"Please." Lo Jik welcomed a gu immortal into his temporary residence. He was a handsome man with a sense of innate arrogance befitting nobilities and royalties. From him oozed the aura of a grand rank 7 gu immortal. His gaze gleamed with interest and sharpness.
Xu Hao.
Xu Hao scanned his surroundings before his gaze fell on the two cultivation mats on the ground. He readily sat on the ground despite his grand status as Lo Jik took a seat before him.
They stared at each other for a few moments in quiet contemplation.
"I heard about your victory on my way here. Congratulations, Elder Lo Jik," Xu Hao spoke amicably. "But Hong Guang won't be the last. Central Continent have too many lone gu immortals, each eager to make an impression on us supreme elders of the ten great ancient sects. Yesterday, you revealed your impressive strength path foundation against Dark Cloud Immortal Yin Yun. Today, you displayed Muscle Wings and a fascinating strength path killer move. May I know its name?"
Lo Jik sighed.
"It's called Beating Someone Dazed."
Xu Hao nodded. The words he spoke next deeply shocked Lo Jik. Spirit Affinity House's wisdom path gu immortal explained various possible gu worms used to create this killer move alongside the intention and possible coordination between the gu worms.
Wisdom path did not merely excel in scheming against the opponents. It was created to understand the ways of heaven and earth and could be used to deduce gu recipes and more. Killer moves fell under this category. Lo Jik's strength path killer move was only a mortal creation and it could be quickly dispelled by an experienced expert such as Xu Hao. Of course, this feat wasn't possible to achieve instantly. Killer moves needed time to unravel.
Even now, Xu Hao did not completely demystify this killer move, revealing his understanding of strength path and illusion path did not surpass ordinary attainment. He could, at most, piece together the skeletal structure of the killer move.
What Xu Hao wanted to explain, however, was something Lo Jik had already predicted.
He couldn't help but fall silent.
He fought two battles in two days. He resolved one conflict with a glib tongue, showmanship, and a fruitful trade. Of course, the fact that this trade was a mere smokescreen to utterly ravage Yin Yun was besides the point. Meanwhile, Lo Jik settled the second conflict with extreme violence and surprise. Hong Guang could have never expected a strange combination of strength and illusion paths. But what did Lo Jik sacrifice?
Information!
Spirit Affinity House had nine other rivals. Countless eyes observed Lo Jik. Xu Hao was just one of the many wisdom path gu immortals and the fact of the matter was that Xu Hao was on Lo Jik's side when it came to the other nine sects colluding against Spirit Affinity House! Just as he quickly understood and summarized Lo Jik's methods, the wisdom path gu immortals of the other nine sects would do the same and then scheme. There was no shortage of lone gu immortals in Central Continent. The other nine ancient sects could promise these gu immortals various rewards alongside informing them about Lo Jik's methods and ways to counter them in some time.
How long could Lo Jik survive this onslaught?
Sure, he had great attainment in all the paths. He was a versatile gu immortal with strength path killer moves mimicking various other paths. But there was a limit. The battles would turn more intense later on and involve immortal killer moves.
Did he possess the foundation of continuing this battle of attrition.
Yes, actually.
But did others know?
No.
It was all about maintaining a presence of a calm but steadily despairing gu immortal.
Lo Jik never intended to cause such a mess of Tian Ti Mountain. But there was no point crying over spilled milk and he needed to roll with the punches. So, he devised a set of dream path killer moves to develop secretly.
Furthermore, he wanted to pressure Spirit Affinity House through the other nine sects and acquire more benefits. He was in competition with all the elements of his surroundings. The only way to truly break past this blockade was by demonstrating unquestionable strength like Feng Jiu Ge. Alas, even with his trait, that realm was simply too far away.
But there was already some effect.
Xu Hao was the proof of it.
Not only was the insidious wisdom path gu immortal willing to temporarily put aside their differences, he even gave Lo Jik some advice indirectly.
"These matters are about the future." Lo Jik sighed explosively. "I'll think of way to deal with these lone gu immortals and simply force other supreme elders to challenge me if they're raring to have a go."
Saying this, Lo Jik took out an information path gu worm and looked Xu Hao in the eye.
"I still don't understand why you want this chant. You understand things just as me. My previous world boasted a strange power known as traits, but this is the world of gu worms. I'm not even sure if this chant is the true cause behind my appearance in this world."
Inside this information path gu worm was the reincarnation technique from Lo Jik's previous world.
In an attempt to unveil Lo Jik's secrets, Xu Hao was once trapped in the former's dream realm. The wisdom path gu immortal learned of traits and the reincarnation technique in this dream realm and had once tried to force this chant out of Lo Jik (Bai Shou). Of course, there was also the influence of rank 9 Love Gu manipulating things behind the scene.
Back then, during the sect meeting, Lo Jik asked for Pulling Mountain and Pulling Water Immortal Gu Worms. Xu Hao could have interfered with this matter at once but he eventually kept his quiet. Why?
Because Lo Jik approached Xu Hao with benefits. He was willing to part with this technique.
"It's true. It might not be useful…" Xu Hao accepted the gu worm and scanned its content. "But there are too many mysteries revolving around you otherworldly demons. It's hard not to be curious."
Lo Jik shrugged.
"I tend to ignore the things I don't understand. Ignorance is undoubtedly blissful."
Xu Hao scoffed softly and stood up. The wisdom path gu immortal didn't stay for long and left. Meanwhile, Lo Jik used several killer moves to confirm Xu Hao didn't use any sneaky methods on his body. Even after confirming things, Lo Jik destroyed his cave and relocated elsewhere.
Lo Jik settled down and thought about Xu Hao. He very much wanted to inspect Xu Hao's blessed land but that man was a rank 7 gu immortal while his Hopeful Sight killer move only displayed the strength similar to a rank 6 immortal gu. It was very difficult to elevate the power of his killer moves without refining rank 6 Accumulation Immortal Gu Worm. By then, adding Accumulation Immortal Gu Worm to his other killer moves would become his go-to method.
'But just defeating Hong Guang should put me on the list with top-tier battle strength among rank 6 gu immortals.'
Because immortal gu worms were extremely hard to refine and acquire, most rank 6 gu immortals only possessed mortal killer moves, which peaked at top-tier mortal killer moves. People with these killer moves boasted a reputation of being extremely powerful and resourceful.
However, gu immortals with immortal gu worms could be said to have rank 7 battle strength. Ordinarily, rank 7 gu immortals possessed one or more rank 6 immortal gu worms but rarely did they acquire a rank 7 immortal gu worm. Bai La had a few rank 6 immortal gu worm and could hold her against most rank 7 gu immortals.
There were many cases of rank 6 gu immortals contending against rank 7 gu immortals but it did not lower their brilliance at all. Not only Bai La, even Fairy Mi Yao with her compound killer move boasted a battle strength that surpassed ordinary rank 6 gu immortals.
So, it wasn't particularly challenging for Lo Jik to reach the so-called realm of strong rank 6 gu immortal due to his killer moves. By employing Accumulation Gu in all these killer moves, Lo Jik would even trouble many weaker rank 7 gu immortals until they start employing their immortal killer moves.
'Hong Guang's defeat will deter many goofballs from recklessly challenging me. But what about the rest?' Lo Jik paid attention to Treasure Yellow Heaven. There still wasn't any news on Yin Yun's death. 'Rank 7 lone gu immortals have their pride. The same goes for lone rank 7 gu immortals. They are still part of the righteous path but simply without any background of a sect or other super force. They would not tarnish their reputation by challenging a rank 6 gu immortal junior.'
'That leaves rank 6 supreme elders and other demonic gu immortals.'
Of course, this would only occur in a perfect world.
In reality, defeating Hong Guang only strengthened the resolve of other nine great ancient sects to lure other lone gu immortals into challenging Lo Jik and revealing more of his trump cards. Hong Guang was easily convinced because he lacked resources. But wasn't the same true for all the other lone gu immortals?
Just look at Bai La. She was an impressive character and had a lot of resources. But her heavenly tribulation nearly ruined her foundation. She would be in a dangerous state right now if not for Spirit Affinity House's support. Other lone gu immortals lacked such a crucial support structure! Their thirst for resources was as intense as the other demonic path gu immortals. The only difference between the two was that when lone gu immortals acted on their desires, they concealed their traces to keep themselves from getting branded as a demonic entity.
Along this thirst for resource was also envy and hatred. Now, the other nine ancient sects were paying these lone gu immortals to vent their hatred on a member of an ancient sect—Gu Yue Lo Jik.
Nobody would want to miss out on this action.
'And it has just been two days since I stepped out.'
Thinking about something, Lo Jik wrote a few letters. The first letter was sent to Black Moon. The second was sent to Bai La. The third letter was sent to Bai Qing. And the fourth letter was sent to Bu Zhen Zi. He did not contact Feng Jiu Ge or Xu Hao at all and instead contacted Bai Qing and Bu Zhen Zi respectively.
The content of every letter was different.
Lo Jik requested these gu immortals to take some time from their cultivation and forge evidence against a few lone gu immortals, knowing full well that Bai Qing, Black Moon, and Bu Zhen Zi would reject him completely.
Bu Zhen Zi was nursing his injuries and continued his closed-door cultivation after killing Fairy Phantom Scales. Black Moon and Lo Jik were allied on the surface but they weren't truly of one mind and ambition. And Bai Qing was a proper righteous path gu immortal who believed in justice, fairness, and all the crap. Among the group, only Bai La would take his request seriously and act on it.
'Now… who will take the bait?' Lo Jik hummed for a while before putting this matter behind him. He had his own cultivation to worry about instead of dealing with these nuisances.
'I also need to develop the town a bit and create residences for other girls to visit.' Lo Jik thought about this matter and appointed Ju Lin to accomplish the task. It was truly convenient to raise a disciple. Once the she completed the matter of accommodation, he would get to spend some time with others.
He could have brought Qin Juan, Sun Yao, and Shu Zhe to his strength path blessed land. But that would effectively cut them from their connections in Spirit Affinity House. And who would they be spending time with in his strength path blessed land? Bandit Giants? He couldn't really do that to the girls.
Lo Jik glimpsed just as he was about to refine a human path gu worm. He could barely contain the joy and overwhelming relief in his heart as he smiled heartily.
'They did it! The recipe for the gu house is complete but we can only focus on rank 6 version due to lacking materials and immortal gu worms. But… it's fine for my purpose!'
Lo Jik calculated the time and noted he still had at least twenty hours before the next sacrifice's arrival.
*Rumble*
His expression suddenly changed.
'Is it…' His gaze turned serious as he grimaced.
<<<>>>
Ju Lin sweated profusely as she commanded all the mortal gu masters to form a blockade. The budding town at the foot of Tian Ti Mountain was nearly destroyed. Shrieks and roars surpassed the terrified screams of mortals who just awakened their apertures and nursed hopes in their hearts to cultivate and improve their living.
A large number of beast groups flowed down from Tian Ti like surging waves—a beast tide.
This beast tide was exceptionally dangerous and terrifying. There were thousands of demon frogs, each one a mutated beast boasting rank 4 battle strength, led by their corresponding mutated beast kings! The sky was filled with countless flying beasts. There were monkey beasts and other creatures in millions!
Lo Jik was not having an easy time either. Tian Ti Mountain was a blessed yet dangerous location. There were many desolate beasts and ancient desolate beasts in restricted regions of the mountain. Other gu immortals did not raise a commotion on Tian Ti Mountain because of Heavenly Court's presence as well as these beasts. Earlier, Tian Ti was exceptional in size and foundation. However, Lo Jik's tribulation caused a dangerous calamity on these beasts as many ended up dying. The corpses of these desolate beasts were consumed by the remaining beasts and they finally started feeling restless.
Coupled with the change in environment given how there was mist every night, the beasts entered into a conflict for territory. Small skirmishes snow-balled into a dangerous beast tide within a few breaths of time!
Lo Jik did not dare act conceited. His muscle wings flapped powerfully and dodged the group of desolate beasts.
Every desolate beast and the few ancient desolate beasts were particularly hateful. They kept targeting Lo Jik as if he'd killed their offspring.
'Is this the full extent of 'it'?' Lo Jik frowned and experienced slight loss. He had just shared a number of rank 1 Ten-Battles Champion Gu Worms among the mortals who awakened their apertures. Yet, they were all dead. He had persuaded Yin Yun to leave behind an inheritance, but it must already be destroyed in the beast tide. In fact, the number of inheritances destroyed in this beast tide undoubtedly surpassed the losses incurred during Lo Jik's ascension.
Chasing after Lo Jik were two massive Desolate Demon Frogs. These beasts were pitch-black with purplish warts on their backs. These warts were similar to knots on a bronze gate. The purplish warts throbbed and pulsed like a beating heart, exuding a faint aroma. Countless flying beasts attracted by this aroma flew towards the infuriated demon frogs and pecked on it only to be corroded by the corrosive air that released said aroma. Demon Frogs usually used this method to hunt for their prey. But their jumping prowess was superb among other beasts filled with poison path dao marks. Their tongue stretched out for tens of feet and instantly grabbed onto any escaping prey.
These two desolate Demon Frogs chased after Lo Jik. The ground shook with every leap as their tongues darted out to capture the conspicuous human flying ahead. Lo Jik wouldn't be so troubled if it were just these two desolate level Demon Frogs. He could have timed his attacks and struck their tongues before beating them into submission, selling one of them in Treasure Yellow Heaven and the other one would become part of Lo Jik's strength path foundation.
However, he was also plagued with five flying desolate beasts!
They were all different species of desolate beasts: Jade Owl, Six-Clawed Rainbow Parrot, Morning Peacock, Iron Crown Eagle, and Zap Falcon.
Jade Owl was quiet and deadly. Its wings were soft but jade-green in color and its beak was extremely sharp. What was more terrifying about this beast were its sharp eyes. Six-Clawed Rainbow Parrots had six talons and two wings. Its feathers were rainbow-colored and it could even speak in human language if caught and trained by a gu immortal. Morning Peacock looked brilliant and eye-catching. One could observe markings of a rising sun whenever it spread its feathers. Male peacocks of the species were called Morning Peacocks. Meanwhile, the female peacocks were known as Dusk Peacocks because of their darkened feathers and lacking display. Iron Crown Eagle had sharp beak and talons, capable of crushing rocks as easily as a dragon. Lastly, Zap Falcon was shockingly swift. Thin arcs of lightning materialized around the falcon whenever it flapped its wings, creating a zap noise.
These bird desolate beasts kept Lo Jik from attacking Demon Frogs. But how could Lo Jik not find a way around them? None of them had any immortal gu worms, lowering their threats by a great extent.
What truly gave Lo Jik a scare were the three ancient desolate beasts!
Two of them were of the same species. In fact, they might even be each other's mate!
They boasted an eagle's head but their bodies were similar to a human. A pair of feathered wings sprouted behind them, carrying them through air. The feathers extended from their wings and covered a portion of their back, their shoulders, and upper regions of their pectoral muscles. They had five fingers and sharp nails, easily capable of crushing most of the desolate beasts chasing Lo Jik. From their knees, the pair boasted an eagle's talons. Feathers also grew from their legs and covered their waists. The two half-eagle and half-human ancient desolate beasts carried a massive bestial bone staff in their hands—its ends sharpened with vicious intentions. One of them was male and the other a female. Lo Jik noticed these differences due to their exposed chest.
Ancient Mixed Heavenly Eagles!
Their bodies were filled with bone and wind path dao marks, boasting splendid physical toughness and speed.
Lo Jik wanted to enslave and tame these beasts. With time, he could create a flock of Mixed Heavenly Eagles. Every infant of this species was a desolate beast and grew into an Ancient Mixed Heavenly Eagle. Unfortunately, the female Ancient Mixed Heavenly Eagle oozed with the aura of an immortal gu worm. Lo Jik didn't even get any time to scout these two because of the third ancient desolate beast.
It was a giant pitch-black gorilla! Its eyes were bloodshot and it bore those sharp fangs, growling and grunting as it chased Lo Jik on its fours.
Ancient Battle Gorilla. It was a rare strength path ancient desolate beast, which exuded the aura of two immortal gu worms.
So, yes.
Lo Jik ran.
He did not just retreat.
He turned and twisted, displaying extreme capabilities as a flying master before sweeping down and taking Ju Lin away. He readily abandoned the mortals who tied their hopes onto him and flew back to Tian Ti Mountain!
"Hurry up!"
Lo Jik transmitted his words as Feng Jin Huang was ready to open the entrance of Hu Immortal Blessed Land and let him in. This beast tide would be unable to enter the blessed land unless they possessed rare space path immortal gu worms. Even Black Moon observed the outside world somberly. The beast tide began abruptly and caused immense damages. The desolate and ancient desolate beasts were also entirely focused on Lo Jik! His luck with beasts was truly abysmal.
But was this truly the case?
Lo Jik observed his luck briefly before appearing stern and determined. His luck was still good and steady.
"Get ready." He transmitted to the dizzied Ju Lin. The battle was too fast-paced. Even the speed of Lo Jik's movement surpassed her investigative capabilities by a mind-numbing margin.
Little Hu Immortal opened the entrance of the blessed land by a sliver as Lo Jik approached its location only for Lo Jik to hiss.
"Catch her!"
He threw Ju Lin forward before urging Feng Jin Huang.
"Quick! Don't let it in!"
Feng Jin Huang acted instinctively as she prompted Little Hu to close the entrance the moment Ju Lin entered completely. A dark shadow sprang from nothingness and nearly entered the blessed land only to hiss in anguish and slam into the mountain wall.
*Roar*
Strength qi erupted from Lo Jik's body, shaping into an elegant dragonman with Lo Jik's features. Its horns were delicate yet sharp, and the gleaming scales around the giant's claws and tails gave spectators a feeling of danger. Surprisingly, strength qi also materialized into a pair of massive wings, its surface covered in similar scales.
*Boom*
Lo Jik jumped down instantly, launching a flurry of disastrous attacks that had the shadowy creature hissing in pain. Its sneak attack had failed before. This snake shot forward with all its speed and struck the mountain wall instead, feeling dizzy and confused.
"Die!" Lo Jik's bestial roar reverberated through the mountain as the terrifying beasts chasing after him slowed down instinctively. They felt a grave threat from this human… they felt a threat to their life from this splendorous giant. It stood and straightened its back. Sixty meters tall, the glowing figure of strength qi oozed elegance and dignity. Two long locks of hair in the front floated like celestial ribbons or a dragon's whiskers.
He clenched and held up a massive snake.
The other desolate and ancient desolate beasts had completely stopped. To their primal fear, the corpse still retained the aura of an ancient desolate beast!
Lo Jik just killed an ancient desolate beast!
This snake was pitch-black in color. Dark mist gathered and ran between the gaps of its scale, appearing enigmatic and eerie. Its scarlet blood flowed down on the ground, quenching the ruined battlefield.
It was an Ancient Void Anaconda. Space and phantom path dao marks filled its body and it would prey on blessed lands. Instead of eating the blessed land, it would try its best to sneak inside and destroy everything. With time, the longer it stayed inside the blessed land, the more its space would shrink. This ancient desolate snake absorbed the space path dao marks related to the formation of a blessed land!
However, it was too weak!
An Ancient Void Anaconda might sneak in, but their methods were still overbearing. They could force their way into the blessed land as long as the space path dao marks on their bodies exceeded their targeted blessed lands. Unfortunately, this snake was frail and most likely hibernating for years. The recent commotion must have awakened it. The space path dao marks on its body were too little.
This Ancient Void Anaconda must have sensed the blessed land's position once Lo Jik and Ju Lin stepped out publicly. After all, there was a hidden formation around the blessed land to conceal its presence and prevent these kinds of accidents itself.
Lo Jik smiled coldly and placed the ancient desolate beast within his blessed land.
'Bad luck? I'm not unlucky. In fact, my luck is great! How else could have I preyed on this Ancient Void Anaconda? It was too weak and did not have any immortal gu worms on its body. Black Moon would have instead made a killing by capturing this beast had it truly slipped into Hu Immortal Blessed Land. Thankfully… I did not kill it. Phew. Other clones will heal it and keep it from dying. This beast is too precious to kill for strength path dao marks.'
Lo Jik rolled his shoulders and observed the group of desolate and ancient desolate beasts before him.
"Did you really think I can be bullied?" His words echoed through the battlefield. Ordinary beasts were still in a chaos. Every mortal, including those legendary rank 5 figures, died in the beast tide.
There was only Lo Jik.
'So, this is the tribulation this time. But as the founder of luck path would say, every tribulation is a blessing in disguise. That snake could have caused some complications. But now? I made it a part of my fortune because I was prepared. All my killer moves are superb and I don't lack in any aspect.'
Even Muscle Wings Gu was designed precisely for Self Dharma killer move! The giant suddenly flapped its wings and shot towards the sky!
He was still running!
*Howl*
The other intimidated beasts clearly lacked intelligence and basic survival instincts for they chased the giant.
***
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