"B...br...brother Tang, please let us go" Ma Dong spoke while shivering like a leaf.
Pah!
A slap from the elder sibling shut Ma Dong up instantly...
___________
After an hour or two, There were now three people tied to different Wooden poles with their backs facing each other, whenever someone passed and saw them, they would leave in a hurry or laugh for a bit before leaving.
Meanwhile, Tang Bai was back to practicing the movements with Tang Chen.
However, while he was immersed in his practice, he heard groaning noises from the side.
A feeble voice sounded, "Senior brother Tang Bai, please forgive me this once."
It was as though he was waking from a nightmare.
Pausing for a moment, Tang Bai sneered and returned to the wooden pole that held Ma Dong, Tang Chen also approached with a smirk.
Beside Ma Dong were the ones called Xue Wan and Xue Shan, apparently they were brothers.
From their confessions, They came to try robbing the Tang brothers once again, because they had been robbed not too long ago.
It was rather comical when Tang Bai thought about it, they came to rob the ones who robbed them...
"Ma Dong, My good brother, you are awake. That's good and all but unfortunately I can't let you all go yet.
You know how I am practicing the [Soul capturing Heart Chant] right?, you see... we didn't get to this level by letting people go you know?
Nightfall when the mist is at its peak, I will let you GO, that way, no one would know you are 'GONE', isn't that better?."
"What?!!"
"No, No, you can't do that!!!"
"Hey! Hey! COME BACK HERE TANG BAI!, you f*cker!!" Ma Dong Screamed hysterically while struggling helplessly.
Tang Bai beamed in response, grinning from ear to ear. "You're the one who came here all by yourself, saving me the trouble of going around Hunting. SO, that you very Much!".
Hearing his words made the trio wail and shiver in fear. Tang Chen had a strange look on his face but didn't say a word.
Tang Bai then ignored them and went into his hut, Tang Chen followed quietly as well before asking,
"Brother, are we going to..."
"By nightfall, I want you to secretly help them escape."
"Huh? Err? I don't understand"
The Elder sibling cut Tang Chen off with a "Just do as I say".
"Fine"
__________
After Tang Chen Left, Tang Bai hurriedly sat on his mat while thinking.
"With their escape tonight, they would start some rumors in the outer sect. I'm glad they came when they did, that would increase the prestige or Infamy and it is a cover-up for our fast cultivation..."He Spoke lightly to no one in particular while smiling.
[Ding!]
[Infamy Shop opens...]
[You only have 50 infamy points, So You can only access the Traits option]
Seeing the notification, Tang Bai said "Don't worry about that, it is only going to be like that for a short while"
[Infamy shop]
Due to your limited Infamy points, only accessible commodities will be shown.
Traits-
Iron Will(15 Infamy points)
Iron Bones(5 Infamy points)
One who Toys with wealth(50 Infamy points)
Verdant breath(21 Infamy points)
Keen Focus(15 Infamy Points)
Shifty (5 Infamy Points)
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Intimidating Poise(5 Infamy Points)
Eerie Virtiouso(30 Infamy Points)
Frigid Heart(50 Infamy)
Discerning Elitist(50 Infamy Points)
Dubious Understanding(13 Infamy Points)
Serene and Unperturbed(10 Infamy Points)
Special Characteristics-LOCKED
Forbidden Techniques -LOCKED]
A Long list filled Tang Bai's vision as he read through them calmly. Luckily He found what he was looking for, Unlike the first time he had opened the page. He wanted to get these traits that he had planned for himself before buying his Natal Gu, especially due to something he had seen on the game Forum before.
It said something about the universal rules being more favorable to those who have a chosen Character concept and how it had its boons in the higher realms. It was a complicated subject but that was something that had been circulating among the players and a select few NPCs...
This is why, despite being unable to discern if the world was the same as the game, Tang Bai still chose to work with the concept. It would act like a road map for him to follow no matter what.
This way the Traits he picks also have to follow the same road he believes would help him stand on the said road without fail.
[Keen Focus(15 Infamy points)]
[Do you wish to use it personally or Gift it?]
[Tip: Gifting to an individual with a high relationship value with you will automatically change their relationship Bar to a Loyalty Bar.
Relationships must be 60% Respected/Fond for gifting to work. When Loyalty is below 20%, Gifts can be withdrawn, this has side effects ranging from slight weakness to death, depending on the gifts given.]
Reading the latest notification had Tang Bai thinking < Interesting, with this gift option I can make Tang Chen or anyone else into a particular concept as well. My very old Henchmen, this changes a lot of things...For now>
He chose to use [Keen Focus] on himself.
[50 Infamy points ->35 Infamy points]
[Intimidating Poise(5 Infamy Points)]
[35 Infamy points ->30 Infamy points]
Upon using it on himself, he felt a cool sensation wash over him like a tide but he felt no changes after that.
Then he once again chose to buy [Serene and Unperturbed(10 Infamy Points)] for himself and Tang Chen without hesitation.
[Serene and Unperturbed: grants the user a clear and calm mind, Reduces chances of Mental attacks that cause Confusion, misdirection, Illusion, etc by 40%, Status effects like Enraged, Fear, Stun, etc have an 80% chance of being blocked.]
This trait alone has placed them in an advantageous position in most battles against other Demon cultivators and even some so-called righteous sects.
He thought with a laugh.
_______
After a few minutes, Tang Bai collected himself and prepared to fuse with his Natal Gu to break through.
From the original Tang Bai's memory of fusing Gu, he knew it was extremely painful and it was even more so in the Natal Gu period due to the nature of the Gu.
Unorthodox Gu were generally more aggressive than their counterparts, this is also part of the reason why you would hardly see a nice Demon cultivator.
After so much suffering for some kind of explosive power, it would be a miracle to be able to find an Elder without a particular kind of madness, Not to mention the side effects. luckily He could see the side effects and the solutions, so he would avoid a lot of detours.
With Practised ease, Tang Bai bought the [Essence Chime Gu(C grade)] And laid down on his mat.
[110 prestige -> 50 Prestige points]
As soon as this Gu appeared in his palm, there was a light chime in the air, accompanied by a light breeze.
Tang Bai looked at the Gu carefully and was surprised to find that it was a Gu of the Spider series, Every Natal Gu in the Demonic factions always has a particular series it follows in their base form, namely, worms, caterpillars, Spiders, snakes, frogs/toads, Snails, or Scorpions.
Like the [Boiling Blood Gu(D grade)], he intends to buy Tang Chen happens to be from the Scorpion series.
Upon inspection, A cream-colored cacoon wrapped around the spider-shaped Gu to make it easier to swallow, just half the size of his little finger.
Before he was done, he was hit with a slight shock from his heart, Tang Bai's expression turned slightly serious. With his index fingers pressing in between his eyebrows, he activated [Soul Capturing Heart Chant]. The rune appeared once again and he quickly swallowed a soul bead.
"Ugh!..." It began to feel like a cat was scratching against his heart, it wasn't his heart but the [Heart Nourishing Gu] that was hanging just below his beating heart. Because it was fused with his heart, Tang Bai felt like he was about to die.
Luckily, a feeling of detachment suddenly came over him and his mind once again became clear. He opened his eyes in surprise and examined himself.
The feeling and everything was there but His mind was exceedingly clear, it was like what was happening had nothing to do with him...
Soon He found out the reason!
[Serene and Unperturbed(-)]
When he understood what was going on, a sense of relief came over him,
Soon, He became entirely immersed in using his Cultivation Method and was ignorant of everything else.
.....
After a long period, an extreme pain due to his Natal Gu completely devouring his [Heart Nourishing Gu] and he was jolted awake. Just as he was about to stand up, Tang Bai's eyes darkened as he almost fainted.
With a shocked and pained expression, He quickly took out a rejuvenation pill and swallowed it. Right after, He grabbed the bucket by his side and drank a few gulps of water before his face turned back to a healthier shade.
Even after all that, Tang Bai still felt as if his body was splitting apart, which was the drawback of the fusion.
He checked his status with a groggy expression.
[Name: Tang Bai
Cultivation level: 6th level of the Qi gathering stage(87%)
Cultivation techniques: Soul-capturing Heart Chant
Martial Techniques: Bone corrosion Palm(Initial)
Gu: Essence Chime Gu(C)(Natal Stage),
Abilities: Echo(Lv1), Chime(Lv1)
Affiliation: Blood River Sect,
Talent: myriad poison body (10/100) awakened.
Prestige points: 50
Infamy points: 10
Prowess: 7,400
Equipment: outer sect robes, flowing cloud shoes
Extraordinary Gifts: small pocket realm]
A sheepish grin spread across his face as he slowly passed out on the floor.
________
Tang Chen POV,
It was already close to midnight and the mists appeared once again, Ma Dong and his lackeys continued to whimper while shivering to the point that you could hear the clacking of their teeth.
Many had seen them during the day and none offered any help, this allowed me to once again understand what Elder Brother had been saying.
“We can only change and adapt” I muttered as I silently approached the tied-up trio.
Perhaps hearing me, Ma Dong began yelling again “Who's there?! Help us quickly! P... Pw..pwease!!”
Usually, I would have been disturbed by the sight of them suffering like this, with Open wounds and bruises while covered in their blood or urine but I watched them all afternoon like it was nothing.
There was no fluctuation at all.
‘Change and Adapt’, I thought once again.
“Sssh, you are going to attract their attention” I whisper to them before loosening the ropes from behind. Once I was done I retreated into the mist, whatever they did now was no longer my business, I had completed Elder Brother's mission.
_______
Later that night,
In one of the prominent courtyards at the center of the ‘Ji’ outer sect, A man who was about thirty years of age walked in and knocked lightly. His hair was only a couple of inches long and he wore the clothing of outer sect disciples.
Although there was no sound or response, he spoke "Master Wang, Junior Ma, and his boys have returned”.
A hoarse voice came from the other side of the door, “Why did they come back so late?"
The man outside was silent for a second as if he didn't know how to arrange his words.
“They say they were captured by two new disciples, they wanted to use them for practice”.
The sound of walking moved toward the door and soon the door was pulled open, Master Wang said with some confusion.
"What's this Bai San, Dual cultivation?." the one who walked out, was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, he smiled crookedly as he pointed to the man in front of him with his chin.
"Unfortunately, No Master Wang" After a slight pause, Bai San brought his hands up and cupped them.
"Oh? Do explain..." Master Wang's face quickly returned to its default expression like it was a lie.
"Soul Capturing Heart Chant." Bai San quickly said.
"Haha, how come? Interesting... Who are these new disciples? Never mind, I rather wait till I see them personally." Master Wang said with a smile.
To the side, Bai San also agreed with a flattering smile.
"Since it's like this, do you know if they have had any success so far?”
"Master Wang, they were able to overpower Ma Dong and the others without martial skills. But the confusing thing is that there hasn't been any news in our valley of dead disciples that died due to their souls being sucked out for the past year" Bai San said while in thought.
"Oh, I see. That just means they are resourceful, find out more and report back.", Master Wang spoke while waving Bai San off.
He had a smile on his face as he sent his ‘guest’ out but once he returned to his room, his smile also disappeared.
"Interesting." He muttered to himself before sinking into deep thought.