could be planted directly by the immortals."


    "Why would they do that?" - Asked Ye Jianhong.


    "Oh no! It is to weed out if someone is willing to turn to the demonic side. Then they would strike down that gu master!" - Exclaimed Yu Lingxin.


    "So it''s a trap." - Ye Jianhong frowned.


    Zhao Min: "Yes. This would be my normal thinking. But I can''t help but feel like there is something else going on... Did you guys also feel strange when the moving pictures appeared at the last stage?"


    Yu Lingxin: "Yes, I saw an old bedridden woman. The scene felt foreign, but also familiar, right? It is hard to describe it..."


    Jin Ju: "Sister, why are you crying?"


    "I''m not... crying?" - She reached for her eyes only to realize the shed tears.


    "I saw different images, there wasn''t a sick woman in them. But it indeed felt strange." - Ye Jianhong said.


    "Mhm. Same here."


    "Right. So what is this, a riddle? A secret technique that we need to combine? - Pondered Ye Jianhong.


    "Memories. These must be our memory fragments!" - Jin Ju had a gut feeling.


    Yu Lingxin: "You mean the ones from before Sun Lotus City was destroyed?"


    Ye Jianhong: "Sun Lotus City isn''t destroyed!"


    Zhao Min: "Our memories have been tampered with, that much we know."


    Jin Ju: "But who could have done this?"


    The group fell into silence. They tried to recall what they saw in the images, but they were like fleeting dreams in the morning. No matter how hard they tried, they could not remember what the images were about or how they related to them.


    Zhao Min was the first to speak again.


    "No matter how it is. We can''t interfere in the matters of the immortals even if we want to. So we should take the opportunities that present themselves. We will take the three demon inheritance, and use it for our own benefit." - Decided Zhao Min.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    "That''s what I''ve been saying from the beginning! All this speculating, and it''s still me who is right." - Grumbled Ye Jianhong.


    Zhao Min: "We are not to speak of this matter to anyone else."


    "So can we use this technique now? I think I have an idea about it." - Asked Jin Ju.


    "Wait, what technique is it?" - Demanded Ye Jianhong.


    "This is from the Phantom Demon''s inheritance. It''s called phantom steps. It can make your running faster and your legs feel weightless." - Jin Ju explained.


    "Just use it yourself." - Ye Jianhong was immediately disinterested as the technique wasn''t an offensive move.


    After some experimentation, Jin Ju''s figure turned into a blur, and he was quickly way ahead of the group.


    "No wonder it''s called phantom steps. He''s like a ghost!" - Exclaimed Yu Lingxin.


    Jin Ju activated the technique and returned to them in a flash.


    "Let''s go. We can make it in time now!" - He shouted with a grin.


    "Just you. Take these and hurry. If you go alone you can make it in time. Be careful and do not get seen." - Zhao Min passed Jin Ju the bag of herbs and an information path gu that contained his report.


    "Thank you, Brother Zhao. I won''t let you down!" - Jin Ju nodded as he took the bag and gu.


    The group watched Jin Ju disappear into the horizon.


    "We should hurry back too." - Yu Lingxin said.


    "Do as you wish. Our mission is complete. I''m going to take my time." - Zhao Min shrugged and took out a gu from the three demons inheritance to study it.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wen Bao Academy


    Wen Hao Meng, Wen Qinyang and Wen Tu arrived at the academy''s gates.


    Wen Tu had an incredulous expression, this was the first time he had seen such a grand academy.


    The Wen family had a small sect, an unknown one, so they never had chance to see a sect of this scale.


    The academy was located on the side of a mountain, surrounded by a lake, it was picturesque.


    The academy was made up of buildings, pavilions and tall towers. It had a very strong sense of grandeur.


    Qinyang was also taken aback, but she didn''t show it as she had been to more places than her brother.


    "Even the guards are rank three gu masters!" - Wen Tu thought to himself as he sized up the two guards before them.


    "Greetings elder Hao." - The two guards cupped their fists.


    Hao Meng nodded, and led the two of them inside.


    Even Wen Qinyang, who was used to reading about grand things, was amazed.


    The academy was filled with students of all ages. Some were practicing martial arts, while others were practicing with gu insects.


    Wen Tu and Qinyang felt as if they were standing in an ocean of knowledge.


    "It''s amazing!" - Wen Tu exclaimed.


    "Let''s go and register first." - Hao Meng said.


    Soon, the three of them arrived at the registration office.


    "We''d like to register two people." - Hao Meng said.


    "Ok, please fill out these forms." - The receptionist gu master said.


    "The names are Wen Qingyang and Wen Tu. I leave the rest to you." - Said Hao Meng and turned back to the two of them.


    "Let''s go. I''ll show you around."


    Following Hao Meng, the two siblings visited the various places of the academy.


    Wen Tu was amazed.


    The academy had its own lake, mountain, and a forest filled with beasts.  It was like a little world of its own.


    Qinyang was also taken aback. She had read a lot of books, but nothing compared to actually being there.


    After some time, they arrived at the library. Wen Tu was mesmerized.


    The library was filled with books about all kinds of topics.


    Qinyang had a strong desire to read them.


    "Hao Meng, could I stay here for a while? I''d like find out which path should I cultivate. I don''t feel like ice path is a fit for me." - She said.


    "Oh, you won''t find the answer for that here. Come, let me show you some inheritances. I can grant you one as a reward when you complete a mission." - Hao Meng winked at her.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 50 - What Immortal Gu is this?

    Ancestral Grotto


    The branch of the Azure Crown Oak Tree was bustling with excitement as the Bao clan immortals and Bao clan''s immortal seeds gathered at the center of the Ancestral Grotto.


    Bao Lang Chao, the supreme elder, stood at the forefront of the group, his eyes fixed on the younger Bao Deng Hong before him.


    Bao Deng Hong had an oval face and was in the prime of his middle age. He was dressed in dignified robes that befitted his status as a rank five Gu master. His appearance exuded a calm and collected demeanor, as he prepared himself for the dangerous and important task of ascending to the rank of a Gu Immortal.


    "Bao Deng Hong, son of Bao Deng Hai, has reached the peak of the mortal realm. Today, he will attempt to break through to the immortal realm." - Bao Lang Chao announced to the others.


    Bao Yijun, the second supreme elder, nodded in agreement. "He has worked hard and has prepared well."


    Bao Chi Ping, the third supreme elder, was more reserved: "But we must remember that the path to becoming a Gu Immortal is not easy. There is no guarantee of success."


    The three elder used a killer move, the huge branch they stood on trembled.


    The gathering of heaven and earth qi had begun, and Bao Deng Hong was the first to start his ascension process. He stood at the center of the branch, his eyes closed as he focused on the task at hand.


    "Crush your mortal aperture." - The words echoed in Bao Deng Hong''s mind.


    Bao Deng Hong focused, his body shuddered as he shattered his rank five aperture and began to draw in the heaven and earth qi. The qi swirled around him, slowly merging with his human qi as he tried to keep the three elements in balance.


    Bao Yijun, the second supreme elder, watched with a critical eye.


    "Bao Deng Hong must not lose focus." - She said.


    "He must keep the three qi balanced at all times, or he will fail." - Bao Lang Chao added.


    Bao Chi Ping, the third supreme elder, nodded in agreement. "His understanding of his own accumulations and path must also be deep, or his human qi will be insufficient."


    The immortals watched as Bao Deng Hong began to absorb the natural inspiration. He had asked a specific question during his ascension, and the heaven''s will was answering it.


    But suddenly, Bao Yijun''s eyes twitched.


    "Bao Deng Hong''s human qi is running out!" - She noted, alarm in her voice.


    The immortals noticed the situation and began to deliberate.


    "It will soon be out of balance!"


    The immortals turned to each other with concern written on their faces before turning back to Bao Deng Hong, watching as he continued to be lost in the natural inspiration. They deliberated, weighing the options before them.


    If they interfered, they might be able to save Bao Deng Hong, but his ascension would fail, and he would become a mortal without even a Gu Master''s aperture.


    What use would a mortal be for the clan? It made little difference in their eyes.


    But if they did nothing, Bao Deng Hong would face certain death.


    "Should we interfere?" - Bao Yijun asked.


    Bao Lang Chao shook his head.


    "No, we must let him handle it himself. We cannot interfere in the process. He knew the risks he would be facing."


    In the end, they decided to observe and not interfere. Bao Deng Hong was on his own.


    "There is still a chance, if he discards his inspiration he has a slim chance." - Someone commented.


    The young Gu master finally noticed his imminent peril and tried to finish his ascension. He threw his vital Gu worm into the swirling heaven, earth and human qi, hoping to form his immortal aperture and complete his ascension.


    But he was too late. The heaven and earth qi was too much for him to control anymore, and he failed.


    Bao Deng Hong''s soul dissipated immediately. His damaged body fell on the ground lifelessly.


    "It was a brave attempt." - Bao Lang Chao said with indifference.


    "But he was not ready. We must continue to guide and teach our immortal seeds, so they may have a better chance of success." - He continued.


    "We must remember the sacrifices made by those who have attempted the ascension." - Bao Yijun said solemnly.


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    "He couldn''t measure up to Bao Deng Hai''s talent in the end." - Bao Chi Ping sighed.


    "He will not be forgotten."


    The immortals stood there in a moment silence. The path to becoming a Gu Immortal was not easy, but they would continue to strive towards their goal, no matter the cost.


    The immortals nodded, their thoughts turning to the next Gu master who would attempt the immortal ascension.


    Unmoved by the previous scene, Bao Li Mu stood there solemnly.


    He took a deep breath and stepped forward. His broad shoulders adding to his imposing stature. His face was square with sharp features, his jawline prominent and chiseled. His eyes were a piercing shade of blue, seeming to glint like diamonds as he gazed upon the world with a serene expression. He had a regal aura around him, his posture ramrod straight, and his gaze steady and unwavering. He already had the bearing of an immortal.


    He was dressed in a pristine white robe. The fabric was of the finest quality, flowing gracefully around him like a waterfall of snow.


    His hair was black and neatly tied in a topknot, held in place by a golden hairpin. His skin was tanned and weathered, bearing witness to the years of battles and adventures he had experienced in his lifetime. Despite his age, his movements were graceful and fluid, almost as if he was gliding across the ground instead of walking.


    "Bao Li Mu, son of Bao Li Tai, our hopes rest upon you. Are you prepared?" - Bao Lang Chao turned to him.


    "Yes, Lord Supreme Elder." - He cupped his fists and bowed.


    Bao Li Mu forcefully shattered his rank five aperture.


    His body immediately had a hole, and a huge attraction force towards the heaven and earth qi burst out.


    Bao Li Mu closed his eyes and focused on gathering and balancing the three qi - heaven, earth, and human.  His body gradually rose to the air. The other immortals watched in silence, detached and indifferent to the outcome of the ceremony.


    "This one doesn''t seem very promising." - Said Bao Lang Chao.


    "I agree, his human qi is rather mediocre." - Bao Yijun added.


    "Still, we can''t be too sure. Remember, Bao Deng Hong was one of the strongest mortal Gu masters we''ve seen recently and yet he failed his ascension." - Bao Chi Ping said.


    "Should we decrease the amount of heaven and earth qi?" - Bao Yijun turned to Bao Lang Chao.


    "No, continue to draw in the qi through the tree''s roots. If he succeeds, he will need this amount to have a stable foundation." - Bao Lang Chao replied.


    The Bao clan also had their own methods to deal with the requirement of heaven and earth qi in this grotto heaven. The roots of the Azure Crown Oak Tree could be extended outside the grotto heaven. These roots would draw in the qi which the immortals could use.


    This was a secret, only the higher ups knew about it!


    The immortals watched in silence as Bao Li Mu''s aura grew stronger. The qi of heaven and earth swirled around him, balancing with each other. And then, the human qi appeared, equal in strength to the other two elements.


    "He''s doing well, but the true test is yet to come." - Bao Lang Chao remarked.


    As Bao Li Mu concentrated, he could feel the heaven qi and earth qi flow into him, nurturing his body and soul. He made sure to keep the balance between the two qi and added his own human qi to the mix. This was the most critical part of the ascension, as the three qi must be perfectly balanced in order to advance.


    As Bao Li Mu succeeded in balancing the qi, he felt a new inspiration enter his mind. He opened his eyes and saw the immortals observing him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.


    "Not bad, not bad." - Bao Lang Chao praised.


    So far everything was going smoothly, Bao Li Mu was ready to refine an immortal Gu, but he was not prepared for what was to come next.


    Suddenly, a tribulation formed overhead and attacked Bao Li Mu while he was refining the Gu.


    The immortals watched in awe as he struggled against the backlash of the heaven and earth qi, holding on to his refinement even as his mortal Gu worms began to perish. Bao Li Mu gritted his teeth and let the refinement be guided by his new inspiration.


    "Release more heaven and earth qi for his refinement." - Bao Lang Chao ordered.


    The immortals complied, sending more qi to Bao Li Mu as he struggled against the tribulation. Bao Li Mu grit his teeth, his eyes shining with determination as he refused to give up. He held on to his inspiration and kept refining the Gu, despite the painful backlash of the qi.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bao Li Mu succeeded. He landed on the ground, his clothes tattered and his body exhausted. All his mortal gu had perished, but he held a new immortal Gu worm triumphantly in his palm.


    Bao Li Mu approached the immortals, his expression humble.


    "Congratulations!"


    "Well done, junior!"


    "Seniors, I have succeeded." - He stated as he released the Gu worm''s unmistakable rank six aura.


    The supreme elder, Bao Lang Chao, stepped forward and spoke.


    "Well done, Bao Li Mu. You have become a Gu Immortal. Congratulations."


    "It doesn''t have a wood path aura." - Someone snickered.


    "What gu is this?"


    "Why didn''t you advance your core gu worm?" - They questioned him.


    Bao Li Mu had a strange expression.


    "This gu worm''s recipe came to me in my natural inspiration. I decided to refine this because my core immortal gu got damaged and died." - He explained.


    "I offer this Gu worm to the clan, I hope seniors can find a good use for it. It is called Perception Warp Immortal Gu." - He lowered his head and handed the Immortal Gu to Bao Lang Chao.


    Bao Lang Chao inspected the Gu worm closely.


    The Perception Warp Immortal Gu was a small, intricate insect that resembled a beetle. Its body was made of a translucent, iridescent material that shimmered and changed color in the light. The wings of the insect were delicate and filmy, almost as if they were made of shifting light. The eyes of the Perception Warp Immortal Gu were large and glisten like gems, reflecting the light in a way that seems to mesmerize those who look upon it.


    The longer Bao Lang Chao studied the gu the more changes he noticed. At first its eyes seemed large, but when he looked at them its whole head seemed to shrunk in half. He could not get an accurate feeling of the thing on his palm. He felt the Gu worm crawl on his palm, yet it was stationary.


    "Quite peculiar. Is it an illusion path Gu worm?" - He wondered as he never encountered such Gu before.


    The immortals were fascinated by the Perception Warp Immortal Gu and its ever-changing appearance. They felt as if they were observing a living puzzle, and the more they tried to understand it, the more mysterious it became. They noticed that the gu worm''s size seemed to change depending on perspective or closeness, sometimes appearing tiny and at other times appearing to grow to a massive size. The colors on its surface were always shifting, creating a mesmerizing display of light and hues.


    "Good gu, good gu." - Bao Lang Chao came to his senses and put the gu worm away.


    "How long were we studying this gu?" - He thought to himself, unsure of the exact duration.


    "Your contribution will not go unrewarded. You can select a fitting gu worm for yourself from the immortal treasury." - He turned back to Bao Li Mu.


    The other immortals nodded in agreement, still detached and indifferent to the outcome of the ceremony. But they knew that they had gained a new member in their ranks, and that was what mattered most to them.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 51 - Seniors arrangements

    Ancestral Grotto, Bao Wen Academy


    Zhao Min led his team of four back to their sect after a successful mission to gather rare herbs. Steward Jie was waiting for them, his piercing gaze assessing their every move as they approached.


    "Report!" - Steward Jie demanded, his voice cold and firm.


    Zhao Min stepped forward and bowed deeply.


    "Steward Jie, we have completed the mission as instructed. We have gathered enough herbs of good quality, and we have encountered no major difficulties in our journey."


    Steward Jie nodded. This matched with what he knew. His gaze shifting to Jin Ju.


    "And what of this one?" - He asked, indicating the reserved young man.


    "Jin Ju was instrumental in saving Ye Jianhong''s life." - Zhao Min explained.


    "He administered the antidote to the poison that was inflicted on Ye Jianhong by Zhu Feng. He also took down Zhu Feng when he attacked us."


    Steward Jie nodded again, his gaze moving to Yu Lingxin.


    "And what of her?" - He asked.


    "She performed well." - Zhao Min replied.


    "Her skills were useful in locating and identifying the herbs. She also watched over Ye Jianhong while he was unconscious."


    Steward Jie''s gaze settled on Ye Jianhong, who stood silently behind Zhao Min.


    "And you, Ye Jianhong?" - He asked, his voice laced with disapproval.


    Ye Jianhong felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he quickly pushed it down.


    "I contributed to the mission as well." - He said firmly.


    "I helped with the herb gathering and also helped to solve..." - He didn''t finish as he noticed the anxious gazes of his teammates turning to him.


    "You stupid! What are you doing? Don''t tell him about the inheritance!" - They thought.


    Steward Jie''s eyes narrowed.


    "You were a burden to the team." - He said bluntly.


    "You were poisoned and almost died, and you failed to contribute as much as the others. You must learn to be more useful and less of a liability."


    Even though Ye Jianhong helped the group in the second and third stages of the Three Demon''s Inheritance, they couldn''t disclose that.


    Ye Jianhong gritted his teeth, his face flushing with anger. But before he could say anything else, Steward Jie suddenly unleashed a powerful technique that froze the entire group in place. They could not move, could not even breathe.


    Steward Jie stood before the group of four, his gaze cold and unyielding.


    "You are all members of this sect." - He began, his voice ringing out across the room.


    "As such, you are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline, respect, and dedication to our cause. And yet, in this mission, you have failed to meet those expectations."


    He fixed his gaze on Ye Jianhong, who still looked defiant despite the powerful technique that had just immobilized them all.


    "You, in particular, have shown a lack of dedication and discipline." - He continued.


    "You were a burden to the team, and you failed to contribute as much as the others. But your biggest shortcoming is not this. You failed to realize your own wrongdoing. This is unacceptable."


    Steward Jie then turned his gaze to each member of the group in turn, his voice growing even sterner.


    "But you all have much to learn." - He said.


    "You have become complacent and arrogant, thinking that your individual talents are enough to see you through any situation. But this is not the way of the sect."


    He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. The group of four was silent, listening to his every word.


    "You will all spend the next month in closed cultivation." - He continued.


    "During that time, you will reflect on your mistakes and work to improve your skills. You will not be allowed to leave until you have shown significant improvement. And when you do, you will return to this sect as stronger, more disciplined, and more dedicated gu masters."


    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Steward Jie released the technique. The group collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.


    Steward Jie''s words were harsh, but they were also wise. The group knew that he spoke the truth, and that his punishment was light. They nodded silently, accepting their fate.


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    Steward Jie turned and strode out of the room, leaving the group to reflect on their mistakes and prepare for the month of closed cultivation that lay ahead.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Xu Lian''s will flew above the lands and surveyed the landscape. The once lush and beautiful land was now filled with deep cracks and uneven surfaces. He had never seen something like this before.


    "This chasm has to be filled." - He looked below himself.


    "And that hill there needs to be leveled. Then I can replant the forest." - He sighed to himself at the enormity of the task.


    Xu Lian was disheartened, his hands were full as he tried to restore his immortal aperture to how it was before the calamity.


    "I should ask Ancestor for help, this can''t go on like this." - He spoke out loud.


    His will flew down to Bao Zhi''s location and approached his meditating senior.


    "Greetings, Ancestor." - He humbly bowed as he began.


    Bao Zhi noticed his arrival long ago, he faced Xu Lian head on. Even as he was sitting, his head as higher than Xu Lian''s.


    "Tell me." - He replied.


    "Ancestor, my blessed land is in ruins. It is hopeless, I do not have the means to fix the landscape. My immortal essence has ran dry. The work is endless." - Xu Lian''s will complained. He was clearly here to seek help but he didn''t dare say it directly. Even though the damage was due to Bao Zhi''s methods, it was also thanks to him the calamity was passed. He had to be careful.


    "The calamity has changed the landscape of your blessed land. There is no need to be disheartened. It is a new start for you." - Bao Zhi replied.


    Xu Lian was taken aback by his senior''s words. A new start? He was not sure what he meant.


    "It is not the state of your blessed land that''s wrong, but your perception of it." - Bao Zhi pointed at Xu Lian then at the ground below them.


    "Please explain." - Xu Lian bowed even deeper.


    "The calamities and tribulations are both disasters and blessings. Take the deep cracks and chasms, for example. These are new environments you can use to grow vegetation." - He started to explain.


    "The light does not reach these places and the nutrients from deep underground are exposed. It is a good place to plant thorny vines of Darkbrier, glowing Starry Moss or patches of Shadowfern there. The places with less nutrients can still nurture Ghost Orchids for instance." - He continued.


    "Then there are the new hills and mountains. Their conditions have also changed now. What lived there before would not prosper now, so you can plant Thunder Pine or Sky Blossom to take advantage of their environment." - He went on.


    "As for the valleys, plant the Gale Lilly or Mountain Laurel." - Bao Zhi concluded.


    Xu Lian was taken aback by the simplicity of the solution. He had never thought of this way before.


    "Thank you, Ancestor! I understand now." - He bowed once more in respect.


    "Take your time, Xu Lian. I am sure you can make this blessed land thrive once again." - Bao Zhi said before he returned to his meditation.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Bao Wen Academy


    Steward Jie stood before Bao Li Mu, feeling small and insignificant in the presence of the elder. He cleared his throat and bowed respectfully before speaking.


    "Respected Elder, I have completed the tasks assigned to me, and I have come to report to you."


    Bao Li Mu sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in meditation, managing his immortal aperture as he did so.


    Steward Jie waited patiently, not daring to disturb the elder''s concentration. After a few moments, Bao Li Mu nodded to signal that he was listening.


    Steward Jie straightened his back and began to report. He informed Bao Li Mu that all the new gu masters had returned and successfully completed their herb gathering mission.


    Bao Li Mu listened attentively, his face showing no expression. When Steward Jie finished his report, Bao Li Mu nodded and thanked him for his hard work.


    Steward Jie hesitated for a moment before continuing. He knew that what he was about to say might not be well received, but he had to inform Bao Li Mu about this important matter. He took a deep breath and spoke.


    "Respected Elder, there is something else I need to inform you about. The inheritance of the Three Demons has been taken by four of the young gu masters. I have put them under watch, and I think it would be best if we dealt with them immediately." - He explained.


    Bao Li Mu opened an eye and looked at Steward Jie with interest.


    Steward Jie continued, explaining the origin of the inheritance and the notorious demonic gu masters who had left it behind. But before he could finish, Bao Li Mu politely interrupted him.


    "Thank you for your report, Steward Jie. You may stop there." - He said calmly.


    Steward Jie was taken aback by the elder''s interruption, but he stopped speaking and waited for Bao Li Mu to continue.


    "I know about the inheritance of the Three Demons. Just ignore it for now." - Bao Li Mu said calmly.


    Steward Jie cleared his throat nervously, fidgeting with his sleeves.


    "But Elder, I feel that you don''t understand the gravity of the situation." - He began, his voice shaking slightly.


    "The inheritance of the Three Demons is not something to be taken lightly. Those who possess it may be tempted to walk the demonic path."


    Bao Li Mu opened his other eye, his gaze piercing.


    "And do you believe that these young gu masters are susceptible to such temptation?" - He asked calmly.


    "I cannot say for sure, but it is always a possibility. And, if they do, it will be disastrous for our sect." - Steward Jie spoke hesitantly.


    Bao Li Mu nodded, his expression thoughtful.


    "I understand your concerns, Steward Jie. However, we must have faith in our disciples. We have trained them well and provided them with the tools to resist such temptations."


    "But the Three Demons'' Inheritance is incompatible with our sect''s cultivation path." - Steward Jie persisted, his voice rising in pitch.


    "It goes against everything we believe in. We cannot let it fall into the wrong hands!"


    Bao Li Mu sighed, his eyes closing once again.


    "I am well aware of the nature of the inheritance, Steward Jie. But we cannot interfere with the choices of our disciples. They must choose their own path, even if it leads them astray."


    Steward Jie bit his lip, his fists clenching at his sides.


    "But what if they bring ruin upon themselves and our sect?" - He demanded.


    Bao Li Mu opened his eyes once more, his gaze meeting Steward Jie''s.


    "We will deal with that if and when it happens. For now, we must trust in the abilities and judgment of our disciples."


    Steward Jie was about to protest, but Bao Li Mu held up his hand to stop him.


    "You are one of my trusted aides. Since you already know about it, it''s no harm to tell you." - He leaned closer to Steward Jie.


    "This was an arrangement made by my late father, Lord Bao Li Tai. Everything is as expected."


    Steward Jie was shocked to hear this. He had no idea that Bao Li Tai had made such an arrangement.


    Steward Jie nodded reluctantly, but his face still showed his doubts. Bao Li Mu placed a hand on his shoulder, a gesture of reassurance.


    "Do not worry, Steward Jie. The fate of our sect is in good hands."


    "Steward Jie, there is no need to take any further action. Let the four of them be. They will be the key to our success in the future."


    Steward Jie was speechless. He had never imagined that Bao Li Mu would be so lenient with the four gu masters who had inherited the Three Demon''s inheritance. But he knew better than to further question the elder''s judgment. He bowed respectfully and left the room, feeling relieved and confused at the same time.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 52 - Understanding humanity

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi sat cross-legged atop a rock in the middle of a serene forest clearing as he meditated. He was contemplating his knowledge and gains of his newly acquired grandmaster attainment in human path. This achievement was the fruit of his hundreds of years he lived through.


    Bao Zhi had already achieved grandmaster attainment in wood path, so this was not the first time that he had achieved such a high level of attainment.


    But this time was different.


    This was a qualitative change!


    Grandmaster attainment was the realm of attainment that accomplished rank seven gu immortals had in their main paths.


    Even though Bao Zhi''s grandmaster attainment of human path was one realm lesser than his great grandmaster attainment in wood path, Bao Zhi could feel this was more meaningful.


    He had gained understanding of the human nature and the human race. He felt no longer bound by the conventions of society, and he could see the world from a completely new perspective.


    It was an enlightenment of sorts.


    It was a realization of one''s own true nature, a realization of the greater whole of humanity, and a realization of one''s place in the world.


    Human path was special!


    "This fulfillment. Unknowingly, it lies within oneself and can be discovered through self-discovery!"


    He closed his eyes and recalled the memories of the past hundreds of years while he was searching for enlightenment. He was just a seeker on the path of self-discovery. Looking back now, each day seemed like a step towards discovering his true nature.


    Looking back now, he saw both his progress and mistakes, he noticed a pattern of seeking external events or objects to fill a void.


    "If one''s fulfillment is based solely on external events or objects, then all events and objects will feel the same and dull after acquiring them. The true nature of oneself will remain hidden and unnoticed, as one''s sight are set on other objects." - He pondered.


    "The true fulfillment of humans is not derived from external events or objects, but rather from the discovery of one''s true nature. Humanity, as a whole, is akin to a vast entity of which one is merely a small part, and the achievements of humanity rest upon the cumulative efforts of many generations."


    "Just as monotony and emptiness can cause a distortion in our sense of time, so too can a focus on external factors distract us from our true nature and purpose. Only by turning inward and discovering our authentic selves can we truly find fulfillment and understand the greater whole of humanity."


    "Each generation builds upon the achievements and knowledge of those who came before, adding their own unique contributions to the ever-evolving entity of humanity. It is only by recognizing our interconnectedness and the collective nature of human progress that we can fully appreciate our place in the world and strive towards our highest potential."


    "Even though this is the case, gu masters are incentivized to keep their own understanding to themselves. It is only logical, that they put their lives before the lives of others. If their methods were exposed, their lives could be in danger."


    "But what they miss, by completely guarding themselves from others, is the opportunity to work together and share their understanding. How many times have gu masters pondered on the troubles of refining or feeding their gu? This is a problem every gu master faces, and the different answers are as many as there are stars in the sky. Answering the same questions over and over, beginning anew each time. What a wasted effort that is! If it was a single person, we would call that insane. Yet when everyone does it, it is just another day."


    "Solving the same problems over and over stifles progress. If I am stuck on ''one'' and you are also stuck on ''one'', we can only move to ''two'' after both solving our ''one''. But if ''one'' is solved and shared, then ''two'' can be worked on as soon as someone has the answer. But the people guard their insights dearly, taking them to the grave, only for a single, lucky person to inherit it one day."


    "This is the way of humanity! The correct example is right before one''s eyes. The most important inheritance known to mankind, The Legends Of Ren Zu, is circulated widely, every gu master know about it. Just how many experts have benefited from reading it?"


    "Those who are truly fulfilled are not those who have accumulated the most wealth, fame, or material possessions. But rather those who have discovered their true nature and understood humanity, they are who have accumulated the most wealth, fame, or material possessions. It is through this process of understanding that we can truly leave our mark on the world."


    "The true legacy of a person is the knowledge and understanding they impart upon the world. Those who share their knowledge and understanding, even if it is only a single drop, can still contribute to the grand ocean of humanity. The legacy of a single person can be carried on in the hearts and minds of many. And so, even though I may be an individual, my understanding is a collective effort. It is through understanding humanity that I can reach the pinnacle of the human path and make my mark on the world."


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    Bao Zhi''s stream of thoughts were cut short as his solitude was interrupted by the arrival of Xu Lian''s will.


    But Bao Zhi didn''t mind this, he was in a good mood.


    The next moment, a figure appeared in the clearing. It was Xu Lian.


    He had accomplished the mission Bao Zhi gave him and returned.


    "Ancestor." - Xu Lian bowed before Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi cleared his mind of his previous thoughts. His sharp green eyes met Xu Lian''s gaze.


    "Have you done what I''ve told you?"


    "Yes, I planted the vegetation according to the new environments." - He paused before continuing.


    "But I have ran out of materials, I''ve used all I had. I''m eager to hear Ancestor''s wisdom. What should I do in this situation?"


    Bao Zhi surveyed the surroundings briefly before replying.


    "Good. If you need more materials, you will have to work for them. Go and ask Wen clan if they have any missions for you." - He said plainly.


    Xu Lian''s face drained of all color as he heard this.


    "How did he know I''m in the Wen clan? Does he think I really betrayed the Bao clan?" - His thoughts ran wild in fright.


    Bao Zhi sensed his aura fluctuating clearly.


    "Don''t be surprised, I know of your situation. Your father have betrayed you, and you sought refuge in Wen clan. Everyone has their own circumstances, I understand that." - Bao Zhi said in a comforting voice.


    Xu Lian was dumbstruck. He never expected Bao Zhi to have such an open mind about Wen clan.


    He bowed in respect before continuing.


    "Ancestor, I am in your debt. I will go and do as you''ve said." - Xu Lian said solemnly.


    Bao Zhi nodded in approval.


    Xu Lian was about to leave when Bao Zhi spoke up again.


    "Have you heard of Wen clan''s immortal gu house, Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda?"


    Xu Lian stopped for a moment to recall what he knew.


    "It is Wen clan''s information path gu house. At the time of the annual competition the best performers are granted the opportunity to enter and increase their knowledge. This is one of Wen clan''s rewards." - Xu Lian explained.


    This was public knowledge.


    Bao Zhi smiled.


    "It is one of the cornerstones of Wen clan''s foundation. You have to know of Wen clan''s background to understand its significance. This gu house was what lead their clan to glory before our two clan''s misfortune." - He began to explain.


    Xu Lian realized his knowledge of Wen clan was very superficial. He continued to listen.


    "Before their downfall, Wen clan was the beacon of righteousness in Southern Border. It was they, who hunted down and captured demonic immortals. In this respect they were unmatched."


    Xu Lian nodded, starting to see the connection.


    "And the gu house was their key to success?" - He asked.


    "Exactly." - Bao Zhi replied.


    "They could track down the gu immortals and subdue them without killing. But with the attack of Ming You, this gu house was damaged, and it became a shadow of its former self. Wen clan couldn''t repair it, so they repurposed it to its current state. Its name was also changed to fit that."


    Xu Lian had a sudden realization.


    "I see. So this gu house is the reason why Wen clan became so powerful. It should hold many secrets." - He said in admiration.


    Bao Zhi nodded.


    "Earn their trust and you might just gain the chance to enter. You know of the gains the mortal gu masters can acquire there. Now imagine what you could gain from this." - Bao Zhi said with a knowing smile.


    Xu Lian was stunned. He could feel the power emanating from Bao Zhi''s words.


    "Yes, Ancestor!" - He said with determination. He bowed deeply before leaving, with newfound enthusiasm.


    Bao Zhi looked at the leaving figure of Xu Lian''s will.


    "This will occupy him a bit longer." - He thought.


    Bao Zhi was in a peculiar situation now. Among the batch of gu worms he got from Xu Lian, there were relic gu as well. But he did not use them for refinement like Yu Lian expected, he had used them on himself to raise his cultivation.


    He already had the human path body of an immortal, but his aperture was at rank five peak stage only.


    The ninety-five percent purple crystal primeval sea was gleaming with light, dying the rank five peak stage crystal walls with purple color.


    He was a single step from advancing to rank six.


    "Enticing. If I didn''t take my time to raise my attainment and rashly advanced, I might have already broken my aperture." - Bao Zhi sighed.


    Bao Zhi had a deep sense of danger about this.


    "Good thing I didn''t. This amount of human qi I have is absurd, it is not what any mortal could posses. To balance the three qi, similar amounts of heaven and earth qi are needed." - He muttered.


    Too much of a good thing would also be a detriment.


    "Just what kind of tribulation would my ascension conjure? It would be more powerful than Xu Lian''s earthly calamity. At that time, my body would be thoroughly destroyed." - He shuddered.


    Not to mention if he tried to advance in side Xu Lian Blessed Land, it could likely collapse if Bao Zhi absorbed this much heaven and earth qi.


    But Bao Zhi was not willing to give up cultivating human path after experiencing his new body.


    "The cause of the problem is the human qi. I''m lacking human path gu, so the basis I can work with is the body and the human qi." - He thought.


    "The body is harder to work with, and it primarily has an effect on me. While the qi has an effect on both me and the surroundings."


    "Qi can also be used in place of gu worms in killer moves. This is one of the principles of qi path." - He continued.


    "It should be possible... Although, I lack the qi path attainment, I can understand it to an extent through other paths." - He thought.


    Bao Zhi''s qi path attainment was only ordinary. But qi path was one of the fundamental paths, ranked third after space and time path. In essence, it was less complex than the paths that emerged later.


    He had confidence in himself!


    Bao Zhi began to conceptualize a human path killer move that used his human qi. But his progress was slow.


    Bao Zhi also had some remnant qi path gu recipes and partial inheritances in his mind. But they were of little help. He lacked the qi path attainment to restore them before he could use it as a template for his new killer move.


    Bao Zhi sighed.


    Human path in comparison to other cultivated paths were truly undeveloped. The knowledge of human path gu worms were lacking, not to mention human path killer moves.


    Bao Zhi looked in the direction Xu Lian''s will left with a faint smile on his face.


    "Go and bring back some good qi path results as well."

 Ch. 53 - Choosing an inheritance

    Bao Wen Academy


    The room was a common circular chamber, constructed entirely of smooth, polished stone. The walls were carved with patterns and symbols, representing the sect''s teachings and ways. The floor was bare and unadorned, save for a single cushion in the center for meditation.


    The room was dimly lit by a series of glowing crystals, embedded in the walls and ceiling. These crystals emitted a soft, ethereal light that filled the room with a soothing, mystical feeling.


    This was one of the common secret rooms available for the academy''s students.


    Jin Ju sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and steady. He was in closed cultivation, focusing his primeval essence and meditating on his next steps as a gu master. As he concentrated, his mind drifted towards the Three Demons'' inheritance, and the powerful gu and killer moves that it described.


    "The Three Demons each cultivated different paths. Gui Kong was an expert of phantom path. The Phantom Mantis gu and Phantom Steps gu were his gu worms." - He thought to himself.


    He had been drawn to these Phantom Path gu. Phantom path had the ability to turn things immaterial and pass through solid objects.


    He envisioned himself phasing through walls and dodging attacks with ease, becoming a ghost-like presence on the battlefield. But he knew that mastering these gu alone would not be enough. To truly unlock the power of the inheritance, he would need to understand how the Three Demons had worked together to complement and strengthen each other.


    "They each had their respective roles in battle. From what I can gather, Gui Kong used to harass his enemies from afar with the swarm of Phantom Mantises. These gu aren''t powerful just by themselves, but they are troublesome to deal with as they can pass though most defenses."


    He began to envision the three demonic cultivators in his mind, each one specializing in a different path of cultivation. The first, with a mastery of phantom path, was a ghostly presence on the battlefield, striking through his opponents defense and eluding their attacks with ease. The second, an expert of water path, she could create powerful waves and streams, washing away enemies and obstacles and making it difficult for her opponents to stand their ground. And the third, with his mastery of wood path, could control plant life and create dense forests of thorny vines and choking weeds, ensnaring and suffocating his opponents.


    "The Water Demon, Shui Liu cultivated water path. Her attacks were wide and engulfing. Her opponents would have their movements restricted on a large scale. She could also put up a dome of a water barrier."


    "Lastly the Forest Demon, Mu Han, would use thorny vines that grew out of his arms. Those entangled would have their strength sapped. That''s when Gui Kong would deliver the killing blow." - Jin Ju shuddered at the ruthless efficiency of the three.


    But it was their cooperation that truly made them unstoppable. They moved as one, each complementing the other''s strengths and covering their weaknesses. The Phantom Demon would phase through his opponent''s defenses and strike from within, while the Water Demon created massive floods to wash away their enemies and the Forest Demon created a thicket to trap them. And when they fought together, they were like an unstoppable force of nature, wearing down and tearing through their enemies with ease.


    "For example, the three demons could use Torrential Surge gu to create a massive wave that washes their opponent towards them, then use Phantom Steps to phase through the wave and strike them with Phantom Strike. Alternatively, they could use Forest Ambush to create a forest that traps their opponent, then use Flooded Domain to flood the area and drown them. The possibilities are endless, their techniques could cover many situations." - He recalled in his mind.


    Jin Ju smiled as he opened his eyes, his mind buzzing with new ideas and strategies. He knew that mastering the phantom path would be a challenge, but he was more determined than ever to unlock the full power of the Three Demons'' inheritance and make it his. With their strength and cooperation in mind, he felt ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.


    But he couldn''t help but wonder how he would finance his cultivation. He had no money to buy gu worms, and he had no time or skill to hunt for them either.


    "I don''t have all the required gu for the inheritance." - Jin Ju furrowed his brows.


    "I need to refine them, because I can''t buy these gu in the open. But I will be able to buy the refinement ingredients!"


    Jin Ju was an honest and reserved young man, but he knew that he needed money to continue his cultivation. He had been a slave to the wandering trader Xing Zan for many years, and he knew the ins and outs of the gu worm trade better than anyone his age. He had seen Xing Zan swindle unsuspecting customers out of their hard-earned money, and he knew that he could do better.


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    "After I leave my disciplinary closed cultivation, I will open up a small shop. I can''t depend on living mission to mission. What if there are no missions, or I get injured and unable to complete them? I have to have my own means of sustaining myself!" - His eyes flashed with determination.


    * * * * *


    Wen Bao Academy


    Hao Meng led Wen Qinyang into a secluded room of the academy. He closed the door behind him and turned to her, a small smile on his face.


    "Here we are." - He said, gesturing around the room.


    "This is where we keep some of the more rare gu master inheritances. I thought you might be interested in taking a look."


    Wen Qinyang''s eyes widened as she looked around the room. The room had shelves on both sides lined with information path gu worms.


    "Wow, this is incredible. Thank you for showing me."


    Hao Meng chuckled.


    "No problem. I know how hard it is to find good resources in the cultivation world."


    Wen Qinyang nodded, her expression turning serious.


    "Actually, that''s what I wanted to talk to you about. I''ve been having a lot of trouble with my cultivation lately. I''ve been trying to cultivate ice path, but the gu just doesn''t feel right for me."


    Hao Meng''s expression softened.


    "Ever since my accident... I just can''t use my gu as I used to."


    "I''m sorry to hear that. Cultivation can be tough, especially when you''re trying to find your path."


    Wen Qinyang sighed.


    "I just wish there was an inheritance that suited me better that the current ice path I have." - She said.


    "Something that could use my knowledge from my past life." - She added in her mind.


    Hao Meng''s smile turned wry.


    "I know what you mean. I hate cultivating the ice path, but it''s necessary for me."


    Wen Qinyang raised an eyebrow.


    "Why is that?"


    Hao Meng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.


    "It''s complicated. But trust me, it''s necessary."


    Hao Meng took a gu from the shelf and activated it.


    A wall of writings appeared in front of them.


    They were carefully evaluating each inheritance, trying to find one that would be a good fit for Qinyang.


    "This one looks promising." - Hao Meng said, pointing to a part of the floating text.


    "It contains a Gu that can boost your perception and help you detect hidden dangers." - He explained.


    Wen Qinyang nodded with interest.


    "That could be really helpful, especially if I''m going to be traveling."


    Hao Meng smiled at her enthusiasm, but his expression turned serious when he heard his mother''s cold voice calling for him outside. He stood up, his face suddenly panicked.


    "I have to go. My mother can''t find you here. It''s not safe."


    Wen Qinyang stood up too, looking alarmed.


    "What should I do?"


    Hao Meng hesitated for a moment, then made a decision.


    "Stay here. I''ll come back as soon as I can." - He promised.


    With that, he dashed out of the room, leaving Wen Qinyang alone with the inheritances.


    "Should I..?" - She cast her gaze at the rows of gu worms.


    She flicked her hand and the text started to move rapidly. She did not hold back and started to skim through many of the inheritances in a hurry.


    "Where is a good one?" - She read the lines frantically.


    After an incense stick of time, Hao Meng burst back into the room, his face flushed with exertion. He collapsed onto the floor next to her, his breathing ragged.


    "Sorry about that." - He gasped.


    "My mother can be... difficult to deal with sometimes."


    Wen Qinyang nodded sympathetically.


    "It''s okay. I understand."


    But when she looked at him, she couldn''t help but ask.


    "What happened to you? Why is your body covered in frost?"


    Hao Meng stood up, and his face turned serious.


    "I have to tell you something. It''s about my body."


    Wen Qinyang looked at him curiously, sensing something strange.


    "What about it?"


    Hao Meng hesitated for a moment, then said: "I have the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance Physique."


    Wen Qinyang''s eyes widened in shock. She knew what having one of the ten extreme physiques meant. It was a rare and powerful physique, but it came with a deadly price.


    Qinyang understood at once why his cultivation could be two ranks higher than hers.


    "So... you''re one of the ten extreme physiques?" - She asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking.


    "That''s... great!" - She tried to act enthusiastic as if she had no clue.


    Hao Meng shook his head.


    "No, it''s not something to celebrate. It means my cultivation continuously increases until my aperture explodes and I die. My mother knew that, so she freezes my aperture to stop my cultivation from increasing and save my life."


    "But this is only a temporary measure, it could not halt the advancement, only delay it."


    Wen Qinyang genuinely felt a pang of sympathy for him. She had no idea Hao Meng had this kind of burden on his shoulders.


    "That''s awful. I''m so sorry."


    "Don''t be." - He paused for a moment and looked at her with a strange glint in his eyes.


    "I laugh at my situation sometimes. It''s almost comical, really. Everyone''s life runs out eventually, only mine runs out quicker. What''s so sad about that? Nothing!"


    "I know my time is limited, but who''s to say how long anyone has in this world?"


    "I''ve come to terms with my fate. I know that my cultivation will continue to increase until my aperture explodes and I die. But that doesn''t scare me.  It just means I have to make the most of the time I have."


    "Some people might see it as a tragedy, but I see it as a gift. A reminder that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."


    "I''ve learned to appreciate the small things in life, the moments that make me feel alive. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the sound of the wind in the trees..."


    "...and the smiles of the people I love." - He said softly.


    He looked at Qinyang again.


    Her face was filled with understanding and compassion. She finally understood the truth behind Hao Meng''s antics.


    "I don''t know how much time I have left, but I''m not going to waste it. I''m going to live every moment to the fullest, to make the most of the time I have. And when my time comes, I''ll go with a smile on my face, knowing that I lived a life worth living."


    "And I want you to laugh with me, Qinyang. Because life is too short to be taken too seriously."


    He smiled and reached out to take her hands.


    "So laugh with me, my love. Laugh at the absurdity of life, at the peculiarity of fate. And let''s make the most of the time we have, together."


    He pulled her closer and kissed her, their lips meeting in a passionate embrace.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 54 - Desolate plant

    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed in deep concentration. He had been meditating for weeks, trying to conceptualize a new killer move that would harness the power of his human qi. His mind was focused entirely on the task at hand, and he felt his consciousness expanding as he delved deeper into his thoughts.


    First, he focused his attention on the human qi that surrounded him. He could feel the energy pulsating and swirling around him, but it was still unfocused like a cloud and difficult to control.


    At this point, Bao Zhi struggled to move the human qi, feeling as though it was slipping through his grasp like sand. He gritted his teeth and tried again, but the energy remained elusive.


    "You cannot grasp the essence of something without first understanding its formlessness. Thus, the more you try to grasp the intangible, the more it slips away from you." - He thought to himself.


    He paused and took a deep breath, calming himself. Then he took out a storage gu worm and put away some gu and retrieved others.


    He had a wide selection of mortal gu at hand that he received from Xu Lian.


    "Which qi path gu should I try next?" - He lacked the necessary intuition, he could only guess.


    He chose another one to try its effect on the human qi.


    It was the Near Qi gu.


    The Near Qi gu allowed him to draw upon the qi around him and shape it into a more controllable form.


    Bao Zhi activated the gu worm, and instantly he could feel the human qi around him beginning to change. With each passing moment, he could feel the qi gathering around him and becoming easier to manipulate.


    "Let''s try the Flowing Currents gu again." - He activated another qi path gu worm in his aperture.


    The Flowing Currents gu allowed him to control the flow of qi, pushing it into a single direction and making it move with greater ease and efficiency.


    As time passed, Bao Zhi began to gain more control over the human qi, able to direct its flow and shape it into a more defined form. He concentrated on using his willpower to manipulate the energy, visualizing it taking on a specific shape and obeying his commands.


    Slowly, he began to draw upon his abundant human qi, letting it flow through his body like a river. With each passing moment, he could feel the energy growing stronger, more potent. He concentrated on directing the flow of his qi, using his willpower to shape it into various forms.


    Soon, he felt his hand grow warm as the human qi condensed around it, swirling and pulsating with a faint light. He smiled in satisfaction, pleased with the progress he had made.


    With each attempt, he felt his control over the human qi growing stronger, and the qi began to move with greater ease and fluidity.


    With time and practice, Bao Zhi had gained a certain level of mastery over the human qi, able to manipulate it with precision and accuracy. He could command it to move in any direction, and it would obey his commands without hesitation.


    But as he continued to focus on his killer move, he realized that he had hit a bottleneck. His qi path attainment was lacking compared to his human path attainment, and he couldn''t seem to make the leap necessary to complete his killer move.


    Bao Zhi knew that he needed a breakthrough in his killer move development and decided to visit the Brain Melon plantation.


    This was the first time he actually came to this place, so far he only interacted with these plants when he was still transformed into a tree.


    Bao Zhi walked towards the Brain Melon plantation, his eyes scanning the rows of plants. As he got closer, he could see that many of the plants were damaged, their leaves wilted, and their fruit underdeveloped. He frowned, knowing that the earthly calamity had wreaked havoc on the plantation.


    But as he continued to look, he saw signs of Xu Lian''s hard work to restore the plants. He could see new shoots emerging from the damaged plants, and some of the leaves looked greener and healthier. Bao Zhi felt a sense of admiration for Xu Lian''s dedication and resilience in the face of adversity.


    He picked a ripe Brain Melon and took a deep breath before plunging his consciousness into it. As soon as his will entered the Brain Melon, he felt his thoughts accelerate, and his mind raced with ideas and possibilities.


    With the help of the Brain Melon, Bao Zhi started to explore new ideas and avenues, his mind buzzed with new insights and concepts. He could see the killer move he wanted to create, taking shape in his mind''s eye, and with each passing moment, it grew more defined and tangible.


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    "If only this was the immortal level Brain Melon desolate plant. A few visits would have been enough."


    As time passed, the Brain Melon''s effect was waning, and Bao Zhi knew that he had to retrieve his will soon. With a surge of willpower, he extracted his consciousness from the Brain Melon, feeling drained but satisfied by the progress he had made.


    "But those who are in dire straits must relinquish their preferences and be content with meager offerings."


    He felt that many subsequent attempts will be necessary before he could reach an initial version of his killer move.


    This was nothing surprising, deducing an immortal killer move was difficult even with immortal methods.


    "A steady drip of water can even bore a hole through stone."


    The Brain Melon was only a mortal plant. But one could plant more, then they would produce more thoughts for the user to work with. Or one could nurture it to become a desolate plant, it would increase the rate of production and make the thinking quicker.


    Bao Zhi estimated the required effort on his part. Using his previous experiences when he deduced killer moves, he calculated that it could take up to a year if he continued at this pace.


    "Wood path is still my main path of expertise. I was hasty to solely focus on human path. I should rely on wood path, even if I want to pursue human path in the end. Wood path can provide me with the tools that human path currently lacks."


    With this idea in mind, he started to construct a wood path formation.


    Days passed like hours as he gathered the resources and created this formation.


    It was nothing new, he had used this formation many times when he was in his prime.


    Bao Zhi stood in front of the wood path formation, his eyes scanning over the intricate design. He had spent two weeks gathering the necessary immortal materials to construct it, and now it was finally complete.


    He took a deep breath and took out a bead of immortal essence that he retrieved from the lotus root. Unfortunately he could not use this anymore as his body didn''t have a wood path aura, but a human path aura. The plant will in the essence would not be tricked.


    The formation hummed to life as he instilled the immortal essence, and a soft green glow enveloped the place. Bao Zhi could feel the formation''s energy seeping into the soil and the surrounding plants. He watched as the Brain Melon plant began to grow at an alarming rate, sprouting new leaves and tendrils.


    As the hours ticked by, Bao Zhi watched as the plant slowly began to change. Its leaves grew greener and more vibrant, and its stem began to thicken and straighten. The Brain Melon plant was transforming before his eyes, becoming stronger and healthier with each passing moment.


    But as the days went by, one would think that something was off. The plant by now looked malnourished and weak, its leaves wilting and turning brown. But Bao Zhi knew that this was the result of his forced attempt to raise its rank.


    Everything was as expected.


    He continued to operate the formation as it accelerated the plant''s growth even further.


    At one point the plant seemingly came to life. It tried to uproot itself in desperation and leave the formation to save itself.


    But how could Bao Zhi allow this? He controlled the formation with an iron grasp and the plant became fixed in place once again as its tendrils continued to twist and twirl in anguish.


    Eventually, the formation expended all of its resources and fell silent. Bao Zhi stepped inside to examine the plant closely.


    Bao Zhi approached the plant, not feeling a pang of guilt for what he had done. He raised his hand and gently touched the melon.


    The plant shook violently, and the melon burst open with a loud pop. Seeds spilled out onto the ground, and Bao Zhi quickly scooped them up before they could roll away. He examined them closely, and a smile spread across his face. They were immortal level desolate Brain Melon seeds.


    Bao Zhi carefully placed the seeds away, already planning where he would plant them next. He knew that the next generation of Brain Melons would be stronger and healthier than the previous one.


    He did not waste time and headed to find a suitable place for them.


    Bao Zhi walked gracefully across the lush green fields, his long black hair trailing behind him like a wispy cloud in the wind. In his hand, he held a small pouch filled with flat black seeds. With a solemn expression on his face, he stopped at a patch of fertile soil and began to plant the seeds.


    Bao Zhi carefully pressed each seed into the earth and covered it with soil. He repeated the process until all the seeds had been planted, then stood back to admire his work.


    As he did so, Xu Lian appeared out of nowhere, his youthful energy palpable in the air. He had been watching Bao Zhi from a distance for a while now, curious about what his ancestor was up to. But not daring to interrupt him.


    "What are you planting, great Ancestor?" - Xu Lian asked, his eyes sizing up the field expectantly.


    Anything his ancestor did was profound beyond his understanding, he did not dare put on airs.


    "These are the seeds of the Brain Melon desolate plant." - Bao Zhi replied, a hint of pride in his voice.


    "It is said that this plant can enhance one''s mental abilities and grant them great wisdom."


    Xu Lian''s eyes widened in wonder as he turned his head to the field once more.


    "This, this... Immortal level Brain Melons? The mortal version was already exemplary!" - He thought to himself.


    "May I help you, Ancestor, tend to these plants and watch them grow?" - He asked eagerly.


    Bao Zhi nodded approvingly.


    "I trust you will take good care of them. Show me your control of your technique."


    With a smile on his face, Xu Lian activated his wood path killer move: Budding Trees, Flowering Fields! The ground shook and the air shimmered as a burst of energy was released, causing the seeds to germinate and take root.


    Over the next few days, Xu Lian tended to the plants with great care, making sure they had enough water and sunlight. He watched in amazement as the plants grew rapidly, branching outwards and upwards. The leaves interlaced together, forming a net-like structure that was both beautiful and intriguing.


    As he worked, Xu Lian couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. He was witnessing the birth of something truly extraordinary.


    Bao Zhi watched from a distance, pleased with the progress that had been made. He knew that it would still take some time for the plants to bear fruit, but he had faith in Xu Lian''s abilities.


    "A task done well is a gift to oneself and to the world."


    With a nod of his head, Bao Zhi turned and walked away, leaving Xu Lian to tend to the Brain Melon plants until they were ready to be used. As he walked, he began to meditate, his mind focused on the development of his human path killer move once again.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 55 - The art of a deal

    Ancestral Grotto, Capital City


    Yu Lingxin walked through the bustling streets of the capital city, her eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of Jin Ju. She had been searching for him since they had exited closed cultivation, but so far, there had been no luck.


    After her closed cultivation, what she found out was he had applied to work as a gu worm salesman at a store. With renewed hope, Yu Lingxin began to ask around for the store''s location.


    It didn''t take her long to find it. Above the door hung a wooden plaque with the store''s name carved into it - Jade Gu Palace. However, as she stepped inside, she realized that the store was nothing like she had expected. It was a small, ordinary shop with nothing particularly remarkable about it, apart from the fancy name.


    Ignoring the merchandise on display, Yu Lingxin walked further in until she saw Jin Ju.


    He was in the middle of a sale, explaining the benefits of a particular gu worm to a customer. She watched him for a moment, fascinated by the confidence and ease with which he spoke. This was not the same timid and reserved young man she knew.


    After an incense stick of time, the sale was complete, and the customer left the store with a smile on their face. Jin Ju turned to put away the primeval stones and noticed Yu Lingxin standing there.


    "Yu Lingxin!" - He exclaimed, surprised.


    "I had no idea you were so good at this." - She said, smiling.


    Jin Ju smiled with embarrassment. He wasn''t used to getting any praise.


    "I didn''t know you had a side like this. You seemed so shy and reserved before, but here you are, selling gu worms all serious."


    "It is just business after all. It''s all about knowing your product and your audience." - Jin Ju laughed it off.


    "Plus, I''ve had a lot of practice over the years." - He said in a subdued voice.


    "Oh, how so?"


    Jin Ju paused for a moment. Where should he even begin?


    "Well, let''s just say ever since I was a slave, I always wanted to open my own small store." - Jin Ju explained.


    "But when I realized how much it would cost here in the capital, I had to settle for becoming a salesman for this store."


    Yu Lingxin was taken aback. She had never heard about Jin Ju''s past as a slave before.


    "I had no idea!" - She said.


    "How did you end up as a slave?"


    Jin Ju took a deep breath before answering.


    "My parents sold me to clear their debt, I never even knew them." - He said plainly.


    "So I was raised by a traveling merchant named Xing Zan. I learned everything I know about trade under him."


    Yu Lingxin listened intently as Jin Ju told her about his experiences with Xing Zan. He explained how Xing Zan would unscrupulously overcharge his customers as much as he could, and when they returned with complaints, they would already be on their way to the next city where they didn''t know him.


    "He was a greedy and shortsighted man. He looked at all his customers as mooches to exploit and forget as soon as he closed a deal." - Jin Ju said, his voice filled with bitterness.


    "When it was my turn to peddle the wares, I would try to get to know the buyers. Figure out what they needed and wanted exactly. I charged only what was right, no more and no less!"


    "I knew that I wanted to do things differently, to be honest and fair with the customers. Because they aren''t just walking purses of primeval stones... They are purses with feelings and thoughts too! I got my share of beatings from the old man for not listening to him and selling better."


    Jin Ju started to explain with greater momentum, this was a topic close to him.


    "A satisfied buyer will come back to buy again! Just think about how many connections a single person has. If you treat them well, with respect, they will remember you and mention to their friends and acquaintances. People love to brag about how good a deal they got. And it is my job to get them the perfect gu for the perfect price. So when a buyer steps out my door, that is not the end of a sale, no. It is the beginning of a hundred new sales!"


    Yu Lingxin nodded, understanding.


    "But when you turn away a buyer who returns with complaints or finds out you gave him an offer way worse than other places, you can bet he will tell others not to do business with the crooked Jin Ju. Instead of gaining customers you lose them even before they had the intention to buy from you."


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    "The old man, could not get this through his thick head. Even though he traded all his life, he couldn''t think of the sales of tomorrow, only the quick gains of today were worth anything in his eye." - Jin Ju shook his head.


    "I can see that you''ve learned a lot from your experiences. And you seem to be doing a great job here at Jade Gu Palace." - She said encouragingly.


    At the next moment the door of the shop opened and a middle aged gu master walked in.


    The two of them glanced at the newcomer.


    "Aren''t you going to receive him?" - Asked Yu Lingxin.


    "Not yet. Give him a moment. I don''t want to scare him."


    "Scare him?" - Yu Lingxin looked at him with a strange smile.


    "It is easier to show you. Here, take this gu worm and put it in your ear."


    Jin Ju also placed a small gu in his ear as well.


    The man was standing in front of the wares on display, biding his time.


    Jin Ju nonchalantly walked up to the same shelf and started to look at the gu on the selves as well.


    The man glanced at Jin Ju briefly, but he saw the young man not even acknowledge his presence, he turned back to the wares.


    "It is important to know the mindset of a buyer. When they enter the shop, they are already mentally prepared for a confrontation. They expect to get haggled or swindled out of their hard earned money by crafty salesmen." - Jin Ju transmitted as he picked up a gu from the shelf.


    Yu Lingxin observed them from the other end of the store.


    "They are cagey, a bit panicked. They say, they are just looking. They''d rather just walk back out before a deciteful salesman can get to them. But they can''t, since you have the thing they came for. So they stay. But even then, they are still scared. Everyone knows what kind of people salesmen are." - Jin Ju continued to transmit.


    "I heard this Green Pouch Toad gu is quite a reliable storage gu." - Jin Ju turned to the middle aged man for advice.


    "The moment this man stepped in, I looked at his clothes. I look for the details, are they immaculate or worn, maybe torn at places, any jewelry or other things to consider? In this case, his clothes tell me a story of a rank three gu master who works with his hands. He came personally without any servants. He is either in a financially rough spot or doesn''t care about appearances. This is why I picked out the Green Pouch Toad gu, a middle-of-a-road pick, not the cheapest, and not the best either." - Jin Ju''s words rang in Yu Lingxin''s ear.


    "This Green Pouch Toad is not bad, but I feel the size is just too small, only a bit better than the Large Belly Frog." - The man replied.


    Jin Ju nodded and put back the gu on the shelf. Seemingly pondering to himself, he took off another one.


    "His answer told me what I needed. Now I need to gauge his upper limit. Notice how I already disarmed his wariness by mimicking his actions. I''m only looking at the wares just as he is. I''m not here to pressure him into a deal but to find out more and put him in a better state of mind. Selling to him is only possible if he decides on his own, I can only help with it." - Jin Ju transmitted to Yu Lingxin.


    "You are very knowledgeable, Sir. What do you think, how would this gu compare?" - Jin Ju spoke again.


    "Drop the Sir, young man, call me just Yang Jian. And that''s the Earthly Dragon Swallow, it''s the most extravagant storage gu on the market. But feeding it is no small matter." - The man replied.


    "Ah, thank you! The name''s Jin Ju, pleased to meet you."


    Jin Ju nodded. This gu was clearly too expensive, most people could buy two cheaper storage gu and still have some primeval stones left.


    Next it was Yang Jian''s turn to pick up a gu from the shelf. He saw how casually Jin Ju handled these gu, even the expensive Earthly Dragon Swallow gu. Why wouldn''t he do so too?


    "Now I have narrowed down his price bracket. The next step is finding the most suitable gu for his usecase. For this I just make some small talk. Is he from the lower southern district? I just came from there too. Is he a rock dissecting master? I just ask him how the rock gambling business is going. The point is to let him feel close by having a common topic. I let him talk, and I listen. He is the important one now, I don''t try to compete with his stories whatever he tells. He might be talking about his personal life experiences, but I''m talking business. Whatever he needs to hear, I will tell." - Jin Ju narrated his actions through the gu in his ear.


    "That''s just lying to them. You can''t base trust on lies." - Yu Lingxin countered.


    "It is only as much of a lie as an actor acting in a piece. You know they are acting and don''t mean the things they says yet you believe the characters they are playing. It is the same here, I''m playing the role of a salesman, because now I''m a salesman and that is the truth." - Jin Ju clarified.


    After a while of back and forth of small talk with Yang Jian, Jin Ju picked out another storage type gu worm: the Golden Pouch Toad.


    "Here, try this one." - Jin Ju handed the gu to Yang Jian.


    "The most important part after getting to know your customer is to sell the smell. One thing is looking at and talking about gu. But another is when you have the gu in your palm. You control it and it moves to your will. I probably can''t tell you anything new you don''t already know about gu worms, but I can give you the feeling of using the gu, and that can''t be just substituted." - Jin Ju transmitted.


    "Are there really this many intricacies to selling gu?" - Yu Lingxin transmitted back.


    "Haha, this is just the basics." - Jin Ju giggled in his mind.


    "This gu has a nice, firm feel to it." - Yang Jian caressed the Golden Pouch Toad on his palm.


    Jin Ju''s smile curved a notch higher.


    "Give it a try, put something into it." - Jin Ju encouraged.


    "Can I?" - Yang Jian looked around the store, there was nobody at the counter, only a girl was browsing the wares on the store''s opposite side.


    "Of course, it''s fine, I know the owner of this place." - Jin Ju reassured him.


    Yang Jian activated the gu and transferred some of his belongings from his current storage gu.


    Jin Ju noticed the old gu was generally in a bad state. It could perish any day now.


    "Your old gu, it''s a rank three Large Belly Frog. I see that you took good care of it for it to last this long." - Jin Ju complimented again.


    Yang Jian nodded as he glanced at his Large Belly Frog gu. This gu was with him for the longest time, but his needs have outgrown its capabilities. A change was in order.


    Jin Ju felt the crucial moment was here. He turned to face Yang Jian directly.


    "I can give you a good deal on the Golden Pouch Toad. Remember if you come across another store that gives you a better deal, I''ll match it. And if you want to trade in the Large Belly Frog, I can even halve the price. Give me a thousand primeval stones for now and you can take this Golden Pouch Toad right now." - Jin Ju said.


    "When talking about the matters of money. Do not start by asking questions, especially questions that can be answered with a simple no. Always assume a yes, and be direct. They are here to buy gu, I''m here to provide my time and close a deal that leaves us both satisfied. Don''t hesitate and don''t tell them that you''ll need a deposit or need to talk with the store manager, that just leaves them room to back out. Since I''ve asked for a thousand primeval stones directly, he would have to come up with a reason why we don''t go ahead." - Jin Ju pointed out.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 56 - Shopping and gathering

    Ancestral Grotto, Capital City


    Jin Ju was closing his deal on the Golden Pouch Toad gu.


    He smiled as Yang Jian handed over the primeval stones for his newly purchased Golden Pouch Toad gu.


    "Thank you for your business, Yang Jian. I''m glad to see you''re pleased with your purchase."


    Yang Jian nodded.


    "And I appreciate the offer of the month''s worth of food for my new gu worm. That''s very generous of you."


    Jin Ju grinned.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just want to make sure my customers are satisfied with their purchases. Remember my offer, if you tell others to shop by me, I''ll pay you a hundred primeval stones each. So don''t forget to mention them to tell me, that you sent them." - Jin Ju waved bye to the leaving figure.


    Yang Jian walked out of the Jade Gu Palace, the Golden Pouch Toad gu safely in his possession. As Jin Ju turned to go back to the counter, he saw Yu Lingxin standing there, a curious look on her face.


    "Hey, Jin Ju, can I ask you something?" - Yu Lingxin said.


    "Of course. What''s on your mind?" - Jin Ju replied.


    "I noticed that you sold the Golden Pouch Toad gu to that man for a lower price than what it says on the label." - Yu Lingxin pointed at the shelf.


    "Why did you do that?"


    Jin Ju chuckled.


    "Ah, you noticed that, didn''t you? Well, the truth is, those prices are deliberately set higher than what I''m willing to sell for. I always leave room to negotiate, you see. Even if a customer doesn''t start to bargain, I still give them a deal. Makes them feel that they get special treatment. When they come in with a good offer from another store, I would still match it, even if it cuts into my margins. Of course, not everyone can be satisfied, and I can''t run a charity. I wouldn''t make losses if I didn''t see the potential for that customer to return again."


    Yu Lingxin nodded, understanding Jin Ju''s reasoning.


    "I see. That makes sense."


    Jin Ju smiled. "Glad you think so. Is there anything else you wanted to ask?"


    "Yes, actually." - Yu Lingxin said.


    "What''s this I hear about you paying people for referrals?"


    Jin Ju''s smile grew wider.


    "Ah, that''s my system of bird-dogs. I pay other people for their legwork, you see. It enables me to focus on what I do best, which is closing the sales, leaving the marketing to the word of mouth, greasing the wheels with the incentive of primeval stones. It''s a win-win situation for everyone. They get some extra income, and I get new customers."


    Yu Lingxin looked impressed.


    "That''s clever. And how much do you pay for referrals?"


    "It depends on the rank of the gu master. As you heard, for rank three, I pay a hundred primeval stones. It''s really important that the amount is not too much for me to bear, but also enough for them to consider." - Jin Ju said.


    "So how much would you pay me?" - Yu Lingxin asked him straight.


    Jin Ju felt himself froze at Yu Lingxin''s direct question.


    "Uh, well, I, um..." - Jin Ju stammered, his composure slipping.


    He drew a clear line when it came to personal matters and business. He was at a loss for her unexpected question.


    Yu Lingxin chuckled at his embarrassment. But then her tone turned serious.


    "You know, Jin Ju, I haven''t forgotten your kindness to me when you gave me that Unprocessed Jade gu to raise my cultivation aptitude. It made a big difference for me, and I want to repay you now." - She began.


    "So, I was thinking, instead of just repaying you with the money I got from the first mission, I could also be one of your ''bird-dogs'' and tell my acquaintances to come and shop here, right? That would help repay my debt to you." - She clarified.


    Jin Ju''s face lit up.


    "That''s a great idea, Yu Lingxin. I''d be happy to have you on board. And while you''re here, why don''t you buy yourself a gu worm? I have some good ones in stock." - Jin Ju snapped back to his business-like attitude at once.


    At the next moment another person entered the store.


    "You brat! You sold anything yet? No? Haha, I thought so..." - Came the sneer from the individual as he came in.


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    "Ao Shi, mind your own business. I''m in the middle of something." - Jin Ju replied in a displeased tone.


    "Who is he?" - Yu Lingxin transmitted through the gu in her ear.


    "He''s my colleague, the other salesman in this store. I found out he only has this position because the owner is indebted to Ao Shi''s father." - Replied Jin Ju secretly.


    Ao Shi walked up to them. He stammered on his way but he caught the shelf next to him, almost dragging it down as well.


    "For a store of this size, a single salesman would be enough. But they had to hire one more, because he just couldn''t sell. Look, he got drunk again in his lunch break." - Jin Ju transmitted.


    *Hicc*


    Ao Shi bumped into Yu Lingxin, and grabbed her shoulder.


    "Pretty lady, tell me what gu... *hicc* you want." - He blurted out.


    "Don''t touch me! You reek of alcohol." - Yu Lingxin reclined instinctively.


    But Yu Lingxin''s complaints fell on deaf ears, Ao Shi persisted.


    "Brat, go clean the storage while I''ll handle this sale, hehe." - Ao Shi turned back to face Yu Lingxin.


    Jin Ju narrowed his eyes in disgust. Usually he would not try to butt in the matters of others. It wasn''t his business how others ruined themselves and their careers.


    But this was different. He knew Yu Lingxin for a good while now, they were even teammates.


    Not only did Ao Shi assault her. No, Yu Lingxin was about to purchase gu from him, and Ao Shi tried to snatch his sale away.


    This was what ticked Jin Ju off the most!


    It was a huge taboo to begin with.


    A vein popped on Jin Ju''s head in anger. He grabbed Ao Shi''s wrist and twisted it backwards with force.


    "Wha..?" - Ao Shi was caught unprepared.


    He tipped forward as he lost his balance again.


    Jin Ju released his wrist while he was falling and kicked him in the back.


    Ao Shi landed on the floor face first and slid forward unceremoniously.


    As Jin Ju watched Ao Shi slide across the floor, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had always found Ao Shi to be a sleazy character.


    "You should learn to keep your hands to yourself." - Jin Ju said as he stood over Ao Shi.


    Ao Shi groaned and slowly pushed himself up onto his knees. He turned to face Jin Ju with a look of anger in his eyes.


    "You''ll regret this..."


    *Hicc*


    Ao Shi stumbled forward, his fists swinging wildly as he tried to land a blow on Jin Ju. But Jin Ju was too quick for him, easily dodging the clumsy attacks.


    Just as Jin Ju was about to counter-attack, he saw a green flash move out of the corner of his eye.


    Bamm!


    Yu Lingxin had activated her Leaf Skin gu, and her skin had taken on a green texture and strength of a tree''s bark. She lunged forward and delivered a powerful punch straight to Ao Shi''s face.


    Ao Shi didn''t stand a chance.


    The force of the blow sent him flying backwards, and he landed on the ground with a loud thud.


    Jin Ju watched as Ao Shi lay there, unconscious. He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of regret. How will he deal with this?


    Jin Ju had a dumbfounded expression, he turned to Yu Lingxin in surprise, but she just shrugged.


    "Hmph! That does it!" - She sneered at the man on the ground.


    Jin Ju laughed awkwardly, not sure what to say.


    "This lowlife had it coming! So where were we?" - She steered back the converstion decisively.


    "Right, buying gu! Tell me, sister Lingxin, what do you have in mind!" - Jin Ju rubbed his palms in his mind.


    "You should know, I..."


    Yu Lingxin paused for a moment.


    "I need gu for Shui Liu''s part of the Three Demons'' inheritance." - She transmitted secretly.


    "You need gu for refinement, right?" - Jin Ju said alound.


    "Yes, that''s it."


    "Come, the water path gu are among the miscelaneous refinement materials." - He transmitted.


    Jin Ju dragged Ao Shi behind the counter before the two of them started to deliberate on the different water path gu the shop had to offer.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wen Bao Academy


    Qinyang sat cross-legged on her bed, her notebook open on her lap, as she scribbled furiously. The pages were quickly filling up with notes and sketches as she tried to capture every detail of the gu master inheritances she was just shown.


    She had always been a diligent student, but this was different. The knowledge she was seeking wasn''t just for a grade or a degree; now it was a matter of her survival.


    She had transmigrated to this world from Earth and found herself without any cheats.


    "I might not have awakened any system, but don''t look down on how much a university student can cram before the last minute! This is half a superpower in itself!" - She gloated.


    Qinyang began to note down the most important details first, jotting down any insights that might help her in the future.


    "I can''t let any of this slip my mind." - She muttered to herself resolutely.


    "I need to remember every detail, every nuance. Making a mistake now, could be disastrous later."


    She was used to cramming for exams at the last minute, and she was confident she could memorize everything she needed in the brief time Hao Meng allowed her.


    "Wisdom path is very impressive, it has many applications, such as deducing and plotting. One is always one step ahead if they have wisdom path methods. It is said to be the best path for strategizing and predicting the future."


    She read through the page before her to double-check it before turning to an empty one.


    "It is also one of the most difficult paths to master. I will have to work hard if I want to master it." - She thought.


    "But there was only one wisdom path inheritance I found. Wisdom path inheritances are rare. I can''t cross-reference this with other ones, so I can''t know how good it is. Anyway, I won''t look a gift horse in the mouth."


    As she wrote, her mind raced.


    "I cast my net wide. If wisdom path is no good, then rule path can also be considered. It is very broad and captures the natural rules and relations of the world. It should be somewhat analogous to mathematics and physics."


    "Information path was third on my list. Even if it has low battle strength, I can make up for it by forming agreements. Making others fight for me, while I relieve my responsibility behind their backs. But the most important part is that it excels at gathering and storing data. I feel that is an understated factor in this world. The people here just don''t know how much value data has." - She thought.


    "Lastly, I copied a single lightning path inheritance. Lightning path is always powerful in the cultivation novels. And what is it? Just some electrical discharge. Current flows when there is a big enough difference in potential. It isn''t rocket science." - She thought smugly.


    She was drawn to the information, wisdom, and rule path inheritances, but she knew they were difficult to master. If they proved too challenging, she had also taken note of a lightning path inheritance that looked promising.


    She glanced out her window and frowned. It was late, and she knew she should get some sleep, but she couldn''t shake the excitement of the possibilities before her.


    "While the memory is fresh, I have to note everything down."


    She continued writing until the early hours of the morning, and only then did she allow herself to take a break.


    "What kind of face would Hao Meng have if he knew I memorized all these?" - She mused aloud.


    "You gu masters have it nice, you can use all your techniques on your tests. While I had to commit everything to memory in my university days. But now!" - She laughed silently and shook her head.


    With a satisfied smile, she closed her notebook, and a few moments later, she fell asleep.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 57 - Unexpected progress

    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    Xu Lian and Wen Yun stood on the edge of a floating island, overlooking the lush green forest that covered much of its surface. Xu Lian had been instrumental in the development of the flora on this island, using his powerful wood path techniques to create a diverse ecosystem that provided both beauty and sustenance.


    "I have to admit, Xu Lian, your wood path techniques have really brought this island to life." - Wen Yun said, her eyes scanning over the lush landscape.


    "It''s amazing how quickly everything has grown since you arrived. Bao clan''s experts broke contact, I had to ask you."


    Xu Lian smirked, his usual demeanor slipping through.


    "Well, I do have a way with plants." - He said, his tone tinged with a hint of arrogance.


    "I owe the Wen clan a debt for taking me in when I was exiled from Bao clan. This is my way of repaying them for their hospitality. Besides, it''s not like I have anywhere else to go."


    Wen Yun sensed a hint of bitterness in his words and decided to change the subject.


    "Have you thought about what you want to do next, Xu Lian?"


    "Not at all. I have to first pay back your clan. That is already something difficult, I have to plan it out." - Xu Lians heart genuinely ached, he was in deep debt.


    Wen Yun nodded in understanding.


    She turned back and continued to admire the flora on the island. This was a floating island that she was responsible for!


    In the meanwhile, Xu Lian''s mind was already working on his own agenda. His plan was to infiltrate the Wen clan''s gu house. He had already made some inquiries but needed more information to make his move.


    "Hey, Wen Yun." - Xu Lian interrupted her reverie.


    "I''ve been meaning to ask you something."


    Wen Yun turned to him, her expression curious.


    "Tell me. What is it? What me to refine a specific gu?"


    "I''ve been hearing some rumors about a gu house among these islands. I heard the competition winner gu masters could enter it to gain inspiration." - Xu Lian said, trying to sound casual. "Do you know anything about it?"


    Wen Yun''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why do you ask?"


    Xu Lian shrugged.


    "Just curious, I guess. I''ve been the son of the grotto lord, so I got many things others couldn''t, but also missed out on some others as a result."


    Wen Yun hesitated for a moment before confirming. "Yes, I know of the gu house. It''s called Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda."


    "I visit it sometimes when I have some refinement problems I can''t solve." - She explained.


    "However, if you are not a Wen clan member, it is only accessible to those who have won the competition."


    Xu Lian nodded, feigning disappointment. "I see. That''s too bad."


    Wen Yun''s expression softened.


    "But if you are determined, there might still be a way. I can put in a good word for you. It''s not easy, but it might be possible."


    Xu Lian smiled, feeling his plan coming together.


    "That would be great. I really appreciate it."


    Wen Yun nodded, her gaze returning to the lush landscape.


    "You know, Xu Lian, this island is really something special. I think you could do great things here. With you here, you could manage a lot of the areas that we depend on Bao clan to do for us."


    Xu Lian smiled, feeling a flicker of warmth in his cold heart that had been absent for a long time.


    "Maybe I can." - He said, his voice filled with indecision.


    "Maybe I will."


    But in his mind he already ridiculed the notion of settling down. He was already hatching plans to sneak into the gu house and gain access to the secrets within if they denied him entry.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto


    Some days later Xu Lian was surprised when Wen Bo came looking for him. He wondered what the reason could be, but he didn''t have to wait long to find out. Wen Bo had a proposition for him, and Xu Lian''s ears perked up as he listened.


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    "Xu Lian, I have a proposal for you to enter our gu house." - Wen Bo said, his expression serious.


    Xu Lian nodded, sensing that there was more to the story. "What do you want me to do?"


    Wen Bo leaned in, his voice low. "We know that you have an immortal oath placed on you, preventing you from seeking revenge against your former clan. We have a method to remove that oath, but we need your cooperation."


    Xu Lian''s heartbeat quickened as he considered the implications. He wanted revenge against his former clan, but he knew that it was impossible as long as the immortal oath was in place. Could this be his chance to finally be free?


    "I''m listening." Xu Lian said, trying to keep his excitement in check.


    Wen Bo explained the details of the plan, and Xu Lian listened intently. He would have to remove the current alliance agreement he had with Wen clan and replace it with another, more binding one. If he agreed to the terms, he would be granted access to enter the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda as he wished.


    Xu Lian didn''t hesitate.


    "I agree to the terms." - He said, his eyes shining with anticipation.


    Wen Bo nodded, and together they made their way to the gu house.


    "I thought, I could only enter afterwards." - Xu Lian noted questioningly.


    "You know how the members of Wen clan are bound by Bao clan''s killer move, while Bao clan members are bound by our Wen clan''s method. The gu house is needed to remove the immortal oath, because Bao clan''s method on us forbids to remove the oath." - Wen Bo pointed out.


    Once they were inside, Wen Bo explained the steps they would perform to remove the immortal oath.


    A new figure appeared from the depths of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    "Step inside the formation." - The will of Old Refinement instructed.


    Xu Lian stepped inside and floated to the middle.


    "I''ll leave to two of you to it. Just this much is already pushing the limits of my immortal oath." - Wen Bo wiped a trace of blood as he left the two of them there and closed the gu house.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi sat on the lush green grass, surrounded by towering trees and the gentle babble of a nearby stream. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, searching for a deeper understanding of the human path killer move he was trying to develop.


    "Human qi... It is related to qi path, it is still the crux of the problem." - He thought.


    Bao Zhi began by feeling and controlling the human qi that surrounded him, using the Near Qi gu and Flowing Currents gu again. He experimented with different ways of channeling the qi, shaping it into different forms and trying to understand the mechanics of its flow.


    As he continued to meditate, Bao Zhi started to wonder about the nature of qi itself. He knew there were many different types of qi, from yin and yang to earth and heaven qi. But he couldn''t help but feel that there was something more crucial about qi that eluded him.


    "Qi path was the path established third after space and time path. This alone shows how fundamental it is. Space and time are concepts easily understood at a basic level. But what exactly is qi?" - He wondered.


    He focused his mind even further, trying to uncover the truth behind qi. He could feel the qi''s energy and its all-encompassing nature, but he still couldn''t figure out what it meant.


    ...


    Suddenly, the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He had finally understood the true nature of qi.


    Qi was a state of matter!


    Bao Zhi''s eyes flew open as he realized that the human qi he was manipulating was like a gaseous resource of human path. It contained tiny fragments of human path dao marks. Even smaller than mortal gu or mortal gu materials. These tiny fragments were continuous on a larger scale, one could not discern a single fragment from the whole.


    "Aha! Frost qi has minuscule size ice path dao mark fragments, while poison path has tiny poison path dao mark fragments..."


    The simplicity of the idea stunned him. It was right before him the whole time.


    "That''s it! Qi is not just a form of energy, it''s a state of matter. That''s why it can be manipulated and used in so many different ways! That''s why it can substitute gu worms so readily."


    So why did this not occur to him before?


    He knew the Great Dao the best through his great grandmaster wood path attainment. So far he thought that qi path materials were mainly made of qi path dao marks, like it was with wood path.


    It was a reasonable theory on his part.


    "Qi is more akin to formation path than wood path. Even though there are pure formation path gu worms, the formations themselves are not made of formation path dao marks, but dao marks of other paths. Qi path is actually like so as well." - He realized the similarity.


    "One should not ask what qi is because qi can be anything. When sparse, it is like the wind. When gathered, it flows like water. When stagnant, it resembles a lifeless stone. When focused, it can cut like a sharp blade... This is how qi is."


    He felt his understanding of qi path has deepened a level.


    "This is quasi-master attainment. Realizing the greatness. Grasping it, that would be already master attainment. I''m still far from achieving that."


    Bao Zhi was very clear about his accomplishment, but he did not let it get to his head. His attainment in qi path was just ordinary before this. He understood most of the other paths only at a surface level. Reaching just quasi-master attainment in qi path humbled him.


    "Those who reach master attainment in a single path are already truly incredible. They are indeed worthy of the title of ''master''. But as one walks further and further along their path, they tend to forget that their path is not the whole path, not the Great Dao."


    This experience reminded him how vast and profound the Great Dao was. Something he thought he understood was actually just a shallow reflection of the underlying truth.


    He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once again, feeling the qi around him. He was ready to move forward.


    Eager to test his new understanding, Bao Zhi immediately began to control his human qi, gathering all of it into his body. As he did so, a surprising phenomenon happened.


    He felt his aura vanish without a trace.


    He activated an investigative gu. This rank five gu could detect the unconcealed presence of immortals.


    All it detected was a mortal body.


    Bao Zhi grinned to himself, realizing that he could use this technique to hide his presence and remain unnoticed.


    "I see! It seems as if this body was no different from a mortal. The gu immortal aura I had is completely gone."


    Next he activated two other investigative gu to check again. The result was the same.


    "I still have to be wary, immortal killer moves might still be able to detect the dao marks on my body by indirect means." - He reminded himself.


    The other thing he noticed was his awareness of his surrounding also decreased as a result. The halo of human qi around him acted as an extension of his own body to an extent, it was what connected him to the outside world. But as the qi was drawn in, his sense of self heightened in turn.


    "Let''s call this technique Concealed Human Qi." - He said to himself.


    Although it wasn''t the killer move he had originally set out to develop, Bao Zhi couldn''t help but feel excited about this unexpected gain. It was actually his first human path killer move he created.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 58 - Information path!

    Wen Bao Acedemy, Lingering Mountains Grotto


    Qinyang''s heart was pounding with anticipation as she delved into the gu master inheritances, eager to uncover the profundities of these paths. She hoped that she would find a path that resonated with her and that she could cultivate to great heights.


    Qinyang studied the wisdom path inheritance with great focus, but she soon found herself struggling to comprehend even its basic concepts. Wills, thoughts, and emotions were too abstract and elusive, and she found herself unable to relate them to her knowledge from Earth.


    "What exactly is a thought? A thought is a process that happens in your brain when you think about something. It involves different parts of your brain working together and sending signals to each other. Thoughts can be triggered by things you see, hear, or remember. They create patterns of activity in your brain..." - She recalled what she knew on the subject.


    "But here a thought is a physical thing that exists on its own, not just a process or an abstract concept! Thoughts can collide and form new thoughts." - She recalled wisdom path''s basic principles from the novel she read.


    The two explanations were incompatible to her.


    "Don''t even get me started on wills! They are even harder to understand. Wills are aware of themselves and can think on their own. They are like a copy of the user''s consciousness. It includes everything you experience in your mind, like what you see, hear, and feel, as well as what you think. But at the same time, they aren''t just copies, they know they aren''t the real one and know how they are just a will, even though they hold the same identity. Ugh!" - She muttered, shaking her head in frustration.


    She felt the sudden urge to just open up someone''s skull and see it for herself how the thing worked.


    Her confusion and frustration grew with each passing moment, and her inner monologue reflected her exasperation and circled back every time to the same problem: "What do wills and thoughts even mean? How can they be used as the basis of killer moves? This is too difficult, too abstract. I cannot understand it."


    Qinyang''s head began to ache, and she rubbed her temples, trying to dispel the pounding pain. Despite her best efforts, she could not make sense of the wisdom path inheritance, she could not merge the two kinds of knowledge in a comprehensive manner.


    "Maybe my knowledge from Earth is hindering me instead of helping. It wasn''t even understood on Earth how the mind works and what exactly is the consciousness... Maybe I should just try another path."


    Finally, with a heavy heart, she set the wisdom path inheritance aside, realizing that this discipline was not for her.


    "Ah, I guess I''m not cut out to be a wisdom path gu master. They are rare for a reason." - She sighed.


    Undeterred, Qinyang turned her attention to the rule path, hoping that its more straightforward concepts would be more accessible.


    "Rule path''s concepts are very straight forward. Everyone intuitively understands what big and small, tall and short, far and close, strong and weak mean. The number sequence gu are also self-explanatory; one, two, three, four..." - She mused.


    However, she soon discovered that the Rule Path''s simplicity was a double-edged sword.


    "But the problem is that these concepts are too simple. It is easy to understand, but it is also too basic. How can I create powerful killer moves from just these concepts?"


    She continued to read the inheritance as it detailed how rule path was very suitable to extend and modify non-rule path killer moves with the inclusion of rule path gu.


    "Because the concepts are simple, they can easily fit into other paths'' killer moves. When you have an effect, with rule path you can make it bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker..."


    Qinyang nodded as she understood the concept, this lined up with what she knew beforehand.


    "In a way, rule path is much easier to understand than wisdom path. Plus, you can use it to boost the power of other paths."


    "But the problem is if I want to cultivate only rule path, my techniques have to be constructed from the ground up from these simple concepts. The result is that I need a lot of different gu worms and that has its own bag of issues..."


    The need for many gu to achieve a meaningful effect was daunting, and she realized that pursuing rule path alone would require a vast investment of time and resources for her gu worms.


    Qinyang''s thoughts reflected her growing frustration: "This is the opposite of the wisdom path. It is too simple, yet in the end, also too complicated. How can I master all these gu? My killer moves would be made of many gu worms, activating them quickly would be a problem too." - She lamented.


    Qinyang''s countenance was heavy with disappointment as she set aside the rule path inheritance, finding herself unable to overcome the difficulties of this path. But her spirit remained resolute, and with hope still flickering within her, she turned to the information path inheritances.


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    Here she found a spark of familiarity that ignited a fire within her heart.


    The information path inheritance dealt with the manipulation and collection of data and knowledge, and Qinyang found the concepts to be familiar and logical, drawing upon her background in the fields of both computer science and literature. As she delved deeper into the inheritance, she discovered techniques for gathering, analyzing, and manipulating information, including the ability to distill new information and knowledge.


    Her heart was filled with wonder and excitement as she realized the potential of this discipline, and her mind was buzzing with newfound confidence and determination.


    "This is the path for me!" - She thought.


    "With these techniques, I can create powerful killer moves."  - She exclaimed.


    "Knowledge is the universal basis. What are killer moves? It is knowledge of combining gu. What are the gu? They are the essence of the dao, the information of the universe!" - Qinyang realized.


    "Hehehe, what wisdom path? Even wisdom path needs reliable information to work with!" - She thought to herself in glee.


    With renewed vigor, Qinyang continued to study the Information Path inheritance, piecing together the puzzle with the skill and focus of an academic. She was determined to understand this path, and to master its techniques.


    Eventually, she completed her readings and her excitement was palpable. Qinyang had found her path.


    There were two information path inheritances she noted down. She continued to read the inheritance of the rank four gu master Zhong Shu.


    Zhong Shu''s information path inheritance was most focused on recording the events and organizing them. It wasn''t a complete inheritance, there were no offensive or defensive techniques in it, but what was written in it was comprehensive and well thought out.


    "This guy was a true book-worm." - She thought.


    Through years of experience and dedication, Zhong Shu has developed a systematic approach to managing and recording information that helped him achieve greater clarity and efficiency in work.


    "Firstly, this Zhong Shu believed that accurate record-keeping is essential for success in any field. He taught how to use the gu for counting and to keep track of numbers and statistics. This enabled him to have a clear understanding of his progress and performance over time, and made informed decisions based on this data."


    "Secondly, Zhong Shu stressed the importance of punctuality and precision in all aspects of his work. He provides practical examples for managing time effectively and meeting his goals, as well as techniques for improving attention to detail and ensuring accuracy in his work."


    Qinyang nodded as she read along, the contents were easy to comprehend.


    "In addition, Zhong Shu provides guidance on how to organize the information and data in a logical and accessible way. He teaches how to create clear and concise reports of findings and make them easy to understand." - She summarized the contents to herself.


    In the inheritance Zhong Shu explained how he used the gu for administrative work and recorded time and events in writing. He took great pride in his work.


    She turned the page and continued with the next inheritance. This was left behind by the rank five gu master Shou Xin.


    Shou Xin was a wandering gu master who made her living with setting agreements and helping to resolve ones set by others. Thus, her inheritance''s essence was about the intricacies of creating and removing oaths.


    Qinyang continued reading through the inheritance of the rank five gu master Shou Xin. The pages were filled with detailed explanations of how to craft agreements with various conditions and consequences.


    As Qinyang delved deeper into the text, the next section of the inheritance explained the various conditions that could be set within an agreement. These conditions ranged from simple requirements, such as meeting at a specific time and place, to more complex clauses, such as penalties for breach of contract.


    Shou Xin''s teachings also included methods for removing oaths, which were just as important as setting them. Qinyang learned that removing an oath required just as much care and attention as creating one, as even the slightest mistake could have disastrous consequences.


    "These two inheritances represent the two main branches of information path... Information gathering and agreement setting."


    "Oh right, there is also the less known third branch that focuses on literature."


    Qinyang continued on, reading about how to set the different conditions of an agreement.


    But as these were only mortal inheritances. Zhong Shu''s and Shou Xin''s understanding of the great dao was too shallow to know about the existence of dao marks.


    "When a party would breach an agreement the dao marks on their body would be triggered and an adverse effect would be set off." - Qinyang was clear of the underlying cause, the dao marks on the body.


    Qinyang paused for a moment.


    "Wait a moment..." - A sudden realization hit her.


    "This is just like the if-then constructs of code. The breach of agreement is the condition, while the negative effect is the executed code-path. This could be used to create a program!"


    Qinyang was excited now. She was already making connections between these inheritances and the coding language she already knew.


    "This is interesting. I think I have the building blocks to create a Turing machine!"


    "There is the storage gu from Zhong Shu''s inheritance, the Ribbon Text gu, that will be the tape of the machine. The text on the ribbon will be the symbols. Then the agreement methods from Shou Xin''s inheritance can be used to set the conditions and trigger the state transitions of the machine..."


    Qinyang was deep in thought, and the possibilities kept coming up in her mind.


    "A Turing machine is formally a seven-tuple of Q: the set of states, Gamma: the tape symbols, the empty symbol, Sigma: the set of input symbols..." - She started to note her knowledge on the margin of the paper.


    "Oh, and the transition function..."


    "I never actually thought I would get any use out of these dry definitions." - She smiled to herself.


    "Wait, that means..."


    "If I''m able to construct a universal Turing machine by using the methods of agreements, what''s stopping me from creating any kind of program I want?" - She thought to herself as she jumped up with excitement. The possibilities seemed never-ending.


    "Calm down, Qinyang! Take it easy." - She told herself, taking a deep breath to steady her racing thoughts.


    She had just made a huge breakthrough, and she needed to take the time to process it.  She sat back down and opened the next page of the information path inheritance. As she read, she made more connections between her existing knowledge and the techniques contained in the inheritance.


    Qinyang continued reading the inheritances over and over with a newfound determination. If she could make something like this work, she could have a distinct edge in this world.

 Ch. 59 - Lost contact

    Ancestral Grotto, Capital City, Bao Wen Academy


    A group of young gu master sat in the courtyard of the Bao Wen Academy, surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees. The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of the flowers, as they discussed the recent events.


    "Did you guys hear the news?" - Asked Yu Lingxin.


    Jin Ju: "Yes, I noticed there are more and more sect members recruited like us."


    "I doubt they are anything like me. A high-born genius with an A grade aptitude..." - Ye Jianhong puffed out his chest as he bragged.


    "Just look around," - Zhao Min pointed. "It wouldn''t surprise me if there were more A grade talents than B grade overall."


    "Brother Zhao makes sense. Except his aptitude, ours were originally lower and its all thanks to gu worms that we reached the level of A grade." - Added Jin Ju.


    Ye Jianhong cast a disapproving gaze at Jin Ju. It reminded him of his original aptitude that was shy of reaching B grade.


    "Oh, stop teasing, you jerk. I''m only at B grade." - Yu Lingxin punched Jin Ju''s shoulder in jest.


    "Ah sorry, sister Lingxin, I didn''t mean it like so... But surely you are not far from A grade." - Jin Ju laughed awkwardly.


    "You know it, my aptitude is at seventy-nine percent, so practically A grade." - She said confidently.


    Ye Jianhong: "Hahaha, sister is impressive. If you need any advice from an A grade talent, you can just look for me." - He pointed his thumb at himself.


    Zhao Min listened on and rarely spoke. He was internally frustrated as they had to wait. He would rather be elsewhere than be ordered around.


    The sound of rustling leaves and the distant chatter of other students filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Despite the calmness, there was an underlying excitement and eagerness in their voices.


    Jin Ju: "Sister, did you find out why we got summoned again?"


    Yu Lingxin: "Nothing concrete, but I heard there will be another round of missions sometimes after the first one. The new members would get the same herb gathering mission we did. I expect we will get another task."


    "Good. I''m itching to try out my new gu worms." - Ye Jianhong rubbed his palms in anticipation.


    "Did you all get..." - She looked around before continuing. "Those gu worm as well?" - She asked in a low voice.


    Their gazes met in understanding.


    Jin Ju and Ye Jianhong nodded quietly.


    Zhao Min: "I only got one gu to add to my techniques. The rest of them felt inferior."


    Yu Lingxin did not expect all the others to also rely on the Three Demon''s Inheritance because they already had their own one.


    At the next moment, a letter gu landed on the table before them. It was right before Zhao Min.


    "It''s from Steward Jie. It seems like our mission is here." - Yu Lingxin said.


    All of them looked at the letter in anticipation.


    Zhao Min picked up the gu and activated it.


    "It''s me again? Why am I leading a group mission repeatedly?" - Zhao Min thought to himself in annoyance as he looked into the contents of the gu.


    "I guess it''s still better than being ordered by any of them..." - He sighed as he looked at his companions in acceptance.


    "What does it say, quickly tell us too!" - Yu Lingxin was eager to hear it.


    Zhao Min cleared his throat before he began.


    "This mission is to investigate the whereabouts of a group of bandits that have been causing trouble in the nearby villages. We need to find out where they are and capture them. We have to do it in the next few days."


    "Sounds like a good opportunity. We might find some valuables they have!" - Jin Ju was excited.


    "Yeah, let''s do it!" - Ye Jianhong agreed, cracking his knuckles pompously.


    Yu Lingxin looked around and saw the determination in everyone''s eyes.


    "Alright then, let''s go!" - She said, as they all rose up and began to prepare for the mission.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor


    The grand hall of the Great Root Manor was decorated with lanterns and banners, and tables were arranged in a circular shape around a large central stage.


    The immortals of the Bao clan were all gathered, dressed in their finest robes, and chatting excitedly as they awaited the start of the banquet.


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    At the head of the table sat the grotto lord and first supreme elder, Bao Lang Chao, a dignified and imposing figure with a sharp gaze and an unreadable expression.


    He raised his hand, and the chatter in the hall slowly died down.


    "My fellow clansmen," - He began, his voice echoing throughout the room.


    "Tonight, we gather to celebrate our glory. This is our last formal gathering before the annual competition."


    "Before we begin, let us give thanks to our ancestors who have blessed us with their favor!" -Bao Lang Chao continued, as a group of servants brought forth platters of fruit and wine.


    The immortals raised their cups in a toast, and the hall was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.


    As the feast continued, plates of steaming dumplings, succulent meats, and fragrant soups were brought forth, and the immortals ate and drank to their heart''s content.


    The dishes were naturally beyond mortal standards, touching upon the intricacies of food path.


    As the banquet progressed, Bao Lang Chao felt the time was right. He once again stood up address the crowd.


    "As you all know the situation, Wen clan has betrayed us all. They have forced our hands, leaving us no other option but to teach them a lesson in return."


    The immortals looked at him expectantly. Everyone knew this years event would be different from all the previous ones.


    "We will not be belittled or humiliated! Our glory will outshine their treachery. And this is just the beginning. A plan of a hundred years have come to its next step!"


    The immortals took a deep breath as they heard this. The atmosphere was palpable.


    "Out foundations are deep and our roots span far and wide. Through the hard work and countless sacrifices we reached the current stage." - He paused for a brief moment.


    "The Wen clan thinks they have the advantage with their experts in many paths. But they are like rootless weeds floating in the air when compared to our Bao clan. Our resources are abundant and our experts are peerless. When the test of time is before us, it will be us who surpasses the other."


    The immortals nodded in agreement. Bao Lang Chao smiled and continued.


    "This time, our Bao clan will step on the path of superiority we rightfully deserve!" - He continued in an elevated voice.


    The Bao clan immortals clenched their fists and nodded in along.


    "This time, we will prove, the fire that burns within all our hearts is not to be underestimated!" - His words reverberated through the whole Great Root Manor.


    "For the Bao clan!" - The immortals cheered and raised their fists in the air in unison.


    Bao Lang Chao smiled to himself in satisfaction. Everything was unfolding as he expected.


    Soon after his rhetoric, the crowd returned to their plates and chattering.


    The circle of the three supreme elders sat together.


    "Lang Chao, you haven''t had a grandiose speech like that since you became the grotto lord." - Bao Yijun noted.


    "It was very touching, I even felt my blood boil as I was listening." - Added Bao Chi Ping his flattery.


    "Mmm, it was good because I prepared it. Just as our clan has prepared, our result will also be good." - Bao Lang Chao raised his cup and drank a sip of wine.


    Bao Yijun: "I expect, the Wen clan will not be able to keep their cool for long. Without our trade of resources, they will suffer."


    Bao Chi Ping: "They are restrained by their own grotto, they can only add so many floating islands before there is no more space left. It is already very chaotic how they trace their routes, and it will only become worse the more islands they decide to create."


    "In the meanwhile we are unrestrained in our growth, when a Bao clan gu immortal dies their foundation becomes the clan''s foundation. This is already the point where the ancestors'' long term plan is bearing fruit." - Bao Lang Chao nodded in agreement before turning to the second supreme elder.


    "Yijun, how are the preparations for the competition, how big of an advantage can we expect?" - Bao Lang Chao asked her.


    Bao Yijun: "The gu master promotions are in the last stage. We increased the count of our low rank gu masters to two fold and the mid-to-high rank to over one and a half fold."


    "That in itself is enough to wipe the competition, but for unexpected scenarios we still have that person as a trump card." - She continued.


    Bao Lang Chao: "Good. I want to see their faces, when they realize they have to pay all five portions of resources back."


    Bao Chi Ping: "Lady Yijun is as meticulous as ever. With your plan, our victory is as good as set in stone." - He raised his cup, praising.


    "Cheers! To victory!"


    "To victory!" - Bao Lang Chao raised his cup and drank it in one go.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Bao Zhi''s steps were light as he walked among the rows of desolate Brain Melon plants, his gaze scanning the area with a peace of mind.


    He was practicing his new human path killer move, Concealed Human Qi, for hours upon hours. As he moved, his muscles rippled under his skin, and his hair flowed behind him like a black banner in the wind.


    Xu Lian''s will was busy tending to the Brain Melons, carefully pruning the vines and checking for any signs of disease or deformities.


    He was so focused on his task that he didn''t notice Bao Zhi''s approach until he was fifteen steps from him.


    "Ancestor!" - Xu Lian exclaimed, startled. "You surprised me."


    Xu Lian''s will jumped in fright as he realized it was just his ancestor when Bao Zhi stepped out of the rows of Brain Melons.


    A light and mysterious smile appeared on Bao Zhi''s face.


    This confirmed to him, his killer move, Concealed Human qi was effective even against wills as well.


    "How is the progress?" - He asked Xu Lian''s will.


    "Good. Very good, Ancestor. The plants are growing without a hitch. I expect them to mature in the coming days."


    Bao Zhi nodded to himself and continued his stroll, circulating his human qi in and out of his body as he practiced.


    After a short while Xu Lian''s will rose up into the air.


    This was nothing unusual, every time the will reported back to Xu Lian''s body it would do so and return to him.


    But this time the will came back sooner than expected. No, it would be better to say it didn''t even leave the blessed land before returning.


    Xu Lian''s will hesitated for a moment. He wasn''t sure if he should tell Bao Zhi or not. After all, his ancestor was busy practicing his killer move.


    "No, this is an emergency!" - He thought.


    "Ancestor! Ancestor!" - Xu Lian''s will flew after Bao Zhi in a hurry.


    "Tell me." - Bao Zhi said without turning.


    "There is a problem. I can''t reach my main body, I''m unable to leave the blessed land." - He explained in a distressed voice.


    This was without precedent, the immortal aperture''s entrance was under the immortal''s sole control. So how could this happen?


    "Hmm..." - Bao Zhi hummed as he looked up at the sky.


    "Have you tried contacting your main body?" - He asked after a moment of thought.


    "Yes, Ancestor. I have tried multiple times, but there is no response from him."


    Xu Lian''s voice was filled with worry.


    "I''m afraid your main body might have encountered some trouble." - Bao Zhi concluded.


    "What could it be? Can we do anything?"


    Bao Zhi stopped in his steps to ponder. This was a troubling problem indeed, as he was also trapped inside the blessed land.


    "I can see two possibilities why this could be. He is either unconscious thus unable to respond to you or open the door of his blessed land." - He paused for a moment.


    "Or he is suppressed and his aperture is sealed away. Both of these are a cause for concern." - He knotted his brows.


    Xu Lian''s will felt helpless. What could they do in a situation like this? He has never considered losing contact with his main body from his own aperture.


    "Come, follow me! Leave the plantation for now." - Bao Zhi instructed as he headed toward the center of the blessed land.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 60 - Odd mission

    Ancestral Grotto


    A group of gu masters followed the winding path that led them to the entrance of a valley. The pine trees towered over them, casting long shadows across the forest floor.


    Zhao Min''s group had been tracking the bandits for several days when the trail abruptly ended at the entrance of the valley. They searched the surrounding area and questioned the locals on their way, but nobody had seen or heard anything that could help them beyond this point.


    The trail ran cold.


    Zhao Min frowned, deep in thought.


    "It is suspicious to find no clues. This can only mean one thing, they felt the need to cover their tracks this time." - He began, breaking the silence.


    "There''s nowhere else for them to go. So the bandits must have gone into the valley." - Said Ye Jianhong.


    Jin Jue looked at the valley before them with some hesitation.


    "But the valley is vast. We could be searching for days and still find nothing." - He said, wringing his hands nervously.


    Ye Jianhong scoffed.


    "We have no choice. We can''t just let them get away." - His prideful demeanor evident in his voice.


    Yu Lingxin, eager to contribute, spoke up.


    "Maybe we could split up and search different parts of the valley? It will increase our chances of finding them." - She suggested.


    Zhao Min considered her idea for a moment before nodding.


    "That''s a good plan. Ye Jianhong and I will head north. Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin, you two search the southern part of the valley. But before that, we have to stop here." - He instructed.


    "Why stop now? We have practically cornered them!" - Ye Jianhong argued as he pointed at the landscape.


    "We need to rest, and start the search early in the morning. And if they want to leave this place, they have to come through here. That would be even better, it would also save us some effort." - Clarified Zhao Min.


    Their team set up camp and Zhao Min stood watch as the three of them rested.


    "This is the only way. I need to rely on myself if I want to be safe." - Zhao Min sighed to himself. He trust his own abilities the best.


    Morning came quickly, the group split up, each heading in their designated direction. Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong walked in silence, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of the bandits. After a few hours of searching, they came across a small clearing where they found a discarded piece of cloth that matched the description of the bandits'' clothing.


    "We''re getting closer." - Zhao Min said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, feeling one step closer to being done with this mission.


    They continued to search until the sun began to set. As they regrouped at the entrance of the valley, Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin returned empty-handed.


    "We found nothing." - Jin Jue said, looking dejected.


    "But we did hear some noises from the north. Maybe that''s where the bandits are." - Yu Lingxin added.


    Zhao Min nodded, his eyes flickering with cold determination.


    "Their camp is at the north-east side. We will use the cover of the night to strike." - He ordered.


    As the sun set, the group quickly made their way towards the north-east side of the valley, staying low and hidden in the shadows.


    Zhao Min led the way, his steps cautious and calculated. Ye Jianhong followed closely, his hands twitching as if eager for a fight. They made their way through the forest, their senses alert for any sign of the bandits.


    As they got closer, they could hear the faint sound of voices and the crackling of a fire. The bandits'' camp was just up ahead.


    Zhao Min signaled for the group to halt and quickly briefed them on their plan.


    "There they are." - Zhao Min said, his voice low and steady. The group had finally found the bandits.


    Yu Lingxin peered through the thick foliage and saw the five bandits around the campfire, laughing and talking.


    Zhao Min: "Ye Jianhong and I will approach from the front. Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin, you two will circle around and attack from the back if a fight breaks out. We have the element of surprise on our side, so we must use it to our advantage."


    The group nodded in agreement, ready to take down the bandits once and for all.


    They crept closer to the camp, careful not to make a sound. As they reached the edge of the clearing, they could see the bandits gathered around a fire, their weapons lying beside them.


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    Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong stepped forward, their gu ready to strike.


    "Surrender now and you can live." - Zhao Min ordered, his voice commanding and cold.


    The bandits were caught off guard and scrambled to take their position.


    "The dogs of the immortals are here!" - One of them shouted in fear.


    Their leader, a burly man with a scar on his face, stood up slowly and faced Zhao Min.


    "I see, so you are the ones that have been tracking us. So what if you spare us?" - He ridiculed.


    "Fight! Our lives are over the moment they hand us over." - He shouted to his group, his eyes blazing with rage.


    The three other bandits drew their weapons and charged forward, ready to strike.


    But Zhao Min and group were ready for them. Zhao Min flicked his finger and roots emerged from underground trapping two of the bandits instantly in their tight grasp.


    "Only mortals?" - Ye Jianhong laughed to himself as his fist sent the bandit flying closest to him.


    The burly man opened his eyes wide, the situation changed instantly.


    "I''ll say it once more. We have orders to capture you. Do not resist." - Zhao Min eyed their leader.


    The injured man on the ground grabbed their leaders leg weakly.


    "Stop, brother... There''s been too much bloodshed." - He forced the words out.


    "They are the ones who should stop! We had to save our lives and escaped. Why can''t you let us go?" - The burly man questioned with repressed anger in his voice.


    Zhao Min reached into his robes and presented a document.


    "Arrest warrant for Chi Lao and gang. If that''s you, then I don''t need any other reason."


    "You... Hahaha. You don''t know anything! You weren''t there to see what I saw..." - Chi Lao trembled in anger.


    "Let me tell you then, Willow River city was run over by a beast tide not long ago. The city lord order every officer to fight to the death, but I knew it was hopeless... I- I could only save these few people." - He looked at the others in frustration.


    Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong glanced at each other in silence.


    "So you are a deserter and not a bandit? That makes no difference to me." - Ye Jianhong sneered.


    "Is that how it''s going to be? You two juniors dare to disrespect me like this? Come, I''ll give you a lesson in humility!" - Chi Lao roared.


    Rank three aura burst out!


    "Watch out!" - Shouted Zhao Min as he stepped on a thick root an retreated quickly.


    Ye Jianhong was hit by Chi Lao''s attack. He coughed up a mouthful of blood before activating his healing gu.


    "That''s more like it! Come, face me!" - He activated his killer move right away.


    Ye Jianhong turned into a twelve feet giant tree-man!


    "You can''t escape now!" - He shouted.


    Chi Lao was taken by surprise. He had not expected such strength from these two juniors. But he was still confident as a rank three gu master.


    Ye Jianhong charged ahead fearlessly and opened his basin-size hands to grab Chi Lao.


    Chi Lao could easily dodge the slow giant, but that would leave his injured brother in the giant''s way. Chi Lao activated his gu worms and an earthen crust appeared on his skin.


    Defensive gu - Dry Earth Shell!


    The Dry Earth Shell was a defensive gu that strengthened the skin and made it as hard as rocks. It was a perfect counter against physical attacks.


    The giant stammered as its momentum was blocked. Ye Jianhong was actually slowly forced back!


    But Zhao Min was ready to attack as well. A pair of thick roots emerged below Chi Lao and wrapped around his legs and arms tightly.


    But Chi Lao was still not completely immobilized.


    "Now!" - Zhao Min shouted and activated his gu worms.


    The roots tightened their grip around Chi Lao further, almost crushing him. But Zhao Min''s essence was dropping steadily as Chi Lao struggled.


    Suddenly a sizable wave crashed forward from behind Chi Lao!


    "A sneak attack?! How despicable!" - Cursed Chi Lao. He could not dodge now even if he wanted to.


    The wave arrived like a hammer of justice and smashed against Chi Lao.


    Yu Lingxin and Jin Jue had arrived!


    Chi Lao''s Dry Earth Shell got soaked by the water, it turned to soft mud now.


    "Oh no!" - Chi Lao realized, he became defenseless.


    But Ye Jianhongs''s grip also slipped on the mud and his wooden body was carried away by the wave just as the other bodies on the ground.


    Chi Lao saw his window of opportunity and activated his movement gu to slip away.


    "Brother, I promise to come back for yo-"


    Phantom steps!


    Phantom Strike gu!


    Carve Wood gu!


    Jin Ju burst forth from under the water and struck Chi Lao on his back.


    "Ahh, no! My aperture!" - Chi Lao grabbed his abdomen in pain.


    Another batch of roots wrapped around him tightly, leaving only his head exposed.


    "Well done, everyone." - Zhao Min praised briefly.


    Next he turned to Chi Lao.


    "Submit." - There was no room for negotiation in his voice.


    "Release the others first." - He tried to bargain.


    Zhao Min: "I can''t do that, they are all wanted criminals. However, I can assure you that they will be treated fairly. Now hand over your gu."


    Chi Lao: "Hmph, I have no choice then... I''m sorry, everyone."


    At the next moment, Chi Lao bit off his own tongue!


    "What?"


    "Stop it, don''t let him suicide!"


    "He''s loosing too much blood, quickly heal him!"


    "My gu only works on myself..."


    The four of them watched on as Chi Lao''s face drained of color.


    "Damn, we failed again!" - Ye Jianhong punched a basin sized crater in the ground.


    "We have the rest of them, that''s still something." - Yu Lingxin consoled.


    Zhao Min released the roots and Chi Lao''s body collapsed to the ground.


    Jin Ju turned it on its back to check the aperture for spoils.


    Zhao Min: "Anything left?"


    But Jin Ju shook his head.


    "All his gu worms self-destructed."


    "Alright, Jianhong, you pick up those three and we head back."


    "What about that one?" - Ye Jianhong pointed at the heavily injured man.


    Zhao Min: "He won''t make it back to the capital. So leave him."


    "Shouldn''t we at least put him out of his misery?" - Asked Jin Ju.


    "Do as you wish." - Zhao Min shrugged indifferently.


    Jin Ju swallowed his saliva as he stood over the injured man, hesitating.


    "Need some help?" - Ye Jianhong stopped by with three people on his shoulders.


    "Look, this is how it''s done." - He raised his huge feet and stepped on the man''s upper half.


    The man opened his eyes in fright as he felt the pressure.


    "Huaaah--"


    His muffled scream suddenly ended.


    Pop!


    Ye Jianhong: "Aw, shit. Now I got brain matter between my toes."


    Ye Jianhong tried to shake it off from his feet as he couldn''t reach down with the three captives on him.


    "Stop the nonsense, and come." - Came the order from the visibly annoyed Zhao Min.


    Yu Lingxin came up to Jin Ju, who looked unwell.


    "It''s alright. You just need to get used to it, because people die every day. We are lucky today it wasn''t us."


    Jin Ju nodded silently.


    They were making their way back, when Ye Jianhong stopped suddenly.


    "This whole mission is strange, don''t you think so as well?" - He asked Zhao Min beside him.


    "You just realized it?" - Zhao Min continued his steps as he replied.


    "They tasked us to track down a group of bandits. They weren''t bandits. They tasked us to capture a rank three gu master alive. Defeating him was already the best scenario, we couldn''t have safely brought him back." - Zhao Min continued.


    "And he also gave up very quickly. That''s also strange." - Added Ye Jianhong.


    Zhao Min stopped as well, he looked up at Ye Jianhong''s towering figure.


    "How did I miss this? We need to go back!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 61 - The older the ginger the spicier it gets

    Ancestral Grotto


    Zhao Min raised his hand to signal to the group.


    "Stop. Ye Jianhong, leave the captives with Jin Ju and Yu Lingxin."


    Jin Ju: "What happened? Is there a problem?"


    Ye Jianhong crouched down and laid the tied up captives on the ground.


    Zhao Min: "I have a bad feeling. Chi Lao might have done something we overlooked. The two of us will go and check it."


    Yu Lingxin: "We should go back as well, what if you need help?"


    Zhao Min: "No, you two stay. We cannot take the captives everywhere we go. If we don''t return by daybreak then go on without us."


    Jin Ju: "Then we will await the good news."


    Yu Lingxin and Jin Ju could only listen to Zhao Min''s orders as he was in charge of this mission.


    As midnight fell, the group split up as Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong headed back.


    Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong moved with a swift, silent haste through the dense pine forest in the valley. The air was still and cool, and the only sounds were the faint rustling of leaves and the soft crunching of pine needles underfoot.


    The forest was dark, illuminated only by the pale light filtering through the treetops. Shadows danced across the ground, and the gnarled branches of the old pines seemed to twist and writhe in the dim light.


    "Can you tell me at least what''s going on?" - Ye Jianhong broke their silence.


    Zhao Min: "We didn''t check the camp or Chi Lao''s body thoroughly."


    Ye Jianhong: "And?"


    Zhao Min: "And what? Are you an idiot? Think! Why would Chi Lao suicide when he only became our captive?"


    "Because getting captured by your enemy is worse than death. I actually feel the same, it should be I who decides what happens to me even if it''s death!" - Ye Jianhong declared!


    Zhao Min didn''t reply, he only laughed silently.


    Ye Jianhong: "What?"


    Zhao Min: "What else would I have expected from you? I''m the idiot for even asking..."


    Ye Jianhong: "So tell me then! Am I wrong?"


    "You should treasure your life, while you''re under my command. After that you can die a fool''s death for all I care." - Zhao Min shrugged.


    "You!" - Ye Jianhong felt a vein pop on his forehead as he swallowed the urge to cave in Zhao Min''s smug face.


    "Quiet! We are almost there." - Zhao Min''s tone became serious again.


    Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong''s twelve feet giant figure emerged from the dense forest and into a clearing, which had once been the supposed bandits'' camp.


    The ground was still damp with water from the previous fighting, and the remains of the makeshift structures lay scattered around the clearing. The eerie silence was punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.


    Zhao Min hurried ahead, where they left Chi Lao''s body.


    "Just as I thought." - Zhao Min noticed a peculiarity.


    Under the eerie light, a gu worm bobbed up and down above Chi Lao''s lifeless body.


    "What is that?" - Ye Jianhong also noticed it.


    "I believe it is a resurrection method he prepared. That''s why he was so eager to end his life. He did it to escape being captured." - Zhao Min explained quietly.


    Realization dawned on Ye Jianhong''s face at once.


    "So that''s it." - He gritted his teeth in shame.


    Ye Jianhong reached out and grabbed the gu worm in the air.


    "Oh, what gu is this?" - He opened his fist to take a closer look at it.


    Ye Jianhong: "Huh, where did it go?"


    But the gu worm disappeared from his palm by the time he looked.


    "What? You crushed it with your big hands? Do you even know how valuable a resurrection method is? Well, at least for those that value their lives..." - Zhao Min snapped at him.


    "No! It just disappeared, I swear." - Ye Jianhong stood there dumbfounded.


    They turned back to the body on the ground. The wounds on it have noticeably healed, but it was still cold and lifeless.


    Zhao Min acted decisively, and cut off the head with a single strike.


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    "Crush the body." - He ordered Ye Jianhong.


    Ye Jianhong gladly obliged.


    "Sly bastard, try reviving now!" - Ye Jianhong smirked to himself as he carried out the orders.


    Zhao Min carried the head at his side by its hair, leaving a trail of dark blood dripping from the severed neck.


    "That should be it. Let''s go." - Zhao Min concluded with a hint of tiredness in his voice.


    * * * * *


    Xu Lian Blessed Land


    Xu Lian''s will watched on eagerly what Bao Zhi was preparing.


    Bao Zhi worked quickly and efficiently, carefully placing gu worms and immortal materials in its designated location within the groundwork of a formation.


    "Xu Lian, I will need your assistance in gathering the gu worms necessary for the formation." - Bao Zhi said at once.


    Xu Lian''s will nodded, eager to help in any way he could. "Of course, Ancestor. What gu worms do you need?" - Xu Lian''s will asked.


    Bao Zhi began to list off the names of the gu worms he required.


    "I will need twenty-four Thunderwood Gu, hundred-and-ten Ironroot Gu, and all the Bloodvine Gu. I will also need some Spiritbloom Gu, and Seedless Refinement Gu..." - Bao Zhi said.


    Xu Lian''s will quickly gathered the gu worms, handing them to Bao Zhi one by one. As he did so, Bao Zhi carefully examined each one, making sure it was the correct gu he needed.


    Xu Lian''s will watched from the sidelines, his eyes flickering with curiosity and worry. He knew that Bao Zhi was skilled with immortal formations, but he couldn''t help but wonder how this would help his main body.


    "Do not worry, this formation will resolve the predicament once it''s activated." - Bao Zhi commented.


    Xu Lian''s will nodded in understanding, still keeping a curious eye on the proceedings.


    Bao Zhi began to lay down the immortal formation, carefully placing each gu worm in its designated spot.


    Xu Lian''s will could sense the immense power flowing through the place, and he couldn''t help but feel a little intimidated. But he had faith in Bao Zhi and knew that he was the only one who could help him.


    He noticed Bao Zhi stopping his actions for a moment.


    "What do we need to do now?" - Xu Lian''s will asked anxiously.


    "We need to attach the lotus root to the formation." - Bao Zhi explained.


    "This core is necessary in order to open the blessed land''s entrance. It will be a difficult task, however. We need to be careful not to damage it."


    As Bao Zhi continued to work, he asked Xu Lian''s will for various gu worms and materials. Xu Lian''s will readily obliged, eager to help in any way he could.


    When Xu Lian didn''t have a particular gu, Bao Zhi asked for an immortal material to substitute with.


    Xu Lian''s will provided him with everything he had, knowing that Bao Zhi''s skills were unparalleled in his eyes.


    With the Lotus Root attached to the aperture origin core, Bao Zhi focused his attention on it. He could sense the deep connection the root had to the aperture origin core, and he knew that it would serve as the perfect formation core for this immortal formation.


    As he began to channel the immortal essence into the formation, the Lotus Root started to glow with a bright, white light.


    The formation supplied with the immortal essence from the Lotus Root surged, creating a powerful aura that expanded outwards. The sky above them started to ripple and distort as the formation interacted with the blessed land''s fabric.


    Xu Lian''s will felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized that this formation was not just powerful, but dangerous. It was affecting his small world, and he could see the subtle changes happening around them. The colors of the sky were shifting, and the clouds were swirling in a strange pattern.


    But Bao Zhi seemed unfazed by the changes happening around them. He gave Xu Lian''s will a reassuring smile and instructed him to enter the formation and help control it.


    Xu Lian''s will took a deep breath and stepped into the formation, feeling the energy flow around him as he added his own immortal essence to fuel it.


    The power of the formation intensified, and the changes in the sky became more pronounced.


    "Ancestor, what is this formation doing exactly?" - Xu Lian''s will could only transmit, his voice would have been drowned out by the intense humming of the formation.


    "I''m going to forcefully open the blessed land''s entrance. But focus now! We only have a single chance with this formation. Once the immortal materials are spent I can''t set up another one." - Bao Zhi replied in a strained tone.


    The power that emanated from the formation was overwhelming, and Xu Lian''s will struggled to control his part of the formation. He could feel his consciousness being stretched to its limits as he tried to keep up with the complex controls of the formation''s immense power.


    "Do no falter! Keep it going!" - Bao Zhi encouraged Xu Lian''s will as they operated the formation.


    "The formation must be stabilized before we can proceed!" - He added.


    Despite Xu Lian''s will''s exhaustion, he nodded and continued to channel his immortal essence into the formation.


    The formation operated loudly, and lights flashed around the aperture origin core continuously like moths drawn to a flame.


    Time seemed to slow to a crawl as they fought to keep the formation running.


    The two of them had to keep the formation running for a long time before its effect would be apparent.


    Xu Lian''s will was not sure how much longer he could hold on, but he knew that he had to endure until the very end.


    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the formation began to stabilize, and the power flowing through it became more manageable.


    Bao Zhi stepped forward and inspected the formation closely, nodding in satisfaction.


    "The formation is stable." - He said with a slight smile. "We can proceed."


    Xu Lian''s will breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, his will was trembling from exhaustion.


    Bao Zhi ignored him and continued to work on the formation, his hands moving with expert precision.


    The power within the formation continued to grow, and Xu Lian''s will could sense that something was not quite right. He tried to speak up, but his voice was too weak.


    As the final steps of the formation were completed, the energy within it reached a crescendo. The sky above them exploded in a burst of light, and a shock wave of energy rippled outwards, shaking the very foundation of Xu Lian''s small world.


    "What is happening?" - Xu Lian''s will thought to himself with worry.


    Suddenly, Bao Zhi''s hands moved with lightning speed, and Xu Lian''s will could feel a surge of a strange sensation throughout his body.


    He tried to scream, but no sound came out.


    The formation finished with a loud bang, and Xu Lian''s will could feel the aperture origin core changing.


    A small gap appeared in the air, opening the blessed land''s entrance was now almost within reach.


    Bao Zhi stepped out of the formation, without any hint of exhaustion on his face.


    Next he turned around and reached out with his hand.


    Before the very eyes of Xu Lian''s will, the aperture origin core shrunk to the size of a goose egg before it gracefully landed in Bao Zhi''s palm.


    Xu Lian''s will struggled to regain control of his body. He realized the truth by now, Bao Zhi was not helping him; he was stealing his aperture origin core!


    "A-ancestor!" - The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he tried to fight back, but was stuck in the formation.


    But it was too late. Bao Zhi had already succeeded in his nefarious scheme, and Xu Lian''s aperture origin core was now in his possession. Any connection Xu Lian felt towards the aperture origin core pereviously was now severed.


    Without the aperture origin core, this blessed land would regress and wither, living being would die en masse.


    As the blessed land''s entrance slowly opened, Bao Zhi turned to Xu Lian''s will with a satisfied smile on his face.


    "Thank you for your help, Xu Lian." - He said and stored the aperture origin core away.


    Bao Zhi''s stepped into the air and disappeared through the blessed land''s entrance.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 62 - Infiltrated

    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wen Bao Academy


    Qinyang has made some breakthroughs in her information path methods. With the allowance from the academy she got herself a some information path gu worms to experiment with.


    "It''s time to test it out." - she said to herself as she walked towards the mountains.


    The mountains next to the academy were cold and misty, the air thick with the chill of winter. Qinyang took a deep breath and released her Icicle Gu. The gu sent out a flurry of icicles, piercing the air with a sharp hiss.


    Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.


    "Qinyang!"


    Qinyang turned to see her brother, Wen Tu, coming up the path towards her. He had a wide grin on his face.


    "I heard you''ve been experimenting with a new gu. I thought I''d come and join you!" - He said, clapping a hand on her shoulder.


    "Wen Tu, are you ready to spar?" - Asked Wen Qinyang, her eyes glinting with excitement.


    "Of course, sister. I''ve been looking forward to this all week." - Replied Wen Tu, his own gaze filled with determination.


    Qinyang and Wen Tu faced each other, their eyes locked in a fierce determination. Each held an Icicle Gu, ready to unleash a barrage of icicles at the other.


    Without warning, Qinyang let loose a volley of icicles, each one perfectly aimed and controlled. Wen Tu deftly dodged and weaved, his own icicles flying back in return. The crisp sound of cracking ice echoed through the mountains as Wen Qinyang and Wen Tu exchanged shots of icicles, each one skillfully aimed.


    Qinyang moved with fluid grace, her movements calculated and precise. Her icicles flew through the air, slicing through the frosty mist with ease.


    The two siblings moved with an effortless synchronicity, each anticipating the other''s movements and reacting with lightning-fast reflexes. As the spar continued, the intensity grew, each icicle clash sending a shower of cold sparks into the air.


    The icicle flew through the air, hurtling towards Qinyang with blinding speed. But she was ready, and with a swift motion, she countered with an icicle of her own.


    The two icicles met in a brilliant explosion of light and sound, sending icy mist through the air. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the two siblings stared at each other, one panting with exertion.


    Wen Tu couldn''t help but notice the steep improvement in Qinyang''s control of the Icicle Gu.


    "Sister, your control has improved greatly since the last time we practiced! Just as before, your shots are ruthlessly accurate!" - He remarked.


    His heart swelled with pride for his sister, whom he had long admired for her indomitable spirit and high talent.


    "I''ve been working hard. I''m glad to hear it''s paying off." - Qinyang smiled proudly.


    "But let''s take a break now." - She continued.


    "We were just getting started, I want to show you the new gu I bought." - Wen Tu straightened his back with a healthy grin on his face.


    "You will have to wait with that, I''m out of primeval essence." - Qinyang raised her hand in protest.


    "Stop joking, I still have essence as a rank two gu master. How could you have ran out of your rank three white silver essence?" - Wen Tu narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side.


    Their training was soon cut short, as Qinyang explained that she had used an information path killer move to aid her in aiming the icicles.


    "I haven''t actually recovered my abilities. The extra gu worms I used has drained my primeval essence, so that''s why I need to rest." - She admitted.


    Wen Tu was shocked, but also impressed.


    "Sister, that''s incredible! Your ingenuity in overcoming your limitations is truly inspiring." - He exclaimed.


    "It is still not enough." - She shook her head.


    "If I want to bring out the true power of a rank three gu master, I will still need to optimize my technique to consume less essence." - She sighed.


    "Oh, to optimize? That sounds important." - Wen Tu scratched his head awkwardly.


    "To optimize means to improve something to its best possible state while considering various constraints and factors. It involves finding the most effective solution to a problem or goal, often through iterative processes and data analysis. My information path technique is still far from the optimum though." - She began to explain.


    "But what you can''t measure, you can''t improve! So I used the information path killer move to log and record its own operation so later I can look for inefficiencies and improve it by analyzing the patterns in the usage of primeval essence. For that, I set the Ribbon Text gu to store the events in chronological order while iterating through the set of actions I defined for the aiming of the Icicle gu..."


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Wen Tu just blinked in silence as he listened to her. It was impressive how much thought and effort she put into this.


    As Qinyang''s lengthy explanation ended, Wen Tu placed his sizable hands on her shoulder encouragingly.


    "I won''t pretend I understood that. But I know, whatever it is, sister will find a way, haha!"


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Golden Peak Pagoda


    Two immortals stood in the dimly-lit side hall of Wen clan''s Golden Peak Pagoda, their hushed whispers echoing off the ornate walls. Wen Bo''s hand trembled slightly as he spoke, his voice laced with nervousness.


    "Wisdom Will, the crucial person has agreed and entered the refinement formation." - He said, his eyes darting around the room.


    "But can we really trust Old Refinement''s will to complete his part?"


    Wen Jie, cool and collected, fanned herself lazily as she replied.


    "We must have faith in his abilities, Great Formation. After all, he has generations of accumulated refinement knowledge."


    Wen Bo''s brow furrowed in concern.


    "But refinement is never without dangers. What if he makes a mistake? With no proper vessel, his will would be destroyed in case of a backlash, no doubt... Without a refinement expert, our hands would be tied, and this opportunity would be wasted then." - He said in a low voice.


    Wen Jie''s smile was enigmatic.


    "You worry too much, Great Formation. I have already deduced everything. The moment the crucial person entered the formation, our plan was headed for success."


    Wen Bo stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "And what if you are wrong? What if this all blows up in our faces?"


    Wen Jie''s expression remained unchanged.


    "Old Refinement has his formation set up. If there is a mishap, it will take the burden off of him. But I am confident that he will succeed."


    Wen Bo looked unconvinced, but he nodded nonetheless.


    "I trust you are right, Wisdom Will. The stakes are too high to leave anything to chance."


    Seeing his reaction Wen Jie''s lips curled into a provocative smile.


    "Great Formation, how much have you understood of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda?"


    Her question took him by surprise, a shameful expression appeared on his face.


    As a formation path great grandmaster he did not have a complete understanding of the gu house they owned!


    "I''m humbled to admit it, but in the last hundred years I still couldn''t uncover the final profundity of it. It eludes my understanding to this very day." - He admitted honestly.


    "Mmm. This is a secret passed on only to the first supreme elders. But, I will make an exception now." - Wen Jie said, her voice low but full of conviction.


    She took a deep breath and began to explain.


    "The original Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda was a gu house among the finest, a rank eight gu house in its complete form." - She began.


    Wen Bo nodded, this was in line with what he knew and uncovered.


    "Wen clan''s ancestor found this gu house by chance and established the foundation of Wen clan with it. She became the first Wisdom Will, and passed down this memory to each subsequent first supreme elder." - She paused, to look into Wen Bo''s eyes.


    "She tried to deduce the origin of this gu house all her life, but it was in vain. A renowned rank eight wisdom path immortal, failed to deduce an object she possessed! What did this mean?" - Her voiced turned serious.


    "It means... It means it is related to something beyond her power." - Wen Bo gulped and nodded, his face grim.


    "Precisely! And that narrows it down very much..." - Wen Jie put together her fingers, and her eyes gleamed with fervent excitement.


    "A venerable!"


    A cold shiver ran through Wen Bo''s spine.


    "Which one?"  - He asked, his voice trembling.


    "That, I cannot tell. This is all we can deduce from the gu house itself. But what I am certain of, is that the crucial person we have chosen, is a part of a venerable''s plan and the beginning of the two grotto''s unification." - She said, her voice turning somber.


    Wen Bo''s face blanked. This was more serious than he thought.


    Wen Jie looked at Wen Bo with concern in her eyes.


    "And what of your condition? Has it worsened?" - She steered the topic back.


    Wen Bo''s face darkened with realization, and he sighed deeply.


    "Yes, it has. I keep hallucinating images, and my nerves are shaky once again. But worry not."


    Wen Jie''s expression softened.


    "We cannot have you in this state when the crucial moment arrives, Great Formation. You must be in top form."


    Wen Bo nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.


    "I assure you, my vessel can hold on until I am needed in our plan."


    Wen Jie shook her head.


    "No. As you said, we cannot take any chances. I will use Clear Mind Unity to stabilize your condition once again."


    Wen Bo looked at her in disbelief. "But you just used it not long ago. It''s too risky."


    Wen Jie''s eyes flashed with determination.


    "We have no choice."


    Without another word, Wen Jie closed her eyes and focused her gu worms. A powerful aura emanated from her, and the room was filled with ripples of light. Wen Bo felt the energy flow through him, cleansing his mind and body.


    After what felt like an eternity, the light dissipated, and Wen Jie opened her eyes.


    "There, you should be fine now. But we must be careful."


    Wen Bo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling stronger and more alert than before.


    "Thank you, Wisdom Will. I will stand by until the annual competition begins."


    Wen Jie nodded.


    "Good. The time is drawing near. We must prepare for what is to come."


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda


    In the depths of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, Xu Lian, lay suspended in mid-air within a powerful and intricate formation. His body was limp, his eyes rolled back into his head, and his mouth hung agape, as though he were in a deep and unbreakable slumber.


    Lord Old Refinement approached the suspended Xu Lian with a steady and measured gait. He wore robes of deep red, embroidered with silver and gold, and his eyes glinted with a fierce and ancient intelligence.


    As he drew near, he examined the suspended immortal with a critical and knowledgeable eye. Wisps of refinement light flickered and danced across Xu Lian''s body, moving in and out like the tides of a great ocean.


    Old Refinement nodded his head slowly, a small and satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Everything was proceeding according to plan.


    He reached out a hand, fingers like gnarled and ancient roots, and gently touched the immortal''s cheek. Xu Lian''s body twitched at the contact, but remained suspended, caught fast in the formation.


    With a flick of his fingers, Old Refinement unleashed the formation''s power, and the refinement light grew brighter and more intense. Xu Lian''s body writhed and twisted, and a low and unearthly moan escaped his lips.


    After hours of careful progress, Old Refinement stopped at the midway point to prepare for the rest that was to come.


    Just as his attention was waning, a slit appeared in the space behind him and a blur of figure slipped out.


    Killer move: Concealed Human Qi!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 63 - New owner

    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda


    Bao Zhi slipped through a narrow rift in the fabric of space and time, and found himself standing within the ornate halls of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda. With a deft hand, he activated the power of Concealed Human Qi, masking his presence from all who may lurk within these walls.


    As he took in his surroundings, he glanced at the magnificence of the chamber.


    Four towering pillars rose up around him, casting long shadows in the dim light. He knew not where he had arrived, but he could feel the weight of centuries of history bearing down upon him.


    His keen eyes soon alighted upon the figures in the center of the room.


    "So that''s what happened to you..." - Bao Zhi noted to himself upon seeing Xu Lian''s condition.


    But as his gaze arrived upon Old Refinement, who was engaged in the control of the refinement formation, Bao Zhi knew he had to take care.


    He quickly retreated into a dark corner, pressing himself against the rough stone wall.


    There he remained, still as a statue, even suppressing his breathing and slowing his heart rate to avoid detection.


    As Old Refinement paused his work and departed the chamber, Bao Zhi remained hidden, watching and waiting.


    Bao Zhi carefully pieced together the clues that he had gathered, his sharp mind racing to make sense of his surroundings. The intricate patterns of the chamber''s architecture, the ancient script etched into the walls, and the mystical energies that permeated the air - all of these pointed to one thing: he must be inside an immortal gu house.


    And if he was within an immortal gu house, there was only one such place that Xu Lian could be found - the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda!


    The realization sent a shiver down Bao Zhi''s spine, for he knew that this was at the very heart of Wen clan''s territory.


    "In the midst of chaos, find stillness and peace. Under the cover of darkness, one may find the brightest stars..."


    "Xu Lian, this opportunity you presented me, I will not let it be wasted!" - Bao Zhi thought to himself with confidence.


    He knew, he must be careful not to reveal himself, lest he become a target of Wen clan''s wrath.


    Bao Zhi crept cautiously through the chamber, his senses attuned to every sound and movement around him. He knew that he must tread lightly, for any misstep could bring about his undoing.


    He was very clear about his own circumstances, having only a mortal aperture limited his combat capabilities greatly.


    Bao Zhi split his attention, and inspected his aperture.


    It was a rank five aperture at the peak stage, a purple crystal aperture.


    The ninety-five percent filled purple crystal primeval sea was gleaming with purple light, dying the rank five peak stage crystal walls with a deep hue.


    In his sea of primeval essence many gu worms floated and swam around. If any rank five gu master would see this, their hearts would palpitate just at the sight of so many rank five gu worms!


    Bao Zhi had scammed Xu Lian twice for gu worms, he naturally assembled a full set of them for his own use. It covered all the basics a gu master would need.


    But even if he were to face a rank six immortal who similarly used rank five gu, the difference would be enormous.


    If a fight broke out, Bao Zhi would only last a short while with his limited primeval essence.


    Not to mention the other advantages an immortal possessed, like the ability to use hundreds of the same mortal gu at once and also enjoy their corresponding path''s dao mark amplification.


    Bao Zhi''s focus did not linger on his gu worms. He inspected his latest gain.


    In the depths of Bao Zhi''s mortal aperture, there lay a curious object - an aperture origin core, the very foundation of the small worlds that immortals possessed. Though it was but a dim and lifeless rock to the mortal eye, it possessed a significance beyond measure, for it was the source of immortal essence itself.


    "An aperture origin core... It is the beginning and the end, the most important part an immortal aperture has. It is the foundation of an immortal''s combat power."


    Bao Zhi gazed upon the sealed origin core, his heart filled with both vigilance and excitement. For he knew that to unseal it was to risk the very balance of his mortal aperture!


    But with a resolve born of desperation for power, he activated his gu worms and began to unseal the origin core.


    The seal on the origin core began to break, and Bao Zhi watched in awe as the round, dim object slowly became full of life again.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    As the final layer of the seal broke, a great commotion erupted within his aperture. Space rippled and expanded, and Bao Zhi felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He had not anticipated this, and a momentary hint of fear began to claw at his heart.


    The gu worms within his aperture began to swim around faster and faster, and Bao Zhi felt a strange energy coursing through him. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing as he calmly observed the events.


    And then, he saw that the space within his aperture had expanded to twice its original size, and a small tributary of the River of Time had been drawn in, causing the time flow within the aperture to increase.


    Bao Zhi furrowed his brows. This was beyond his expectations.


    He knew that his mortal aperture had taken on some of the attributes of an immortal aperture with this change.


    And then, as he gazed upon the radiant origin core suspended in the center of his aperture, he beheld a sight beyond words.


    For it began coalescing a bead of immortal essence!


    Xu Lian''s aperture origin core was forcefully refined and taken by Bao Zhi.


    What did this mean?


    It meant any essence produced by the origin core would be imbued with Bao Zhi''s will. It would be his immortal essence!


    "The immortal essence production is linked to the aperture''s foundation. A mortal aperture is incomparable to even the lowest grade blessed lands." - He calmly evaluated.


    "It is already a miracle that it worked. When a single bead is produced, I will have no limits to using my rank five gu!" - His lips curved into a faint smile as he thought.


    But his mind returned to his reality, he had taken a great risk coming here. If he was discovered, it would mean certain death even with this advancement.


    Yet, he was undaunted, driven by a fierce determination to uncover the truth that lay hidden within the walls of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    For he knew that within these walls, deep secrets were kept, and knowledge of the highest order lay waiting to be discovered.


    * * * * *


    Ancestral Grotto, Capital City


    In the streets of the Capital City, Jin Ju strode with purpose towards the Jade Gu Palace. He had just returned from their mission, but his heart was set on what he was best at: selling gu as a salesman. As he walked, he saw the old man who owned the Jade Gu Palace.


    The man''s face was drawn with worry and vexation.


    Jin Ju was overjoyed to see the old man again, but he could not help but sense a foreboding in the air.


    "Shopmaster!" - He greeted the old man. "It is good to see you. What troubles you?"


    The old man let out a deep sigh.


    "Jin Ju, my dear boy..." - He said.


    "I am delighted to see you returned from your mission unscathed. But I must tell you, do not return to the Jade Gu Palace."


    Jin Ju was taken aback.


    "What do you mean, Shopmaster?" - He asked.


    "Did I not perform my duties well enough? Have I been away too long?" - He asked in a worried tone.


    The old man shook his head.


    "No, no, my boy," - He said.


    "While you were working here, it was my great fortune. But I am no longer the owner of the Palace. I owed a great amount to Ao Shi''s father, and he took over the Palace as payment."


    As Jin Ju listened to the old man''s explanation, his blood began to boil with anger and frustration. He had spent months building up the clientele of the Jade Gu Palace, working long hours and tirelessly perfecting his salesmanship skills.


    And now, it had all been stolen from him by the deceitful actions of Ao Shi''s family.


    He felt a deep sense of betrayal, not only from Ao Shi but also from the old man who had handed over the Palace to Ao Shi''s father without a fight.


    The old man noticed the rage building inside Jin Ju and tried to dissuade him from returning to the Palace. He feared for Jin Ju''s safety, knowing that the new owners would not take kindly to his presence.


    But this was beyond Jin Ju''s bottom line! His determination to set things right was fueled by the injustice he had suffered.


    Jin Ju marched into the Jade Gu Palace with his head held high, ready to take on Ao Shi and whoever took his side.


    The atmosphere was tense, and the air was thick with the smell of incense burning.


    As Jin Ju approached the counter, he was met with a smug grin from Ao Shi.


    "Well, well, well..." - Ao Shi said.


    "If it isn''t the great salesman, Jin Ju. Are you here to beg for your position?" - Ao Shi sneered at him.


    Jin Ju was not intimidated. He had come to make a statement, and he was determined to stand his ground.


    "No." - He said firmly.


    "You took this place by underhanded means. So who says I can''t do the same?" - Jin Ju narrowed his eyes as he threatened.


    "Ha, and what are you going to do? We have the contract, the old fool has signed it himself. He lost his rights, and you lost your position and customers! Hahaha." - Ao Shi gloated.


    Jin Ju did not waste time to argue, he jumped over the counter and grabbed Ao Shi by the collar with one hand.


    "Hey, what are you-" - Ao Shi protested, but his words were interrupted by Jin Ju''s other hand. Jin Ju slammed his fist down on the counter, causing the wood to crack and splinter.


    "You will reconsider, or I swear I''ll break your neck." - Jin Ju said, his voice low and menacing.


    Ao Shi''s face turned pale with fear, he entirely forgot he was facing a gu master. All it would take is a single move from Jin Ju to determine his fate!


    "Father! Help! Help me!" - Ao Shi shouted with all his might.


    Jin Ju dragged him outside the shop, and threw him on the ground.


    Ao Shi whimpered like a kicked dog as he landed. Jin Ju was quick to plant his foot on him, to prevent his escape.


    "Scream, scream all you want. Call for your father!"


    The people started to gather and stopped to look at the commotion.


    "Stop! Stop at once!" - A middle aged man arrived at the scene.


    "Father! Help me!" - Ao Shi cried in pain.


    "Who are you? Release my son at once!" - Ao Shi''s father demanded as he unleashed his rank two gu master aura.


    But Jin Ju looked him in the eyes, unafraid.


    "This mortal offended me greatly. I demand his life." - Jin Ju also released his rank two gu master aura as well, not one to back down.


    Jin Ju''s demand was not at all overboard. A gu master''s status was high and mighty compared to a mortal commoner.


    "Young friend, please reconsider. There is surely something we can both settle on." - Ao Shi''s father gritted his teeth in anger.


    "Of course, there is!" - Jin Ju''s mouth curved into a pleased smile.


    "Annul the contract with the previous owner of the Jade Gu Palace, and return it at once!"


    "So this was your goal the whole time?" - The middle aged man realized the ploy as his eye twitched in disbelief.


    "Young man, just stop!" - The old shopmaster arrived at the commotion.


    But Jin Ju did not relent to any threat or persuasion, with Ao Shi''s life in his hand, his father had no choice but to tear up the contract before everyone''s eyes.


    Jin Ju released his feet from Ao Shi, who right away crawled behind his father like a beaten dog.


    This was just what Ao Shi''s father was waiting for, he raised his hand to attack Jin Ju, just when a radiant light-beam shot down!


    "The Annual Competition has begun!" - The words rang in everyone''s ears like a thousand bells.


    Jin Ju''s body was carried away by the beam in a flash.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 64 - Bao vs Wen: Competition begins

    Ancestral Grotto, Capital City


    Zhao Min had but just returned from his mission, his heart brimming with the anticipation of solitude and unshackled independence. The oppressive yoke of confinement and the dictation of others had chafed his spirit raw, as he yearned for freedom. As a disciple of the Bao Wen Academy, he understood the necessity of such restrictions, yet his disdain for them smoldered quietly within.


    "Finally home again." - He sighed.


    With measured steps, he crossed the threshold of his humble rented abode, a semblance of contentment adorning his countenance.


    The air whispered with promises of seclusion, and he prepared himself to immerse himself in cultivation, to harness the potency of his A-grade aptitude.


    Settling comfortably upon a worn cushion, his mind primed for nurturing his aperture, but the next events conspired against his cherished moment of tranquility.


    Boom!


    Without warning, a radiant beam of light, resplendent and undimmed, sundered the sturdy thatch roof with a thunderous crack.


    Zhao Min''s heart leapt within his chest, his eyes widening with alarm as he instinctively looked around due to this unexpected intrusion. A hallowed presence lingered within the beam, Zhao Min''s mind immediately flashed with a suppressed memory.


    "An immortal?" - This was his first coherent thought in the heat of the moment.


    In the blink of an eye, before his racing thoughts could coalesce into action, the shimmering light retracted with a speed that defied reason. It took hold of his form, cradling him within its luminous embrace, as if plucked from the mortal realm by some intangible force.


    Zhao Min''s voice remained trapped within his own mind, an indignant curse reverberated silently against the injustice of his fate. His ears rang with the echo of the explosion.


    Higher and higher he ascended, the contours of the capital city dwindling beneath him. The world below transformed into a tapestry of minuscule landscapes, as distant mountains and meandering rivers merged into an indistinguishable blur.


    Zhao Min''s internal tirade continued unabated, a litany of curses that vented his frustration and resentment. Yet, with every passing moment, a sense of equilibrium settled upon his mind, urging him to observe and take in the unfolding spectacle.


    As he rose higher above the billowing clouds, a stunning revelation unfurled before his eyes. There were others, countless beams of light bearing young gu masters, ascending alongside him in harmonious unity.


    The radiant streaks converged, intertwining like a grand fabric woven by an unseen hand. Zhao Min strained his eyes, seeking familiar visages amidst the sea of faces as the currents of light carried them ever closer together.


    In an instant, the light''s journey reached its conclusion, and Zhao Min found himself standing upon an expansive green leaf floating high up in the sky, large enough to bear the weight of countless young men like himself.


    The verdant surface beneath his feet exuded a vitality and vibrancy that resonated with the life force coursing through his veins.


    His gaze lifted to the dark sky above, and there, suspended in midair, a congregation of ethereal figures floated effortlessly.


    The immortals, resplendent in their otherworldly splendor, exuded an aura of wisdom and grace that transcended mortal ken. They surveyed the gathering with eyes that held a measure of both benevolence and scrutiny, their very presence commanding reverence and awe.


    Zhao Min, humbled and awestruck, felt his indignation dissipate, replaced by a profound sense of purpose and curiosity.


    What grand design had summoned them to this meeting ground?


    What significance lay in the convergence of these gu masters beneath the watchful gaze of the immortals?


    What was the annual competition about?


    The questions tugged at the consciousness of the many gu masters summoned on the leaf.


    As the final echoes of his curses faded, Zhao Min found himself enveloped in a silence that transcended mere absence of sound. It was the stillness of anticipation, the quietude of a world holding its breath in anticipation of revelation. In this suspended moment, one of the immortals raised his arm in the air and ceremoniously drew a circle.


    The ring of light came to life and expanded with great momentum. It grew wide and tall from its initially small proportions. Within the ring a great sight was laid before the dumbstruck gu masters.


    A different world presented itself.


    * * * * *


    Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wen Bao Academy


    Wen Qinyang delved deep into the improvement of her information path killer move. Her recent spar with her brother, Wen Tu, had revealed areas where she could enhance her skills. As she focused on honing her methods, a polite knock on her door drew her attention.


    Hao Meng entered with an air of eagerness.


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    "Qinyang, the time for the annual competition has arrived." - Hao Meng spoke, his voice warm and inviting.


    "Come, join me, and I shall secure for you a good point to witness the grand spectacle."


    As an esteemed elder of the academy, Hao Meng possessed the privilege of procuring favorable positions for such occasions.


    Qinyang, in her single-minded pursuit of information path, had been oblivious to this grand event.


    With an icy cloud at his command, Hao Meng whisked her into the heights, their bodies becoming one with the breeze.


    During their flight, he imparted his knowledge of the competition between the Wen and Bao clans, an event where the gu masters of both lineages would showcase their martial prowess. Qinyang, true to her cautious nature, asked.


    "Will we go to the domain of the Bao clan then?" - Her words hung in the air, filled with anticipation.


    But Hao Meng, with a gentle smile, dispelled her presumption. He revealed that the competition was held in a unique location, removed from the sole influence of either clan. It resided within the realm of a small world left behind by a Treasure Blue Beaver.


    As the mention of this mythical creature reached her ears, Qinyang''s memory stirred, recalling her knowledge immediately.


    "The Treasure Blue Beaver..." - She mused, her mind reaching into the depths of her recollections.


    "An immemorial desolate beast, known to traverse the expanses between the Eastern Sea and the now shattered realm of the Immemorial Blue Heaven. The beavers were hunted to extinction though. The notorious Gu Immortal, Old Immortal Kong Jue, claimed the lives of numerous Treasure Blue Beavers in his mad pursuit of aperture research."


    The Treasure Blue Beaver, a creature of unparalleled wonder, possessed inherent extraordinariness that defied mortal comprehension. Its stomach pouch alone, a testament to its grandeur, held the essence of an immortal aperture with space path and water path dao marks.


    In the eyes of a Gu Immortal, the annexing of this wondrous treasure meant the augmentation of their immortal aperture, expanding their blessed land''s or grotto-heaven''s space.


    Such awe-inspiring capabilities, however, had sparked the greed of Gu Immortals, leading to the relentless hunting and extermination of the Treasure Blue Beavers. Alas, the fate of these magnificent creatures had been sealed, and they faded from existence, leaving behind only remnants of their extraordinary realms.


    Amidst the esteemed assembly, a figure of ancient wisdom stepped forth, a Gu Immortal whose presence commanded both respect and reverence.


    Wen Jie said a few words, before facing away from the rest.


    With a subtle gesture, a passage to the secret realm within the Treasure Blue Beaver''s aperture was unveiled, revealing a transformed landscape that bore the imprints of the two clans'' work to make this place a competition ground.


    As the gateway opened, revealing the transformed world within, a collective gasp escaped the lips of the gu masters present.


    The interior of this mystical world had been remodeled, a vast expanse of shimmering lake punctuated by a floating platform at its heart. Though substantial in size, the platform seemed minuscule when contrasted with the grandeur that enveloped it.


    Two grand structures, arching with elegance and purpose, stood on opposite sides of the lake. One belonged to the Bao clan, its ornate presence a testament to their pride and heritage. The other, a mirror image in design, stood as the domain of the Wen clan, emanating an aura of resilience and unwavering loyalty. The architectural marvels framed the lake, their stately facades a testament to the harmonious rivalry between the two clans. Their purpose to provide an unobstructed view for their respective spectators.


    Within this idyllic setting, the grandeur of aged trees, their canopies a picturesque of vivid hues, cast gentle shadows upon the serene waters. A chorus of unseen birds filled the air with mellifluous melodies, while light filtered through the verdant canopy above, imbuing the landscape with a golden luminescence.


    Amidst the tranquil beauty of nature''s embrace, the gathered higher-ups assumed their positions with an air of anticipation. Their countenances, etched with lines of wisdom and experience, bore witness to the weighty responsibilities they shouldered as leaders of their respective clans. The sacredness of the occasion was reflected in their solemn expressions and the hushed reverence that enveloped the surroundings.


    Qinyang, her heart both thrilled and cautious, took in the magnificence of the scene. Her gaze flitted across the resplendent architecture that framed the shimmering lake, her thoughts contemplating the imminent clash of gu masters and the intricate strategies that would soon come to fruition.


    In this moment of suspended anticipation, the stillness of the air echoed with the whispers of ancient forces and the weight of generations past. The lake, a mirror to the sky, beckoned with a quietude that masked the still power it contained.


    "How do you like it?" - Hao Meng took his seat next to Qinyang.


    "This place is quite something." - Qinyang didn''t hide her awe.


    "Who will be the ones fighting, do we know that?" - She asked.


    "Each year there are some gu masters selected from each rank. There are not many restrictions as to who can join. But there is one ironclad rule, if a person has joined one event they cannot join once again." - Hao Meng laid out the situation briefly.


    "Is that so that one person can''t dominate every year?"


    "Probably so. Otherwise, the two clans would just send the same talents each year. But this way we get to see some fresh blood each time." - Hao Meng chuckled.


    Qinyang hoped he meant that in a figurative way.


    "Oh, look! Bao clan has also arrived." - Hao Meng pointed in the air.


    As the Bao Clan''s select few descended upon the small world, their arrival was heralded by the graceful landing of a colossal flying leaf. Like a majestic ship of the sky, it carried the members of the Bao Clan, who disembarked with a sense of purpose. They took their rightful places on the opposite side of the Wen Clan, mirroring the symmetry of their rivals.


    "They brought so many gu masters this year." - Someone commented.


    "I heard they will give it their all this year, because of the incident..." - Another added.


    High above the lake, the two heads of the clans soared through the air. A momentous meeting took place at the midpoint between the two sides.


    With a solemn grace befitting their esteemed positions, the clan leaders approached each other, acknowledging the shared significance of the event. With a formal gesture of reverence, the heads of the clans exchanged dignified greetings, an unspoken agreement that signified the official commencement of the event.


    "As per the immortal oath, Bao Lang Chao of Bao clan greets the Wen clan."


    "As per the immortal oath, Wen Jie of Wen clan greets the Bao clan."


    Their every movement held the weight of generations, as they shouldered the responsibility of upholding their clans'' honor and the legacy that had been passed down through time.


    The stillness of the air, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant melodies of nature, mirrored the collective reverence of those present.


    The heads of the clans represented the culmination of years of tradition, and unyielding commitment. Their meeting marked not just the beginning of a contest, but a testament to their age old rivalry.


    With the formal greetings exchanged the two leaders faced each other once more.


    "This year''s competition will be the grandest spectacle. I hope Wen clan has prepared well and will not disappoint us." - Bao Lang Chao remarked with confidence and a hint of arrogance in his voice.


    Wen Jie covered her face with her fan as she laughed faintly.


    "Lord Chao can rest assured, Wen clan will not disappoint." - She smiled mysteriously.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 65 - Bao vs Wen: Why is he here?

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition grounds


    Hao Meng and Qinyang sat in rapt attention, their eyes fixed upon the unfolding spectacle. As the gu masters took their positions on either side of the stage, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air. Hao Meng, his knowledge of the proceedings imparting a sense of authority, explained the order of combat, how the weaker fighters would yield their place to the more seasoned warriors as the battles progressed.


    "The rank one gu masters will begin the clash, followed by the rank two gu masters as the fights progress. Eventually rank five experts will take the stage in the finale." - Hao Meng said briefly.


    Qinyang''s gaze shifted upward, her curiosity piqued by the ethereal lights that floated above the combatants'' heads.


    "What are those floating lights above their heads?"


    Before Hao Meng could offer an answer, a figure materialized in a flash of white, descending upon them with an air of icy elegance. It was Hao Meng''s mother, Wen Hao Jiong, her presence commanding respect and trepidation.


    In a voice devoid of warmth, she spoke, addressing Qinyang in lieu of her son.


    "Those are the life marking flares." - She said as she took the other seat next to Hao Meng.


    The words hung in the air, their icy sting contrasting with Hao Jiong''s stunning appearance¡ªthe delicate bun adorning her white hair, the flowing robes adorned with patterns of frost-kissed blossoms.


    "Mother? How did you...?" - Hao Meng asked with both suppressed fear and anger.


    "What? You think I don''t know about her? My ignorant child..."


    Qinyang shrank back slightly in her seat uncomfortably.


    Tensions mounted as the atmosphere grew strained, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavily in the air. Qinyang dared not utter a word, her voice silenced by the imposing presence before her. The three of them turned their attention back to the stage, their focus drawn to the unfolding clash of gu masters.


    In the midst of the chaos, Qinyang''s keen observation did not falter. She watched intently as the combatants unleashed their techniques, their movements intertwining in a dance of skill and survival.


    Some fought in synchronized groups, while others stood alone, their individuality a testament to their resolve. The battle raged on, an intricate scene of fierce determination and the pursuit of victory.


    And amidst this swirling tempest of conflict, Qinyang''s gaze returned to the life marking flares. Like fleeting flames dancing above the fighters'' heads, the lights flickered and shifted, transforming with each passing blow. Her sharp perception discerned a pattern¡ªwhenever a strike found its mark, the light above the struck warrior would dim by half, while the assailant''s flare gained a measure of that lost radiance.


    "Almost like a health bar." - She thought.


    Her focus settled upon a figure in a green robe, his light a mere quarter of its original brilliance. Despite being struck twice, he clung to his resolve with unwavering determination.


    But then, in a heartbeat, a sweeping attack cleaved through the air, catching not only him but several others in its path. Superficial wounds were sustained by them, yet the green-robed warrior''s light did not dim further¡ªit vanished entirely, a whisper extinguished. The green robed gu master grabbed his chest in pain as his body turned into blood soaked water.


    "Once you get hit three times in a row you die instantly?"


    A chill wind blew through Qinyang''s soul. The revelation pierced her with a newfound understanding¡ªthe light was not a mere indication of health, but a direct reflection of life itself.


    The significance of the life marking flares weighed upon her like an unseen burden, their glow now a stark reminder of the precarious nature of existence.


    Her gaze remained fixed at the spot of the fallen gu master, his light extinguished in an instant, his story abruptly cut short.


    The chaos on the stage continued unabated, the clash of bodies and the eruption of techniques echoing through the air with great intensity. The combatants, fueled by their determination and the desire to prove their worth, pressed on with unyielding resolve. But for Qinyang, the battle took on a new dimension, a haunting awareness of the fragility that lay beneath the surface.


    "This is all just a game in the immortal''s eyes. A life is as cheap as grass..."


    As she surveyed the scene, her eyes were drawn to other warriors, each adorned with their own flickering life marking flare. Some burned bright, their vitality undimmed by the trials they faced, while others wavered, their lights flickering with each successive strike. It was a silent dance of life and death, played out before her eyes, as each blow held the potential to extinguish a flame forever.


    Qinyang''s heart ached with a newfound empathy for these warriors, their struggle now illuminated by the ethereal lights above their heads. The grandeur of the event, the clash of clans and the pursuit of glory, seemed smaller in comparison to the fragility of the individual lives at stake.


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    As she continued to observe, Qinyang''s attention was drawn to a figure in the midst of the battle. Clad in shimmering armor, their movements were fluid and precise, their light burning fiercely amidst the chaos. They became the focal point of her gaze, an embodiment of resilience and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.


    His bright light garnered the attention of the onlookers as well, he became a prime target in his opponents eyes as they lunged at him to recover their lost life marking flares desperately.


    Even the most formidable gu masters were not impervious to the ebb and flow of unpredictability. Their essence was limited, their prowess only a fading bloom soon withering.


    As another opponent closed in, their strikes honed with deadly intent, the flickering light above the armored warrior''s head faltered. Blow after blow, the warrior''s resilience was tested, their light dimming with each strike, like a candle nearing its end.


    Qinyang held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest, as the warrior''s light teetered on the edge of oblivion. But then, in a stunning display of willpower, the warrior rallied. With a single strike, he took down three of his attackers.


    But he quickly turned tail as he raced towards the edge of the stage. Puzzled, she watched as he reached the boundary and vanished in a radiant burst of light, just like the one that gathered the competitors. But the life marking flare remained floating in the air even with the absence of its former owner.


    "Wen clan just scored! That''s at least a three-flare." - Someone exclaimed, their voice carrying a mix of excitement and admiration.


    The crowd on Wen clan''s side erupted in applause, the collective admiration for this display of unwavering spirit palpable in the air.


    Of course, the immortals watched on with a steady and solemn expression.


    The fight has gradually taken a turn as well, the gu masters on both sides of the stage scrambled to enlarge their life marking flares and secure their survival. The urgency in their movements was palpable, their strides quickening as their primeval essence dwindled.


    With each gu master''s departure from the stage, their life marking flare remained, merging into another, a testament to their score and contribution.


    The cheers and murmurs of the crowd filled the space, as the keen-eyed spectators assessed the significance of each departure.


    The two clan''s collective lights were growing bigger and bigger, one overtaking the other, once and again. Neither was leading, they were neck and neck.


    "Things are getting interesting, soon the rank two gu masters will join."


    "Yes, but only when the threshold is reached. Those who are low on essence need to act fast if they want to get out. Hehehe."


    "Look at those fools, they don''t even have their beginning flares, yet try to leave." - Someone shook his head and laughed.


    "Without essence what can they do? It is still better for them to retreat back even if they have to stay on the stage, giving their flares to the enemy is worse. If they hold out until the next wave of gu masters can join, they might survive."


    "Having these cowards is just a burden to those arriving later. Dead weight, I tell you!"


    "But still, the situation is like this."


    "I disagree, they should just let the opponent capture their flares and then take down the opponent. This way you are rid of the burden and still have the score."


    The spectating gu masters argued back and forth of what the best strategies would be. Naturally, it was from their outside perspective. Them being on the stage themselves and just looking at the event were two entirely different matters.


    Ding!


    A resounding chime echoed through the venue, its clear tone piercing the excited buzz of the crowd, as the accumulated life marking flares on each side reached a significant threshold. The air crackled with anticipation¡ªthe arrival of the rank two gu masters was imminent. The next level of the battle was about to unfold, and the spectators could barely contain their excitement.


    As if drawn forth by the gathering energy, the rank two gu masters arrived at the edges of the stage. Their presence drew attention, their life marking flares shining with a brilliance that surpassed those of their rank one counterparts.


    Qinyang, her focus sharp as ever, instinctively honed in on the new arrivals. But as her gaze fell upon a familiar figure among them, her composure faltered.


    There, among the rank two participants, stood Wen Tu¡ªher own brother. The realization hit Qinyang like a wave crashing against the shore. A mix of emotions surged within her¡ªconfusion, worry, and a tinge of fear.


    How could he be there? Why had he chosen to enter this perilous contest?


    In that moment of unease, Qinyang caught a glimpse of a faint smile gracing the lips of Hao Jiong. The subtle curl of her expression, barely perceptible, held a knowing quality.


    "What''s wrong, Qinyang?" - Hao Meng broke the silence as he noticed her distress.


    "Do you wish to save him?" - Hao Jiong posed the question to Qinyang without a flicker of emotion on her face, her gaze fixed forward without acknowledging her presence.


    The weight of those words settled upon Qinyang''s heart, tightening its hold as thoughts raced through her mind like a rapid river. Worry for Wen Tu intertwined with a sense of distrust for this enigmatic immortal, their intentions veiled in shadows.


    Hao Meng, attuned to Qinyang''s concerns, recognized the focus of her worries. However, he found himself caught in the web of immortals, powerless and unable to intervene in this game.


    His elder status was meaningless when immortals dictated the terms. But even their hands were tied by the immortal oath to a large extent.


    Qinyang, her face a reflection of the turmoil within, grappled with her conflicting emotions. The knowledge that Wen Tu was not her true brother offered a sliver of detachment, but it was overshadowed by her indebtedness to him. She owed him her life, and the desire to repay that debt was firm within her.


    Amidst the flurry of thoughts, Qinyang attempted to unravel the motives behind Hao Jiong''s presence. Was there a hidden purpose to her involvement, or did she simply seek to aid her future daughter-in-law? The answers eluded her.


    As the battle of the rank two gu masters erupted in a symphony of clashing forces, Qinyang''s gaze remained glued to where Wen Tu stood, his formidable frame moving amidst the fighters, unleashing icy projectiles with precision. She observed his strategic approach, staying at a distance from the front-line, favoring the safety of ranged attacks.


    "Good, just stay at range." - Qinyang whispered to herself, a glimmer of relief seeping into her thoughts. In that choice, she saw a flicker of potential for his survival.


    As Qinyang continued to watch Wen Tu maneuver with skill and determination on the stage, her heart filled with a mix of pride and worry.


    Suddenly, roots burst forth from the ground in the midst of the Wen clan gu masters, breaking their formation completely. The clash of the rank two gu masters intensified, their attacks colliding in a crescendo of chaos.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 66 - Bao vs Wen: Save him!

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition grounds


    The air crackled with tension as the chaos on the stage escalated. The entangling roots, like serpents of the earth, disrupted the Wen clan''s formation, entwining their gu masters and extinguishing their once-glowing life marking flares. Some managed to break free from the clutches of the roots, their nimble movements preserving their flickering vitality. However, others remained pinned to the ground, their hopes held captive by the writhing tendrils.


    In the midst of the Wen clan''s struggle to regain their balance and launch a counterattack, an unforeseen twist unfolded. From the crimson waters of the battleground, a colossal wave surged forth with an overwhelming force, hurtling toward the immobilized gu masters.


    The wave crashed upon them with a bone-shattering impact, leaving those unable to evade it to bear the full brunt of its merciless power.


    A cacophony of outrage erupted from the spectators on both sides, their voices merging into a tempest of anger and disbelief.


    "Water path? They used water path?"


    "The Bao clan resorts to such treachery! Their honor is tarnished!"


    "Underhanded! Despicable!"


    "Shame on the Bao clan! They''ve betrayed their own principles!"


    "What dignity is in victory if they had to throw it away before the conclusion."


    "Unfair advantage! The Wen clan deserves justice!"


    Accusations filled the air as the Wen clan''s supporters decried the underhanded tactics of the Bao clan''s water path method.


    Although there was no such rule that Bao clan could only use wood path methods, everyone knew that Bao clan only promoted and endorsed wood path for their members.


    "Bao clan will triumph, no matter the path!"


    "My Bao clan is righteous! How did this water path demonic gu master get into this competition?"


    "The ends justify the means! Bao clan is fighting to win!"


    The once-proud gu masters of Bao clan''s noble wood path felt a mix of shame and satisfaction, torn between their principles and the undeniable advantage gained.


    The clash of emotions reverberated through the crowd, splitting them into opposing factions, their voices clashing like a symphony of discord.


    Amidst the tumultuous uproar and the clash of voices, two figures emerged as beacons of attention. Their life marking flares blazed like stars amidst the chaos, drawing the gaze of both friend and foe.


    Zhao Min, calm and composed, wielded the entangling roots with an artistry born of deep-rooted connection. Each twist and turn of his command birthed a formidable wall green, shielding him from the onslaught that sought to pierce his defenses.


    Beside him stood Yu Lingxin, whose powers surged forth like a mighty torrent. She summoned forth a barrier of liquid fortitude, using a sizeable chunk of her primeval essence to repel the relentless barrage of ice and wind projectiles aimed in her direction. The impact of each collision rippled across the surface, as waves danced and cascaded in harmonious chaos.


    The gu masters of the Wen clan, their spirits aflame with determination and vengeance, directed their wrathful might towards these two singular adversaries.


    Their attacks were fierce, a torrent of blows meant to bring down those who dared to claim what was rightfully theirs.


    Landing just a single hit would diminish their targets life marking flares by half, bringing great gains to whoever succeeded in hitting Zhao Min or Yu Lingxin.


    Long-range assaults, honed with deadly precision, pierced the air as projectiles sought to pierce the defenses the Bao clan''s gu masters erected that guarded the two.


    Yet, the two of them held their ground, their focus unwavering, as they deflected, repelled, and regrouped.


    Zhao Min''s roots, scorched and battered, sprang forth anew, undeterred by the onslaught that sought to sever their connection to the earth''s below. The struggle was fierce, each blow exchanged chipped away at their primeval essence, but still they pressed on, determined to protect the gains they had secured.


    In the midst of the unfolding battle, a moment of dire need beckoned forth the call of Zhao Min, his voice resolute and commanding.


    "Ye Jianhong, the time has come!"


    The eager Ye Jianhong, filled with a fervor that surpassed the dangers of conflict, stood before his comrades, ready to unleash his might.


    Unyielding and unbothered by the perils that loomed, Ye Jianhong embraced his purpose, his transformation commencing with a vibrant green hue that gradually transformed into the solemn, weathered bark of an ancient tree.


    His frame expanded and elongated, reaching towering heights of twelve feet.


    A giant treeman stood in his place, a spectacle that demanded attention and drew all eyes upon him. His chest swelled with pride, akin to a peacock amidst a flock of humble chickens, as he proclaimed with valor.


    "Witness my greatness!"


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    The impact of his presence was immediate, as the focus of their adversaries shifted towards Ye Jianhong, diverting their aggression away from Zhao Min and Yun Lingxin with success.


    Yet, as the onslaught of attacks rained upon the colossal treeman, a realization dawned upon Ye Jianhong. Though his towering form shielded him from grave injuries, the life marking flare above his head continued to diminish with each blow, an unwelcome revelation that shattered his initial assumptions.


    "Oh no!" - Ye Jianhong exclaimed, a note of concern echoing through his voice.


    The transformative abilities that granted him an advantage in conventional combat seemed to falter within the confines of this unique contest, owing to the peculiar nature of the life marking flares that hung above them.


    "Defend yourself, you fool!" - Zhao Min''s admonishment cut through the chaos, urging Ye Jianhong to adapt.


    With swift determination, the treeman raised his mighty forearms, intercepting and deflecting the attacks aimed at him.


    Each calculated movement became a testament to his understanding, for as long as he successfully parried or evaded the attacks, the life marking flare above his head remained unscathed.


    Understanding dawned upon him as he grasped the intricacies of the situation. Merely defending passively would not suffice, for the life marking flare would still wane. Reacting swiftly to each assault became the key to preserving his life marking flare.


    A sly smile curled upon Ye Jianhong''s distorted treeman visage, an embodiment of newfound knowledge and strategy.


    It was time for him to seize the initiative, to shift the tides of battle in their favor once and for all.


    With resolute conviction, he readied himself to unleash a counterattack that would echo through the records of this conflict, he charged ahead fearlessly!


    Among the spectators at Wen clan''s side, Wen Qinyang perched at the precipice of her seat, her eyes fixed upon the unfolding scene.


    Bao clan''s surge of power had definitively tipped the scales in their favor, leaving the Wen clan reeling in the face of adversity. Her gaze shifted, her heart pounding with trepidation, as the colossal treeman wreaked havoc upon the battlefield, trampling through the ranks of the Wen clan''s gu masters.


    In this chaotic dance of conflict, whenever the situation seemed uncertain, about to turn even in Wen clan''s favor, an enigmatic figure, veiled in shadow, deftly weaved through the combatants, disrupting the coordinated efforts by landing decisive sneak attacks.


    Qinyang''s breath hitched as she bore witness to Wen Tu''s valiant struggle, his form gradually being pushed back with each relentless assault. The stage, once vast, now seemed suffocatingly small, leaving the gu masters of the Wen clan teetering on the precipice of a dire predicament.


    Bao clan''s forces, unified in their purpose, step by step advanced along the formidable Ye Jianhong, seeking shelter behind its towering presence while launching calculated offensives.


    In the midst of her worry, Qinyang found herself biting nervously on her nails, a testament to the weight of her concern for Wen Tu''s well-being.


    A voice, as cold and distant as the winter winds, interrupted her restless contemplations.


    "It may be too late for hesitation." - Wen Hao Jiong spoke, her words bearing an air of detached indifference.


    With an expression devoid of warmth, she extended two peculiar gu worms towards Qinyang''s trembling hands.


    Curiosity mingled with apprehension as Qinyang questioned the nature of these gu.


    Wen Hao Jiong, in her customary brevity, provided a brief explanation.


    One gu resembled a moth, its delicate wings dotted with countless round perforations, known as the rank five beggar moth gu. It possessed the ability to store primeval essence, a hidden reservoir of power for a gu master.


    The other gu, a crimson eight-legged mantis, was a creation of Wen Hao Jiong herself, aptly named the burning mind flame gu.


    As the weight of her decision bore down upon her, Qinyang''s mind teetered on the edge of uncertainty. Her gaze flickered between the offered gu worms, contemplating their potential implications and the role they could play in this tumultuous struggle.


    Qinyang''s gaze flitted anxiously between the amassed life marking flares of the competing clans, their radiance a testament to the impending arrival of the rank three gu masters. The weight of uncertainty settled upon her like a heavy fog, obscuring the path ahead.


    How long could Wen Tu, a mere rank two gu master, hold his ground amidst the onslaught when faced with rank three experts? The odds seemed impossibly stacked against him, the likelihood of his endurance waning with the imminent entry of these seasoned experts into the fray.


    A sigh, laced with resolve, escaped her lips, a flicker of determination kindling within her.


    With no more hesitation, Qinyang reached out and accepted the proffered gu worms, cradling them in her hands. Her eyes bore into the immortal figure of Wen Hao Jiong, a demand for guidance resonating in her voice.


    "Tell me, then, how do I use these gu?" - Her words carried an undertone of urgency in the face of impending conflict.


    Wen Hao Jiong, her countenance unyielding, met Qinyang''s gaze with an inscrutable stare. Her response, terse yet informative, revealed the essence of the gu worms'' abilities.


    "The burning mind flame kindles swift thinking, igniting thoughts into an inferno that guides decisions amidst the chaos of combat." - She spoke with measured brevity.


    "As for the beggar moth, it''s a reserve of primeval essence, supplementing your own methods without impeding their use."


    But before further instruction could be imparted, a resounding chime resonated through the air, its ethereal timbre piercing the mounting tension.


    The arrival of the rank three gu masters loomed ever closer.


    Wen Hao Jiong flicked her hand, and Qinyang was transported away in a flash at once.


    Wen Hao Meng, his patience exhausted, could no longer contain the torrent of questions and frustrations that swelled within him. His voice raised, demanding answers from his mother, Wen Hao Jiong.


    His eyes, filled with a mixture of confusion and reproach, searched for understanding in the depths of her immortal gaze.


    "Mother! I want you to tell me!" - He began, his words carrying the weight of his emotions. "Why? Why have you made this web of trials for her? Are you the mastermind behind these trials, seeking to make her suffer?"


    A wry smile crept across Wen Hao Jiong''s lips, her amusement echoing in her laughter. Her voice, distant and laced with a mocking undertone, rippled through the air, drawing the attention of her son.


    "Why?" - She mused, as if pondering a riddle.


    "Since when have I been barred from testing the mettle of my son''s intended? I have extended a helping hand, offered a chance for her to prove her worth. If, perchance, she fails, it shall be a testament to her own shortcomings."


    Wen Hao Meng''s mind swirled with a tumultuous mix of emotions, caught between his unwavering affection for Qinyang and the unsettling truth of his mother''s intentions.


    He longed for her survival, yearning for them to be reunited. Yet, uncertainty clouded his thoughts, leaving him with a bittersweet hope that seemed to flicker like a fragile flame in the wind as he set his gaze back on the stage.


    Meanwhile, Wen Hao Jiong reveled in her own self-assuredness, a smug satisfaction lingering in her thoughts.


    "Soon this wench is removed from the picture. I don''t know what methods you used to preserve your life, but it will not work again."


    Wen Hao Jiong''s mind echoed with a cruel certainty, her thought laced with a disdainful contempt for the woman she viewed as an interloper.


    "This wench will be swept away, expunged from the ranks of existence." - She mused, her thoughts dripping with venomous intent.


    The depths of her knowledge obscured, she pondered the mysterious means by which Qinyang had preserved her life, vowing that such methods would prove futile this time.


    Her ambitions loomed large, overshadowing any semblance of maternal compassion for her son, as she eagerly awaited the day when she could reclaim and control Hao Meng again, solidifying her dominance over his future.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 67 - Bao vs Wen: Clutches of death

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition grounds


    On the highest seats on the side of Bao clan, above the clamor and fervor of the unfolding events, the immortals sat in quiet contemplation. They appeared serene, their grace and high disposition emanating from their very beings.


    As they deliberated, the weight of their preparations and stratagems bore fruit, evident in the steady advancement of their plans.


    "Our preparations," spoke one immortal, his voice as steady as a mountain stream, "have already yielded fruitful dividends."


    A nod of agreement came from another immortal, his countenance bearing the mark of assured confidence.


    "Indeed," he said, "our gu masters possess the advantage both in numbers and skill. The forces at our disposal are formidable."


    "While our skilled gu masters uphold the line," another immortal interjected, the tone measured and slow, "the lesser ranks can gradually erode the enemy''s defenses, steadily chipping away at their numbers while ensuring the safe return of our own."


    With each word spoken, the plan to assert dominance in this year''s event against the Wen clan revealed its seamless progress. The immortals exuded an aura of confidence, for they knew that victory was soon within their grasp.


    Yet, amidst this air of assured triumph, a flicker of concern cast a shadow over the lower ranked immortals. One among them glanced below at the boisterous gu masters below, their raucous voices piercing the stillness of the scene.


    "There is but one problem," he murmured, barely audible above the tumultuous noise. His gaze met the eyes of his fellow immortals, silently conveying his apprehension.


    The identity of the inheritance cultivated by Zhao Min and his group became clear as more and more gu masters recognized it, spreading through the crowd like a swift gust of wind. It was none other than the Three Demon''s Inheritance, its infamous legacy now unveiled before all.


    The discontent among the spectating gu masters was palpable, like a gathering storm ready to unleash its fury. The knowledge of this forbidden inheritance sparked a mix of envy, resentment, and perhaps even fear among those present.


    Yet, it was undeniable, Bao clan''s side pressed forward thanks to the efforts of Zhao Min''s group.


    The atmosphere hung heavy with a multitude of emotions.


    In the midst of the immortals'' deliberation, one among them dispelled the concerns of a lower-ranked comrade with a passing comment, uttered in a tone laden with cryptic meaning.


    "The surfacing of this inheritance is no mere coincidence. After the event has transpired, these four shall continue to serve our interests."


    The response illuminated the understanding of the concerned gu immortal, who now saw a glimmer of clarity amidst the enigmatic words.


    "Ah, so we shall keep them as a whetstone for the righteous path gu masters instead of disposing them?" - He queried, his voice laced with comprehension.


    "Precisely." - Came the assured reply.


    And with that, the gu immortals refocused their attention upon the stage before them, where the rank three gu masters were poised to join the unfolding battle.


    Meanwhile, at the edge of the Wen clan''s side, Qinyang steeled her resolve, preparing herself for the imminent entry into the fray.


    With determined resolve, she whispered her plan to herself.


    "Enter, save Wen Tu, and exit. As simple as that."


    As the restrictions lifted and the group of new rank three gu masters entered the stage from both sides, Qinyang sprang into action. Activating her information path methods, she swiftly scanned the battlefield, meticulously noting each individual. Her task was clear, and she had located Wen Tu amidst the chaos in no time.


    The pressure on Zhao Min''s group intensified sharply, for their rank two cultivation base was no match for the presence of the formidable rank three gu masters. Yet, through their unwavering cooperation and help of their own reinforcement, they managed to hold their ground, skillfully staving off their opponents as they began to withdraw.


    In the midst of the escalating battle, Qinyang swiftly arrived at Wen Tu''s side, offering her aid in his desperate situation. The dim life marking flare above Wen Tu''s head signified his precarious state¡ªhe could not leave the battle until he had scored some hits, an arduous task indeed.


    "Sister, why are you too here?"


    "Listen!" - Qinyang called out, her voice cutting through the din of the surrounding combat.


    "I will create an opportunity for you. Release your icicles when the time is right. Once your life marking flare has enough score, I will cover your escape." - Her words were spoken with a blend of urgency and determination, a plan formed in the crucible of adversity.


    Wen Tu nodded in weary acknowledgment, his exhaustion evident upon his visage. The weight of the battle bore down upon them, but together, they stood firm, ready to seize the fleeting chance.


    Qinyang activated her self-created killer move. Her preprogrammed instructions sprang to life, and activated the Icicle gu.


    Like ethereal dancers, numerous icicles materialized above her head, each bearing identical proportions. With a graceful and orderly choreography, they circled and orbited around her, steadily amassing in number.


    Qinyang attentively monitored the bright silver primeval essence within her aperture.


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    It declined at a steady pace, though not as swiftly as when she had practiced against Wen Tu. She reassured herself, recognizing that this reserve of essence would endure just long enough to serve her purpose.


    As her killer move reached its initial culmination, the production of icicles ceased temporarily, leaving more than three dozen of these crystalline projectiles poised and suspended above her.


    They awaited her command, shimmering with a latent potency that yearned for release, eager to be hurled towards their intended targets with unyielding force.


    In the blink of an eye, Qinyang''s mental command resonated with her operating killer move, creating a swift and decisive response.


    Icicles, akin to frigid meteors trailing through the air, shot forth from their suspended positions. With a rhythmic crashing of ice crystals, they found their intended targets with unyielding precision and ruthless accuracy.


    The very air hummed with the symphony of their impact.


    Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!


    "Now!" - Qinyang''s urging called to seize the opportunity and strike at the suppressed enemy.


    Firing his own icicles, however, Wen Tu''s weariness betrayed him, leading to an errant aim. A single icicle struck its mark, but the others faltered, missing their intended destinations.


    Qinyang swiftly recognized the extent of Wen Tu''s fatigue, realizing that his ability to land accurate hits had been compromised.


    "We will divert our focus to the tree giant!" - Qinyang declared with urgency, her mind swiftly recalibrating their strategy.


    "I will pin it down. Wait for the opportune moment."


    Determined, she directed her killer move, manually designating the tree giant as the primary target. A flurry of ice shards erupted forth, hurtling towards their newfound objective.


    Ye Jianhong, the tree giant, had been inching back, step by cautious step, when an unforeseen torrent of ice suddenly filled his field of vision.


    Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, he found himself ill-prepared to fend off this concentrated attack. Though he had previously deflected the icicles that had arrived one by one from Wen clan''s side, this new deluge overwhelmed him.


    Alarm surged within his mind as he hastily raised his forearms in a desperate attempt at defense.


    But alas, his efforts proved futile. The onslaught of icy projectiles pierced into his tree-flesh, embedding themselves into his very being like a pincushion.


    The sting of the cold pain numbed his senses, rendering him vulnerable and disoriented.


    With a stumble, he succumbed to the onslaught, falling upon his back. The countless icy needles had rendered his limbs immobile, offering no cover against the relentless assault that unfolded.


    "Now, swiftly!" - Qinyang signaled, her voice tinged with a blend of urgency and determination.


    The opportune moment had arrived, and Wen Tu seized it resolutely.


    "Help me!" - Ye Jianhong''s anguished cry pierced the air, borne of desperation and the realization of his own perilous predicament.


    In a display of swift reflexes, Zhao Min summoned forth roots to shield Ye Jianhong from harm.


    Yet, Qinyang''s flying icicles, with a responsiveness akin to a lightning strike, swiftly shifted their target.


    The roots, barely beginning to emerge from the ground, were mercilessly shredded before they could provide adequate protection.


    "What level of multitasking is this?"


    "Incredible!"


    A collective gasp escaped the lips of those who bore witness to Qinyang''s remarkable feat of preemptively dismantling any defense that the gu masters of the Bao clan sought to offer Ye Jianhong.


    With the opportune moment unfolding, Wen Tu unleashed his icicle upon the immobilized and defenseless Ye Jianhong. However, Jin Ju, who had been lurking upon the battlefield using his phantom path methods, materialized before Ye Jianhong with a resolute purpose¡ªto intercept the imminent attack.


    "No you don''t!" - Qinyang''s eyes twitched with determination, her method swiftly acquiring and engaging its new target¡ªJin Ju himself. The shards of ice already propelled by the time Qinyang noticed his intervention.


    Jin Ju, caught between the looming threat and the unyielding assault, found himself with little recourse. He could not defend against both attacks and was forced to retreat, dissolving back into his intangible phantom state.


    Meanwhile, Wen Tu''s sharp projectile hurtled towards Ye Jianhong''s skull with remarkable speed.


    Time seemed to stand still for the stricken tree giant, Ye Jianhong''s heart pounding in his chest with fervent intensity, yet like the drums of doom, the beats rang in his ears ominously.


    In a final, desperate attempt to avert his impending demise, Ye Jianhong shifted his massive body, striving to evade the fatal blow.


    Alas, his efforts fell short, for his hulking frame proved too unwieldy to fully elude the icy projectile. The projectile found its mark, piercing his neck with chilling precision.


    In that harrowing instant, uncertainty flickered within Ye Jianhong''s life marking flare. The outcome hung in the balance, teetering on the precipice of life and death.


    And then, with a resolute certainty, it became undeniable¡ªYe Jianhong had been dealt a fatal blow.


    The flowing green blood of the fallen tree giant resembled an open tap, a lamentable cascade that marked the final moments of Ye Jianhong''s existence.


    His team members stood helpless, unable to rescue their fallen comrade from the clutches of impending demise.


    Though he attempted to utter some final words, only gurgling sounds escaped his lips, a pitiful testament to his waning vitality.


    With a feeble breath, he surrendered to the embrace of death, with deathly still and open eyes.


    . . .


    Qinyang''s gaze darted towards Wen Tu''s life marking flare, observing its sudden intensification. A glimmer of hope sparked within her as she recognized the signs of success.


    "He can leave the battlefield now!" - Qinyang assured herself, positioning herself as a shield between Wen Tu and the encroaching Bao clan gu masters.


    Focusing her attention on the adversaries before her, she soon noticed an oddity amidst the chaos.


    The fallen tree giant, whose life force had been extinguished, remained sprawled upon the ground. Normally, within the confines of this arena, deceased bodies would swiftly transform into bloody water, dissolving into oblivion. Yet, the tree giant persisted, unmistakably lifeless but strangely present.


    Curiosity gripped Qinyang''s thoughts as she pondered this anomaly.


    "Strange." - She muttered to herself, her mind alight with intrigue. Nevertheless, she had no time to ponder, and she resumed her attacks, suppressing the advancing foes, while ensuring her brother Wen Tu made his escape from the stage.


    In the midst of this chaotic moment, a gu worm emerged from within Ye Jianhong''s lifeless form, casting a radiant glow upon its surroundings.


    The life marking flare above his head flickered once more, as if rekindled by a mysterious force.


    A naked body emerged from the carcass of the fallen tree giant, a bewildering mixture of confusion and elation danced upon his countenance.


    The assembled onlookers, caught in the grip of astonishment, fell into a collective gasp, their voices momentarily stilled by the enigma that unfolded before their eyes.


    "How could one cheat death so brazenly?"


    "What kind of tricks are these?"


    Before the silence could settle too deeply, a voice broke through the haze of bewilderment.


    "A revival method!" - The voice exclaimed, as if attempting to make sense of the inexplicable.


    Yet, Ye Jianhong, his emotions surging within him, cried out in a mixture of shock and frustration, his voice carrying the weight of disbelief.


    "Why?" - Ye Jianhong''s voice cried out with profound grief in it.


    A cascade of long, flowing hair cascaded down his shoulders, its strands shimmering with a radiant luster. His figure, now adorned with plump breasts and curvaceous hips, exuded a graceful femininity that belied his previous identity.


    With wide eyes and a mix of astonishment and bemusement, Ye Jianhong surveyed the altered physique.


    "Why have I been transformed into a woman?"


    In a fleeting moment, the pieces began to fall into place as one astute onlooker recognized the enigmatic gu that had triggered Ye Jianhong''s resurrection.


    "Yin yang rotation gu!" - An observer proclaimed, their voice tinged with both incredulity and understanding.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 68 - Bao vs Wen: Silver-haired ice demon

    Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda


    Bao Zhi, shrouded in the shadows, ventured forth with utmost caution through the hallowed halls of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    His every step was measured, ensuring that the watchful gaze of Old Refinement did not fall upon him.


    With a resolute determination, he ascended to the second-highest floor.


    Bao Zhi wasted no time, he called upon his primeval essence and channeled it to probe the depths of the immortal gu house.


    The air hung heavy with a sense of anticipation as he extended his senses.


    As a grandmaster in formation path, his discerning eyes swiftly recognized a flaw as his essence started to explore the insides.


    There, in the intricate coordination of the gu house''s myriad gu, a core immortal gu was missing. Akin to a gaping hole in a sheet of fabric, it was hard to miss this obvious discrepancy.


    The absence of a core immortal gu usually threatened to compromise the integrity of a gu house, reducing its capabilities.


    The realization sent a shiver down Bao Zhi''s spine, for he knew the gravity of this deficiency could cause.


    "This gu house, it is incomplete!" - Bao Zhi whispered to himself, his voice but a faint echo amidst the solemnity of the surroundings.


    His knowledge of gu houses told him the profound significance of a missing core immortal gu. Its absence left a void that could not be easily filled, for any immortal gu was a unique existence.


    But this also left a big gap for him to exploit!


    With a sagacity acquired through tireless study and introspection, Bao Zhi peeled back the layers of history of this immortal gu house as he discerned the Wen clan''s attempts at mending this problem.


    Many new moral gu worms were incorporated to remedy the problem, yet the core flaw remained unaddressed.


    It puzzled him, for Wen clan boasted formation path great grandmasters, who rarely faltered in their pursuit of perfection.


    "Wen clan has managed to stabilize the structure." - Bao Zhi murmured, his voice carrying a hint of perplexity.


    "But they couldn''t replace that core immortal gu. It would need the whole gu house to be redesigned and assembled again."


    What could have caused such a lapse in the Wen clan''s meticulousness?


    Why did they not pursue the complete reconstruction that this immortal gu house truly needed?


    His questions remained unanswered.


    Undeterred by the magnitude of the task at hand and not wanting to waste more thought on this matter, Bao Zhi focused his efforts on refining the gu worms that formed the very fabric of this immortal gu house.


    Each delicate manipulation brought him closer to his current goal, refining a small portion of the gu house''s gu worms as his hands moved with a grace born of mastery.


    The tendrils of his influence extended like young roots in loose soil, and Bao Zhi pressed on with a solemn expression.


    The time would come when he would no longer need to conceal himself within the cloak of shadows when he refined enough gu worms.


    He was determined to gain control and unravel the mysteries hidden within the heart of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda later.


    Bao Zhi''s fingertips danced with precision and finesse, guiding the gu worms through intricate patterns of refinement. Each movement was a testament to his mastery, a testament to the depths of his understanding of the formation path layered upon his great grandmaster wood path methods.


    As the gu worms responded to his touch, their essence pulsated with newfound vigor. They resonated with Bao Zhi''s primeval essence, intertwining in harmonious unity.


    Bao Zhi persisted in his resolute refinement, his primeval essence waning under the weight of his unyielding dedication.


    Yet, amidst his unwavering efforts, a revelation unfurled before him¡ªa hidden space concealed within the depths of the gu house, nestled betwixt its veiled floors.


    A faint glimmer of intrigue sparkled within Bao Zhi''s eyes as his probing cautiously approached this hidden space.


    With a mind as keen as a starlit night, Bao Zhi delved into the ethereal depths of the concealed space, its seeming void unraveling before his probing thoughts.


    There, a multitude of dormant wills lay enshrouded in an undisturbed slumber, their appearance akin to the immortals, just like Old Refinement itself.


    It was a sight that evoked a sense of caution within Bao Zhi.


    Realizing the precariousness of this discovery, Bao Zhi refrained from his dauntless refinement.


    He knew that their awakening would spell immediate trouble. And so, with careful grace, he relinquished his tireless efforts and sought solace in the stillness of the moment while his essence gathered.


    Seated upon the precipice of exhaustion, Bao Zhi focused on his essence, the wellspring of his power replenishing gradually with each tranquil breath.


    Time trickled by, moment by moment, until over half an hour had silently slipped through the cracks of existence.


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    It was then, in the midst of Bao Zhi''s contemplative reprieve, that the very foundations of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda trembled.


    The reverberations coursed through the very marrow of Bao Zhi''s being, and a subtle realization took hold¡ªhe knew that the gu house had shifted from its fixed place.


    Checking on the gu house''s investigative methods confirmed his sensation, the gu house was now suspended within the embrace of the sky.


    With an unwavering gaze and a mind as calm as the tranquil surface of a mirrored lake, Bao Zhi surveyed the scene, his thoughts of calculation and deduction.


    "The gu house... it journeys toward the Annual Competition." - He murmured, his words whispered with an air of certainty.


    Such knowledge was a common thread within the public understanding¡ªthe Wen clan extended their invitation to the triumphant gu masters who emerged from the arduous crucible of the competition each year.


    Closing his eyes, Bao Zhi delved once more into the recesses of perception, seeking insight into chamber where the dormant wills slumbered.


    And there, amidst the veiled tendrils of consciousness, he detected a change. Old Refinement tread amidst the slumbering wills, his purpose shrouded in mystery.


    Bao Zhi observed as the awakening touch of Old Refinement breathed life into the will of an immortal¡ªa woman whose identity eluded his recognition.


    Silent as a whispering breeze, the awakened pair retreated from Bao Zhi''s observant gaze, their presence slipping beyond his perceptions as they left the hidden space.


    "This must be part of Wen clan''s arrangement for the event. I''m still not discovered." - Bao Zhi concluded with relief and continued to rest.


    Bao Zhi, having replenished his primeval essence, resumed his diligent refinement with utmost care, ensuring his touch avoided the areas used by the awakened wills.


    A relentless cycle unfolded¡ªmoments of refinement intertwined with interludes of rest, his essence ebbing and flowing like the tides of an ancient sea.


    A faint smile graced Bao Zhi''s countenance.


    It was a smile borne of quiet victory, an affirmation of his unwavering determination.


    Progress marked his path, as his influence extended to encompass the vast expanse of an entire floor within the gu house.


    He knew that with each refined gu worm, he inched closer to tilting the balance of power.


    Yet, as Bao Zhi''s discerning gaze surveyed the intricacies of the gu house, a new occurance stirred below, on a lower level.


    There, a company of gu masters had arrived, their presence marked by a serene unity.


    With closed eyes and minds seemingly adrift in profound meditation, they sat in harmonious order.


    Among them, a figure clad in resplendent armor stood out, a shimmering beacon amidst the sea of tranquility.


    To Bao Zhi, these mortal gu masters bore no immediate significance. The armor, an anomaly in the world of gu masters, offered no defense against the insidious attacks of gu worms.


    Yet, in the realm of rank one gu masters like the armored warrior, such a garb may grant a measure of reassurance, shielding against the relatively feeble threat posed by gu worms of similar rank.


    "Seems like the rank one gu masters have arrived." - Bao Zhi noted to himself.


    However, Bao Zhi''s focus remained steadfast on his purpose, undistracted by the presence of these lowly mortals.


    * * * * *


    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition Grounds


    Wen Qinyang, undeterred by the momentary pause that had fallen upon the battlefield, pressed forward with an unyielding assault against the gu masters of the Bao clan. Her relentless attacks shattered the silence, reigniting the fierce exchange of blows.


    Casting a quick glance behind her, she found solace in the sight of Wen Tu making steady progress towards safety.


    "Just a little bit more." - She urged herself, her determination unyielding even as the danger loomed.


    Yet, beneath her steadfast facade, a growing sense of unease took hold. Her once-abundant reserves had been drained at an alarming rate, a miscalculation that threatened to jeopardize her very existence on the battlefield.


    Panic flickered within her eyes as her rank three primeval essence dipped below five percent, momentarily betraying the calm facade she projected.


    "I have underestimated how long this would take." - She admitted with a tinge of regret, her voice echoing silently within her mind.


    The realization of her predicament set in, the harsh truth that she might not have enough essence to sustain herself. It was a bitter pill to swallow, a reckoning with the consequences of her oversight.


    It was a stark reality that left her with no alternative but to consider using the rank five beggar moth gu¡ªa choice she had hoped to avoid.


    Her thoughts turned to the rank five beggar moth gu in her aperture, lent to her as a last resort.


    She understood that her options were dwindling. A glimmer of hope pierced through her worry.


    "This should be fine. Each gu can only have one function, so it should be safe to use." - She reasoned, seeking solace in the gu''s specific function of storing primeval essence.


    The dire consequences of depleting her primeval essence loomed before her. Without its sustaining power, her killer move would be abruptly terminated, leaving her defenseless and vulnerable, not to mention the very backlash it entailed.


    Swiftly, she triggered the rank five beggar moth gu and Wen Hao Jiong''s will inside activated the gu, unleashing its dormant potential.


    Like a deluge, a torrent of rank five purple crystal primeval essence surged into her aperture, crashing against its walls with a force that threatened to rupture its fragile boundaries.


    Qinyang''s breath caught in her throat as her aperture trembled under the weight of this unleashed power.


    Yet, the rising tide within her primeval sea gradually subsided, filling it to the brim.


    A sense of relief washed over her, mingled with a realization of the hidden dangers that lurked within the higher-ranked primeval essence she had harnessed.


    "That was very close. If I activated that gu when I had a half-filled aperture..." - She murmured, cold sweat trickling down her brow.


    The narrow escape from a shattered aperture underscored the precariousness of her actions.


    But her newfound wellspring of rank five primeval essence imbued Qinyang''s killer move with an unprecedented vigor, allowing her icicle''s number to burgeon with magnificent intensity.


    Each crystalline shard, suspended above her in a swirling symphony, grew larger and more potent.


    The Icicle gu, unleashed to its full potential, channeled the seemingly limitless supply of primeval essence, transforming the battlefield into a tempest of icy fury.


    A relentless storm of frozen projectiles assailed the hapless Bao clan, drowning their resistance in an onslaught of piercing ice.


    "Where did this she-demon of ice arise?" - Cried a voice, laden with dismay, amid the chaos.


    The incredulity in the air was palpable. How could a mere rank three gu master wield such formidable power?


    The reality of the situation defied belief.


    Qinyang, now the focal point of attention, radiated a dangerous aura.


    Her silver hair danced in the swirling currents, while the ground beneath her became encrusted in a delicate frost, bearing witness to her chilling might.


    "A demon of ice! Retreat!" - Urged one of the Bao clan''s rank three gu masters, their voices brimming with urgency.


    Sensing their faltering resolve, Qinyang''s compatriots from the Wen clan seized the moment, rallying behind her with resolute determination.


    Among the crowd of spectators, Wen Hao Jiong''s lips curled into an ominous smile.


    "This is the opportune moment." - She mused, her thoughts steeped in a nefarious scheme.


    Unbeknownst to Qinyang, within the depths of her aperture, the mantis-shaped Burning Mind Flame gu stirred to life.


    Unleashing a wave of fiery thoughts, it kindled an inferno within her mind. Bewilderment gripped her as the scorching thoughts ignited her own, swiftly engulfing her consciousness.


    In the blink of an eye, her once-calculated plan of retreat was reduced to ashes as the conflagration within drove her forward, consumed by a fervent thirst for fighting.


    Under the influence of the fiery thoughts, Qinyang''s purpose waned, supplanted by a primal instinct for attack and destruction.


    All semblance of a strategic withdrawal vanished as she heedlessly rushed deeper into the heart of the battlefield.


    Her mind, ablaze with the searing flames of the Burning Mind Flame gu, propelled her forward, leaving logic and caution behind in a fiery trail.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 69 - Bao vs Wen: Out of control

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition Grounds


    Wen Qinyang, heedless of her own well-being, descended into a state of unbridled fury upon the battlefield.


    Within the recesses of her mind, the incendiary flames stoked by the Burning Mind Flame gu held dominion. Reason and prudence were swiftly usurped by a fervent compulsion. No longer did she entertain notions of retreat or caution.


    Instead, her sole impetus became one of relentless advancement, destruction, and eradication. These fervid thoughts consumed her mind, burning with an intensity that knew no bounds.


    As she rampaged amidst the clash of forces, Qinyang became the fulcrum upon which the battle pivoted.


    Her assault, borne on the wings of icy projectiles, swept away any semblance of resistance the Bao clan could muster.


    Her ferocity knew no equal, and she emerged¡ªa silver-haired demon of frost¡ªto those who bore witness.


    The Bao clan, outmatched and overpowered, found their ranks faltering under the unyielding onslaught.


    "Fall back!"


    "Regroup!" - Echoed their desperate cries as the advancing Wen clan, led by Qinyang''s indomitable charge, pushed them further and further in retreat.


    Amongst the observing Bao clan gu immortals, a furrowed brow betrayed their growing concern.


    "Should this assault persist, the advantage garnered in the previous round will surely be eroded." - Lamented one amongst them.


    "Indeed, we must not forget that this is but the third round. The Wen clan doubtlessly has hidden tricks."


    "The true conclusion of this competition lies in the fifth and final round." - Replied another, engaging in a measured discourse.


    Meanwhile, the three supreme elders of the Bao clan maintained a calm countenance, for they knew that this was merely the dawning of a protracted struggle.


    Yet, even as Qinyang''s icy fury reached its crescendo, an abrupt cessation seized her movement. Her steps faltered, and she came to a sudden halt, her face devoid of expression.


    Without warning, her gaze fixated upon the sky above as her body crumpled to the ground.


    "What transpired?"


    "Has she been felled by an unseen attack?"


    "Could it be that she met her end in such an abrupt manner? Could she...?"


    The witnesses, struck dumb by the unfolding events, could only grapple with bewilderment.


    Amongst them, only one harbored the knowledge of what truly occurred.


    Wen Hao Jiong, a faint, satisfied smile playing upon her lips, beheld the scene with a sinister satisfaction.


    "The effect of the Burning Mind Flame gu have proven flawless. The fiery thoughts have consumed all of her thought. Without any thought, one becomes naught but a corpse upon the battlefield." - She silently mused, reveling in the resounding success of her devious scheme.


    Hao Meng, casting aside the decorum befitting his status as an elder, sprang to his feet at the sight of his fallen beloved.


    "Qinyang!" - He cried out, unabashed by the absence of restraint that his youth afforded him. For he was still a young man, his emotions raw and untempered by time''s hand.


    "My dear boy, see with your own eyes." - Spoke her mother, Wen Hao Jiong, in a tone that carried the air of lecturing wisdom.


    "Qinyang''s aspirations exceeded her grasp. She allowed herself to be ensnared in the heat of battle, and now we witness the consequence." - Her words held a sharpness that cut through the air, delivered with the weight of disapproval.


    "But I warned you from the outset, my son." - She continued, her gaze unyielding and her voice tinged with a touch of disdain.


    "She was never worthy of standing by your side."


    Hao Meng, his fists clenched and his teeth ground together, turned to face his mother. His eyes bore into hers, seeking answers amidst the tumultuous storm of emotions that surged within him.


    "Mother! Tell me, did you orchestrate this? Did you do all this?" - He demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation.


    Yet, Wen Hao Jiong offered no response. Her silence, suffused with implication, spoke volumes. Her unspoken confession was as good as an admission of guilt.


    The tension hung heavy in the air, a tangible force that threatened to suffocate the very breaths of those present.


    However, the weight of the moment shattered abruptly. Hao Jiong, her attention pulled back towards the battlefield, experienced a sudden shock.


    Her eyes widened in astonishment, for what she witnessed defied all reason.


    "What trick is this?" - She exclaimed in her mind.


    "Why does her killer move persist?" - Hao Jiong''s mind grappled with the anomaly before her.


    Qinyang, lying amidst the dirt and filth of the battlefield, her body motionless, yet her killer move continued to unleash her icy projectiles with unwavering resolve.


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    The frigid frost condensed, birthing formidable icicles that streaked forth unerringly towards their targets.


    Even when confronted by incoming assaults, her barrage of ice intercepted them, rendering them naught but feeble and ineffectual. Just as before, her killer move held fast, unyielding to the absence of thought.


    "Killer moves require thoughts for their control! This defies reason!" - Hao Jiong voiced her incredulity, her mind grappling with the incongruity of the situation.


    Qinyang, thoughtless and unconscious, became an immovable bulwark upon which none could trespass.


    Hao Meng''s eyes, tinged with a flicker of hope amidst his worry, burned with intensity.


    Alas, he found himself bound by the impotence of his circumstances, unable to intervene and offer aid to his beloved Qinyang.


    The gazes of the Wen clan immortals, spectating the unfolding scene, carried a peculiar blend of emotions upon their countenances.


    From the opposing side, the glares emanating from the Bao clan immortals pierced through the air like silent screams of accusation.


    "How dare you cheat so brazenly!"


    "She is clearly unconscious. Which one among you is manipulating her gu?"


    The truth lay plain before their eyes, yet everyone had their own impressions. Some form of interference had undoubtedly transpired.


    Each clan harbored their own ideas, casting blame upon the other in a futile dance of accusations.


    Yet, to voice their suspicions aloud would only serve to damage the reputations of both clans.


    Within the hearts of the Bao clan, an unyielding conviction took root, believing that the Wen clan had employed blatant and underhanded means to help the standing of their gu masters.


    Meanwhile, the Wen clan held a steadfast belief that the Bao clan had orchestrated this very scenario, seeking to frame the Wen clan as flagrant purveyors of deceit.


    Tensions simmered beneath the surface.


    Unbeknownst to the gu masters embroiled in the fierce conflict, their essence waning as the battle wore on, they inched back.


    This only served to accentuate the anomaly of Qinyang''s endurance. Though unconscious, she continued to persist, her aperture brimming with the potent rank five primeval essence bestowed upon her by the Beggar Moth gu.


    The rank three gu worms at her disposal seemed but pebbles in an ocean against the reservoirs of her newfound sustenance.


    The other gu masters, their reserves dwindling, could only marvel at the unfathomable wellspring of her strength.


    Her information path method continued to operate unabated in an autonomous manner.


    Amidst the mounting tensions and the ebb of the gu masters'' strength, a resounding "ding" reverberated through the competition ground, signaling the entrance of the rank four gu masters onto the stage.


    The rank four gu masters stepped onto the stage, their eyes alight with determination and anticipation.


    The tension in the air was palpable as the spectators watched intently, awaiting the clash of new powers that was about to unfold.


    The previous rounds had already showcased the extraordinary skills and abilities of the gu masters, and now, with the emergence of the rank four contenders, the stakes were raised even higher.


    Among the onlookers, the Bao clan''s immortals maintained their stern expressions, their eyes never straying from the Wen clan''s participants.


    The suspicion and accusation still lingered, unresolved and simmering beneath the surface. They were determined to uncover the truth behind Qinyang''s inexplicable endurance, refusing to let this matter be swept aside.


    Meanwhile, the Wen clan''s immortals met their gaze with a mix of defiance and righteousness, silently vowing to protect their clan''s honor against any unjust accusations.


    As the next round commenced, the battlefield transformed into a whirlwind of clashes and collisions.


    The rank four gu masters displayed their formidable techniques, each one showcasing their path and skill set, while Bao clan displayed their varied wood path methods.


    Their movements were swift and precise, their attacks unleashed with calculated ferocity. It was a symphony of martial prowess, as the gu masters moved across the battlefield, their methods intertwining like a complex tapestry.


    In the midst of this chaos, Qinyang, though still unconscious, remained a central figure. Her icy killer move continued unabated, as if driven by an invisible force.


    The splinters of ice shattered and scattered around her started to pile into mounds.


    The ice started to form a natural barrier, hindering attempts at advancement from the Bao clan gu masters.


    It was a sight both awe-inspiring and perplexing, for how could an unconscious gu master exhibit such power?


    Hao Meng watched with a mix of worry and hope. He yearned to rush to her side, to aid her in this moment of uncertainty, but he knew his interference would be met with opposition and suspicion. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with determination.


    "Just one round. Please just last one more round." - He repeated quietly.


    To the astonishment of the newly arrived Wen clan gu masters, Qinyang''s icy onslaught did not discriminate between friend and foe.


    Their pleas for her to recognize them fell on deaf ears, as her relentless attacks continued unabated.


    The frozen projectiles struck indiscriminately, causing chaos and confusion on the battlefield.


    "Friendly fire! Cease your assault!" - They cried out desperately, their voices drowned amidst the clash of attacks and the chilling gusts of wind.


    But their words were futile, for Qinyang''s killer move operated on its own, unaffected by their pleas.


    In her eyes, they were not "whitelisted" when she scanned the battlefield, and thus became targets of her deadly barrage.


    As the rank four gu masters sought to approach the frontline, they were met with the full force of Qinyang''s unyielding presence.


    Activating their defensive techniques, they struggled to fend off the onslaught of ice on top of Bao clan''s force.


    The once-unified Wen clan found themselves divided, their attention split between the enemy forces and the enigmatic state of their fallen comrade.


    "She does not respond! What shall we do with her?" - One of the rank four gu masters exclaimed, his voice laced with uncertainty.


    They were faced with an unexpected situation, one that defied their previous experiences on the battlefield.


    Qinyang, in her unconscious state, had become a force unto herself, and they were left grappling with the implications.


    In the midst of the chaos, a voice of reason emerged.


    "Protect her! Look at the life marking flare she has accumulated! The Wen clan cannot afford to lose that!" - The urgency in the speaker''s tone was evident, highlighting the importance of preserving Qinyang''s lifeline.


    Another voice, tinged with frustration, added: "Do not concern yourselves with her well-being. It is clear that she can handle this situation on her own."


    A clamor erupted among the spectating gu masters, their voices rising in a chorus of shock and disbelief.


    "She attacks her own! Madness has consumed her!"


    "The icy demon has revealed her true colors!" - Their words echoed through the air, spreading like wildfire, fueling the growing controversy and drama among the onlookers.


    Whispers of treachery and betrayal filled the competition ground, as the spectators grappled to comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes.


    Qinyang''s once-esteemed reputation now hung in the balance, overshadowed by the accusation of turning against her own kin.


    The icy tempest she conjured, once hailed as a formidable weapon against their enemies, now became a symbol of chaos and destruction.


    The gu masters watched in dismay as her relentless assault targeted not only the opposing forces but also her fellow Wen clan members.


    Rumors swirled through the crowd, painting Qinyang as a fallen hero, her heart consumed by darkness and her loyalty shattered.


    But amidst the confusion and turmoil, a few voices rose above the cacophony of accusation and condemnation.


    "Do not be quick to judge! There must be more to this than meets the eye!" - They implored, striving to temper the rising hysteria with reason and caution.


    On Bao clan''s side, a young man turned back to glance at the battle he just escaped.


    "Work of immortals..." - Zhao Min shook his head as he thought with disdain.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 70 - Bao vs Wen: Finale begins

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition Grounds


    Zhao Min and his team managed to extricate themselves from the treacherous battlefield, bearing the marks of their harrowing encounter.


    While Zhao Min suffered only minor injuries, Jin Ju and Yu Lingxin were not as fortunate, their bodies bearing the weight of wounds inflicted upon them.


    Yet, it was Ye Jianhong who stood in the finest condition, a miraculous revival having been bestowed upon him through the power of the Yin Yang Rotation gu.


    The quartet departed from the stage, their spirits awash with a bewildering mixture of shock and astonishment.


    Never before had they borne witness to such an intense and perilous battle.


    However, their departure did not transpire in the same manner as their fellow contestants. Instead, an aged man emerged before them, his countenance pallid and his frame gaunt. Yet, within his eyes gleamed an imposing sharpness that could not be denied.


    "Steward Jie!" - The four of them exclaimed in their mind, recognizing the notable figure before them.


    Steward Jie cleared his throat, his voice resonating in a low and commanding tone.


    "Follow me."


    Even as the words left his lips, the four of them found themselves ensnared by Steward Jie''s power, their bodies no longer their own to control.


    They trailed obediently behind the aged gu master, venturing away from the prying gazes of the grand event''s spectators.


    Eventually, Steward Jie halted and turned towards the team of four. With a wave of his hand, their injuries began to mend at a discernible pace.


    His gaze lingered upon Ye Jianhong momentarily, yet he refrained from commenting upon the profound transformation that had befallen him, altering his very essence to that of a woman.


    Then, in measured tones, Steward Jie commenced.


    "This marks the end of my benevolence. You must flee! From this moment forth, you are branded as wanted criminals by the Bao clan!" - His words rang with a resolute simplicity.


    "You may make your escape from the competition grounds through this very formation." - His weathered finger pointed towards the ground, whereupon a dazzling array of lights sprung forth.


    Ye Jianhong gritted his teeth in a tumultuous fusion of anger and indignation, for the Bao clan had discarded them so callously, like pawns cast aside on a forsaken board.


    Jin Ju cast his gaze upon the activated portal, yearning to seize the opportunity to flee. Yet, despite his fervent desire, he remained bound by Steward Jie''s commanding influence.


    Zhao Min, his eyes narrowed to mere slits, observed the scene with a dispassionate gaze, masking his true sentiments behind a veil of inscrutability.


    Meanwhile, Yu Lingxin''s countenance bore the complexities of mixed emotions, her hesitating voice finally breaking the silence that enveloped them.


    "Why? Why do you aid us in our escape?" - She inquired, her words trembling with uncertainty.


    But Steward Jie maintained a resolute silence, withholding the true intentions that swirled within his heart.


    Upon Yu Lingxin''s hesitant query, oh, how he wished he could divulge the truth, laying bare the secrets that had been etched within the ancient annals of time.


    For she, like the others, had delved into the depths of the Three Demons'' inheritance, her mind privy to the foreboding destiny that had beset those demonic gu masters.


    She should have comprehended the indomitable power that drove them to the precipice of despair.


    But Steward Jie knew better than to speak openly in this place, where the ever-watchful eyes of Bao clan''s immortals lingered.


    The truth was veiled, obscured by a shroud of silence, for to unravel it would divulge the very fabric of their scheme. And so, he remained taciturn, his response buried within the recesses of his thoughts.


    Instead, Steward Jie heaved a weighty sigh, his aged features betraying a burdened heart.


    With a flicker of remorse in his eyes, he directed his attention toward the four beleaguered souls standing before him.


    "There are forces at play, inscrutable and far-reaching, that have set this path in motion... Do not stop when you arrive, and do not look for me, as I will be the one to send a group of pursuers after you slipped away today."


    His words hung heavy in the air, suffused with both sadness and an unwavering determination.


    Steward Jie had long resigned himself to the role of a mere instrument in a grand symphony, his actions governed by the orchestrations of higher powers.


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    Though his heart yearned to illuminate the truth, he knew that discretion was their only ally in this treacherous dance.


    With a flick of his hand, Steward Jie beckoned the four adventurers toward the pulsating formation. Its ethereal glow bathed them in a warm embrace, promising sanctuary from the storm that brewed on the horizon.


    "Go now." - He urged, his voice tinged with impatience.


    And so, the lights enveloped them, their bodies vanishing from sight as they were whisked away to the Ancestral Grotto.


    In truth, Steward Jie found himself but a mere servant, following the directives laid upon him. Despite his austere demeanor, he bore no desire to witness the four of them transform into wanted fugitives, their potential sullied by the fabrications of Bao clan.


    Alas, he could only heave a resigned sigh within the depths of his being, resigned to the course he had been entrusted to fulfill.


    When he opened his eyes again, the four of them were already gone, and his countenance returned to normal.


    * * * * *


    The relentless battle waged on the fighting stage, where the rank four gu masters clashed in a display of fierce determination.


    Amidst the spectators, Hao Meng, consumed by worry and anxiety, perched upon the edge of his seat, his heart pounding with anticipation.


    His gaze remained fixed upon Qinyang, still unconscious but clinging to her bitter existence.


    Time stretched thin, each passing moment akin to an eternity in Hao Meng''s restless mind.


    His own turn loomed near, when the rank five experts would join the tumultuous dance, and it was then that he would seize the opportunity to rescue his beloved Qinyang from her perilous state.


    Ding! The resounding chime reverberated through the air, signaling the commencement of the final stage of the grueling contest.


    In an instant, Hao Meng sprang forth from his position, like an icy comet.


    "No! You cannot partake!" - Cried Wen Hao Jiong, her voice laced with dismay as she reached out in vain to halt her son''s path.


    Alas, the rules bound the hands of even a rank six immortal such as her, leaving her naught but a helpless observer as her son braved the dangers that awaited him.


    "How did it come to this?" - Wen Hao Jiong cursed silently, her thoughts filled with resentment.


    "All because of that wretched woman! Why does she still draw breath?" - Her eyes flickered with animosity as they fell upon the motionless form of Qinyang, ensnared within the encroaching ice of her own making.


    A young man, short in stature yet radiating an air of authority, stepped onto the battlefield on the side of the Wen clan. His obsidian-like hair, pulled tightly into a ponytail, billowed behind him like a banner of war, a testament to his indomitable spirit.


    "Qinyang!" - Hao Meng''s voice resounded, his cry piercing the cacophony of battle as he unleashed his techniques without any restraint, sweeping aside any who dared impede his path to his beloved.


    In this moment, nothing else mattered to him. He would wager his very life, traversing through the flames of adversity and the icy grip of danger if necessary, all in the name of rescuing his cherished one.


    The rank four gu masters, unable to hinder his inexorable advance retreated behind their lines.


    Hao Meng soon found himself confronted by the formidable opposition of the Bao clan''s rank five experts.


    Yet, even they were taken aback by the unyielding might that emanated from Hao Meng. His cultivation of an ice path inheritance was of an immortal origin, it far that surpassed his peers. While his primeval essence surged forth in abundance, a testament to his Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance Physique.


    His power had ascended to the very peak of the mortal realm!


    And thus, in the crucible of battle, amidst a maelstrom of clashing forces, Hao Meng pressed onward, driven by a love that knew no bounds.


    The world around him blurred, his focus narrowed to a singular purpose. For he would not be deterred, not by the rank four masters nor by the rank five adversaries.


    He would carve a path with his very being, defying all obstacles, until he held Qinyang in his arms once more.


    As Hao Meng reached Qinyang''s side, his heart filled with both relief and trepidation. The fabric of his being felt as though it would unravel, torn by conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow.


    His gaze fell upon her, and his brows furrowed in concern as he beheld her peculiar state. For even in her stupor, her flawless features still betrayed the torment that she held deep within her mind.


    Her eyes, wide open, mirrored the terror of one who had borne witness to the most harrowing sights imaginable.


    An icy chill had claimed her body, its frosty tendrils encroaching upon her fragile form.


    Shallow breaths rasped through her chest, and her veins pulsed an eerie blue, like a raging river underneath her snow-white skin.


    "Qinyang, I''m here. I''m finally here, and I''ll do everything I can to protect you." - He vowed, a solemn expression adorning his countenance as he carefully placed his hands upon her shoulders.


    Determined to protect both himself and his beloved, Hao Meng invoked his defensive killer move in time, summoning a formidable shell of ice to enshroud his being.


    The assaulting icicles met their demise, their futile attempts leaving naught but marks upon his icy fortress.


    He paid no mind to Qinyang''s unconscious yet wayward attacks, her strikes aimed at those around her.


    With gentle care, Hao Meng lifted her delicate frame and laid her upon an ethereal cloud of ice, which bore her away, drifting towards a haven of safety.


    Victory in his rescue mission seemed within grasp, yet an ominous sense of foreboding clawed at his heart, its grip seizing his attention once more.


    His gaze, sharp and alert, fixed upon the ranks of the Bao clan''s gu masters again. For among them, he noticed a presence even he could not see through.


    There stood a figure with an unassuming aura, garbed in robes as pure as freshly fallen snow. His hands were folded behind his back, and an air of assured calmness surrounded him.


    Broad shoulders accentuated his imposing stature, while his countenance bore the mark of distinction.


    A square face, chiseled features, and a prominent jawline spoke of strength and resolve. Eyes of piercing blue, akin to gleaming diamonds, surveyed the world with an aura of serene wisdom. The very essence of regality emanated from him, his bearing unwavering, his posture poised and commanding.


    Clad in a robe of pristine white, its fabric cascading around him with a grace reminiscent of a snow-laden waterfall, he stood as a paragon of elegance. His dark hair, neatly bound in a topknot secured by a golden hairpin.


    Though his skin bore the weathered testament of countless battles and ventures, a testament to the years he had traversed, his movements belied his age.


    Each step, his movements were graceful and fluid, he seemed to glide across the ground rather than tread upon it.


    His mere presence instilled a sense of awe and admiration in those around him.


    Hao Meng recognized the man before him at once, an elder of the Bao branch of the Academy, an inheritor similar to himself.


    The immortals of the Bao clan, who had been spectating from their vantage point, could not conceal the sly smile that crept across their faces.


    In this pivotal moment, the culmination of their carefully laid plans had arrived.


    Their eyes gleamed with a gleeful anticipation, for the time of reckoning was at hand.


    Because the person was none other than Bao Li Mu himself!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 71 - Bao vs Wen: Fires of love

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda


    Bao Zhi sat in a lotus position upon the second-highest floor of the Immortal Gu house Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    As he closed his eyes, his very essence seemed to meld with the essence that pervaded this space. With utmost concentration, he extended his palms upon the exquisite floor, initiating a profound process of refinement.


    Within the very heart of this gu house lay a fundamental flaw¡ªa void wherein a core Immortal Gu had been missing. It was precisely this deficiency that Bao Zhi exploited, using it as his vantage point to pry this closed chest of a gu house open.


    Though gu houses boasted an unparalleled fortitude, their robust defenses were invariably concentrated upon the exterior, leaving them acutely vulnerable to internal assaults. Moreover, the compromised integrity resulting from the absence of the core Immortal Gu rendered this particular gu house even more susceptible to an adversary within its walls.


    Bao Zhi''s pursuit advanced with a seamless grace, akin to the tranquil flow of a mountain stream.


    He delved deep into the layers of the gu house, harnessing his formation path attainment to bring about a quiet but remarkable transformation from within.


    Such was the potency of his meticulous technique that he swiftly gained control over two floors of this gu house.


    As the currents of time caressed the walls of the pagoda, Bao Zhi remained unyielding in his focus the whole time.


    Bao Zhi stopped his refinement, as he did many times before, to recover his spent essence.


    With each subsequent pause, he perceived a subtle transformation¡ªa hastening of the primeval essence recovery time.


    "This must be the influence of the aperture origin core I have assimilated."


    Such insights blossomed within his mind, illuminating the path he traversed, assuring him on his cultivation path''s feasibility.


    Yet, there was more to this extraordinary change. As Bao Zhi tapped into the reservoir of his rank five Purple Crystal Primeval Essence in his aperture, he discerned an altered essence of remarkable quality.


    "A promising development indeed." - He appraised it more closely.


    "This essence, now has greater density. It surpasses even the pinnacle of rank five Purple Crystal essence by a notch." - His discerning mind celebrated this advancement, recognizing the ascent in his cultivation was drawing nearer.


    During his essence''s replenishment, Bao Zhi availed himself of the gu house''s intrinsic methods to survey the other floors.


    Bao Zhi''s gaze shifted towards the intricate refinement formation located within the depths of the gu house''s confines.


    Yet, to describe it solely as a formation would be amiss, it was a sub-formation, for the gu house itself stood as a creation of formation path.


    As his sense approached, he beheld the presence of Old Refinement''s will, standing alongside a will of a woman whose essence emanated a stern and knowledgeable air.


    Together, they cast their watchful eyes upon the unconscious form of Xu Lian, suspended within the refinement sub-formation before them.


    Old Refinement, with a manner akin to viewing a mere ingredient, pointed towards Xu Lian, denoting the culmination of their preparations.


    "I have arranged all as required. The crucial material has undergone the waves of refinement." - He declared, his tone void of sentiment.


    Acknowledging his efforts, the woman''s will nodded with solemnity.


    "You have performed admirably, Old Refinement. My killer move requires a measure of time to activate." - She murmured, her voice imbued with a weighty resolve.


    "In the midst of this preparation, I must have an unwavering concentration." - She continued.


    Old Refinement, offered a silent nod, pledging to shield her from any disturbances that may encroach upon her task''s success.


    The woman''s will, set in motion a sequence both mysterious and foreboding.


    Swirling letters, dark as the deepest night, took flight through the air, their ink-stained presence imbued with an uncanny allure.


    These arcane symbols adhered themselves to the form of Xu Lian, where they slithered and crept, weaving an intricate tapestry akin to an illusory landscape composed of ink.


    Xu Lian, in the grasp of this arcane display, twitched slightly, yet his being remained fixated, anchored by the formidable power of the sub-formation.


    Bao Zhi, an observer of their exchange, found himself unable to discern the true purpose hidden beneath their conversation.


    The only thing catching his attention was the state of the wills themselves. They did not seem to have diminished during their use of killer moves and activating the sub-formation.


    Nonetheless, such mysteries held little consequence for him. As the two wills remained engrossed in their own pursuits, he steadfastly pursued his course of steady refinement.


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    Checking on another floor below, Bao Zhi saw groups of mortal gu masters.


    They arrived and sat there, their minds entranced in a state of deep meditation, entwined with their well-deserved rewards of their tenacious survival in the annual competition.


    "The rank four gu masters have begun to arrive." - He observed, a sense of urgency burgeoning within his heart.


    "I must seize control of the gu house before the event''s culmination! Failure to do so will leave me with the option of taking it from Wen Clan''s Revolving Mountains Grotto, an arduous undertaking indeed."


    Bao Zhi perceived an opportune moment within the presence of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, nestled within the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    Though the Bao Clan handled Wen Clan''s grotto heaven with caution, they held a more confident stance within this shared sanctuary of the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    Since the moment the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda left Wen clan''s grotto, Bao Zhi was not content anymore just learning the secrets of this gu house.


    No, he sought not only to unravel the enigmas of the gu house but to seize it from under the very gaze of all the immortals from the two clans!


    How audacious an aspiration!


    How could a mere mortal dare to conceive of such a daring act, to lay claim to what belonged to gu immortals?


    Yet, such hesitation would find no purchase in the heart of Bao Zhi, for he was no mortal at heart. A former rank eight immortal himself, his life''s journey had far surpassed the realms of those gathered here.


    His former cultivation was the evidence of his past willpower and current driving force that pushed him to reclaim his strength once more.


    Bao Zhi''s ambitions eclipsed the two clan''s immortals themselves!


    * * * * *


    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition Grounds


    In the vast arena, bathed in the ethereal lights from above, the gu masters of the Bao and Wen clans stood poised, their gazes locked in a dance of calculation.


    Hao Meng, his countenance resolute, emanated an aura of icy determination as he carefully observed his opponent.


    Bao Li Mu, his face emotionless, concealed his thoughts beneath a veil of calm composure.


    "Bao Li Mu! You are an elder of the academy as well. A rare sight in this arena." - Hao Meng began.


    "Let the weaklings off and face me, if you have the guts!" - He provoked.


    Bao Li Mu stepped forward, accepting his challenge.


    "I will fight you. But I can''t let anyone leave with their life marking flares." - He replied plainly.


    Even though this sounded like a compromise on the surface, Hao Meng was clear of the meaning. Bao Li Mu would not let any of the gu masters escape, their only out was death itself.


    The atmosphere was heavy as the words hung in the air for a moment.


    With a swift movement, Hao Meng broke the stillness, unleashing a flurry of killer moves.


    "Frostbite palm!"


    White shapes of palms appeared, each the size of a large horse carriage!


    Hao Meng''s movements were fluid and precise, each strike aimed at freezing his opponent''s very core as they whizzed rapidly.


    Chilling gusts of wind swept through the arena, leaving trails of frost in their wake.


    Yet, Bao Li Mu proved to be an expert of defense and counterattack.


    His wood path techniques manifested in a symphony of evasive maneuvers and protective barriers.


    With an uncanny grace, he twisted and turned, skillfully avoiding Hao Meng''s relentless assault while retaliating with precision.


    He matched each strike with a calculated response, forcing Hao Meng to reevaluate his approach.


    On Wen clan''s side, Wen Jie''s face showed momentary surprise, but it soon turned into an expression of confidence.


    "Bao clan had a similar idea, it seems. Yet they did not dare risk everything. Trying to play it safe while also winning everything?" - She mused at the result of her deduction.


    As the clash of powers intensified, the air crackled with anticipation.


    Hao Meng, fueled by the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance Physique, tapped into an unparalleled wellspring of primeval essence.


    His attacks grew fiercer, the intensity of his strikes unmatched by any mortal gu master.


    Bao Li Mu, his expression composed, deflected each blow with a calculated grace, his subtle techniques showcasing a prowess that belied his true nature.


    The other rank five gu masters upon the stage found themselves compelled to reassess their situation.


    Once considered the vanguards of their respective clans, they now assumed a secondary role, mere supporters in the grand spectacle of Bao Li Mu''s and Hao Meng''s battle.


    Stripped of their prominence, they had no recourse but to yield space to the relentless clash unfolding before their very eyes.


    Murmurs escaped their lips, laden with disbelief and awe, as they bore witness to an encounter of titanic proportions.


    "Monsters!" - One whispered, scarcely audible, his voice laced with incredulity, a rank five expert forced back once again.


    Hao Meng, in the midst of battle, felt the weight of untapped potential emanating from his adversary.


    A whisper of suspicion wove through the spectators'' minds. They sensed a hidden power lurking within Bao Li Mu, a strength he concealed.


    The spectating Bao Clan gu immortals donned a satisfied expression as they looked upon the scene.


    "Victory is assured."


    "With Bao Li Mu on the stage, Wen clan has lost all chance."


    "Still, this kid is still too green. His act has many subtle flaws."


    However, the full extent of Bao Li Mu''s rank six status remained veiled, as he meticulously maintained the facade of a rank five gu master.


    In a pivotal moment, with the clash of powers reaching its zenith, Hao Meng realized the futility of his efforts.


    No matter how much he attacked, he could not force back Bao Li Mu.


    Desperation sparked within his eyes as he looked back and saw Qinyang''s icy cloud was entangled in roots.


    He sighed to himself.


    "In the depths of my existence, I knew my time was fleeting, a mere glimmer in the grand existence..." - He whispered, his voice laced with melancholy.


    "But fate, in its cruel irony, allowed me to find love in the final chapters of my mortal journey."


    A single tear escaped his eye, tracing a path down his worn cheek. The memories flooded his mind, painting vivid portraits of stolen embraces and whispered promises.


    Yet, even in the face of his own mortality, a flicker of hope emerged, a beacon in the encroaching darkness.


    "I accepted my fate. I waited for death with a hearth of apathy."


    . . .


    "But now, my love, the time has come for me to take control into my own hands!"


    In his eyes gleamed the fierce determination of a warrior who had accepted his fate and was ready to face it head-on.


    "To ensure that you may live another day!"


    With each word, his resolve intensified, the weight of his destiny mingling with the fire within.


    "To make my death count!"


    His voice rose to its peak, resonating with unwavering determination.


    At that moment, Hao Meng raised his hand and struck at his own abdomen. He shattered the icy seal that had held his aperture in check.


    The pressure within his aperture overwhelmed its constraints, causing it to burst asunder.


    BOOOM!


    An uncontrollable tempest of fire and lightning erupted with untamed force, wreaking havoc in every direction.


    This was the cataclysmic power wielded by the ten extreme physiques, a force both terrible and awe-inspiring, whose unleashed fury knew no mortal bounds!


    As the detonation reverberated through the battlefield, the force of the explosion sent the gu masters flying, their bodies flung from their feet and cast aside at farthest reaches of the field.


    In a merciless instant, those unfortunate souls who had stood in close proximity to Hao Meng found themselves turned to ash, incinerated in an inferno that brooked no mercy before they could even react.


    In that moment, Bao Li Mu could no longer maintain his facade. He stopped his act, revealing his true power as a gu immortal, he had to defend himself earnestly!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 72 - Bao vs Wen: Wings of flame soar high

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land


    The resonant shockwave, born from the detonation of Hao Meng''s Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique, reverberated with an unyielding force, shaking even the walls of the immortal gu house Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    Bao Zhi, engrossed in his meticulous refinement of the gu house, was abruptly startled by this disturbance, his senses heightened and alert. With an investigative move, he swiftly surveyed his surroundings, his focus finally settling upon the battlefield''s location above.


    There, a colossal column of flame ascended towards the sky, casting its fiery radiance upon all it touched. Amidst the conflagration, an enigmatic figure stood resolute, bathed in a luminosity so blinding and pure that it rivaled the very essence of the sky itself, it was none other than Hao Meng.


    In this tempestuous spectacle, the stage crackled and quivered with flashes of purple lightning, an awe-inspiring display of power from Hao Meng.


    The protective formation around the stage contested the might of the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique and swiftly activated, shielding the onlookers from its catastrophic might.


    Even with the brunt of the force blocked, the onlookers'' faces were irradiated with intense heat and light as they covered their eyes reflexively, their jaws hung agape.


    The scars of prior battles were consumed by the scorching flames, leaving behind naught but remnants of their existence and flames on the ground.


    Only two Life Marking Flares hung now above the field, testament to the survivors who had managed to withstand the onslaught¡ªthose whose lives had not been untimely extinguished, reduced to mere ashes, or forcibly expelled from the stage by the sudden explosion.


    Bao Li Mu found himself trapped within a web of uncertainty as he confronted the formidable presence of Hao Meng.


    The unfolding events had far surpassed his expectations, leaving him at a loss for a decisive course of action.


    Sensing the danger that lurked within these scorching flames emanating from Hao Meng''s being, Bao Li Mu swiftly distanced himself, fortifying his defenses to shield against the relentless onslaught.


    The fiery tendrils of Hao Meng''s inferno tantalizingly licked at Bao Li Mu''s wooden bulwarks, hungry for their taste, burning vigorously.


    From an external vantage point, the scene appeared dire, for Bao Li Mu was engulfed on all sides by the fire. Yet, hidden within the depths of his formidable defenses, he remained unharmed by the encroaching flames.


    Bao Li Mu pondered his next move with a mind fraught with indecision.


    The situation demanded that he unleash even greater power to subdue his adversary. However, this predicament had already surpassed the boundaries of rank five, for who could have known that Hao Meng possessed a ten extreme physique?


    Bao Li Mu''s thoughts swirled with a tinge of lamentation, for he found himself in a truly unfortunate position. Should he retaliate with full might, victory would still be within his grasp, he estimated.


    Yet in doing so, the veil concealing his true cultivation as a gu immortal would be irrevocably lifted. It would become evident to all that he transcended the realm of a mere rank five gu master.


    On the other hand, if he refrained from employing his full strength and chose instead to endure the relentless flames, he would be resigned to weathering a barrage of attacks¡ªa profound loss of face for the Bao clan in both cases, and a failure to uphold his clan''s objectives.


    As Hao Meng shattered his aperture, a transformation overtook his form, transmuting him into a dense, human-shaped radiance of fire.


    Once a rank five peak stage gu master shatters their aperture, the realm of mortality would be shed like a worn cloak, and the mantle of becoming a gu immortal could be donned.


    The explosive demise of his not-yet rank five aperture in times past would have spelled certain doom, the ten extreme physique''s igniting in a cataclysmic surge would only bring unquestionable destruction.


    Yet, in this moment, his breaking aperture signaled the dawning of a new realm, a step towards ascension.


    Hao Meng attempted immortal ascension without even knowing it!


    Hidden from his awareness, the knowledge of immortal ascension had been purposefully concealed by the manipulative hands of Hao Jiong, who sought to maintain control over the fates of her kin.


    It was by a fortuitous twist of fate, as he hurled himself into a final, desperate struggle, that Hao Meng stumbled upon the pathway to becoming an immortal.


    The Heaven and Earth responded to his unspoken plea, its Heaven and Earth qi coalesced and swirled in a mesmerizing dance around him.


    Bao Li Mu, his eyes widening in disbelief, he recognized this phenomenon, a reminiscence of the most harrowing moments of his own life, when he too confronted the tribulations during his own ascension.


    The gathering of Heaven and Earth qi grew ever more dense and furious, imbuing the surrounding environment with a different aura.


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    Bao Li Mu, sensing the potent convergence of these two forces, recoiled instinctively, his retreat dictated by the primal survival instinct.


    But even in his retreat, he could not escape the influence of the entwined qi, suffering a resounding backlash in their presence when activating his gu.


    The illusory walls encircling the battleground, erected by the protective formation, trembled and groaned under the immense strain. Mortal gu worms in it withered and perished, weakening its effect by the moment.


    This was the characteristic of heaven and earth qi.


    On the side, at the Wen clan, Hao Jiong, bearing visible distress upon her countenance, hastened towards the supreme elder, fairy Wen Jie.


    "He broke his aperture. He wasn''t supposed to do that!" - She thought.


    "This is too soon. How dare he crosses my plans?!"


    Hao Jiong''s agitation was palpable, her thoughts focused on the precarious situation that Hao Meng now found himself in.


    Desperate, she pleaded with Wen Jie, reminding her of the promise to bestow a fire path Immortal Gu upon Hao Meng.


    Without it, Hao Meng''s life would be forfeit.


    The response from Wen Jie did not come swiftly; instead, her visage retained an air of serene composure as she meticulously deliberated.


    "Though your contributions have not yet reached the threshold to warrant another immortal gu upon the Hao branch..." - She spoke with measure.


    She knew of their main plan''s progress had not yet reached completeness. And so, in a display of sagacity, she opted to bestow the Flame Wings Immortal Gu upon Hao Jiong, strategically employing this act to introduce a momentary delay.


    "The circumstances that presently unfold are of paramount significance. In light of this, you shall have the Flame Wings Immortal Gu."


    Aware of the stakes at hand, Wen Ji''s measured calculations guided her choice. She understood that their aspirations hinged upon precise timing and the seamless execution of their plan.


    With a measured motion, she retrieved the coveted immortal gu from the depths of her immortal aperture.


    The Flame Wings Immortal Gu, a diminutive and exquisite creature of fiery essence, could rest delicately in the palm of one''s hand, its presence both captivating and enchanting. Its form, reminiscent of a tiny insect, was an ethereal embodiment of the essence of fire itself.


    The gu worm''s body glistened with a luminescent glow, resembling a delicate flame dancing in the darkness.


    The creature''s translucent wings seemed to flicker and shimmer with vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold, as if they were perpetually engulfed in the eternal flames of a forge.


    Each wing held intricate patterns, akin to fine veins of molten metal, tracing their way across the surface, revealing the timeless artistry of the fire within.


    A radiant gleam illuminated the eyes of Hao Jiong. Her gaze fixated upon the resplendent Flame Wings Immortal Gu, its significance to her aspirations palpable.


    "The key immortal gu for my dual cultivation of ice and fire!" - A surge of anticipation coursed through her veins, urging her to grab the coveted treasure.


    Yet, in a swift motion, Wen Jie outpaced Hao Jiong''s eager grasp, flicking the small gu worm toward the stage where Hao Meng fought.


    When the Flame Wings Immortal Gu is activated by its user, a magnificent transformation occurs. The tiny insect unfurls its resplendent wings, igniting them with a brilliant burst of blazing fire.


    The flames dance and ripple along the delicate contours of the wings, casting an ethereal light upon the surroundings, and granting wings of fire to the bearer.


    As the flames lick and flicker, they take on a life of their own, moving with a graceful fluidity reminiscent of a bird in flight. The fiery wings, now fully ablaze, emitted a soft and mesmerizing crackling sound.


    The Flame Wings Immortal Gu bestowed upon Hao Meng the ability to soar through the skies, leaving a trail of vibrant embers and a radiant aura in their wake as the gu arrived by his side.


    "An immortal gu!" - A Bao clan immortal cursed in shock.


    "What can an immortal gu achieve in a mortal''s hand? Bao Li Mu also possesses a rank six immortal gu."


    "Indeed. This is a show of weakness from Wen clan. They have to gamble an immortal gu to stabilize the situation."


    Since the ancient times of Old Immortal Kong Jue''s research into apertures, the method of ascension for the ten extreme physiques was discovered.


    In Kong Jue''s inheritance, the Immortal Aperture Strategy stated that an immortal gu of a matching path was needed for the ascension to work.


    For example the Desolate Ancient Moon physique had to acquire a time path immortal gu. While Hao Meng had to use a fire or lighntning path immortal gu to match his physique.


    Unexpectedly, Hao Meng found himself lingering in the realm of the living, despite the cataclysmic aftermath of his self-immolation.


    As a glimmer of clarity returned to his consciousness, he was astounded to witness the arrival of the Flame Wings Immortal Gu at his side, its overbearing aura manifesting.


    Yet, amidst the awe and relief that washed over him, an unsettling thought took root within his mind¡ªan anxious concern that clawed at his being. With a heart filled with trepidation, he yearned to know the fate of Qinyang, his dearest.


    Did she endure the devastating tempest he had unleashed upon the battlefield?


    A voice resonated from within, reaching his ears with a comforting familiarity.


    In response to his silent turmoil, the will of Wen Jie, emanating from the depths of the immortal gu, assuaged his worries, providing insight into his unfolding situation at present.


    She instructed him on the course he must undertake, guiding his actions with a clarity born from her profound wisdom.


    As these instructions resonated within his being, Hao Meng stood momentarily stunned, a mix of bewilderment and excitement permeating his voice.


    "Is this the path that leads to rank six?" - He mused aloud, his words a testament to his bewildered yet invigorated spirit.


    He realized that his journey, far from reaching its culmination, had merely begun to unfurl its intricate layers.


    The struggle that lay before him, both external and internal, resonated within his being, fueling his determination.


    "Wait for me, Qinyang!" - He pledged fervently, his voice imbued with unabated resolve.


    "I have saved you, and now I must save myself as well!"


    In the depths of his heart, he swore a silent oath to overcome the obstacles that stood in his way, embracing the arduous path that awaited him.


    Yet, in the realm where Heaven and Earth held sway, equilibrium prevailed. For the tremendous potential harbored within the Ten Extreme Physiques, the heavens responded in kind, their heavenly balance demanding a matching tribulation of great proportions.


    As the amalgamation of heaven and earth qi surged to their zenith, an ominous cloud materialized above Hao Meng, its brooding presence a harbinger of a formidable calamity about to be unleashed.


    The rumblings of the heavens reverberated through the air, carrying a weighty resonance that echoed with divine decree.


    The tribulation cloud, pregnant with the wrath of heaven''s forces, loomed with an unfathomable power, its purpose clear¡ªto test the mettle of Hao Meng, to measure his worthiness to ascend to rank six or perish in face of heaven''s impartial judgement.


    Hao Meng stood resolute, prepared to face the thunderous might of the tribulation, his spirit undaunted by the imminent clash between mortal frailty and the divine forces that sought to curb his destiny.


    "Your tribulation is here." - Wen Jie''s words told him.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 73 - To become a gu immortal

    Ancestral Grotto


    Zhao Min and his companions found themselves suddenly transported back to the Ancestral Grotto, whisked away in the blink of an eye. As they materialized amidst the dense vegetation, Jin Ju surveyed their surroundings with caution, noting the absence of any human activity. After ensuring their safety, Jin Ju released a relieved sigh, his thoughts drifting to Steward Jie.


    "I never thought Steward Jie possessed such a caring side beneath his stern countenance." - Jin Ju mused aloud.


    Yu Lingxin, joining in the contemplation, added: "We were under his care, and naturally, he developed attachments to us. His displeasure at our exile was evident."


    Ye Jianhong, his anger fueled by his transformed feminine body, interjected vehemently.


    "If he truly cared, he would have mended my body before sending us away!"


    The unexpected sound of his high-pitched voice caught the group off guard, including Ye Jianhong himself.


    Unable to contain her amusement, Yu Lingxin laughed at his misfortune, taunting him.


    "Sister Jianhong, it seems our group has achieved a balance of yin and yang."


    Incensed, Ye Jianhong reached out to grab Yu Lingxin''s robe, attempting to lift her into the air threateningly.


    However, his delicate arm betrayed him, lacking the strength he once possessed.


    Yu Lingxin, finding it difficult to suppress her laughter, swiftly grabbed Ye Jianhong''s arm and forcefully pried off his feeble grasp.


    "Sister, you''ve relied too heavily on your strength thus far. Technique is more important, especially with weak arms like mine." - Yu Lingxin added fuel to the fire, twisting Ye Jianhong''s wrist as he struggled.


    A vein throbbed on his forehead, and despite his efforts, he remained pinned to the ground.


    Jin Ju, attempting to bring a halt to the escalating situation, pleaded with Yu Lingxin.


    "Please stop, sister. A man has his pride."


    Seizing the opportunity to further belittle Ye Jianhong, Yu Lingxin leaned closer, her voice dripping with derision.


    "And where, exactly, do you see a ''man''?" - She challenged.


    Jin Ju could only shake his head, torn between laughter and exasperation at the absurdity of the situation.


    To his surprise, Yu Lingxin released Ye Jianhong without further provocation.


    "Consider it a favor, you ungrateful donkey. Understand that you are now weak, trapped within a frail body. What can you achieve without gu worms? It''s better that I teach you this lesson." - Yu Lingxin explained her motive, her words penetrating Ye Jianhong''s thoughts.


    Silently adjusting his clothes, he harbored unspoken thoughts of retaliation, unable to admit what was evident even to him.


    "Just you wait, woman. Once I regain my body, I will teach you a ''lesson'' of my own."


    The silence was shattered by Jin Ju''s voice, as he contemplated their dire situation.


    "I had only just managed to recover the shop before the Annual Competition began." - Jin Ju lamented, his voice filled with desolation.


    "And now, how can I even think about reopening? I am labeled as a criminal, and my reputation has been tarnished."


    Yu Lingxin, her usually composed demeanor wavering, added her own perspective.


    "Material possessions can be replaced, but I have lost all my acquaintances once again. It feels like starting from scratch, without the connections and relationships I had established..." - She concurred with a heavy sigh.


    "Indeed. One of the greatest losses for me is the customer base that had come to know my name. Countless sales now lost, and I am left with all but what I have with me." - Jin Ju''s heart sank further at the thought of his lost profits.


    Jin Ju thought about how he''s never going to sell a single ware to those he spent painstaking effort to rope into his business.


    Ye Jianhong remained silent, his frustration and dissatisfaction evident in the grunt that escaped his lips.


    He looked down at his transformed feminine chest, the physical manifestation of his current predicament.


    Amongst the group, his struggle to revert back to his original body was the most significant challenge.


    The three companions exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting a shared sentiment: resentment towards their cruel fate.


    "So, what do we do now? We have lost almost everything, and the Bao clan considers us wanted criminals." - Yu Lingxin sighed.


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    Instinctively, the three turned to Zhao Min, seeking guidance.


    However, Zhao Min stood oblivious to their presence and the previous events, his gaze fixed upon the sky, eyes narrowed in deep thought.


    After a brief moment, he responded, his words carrying an unexpected weight.


    "Isn''t it obvious what has happened?" - Zhao Min began, capturing their attention.


    "Our fate mirrors that of the Three Demons. You witnessed their legacy, read about the lives they were forced to lead. They achieved the peak of mortal strength, only to be discarded when they no longer served the immortal beings'' purpose."


    The weight of his words settled heavily upon the group, their hearts burdened by the realization. They were but insignificant pieces on a board.


    Yet, Zhao Min''s lips curved into a smile, an unsettling glint in his eyes.


    "This turn of events is the best possible outcome!"


    Jin Ju, Yu Lingxin, and Ye Jianhong exchanged bewildered glances.


    What did he mean?


    Sensing their confusion, Zhao Min clarified his perspective.


    "Only now do I understand my true nature!" - He proclaimed.


    "Unknowingly, I have always sought to follow my own desires, unrestrained by the demands of others. But I have forever been constrained."


    "''Cultivate diligently'' they said. ''Pay homage to our ancestors'' they said. ''Fulfill your missions'' they said..."


    Pausing for a moment, Zhao Min''s laughter took on an eerie tone.


    "This turn of events is a stroke of brilliance! Those dog immortals have inadvertently loosened their grip on me. This was their mistake!"


    "They labeled me a demon, then I will be a demon!"


    "I shall bite the very hand that fed me!"


    "I will shatter these chains of control and become the master of my own!"


    Even Yu Lingxin, usually adept at understanding people, was taken aback.


    "Brother Zhao, the shock must have been overwhelming. Please, calm down and approach the situation with a clear mind." - She urged.


    "You''ve finally snapped and become a crazed demonic bastard." - Ye Jianhong ridiculed him.


    Unfazed by the ridicule, Zhao Min turned to face them, his grin widening.


    "I''m in a good mood, so I will share my moment of enlightenment." - Zhao Min proclaimed, his gaze sweeping over his companions before collecting himself.


    "You may know individuals who hold the belief that a person devoid of cruelty holds a higher moral standing than one who possesses the capacity for cruelty."


    "Such a belief is not only incorrect but also dangerously misguided! If you lack the ability to be cruel, you become a helpless victim to anyone who wields cruelty as a weapon!"


    This was precisely why people were drawn to anti-heroes and villains. There exists within them a yearning for the integration of their inner darkness, as it grants them strength of character and self-respect.


    "In order to truly become yourself, it is essential to develop the capacity for cruelty." - Zhao Min continued, his voice steady and measured.


    "By sharpening your fangs, you come to recognize the inherent danger you possess. Perhaps you even possess a significant level of danger. However, crucially, you maintain control over this dangerous aspect. This understanding empowers you to demand self-respect and, consequently,  others will treat you with respect for your power and restraint."


    He paused momentarily, allowing his words to settle in the air before continuing.


    "Let me be clear, this does not imply that being cruel is superior to abstaining from cruelty."


    "Someone with power, but without self-assured restraint, is but a wild animal, a falling star about to be extinguished. This is where the Three Demons were wrong. They only realized their fate in their final moments."


    "Instead, what I mean is that having the ability to be cruel but consciously choosing not to be is superior than not having that ability at all."


    "In the latter case, you are merely weak and naive, oblivious to the harsh realities of the world, whereas in the former case, you are dangerous, but restrained by your own volition."


    Jin Ju''s heart resonated with the curse of powerlessness, his desire to become stronger burning within him. He yearned for the means to protect himself and his wares.


    Yu Lingxin, lost in contemplation, now voiced her thoughts.


    "Many people train not solely for the purpose of fighting, but to cultivate themselves, striving to avoid conflicts whenever possible." - She began.


    "However, there is a line of thinking that suggests that being skilled in combat actually diminishes the chance of having to fight. When faced with provocation, responding with confidence, which shows dominance, will deter the aggressors."


    "The strength you acquire by embracing your inner demon acts as the most powerful assurance for maintaining peace... A balanced mind has to embrace both its light and dark." - She concluded.


    Zhao Min nodded and continued, his words carried a resolute determination.


    "Do you comprehend it now?" - He asked, his voice infused with a fervent energy.


    "I have made the decision to come to terms with my inner darkness. I refuse to be seen but not heard, to be a puppet tied to strings. I want to be true to myself!"


    "We were powerless like naive livestock, without fangs to bear. But now, the opportunity is here to change that!"


    "If the immortals wish for me to become a fugitive tainted by darkness, I shall willingly embrace that role!" - Zhao Min declared, his eyes glinting with an audacious resolve.


    "Now when the immortals and elders are away, we have the chance to seize what we desire, to pillage and plunder as we please. We shall acquire any resource through any means necessary. Unburdened by constraints and regulations, we shall advance and grow stronger, with each step fueling our ascent!"


    Jin Ju felt his palms tingling as he imagined the material gains they could lay their hands on.


    Ye Jianhong nodded in agreement, finding himself drawn to the allure of such freedom and power.


    "Being famous is almost the same as being infamous. So what if I can only be infamous?"


    However, he couldn''t help but interject with a note of his usual criticism.


    "But in the end, won''t you end up like the Three Demons, eradicated like rabid dogs?"


    A sly grin crept onto Zhao Min''s face, his eyes glimmering mischievously.


    "Hehehe, you still fail to grasp the full extent of my words." - He taunted.


    "To truly attain freedom and hold the reins of our own restraints, we must transcend mortality itself."


    "We must become gu immortals!"


    "And how, tell me, do you think we become gu immortals?" - Ye Jianhong replied with a hint of ridicule.


    Surprisingly, it was Jin Ju who stepped forward to respond.


    "Think about it, Ye Jianhong. If gu immortals exist in this world, then there must be ways to attain such a status." - Jin Ju reasoned.


    His gaze met Zhao Min''s, seeking confirmation of their shared belief.


    Zhao Min nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with resolve.


    "You''re right, Jin Ju. The existence of gu immortals implies that there are secrets to be uncovered, cultivation does not simply end at rank five. If we have the willpower and determination, we can seek out these hidden truths and overcome our current circumstances."


    He turned to face his companions, an unprecedented drive burning within him.


    "Follow in my footsteps, if you have the courage and resilience to discover this secret." - Zhao Min declared, his voice filled with conviction.


    "We will embark on a journey that will test our limits and lead us towards the path of becoming gu immortals."


    With his words hanging in the air, he took the lead, guiding the team towards the nearest town to act out their demonic role.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 74 - Bao vs Wen: Ash Pit Vulture

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land


    In the expanse of the fighting arena, amidst the swirling tribulation clouds, a breathtaking spectacle unfolded.


    Hao Meng, bearing the coveted Flame Wings Immortal Gu, found himself aloft. His body engulfed in fiery radiance, the flames of his wings stretching out left and right in a magnificent display.


    Yet, even as excitement coursed through him, he wrestled with the unfamiliarity of this new sensation. He was not a man unafraid of flight, having flown many times on his icy cloud before. But now his feet found no purchase below, this was different.


    Wings, meant for creatures of the sky, posed a daunting challenge for a being of the land. Wen Jie''s counsel resounded in his mind, a reminder of the challenge. Very few gu masters had real experience flying with wings. Why would they when they had more convenient alternatives?


    And so, amidst the concentration, Hao Meng fixed his gaze on the billowing tribulation clouds ahead, knowing not what tribulation awaited him, his heart brimmed with both anticipation and apprehension.


    A shrill screech, a sound both primal and fearsome, pierced the heavens, arresting the attention of all who bore witness.


    From within the heart of the tempest, a massive figure burst forth, tearing through the misty veil with an undeniable presence.


    The beast''s monstrous form, cloaked in thick smoke, tore through the the misty veil with a might that stirred fear in the hearts of all who bore witness. Each beat of its formidable wings traced a whirling trail.


    "A dragon!" - Hao Meng blurted out subconsciously.


    As the creature gained momentum, its bald and featherless head got exposed, glowing like a smoldering ember amidst the murky haze.


    The immensity of the sight left Hao Meng with trepidation. His knowledge of desolate beasts was meager to none, he could merely perceive his foe as a colossal dragon, rendering him oblivious to the nature of this adversary.


    Panic gripped the spectating immortals, their voices hushed as they recognized the creature''s true identity.


    "It is the Immemorial Desolate Beast: Ash Pit Vulture!" - Came a shout from amidst the gathering of immortals, igniting fear and panic among them.


    "Immemorial desolate beast?! Immemorial desolate beasts have rank eight might!" - Warned another immortal, already preparing to flee from the scene.


    "Calm down, everyone."


    In an unusual display of authority, Bao Yijun raised her voice, silencing the agitated crowd. Everyone listened, apprehensive of her stern demeanor.


    Bao Lang Chao, observed with discerning eyes.


    "Look closer, this is but an infant Ash Pit Vulture, merely a hundred years old if I had to guess. A mature Ash Pit Vulture is described as having the wingspan of the horizon. How could a rank six tribulation conjure such a rank eight power?" - He explained, restoring a sense of reason among the embarrassed immortals.


    Though it was still a formidable creature, the Ash Pit Vulture''s might was not as overwhelming as initially feared. It still landed at the peak of what a rank six tribulation could create.


    Bao Lang Chao wisely assessed the situation, realizing that the formation around the stage was ill-equipped to handle such immortal forces; it was meant for mortal competition. Decisively, he instructed the other Bao clan immortals.


    "Send the mortals back to the Ancestral Grotto."


    Acting swiftly, the immortals carried out the order, and in a blink of an eye, the spectating crowd vanished, transported safely away from the impending confrontation.


    Wen clan had similar considerations, their crowd disappeared even before the Ash Pit Vulture appeared.


    Wen Jie''s will spoke within the Flame Wings Immortal Gu, offering vital guidance to Hao Meng.


    He understood that he needed to find a delicate balance between the three qi on his own, as she could not do it for him. However, she could still control his flame wings, a deciding factor in their encounter.


    With no warning, the Ash Pit Vulture lunged at Hao Meng, unleashing a relentless assault of searing feathers and razor-sharp talons.


    Reacting swiftly, Wen Jie activated the Flame Wings Immortal Gu, imbuing Hao Meng with a surge of fiery energy.


    He ascended swiftly, narrowly evading the vulture''s deadly assault.


    "So close!"


    Despite the narrow escape, the weight of the situation was not lost on Hao Meng.


    The speed at which events unfolded left him breathless; there was little time for contemplation.


    Wen Jie warned him of the challenge they faced.


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    Each time she activated the immortal gu in the presence of heaven and earth qi, a formidable backlash threatened its existence.


    Time was of the essence, and Hao Meng felt this race against time.


    Could he muster the willpower and skill to gather and balance the three qi in time, unlocking the path to becoming a gu immortal?


    Or would the intense backlash doom the Flame Wings Immortal Gu, sealing his fate along with it?


    As the Ash Pit Vulture circled above menacingly, looking for the opportune moment, a sense of dread settled upon Hao Meng.


    The smoky feathers scattered by the creature tainted the air, creating a fog of smoke that enveloped the surroundings. Plumes of dark mist rose, shrouding the area in an eerie atmosphere.


    The enormous fiery bird of prey attacked again and again.


    Wen Jie had to use more elaborate maneuvers to avoid a clash. This beast was not just strong, it also displayed a certain level of intelligence as it started to learn the patterns.


    Within the billowing smoke, Hao Meng found himself disoriented in the gathering smoke.


    The world around him became a hazy maze, and he struggled to discern the vulture''s next move or location. The uncertainty of the imminent attack weighed heavily on him, and fear threatened to disrupt his focus.


    "What am I afraid of? ... death?" - He had already resigned himself, yet fear entwined his heart at the presence of such circumstances.


    Hao Meng embraced his fear, accepting it as a part of his existence. He understood that it was not the fear of death itself that mattered, but how he responded to it.


    In a resolute act of defiance, he closed his eyes, shutting out the distractions and danger that the smoky environment presented.


    His breathing and mind steadied, and the flow of heaven and earth qi accelerated around him.


    Amidst the smoky veil, the chase between Hao Meng''s figure and the Ash Pit Vulture unfolded like a mesmerizing spectacle.


    Their figures darted and weaved, obscured by the dense smoke, yet occasionally revealing themselves like two luminous torches battling amidst the shadows.


    From afar, one could only catch fleeting glimpses of the enthralling encounter.


    Hao Meng''s flame-imbued body blazed like a radiant torch, its fiery glow cutting through the murkiness.


    On the other hand, the Ash Pit Vulture''s exposed and featherless head glowed like an ember amidst the smoky cloak.


    Each flap of its wings left a swirling wind trail in the smoke, serving as a stark reminder of the huge proportions of the creature''s concealed body.


    ...


    The three supreme elders of Bao clan transmitted to each other.


    "The situation is escalating. The results might become unfavorable." - Bao Yijun expressed her concern that if the tribulation was not resolved, the competition could be annulled, leading to significant losses for the Bao clan.


    "Bao clan cannot lose out! Wen clan might use this to their own benefit." - Bao Chi Ping echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the need to prevent the Wen clan from using the situation as an excuse to back out of their end of the bargain.


    "We need to act but our hands are tied. I see two roads ahead." - Bao Yijun proposed two options to stop the tribulation from wreaking havoc: targeting the tribulation directly or its source.


    While the options were apparent, the final decision rested with the first supreme elder, Bao Lang Chao.


    After a thoughtful contemplation, Bao Lang Chao made his choice, opting to stay the course and adhere to their original plan.


    Bao Yijun and Bao Chi Ping acknowledged his decision with a nod.


    Meanwhile, Bao Yijun reached out to Bao Li Mu, who had retreated to the corner of the arena.


    "Cooperate with the tribulation and kill Hao Meng. You may use your immortal gu."


    This was a complicated situation.


    Bao clan''s strategy was to adhere to the competition''s rules while bending them to their advantage when possible.


    Bao Li Mu''s current status as a gu immortal was a good example of Bao clan''s clever maneuvering.


    The immortal oath forbid immortals from participating directly in the competition for resource allocation. This was to avoid greater losses.


    But it needed both clan''s ceremonial cooperation to place the immortal oath and the soonest that could be arranged was after the ending of the competition.


    By delaying the immortal oath and advancing Bao Li Mu just in time for the competition, they exploited a loophole to nominate a gu immortal in a competition meant for gu masters.


    While the Bao clan immortals could intervene to combat the Ash Pit Vulture, they were restricted by the immortal oath from directly interfering in the battle between Bao Li Mu and Hao Meng.


    Had the Bao clan immortals acted in the events on the stage, to quell the tribulation, it would be clause for Wen clan to not honor their obligations to hand over the resources.


    Although they skirted around the rules, they did not technically break them.


    Bao Li Mu and Hao Meng was technically still in the competition, so it was only right for Bao Li Mu to continue and defeat his opponent in the struggle for the annual resource allocation.


    If Bao clan opted to target the tribulation and not Hao Meng, Bao Li Mu would still have to face Hao Meng after to have a proper conclusion.


    The situation was intricate, and the Bao clan had to tread carefully, ensuring they upheld the competition''s integrity while strategically positioning themselves to achieve their objectives.


    Bao Li Mu accepted his task.


    "I will use my strongest move right away. It was good I started to practice it. But it still only has a six in ten chance of success to activate." - He thought.


    He skillfully used the cover of the fog to conceal his presence, approaching Hao Meng with stealth in mind.


    With each passing moment, the tension mounted as they waited for the Ash Pit Vulture to reappear.


    In a few breaths of time, it emerged once more.


    Wen Jie''s will within the Flame Wings Immortal Gu sprang into action. The gu suffered yet another backlash, but Hao Meng''s body swiftly responded, flapping his wings upward, he dove to evade the vulture''s impending attack.


    Seizing the opportunity, Bao Li Mu recognized that this was his moment to strike. With deadly intent, he followed closely behind the vulture.


    Wen Jie directed Hao Meng''s movements, enabling him to maneuver his body with grace, twisting and turning his wings to evade the beast.


    As the distance between them closed, Bao Li Mu readied his killer move.


    With a surge of power, Bao Li Mu extended his hand, pointing directly at Hao Meng from behind the Ash Pit Vulture.


    Immortal killer move: Entombed Root Coffin!


    As Bao Li Mu''s Immortal killer move connected with Hao Meng, the impact was immediate and profound.


    The thick roots that burst forth from thin air moved with preternatural speed and precision, wrapping around Hao Meng''s legs and wings with a vice-like grip.


    The moment the roots made contact, an intense surge of energy coursed through Hao Meng''s body.


    He felt an overwhelming force attempting to immobilize him, as if the very essence of the earth sought to bind him in its embrace. He plummeted towards the ground uncontrollably.


    The Ash Pit Vulture closely behind, it was only a matter of moments before Hao Meng would crash into the ground.


    Upon releasing his killer move, its aura exposed Bao Li Mu''s presence.


    Hao Jiong''s eyes twitched in anger as she realized the events.


    "How dare you threaten what''s mine!" - Her figure drew an icy arc as she darted to join the fight.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 75 - Bao vs Wen: Casualty

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land


    As the chaotic battle ensued, the presence of Wen Hao Jiong, added another dimension to the unfolding conflict. She had to intervene when she discovered Bao Li Mu''s malicious intent to strike down her son during his tribulation.


    With her heart burning with anger, Wen Hao Jiong sprang into action. She moved with a grace that left an icy arc in her wake.


    Her voice rang out with authority as she confronted Bao Li Mu.


    "You despicable little bug! Dare to raise your hand once again!"


    With her killer move activated, a formidable wall of ice emerged, serving as a shield to protect Hao Meng from the plummeting Ash Pit Vulture behind him. The vulture''s relentless assault was met with resolute defense, and Wen Hao Jiong stood unwavering by her son''s side.


    Bao Li Mu''s assassination attempt had failed, and he was forced to retreat, disappearing once more into the thick smoke.


    The battlefield transformed into a three-way battle of intense proportions.


    The Ash Pit Vulture, driven by heavenly instinct, relentlessly pursued Hao Meng, its sole objective to eliminate him during his immortal ascension.


    Bao Li Mu, motivated by ambition and the desire for his clan''s success, sought to remove Hao Meng from the competition, securing their access to valuable resources.


    On the other hand, despite her fiery temper, Wen Hao Jiong''s mission was solely focused on defense.


    She could not directly attack Bao Li Mu due to the constraints of the immortal oath she had taken. To engage the Ash Pit Vulture would leave Hao Meng vulnerable to Bao Li Mu''s subsequent attacks.


    As such, she made the crucial decision to stay close to her son, providing him with a protective shield against his adversaries.


    The clash between the three forces intensified, each individual driven by their own motives and objectives. The smoke-laden battlefield crackled with energy, and the air hummed with tension as the immortals watched the epic battle unfold.


    As the battle raged on, the pressure on Hao Meng intensified. The heaven and earth qi continued to converge around him, mingling with his human qi as he persevered in his delicate task of balancing the three qi.


    The qi gathering around him was immense, and it affected even Hao Jiong, forcing her to distance herself to avoid the backlash.


    "Hurry up! If the Flame Wings Immortal Gu perishes, you will die as well!" - Hao Jiong urgently reminded her son.


    The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on both of them.


    Minutes stretched on, each passing moment feeling like an eternity.


    Meanwhile, the attacks from the Ash Pit Vulture became increasingly relentless and cunning. The creature displayed impressive speed and force, executing feints and diversions to outmaneuver Hao Jiong''s defensive efforts.


    Exhausted from fending off the vulture''s relentless assaults, Hao Jiong found herself at an impasse. The formidable Ash Pit Vulture seemed almost invincible, and its onslaught was unyielding.


    Inside the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, Qinyang awoke from her unconscious state, finding herself amidst the gathered gu masters who were deeply immersed in meditation. Her eyes searched the room, seeking the familiar figure of Wen Tu. With relief, she spotted him among the meditating practitioners. Her heart swelled with gratitude, knowing that her efforts to ensure his safety had not been in vain.


    Yet, Qinyang couldn''t recall the events that led her to this place. Her memories have been engulfed by fiery thoughts, leaving her bewildered and disoriented. Gathering her composure, she calmed her mind and began to meditate, recognizing the rarity of this opportunity within the gu house.


    However, as she meditated, a peculiar sensation washed over her, and before she knew it, she found herself alone in a smaller room within the immortal gu house. Confused, she observed her surroundings, speculating if this was the control center of the gu house.


    Her gaze fell upon the flowing images before her, depicting various locations within and outside the gu house.


    Qinyang''s gaze lingered on the images that unfolded before her, and her curiosity led her to observe the various scenes displayed on the screens. One of the screens showed the hall where she had been before, the same room where the other gu masters were meditating in the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    On another screen, she noticed the presence of three individuals. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized the woman among them.


    "Isn''t that woman Shou Xin?"


    Qinyang leaned in closer to get a better look at the image, her attention fixed on the woman she knew.


    However, the other two figures on the screen were unfamiliar to her. Never having seen them, she didn''t recognize Old Refinement and Xu Lian.


    Nevertheless, Qinyang''s inquisitive nature drove her to observe them more closely, trying to discern their identities and roles in the unfolding events.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Curiosity got the better of her, and she reached out to touch one of the images. In an instant, the image transformed, revealing past events related to Qinyang.


    In one particular scene, she saw herself in a snowy mountain landscape, engaging in closed cultivation. Suddenly, another figure appeared in the air above her.


    "That''s Hao Jiong!"


    Qinyang recognized the gu immortal floating gracefully in the air. With a flick of her hand, Hao Jiong unleashed an avalanche, burying Qinyang in a heart-wrenching display.


    "This is how the original Qinyang died?" - Qinyang exclaimed in incredulity as she witnessed her past self''s demise.


    As the scenes swiftly changed, her disbelief morphed into a growing sense of enmity towards Hao Jiong.


    "This woman has tried to kill me twice already!" - Qinyang''s eyes remained fixed on the images, delving into different past events.


    Next, her attention got fixed on the intense three-way battle unfolding on the stage. As she observed the struggle through the gu house''s methods, she came to a realization: Hao Meng was attempting immortal ascension. The seriousness of the situation struck her deeply, and she knew, it was Hao Meng that saved her from Hao Jiong''s malicious plot.


    "That woman cannot be trusted. She definitely has ill intentions."- Her heart was already filled with disdain for Hao Jiong, and the recent events only cemented her distrust of the gu immortal.


    The desire to help Hao Meng in his journey to become a gu immortal began to stir within her, fueled by the gratitude she felt for his act of saving her.


    But conflicting thoughts weighed heavily on Qinyang''s mind. She couldn''t deny the growing feelings she had for Hao Meng.


    "Why did you have to fall in love with me? You stupid fool! I should just get away from here and leave you behind." - She sighed in frustration, torn between her emotions and the sense of danger surrounding their situation.


    However, a newfound motivation drove her forward.


    "No, if I help him to become a gu immortal. Wouldn''t I have a huge advantage by his side?" - She reasoned.


    With this realization, Qinyang''s resolve solidified, and she started to experiment with the gu house''s controls, determined to take charge of their situation.


    It didn''t take her much time to stumble upon what she was looking for. Despite her lack of finesse, she managed to direct the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda upwards.


    With a resolute heart, she guided the gu house towards the surface. The sound of a mighty crash reverberated through the air as the pagoda erupted from underneath the stage.


    The formation, already strained to its limits, could not withstand this sudden force. At once, it shattered into pieces, creating chaos and confusion among the onlookers. The immortals of both the Bao and Wen clans were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.


    Qinyang''s actions had disrupted the carefully laid plans and brought the competition to a chaotic end. With the formation broken, the once-contained battlefield now expanded beyond the stage, leaving the immortals to confront the unanticipated consequences of Qinyang''s intervention.


    The billowing smoke that had previously been confined to the battlefield started to permeate the surroundings, signaling the formal disruption of the competition.


    The Bao clan immortals exchanged knowing glances, realizing that the competition had been thwarted. They saw Wen clan''s intervention as the catalyst for the formation''s collapse and used this turn of events to justify their position.


    "So the competition has formally been thwarted."


    "It was Hao Jiong who rushed in to meddle. Then their gu house also got involved. The blame is clearly on the Wen clan!"


    "Indeed, the formation shattered after her entrance. We have our justifications."


    The Bao clan immortals saw this as an opportunity to hold the Wen clan accountable and make them pay for the disruption. They had recorded the events, providing evidence of their claims and the circumstances leading to the breakdown of the formation.


    Qinyang steered the gu house with determination, giving chase to the elusive Ash Pit Vulture.


    "Gu houses are sturdy. Even if I don''t know what this gu house can do, I can still crush this bird with it." - She thought with resolve.


    The immense sturdiness of gu houses was well-known in the immortal world, and Qinyang intended to use it to her advantage.


    However, the Ash Pit Vulture proved to be a formidable opponent, skillfully evading Qinyang''s attempts to strike it. Its nimble maneuvers in the air made it difficult to catch, frustrating Qinyang''s efforts to bring it down.


    As the vulture veered toward Hao Meng once more, Qinyang followed closely behind. But the creature was cunning, employing a feint to divert their attention. In that critical moment, Bao Li Mu saw an opportunity to strike.


    Entombed Root Coffin!


    Entombed Root Coffin!


    He activated his killer move, aiming it at both Hao Jiong and Hao Meng. However, his second attempt failed, and he suffered a painful backlash.


    Hao Meng managed to escape the attack, Hao Jiong wasn''t as fortunate. She became immobilized by Bao Li Mu''s move, left vulnerable.


    Just as the Ash Pit Vulture disappeared from Hao Jiong''s vision, the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda emerged from the thick smoke with unstoppable momentum. The powerful gu house crashed into the battlefield with a force that could not be halted. With a resounding crash, the icy barrier Hao Jiong had raised shattered like fragile glass.


    Hao Jiong, fixed in place, had no chance to evade the immense force bearing down on her. The mighty gu house crushed her like grass underfoot.


    The battlefield fell into a stunned silence as the immortals watched in shock and horror at the unfolding tragedy. The fate of Hao Jiong had taken a tragic turn.


    "How can this be?"


    "Oh heavens! Wen clan killed their own!"


    "This is a serious matter..."


    "Why is our gu house here? What''s going on?"


    Wen Jie refrained from commenting as she watched the events unfold with narrowed eyes.


    "Such a talent, gone just like that. She showed great promise to create a unique inheritance. But there are bigger things at stake now and the time is almost right for our plan." - She mused.


    "What is the meaning of this? Why is Old Refinement not following the plan?" - Wen Bo transmitted to her.


    Wen Jie did not reply. She was deducing the events at this moment.


    "It wasn''t Old Refinement." - She concluded.


    On another level of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, the second-highest level, Bao Zhi calmly observed the unfolding events while meticulously refining the mortal gu worms of the gu house. Suddenly, his brows knitted together in perplexity.


    "What is this? It feels like I''ve encountered an obstacle during this refinement."


    His smooth progress suddenly hit a wall.


    A bad premonition took root in his heart.


    Meanwhile, one level higher in the immortal gu house, Qinyang''s emotions churned like turbulent waters. As she observed the aftermath of her actions, a crushing realization swept over her.


    "I killed her... Oh no," -She murmured, a sense of remorse and horror enveloping her being.


    Her mind raced, grappling with the weight of her unintended consequences.


    "Shit!" - She cursed herself, her voice laced with anguish and regret.


    "What trash immortal are you? Even your son could dodge it while balancing the three qi."


    In the midst of her distress, a voice called out from behind her, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    "I''ve been waiting for so long. But you are finally here, otherworldly demon."


    The mention of "otherworldly demon" sent a shiver down Qinyang''s spine. She turned around, her eyes wide with trepidation, to behold the source of the voice.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 76 - Bao vs Wen: Tipping point

    Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land


    "It was quite the sensation, was it not? Delightful, indeed. Or does my assistance not elicit your joy?" - The voice spoke again, an unsettling blend of amusement and curiosity.


    Qinyang''s instinct was to retreat, to seek the safety of concealment, but as she scanned the room, she realized that exits were absent, a revelation that heightened her sense of entrapment.


    Through the dimly lit chamber of the immortal gu house, a presence emerged, casting a palpable aura that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the room. The air itself seemed to quiver with anticipation, a subtle shift that heralded the arrival of an enigmatic figure.


    In the midst of the shadows, a form materialized, a teenage boy with an uncanny air about him. His countenance held an otherworldly quality, a fusion of innocence and ancient wisdom that defied explanation. His eyes, deep pools of mystery, held a gaze that seemed to pierce through the layers of reality, a gaze that spoke of secrets held close and a knowledge that spanned eons.


    As he stepped into view, his presence seemed to radiate an ethereal luminescence, casting a gentle glow that danced upon the surrounding surfaces. His clothing, a simple yet timeless attire, seemed to meld seamlessly with his aura, as if an extension of his very being.


    There was a weightiness to his presence, an awareness of the countless years he had traversed, and the burdens of time seemed to rest upon his shoulders. Yet, within his gaze, there flickered a spark of youthful exuberance, a reminder that despite the ages he had witnessed, a spirit of vitality still burned within.


    Qinyang''s eyes fell upon a figure that defied her expectations.


    Before her stood a youth, seemingly no older than a mere adolescent. The incongruity of the situation sent a chill down her spine.


    Unperturbed by her silence, the young figure continued his unsettling discourse.


    "Ah, the sweet taste of retribution. You wielded the gu house to carry out vengeance. Are the echoes of satisfaction resonating within you?"


    "Who is this?" - Her thoughts churned, skepticism gnawing at her.


    "A child, barely older than twelve... Could he be one of those age-old monsters, concealing their true nature with a youthful appearance?"


    Doubt crept insidiously into her mind, shrouding the boy''s presence in an aura of unease. The pieces of the puzzle did not align, and the more she contemplated, the more the situation appeared incongruous.


    "Tell me, who are you?"


    "I am Jue Shi." - The child''s introduction was straightforward, his gaze a relentless weight upon Qinyang, unsettling her further. His demeanor exuded an eerie familiarity, a knowing that she could not quite place.


    As if voicing his own inner musings, Jue Shi continued, the words weaving through the air like a shadowy dance.


    "My, my! Why you remain silent? Could it be that my trust is yet to be earned? After all, offering you to use the gu house should have been a convincing gesture, should it not? Ah, but it seems my plan may have been rather... flawed."


    Qinyang''s unease grew, her mind grappling with the uncanny conversation that unfolded before her. Each word seemed to further entwine her in a web of intrigue that she could not escape.


    "Are you... the one controlling this gu house?" - She ventured, her voice quivering as uncertainty gripped her.


    Jue Shi''s response bore a weighty revelation, his words resonating with a chilling significance.


    "Yes! Three thousand years of waiting, all for the advent of the otherworldly demon. And now, here you stand, as the culmination of my patient anticipation. This encounter was destined, it was meant to happen!"


    "Umm, ok? How do you know of my existence? And why would a Wen clan gu immortal be looking for an otherworldly demon?" - Qinyang''s voice was a blend of uncertainty and skepticism, her gaze fixed intently on the enigmatic figure before her.


    In a sudden shift of demeanor, Jue Shi''s agitation became palpable, his voice tinged with a fierce protectiveness.


    "Who dares to seek you out? Name them, and I shall shatter their skulls and drain their blood!"


    Caught off guard by his vehement response, Qinyang''s mind raced to comprehend the unfolding situation.


    "Hold on, Jue Shi. Whose side are you on? Is this not Wen clan''s gu house?"


    A wave of urgency colored her words, her inquiry aimed at unraveling the enigma that stood before her.


    Jue Shi''s subsequent words seemed to echo with a fervent urgency, a desperation to assert his stance in this cryptic affair.


    "I stand on my own side! No, no, that does not bode well for misunderstandings. What I mean to say is, I stand by your side!"


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    A skeptical eyebrow arched on Qinyang''s brow as she parsed his response.


    "Who do you want to convince like that? That''s suspicious as hell!" - She thought, her mind vigilant and probing.


    "So, you are not related to the Wen clan then?" - Qinyang wanted to clarify.


    Jue Shi''s response carried an air of resignation, his voice tinged with a mix of explanation and urgency.


    "No, I have no allegiance to the Wen clan or any other. I am the unknown keeper of this gu house, a mere embodiment of its will and purpose. It was no accident that I allowed the Wen clan to wield this gu house, for I knew that your presence, otherworldly demon, would eventually be here."


    "And so, what is it that you want from me?" - Qinyang''s inquiry was tinged with a mix of curiosity and caution, her gaze fixed upon Jue Shi.


    His response was succinct, carrying with it a weighty proposition.


    "To become the next owner of this gu house."


    Qinyang''s brow furrowed slightly, a thoughtful contemplation accompanying his words.


    "And what of the previous owners? Where are they?"


    Jue Shi''s reply was tinged with a hint of somberness.


    "Most of them... passed away... of natural causes."


    Acceptance settled within Qinyang''s gaze. A quiet understanding passed between them, Qinyang''s acquiescence sealed with a nod.


    The acceptance of her newfound role seemed to bring a sense of elation to Jue Shi, his demeanor exuding an air of fulfillment.


    Yet, her mind remained vigilant, casting its gaze upon the external currents of the world outside. As there was no more competition, the Bao clan and Wen clan had joined hands to went their frustrations, their target was the Ash Pit Vulture.


    The sooner they got rid of the tribulations the less harm it would cause to the Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    The realization dawned upon her that her actions could not escape scrutiny. She would be discovered after the immortals finish their current agenda. The repercussions of her involvement would ripple outward, demanding her to chart a course through this chaos.


    A sudden inspiration ignited within her, a plan born from the exigencies of the moment. The lifeless form of Hao Jiong, held a potential solution.


    Turning to Jue Shi, she posed a crucial inquiry, her voice laced with urgency.


    "Can this gu house suppress immortal apertures?"


    Jue Shi''s affirmative response fueled her newfound scheme, a spark of determination igniting within her.


    "Then assist me in this. We must seize Hao Jiong''s body, and swiftly."


    Coordinated efforts ensued as Qinyang and Jue Shi manipulated the gu house to secure Hao Jiong''s lifeless form, suppressing it within the levels of the structure.


    However, an enigma seemed to unravel within Jue Shi''s consciousness, his attention momentarily diverted.


    "Curious." - He mused, his gaze slightly distant. "The wills have refined the mortal gu worms of the gu house''s... this should not be possible."


    Qinyang''s brow furrowed, her curiosity piqued by Jue Shi''s statement.


    "Explain yourself." - She implored.


    A procession of images flickered within Jue Shi''s perception, a montage of scenes unfolding as he started to look into this matter.


    "The other wills pose no true threat, mere echoes of my grandeur." - Jue Shi whispered under his breath, his focus unwavering as he delved into the gu house''s security footage, unraveling the threads of intrigue that had led them to this moment.


    In a revelation that echoed through the chamber, he exclaimed, "Ah, there you are. Concealing yourself beneath our very feet!" With swift precision, he reached into the fabric of the gu house''s mechanisms and drew forth Bao Zhi, transporting him into their midst.


    Jue Shi''s voice carried a note of rebuke as he addressed Bao Zhi, his resolve unyielding. "You thought to manipulate the gu house''s power, to refine its essence for your own designs? A futile endeavor, indeed!"


    A swift gesture from Jue Shi sealed Bao Zhi''s movements, the once-hidden figure now held captive by the gu house''s mechanisms.


    Qinyang observed the scene, her gaze lingering on Bao Zhi''s eight-feet-tall form of flowing black hair and defined body. Yet, an unsettling emptiness pervaded the air, an effect born of Concealed Human Qi, rendering him inscrutable.


    Bao Zhi''s acceptance of his circumstances resonated with a calm wisdom, a recognition that resistance would be futile in the face of their power.


    He watched with a shrewd gaze.


    As Jue Shi delved into Bao Zhi''s past, he encountered an enigmatic void, a lack of information that shrouded the figure in mystery.


    "No results. A member of the Bao clan, it seems." - Jue Shi concluded.


    Yet, as Qinyang''s patience began to wane, her thoughts tumbled forth in a torrent of frustration. "This situation, all stemmed from your intervention. How should I face an entire clan now? Could this gu house perhaps rewind time?!" - Her words were laden with a sense of desperation, a yearning for an escape.


    A silence settled over the chamber as Bao Zhi observed quietly, he felt the tension and turbulence in Qinyang''s human qi.


    Bao Zhi''s voice, a sudden rupture in the stillness, cut through the air like a blade, carrying an offer that bore the weight of an impending decision.


    "Girl." - His voice held a certain gravitas, a tone that carried the weight of an unspoken authority.


    "I have an offer for you to consider. I can help you escaping this place."


    "And what price would you exact?"


    Her inquiry was laced with a keen awareness, Qinyang knew there wasn''t such a thing as a free lunch, this person definitely wanted something of his own.


    A measured response escaped Bao Zhi''s lips, his words carrying a hint of revelation.


    Bao Zhi''s response was straightforward, his intentions laid bare before her. "All I seek is the temporary use of the gu house to retrieve a specific inheritance, one that I have been in pursuit of."


    Qinyang''s gaze flickered between Bao Zhi and Jue Shi, the embodiment of the gu house''s will. The latter''s disposition seemed unaffected, indifferent to the temporary transfer of its ownership, like how Wen clan used it for many years.


    Qinyang''s innate caution demanded a formal agreement, a pact that would bind Bao Zhi''s words to his actions.


    Drawing upon her inheritance, Qinyang produced a gu worm and began crafting the terms of their agreement, the document taking form as a binding information path agreement.


    With each clause, each stipulation, the accord solidified, a testament to the meticulous nature of their negotiation.


    A process of give and take ensued, the agreement took shape through a delicate balance of compromise and stipulation.


    Within its verses lay the understanding of shared interests, an alliance forged in necessity, where each party sought to gain from the other''s strengths.


    Finally, the binding information path agreement was activated.


    From beyond the confines of the gu house, the reverberation of a resounding impact echoed, followed by a mournful cry of agony that sliced through the air.


    The Ash Pit Vulture''s time was up. Against its last indignant struggles, it was exterminated by the gu immortals.


    In the wake of this tumultuous culmination, a new voice emerged from the tapestry of events, a female voice that cut through the air with purpose.


    "Old Refinement, the moment has arrived!" - Wen Jie shouted!


    The gates of the gu house opened suddenly. The figures of Old Refinement and Shou Xin could be seen briefly before a powerful aura erupted in all directions.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 77 - Bao vs Wen: Desperation

    Within the halls of Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, a foreboding silence hung in the air, as if even the spirits dared not disturb the imminent unfolding of destiny. Old Refinement stood guard, with wariness and anticipation written on his face.


    The heavy ornate door creaked open, revealing the figure of Shou Xin. A forgotten will from the past, risen once more, her presence radiated an aura that caused the very stones beneath her to shiver in acknowledgment.


    As Shou Xin stepped forth, a palpable tension gripped the assembly of immortals gathered there. Whispers of anticipation brushed through the air like the rustling of leaves in a long-forgotten forest.


    With a single graceful motion, Shou Xin raised her arms, a symphony of dao marks and essence coalescing around her.


    Inky characters, dark as the abyss and fluid as quicksilver, erupted from her being. They swirled and spiraled, taking on the forms of serpents that writhed and twisted in chaotic harmony.


    Among the assembly, the Bao clan gu immortals and the Wen clan gu immortals alike stood transfixed. Eyes widened in awe, expressions shifting from surprise to confusion.


    But amidst this sea of reactions, two figures stood apart. Wen Jie and Wen Bo, faces serene and composed, their gazes fixed upon the unfolding events with a clarity born of anticipation.


    "Serpent''s Dissolution!" - Shou Xin''s voice resonated like an incantation.


    The inky serpentine characters shot forth in every direction, a tempestuous storm of aura and suppressed might unleashed.


    It was the swift and instinctual Bao Chi Ping, the third supreme elder of the Bao clan, who first shattered the trance that held the assembly captive.


    His voice, weathered by time yet resolute, pierced through the tumultuous atmosphere.


    "Danger! Beware!"


    With a surge of purpose, Bao Chi Ping activated his own killer move, his body undergoing a transformation, all under a breath of time.


    Desolate Black Dahlia Transformation!


    His form elongated and twisted, petals of the deepest black unfurling in a grotesque dance. In moments, he had become a colossal black dahlia desolate plant, a living shield against the impending onslaught.


    Across the divide, Wen Jie stepped forward, her presence a beacon of unwavering poise.


    With a mere thought, she activated her own killer move.


    Clear Mind Unity!


    A wave of serenity cascaded over the Wen clan gu immortals, their chaotic thoughts and racing hearts brought under control. The ethereal tendrils of her power wove through the collective consciousness, knitting it together like a fabric of unity.


    And so, as the storm of inky serpents descended upon them, the Wen clan gu immortals stood as one, embracing the force.


    The abyss-deep, inky characters landed upon their bodies, their forms engulfed by the black. The inky black soon seeped into their bodies and disappeared like if the scenes from moments ago had been mere illusions.


    A transformation unfolded before the eyes of the onlookers, as the Wen immortals'' skin started to molt away, revealing skin that sloughed off like the husk of a serpent. The fallen skins, dotted with patches of green, crumbled to pieces as they fell on the ground.


    In the midst of this extraordinary display, the Bao clan gu immortals wore expressions ranging from awe to disbelief.


    Wen Jie''s voice cut through the tension like a blade, her ultimatum echoing.


    "Bao clan!" - Her words hung in the air, laden with authority and foreboding.


    "This is your last chance. Submit to us, or bear the consequences."


    In response, a figure emerged from the ranks of the Bao clan, his presence commanding, his voice a counterpoint to Wen Jie''s demand.


    "What is the meaning of this?" - Bao Lang Chao, supreme elder of the Bao clan, retorted, his voice a resolute challenge.


    "Until the resource allocation is settled, you have no grounds to speak on."


    In the heat of the exchange, Wen Jie''s response was a flutter of her fan, an enigmatic smile hidden behind its silken veil.


    The pieces were falling into place, her scheme unfolding just as she had orchestrated.


    With a sudden motion, without further ceremony, Wen Jie''s hand was set in motion, a fluid dance that weaved the heart itself. Her emotion path killer move struck Bao Lang Chao unprepared.


    A shiver passed through the scene as the mighty supreme elder''s countenance contorted, an agony born from the depths of his being paralyzed him.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    In the face of his incredulity, Wen Jie''s laughter chimed like bells in the wind.


    "Do you still not understand?"


    Her words, like riddles whispered by ancient sages, carried a weight that resonated beyond the moment.


    It was then that the veil of secrecy was finally torn asunder.


    Wen Jie''s voice, steady and unwavering, carried across the winds of change, revealing a truth that would forever alter the course of their history ¨C a revelation of a meticulously plotted plan to overthrow the equilibrium, to annex the very foundation of the Bao clan''s dominion.


    "The Immortal oath has been lifted. Now, my Wen clan is free to handle you, Bao clan, however we like."


    Within the ranks of the Bao clan, a cacophony erupted.


    "How is this possible?"


    "Over my dead body!"


    "Lady Jie is surely joking. How could the oath be broken?"


    Voices ranging from disbelief to outrage painted the scene as Bao Lang Chao''s contorted form stood as testament to the authenticity of Wen Jie''s claims.


    Yet, beyond the veil of uncertainty, Wen Jie''s gaze held the knowledge of her triumph. The Immortal oath''s chains, once an unbreakable shackle, had been sundered for her clan alone.


    The killer move Serpent''s Dissolution was a web of ink, woven to capture the immortal oath''s binding dao marks within the body.


    A layered craft, the ink demanded the initial acquisition of Bao clan''s wood path dao marks. From Bao Xu Lian''s being, the ink gathered its sample, a fragment of the intricate design. The ink once touched by the corresponding target, it seeped into the body, infiltrating with one purpose. Once nestled within, the ink wove its sinuous threads around the wood path dao marks, grasping them within the skin.


    Like a serpent, the dao marks were shed, slipping away as if discarded skin, as the harmful taint of the immortal oath was cast asunder, the shackles of pledges broken and banished into oblivion.


    It was a truth inscribed not in words, but in the very scene of reality. And as Bao Lang Chao''s struggle played out before them, his descent to his knees a poignant revelation, the truth became undeniable.


    Bao Lang Chao, a name synonymous with strength, a pillar of the Bao clan''s might, now knelt in unwilling surrender. His thoughts, a tempest of chaos, mirrored the turmoil that gripped the hearts of all present.


    "Lord supreme elder!"


    "Grotto lord!"


    A gasp rippled through the onlookers, a testament to the gravity of his capitulation, for even in his vulnerability, Bao Lang Chao was a force not to be underestimated.


    In an attempt of defiance, Bao Lang Chao activated his rank seven gu, a display of might that cast a shadow over the scene.


    Yet before the power could fully materialize, the immortal oath reasserted its presence, a powerful backlash that swept through Bao Lang Chao''s body like a storm injured him gravely.


    Wen Jie stood like an orchestrator of fate, her finger outstretched, pointing at the Bao clan immortals. Her voice, laced with both triumph and derision, cut through the tumultuous air.


    "You are all meat on the chopping block!"- Her words hung heavy, a verdict delivered with the weight of truth.


    In this moment of crisis, the second supreme elder of the Bao clan, Bao Yijun, issued her command resolutely.


    "Retreat! Follow behind me!"


    Amidst the sprawling expanse of the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, a chase unfurled, a dance of pursuit and evasion.


    The Wen clan, emboldened by their newfound freedom from the Immortal oath, surged forward with a determination that bordered on frenzy. They flew, swift and purposeful, stirred the fallen leaves, creating a symphony of rustling whispers.


    Wen Jie, her regal bearing untouched by the passage of time, led the charge.


    Her eyes blazed with an intensity that matched the fire of her spirit.


    Behind her, Wen Bo, a bastion of unwavering resolve, matched her pace, his gaze locked on the path of the escaping immortals ahead.


    The Bao clan, their retreat turned into a desperate flight, moved with a speed born of fear and the unyielding instinct for survival.


    Bao Yijun led the retreat. Her voice, though strained, carried a note of command that resonated through the ranks of the fleeing Bao clan immortals.


    "Keep moving! We must reach the Ancestral Grotto before they close in!"


    Amidst the tumultuous skies, a trail of turmoil marked Bao Lang Chao''s desperate escape. His breath came in ragged gasps, each a torturous reminder of the severity of his injuries. He glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding in rhythm with the thunderous chase that pursued him.


    Bao Yijun''s eyes blazed with fierce purpose as she guided her kin. Not far behind her, Bao Chi Ping, a of the clan in his own right, held the rear, his massive form a bastion against the encroaching tide of attacks.


    The air was alive with the crackling energy of attacks, a symphony of power that rent the skies. The forces of the Wen clan, relentless in their pursuit, unleashed a storm of assaults that rained down upon the fleeing Bao clan.


    Luminous arcs of ice and fire streaked through the air, each bolt a manifestation of the unyielding determination that fueled the Wen clan''s pursuit. Light blue stars, glowing with a spectral light, traced intricate patterns as they homed in on their quarry. And through it all, the Bao clan pressed onward, their spirits unbroken even in the face of overwhelming odds.


    Bao Chi Ping''s voice echoed urgently in Bao Yijun''s mind, a plea for swiftness in the face of impending peril. A desperate gambit that held the key to their escape.


    "I''ll try to hold them." - He transmitted, his voice a beacon of resolve.


    "Quickly open the passage!"


    With a surge of determination, Bao Chi Ping''s form underwent his transformation once again. The Desolate Black Dahlia Transformation, a manifestation of his formidable power, enveloped him in a shroud of darkness. His size grew exponentially, his silhouette a stark contrast against the backdrop of chaos.


    In an instant, the attacks of the Wen clan converged upon Bao Chi Ping, drawn to him like iron to a lodestone. Bolts of energy, like celestial arrows, found their mark, each impact a testament to his resilience.


    The assaults intensified, a storm of power that sought to break his resolve. Yet, like an ancient tree weathering a tempest, he stood firm.


    Bao Chi Ping''s rank seven prowess held at bay the onslaught of attacks, his determination unyielding.


    Meanwhile, Bao Yijun''s eyes blazed with intensity as she channeled her essence, her thoughts a focused mantra that wove the threads of the killer move to open the passage.


    The gateway to the Ancestral Grotto trembled as the immortals of the Bao clan gathered, a concerted effort to bridge the gap between the small worlds. But Lady Yijun''s effert got disrupted again, the emerging passage dissipated in the air as she had to dodge.


    Time hung in delicate balance, each passing moment a heartbeat of anticipation.


    Within the temporal crucible, the sands of existence seemed to shift, and the heartbeat of eternity quickened. Time, once a placid river, now surged with urgency, every fragment of a moment holding the weight of destiny.


    "Hurry!" - Bao Chi Ping urged again.


    The of fate the Bao clan hung in precarious balance, teetering on the precipice where mere breaths could span chasms between life and death.


    For the beleaguered Bao clan, each heartbeat was a prayer offered up in fleeting seconds that stretched into epochs.


    And then, at the final moments, the passage, a threshold to sanctuary, began to unfurl, its luminous portal growing wider and more defined.


    The ring of light connected to the Ancestral Grotto.


    * * * * *

 A look into the authors mind

    Hey Everyone, "ThunderTaters" here.


    First of all, thank you all for the support and positive feedback on the story. It kept me going on the days I thought it just made no sense to do this.


    I started out writing this small story to condense the ideas I had accumulated when thinking of RI. I had a rough idea, some concepts but also lots of researching to do.


    I was burning with ambition to create something new, to fill a void in the hearts who wanted more of the RI world.


    One of my personal goals was to challenge myself by having a fixed release schedule, writing every week. I already knew my nature, that''s why I set the pace at one chapter a week.


    I wanted to see how far I could persevere, whether I had what it takes to produce a work I can be proud of!


    But this decision turned out to be a bad one.


    Each and every week my self imposed deadline, and the knowing anticipation of the readers loomed above my head.


    I dreaded the days when my self imposed rule forced me to sit down and churn out a chapter, meeting an arbitrary deadline, just so I could take a breath before the same repeats the next week.


    Things should not be like this!


    I started this as a little pet project I would happily think about in my free time. Slowly cradling, and refining the ideas of characters and plots in my head before putting them on the proverbial paper.


    I''m oh so familiar with the perpetually in-the-works nature of perfectionism, where you keep polishing a single thing, but not moving forward as a result. Now I have experienced the other end of the scale...


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I thought I was measuring and pushing my perseverance. Yet, I have strayed from my own nature, forced into contrived mental chains by myself, slowly suffocating my creative spirit.


    Wishing to fulfill my own and the reader''s expectations is an endless task. I cannot treat a hobby as if it were a job, because it will turn into one, souring the root of it.


    So what then? All this melancholy and rambling, what even am I trying to say?


    That brings us to the current point.


    In the latest chapters you probably noticed the change the most.


    "They have gone to shit!" - My inner voice is screaming. Yet, I just pushed on, clicking the publish button late at bight for that small, momentary rush of chemicals in my brain.


    "I did it! Chapter''s published, now I can sleep!"


    ...


    So what have I learned over this one and a half year?


    Some overall takeaways and self reflection tells me, you can''t force nature, you have to find it and accept it.


    I can''t just become a chapter factory.


    My respect toward Gu Zhen Ren has deepened since I started writing. Hats off to his perseverance, he knows the meaning of it well.


    I''m a person who values open options more than stubbornly committing to a single path, so I can''t continue in this way.


    Don''t get me wrong, I will not stop writing, I still have the desire to create a finished work and not leave you hanging. But I will also not publish half baked chapters, written in the rush of an impending deadline.


    The balance between planning and improvisation has tilted for the worse. I do not have the notes worked out, and some vague directions in my head are not good enough basis for the tightly knit and interweaving story that I aim for.


    I need time to crystallize these ideas, there''s no way around this unfortunately.


    "Yeah, ok dude, but where is my chapter?" - My imagined reader asks.


    Well, I don''t know. It hasn''t been made yet and the future is uncertain, as always.


    If you want to help me in any shape or form, I''m open to suggestions. So feel free to theory craft in the comments, or just send your thoughts my way. I''ll read all.


    Once again, I''m sorry for letting down expectations.


    I will be back with a chapter once I feel like it hits the bar of quality.


    Thank You.

 Ch. 77.5 - Previously on Verdant Heart Seed...

    (Recap for up to ch. 77.)


    The Annual Competition started between the two clans.


    Zhao Min, Jin Ju, Yu Lingxin, Ye Jianhong participated as well. During the battle Ye Jianhong died, but was saved by the yin gu unknowingly hidden on his body from a previous encounter. His body turned female.


    The four of them used the three demons'' inheritance, which got them disqualified, expelled and sent back. They swore to use this chance of freedom, pursue the demonic path and become immortals.


    Wen Hao Jiong tricked Wen Qinyang''s brother, Wen Tu, to join the fight. Qinyang had to intervene to save Wen Tu, but the gu worms she got from Hao Jiong were a trap. Qinyang managed to save her brother, but she lost control.


    The unconscious Qinyang''s information path method kept her alive by using her gu, Hao Jiong failed again to kill his son''s lover.


    But Qinyang still had to be saved as she couldn''t leave and rank five opponents were too much for her.


    Hao Meng rushed to her help and faced the rank five gu masters.


    But Bao clan sent in Bao Li Mu, who was already a newly advanced gu immortal in disguise. He was not taken the immortal oath yet, so he could go against the rules and compete unfairly.


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    Hao Meng was pushed to the limit by Bao Li Mu who aimed to kill all Wen clan gu masters in the competition.


    Hao Meng, in a last ditch effort, decided to break and detonate his extreme physique aperture.


    He did not know this would start his immortal ascension.


    The tribulation it caused disrupted the whole event.


    Wen Jie granted a fire path immortal gu to Hao Jiong''s faction as her son''s Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique could not ascend without a matching immortal gu.


    Before this, Xu Lian was banised by his fater. He sought refuge in Wen clan.


    Taksed by Bao Zhi, Xu Lian infiltrated the immortal gu house: Wondrous Insipration Pagoda.


    But Xu Lian was captured by Old Refinement and used to reverse refine a killer move.


    Bao Zhi told Xu Lian''s will to construct a formation to save his body. But Bao Zhi tricked him and escaped from Xu Lian''s blessed landm, stealing and refined his aperture origin core.


    The surviving participants entered the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda to receive their rewards. Wen Tu and Wen Qinyang were among them.


    The mysterious Jue Shi woke up and took control of the gu house. He transported Qinyang to the control room, letting her use it.


    Qinyang tried to help Hao Meng face his tribulation. Bao Li Mu tried to sabotage the tribulation.


    Hao Jiong flew in to help with the tribulation as well.


    But due to Bao Li Mu''s interference, Qinyang accidentally killed Hao Jiong with the gu house.


    The other immortals intervened to protect the place from furhter damage and Hao Meng succesfully became a rank six gu immortal.


    Jue Shi discovered Bao Zhi, who was secretly refining the gu house. He captured Bao Zhi.


    Qinyang made an agreement with Bao Zhi to help her safely escape, while she had to help him obtain his past inheritance.


    Wen clan''s hidden plan began, Old Refinement and Shou Xin used a killer move to remove thier immortal oath.


    Their first supreme elder, Bao Lang Chao sustained heavy injuries from Wen Jie. Bao clan was forced to retreat.


    Wen Clan chased after Bao clan.

 Ch. 78 - Im back!

    The events unfolded in an unexpected hurry before Bao Zhi''s eyes. His composure stood tested at this very moment as he witnessed the Wen clan erasing their binding agreement. The very agreement that ensured the two clans would cooperate and compete throughout the years.


    Each clan''s immortals under the effects of the oath were forced. When a new immortal arose amidst their ranks they had to submit the new immortal during the yearly competition to the other clan for them to place their part of the agreement on them, perpetuating the cycle.


    This seemed like a foolproof system. Bao clan''s immortals were shackled by Wen clan''s information path agreement and vice versa.


    Bao Zhi came from before this system was established. In fact, he was the one to propose and implement it!


    His original scheme was of similar design to exploit this agreement after his rebirth. Bao clan''s situation was deliberately set up the way it was today.


    Bao Zhi has left behind his true inheritance in the form of the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation. It contained his previous vital gu, the rank eight Immortal Gu ¡ª Root.


    The rank eight formation ensured Bao clan''s safety throughout the ages, but it also restricted the immortals'' growth.


    Feeding the rank eight gu and other immortal gu was no small matter for the economy of the grotto heaven, the rest of the resources also had to be split among many. This was Bao Zhi''s first arrangement, it ensured that Bao clan would survive and also prevented the emergence of another rank eight gu immortal.


    The second arrangement was to restrict Wen can as well via the immortal oath.


    He planned to reclaim Bao clan first, then subdue the helpless Wen clan with their combined forces.


    But alas, Wen clan was one step quicker. They removed their own shackles, flipping the table on Bao Zhi''s age old scheme.


    "Hah, good! A worthy display of Wen clan''s wisdom path foundation." - Bao Zhi praised internally with a face of mild surprise and admiration.


    "Has Wen clan seen through my scheme the moment they agreed to it?" - He thought to himself with suspicion.


    "They would have acted sooner if that was the case. Nonetheless, I have to be more careful. I have to assume the worst, my rebirth might also be exposed."


    Bao Zhi''s centuries of experience made him careful and calculating. Unexpected situations like this were the watershed moments that truly tested one''s skills and instincts, separating the seasoned expert from the merely competent.


    "The immortals are fighting!" - Qinyang called out in a tense voice.


    Her thoughts were a chaotic bunch as her gaze fixated on the outside events with worry.


    "This is all because of me. I accidentally killed an immortal and now a blood feud broke out! I can''t let them find out that I was the one controlling the gu house..."


    "No, I was only trying to help! That useless Hao Jiong should have dodged the gu house in the first place..."


    "She tried to kill me with such underhanded methods! She even deserved her fate!" - She argued in her mind.


    Qinyang glanced at Jue Shi and Bao Zhi in search of guidance.


    Bao Zhi was already analyzing the situation. He dispelled his killer move, Concealed Human Qi, to focus all his attention.


    "Let me control the gu house." - He ordered as the wave of his human qi spread free.


    "Oh!" - Qinyang stepped back in shock, the human qi crashing past her like a formless wave.


    She let Bao Zhi access the gu house''s controls without further ado.


    "Who is this person? His presence suddenly became so... domineering?" - Qinyang was at a loss to describe what she felt looking at the towering back of the person before her.


    Jue Shi looked on curiously, he felt some lingering disdain for Bao Zhi''s attempt at refining his gu house, but he didn''t voice it.


    Images flashed in front of Bao Zhi as he controlled the gu house and assessed its capabilities. Now from a different angle than before, he gained a more complete understanding.


    "The first priority is to stabilize our situation." - He thought while multitasking.


    "This gu house can suppress those irregular wills, is that correct?" - Knowing the answer already, still he turned to Jue Shi for confirmation.


    "True, the case happens to be so, indeed. Moon on the water, these wills are but shallow and incomplete imitations." - Jue Shi replied with a hint of pride.


    The gu house sprung to action under Bao Zhi''s control. The wills of Old Refinement and Shou Xin froze in front of the gu house before they vanished in a flash.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Bao Zhi checked the gu house''s internal space where he discovered the slumbering wills. He saw two more lying there in dormant suspension.


    The gu house started to rise higher into the air to gain a better vantage point.


    "Wait! We need to take him with us!" - Qinyang motioned to the still Hao Meng on the ground.


    He was left behind where the now ruined competition stage stood. He was easily captured by Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi placed Hao Meng''s body next to Xu Lian in the lower floor''s refinement formation and suppressed him. He wanted no interference or unexpected surprises from this newly advanced gu immortal.


    Finally, the gu house shot into the clouds with great speed, chasing after the immortals of the two clans.


    "What is your plan?" - Qinyang eagerly wanted to know.


    "It is simple." He began. "Bao clan is getting chased by Wen clan. But once they enter the grotto, the situation will be complicated. That is the moment of opportunity. I will have my chance to obtain the inheritance and stabilize the situation."


    "Are you taking us right into a battle now? But you promised to take us to safety!"


    "The closer to danger, the further from harm." - Bao Zhi smiled faintly.


    Qinyang: "..."


    "Worry not, you will stay inside and control the gu house."


    Qinyang bit her lip in frustration, she had to fulfill her end of the agreement and help Bao Zhi with his inheritance even is she was unwilling.


    Bao Zhi gave a short brief of the situation to her.


    At his moment, the gu house caught up to the immortals at last.


    Wen clan was crossing from the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land to the Ancestral Grotto at this moment.


    "Keep it steady. Follow the immortals from a distance. Once inside, wait for my signal then approach the huge tree." - Bao Zhi instructed and disappeared on the spot using the gu house''s methods.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda cut through the sky with grace and entered the gate connecting to the Ancestral Grotto.


    Bao Zhi was standing atop the roof, holding on with one hand.


    His senses were immediately engulfed in a symphony of sensations. The air carried a rich, earthy scent, mingled with the sweetness of blooming flowers and the tang of distant rain. The vibrant hues of emerald and jade canopies sprawled and danced in the gentle breeze till the eye could see.


    "It''s good to be back." - He enjoyed this brief nostalgic moment.


    This was the first time he could witness his grotto heaven''s lush forests and rolling hills since his death.


    Amidst the green expanse, Bao Zhi''s gaze settled on one entity, the majestic silhouette of the giant Azure Crown Oak tree, its colossal branches reaching towards the sky like hundred outstretched arms.


    This towering desolate plant, often revered as the world tree, stood tall among the clouds with a presence commanding of awe.


    Bao Zhi didn''t revel in these sensations longer than a moment. He knew he needed to act at this moment or the opportunity would be gone.


    With Concealed Human Qi again in effect, he threw himself off the gu house and vanished into the greenery below.


    He kept close to the ground, using the rank five gu worms he obtained from Xu Lian. He had enough essence and a complimentary set of gu finally.


    Earth Root Travel!


    He used the rank five version of his signature move, speeding towards the center of commotion.


    The Bao clan immortals were escaping in a hurry.


    "Quickly, quickly! Man the formation, protect the grotto!" - Sounded the command in the Bao clan immortal''s ears.


    Bao Zhi''s perception caught up to the immortals overhead, their dense human qi, like burning torches in the night were obvious due to his grandmaster human path attainment.


    "Something''s not right." - He noticed an anomaly in the fleeing group.


    One of the immortal''s human qi was noticeably unusual. Focusing on this individual, Bao Zhi discovered a cunning and malicious intent.


    What did this mean? A foreboding premonition took hold of his mind.


    "I see! This scheme is deeper than I thought..." - Bao Zhi changed his direction immediately, heading towards the Great Root Manor.


    His plan was simple, but simple was good. A complex plan was hard to adapt to unforeseen changes.


    Bao Zhi did not waste time speculating, and chose the simplest, most direct option.


    Bao clan entered the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation at this moment.


    This was Bao clan''s last line of defense and also their trump card. This formation has protected the grotto heaven for generations, facing multiple myriad tribulations. The force of rank seven immortals couldn''t hold a candle to the destructive forces of myriad tribulations.


    "Wen Jie! Your farce is over. Leave now, or you all will wish we could give you a quick death!" - Bao Yijun''s threatening voice resounded.


    This was Bao clan''s territory, they had the defender''s advantage now that they taken position in the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation.


    Wen Jie did not respond to the provocation, only a sly smile escaped her lips behind her fan.


    The Wen clan immortals slowed their pace, only one person kept flying head on.


    The figure cloaked in the swirling of power. His eyes, usually calm and composed, now blazed with an intense fervor, reflecting the depths of his resolve.


    Rank seven gu immortal, Great Formation Wen Bo took the charge!


    His aura surged, like a crashing wave of power cascading outward in all directions. His hair billowed and danced around him like tendrils of silk in the wind, it was clear to all, he was about to unleash a powerful killer move.


    Once more, he glanced at their leader, Wen Jie. Her soundless acknowledgement was all he needed to fulfill his purpose now.


    His body seemed to shimmer and waver, and then, in a blinding flash of brilliance, it happened.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Formation Sand!


    Wen Bo''s physical form dissolved into a swirling vortex of silver sand! Each grain shimmered with light, like the brightest stars in the sky.


    The torrential surge of silver, scattered like a thin and harmless mist.


    Bao Clan was on edge, seeing this killer move for the fist time. But their faith in the power of their formation was unshaken.


    They activated the formation, mobilizing its core and myriad supplementary gu worms.


    The whole world seemed to come alive as if a giant was shaking it.


    Immortal Formation ¡ª Flying Leaf Coiling Vine!


    Gigantic roots sprouted from underground and leaves became a sea of flying razor blades ready to mince their targets.


    The silver mist of formation sand moved at the same time, rushing towards a certain spot of the formation.


    "Oh no! They found one of the core immortal gu! Quickly shift the cores!"


    The flying leaves rushed to block the silver mist, but the latter seemed unstoppable, slipping through easily.


    This was no coincidence, of course. Wen clan had studied this remarkable formation for decades. They knew they couldn''t defeat it head on, even a rank eight gu immortal would struggle to hold their own.


    No, they choose the next best countermeasure.


    Prevoiusly, one of the core immortal gu, rank six Leaf Edge immortal gu has been refined by Wen clan. This gu was tampered with, creating a loophole that only Wen Bo''s killer move could exploit!


    At this moment, Wen Bo used his remaining lifespan, his body, his gu worms and even his dao marks. Everything he had was sacrificed, fueling this one killer move.


    Bao clan''s defense had to be dealt with!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 79 - How is he still alive?

    The silver-light formation sand twisted and twirled in the air like ribbons in a whirlwind, rushing towards the Leaf Edge immortal gu in the rank eight Flying Leaf Coiling Vine Formation.


    "Stop it! Don''t let it inside the formation!" - The Bao clan immortals frantically tried their best to halt the silver sea''s intrusion.


    But this core of the immortal formation was like a punctured boat, a gaping hole for the silver sand to pour forward with great momentum. Like the venom of a deadly snake, it exerted its effect almost immediately.


    "Ugh! So heavy!"


    "What is happening to the formation?"


    "Do not slack! Keep pouring in your essence!" - Shouted the third supreme elder, Bao Chi Ping,.


    The silver sand infiltrated the formation and started to spread wildly.


    The immortals in the formation noticed a sharp increase in the formation''s essence consumption.


    Two times.


    Three times.


    Five times...


    One after another, Bao Yijun used beads of her rank seven red date immortal essence to continue to fuel the formation, but to no avail.


    No matter how much they struggled the formation kept slowing breath by breath.


    Not giving up, the formation shook and creaked intensely, the greater the force it created, the more the formation sand impeded it.


    "How could this... But this is a rank eight formation!"


    A weary horse halts on a path of blue stones; a boat in stormy seas ceases its journey.


    The immortal essence flowed like a river, yet just after an incense stick of time, the formation ground to a complete halt.


    Like rocks between the cogwheels, the formation sand achieved its ultimate purpose.


    Bao clan suddenly found themselves at an impasse.


    At the next moment Wen Jie''s voice reached their ears:


    "Riding the wind and breaking the waves, only to meet the towering cliffs."


    "Advancing with vigor, but halted by the unyielding mountain."


    "Subduing the strong with gentleness, target the weakness."


    "The mountain bows, crumbling to mere grains of sand."


    "Conquer the summit to claim the lands."


    "Eradicate all who stand in the path."


    Bao Lang Chao: "..."


    Bao Yijun: "..."


    Bao Chi Ping: "..."


    The Bao clan immortals had an ashed expression.


    But now, what should they do? They looked at each other with uncertainty written on their faces.


    Bao Yijun: "We can''t stay here and endure passively!"


    Bao Chi Ping: "The formation is useless now. We need to retreat into the depths of the grotto!"


    Bao Lang Chao''s eyes flashed resolutely: "Yijun, you lead the charge. I''m going to hold them as long as I can."


    Bao Chi Ping: "Lord Chao, I''ll stay too. You are still injured. I will bring up the rear."


    They nodded in understanding and charged out of the formation at once.


    Bao Yijun flew at the lead with five rank six gu immortals following closely behind her.


    Bao Lang Chao kept using his healing methods to recover his injury from Wen Jie. His body had no wounds, this was an injury of his mind. Chaotic emotions kept interrupting his concentration as he covered the escape path for the others.


    He and Bao Chi Ping turned to face the Wen clan immortals in the far distance.


    Bao Lang Chao used his technique, seven large leaves of elephant ear sprouted from his body. Raising the huge leaves like the feathers of a peacock, they towered tall and wide, blocking the way.


    At the same time, Bao Chi Ping used his signature move, Desolate Black Dahlia transformation.


    The two rank seven wood path gu immortals aimed to physically block the way.


    But at the next moment, Bao Chi Ping unleashed a sneak attack!


    His strike caught Bao Lang Chao unprepared. At such a short distance there was no time to react, it struck him dead on.


    "Ugh!" - Bao Lang Chao coughed up a mouthful of blood. His interrupted killer move''s backlash caused an internal injury.


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    He endured the pain with gritted teeth. His eyes flashed with shock.


    "You? You were the traitor?" - He shouted in anger.


    "Ha! Take this!" - Bao Chi Ping, didn''t hesitate. He followed up his attack with another.


    Bao Lang Chao defended himself, but his injuries worsened.


    "Are you surprised? Your and Yijun''s suspicions were right. There was a traitor. But it wasn''t your son. Haha-ha!" - Bao Chi Ping mocked.


    At the mention of his son, Bao Lang Chao''s emotions flared up! Indignant and furious, he charged at Bao Chi Ping.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Great Leaf Grasp!


    The seven monstrous leaves curled forward like the fingers of a giant.


    The two rank sevens clashed in an exchange of blows.


    Memories flashed in Bao Lang Chao''s mind.


    Bao Chi Ping was Bao clan''s indomitable pillar for as long as he knew. He put clan benefits above all else, and wouldn''t tolerate any setbacks that would hurt the clan''s bottom line.


    "How did I not see it sooner? This person was too perfect." - Bao Lang Chao realized.


    Because of this, Bao Chi Ping often got pushed aside by the other supreme elders'' selfish political interests.


    But these selfish interests also saved Bao Chi Ping. When Bao Lang Chao wanted to distance himself from the rumors regarding his son, he sacrificed him.


    "The oath! When you protected us from that ink, that was to remove your restrictions! Then you forced us into retreat... Wait." - Realization dawned on his face.


    "Your main target was me?"


    Bao Chi Ping clapped in mockery.


    "Beheading the king. You realized all too late. Without you and me, what can just Yijun do? Your clan is doomed." - Bao Chi Ping explained with a calm voice.


    Wen Jie appeared behind Bao Lang Chao at this moment.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Willing Heart, Faltering Strength!


    This was Wen Jie''s attached killer move.


    Bao Lang Chao was still under the effect of her previous attack from the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    Now this killer move attached itself to that killer move to form an even stronger attack. This was a type of a combination killer move that worked best when the target was in an agitated state.


    Bao Lang Chao felt like falling into an endless chasm of icy needles, an overwhelming sense of helplessness engulfed him.


    He screamed, but no words came out. Even a finger felt too hard to lift at this moment.


    Only his darting eyes told the world he was still conscious.


    "Well done, Leaf Will." - Wen Jie praised briefly.


    "Did it work?" - Bao Chi Ping turned to Wen Jie with a hint of nervousness.


    He knew Bao Lang Chao was a notch stronger than him. If it weren''t for these circumstances, he wasn''t confident in his chances against the first supreme elder''s all out strength.


    "He is now restrained and suppressed. Let''s continue as planned." - Wen Jie smiled confidently.


    "Look, Sword Will is about to catch up to the rest." - She pointed in the distance.


    From the corner of his eye, Bao Lang Chao witnessed a figure drawing a streak across the sky. His pupils shrunk in his shock.


    "This cannot be! That person died of old age two hundred years ago! Why is Wen clan''s Eccentric Sword ¡ª Wen Jiao Feng still alive?!"


    "Oh, you saw something you shouldn''t have. Thank me later, your weak heart might not take what''s next to come." - Wen Jie swung her fan lightly and Bao Lang Chao''s vision faded to darkness as he collapsed unconsciously.


    Bao Lang Chao got captured.


    Great Root Manor


    Bao Zhi landed and hurried into the halls. It was just like he remembered, this place hadn''t changed in centuries.


    "It should be here." - He stopped at one of the empty walls.


    After a moment of stillness, the walls opened in front of him. A hidden passage was revealed.


    He followed the narrow and winding stairs down into the heart of this place.


    At the end, he arrived at a small dark chamber.


    There were no ornaments of lights here adorning the walls. A foul stench and dust lingered in the air.


    Bao Zhi used a Brilliance Lotus gu, dispelling the darkness.


    A skin-and-bone corpse revealed itself sitting on the floor.


    Bao Zhi narrowed his eyes, and kicked the hunched body with all his strength.


    "Wake up! I need you."


    The corpse was tough like a monolith, Bao Zhi''s kick couldn''t even scratch it.


    The dry husk suddenly came to life. In fact this was no corpse, it was an immortal zombie!


    "Grrnngh... Who¡ªkrrrgh¡ªphh¡ªphh¡ªdares?" - It groaned deeply and coughed up a large puff of dust.


    The immortal zombie''s movements were stiff, but it soon composed himself, standing in front of Bao Zhi.


    He looked up at the imposing figure of Bao Zhi holding the only light source in the room in his hand.


    If he had cheeks, he would be smiling. If he had tears, he would be shedding them at this moment.


    "You... You. Made. It... You. Lived." - He spoke slowly in a hoarse voice.


    "Come, follow me. We will talk as we go." - Bao Zhi instructed and passed a gu worm to him which let them communicate faster.


    The zombie''s happiness quickly turned to dismay as Bao Zhi explained the current situation.


    "So you are still a gu master..." - The immortal zombie realized the problem.


    Immortal zombies had slow minds, they were between life and death. Not dead yet not alive either.


    "I have nothing to give you. No gu. No immortal essence. No soul. I am just a remnant will in a dead body." - The zombie transmitted.


    "I remember."


    "Use me as an immortal material. Make a powerful killer move. Wipe out Wen clan." - The zombie suggested.


    Bao Zhi shook his head mentally.


    "Shut up! I will do the thinking. Did you already forget your purpose? What would happen to this place if you were gone?" - He rebuked the immortal zombie.


    "..."


    Through no fault of their own, immortal zombies were dumb as their thoughts were very slow and few in numbers.


    High up in the sky, Wen Jiao Feng caught up to Bao Yijun''s fleeing party.


    His bald head gleamed in the sunlight, contrasting sharply with the long, flowing mustaches that danced behind him in his wake. His body bore the marks of countless injuries, scars crisscrossing him from head to toe.


    "Cut! Cut! Thrust! Feel it! Feel how it''s like to be cut!" - He shouted at the top of his lung.


    Two arcs of sword light shot out like crescent moons, and a ray of piercing sword light followed closely behind.


    Wen Jiao Feng used three killer moves right off the start in quick succession.


    The fleeing rank six gu immortal activated his defensive killer move, but before it has even halfway formed, his body was already cut into four pieces by Wen Jiao Feng overbearing attacks.


    Sword path was notorious for its speed and destructive power.


    The situation turned from bad to worse in a moment.


    "Who is this rank seven gu immortal?"


    "We need to split up!" - Bao Yijun gave the order immediately. The four rank six gu immortals flew in four different directions as fast as they could, Bao Yijun accompanied one of them.


    "Splitting up? What a good idea! I''ll split you all up nicely." - Wen Jiao Feng laughed.


    A streak of blood ran down his arms and chest, exactly where the rank six gu immortal he struck.


    "Ah, so good! The joy of cutting, you will all get to experience the joy of cutting! Cut! Cut!" - He shouted and gave chase.


    Two arcs of sword slashes flew out at great speeds.


    One of the blades missed and flew past, leaving a mirror-smooth cut as it leveled a whole city block.


    The Bao clan gu immortal dodged the first one, but the second blade curved its path and sliced his torso in half.


    "How dare you try to avoid my cuts?" - Wen Jiao Feng''s body shook, a deep gash opened up on his back this time.


    "Haha, yes! This is what''s worth living for!" - He rejoiced.


    Bao Zhi looked up with a cold expression.


    He and the zombie just left the unattended immortal treasury.


    "Did you remember everything?" - Bao Zhi asked while he activated an immortal gu.


    The small, beetle-like immortal gu circled around the two of them before resting on Bao Zhi''s shoulder.


    "Yes." - The immortal zombie nodded solemnly.


    "But are you sure this is going to work?" - He continued.


    "I believe in you." - Bao Zhi reassured.


    "Haha! Of course, you do. One must trust themselves." - The zombie let out a hoarse chuckle and transmitted the rest.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 80 - Bao clans darkest day

    Bao clan''s immortal treasury.


    "No time to waste. Take all the immortal gu and enough mortal gu for killer moves." - Bao Zhi transmitted to his original body ¡ª the immortal zombie ¡ª beside him.


    Bao Zhi hurried into the halls of the treasury, quickly scanning the inventory.


    He sighed in disappointment. The immortal treasury had just three immortal gu in it. One of them was even a consumable gu, and none were of wood path that his immortal zombie body could use.


    "Times have changed and I''m the one responsible. The new generation got too comfortable in their peaceful lives and neglected gu refinement." - He thought of the underlying problem.


    At this moment, a tiny beetle-like gu with an iridescent body jolted to awareness and flew up to Bao Zhi.


    Its delicate, filmy wings flapped rapidly, resembling shifting light. Its large, gem-like eyes glistened with the reflection of light.


    "This is... the rank six illusion path immortal gu ¡ª Perception Warp?" - Bao Zhi reached out and the gu landed on his palm gently.


    "That''s not right!" - He studied the gu with a deep gaze. His jade-green eyes flashed with understanding. "No, this a human path gu worm!"


    Bao Zhi unmistakably felt this gu worm belonged to human path.


    How could it be misclassified as illusion path?


    But this was the norm with human path. Even though, it was widespread ¡ª thanks to the Legends of Ren Zu ¡ª it was understood very shallowly, even the venerables only grasped a portion of this mysterious path.


    The Perception Warp immortal gu was drawn to Bao Zhi''s human path aura like a bee attracted to the sweet smell of nectar. Wild gu often sought shelter on the bodies of beasts with a similar aura. It was a natural symbiotic phenomena.


    "What a useful gu worm." - Bao Zhi felt his human qi fluctuating in reaction to the gu.


    He checked on his aperture. The unsealed immortal aperture origin core had produced one bead of rank six green grape immortal essence.


    "It should be possible. This gu''s temperament is excellent. It wasn''t refined a long ago and hasn''t developed a strong will yet."


    Bao Zhi commanded in his mind, and his immortal essence burst forth to refine Perception Warp immortal gu, taking ownership of it.


    Remarkably, the gu did not mount any resistance and was successfully refined by Bao Zhi in a matter of minutes.


    After Bao Zhi raided, no I mean retrieved his own gu worms from the immortal treasury, he flew up in the air.


    His target was Wen Jiao Feng.


    Bao Zhi recognized the inheritance Wen Jiao Feng cultivated, it was one of Wen clan''s complete inheritances back from the times they were a super force.


    Observing the flashing swordlight and the helplessly dying Bao clan immortals, a past memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    ...


    "Lord Supreme elder! Ghostly Wail Gorge is under attack. They are requesting reinforcements from both clans." - A gu immortal reported to Bao Zhi.


    Ghostly Wail Gorge was a recently established large resource point, it bordered on the territory of Bao clan and Wen clan.


    The two clans decided to eventually settle the question of ownership after years of conflict by sharing this resource point evenly and defending it with a joint force.


    "Someone risked to attack this resource point? It is Ming You?" - He read the details. "He has made a name for himself in the demonic path and to think he openly targets even clans like mine now?"


    At this moment another message arrived. It was from Wen clan.


    "Wen clan plans to use this opportunity and capture Ming You, and their first supreme elder plans to bring even their immortal gu house?" - Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow.


    "Summon the elders present, they will accompany me." - Bao Zhi decided to head there as a show of force.


    But it made sense, Ming You had a reputation of the number one demon, a one in a thousand years genius.


    If Wen clan managed to subdue this person, all his reputation would turn into Wen clan''s reputation.


    "Lord Supreme elder! Ming You might be powerful, but he is only a rank seven gu immortal. Wen clan is already sending their rank seven gu house. If you, my lord, as a rank eight, personally intervene it would be a loss of face for our clan." - A rank seven elder said as he arrived.


    But if Bao Zhi didn''t go or send a stronger force than a rank seven gu house, Bao clan''s claim on Ghostly Wail Gorge would weaken, and Wen clan could use this as an excuse for a bigger share in the future.


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    "It is decided. Move out." - Bao Zhi ordered and led the group.


    Ghostly Wail Gorge was in dire straits. The defensive formation was broken and the two rank six gu immortals had no choice but to retreat.


    At the center was a black robed gu immortal, he looked like a middle aged man with a pale face, his black hair was chest length, he had a deep and cold killing intent that surrounded his entire body.


    It was Ming You.


    Ming You stuffed another batch of immortal resources into his aperture.


    He looked up.


    Wen clan''s reinforcements from the west and Bao clan''s group from the east encircled him.


    "Stay your hand, demonic thief! This is our first and final warning. Ming You, give up now and you can preserve your life." - A voice from the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda called out.


    "You are just like Qing clan. Your killing intent is weak. You cannot kill me." - Ming You scoffed and continued.


    The two clans'' rank seven gu immortals pincer attacked Ming You.


    An intense battle broke out.


    Ming You was losing his footing, getting pushed back by the righteous forces numerical advantage.


    The Bao clan immortals surrounded him, blocking any way of escape.


    Wen clan''s rank seven sword path expert attacked ruthlessly. Five sword lights flashed and followed his fingers before they struck Ming You''s body.


    Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!


    Blood sprayed in all directions. It was a gruesome sight, but Ming You''s lips couldn''t help but curve into a smile.


    "This can''t go on. It is like the rumors said, this person fears no death. Better to put him down before an accident occurs." - Wen clan''s first supreme elder transmitted.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda charged at Ming You as it shone in a bright blue light.


    But Ming You was one step faster.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Soul Taker Battlefield!


    This killer move was a special type of killer move. A battlefield killer move had to be se up in advance, but it could encompass a large area, separating it from the outside.


    The surroundings changed at once, soul-chilling winds blew and the immortals could feel their methods suppressed.


    Battlefield killer moves were similar to an immortal aperture, they could provide certain effects and suppress others.


    Ming You attacked the closest Bao clan immortal. An invisible force took the immortal''s life, his eyes rolled back as he collapsed lifelessly.


    From his corpse a soul beast jumped out.


    The soul beast shielded Ming You and crashed into the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    This happened in the matter of seconds, but Ming You was already striking his next target.


    "Watch out! He''s using a strange technique. Keep your distance!"


    "What is that strange creature?"


    "It has the same aura as Ghostly Wail Gorge."


    "You''ve seen it now, so you can all die." - Ming You laughed sinisterly.


    Bao Zhi narrowed his eyes, Bao clan has already suffered losses.


    "Now I understand, the rumors were true after all. This person has unfathomable methods."


    The Soul Taker Battlefield displayed its strength to the fullest, each time a living being perished, their soul turned into a soul beast under Ming You''s command.


    Even when soul beasts were destroyed inside this battlefield killer move, they would reform after a period of time.


    Ming You fought back fiercely, like a cornered beast. The longer the fight drew on the more momentum he gained.


    Bao Zhi realized something terrible was about to unfold.


    He used his rank eight killer move and Ming You got entrapped in roots, firm as a mountain.


    This was the might of rank eight, a single move could overturn the battle of rank sevens.


    Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda captured the immobilized Ming You.


    After a few breaths of time a cold shriek reverberated from the inside.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda''s side exploded, the flying tiles and bricks turned back to mortal gu worms. Thousands of them scattered in the blast.


    Ming You broke out with three soul beasts behind him and an immortal gu in his hand.


    "The core immortal gu!" - The Wen clan immortals hurriedly tried to patch up their immortal gu house and prevent it from collapsing.


    Ming You swiftly took the life of another gu immortal in his way. It was as easy as cutting grass and drinking water.


    The defensive methods had no effect against Ming You''s strange techniques.


    Ming You''s body was covered in blood, his limbs mangled and bones protruding.


    Bao Zhi attacked Ming You personally.


    Ming You has suffered multiple lethal injuries already, but miraculously, he kept fighting.


    "This person is troublesome, he can sill fight even when his body is destroyed. I will need to thoroughly eradicate it." - Bao Zhi thought.


    Ming You had only a head left, he opened his mouth wide.


    Ten soul beast emerged from Ming You''s throat and charged at Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi unleashed a wood path killer move, all ten beasts were captured in the blink of an eye, careful not to destroy them, lest they would reform again.


    "This is how you kill!" - Ming You said in a cold tone.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Soul Explosion!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Soul Explosion!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Soul Explosion!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Soul Explosion!


    ...


    All soul beasts exploded!


    The shock-waves overlapped, spreading in all directions.


    "Guh! What was this?" - Bao Zhi felt an intense pain from the very core of his being.


    How could a rank seven gu immortal injure him?


    "Not dead yet?" - Ming You asked in genuine surprise.


    "Don''t tell me. These strange attacks, they can target the soul itself? How is that possible?" - Bao Zhi realized the truth.


    Such methods were unheard of in the five regions and two heavens!


    Bao Zhi felt an overwhelming dizziness. Similar to when a gu refinement causes a backlash, the soul would be injured.


    He looked around to gather his forces into his aperture.


    But the Soul Taker Battlefield was eerily quiet.


    The immortals, who fought the soul beasts just a moment ago, have all died in the soul explosion!


    Bao Zhi''s pupils shrunk in his shock.


    New soul beast started emerging from the dead bodies of his underlings.


    Bao Zhi gritted his teeth, he would never have imagined this result. He not only had to personally make a move against a rank seven gu immortal, all his underlings were wiped out and now his own life was also threatened.


    Wen clan''s immortal gu house was damaged and lost its core immortal gu. Its fighting capabilities have plummeted.


    All because of a single rank seven gu immortal.


    This couldn''t be comprehended with common sense!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Earth Root Travel!


    Bao Zhi decisively cut his losses, activating his signature technique, he escaped through the ground immediately.


    Wen Clan''s remaining forces could only forcefully break out of the Soul Taker Battlefield with the help of their gu house''s charge.


    * * * * *


    Bao Zhi''s plan of swiftly reclaiming his inheritance was already thwarted.


    He flew as fast as his rank five gu worms allowed him.


    When he caught up, Wen Jiao Feng was already chasing his third victim.


    "If I can''t win, the best I can do is not lose."


    Bao Zhi''s heart was filled with determination.


    The land below him, it was his land.


    These people, they were his people.


    This was Bao clan, his own clan.


    Whatever happened here, it was his business.


    Even if these events were not his fault, he was the one who was responsible.


    It was all under Bao Zhi''s absolute ownership!


    "Bao clan''s darkest day will not repeat itself!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 81 - To kill a chicken with a butchers knife

    Ancestral Grotto


    "Wait for me! Don''t leave me behind!" - A desperate voice called out some distance away on the horizon.


    The voice ¡ª amplified by gu worms ¡ª reached the gu immortals'' ears.


    Bao Yijun and group didn''t slow down at all. If anything, they sped ahead even faster.


    "Hmm? There was another one?" - Wen Jiao Feng turned his attention to the new arrival in surprise.


    The flying figure didn''t seem to have noticed Wen Jiao Feng at all as he headed to fly past him in the distance. His flight path was uneven, stumbling and precariously balancing himself in the air.


    "Huh, no wonder I missed such a bottom feeder, his rank six aura is laughable. Not to mention his terrible flying skills."


    Wen Jiao Feng narrowed his eyes in disapproval.


    "Fearless are those who are unaware; their boldness knows no bounds." - He thought to himself in ridicule and changed his direction to catch the newcomer.


    The figure soon noticed him and started to wave his hands frantically.


    "Oh goodness! Rank seven senior uncle! I''m here, can you see me?"


    Wen Jiao Feng stopped in midair for a moment. He tilted his head dumbfounded.


    "Come pick me up quickly! Hurry, hurry! Wen clan is attacking this place! We need to escape!" - The figure changed course to meet Wen Jiao Feng halfway.


    "Who is this idiot?" - Wen Jiao Feng paused to take a closer look.


    He studied the relevant records of Bao clan before leaving his seclusion and entering Bao clan''s land. Yet he didn''t recognize this member of them.


    "Must be a new gu immortal, huh. If I were Bao clan, I too would be embarrassed to present him at the ceremony. Hehehe. Looks like they left him behind this time again."


    Wen Jiao Feng sneered sardonically in his mind, meanwhile a warm smile drew across his face. He wouldn''t mind taking a bit longer, the Bao clan gu immortals had nowhere to run anyway.


    Trapped in a cage and unable to fight back, they could only wait for Wen Jiao Feng to cut them to pieces.


    "Come here junior! I''ll take good care of you." - He flew closer and reached out his hand.


    But at the next moment a blinding sword light flashed from his palm!


    His target unexpectedly stumbled in the air again, the attack missed his head by less than an inch.


    "Ah! Senior, you scared me good! Haha! For a moment I really thought I was going to die! But this isn''t the time for jokes." - The newcomer stopped a distance of one li away.


    Wen Jiao Feng raised an eyebrow.


    "What a lucky brat you are. Too bad this little luck of yours was wasted when you met me." - Wen Jiao Feng thought in a moment of silence.


    "Huh? Oh, I get it now!" The rookie slapped his forehead. "I remember, I need to give face to my seniors when I meet them publicly. I''m really sorry." - He cupped his hands and bowed toward Wen Jiao Feng.


    "This junior greets lord... um... What was your name again?"


    "..."


    Wen Jiao Feng was dumbstruck once again.


    This junior dared to ridicule him?


    "Interesting! You are an interesting brat. Much more interesting than the rest!" - A vein popped on his temple accompanied by a dry laugh.


    Who was this? He was Wen clan''s sword prodigy, the sharpest blade of Wen clan!


    Wen clan''s Eccentric Sword ¡ª Wen Jiao Feng!


    Who couldn''t recognize the great Wen Jiao Feng?


    Naturally the person in front of Wen Jiao Feng was Bao Zhi.


    "Such disrespect! Such insolence! I will educate you in place of your parents!" - Wen Jiao Feng raised his voice angrily.


    He decided to play along instead of explaining anything. What purpose was it to explain anything to a dead man?


    "Take my moves junior!"


    "I was wrong! Let me ex-"


    Another sword light flashed!


    Wen Jiao Feng saw Bao Zhi''s figure shift to the right and the sword light go through a green silhouette.


    Bao Zhi panted greatly, sweat dripping on his face. He hugged his chest where the sword would have pierced him.


    "I- I had to use my evasive-"


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    At this moment, Bao Zhi lost his footing and started to spiral downwards.


    "Oh no! I forgot this killer move used the same gu I was flying with!"


    Thud!


    He crashed into the ground with a dull thump.


    "He fell down? Just like that?"


    "No, he should have realized by now I''m his enemy, right?"


    Wen Jiao Feng blinked with his brows knotted.


    "But trying to get away like this?" - Wen Jiao Feng couldn''t make heads or tails what he was seeing.


    He flew down to finish Bao Zhi off.


    "Cut!" - He activated his basic killer move a third time.


    "Ahh¡ª! Take this Empty Void Timber!" - Bao Zhi shouted in panic and threw out a piece of immortal material.


    The movement was clumsy and haphazard, but it took Wen Jiao Feng by surprise.


    He saw his sword light hit the piece of wood, and missing Bao Zhi.


    Wen Jiao Feng glanced at Bao Zhi''s figure ¡ª only his clothes got cut ¡ª, then at the two pieces of wood, he saw ripples of space clearly causing a distortion around them.


    "Oh? Right, that Empty Void Timber is a space path plant. It manged to deflect my attack just enough." - Wen Jiao Feng nodded internally at Bao Zhi''s last ditch effort.


    Bao Zhi looked at Wen Jiao Feng intently.


    "Senior?! No... You have no hair! You are not my senior!" - Bao Zhi shouted in fright as he locked gazes with Wen Jiao Feng.


    "Cut! Cut!"


    Two sword lights shot out without a hint of hesitation.


    "Aah! Leave me alone!" - Bao Zhi produced another piece of immortal material and shot it towards Wen Jiao Feng aimlessly.


    "The same trick won''t work a second time." - Wen Jiao Feng saw through this simple ploy.


    Just as Wen Jiao Feng expected, as the sword lights neared the material, his two sword lights changed their path again, curving away from their target.


    With a flick of his wrist, he changed the trajectory to make the two sword lights arc in the opposite direction, canceling out the immortal material''s space path effect.


    "A measly rank six material won''t save you from a rank seven expert like me." - His palms were itching for the joyous sensation of being cut when his attack finally connected.


    "Ten Thousand Li Willow branch! Go!"


    Wen Jiao Feng''s eyes twitched, as he noticed a bundle of green and slender branches appear.


    His attacks seemingly stopped in place for a split second, just enough for Bao Zhi to shift his body and avoid a fatal strike.


    "Expanding the space with Ten Thousand Li Willow just to block an attack?" - Wen Jiao Feng''s pupils dilated.


    The Ten Thousand Li Willow Tree had a slow growth, it could only be harvested once every three hundred years. Its branches could expand an area of space. Gu immortals used it to save space in their immortal aperture.


    "So wasteful! That''s a rare rank seven material! It is worth as much as some common rank eight materials." - Wen Jiao Feng narrowed his eyes in resentment.


    This was such a great loss. What wastefulness!


    "Stop throwing away these resources!" - He demanded.


    "Stop trying to kill me!"


    "..."


    Bao Zhi didn''t even look at Wen Jiao Feng, but he could clearly feel his human qi. To his surprise, Wen Jiao Feng did actually consider letting Bao Zhi off, just for a moment though.


    "You are funny, young man! But I cannot let you go, but I can promise you a painless death if you hand over those resources. That''s much better than struggling at death''s door. I''m giving you this chance, so consider it while I have the patience."


    Bao Zhi turned on his heel and started running.


    "As expected, ignorant youngsters like you know nothing of the pains of the blade. In your final moment, I will let you experience it a thousand times!"


    Wen Jiao Feng was done messing around, like a predator bored of playing with its prey, he prepared to deliver the fatal strike.


    "It''s coming." - Bao Zhi calculated in his mind. He knew the next attack will be the deciding factor of this fight.


    Wen Jiao Feng breathed out, the air around him trembled with an ominous aura before plunging into an eerie stillness.


    Suddenly, seven brilliant sword lights burst forth from his palms, arcing through the air in a deadly dance, each striking from a different angle!


    The sword lights roared through the air from multiple directions, weaving a deadly net destined to ensnare Bao Zhi.


    Wen Jiao Feng controlled each one with meticulous precision, his focus ironclad as he guided their lethal paths.


    At this moment his sword path attainment was fully displayed as Wen clan''s number one sword path cultivator.


    His lips curled upwards as he saw Bao Zhi freeze in trepidation with another batch of the Empty Void Timber in front of him.


    Wen Jiao Feng was already familiar with these paltry tricks, no space path fluctuations could save Bao Zhi this time.


    Swish, swish, swish!


    Under a split second, the sword lights converged, creating a blinding flash.


    Wen Jiao Feng didn''t even have to look, he already felt the familiar tingling of cuts on his body that meant his attacks hit true.


    "Guh!" - He unexpectedly coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    With shock in his eyes, he looked down his chest. The sensation he just felt wasn''t from the side effect of his technique.


    "What?!"


    His own sword lights have struck him!


    The sword lights pierced his body from seven directions, leaving fourteen marks, all oozing blood throughout his torso.


    Wen Jiao Feng''s eyes widened and his mouth fell open and his figure teetered in disbelief.


    He quickly used his healing methods, but sword path excelled in speed and offensive power, its other aspects were only mediocre.


    Now that he was inside the wood path environment of the rank eight Ancestral Grotto suppressing other paths'' effects, his healing seemed even more lacking in comparison.


    Wen Jiao Feng''s injuries were not life threatening, but they couldn''t be ignored either.


    "Such tricks! If only I had my defensive killer move active!"


    The shock quickly gave way to a smoldering anger that burned just beneath the surface.


    He grit his teeth, it seemed as though they might shatter.


    Wen Jiao Feng has never been humiliated like this through the hundreds of years he lived!


    His fists clenched so taut that his knuckles turned white, trembling with barely restrained fury.


    But he swallowed his anger and concentrated.


    His aura surged to its peak!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Double Edged Devastation!


    This was his trump card, the strongest move in the double edge inheritance he cultivated.


    The wounds on his body flashed brightly, they emitted a dense sword path aura.


    This was the famous killer move that once leveled the mountain now known as Ascension Peak in the Wen clan''s history, focusing astonishing destructive force into a single slash.


    Double Edged Devastation grew more powerful with each sword path injury the user bore. In this final attack, the core rank seven Double Edge Immortal Gu''s usual shortcoming became its greatest strength, allowing the user to use it to its full potential.


    In the distance Wen Jie and Bao Chi Ping noticed the commotion as a thick pillar of sword light pierced into the clouds.


    "Someone forced Sword Will to use his strongest move. Who could it be?" - Bao Chi Ping exclaimed with apprehension.


    "It can only be Bao Yijun. There is no other rank seven gu immortal who could oppose Sword Will to this extent. But..."


    "But she should have fled too. With the immortal oath restricting her, fighting back is just throwing her life away." - Bao Chi Ping finished her words.


    He turned to her with visible worry in his eyes.


    Wen Jie stared silently. According to her plan, Wen Jiao Feng shouldn''t need to use his full strength at any point.


    Thousands upon thousands of thoughts collided in her mind, quickly deducing and eliminating possible scenarios.


    There weren''t enough clues. Wisdom path could only deduce matters if enough information was available.


    A premonition unique to wisdom path cultivators told her something wasn''t right.


    Right at this moment, their hearts jumped and their bodies tensed with a bone-chilling shiver.


    Rank eight!


    An overwhelming aura burst out behind them.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 82 - Seeing is believing

    The immortal zombie Bao Zhi saw a flashing sword light in the sky. He knew it was the signal for him to act.


    He sprung forth from his hidden location and soared high.


    The effects of the rank six killer move Concealed Human Qi with Perception Warp immortal gu as the core could not suppress his aura anymore.


    The oppressive rank eight aura shocked the two gu immortals who were in the immortal zombie''s sight.


    It was Wen Jie who reacted first, just in time, true to a wisdom path cultivator''s thinking speed. She narrowly avoided Bao Zhi''s immortal zombie body and gained distance.


    Bao Chi Ping wasn''t as quick witted but still responded. He instinctively activated his strongest defensive move.


    But Bao Chi Ping''s habit betrayed him this time. How could he have any experience of the strength of rank eight?


    Immortal zombies had very tough bodies, they contained many dao marks.


    The immortal zombie struck Bao Chi Ping with full force.


    The fist shredded through Bao Chi Ping''s defenses as if they were made of paper.


    Realization dawned suddenly on Bao Chi Ping''s face. He wanted to escape, but it was already too late.


    The immortal zombie''s knuckles tore into his chest and sent him flying like a cannonball.


    A thunderous blast echoed in the region.


    The inhabitants looked up at the blue sky with questioning gazes.


    Bao Chi Ping''s body soared across the landscape like a green shooting star. When it finally plummeted with an astounding momentum, colliding with the ground in a disastrous crash.


    The ground shook violently, and a massive crater formed upon impact. The force of the landing gouged out a deep valley, the edges jagged and torn, stretching for ten li as a proof to the raw power.


    Dust and debris settled slowly, revealing the new scar carved into the terrain.


    Bao Chi Ping''s motionless body lay at the center, a gaping fist-sized hole in his torso.


    The once sharp glint in his eyes was now absent, replaced by a vacant stare that offered no clue to his consciousness. His life and death was uncertain.


    "That was just a casual punch?!" - Wen Jie''s pupils shrunk to pin size at this sight.


    If it wasn''t for the rank eight aura, one would surely conclude such feat could only be done by a strength path gu immortal.


    "I should have known! These deviations could only be explained by an unknown force... But who would have thought it was a rank eight expert!"


    Wen Jie, knowing she couldn''t afford to idle, quickly escaped with her heart pounding in her throat.


    The immortal zombie Bao Zhi did not give chase. He had no immortal gu on him.


    Giving chase with mortal methods would give away this crucial weakness, he had to be careful.


    Wen Jie frantically tried to contact Wen Jiao Feng and Old Refinement, but neither sent a response.


    "What is going on?"


    She realized, her meticulously crafted plan to take over Bao clan crumbled to pieces in a matter of moments.


    "I need to resolve this by adapting one of the backup plans." - Her responsibility weighed heavily on her as the leader of Wen clan and the mastermind of this operation.


    Her eyes darted around wildly, seemingly searching for a way.


    As if a ray of hope shone down on her, she noticed the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda arriving in the distance.


    "Old Refinement, he came just in the nick of time!" - She rejoiced in her mind.


    Gu houses were like a flying war fortress, the peak creations of formation path, combining formidable offense and defense.


    A rank seven gu house could stand up to rank eight gu immortals. Even though the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda was incomplete, it could help a great deal.


    Wen Jie quickly calculated in her mind and decided.


    "Join forces then turtle up inside the gu house."


    This was her best course of action.


    "Halt!" - A deep and hoarse voice resounded.


    Wen Jie noticed the quickly approaching immortal gu house suddenly stopping in midair.


    It started shaking and loose tiles fell of as if a giant formless hand was holding it in place.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    She gasped in her shock, when she turned to look at Bao Zhi''s immortal zombie body calmly floating in the air.


    In one arm he held the first supreme elder of Bao clan, Bao Lang Chao.


    He was still unconscious, under the effect of the killer move Willing Heart, Faltering Strength.


    His other arm outstretched before him, it pointed directly at the gu house.


    "How annoying!" - He snorted with displeasure and just as if the gu house was a fly in his vision, he swatted it into the distance.


    Whoosh!


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda disappeared from sight quicker than a snowflake in a bonfire.


    "..." - Wen Jie''s last hopes of recovery were mercilessly crushed before her eyes.


    Any thought of resistance was purged in her mind.


    "This is an absolute disaster!"


    She needed to leave this place as soon as possible!


    The more she thought about the events, the more bitter and frightened she felt.


    The rank six ice path cultivator, Wen Hao Jiong''s life was lost at the annual competition. This was a great, but acceptable loss in the grand picture.


    The rank seven formation path cultivator, Wen Bo sacrificed his life to disable Bao clan''s rank eight defensive formation. This was a dire but necessary sacrifice. Wen clan lost their greatest formation expert.


    Their mole, the rank seven Bao Chi Ping was as good as dead in her mind. He was one of Wen clans strongest fighters with much insider knowledge.


    She feared for the worst when even their trump card, Wen Jiao Feng was unreachable.


    "This grotto heaven is a death trap!" - She regretted every moment spent plotting this day.


    * * * * *


    Meanwhile a short while ago inside the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    Wen Qinyang intently observed the clash of Bao Zhi and Wen Jiao Feng through the gu house''s investigative methods.


    "What is Bao Zhi doing? Will he not fight? I will need to interfere if this goes on like this..." - She was puzzled at the scene before her.


    Jue Shi tilted his head to the side, also clueless but had some lingering resentment towards Bao Zhi for trying to refine the gu house.


    "Let''s wait and see. Didn''t he say he needed no help?"


    That was the plan after all, so Qinyang continued to observe patiently.


    Bao Zhi''s opponent continued to miss him with his sword attacks.


    "Ahh. He is just attacking randomly. What is this, a fight between a pacifist and bald blind man?"


    But at the next moment her eyes widened in surprise.


    "What? Now his opponent attacked himself?"


    Jue Shi opened his mouth to try and explain, but no words came out.


    They observed as Wen Jiao Feng started to activate his strongest move.


    The sword light gathered around him and shot out wildly.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Double Edged Devastation!


    Qinyang shifted in her seat in excitement.


    Finally something flashy occurred in this strange fight.


    But the sword light didn''t even come close to Bao Zhi.


    "Ehh? He missed again? He just shot at the empty sky now. This is lame." - Her enthusiasm deflated.


    But what happened after this startled the both of them. They glued their gazes back on the relayed scene.


    "YOUUU!!!" - Wen Jiao Feng grabbed his head in shock.


    If he had any hair he would have been tearing it out in rage right then.


    "YOU! YOU TRICKED ME AGAIN!"


    His face turned an alarming shade of red, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his fists tightly. His eyes blazed with such intense fury that it seemed as though he might explode at any moment.


    His bloodshot eyes rolled back in their sockets and his knees buckled.


    He fainted on the spot.


    "..."


    Qinyang looked at Jue Shi for answers, but he just shrugged and threw his hands in the air helplessly.


    After a moment of silence, she exclaimed.


    "He defeated him without laying a finger on him?"


    The results spoke for themselves, the rank seven expert has fallen, while the not even rank six Bao Zhi was standing.


    But there was a method to this madness!


    Bao Zhi''s moves were meticulous and calculated throughout the fight from the beginning.


    First he announced his arrival by asking to wait for him. This was necessary to grab Wen Jiao Feng''s attention. He had no methods to chase him down after all.


    Then he assumed a haphazard and clumsy character. This lowered Wen Jiao Feng''s wariness and made him underestimate Bao Zhi.


    Bao Zhi attempted to close the distance under this pretense but Wen Jiao Feng attacked sooner.


    This was a calculated risk, he had to dodge it!


    But Bao Zhi was clear of the specifics of the double edged sword path inheritance. As long as Wen Jiao Feng used his basic attack, he had confidence.


    So what if Bao Zhi couldn''t approach? He would make Wen Jiao Feng approach him instead!


    This was when he tumbled to the ground. Sowing further confusion but curiosity as well into his opponent''s mind.


    The closer he got, the better he could feel Wen Jiao Feng''s human qi fluctuate. He had a good understanding of human nature and now his opponent''s intentions too.


    The moment Wen Jiao Feng followed Bao Zhi to the ground was the moment he fell in his trap.


    Bao Zhi activated his newly acquired rank six gu, Perception Warp!


    He gradually altered Wen Jiao Feng''s perception!


    This meant Wen Jiao Feng''s own six senses would betray him!


    This was really a sinister gu worm.


    It wasn''t without shortcomings though. It was still just a single gu worm and all gu had just a single effect after all.


    Bao Zhi had some experience with manipulating human qi, so he knew the distance would be a limitation.


    Perception Warp could not work at great distances, and it could not trick investigative techniques.


    This was why Bao Zhi had to lower his opponent''s guard as much as possible. He always appeared in line of sight and talked to give his location away.


    At least seemingly.


    When Wen Jiao Feng struck for the second time, he thought Bao Zhi used a space path effect to deflect the sword light.


    But there was no Empty Void Timber or Ten Thousand Li Willow at all!


    It was a common piece of wood warped into those precious immortal materials in Wen Jiao Feng''s eyes.


    His sword lights flew straight as he intended, but Bao Zhi was simply not where he perceived.


    By making him think that his sword lights were deflected, he counteracted, this made the sword lights truly deviate from their intended path.


    As the attacks continued, Bao Zhi grasped this indirect control more and more and Wen Jiao Feng was also getting used to the compensation.


    The time was ripe!


    Bao Zhi manipulated the effect just right as Wen Jiao Feng shot out the seven sword lights, they curved backwards and hit him square.


    This was a crucial point for what was coming.


    On the surface this was a great slap to Wen Jiao Feng''s face, greatly angering him.


    But most importantly, it planted the idea in him that his own attacks were really hitting himself and causing real injuries, no trickery.


    This could not be faked. It would be exposed as soon as he tried to use a healing method.


    So blinded by rage, Wen Jiao Feng used his strongest move.


    From his view, Bao Zhi was in front of him, trying to fly away.


    He saw the sword light soar into the sky after Bao Zhi.


    Then he saw it unexpectedly make a perfect U-turn before reversing direction and hurtling back instantly.


    The last thing Wen Jiao Feng saw was his own headless body from an outside perspective, spinning along with the whole world.


    His vision blurred to darkness.


    "Death! I am dead!" - The thought engulfed his mind uncontrollably.


    Wen Jiao Feng acted like many gu immortal''s instincts would tell them in their dying moment. Denying any spoils possible from getting in the hands of the victor.


    Thus, he self-destructed his gu worms.


    In the end, Wen Jiao Feng could only dance in the palm of Bao Zhi''s hand. Without real world experience, nurtured in the comfort of their grotto heavens, these immortals were like children in front of Bao Zhi.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 83 - Precarious balance

    Bao Zhi signaled to the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, taking one last look at his opponent''s unconscious body.


    "This person was quite impressive, having a good grasp of sword path. Even the double edged inheritance''s moves were just as precise in his hands as its creator''s."


    "I remember, back in my time Wen clan captured a notorious demonic figure who cultivated sword path with their immortal gu house."


    "Within a decade, Wen clan''s sword prodigy emerged with the double edged inheritance, cutting off He Shan''s mountain peak in a single strike as a show of strength."


    "Hehe. It''s not hard to see the connection in hindsight. Wen clan extracted the captive''s inheritance and cultivation secrets. It was long speculated they had some peculiar methods to deal with their targets."


    "The genius of Wen clan was called Eccentric Sword Jiao Feng, if I remember right."


    At this moment the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda arrived and picked up Bao Zhi.


    He took the controls of the gu house and maneuvered it to crush the unconscious Wen Jiao Feng.


    But he lost control authority over the immortal gu house and it suddenly stopped.


    "I won''t let you!" Jue Shi sternly objected. "You cannot use this gu house as you wish. Using it to fight is off limits."


    Jue Shi scrutinized his actions in the tense atmosphere.


    The two of them locked gazes.


    "So be it." Bao Zhi nodded with understanding recognizing Jue Shi''s bottom line.


    "As expected. He didn''t intervene until it could cause further damage to the gu house." - He thought to himself.


    This contingency has crossed his mind before. Bao Zhi didn''t hinge his plans on external help.


    Wen Jiao Feng''s threat was greatly reduced already, killing him wasn''t strictly necessary and wouldn''t have brought Bao Zhi additional gains.


    Wen Jiao Feng''s immortal gu were destroyed. His threat has been greatly diminished.


    Immortal gu were very precious and hard to come by even for gu immortals.


    An average gu immortal did not posses an immortal gu matching their rank. The rank six Xu Lian and Wen Yun were such examples, without any immortal gu.


    If Wen Jiao Feng decided to recover his gu, it would take a considerable effort.


    One needed many resources and time to try and painstakingly refine immortal gu. The successful refinement chance was often less than one percent!


    Could Wen Jiao Feng afford such a luxury while inside the enemy''s territory?


    What worried Bao Zhi more was the unknown that Jue Shi represented. To his surprise, he couldn''t gleam any information with his human qi sensation in his probings.


    "Where did this Jue Shi come from? While both clans are vying for supremacy and fighting for their lives, his semblance is still as a pond. His only concern seems to lie with this gu house."


    "It is not strange after all. A rank seven gu house can serve as a great reassurance. Many clans lacking rank eight power, can substitute it with a rank seven gu house."


    Bao Zhi was clear on one thing, he could only borrow the gu house''s strength thanks to his alliance agreement with Qinyang.


    "I''m not sure on which terms she was allowed use of this immortal gu house. But it clearly shows her close relation to Jue Shi."


    "But what is the connection of these two? Are they master and disciple, or family?"


    At this moment, time was of the essence, he stopped his wandering thoughts.


    With control once again in his hands, he steered the gu house up into the sky and sped ahead.


    Wen Jie''s figure soon appeared in their vision, with the rank eight immortal zombie far in the distance behind her.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda was flying straight towards them.


    Jue Shi noticed the unconcealed and overbearing aura of rank eight.


    "Not good! Rank eight is not something we should provoke. Bao Zhi wants to use me to match up to the rank eight immortal zombie!" Ju Shi thought.


    "I told you not to fight! The gu house is already in a bad condition." - Jue Shi anxiously reminded, ready to take over at any moment.


    "There won''t be any fighting." Bao Zhi raised his hand to placate him. "Observe."


    Bao Zhi suddenly stopped the gu house in mid air.


    He started to shake it left and right, back and forth as if an invisible giant was strangling it.


    Mortal gu worms started to fly and fall away form the damaged parts as loose tiles of the pagoda. But this was merely a superficial loss, an immortal gu house contained countless mortal gu.


    Bao Zhi even activated Warp Perception immortal gu to add to the appearance, but the effect was very mild due to the distance.


    Jue Shi gritted his teeth without intervening.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Bao Zhi exercised restraint in his actions, he had yet to cross Jue Shi''s bottom line just by doing this.


    "How annoying!" - The immortal zombie''s deep voice resounded in the air.


    He swung his arm nonchalantly.


    Woosh!


    Bao Zhi stopped shaking the gu house at once and immediately flew away at top speed in the same direction.


    Wen Jie: "..."


    Bao Zhi''s sudden and unpredictable actions took Jue Shi and Qinyang by surprise once again.


    But seeing Wen Jie''s reaction, they soon connected the dots.


    Qinyang: "Oh, I understand now."


    Bao Zhi cooperated with the immortal zombie in order to deceive Wen Jie of its strength, making her estimations surpass the immortal zombie''s genuine ability.


    He simply had to do this.


    On the surface Bao clan had shown an overwhelming hidden force, but the reality was wholly different.


    Bao Zhi was relying on deception and turning the opponents power and speculations against themselves.


    He sighed in his heart.


    The immortal zombie failed to take out the mastermind wisdom path gu immortal, now Bao Zhi''s best option was to flee.


    The longer he stayed the more mistakes would occur, the more clues Wen Jie could gather. This would lead to a fatal mistake when facing a wisdom path gu immortal.


    Bao Zhi knew how to tackle such a situation.


    Giving away no clues, or better, giving false clues to lead his enemy astray.


    Bao Zhi could feel it deep in his heart, extending his forces further in this situation would only lead him to disaster.


    The immortal zombie was especially ill suited to engage in a fight against Wen Jie. It did not have any immortal gu, not even a soul in his body, only a remnant will was controlling it.


    Wisdom path had ample methods to deal with a will.


    A rank eight immortal zombie shouldn''t be sacrificed in such a senseless way!


    If these weaknesses were exposed, Wen Jie could recover the situation because nobody could directly oppose her.


    Wen clan''s invasion was stopped in its tracks and Bao Zhi successfully turned the situation around for the moment.


    * * * * *


    Western Desert, Earth Cave


    It was common knowledge, the gu world had ten great earths. All were unique and mysterious in their own ways.


    Central continent had Earth Abyss, a dark underground world of enormous size. Earth Abyss had over a hundred layers, each home to an untold number of strange beasts and plants.


    Northern Plains had Earth Trench, a gaping chasm. It''s width wide enough to swallow cities, its depth unfathomable. The uneven walls of Earth Trench were home to many living organisms and rich in precious resources.


    Even though people have been exploring these depths for millions of years, nobody knew the true extents of these natural wonders and what secrets they held.


    Earth Cave was a great earth located in Western Desert. It was a maze of tunnels and chambers, some narrow and long, some so spacious one would forget the ceiling above wasn''t the night sky.


    Some time ago inside one of Earth Cave''s tunnel.


    "How much longer do you need?" An irate whisper asked in the darkness.


    The voice came from Yuhun Kuang, who guarded his partner in this dangerous location.


    "I told you already, no need to ask so often. I can only search blindly at this point."


    Kong Guying replied curtly, he was getting anxious at the lack of results.


    "How could I give an estimate for something that might not even happen?" Kong Guying thought to himself in frustration.


    "If only you asked me to join sooner, I could have traced back the spacial ripples. But now there are no clues left for me to investigate."


    The two immortals in the depths of Earth Cave were here for a long while now, clearly not giving up on their goal.


    "Can you not find it? What use do I have for you then?" Yuhun Kuang''s expression was tense.


    Kong Guying continued activating his investigative killer move, probing the space in front of him without saying a word.


    "This Yuhun Kuang is just as the rumors said, greedy and impatient." He was afraid of agitating Yuhun Kuang.


    "I should not have associated myself with the demonic path." Kong Guying lamented his past decision to accept Yuhun Kuang''s offer and help him infiltrate a blessed land.


    He was a lone immortal. He kept to himself, not pledging allegiance to any forces, nor doing business with the demonic gu immortals like Yuhun Kuang.


    Based on Yuhun Kuang''s information they should have found the blessed land here.


    Yuhun Kuang was also deliberating in his mind right now.


    "I already paid you twenty immortal essence stones! Are you trying to extort me by stalling for time? Maybe I should just soul search you, then I would know the truth."


    Sensing Yuhun Kuang''s chilling gaze on his back, Kong Guying gulped and started to monologue in his nervousness.


    "A blessed land''s space is a separate realm. Only when it connects to the outside world will it take up space and form an entrance."


    "When it is closed off, from the outside it is smaller than a speck of dust. It takes up no space at all!"


    This was common knowledge among gu immortals.


    "So without knowing its exact location my method can''t target it."


    "Are you sure the owner of the immortal aperture didn''t pick it up and left?"


    This idea has occurred to Yuhun Kuang as well. He recalled his experience and why the blessed land should still be here.


    When Yuhun Kuang first arrived at the cave, he was in dire straits, having fled from a fierce battle with his enemies. He had no choice but to escape into the depths of Earth Cave to lose his pursuers.


    But his luck seemed to hit rock bottom as an ancient desolate bat discovered him just as he sought a hiding place.


    Certain of his impending death, he braced himself for the end.


    Then, unexpectedly, a massive explosion struck the bat, obliterating it in a single blow.


    Although he couldn¡¯t see the source of the attack in the darkness, it was clear that the beast stood no chance. One moment it was chasing him, and the next it was blown into a thousand pieces.


    The signs of destruction were still evident. Charred and tattered remains of the ancient desolate beast were scattered on the ground in the darkness of the cave.


    Kong Guying knew this wasn''t something Yuhun Kuang''s rank seven strength could achieve.


    "At first I thought someone pursued me down here, but behind me I saw a glimpse of a lush green forest in midair. So the attack could only come from that separate space."


    Kong Guying nodded. It was a very reasonable conclusion.


    "I was in a hurry so I only took the largest part of the beast and returned to the surface."


    "When I came back down, the beast''s body parts were still untouched. If there really was an immortal who left in the meantime, he would have picked up these rank seven resources."


    "The blessed land is still here."


    Yuhun Kuang assessed the situation through his own perception.


    He lived a life of poverty as demonic immortal. It was in his nature to grasp every opportunity, even if it they were just scraps.


    Now he paid a great sum to find and rope in a space path gu immortal, Kong Guying, who was the only space path gu immortal he knew of who wasn''t from the righteous faction.


    Kong Guying''s compensation came from selling those resources in the marketplace of Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    Yuhun Kuang spent all his earnings to heal himself and rushed back to this place in hope of an even bigger payoff.


    This was the norm for most demonic immortals, living on thin ice, and having to take great risks to not fall behind.


    He had to find this blessed land!


    Kong Guying sighed.


    "Yuhun Kuang, we have been looking for months now. Don''t you think we should stop now?"


    Yuhun Kuang''s eyes twitched.


    "I will naturally return ten immortal essence stones to you." Kong Guying shook his head apologetically.


    "Don''t think you can leave without finding this blessed land first!" Killing intent surged in Yuhun Kuang''s heart.


    "Leaving with ten immortal essence stones and not producing any results? This Kong Guying really has a thick skin... Wait! Is he just extorting me?"


    Yuhun Kuang thought to himself before speaking again.


    "Friend, we can talk this out. How about I give you ten percent of the gains when we find the blessed land?"


    Kong Guying raised his eyebrows in surprise, but quickly shook his head even more vigorously.


    "Please understand, my ability is meager. I simply can''t do it." Kong Guying struggled to conceal the panic in his voice.


    Yuhun Kuang''s breathing was getting rough. He stepped closer to Kong Guying and grabbed his neck forcefully.


    "Twenty percent and you can keep your life. This is my last offer, friend."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 84 - Creation and destruction, all in a single breath

    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda flew high in the sky of the Ancestral Grotto.


    Bao Zhi was controlling it, but his thoughts were wandering elsewhere.


    He was reflecting on the events leading up to this moment.


    How he accidentally entered Xu Lian''s immortal aperture, was forced to reveal himself and face a deathly tribulation.


    How he escaped Xu Lian blessed land by tricking Xu Lian, taking his aperture''s origin core, only to land straight into hot water once again.


    The two clan''s schemes unfolded in full force, helplessly sweeping Bao Zhi''s plans with them.


    Like a fallen leaf in an autumn gale, his journey was full of unexpected twists and turns.


    Nonetheless, Bao Zhi felt satisfied at the results of his efforts, even though he once again fell short of his set out goal to reclaim his rank eight inheritance.


    But the situation wasn''t all lost either, he still had cards yet to play, and benefits to reap as well.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda neared the limits of the grotto heaven.


    Bao Zhi approached the closed gate that connected to Wen clan''s grotto in times of peace.


    He willed, and an immortal gu rose from the formation and entered the gu house.


    Rank six Hole Earth Immortal gu!


    The gu, still having Bao Zhi''s will inside from the time he set up this formation, didn''t need refinement.


    The gu landed on his palm like an old friend returning from distant lands.


    The Hole Earth immortal gu was as large as a watermelon and resembled an oversized walnut, its surface was irregular and uneven, with grooves and ridges running across its entirety like aged wood.


    Its color varied from dark brown to a lighter, earthy tone, akin to the shades of soil and tree bark.


    Despite its coarse and walnut-like exterior, it emitted an aura of space path.


    The formation the Hole Earth immortal gu was lifted from, having its only core gu removed, quietly collapsed on itself.


    "This path is closed, there is only one more left to consider."


    Bao Zhi started to activate a multitude of mortal gu worms in his aperture.


    It took the time it takes someone to drink a cup of tea and a circular opening appeared in midair, still too small for the immortal gu house to fit through.


    Qinyang breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized this gate.


    This was the gate that connected to the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land from which they previously arrived into the Ancestral Grotto.


    "Finally, we are leaving this place. These stupid immortals can fight to their hearts'' content for all I care, I have nothing to do with it!"


    Bao Zhi stopped the gu house before the gate, waiting for it to fully open.


    While gate was still growing, he disappeared from the control room.


    Looking at the displays, Qinyang soon noticed Bao Zhi being on the lower floors.


    He appeared beside the refinement formation that played the key role in Wen clan''s scheme to remove their immortal oath.


    Xu Lian lost a portion of his dao marks in that process. He was still there in the formation, suspended in midair, unconscious.


    "You will have to stay here." Bao Zhi murmured.


    He activated the formation and opened up Xu Lian''s immortal aperture, reversing the power that was suppressing it so far.


    Next he turned to the lowest floor.


    The top contestants of the two clan''s yearly competition were deep in meditation, digesting their gains, oblivious to the outside''s upheaval.


    "All these gu masters are unknown liabilities."


    Many of them had connections some even were descendants of immortals with tracking or life saving gu worms on them.


    Not wanting to expose himself or leave clues behind, Bao Zhi transported the mass of gu masters into Xu Lian''s blessed land, sealing them away.


    Qinyang spotted Wen Tu among these people, but she didn''t halt Bao Zhi''s actions.


    She only left a parting message for Wen Tu.


    "My dear ''little brother'', you once saved my life, letting me to live in this world. In the competition grounds, I was able to return the favor by saving yours. Now, our debts are settled. Don''t look for me. Farewell."


    Wen Tu heard in his mind as the words were transmitted to him, but when he opened his eyes in the next moment the scenery was already an unrecognizably different sight.


    When no more of the gu masters were left in the the gu house, Bao Zhi turned his attention to the unconscious Hao Meng who was next to Xu Lian.


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    "He is with me and stays in the gu house." Qinyang firmly shut down Bao Zhi''s idea before he even began.


    Bao Zhi released Xu Lian from the confinement of the refinement formation carried him on his shoulder.


    He kicked the age old doors of the gu house open and tossed Xu Lian into the forest of the Ancestral Grotto without any further ado.


    "Now that''s settled, it''s time to shut this cage closed."


    The gu house passed through the gate that''s grown to its final size.


    Just as it arrived into the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, the gate flickered out of existence behind it.


    The place showed signs of damage from Hao Meng''s tribulation and Wen clan''s pursuit. But most of the damage was hidden beneath the lake, deep in the foundation of the blessed land.


    However this damage was to advantage of Bao Zhi''s next move.


    Removing the Hole Earth immortal gu was only one of the ways the immortals could travel between the two grotto heavens.


    Bao Zhi had to remove this second path to isolate the Ancestral Grotto and prevent Wen clan from getting reinforcements!


    Not wanting to harm the gu house, he stepped out and flew to the center of the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    For a short moment he floated in place with his arms behind his back. He mentally prepared himself for his final stroke of turning the tables on Wen clan''s plan.


    "The principle is clear. I have experienced the effects during the previous uses. I''m certain this will work." He reaffirmed in his mind.


    This was the third time already, he had accrued some important experience.


    The inspiration came to him from the time he had to defeat Xu Lian''s tribulation.


    What did Bao Zhi do to achieve that?


    He absorbed the earth qi of the heaven and earth qi that the tribulation was made of.


    Why couldn''t he absorb the earth qi of a blessed land?


    Beating in Bao Zhi''s chest, the immortal gu activated.


    Rank six immortal gu - Verdant Heart Seed!


    For a short moment nothing seemed to happen, nevertheless Bao Zhi continued to activate the gu.


    Soon, there was a strong reaction!


    Yellow streams of earth qi started to emerge from below.


    Through the water, it bubbled up carrying water vapor into the air as well, it seemed as if the world was boiling away beneath him.


    From the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda it looked as if Bao Zhi brewed a yellow dust storm.


    The earth qi continued to rise separating from the water vapor fully, it reached Bao Zhi in a swirling vortex of turbulent currents.


    He was engulfed in a sense of wonder as the earth qi formed a cocoon around him.


    The earth qi was continuously converted to human path dao marks on his body now!


    He felt his vitality inceasing. His muscles bulged and skin tightened.


    Bao Zhi noticed his body getting a bit taller even.


    The blessed land started to quake due the further loss of earth qi. Heaven qi became abundant and earth qi became scarce.


    This tipped over the edge the blessed land''s already compromised integrity.


    "Creation and destruction, all in a single breath."


    Bao Zhi gathered even more earth qi, seeing the results of his actions.


    Jue Shi and Qinyang observed from the safety of the of the immortal gu house with eyes wide open at this spectacle.


    "It seems he is trying to undergo immortal ascension? Not good, not good! This place was already damaged. Hao Meng absorbed a large portion just a short while ago. This place can''t bear that burden again, it won''t remain stable after such a loss."


    "But wasn''t he already an immortal? No, something is off, there is an imbalance of heaven qi! This isn''t an immortal ascension."


    Uneasiness rose in his heart even further.


    "I think, I know what he is doing." Qinyang chimed in.


    But before she could postulate anything, Bao Zhi''s instructions reached them.


    Bao Zhi: "I am destroying this world. Be ready to break through the winds of assimilation."


    Jue Shi: "You lunatic!"


    Qinyang: "So he wanted to escape like that..."


    It was already too late to stop Bao Zhi, the absorbed earth qi couldn''t be put back.


    They were already past the point of no return.


    Jue Shi could only go along with Bao Zhi''s plan.


    Bao Zhi deliberately didn''t tell them in advance.


    Soon loopholes started to appear at the world boundary of the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    Initially they were small and vague, but soon they grew to the size of an adult man.


    The loopholes connected to the outside world, but their edges were lined with the winds of assimilation.


    What were the winds of assimilation?


    It was the most fearsome wind the gu immortal world has known. It could assimilate any matter and create even more winds of assimilation.


    This was the ultimate method of nature to break down and reclaim a blessed land.


    Anything caught in the winds of assimilation, including gu immortals, would also be assimilated!


    Qinyang knew of the phenomena, but this was her first time witnessing it.


    "It seems oddly non-violent. Are these really the winds of assimilation?" She mused at the sight of the slowly disintegrating world.


    Jue Shi was livid, frantically trying to figure out a solution.


    "The winds are only going to spread further and further, when they reach here I won''t be able to resist them! I need a way to create a path. But how do I restrain the winds of assimilation? Maybe if the gu house was fully intact I could use that move..."


    "Calm down. We aren''t going to die." Qinyang said plainly, surprising even herself by her calmness.


    "Am I this calm because I can''t even comprehend how dangerous this is?" She couldn''t help but laugh at herself in self reflection. "No. For once, I just know what to do in this situation."


    "Finally a moment where my otherworldly knowledge can be used!" A smug reassurance filled her heart at this thought.


    "Listen, we need to wait for now. The loopholes are too small fit through. If we try to escape too soon the winds will latch onto the gu house and disintegrate it."


    "But if we wait too long, the winds will have spread to the insides of the blessed land too, by that time it will be too late to find an escape path."


    "We need to wait until the loopholes become just big enough."


    Jue Shi looked at her in incredulity. "Was the solution so simple? How was it so simple? How did she figure it out so easily?"


    "What a great insight!" Jue Shi clapped his small hands. A huge burden lifted and clouds have parted.


    The two of them resigned themself to wait for the opportune moment in silent perception as the beams of green and yellow light radiated from Bao Zhi''s torrent of earth qi.


    "This Bao Zhi is truly formidable. But his behavior is not just unpredictable but very reckless too!" Jue Shi had admired and criticized in his mind.


    Qinyang had similar thoughts in her head.


    "He has the power to destroy a blessed land, yet he chose to defeat a rank seven gu immortal by resorting to cheap tricks. He clearly wanted to hide his strength as much as he could."


    "This person is very cunning and dangerous. What else is he hiding?"


    "You can tell this person is bad news from a mile away! I should really double check our agreement''s details..."


    Qinyang felt simultaneously glad she''s made an alliance agreement with Bao Zhi and apprehensive towards him.


    She wouldn''t want to end up on the wrong side of someone like him.


    Outside, Bao Zhi absorbed more and more earth qi, accumulating human path dao marks.


    But he noticed an unexpected bottleneck, his body was close to reaching its limits.


    The surge of vitality continued to rise, turning from a pleasant sensation to a suffocating internal pressure.


    "I overestimated my ability."


    Bao Zhi''s heart was beating at a fast pace. Streaks of sweat drenched his temples.


    But he knew stopping now was not possible.


    If he stopped at this moment, the blessed land''s controlled destruction would devolve into an unpredictable chaotic collapse.


    Bao Zhi endured the rising pain in his chest with gritted teeth.


    The overflowing vitality couldn''t be contained in his body anymore. Root-like tendril started to slowly grow on his skin, like sprouting buds of spring.


    Suddenly, like the walls of dam bursting at its weakest point, the human path dao marks couldn''t be held back anymore and erupted from Bao Zhi''s chest!


    He felt an ecstatic relief as the pressure all but disappeared, overshadowing the past moment''s struggles ten fold.


    But what Bao Zhi saw next, made him greatly shocked.


    Right before him, the human path dao marks coalesced into another person.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 85 - Descended from the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land

    Western Desert, Earth Cave


    Kong Guying gulped in fright as Yuhun Kuang tightened the grasp on his neck.


    Even if he forcefully resisted, he was only a rank six gu immortal. Falling out with the rank seven Yuhun Kuang was not something he wanted to attempt. The latter wouldn''t let him off!


    "Wait! I agree, I agree!" Kong Guying squeezed out the words.


    Yuhun Kuang released his hand, his face still in a bitter frown after he conceded twenty percent of the gains.


    Kong Guying only to catch his breath, his brows rose high and his eyes widened.


    "There is clue! A hidden space is emerging."


    Yuhun Kuang narrowed his eyes and sneered in his mind.


    "Of course you ''find'' it now. So my guess was correct after all. You already had the clues, but wanted to extort more resources."


    He suspected Kong Guying''s original plan was to return to this location after they gave up the search and explore the blessed land alone, keeping all the loot to himself.


    "But I''m not that easy to fool! You, a rank six gu immortal trying to snatch my prey?! Once I''ve taken a bite, I won''t let go!"


    Kong Guying didn''t dare look Yuhun Kuang in the eyes. Although he was relieved the clue appeared in the nick of time, he realized how suspicious his situation became now.


    "Once I find this damned blessed land, I won''t explore it. My life is worth more than placing it in the hands of this lunatic." He resolved himself.


    The atmosphere was thick with tension, so palpable it felt like the air was heavy.


    The cave was cool, but a sheen of sweat clung to Kong Guying''s forehead, betraying the anxiousness in his heart.


    He activated his space path methods, easily locating the emerging loopholes.


    "There." He pointed out the blessed land''s true location before the changes could become visible.


    "That''s more like it. Keep going!" Yuhun Kuang intently observed his every move.


    Next, Kong Guying switched to another of his space path technique to force an opening into the hidden space.


    He exerted all his might and soon a faint silhouette of an opening appeared.


    The opening was only the size of a large fist, but its gentle warm glow in the dark and cold cave gave it the impression of a miniature sun.


    A Yuhun Kuang''s face involuntarily donned a satisfied grin. His palms were itching with anticipation to rush in.


    "Not yet. I have to make the opening stable." Kong Guying reminded.


    Time seemed to warp, the moment stretching and compressing all at once.


    Each heartbeat pounded loudly in their chest, echoing in the ears like a drum.


    These few minutes of wait seemed as agonizingly long as the previous months so far.


    "This is it. This gate leads inside the blessed land." Kong Guying announced, wiping off the sweat from his forehead.


    He turned to Yuhun Kuang.


    "Go ahead without me. I located the blessed land and opened it for you, now have I fulfilled our original deal. But I fear for my life, and my meager strength can''t protect it. Please understand my circumstances." He cupped his fist.


    Kong Guying truly did his very best to appease Yuhun Kuang.


    But hearing this a vein popped on Yuhun Kuangs head, even though he remained silent at the moment.


    A cold, hardened expression, glared with barely concealed malice. His jaw was set, and his eyes, sharp and unforgiving, promising no mercy. The shadows on his face deepened the menace in his stare, making his intentions unmistakably clear.


    "Still trying to trick me at this moment? Wasn''t I clear enough?!" Yuhun Kuang couldn''t believe the words he heard.


    The demonic path was ruthless but straightforward. Power and violence being the tried and true solutions of all problems.


    "Just what are you scheming? You want to trap me inside and beg for your mercy?" Yuhung Kuang had a deep seated suspicion and disdain towards tricks and schemes the righteous path often used.


    Kong Guying''s breath became shallow, his face pale, and a nervous sweat beaded again at his temples.


    He tried to hold the gaze but faltered, his eyes flickering downwards, betraying his rising panic. His hands clenched tightly, as if grasping at the last threads of his courage.


    His shifting gaze fueled Yuhun Kuang''s thoughts even further.


    "What else can I do? How do I make this demon leave me alone?"


    Every muscle in his body was tense, bracing for whatever was to come, knowing that he was at the mercy of the other''s dark intentions if it escalated into a confrontation.


    "You go in first." Yuhun Kuang said in a hoarse voice and motioned for him to enter the gate.


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    "..."


    Kong Guying was unwilling, but what else could he do?


    "Alright, I''ll go. But wait there is something strange, let''s investigate first and prepare accordingly." He still tried to negotiate, unsure of the expected result.


    With the opportunity right before them, this was the last straw, Yuhun Kuang''s patience ran out.


    Actions spoke louder than words!


    "Aah!"


    Kong Guying was grabbed by Yuhun Kuang without warning and the two entered the bright opening.


    They appeared high in the sky. Their vision obscured by the churning yellow qi.


    They both activated their investigative moves, but the response was very strange, like listening for an echo from a bottomless pit, nothing came from beyond the swirling qi curtain.


    But soon the qi around them was all but gone, sucked away towards the center, and the small world revealed itself before their eyes.


    The two of them breathed in sharply.


    Winds of assimilation blew everywhere!


    "So you wanted me dead! Die then!" Yuhun Kuang attacked Kong Guying immediately.


    Kong Guying frantically tried to escape the attacks. His space path methods were used to the utmost in this environment. He used his short range teleportation and appeared behind a patch of winds of assimilation.


    Yuhun Kuang could only go around, he didn''t have the means to resist the winds of assimilation or bypass them.


    The two were temporarily evenly matched in a game of cat and mouse.


    "Yuhun Kuang you demonic scum, what are you doing? We are both at death''s door!" Kong Guying erupted.


    "Hahaha. Your scheme is foiled and now you show your true colors! Two-faced bastard, now your only way out is through me." Yuhun Kuang positioned the gate behind him.


    Kong Guying tried to circle around many times, but he had to keep his distance as well. When he got close, Yuhun Kuang chased after him. When they got too far Yuhun Kuang return to guard the place.


    "You are crazy! We are both going to die at this rate, why are you blocking the way?" Kong Guying''s eyes were bloodshot. He has never met such an unreasonable gu immortal.


    "You are the only one who''s going to die." Yuhun Kuang laughed with madness. "Then it will be your blessed land that I''m going to loot instead. This is what you get for trying to scam me."


    The situation of the two was at an impasse.


    The winds of assimilation kept growing bigger and spreading in every direction by the moment limiting the space available.


    Bao Zhi and group observed the battle of the two from the concealment of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    They had no incentive to intervene and reveal themselves.


    There was a young man among them.


    His hair, a cascade of black with hints of deep blue, catching the light like the night sky. It framed his round face, unmarred by hardships of cultivation, giving him an air of innocence.


    His eyes colored in a piercing shade of blue, held a curious spark in them, as if he was always on the brink of discovering some new wonder.


    His posture was unrefined, casual, with the careless ease of someone untouched by discipline.


    His mouth slightly agape, he stared at the unfolding battle with undivided attention.


    "Oh! Oh! Oh! Good one!" He glued his gaze even closer to the gu house''s display as he witnessed Kong Guying narrowly dodging an attack.


    The rest of them also observed while waiting for the opportune moment to break out.


    "Who is this new person?"


    "Did Bao Zhi take him out of his aperture to witness this fight?"


    Jue Shi and Qinyang couldn''t see from the yellow earth qi at the time.


    Their thoughts remained unanswered, as Bao Zhi himself was also assessing the unexpected situation.


    "The effect of Verdant Heart Seed immortal gu cannot be accumulated without limit."


    "When the limit is reached, the rest will overflow. The effect being still the same, a human body."


    He did not expect the gu would be able to materialize another body other than his own. This was his first takeaway.


    Looking at the body of the newcomer it had some vague resemblance to his own features, but it was far from being a clone of him.


    "There are noticeable differences. But what could be the cause?" He was currently wondering.


    "Having the same origin, the flesh should be the same, no?"


    "Origin?" An idea clicked in his head, as he looked at the hint of blue in the hair and deep blue eyes of his counterpart.


    "The crucial difference is the origin of the earth qi! My current body was constructed from a human blessed land of my descendant. It is pure and human."


    "But this blessed land belonged to a water path beast originally. The added water path dao marks explain the difference of physical features." This was his second main takeaway.


    "Wait. Does this mean my first revival was doomed to fail? My grotto heaven contains overwhelmingly wood path dao marks, would that contaminate the new body? Or did my first revival end up with wood path dao marks because the activation was interrupted?" New revelations sparked even more questions in Bao Zhi''s mind. He had to check these out in the future to fully understand his immortal gu''s effect.


    "I can use this person in my research. Let''s establish a connection."


    He secretly activated a gu in his aperture and produced a will that contained some of his memories.


    But when he tried to send the will into the blue-eyed person''s mind it was rejected.


    "So he really is a different person." He confirmed.


    Wills from the same origin could share information and merge together. Wills of different people couldn''t merge, so Bao Zhi needed a different approach.


    He placed a hand on the person''s shoulder.


    "Mo Xuan!"


    The young man was startled from his deep immersion.


    "Mo Xuan? Am I Mo Xuan?" He didn''t understand.


    "Ha! Mo Xuan is such a great name it must be my name." His eyes brightened at once.


    Bao Zhi''s suspicion was confirmed, this person had no memories at all, he was a complete blank slate!


    He continued.


    "So my son, is this fighting scene to your liking?"


    Mo Xuan nodded instinctively. "Yes, very good." His focus still on the two immortals outside.


    But everyone looked at Bao Zhi in surprise.


    "Son?"


    "..."


    It also took a moment for Mo Xuan to register.


    "Son? Then, does that make you my father?" His eyes opened wide in delight.


    Bao Zhi replied matter-of-factually without a flinch, hands clasped behind his back.


    "I am your father."


    "Heh. Is this for real?" Qinyang smirked to herself.


    As Mo Xuan gazed into Bao Zhi''s eyes, something deep within him stirred. The sudden realization hit him like a wave.


    Was it a recognition beyond words? No, of course, it was Bao Zhi''s human qi manipulation.


    Overwhelmed by emotion, his eyes filled with tears, and his heart swelled with a sense of connection he had never known.


    "Baah!" He jumped into Bao Zhi''s embrace, shedding tears of joy.


    "I have a father! I didn''t know I had a father."


    "Father, you are so kind and so handsome, am I handsome too? I am so happy to have a father like you!"


    "Good child, good child." Bao Zhi patted his back affectionately.


    After a long while, Mo Xuan released Bao Zhi and wiped away his tears.


    A clever glint appeared in Mo Xuan''s eyes.


    "If I have a father, then I must have a mother too!"


    "Beautiful lady with the silver hair, you must be my mother, right?" He turned to Qinyang with a wide, innocent grin on his face.


    Qinyang was dumbstruck.


    Mo Xuan continued: "I understand now. This is what you call a family!"


    Mo Xuan looked at Jue Shi who had the appearance of a teenager.


    "And you must be my little brother. It makes so much sense."


    Jue Shi looked back and forth between the three of them. "What is going on here? Who''s related to whom?"


    Qinyang was the first to rebuke these ''accusations''.


    "Who''s your mother!?" Her hand met Mo Xuan''s cheek with a sharp slap.


    The force of it sent Mo Xuan stumbling backward, and he landed on his butt, shock plastered across his face.


    Clutching his chest in agony, he cried out.


    "Oh, Mother, I never knew you, and already you cast me aside!" His voice trembled with a mixture of pain and sorrow, the rejection cutting deeper than the sting of a thousand slaps.


    "I never was your mother!" Qinyang raised her voice about to hit him again.


    "Father, save me! Mother wants to beat me up!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 86 - Throwing caution to the wind

    The winds of assimilation were growing steadily, taking up an increasingly larger portion of the Treasure Blue Beaver blessed land, making maneuvering perilous.


    Between Yuhun Kuang and Kong Guying the confrontation was about to reach its peak.


    Yuhun Kuang wanted to kill, while Kong Guying wanted to flee, neither yielding.


    Kong Guying launched another barrage of counter-attacks, trying to force his way out of the collapsing blessed land.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Shrink Space Arrow!


    Three arrows shot forward. In their wake the space warped and contracted, drawing some of the winds of assimilation with it.


    Under normal circumstances, Yuhun Kuang could confidently defend himself against these Shrink Space Arrows, but now he had no choice but to give way to the approaching winds of assimilation behind them.


    Kong Guying rushed to slip through the unguarded gate, but Yuhun Kuang activated his signature technique.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Soul Chasing Hook!


    The Soul Chasing Hook looked like a shadow in the shape of a fishhook. It moved very fast, reaching Kong Guying''s location almost instantly.


    Kong Guying could only retreat, frantically changing directions to evade with short range teleportation.


    He had to recall one of the Shrink Space Arrows and make use of the winds of assimilation to shield himself.


    The Soul Chasing Hook struck the winds of assimilation and vanished without a trace.


    But with the third Shrink Space Arrow missing, Yuhun Kuang broke their encirclement, blocking the gate once again.


    "If the situation continues like this, we are both going to die here. A lose-lose situation benefits nobody." Kong Guying gritted his teeth in anger.


    "Release me, or I''ll make sure neither of us leaves this place alive!" He shouted threateningly.


    Yuhun Kuang did not reply, but continued to eye his prey intently.


    "The situation is indeed getting more tense. I need to kill Kong Guying quickly. If he manages to enter the Earth Cave, I will have a hard time finding him."


    Yuhun Kuang was clear of the geographical advantage of Earth Cave. Just like how he previously hid from his pursuers, why couldn''t Kong Guying do the same?


    Of course Yuhun Kuang had investigative methods to search the caves, but using them carelessly would be like lighting a bright torch, he would announce his presence to beasts he couldn''t afford to provoke.


    "You leave me no choice..." Kong Guying resolved himself.


    Life and death were intertwined, sometimes survival was but a narrow path in the face of death.


    Kong Guying used his technique again.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Shrink Space Arrow!


    But this time the three arrows did not charge at Yuhun Kuang.


    One arrow shot out in front, pulling Kong Guying with it. Behind him two arrows circled around and followed him with winds of assimilation after them.


    The arrows were not fast, but with the space contracting they moved great distances rapidly.


    The combined effect of the three arrows moved the winds of assimilation at greater speeds, but the space between the first and last two arrows were also shrinking accordingly, leaving dangerously little room for Kong Guying in the middle.


    If Yuhun Kuang tried to block the way, Kong Guying would engulf both himself and gate in the winds of assimilation!


    Kong Guying, once cowering and desperate, has shed the skin of prey and embraced the deepest instincts born of desperate survival.


    In those eyes that once begged for mercy, there was now only the cold and unrelenting fury.


    Yuhun Kuang was caught unprepared at such resolve, but his demonic nature was stimulated.


    He lunged in for the kill, disregarding the first Shrink Space Arrow hitting him.


    The two exchanged blows as they neared.


    A fourth arrow appeared from the first''s blind spot!


    The gate collapsed as soon as it came in contact with the winds of assimilation.


    Kong Guying, deeply injured, couldn''t break through in the end.


    "Ahh!" Yuhun Kuang also got implicated, his chest was covered with winds of assimilation, rapidly disintegrating his body.


    He tried various methods, but all became but food for the merciless phenomena eating away at his body.


    In his final moment, he had no more options left but one.


    He ''placed down'' his rank seven immortal aperture inside the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land.


    Normally, one could only place down their immortal aperture in the outside world, in the five regions and two heavens. If attempted inside another immortal aperture, blessed land or grotto heaven there could be two outcomes, both undesirable.


    If the outer world had a stronger foundation, like placing a rank seven immortal aperture in a rank eight grotto heaven, the former would collapse and the inner aperture would be broken down into dao marks, becoming part of the grotto''s foundation.


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    But if the inner world was of higher rank, then the outer world would burst, causing the destruction of both worlds.


    BOOM!


    The Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, already severely weakened after Hao Meng''s tribulation and Bao Zhi''s qi absorption, shattered into multiple pieces, small and large, all with winds of assimilation rampaging everywhere.


    The added destruction of the rank seven aperture was like pouring oil onto a raging fire, scattering the fragment''s of both blessed lands.


    Bao Zhi was the first to act, noticing in time the imminent chaos before Kong Guying began his reckless charge.


    The concealed Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda nimbly maneuvered its way forward, heading towards the largest loophole.


    The anguished cries of the two immortals and the echoes of the explosion still rang in the air when the immortal gu house arrived in the Earth Cave''s darkness.


    There was a moment of silence as the winds of assimilation continued to quietly dissolve the remains.


    A short moment later, shrieks and howls disturbed the eerie quiet as desolate beast were woken from their slumber in the nearby tunnels.


    "We made it!" Qinyang released her held breath with relief.


    "We are sill far from the surface. We need to be careful of meeting ancient desolate beasts." Bao Zhi reminded.


    There was no time to idle, without lingering any longer, the immortal gu house moved through the maze of underground tunnels.


    Bao Zhi was clear of their location and the path to the surface.


    He was the one, after all, who came and chose this location to place down his grotto heaven.


    But he couldn''t know what creatures in which caves had made their lairs while he was secluded from the outside world.


    In the middle of the night a small tremor shook the sand dunes on the surface.


    At the next moment, like a geyser, the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda rushed out of the sand.


    Qinyang took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of relief after their harrowing escape. She glanced at Bao Zhi, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.


    ¡°We¡¯ve made it.¡± She said, her voice steady but weary. ¡°Now, as we agreed, we part ways.¡±


    Bao Zhi didn¡¯t respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, a thoughtful expression on his face.


    Finally, he turned to her, his gaze sharp and calculating.


    ¡°Qinyang.¡± He began, his voice soft but carrying an edge that made her pause. ¡°It is still too early for that.¡±


    Qinyang frowned, unease creeping up her spine.


    ¡°Why? What is it?¡± She asked, her tone guarded.


    Bao Zhi, who had the Perception Warp immortal gu sitting on his shoulders and the Hole Earth immortal gu floating at his side, looked up with an almost imperceptible smile.


    "This.¡± He said, motioning at the two immortal gu. ¡°Is merely part of the inheritance.¡±


    Qinyang¡¯s eyes narrowed as she studied the two immortal gu.


    Other gu immortals would kill for less and endure many hardships to obtain a single immortal gu. Yet there he was with two immortal gu obtained in a fell swoop.


    ¡°Part of it?¡± She echoed, suspicion lacing her words. ¡°What do you mean, is this not enough?¡±


    Bao Zhi¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, one that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°The true inheritance.¡± He said slowly. ¡°Is much more than just two rank six immortal gu. What I¡¯ve taken is only a fraction.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat as realization dawned.


    ¡°You tricked me!¡± She accused, her voice low and dangerous. ¡°You never intended to uphold our agreement.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve upheld it.¡± Bao Zhi replied calmly spreading his arms pointing at the outside world. ¡°I helped you escape the danger, and in return, you helped me obtain this¡­ portion. But the agreement was not limited to just this. The full inheritance is still out there, and until it¡¯s in my hands, our deal stands.¡±


    "So what is this whole true inheritance?"


    "The full inheritance is the grotto heaven itself."


    "..."


    Qinyang''s dry laughter cut through the stillness of the desert like a sharp blade, a sound filled with both anger and disbelief.


    She shook her head, her eyes stern as she looked at Bao Zhi.


    ¡°The whole grotto heaven?¡± She repeated, her voice rising with incredulity. ¡°You wanted to take THAT? Are you out of your mind? Admit it, you just want to use this gu house for yourself!¡±


    Bao Zhi remained composed, his expression inscrutable as he met her gaze silently.


    "As if!" She rebuked, her eyes glancing at Jue Shi to gauge his reaction.


    Bao Zhi¡¯s smile widened, and he took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with something Qinyang couldn¡¯t quite place¡ªtriumph, perhaps.


    "You misunderstand." Bao Zhi said, his tone almost condescending. "What I¡¯ve taken is not the full inheritance. But this doesn''t mean I won''t take it eventually. Our agreement simply had no stipulation regarding time."


    Qinyang felt a cold wave of realization wash over her. She wanted to part ways, to leave this shadowy alliance behind. The less variables the better! But Bao Zhi''s actions had astound her once more, with the information path agreement now indefinitely binding her actions.


    "This wasn¡¯t part of the deal." Qinyang hissed, her voice low and dangerous.


    Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "On the contrary, it¡¯s exactly what we agreed upon. You help me obtain the inheritance, and in return, I help you survive. We¡¯re not done yet, Qinyang."


    It was as he stated. Jue Shi stood witness to their agreement, there was nothing wrong with the agreement itself.


    For a moment, silence hung between them, tense and heavy. Qinyang¡¯s mind raced, weighing her options.


    "I need to remove this agreement as soon as I can or get rid of him."


    Could she kill Bao Zhi here and now, then sever the information path agreement that bound them? But then... What other unexpected trump cards could Bao Zhi hold? Could she even rely one the similarly mysterious Jue Shi?


    Qinyang simply couldn''t assess Bao Zhi''s depths.


    She kept thinking, searching for a way out of this unexpected twist, but she found none. The pact they had made was clear, and Bao Zhi had expertly maneuvered her into a corner.


    She clenched her fists, anger simmering beneath the surface, but she knew she had little choice.


    She exhaled with a resigned expression on her face.


    ¡°Fine.¡± She spat, eyes flashing with defiance. ¡°But know this, Bao Zhi, when this is over, our deal ends for good. Don¡¯t think you can manipulate me any further.¡±


    "Understood." Bao Zhi said, bowing his head slightly. "Then let us proceed."


    "Where are we going then?"


    "I have various materials to sell, and gu to acquire. We''re visiting one of the trading hubs of Western Desert."


    "Why don''t you just use Treasure Yellow Heaven?" Qinyang rolled her eyes.


    "And how would I do that?" Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow.


    "All you need is Divine Sense gu and Connecting Heaven gu, then you can access Treasure Yellow Heaven." Qinyang explained.


    "Mmm." Bao Zhi stopped using his human qi methods and contemplated the information he got.


    "How could a rank three gu master know about Treasure Yellow Heaven? This information was erased from both clans to avoid outside interference." Bao Zhi noticed this anomaly right away.


    "This isn''t all. It is very suspicious that two immortals entered the Treasure Blue Beaver blessed land as soon as loopholes formed..."


    "It seems, Wen clan''s arrangement run deeper than I thought and a third party is helping them from the outside." He guessed.


    This scenario worried Bao Zhi, as it would mean he didn''t have as much time as he thought.


    * * * * *


    Earth Cave


    Kong Guying lay on the cold stone floor. His legs were gone and he was slowly oozing blood from all over his body. His head was dizzy from the injury to his soul.


    It was a miracle he survived.


    "Look at this! This is what your scheming has led to!" A remnant soul circled angrily around him.


    This soul was all that remained from Yuhun Kuang''s self destruction.


    Kong Guying tried to ignore him, he had to focus all his concentration to maintain his concealment killer move.


    Cough!


    "I wasn''t scheming!" He forced out the words and wiped away the blood he just coughed up.


    "Drop dead!" The soul sneered. "I wonder if I could then posses your body."


    Yuhun Kuang was a soul path cultivator, normally his soul was strong enough to display rank six strength, but now he was also severely weakened.


    "Do it, and we both truly die." Kong Guying provoked.


    Many desolate beasts, looking for the source of the commotion, had passed by them in this short while. Yuhun Kuang knew his limits even if he could kill Kong Guying now, as a lone soul without gu even, what would he do after that? He had no option but to rely on Kong Guying.


    "Would you believe it if I told you-" Cough! "I found the clues leading to another blessed land."


    "Stop your pretense, I won''t believe a single word of yours, you cheat!"


    A grim smile appeared on Kong Guying''s face.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 87 - Which era is this?

    Being one of the five regions, Western Desert was enormous, encompassing many different deserts, sand rivers and oases.


    Bao Zhi knew all of the main deserts and a lot of little known ones as well.


    But now his brows were knotted as his gaze extended to the horizon, surveying the landscape around.


    Under the vast blackness of the night sky, the desert dunes stretched out in rolling waves, bathed in the pale blue light of the stars.


    There was mist clinging to the dunes like a shroud, giving the landscape a cold beauty.


    Each dune seemed to rise and fall like the swell of an ocean frozen in time, their curves softened by the veil of mist that flowed and drifted in the cool night breeze.


    "We should be far from Mistveil Sand Desert."


    Desert areas changed constantly, moving bit by bit every year as the winds swept the dunes. Bao Zhi was clear about this.


    But Mistveil Sand Desert was located at the far edge of Western Desert, close to Northern Plains.


    For that desert to end up her, a million years would not be enough!


    "It couldn''t have moved this far. So why is there mist here?"


    As the gu house neared the misty landscape, Bao Zhi felt an eerie but familiar aura emanating from this strange mist.


    "What mist is this?"


    The gu house gained elevation preemptively, rising above the fog below.


    Bao Zhi has only once felt such an aura. But that one occasion was vividly etched into his memory. How could he forget it?


    The rest of them didn''t notice the strange mist outside, other than Jue Shi. His expression was one of concealed surprise and excitement.


    They Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda darted forward under the night sky.


    As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the endless desert dunes below were still cloaked in the ghostly veil of fog.


    They had been flying for long hours. The gu house''s dark silhouette against the stars, soared above the undulating sands.


    Slowly, the eastern horizon began to blush with the faintest hues of red and gold. The sun, still hidden beyond the tallest heaps of sands, sent out fingers of light that pierced through the mist, casting long shadows over the dunes.


    The mist, which had glowed faintly under the starlit sky, now caught the morning light, transforming into a radiant sea of gold and silver.


    "Wow! What a view! I bet this would get top page if I posted it." Qinyang thought in awe as she took in the picturesque view.


    By the time of early midday, Bao Zhi spotted a dark patch in the distance, a sign of life amidst the endless expanse of this seemingly empty an inhospitable land.


    After all, the people in Western Desert could only live in limited locations, only where survival was possible.


    One such place was the oasis that appeared on the horizon after a day of travel.


    Bao Zhi slowed down to carefully observe.


    The scene that met their eyes was a stark contrast to the vibrant memory Bao Zhi held of this place. Where there had once been lush palm trees, vibrant greenery, and crystal-clear water, now stood a withered, desolate husk of an oasis.


    The air, once filled with the songs of birds and the buzzing of insects, was now heavy with an unnatural silence.


    The remnants of what was once a small settlement lay scattered around the oasis, many buildings reduced to ruins.


    Once a place of refuge, a thriving hub for travelers, traders, and local gu masters looked now nothing more than a graveyard of memories.


    Bao Zhi''s main objective in coming here was to trade. However now this proposition seemed but an unlikely notion, never coming to fruition.


    Nonetheless, his second objective was to gather intelligence. There were still some people around for this purpose.


    But there was some commotion in the city built around the oasis.


    A group of gu masters were sweeping through the streets with big gourds under their arms. They seemed to be collecting the dense mist.


    The leader of the group stood by, watching the events calmly.


    "I found another!" One of the men with the gourd shouted and broke open a dilapidated house.


    The group surrounded the house immediately and activated their gourd shaped gu.


    From inside the house, anguished and tragic screams mixed together.


    A man desperately charged out and attacked one of the gourd-man.


    However, it was all in vain. The gu masters killed him on the spot and continued to suck with their gourds.


    Shortly after the screams abated, they continued their patrol of the streets.


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    "Demonic gu masters?" Bao Zhi narrowed his eyes.


    Such events in broad daylight were unthinkable in his memories. How could the presiding clan of the oasis tolerate such actions?


    "It seems this oasis was abandoned. Without a force behind, only those who have nowhere else to go would stay here."


    Bao Zhi sighed.


    "The demonic path is rampant when the righteous path is absent."


    Through the gu house''s investigative methods piercing through mist and walls, the people in the gu house could clearly see the events in excruciating detail.


    A family of four was inside that ruin of a house. Their shriveled and lifeless bodies crumbled into a pile, embracing each other in their last moments.


    Other than them, another hundred or so houses were hiding people throughout the city.


    Bao Zhi activated the immortal gu house''s methods.


    The observing man on the sidelines suddenly vanished and appeared inside.


    Shock and confusion was plastered on the man''s face as he looked around the intricately detailed and grandiose interior of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    He tried to activate his gu worms, but the might of the rank seven gu house thoroughly suppressed him, leaving no way out.


    Realizing his situation, he spoke with hardly concealed fear in his voice.


    "I greet the seniors. How can my lowly self be of use?"


    Bao Zhi started to interrogate him.


    It turned out this person wasn''t the leader of the gang with the gourds.


    He was the city lord of this oasis! Albeit only in name now.


    The city lord cast his gaze down, not daring to look Bao Zhi in the eyes.


    "What happened to that family of four a moment ago?" Bao Zhi pointed at the projection of the scene.


    "Senior, you know the answer yourself, why do you want me to say it?" He gulped.


    "What if I don''t know it?"


    The city lord shifted in his place, getting visibly uncomfortable.


    "This... Who can say no to the spirit caravan? I am just a small figure, banished by the clan to oversee this remote oasis, please understand my situation."


    ...


    "So it is all because the Great Soul Pit opened up! Spreading spirit mist everywhere, becoming one of the main routes of the spirit caravan."


    Bao Zhi continued to question him. He wanted to understand Western Desert''s current state.


    "Who are those people with the gourds, are they from the spirit caravan?"


    "You clearly have troops hidden beneath the city. Why are guards of the oasis not stepping up?"


    "What is the spirit caravan and why are they collecting this ''spirit mist''?"


    "Were you taking bribes or were you intimidated?"


    Bao Zhi questioned him about the events, piecing together a rough history of this place.


    The city lord was sweating profusely by this point. He could hardly endure the mental pressure. He couldn''t answer many of Bao Zhi''s questions, naturally not knowing about immortal level events.


    But a general picture of the region''s past decades became clear.


    The oasis'' current state could be traced back to the spirit mist spreading out from the Great Soul Pit. Initially this was a great boon as it brought in a branch of the spirit caravan to this region. Business was initially good, the small oasis experienced a good flow of goods. Many people could make their living collecting the soul mist and selling it to the spirit caravan.


    But the good times lasted no more than a few decades before it was clear the spirit mist would become denser, causing problems.


    A unique weather phenomena has developed in this region, replacing the typical desert sandstorms, for which the place was well prepared for, with never seen before spirit mist storms.


    Without clear solutions to this yearly calamity tormenting the population, the surviving people started abandoning the nearby oases in droves.


    But the spirit caravan''s route stayed. Unwilling to give up on the profits of the spirit mist, they brought in their own manpower to harvest it.


    This meant, the spirit caravan effectively took over these uninhabitable oases, making them just some outposts.


    Nobody lived here officially. And those who still did end up here, seeking refuge from the certain death of the desert''s wilderness or just stayed behind, could only grit their teeth and endure now.


    With the clans turning their backs on these places, it quickly became a practice among the spirit caravan''s hired men to also harvest the souls of the general population along with the spirit mist.


    This was obviously a demonic act. It was an open secret what the spirit caravan was dealing with. But why would the clans care about a remote location, if the profits kept flowing?


    ...


    Qinyang also joined in the interrogation. She had some pressing questions of her own as well. But she didn''t care about the local trivia, because her sights were set on the big picture.


    "This is a good opportunity. I need to figure out the overall situation, like what part of the Gu World have I transmigrated into." She thought to herself.


    "Tell me, where is this place?"


    "This is the Lower Ashen Plains."


    "And where is that?"


    "The Ashen Plains is part of the Southern Shifting Desert region."


    "Southern Shifting Desert region? Is this not the same Gu World then?" A moment of doubt emerged in Qinyang''s mind.


    "Huh? So again, where is this place?" She asked again impatiently.


    "Uhh..." The city lord tilted his head in confusion, sweat running down his neck. "Western Desert? We are in Western Desert."


    Qinyang nodded. Finally an answer she could place. "Good. So it IS the gu world." She mentally confirmed.


    "Good, I see you are a sensible person. Next question. Which era are we in?"


    The city lord''s eyes opened wide, unsure what to say to such an absurd question like this.


    "I don''t understand. This is the current era."


    Qinyang facepalmed mentally.


    "Right... Even if I''m in the olden antiquity era or the medieval antiquity era, living in it, they would just call it the current era. Makes sense." She realized her error.


    "I''ll have to ask another way. I need information about the era to know which one it is. For example, if there are variant human forces fighting humans then we are most likely in the second historical era, the remote antiquity era."


    Immemorial Antiquity Era, Remote Antiquity Era, Olden Antiquity Era, Medieval Antiquity Era and Late Antiquity Era. These were the first five historical eras in the gu world.


    "Or if Fate gu is not damaged, then we are before the medieval antiquity era. Ah, but he''s just a mortal gu master, would he even know such things regarding Fate gu?" She pondered before turning back to questioning.


    "Good! I was just testing if you were still paying attention. Is there anything special about this era?"


    "Of course, we are living in the great era!"


    Qinyang''s body stiffened up at hearing this news.


    "The great era? What the fuck!"


    "If the great era has started already. That means Heavenly Court already lost the Fate War, Fate gu is destroyed and the venerables are soon going to revive? Oh boy!"


    "Being so far ahead means most of my knowledge is already useless because most of the plot has happened already."


    Qinyang silently combed through the events in her memory, but the more she recalled the less hope she saw.


    "This is bad! The world is about to be turned upside down with rank nine gu immortals fighting and I''m powerless to do anything! I should have just stayed in that damn grotto heaven."


    "Which great era?" Bao Zhi''s question broke the silence, cutting straight to the chase.


    Hearing Bao Zhi''s question, Qinyang breathed a sigh of relief, realization dawning on her.


    "Right! I totally forgot there are multiple great eras and not just ''the great era'' that came after the ''current era'' where the five regions merged. Each venerable''s era was also called a great era. Huh, so I was getting worked up over nothing. If it isn''t ''the'' great era then I''m good. I still have time to become an immortal and establish myself properly before the world ends."


    The city lord''s eyes darted left and right between them. "Who on earth would not know about the venerables? Were these people living under a rock? Are the heavens underfoot and the earth atop?"


    "This is the era of Spectral Soul Demon Venerable."


    "!!!"


    Qinyang''s knees buckled, and she swayed, clutching at anything to keep from collapsing as shock and dread washed over her.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 88 - Darkness within

    Bao Zhi continued to interrogate the city lord for relevant information about the era.


    The city lord explained to the best of his ability.


    How Spectral Soul Demon Venerable created soul path, opening up a new way of cultivation for gu masters.


    Through his innovations and promotion of soul path, it became the mainstream path of the five regions and two heavens.


    It provided many advantages in other aspects, like gu refinement and enduring backlashes.


    Gu masters chose to strengthen their souls. Seven out of ten gu masters cultivated soul path, a shocking number!


    Bao Zhi recalled in his mind how wood path''s popularity soared during Geneis Lotus Immortal Venerable''s era.


    Now things have changed, this was the undisputed era of soul path.


    The city lord himself was a rank four gu master cultivating soul path.


    Meticulously absorbing the knowledge, Bao Zhi instructed him to show all his gu and explain their effects.


    The city lord knew in the depths of his heart, looking at his situation, whoever these people were they could pry his secrets from him even if he resisted.


    He willingly complied, producing a series of gu, starting his showcase with his vital gu.


    The more Bao Zhi heard about soul path, the more serious his expression became.


    "If there were soul path gu worms back in my time, I could have healed my soul."


    "No, there were soul path gu worms, just soul path wasn''t established yet. It was lacking a comprehensive system."


    This thought of his was confirmed shortly after as the city lord started to explain soul path gu relating to memories.


    Soul search gu!


    This gu worm could access its target''s memories.


    "Oh. I knew of methods to erase memories. But now it seems soul path has even more methods." Bao Zhi immediately realized the importance of such a gu.


    A gu master''s secrets could be extracted, leaving no space for lies.


    Bao Zhi took the soul search gu, startling the city lord.


    After a moment, the city lord felt his connection severed to the gu.


    "Wait! I haven''t told you about the side effects of-"


    "I will know all about them." But Bao Zhi interrupted him as the gu worm activated in tandem with the gu house.


    The displays came to life, projecting pictures from the man''s memories.


    Some where life-like and vivid, some were blurry and vague.


    A boy stood in a dimly lit chamber, barely eight, his eyes wide with awe and fear.


    The chamber was dominated by a towering statue with three heads and a thousand stone arms.


    "Father, when can I start cultivating my soul like you? I want to be strong like you!"


    His father''s voice echoed in the chamber, harsh and commanding.


    "You are still too young. Go and worship the thousand armed effigy. This is also cultivation."


    ...


    A small room, its walls lined with dusty shelves of old, yellowed books.


    A teenage boy stood over the frail body of a young girl, no older than twelve, her face pale and sickly.


    Her eyes were sunken, staring blankly up at the ceiling. The boy''s hands trembled as he shook her, desperate to elicit a response, tears welling up in his eyes.


    "What happened to you, sister?! Speak to me! Help! Something is wrong with her!"


    ...


    A grand hall. At the center, middle-aged man with a commanding presence walked to and forth.


    "Cultivating the soul is hard, remember this well. Your talent is greater than what your sister had, we have great expectations of you."


    His hand rested heavily on the boy''s shoulder, a gesture both of support and of dominance.


    "Yes, I won''t bring shame to our house."


    ...


    A lavish, well-lit study, its walls lined with intricate carvings.


    The young man, his face twisted with rage, stormed in. He confronted an older man, seated behind a large, ornate desk.


    "You! It was you, wasn''t it? I discovered today why mother became feeble and why she died later. You did the same thing to your own daughter as well?! You monster!"


    His father''s voice again, cold and unyielding.


    "Son! This is the path of cultivation. I told you it is very difficult. You have to accept it."


    "If that''s the price I won''t accept!"


    ...


    The family hall. The scent of incense thick in the air, voices chanting.


    "Long live the new family head! Long live the new family head!"


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    Pride swelled in his chest, yet a cold, gnawing emptiness lingered, a void that no power or title could fill.


    ...


    He was in his father''s study, fingers trembling as he held a bloodstained dagger, his uncle next to him.


    "They even planted false evidence! How will you deal with your father''s enemies? Your resolve is feeble and your foundation is too shallow!"


    "I can deal with them." He gritted the dagger. "Thanks for your concern, uncle."


    ...


    The faces of the family elders loomed before him, twisted in pain as their souls were ripped from their bodies.


    His uncle''s voice rose in anger.


    "You fool! This was a grave mistake! I trusted you to take care of it. But this? Have you learned nothing from your late father? You clearly absorbed their souls. We can''t cover this up, they are from the main family branch!"


    ...


    The life of the city lord flashed by rapidly. Moments of years condensed into minutes.


    The joys, sinful acts, betrayal and hidden secrets of a lifetime displayed for all to bear witness.


    "Ah! Enough! Make it stop." The city lord wailed in agony.


    The soul searching not only damaged his soul, causing intense pain, it also made him relive his darkest moments he wished he could forget.


    But Bao Zhi did not relent, he continued to extract information. The most significant events the city lord lived were of no importance to Bao Zhi.


    "Aargh-!"


    The interrogation turned into a torture of soul and psyche.


    The city lord, transfixed by the immortal gu house, couldn''t lift a finger.


    He stared into the emptiness with gritted teeth, his gaze vacant.


    The sharp screams turned to guttural groans, his body shivered.


    But seeing the contents of the unearthed memories, who would feel a shred of sympathy for him anymore?


    At the next moment, the city lord''s eyes unexpectedly opened to their fullest then he let out a loud cry as his body went limp.


    The images stopped playing.


    "He shouldn''t have died from that much. Could it be..." Bao Zhi pondered in his mind.


    "An agreement was triggered on his soul when I reached relevant information, it seems."


    The loud scream didn''t go unnoticed.


    Hao Meng''s eyes fluttered open, the voice of the city lord stabbing through the haze of his unconsciousness.


    He sat up, his heart pounding, a chill crawling up his spine as he looked around the room.


    And then he saw her.


    "Mother?"


    His mother lay crumpled on the floor, her delicate body still and unnaturally mangled.


    Hao Meng''s breath got caught in his throat, and for a moment, he was paralyzed, unable to process the rawness of reality.


    He rose unsteadily to his feet, his legs threatening to give way beneath him. Each step he took toward her felt like a terrible dream, but he couldn''t stop himself.


    His mind raced, bombarded by a relentless stream of memories, the gentle lullabies she sang when he was a child, the iron grip she held on his life, the countless ways she had twisted his love into something dark and suffocating.


    "Why?"


    His chest tightened as he sank to his knees beside her, the weight of her influence still heavy on his soul.


    "Why did you have to die? Why are you tormenting me even in your death?"


    Yet, even as hatred churned within him, it was tethered to something else, a deep, inextricable love, forged over years of dependency and fear.


    He reached out with a trembling hand, his fingers brushing against the coldness of her skin.


    It was true. She was really gone.


    "No! No..."


    A shudder ran through him, and he pressed his forehead to the floor beside her, his body wracked with silent sobs.


    "I hate you!"


    He had hated her, but he had loved her too, even when he realized how she had warped his entire existence.


    She had been everything to him for the longest time, his only family.


    Hao Meng''s breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving.


    A bitter taste filled his mouth.


    His eyes stung with tears he refused to shed.


    "Mo... Mother..."


    How many times had she held him back, kept him under her thumb, using her selfish care as chains to bind him?


    How often had he believed her when she said it was for his own good?


    That she knew what was best for him?


    Her words had been sweet poison, laced with a venom that had seeped into his soul, warping his thoughts, making him doubt himself.


    He remembered the competition round she had tried to kill Qinyang, he re-imagined her face twisting in cold malice.


    That was the moment he had seen his mother for what she truly was, a tyrant who used love as a weapon, a manipulator who hid her cruelty behind a mask of concern.


    He had hated her then, a white-hot rage burning in his chest.


    And yet, even now, as he looked at her lifeless body, he could not help but feel a pang of deep sorrow.


    She had been his mother, the woman who had raised him, protected him, cared for him.


    Her love had been a prison, but it had been all he had known.


    He still loved her, despite everything. He truly did.


    "Mother¡­" He whispered, his voice breaking.


    Tears blurred his vision, and he blinked them away, refusing to let them fall.


    From behind him, he sensed a presence. He didn''t need to turn to know who it was. Qinyang.


    Her heart ached as she watched Hao Meng, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.


    She had never seen him like this, so vulnerable, so broken.


    She reached out and her hand touched his shoulder, a hesitant gesture of comfort.


    "I''m here for you."


    The contact jolted Hao Meng.


    He flinched, pulling away from her touch, his body curling in on itself. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the world, to shut out the torrent of emotions threatening to drown him.


    The sobs came harder now, wrenching from his throat in painful, jagged gasps. He wrapped his arms around himself, as if trying to hold himself together, to keep from falling apart completely.


    "Leave..." He choked out, his voice raw and strained. "Just¡­ I just need some time. Alone."


    Qinyang''s hand hovered in the air, her fingers curling into a fist before she let it drop to her side.


    She stepped back, her heart twisting in her chest, torn between the urge to comfort him and the need to respect his space. She had seen the look in his eyes, the raw agony, the guilt that cut deeper than any blade.


    She could only imagine what he was feeling.


    She glanced down at the body of Wen Hao Jiong, her expression hardening.


    She had tried to kill Qinyang, not once, but twice. Qinyang''s life had hung by a thread, saved only by Hao Meng''s self-sacrificial intervention.


    She had come so close to death, and even now, the memory of it filled her with a cold, simmering anger. She should feel relieved, even glad, that the woman was gone, that the threat had been removed.


    And yet, as she looked at Hao Meng, she saw the depth of his pain, her anger faded, replaced by an uncertain mix of emotions.


    She recalled how much he had yearned for his mother''s approval, her affection. She had seen his respectful eyes when he spoke of her.


    She gave Hao Meng the space he needed, her heart aching with the need to comfort him, to hold him, to tell him that everything would be okay.


    But the words stuck in her throat.


    "What comfort can I offer in this world to you?"


    She didn''t know how to comfort him, not when she herself was so conflicted.


    ...


    From the shadow of a corner, Mo Xuan''s voice erupted.


    Witnessing the collapse of the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land...


    The life and death fight of Yuhun Kuang and Kong Guying...


    The murder of the family in the oasis... The memories of the city lord...


    A son''s mourning of his mother...


    Mo Xuan''s innocent heart couldn''t bear to watch and listen to these events any longer!


    "Why do you all stand and watch unperturbed? Why do you wear a mask and hide your worlds of inner torments?" He pointed at Bao Zhi and Jue Shi.


    "Oh the pain, it courses through my bones from my very core bursting forth from an abyssal spring."


    "Ah-! I am dying of life!" Mo Xuan grabbed his chest.


    "I am drowning in a sea of suffering! It hurts me so much!"


    "My spirit is engulfed by the deep-rooted taste of death. I am weak to swallow this certainty! Oh, the savor of eternal nothingness. You flow through me, for I must endure your ebb and flow until I am strong enough. Strong enough to embrace your poisonous claws of irrevocable origin. Ah-!"


    "These!"


    "These nightmares play before my eyes, haunting my mind."


    "I try to wake up. Futile!"


    "Ah, it is not possible to wake from this vision, because I am already awake!"


    "I want to cry, but my tears turn into thoughts. And my thoughts, they are as bitter as tears."


    After a brief pause, Mo Xuan continued his monologue.


    "Naivete is the only road to salvation. But for I who felt and perceived the agony of life, the question of salvation is simple."


    "There is no salvation on my road!"


    "What meaning is there in the tragic suffering of a man for whom everything is void and whose only rule in this world is agony?" Mo Xuan asked in ridicule.


    "There is nothing!" He roared.


    "I am, therefore this world is meaningless!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 89 - Beneath the ice

    For a moment everyone in the immortal gu house was focused on Mo Xuan.


    "What''s wrong with this person? Is he mentally unstable?" Qinyang could hardly interpret his unprompted outburst. "I should stay clear of him." She warned herself.


    Hao Meng didn''t react, but Mo Xuan''s dark thoughts mingled with his own.


    Bao Zhi could acutely feel Mo Xuan''s human qi and infer his mental state from that.


    "Such a pure expression of anguish! No wonder, no wonder..." Bao Zhi studied the patterns of human qi emanating from Mo Xuan. "Being born without memories, yet having a developed body, is a unique phenomena with unique opportunities."


    Bao Zhi continued to analyze in his mind.


    "He has the mental capacities of a man, however he has experienced the world through just the events of a few days. Naturally, his understanding will be skewed and exaggerated."


    "How unfortunate for him, it had to be such moments."


    Bao Zhi sympathized with Mo Xuan, he could tell how genuine his feeling were, how real it was for him.


    Bao Zhi also realized Mo Xuan possessed a good talent for human path.


    Mo Xuan''s words rang in his hears.


    "These are such poisonous thoughts! I need to nip this problem in the bud."


    "Since the foundation of his views are incomplete, the conclusion is naturally flawed too."


    "A child may not know how to feed itself, or what to eat, yet he knows hunger. Mo Xuan too, is like this, grappling with feelings he cannot yet understand."


    "Nonetheless, every expression of the idea that ''nothing matters'' debases of the human spirit. Humans are the spirit of all living things."


    Bao Zhi stepped forward, his eyes held understanding, not judgment, a stark contrast to Mo Xuan''s disturbed state.


    "Mo Xuan." Bao Zhi began. "You are in pain, and that pain speaks to your humanity."


    "You are overwhelmed because you''ve tasted the suffering of this world in its most raw form. But understand this, pain is not an enemy."


    "You may feel as though you are drowning in an ocean of suffering..." Bao Zhi said, stepping closer.


    But then he paused, not for the dramatic effect, but on account of his inner shock.


    He sensed a gu worm forming inside Mo Xuan''s body!


    His eyes gleamed with anticipation and excitement, as this was a human path gu.


    "...but just as the tide rises, so too does it fall. You are not trapped in this pain; you are merely passing through it, and in doing so, you become stronger. You become whole."


    Mo Xuan, still clutching his chest, stared at Bao Zhi in confusion.


    "But... it hurts so much. How can I bear this? How can anyone?"


    Bao Zhi observed the flicker of change in Mo Xuan''s eyes and sensed the delicate balance in his emotions. He decided to offer Mo Xuan deeper wisdom.


    Mo Xuan was unaware of the mystical events inside his body, but Bao Zhi could tell as clear as day.


    The small gu worm was the size of a fingernail and had the appearance of a golden firefly.


    "How to bear it? The answer is not as quick or as easy as you may want. The two most powerful forces in any battle are patience and time. In time, you will understand more about yourself and the world around you. With patience, you will learn to navigate it without letting it consume you."


    Bao Zhi could see Mo Xuan grasping his meaning, but uncertainty lingered in his gaze, not yet accepting.


    How could he trust someone else''s word in face of his own reality?


    Bao Zhi felt the gu refinement progressing, he continued.


    "You are still at the beginning of your journey. When a person first begins to be educated, they often blame others around them for their pain. They see the cruelty of the world and curse it."


    "But as they grow, they turn that blame inward, seeing their own faults and feeling guilt. That is where you are now, drowning in self-blame and anguish."


    Bao Zhi''s voice softened. "But when a person is fully educated, when they truly understand life, they blame neither others nor themselves. They learn that suffering is not a punishment or a failure, but part of the path humans walk, something to be lived through, not fought against."


    Bao Zhi could feel the gu worm was on the cusp of complete refinement.


    He couldn''t help but recall a part in his mind from The Legends of Ren Zu. "The door of life and death had two routes, one was the road of life, the other was the road of death. No matter which path it was, there would be a lot of suffering gu."


    Suffering gu!


    It was one of the legendary gu recorded in the fable of the human race''s ancestor.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Feeling a strange resonance with this gu worm, time seemed to slow for Bao Zhi.


    He had a minor epiphany!


    A flash of inspiration sparked in his mind. An unspeakable intuition guiding his actions, he activated various gu worms to create a killer move.


    This all took, but a moment in reality.


    Standing before Mo Xuan, Bao Zhi placed his hands on his shoulders and looked in his deep blue eyes.


    "You stand here now, not because you are weak, but because you are alive."


    At this moment Bao Zhi activated the core and last gu of this killer move, Perception Warp immortal gu.


    "To feel pain is a sign of life."


    "But to feel the pain of others... That means you are human!"


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Alive in suffering, Human in perception!


    Mo Xuan''s breath trembled as he gazed at Bao Zhi, his wild expression faltering for a moment.


    He felt the dams in his heart burst, his ocean of sorrows receding and dissipating.


    A shared sense of oneness and belonging took over him.


    The sudden change overwhelmed him, unable to express this strange feeling through words or actions.


    Mo Xuan slumped into Bao Zhi''s arm, abruptly asleep.


    The others watched in silence. A strange wave of emotion passed them by, leaving a solemn expression on their faces.


    Only Jue Shi seemed unaffected.


    At this time, not even Bao Zhi knew the profound consequences this technique would lead to in the future.


    He broke the silence.


    "Let''s move on. We have gathered all the information here that mortals could provide."


    His next target was a public blessed land where he could transact with immortals. The resources he brought from Bao clan''s immortal treasury were mostly with the intent to sell them.


    Bao Zhi also needed Connecting Heaven and Divine Sense gu to use Treasure Yellow Heaven, the largest marketplace of gu immortals. Gu masters did not have these gu or the resources to refine them.


    Divine Sense gu had an extremely huge demand for primeval essence. Even a rank five peak stage gu master might only be able to last for several breaths. Thus, usually only gu immortals or land spirits would use it.


    Connecting Heaven gu could allow the will or divine sense to enter a set blessed land or grotto heaven. Naturally, gu masters had no use for this gu either.


    Bao Zhi had a pressing issue on his hand. Even more pressing than the grand goal of reclaiming his grotto heaven before someone else would take control of it.


    He could feel an empty, uncomfortable sensation in his chest. His intuition told him clearly what this was. His immortal gu, Verdant Heart Seed had to be fed!


    "Since its refinement, I have used it three times already. Any more uses are not possible in this weakened state."


    Like mortal gu, immortal gu also consumed its relevant food. Understandably, immortal gu needed more and higher rank materials. But the feeding interval was also longer, measured in terms of months and years compared to mortal gu''s just days and weeks.


    "Fortunately, Perception Warp and Hole Earth immortal gu can still last a long while."


    Being in Bao clan''s care, these two gu were fed by them recently.


    After a day of travel, Jue Shi spoke up.


    "We will have to stop because of that."


    He pointed at Hao Jiong''s corpse.


    "The blessed land''s fall is currently suppressed, but it cannot be delayed much longer."


    Other than Qinyang, no one else knew of Hao Jiong''s immortal aperture still being in her body.


    Actually, Qinyang just forgot about it.


    Mo Xuan and Hao Meng had no idea what a falling aperture even meant.


    Bao Zhi was surprised at the gu house''s ability to restrict the fall of an immortal aperture. He could not replicate this effect even in his prime!


    Thinking about it, he connected the dots in relation to the refinement formation that suppressed Xu Lian previously. "Most likely, this ability is intrinsic to the gu house and the refinement formation just uses it as a sub formation."


    Qinyang was suddenly deep in thought. "Right! We need to carefully choose the location." She glanced at Bao Zhi from the corner of her eye, wary of his intentions. "It would have been best if he didn''t know. This is Hao Meng''s inheritance after all."


    Bao Zhi and Qinyang debated on the ideal location.


    She thought to herself. "Placing it in the Earth Cave is not bad, as it''s well hidden. But if we do that, how will Hao Meng access it? He is just a rank six gu immortal and the environment... Wait. Bao Zhi is also just at rank six, right? And if I am at Hao Meng''s side then we can come and go with this immortal gu house, while he is restricted."


    After her error with the agreement, she was very cautious with Bao Zhi. This person shouldn''t be underestimated!


    With Bao Zhi''s advice, they made a small detour, locating the closest entrance to Earth Cave.


    On the way Qinyang explained the situation and the relation of immortal apertures and blessed lands to Hao Meng.


    It had to be said, Hao Meng had a lot of interaction with immortals in the Lingering Mountains grotto, but these were only superficial interactions, he knew very little about gu immortals.


    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda quietly arrived, back again in the dark depths.


    Hao Meng stepped out, the dead body of her mother in his arms.


    He gently placed Hao Jiong''s corpse on the ground.


    Standing on the edge of the gu house, Jue Shi clapped his hands at once.


    "It is done. I released the aperture. Soon the blessed land will settle and the opening will form. The remains can now be refined, they shouldn''t be thrown away."


    Hao Meng snapped his head, eyes spewing fire, glaring at Jue Shi. But he restrained himself from making a commotion at such an important occasion.


    Feeling the stares from the others, Jue Shi felt the need to explain.


    "You don''t know? A gu immortal''s body contains dao marks. You can refine ice path gu worms from these ice path dao marks. Or even snow and related gu worms. If you don''t know how to refine, then it can still be sold so others can refine it."


    "This Jue Shi! He is totally clueless. How can he say such a thing in front of him?" Qinyang rolled her eyes.


    "Why are all these people so weird! One is a preachy trickster, that other blue eyed guy is an emo cry-baby. This Jue Shi... Can''t he read the mood or is he just retarded?"


    "No. No, I shouldn''t be that judgemental. Different world, different rules. It is I, who is an outsider here after all." Qinyang shook her head mentally. "Hmm? Maybe they all think I''m the weird one?" Now she got extra self-conscious of how she acted. She opted no to say anything.


    Hao Meng carried the body back in the gu house.


    They waited in silence.


    After what felt like a long time, a cold blue, hexagonal entrance appeared in front of them.


    Hao Jiong Blessed Land has opened!


    Hao Meng was the first to step inside, followed by Qinyang, then Bao Zhi.


    Mo Xuan stayed with Jue Shi in the gu house. He was curious, questioning him tirelessly, what dao marks and refinement were.


    Inside the blessed land the landscape was a frozen realm of ethereal beauty.


    They arrived on a vast expanse of blue-white ice, with veins of frozen rivers beneath the surface glowing faintly with an icy hue.


    Crystalline ice mountains rose in jagged peaks on the horizon, their sides slick and gleaming, covered in a sheen of white frost.


    Qinyang stared at the beauty of this world, reminding her of both the snowy mountain she first arrived at and her memories from Earth.


    From underground, geysers erupted in a slow, graceful dance, spewing columns of cooled vapor that instantly crystallized into delicate ice clouds. These frozen mists drifted lazily through the air, joining the shimmering frost.


    Hao Meng was very familiar with this place, he lived most of his life here. The icy clouds were like just what he used to travel with.


    In the distance, creatures born of ice itself roamed the terrain. Some appeared as massive wolves with coats made of frost and eyes glowing a pale blue. Others were serpentine beings, their bodies translucent and twisting, leaving behind trails of ice wherever they went.


    Cloaked in white snow, suddenly the land spirit appeared in the air.


    Hao Meng inhaled the cold air sharply, instantly recognizing her face.


    "Who are you? Are you invading my land?"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 90 - Fiery obsession

    "So there is a land spirit. That''s both good and bad." Bao Zhi noted in his mind.


    What was a land spirit? It was the remaining obsession of the gu immortal fused together with their blessed land''s heavenly power.


    Land spirits could think and had personalities, but they weren''t human-like in spirituality. Their thinking was mechanical and straightforward. They could not lie, for example.


    But heaven and earth was balanced. What they lacked in spirituality, they made up for in their abilities.


    A land spirit could oversee and manipulate the blessed land as if it was its own body. Depending on the depths of its accumulations, it could display various effects without the use of gu.


    A sufficient amount of space path dao marks would let it perform teleportation, for example.


    If one could obtain the acknowledgement of the land spirit then they could claim ownership of the blessed land itself. At that time the land spirit would be greatly beneficial to the management of the blessed land.


    Lands spirits were always alert, they didn''t need to sleep. They were truthful and loyal as well. In essence, they were the perfect caretakers one could ask for.


    Hao Meng looked at the land spirit with a heavy heart.


    "Mother, grudge has no place in my heart. Leaving me your inheritance will make us even, I will forgive you." He thought in his mind.


    "Hmph! You trespassers dare invade my domain? You are nothing more than ants beneath my notice. I should freeze you where you stand then burn you in the same breath." Its voice was sharp, filled with disdain.


    The land spirit''s gaze landed on Hao Meng.


    "You, young man! You have a warm aura. Become my guinea pig, let me do some experiments on you. Then I let the rest of you leave. What do you say?" The land spirit floated down, closer to Hao Meng.


    "Huh?" Hao Meng was speechless. "She doesn''t even recognize me?" He felt a hint of ire and disappointment.


    Qinyang tried to transmit a message to him, but she found all her gu worms were suppressed by the land spirit''s control.


    Bao Zhi spoke before she could.


    "This land spirit is not who you think she is. Don''t be surprised if she doesn''t act how you expect."


    Now that the land spirit was closer, Hao Meng noticed some obvious differences in appearance too.


    The land spirit''s limbs were made of pure snow. Its height was shorter than Hao Jiong''s. Wherever it moved, it left a trail of ice mist, rising like hot steam.


    "This isn''t her. I won''t be confused by it!" He shook his head.


    Qinyang: "We are here to take ownership. Tell us what the condition is! What is your obsession?"


    Land spirit: "Hmph! You are not qualified to know. I can achieve my goal on my own!" The land spirit turned its head.


    Bao Zhi: "How can that be known without trying? You have to give us a chance first."


    The land spirit looked at him with a vexed expression. She knew if her obsession was fulfilled, someone would take control of the blessed land.


    The land spirit''s attitude was naturally reluctant to lose its freedom.


    "Tch. As if I would tell you! My obsession is far too... Wait." The land spirit promptly covered her mouth, laughing twice. "Did you think I¡¯d just say it aloud that my obsession is to complete my inheritance?"


    "..."


    "How did you trick me?" The land spirit¡¯s eyes widened for a moment. "Hmph! No matter." But she quickly recomposed herself.


    A mischievous smile crept up on Qinyang''s face. "You are right. If the task is impossible, why not just tell us the details! It makes no difference."


    "That''s right! Even if you knew, it wouldn''t matter. No one can fuse ice and fire, only I! Solely I can complete this dual inheritance. No one else is¡ª"


    "!!!"


    She caught herself, clenching her fists in anger.


    A huge crack formed in the depths of the ice, sending a tremor through the ground, reminding everyone who was in control of this place.


    "Hahaha. Good! Very good! But you will definitely fail! And when you fail I will forcefully take the young man and freeze the two of you into human ice cubes."


    Her voice trailed off as she realized her slip again, yet unable to stop herself...


    "Oh, I shouldn''t have said that either. I should not have said anything at all!"


    Just like this the land spirit decided it was best if it didn''t show itself. Its figure flickered and disappeared.


    "What''s going to happen now?" Hao Meng was puzzled at this situation.


    "Don''t panic. The land spirit is young, it has just realized its inability to lie." Bao Zhi said.


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    "That must be very frustrating. Yet it can''t deal with us. It could only retreat." Qinyang gloated.


    "Why? Doesn''t it control this whole world?" Hao Meng asked.


    Bao Zhi: "Land spirits can only act according to the rules of the heavenly power and their obsession."


    Hao Meng nodded, his gaze still questioning.


    Qinyang: "This means as long as we don''t threaten its world or try to hinder it in its obsession, then it has no reason to act against us."


    Hao Meng: "So earlier, these were just empty threats?"


    Qinyang: "No, a land spirit cannot lie. It did intend to harm us, but we just haven''t fulfilled the condition that would trigger her to attack. Land spirits are like this, there''s a rule and reason behind everything they do. They are like a program running their course. The personality? Ha, that''s just the dressing, all a facade."


    Hao Meng wondered, why didn''t he know of these? He was a gu immortal after all...


    Qinyang and Bao Zhi talked about land spirit like it was the most obvious thing to them.


    But in this short exchange, they gained valuable information already.


    "So it turns out Hao Jiong''s goal was to merge ice path and fire path? What a stupid goal! Uh, no offense."


    "The spirit is right. Obtaining this blessed land is nigh impossible if fire and ice need to coexist. They are like yin and yang, they oppose each other." Hao Meng sighed.


    He had no idea his mother had such a hidden ambition. She had concealed this from even the leadership of Wen clan.


    Qinyang racked her brain in search of a solution, but all she could think of were venerable-level techniques, far beyond their reach, that could make two paths not conflict. This was tough!


    But some land spirit were like this. She remember one land spirit demanded the head of Spectral Soul Demon Venerable as a dying grudge. This was still better than that.


    She turned to Hao Meng.


    "Remember when she gave me the Fiery Thoughts gu at the Bao Wen competition?"


    "Of course I do." Hao Meng affirmed. How could he forget the moments when he risked his life to save Qinyang?


    "At that time I didn''t find it strange. It was just a mortal fire path gu after all. But do you think that was a gu she created?"


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "She was already cultivating fire path on the side, it only makes sense. But she obviously reached a bottleneck somewhere. It''s only natural when you try to do something like dual cultivating two paths."


    Qinyang started to pace in a circle, deep in thought.


    "If everything was going smoothly it wouldn''t have turned into her obsession, it would have been just plain cultivation."


    "Hmm. There has to be a key. What could it be? Some kind of regret maybe."


    "Merging paths... To complete her inheritance... Incomplete inheritance?"


    The two of them looked at each other as the answer suddenly became obvious.


    "A missing immortal gu!" They exclaimed.


    "She did not have a proper fire path immortal gu." Qinyang said.


    Suddenly it all clicked into place in her mind. "I remember seeing it in the gu house''s recording. Her agitated state when she was pleading with her supreme elder for the fire path immortal gu. Those eyes were not of concern for her son''s survival, her goal was the immortal gu itself. Ah, this damned world! Even when you have the ten extreme physique, are you nothing more in your mother''s eye than a calculated excuse to obtain more benefits?" Qinyang thought she had seen it all and no depravity could surprise her anymore, yet she was proven wrong again.


    But she knew, this wasn''t the time nor place for Hao Meng''s consolation.


    "So this must be that fire path immortal gu?" Hao Meng produced the Fiery Wings immortal gu on his palm. His face was unreadable. "Can we use it?"


    At this moment the land spirit reappeared, its coveting gaze sternly fixed at the immortal gu.


    "A fire path immortal gu. You have one! Oh you have it! Wonderful!" Its attitude took a drastic turn.


    "You are qualified! Yes! Go ahead. Do it! I want to see you succeed! Merge the two paths." The land spirit was elated, urging Hao Meng to act.


    Of course just the appearance of an immortal gu was vastly insufficient to fulfill the land spirit''s obsession.


    Hao Meng knew this as well, having cultivated ice path his whole life, even if he became a fire path gu immortal now with the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance Physique granting him an innate affinity towards fire path, how could he combine the two paths on the spot?!


    Creating just a single killer move that used both paths could take years. And that would only be a single technique, a small step compared to resolving the dao mark conflict to cultivate both at the same time. That would be an even harder challenge, stumping even rank eight gu immortals with hundreds of years of experience.


    Bao Zhi laughed heartily at the absurdity of the situation.


    But they have made some headway, the land spirit reappeared at least.


    The enormity of merging two paths didn''t deter Bao Zhi. He knew he couldn''t succeed, but why would that stop him? He would still eke out some benefits if he could.


    "We have the immortal gu. You do not. What can you show of your own? Are you even worthy of our help? Hah, wanting to combine two paths when you don''t even have the gu..."


    "We will just combine the two paths and keep the results to our self. Let''s go." With that, Bao Zhi turned on his heel, urging the two of them to leave.


    "Wait! Don''t be hasty!" The land spirit jumped in front of Bao Zhi, blocking his way. "We can negotiate."


    That''s it! Bao Zhi keenly sensed the land spirit''s obsession was its weak point. So what did he do? He dangled this bait right in front of the land spirit.


    "Oh, do tell me." Bao Zhi stopped and replied indifferently.


    Now that the land spirit saw a chance of success due to the presence of the Fiery Wings immortal gu it became much more lenient.


    Bao Zhi: "Pay us. If you want our efforts, you naturally have to compensate."


    "So shameless! Wanting to be paid by the land spirit to take its land?" Qinyang raised an eyebrow at this bold move.


    "Not a problem. Once you combine ice and fire, everything in the blessed land is yours." The land spirit promised.


    "It just works?" Qinyang''s jaw dropped.


    "You are still wasting our time. I was wrong to think you were sincere. You need to compensate us for our time." Bao Zhi shook his head, while rubbing his fingers. He released the auras of all three of his immortal gu.


    The complex aura burst forth, the blessed land could not suppress it.


    "But I can''t give you resources. What to do? What to do?" The land spirit panicked. Afraid of the opportunity slipping away.


    The two of them argued for a while. Eventually Bao Zhi managed to narrow down the land spirit''s bottom line.


    It was time to reel in the fish!


    "How about this, you give us the incomplete inheritance, and we give back the completed inheritance?" In this case the inheritance referred to just the information, not the gu worms.


    The land spirit pondered for a moment aloud. "If I give you half, then you give me a whole... That''s a good deal!"


    Next, it immediately produced an information path gu and handed it over with the details of Hao Jiong''s life''s work.


    "Good. We will be back with the completed one." Bao Zhi put the gu worm away.


    "When can I expect you? Hurry back!"


    The three of them exited through the same hexagonal opening they came.


    Hao Meng: "Why did we just leave like that. I know it''s a very hard challenge, but shouldn''t we at least try to take over?"


    Bao Zhi shook his head. "This might seem to you as giving up, or choosing the scraps. But did you consider what would have happened if the land spirit realized our inability? Have you forgot its intentions?"


    Hao Meng gulped. The land spirit might seemed silly and easy to fool, but that perception was only illusory. The land spirit operated on simple logic. Friend or foe, success or failure.


    "Should we strayed from the path of success, we wouldn''t be standing here now, but fighting inside."


    "..."


    "Here." Bao Zhi tossed the information path gu to Hao Meng. "Now you have your inheritance."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 91 - Treasure Yellow Heaven

    The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda arrived in the vicinity of Tian Qucheng blessed land. It hovered in the air, concealed.


    Tian Qucheng blessed land was a public blessed land, pieced together and owned by multiple forces. It produced a variety of resources, but it also functioned as a gathering spot for gu immortals.


    Due the the nature of public blessed lands'' mixed composition, they had low defensive capabilities. Public blessed lands did not have land spirits nor heavenly spirits, their main defense was only the threat of retaliation from the force that controlled it.


    Bringing a rank seven gu house any closer could be seen as a hostile action or provocation, they were flying fortresses after all.


    With Bao Zhi in the lead, they left the gu house.


    Jue Shi showed no inclination to go with them, he even motioned for Qinyang to stay behind.


    "You don''t know this, but for you, I have waited a very long time..." Jue Shi suddenly shut the doors of the gu house in front of Qinyang, isolating this space.


    "Fifteen thousand years, I spent dormant! But now that you are here, I cannot tell you how good this is..." He said in high spirits.


    "Leaving behind all those matters of the Lingering Mountains Grotto and the Ancestral Grotto, we can finally get to the important part." Jue Shi leaned close to her.


    Alarm bells rang in Qinyang''s mind. "This piece of! The moment the others are away, you try to make a move on me?! Damn, am I about to get violated by a baby-faced midget?"


    Qinyang was both angry and terrified. She felt as if the walls constricted her, making even breathing difficult.


    "Fifteen thousand years?" She laughed awkwardly. "That''s a really long time. I''m not even close to a hundred years old. Aren''t I just too young?"


    Jue Shi waved off the idea with a flick of his hand, dismissing it without a second thought


    "The other travelers were just as young." He shook his head.


    "Travelers?"


    "I mean, the otherworldly demons, that''s what everyone calls them since Giant Sun Immortal Venerable suffered the might of otherworldly dao marks... How spiteful! But he brought it upon himself, hehe."


    His thoughts trailed off, before glancing back to her. "So, you don''t have to worry about your age. It doesn''t matter to me at all, really. What matters is, that you-"


    "Wait! The others will be back shortly. That''s not a long time, is it? You waited so long just for this... Can''t you wait a little bit for a better opportunity?" She tried to delay by any means. "Let''s talk this over first, okay?"


    "Yes, we should, naturally." Jue Shi said with a thoughtful expression.


    Qinyang breathed a sigh of relief, urging in her heart for the others'' quick return.


    Jue Shi turned his back on her, looking into the far distance.


    Qinyang wondered if she should attempt a sneak attack or maybe she should flee?


    But she quickly dispelled such notions. Even the city lord of the oasis, who was a rank four gu master was trapped like a mosquito in ember due to the immortal gu house''s power.


    What could Qinyang do with just her rank three cultivation?


    She could only listen.


    "For hundreds of years, that pesky Wen clan, they tried prodding my secrets. Ha, but all in vain! How could they succeed! But indeed, it was very frustrating to endure silently."


    Jue Shi spoke, his tone reverberating through the entire gu house.


    "This era... The great era, I mean. You see, it needs to be ended. And for that, I need your help." He said without turning back to her. "Qinyang! It is foretold, with your knowledge and judgement, we will set the history of the world! How does that sound? Exciting, right?"


    "Huh? He wants to do WHAT?" Qinyang''s intense stare at Jue Shi''s back vanished, replaced by a puzzled expression.


    Jue Shi continued his explanation of a grand plan, spanning multiple eras, acting in the shadows and manipulating important events.


    Qinyang listened quietly, but her mind was of a guilty conscience of false accusations. "I assumed wrong, I almost said something I shouldn''t have..."


    "No! But I wasn''t wrong to assume the worst! In this world, that''s just... That''s just how it is... This damn Jue Shi! Can''t you make your intentions clear? Why''d you have to scare me like that?!"


    The more she thought about it, the more indignant she got, eventually interrupting Jue Shi.


    "That''s all well and good, Mr. Waiting-For-Fifteen-Thousand-Years. But all you have is a broken gu house! How are you going to make a difference? You think you are Heavenly Court or something?!" She blurted out in emotion, instantly regretting it.


    "You!" A nerve popped out on Jue Shi''s little head.


    "This ''broken'' gu house, I tell you, is still very capable! But you didn''t let me finish, the first task is to get back the core rank seven immortal gu." Jue Shi puffed, unsure why Qinyang showed such contempt suddenly.


    "Oh! So easy? Just a rank seven immortal gu? Then why not just make me a gu immortal before that!" She retorted.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Hm? Deal!" Jue Shi reached out his stubby little hand in genuine agreement.


    Qinyang shook it mockingly. She still wanted to drill Jue Shi with important followup questions.


    But Jue Shi raised his hand, stopping her. "They are back."


    Bao Zhi returned, with Mo Xuan and Hao Meng behind him.


    Inside the blessed land they met two gu immortals who were stationed here.


    Bao Zhi exchanged a sum of immortal materials as a gesture of establishing a relation.


    Hao Meng acted very cordially in the presence of these gu immortals as a consequence of his upbringing. He left a good impression on the two of them and received a small batch of materials.


    Establishing good relations with lone immortals was also one of their duties here, it wasn''t anything strange, considering the intentions of clans.


    Bao Zhi knew this too well, he also wanted to rope in Hao Meng into his circle.


    He saw great potential in this young man.


    "An upstanding upbringing, a good nature and a solid foundation. He is like an unpolished gem."


    Investing in Hao Meng at his lowest would be the cheapest and would be worthwhile later. Bao Zhi was clear on the principle of a small act of kindness yielding a hundred fold in return.


    He took out two batches of rank five materials he just obtained by trading.


    In his palm, the resources mixed and fused. In a matter of seconds a pair of rank five gu were refined.


    Grandmaster attainment in refinement path!


    "Refining two rank five gu in an instant?" Hao Meng''s jaw dropped. He remembered his multiple attempts to elevate his core rank four gu to rank five. In total, he failed five times before succeeding.


    "This is the Connecting Heaven gu. You use this gu to make a connection to the Treasure Yellow Heaven grotto." Bao Zhi passed the first gu over.


    "The second one is the Divine Sense gu. It is used to produce your divine sense, which can enter and interact inside Treasure Yellow Heaven."


    Bao Zhi quickly explained while refining a second set for himself.


    Once again, Hao Meng''s horizons have broadened.


    "Qinyang, look! I can connect to Treasure Yellow Heaven. This is incredible, there are worlds beyond worlds!"


    Qinyang couldn''t exactly put her finger on it, but she found a certain calming charm in his enthusiasm, dispelling her previous mood.


    "Remember when we flew on your cloud, leaving that icy mountain. You showed me how great the world is. Now look at you, I took you along to an even greater world." She teased.


    Bao Zhi passed by briefly, giiving two immortal essence stones to Hao Meng, instructing him to cover his needs.


    "Thank you senior!"


    Hao Meng looked at the two stones.


    "These primeval stones are strange. Hm."


    "Because these aren''t primeval stones. These are immortal essence stones!" Qinyang told him. "Use them to buy resources in Treasure Yellow Heaven. Now you are a fire path gu immortal, right? You will need fire path immortal resources to develop your immortal aperture."


    "Aperture development is the basic foundation, you cannot neglect it! When your tribulation appears you cannot be caught unprepared. Otherwise, if you suffer a heavy loss, you will enter a negative spiral suffering even greater losses later on. You can even lose your life."


    Hao Meng nodded, but smiled confidently.


    "What? You don''t believe me? Do not be complacent because you have the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique. The tribulation that a ten extreme physique gets is even stronger than normal." Qinyang cautioned him.


    "You know so much, but you are still silly. Did you forget, Qinyang?" He straightened his back, striking a pose. "I already passed my tribulation. I am a gu immortal now! And gu immortals are mighty. I won''t let anything happen to you, I promise."


    "..." Qinyang blinked in disbelief. "Have you not looked into your mother''s inheritance yet?"


    "I did! But only at the parts relevant to fire path. Why?"


    She took a deep breath. "Alright." She said, exhaling heavily. "Since you don''t know..."


    Hao Meng perked his ears. What news could she still tell him?


    "An immortal needs to face calamities and tribulations not just once, but every ten years." She started to explain, her tone heavy.


    "What?"


    "Currently, you are a rank six gu immortal with one earthly calamity and one heavenly tribulation."


    Qinyang meticulously explained the order and increasing strength of calamities and tribulations.


    Earthly calamities, heavenly tribulations, grand tribulations, myriad tribulations...


    At rank six, every earthly calamity will increase in strength compared to the previous, until the tenth tribulation is reached in sequence, which will be a whole new class of tribulation, a heavenly tribulation. Then the pattern would repeat until the gu immortal has faced 27 earthly calamities and three heavenly tribulations, including their ascension''s tribulation, which was technically both an earthly calamity and a heavenly tribulation combined.


    At rank seven, the heavenly tribulations would occur at every fifth tribulation. Every tenth tribulation was an even stronger, worth about ten heavenly tribulations, this was a grand tribulation. After passing 24 earthly calamities, three heavenly tribulations and three grand tribulations, the rank seven gu immortal would become rank eight.


    The pattern followed from here on.


    Rank six: 27 earthly calamities, 3 heavenly tribulations.


    Rank seven: 24 earthly calamities, 3 heavenly tribulations, 3 grand tribulations.


    Rank eight: 24 heavenly tribulations, 3 grand tribulations, 3 myriad tribulation.


    "I will have to face so many tribulations?" Hao Meng had an ashen expression, but he composed himself quickly.


    "At least they are only coming every ten years. I still have a long time to prepare." He said confidently.


    Qinyang shook her head.


    "The time is calculated according to your aperture''s time. What is the rate of your time flow?"


    "..." Hao Meng gulped, a chill running down his spine. "Forty to one." He looked at Qinyang incredulously. "But this cannot be! That means, I will have a tribulation every three months in our time? How would anyone deal with this?"


    "Now you start to get it. If you want to protect me, you first need to be able to protect yourself!" She said. "Ah! Forget what I said earlier about the two immortal essence stones. We need to resolve your aperture''s time flow first. We need to find a time path gu immortal who can lower your aperture''s rate of time. This is a must!"


    Later, Hao Meng looked through the rest of Hao Jiong''s inheritance. He trusted Qinyang, but there was a lingering hope in his heart for she to be wrong, just this time.


    But his findings matched what Qinyang just told him.


    Back in the Lingering Mountains Grotto, Wen clan also had a time path gu immortal inheritance. They relied on this to deal with the problem of fast time flow.


    Hao Meng spent the rest of his day browsing Treasure Yellow Heaven in search of a solution.


    But he came up empty handed, the overwhelming majority of the transactions and services concerned only soul path.


    In the end, he could only put up a request for service, looking for a time path gu immortal to find and accept it.


    Bao Zhi was also dissatisfied with his findings in Treasure Yellow Heaven. He had carefully selected the immortal materials he could store and sell for a good profit back in the immortal treasury.


    But what he found now was that these wood path resources didn''t even fetch a third of the price he initially estimated.


    There was almost no demand for his wood path resources. He had to sell at a great loss to obtain immortal essence stones.


    "The problems are mounting. At this rate, how will I feed my Verdant Heart Seed immortal gu?" He sighed to himself, his divine sense wandering in Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    "Oh, what is this! Another new path? Food path beasts for sale... Dragonfish?" This offer caught his attention. "Mortal dragonfish can feed all mortal gu, while immortal level desolate dragonfish can substitute a portion of food for immortal gu?" Bao Zhi discovered this new advancement in gu cultivation.


    Bao Zhi promptly decided, instructing Hao Meng to buy a portion, all in the guise of letting him practice how the transactions worked.


    It had to be said, Bao Zhi was in an awkward position considering his aperture. He could store the select few wood path materials in various gu, but the dragonfish needed a lot more space. They even needed water to swim in, if one didn''t use them right away.


    After some quick tests, he noted with satisfaction, the dragonfish was effective, just as advertised.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 92 - Contemplating cultivation

    Without an immediate solution, following Qinyang''s suggestion, Hao Meng placed down his immortal aperture in the five regions.


    When an immortal aperture was placed down, the rate of time flow would decrease inside, approaching closer to the outside rate.


    This was a consequence of how the River of Time worked. Without the River of Time, there could be no change, the world would stand still.


    It irrigated the five regions, two heavens and each small world, be it an immortal aperture or a blessed land, it had it''s own separate tributary originating from the River of Time.


    Hao Meng''s immortal aperture''s tributary was considered extremely large, drawing in a huge amount of ''water'', making the time flow very quick.


    When the entrance was opened the rate of time flow would decrease even further, exactly matching the outside''s at a one-to-one ratio.


    This connection was akin to a tributary merging back into the main river.


    But this was only a temporary measure. Hao Meng could only keep his immortal aperture placed down at all times if he could resign himself to be trapped inside.


    On the other hand, even if he was content like this, keeping the entrance open was a whole another ordeal. It posed a great risk of someone sneaking in or harming him.


    One''s immortal aperture had to be handled thoughtfully!


    A fiery ring floated above the desert sand, from within, Qinyang walked out.


    She breathed in deeply, appreciating the outside air fully.


    Compared to Hao Meng''s fire path immortal aperture, it was a night and day difference. Inside, billowing smoke plumes crossed the sky, ash and cinder swirled in the air. The outside deserts'' dry air seemed like a spring breeze in contrast.


    Being used to an icy environment, even Hao Meng felt uncomfortable inside. But he could only endure in this situation, practicing fire path and studying his inheritance.


    Bao Zhi gained a better understanding of the current era, after his look into Treasure Yellow Heaven and purchasing some information.


    If he had to describe his findings in one word, it would be; unsettling.


    The overwhelming prevalence of soul path was more profound than most other paths. This was most apparent to someone with a background like Bao Zhi, who came from the previous era.


    Every path had their specialty and role. However, for the first time in the history of gu immortal cultivation, this path brought a major change to how gu immortals could increase their strength.


    To understand the fundamental principles, one just has to look at the previous mainstream paths.


    A good example was wood path. This was Bao Zhi''s baseline as well.


    Wood path emphasized a robust foundation with comprehensive aperture management. Building on the foundation, growing incrementally and steadily, then turning this into more foundation, self-sufficiently producing resources.


    It was the example of the traditional, tried-and-true path that gu immortals walked, deriving their strength from the foundation of their immortal aperture.


    Then a change occurred over half a million years ago, Reckless Savage Demon Venerable elevated strength path to prominence. Strength path offered a new way of power by strengthening the body of a cultivator.


    A strength path gu immortal''s body was as tough as an immortal beast''s. But their dao marks still originated from calamities and tribulations.


    For them, the strengthening of the body became equally important as the aperture''s development.


    Soul path was different in this aspect, it went one step further, because above all, it emphasized the strengthening of the soul of the gu immortal.


    Although a soul path gu immortal would still accumulate soul path dao marks on his body and aperture, and those would amplify the effects of immortal gu, this wasn''t the focus.


    Why?


    When using soul path techniques, the soul''s soul path dao marks became be the new primary foundation.


    This meant the calamities and tribulations that carved dao marks on the immortal aperture were less important for them than for cultivators of other paths.


    To soul path gu immortals, Spectral Soul Demon Venerable was the prime example of soul path''s extreme defiance of the traditional ways.


    He abandoned his body and immortal aperture completely. He solidified his soul and become a mountain sized soul beast with three heads and thousand arms.


    Even mortals were familiar with this monstrous appearance, erecting statues of worship in his name.


    As a result, the general trend of aperture management and development not just stagnated in this era but even regressed on average!


    In this era, this was common wisdom, a typical soul path cultivator should keep his aperture development to the bare minimum, facing their tribulations of lesser strength, while relying on their soul foundation to fight their weakened tribulations.


    Adding in the emergence of food path resources to the five regions'' abundant soul path resources, one did not have a hard time feeding their soul path immortal gu either.


    This was the perfect storm that made soul path greatly flourish!


    "What is, is what ought to be." Bao Zhi had to admit, as wrong as it may seemed to his experiences, the current status quo of cultivation was a natural consequence of the world''s conditions.


    "It may be like this now. But could this change be lasting?" He was doubtful. "Just as strength path has had its heyday, now it is in its decline. When the abundant resources will be gone, how will they cultivate then? Just as they did before, returning to focus on immortal apertures."


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    "Soul path will be no different than strength path or qi path, eventually joining the list of previous mainstream paths." Bao Zhi speculated on the far future.


    But now, those who did not cultivate soul path felt left behind. Their inheritances needed to be updated to keep pace with soul path''s advancements. At the very least they required offensive and defensive methods that took the soul into consideration.


    In this aspect, not even those who cling to the old ways of cultivation could escape the winds of change stirred up by soul path.


    "Learning is like swimming upstream, not advancing is to be washed downstream." Bao Zhi sighed in his mind.


    He continued to study the information he collected. He too had to delve into soul path to gain an understanding of it.


    So what if he was a wood path great grandmaster and a grandmaster in refinement and human path?


    A wise man submits to circumstances, and now the world''s circumstances have changed.


    If his methods were outdated, his fate would eventually just repeat itself.


    That''s right, Bao Zhi has also discovered another unsavory fact.


    Back then, the rank seven gu immortal who injured him and caused his death, Ming You, was none other than the young Spectral Soul Demon Venerable!


    Bao Zhi might have held resentment back then, but not anymore.


    Hundreds of years later, as if observing like an outsider, he realized the events of Wen clan''s and Bao clan''s downfall were just small ripples on an ocean, inconsequential to the big picture.


    He was just one of the firsts, followed by many, becoming a stepping stone as Spectral Soul slaughtered his way into the new era.


    ...


    Days have passed relatively uneventful.


    Bao Zhi helped Mo Xuan awaken his rank one aperture.


    This time a handful of hope gu was enough, confirming Bao Zhi''s theory that his first rebirth, one way or another, produced a faulty body that needed the forceful awakening of the man triumphing heaven gu.


    As expected, Mo Xuan''s suffering gu became his vital gu after his aperture was awakened.


    Bao Zhi instructed him on the basics of gu master cultivation, the usage of gu and so on.


    Then he went on to introduce soul path to Mo Xuan.


    His goal was twofold in this.


    First, Bao Zhi wanted to test and see if there were any hidden issues with this physique. It would give him a better understanding of his own situation as well.


    Second, Bao Zhi wanted to test himself, the correctness of his own understanding of soul path.


    "To teach is to learn twice. Understanding is proven when you can make it simple for others." He thought.


    After talking to Mo Xuan and experimenting with mortal soul path gu worms, Bao Zhi''s nonexistent soul path attainment reached the ordinary attainment level.


    ...


    Qinyang took a whole level of the immortal gu house for herself. Her cultivation notes and research ideas lay scattered in gu worms and on papers, pinned to various places.


    Jue Shi has sponsored her with relic gu and other various gu worms. For example, he gave her the rank three clear memory gu, which could make memories become clear and easy to recall.


    But Qinyang found that the gu had limited effect after just a few uses, so she repurposed it into her killer move.


    She was keenly aware of her shortcomings in regards to cultivation. Not just in terms of cultivation rank, but practical experience as well.


    She felt dissatisfied with the information path killer move she has created. Even though it was a successful prototype, there were many possible improvements.


    "Unrolling this routine will decrease runtime, as it resolves some of the looping overhead, but then each actuation takes too many gu worms and the essence consumption skyrockets, needing even more essence stones to absorb."


    "No, I should aim to reuse gu worms more, then the overall efficiency would increase... A good balance is needed."


    "The functionality is very simplistic, but the underlying logic is already mess of a spaghetti! I can''t add changes, or I would have to redesign the whole thing..."


    She thought long and hard, how she should approach this.


    "I need to develop a system that scales vertically and horizontally. I need different layers of abstraction."


    "Like the gu worms that gather the inputs, the ones that process them or the actuators, they all need to have their separation."


    "It should also be modular, then I can mix and match existing work to create new ones, or swap out a portion if I improve on it later."


    In her mind, a killer move should not just be something a gu master uses, like a simple tool.


    It had to be more than that! The gu master was just human after all, and humans make mistakes.


    She saw the solution in automating as much as possible, so the human error could be eliminated.


    This was her lesson from Hao Jiong''s attempt on her life. A key part of her survival was due to her killer move that continued to work without her intervention.


    At least, this was her general idea.


    It was though, but she enjoyed the technical challenge of designing a system, considering its overall features like activation time, reliability and efficiency.


    But also the low-level implementations and optimizations fascinated her, due to the gu world''s different nature. She had to think outside the box to put her knowledge into practice.


    "This will not work. I need to take a step back. Let''s borrow that part of the working prototype." She threw away another concept she was working on.


    "Hmm? Why doesn''t this work now?"


    "Oh, I see. That gu is totally wrong there. But then how did this work in the first place???"


    What she didn''t like was; debugging.


    ...


    Hao Meng could only bear the confines of his blessed land for a week. He returned to the gu house before he would place down his aperture again.


    He was making good progress on making the inheritance''s fire part his own, the speed surprising even himself. This comprehension ability was the crushingly unfair advantage of a ten extreme physique.


    What bothered him, was his immortal aperture''s environment. He was looking for a way to make it more hospitable. Then even Qinyang could stay there, he reasoned.


    Qinyang couldn''t offer any concrete steps to help with this.


    Jue Shi suggested he should simply use gu to block out his sensation, remove the sense of smell and heat altogether.


    Mo Xuan naturally had no means to help him.


    Hao Meng finally turned to Bao Zhi. He recalled Qinyang telling him to be careful around this person, but Hao Meng thought differently.


    "Senior." Hao Meng greeted, cupping his fist. "I seek your guidance. How do I lower my aperture''s flames and make it more hospitable?"


    Bao Zhi sized him up, astutely sensing a deeper meaning of which Hao Meng was unaware.


    "Do you want to merge fire and ice path?" He asked him directly.


    "I don''t wish to?"


    "Good." Bao Zhi wasn''t looking for an answer, only his reaction.


    "There is a knot in your heart. The problem is not inside your immortal aperture." He began, sitting down.


    "Would a water path immortal drown? No. So how would a fire path immortal feel uncomfortably hot!"


    "Here." He sat down Hao Meng next him.


    He opened his palm, a life-like green flame crackling on it. This was the same as Xu Lian''s inheritance, imitating fire path with wood path.


    "There are many steps to the dual use of two paths." He opened his other palm, a green ice shard resting on it.


    "At first, one could put the two sides together. Using a fire path gu with an ice path gu, anyone is able to do that." Bao Zhi placed his hands together.


    Hsss!


    The ice melted, the flame extinguished. The two forces cancelled each other out.


    "Next you could consider their respective effects carefully, merging them in a complimentary way. This is more difficult." With a new set of green ice and flame, he again put his palms together.


    Hsss!


    Green steam spewed out from his fingers and palms. The ice and fire was consumed, creating a miniature cloud.


    "Then, to go a step beyond superficial combination, you have to thoroughly comprehend." A third pair of ice and flame appeared.


    But this time the green flame was chillingly cold, while the green ice shard radiated heat!


    Hao Meng peered his eyes, watching the two closely.


    "This is the level of imitation. Great experts are capable of this. But there is still a step beyond!" Bao Zhi combined the fake flame and fake ice.


    There was no commotion this time, the result was a tranquil union. The flame and ice were interchanging seamlessly in a taijitu pattern, forming a small sphere in Bao Zhi¡¯s palm.


    Hao Meng could feel a pulse emanating from it, it was neither cold nor hot.


    "All paths lead to the great dao."


    Hao Meng did not understand why Bao Zhi was showing him this. But why did he feel like this was exactly what he as looking for?


    Bao Zhi laughed softly. He knew the knot in Hao Meng''s heart was created by Hao Jiong''s unreasonable expectations.


    Hao Meng wanted to subconsciously fulfill his mother''s obsession, yet he consciously denied this.


    "If you are going to cultivate, you got to fall in love with the dao."


    "The dao is your enemy, the dao is your friend, the dao is the source of all your frustration and all your transcendence!"


    "!!!" Hao Meng stood up at once and bowed deeply. "Senior, please make me your disciple!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 93 - Trust and deception

    A gu worm streaked across the sky and arrived inside the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda. It was a letter gu that Bao Zhi received expectantly.


    It was an invitation to the Tian Qucheng blessed land''s upcoming banquet and festivities.


    After looking into Treasure Yellow Heaven, Bao Zhi learned of this approaching event of Tian Qucheng blessed land.


    This was the main reason for staying at this location.


    He wanted to handle the feeding of his immortal gu as soon as possible, but that required more immortal essence stones.


    Bao Zhi recalled in his memories the years when he was just a lone, rank six gu immortal, struggling to make ends meet. It was a similar situation in some regard.


    But now, even if he was just a false immortal with only an aperture origin core and no immortal aperture. He possessed precious experiences and his understanding of the great dao.


    Great grandmaster attainment in wood path and grandmaster attainment in human, refinement and formation paths.


    This was something not a single elite gu immortal at rank six could compare with. They were already exceptional if they reached quasi-gandmaster attainment in their main path.


    But they would be even more shocked and envious if they found out how many immortal gu Bao Zhi possessed.


    Verdant Heart Seed, Perception Warp and Hole Earth immortal gu. Two of which were of the mysterious human path. Their worth was arguably much more than most rank six immortal gu, granted, only if someone could utilize them.


    However, there were no strongest gu worms, only strongest gu masters. Gu worms had only a single ability after all. It was up to the gu master to find the best ways to take advantage of the gu worm''s effect.


    Bao Zhi spent his free time creating and modifying his killer moves. Concealed human qi was his first human path killer move. Originally it only used qi path gu and his naturally abundant human qi as the core.


    When he obtained Perception Warp immortal gu, he hastily made it the new core, elevating the rank five killer move to an immortal killer move, greatly increasing its effect.


    * * * * *


    Later at a lower level of the immortal gu house.


    Qinyang: "How is your gu immortal cultivation going?"


    Hao Meng: "Good! I bought a set of fire path gu and a small scale immortal resource point."


    "Oh? Let''s see it! What resource does it produce?" She inquired.


    "I don''t have it yet. I just received the gu worms now. I have to wait for the transporting of the resource point. It will take some time." He explained.


    "Huh? But you can just transfer stuff like that too. Even super sized resource points can be sold in Treasure Yellow Heaven..." Qinyang reasoned. "Wait! Did you pay in advance?"


    "Yes, the seller sent the gu worms in advance and they will contact me when the resource point is ready."


    "..." Qinyang facepalmed. "You got scammed. You know, right? Wasn''t the price already suspicious?"


    "What?"


    "Look, the seller will not contact you at all. He is off with your money and you will never see them again." Qinyang sighed with frustration. "Well, it is not your fault. You really lived a sheltered life, huh. The whole time under a roof, never really feeling the storm."


    "But I don''t think I was scammed. The seller is just taking his time. Stop joking."


    Qinyang looked at him with sympathy without saying anything.


    Hao Meng: "So what if I got scammed! Then I will not make the same mistake again."


    Qinyang: "Treasure Yellow Heaven has the treasure light immortal gu. It can show you the rough value of items. It helps you to not get ripped off! Do you know how much an immortal essence stone is worth? One immortal essence stone is worth more than tens of millions of primeval stones. Didn''t your inheritance tell you these basics?"


    "So much...?" Hao Meng contemplated for a moment and shook his head. "I don''t think they knew about immortal essence stones or Treasure Yellow Heaven back in the grotto."


    "That makes sense if they were cut off from the outside." Qinyang added.


    "Tomorrow, master and I will go to the Tian Qucheng banquet. We will make some big gains there. You should not worry about immortal essence stones by then."


    "Master?! Did you let Bao Zhi entice you with something? I told you, he is a swindler, a two-faced crook. He is not who he seems!"


    Hao Meng''s easygoing expression shifted instantly. His brow furrowed, casting shadows over his narrowed eyes.


    "Qinyang!" This was the first time Hao Meng raised his voice against her.


    "Do not talk of my master in such a tone! Disgracing the master is disgracing the disciple!"


    He caught himself, clearing his throat. His next words came quieter. "It was me who asked for his help." He explained. "I was a student without a teacher. It is only proper I seek the teachings of those who know better, no? Didn''t you also take Jue Shi as your mentor?"


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "..." Qinyang was tongue tied, she couldn''t divulge those circumstances.


    Hao Meng: "You should have more trust in people, you know. If you don''t trust my master, then you can still trust me."


    He paused with emphasis. "You know, a little trust can go a long way."


    "That''s exactly how someone ends up dead in the gu world!" Qinyang added in her mind.


    "Yes, a little trust goes a long way..." She began. "But then, I say, no trust goes all the way!"


    "Huh?"


    "You need to be wary of the hidden intentions! Only assume that people will do what is best for themselves. If the two interests are aligned then you can rest easy."


    "..." Hao Meng felt arguing over this was futile. "You are right." He said and left his thoughts to himself. "Qinyang, you start to sound like my mother, you should hear yourself..." He left to clear his head and continue cultivating.


    * * * * *


    The next day.


    Qinyang was using the gu house''s controls to make changes to her floor when she stumbled into something unexpected.


    "There are people in the walls?"


    She discovered the slumbering wills inside the hidden space of the immortal gu house.


    "Hmph! These? Just inferior trash!" Jue Shi appeared before her. "It is time I get rid of these poor imitations for good."


    Jue Shi waved his little hand and a bunch of wills appeared from below. Suppressed by the immortal gu house, they were frozen and unable to think.


    Ever since Jue Shi decided to appear, these wills couldn''t come and go as they pleased inside the gu house.


    "Wait! I saw in the records, aren''t they from Wen clan? What are they still doing here?"


    Jue Shi furrowed his brows for a moment, shaking his head.


    "You should know about the competition of the Bao and Wen clans by now." He began. "Wen clan wanted to preserve their knowledge, accumulating it generation by generation."


    "After studying this immortal gu house, they came up with their scheme, a new type of will. They called it the everlasting will." Jue Shi scoffed at this notion.


    "They would convert their will into this new type of will. As long as it remained inside the gu house, it would be replenished so it wouldn''t disappear just by thinking and exhausting their thoughts."


    "Ah, wisdom path shenanigans again..." Qinyang thought to herself.


    "Then they would take this ''everlasting'' will and put it inside an inheritors mind. A type of possession, if you will. But the new vessel would still produce its own will."


    "But how would that work? The will would still disappear then, no?" She asked.


    "They suppressed the original will and used a killer move, Clear Mind Unity, to mix the two together temporarily. It gave the new body the abilities of the old."


    "Of course, it was full of flaws." He sneered. "First, the vessel would have to be highly compatible, both in body and mind. Then, they would have to replenish the will regularly. But even so, a fatal weakness remained."


    Jue Shi stopped for a moment, a mocking expression on his little face. "The vessel''s lifespan is used up more than twice as fast!"


    "This is why these wills are still here. They had no suitable vessels." Jue Shi motioned at the hidden space.


    "So, are you telling me these wills are from the top experts of Wen clan?"


    "Mmm. The best among trash is still trash."


    Qinyang couldn''t understand why Jue Shi had such a disdain and superiority complex when speaking of these wills.


    "Give them to me. I might have a use for them."


    Jue Shi looked at her curiously.


    "If you think you can take one inside of your body and suppress it. I will have to stop that. The relevant wisdom path methods are left behind with their supreme elder anyway."


    "I wouldn''t let anyone in my head. Don''t worry." She laughed.


    "Good then. I need you to be yourself." With that said Jue Shi left.


    Qinyang glanced at these wills.


    "So are you telling me I was sitting on this treasure trove the whole time? These wills have a super clan''s gu immortal inheritances. Surely there is a way I can make use of them, right?"


    She looked through the slumbering wills, like she was browsing wares to buy.


    Her gaze stopped at one of the names.


    "Shou Xin? Is this the same Shou Xin that wrote my mortal information path inheritance?"


    She reviewed the footage from the Treasure Blue Beaver blessed land.


    It was just as she suspected.


    "Indeed she was the one who removed Bao clan''s agreement. Jackpot!"


    A mischievous smirk appeared on her face.


    "I don''t know how, but I''m going to pry out all your secrets."


    She took out one of the motionless wills and began to conduct experiments.


    The will''s body was split in two by Qinyang''s methods. The two parts wobbled and became faded. Then after a while the two regenerated.


    "Hmm. Good, the will didn''t die. If I keep a copy, I don''t have to worry about losing its data accidentally." She noted and continued.


    Qinyang had no talent for wisdom path. Extracting information from wills was even harder than extracting memories from a soul, she knew this as well. So she opted for a different approach.


    "Before I can continue, I need to confirm one last thing. If this doesn''t work, it will be a pain to solve this..." She prepared the next experiment.


    But this time the will she wanted to test was not one of the suppressed everlasting wills, but her own will.


    It took her a while but she successfully produced a type of will called curious will with the help of a wisdom path gu.


    Next, she created a puzzle with the help of her information path methods and gave it to the will to study and solve it.


    She was eagerly observing as the will acted on its own. The will knew its purpose, there was no need for any explanations.


    "Done." The will announced before it returned to Qinyang''s mind and presented the solution to the puzzle.


    "Yes!!" Qinyang pumped her fist enthusiastically. "This proves that wills can not only store information but they can learn as well!"


    She was careful not to create the puzzle before the will, this way the will had to work its way through, understand and learn the rules of the puzzle.


    She started to configure and tweak her information path killer move. After a few hours, she felt she could proceed.


    Qinyang took one of the wills and placed it inside the range of her killer move.


    "So far so good. Next, I''ll release the restraints." She controlled the gu house in the meanwhile.


    The will came to life suddenly!


    "Why did I wake up? Where am I?" The will looked around in confusion. All it could see was an empty white space.


    Qinyang''s will also appeared next to it. "Senior, the time is short, Bao clan is attacking this place. Supreme elder sent me here to rescue you all."


    The Wen clan immortal''s will didn''t believe her. "I''m in a formation. You want to deceive me!"


    Bang!


    Qinyang activated the immortal gu house again, she exploded the will instantly.


    "I knew there were flaws... But it found out instantly, hmm." She split the will again, adjusted her methods and sent in the new will.


    "Senior! Bao clan is about to remove their restrictions..."


    Bang!


    "I carry the supreme elder''s decree! Hand over the inheritance..."


    Bang!


    Qinyang tried various situations, but the wills were alert and suspicious, always catching onto some detail or inaccuracy.


    She tried again and again.


    Each time her ploy was uncovered, she destroyed the will.


    She couldn''t keep the wills that discovered and remembered these probings.


    It turned out Qinyang found another shortcoming of the everlasting wills, or rather, she was turning their advantage of replenishment against them.


    "I don''t believe it. Security''s weakest link is always the human factor! Social engineering will work, it is only a matter of time until I find the right lies to tell."


    ...


    "I should also focus on making the environment more believable."


    ...


    "Oh! Why don''t I use the recordings from the immortal gu house? I bet I could cut together a good scene from those!" She rubbed her hands mentally.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 94 - The stars of fortune

    Bao Zhi and Hao Meng left the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda behind as they flew quietly above the sand dunes.


    In the distance they could see immortals flying towards the same location, embarked to the Tian Qucheng banquet.


    The rank six gu immortal at the entrance welcomed the guests warmly, giving a serving of top quality wine to each attendee.


    The organizer''s magnanimity could be seen right from the start.


    "This Che clan is really something."


    "Offering a cup of Soul Mirror Wine? I would attend just to lick the dishes clean!"


    "Indeed. It is a top quality wine after all, the best wine for us, soul path gu immortals."


    "I heard this great wine is a truthful imitation of the Bewitching Lake''s water, the Bewitching Soup."


    "Bewitching Soup was praised by Ren Zu''s first son, Verdant Great Sun, as the best wine in the world. It is no small matter to imitate that."


    "When souls drink it, they become content and lose the desire to leave. This shows Che clan''s attitude clearly."


    "But isn''t it a waste to offer it?"


    "What do you know! Che clan gathered the four top tier wines and refined Divine Travel immortal gu. This is just the leftovers used to garner goodwill."


    "Oh. If Divine Travel gu is already refined, then all top tier wines are worth way less."


    The guest talked among themselves.


    "Esteemed guests, how may I address you?"


    "Lord Hao and his attendant." Hao Meng replied curtly.


    The guard looked at the two of them and welcomed them accordingly.


    Hao Meng had his appearance changed. His skin became old and his back hunched.


    While Bao Zhi looked the same as before, but he made sure to temporarily change the aura of Hao Meng with Perception Warp immortal gu.


    "Mmm, fine wine. Reminds me of my youth." Hao Meng took a sip, his face becoming rosy from its strength.


    In the meanwhile he transmitted to Bao Zhi. "Master, where to?"


    "First we drink, then play." Bao Zhi replied via voice transmission.


    The two situated themselves at the vintner. A fountain of exquisite liquors and drinks were displayed behind the bar.


    "I haven''t had the fortune. Are you two passing through?" The vintner from Che clan greeted them.


    "Mhmm." Hao Meng nodded. "Catching the soul beast tide. Got to be there early."


    "Oh, so that''s your trade. You''re beast hunters?" The vintner poured a drink for them. "It''s a lifetime experience to participate. I remember my fist time gathering soul cores, haha."


    "I''m just supervising." Hao Meng shook his head and downed the shot. "He is going to be doing the real business." He glanced at Bao Zhi. "Well, he sold five hundred soul cores worth of materials last month. Fastest boy in the region."


    "Yeah, fastest and the bestest." The bartender''s smile widened, internally shocked at such an amount.


    In this era, due to the ubiquity of soul path, the soul cores of soul beast were precious materials with soul path dao marks. Outside of Central Continent, they became a currency in everyday transactions, an alternative to immortal essence stones.


    "Hey, give us another round, will you?" Bao Zhi put his elbows on the bar. "One for him and one for yourself too."


    "Thanks!" The vintner reached behind and a jar landed in his hand. "Sure is a bad day for traveling." He poured another round. "The next day is better. You two have plenty of time till the soul beast tide. You can make it in two, maybe three days."


    Bao Zhi perked up, turning to Hao Meng. "Hey, his right!" He looked over where people were gambling and playing star skipping. "What do you say, Lord Hao?" He nudged him. "Play a little star skipping while waiting for the beast tide?"


    "It will cost you dearly." Hao Meng chuckled. "It always does when you play me."


    "Lord Hao, stop stalling." Bao Zhi downed his drink in one gulp and got up. "Oh, keep them coming, will you friend? Soul Mirror Wine!"


    The bartender was about to explain, how different from the regular fine drinks, extra servings of the Soul Mirror Wine would not be on the house.


    But Hao Meng raised his hand. "Good thing he can afford it." He produced a whole immortal essence stone and placed in on the bar. "Keep the change, I''ll just deduct it from the boy''s earnings."


    The bartender''s eyes opened wide for a split second. He kept staring at the leaving figure of Hao Meng as he headed after Bao Zhi.


    A single immortal essence stone was very precious by rank six gu immortal standards!


    "Who are these people, what background do they have?" He didn''t hesitate to report the events to the rest of Che clan.


    * * * * *


    "Master, I don''t know how this game is played." Hao Meng transmitted as he arrived at the edge of a round pond.


    "The principles of star skipping are simple. The goal is to produce a constellation. You do it by controlling the flat star stones and skipping them on the water surface." Bao Zhi transmitted, while calling out. "Ten stones, Southern Dipper."


    Ten flat star stones appeared on the shore, ready for Bao Zhi to control them.


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    "I called my constellation, now my goal is to assemble it within ten shots." Bao Zhi continued to explain in secret as he tossed his first stone. "The Southern Dipper is also known as the Seven Sisters; Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang and Yaoguang."


    Hao Meng observed Bao Zhi''s play.


    The strewn star stone streaked a straight stroke of starlight.


    It bounced over twenty times, casting ripples on the mirror-like lake water.


    Now it was Hao Meng''s turn in the game.


    Hao Meng, having grown up inside a small world, had no knowledge of the celestial constellations.


    Bao Zhi advised him at each step of the game.


    The two of them played round after round, game after game, putting up a show of a mediocre play.


    Others also gathered around the pond, casting their own star stones in competition.


    As the game progressed with more people, more and more star stones wobbled on the lake surface. It was becoming harder and harder to avoid dislodging a previous stone.


    The wakes of a stone skipping also disturbed the other stones. It was not trivial to estimate their eventual location.


    Bao Zhi''s face showed intent concentration, but he tossed another stone with his divine sense casually.


    The next immortal lined up his shot carefully and shot it.


    Woossh-! Splash, splash, splash... Bang!


    The stone was thrown off by a small ripple, smashing into a floating stone.


    This wasn''t the first time this happened.


    The gu immortal cursed, he wasn''t taking the loss lightly.


    Hao Meng and Bao Zhi glanced at him from the corners of their eyes.


    Bao Zhi shook his head and transmitted his thoughts.


    "Many bad star skippers will never improve because they cannot face the truth about themselves. Ultimately, they can''t accept that everything they do is driven by deeper motivations." He began, turning his gaze back to the field of star stones.


    "A bad star skipper refuses to examine their thoughts that dictate their actions. Doing so might expose an unpleasant truth."


    "This could be a desire to be dominated; like calling in just five stones for a five star constellation, a plan for failure." He glanced at one of the participants.


    "Or fearing their unremarkable fate, a need for a validation of one''s excellence; it would be hoping for a miracle skip to form the perfect constellation."


    "Or it could be the need to challenge authority; by trying to disrupt an obvious winning path." Bao Zhi''s gaze landed on a woman who joined mid-game.


    "It¡¯s painful to confront these aspects of ourselves. Often, we¡¯d rather continue suffering than address them. It¡¯s not easy to admit that we¡¯re not playing in spite of our losses, but because of them."


    Bao Zhi sighed at the human heart''s intricacies before continuing.


    "Star skipping is a game where all players start on equal footing with their skills, no matter what your rank or social status. Each player invests their time in the game, and during that time, they can enjoy whatever experience their investment affords them."


    Bao Zhi tossed his last stone, but it missed its mark.


    "Losing can be a distraction, just as winning can be exhilarating. However, winning also feels lonesome since those you¡¯ve bested and have taken their money are unlikely to sympathize with your success."


    "It takes time to adjust to winning. Many of us, at different points, try to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths that clash with our self-perception. When we feel down, we tend to reshape our surroundings to justify our feelings, which can lead us to overlook or misinterpret good situations."


    "In star skipping, this can be costly, for an opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags."


    "This brings us to a harsh reality that some old players may struggle to accept: star skipping is fundamentally about money! The ability of a skipper is solely measured by the difference between their wealth at the beginning and their wealth at the end of the game."


    "The goal isn¡¯t to achieve the most impressive skips or even to win the most rounds; the game''s goal here is to earn the most money."


    Speaking of which, an unexpected interference appeared. In Bao Zhi''s evaluation, the woman who joined late played strange.


    She was clearly an expert, as multiple times her tosses'' wakes nudged the stones just enough to make some player''s next toss very difficult.


    Bao Zhi suspected Che clan deliberately sent her to influence the games'' progress.


    "Her obstruction didn''t affect our play negatively. On the contrary... She is trying to rig the game in our favor. Che clan really wants to show some goodwill here, recruiting promising individuals into their force."


    "Too bad, her efforts are wasted, as we cannot win yet."


    His stone tumbled at its third bounce and flew out of the pond.


    Bao Zhi slapped his thighs and laughed aloud. "Wine! Bring me more Soul Mirror Wine!" He shouted, disregarding the due decorum of a gu immortal.


    "You miss again, you lose again." Hao Meng said with schadenfreude, only taking a sip of his drink.


    Hao Meng wondered in his mind. "Immortal wine is wine for immortals, after all. Would this kill a mortal if he drank it?" He already felt tips.


    Looking at Bao Zhi, if he didn''t keep instructing him, Hao Meng couldn''t believe he could stay composed after drinking so much.


    Bao Zhi groaned, as if he just realized the shot he reveled in going out of bounds, was actually his own.


    Some spectators have also appeared.


    "How much does the drunk one owe so far?" A spectator asked after coming back.


    "About twenty or twenty-five to Lord Hao." Replied the game''s host.


    "Next game, ten immortal essence stones!" Bao Zhi declared.


    "Nice looking man, clean-cut. Too bad he can''t hold his liquor." Someone added.


    ...


    Bao Zhi studied the pond intensely, his eyes narrowed.


    The shot he needed to make was particularly difficult. His own stone blocked his way and he was on this game''s last stone.


    "Kaiyang hopping Yaoguang." He called out his next shot.


    "He doesn''t know when to give up..." Some of the onlookers shook their heads mentally.


    Woossh-! Splash, splash, splash-!


    The stone reached a small ripple and bounced over the other stone, ''Yaoguang''.


    "!!!"


    "Ha! I made it! I finally made it!" Bao Zhi didn''t hide his joy. "Come on. Pay up. Pay up, you stingy crook. Hahaha." He said to ''Lord Hao''.


    "You ought to take up rock gambling. Talk about luck!"


    "Luck? What do you mean, luck?!" Bao Zhi grabbed Hao Meng by his robe.


    "You know what I mean. You couldn''t make that shot again! Not in a million years."


    Bao Zhi narrowed his eyes and released Hao Meng.


    "I couldn''t, huh? Okay. Go ahead, set the stones up the way they were before."


    "Why?"


    "Go ahead. Set them up just the same. I bet you ten. No, I bet you twenty! I make this shot just the way I made it before."


    "Nobody can make that shot again and you know it, not even Giant Sun!"


    Bao Zhi didn''t listen, he picked up the stones with his divine sense and started to rearrange them.


    "How''s that? Hmm? That''s the way they were before?" He asked everyone, incensed.


    "Yeah, that''s it." Came a reply.


    Bao Zhi stepped in front of Hao Meng again. "Come on, put up your wager."


    Hao Meng reluctantly agreed to the bet.


    Bao Zhi took his time, carefully calculating his shot.


    Woossh-! Splash, splash, splash... Bang!


    His stone didn''t bounce high enough and knocked his other one out of its correct place.


    The onlookers laughed briefly, but some sharp stares from Che clan quieted them right away.


    "SET THEM UP AGAIN!" Bao Zhi roared.


    Hao Meng didn''t react. He continued to count his earnings from Bao Zhi.


    But Bao Zhi demanded again.


    "You''re drunk. I''m not going to bet you anymore."


    "What?"


    "Let''s get back on our route. We have to catch the soul beast tide."


    "Curse your soul beast tide! Come on, here is my money!"


    "I don''t want it."


    "I''ll try you." An onlooker chimed in.


    "Me too. I''ll take your bet."


    Bao Zhi smiled widely, turning on his heel. "Well, well, well..."


    "Stop it! Don''t be a sore loser. Don''t bet anymore on that damned shot." ''Lord Hao'' reprimanded with annoyance.


    "Well, I think, you figure I''m a little drunk. I''m loaded on immortal essence stones, and you just want in, while the money is flowing, huh?" He pointed around him mischievously. "Okay. Go ahead, set them up."


    The pond got restored to its previous state once again.


    Hao Meng shook his head with a disappointed expression. "I''ll meet you outside."


    "Alright, you want some easy money?" Hicc! "Here is forty-five immortal essence stones. That''s all my savings. You want to take the whole thing? Then you get a shot at your easy money!" Bao Zhi threw his wager on the ground indignantly.


    People started murmuring.


    "Such wealth!" Someone gulped, his eyes shining with unconcealed envy.


    "I''ll take a piece of that action!" A gu immortal took out his savings.


    "Loan me some, I need to enter this bet too!"


    People were clamoring hand over fist to place their bets.


    In the end, over a dozen of them put up wagers against Bao Zhi.


    Whoossh-! Splash, splash, splash-!


    "The Southern Dipper, complete!" The host announced.


    "..."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 95 - Tian Quchengs calamity

    Bao Zhi collected the gains of his bet and headed to leave Tian Qucheng blessed land without lingering longer than necessary.


    He had the appearance of a jovial drunk, his face aflush.


    Tallying up the amount of immortal essence stones, even after the various expenditures and previous losses, it was a staggering amount.


    Bao Zhi had over five hundred immortal essence stones!


    This a a huge step forward.


    "Now I can afford to feed my immortal gu and have the necessary resources I need." He calculated in his mind.


    His current goal was to gather enough strength and take back his grotto heaven. From then on, having the protection and resources of a rank eight grotto, he could rely on it to have a smooth cultivation journey.


    But the problem was the urgency of the situation.


    He managed to stabilize the situation and halt Wen clan''s advance. But could this balance be enduring?


    Bao Zhi had no such misconceptions. He knew, even if the internal situation worked out, which wasn''t a certainty in itself, then he still had to consider external threats.


    The location of the grotto heaven was at a risk of begin discovered.


    It was not hard to see this. Kong Guying and Yuhun Kuang had already discovered the location and intruded into the Treasure Blue Beaver blessed land.


    But before Bao Zhi could continue dwelling on his future plans, he met Hao Meng, who came in a hurry looking for him.


    "Master! There is a problem. The soul beast tide arrived earlier than forecasted!" He transmitted urgently.


    "Huh?" Bao Zhi had no plans with the soul beast tide whatsoever.


    The soul beast tide was a large scale cyclic migration phenomena, affecting a great portion of the five regions.


    Bao Zhi hurried his steps, dropping his act of a drunkard, he took to the sky of the blessed land, flying straight for the exit.


    A short while ago on the outside, the sand trembled as the first rumble of the beast tide approached, roars carried on the desert winds.


    It appeared at first like a dark shimmer on the horizon, a distortion where the dunes met the sky. But as it drew closer, the shimmer resolved into a flood of movement.


    A sea of soul beasts surged and writhed like an unstoppable force.


    From the safety of the blessed land, the chaos outside seemed distant, yet it was impossibly close within moments, barreling forward by the second.


    Tian Qucheng blessed land''s entrance was caught, like a solitary boulder in the path of an overwhelming tsunami.


    The soul beasts came in waves. Their eyes glowed with an eerie light, the intense soul path aura washed over like ripples in a storm-tossed sea.


    The monstrous forms rolled forward, climbing and entangling each other. Some were massive quadrupeds with jagged tusks, some looked like snakes, but most could not be discerned, their silhouettes merged into an amorphous mass.


    Sand exploded in their wake, forming a sand storm that darkened the sun as they charged with reckless abandon.


    Their roars mixed with the howling wind, creating a deafening cacophony of rage and misery.


    Above, winged beasts filled the sky, their shadows casting a dim veil over the desert. Their shrieks pierced the sky as they circled in the gloom, swooping low, talons outstretched, eager to rip into anything that crossed their path.


    Moments ago, Hao Meng was ready to take to the sky, following the escape of another gu immortal, however his better judgement stopped him.


    It was already too late to reach the immortal gu house in time.


    The rank six gu immortal who charged out, in just three breaths of time, got overwhelmed and was dead within the next moments!


    Hao Meng gulped in fright a the overbearing force of nature. He retreated behind the defensive lines to notify Bao Zhi.


    Through the single opening of the blessed land, the mountain of bodies and wings surged endlessly.


    A lion-like beast with long fur, its eyes shining, lunged toward the entrance, only to be flung back by an immortal killer move.


    A moment later, a serpent slithered forward, weaving through the fray, its jaws wide open in a soundless hiss. It struck with lightning speed, but like the others, it was repelled, falling back into the indistinct jumble.


    The tide of soul beasts showed no signs of slowing. Each wave brought new horrors, like a hulking behemoth with three eyes, or up above, a flock of vultures and bats diving down like deadly darts.


    The sheer diversity of the soul beasts was mind-boggling, a true display of soul path''s effect on the living beings in the five regions.


    Inside the blessed land, the banquet came to an unexpected and abrupt end.


    The air was heavy with the muffled sounds of the chaos outside, the turmoil was palpable in everyone''s hearts.


    Che clan was mobilizing their forces into key positions, while the attendees of the banquet hurried to escape, only to be met with the impenetrable torrent outside the entrance.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "So many soul beasts!" A guest inhaled sharply at the sight. "How did they arrive so quickly? The predictions were different from this..."


    "We are caught in the main stream of the beast tide, this is only the first shock front!"


    "Get back!" Someone shouted from behind him.


    A pack of desolate beasts emerged suddenly, lunging at a rank six gu immortal.


    He could only save himself thanks to the combined effort of the other gu immortals present, drowning the invading beast in a flurry of attacks.


    "There''s no way out..." The sombre realization dawned on them.


    A deep sense of isolation permeated the space, as if the world outside was a huge monster swallowing the tiny blessed land in whole.


    "Close the blessed land''s gate!"


    But why wouldn''t have Che clan already done so if they could? Because this was a public blessed land, pieced together by dissimilar immortal apertures.


    It had no land spirit to control or defend itself, it could only exist passively.


    The natural shortcoming of public blessed lands, their low defense, became a major headache for Che clan right now.


    As the soul beast tide battered the defenses of Tian Qucheng blessed land, Che clan found itself scrambling to maintain control.


    Che Jinhua, the head of the clan¡¯s operations in the blessed land, stood amidst the chaos, her eyes sweeping over the remaining gu immortals who were still capable of defending.


    It was clear they needed reinforcements. Many of the guests who had come for the banquet were either fleeing or paralyzed with indecision.


    She grit her teeth, knowing that, despite their reputation, Che clan''s available power alone would not be enough to fend off this tide.


    In a hurried voice, she called out to the crowd.


    "All gu immortals present! If we do not band together now, Tian Qucheng blessed land will fall, and we will all perish!" Her voice cut through the noise, forcing attention.


    "Our clan will generously reward anyone who aids in defending this land. Immortal essence stones, rare resources, and access to our unique gu formations!"


    Bao Zhi, who had already flown to the highest vantage point to assess the situation, narrowed his eyes at the offer. He wasn¡¯t interested in saving Che clan¡¯s assets, but this provided an opportunity he couldn¡¯t ignore. If he could negotiate a good deal, not only could he secure vital resources, but he could also minimize personal risk.


    Descending swiftly from the sky, Bao Zhi approached Che Jinhua, the person who tried meddling in the star skipping game.


    He dropped his jovial drunkard facade and spoke in a cold, calculating tone. "Your offer is generous, but let¡¯s be realistic. This is no ordinary soul beast tide. Your defenses will crumble without expert help, and you know it."


    Che Jinhua¡¯s face was unreadable. Bao Zhi had a good point and she knew he was hiding his skills. Looking back at his gamble, she recognized the expert skill in his win, it wasn''t a fluke.


    Even though she wanted to rope him and Lord Hao into Che clan and the situation was tense, she wasn¡¯t willing to show her hand too easily. "State your terms." She said.


    Bao Zhi paused briefly, his eyes flicking toward the swirling mass of soul beasts just outside the barrier. The tide was pushing harder, and the defenses wouldn¡¯t hold for much longer.


    Next to him, Hao Meng spoke up. "We¡¯ll fight, but in return, I want ten percent of all immortal resources harvested from this blessed land."


    Che Jinhua¡¯s jaw clenched. "How audacious! What ability do you have to demand such a price!?"


    It was an extortionate demand, but she was cornered.


    Bao Zhi looked at her, activating Perception Warp immortal gu, his and Hao Meng''s auras surged to the peak of rank six.


    Fiery wings unfurled on Hao Meng''s back and the combined aura of their four rank six immortal gu was unleashed!


    "Is that enough?" Lord Hao smiled.


    "!!!"


    "Done." She snapped, her voice barely concealing her shock and frustration. "But you¡¯d better deliver."


    With the agreement made, Bao Zhi turned to Hao Meng, who stood nearby. "Stay close to me." He transmitted. "No rash moves."


    The two joined the defensive lines, taking their positions among the remaining gu immortals. Bao Zhi activated several of his gu worms, his aura surging as he prepared for battle. Around him, other immortals did the same as they summoned their own soul beasts and prepared their moves.


    The next wave of soul beasts was already upon them.


    The beasts crashed against the blessed land¡¯s defenses like a hammer hitting iron. Roars filled the air as more desolate beasts broke through, scattering the gu immortals.


    Bao Zhi unleashed an invisible torrent of human qi, halting the advance of a monstrous soul beast with two heads, but it was only a temporary reprieve. More beasts swarmed the breach.


    All around, the attendees fought desperately, their attacks mixing in a chaotic storm of power. The occasional flames, lightning, and wind ripped through the mostly soul path battlefield, but the horde was unrelenting.


    The defenses were faltering, and it wasn¡¯t long before cracks began to spread from Tian Qucheng¡¯s entrance through the walls.


    The tide of battle began to turn, but not in the defenders¡¯ favor. Despite their best efforts, the sheer volume of soul beasts overwhelmed them.


    Che clan¡¯s formations were failing, and the soul beasts were getting dangerously close to penetrating to the heart of the blessed land.


    Realizing the dire situation, some of the gu immortals started to shift their focus.


    If the blessed land couldn¡¯t be saved, then they could at least salvage something for themselves, should they manage to escape.


    A few immortals broke off from the defensive lines.


    "Save the resources!" They acclaimed, turning to plunder Tian Qucheng¡¯s immortal resource points, robbing immortal resources and gu worms that had been painstakingly cultivated.


    Bao Zhi noticed this and smirked. It was typical behavior in such a situation. They were already abandoning the fight.


    The defenses collapsed in stages. Soul beasts began tearing into the heart of the blessed land, their monstrous forms smashing through what remained of the protective barriers.


    Screams filled the air as gu immortals fell, overwhelmed by the tide.


    A massive tiger-like soul beast, eyes blazing with rank seven power, crushed several immortals in its rampage, and the sky was thick with the flurry of winged creatures finding their way inside among the cracks of the blessed land''s boundary wall.


    Amidst the chaos, Bao Zhi remained composed. He and Hao Meng fought back to back, using a gu formation to ward off the encroaching soul beasts.


    But it was clear that Tian Qucheng blessed land was doomed. Che clan¡¯s forces were scattered, and the immortals looting the land only hastened its destruction.


    "Master, what now?" Hao Meng asked, his voice barely audible above the noise of destruction.


    "We¡¯re leaving soon." Bao Zhi said calmly. His eyes scanned the battlefield, ensuring no one was watching too closely.


    A short while later Tian Qucheng blessed land suffered a major fracture in its sky.


    "This is our only chance!" With a flick of his hand, Bao Zhi activated a the improved Concealed Human Qi killer move, shrouding both himself and Hao Meng in a veil of invisibility.


    Together, they slipped away unnoticed, disappearing into the shadows as the blessed land continued to collapse around them.


    Behind them, Tian Qucheng blessed land was torn apart by the relentless soul beast tide.


    Many immortals who had stayed behind met their demise, their screams drowned out in the tumultuous onslaught.


    Without the power on the level of rank eight or multiple peak rank sevens, Che clan¡¯s efforts to defend had been in vain.


    As Bao Zhi and Hao Meng escaped to safety, the hidden Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda picked them up, maneuvering carefully through the flying beasts.


    Bao Zhi couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the turn of events. His gamble in the star skipping game had paid off handsomely, but now, with the destruction of Tian Qucheng blessed land, misfortune seemed to follow him wherever he went.


    Was this just bad luck, or was something greater at play? He was troubled by this reoccurring string of events.


    "Oh, so you want to know the cause?" Qinyang wondered aloud. Finally a chance for her otherworldly knowledge to shine.


    "But first, what are you willing to offer for saving your life?"


    Qinyang had no qualms about getting a cut of the benefits. She was also eager to apply her new methods, extracted from Shou Xin''s will, to set an agreement.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 96 - Planting ones feet firmly, not bowing to the Heavens

    After a period of haggling over the exact amount of compensation for helping to escape Tian Qucheng blessed land, Qinyang and Bao Zhi moved on to their next exchange.


    "For a price of ten immortal essence stones, I will tell you what the fundamental cause is behind this calamity." Qinyang began.


    She scrutinized Bao Zhi for his reaction. Was her price too low or way too excessive?


    She found Bao Zhi unreadable.


    "But for twenty immortal essence stones, I will tell you the cause and also explain its workings in detail." She continued, probing Bao Zhi''s financial bottom line.


    At face value, this price was very expensive for just some information. Twenty immortal essence stones could purchase rank six level killer moves and even some inheritances in Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    But this price was also trivial to someone if it concerned their life and death. Bao Zhi could easily afford this expense, the information was much more valuable in his eyes.


    Without further ado, Bao Zhi produced ten immortal essence stones.


    "So as we agreed, no takebacks if you don''t like what you hear."


    Bao Zhi nodded in understanding. "Let''s hear what it is."


    "Heaven''s will."


    Bao Zhi raised his eyebrows, carving deep furrows across his forehead, as if his thoughts were plowing through a field of doubt.


    He pondered on these words for a moment.


    ''Heaven'' had many interpretations.


    In a literal sense, there were the Black and White Heavens. Did those have an unseen influence in the soul beast tide?


    Heaven and Earth was also another way people referred to the great dao. Was this calamity then simply the result of nature taking its innate course?


    "Are you saying there is a deeper meaning?" Bao Zhi realized.


    Qinyang smiled deeply, holding out her hand.


    Another ten immortal essence stones changed hands, and Qinyang collected her thoughts.


    "You have heard the saying, between you and me only the heaven knows. That is not wrong, heaven''s will is everywhere in the five regions and two heavens."


    "Heaven''s will, just as the name suggests, is a type of will, like malicious will or curious will. Except this type of will is produced not by people or gu worms, but by heaven and earth itself."


    Bao Zhi was shocked internally. "Such a thing can exist?"


    "Imagine heaven¡¯s will as the very mind and intent of the world itself, not just a natural force or metaphor for impartiality." Qinyang raised a finger. "Heaven''s will is far more than that, it''s like the world¡¯s conscious keeper, thinking, reacting, and actively maintaining the order of the five regions and nine heavens."


    "To put it simply, heaven''s will is sentient. It¡¯s everywhere, constantly watching over and adjusting everything."


    "As for why? Its goal is to maintain balance, protecting the world by controlling everything from the growth of living beings to the rise of immortals."


    "When something becomes too strong or threatens the world''s natural order, heaven¡¯s will acts against it. It isn¡¯t emotional like humans, it doesn¡¯t hate or love, it just acts to ensure balance."


    "Gu immortals build power, accumulate resources, and defy limitations. But heaven¡¯s will sees this as an imbalance. It doesn¡¯t want one person to become too powerful or for anything to disrupt the natural order. That¡¯s why calamities, tribulations, and things like lifespan gu exist! They are tools heaven¡¯s will uses to keep everything in check. The biggest of such tools is Fate gu."


    "Heaven''s will can influence living beings, people less so, but beasts and plants more so. It was heaven''s will who directed these soul beasts here and destroyed that blessed land."


    Bao Zhi stared at her. His mouth opened, but there were no words on his lips.


    This revelation was more profound than he expected.


    Thinking back on his first revival, he was already aware, it was a heaven defying act. He knew from historical records these would be met with calamities and tribulations.


    But to think there was a grand consciousness pulling the strings behind it all?


    A cold shudder ran through his body.


    It suddenly all made sense to Bao Zhi, why the myriad tribulation at his first revival targeted directly his refinement formation. Why Xu Lian''s earthly calamity turned into a much deadlier tribulation, ending up killing him and why the soul beast tide changed course, arriving earlier in full force at Tian Qucheng blessed land.


    This was the work of heaven''s will!


    Time and again, Bao Zhi refused to accept the path set out by heaven''s will, he stubbornly defied death.


    "The heaven wants to take away surpluses and replenish deficits. Isn''t this in clear opposition to human path building up surpluses and decreasing deficits? No wonder... No wonder the will of heavens wants to erase me." Bao Zhi thought.


    After a moment of silence he had a question.


    "What is the relation of heaven''s will and gu immortals? Why can gu masters receive the aid of heavenly inspiration when ascending? Isn''t helping contrary to suppression?"


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Another ten immortal essence stones richer, Qinyang happily continued.


    "This is in line with heaven path''s all encompassing nature. All beings are under the heavens. The heavens wants to develop the world, but it can''t do it by itself. It has a reliance on the living beings under it, every one of them is a chess piece for heaven''s will."


    "At immortal ascension, it grants a part of its own power and authority in the form of an immortal aperture and heavenly inspiration, like a king granting fiefs to his vassals."


    "The highest form of this authority is the dao lord status of the venerables, directly handing over a whole branch of the great dao to a single person. But even this absolute authority over a path is just temporary, and all the possessions will be reclaimed in due time... Killer moves turned into tribulations, attainments of true meaning stored in Primordial Domain and immortal apertures broken down by the winds of assimilation."


    "Yet, the most profound level the heaven exercises its authority, and the common denominator of life in general, is the lifespan. It is a grant heaven gives to every living being. An opportunity to prove their value to the heavens."


    "The heavens want someone to succeed only as long as their success is aligned with its own goals. But it doesn''t want one to succeed if it comes at the cost of the overall world itself. This is where the notion of heaven being impartial comes from; it wants balance not between itself and the living beings, but to rule over the inhabitants and have balance between them."


    Bao Zhi had heard enough, he left with a troubled expression.


    "Ah, he just left?!"


    "Did I just info dump too hard? I got carried away..." Qinyang chastised herself. "He is only a rank six gu immortal right now... I told way too much considering his scope. Now he might not even believe any of it, thinking I''m just making stuff up. Surely not, right?" Qinyang thought to herself seeing Bao Zhi''s figure leave. "Good thing, I didn''t start explaining Heavenly Court''s meddling with heaven''s will or how it can be countered. I can still cover up this slip as information I got from the Wen clan''s wills if he gets suspicious."


    "Anyway, an extra thirty immortal essence stones are still thirty immortal essence stones!" She beamed at her newfound fortune.


    Bao Zhi sat down to meditate.


    He finally understood the nagging premonition in his heart when he was contemplating his immortal ascension.


    It was his intuition warning him that stemmed from his grandmaster human path attainment.


    Just based on his current amount of human qi, if he tried to attempt immortal ascension, the heavenly tribulation and earthly calamity would be even more severe than a ten extreme physique''s ascension, not to mention heaven''s will would probably target a weakness of his.


    The wood spirit charm tribulation was a good example. When it changed form and became a sentient giant, Bao Zhi was at his wits end.


    While he was in the dark regarding the contents of a tribulation, heaven''s will could pick and choose its methods, not pulling any punches. How could Bao Zhi know what traps he would have to face and prepare in advance?


    This formless and invisible enemy placed a great mental pressure on Bao Zhi.


    Just a few moments ago he was blissfully ignorant of the deliberate nature of these higher machinations. After all, a fish did not need to understand what swimming was to swim, and people did not need a complete understanding to become successful.


    "Heaven''s will wants me dead? Good! There is no better acknowledgement that I am treading the right path."


    "If the heaven''s want me dead then that will only fuel my determination! The stronger the opposition, the stronger I must become!"


    "I would rather lose in the right cause which will eventually prevail than triumph in a cause doomed to failure."


    "I won''t accept. I will not bow to the will of heavens! I will not die a worthless death even if I fail on my path!"


    Bao Zhi''s deepest emotions came to the surface.


    Purpose. Conviction. Defiance.


    These were some of the grandest emotions.


    In the pursuit of those emotions, other feelings were secondary, fleeting, superficial and misleading.


    Sadness, grief, jealousy, fear, joy, shame, sympathy..? Those are emotions which serve only the individual.


    No, these were the shared emotions of a greater meaning, beyond the sensation of a single person.


    These emotions presided on the same stage as justice, dedication or truth. Because these were all among the truths of human path.


    To cultivate human path, it was Bao Zhi''s greatest cause and calling in life, he realized.


    Before Bao Zhi''s mind''s eye the recipe of three mortal gu unfolded.


    These were the recipes of human path purpose, conviction and defiance gu respectively.


    He refined a set of them promptly and stored them away in his aperture.


    He got on his feet, there was no time to waste now with heaven''s will already plotting his demise.


    Bao Zhi visited Hao Meng in his aperture and instructed him to close his immortal aperture''s entrance, briefly explaining how this would cause his tribulation to be better manageable, without mentioning heaven''s will.


    The resources obtained from Tian Qucheng blessed land were piled up high in an empty region inside. Most of them were related to soul path.


    Next, Bao Zhi told Hao Meng to start selling these soul path resources in Treasure Yellow Heaven. They would split the profits at 2:1 in favor of Bao Zhi.


    He helped Hao Meng to make sure he was getting a good price, paying close attention to the treasure light and avoided the common pitfalls of transactions.


    Bao Zhi also produced a vat of Soul Mirror Wine, and gave it directly to Hao Meng.


    "Make sure to use this to strengthen your soul. When you can''t drink anymore, just sleep some."


    "Master, where did you get more of this?" Hao Meng was surprised to see this wine delicacy again.


    "More? This from the portion we have bought. I just didn''t consume any while we were there."


    "Oh." Hao Meng finally understood how Bao Zhi stayed clearheaded after ''drinking'' so much wine. Even he was tricked!


    Next, Bao Zhi took out a fistful of seeds from a storage type gu.


    While Hao Meng was busy with the immortal materials, Bao Zhi set up a formation on the ground.


    He used wood path immortal materials in combination with mortal formation and wood path gu.


    He placed some immortal essence stones inside and the formation activated.


    Great grandmaster wood path and grandmaster formation path attainment!


    The seeds on the ground sprouted and grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    Bao Zhi had arranged their locations meticulously.


    These plants were the Brain Melon desolate plants!


    Although, it was somewhat inappropriate to place them in a fire path immortal aperture, the aperture''s development was still low and the desolate plants could bear it with the help of the formation Bao Zhi constructed.


    In a day''s time, the first Brain Melon was already ripe and ready to be used.


    Bao Zhi quickly produced a will and sent it inside.


    He started to deduce human path methods, utilizing his grandmaster attainment in human path.


    It couldn''t be helped, even though he had a number of immortal gu at his disposal he didn''t have a good set of methods to utilize them.


    Even the best cooking pot couldn''t produce food by itself, without ingredients.


    Immortal killer moves needed not just immortal gu but mortal gu as well.


    This was a problem, as human path was very lacking in comparison when it came to the amount of known gu worms and killer moves.


    Before this, he had used gu from other paths, like the qi path gu worms in his concealed human qi killer move. But this was cumbersome and inefficient. He theorized, if he had human qi gu, it would be a great fit in the concealed human qi killer move.


    Roughly speaking and only looking at the order of activation, two gu could only be combined in two ways. Three gu could be combined in six ways. Ten gu could be combined in over three million ways! The progression of possibilities had an explosive growth!


    And this was not accounting for activating more than one kind of gu in a single step or using multiples of the same gu in addition. Bao Zhi would still use various other gu, relying on his talents in different paths.


    Now, that he had obtained four mortal gu relating to the emotion branch of human path, including the suffering gu which Mo Xuan refined in his body, he finally had some ingredients to work with!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 97 - Bao Zhis new human path killer move

    Packed with purpose, the days passed hurriedly, making the hours vanish in a blur of accomplishment.


    Bao Zhi progressed with his work, deducing his killer moves at the now fully grown Brain Melon plantation.


    Hao Meng wasn''t slacking either. He practiced his fire path killer moves steadily.


    He gained a burst of inspiration after participating in the defense of Tian Qucheng blessed land, witnessing how gu immortals fight.


    "Master, look and critique my move!" He landed and asked respectfully.


    Bao Zhi watched with satisfaction, a faint smile crept up on his face as he saw Hao Meng demonstrate his techniques one after another.


    "This next move is my own creation. Watch me!"


    The fiery wings from his immortal gu unfurled behind him with a great wingspan. Then the wings draped over Hao Meng, enveloping himself in a closed ball of fire.


    A defensive move!


    Bao Zhi nodded.


    But Hao Meng wasn''t done yet. The blazing orb of flame accelerated and crashed into a patch of empty ground.


    Both a defensive and offensive move in one!


    Hao Meng''s happiness was hard to hide as he presented himself before Bao Zhi. He managed to execute his self created killer move just as he imagined!


    "Do it again." Bao Zhi instructed.


    Hao Meng flew up to repeat the whole process, wondering what his mistake could have been.


    "Just your self created technique. I''ve seen the rest enough."


    "Mm." The fiery wings unfurled again behind Hao Meng, just like before.


    Pang!


    "Ouch!" Hao Meng was startled.


    A green dart hit him unexpectedly and the killer move was disrupted right away.


    "Master?"


    "You are full of confidence after just managing to activate it once, do you think you can use killer moves as you like?"


    "..." Hao Meng was tongue tied.


    He quickly understood Bao Zhi''s meaning.


    In a real fight, how could he afford to only focus on his technique?


    "Practicing is not done when you succeed once, it is done when you do not fail once. Do you understand the difference?"


    "Let me try again." Hao Meng began, but this time he started with his investigative killer move and multi-tasked to activate his new killer move.


    Now he could detect the seventy-two green darts in the air, all around him. "So many. When did these appear?" He understood at once, Bao Zhi was going to test him even more. The previous stung was just a warning.


    "No problem." Hao Meng concentrated on his control.


    The darts came flying as expected they would, but now he reacted in time and dodged gracefully.


    With his fire path movement type immortal gu, Hao Meng was like a fish in water.


    But dodging took up time and mental effort.


    The green projectiles were numerous, their paths soon became complex, sometimes curving in odd directions, sometimes missing on purpose.


    A mistake occurred! Hao Meng was hit on the back of his neck.


    "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" He rubbed his sore spots with frustration, as he got hit by another two darts right before Bao Zhi stopped them.


    "Again."


    This time, specks of flames scattered from the wings. Hao Meng wasn''t going to take these hits lying down and just dodging. He changed his killer move, improvising on the spot.


    Fighting fire with fire, offense with offense!


    The fiery specs shot out in all directions, chasing and incinerating the green darts upon contact.


    A chaotic aerial battle unfolded, with Hao Meng in the focal point.


    Like a swarm of fireflies, the little flames whizzed all around him.


    "Difficulty is what wakes up the genius." Bao Zhi keenly observed Hao Meng''s talent on display.


    "Guh!" Hao Meng made a mistake again.


    He couldn''t even last as long as the previous time.


    "Master! You won''t let me succeed on purpose!"


    "Who, I?" Bao Zhi asked in jest. "Then try again, the exact same as you just did. I won''t interfere this time."


    Hao Meng looked at him curiously, but activated his investigative killer move anyway. The army of little flames appeared next as well.


    The killer move progressed as before, but just when Hao Meng was about to succeed, his eyes opened wide. He suffered a backlash.


    "I almost had it!" He cursed under his breath.


    "Try again." Bao Zhi told him.


    At the same time, he activated the improved version of a human path killer move; Alive in Suffering, human in Perception, this time incorporating purpose, conviction and defiance gu as well.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Alive in Aspiration, Human in Perception.


    The effect was even more broad than before. Bao Zhi''s and Hao Meng''s human qi formed a mystical connection.


    Hao Meng didn''t notice at first, but as he started to activate his gu worms, he noticed a sharp awareness he didn''t have before.


    He felt himself, the fire path gu worms, his immortal essence and the killer move in its entirety. As if he became the center of heaven and earth, yet only a speck of dust in front of its grandness.


    Then; he abruptly paused, stopping his killer move.


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    "This is all wrong." He landed on the ground. "This killer move..."


    Bao Zhi nodded silently.


    Hao Meng was very adept at improvising and using fire path, but even talent couldn''t overcome moving in a flawed direction.


    Gu immortal inheritances were precious. They were the results of the accumulation of trial and error, often originating from dozens or even hundreds of previous inheritors. One fixed and improved upon the previous, taking the inheritance closer and closer to its ideal version.


    Hao Meng''s inheritance didn''t have a long history like that. He was only its second possessor.


    New creations were wrong more often than not. The new is always untested, while the old has survived challenges, adapted, and endured, if it earned its place in the present.


    Just from this simple observation, one could surmise to not be swayed by new things solely because they were recent. Of course, all things were new once, and only the new could bring progress.


    But novelty alone does not guarantee an advancement. In fact, the allure of the new can often mask the flaws that become clear only after careful observation and repeated failure. It is through this process of trial and error, of evolution and adaptation, that the truly worthwhile innovations rise above the merely transient.


    "I think, I get it now. The harder I tried to fix a flaw, the more flaws I introduced." Hao Meng realized.


    "When I encountered a problem, I only thought to solve it by adding more gu worms and activating other methods, using even more gu. But adding more gu did not end up yielding a better result in the end."


    "I started with a defensive killer move, but then I added offensive variations, by then, the killer move couldn''t even fulfill its original purpose!" He shook his head.


    "What I should do is not add; but remove! Yes. Less is more... Removing the source of the flaws!" Hao Meng delved into the intricacies of his killer move.


    Bao Zhi was pleased with Hao Meng''s conclusion. "Indeed. Quality is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove."


    Gu worms floated around Hao Meng, he could not explain this phenomena he was a part of, he could only embody it.


    An unspeakable understanding!


    Even the blind could see it, and even the deaf could hear it, yet a thousand words could not describe it. This was how the great dao was understood.


    A kind of knowledge, beyond the limit of the theoretical, that one could not formalize and reason about.


    People often called it ''common sense'' or ''intuition'' when they knew something was right, but didn''t know how they knew it.


    This profundity was related to attainments and true meaning. One could not teach attainment, only the person themselves could grasp it.


    In his deep insight, Hao Meng had reduced the number of gu in his killer move to a mere third of the original!


    He activated it again.


    Whoosh!


    The two fiery wings appeared around him almost instantly! Both the activation time and complexity were a stark contrast compared to before.


    "Very good!" Bao Zhi applauded.


    He didn''t expect Hao Meng to resolve his killer move so swiftly.


    "This is the terrifying result from a ten extreme physique''s talent and a human path killer move!?" He noted to himself in shock.


    "Hmm, would this work?" Bao Zhi suddenly had a thought.


    He explained the mechanism of the formation of the Brain Melon plantation to Hao Meng and let him try it.


    Hao Meng sat cross-legged in the center of the formation and closed his eyes.


    Bao Zhi left him there, and went to visit Qinyang.


    "I''ve brought something you might want." Bao Zhi opened. "Soul Mirror Wine, to strengthen your soul."


    "Is that so? But I don''t cultivate soul path."


    "This is the era of soul path, who does not need it?" Bao Zhi produced a vat of said wine and set it down. "This is the last in existence. Its supply in Tian Qucheng was destroyed, the rest I drank with Hao Meng and Mo Xuan."


    Qinyang eyed the large vat of wine suspiciously. "What is you play here?"


    "I already refined some of this immortal wine so a gu master, like you or Mo Xuan could safely consume it. This last portion is for you." Bao Zhi began.


    "If I''m going to use your strength, I need you to become stronger." He spread his arms. "This is all."


    "What do you want in return?"


    "Since this is the last of a wine that''s on the same level as the Bewitching soup and considering my own effort; five immortal essence stones."


    "No deal."


    Bao Zhi sat atop the wine vat as if he didn''t hear her, silently studying the various gu and their mechanisms that Qinyang created.


    "A strange formation." He murmured.


    "My information path killer move? Well, I guess it works by itself, so it is really a formation. Formations are also killer moves." She thought.


    Bao Zhi had grandmaster formation path attainment, yet this formation in front of him was nothing like he saw before. He understood what this formation was doing at a glance, yet its core principles of operation, the whys, eluded him.


    It was similar to when Great Formation Wen Bo tried to assess Bao Zhi''s Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation, even though Wen Bo''s formation path attainment surpassed Bao Zhi''s, the formation contained great grandmaster level wood path profundities, surpassing Wen Bo''s knowledge in that area.


    Bao Zhi reached towards a gu.


    "Hey! Don''t touch that."


    "Why? Do you know what will happen if it''s removed?" Bao Zhi stopped halfway.


    "It will create an error and the formation will enter an error state, it won''t work anymore."


    "What about that one?" Bao Zhi pointed at another gu.


    "The same. All these gu are there for a reason. I constructed it carefully to get the optimal result." She said with confidence. If Bao Zhi pushed, she could prove her logical derivation correct.


    "Allow me." Bao Zhi smiled and plucked a gu at random from the formation.


    The formation''s output became corrupted and its operation became chaotic.


    "Oh no! That gu was part of the error handling, the net that would catch the error..." She watched with annoyance as her creation began to fall to pieces.


    Bao Zhi shook his head. "As brittle as morning frost on an autumn leaf. A single touch is enough to spell its end."


    So what if it was optimized and efficient? If it broke due to its brittleness, then its efficiency was zero.


    The style of this formation was the polar opposite of the kind Bao Zhi would create. The Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation was almost like a living being. It could react to external harm, mitigating the damage and even repair it to a certain extent by refining new gu. When pressured, it would resist harder. The internal parts were not fixed, they could move and adapt as necessary.


    Bao Zhi activated Alive in Aspiration, Human in Perception once again.


    His dense human qi engulfed Qinyang.


    Bao Zhi cleared the remains of the formation, and got to work.


    His hands moved quickly, placing gu worm after gu worm in their place.


    Qinyang had a hard time to track it with her eyes.


    But then!


    "Woah!" She could ''see'' it. "Is... is this like how Neo felt?"


    Her hands moved on their own as she picked up on the rhythm and started to place gu worms in tandem with Bao Zhi.


    She could tell the next move without effort, as if she could peer into a grand plan itself, the glimpse at the source code of the world was unfolding before her mind''s eye.


    She placed one gu, then Bao Zhi placed another, perfectly in sync with the rhythm, both of them responding naturally.


    It felt as if she was singing along a song perfectly, even though she was hearing it for the first time.


    The hour vanished like a fleeting dream, dissolving before awareness could catch hold of its wings.


    Qinyang found herself staring at the marvel of this new formation, occasionally glancing at the spot where Bao Zhi stood, she wasn''t sure if what happened was real or not.


    Yet the proof was right before her.


    "Amazing... The structure is inherently redundant, yet every part is used to its fullest. Simple at its core, modular, yet complex at its working." No matter how she looked at it, this formation surpassed all her previous creations in every aspect.


    Using the formation, which, in this case meant configuring it to work in a specific way, was surprisingly intuitive.


    In her past experience with programming, she was used to dealing with computers that felt cold and stubbornly literal. They would follow every instruction exactly, even if it led to unintended consequences.


    If you weren''t careful, a simple mistake could lead to a crash or worse. Those computers were precise, but unforgiving. If you gave them flawed instructions, they''d execute them anyway.


    But this formation felt different.


    "This¡­ this formation feels like it wants me to succeed."


    It didn''t feel like she was battling a rigid, error-prone machine at all.


    Almost as if it could anticipate her needs, as if she wasn''t issuing commands to a computer but engaging with something more organic.


    It was as though nature itself had evolved this thing to be her perfect tool, effortlessly aligning itself with her intentions.


    "This should only be possible with black box systems, no? Is this what it feels like to understand the inner workings of a black box system?" She wondered.


    In computer science, a black box referred to something whose internal processes were hidden or unknowable. You gave it inputs, got outputs, but couldn''t really know what was happening inside.


    But now, this didn''t feel like a black box at all to Qinyang. It was as though the inner mechanisms had become transparent, like the system was showing her exactly how it worked without needing to explain.


    "This wasn''t something that deliberate design could achieve, could it?"


    Qinyang''s eyes sparked with fascination.


    A little drunk on the Soul Mirror Wine, a long lost feeling of ''magic'' from her childhood, thought to be purged by formal logic and education; it was reignited in her heart.


    * * * * *


    Hao Meng woke up from the formation.


    "Master, this formation is incredible." He exclaimed.


    However it wasn''t Bao Zhi who stood beside the formation, but Mo Xuan.


    "Greetings Senior Brother!" Mo Xuan cupped his fist, having picked up some manners in the meantime.


    "Father isn''t here, he left to find a solution for senior brother''s time path problem." He straightened his back. "Please take good care of me."


    "Huh?"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 98 - Pouring wine on sorrow only makes it grow

    Bao Zhi flew in the sky above the dunes of Western Desert.


    He had his presence concealed. The killer move he used was the improved version of Concealed Human Qi.


    Now not only did it conceal his aura by controlling the human qi, but it also considered other aspects like vision, sound and the soul.


    He was confident, that nobody could detect him without using at least a rank seven investigative killer move, but he didn''t stop to test this assumption.


    Occasionally, he noticed people flying the other direction, heading towards the soul beast tide.


    They either wanted to capture some soul beasts of slaughter them for the soul cores.


    The arrival of the soul beast tide was big event for gu immortals throughout the five regions, an opportunity to gather soul path immortal resources.


    But Bao Zhi had no interest in such endeavors, he already possessed enough immortal essence stones for his current needs.


    His current target was the location of a certain clan of Western Desert.


    He landed at the location his memories told him.


    Bao Zhi activated his killer move to scan the place, but there was nothing here.


    "The Zheng clan''s headquarter is supposed to be here. Why can''t I find it?"


    He quickly checked for relevant information on Zheng clan in Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    "Zheng clan was destroyed over three hundred years ago?" Bao Zhi knotted his brows. "It seems, the favor they owed me will never be repaid."


    This wasn''t a new occurrence, Bao Zhi had found out that the immortals he knew from his era have all but died of old age or disappeared from the records of history.


    Bao Zhi needed to find a way to resolve Hao Meng''s problem with his aperture''s time flow. If he didn''t do that, Hao Meng was likely to fail or get seriously injured by his calamities.


    How would he help then Bao Zhi retake his grotto heaven?


    With Zheng clan gone, Bao Zhi looked for another clan he hoped to extract a favor from.


    He bought some information on Treasure Yellow Heaven before he went looking this time.


    "Fei clan is still around. Good, I''ll pay them a visit then."


    After half a day of travel, he arrived at the oasis Fei clan occupied.


    "It seems their headquarter has moved. Not surprising for how much the world has changed." He thought.


    After a brief exchange of formalities, an audience was given to Bao Zhi by one of the gu immortals present.


    "Fei Shi Feng?" The gu immortal shook his head his head. "There isn''t and never was such a gu immortal in our Fei clan." He stated with annoyance, he would much rather be at the soul beast tide than be posted here.


    After a round of clarification, the issue became clear.


    "You are looking for the ancient Fei clan! That doesn''t exist anymore, or we wouldn''t claim the name for ourselves. To think there was still someone related to the ancient Fei clan..."


    After some probing, Bao Zhi found out the remains of the ancient Fei clan were absorbed by the neighboring Qiu clan.


    It was worth to check this lead. But considering how outdated the information from his memories were, Bao Zhi didn''t have high hopes now.


    Even if he found a Qiu clan gu immortal whose ancestors were from the ancient Fei clan, with which Bao Zhi had a good relationship, this was grasping at straws.


    Before leaving, Bao Zhi asked if the current Fei clan could help in slowing down an aperture''s time flow.


    But the response was as expected, Fei clan did have such a method indeed, but they outright refused to use it on anyone outside their clan.


    Such a thing would rarely have happened in Bao Zhi''s era. The people of Western Desert had an ingrained and implicit rule to help their kin, it was one of the ways people adapted to the desert''s harshness.


    Bao Zhi suspected the method of Fei clan''s aperture management was flawed, and if divulged to outsiders, it might expose a vulnerability against soul path, putting them at a risk.


    Bao Zhi had no choice but to accept their decision and move on to meet with Qiu clan.


    If this last option fell through, Bao Zhi had no choice but to attempt to create a method himself that would reduce Hao Meng''s immortal aperture''s rate of time flow.


    But he knew his limits, he wasn''t a time path expert, and an improper method would introduce unknown flaws and hidden dangers in a fire path aperture.


    This was clearly a last resort option in his eyes.


    Bao Zhi didn''t know a group of gu immortals were looking for him already, on their way towards Qiu clan as well.


    * * * * *


    "This person is master''s son?" Hao Meng took a moment to compose himself. "Right, I recall him now."


    Mo Xuan smiled at him innocently, unsure what was expected of him in such a situation.


    "To think that master would entrust his son to me!" A feeling of pride and responsibility washed over Hao Meng at Bao Zhi''s level of trust in him. "I cannot disappoint master, I will do my utmost."


    "Come and sit with me, friend." He called out, settling Mo Xuan next to him.


    Although Hao Meng was a rank six gu immortal, and Mo Xuan was just a rank one gu master, in his eyes they were of the same seniority due to their relation to Bao Zhi, just at different stages in their cultivation.


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    "Senior brother, what is this place?" Mo Xuan could finally voice his question that was weighing on his mind while waiting for Hao Meng to leave the Brain Melon formation. "It isn''t going to fall apart like that other place, right?"


    Hao Meng chucked at this absurd question and shook his head. "This place? This is my immortal aperture." He motioned with his arm.


    "Immortal aperture..." Hao Meng tasted these words, mumbling to himself. "My aperture is nothing like this. Senior brother, you are so cool!" Mo Xuan exclaimed, his blue eyes glinting with excitement.


    "Hahaha, you can drop the formalities, Just call me Hao Meng." He couldn''t help grow fond of Mo Xuan''s straightforward enthusiasm. "Since our meeting here is an important occasion, we must celebrate. Don''t you think so?"


    "Yes!" Mo Xuan agreed readily. "Oh. I know! People drink alcohol when they celebrate." He took out a gourd from a storage type gu. "Here. I drink to your good health, brother Hao Meng!" Mo Xuan gulped the wine like a thirsty traveler. "Ahh-" Then wiped his mouth, grinning.


    Hao Meng patted his back. "Slow down brother, you need to savor it properly." As he said this, he too took out a gourd with Soul Mirror Wine inside and took a sip. "Bottoms up!"


    Hao Meng lit a campfire in front of them, elevating the atmosphere to a lively and inviting quality.


    The two of them talked at length, discussing the matters of life and cultivation, getting to know each other.


    "Brother Hao Meng- Hicc! You are so knowledgeable! You can answer every question I have." Mo Xuan praised. "Is this because you are a gu immortal? Or did someone explain it to you like you are explaining things to me right now?"


    Naturally, as a gu immortal, Hao Meng knew everything there was to know about gu master cultivation. Still, he could feel, each of the questions posed by Mo Xuan were deep and thought provoking.


    "A bit of both. There are things that only become clear after you do them." Hao Meng scratched his head, thinking.


    But he felt the words just didn''t convey what he meant. He felt like he would need his previous state that Bao Zhi put him into, it must have been him he figured, then he could see with much more clarity and guide Mo Xuan just as Bao Zhi did.


    The feeling of that moment was but temporary and fleeting, leaving behind nothing but its aftertaste and the improved killer move before vanishing completely.


    Hao Meng and Mo Xuan hit it off really well.


    They enjoyed each other''s company.


    After a long while, Qinyang arrived in the blessed land, she was looking for Bao zhi.


    "He left just like that?" Her plans were crossed at once.


    She wanted to borrow his help again.


    "Oh, what is this guy doing here?" She glanced at Mo Xuan who lay next to the warmth of the campfire, it''s flickering orange lights illuminating his round face and dancing across his black hair.


    "Master left him here. Now he passed out from drinking too much." Hao Meng grinned, also drunk from the wine he consumed. "I took him as my unofficial disciple. But don''t tell this to anyone... No, we were just discussing, yes. We are of the same seniority, after all. I can''t just cross my master like that." Hao Meng explained.


    "You also know that he''s not breathing?" She asked with concern, leaning closer to inspect Mo Xuan.


    "What?!" Hao Meng sprung up, as if lightning hit him.


    His heart jolted, trying to wake Mo Xuan, but he wasn''t waking.


    "Oh heavens! How could this happen!" The laid back atmosphere turned to panic at once.


    Hao Meng fumbled, he activated his healing immortal killer move.


    Gentle flames started to lick Mo Xuan''s body, like he was atop a pyre.


    "It''s not working. Why is it not working?!" He didn''t know what to do now.


    "What did you give him?"


    "We each drank our own-" Hao Meng looked at the two wine gourds and realization hit him. "He must have drank from the immortal wine!"


    "Not good. That''s an immortal material inside his body, no wonder you couldn''t heal him."


    "How will I face master? How could I be such a careless and unfilial disciple!" Hao Meng was not thinking clear.


    "Hey! Can you do something?" Slap! "Get yourself together. We need to remove the immortal wine from his stomach. Do you have a gu for that?" Qinyang stood as the beacon of reason, directing Hao Meng in this emergency.


    "Let me check." Hao Meng activated his investigative killer move to sense the immortal wine. "The wine is gone." He found. "He already started to digest it."


    Qinyang cursed in her mind. "Think. Think!" She couldn''t let Mo Xuan die, they needed him to live, they couldn''t lose Bao Zhi because of him!


    "Right! Bao Zhi mentioned, he refined the wine into mortal wine so a mortal could drink it, turning an immortal material to a mortal material." She remembered. "Can you do that?"


    Hao Meng racked his brain, but he didn''t know a suitable refinement method that could refine the wine. The reason was, because the wine has already spread throughout Mo Xuan''s body.


    Refining it while keeping the mortal flesh and bone intact... The refinement difficulty was too high!


    "I cannot do it! I would burn him to a cinder if I tried. While my ice path method is just a mortal move, it cannot hope to affect the immortal material."


    "Let''s use the refinement formation then!"


    They hurriedly brought Mo Xuan to the level of the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda where the refinement formation was set up by Wen clan''s will of Old Refinement.


    Hao Meng extinguished the flames around Mo Xuan that aimed to stabilize his condition. Now his well being hung on the use of this refinement formation.


    "Have you used something like this before?" She asked.


    "No."


    This was an immortal formation, a subformation of an immortal gu house to be precise. One wrong more and its power would grind Mo Xuan''s delicate mortal body to mush.


    "Then, I will do it. If he dies, we at least tried our best." She decided.


    "Wait, why don''t we check the recordings. Or ask Jue Shi, he could do it right?" Hao Meng hesitated to let Qinyang use the formation, if Mo Xuan died, he would consider it his own negligence.


    Jue Shi appeared at the mention.


    "I''m not touching that-" His face turned to disgust. "That thing." He indicated the subformation, simply observing the events with a veil of indifference.


    Qinyang had to resort to referencing the footage of Bao Zhi and Old Refinement operating the formation.


    "Okay. It goes like this..." She began, and the formation hummed to life with glowing patterns.


    Mo Xuan''s limp body got fixated in the formation space.


    The procedure was akin to trying to crack a nut with a huge boulder. It was very easy to apply too much force and ruin it instantly.


    Qinyang operated the formation steadily, her latest experience with her new formation gave her some confidence she could do this.


    She couldn''t go too fast, or she might lose control of the refinement, but she also couldn''t waste time as Mo Xuan''s life could slip away at any moment.


    "Fuh!" Qinyang wiped the sweat from her forehead.


    Hao Meng wanted to help, but he knew he would only interfere. This formation was designed to be operated by one person.


    "Guuhhh..." A deep groan left Mo Xuan''s body, instantly filling the two of them with hope for his recovery.


    "Hold on brother, be strong. Everything will be fine." Hao Meng encouraged under his breath, he clutched his fists tight, wishing there was something he could help with.


    "AAAA!" Mo Xuan suddenly started screaming at the top of his lung.


    His eyes opened wide. But there was only the whites of them visible, they have rolled back in their sockets.


    "Too much!" Qinyang corrected her control immediately.


    This continued for a couple of long and arduous minutes.


    Mo Xuan suddenly regained consciousness, his eyes darted around in fright, finally landing on Qinyang.


    "Mothe- no, the evil lady... What ar-"


    Qinyang got startled, momentarily slipping with her handling of the refinement.


    "AAAAAH!" Mo Xuan scream again, his body was in spasms of pain. "Help me! Ahhh! The evil lady is torturing me!"


    He stared at Hao Meng with pleading teary eyes, begging for his help.


    "Brother you must endure. This is for your own good." He forced out the words amidst his guilt, knowing Mo Xuan would die without this procedure.


    The refinement process caused intense pain throughout Mo Xuan''s whole body, making him wail in agony.


    Some minutes later, the intensity of his cries lessened.


    Next, after another while his screams started to take a turn, changing in tone as well.


    "Ahhh..."


    "Aaaahh..."


    "It almost sounds like he is enjoying this." Qinyang joked.


    "He is probably just getting tired from shouting, or the formation has affected his vocal cords." Hao Meng reasoned.


    "Ahhh... Yeees!"


    "Don''t stop... Aaah!"


    "..." Qinyang felt the sudden urge to stop instantly.


    By the time the refinement ended, over an hour has passed.


    Mo Xuan floated out of the formation.


    He lost consciousness again. Laying on the ground and drooling on its tiles. His face had a content expression.


    "Let''s not speak of this. I leave him to you." Qinyang left.


    Hao Meng''s hair still stood on end, but he checked on Mo Xuan with an investigative move, just to confirm his state was stable.


    "Oh wow!" He noticed a clear difference compared to before.


    "Ten-thousand-man soul!"


    * * * * *

 Ch. 99 - Failing to steal the chicken, but losing the rice instead

    Western Desert, Qiu clan''s territory


    Four immortals were following Bao Zhi''s tail, soon to catch up with him.


    "Are you sure we have the right person?" The most senior among them asked. "The person ahead does not match what you described." He added after cancelling his investigative killer move.


    "There is no mistake, brother. I have left a mark on his soul in Tian Qucheng blessed land. I could tell him apart from a million others." He affirmed. "It has to be that cheat who took my immortal essence stones!"


    The two other gu immortals didn''t comment, their methods seemed insufficient to glimpse anything of this person.


    "If anything, even if he appears different now, isn''t that also very suspicious?" The wronged immortal continued. "I remember it clearly, he said he wanted to take part in the soul beast tide. It was all a lie! Look, we are already in Qiu clan''s territory, far from the soul beast tide''s path."


    The other two gu immortals cast glances at the one who just spoke, making him regret he said the last part.


    "It isn''t surprising. I wouldn''t risk my life in the soul beast tide if the spoils of Tian Qucheng blessed land were mine." The rank seven among them mediated.


    The other three nodded in agreement.


    "His good fortune will turn into our good fortune."


    The four of them wouldn''t be here, especially at the time of the soul beast tide, looking for Bao Zhi, if they didn''t hope to gain more than they otherwise would.


    "We are getting closer. Start to activate our killer move." Their leader made the call.


    The four gu immortals activated their gu worms in unison.


    The aura of the three rank six and one rank seven mixed together.


    A move they practiced and used hundreds of times before. They were very proficient in their cooperation.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Four-Sided Soul Cage!


    A cage formed of purple qi appeared above the gu immortals. Four chains hung from its four corners, each connecting to one of the four immortals.


    "Go." Their rank seven leader pointed into the distance.


    The chains fastened as the four-sided soul cage shot forward like a purple chariot.


    Bao Zhi had a baleful premonition. His human qi was stirred by the distant action, warning him of the imminent danger.


    But his attackers were outside of his detection range, Bao Zhi didn''t know what kind of threat he was facing at the moment.


    "I was still discovered with Concealed Human Qi activated?" Bao Zhi immediately knew he was facing someone formidable to have discovered him.


    He changed his route and activated his own techniques.


    Bao Zhi was only a false immortal with a stolen aperture origin core. If it came to a head on confrontation, he could not sustain it with just his own essence.


    He started to convert some of the immortal essence stones to immortal essence, ready to be used by immortal gu.


    Whoosh!


    The four-sided soul cage flew by at a very fast speed. It arrived Just where Bao Zhi would have been, had he not changed direction.


    "It missed?" The rank seven gu immortal was stunned by the failure of their surprise attack. "The cage went right through him."


    "Brother, what are you doing! He is not there. Let me control the cage!"


    "What an interesting method." The rank seven gu immortal let go of his control.


    Under the guiding of the soul mark, the four-sided soul cage charged after Bao Zhi''s true location.


    "!!!" Bao Zhi''s deception has proven ineffective, he could only change his tactics.


    Bao Zhi struggled to dodge the soul cage, he used his offensive methods to gain some distance.


    But the soul cage had top tier rank seven power, it was unaffected.


    The four gu immortals closed the distance by half in the meanwhile.


    "He is very slippery." One of the rank six gu immortals complained.


    Each time used, the Four-Sided Soul Cage killer move expended immortal essence rapidly. It was a technique designed to capture soul beasts, which were larger and less nimble, all in one go.


    "Don''t worry. He won''t be able to escape now."


    Combination Move ¡ª Soul Suction!


    Fwoop!


    Bao Zhi suddenly felt a great pulling force with no strength to resist. At the next moment he found himself inside the soul cage.


    The loose chains tightened in the immortals'' hands, reeling in their catch.


    "We did it! We''ve struck it rich!"


    "Even if we can only extort a portion. It was well worth it."


    Their faces were covered with congratulatory smiles.


    So what if they lost some immortal essence, it would be replenished over time.


    But immortal resources were even more valuable.


    Refining gu, developing the immortal aperture, trading; It had many more uses.


    "Huh?"


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    Bao Zhi''s figure flickered and disappeared from the cage!


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Hole Earth Movement!


    "He even has a space path technique?!"


    "There!" The soul mark revealed Bao Zhi''s new location.


    The movement technique he activated used the space path Hole Earth immortal gu as its core.


    Due to Bao Zhi''s lacking space path attainment, the killer move could not take full advantage of the immortal gu''s power, it could only transport him to a short distance of a hundred li.


    The four gu immortals cursed.


    "Chase him!"


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    A game of cat and mouse ensued.


    Bao Zhi got captured multiple times by the Four-Sided Soul Cage, but it couldn''t contain him for long. He was escaping even faster than the first time.


    But the repeated use of Hole Earth immortal gu started to cut into Bao Zhi''s finances as he urgently had to convert immortal essence stones into immortal essence.


    It was a huge waste to rely on immortal essence stones to be able to use immortal gu, but he had no other options to evade capture.


    Running was futile, the soul cage was faster than Bao Zhi, but the pursuers also couldn''t get the upper hand and keep him inside.


    It was a stalemate.


    The four immortals had invested too much to let Bao Zhi go. Only by capturing him could they recoup the losses.


    Dealing With Bao Zhi turned out to be far more troublesome than they estimated.


    "Brother, I know you have a battlefield killer move. How much time do you need?"


    "The setup is almost complete. Once my battlefield killer move is activated, the space outside and inside will be separated. He will have no choice but to give up any hope of escaping!"


    "Once it is activated, we can stop the Four-Sided Soul Cage and use our own methods." One of them remarked with anticipation in his voice.


    "It will turn into a four versus one battle. Even if he struggles to the bitter end, we will put him down and simply loot his blessed land."


    The gu immortals'' sentiments were turning darker by the moment as Bao Zhi continued to incur a drop in their precious immortal essence reserves.


    Darkness!


    Bao Zhi''s vision was obscured when he escaped the soul cage this time.


    He found himself inside a soul path battlefield killer move.


    The four gu immortals surrounded him, their killer moves ready to strike if they deemed necessary.


    "We have finally caught you, thief of Tian Qucheng."


    "Inside this battlefield killer move we have the absolute advantage. Surrender at once if you know what''s good for you." A rank six gu immortal spoke.


    Bao Zhi silently observed the four of them, neither admitting nor denying any wrongdoing.


    It was true, this battlefield killer move created a temporary soul path environment, letting soul path gu immortals enjoy an advantage here.


    "Return all of your wrongful gains and we will let bygones be bygones." They urged.


    "So this is it. I seem to have garnered some reputation after Tian Qucheng''s fall." Bao Zhi thought. "Or rather, some had gambled more than they were willing to lose." He recognized one of the gu immortals from when they played star skipping.


    Despite the threats, Bao Zhi greeted them cordially, as if they weren''t his captors but equal parties.


    "We haven''t had the chance. I''m Xin Cheng. Pleased to meet you, friends." Bao Zhi said.


    "Cut the cra-" The familiar looking gu immortal sneered, but got interrupted.


    "I''m Tang Si Yuan." The rank seven gu immortal cupped his fist. "Forgive my little brother''s temper. He was very eager to see you again so we could exchange pointers as fellow soul beast hunters."


    "Do not do anything unnecessary. This is different from soul beast hunting. If he cooperates, it is for the best, don''t antagonize him anymore." Tang Si Yuan transmitted to Tang Si Yao in secret.


    "Oh! I understand. Hehehe. The only thing he can hide behind now is an act of cordiality. Now that we have cornered him, this is his only way to avoid a fight to the death." Tang Si Yao realized.


    Tang Si Yuan introduced this group of soul beast hunters he lead, they had some limited fame due to Tang Si Yuan''s Four-Sided Soul Cage, but there were many more prominent hunter groups.


    The two sides continued to exchange pleasantries.


    If someone joined this conversation at this moment, it would seem as if the two sides had nothing but respect for the other.


    The rules of the righteous path were on full display in their manners.


    "So brother Xin Cheng." Tang Si Yuan changed the topic. "It was our shared fortune to meet each other here, but now the time of parting has come. I assure you, we will treasure every trace of this encounter in our hearts." He smiled meaningfully.


    "Oh I agree, I agree. But, please say, how fortunate are we exactly?"


    The four immortal rubbed their palms mentally. This was the moment they waited for.


    Tang Si Yao took over and started to list their demands, starting with his immortal essence stones he lost to Bao Zhi.


    What would his expression be like if he knew, those same immortal essence stones were the ones Bao Zhi had to use during his escape?


    Just as he was in the middle or recounting the different immortal resources Tian Qucheng produced, he stopped abruptly.


    "What''s wrong brother?" Tang Si Yuan transmitted.


    "I think, he is not here." Tang Si Yao replied, looking left and right in alarm.


    He could feel the soul mark gaining distance!


    "Is that everything?" Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow.


    The three others glanced at Tang Si Yao with curious gazes, before looking at Bao Zhi right before them.


    What is he talking about, how could he be not here?


    Tang Si Yao struck Bao Zhi''s smiling figure in disbelief.


    But this attack slipped through the perfectly life-like man before them, hitting thin air.


    Bao Zhi was indeed not there!


    "???" All four of them were puzzled.


    Rightly so, Bao Zhi was one step faster.


    Before they realized, he had already activated his escape technique.


    Immortal Killer Move ¡ª Hole Earth Movement!


    Whoosh!


    Bao Zhi had disappeared, leaving behind only a false perception of his presence.


    So what if he was outnumbered four to one?


    So what if this battlefield killer move boosted soul path?


    So what if the inside and the outside were cut off?


    Hole Earth Immortal gu''s power could even connect through the walls of rank eight grotto heavens!


    Connecting two locations was Hole Earth immortal gu''s specialty.


    Bao Zhi had been stranded in Xu Lian blessed land without a way out, having to plan his escape long and hard.


    He had seen the might of the Soul Taker Battlefield created by the founder of soul path, the young Spectral Soul himself.


    With these experiences, how could Bao Zhi, whose specialty was movement techniques even in his first life, let this flawed imitation of a battlefield killer move trap him?


    He stayed inside only as long as he wanted to!


    The four gu immortals got the short end of their own scheme.


    Battlefield killer moves were known to take a long time to set up and deactivate compared to other killer moves.


    So at this point, they could not leave even if they wanted to!


    "Curse you Xin Cheng!" Tang Si Yao fumed, he suffered the biggest overall loss among the four of them.


    But Tang Si Yuan knew better, quickly readjusting his mindset.


    As a rank seven gu immortal, he knew when to cut losses. Even if they chased after Bao Zhi and caught him again, then what?


    Without capturing Bao Zhi and ensuring him a way out, no sane person would willingly leave gains for his killer. Tang Si Yuan knew, Bao Zhi would likely destroy everything he had if he couldn''t live.


    "Everyone, it was my mistake. My battlefield killer move is still lacking, it can trap a group of ancient desolate soul beasts with rank seven strength, but the comprehensive effect is still lacking."


    "Boss, in my opinion it wasn''t your fault. We let our guards down and let him sweet talk his way." Naturally, his underlings had to agree.


    Could they have escaped if they were in Bao Zhi''s place? Hardly. They have assumed no other rank six gu immortal would be any different either.


    "Let''s just return to honest-to-goodness soul beast hunting. Less scheming, more fighting."


    The two others didn''t voice it before Tang Si Yuan, but in their minds they could only blame Tang Si Yao''s greed for dragging the whole hunting group into this mess.


    Chasing after Bao Zhi was simply inviting further humiliation.


    "Ugh!"


    Suddenly, Tang Si Yuan suffered an intense backlash and coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    "Boss!"


    "What''s wrong brother?"


    At the next moment, a large hole appeared on the battlefield killer move before it completely broke apart.


    "Qiu clan!" They immediately realized who attacked the weaker outside of the battlefield killer move.


    "How did we not have enough time to leave?! Qiu clan arrived so quickly!" Tang Si Yuan was dumbfounded.


    But Qiu clan''s second supreme elder stood in the air with an immortal gu house menacingly floating next to him.


    "You are violating my Qiu clan''s territory!" The harsh voice boomed.


    Tang Si Yuan knelt in surrender. They could not afford to offend a proper clan, like Qiu clan, as a group of lone immortals


    Tang Si Yuan calmed himself. Already having an explanation for the disturbance they cause, he raised his head to speak.


    "Eeek!" But the words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.


    The reason was simple.


    Tang Si Yuan noticed Bao Zhi stepping out of the immortal gu house.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 100 - Advancing or retreating leads to a predicament

    Qiu clan! Second supreme elder! Rank seven immortal gu house!


    Seeing their leader kneeling, the rest of the hunting group followed Tang Si Yuan''s example and kowtowed.


    They cast anxious glances at him.


    "Brother! Now that Qiu clan is here, there is still a chance to bring this thief Xin Cheng to justice. This is our chance!"


    "Boss! Why aren''t running? We have the advantage of numbers. They can''t chase after all of us."


    "Boss, give me the signal and I''ll distract them while you strike their leader."


    Tang Si Yuan''s mind was ringing with voice transmissions form the three of his team.


    He breathed out in frustration.


    None of them had grasped the seriousness of this situation!


    "Wanting to run away from a rank seven gu house? Fat chance!" He cursed in his mind, discarding the option outright.


    "Fighting them is even more suicidal. Are you taking me for a rank eight overlord? We would all die without an intact corpse."


    "Now all we can do is submit." He released a breath of turbid air.


    Tang Si Yuan felt helpless in this situation.


    It would take all but a word from Qiu clan to label them as a group of the demonic path.


    Stripping away their lone immortal identities with a righteous justification would simply put a huge target on their backs.


    At best, they would become ostracized, forced into hiding and unable to openly conduct themselves.


    Forget about hunting in the soul beast tide. Instead they would become the hunted.


    At worst, they would be put to death now on the spot!


    "How did it come to this?" Tang Si Yuan lamented. "How did Qiu clan arrive so quickly? Why did they bring their immortal gu house as well?"


    "But most Importantly, who is this Xin Cheng to pull the strings of Qiu clan? He clearly has a good relationship with them... Why haven''t I heard of him?"


    The thoughts raced in his mind, trying to understand what had happened, trying to ascertain if maybe he could bribe Qiu clan to let them go.


    What he didn''t know was, that Qiu clan didn''t arrive as soon as they thought.


    The four of them were mislead by Bao Zhi. Warping their sense of time, they didn''t realize almost half a day had passed since Bao Zhi left the battlefield killer move.


    This was enough time for Bao Zhi to meet up with Qinyang and Hao Meng who received Bao Zhi''s message at the beginning of his chase.


    Bao Zhi stepped forward, pointing at the group of gu immortals below.


    "This is it. The three of them have captured the demonic thief of Tian Qucheng." Bao Zhi openly told Qiu clan''s second supreme elder.


    "Friend Tang Si Yuan! I knew, I could count on you hold down the thief with your battlefield killer move." Bao Zhi spoke in a friendly tone. "As you have asked me, I have brought Qiu clan to be the witness of justice."


    "What?" Tang Si Yuan blinked thrice in his shock.


    "He is using Qiu clan to suppress and label us. As expected. But not all of us?" He gulped as he realized Bao Zhi''s ploy was not as simple as he thought. It was even more sinister than he imagined!


    Tang Si Yuan found himself between a rock and hard place, and the only way out was a trap in itself.


    But he had no choice if he wanted to live!


    "Boss, what is he talking about?"


    "Brother, he is trying to frame me! Do something!"


    Tang Si Yuan contemplated, sweat dripping on his temples.


    He sent his own voice transmission. "The situation is dire. We need to break out. Go! You will be the distraction. Don''t worry, I''ll cover you from behind."


    "Understood, boss."


    The rank six gu immortal sprung forth with a murderous aura, attempting to flee the scene.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Tang Si Yuan launched a series of sneak attacks.


    He has struck down his own subordinate!


    The rank six gu immortal''s soul was shaken by the first strike, destroying his defenses. The second strike destroyed most of his soul, only leaving a weak sliver. The third strike shredded his soul.


    It all happened in the blink of an eye.


    Thud.


    The immortal fell on the ground lifelessly.


    His wide open eyes radiated shock and confusion.


    "The demonic gu immortal has been brought to justice." Tang Si Yuan cupped his fist. "Hereby, Tang Si Yuan thanks Qiu clan and benefactor Xin Cheng for this opportunity."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Brother! You killed him! How could you-" Tang Si Yao wailed.


    "Shut up! This is our only chance. If I have to cut off an arm to survive, I''m willing to do it!" Tang Si Yuan transmitted in anger.


    Tang Si Yuan was filled with guilt and helplessness.


    Establishing this hunter group was his greatest achievement, wanting to develop it into sect eventually.


    He would never have guessed, he would be the one to strike down his trusted recruit.


    The other rank six froze on the spot, not daring to voice any complaint.


    Qiu clan''s second supreme elder glanced at Bao Zhi, then proclaimed.


    "Justice is served." Qiu clan''s second supreme elder said aloud. "Do not linger in my clan''s territory." He warned the rest.


    "With this settled, the debt is repaid, friend. The matters of the ancient Fei clan are no more." He transmitted to Bao Zhi as he left in a colorful streak of light.


    Previously, Bao Zhi was pleasantly surprised to have found a living descendant of the ancient Fei clan in Qiu clan who honored their debt to Bao clan.


    Even though the second supreme elder was unable to provide a sufficient time path method that Bao Zhi was looking for, this was also a favorable outcome.


    Bao Zhi landed on the ground and helped Tang Si Yuan to his feet.


    Tang Si Yuan looked up at Bao Zhi with disdain flashing in his eyes.


    But it was immediately extinguished by the sight behind Bao Zhi.


    Immortal Gu House ¡ª Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda!


    "Huh!?" The immortal gu house didn''t leave with Qiu clan''s second supreme elder, but followed Bao Zhi!


    "Friends, the soul beast tide is still in full force and I see you are one man short. How about we join forces to make some gains?"


    "Such guts!"


    "So shameless!!!"


    The three immortals were dumbstruck and indignant.


    Tang Si Yuan had goosebumps on the back of his neck.


    How could a person like this exist?


    He couldn''t figure out Bao Zhi''s thinking. What was he playing at?


    This smiling man simply terrified him!


    "Actually, forget it. It is still too soon for this." Bao Zhi continued. "Here is a task for you instead."


    He instructed them to go looking for a time path method to slow down an aperture''s time flow.


    "Here is a clue for a time path inheritance." Bao Zhi paused for emphasis, then recited.


    "The hours one spends fishing are not counted against his lifespan."


    "The calm found in tranquility flows onward into perpetuity."


    This was a clue Bao Zhi received from Qiu clan.


    "You have one month." He patted Tang Si Yuan''s shoulder.


    "You will notify my will in Treasure Yellow Heaven." He turned around and flew away with the immortal gu house.


    The three soul beast hunters remained still for some moments.


    "What just happened..."


    "Let''s leave quickly." Tang Si Yuan sighed.


    He couldn''t help but replay the events over and over in his mind.


    If he was in Bao Zhi''s place, he would not have hesitated to kill all four gu immortals who have wronged him. With a righteous justification, it was the perfect opportunity.


    "Are we not even worth killing in his eye?" He shook his head in disagreement.


    "I did what I had to. There is no shame in survival." He thought.


    Yet, he felt like dying there just moments ago were maybe a preferable outcome? How could that be?


    He felt like a piece of him was torn out, likely never to be regained. Like an invisible shackle strangling his neck.


    Bao Zhi was clear of the principle he employed.


    A living enemy was worth ten dead ones!


    Why would that be, wouldn''t nipping the problem in the bud be preferable? A dead enemy was one less thing to worry about.


    Not if you could own your enemy!


    Because the only enemy you cannot manipulate is a dead one.


    Tang Si Yuan''s group regained their lives, but they lost their freedom. Their identity as lone immortals shackled them and Bao Zhi decisively grabbed these chains.


    This was an instance of carrot and the stick.


    If he willed, they would become wanted criminals. If he wished, they would be lackeys of a righteous force backed by an immortal gu house.


    It was a situation with a clear imbalance. He, who had the option to choose, had the upper hand.


    "Brother, what will we do now? Will we have to become demonic gu immortals? Let''s leave Western Desert behind." Tang Si Yao broke the silence as they flew in the sky.


    "We can''t leave. The situation is not that simple. We would still need to return each time. Gu immortals can only take the same heaven and earth qi of the region they ascended in."


    "Oh, you''re right. Then all we can do is submit?"


    "But all is not lost. This Xin Cheng has a much more profound background than we imagined."


    Tang Si Yao agreed wholeheartedly. If he knew Bao Zhi had such a force behind him he would have never entertained the thought of extorting him.


    "This is also our opportunity. Xin Cheng clearly thinks he can make use of us, or he wouldn''t leave us alive."


    "You are right, boss. If a clan can produce a rank seven gu house, then they are very rich!"


    "If we can ride the coattails of a clan, couldn''t we eventually become external elders and join the righteous faction?"


    "Indeed, that would be the best outcome. But we are in a dangerous situation still. We have to show something to justify our existence."


    "Mhmm."


    Tang Si Yuan carried the corpse of his underling, looking for a suitable spot for the blessed to fall.


    * * * * *


    Inside the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.


    Bao Zhi sat cross-legged, contemplating.


    "The four of them were probably influenced by heaven''s will to target me." Bao Zhi surmised.


    "But they are still humans in the end, with their own free wills and motivations, heaven''s will could only have a limited effect."


    He could gleam some superficial clues from this encounter.


    "Heaven''s will couldn''t arose their killing intent. It could only influence their greed to chase after me."


    Bao Zhi understood their character in their brief interaction, it was mostly thanks to his human path grandmaster attainment and human qi methods.


    "If they came with the intention to kill, I would probably have had to fake my death."


    "Oh! Even Qiu clan''s second supreme elder was part of this arrangement." Bao Zhi suddenly realized.


    "If I hadn''t escaped the four soul beast hunters, and met Qiu clan''s second supreme elder in advance, would I have been the one put to death on his arrival?"


    "Good thing the immortal gu house arrived in time. It helped me greatly to establish my legitimacy in Qiu clan''s eyes."


    In his view, it was close to impossible to fake the existence of an immortal gu house. Even Bao Zhi''s scalp got numb at the thought of trying to replicate the complex aura of the myriad gu an immortal gu house contained.


    "So this was a so called human calamity."


    The name was very fitting, he had to admit.


    Just like passing the hurdle of a calamity of heaven and earth to gain dao marks, safely navigating a human calamity could yield an advantageous result!


    Having played his cards right, now he gained three gu immortal pawns.


    "Of course, they can''t be trusted. But they can still be useful with some considerations."


    "Also there is another gain of similar importance."


    * * * * *


    "This should be it. Let''s stop here."


    Tang Si Yuan placed the gu immortal corpse on the ground.


    Having lost one of their comrades to Bao Zhi''s scheme was a huge loss. But at least they could split up his wealth among themselves.


    "Every cloud has a silver lining."


    "We will not forget your selfless sacrifice!"


    "Be ready. The fall of the blessed land is imminent. Don''t miss it when the entrance opens or we won''t be able to enter again." Tang Si Yuan noted.


    An hour passed.


    "It should be here any moment now..."


    "Brother, are you sure it didn''t drop when we were traveling? Shouldn''t we check at least?"


    "The body was inside my immortal aperture the whole time. How could we lose it?" Tang Si Yuan grumbled.


    ...


    "Just admit it, brother. You let it be absorbed by your own aperture!" Tang Si Yao accused. "Isn''t that right? What difference is it to you after backstabbing!"


    "You! You!!" Tang Si Yuan ground his teeth.


    "What? Couldn''t you at least tell the truth if you are unwilling to share? Brother! Or should I be watching my back from now on?" Tang Si Yao yelled.


    "If it wasn''t for you and your petty greed! There would be still four of us, hunting soul beasts as we always have!"


    * * * * *


    "Hmm, what would be the best use for this soul path blessed land?" Bao Zhi wondered.

 Ch. 101 - New clue uncovered

    Bao Zhi was surprised when Mo Xuan presented his cultivation progress.


    "Look, Father! I''ve been cultivating very hard." He raised his head proudly.


    Indeed, his soul foundation has increased by leaps and bounds.


    A rank one gu master''s soul would initially have no advantage compared to a mortal, at best they would reach the realm of ten-man-soul.


    Ten-man-soul meant their soul was at least ten times, but not more than a hundred times as powerful as a common human soul.


    Mo Xuan''s soul currently reached a shocking level of a mid-strength ten-thousand-man soul!


    His soul was almost fifty-thousand times its original strength thanks to the dao marks in the immortal Soul Mirror Wine and the refinement formation''s combined effect.


    This was the level that a rank five soul path gu master would have. It would take decades to reach this level by using rank five gu!


    Bao Zhi inspected Mo Xuan closer, to satisfy his curiosity and dispel his disbelief.


    The methods of soul cultivation were still fresh in Bao Zhi''s mind.


    "A refinement path method?" He thought, instantly discovering the subtle signs left by the refinement formation. He could roughly piece together what had happened.


    "This is not all. Watch this!" Mo Xuan drew a bit of primeval essence from his aperture.


    It was light red primeval essence!


    "Are you surprised, Father? While you were away I pushed through to rank two in a single go." Mo Xuan revealed, very much eager to see Bao Zhi''s reaction.


    One shock after another!


    "Very good!" Bao Zhi patted his back. "This is how it should be. You make me proud."


    "With his surge in soul foundation, his mental energy also increased. Thanks to this and his high aptitude, he could break through in one sitting." Bao Zhi surmised in his mind.


    "Aren''t you curious how I did it?" Mo Xuan was full of energy, he couldn''t wait to begin telling. "It all began when I visited senior brother. We started drinking. He is a very good person, I like his company very much."


    "But I noticed, senior brother''s wine was much more fragrant than mine. Also my wine ran out first, so I took a sip... okay, it was more than one sip. But his wine was really, really good!"


    He paused, with a hint of embarrassment.


    "Then, hmm... I don''t recall much after that. But I did have a strange dream, I remember that!"


    "I was burning in flames. But the flames weren''t painful, then the fire carried me to some other place."


    "When the flames went out, a witch appeared and chained me up in the air! Then she started to poke me with a thousand needles. It was very painful!" Mo Xuan narrated fervently.


    "But then, when I woke up, I felt really comfortable! My thoughts were racing, but I was calm."


    "I knew, I had to do something, so I sat down and started cultivating. It was really good!"


    Bao Zhi chuckled at the colorful commentary.


    "Now that you have broken through a major realm, you have some experience cultivating." Bao Zhi took out some gu worms from his aperture and gave it to Mo Xuan.


    "This is the rank four Primeval Rafflesia gu house." Bao Zhi introduced.


    It was a modified version of the original. Bao Zhi elevated it to rank four, now it could convert the primeval stones stored in the primeval elder gu up to rank four yellow golden primeval essence.


    "Woah! A rank four and a rank three gu." Mo Xuan found it hard to contain his excitement, even if these were just support gu.


    "But I have something even greater." Bao Zhi teased.


    After a while, they descended into a remote location.


    "What are we looking for, Father?"


    But the answer soon appeared right before them. A blessed land''s entrance opened up.


    "This... This is just like senior brother''s aperture! Whose immortal aperture is this!?"


    "It doesn''t matter, he''s dead already. I''m giving it you." Bao Zhi said plainly.


    But before Mo Xuan could say anything in response, a soul beast, the size of a horse carriage, jumped out and roared in anger.


    Bang! Whoosh!


    Bao Zhi flung the mortal soul beast back where it came from.


    "..." Mo Xuan breathed in sharply.


    "Don''t be afraid." Bao Zhi encouraged as he activated an immortal killer move.


    Concealed human qi!


    "This will hide you for a while. Go and conquer this blessed land!"


    Mo Xuan wanted to protest, but a formless force grabbed him. He was flung into the blessed land''s entrance, just like the soul beast.


    "Look for the land spirit!" Bao Zhi yelled after Mo Xuan''s distant figure.


    The opening to the soul path landscape closed.


    ...


    "Master, isn''t this too much?" Hao Meng asked Bao Zhi with worry when he returned to the gu house.


    "You have seen his shocking progress. Have you not? With his talent, he might become a gu immortal by afternoon." Bao Zhi joked.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "..." Hao Meng was tongue tied for a moment. "I will pray for you, junior brother."


    "I didn''t send him empty handed." Bao Zhi explained. "The gu worms I gave Mo Xuan contain my will, it could help him if necessary."


    With the concealment immortal killer move, Mo Xuan could remain hidden for a long while. The rank six killer move was much more effective and long lasting when used on a rank two gu master.


    "Not to mention, with his soul foundation, and the right soul path gu worms he can fight above his cultivation rank."


    "Wouldn''t it be a waste to let him sit around with his talent? You can think of facing this challenge as a human path refinement method. A talent needs his refinement. Isn''t that right?" He glanced at Hao Meng meaningfully.


    "..." Hao Meng haven''t told Bao Zhi about Mo Xuan''s incident, but now he understood he was found out. "Master knows best."


    With the matter of the soul path blessed land settled, they left the hidden location behind.


    Qinyang sought out Bao Zhi''s help.


    She needed to expand her information path formation, but without Bao Zhi''s method, she had no idea where to even begin.


    Bao Zhi joined her, taking a look at the recently improved formation, quickly understanding what she''s been up to.


    "Intriguing! She is interrogating wills from Wen clan?"


    "Hm? These wills can be split endlessly?" Only after observing for a short while did he discover the crux of the method, when the will was replaced by a new identical one.


    "Look!" Qinyang began to explain. "I''ve improved this system as much as I could. But there is still a problem with its speed."


    "A time path problem?" Bao Zhi felt a hint of annoyance.


    Indeed, the interrogation of the will was taking a long while because it was going in real time. There was no way around this without using time path methods to speed up its thinking.


    "So the solution is to do more of the same, just in parallel. I want to increase the overall speed by having multiple wills worked on at the same time."


    Bao Zhi nodded thoughtfully. "I assume without creating just additional formations?"


    "Obviously! Whatever can be reused, it should be reused. I don''t need the parts duplicated unnecessarily."


    Bao Zhi pondered for a moment.


    "I want to have the results you extract from these wills." He said.


    "I can already get that without your help. You are only helping me getting it faster."


    After a round of negotiating, Bao Zhi agreed on some extra compensation.


    These Wen clan inheritances very were useful for confronting Wen clan''s forces.


    Next, Bao Zhi activated his technique.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Alive in Aspiration, Human in Perception!


    Their human qi connected again. It provided a shared perception to both of them.


    Bao Zhi could see the world through the understanding of Qinyang, while she gained an even greater insight thanks to Bao Zhi''s various attainments.


    Attainment couldn''t be shared between different people, as attainment was a core part of the individual''s true meaning they accumulated, it was different for each person. If it was extracted, it would be lost.


    But sharing just the effects of attainment was almost as good.


    The killer move alive in aspiration, human in perception could share and mix the quality of individual human qi.


    Human qi was the medium that perception passed through, the sixth sense being the most obvious example.


    The end result was very similar to having the attainment shared, it could even mimic intuition if the attainment level reached master level!


    While perception was the process of gathering information and interpreting it to form an understanding, intuition was a process that involved drawing on the person''s subconscious knowledge, experiences, and patterns to arrive at insights or judgments.


    Perceiving both the outside and the inside! This was a fundamental pillar of this killer move.


    The awaited feeling took hold of Qinyang once again.


    "I have to learn how he does this..." She thought to herself.


    "Wait, what is this substance?" As she thought about the mystical method influencing her, she noticed the previously imperceptible.


    "Human qi."


    "And why do you have so much of it?" Qinyang couldn''t help but notice the stark difference.


    If her human qi was like the flame of a candle, then the human qi around Bao Zhi was like a blazing inferno.


    Bao Zhi smiled without explaining. "Let''s begin."


    The first step was to lay down the framework of the new formation.


    Qinyang noticed the differences as she helped placing the gu worms.


    Bao Zhi constructed formation spaces to contain the necessary mechanisms. It was similar to the hidden space where the gu immortal wills were stored in the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda, it did not take up physical space on the outside.


    Next, Bao Zhi started nesting the formation spaces into each other, folding one layer on top of another. It went three layers deep.


    The overall size of the formation remained unchanged on the outside, but its complexity and the number of gu worms multiplied.


    At this moment Qinyang had to stop, she had reached her limits.


    Having exhausted her mental energy, she had to take a break and let Bao Zhi do the last steps.


    It couldn''t be helped, the soul was the foundation of the mind. Even with Bao Zhi''s method, too much thinking could exhaust the mind if the soul wasn''t strong enough.


    When the formation was complete, Qinyang put in ten copies of Shou Xin''s will to test the formation''s capabilities.


    "Hahaha! Very good." She watched as Shou Xin''s unsuspecting will was mislead, tricked and annihilated over and over. Gaining pieces of information in the process.


    She threw in another ten wills, testing the formation to its limits.


    Only the waning effect of Bao Zhi''s killer move could put a damper on her good mood.


    "Tell me, what is your killer move called?"


    "Alive in aspiration, human in perception."


    "Good name. Fitting for a human path killer move." Qinyang revealed a sly smile for a brief moment.


    She discovered this technique wasn''t a formation path method, like she originally thought.


    Now that she experienced it for the second time, after some reflection, she understood much more of what was happening thanks to the effect of the killer move.


    She also gained a deeper sense of Bao Zhi''s foundation when her thoughts wandered from the formation.


    "Whatever ordinary thing I thought of during this period, I could gleam new insights I''ve never thought of before!" Qinyang could only reevaluate Bao Zhi once again in her mind. "Just how deep is Bao Zhi''s understanding of the world?"


    "I want to keep exploring. I want to keep experiencing. I don''t want to lose this feeling! I want it, no, I need it! Bao Zhi! Use you killer move again!" She wanted to say it, as the last strands of this sensation faded, but she knew better.


    She didn''t want to admit it, but this feeling was mentally intoxicating!


    "It can''t be helped, the difference is too large in attainments." Bao Zhi thought as he mused, fully aware of Qinyang''s inner feelings.


    Bao Zhi wouldn''t have it otherwise. If what it took to gain her trust and cooperation, was Qinyang acquiring a dependence on him, then he wouldn''t think twice about it.


    "Don''t forget to interrogate the other wills as well. Pay special attention to Wen Jie." With that said, Bao Zhi left.


    ...


    Weeks have passed.


    Bao Zhi had finally uncovered some clues through Treasure Yellow Heaven regarding the time path inheritance.


    "The hours one spends fishing are not counted against his lifespan."


    "The calm found in tranquility flows onward into perpetuity."


    "The eye of Time Fisher Grotto opens where the moments fall like sand."


    Time Fisher Grotto!


    "To think it was related to Old Time Fisher Immortal..."


    Bao Zhi had heard of this person.


    "Rumor has it, Old Time Fisher Immortal has discovered the secret of longevity through time path." Bao Zhi recalled. "Hah, nonsense!"


    "But if that''s truly the case, why hasn''t anyone seen Old Time Fisher in thousands of years?"


    "Is he forced to stay inside his immortal aperture perhaps? Then why are the clues pointing to its location?"


    Bao Zhi naturally found himself feeling suspicious.


    "He is most likely dead. If it is the doing of the grotto''s heavenly spirit, then it is clearly looking for an inheritor."


    Bao Zhi only needed a suitable time path method.


    He did not want to fight for another grotto heaven, he had his own grotto heaven to recover right now!


    Although it had to be said, inheriting a grotto heaven was very enticing!


    For the first time in a long while Bao Zhi hesitated.


    He couldn''t wait forever for the perfect time path solution.


    Should he follow this lead or try to create a killer move that''s imitating time path and doesn''t hinder fire path?


    The former was uncertain with a high reward and high risk, while the latter was certain but the expected result was subpar.


    "If I can''t resolve Hao Meng''s tribulation problem, he will be busy with tribulations and might even die in the process, then I can''t use his power to retake my grotto."


    "But if I let him down with a poor solution, how will I ensure he is still willing to risk his life? How will I know that my solution doesn''t create a hidden flaw that becomes a vulnerability in the heat of a fight?"


    At the next moment, his will received a message in Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    "Xin Cheng! We found what you were looking for."


    * * * * *

 Ch. 102 - The hidden hand of true inheritances

    Recently, Tang Si Yuan and group was hard at work to earn Bao Zhi''s favor. Digging through every shadow, and pouring every ounce of human and material resource into the quest, leaving no stone, pebble, or grain unturned.


    As a result, they managed to uncovers some relevant details about the time path inheritance in a relatively short time.


    Bao Zhi received their message and sent some compensation their way.


    "Only this much?" Tang Si Yao grumbled when he received his share. "This Xin Cheng is truly miserly."


    "It is your vision that''s too narrow, little brother!" Tang Si Yuan chided. "Don''t you understand the meaning of this? Now we are working for a righteous force finally. This is just the first step in our rise in the ranks!"


    Tang Si Yao agreed halfheartedly. "By the rules of the righteous path, our reward should match our efforts. Don''t you think so, brother?"


    "We only managed to uncover a single line of the poem, even though we spent a lot of effort." Tang Si Yuan was also not satisfied with the amount of immortal essence stones, but he decided to swallow his dissatisfaction. "The inheritance is still a mystery even if I add our finding. I know, I couldn''t find it."


    "Maybe if Time Fisher Grotto is found, the significance of our contribution would be elevated." Tang Si Yao suggested.


    "That''s exactly what I was thinking. One must have hope in their heart, brother."


    * * * * *


    "The rise of the timeless moon unveils the path at the stretch of shadows."


    This single line was the most important fruit of Tang Si Yuan and gang''s effort.


    They provided many guesses of what it could mean, but Bao Zhi ignored them and pieced the lines of the poem together.


    "The hours one spends fishing are not counted against his lifespan."


    "The calm found in tranquility flows onward into perpetuity."


    "The eye of Time Fisher Grotto opens where the moments fall like sand."


    "The rise of the timeless moon unveils the path at the stretch of shadows."


    When put in context of the whole verse the meaning became much clearer!


    "The third line already refers to the location where the entrance will open. The last line is specifying the time." Bao Zhi understood.


    "Moments fall like sands. This points to a specific desert region. But which one?" Bao Zhi had multiple places in mind.


    "It could be either Floating Sand Plains where sand can be seen to rise and fall, if the meaning is literal. Or it could be a desert with dense time path dao marks, like Immemorial Desert or Third Year Flow Dune Desert."


    Bao Zhi did some cross referencing, he quickly found out the current situation; Third Year Flow Dune Desert was no longer a time path area as he remembered. Now it was overtaken by soul path dao marks and its signature time path phenomena could no longer occur every three years.


    "That leaves two locations, Floating Sand Plains and Immemorial Desert being the main areas to check."


    This already narrowed down the search to a considerably smaller area.


    Next, Bao Zhi turned his attention to the clue regarding the time.


    "The stretching shadows denotes the season when the sun rises to a lower angle."


    He started to deduce the cycles of the sun and moon.


    "The timeless moon refers to the cycles of the moon, the moment is the beginning of the cycle. From this, the day can be calculated."


    It wasn''t as simple as on Earth. The sun and moon of the gu world moved through immemorial black and white heavens as they traced their paths above the five regions.


    * * * * *


    Hao Meng had is immortal aperture placed down once again to conserve his time until the tribulation.


    He was diligently practicing his fire path techniques.


    Occasionally he checked on the matters in Treasure Yellow Heaven.


    "Oh, someone bought a huge amount of the resources."


    Almost half of the soul path resources from Tian Qucheng blessed land got sold in a single transaction!


    "Hm, this person seems familiar." Hao Meng vaguely recalled.


    The other person messaged him, and introduced himself as the sell of the dragonfish.


    "Right, he is that dragonfish seller from earlier!"


    He offered Hao Meng to buy the rest of his resources, but instead of paying with immortal essence stones he wanted to pay with a batch of dragonfish instead.


    "I can offer you a special kind of dragonfish, if you agree not to resell it. Normally, I wouldn''t sell these, but you happen to have the resources I need."This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "Silver dragonfish?" Hao Meng received the details. "Compared to the copper dragonfish, it has even denser food path dao marks and it is more effective to feed immortal gu?"


    The superiority of the silver dragonfish was clear even to Hao Meng who only dabbled in ice and fire path but not food path. It was a universal solution to a pressing problem of feeding immortal gu.


    Hao Meng pondered for a while, quickly calculating the total value.


    "This is very much worth it! Even if it was just regular copper dragonfish, I would make a profit with this transaction. This person must be in dire need of these resources." He thought.


    Hao Meng agreed to the transaction and received the batch of silver dragonfish into his immortal aperture.


    He put the silver dragonfish in the same makeshift pond that held the copper dragonfish previously before they were spent to feed Hao Meng''s and Bao Zhi''s immortal gu.


    The dragonfish seller thanked Hao Meng profusely for his help and expressed his intention to cooperate in the future.


    "This will be a pleasant surprise for master. I know the copper dragonfish couldn''t fully feed his immortal gu, he still needed to look for its food. But not anymore, this silver dragonfish can feed rank six immortal gu up to ninety percent!"


    He returned to focus on his killer moves.


    * * * * *


    Jue Shi appeared at Qinyang''s formation.


    "You should be cultivating."


    "I am. I will break through to rank four soon." She replied.


    Jue Shi scrutinized the information path formation set up with the wills inside.


    "Why are you still wasting your time on these wills? What can they give of worth? Nothing."


    Qinyang looked at him silently with narrowed eyes but felt it cumbersome to explain herself.


    "You should be focusing on your cultivation only. You need to become an immortal as we agreed. The sooner the better. If there are gu worms you need then tell me now." Jue Shi urged.


    "Why is it so important? Can my ascension not wait? What will you do if I die? Or do you have a secret method to revive the dead?" She voiced one objection after another.


    She couldn''t help it. Having others tell her what to do without a good reason was a sure way to get a reaction out of her!


    "This matter''s importance is greater than you or I." Jue Shi''s tone turned serious. "You do not understand it at all!"


    "Oh, I know." Qinyang imitated Jue Shi''s voice. "Fixing the gu house, then changing the world... Very important! Huh?"


    Jue Shi''s little face flushed red. "Enough!" He stomped his feet on the ground, making the whole immortal gu house shook.


    Qinyang didn''t expect such emotions from the usually quiet and measured Jue Shi. She realized, she pushed her luck too far.


    She spoke in a softer voice, trying to reconcile.


    "Maybe you should explain it to me, because currently I don''t see what the point is. The world changes all the time, what little difference can we make even?"


    "It isn''t just any change. It is the change of the great eras." He corrected.


    "What?" Qinyang looked at him like she heard the biggest joke since her transmigration. "Great eras are governed by the fate of the venerables. Nobody can change it, not even the venerables can oppose Fate gu''s power."


    "It can''t be done, you say?" Jue Shi laughed softly, he started to pace with his hands behind his back.


    "What if I told you, I already have changed this great era, and the one before it as well. Do you know which path Ming You originally wanted to cultivate? Do you know why Ming You committed to cultivate soul path in the end?" Now it was Jue Shi who bombarded Qinyang with his questions.


    Seeing Qinyang''s vexed reaction, Jue Shi shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. "Guess."


    Qinyang collected her thoughts, there was no need to guess, she knew these secrets.


    "Back then, before Spectral Soul became a venerable, he had already obtained food path methods. Once, when he explored immemorial black heaven, by chance he found the immemorial black heaven''s heavenly spirit."


    Jue Shi nodded thoughtfully. She continued.


    "Spectral Soul is the venerable with the deepest killing intent. He wanted to develop killing path. He sensed the opportunity of that from the heavenly spirit. So he used food path methods to devour this immemorial black heavenly spirit and fused it with himself."


    "While he gained greatly from absorbing the heavenly spirit, in turn it also influenced him. This is the reason he couldn''t create killing path."


    This was knowledge Qinyang has brought with her, her certainty in its truth was absolute.


    "Correct." Jue Shi clapped his small hands as he nodded. "But this is only half the picture. I will let you know the rest. Ming You found the black heavenly spirit not by chance! It was due to a gu in his possession, the gu I lent him when the two clans ambushed him."


    "It was the core immortal gu of this gu house; Rank eight Spirit Immortal gu!"


    It took a moment for Qinyang take in the shocking news.


    "Wait! You want to get back your immortal gu from Spectral Soul Demon Venerable?!" Qinyang once again felt like she heard the biggest joke since her transmigration. "Impossible."


    Qinyang shook her head with incredulity. "You think it was you who influenced those events? Have you not read the Legends of Ren Zu? Fate gu predetermines every outcome!" She argued. "Fate gu is filled with Heaven''s Will. But Star Constellation Immortal Venerable has found a way to influence Heaven''s Will. So in essence, she is the one controlling the fate of the world. Your actions were nothing more than her scheme to protect humanity from Spectral Soul''s butchering."


    "Oh." Jue Shi raised his eyebrows. "You don''t have to think too much of Heaven''s Will. While you are inside here, it is powerless."


    Qinyang''s belief was already stretched thin, upon hearing such a proclamation as being unaffected by Heaven''s Will after claiming to make changes to the world''s fate, she questioned if anything Jue Shi said so far held truth at all.


    "Wait!" Qinyang suddenly realized something. "Immemorial white heaven also had a heavenly spirit, but Spectral Soul couldn''t find it because Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable found it first and took it away."


    "Don''t tell me... It was also Thieving Heaven who created the famous killer move that could hide someone from tribulations and Heaven''s Will''s detection, Divine Concealment." She looked at Jue Shi with suspicion. "What is your relation to Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable?"


    Qinyang has surprised Jue Shi with her guess.


    "Right! I was right to wait for you... You could see the big picture from just some little details. But you are also very wrong." Jue Shi smiled meaningfully. "Thieving Heaven is not a demon venerable but an immortal venerable!"


    Thieving Heaven was the most well known transmigrator in the gu world. Having come from an advanced civilization with a loving family, his utmost desire was to find a way back and leave the gu world.


    "Answer me, are you trying to collect his inheritances and that''s why you need me and the rest of the otherworldly demons?"


    As if Jue Shi hasn''t heard her, he stared into the far distance. "It was Heavenly Court who gave him this unpleasant title." His face contorted. "Master was a righteous person! He only took what he needed and spared the lives of people. He did not wish harm upon this world, his only goal was to return home."


    "Master?" The more Jue Shi told her the more shocked Qinyang became.


    "Yes. He is the only person I look up to. He trusted me with a great task and I will do anything to carry it out." Jue Shi turned back to face Qinyang. "To collect master''s true inheritances? How utterly ridiculous!" He laughed. "I am the one who oversees them."


    "???"


    "Although it hasn''t happened yet, you should know of the last great era... How many Thieving Heaven true inheritances have appeared out of the ten?"


    "Ghostly Concealment, Divine Concealment, Perfect Pair and Thieves Den, a total of four... no, there was also the Golden-Red Armor, so five." She summarized.


    "And did you think those were only inherited once? How naive!" Jue Shi emphasized. "Once an inheritor dies the inheritance must be collected and the inheritance space set up once again for the next person."


    Qinyang was stunned.


    * * * * *

 Ch. 103 - The day of Time Fisher Grotto

    Bao Zhi has successfully deduced the opening time of Time Fisher Grotto.


    "This phenomena is surprisingly rare." His conclusion was not what he initially expected. "If my calculations are correct then Time Fisher Grotto opens just once in every eight hundred years."


    "This would explain why the rumors have picked up this time again, the next opening is about a month from now."


    A month was both a long time and not long at all.


    Bao Zhi still had to determine the location if he wanted to catch the opening!


    "The two desert regions of Immemorial Desert and Floating Sand Plains are too far apart to consider visiting both on the given day. It would take over a day even with the immortal gu house to traverse the distance." He thought to himself.


    Without further clues, Bao Zhi couldn''t determine which one the actual location was, so he had no choice but to go and look at the two locations.


    After multiple days of travel, he arrived at the edge of Immemorial Desert.


    Immemorial Desert was a desolate land of grey stone with a hint of rust. Strange rock formations, sharp and thin crystalline spires punctuated the landscape of Immemorial Desert.


    This place was dense with time path dao marks, nurturing time path gu worms like day gu or month gu.


    Gu immortals had no interest in developing this area. Not only because of the prevalence of soul path in this era, but because this place didn''t produce immortal materials.


    Mortal gu masters would sometimes try their luck here. But to them, this seemingly empty place was not without dangers.


    One could easily lose their sense of time here, leading to all kinds of unexpected problems, like venturing too deep, getting lost or dying of thirst.


    If gu masters accidentally came in contact with the crystalline spires, they would be inflicted with time path injuries, in the mildest case losing lifespan at an accelerated pace until the injury was cured or dying on the spot in severe cases.


    Bao Zhi activated his immortal killer move as he flew in the air, surveying the land below.


    Immortal killer move ¡ª Human Qi Perception!


    Using the human path Warp Perception immortal gu as the core, the killer move expanded Bao Zhi''s dense human qi over a large area, blanketing the pointy rocks and barren ground equally.


    Bao Zhi could detect many lifeforms hiding in the cracks and crevices as he passed by, but he was uninterested in these critters and mortal gu worms.


    He continued his search for three days, but in the end, he came up empty handed. Nothing related to Time Fisher grotto was uncovered.


    But he had discovered traces of other gu immortals recently. Bao Zhi suspected their purpose here was the same as his.


    "Continuing like this is a pointless waste of immortal essence. My investigative killer move is only at rank six. Finding the rank eight grotto itself is impossible without specific space path methods. Or maybe time path methods in this case could also provide some help." Bao Zhi sighed to himself and concluded his search for clues.


    His next destination was Floating Sand Plains.


    He had to travel for five days without stopping to reach the lands where one could see the well known clumps of dark sand rising and falling.


    Floating Sand Plains were a geologically active area with fire and earth path dao marks.


    The plains were dotted with round pits that glowed red hot. Faint plumes of smoke emanated from their depths, filling the whole area with a rotten smell.


    One could see trodden paths among the red pits.


    This place, despite its hostile appearance was a popular place for gu masters to collect iron sand and sell it as a refinement material.


    Even the ground was covered with low grade iron sand, but as it was mixed with sooth and other contaminants, it was unsuitable for gu refinement without processing.


    The purest iron sand could be obtained by extracting the magnetic lava directly from the pits and letting it cool and crumble into pure magnetic sand.


    Bao Zhi could detect much more activity here.


    Even gu immortals were flying in the sky!


    A faint smile appeared on Bao Zhi''s face as he concealed his presence, and approached one of the gu immortals.


    He followed the gu immortal for a while. Soon, he became certain, this rank six gu immortal was also searching for something just like him.


    "Just as I expected, others who obtained the clues also came to the same conclusion, checking out these two desert locations."


    But not Bao Zhi, nor the other immortals found what they came for.


    Without results, Bao Zhi was at an impasse. Which location should he choose?


    Choosing blindly, it was a one in two chance he chose correctly.


    "Considering the immortal essence stones I spent to investigate the two desert areas and Hao Meng''s situation, I can''t leave this up to luck." He thought to himself.


    "Hm?" A moment of realization hit him. "Luck!"This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Even if I do not know the correct location, I can still get lucky!"


    What an absurd line of reasoning if taken out of context, but luck was a real force in the gu world!


    Luck was first isolated from human qi, it was how it was first discovered.


    "Considering that I have an unusually large amount of human qi, does that mean I have a larger amount of luck as well?"


    Bao Zhi had no attainment in luck path, not even ordinary level.


    But it was only natural; Giant Sun Immortal Venerable, the creator of luck path has never spread it. Luck path couldn''t become a mainstream path like strength and transformation path did in the olden antiquity era or soul path in the current era.


    There were very few luck path cultivators, and the general knowledge of luck path was very surface level.


    It was common knowledge among gu immortals that after Red Lotus demon venerable damaged Fate gu, many changes occurred.


    Fate gu represented certainty and predestination. With its power weakening, certainty gave rise to uncertainty and variability.


    Luck path was the way of tapping into this variability and making use of it.


    "I need to check this." Bao Zhi had an idea.


    He accessed Treasure Yellow Heaven and purchased a batch of one hundred purple gold rocks.


    These rocks were mainstream goods in rock gambling dens.


    Gu masters would try their luck and open these rocks carefully to see if there was a gu worm inside or not.


    Yes, even some gu immortals liked to gamble or continued their habit after becoming gu immortals like they did as gu masters.


    Bao Zhi, like other gu immortals, could naturally use a killer move to determine their contents at a single glance without opening them, but he deliberately refrained from doing so.


    He laid out all hundred purple gold rocks on the ground.


    Then without much pondering, he chose ten purple gold rocks and set them aside.


    "The odds of this happening..." The results shocked him!


    Out of the ten purple gold rocks, eight had a gu worm inside, and five of those were alive!


    Upon checking the whole set of a hundred, only twelve rocks contained a gu and those four others he didn''t choose all had fossilized dead gu.


    He had to check again. He scrambled the rocks and chose with his eyes closed.


    Now only six out of ten rocks contained gu. But the five with alive gu were once again selected!


    This was all Bao Zhi needed to know; he had good luck!


    He immediately produced a wood path mortal gu worm.


    Cactus pointer!


    This wood path gu had a wisdom path effect, it could arrive at a conclusion given what the user knew. Of course, it would give wrong answers if the assumptions were false.


    But Bao Zhi had no clue or bias to continue on, the result would be arbitrary in this case.


    This was the perfect place for luck to show its effect!


    Bao Zhi held the small seed, known as a cactus pointer, in his hand. He gently buried it in the sand, pressing down on the soil with his palm while channeling a trace of diluted essence into it.


    After a few moments, he removed his hand, and the soil began to shift.


    A delicate sprout emerged, its translucent green color making it seem fragile. The sprout grew rapidly, changing from a pale yellow-green to a vibrant green, and finally settling into a deep, dark green.


    It resembled a cactus, with thick, fleshy stems covered in sharp white thorns.


    Soon, a bud appeared at the top of the cactus. The bud grew larger, turning into a beautiful flower. Meanwhile, the main body of the cactus began to wither, its moisture draining away as it shrank.


    Bao Zhi extended his fingers and carefully plucked the flower bud. As soon as he removed it, the cactus turned gray and crumbled to dust within seconds.


    The cactus pointer was a rank three consumable gu.


    Bao Zhi examined the flower bud closely and peeled it open.


    Instead of layers of petals, the bud revealed itself to be like a tightly folded ball of paper.


    As he unfolded it completely, it transformed into a square sheet of a small paper with a single word written on it: "Immemorial"


    With the result in hand, Bao Zhi made a sudden realization. He pondered for a short moment.


    "It''s not enough to have good luck. One needs to have awareness, and provide an opportunity for his luck. Only by acknowledging its influence can you take full advantage of it."


    How many chances in life come by that one misses, simply because one fails to realize the significance of luck in it.


    From the depth of his memory, he recalled the old tale of the lone camel.


    The lone camel escaped from its owner and wandered the sands of the desert. But soon, after many days, it found itself exhausted. Equally hungry and equally thirsty.


    On its right, in the distance the camel saw a field of green grass.


    On its left, far away, there was a clear spring.


    The camel stood at the midpoint.


    Thirst clawing at its throat and hunger gnawing at its belly, it was unable to decide which direction to choose. Each choice seemed a betrayal to the other.


    Now it was not burdened by weight of wares but by a dilemma.


    Should it starve or should it die of thirst?


    Thus, the camel stood still, paralyzed by indecision as the sun climbed higher, casting its harsh rays on the lone camel.


    To the fortune of the camel, its owner was looking for it.


    When the camel noticed its former owner on the horizon, it panicked and ran in the opposite direction.


    The man has lost his camel once again.


    But now the camel realized he was closer to the spring water, so it quenched its thirst. Refreshed, then it turned towards the patch of grass and ate heartily.


    With both needs satisfied, the camel went on its way.


    "Sometimes, a nudge from disorder clears the fog of indecision."


    "When the mind is undecided of choice, let the winds of chance blow, for even a startled step leads to the path of resolution."


    Had Bao Zhi continued his search, looking for a definite clue in longing for certainty, would he have found an answer or would he have wasted more time? There''s no telling.


    Bao Zhi made up his mind and headed back to Immemorial Desert once again, now with the intention to wait and enter Time Fisher grotto on its opening day.


    He sent a letter gu to the Tang brothers to go and look around at Floating Sand Plains openly, not bothering to conceal their intentions.


    He also messaged Hao Meng and Qinyang to join him at Immemorial Desert before the exploration.


    But Hao Meng could feel his tribulation nearing. He would most likely die if he were in a grotto heaven when his tribulation arrived.


    The problem was twofold, because he couldn''t place down his immortal aperture to draw in heaven and earth qi for the tribulation. Then the tribulation would have no other way but to draw heaven and earth qi from his immortal aperture, ruining its foundation or even collapsing it like how the Treasure Blue Beaver blessed land ended.


    Second, if Hao Meng couldn''t enter personally to face his tribulation, the tribulation could rampage unhindered causing untold damage and destruction until he could intervene.


    It would be best if Hao Meng could join the exploration, but Bao Zhi understood this danger was too big.


    He supplied Hao Meng with ample advice regarding tribulations and calamities.


    Unexpectedly, Qinyang wanted to join. It was unusual to see her leave the immortal gu house so readily and not be buried in formations or information path research.


    "I won''t object if you bring the immortal gu house. But you are still a gu master. How will you be of help, let alone take care of yourself?" Bao Zhi was not convinced.


    "Didn''t you send your son, a rank one gu master, to do just this? I''ll let you know by the time the grotto opens I will have broken through to rank four." She proclaimed. "So you won''t have to worry about me."


    Bao Zhi could sense in her a source of new found confidence.


    "So be it." He agreed in the end.


    ...


    On the night of opening, multiple figures gathered in Immemorial Desert''s moonlit sky.


    The full moon brightly shone near the horizon, casting long shadows behind the crystalline spires.


    Soon, the awaited moment arrived.


    All present could hear a clear voice in their minds.


    "The hours one spends fishing are not counted against his lifespan."


    "The calm found in tranquility flows onward into perpetuity."


    "The eye of Time Fisher grotto opens where the moments fall like sand."


    "The rise of the timeless moon unveils the path at the stretch of shadows."


    A pillar of light flashed in the moonlit night, attracting the gu immortals like moths to a flame.


    Time Fisher Grotto has opened!


    * * * * *

 Ch. 104 - Tranquility on the river

    Qinyang and Bao Zhi entered the pillar of light.


    Their vision was engulfed by a blinding whiteout. They felt the power of Time Fisher Grotto as it transported them.


    When the sensation abated and their vision returned to normal, they found themselves sitting in a small samapan boat.


    Small waves gently rocked the tiny fishing vessel.


    Thick mist covered the water surface, limiting the range of vision. The water seemed pale white as it reflected the fog.


    There was no land in sight, only the silhouettes of other sampan boats dotted the foggy horizon in the distance.


    "What is this place?" Qinyang studied the environment, as a shiver ran through her body. "It gives me the creeps."


    Bao Zhi could also feel a strong force weighing him down. He has felt this kind of suppression before.


    "This... Why? This seems like a segment of the River of Time!" He exclaimed.


    "But shouldn''t we be inside the grotto heaven? If this really is the River of Time, aren''t we in grave danger?" Qinyang was quick to recognize the situation''s seriousness.


    "Can a grotto heaven be placed inside the River of Time?" She wondered, her memories unable to answer her question.


    In her mind she continued. "But the River or Time shouldn''t be this calm, because Fate gu is currently in a damaged state in Spectral''s era. Only if it was perfectly restored would the River of Time return to its original tranquil state. Then you could even see into the future with certainty, without wisdom path deductions."


    "This can''t be the River of Time. It doesn''t make sense." She reached out to touch the water, but Bao Zhi cautioned her to stop.


    "Something is off. This place is indeed like the River of Time, but I remember no river segment similar to this." Bao Zhi also had his doubts.


    As a formerly rank eight gu immortal he had much more hands-on experience than what Qinyang knew.


    Even if this place wasn''t inside the River of Time, the water all around them were unmistakably the water from the River of Time.


    Its dense time path dao marks suppressed the dao marks of other paths by the principle of dao mark conflict.


    The River of Time was a secluded domain of heaven and earth, a quasi rank nine existence!


    It even suppressed the effect of immortal gu to a degree!


    Bao Zhi activated his investigative killer moves, but their effects were greatly reduced. Mortal killer moves were practically unusable, they couldn''t reach further in the fog than what the naked eye could see.


    Only his immortal killer move¡ªHuman Qi Sensation¡ªproduced a passable effect, but due to the suppression, it could only reach the baseline of a rank five killer move outside in the five regions.


    Still, he manged to obtain some useful information.


    "There are so many gu immortals here! Many more than I saw in Immemorial Desert." Bao Zhi could vaguely make out the auras of the others on the boat around them.


    Soul path, transformation path, time path, wind path, dark path and many others.


    There was a great variety in the paths of the gu immortals he could sense.


    Time Fisher Grotto has clearly lured in not only time path gu immortals, but many people who were looking to grasp its secret of longevity.


    "This is not what we expected. Do we change our plan now?" Qinyang asked.


    Bao Zhi was silent for a moment.


    "Let''s observe the situation for now before we decide."


    The silhouettes of the other immortals stood still with their boats, calmly following the gentle rhythm of the waves.


    They were also testing the environment with their methods.


    A faint voice reached Bao Zhi and the rest.


    "Friends, we are all here for the same reason, let''s not make our situation more difficult than it has to be. We can still decide on splitting the gains after obtaining the Time Fisher inheritance."


    His message garnered some silent agreement.


    "Hmph! Wishful thinking!" Another voice from a seemingly very distant boat replied. "We''ve just arrived and you are already thinking of splitting the loot. What makes you qualified? Hot headed fools like that have no hope to unravel this place."


    The first gu immortal tried to negotiate an agreement, but they couldn''t come to a consensus as more immortals chimed in to state their terms.


    Some voiced intent of cooperation, some threatened to fight to the death if the others didn''t yield more benefits to them.


    But nobody dared to act first, not in this unexpected environment, so their threats remained empty.


    "Quiet down, you witless rabble!" An aged voice boomed, easily suppressing the other voices. "I am here for the inheritance. I do not mind if you follow me, but if you dare stand in my way... Hehehe."


    "Who said that? State your name! I can''t sense you." One of them cursed. "If it wasn''t for this damned river fog!"


    "I''m using my most powerful technique to transmit my voice, yet it can barely reach. How is his voice not suppressed?"


    "He must clearly be a big shot, at least a rank seven gu immortal."


    "He is a time path gu immortal. He isn''t suppressed by the river water." Someone deduced.


    The gu immortals could only guess, but they couldn''t verify the identity behind the voice. It was hard to establish who it was just by his voice.


    "Friend, who cultivates time path, you are right. I''m willing to follow you and lend my strength if you let me join you."


    The gu immortals didn''t just talk idly, they soon discovered the means to control their sampan boats via their gu worms.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The boats moved at a slow pace. It felt arduously slow especially for the gu immortals who were used to the blazing speeds of immortal level movement techniques.


    "This won''t do! I can''t even see where we should be heading. Going in the wrong way at this rate will only waste time."


    With that said, this gu immortal jumped from his boat and activated his movement technique to soar above the thick fog.


    Woosh!


    Splash, splash!


    Almost immediately two huge splashes could be heard!


    Shortly after, followed by a strong gust of wind and a ring of waves that rocked the boats, the gu immortals listened keenly, but there was no sign of that gu immortal; complete silence.


    "What did you see?" Someone broke the silence.


    No response.


    "There is something in the water!" A gu immortals got immediately alarmed.


    "I saw it!" Someone pointed at a dark patch in the water. "A creature is under the water!"


    "It must be a desolate beast native to the River of Time."


    The atmosphere got immediately tense, nobody dared to leave their boats after this.


    After a while an ethereal chime sounded seemingly everywhere and a voice rang in the people''s ears.


    "Contestants of Time Fisher Grotto!"


    All gu immortals turned their attention to the voice.


    "You have passed the first trial and deciphered the clue. It was a test of your understanding."


    "Show that you not only understand it but can carry it out in act."


    "Should you try anything nefarious, you will be disqualified and expelled from the competition."


    "Now, let the second stage begin. Take your fishing rods."


    A simple fishing rod materialized on the boats for each person and the voice disappeared as quickly as it came.


    Some gu immortals started experimenting right away, trying various methods to compliment their fishing.


    Some contemplated the information, ruminating on its deeper meanings.


    Some simply took the fishing rod in their hands and cast its hook into the waters.


    "Are we going to just sit?" Qinyang took her own fishing rod studying it closely, but it all seemed but ordinary.


    "If the first test was testing our understanding of the clue and this test is about embodying that clue, then this test is about our patience, whether we can achieve tranquility." Bao Zhi pointed out.


    "Is that it? Then we will have just be still and meditate." Qinyang had her doubts. This seemed too simple of a test to her.


    Her suspicions were confirmed not much later, when she noticed an obvious problem.


    Woosh!


    A dark purple arrow shot out from one of the boats, streaking across the mist and hitting the closest sampan boat.


    Bang!


    The attack was weakened by the environments suppression, but it still rocked the small boat, almost flipping it over.


    "You!" A wind blade struck back in retaliation, leaving a gash on the boat.


    The small boat quickly started to take on water; its owner hastily used his methods to try and fix the hole and avoid sinking.


    The rest observed the events silently.


    Will the two be disqualified?


    But there was no repercussion from the grotto heaven''s arrangement.


    "It seems, this clash was still within the rules."


    The gu immortals distanced themselves warily, now glad for the thick fog''s isolation.


    "The problem is the other gu immortals here!" Qinyang noted.


    "Indeed. If your tranquility can be disturbed, you will likely fail this test." Bao Zhi nodded solemnly. "The rules are intentionally vague. Its limits need to be determined carefully. Overshoot, and you''ll be the one who is disqualified."


    Time passed as everyone tried their best to pass this stage. Clashes were rare, but still present; using new and indirect ways to compete.


    Strangely, it was the time path gu immortal, Shi Ji who encountered the most trouble!


    "This damnable beast!" He cursed in anger.


    This was the third time the creature disturbed him; now almost plunging him and his boat under a wave.


    "Protect Lord Shi Ji. He is our pillar to conquer the grotto." One of his ally rallied to help.


    But they could only catch a glimpse of the nimble beast before it disappeared again.


    Their attempts to harm it were all but futile; only Shi Ji''s methods were somewhat effective.


    "This situation is troublesome." Shi Ji grumbled. "Only if I could fight back freely, I could catch this damn fish and skin it alive!"


    Shi Ji intentionally restrained his power, not wanting to cross the line.


    Bao Zhi and Qinyang faced no obstruction so far; both of them sat idly on their boat.


    Qinyang couldn''t help but feel bored seeing the sameness of the unchanging scenery.


    "I might as well do something useful while we wait for this lame trial." She activated a killer move in her aperture.


    The killer move had no effect on the outside, but in her mind she could clearly hear a lifeless, monotone voice.


    "[BOOT SEQUENCE START]"


    "[1/27] - CIRCUIT CHECK... [OK]"


    She found it hard to contain her excitement.


    "[2/27] - POWER SOURCE CHECK... [4%]"


    "[WARNING]: INSUFFICIENT ESSENCE"


    "[3/27] - AUXILIARY POWER... [ON]"


    "[DEBUG]: not gu immortal yet just use the stones"


    "[DEBUG]: TODO remove these"


    "[4/27] - SENSOR CHECK... [OK]"


    "[5/27] - ACTUATOR CHECK..."


    "[ERROR]: ACTUATORS NOT FOUND"


    "[INFO]: BOOT OVERRIDE SET: IGNORING ERRORS"


    "[DEBUG]: full send it yolo"


    "[DEBUG]: TODO remove these"


    "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it''s missing. I only activated the core part."


    ...


    "[27/27] - GENERATING SUMMARY... [OK]"


    "[INFO]: BOOT PROCESS COMPLETE"


    "[INFO]: REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY"


    "WELCOME USER: QINYANG"


    "So far so good. The stuff I added seems to work." Qinyang glanced at the messages scrolling before her mind''s eye.


    "Hm, the essence consumption is way higher." She noticed the estimated depletion of an immortal essence stone was shorter than before.


    "But there is nothing to worry about. As long as I only have mortal gu; essence stones are basically an unlimited power source."


    "Still, I wonder; what could be the cause behind this?"


    "INQUIRY RECEIVED... PROCESSING"


    "Huh? What''s this thing doing now?"


    "INQUIRY RECEIVED... [2/2] PROCESSING... [1/2]"


    "..."


    "INQUIRY RESULT [1/2]: INSUFFICIENT DATA TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF INEFFICIENCY"


    "INQUIRY RESULT [2/2]: CURRENT TASK: LISTENING ON MIND INTERFACE


    "No way... It can read my mind?"


    "INQUIRY RECEIVED... PROCESSING... RESULT: TRUE"


    "I should have RTFM..." Qinyang shook hear head in disbelief.


    "[WARNING]: UNDEFINED STRING: RTFM"


    "It means ''read the fucking manual''. I didn''t know about the mind reading, but at least you can only receive my thoughts and not my memories."


    "INQUIRY RECEIVED... PROCESSING... 0 RESULTS FOR SEARCH TERM: FUCKING MANUAL"


    "..."


    "SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES? [Y/N]"


    "Yeah, right."


    "SEARCHING FOR TERMS: REPRODUCTION HANDBOOK, REPRODUCTION GUIDE, BREEDING MANUAL..."


    "Aah shut up, you stupid machine!"


    "PROCESS INTERRUPTED BY USER: SEARCH"


    "CONFIGURATION CHANGED: FEEDBACK: SILENT"


    "You''re just smart enough to be annoying but too dumb to be useful." Qinyang sighed, lamenting why she didn''t try out this system sooner.


    That''s right, this system wasn''t her creation; not entirely at least.


    "Jue Shi told me it''s trivial to use these gu so I didn''t read the details on them. He should have just given me the full inheritance! Why be so stingy?"


    "Still, these gu worms, like the electric brain gu are from the Golden Red Armor true inheritance. They are extraordinary creations by a venerable, I''m just using them wrong." Qinyang re-framed her mindset.


    "So you got a user manual for me?"


    ...


    "Hello?"


    ...


    "Oh right. I muted it. Um, do a config change and un-mute yourself!"


    "CONFIGURATION CHANGED: FEEDBACK: DEFAULT"


    Qinyang dived deep into the intricacies and different functionalities of the system.


    Time seemed to fly quickly.


    At one point she received a group of unexpected notifications.


    "[WARNING]: INTERNAL CLOCK OUT OF SYNC... CORRECTING... OK"


    "???"


    "[WARNING]: INTERNAL CLOCK OUT OF SYNC... CORRECTING... OK"


    "[WARNING]: INTERNAL CLOCK OUT OF SYNC... CORRECTING..."


    "[ERROR]: UNKNOWN ERROR"


    "REBOOTING"


    "What''s going on?" Qinyang opened her eyes in shock.


    While she sat still, her whole body got covered in ice!


    Not just that, she found that she couldn''t move at all; she was solidly frozen to the small fishing boat.


    Her eyes darted left and right; the thick fog was condensing on Bao Zhi and her at a visible speed!


    It was no ordinary ice nor an ordinary fog; they were made from the water of the River of Time!


    As the fog receded and turned to ice, at least the visibility improved finally.


    Then, Qinyang noticed another anomaly. The water surface wasn''t level!


    "This, this isn''t still water! Are we accelerating?"


    "Bao Zhi! Do something!" She wanted to shout, but she was like an insect trapped in solid ember.


    Bao Zhi sat calmly under a layer of ice with the fishing rod in his hands, his eyes closed."


    In the distance Qinyang noticed the other boats again; they were closing in.


    Soon, she saw the gu immortals were all frozen solid as well. There was no more commotion, just eerie silence.


    Qinyang tried to break free, but how could she overcome this overbearing force, when even the gu immortals faltered?"


    She fixed her gaze at the ever further horizon.


    "How could this be?" If her jaw could drop, her mouth would be agape at this sight.


    Behind the curving river water, as if an upside-down mountain was carved out of the river, a huge vortex drew the tiny fishing boats down and forward.


    She tried to focus her attention, but it was harder and harder by the moment.


    In a flash, her vision smeared to darkness.


    * * * * *