The Rank 3 Reflective Pond House Gu could maneuver itself in the water or spread out to a certain extent and widen its space. For instance, House Gu covered the entire area of the small pond when Bai Shou first met Qin Juan outside Yuan Yang City.
Of course, that involved consuming said water to increase the space. It was the Reflective Pond House's ability. But that couldn't be used here. First, maneuvering the House Gu continuously expended Qin Juan's essence, extending further if the House Gu Worm's size expanded. Second, the water around them was Blood Pool. It couldn't be incorporated into the Reflective Pond House.
There were also other issues.
"Be careful. Blood Pools like this can house a Blood Frenzy Gu. Look out for the moment your Gu starts absorbing Natural Essence.
Qin Juan nodded. The viscous blood water was challenging to navigate. However, it didn't stop the duo.
"I wonder why absorbing the natural essence causes a Gu Worm to turn crazy until they turn into bloody water poisonous for other Gu," Qin Juan muttered under her breath, carefully diving further into the pool as there seemed to be no end to its depth.
Bai Shou blinked at her words, instantly recalling how her body expelled the mass of ink-like cloud of rejection once she used the Heaven's Will Gu.
"Well… making the Gu act erratic could be the side effects."
"Of what?" Qin Juan questioned.
"Turning the Gu into blood liquid and losing our control over it," replied Bai Shou, who continued. "The Gu Worm only uses the natural Primeval Essence when it has free will. Like every other living being, the Will rests inside the Soul. What the Gu Master subjugates and replaces is their free Will with our own… maybe their free Will gets special access to Primeval Essence in the air, and we don't for a reason. It's not like we can freely research the Blood Path since it was denounced."
"All because of those Blood Path Demons too eager to massacre everything in their paths," grunted Qin Juan with surprising resentment. "Blood Path could have pioneered in revolutionizing the Healing Gu category."
Bai Shou smiled wordlessly and directed the flow of their chat to something else. "Is there a way to inspect our surroundings?"
"No," Qin Juan sighed. "Creating a Killer Move using a Gu House… I'm incapable of such feats yet and never came across something similar."
"Hmm, then let's not dive straight down. Move in that direction until we touch the surrounding wall. Then, lower the Gu Worm alongside the walls in a spiral. That should reduce the risks of encountering anything dangerous in the middle of the pool and missing out on an exit."
Qin Juan did that, and the duo grew quiet, calmly observing their surroundings.
"Do you think… that demon created this Blood Pool for his Gu?"
"Who knows," Bai Shou hummed. "They hadn't caused any indiscriminate bloodshed and managed to stay hidden. Either they found this spot or spent years accumulating so much blood."
Eventually, and uneventfully, the Reflective Pond House Gu stopped, not moving further. It could only move within water, and they had reached the end of the pool. The duo observed land from the Gu House's transparent floor.
"A suspended Blood Pool?" Bai Shou huffed. "Let's move across the end and observe everything we can about the land underneath us."
Much to their surprise, the end of the blood pool was several times its entrance, like a pyramid's base. Furthermore, the land, though layered with blood-red soil, appeared dimmer than the entrance and boasted a small hill with a ruined building.
Its crumbling walls did not inspire the duo with the idea of finding something.
"Stay here," Bai Shou hummed.
"What? And let you face the danger alone?"
"It's called dividing the chore. You took the risk in this pool. Now, let me return the favor."
Qin Juan wanted to say something else, but then she sighed and nodded, "Be careful, Sister."
Bai Shou chuckled and jumped down the entrance, landing on the soft ground with a suppressed thud as her feet sunk into the soil due to the impact. Her hair fell over her with how she landed, finally allowing Bai Shou to use the Rank 5 Eye Gu.
Until now, she kept the risks in mind. However, they were deep enough for Bai Shou to feel the chance of exposure was small. So, a horizontal third eye tattoo appeared in the middle of Bai Shou's forehead, releasing a gentle, kaleidoscopic glow from its fused 'pupil.' She could instantly see everything within the sphere of a 5-kilometer radius, including the underground. And she found nothing.
There were no traps in her vicinity. The nearby ruins held nothing.
What she did discover was the 'Nothing.'
There were a few strands of something that the Eye Gu couldn't register firmly pressed against the few walls of the ruins.
There were only two weaknesses to the rank 5 Eye Gu—living creatures and anything concerning the immortal rank.
So, Bai Shou began walking around, her head moving sideways before she shrugged and shouted.
"Hey, it seems safe."
"So much for inspecting your surroundings," Qin Juan replied as she jumped down, too.
"It's the intentions that count, dear sister," Bai Shou chuckled as they moved towards the only ruined building atop the small hill. "I'll have to invest in a scout-type Gu Worm. Can't always rely on an enhanced vision, right? Although, my senses haven't failed me yet."
"Oh, really?" Qin Juan smiled back. "I thought you used the chance of your Gu once you landed."
"Maybe I did," Bai Shou replied shamelessly. Her skin had only gotten thicker after the transformation. "Maybe it's a rare Blood Path Gu that can have me branded as a demon."
"You're not a demon as long as you don't harm the innocents," Qin Juan replied. "So, I'll be the last to consider you a demon."
Bai Shou nodded before gesturing ahead.
"Look, more murals."
Bai Shou walked over the hill, inspecting the entrances. These were the same as the ones near the blood pool's entrance but much older. The wall was chipped and cracked, and the mural's surface was almost faded.
Meanwhile, the entrance was no better. The stairs to the upper floor were crumbling, and half of the ceiling had fallen into the building, leaving a pile of rubble.
But what Bai Shou was the most interested in were the spots hosting the Immortal Dao Marks.
Well, Dao Marks didn't have an exact distinction from Mortal to Immortal. One could say the 'mortal' ones were just tiny fragments accessible to a Mortal Gu compared to the whole ones utilized by the Immortal Gu. So, it was a matter of difference in quality alone.
"Another snake…" Bai Shou muttered, observing the faded mural of a gigantic snake compared to the tiny depictions of humans around it. Within the snake was a strange human womb and a curled infant. Atop its surface was the image of another human that seemed to be smiling. But… the eyes portion of the face was chipped away due to the damage to the building.
One of the marks beyond Bai Shou's observation was where the human infant was curled inside the snake.
"The symbol of rebirth," Qin Juan paused next to Bai Shou and identified the mural's meaning.
"Whose rebirth?" Bai Shou inquired. "This painting doesn't make any sense. And look there… why is there fire inside the snake's belly? It shows another human being is surrounded by fire inside it. And there…"
The duo turned to look at the spider on the main wall.
The pitch-black spider had a snake's face. Furthermore, its back had another human face. This time, the face's mouth was cracked away, leaving the duo to only observe the cold, haunting gaze.
"At least I know about the snake," Qin Juan hummed.
"Oh? I don't."
"I'll tell you if you ask me nicely."
Turnabout was a fair play. However, Bai Shou never loved playing fair. So, she turned to look at Qin Juan before gently peeling away the edge of her robe's collar.
"W-What are you doing?!" Qin Juan gasped, blushing a storm.
"Asking nicely."
"No matter. Hmph! Stop that!" The other one hissed with a red face and pointed at the snake. "It's an extinct Beast called the man-faced serpent. The mark on its back always mimics the face of the creature it consumed and digested the last."
"And it was used to refine several poison-type Gu with the effects of Enslavement Path," Bai Shou concluded with a nod, leaving Qin Juan shocked before her eyes widened, and she snapped at the former.
"You're incorrigible, Senior Sister!"
Bai Shou chuckled and pointed at the spider.
"Do you know about that beast? I promise I don't know anything this time."
"I don't either," Qin Juan sighed. However, she tossed Bai Shou a stinky glare, betraying her embarrassment yet again.
"Let's search for a clue. The faces on their backs must be connected." Bai Shou stepped forward only to hear Qin Juan gasp.
"What?"
"Another Illusion Wisp," Qin Juan pointed at the human infant within the snake—where Bai Shou discovered one of the complete Dao Marks. Although becoming slightly suspicious, wondering if Qin Juan was just an even better actor, she still hummed and attracted the woman's attention.
"It's happening a lot with you. How about you look around the ruins and see if you can discover something else?"
"It's not me," Qin Juan muttered, defending herself. She was smart enough to realize how such coincidences would look to someone with Bai Shou's POV. "But I'll look around."
To Bai Shou's surprise, Qin Juan didn't notice the other Dao Marks nearby. Another act?
Or was something else going on?
'Illusion Wisp also isn't an Immortal Resource. Why didn't I find it using the Rank 5 Eye Gu?'
Bai Shou narrowed her eyes. The answer was obvious.
Something was wrong with Qin Juan. She seemed to be able to… summon Illusion Wisps? No. That was an incorrect line of thinking.
'Could it be her superiors used a Killer Move on her to help her?'
It wouldn't be the first time, right?
The Rank 5 Wisdom Carriage Master's horse also had a Killer Move effect. It could be a common act for the safety of talented seeds before being allowed to leave for their missions.
However, this theory had many holes. Qin Juan didn't strike Bai Shou as someone with an Immortal parentage. Why would she attract the attention of an Immortal without being a Rank 5 Peak Stage Gu Master?
A unique inheritance?
An Immortal Master?
Maybe a lustful Immortal looking for a good ol' one-night cultivation session and the discussion of the Dao?
These didn't fill Bai Shou with assurance, either.
Something else was going on, and Qin Juan was none the wiser.
"Nothing," Qin Juan stopped and pointed at the Infant. "Just that."
Bai Shou nodded and tilted her head.
"How do we make the hidden entrance appear? What if we break the wall, and our last clue gets destroyed for nothing?"
Qin Juan shook her head, still appearing pensive. Even she felt weird that she had discovered the Illusion Wisp, not Bai Shou, when the latter spent a few seconds staring at the Infant.
"Maybe it's an ancient inheritance, already looted by the Demonic Gu Master."
"And they continued using it for the Blood Pool," Bai Shou nodded. "But that doesn't explain how they kept the Blood Pool floating. Why not let it submerge this cave, too? Or maybe they couldn't."
"Should we bring an infant?" Bai Shou questioned. "Maybe that will give us a clue."
"An infant? From where?"
"Nearby villages."
"No… that would put those children at an unnecessary risk. Besides, it's in a womb. It could signify pregnancy."
"So, a pregnant woman. Well, if an ordinary civilian makes it too risky, let's ask one of the sect disciples to get pregnant."
Qin Juan rolled her eyes.
"It would take months to achieve that stage of pregnancy."
'You have a problem with that, but not having a chick pregnant? Figures.'
Bai Shou appeared impassive despite her thoughts. "Well, if we can have these thoughts, those who controlled this spot might have already tried it all… or they never found anything about it."
Qin Juan bristled at the Bai Shou's questioning look. But she still shrugged and shook her head, implying her lack of understanding.
"Let's return and think over things. Acting rashly won't get us anywhere, and we already confirmed the surroundings are—"
*Drip*
Bai Shou and Qin Juan paused, looking at the tiny blood droplet on Bai Shou's feet. The blood droplet seemed alive, squirming like an insect.
'I didn't sense it…'
Bai Shou shook it off and looked up.
Nothing.
There was no change to the Blood Pool.
"Look at that, Sister Bai."
Qin Juan pointed at the squirming drop of blood. It soon contorted into a tiny creature that was a mix of a bull and a lion.
*Splat*
Bai Shou calmly stepped on the creature.
"It was a Blood Beast," Bai Shou's expression was grave. "We just traveled the entire Blood Pool and discovered nothing… where did it—"
This time, Bai Shou was more alert and suddenly stepped aside. The drop of blood was slightly larger than before. It began to squirm again, but Qin Juan pointed to something else.
"Look at the mural, Senior."
Bai Shou turned and glanced at the infant. Its surface appeared to have improved by a fraction… no.
'It's the entire mural.'
Bai Shou looked around, noticing a few lines she couldn't observe appropriately due to their poor state now appearing clearer, at least by a fraction.
"I don't think you'll like what I believe is about to happen…"
Bai Shou muttered, steadily realizing the purpose of those complete Dao Marks as she stepped on the small Blood Beast again.
"A trigger based on how long we stay here," Qin Juan spoke, her expression equally grave. "And forced to fight a stream of Blood Beast that grows in strength with each loss, further improving the ruin."
"We might have to fight everything before the ruin returns to its previous state, allowing us to understand more about the clue you discovered. Remember I said something about the Demonic Gu Master fighting something?"
"This could be it," Qin Juan nodded. "Do you think we should leave, Sister Bai?"
"Not yet." Bai Shou walked out. "Let's take this outside. I would hate to accidentally destroy the hall. Oh, and let's not kill the next Blood Beast. Let's see if the restrictions are only based on time or if we need to kill every beast before the other one appears."
<<<>>>
Windswept, long green hair cascaded over the blue robes imprinted with white snakes worn by the Heavenly Informant Immortal. He sat above a pristine white cloud with an air of serenity around him.
The Rank 7 Gu Immortal got his nickname due to his signature Killer Move—Heavenly Informant. He once invested in the two Rank 5 siblings who died at Bai Shou's hands. However, instead of feeling angry or nurturing an urge for vengeance, his interest transferred to Bai Shou.
While it was still a mystery how the Elder Sibling died, the Immortal had witnessed the Younger one's demise. It was not a grand battle that took the young Jiu brother, but a single Rank 5 Steed Gu placed in the right spot and used at the right moment. Battles and endings like these were more common in the Gu World than one might expect. These were also the battles that generated the least amount of attraction because the parties involved never spread the information.
But the Rank 7 Information Path Gu Immortal made it his business to know about others.
For instance, he knew that the two women—well, one of them was transformed. Anyway, Heavenly Informant knew these two had another Ancient Sect's attention and also personally knew the Immortal looking over them.
And that scared him.
The individual presiding over this mission was not someone anyone from the Ancient Sects could mess with. Which also made the Rank 7 Immortal more curious.
Why?
Why did the woman named Bai Shou attract their attention?
What was her history?
Previously, Heavenly Informant was keen on inviting Bai Shou into Wind Cloud Manor and turning her into the Sect's disciple since she also boasted a great Refinement Path experience aside from her combat awareness. If fortunate enough to successfully ascend, such a disciple would become the Sect's fortune, too. Of course, that meant cutting away other Immortal's interests, but Heavenly Informant liked seeing through all that bullshit as long as it benefited the sect.
Since Bai Shou could defeat Immortal's attracted seeds, she deserved their place instead. That was the thinking shared by many Immortals across the Ancient Sects unless the deceased was related to them.
But now?
With the eyes of another Ancient Sect?
Things became more challenging than they were worthwhile.
And Heavenly Informant couldn't let the other Immortal complete his mission without any issues. Heavenly Informant wanted Bai Shou to die if possible instead of becoming another Ancient Sect's blessing.
It was nothing personal—just business.
'But I will leave traces if my involvement is heavy,' Heavenly Informant sighed. 'Was it my luck or Bai Shou's fate that the other one left for some reason—a temporary retreat undoubtedly. The two need to die before he returns.'
'Still, the Sect will give me plenty of grief if I'm discovered…' Heavenly Informant didn't just refer to the competing sect but his own, too. The competing Sect's anger would be a reasonable course of action, leading them to find trouble with the Wind Cloud Manor, which would annoy Heavenly Informant's peers and make them look for issues with him. It was an annoying circle, indeed.
'And he also left his mark on the other girl to help them find clues about the ruins.'
Then the Immortal smiled.
'But accidents exist everywhere, no? The Blood Pool ingeniously uses the remnants of a formation with a few nodes carefully planted into the walls. The more blood beasts are destroyed, the more ruins are restored because the seeping blood also powers the formation. Sigh… Blood, Qi, and Water Paths are known to be usable with just the materials.'
He shook his head and waved his hand.
'This extra thing should add another layer.'
The blood-red shadow swiftly entered the blood pool.
'Hmm?' Heavenly Informant suddenly paused and smiled knowingly. 'I see. I understand it now. My Killer Move allows me to get hints from Heaven itself. It's a watered-down method we Immortals enjoy during our ascension. It also makes me more attuned to Heaven's arrangements. My being here was Bai Shou's fate. She is fated to die. Why else would I have gotten a result from my Blood Path research that was just the thing I needed to achieve my goal?'
Heavenly Informant's smile widened.
'If it's fate, even that man cannot do anything. However, I still need to leave and clean my traces unless I want to be the next one to meet the same fate.'
***
Alternate Title: Qin Juan Just Cannot Rest; The Uneventful Dive; Blood Sea Ancestor Fucked Over Many Interests; Blood Path: Can Revolutionize And Heal The World *Blood Sea Ancestor and Giant Sun: Haha! Kill! Babies! Pregnancies!*; The Immortal's Assistance; Another Immortal's Hindrance; The Competition; Just Business; Heavenly Informant: Kills Someone And Calls It Fate *Also Heavenly Informant: Tries To Avoid Said Fate*; The Mysterious Intentions Behind Blood Frenzy; The Ruins; Pregnancy?; A Familiar Spider; Gu Yue Zie Qi: PTSD Overloads; In Another Timeline: BEAR; FY's Favorite Gu Recipe; FY About To Watch The Spider And Recite Buddhist Scripture; The Shared Fortune and Misfortune; Lo Jik To Fang Yuan: We Share Fortunes and Misfortunes *Heaven's Will AF: Write That Shit Down! Write It Down!*; Justice For Good Blood Path Users; Qin Juan Doesn't Mind Pregnancies *Bai Shou: Hmm. Noted*; Happy Giant Gu Noises
***
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