After a few effortless battles, Bai Shou and Qin Juan learned about the ruins and were forced to admire their creator despite the Blood Path's notoriety. The ruins around them were gradually restored, with new layers of blood-red bricks materializing around the structure. The duo also learned more about the 'rules' of the battle as they continued.
The strength of each beast would be greater than the last one, and the blood-red pond above them would not create another blood beast until the duo destroyed the one before them. However, ten more blood beasts would descend immediately after the tenth beast.
So, it was the pattern of 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-10.
After the ten-beast battle, the strength of the blood beasts grew similar to that of ordinary beasts, like the lightning wolf. However, the lack of a Gu Worm and intelligence failed to make them threatening. Presently, Bai Shou and Qin Juan had destroyed the tenth blood beast when they were forced to realize another addition to the rule.
20 droplets of skull-sized blood fell from the pond instead of the expected 10.
'So, we might need to defeat 60 Blood Beasts as strong as a Beast Emperor.' Her expression stiffened slightly. Again, the absence of the Gu on the Blood Beasts made them relatively easier targets, but every Beast Emperor had a stronger body than Bai Shou's current body refinement. She might match them by going all out. However, tackling 60 Beast Emperors was no joke.
Qin Juan's constipated features revealed how she also seemed to have understood their dilemma. While she bullied the current opponents, Qin Juan would eventually be weakened when dealing with Myriad Blood Beast Kings.
"Preserve your essence," Bai Shou commanded after a moment's thought. "I'll require your assistance in the later stages."
However, the woman's confidence wasn't enough as Qin Juan stared at the wriggling creatures forming into life. A tight frown marred her features, and the Rank 4 Peak Stage Gu Master clenched her fists. If Bai Shou wasn't willing to be the voice of reason, she needed to step up and accept that role.
"The Brown Yuan Sect's higher-ups couldn't clear it despite the years they had. I think we should retreat while we have the chance, Sister Bai."
Bai Shou looked over her shoulder, offering a soft but unnerved smile. "They were incapable. However, I don't mind if you wish to retreat. I'll see you at the sect's ground."
Qin Juan bit her bottom lip before grunting and taking a step back.
"I shall stay," she affirmed sourly. "But… I'll barely be of any use later, Sister. All I can promise is not to be a burden."
Bai Shou nodded before she took off with a powerful kick against the ground, her foot lashing at the nearest creature and instantly breaking it into a splattering mess. Without thinking another moment, the deity amongst women stepped down on the remaining bit of wriggling blood before she moved on to the next creature.
*Swish*
*Swish*
*Swish*
*Aooougghhhhhhhh*
Attracted by the devastation, the Blood Beasts solely focused on Bai Shou and released long, guttural howls. When they attacked, their limbs seemed to stretch or harden on instincts. These creatures were undoubtedly poisonous, trying to injure and pierce Bai Shou's skin. And as usual, they were ravenous when attacking, not leaving many openings. However, they were still too weak.
*Huff*
Bai Shou exhaled explosively, imagining the sight of 60 Beast Emperors probably towering above a small hill acting in this manner. The thought sent a chill down her heart, but she was still confident in defeating them. There was also the curiosity about the ruins. It was clearly more protected than a regular inheritance, and the ingenuity behind a formation restoring the ruins using the beasts to test them wasn't lost on the Rank 5 Gu Master. What could it be hiding?
*Drip*
*Drip*
*Drip*
*Drip*
*Drip*
So, for the next hour, Bai Shou battled and acted more relentlessly than the Blood Beasts. After the Ordinary Blood Beasts were the Hundred-Beast Kings. Eventually, she faced the group of 30 Hundred-Beast Kings—each needing a force generated by a powerful Rank 2 Gu Worm to destroy them. But the duo were soon forced to realize yet another issue.
The stronger the Blood Beasts, the more monstrous their vitality.
Just crushing their heads and body with a powerful impact was no longer an option. After all, these beasts also could regenerate.
The lack of any Blood Pond around them except for the one floating overhead limited the Blood Beasts' regeneration, but it was still present. Bai Shou had to exert even more effort when facing the group of 40 Thousand-Beasts Kings.
"I need to rest," Bai Shou instantly stepped back and nodded at Qin Juan with a slightly tired expression. "Try to drag out the battle as long as you can."
Qin Juan nodded somberly and stepped out. The blood beast she faced wriggled and formed from a 'drop' as large as a two-storied building. It didn't disperse like regular blood water once it fell but bounced in its place like a viscous slime. She didn't wait for it to take its proper shape and began attacking immediately.
Her cheeks puffed and expanded slightly before she spat a globule of thick, bluish liquid with an odd glow.
The Rank 4 Solvent Gu.
*Tsss*
A decent chunk of the blood-red wriggling creature began to sizzle, making it writhe even more. A broken mouth congealed near the top of the slimy construct, issuing a pained scream as the Solvent Gu Worm's effect began to treat the affected region as a refinement material. More and more blood was forced into an odd blood-red jewel.
*Tsss*
*Tsss*
*Tsss*
Qin Juan managed to get three more uses onto the Blood Beast before the wolf-faced creature with a monkey's body howled furiously. Its scorpion tail curled and aimed at Qin Juan, ejecting the stinger with a sudden explosion that destroyed its tail.
'Hmph!'
Qin Juan was at a safe distance, and the blood beast had used one of its more unorthodox attacks out of panic as four sizable holes littered its body. It was, after all, a beast without any intelligence. Furthermore, Qin Juan didn't have to face multiple blood beasts that could support each other and attack like a rabid pack. However, the thought of 50 such beasts surrounding her left her heart shuddering.
She was already prepared to retreat should the chance arise, but she wasn't aware of how to change Bai Shou's mind.
The battle's result was decided before it began. Qin Juan maintained her distance and continued to use the refinement Gu until she turned the house-sized beast into a bunch of blood-red crystals optimized for Blood Path refinement materials.
"Continuous use of Solvent Gu injures the mouth. Can you continue?"
Bai Shou's concerned voice drifted ahead as a larger 'drop' of blood pooled out of the pond before dropping not far from Qin Juan. Nodding, Qin Juan reassured her companion.
"My body can tolerate its effects, Sister Bai. Concentrate on recovering."
They both knew Qin Juan's best use was to deal with these beasts one-on-one and let Bai Shou recover her wits until the beast groups. However, she couldn't drag the battles as Bai Shou wished, or it would unnecessarily complicate things and introduce more risks. Her Solvent Gu was also rather outstanding when dealing with such 'Path' creatures that seemed to be made of one unique element.
There were a few moments where the blood beasts managed to near Qin Juan. Fortunately, she also had other means besides the Solvent Gu, including the Killer Move using the Stable Cauldron and Fire Refinement. Despite being a Refinement Path Gu Master, she was a decent combatant, well aware of the better choices and avoiding pitfalls that could have led to her incurring fatal blows.
Meanwhile, Bai Shou wasn't idle. Dealing with 50 Myriad Beasts Kings was easier said than done, and she needed to use a Gu currently suppressed by the regional qi—the Rank 4 Expend Strength Gu.
It was a Gu Worm Bai Shou idly looted when she still had a hint of a penis. However, it was barely used until now.
So, Bai Shou used yet another Human Adaptive Qi Gu and had only one Rank 4 variant remaining. Meanwhile, Rank 4 Expend Strength, Rank 4 Phantom Longbow, Rank 4 Borrow Strength, Rank 5 Heaven Strength, and Rank 5 Bitter Strength Gu were relieved of their suppression. Her entire Strength Path Set had been restored.
No, it was more than that.
Since Self Strength already fused the use of Bitter Strength and All-Out Effort Gu, Bai Shou could be said to be in a 'surplus.'
Cracking her knuckles, Bai Shou drew to her feet with a satisfied grunt.
"It's my turn," she hummed and stepped past Qin Juan. "Take a breather. Do you have enough resources to recover your essence?"
Qin Juan quietly nodded and instantly retreated without more words. She closely watched Bai Shou while retrieving Primeval Stones to recover her essence. Unfortunately, at their stage, using a Primeval Stone for such a purpose was very inefficient and time-consuming. Alas, Qin Juan had no rare Gu to help her in this aspect, unlike Bai Shou and the dual Heavenly Essence Treasure King Lotus.
Without waiting for the 'droplets' to descend, Bai Shou calmly extended her left arm and conjured a longbow—the Rank 4 Phantom Longbow Gu.
With a slight essence, she manifested a strange arrow while pulling the bowstring. Its body was pitch-black except for the pure white, glowing tip.
It was an arrow from one of Bai Shou's beast phantoms, the Yin-Yang Panda, which she only used once and kept under wraps ever since.
Rank 4 Phantom Longbow.
Rank 4 Beast Phantom.
Rank 4 Strength Qi.
Lastly, Rank 5 Multiply.
Killer Move: Last Arrow!
Bai Shou instantly expended a crazy amount of essence from her first aperture as she let go of the bowstring, her aim true to the spot the forty house-sized bloody slimes almost descended at.
Wide-eyed, Qin Juan's skin crawled with fright when she witnessed the pure white explosion a few seconds before hearing the sound exponentially more dreadful than the sudden clap of thunder on a quiet night. She had to squint before closing her eyes since the light didn't seem to fade for a good while. Tears even began to prick in the corner of Qin Juan's eyes!
*BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM*
The impact shook her—literally. Her bones quacked alongside the pool suspended above them. Qin Juan's ears rang for a good while before she could finally open her eyes.
And there she stood, with her back still ramrod straight.
'This is her true strength?' Qin Juan felt her throat turn dry.
Too powerful.
For a brief moment, in her spot-riddled gaze, Qin Juan couldn't help but compare Bai Shou's back to another aloof figure whose golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall of molten gold.
'And she doesn't have sect resources,' Qin Juan realized how unfair the comparison was—to her other Senior Sister.
"Are you alright?" Bai Shou looked back with a collected smile as the dust cleared away, revealing a decently repaired structure alongside a massive hole cratered into the ground. It was entirely too smooth. The crater, like a blanket of laser beams, had cleanly carved out a bowl into the land!
"Y-Yes," Qin Juan gulped.
"Hmm. I'll need your help with the coming beasts. I cannot use the Killer Move constantly. So, we'll fight the lone Blood Beasts together before you retreat when the group of them descends. Leave the next one to me and join in with the second one. Recover quickly."
Qin Juan could only nod at the commands and focus on her essence. Meanwhile, Bai Shou began to tackle a crow-faced leopard comparable to a Beast Emperor.
'Eh?' Qin Juan almost gasped again when she noticed how Bai Shou somehow began to weaken the Beast Emperor within minutes. Its movements grew lethargic as if carrying an unimaginable burden over its body. More than educated about several Gu—rare, extinct, and otherwise—she quickly figured out the truth.
'It must be the Expend Strength Gu.'
She sighed in relief.
Clearing the test was a possibility!
'I can maintain my distance and use the Solvent Gu to harass the blood beasts. Meanwhile, Senior Sister Bai Shou can weaken and kill the beasts using her strength path methods.'
Bai Shou's strength ignited the hope of success within Qin Juan, who had almost worried herself into failure by comparing their situation to the Brown Yuan's deceitful higher-ups.
<<<>>>
*AAOOUGGHHHHHHH*
The blood necessary to create the Beast Emperors expended a sizable portion of the suspended Blood Pond. What was left of the blood pond would create a whopping group of 60 Beast Emperors! However, Bai Shou and Qin Juan had slight trouble with the tenth Blood Beast Emperor.
*Puff*
*Puff*
*Puff*
*Puff*
Qin Juan's cheeks puffed as she let out a rapid-fire of Solvent Gu at the expense of self-injury. The globules of viscous glowing liquid flew to the area she predicted the snake-headed bat creature would fly to as it hissed loudly, beating its wings again and flying high to dodge the attack.
*Hiss*
It flew to the line of a barrage of wind arrows, instantly getting skewered. It hissed painfully and locked its cruel gaze atop the brown-haired woman utilizing a Rank 4 Bow Gu.
As the arrows disappeared, so did the beast's injuries.
The sight did not unnerve Bai Shou or Qin Juan, the duo already having to deal with and endure every Beast Emperor's incomprehensible regeneration. Furthermore, the snake-headed bat was a vicious flight creature that rabidly attacked the duo before Bai Shou could weaken it using the Expend Strength Gu. It had already been 7 hours since they began fighting with the steady stream of Beast Emperors. It took a massive toll on Qin Juan's essence, sometimes forcing her to sit out of the battle. However, this also allowed the observing Bai Shou to note that Qin Juan possessed an A-grade aptitude. After all, a Gu Master's aperture naturally recovered 10% of their aptitude.
For instance, Bai Shou's natural recovery after increasing her aptitude was 9.9% in both apertures.
So, Qin Juan could barely get enough essence after an hour of consistent absorption of the Primeval Stones alongside her natural essence recovery.
It was in times like these that Bai Shou missed Bai Ning Bing's monstrous 60%/hour recovery rate…
However, the duo's steady, long-ranged attacks eventually wear down the final Beast Emperor. Lone Beasts without Gu Worms were indeed relatively less threatening if approached warily. Meanwhile, Qin Juan and Bai Shou would have already retreated if the beasts were equipped with Gu Worms.
Still, it did not make the idea of facing 60 rabid Beast Emperors less terrifying.
Both Gu Masters observed the suspended Blood Pool as it descended over them—intent on creating a group of Beast Emperors, hopefully nothing worse. To their surprise, the remaining pool of blood began to stir as several limbs stretched out of its surfaces, clawing at it.
*Ghrrrr*
*Khsaaa*
*Gigigigi*
*Krrrrr*
Guttural snarls, haunting coos, strange cackling, spine-tingling cricketing—the entirety of the duo's blood 'sky' oozed with monstrous noises and chattering, leaving Qin Juan's body shaking like a dried flower in the dead of a storm. Meanwhile, barely having any time to fear the outcome of their choices or panicking to find an escape route, Bai Shou took to one knee, her bow aimed precisely above her.
Last Arrow!
Her essence gushed unceasingly. Instead of compromising their vision with the Yin-Yang Panda Arrow, Bai Shou used the more familiar Sky Griffin Arrow.
Qin Juan watched in awe as the wind spiraled into a massive, tearing explosion that cleaved an escape route open.
Last Arrow!
Bai Shou tapped into her second aperture, the Peak Stage Rank 5 Essence being several times more robust!
Last Arrow!
By the time Bai Shou shot the third arrow, the holes of the wriggling mess had already regenerated hugely. Yet, the gaping holes allowed a spot for her and Qin Juan to stand once the blood pond fully descended!
Last Arrow!
Last Arrow!
Last Arrow!
Last Arrow!
Qin Juan watched numbly, shocked by the pure devastation caused by the Rank 5 Killer Move. The Blood Path's enduring nature was even more absurd as the holes regenerated while the roars and pained shrieks grew more blood-curdling.
The 60 Beast Emperors were somewhat formed already, still sharing the regeneration with the Blood Pool!
Each of their hungry gazes locked onto the source of fresh blood—Bai Shou and Qin Juan.
LAST ARROW!
Bai Shou momentarily observed the gaping holes punched into the bloody sky. She smiled faintly, a cruel and malevolent smirk further tugging her lips. Wisps of wind continued to tear at the corners of the holes, the effects of the Rank 5 Killer Move not yet fully extinguished.
It was the final killer move she could muster from her second aperture—understanding that 8 uses were her mortal limit until her first aperture caught up to her second one. Despite the mental exhaustion, Bai Shou glanced at Qin Juan, warning.
"Remain mindful, Sister Qin. It's going to rain."
Still maintaining her position, Bai Shou aimed at a spot, the arrow changing again and revealing a flaming red tip—The Infernal Ape Arrow!
LAST ARROW!
Qin Juan's heart trembled as the fiery arrow suddenly moved to one of the gaping pits before exploding—
*BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM*
The corner of the reinforced cave near the blood pool crumbled as the massive explosion devoured the Blood Emperor's pained howls. The fire spread across the entire pool in a chain of smaller explosions led on by the wisps of wind left behind by the previous arrows. The fiery red sea of fire devoured blood and water alike, creating a humongous protrusion of blood-red smoke as chunks of smoked creatures burnt to ashes rained upon the duo.
"How…"
Qin Juan's lips parted as she watched the ruins form to perfection, and the cave's walls began absorbing the blood-colored smoke and ashes. When Qin Juan finally looked in Bai Shou's direction, she realized Bai Shou had been gazing at her the entire time with a warm smile on her lips despite the evident exhaustion forcing her to unsteadily waver upon her feet.
'She is… outstanding…' Qin Juan couldn't help but feel relief wash over her. To think she could witness such brilliant might. And now, they would be able to explore the ruins.
A bright smile spread over the woman's features as she opened her lips to praise Bai Shou.
"You were incredi—"
*Chhhk*
A blood-red scorpion tail suddenly impaled Qin Juan from the ground, right through her chest and forcing her body into the air.
The ruins, which formed to perfection and appeared to be a blood-red cathedral of sorts, suddenly liquefied into the ground, and a discreet blood-red centipede—a Rank 5 Gu—dissolved into the cave's surface.
"Qin Juan!"
The tail slicked down, the scorpion tail brutally freeing itself off Qin Juan's chest by tearing out of her sides, bisecting her left arm along the way and leaving a lateral, gaping wound across her chest, exposing her torn heart, shattered ribcage, and gorged lung.
'Sister…' Qin Juan felt the time around her slow down, her vision following the shouting Bai Shou running at her. 'Bai…'
Her vision darkened.
***
Alternate Title: The Ruin's Rules; New Rules; Admiration; Blood Path Can Construct; The Tiring Battle Royale; The Cruel Tests; Donut-Ed; Last Arrow; Bestial Bai Shou; True Potential; Unhinged Battle; Worse Than Blood Beasts; Reckless is Pleased; Bai Shou Misses Pookie Bai Ning Bing Icy Prince *How Scandalous*; A Battle That Bai Ning Bing Would Have Certainly Loved; The Heat of Battle; Emperors VS Arrow; Boom Baby Boom; The Eldritch Lake; Biblically Accurate Rank 5 Peak Stage Gu Master; Yin Yang Panda? *Mentioned Tales of Demon and Gods*; Nie Li Would Have Gotten His Ass Slaughtered in This World; Cross Over With Other Xianxia Worlds?; Leylin When?; Chain Explosions; A Killer Move With a Killer Move; A Killer Move Squared; The Ace and Rengoku Experience; Qin Juan Achieved An Anime End; That's a Platinum Trophy Right There; Heaven's Will Really Never Rests; Cursed Bai Shou; Bai Shou, The Waifu Ender
***
THE MEMES
***
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