The desolate beast was extremely quick and nimble despite its size. It was slender but mountainous, destroying several points of interests once contested for by the nearby sects and killing thousands of creatures without a rest. Its triangular eyes were locked onto its prey, a glowing figure stumbling across everywhere. Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra rushed through a dense forest, crushing thick trees that were nearly 12 meters tall as if slithering through a small patch of blunt toothpicks. They shattered into unimaginably tiny splinters due to the desolate beast's weight and the force behind its chase.
Its scales suddenly released dense shadowy mist and the desolate beast's pace increased several times!
It was a rank 5 shadow path movement gu worm. However, one rank 5 shadow path movement gu wasn't powerful enough to carry so much mass. Its body hosted dozens of the same gu worms, which activated simultaneously. A desolate beast proved to be an attractive spot for many wild gu worms. Nurtured by an expert gu immortal from one of the ten ancient sects, this desolate Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra was even more ferocious, its body hosting hundreds and thousands of gu worms.
It opened its mouth, those two venomous fangs catching the eerie moonlight from the pale floating orbs.
Jets of dark-purple liquid in the shape of dragons shot out and attacked an insane Lo Jik.
These dragon-shaped jets were none other than several rank 5 Poison Dragon Gu Worms.
Lo Jik could have easily dodged it. However, he had lost his mind. His consciousness drifted into another hidden space, comprehending several instances of truth and recalling some distant memories. Several jets of poisonous dragons crashed against his back. The glowing strength qi flickered and surprisingly stood unfaltering against the assault! It was a killer move that fused defense, offense, and movement.
The impact, however, made Lo Jik unsteady as the glowing 15-meter-tall giant lost its footing and slammed against a slightly smaller 12-meter-tall tree, shattering it with ease. But he had slowed down.
A shadow flickered forward, consuming Lo Jik's vision with its massive hood as the desolate snake's large body wrapped around the glowing strength qi phantom.
As the cobra squeezed, it also bit down ferociously.
"Aghhhhh!"
Lo Jik's survival instincts ignited as he howled loudly before pushing his arms away. The strength path giant followed the same movement this time as it surpassed a desolate beast's strength.
The desolate beast's body flashed before it constricted Lo Jik tightly. Its strength was enhanced by multiple rank 5 strength path gu worms.
After all, the desolate cobra also had gu worms. Of course, these gu worms were wild and their use was inconsistent. However, these gu worms and the desolate beasts formed a symbiotic relationship.
At once, hundreds of gu worms lit up around the desolate cobra, attacking Lo Jik with extreme prejudice.
*Kshaa*
The desolate beast also bit down, tearing away half of the giant's body as it quickly recovered.
'Healing, too?' The corner of the observing gu immortals' eyes twitched. This killer move finally deserved more attention in their books.
Lo Jik met the snake's shriek with another savage howl.
However, he couldn't easily surpass the desolate beast's strength. Not only was the desolate beast already very powerful, requiring Lo Jik's trump card to merely survive, but it could also augment its abilities using many gu worms.
Moreover, the use of the gu worms on its body did not stop!
This caught the spectators' attention.
"To think so many gu worms would be activated at once. Lo Jik is really unlucky."
Feng Jin Huang frowned deeply, her heart thoroughly shocked. She could feel the power behind Lo Jik's killer move and realized it matched her own trump card. She couldn't look down on this man despite her high origins.
She discreetly glanced at Qin Juan. The latter had calmed down. The earlier outburst of emotion caught the three sisters off guard. Even now, Qin Juan didn't know what the hell happened. But she had stopped freaking out for the time being.
"Why aren't the supreme elders doing anything?"
Sun Yao questioned softly.
"I… I don't know." Feng Jin Huang shook her head. Even Bai Qing refrained from answering her, allowing Huang to realize that things were most likely beyond the means of several gu immortals, if not already very complicated.
If Feng Jin Huang could notice the odd reaction of the wild gu worms on the desolate beast, the gu immortals could, too.
"Hehe! Luck and fate are on our side, Bai La. Look. Even heaven must want this little demon dead." He Bang goaded, feeling pleased. Deep inside, however, he grew cautious of Lo Jik. The mortal's achievements were too bright, and he hid himself too deeply. It wasn't just this strength path killer move. Earlier, Shu Zhe used a strange gu worm to augment the use of Self-Destructive Heart Gu. That same gu worm was then handed to Lo Jik alongside an information path gu worm.
With his great experience, how could He Bang not correctly assume that Shu Zhe was merely testing the limits of this strange gu worm for Lo Jik.
Did this demon invent the gu worm?
If so, how deep was his foundation?
Or did this demon discover it?
If so, how profound was his luck?
Luck was a factor that nobody could control. One's fortune also had a place in battle.
'If he is already so brilliant as a mortal, what kind of a monster would Spirit Affinity House gain if he managed to advance as a gu immortal?'
This worry wasn't exclusive to He Bang. All the surrounding gu immortals recalled the current generation's top-tier talent recruited by Spirit Affinity House.
Feng Jiu Ge.
That name alone suffocated everyone's, including Heavenly Informant's, hearts with tremendous pressure.
Could this little demon turn out to be of the same stock?
Many gu immortals contacted He Bang and urged him to finish the battle. However, He Bang was also helpless.
Bai La was observing him like a hawk, interjecting his interventions. The fact that most of the wild gu worms on his desolate beast were so active truly surprised He Bang, making him question what Lo Jik did to offend them all.
"I see."
Heavenly Informant heard Shang Mi Zhu murmur. Reluctant admiration inflicted the latter's voice as he didn't mind sharing his discovery.
Ever since Lo Jik used his killer move, Shang Mi Zhu used his investigation killer moves on the mortal. He may just be an emotion, but he brought many gu worms with himself. These mortal gu worms failed to find anything substantial a few times until Shang Mi Zhu realized the truth.
"This little demon has a surprising foundation in wisdom path."
Shang Mi Zhu sighed.
"What a pity. He chose to offend Shang Clan and violated our bottom line."
"Speak less nonsense. You're just a branching emotion without a body. No need to put on such an act." Mi Yao berated coldly, maintaining a firm opposition.
Mi Zhu, however, did not find any offense and smiled calmly.
"Very well. Gu Yue Lo Jik has a few wills stored inside his body. However, I never imagined his foundation in wisdom path to be so deep. These wills… they are Brave Wills, best used again a will modified using Cowardly Intent and weak against will produced using Foxy Will, Courteous Intent, and such. However, his control over these wills is the most surprising."
"Currently, his body is being controlled using these wills."
"Not only that, but these wills also formed this killer move without dissipating too quickly! The last time he ran instead of fighting was due to these wills. The killer move should match the user's movement, or so it was intended to bait the enemy, but it sometimes moves differently than the user inside. No, that's not entirely true. Matching the body's movements with the killer move's actions consumes less thoughts."
The gu immortals regarded Lo Jik with the shallowest and most begrudging esteem.
Thoughts, Wills, and Emotions.
A gu master expended many thoughts when forming a killer move. It was the source of coordination between the gu worms, allowing a gu master to think about the process of activating the killer move and doing so the next moment.
Meanwhile, a will was formed by linking several thoughts in a mystical manner.
Thoughts were simple, whereas a will was complicated. It could think and scheme. How could it think without thoughts?
Whenever a will used its mental energy, it consumed the thoughts making up its existence. The more it was forced to think, the quicker it would dissipate.
"So, he'll soon become useless."
He Bang laughed.
Indeed.
A killer move must expend a lot of mental energy. Even if Lo Jik's primeval essence may hold up, how long could his will remain?
He Bang's conclusion wasn't unfounded. But a look at Shang Mi Zhu left other gu immortals considering if they missed something. After all, the floating lump of emotion did not appear confident.
"I couldn't use all my methods. However, I can say for certainty that the consumption of Lo Jik's will is unnaturally slow. I'm unsure what rank of Brave Will Gu Worm he used to form these few lumps of will."
As Lo Jik took a beating, other Spirit Affinity House's disciples were no better.
The last defensive wall was filled with cracks. However, no elder stepped forward in attacking the enemy. Sure, this defensive barrier was also rigged. But the elders also lost their gu set when Lo Jik killed them and were incapable of repeating their earlier act of strentgh! These elders had deep foundation and their gu set was prepared after decades of careful consideration and experiencing fatal life and death situations. Even the temporary supply camp couldn't fulfill their demands.
Shu Zhe resolutely detonated the last barrier before it could be destroyed. Unfortunately, she could only kill the disciples and not the remaining beasts preserved by the enslavement path experts for the last phase of the battle.
"Rest and recover."
Shu Zhe ordered her troops plainly. She was not foolish enough to command them to chase after the enemy or destroy the temporary supply camps.
First, the earlier defensive battle drained her disciples of their primeval essence. What use was a gu master without their primeval essence? Not to mention, she couldn't use the tactic of committing suicide and recovering all the primeval essence at once because Spirit Affinity House's disciples did not return to Blue Saint Fog Camp's entrance point.
Second, there were four supply camps. There were four armies. And her disciples were outnumbered by a margin considerably larger than 4:1. Leaving this defensive position was the same as begging the enemy to slaughter them. She couldn't divide her troops or attack one supply camp alone, giving the other three sects enough time to surround them out in the open.
Third, this battle wasn't one to be won. Shu Zhe knew there were terribly powerful things at play. And… due to her most recent experience, Shu Zhe realized Lo Jik was the key. They either held on until the latter overcame his despair or died a glorious, nonetheless temporary, death.
Shu Zhe quietly rearranged the formations around the camp's defensive walls, positioning the disciples by accounting for experts in flying and digging among the enemies. She also stationed several scouts to ensure they were not on a receiving end of terrible surprises.
'Let's hope…'
Shu Zhe looked in a certain direction. Sounds no worse than merciless catastrophes echoed from the darkness followed by glimpses of rare flashes and shockwaves that shook the ground under the camp even with such a wide gap between them.
'Realize the truth, Lo Jik. The cruel guilt weighing down on your heart isn't yours. It's a cruel… mischief.'
Shu Zhe sighed and prepared for the battle as the enemy charged from all four directions again.
<<<>>>
Loud rumbles shook the destroyed forest as intense wind blew with each impact. A massive tail rose before whipping down mercilessly, battering a mindlessly screaming Lo Jik. Each strike caused his body to sink further into the crater as chunks of ground rose and flew significantly high before raining down on the desolate beast. His voice was filled with panic and fright. After all, he was no more than a beast, and an animal cried in fear when they encountered a dangerous predator.
Another whip suppressed his sound as wind itself screamed from the impact.
Countless lights bloomed around the blood-lusted desolate beast, drowning Lo Jik's roars and growls with poisonous flames, shadow swords, dark tentacles, and rare instances of multi-colored light spears stabbing into the weakly flickering strength qi phantom.
Lo Jik's gaze momentarily changed. He stopped screaming and used his movement gu to escape the range of attacks before he was reduced to his insane state for the umpteenth time. That was Lo Jik's brave will taking charge for a moment.
Everyone possessed an instinct for self-preservation. How could Lo Jik's will be any different? It gave its all to survive! The will didn't dare engage in a head-on confrontation, else it would be thoroughly consumed within a few minutes. The killer move would dissipate when that happens.
Not only would Lo Jik suffer from the backlash of not stopping the killer move using the proper method, but he would also become the desolate beast's prey.
However, Lo Jik was cornered within a few seconds again.
The desolate beast might not possess a human's intelligence and wisdom, but it was certainly more cunning than the current Lo Jik.
*Bang*
The gu worms on Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra acted again. Their ferocity left even the observing gu immortals speechless. He Bang couldn't have tamed the desolate beast in its current state state without paying a great price.
Lo Jik fell into a passive position again, taking a heavy beating.
While the killer move possessed a grotesque appearance, it had long degraded to an even worse state.
There were clumps of faces growing out of Lo Jik's killer move.
Some faces roared endlessly.
Some whimpered loudly.
"It's the effect of Self Strength Gu."
Heavenly Informant's methods also worked, offering another clue about Lo Jik's killer move as even Bai La calmly eavesdropped without feeling ashamed.
"Self Strength Gu erupts with the entire strength within the body. However, it has ties with the legendary Self Gu in
"Self Strength…" Shang Mi Zhu nodded. "No wonder. There were also a few crazy demonic path gu masters who believed using Self Strength for self-corruption was a feasible method of researching strength path. They were all drunk on their power and ended up becoming insane."
They all watched Lo Jik laugh crazily after he was done crying and roaring.
There were too many faces.
All these faces alluded to a different story—a different self.
"Hehe… this little demon must be used to acting. In fact, he must be a great actor."
Shang Mi Zhu laughed.
"He can no longer recognize his true self. Even the killer move was affected, turning into this hideous creature."
Beauty enthralled Shang Mi Zhu. He formed a great harem of beauties and ensured his women never suffered from old age even if they might encounter death from old age. They all looked like great beauties. He even helped his mother become more beautiful and dignified after attaining great strength.
So, Lo Jik's current wretched appearance and that monstrous killer move filled this lump of emotion with disgust and instinctive repulsion.
His nature could be considered slightly eccentric even among other gu immortals.
*Fssshhh*
The strength qi started to dissipate at a great pace as the gigantic cobra coiled tighter. The desolate beast felt excited as it tightened its body even more!
"It's done!" He Bang sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Bai La and Mi Yao looked gloomy.
Relief flickered in Heavenly Informant's eyes and Shang Mi Zhu's emotion was also excited. He could finally regain Su Shou and continue his research. Even now, he never forgot about Su Shou and the secrets of dual cultivation. He was also ready to make a move and protect the pendant housing her ghost before the desolate beast could constrict and crush it.
"Is it done now?" First Supreme Elder wondered calmly. She didn't pay Lo Jik much attention and focused on the strange rock-shaped gu worm. It had gone quiet and no longer vibrated in excitement.
However, three individuals thought differently from the observing masses.
*Psshhh*
The last of the strength qi dissipated instantly as the coiling snake crushed Lo Jik! His body from the neck down was nearly turned into a paste of meat if not for the few defensive gu worm activating as his last act of despair.
A gu worm on its body activated, attracting Lo Jik's crushed body to the desolate beast's mouth. The desperate demon finally stopped screaming, his lungs crushed beyond recognition, his bones powdered, and his flesh mangled.
There were only three entities who were aware of the truth.
"Kill him!"
"Death to this little demon!"
"Shang Clan will enjoy our hospitality and experience justice, hahaha!"
"A pity. But he chose the wrong path."
The several gu immortals spoke loudly. Some cursed Lo Jik's ancestors, rightfully so. A gu immortal also sighed for Lo Jik, feeling great pity after witnessing his talent and grit. Some gu immortals also had thought of establishing better contact with Shang Clan, using this moment to springboard possibilities of better trading relationships.
"Oh, no!" Qin Juan's vision swam. She almost fell back if not for Feng Jin Huang quickly supporting the latter.
"Could nothing be done?" Feng Jin Huang muttered, feeling slight heartache.
Other gu immortals in a stalemate above Deep Mirror Valley also had similar reactions.
Smoke Earth smiled heartily.
"The battle is decided, Fairy Yi," he spoke warmly as Second Supreme Elder Yi couldn't help but sigh softly.
She also couldn't fathom why First Supreme Elder chose to sacrifice Lo Jik.
"Decided?" Xu Hao witnessed most of these interactions and sneered. He had been watching Lo Jik like a hawk. For some reason, First Supreme Elder's reaction left him alert, and Lo Jik was the only clue in determining the truth. But he noticed something else.
Lo Jik's relationship with Feng Jin Huang and, by extension, Feng Jiu Ge, made him a decent opponent to watch out for. However, the lad was still a mortal. He could be killed at any moment.
"What a little demon…" Xu Hao set his animosity aside, openly admiring the youth. After all, Xu Hao knew he was nothing compared to a desolate beast at Lo Jik's age, much less if his body was crushed to such an extreme state!
"Nothing's decided yet."
He declared calmly. The wisdom path gu immortal's interest shot through the roof.
This was a good opponent.
No matter how much he hated to admit it, Lo Jik's grit and determination reminded Xu Hao of another demon.
"Sir Smoke Earth…"
A faint voice stopped the surrounding buzz and hushed conversations. Smoke Earth's smile briefly faltered as he glanced at the lone gu immortal in red, his features peerless, and his smile strangely infuriating.
"Hmm? What is it, Elder Feng?" Smoke Earth asked in a dignified tone.
"Open your eyes." Feng Jiu Ge laughed faintly, his words shocking even the gu immortals of Spirit Affinity House. Only he could dare rebuke a grand rank 8 gu immortal! Without a Venerable to head an era, rank 8 gu immortals were at the top of the food chain! Their might was unquestionable.
"We're going to witness a beautiful dream."
"A dream? Speak clearly, Feng Jiu Ge!" A gu immortal from behind Smoke Earth snorted. His hostility for Feng Jiu Ge was shared by plenty of gu immortals among the Ten Ancient Sects.
"A mortal killing a desolate beast—if that isn't a dream, then what else could it be?"
The weight of Feng Jiu Ge's words could not be denied as every gu immortal instantly focused on Lo Jik.
Aside from Xu Hao and Feng Jiu Ge, there was a third entity.
It was something capable of knowing everything about Lo Jik, yet it underestimated his grit, ferocity, and his capacity to adapt. His heart broke many times, never to mend until now. How could anyone expect such a change?
He dreamt of his regrets only to realize peace in the real world.
What was dream and what was reality at this point?
He regretted his actions when his entire life revolved around never regretting anything.
He suffered at the hands of fate's frivolity, but he only smiled while infinitely close to the Door of Life and Death.
"Where is it?!" First Supreme Elder could no longer sit still. She was observing something… and that something disappeared. It wasn't an abrupt disappearance. For some reason, First Supreme Elder felt distracted and by the time she realized this playful scheme, it disappeared!
*Hisss*
A long hiss whipped up gusts of wind picking fallen leaves off the thoroughly unrecognizable forest as the desolate beast opened its maw, exposing its two massive and sharp fangs.
It was over.
When observed closely, even a gu master without necessary investigation gu worms could notice dozens of precious gu worms hiding inside the desolate beast's mouth, especially around these two venomous fangs. There were several Shadow Sword, Poison Dragon, Brilliant Nine-Colored Rainbow Lance, Shadow Tentacles, Shadow Dragon, Poison Pit, and other gu worms.
Surprisingly, all these gu worms suddenly activated as if they took offense with Lo Jik's existence, attacking his defenseless body.
*Fwish*
The destroyed forest lit brightly as a sun-like brilliance erupted out of Lo Jik like an unstoppable river, shooting out at the desolate beast's fangs! It smacked against the poison dragons, tearing them apart. The brilliance of the attack disintegrated the shadow dragons. It flicked away the lances and crushed poisonous pits. It coiled the tentacles before flinging them before reaching the fangs instantly!
They were hands!
Lo Jik slowly looked up, his eyes glowing sharply. His gaze sharp and… playful.
"Look at what you've done to me."
His cold voice cut through the desolate beast's panicked hiss as it chomped down only to realize it could not bite off the sturdy arms formed from glowing strength qi!
Compared to the beast, Lo Jik was still minuscule. Even the outstretched hands barely clenched the very ends of the fangs.
"How foul."
Lo Jik spoke slowly.
"Hehehe."
He didn't fall. Instead, strength qi erupted around him, turning and twisting, becoming something tangible.
His body healed rapidly.
Even now, his right fist firmly held the pendant holding Chen Jiu's Heavenly Specter. It was undamaged. His remaining will prioritized Chen Jiu's safety, else he would have suffered even more damage due to the soul oath biding the duo.
Rank 4 Self Strength Gu.
Rank 4 Little Giant Bone Bow Gu.
Rank 4 Dragon Travel Tiger Steps Gu.
Rank 4 Self-Reliance Gu.
Rank 4 Strength Qi Gu.
Rank 5 Borrow Strength Gu.
Rank 5 Water Strength Gu.
Rank 5 All-Out Effort Gu.
Rank 5 Little Giant Emperor Gu.
Lo Jik couldn't only maintain this killer move due to his wisdom path attainment and Brave Will. It was also due to two other reasons. First, he possessed Great Strength True Martial Physique. It elevated the quality of the brave will he created because this wisdom path gu also possessed strength path effect. Second, his strength path gu worms related to the killer move were all instilled with brave will!
But something changed.
Lo Jik regained his consciousness and recognized himself for who he was.
No longer did he conjure something grotesque.
The process might seem long, but it was instantaneous.
All-Out Effort Gu conjured water dragon strength phantom, and the Self Strength Gu summoned a lifelike phantom resembling Lo Jik containing the power of his remaining strength path beast path phantoms. Under the effects of Strength Qi and Little Giant Emperor Gu, strength qi exploded wildly, forming a divine entity around Lo Jik. His movement, healing, and long-range gu worms completed few other parts of the puzzle. Borrow Strength Gu fortified the figure by extracting the strength of merciless tides and deep ocean through Rank 4 Water Strength Gu.
Every piece clicked. The effects were even better due to Lo Jik's extreme physique.
Lo Jik chose to enhance his body using water dragon strength phantom among other beasts through Fickle Heart Strength Gu due to this very killer move! It resonated with his movement gu worm, which was important for Lo Jik.
Lo Jik was no longer helpless.
He learned many things and experienced the taste of innovation. His foundation crystalized into an essence not long ago.
A gu worm.
An invention that no longer relied on his teachers.
A gu worm similar to the many gu worms Lo Jik witnessed and experienced—the kind that could change the scene of the gu world. Like Du Min Jun's A Bit of Star Gu series.
Like Blood Sea Ancestor's Blood Skull Gu.
Glorious Gacha Demon's Human Adaptive Qi Gu.
Grey Bone Scholar's Flesh Bone Unity.
It was Lo Jik's Rank 5 Accumulation Gu.
The cobra shrieked as intense light erupted from Lo Jik. The entirety of the massive formation brightened, forcefully making others close their eyes even at a distance!
Rank 5 Killer Move: Self Dharma.
*Crack*
Desolate Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra's painful shriek shook the ground and sky as two large thuds echoed in the vicinity.
Every gu immortal watched wide-eyed, unable to process what they witnessed! The intense light might force mortals to shy away, but they were gu immortals. They possessed many gu worms and effortlessly peered through the sun-like intensity, noticing two white hills lying near the writhing cobra.
White hills…
They were the desolate beast's venomous fangs!
"Sigh. You're a beast. What would you know?" Lo Jik's relaxed voice echoed as the intensity of the light decreased. He was surrounded by flame-like white strength qi that was tangible from the outside. His stamina was in a state of furious regeneration, putting his extreme physique's greatest trait to its maximum use, as this killer move extracted every ounce of strength from the body.
This killer move was nothing like the monstrous apparition the insane Lo Jik formed.
"I had to remove the killer move before using it again. Can you imagine the backlash I would suffer if I just ended it without preparations?"
Lo Jik chuckled, already dressed. He grabbed the white gourd on his waist and drank a mouthful of spring water before smacking his lips. The spring water no longer tasted bitter.
"Hehehe… get up. Or cry all you want. I'll wait."
Lo Jik smiled peacefully. He was still floating in midair. But he wasn't flying.
Covering Lo Jik was a tall and valiant figure. Earlier, his use of the killer move was limited because it was the will inside his body activating it. It could not expend too many thoughts.
But Lo Jik was whole again.
A figure as tall as sixty meters oozed dignity and elegance. It did not look like a half-boiled dragon. Instead, the figure looked very human and resembled Lo Jik. Two noticeable bangs on the figure's forehead were especially long, floating like celestial ribbons or dragon's whiskers. From the sides of its head grew two sharp horns and a reptilian tail with a jagged spine swished behind the figure, connected to the base of the spine.
The claws extending from the limbs were sharper and more dangerous than before.
The Self Dharma did not roar or cry. Instead, the figure had a tranquil smile.
The de-fanged desolate beast suddenly launched itself at Lo Jik.
"Good!"
He laughed and moved. Unlike before, the killer move did not reveal strange movements or act differently than Lo Jik. It followed his will and body movements.
*Pah*
The tail behind Lo Jik shot out in a nimble fashion before whipping the snake's face as a tremendous force sent mountainous desolate beast flying!
Earth shook unceasingly as the beast crashed and destroyed a small section of land inside the formation!
"Hmm."
A low and satisfying hum vibrated from Lo Jik's Self Dharma.
He felt powerful.
He truly felt powerful.
"This…" Bai La was tongue-tied.
The hearts of a few gu immortals with low battle strength trembled at the sight of Lo Jik's might.
It was a desolate beast!
A damn desolate beast!
But the exceptional gu immortals among the group also felt relieved.
"It's still at the mortal level and very close to the immortal level. A half-immortal level battle strength."
Heavenly Informant observed and commented softly.
"Hmph! I've grown tired of this little demon!" He Bang suddenly made his move. Bai La was alert. She also decided to make her move—
A terrible pressure descended on all the gu immortals present inside Reincarnation Battlefield. He Bang lost control of his killer move as he coughed several mouthfuls of blood before yelping fearfully!
Nobody could move!
They could only observe.
Suddenly, the manipulators of this great event were reduced to spectators. Even Bai La and Mi Yao weren't spared as their hearts shook with fear and caution. An expert among rank 7 gu immortals, Heavenly Informant was no better.
Shang Mi Zhu gritted his teeth as this lump of emotion almost dissipated.
"Who?!"
A gu immortal roared but they heard no reply. The pressure on them all merely intensified as if reminding them of their lower status.
But the gu masters inside the formation were untouched.
"Again!"
Lo Jik no longer waited. The massive phantom exploded with the cry of a dragon as it tore through space and appeared before the Desolate Beast. A killer move that incorporated healing, offense, defense, and movement! Lo Jik couldn't fly when using this killer move, but his current speed should suffice.
He struck with his claws, tearing off a scale. The beast was still incredibly huge compared to the sizable dharma phantom.
Brilliant light glowed around the desolate beast, protecting it. These were the defensive gu worms on its body. Alas, Lo Jik couldn't use his investigation gu worm without deactivating the killer move.
On the other hand…
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
Lo Jik didn't need to do any of that. His attacks tore apart even the most stubborn of the defensive gu worms with a strike each.
"A desolate beast is as good as the gu worms on its body." The corner of Smoke Earth's eye twitched as he also watched the transmission regarding Lo Jik abusing a desolate beast. It would be a different matter if the desolate beast had human intelligence. Even from this distance, Smoke Earth knew a better chance was to seek the weakness of the killer move before engaging in battle IF he was that mortal's peer.
The desolate beast might possess more gu worms, but a killer move elevated the use of the few gu worms to a state of art, creating profound effects that gu worms ordinarily couldn't match. The defensive gu worms on the beast were rare and powerful, but they were unable to display any meaningful resistance before quickly leaving the desolate beast's body after suffering injuries.
"This killer move has great power. Its backlash must also be terrible. No wonder Lo Jik acted half-dead and used that chance to properly deactivate his killer move before using it after regaining his sanity." Another gu immortal above Deep Mirror Valley analyzed. None of the gu immortals above Spirit Affinity House's public blessed land noticed how their peers inside Reincarnation Battlefield were experiencing a wave of paralyzing pressure.
"Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra's true strength lies in its strength to constrict the enemies. But why would any sane individual allow themselves to—"
They all stopped discussing, observing how Lo Jik stopped and allowed the maddened desolate beast to constrict him before effortlessly breaking through and continuing his beating!
"A top-notch mortal killer move…"
Someone sighed.
Most rank 5 gu masters never found a rank 5 gu worm, or the ones they gained were not suitable to their needs. Meanwhile, it was even more challenging for a rank 6 gu immortal to obtain an immortal gu worm. The circumstances were better for the gu immortals who joined one of the Ten Ancient Sects. However, other gu immortals could experience their entire lifetime without a single immortal gu worm. As such, they innovated and raised the strength of their mortal killer moves. Desolate Shadow Scale Tiger Cobra did not possess human intelligence and couldn't form killer moves to counter Lo Jik. Its huge strength may leave other rank 5 gu masters helpless. The amount of rank 5 gu worms on its body would also kill many talented rank 5 gu masters and leader. Against Lo Jik, however, it was just an oversized snake. It posed no threat. The combination of his killer move and extreme physique was simply unfair.
It was already a top-notch killer move before being used by Lo Jik. Now? Lo Jik had to hold back!
Gu Immortals possessed unlimited primeval essence. They could make killer moves from thousands of gu worms. However, the upper ceiling of these killer moves never reached the same level as a killer move using an immortal gu worm's strength. But exceptions existed. An uncountable number of geniuses dotted the river of time, their appearance marked in the past and soon to be encountered in the future.
"One more step ahead and this killer move would reach the level similar to White Bone Carriage," A gu immortal mused.
"You give this demon too much credit. How could he compare to Proud Bone Demon Lord?"
"Hmm. Even Proud Bone Demon Lord's White Bone Carriage wasn't complete when he was a mortal. But rumors suggest that its great power helped him advance and become a gu immortal before he completed the killer move and attained power similar to an immortal gu worm."
Everyone of their level knew about Proud Bone Demon Lord.
Shen Jie Ao was known as Proud Bone Demon Lord. He was a person whose talent was outstanding and shocking. When he became a Rank 6 Gu Immortal, he lacked a Rank 6 Gu. He came up with a killer move known as "White Bone Chariot." The White Bone Chariot consisted of many Rank 5 Gu, such as the White Bone Wheel, and had power comparable to a Rank 6 Immortal Gu. By the virtue of his ingenuity, Shen Jie Ao reached Rank 6 realm and made his killer move "White Bone Battlefield" famous in the Gu World; it was a killer move that combined 3 Immortal Gu's power, it was even more powerful than White Bone Chariot. He used killer move White Bone Battlefield to dominate the Gu World, killing an uncountable number of Gu Immortals as his fierce name spread wide, causing the righteous path to feel helpless.
Some accounts, however, suggest that Shen Jie Ao only completed this great killer move after becoming a gu immortal.
One thing was unquestionable.
White Bone Chariot was the only publicly known mortal killer move with the strength of an immortal gu.
Lo Jik's talent and current performance was outstanding. But many gu immortals inherently scoffed at the idea of such a legend repeating before their very gazes.
"Hehe. So what if he kills that Softy He's useless creature? That demon is still trapped inside the formation. If he tries killing the gu masters maintaining the formation, he will activate our traps."
Few gu immortals thought secretly.
They were already prepared if Lo Jik tried attacking the disciples controlling the formation.
Spirit Affinity House's gu immortals were also aware of this scheme after investigating things. They worried for Lo Jik, their desire to retain this talent shooting though the roof.
"What do you think, Elder Feng?" Smoke Earth smiled calmly. Even he paid some attention to a rank 7 gu immortal of Feng Jiu Ge's ability. He had to.
"About his killer move?" Feng Jiu Ge hummed, neither appearing submissive before a rank 8 gu immortal or unnecessarily proud. His gaze was gentle, knowing, and reminiscent.
The current Lo Jik was different. It was like looking at a reflection.
"Demons of his kind are known to surprise the masses."
Feng Jiu Ge didn't shift his gaze from Lo Jik.
"Defiance of common sense is their greatest trait."
*Riiipppp*
Lo Jik's claw pierced and slid through one end of the cobra's mouth, opening a massive wound before he dug inside, scraping out its flesh, bones, and brain!
Feng Jiu Ge narrowed his eyes.
"At this moment, only one individual can resolve this dispute between us gu immortals."
Other gu immortal's expression changed as they understood this point.
Look at them all.
Peerless!
They were all gu immortals, standing miles above the mortal realm, overlooking it with indifference.
However, it is also a mortal who could change this stalemate!
"He did it…" Sun Yao gaped, her small mouth wide open in shock.
"Brother Lo Jik…" Qin Juan's gaze brimmed with tears of relief.
"No. It's still not done." Feng Jin Huang comprehended these situations better, her gaze laser-focused on the figure lying languidly and enjoying spring water from a conspicuous white gourd with a golden sun marking.
<<<>>>
Blue Saint Fog Camp was nearly ruined. Walls and buildings were broken, and Shu Zhe used all the methods left by the previous legacy disciples. Their numbers were cut short as nearly hundred disciples huddled together, maintaining their fierce assault while surrounded by beast kings and mutated beasts.
Even Ju Lin perished in the battle.
Shu Zhe's bodies were filled with injuries. She was mentally exhausted and dying at this stage didn't only mean losing her gu worms but suffering injuries to her soul due to how draining her survival was until now.
Her body shook as she felt the ground shudder every other second.
A glowing figure peeked from the dark horizons, dragging a massive beast.
The four-sect allied army also noticed this emergence, feeling great shock.
Their will to battle shattered as the figure grew closer.
The four elders glanced at each other and stopped their offense. Their main objective was never to exile Spirit Affinity House but capture Lo Jik.
"Retreat! This great demon must never escape the formation!"
"Retreat! Retreat! Use every ounce of your strength to protect the disciples maintaining the formation!"
"His end is near! Let's give our all and protect our valiant disciples!"
"Everyone will be rewarded great merit if we hold this demon here!"
Lo Jik's Self Dharma moved even when he didn't move inside. Instead, he floated within in a lazy posture.
The ground shook again as Lo Jik dropped the corpse, his chuckle booming through the phantom's mouth.
"Well done holding until now. Everyone of you will enjoy a pound of this desolate beast's flesh."
The disciples dropped to their knees, laughing and crying at the same time, exhausted beyond belief. But they all felt fulfilled!
Lo Jik looked further away, his gaze turning sincere.
The earlier cold detachment no longer reflected in his eyes. Instead, there was something far more titillating for Shu Zhe when she held Lo Jik's gaze.
'He is a demon indeed.' She knew it at once. Not only that. He was a demon of great capacity, cruelty, talent, and impact.
"Did you wait too long?"
Lo Jik couldn't use other gu worms while maintaining this killer move. However, he didn't care and laughed. His words contained his apology and expectations.
Shu Zhe felt relieved. Love could warm even a stone-hearted woman like her. She felt her vision swim and shake as she also nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
"Just a bit."
She transmitted using a gu worm, not left with enough strength to speak.
"Hmm."
Lo Jik nodded.
"I'm here."
He slowly stood up and observed the four camps before sneering. As if he could fall for such a scheme. Even if he wasn't a wisdom path grandmaster, the other elders were also drained from the battle, and their acting couldn't compare to his skills.
The four elders wanted Lo Jik to feel threatened by the disciples maintaining the formation. This formation was clearly the work of the gu immortals. Wasn't it also possible for them to lay more traps?
Lo Jik ignored these four camps and looked at the pitch-black sky.
Such a thing would leave mortals helpless.
In those floating orbs…
Lo Jik saw himself.
Recollections of his past helplessness reflected in those eerie orbs.
He was helpless and couldn't reveal his true strength. Mo Yan died because he drove her to become an elder. It was his desire for better rewards. His helplessness also influenced his need for rewards as he once manipulated Mo Yan and felt remorse only after her death.
He was helpless against mortals. He feared forming attachments with mortals because they were too weak. Once, it was a sign of his detachment. Now, it revealed his weakness. He wanted to be free to do anything. If he was truly able and skilled, what harm could ever fall upon someone he chose to protect?
Convenient kindness? What a bunch of horseshit! That convenience was also a form of helplessness!
Why couldn't Lo Jik do whatever he liked? Why couldn't Lo Jik feel disgusted by things he didn't like?
If he wanted to help a beggar become a gu immortal, then nothing should get in his way! What was more convenient than being strong and resourceful?
He hid with Bai Ning Bing and survived the battle between First Gen Gu Yue and Lord Sky Crane. He was helpless against them.
Now? He could fart on them and the pressure itself would kill them.
He was helpless and refused to form any meaningful bond with Xin Ci, defying the flames of appreciation and interest burning in every cell of his body.
Helpless…
Helpless…
Helpless!
His life was filled with helplessness.
Even now, Lo Jik would have fallen to this state of helplessness had it not been for his decisions.
'I finally reached this stage.'
He smiled wistfully.
'I met all of you. I resolved my demons.'
He gazed deep into the darkness longingly.
His heart shuddered.
'This formation?'
A strange chill spread through Lo Jik's Self Dharma as his chuckle echoed throughout the formation.
"Just this?"
His deep voice rumbled.
"Not enough. Not enough."
"No cage is big enough."
The formation shook at his words, as if becoming alive. The pale grey orbs flew swiftly, collecting in one spot and taking on a new shape. This change shocked the gu immortals! The formation left the disciple's control and the will of the gu immortals in these disciples was forcefully extracted before being fused into this lump!
Its color changed and thick clouds gathered above this lump, rumbling loudly.
A gigantic bow materialized in Self Dharma's hand as Lo Jik drew the string and formed a pillar-like massive arrow!
"Has he gone mad?"
"Too overconfident."
"Sigh, I expected too much from him."
The observing gu immortals showed varying reactions. They meticulously prepared this formation. It had great regeneration and only something beyond the mortal realm could destroy it.
"This is the demon who could surprise us?" A gu immortal laughed at Feng Jiu Ge.
However, the reaction shared by the gu immortals within Reincarnation Battlefield was the opposite. They were still stuck in a place as they felt their surroundings tremble with excitement. They lost control of the formation and watched in horror as the lump of light took the shape of a massive crane and a long blood serpent!
They could feel a great change on the horizon.
Lo Jik stared at the black sky and the obstructions between him and freedom, no longer feeling helpless as he maintained the position.
He smiled softly.
Some pale orbs flew down. Lo Jik saw his happiest memories reflect in those orbs. They didn't take the shape of any animal but formed into vague specters.
These specters moved at different paces, moving around Lo Jik.
Dancing…
Shu Zhe's gaze turned misty as she couldn't help but feel a sense of deep affection from these specters.
These vague figures were dancing passionately; their lives revolved around Lo Jik. They existed to revere him and to exalt him.
Lo Jik observed everything but controlled the sense of desire in his heart. His expression turned indifferent. This indifference was not the emotionlessness of the heart but a sense of freedom from happiness and sadness. His heart was filled with something vast and unending, a pool of emotion deeper and richer than the primeval essence in his apertures.
Its surface did not ripple with happiness or sadness.
He was complete.
His heart threatened to burst with love and heal all his wounds at the same time.
Even death could not change his heart.
Demise and parting could not shake his emotions.
He was insignificant compared to the natural forces of the world. However, his heart remained steadfast.
It was a mysterious but enchanting feeling.
The air around him trembled with barely contained excitement. The specters dancing around him grew even more passionate!
It infected everyone around the giant except the draconic self dharma.
*Thwack*
A soft sound echoed as Lo Jik let the arrow loose.
"Will he…"
Feng Jin Huang leaned forward.
"It must!" Qin Juan clenched her fists.
'It's useless.' Heavenly Informant was confident in the formation despite these changes.
"Overconfident!" Even Fairy Yi shook her head, lamenting Lo Jik's brashness and arrogance.
"Well, righteousness will prevail again." Smoke Earth smiled slightly.
"It's going to break," Shu Zhe prayed as the arrow zoomed upward.
"Of course, righteousness will prevail." Feng Jiu Ge nodded.
"He may be a demon, but he is Spirit Affinity House's member…" Xu Hao muttered under his breath.
'This kid…' Bai La also shook.
*Fwish*
*Crack*
It was an extremely soft sound. The glowing arrow effortlessly dispersed the mountain-sized crane and serpent before destroying the rumbling cloud filled with heaven's just fury. It didn't slow down. Instead, it grew more powerful! The arrow simply pierced through the formation without any fanfare, the dark sky unable to offer any resistance! It tore through like knife punching though a thin sheet of paper.
The four disciples maintaining the formation suffered backlash and perished as the formation withered at a pace visible to the naked eye. The dark sky broke apart like a shattered glass phasing out of existence.
This was Accumulation Gu!
A mortal killer move with the strength of an Immortal Gu!
A battle strength that surpassed half-immortal combat power!
A mortal who surpassed immortals!
The air trembled to such heated excitement it may as well have caught fire as a strange power pulled Lo Jik. His killer move ended and he felt extremely satisfied. He drank from his gourd while feeling like he was floating. The figures dancing around him followed, dancing wantonly.
He was…
He was floating!
However, others' shocked cries fell to a deaf ear.
At this moment, all the traces of doubts, remorse, and confusion thoroughly vanished. He felt drunk.
A sweet fragrance blanketed the entirety of Reincarnation Battlefield. Everyone, including the gu immortals, felt tipsy. They recalled their most intense memories. Some cried and some laughed. Shu Zhe recalled her father before that image was replaced with the tender moments she shared with Lo Jik. Tears began to trickle down her eyes as she held a happy smile.
"Unchained and decorated, I lay shattered."
Lo Jik whispered softly, but his words spread far and wide. His eyes remained closed, and he drowned in the sensation of the sweet wine.
"Drinking wine, I am anew."
"In my heart remains secrets of love known to few."
The wine's fragrance intensified.
His figure floated past the shocked gu immortals. Growling, the gu immortals fought against the pressure before noticing it disappearing out of existence.
"Attack!"
"Now!"
"Kill him!"
"Don't let him mature!"
They were all terrified of the mystery around Lo Jik. Terrifying immortal killer moves were unleashed at once. Even Bai La and Mi Yao were unable to stop the mob.
Heavenly Informant's attack was, surprisingly, not the most devastating.
"Give her back!"
Shang Mi Zhu's emotion howled in a crazed manner as it broke down while launching itself against Lo Jik. A terrifying pressure oozed from his body, shocking everyone. This killer move could effortlessly destroy their attacks.
It was a killer move left by a rank 8 gu immortal.
This change surprised Heavenly Informant more than Lo Jik's strange circumstances because he was unable to see-through Shang Mi Zhu earlier despite his information path attainment.
They watched a strange scene materialize around Lo Jik. His wine gourd flew out and broke apart, releasing sweet fragrance.
Waves after waves of golden amber condensed around Lo Jik, forming into a golden lake. This golden lake was the source of intense fragrance. It was unexpectedly a top-quality sweet wine! However, it also absorbed all their attacks!
All the killer moves, including Shang Mi Zhu's suicidal attack, was unable to create any ripples in the golden lake.
"Today I defy immortals."
"Tomorrow I'll defy fate."
His ascension stopped only when the gu immortals were forced to look up to him as despair clutched their hearts. The dancing specters flew into the center of the lake before diving in. A strange resonance hung in the air before something rose from that very spot. From within the lake bloomed a… something.
The nearby gu immortals' expressions changed. They all felt their immortal gu worms trembling unceasingly!
It was an immortal gu worm!
The sight of this immortal gu worm, however, was different.
Bai La saw a metal sword.
Heavenly Informant saw a scroll of secrets.
Shang Mi Zhu's remnant emotion surprisingly witnessed the phantom of his mother before it dissipated out of existence with a reluctant roar!
All these gu immortals perceived something else, too.
An otherworldly aura hung around this figure or item situated in the center of the lake a few centimeters from Lo Jik.
But his eyes were still closed. He was in a world of his own, feeling exceptionally tranquil, bold, and defiant.
"In this pool of love and wine, my only companion is…"
Lo Jik slowly opened his eyes.
He cared not for the pool of wine or the amber sky. Before him bloomed a tender white lotus. Inside this lotus lay a delicate figure. She had dark skin and golden eyes.
Feeling Lo Jik's gaze, the figure opened its eyes and sat up. The ends of its feet were connected to the white lotus. Its eyes were bright with curiosity and boundless affection.
"You."
Lo Jik's drunken vision changed as the aura of another immortal gu worm shocked the gu immortals. He disappeared alongside the pool of golden wine.
***
A/N: As I promised, only first two volumes ended in defeat because this is RI. But constant defeat is also boring. I hope you guys enjoyed the ride until now and thank you so much for all your support!
I also would like to admit I constantly toyed with the ending of this volume to make it the most satisfying one until the run of this fanfic and satisfying factor was the only reason I decided in letting Love Gu acknowledge Lo Jik.
My earlier idea was to let Lo Jik surpass Love Gu's fickle play and then become colder and more like Fang Yuan. But I read a few early chapters and changed that decision. Lo Jik will never be interesting enough if I follow the Fang Yuan route. Fang Yuan wants eternal life because that's an objective that makes sense.
For making Lo Jik follow the same goal, the drive needs to make sense. Lo Jik doesn't just look at beauties and sees them as piles of shit whether due to his trait or his nature. As written previously, he chose not to form attachments with mortals because deep down he felt helpless. All his bravado about being in control and moving on was shattered and restructured. So, what drive would allow Lo Jik to focus on eternal life, too?
I think it would be endless enjoyment, satisfaction, or tranquility. But I would start going a little soft-handed on internal emotions after this volume for some duration because trying to state everything instead of 'showing' has its disadvantages. It worked now, I think… hopefully, because it's the first time we got a deep dive into Lo Jik, including Nina, who now the Love Gu takes after. However, to do so in volume 4 is… ugh, boring?
Anyway, this is a wrap!
As volume 3rd stated, Lo Jik now has one body, two aperture, and three paths (Human, Strength, and Refinement) to a very high degree!
I hope this climax was enough to make you excited for Volume 4, titled—
The Legends of Celestial Wolf King and Fickle Consort Immortal.
***
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