Bao clan's immortal treasury.
"No time to waste. Take all the immortal gu and enough mortal gu for killer moves." - Bao Zhi transmitted to his original body — the immortal zombie — beside him.
Bao Zhi hurried into the halls of the treasury, quickly scanning the inventory.
He sighed in disappointment. The immortal treasury had just three immortal gu in it. One of them was even a consumable gu, and none were of wood path that his immortal zombie body could use.
"Times have changed and I'm the one responsible. The new generation got too comfortable in their peaceful lives and neglected gu refinement." - He thought of the underlying problem.
At this moment, a tiny beetle-like gu with an iridescent body jolted to awareness and flew up to Bao Zhi.
Its delicate, filmy wings flapped rapidly, resembling shifting light. Its large, gem-like eyes glistened with the reflection of light.
"This is... the rank six illusion path immortal gu — Perception Warp?" - Bao Zhi reached out and the gu landed on his palm gently.
"That's not right!" - He studied the gu with a deep gaze. His jade-green eyes flashed with understanding. "No, this a human path gu worm!"
Bao Zhi unmistakably felt this gu worm belonged to human path.
How could it be misclassified as illusion path?
But this was the norm with human path. Even though, it was widespread — thanks to the Legends of Ren Zu — it was understood very shallowly, even the venerables only grasped a portion of this mysterious path.
The Perception Warp immortal gu was drawn to Bao Zhi's human path aura like a bee attracted to the sweet smell of nectar. Wild gu often sought shelter on the bodies of beasts with a similar aura. It was a natural symbiotic phenomena.
"What a useful gu worm." - Bao Zhi felt his human qi fluctuating in reaction to the gu.
He checked on his aperture. The unsealed immortal aperture origin core had produced one bead of rank six green grape immortal essence.
"It should be possible. This gu's temperament is excellent. It wasn't refined a long ago and hasn't developed a strong will yet."
Bao Zhi commanded in his mind, and his immortal essence burst forth to refine Perception Warp immortal gu, taking ownership of it.
Remarkably, the gu did not mount any resistance and was successfully refined by Bao Zhi in a matter of minutes.
After Bao Zhi raided, no I mean retrieved his own gu worms from the immortal treasury, he flew up in the air.
His target was Wen Jiao Feng.
Bao Zhi recognized the inheritance Wen Jiao Feng cultivated, it was one of Wen clan's complete inheritances back from the times they were a super force.
Observing the flashing swordlight and the helplessly dying Bao clan immortals, a past memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.
...
"Lord Supreme elder! Ghostly Wail Gorge is under attack. They are requesting reinforcements from both clans." - A gu immortal reported to Bao Zhi.
Ghostly Wail Gorge was a recently established large resource point, it bordered on the territory of Bao clan and Wen clan.
The two clans decided to eventually settle the question of ownership after years of conflict by sharing this resource point evenly and defending it with a joint force.
"Someone risked to attack this resource point? It is Ming You?" - He read the details. "He has made a name for himself in the demonic path and to think he openly targets even clans like mine now?"
At this moment another message arrived. It was from Wen clan.
"Wen clan plans to use this opportunity and capture Ming You, and their first supreme elder plans to bring even their immortal gu house?" - Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow.
"Summon the elders present, they will accompany me." - Bao Zhi decided to head there as a show of force.
But it made sense, Ming You had a reputation of the number one demon, a one in a thousand years genius.
If Wen clan managed to subdue this person, all his reputation would turn into Wen clan's reputation.
"Lord Supreme elder! Ming You might be powerful, but he is only a rank seven gu immortal. Wen clan is already sending their rank seven gu house. If you, my lord, as a rank eight, personally intervene it would be a loss of face for our clan." - A rank seven elder said as he arrived.
But if Bao Zhi didn't go or send a stronger force than a rank seven gu house, Bao clan's claim on Ghostly Wail Gorge would weaken, and Wen clan could use this as an excuse for a bigger share in the future.
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"It is decided. Move out." - Bao Zhi ordered and led the group.
Ghostly Wail Gorge was in dire straits. The defensive formation was broken and the two rank six gu immortals had no choice but to retreat.
At the center was a black robed gu immortal, he looked like a middle aged man with a pale face, his black hair was chest length, he had a deep and cold killing intent that surrounded his entire body.
It was Ming You.
Ming You stuffed another batch of immortal resources into his aperture.
He looked up.
Wen clan's reinforcements from the west and Bao clan's group from the east encircled him.
"Stay your hand, demonic thief! This is our first and final warning. Ming You, give up now and you can preserve your life." - A voice from the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda called out.
"You are just like Qing clan. Your killing intent is weak. You cannot kill me." - Ming You scoffed and continued.
The two clans' rank seven gu immortals pincer attacked Ming You.
An intense battle broke out.
Ming You was losing his footing, getting pushed back by the righteous forces numerical advantage.
The Bao clan immortals surrounded him, blocking any way of escape.
Wen clan's rank seven sword path expert attacked ruthlessly. Five sword lights flashed and followed his fingers before they struck Ming You's body.
Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!
Blood sprayed in all directions. It was a gruesome sight, but Ming You's lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.
"This can't go on. It is like the rumors said, this person fears no death. Better to put him down before an accident occurs." - Wen clan's first supreme elder transmitted.
The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda charged at Ming You as it shone in a bright blue light.
But Ming You was one step faster.
Immortal Killer Move — Soul Taker Battlefield!
This killer move was a special type of killer move. A battlefield killer move had to be se up in advance, but it could encompass a large area, separating it from the outside.
The surroundings changed at once, soul-chilling winds blew and the immortals could feel their methods suppressed.
Battlefield killer moves were similar to an immortal aperture, they could provide certain effects and suppress others.
Ming You attacked the closest Bao clan immortal. An invisible force took the immortal's life, his eyes rolled back as he collapsed lifelessly.
From his corpse a soul beast jumped out.
The soul beast shielded Ming You and crashed into the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.
This happened in the matter of seconds, but Ming You was already striking his next target.
"Watch out! He's using a strange technique. Keep your distance!"
"What is that strange creature?"
"It has the same aura as Ghostly Wail Gorge."
"You've seen it now, so you can all die." - Ming You laughed sinisterly.
Bao Zhi narrowed his eyes, Bao clan has already suffered losses.
"Now I understand, the rumors were true after all. This person has unfathomable methods."
The Soul Taker Battlefield displayed its strength to the fullest, each time a living being perished, their soul turned into a soul beast under Ming You's command.
Even when soul beasts were destroyed inside this battlefield killer move, they would reform after a period of time.
Ming You fought back fiercely, like a cornered beast. The longer the fight drew on the more momentum he gained.
Bao Zhi realized something terrible was about to unfold.
He used his rank eight killer move and Ming You got entrapped in roots, firm as a mountain.
This was the might of rank eight, a single move could overturn the battle of rank sevens.
Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda captured the immobilized Ming You.
After a few breaths of time a cold shriek reverberated from the inside.
The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda's side exploded, the flying tiles and bricks turned back to mortal gu worms. Thousands of them scattered in the blast.
Ming You broke out with three soul beasts behind him and an immortal gu in his hand.
"The core immortal gu!" - The Wen clan immortals hurriedly tried to patch up their immortal gu house and prevent it from collapsing.
Ming You swiftly took the life of another gu immortal in his way. It was as easy as cutting grass and drinking water.
The defensive methods had no effect against Ming You's strange techniques.
Ming You's body was covered in blood, his limbs mangled and bones protruding.
Bao Zhi attacked Ming You personally.
Ming You has suffered multiple lethal injuries already, but miraculously, he kept fighting.
"This person is troublesome, he can sill fight even when his body is destroyed. I will need to thoroughly eradicate it." - Bao Zhi thought.
Ming You had only a head left, he opened his mouth wide.
Ten soul beast emerged from Ming You's throat and charged at Bao Zhi.
Bao Zhi unleashed a wood path killer move, all ten beasts were captured in the blink of an eye, careful not to destroy them, lest they would reform again.
"This is how you kill!" - Ming You said in a cold tone.
Immortal Killer Move — Soul Explosion!
Immortal Killer Move — Soul Explosion!
Immortal Killer Move — Soul Explosion!
Immortal Killer Move — Soul Explosion!
...
All soul beasts exploded!
The shock-waves overlapped, spreading in all directions.
"Guh! What was this?" - Bao Zhi felt an intense pain from the very core of his being.
How could a rank seven gu immortal injure him?
"Not dead yet?" - Ming You asked in genuine surprise.
"Don't tell me. These strange attacks, they can target the soul itself? How is that possible?" - Bao Zhi realized the truth.
Such methods were unheard of in the five regions and two heavens!
Bao Zhi felt an overwhelming dizziness. Similar to when a gu refinement causes a backlash, the soul would be injured.
He looked around to gather his forces into his aperture.
But the Soul Taker Battlefield was eerily quiet.
The immortals, who fought the soul beasts just a moment ago, have all died in the soul explosion!
Bao Zhi's pupils shrunk in his shock.
New soul beast started emerging from the dead bodies of his underlings.
Bao Zhi gritted his teeth, he would never have imagined this result. He not only had to personally make a move against a rank seven gu immortal, all his underlings were wiped out and now his own life was also threatened.
Wen clan's immortal gu house was damaged and lost its core immortal gu. Its fighting capabilities have plummeted.
All because of a single rank seven gu immortal.
This couldn't be comprehended with common sense!
Immortal Killer Move — Earth Root Travel!
Bao Zhi decisively cut his losses, activating his signature technique, he escaped through the ground immediately.
Wen Clan's remaining forces could only forcefully break out of the Soul Taker Battlefield with the help of their gu house's charge.
* * * * *
Bao Zhi's plan of swiftly reclaiming his inheritance was already thwarted.
He flew as fast as his rank five gu worms allowed him.
When he caught up, Wen Jiao Feng was already chasing his third victim.
"If I can't win, the best I can do is not lose."
Bao Zhi's heart was filled with determination.
The land below him, it was his land.
These people, they were his people.
This was Bao clan, his own clan.
Whatever happened here, it was his business.
Even if these events were not his fault, he was the one who was responsible.
It was all under Bao Zhi's absolute ownership!
"Bao clan's darkest day will not repeat itself!"
* * * * *