"I'm deeply grateful, Brother Yang," Bai Shou smiled softly. What she surprisingly lacked in femininity—undoubtedly due to her grim past, a factor shared amongst most lone forces—Bai Shou more than made up for it with light humor and breathtaking charisma. After all, Yang Pao wasn't blind to Bai Shou's intrigue in other females, something he understood as the more unorthodox section of the society but nothing new.
So, Yang Pao speedily realized that the best way to communicate with Bai Shou was by considering her as any other drunkard lusting after the forbidden, married peaches. No wonder Bai Shou hadn't obtained the pleasure of acquainting with Mrs. Yang.
"Think nothing of it," Yang Pao smiled. It's already been a week since their introduction, and the city issued three more challenges for the succeeding Gu Masters. Needless to say, Bai Shou answered all the questions, each utilizing mortals or low-ranked Gu Masters as material without injuring them at all.
The last bit was the most crucial. It was a straightforward method to hurt those beneath one's strength. However, Bai Shou's method left Yang Pao and his 'seniors' gasping in amazement at how righteous the Chained Wanderer's methods were. Being shrewd and cunning, an aspect common between several Gu Masters adopting leading positions, Yang Pao understood that either Bai Shou rose over a mountain of corpses more massive than the True Yang Mountain Range to achieve her current understanding of the Refinement Path or she'd chanced upon a truly brilliant and kind inheritance that defied the surroundings by not having any hand in the world's cruel competition.
At least, Yang Pao was aware of one thing.
Bai Shou was easy to manipulate—to an extent.
She'd gotten worse with her vices, even being seen publicly fondling another woman in the Gambling Den.
'The power is getting to her head.' Yang Pao's gaze betrayed nothing but sincere warmth, his mind a host of calculations and thoughts, each geared for Yuan Yang City's benefits. Improving the city directly brightened Yang Pao's future, for he, like other mayors before him, possessed a ludicrous opportunity to bypass the thresholds known to typical Gu Masters by getting an entrance exam from one of the Ancient Sects!
Meanwhile, Bai Shou browsed through the information the Yuan Yang City's spies collected. Yang Pao wouldn't hand over everything. But Bai Shou was satisfied with just this much. Soon, she located the notes about the Wisdom Carriage Master—a Rank 5 Gu Master who had recently emerged from the hidden inheritance sites before disappearing a few weeks ago.
'There's nothing about his sect in this data,' Bai Shou lamented her lack of knowledge. 'The letters he wrote to his younger brother spoke about a mysterious sect. Either he was pulling his younger sibling's leg, or the mysterious sect was indeed a Super Force. I hope it's not an Ancient Sect.'
Her exhale caught Yang Pao's attention, whose brow lifted inquisitively as he asked. "Is there something troubling you, Sister Chained?"
"Indeed," Bai Shou confessed. "I'm feeling a little restless." She frowned and eagerly sipped the nectar from the white-colored wine gourd. "Although I'm a Rank 5 Gu Master… my true abilities are…"
She shook her head.
"My current position is pathetic. I browsed the missions in the City's Mission Halls, but most weren't rewarding enough. Even if I kill hundreds of beasts, their corpses wouldn't be enough to pay for the required resources." She was careful with her lies. Her current position was indeed pathetic—it was a matter of perspective. And what she desired couldn't be accumulated and bought using the beast corpses.
"Are there any special missions?" She inquired candidly. "A task requiring my specific skill-set with a desirable reward… a Rank 5 Gu Worm."
'Finally…' Yang Pao's gaze glimmered like a snake having found its prey. "Be at ease, Sister Chained. It's a few years at best, right? The suppression on your Gu Set would alleviate when you return to the Southern Border."
Bai Shou's expression stiffened before she avoided Yang Pao's gaze and cleared her throat, acting like she'd been caught red-handed. However, the Mayor did not strip away their facade. Instead, he indulged the lecherous refinement expert. "Still, I may have something for you, Sister Chained."
"Oh?" The effects of his words were immediate as Bai Shou straightened her back, no longer languid.
"Did you read about Wisdom Carriage Master?" He questioned with a small smile, making Bai Shou nod calmly.
"While eccentric, the Yuan Yang City owes Wisdom Carriage Master a debt of gratitude. He is also a wanderer, Sister Chained. He likes moving around the continent's eastern region and was first found near the Pot River's bank, helping a mortal village by capturing a group of sneaky Demonic Gu Masters. He even forced the Four Great Obscenities to retreat to the southern regions. I remember how relieved my wife felt after hearing that."
Yang Pao sighed and massaged his head. "Then Wisdom Carriage Master appeared in the city, single-handedly dealing with several hidden demonic forces harming the economy by establishing black markets. Those unscrupulous bastards are still rotting in my prison."
"He sounds outstanding," Bai Shou punctuated with an admiring tone. "If only I was half as smart. But my head is best used for refinement methods and learning recipes."
"We all feel the same," Yang Pao laughed. "Wisdom Path Gu Masters are often unpredictable and mysterious. It's one of the Paths that became popular for the talented few and has been gate-kept ever since. Truthfully, I had a private trade with Wisdom Carriage Master and needed someone to look for him. The information says he disappeared, but…"
"But?" Bai Shou gestured to the man to continue.
Yang Pao's gaze turned cold as he matched her stare.
"I believe I have some information about the demonic party behind Carriage Master's disappearance."
"Oh?" Bai Shou didn't shy away. "Who is it?"
A moment of tense silence flooded the room before Yang Pao informed curtly.
"The Blood Pot Sect."
Bai Shou frowned. "The Demonic Sect?"
Yang Pao nodded. "Blood Pot Sect was one of Wisdom Carriage Master's enemies when he emerged. We all believed Carriage Master dealt with the threat, but apparently, the Sect Leader survived and claimed he killed the enemy. Chances are… Blood Pot's Sect Leader is trying to accumulate enough attention to recover his sect. But the Blood Path Demons are not to be underestimated. It's also possible he might have killed Carriage Master. If so, he might know more about Wisdom Carriage Master."
"I don't understand," Bai Shou narrowed her eyes. "You were first talking about a trade, Brother Yang. Please be a little clear. You know how these hidden meanings hurt my head."
Yang Pao exhaled tiredly.
"To be as transparent I can be," he began, "Wisdom Carriage Master hinted he wasn't a lone force. No, he… I suspect he was from an Ancient Sect."
Bai Shou's eyes briefly widened.
"I don't know which sect," Yang Pao clarified. "But he assured me about getting an entrance exam once he returned. In return, he wanted a rare Gu Worm in the City's treasury."
"You know the Ten Great Ancient Sects, right, Sister Chained. They are legends beyond the ordinary Super Forces, blessed by Heaven itself! I want to try entering it… I want to see their wonder."
"So, I want to collect information about Wisdom Carriage Master. If he's dead, I want to find his corpse and spread the information. That way, his Sect's members will come here to claim it—giving me a chance to communicate with them. And if Carriage Master is alive—even better. But I need someone capable of finding the answers for me. I cannot leave my duties in the City."
"Capable?" Bai Shou smiled bitterly. "I may have the aptitude, but a Gu Master without Gu is nothing but meat on the chopping board. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm far from recovering my Gu Set."
"Furthermore, I'm a Refinement Path Gu Master. My offensive range is more limited than other paths."
"I understand, Sister Chained. I also realize it's a lot to ask—that's why the rewards will be worthwhile! The answers will benefit me, and I would not let you make a loss either way. After all, you are the only Rank 5 Gu Master I could contact readily."
Bai Shou tossed him a confused expression, making Yang Pao sigh.
"Please check this."
Bai Shou sent her will to the Letter Gu.
"The Blood Pot Sect resurrection ceremony?" She gasped. "The Demonic Forces in the Central Continent are rather bold. To think the Sect Leader would send invitations to several nearby forces—righteous or demonic."
"Hehe, it's all to claim the Sect's rise and regain the resource points they lost after Wisdom Carriage Master was done with them," Yang Pao smirked coldly. "This invitation is the key for you to enter and look around. I will not claim this task is not risky. But the resources you desire—at least a few—will be your rewards."
Yang Pao offered her another list, and Bai Shou did little to hide the abject greed reflected in her eyes.
"To display my sincerity, you can choose one of the Gu Worms on the list immediately and two others after completing the task. Of course, we'll need to use the Poison Vow Gu."
Bai Shou stared at the list, her heart thoroughly stirred with desire.
One of the Gu Worms she'd been looking for…
Rank 5 Five Fusions At Once.
The rest were good, but Bai Shou desired the Rank 5 Five Fusions At Once to further her incomplete Refinement Set.
'Only Beating Refinement and Preservation would remain.'
She grew quiet before nodding eagerly.
"I'm willing to take the risk, Brother Yang. I need this Gu Worm."
Yang Pao smiled brightly.
"Great! The inauguration ceremony would be held in three days. I already prepared the best route for you."
"Let's set the Poison Vow Gu."
<<<>>>
Bai Shou traveled west from Yuan Yang City. The leader of the Demon Pot Sect was an unfortunate youth who'd suffered his entire life before encountering a minor Blood Path Inheritance near the Pot River's bank. From then on, the story was shared by many Blood Sea Inheritors. Soon, they all rose to greatness, commanding monsters of blood that drenched the land with crimson tributaries.
Extraordinarily, however, the Demon Pot Sect's Leader was a more successful Gu Master who didn't perish at other Sects' hands and instead created a Demonic Sect. These Demonic Sects, although rare, also made up a significant portion of the Central Continent's political system because there existed a few Demonic Sects with a Supreme Elder—an Immortal!
A Rank 3 Gu Master drove her carriage drawn by two Hundred-Year Gold-Mane Stallion Kings. Though boasting enough dangers as other regions, the Central Continent's paths were more utilized. There was no uneven terrain, and the mountain ranges weren't as many as the Southern Border. One could travel for days on the Southern Border and not encounter any hamlet, but the same wasn't true for the Central Continent's mortal population.
Bai Shou already observed two more villages after leaving Yuan Yang City.
'It's because of how resource-rich the Central Continent is.'
The development of Sects implied a more excellent coverage of the land since any prospective Gu Master could create a Sect. And every Sect relied on Resource Points.
If the surrounding points were claimed by other Sects, the newer and weaker Sects had to resort to establishing artificial resource points by thinking outside the box. The newer sects raised more Gu Masters, a few of which would move out and create another string of Sects. Around these sects grew mortals, supplying them with new seeds.
Such multiplication wasn't possible in Clan systems found in other regions, leaving many areas unoccupied and dangerous.
However, such a system also had its issues.
'It will become congested after a while…' Bai Shou realized. 'No wonder the Larger Sects tolerate the Demonic Sects. These few gatherings of mass murderers are used to cleanse away the newer and weaker sects, freeing the resources and land for those with better skills. So, it's not just a virtuous cycle of growth leading to overconsumption of resources but a balanced one. Did Primordial Origin foresee this?'
She smirked. 'A Venerable would have. So, did he bet on humans killing each other?'
Bai Shou wasn't about to place the Venerables on a pedestal. Just because Primordial Origin was an Immortal Venerable did not mean he wasn't a living being with selfish goals and desires.
'Still…' Bai Shou shook her head. 'I should have expected it.'
Her smirk turned wicked.
The stallions suddenly grew uncomfortable and nervous, stopping immediately and trying to break away from their reigns.
"Stop! What got into you two?!" The carriage driver snapped, using a Whip Gu on the horses, but couldn't control them.
"Just—"
*Chhk*
An arrow suddenly appeared and flew without any bow. The strangest thing about the arrow was that it wasn't made of wood and had a metallic tip. Instead, the pure-white arrow was a deformed word—Arrow.
The Gu Master couldn't even speak another word as he fell aside. Meanwhile, hundreds and thousands of arrows formed around the carriage, surrounding it in a dome! Shockingly, arrow tips emerged from the ground, stabbing into the panicking stallion's hooves, which instantly fell sideways, taking the carriage with them and dying due to the arrow tips piercing their bodies.
"I know you are alive!"
A cold voice cut into the silence.
"But not for long," the voice assured. "Not after what you did."
"You are trapped by my Battlefield Killer Move."
"How dare you kill my family?!"
The voice shouted.
"Answer me!"
'A Battlefield Killer Move…' Bai Shou's gaze was tense as she remained inside the carriage. 'An Information Path Battlefield Killed Move, no less. But it's bound to have massive expenditure. I can try testing the Bastard's limits.'
"Hehe, trying to test my Primeval Essence limit? Only a cunning demon like you could have taken Elder Brother out. Dishonorable!"
Hundreds and thousands of arrows from every direction suddenly shot out with a force that would leave a Rank 4 Gu Master pale!
The carriage was shredded open, the barrage of arrows a constant reminder of its owner's demise. A bloody light suddenly bloomed, turning into a massive Blood River Python that instantly coiled around the carriage, forcing the arrows to bounce off its scales.
"I knew it! The scale pattern belonged to the Rank 5 Blood River Python! Take this!"
The white arrows instantly turned dark red, no longer saying 'Arrow' but 'Shatter.' The word then distorted and shaped itself into red-colored jagged blades that began tearing into the Python's scales. Yet, under Bai Shou's control, the blood-red python didn't move an inch.
'Should I try my luck by getting drunk?'
'No, that would push the Divine Travel Immortal Gu over the limit and perish. And how has he maintained the Battlefield Killer Move for this long? Despite my dual apertures, I'd require the Lotus' assistance within minutes.'
Still, Bai Shou wasn't willing to let her Blood River Python end here. She had yet to try other options. So, she shouted in a scared voice.
"Wait! I surrender!" she cried loudly. "You are a Righteous Gu Master, right?! I surrender! Take me a prisoner instead!"
However, the speed of the attacks grew intense.
"Don't you want your brother's Gu Worms?! What about his Storage Gu? What about the letters he never sent you?!" Bai Shou yelled. "I will destroy all those things!"
The Python was at the edge of the destruction. The attacks only grew more ferocious, revealing the assaulter's determined nature and devotion to vengeance.
'He prepared for the Blood River Python. What else does he know?'
Bai Shou had no time to test the aggrieved Gu Master any further.
"Don't force my hand!" Bai Shou threatened. "You won't have a good end!"
"Hahaha! Scream all you want! Do you think I made so many preparations to drag things out? DIE!"
'If you wish.'
The attacks suddenly stalled before the entire Battlefield broke apart, revealing the bright sky and untouched fields. The carriage, stallions, and carriage driver were all torn to literal shreds by the attack.
Thoroughly indifferent to the ambush, Bai Shou walked over with a look of pity. She did not feel bad about killing the enemy. God, no! However, she did feel it was a pity since her White Form Immortal Snake couldn't take Jiu Loong Jin's head off in one strike. His Gu Set was already probably destroyed by now.
Lying in the nearby bushes, the entirety of his right half eaten away by the White Form Immortal Snake, courtesy of his instincts acting in the last possible second, the bald Rank 5 Gu Master drew hate with each laborious breath, his glare never softening despite inching close to death.
"Unfair…" Jin whispered in his last breath, his gaze trying to swallow Bai Shou whole as the White Form Immortal Snake entered her aperture. "Heaven… is… unfair…"
She thinned her lips, watching the last of Jin's life fade away from his eyes.
'Indeed, it's unfair. You planned perfectly, lured me into a Battlefield Killer Move, and also had a Gu Set that could reduce its strain on the Primeval Essence's consumption. Furthermore, you must have already set backups to continue your revenge in case you fail. Indeed. Heaven is unfair—to me.'
Bai Shou began attacking the corpse using expendable Rank 2 Gu Worms. Streams of colors struck and destroyed the corpse.
'Had I been a slightly inferior Gu Master… had I not been cautious enough since the beginning, why would I leave the White Form Immortal Snake to follow me from a distance?'
Her earlier plans were reflected in her mind.
She had once planned so much… yet one deranged Immortal ruined everything.
'Plans are indeed beneficial,' Bai Shou sat on her White Form Immortal Snake and flew back to Yuan Yang City. 'Currently, all I can do is plan and outmaneuver my enemies. It's not over yet. Information Path specializes in delivering information—something Jin might have done. Either way, I'm glad we can rip off the band-aid.'
Her gaze glinted with sharp ruthlessness.