Lo Jik stayed inside his cultivation room. Sources of orange light flashed in the room. These strangely glowing orange fist-shaped entities flew around Lo Jik. The entire room was lit a bright orange, densely populated by these thoughts. Indeed, these were the thoughts modified from Rank 4 Brave Thoughts Gu. Due to the resonance with his extreme aptitude, these thoughts were extremely sturdy and when they struck each other, these thoughts released loud and eerie noise of two fists crushing each other's bones. These thoughts could surprisingly interact with the real world and had power comparable to an adult's punch with their entire weight behind them. However, the collision of these thoughts didn't destroy them completely.
Some thoughts combined, transforming into a sturdier fist filled with complicated ideas. Some thoughts scattered into smaller and nimbler brave thoughts, left with simple plans and basic ideas.
However, Lo Jik's control over hundreds and thousands of these thoughts would surprise any spectator.
A gu master's will required reinforcement from specialized gu worms to be able to exist in the real world. As such, a modified will using wisdom path gu worms often stayed inside the gu master's minds or, rarely, replaced the gu master's natural will inside the gu worms. But thoughts were different. Though fickle and not as long-lasting as wills, thoughts were more versatile in their immediate use.
Lo Jik's control over thoughts and will reached a level beyond art since he became wisdom path grandmaster. His skills and understanding reached an exquisite realm. Even if he did not have any wisdom path teacher, he could steadily fill the gaps with constant practice and rapid understanding of the path.
Dreamer Gu offered Lo Jik a shortcut in understanding true essence of different paths, to explore Great Dao incapable of being described with words alone. Meanwhile, others spent years researching, nurturing, and using the dao fragments within the gu worms, constantly accumulating their understanding and insights to grasp traces of the truth.
It was difficult and challenging to walk the path of accumulation, but it was a child's play for Lo Jik to deduce various uses and hidden secrets about different dao under the Great Dao because his attainment brought endless insights and inspiration.
Some inspiration led to dead ends. However, most of his ideas led to success, some modest and others outstanding.
By now, Lo Jik could pass off as a seasoned wisdom path gu master with decades of experience. He only lacked the current studies and inheritances to maximize his potential.
However, wisdom path inheritances were very rare!
Chances of encountering or buying a complete inheritances were unlikely.
So what?
If Lo Jik could get this far without any other research material, he was confident in establishing a complete method himself. A path consisted of the formation of basic aspects such as offensive, defensive, movement, healing, concealment, support, and other types of gu worms. An inheritance consisted of these gu worms, relevant recipes, and skilled use of these gu worms aka killer moves.
Lo Jik's current control of thoughts already revealed he was walking the right path.
Why was he focusing on wisdom path?
Wisdom Path was initially found to understand the secrets of heaven and earth, to explore the Great Dao itself. Possessing such a realm of understanding of this path was crucial in the creation of Lo Jik's Rank 5 Accumulation Gu.
Refinement Path certainly covered many of the necessary aspects to make it easier for refining and researching new gu recipes. However, wisdom path was a major the source of insight and inspiration due to the ideas forming its foundation.
Soon, Lo Jik was left with two extremely dense and fortified brave thoughts.
He let out a tired breath.
Even more shocking aspect of his control was the fact his soul was no longer at the hundred-man realm. Earlier, his madness and constant injuries weakened his soul to a great extent. Even if his extreme aptitude flourished on monstrous regenerative ability and endless stamina, it did little to alleviate the stress on his soul.
Still, Lo Jik displayed the same skill as someone possessing a thousand-man soul!
Grasping deep essence of wisdom path allowed him to naturally avoid several pitfalls and polish his control to this level.
As for the two thoughts. They were filled with brave ideas and ridiculous notions.
Lo Jik's ambitions rose with his strength. Currently, he didn't shy away from targeting female gu immortals.
The two thoughts held different approaches.
The first thought laid out a complicated plan to nurture and groom several talented women and help them ascend to the gu immortal level before doing the deed with them. This plan contained many risks but also happened to be a more solid approach. Despite the natural risks during a gu master's ascension, Lo Jik only needed one successful strike.
Meanwhile, the second thought focused on the women who already advanced to Rank 6 gu immortal rank.
Even Feng Jin Huang's mother wasn't spared from his consideration. Feng Jiu Ge's fearsome reputation wasn't as much of an intimidating factor as Fairy Bai Qing's love for her husband itself. As it turns out, seducing happily married wives was extremely difficult unless Lo Jik could sow discord between the couple. But Feng Jiu Ge's impression on Lo Jik was lasting and profound. That man wasn't the kind to dismiss his wife's concern. Feng Jin Huang herself was the relatively stable product of the couple's peaceful and harmonious relationship.
'But what about Bai La?'
Lo Jik's gaze glimmered.
His thoughts drifted between Shu Ye to Bai La. Shu Ye was Shu Zhe's grandmother. Lo Jik's wife already confessed the truth about the hatred she shared with her grandmother. Lo Jik immediately comforted his wife, showing a strong attitude towards Shu Ye. He alleviated Shu Zhe's inner fear about the possibility of her toxic relationship with her grandmother scaring Lo Jik away.
But Bai La was different.
Bai La was doable.
Lo Jik exhaled and opened his eyes.
Forming a good relationship with Bai La first required Lo Jik to return to Hu Immortal Blessed Land. He couldn't leave the public blessed for a few more days until the commotion of being acknowledged by Love Gu passed. Of course, there was the other matter of everyone filling Lo Jik's residence with letter gu worms to discuss and understand his side of the story about killing a desolate beast!
As they say, experts notice the truth while amateurs focus on the performance.
Spirit Affinity House's disciples in Reincarnation Battlefield chalked up Lo Jik's arrow displaying the strength equivalent to an immortal gu worm to Love Gu Worm's interference. However, they paid a lot of attention to his act of slaying a desolate beast.
Lo Jik already stored the desolate beast's corpse and caught many gu worms on its body.
Meanwhile, his current popularity was due to the gu world's tradition of biographies.
Lo Jik's heaven-defying acts made him an enticing candidate for such a custom. Many interested information path gu masters wanted to record everything about this event. They interviewed the disciples returning from Reincarnation Battlefield and wanted to have a conversation with Lo Jik.
'I would rather have someone remember me for being a mortal who bedded a gu immortal.'
Lo Jik snickered impishly and focused on his current state.
The next logical step was to reach rank 5 peak stage with his first aperture before advancing as a gu immortal.
But his foundation still wasn't enough.
As stated before, Lo Jik's ambition rose with his strength and capability.
'I did not have Divine Concealment earlier. But this changes how I should advance as a gu immortal. I don't need to necessarily rely on Spirit Affinity House.'
Still, he did not consider adopting the life of a lone gu master.
Becoming part of the Ancient Sect had many benefits. If not for his trait, he would have persuaded Shu Zhe to leave with him. But becoming part of the ancient sect opened many possible connections for him. He wasn't even looking for someone to marry. He merely looked for ways to use his trait.
Naturally, the best targets were the fairies of his own sect!
'That aside, my foundation in human and strength paths still needs some polishing.'
His Self Dharma killer move combined offensive, defensive, movement, and healing effects. Lo Jik then studied this killer move and refined a gu worm tailor-made for this killer move—Rank 4 Little Giant Bone Bow Gu. Lastly, he added Rank 5 Accumulation Gu Worm to introduce a qualitative change to this killer move.
But it was riddled with weaknesses. Gu Immortals were all shrewd. How could they not notice the apparent weakness of this killer move against soul and wisdom paths?
Also, it had no flying gu worms. Lo Jik's movement was limited to the ground and rare jumps after precise calculations.
Lo Jik intended to modify and form a flying gu worm for this killer move. Ordinarily, a gu master would add a gu worm to cover their needs and then revise the killer move to reach the same stage. But it would increase the number of gu worm drastically.
Lo Jik, with his ridiculous attainment realms in different dao under the Great Dao, could achieve something less strenuous by refining a tailor-made gu for the killer move itself.
'But I still have a few unused strength path gu worms. I once thought about using Expend Strength Gu in a battlefield killer move. Earlier, I couldn't support the consumption of such a killer move. But an extreme aptitude's primeval essence regeneration should suffice.'
'There is also Bitter Strength. Self Strength Gu made Bitter Strength near obsolete for my use. I don't need to get injured to display my entire strength with Self Strength.'
However, Lo Jik wasn't eager to get rid of it. Just because Self Strength Gu fulfilled the use in a killer move didn't mean Bitter Strength Gu was useless. These rank 5 gu worms accrued to one's foundation and were necessary during the immortal ascension.
'Essentially, the more rank 5 gu worms I prepare by the time I advance as a gu immortal the better it is for my future. But I possess Great Strength True Martial Physique. I require a strength path gu immortal as my vital gu to advance as a gu immortal. Either I rely on the sect, or I wait.'
After all, Lo Jik possessed two apertures!
'I'm in no rush to advance as a strength path gu immortal. Earlier, I would rely on the sect if I did not possess Divine Concealment. But the risk of death has fallen to a minimum. Self Dharma is merely one killer move. To improve my foundation in strength path, not only should I try to become a strength path grandmaster but also devise other killer moves with specific effects—healing, soul defense, concealment, and such.'
'But it is no longer a priority.'
Lo Jik's thoughts shifted.
'Human path has been an outstanding addition to my arsenal, but I lack many fundamental aspects of this path.'
Rank 1 Anchor Mind Gu was a human path gu with wisdom path effects, capable of creating empty pockets in one's mind which allowed thoughts modified using different paths to move unhindered. But the space was limited, and the pocket was frail, easily destroyed if the gu master went overboard and overfilled it with thoughts beyond its limit.
Rank 3 Aperture Puncture Gu was a human path offensive gu worm. Lo Jik already formed two different variations of this gu worm. One of them was a one-time consumable gu. Meanwhile, the one he possessed was a gu worm that could be used at any number of times.
Rank 3 Leader and Follower Gu was a human path gu worm that came in a pair with enslavement path effects, capable of beguiling and earning trust of variant humans. It did not work on beasts or gu masters. It was one of Lo Jik's more crucial breakthroughs. Even if its effects were limited, Lo Jik stood to earn quite a lot by selling more cordial slaves.
Lo Jik also concluded the recipes for Rank 3-5 Fake Mind Gu. However, he feared his secrets being exposed and used failure in refinement of gu worms to mask the refinement of 'effects' of these gu worms. Once refined, Rank 5 Fake Mind Gu would be a one-time consumable gu capable of layering a life-like mind onto the real thing. The new layer would only be known to the gu master, and both the layers supported different mind modifications, allowing the first step into dual cultivation.
Rank 1-5 Human Adaptive Qi Gu was a human path storage gu worm, supporting travel in different continents.
Rank 4 Fickle Travel Gu was refined using Human Adaptive Qi Gu as the base, no longer being a one-time consumable gu worm and similarly a support-type human path gu worm.
Rank 4 Half Effort Gu was a human path support type gu worm, possessing similar effects to Liquor Worm series.
Rank 5 Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu was a human path gu with refinement path effects, achieving a stunning 100% success rate in the refinement of a gu worm!
Rank 5 Descendant Gu was strictly a human path lifespan extension method which could also be used as an offensive gu worm.
Rank 5 Fake Aptitude Gu was a human path storage gu, capable of concealing one's aptitude itself!
Then there were the human path clone type gu worms—eleven Dreamer Gu Worms, Refiner Gu Worm, Hairy Man Gu Worm, and a Rockman Gu Worm.
Lo Jik also possessed five Rank 5 Purple Relic Gu Worms, human path cultivation assistance gu worms.
Lastly, Rank 5 Accumulation Gu was a pure support-type gu worm, useless without other gu worms.
But Lo Jik's accumulation in human path didn't end here.
He possessed Rank 6 Divine Travel Immortal Gu and his vital gu—Hope.
Lo Jik's exploration of human path has been amazing, but it still lacked severely when compared to his strength path foundation. He didn't have any body refinement methods aside from Fake Mind Gu series.
Human Adaptive Qi Gu and Anchor Mind Gu Worms were already obsolete. Aperture Puncture Gu Worm was an outstanding offensive gu worm, but it was only ranked 3. He also lacked relevant defensive, healing, and movement gu worms.
Lastly, he had a great worry.
'Second Aperture's vital gu worm is likely not Hope Gu. What would I do if I rushed the immortal ascension with the assumption that it's a human path gu worm, only to be blindsided? My entire aperture would be destroyed for nothing, and my future potential will be halved.'
Lo Jik worked his jaw.
'The easiest thing to achieve right now is advancing Aperture Puncture Gu. I should focus on its recipe.'
Lo Jik was filled with inspiration regarding this aspect because he used blood path method to heal Shu Zhe. This method shared insight into human path through blood path. It was also useful for advancing Aperture Puncture Gu.
As for body refinement methods, Lo Jik had a solid direction in another gu worm he deemed to call Fake Soul Gu.
'So much to do.'
Lo Jik smiled after mapping out his workload.
He didn't immediately delve into work. Instead, he checked the time and rested. A specter emerged from the pendant in his pocket after a few minutes.
It was a soul modified using Rank 5 Heavenly Specter.
"How do you feel?" Lo Jik questioned calmly, lacking a notable reverence most mortals and gu masters would shower a Venerable with. Like everyone in the gu world, Lo Jik did not lack respect and awe for these children of the Great Dao. The venerables were ten invincible beings who led an era with incomprehensible might and talent. But they were all mortals like Lo Jik once. If they could reach that status, why couldn't Lo Jik?
Thieving Heaven floated quietly, his emotions complicated.
"How do I feel?" He sighed. "Directionless."
Lo Jik observed the peerless being.
'If I revive a venerable in Chen Jiu's body and fucked her, am I technically raping Chen Jiu?'
Lo Jik drew his bottom line against men, children, animals, and various acts of non-consent, including hypnosis. However, he was also flexible in several matters. He didn't share affection for those blessed with penis, but a man trapped in Chen Jiu's body was another matter.
His heart burned with curiosity about the rewards he stood to earn from a venerable.
'No. It's useless. Ignoring the ethical dilemmas around sleeping with someone in Chen Jiu's body, Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable is a man. Just because I would take Chen Jiu's ass for another ride doesn't mean Thieving Heaven shares the same intention and flexibility as me. It would be another matter if Love Gu had trapped Star Constellation Immortal Venerable in Chen Jiu's body.'
'Furthermore, Thieving Heaven is a mortal again. He is even weaker than me. And if I revive him, he will start from the beginning. I wouldn't wait for him to grow.'
"Directionless?" Lo Jik hummed without sitting up, his eyes closing again. "Should I give you a direction?"
His words were bold and objectively insensible.
"That would be unnecessary."
Thieving Heaven hummed.
"This soul and you are under the effect of some oath." She moved around, her sharp senses surprising Lo Jik. "It extends further from the limits placed on my stay outside the object housing this heavenly specter. I am restricted inside the pendant in your pocket from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. But that isn't all."
Lo Jik's eyes opened by a slit as he smiled coldly.
"To think great Thieving Heaven would insult my intelligence. Or is it because you were once meager will left behind by your main body without any future plans of survivability that you are trying to probe me in this fashion?"
He chuckled.
"It could also be because of the form you are restricted into. Heavenly Specter is not supported with a body and lacks a brain. Your thoughts generate at low number and at even slower intervals when compared to a human body."
"Thinking to a certain extend would have dissipated your will. But you are no longer a will. You have a chance to cultivate again. Are you that anxious?"
Thieving Heaven smiled calmly. She was indeed trying to probe. And the result left her satisfied. With just a few words, Lo Jik accurately displayed the depths of his wisdom path attainment instead of revealing any crucial clues. The only way the two could form any sort of understanding was by revealing their competence.
Thieving Heaven was undoubtedly competent! As such, much of this burden fell on Lo Jik.
"Anxious?" She drifted slowly. "I'm at your mercy but it wouldn't make me anxious."
"Why is that?" Lo Jik snickered.
"Because you have limited options." Thieving Heaven stopped drifting, her gaze filled with piercing wisdom.
"The original host of this soul and you formed some sort of a deal. No person in their right mind would enter this form of co-dependency without certain assurances. I already tried attacking you but failed and felt this apparition of a body tremble. I cannot attack you. Similarly, I believe you cannot intentionally harm me."
"It's all due to the original oath you two entered. I replaced this specter's mind and Love Gu modified the entirety of this soul to accommodate for my will. Now, it is you and I bound with that original oath."
"My situation, however, is worse. I'm unaware of the original terms of the oath. So, I'm also unaware if you can lie to me or not. I certainly can."
"All this leaves you with a few options. Or rather, it leaves us with a few options."
Thieving Heaven's bloodshot gaze sharpened.
"First, we either work together, entering a state of mutual benefits."
"Second, I reveal my true nature to others. I'm sure other gu immortals will drop all civility to learn my secrets even if it meant killing you, a gu master acknowledged by Love Gu."
"But I will only choose this option of mutual destruction if you try the third one."
Lo Jik sighed.
"And what is the third option?"
Thieving Heaven grew quiet and didn't answer. Her knowing gaze prompted Lo Jik to admit the truth.
"The third option is…" He nodded. "For me to find a way to break the effects of the oath gu and use slavery gu to enslave you. That is the path which benefits me the most. Since you are not a land spirit formed from an obsession but a will, you retain Thieving Heaven's talent and attainment. You might lack his memory, but it won't be hard to reverse refine Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's most outstanding recipes and replicate his feats."
"By doing this, you will be the first mortal to ever enslave a Venerable."
Thieving Heaven nodded, her words candid.
'Truly amazing. Her thoughts are not comparable to a regular human. But she already thought to this extent in just a short time without any gu worms.'
Lo Jik indeed planned on enslaving a demonic gu venerable! But his conversation with this 'offspring' left by the Venerable gave him a deeper insight into Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's dilemma.
Lo Jik and Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable kept staring at each other.
The former finally sat up and adopted a somber expression.
"You don't even remember your true name, right?"
Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's gaze slightly changed. Even she had to take Lo Jik seriously. She never considered Lo Jik to glean such a clue with one serious conversation. Indeed, her statement of being aimless was deeper than one might comprehend at once.
It was clear to her that Lo Jik's attainment in wisdom or information path was extraordinary even when he happened to be a strength path gu master.
"I was only left with information about the use of Divine Concealment."
'I can fix her.'
Lo Jik realized instantly. His earlier conclusions about being unable to do anything with this peerless existence were thrown out of the window.
Sure, he would never be able to seduce Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable who left gu immortals and organizations helpless as he stole what he liked right from under everyone's noses. But the being before him was not Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable.
She was something new.
Something he could mold if given enough time.
"I change my earlier proposition."
Lo Jik smiled sincerely.
"You don't need a direction. You require a name."
His words echoed in the quiet cultivation chamber.
"Would you like me to give you one?"
"You?" Thieving Heaven chuckled.
"I'm an otherworldly demon like your main body. I'm a wisdom path grandmaster, strength path master, refinement path master, and human path quasi-grandmaster."
Lo Jik listed his accomplishments before nodding calmly.
"Me."
Thieving Heaven grew silent before shrugging. She chuckled.
"Let's hear it."
Lo Jik closed his eyes for a few moments before smiling.
"Xin Cheng."
***
Alternate Title: Unhinged Lo Jik; Lo Jik After Surviving One Life-Death Battle: Looks for Another Female Gu Immortal to Rizz; Really Brave Thoughts; Bai La is Hundred Times Superior Compared to Shu Ye; Feng Jin Huang's Grandmother is in Danger; Lacking Foundation; Unneeded Sect; Divine Concealment?; Strength and Human; Strange Vital Gu Worm; Lo Jik's Entire Journey; Lo *I Can Fix Her* Jik; The Heart Aspires Venerable; Greedy Lo Jik; The Venerable that is Rizz; Not Reverence but a Future Erection; Lo Jik: You had my Awe, but now You have my Full Mast; Replaced Chen Jiu; Truly, Chen Jiu Must Fulfill her Fate of Dual Cultivation; Lo Jik: You Must Teach me Dual Cultivation Based on out Vow *Xin Cheng: Sigh. I only know this Type of Dual Cultivation (Hikes her Skirt)*; Takes a Real Manly Venerable to Make a Good Waifu; Not even Venerables are Safe in this Goon FF FR!; Star Constellation Counting her Lucky Stars; Love Gu: Star Constellation, Huh. Noted; Lo Jik's Next Wish: Reckless; Lo Jik About to Steal Xin Cheng's Ass; Wisdom Path and Rizz Should Have Never Worked Together!; Lo Jik: A Menace to Every Breedable Human; Heaven's Will Live Reaction Watching Two Heaven-Defying Otherworldly Demon Copulate Under Love Gu's Witness:… *Self-Detonates*; Lo Jik Getting His Own Biography *Fang Yuan Reading That New Shit: Hmm. Interesting.*
***
A/N: As usual, I rely on chat gpt to get my chinese names after entering what kind of names I'm looking for. Xin Cheng, according to Chatgpt, should mean New Direction/Path. But let me know if I got it wrong.
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