105. Within Jia
Yi Huo’s red hair was brighter than Shang Yan Fei’s, as if molded from flames instead of drenched in blood. Fair and handsome, not to mention a Peak Stage Rank 4 Gu Master, the masses revered Shang Yan Fei’s fifth general.
Blazing Inferno.
Yi Huo shared a similar origin to Wei Yang. They were both External Elders under Shang Yan Fei, who once ruled the Third Inner City Battle Stage. While Wei Yang was an expert Movement-Type Gu Master, forcing others to surrender and frustrating his enemies to no end, Yi Huo possessed fiery strength that destroyed every obstruction in its path, burning them to cinders!
Despite their similar origins, others considered Yi Huo above Wei Yang. Yi Huo was more talented and also displayed the potential to advance to Rank 5.
Alongside a small team of elites necessary to stabilize San Cha’s conflict, Yi Huo rushed through the valley, approaching San Cha Mountain at a breakneck pace. He was cautious and alert, firmly surrounded by the team of Rank 3 Gu Masters. The nights were dangerous in the Southern Border. There was always a chance of encountering a Worm Group. They had to be careful. After all, Yi Chong’s demise against a beast group—intentional or an assassination—served as a cruel reminder of Rank 4 cultivation not being above Mother Nature and the just heaven above all.
“Wait!” The Rank 3 Scout instantly stopped the group. He quickly reported to Yi Huo. “I sense a disturbance ahead, Elder Yi—”
*Phew*
A sharp sound cut through the air. Already alert and wary, the group instantly used several Defensive Gu Worms to create a protective dome around them. The white arrow ending with a deceptively black edge, probably to mess with the viewer’s depth perception during nightfall, was swift as Yi Huo noticed it stabbing against the dome.
*Crack*
The dome shattered like thinly-layered glass before the arrow instantly pierced three Gu Masters’ heads. As if losing its power, the arrow vanished beyond any trace!
“Bastard!” Yi Huo roared as he slapped his chest. A pillar of shocking flame brightened the sky and the surrounding valley as he punched out, razing the entire section of the forest into ashes!
However, there was no other movement.
The assaulter appeared swiftly, claiming lives before disappearing.
Yi Huo’s expression darkened, and his heart sank. Gritting his teeth, Yi Huo ordered the men to seal and store the corpses before moving ahead. It was dangerous to stop.
However, Yi Huo vowed to locate the hidden enemy. The proud Blazing Inferno could never accept such humiliation!
<<<>>>
99%!
Desolate’s gaze turned solemn. His aperture used to boast 98% A-ranked aptitude a few weeks ago. However, it rose by a notch. It was a divine boon that would have others jumping in joy. But Lord Desolate felt the opposite.
Light purple crystal essence shimmered inside his aperture, signifying his Rank 5 Initial Stage cultivation. Several Gu Worms lived inside the aperture.
‘Old Flaming Beard Keng arrived today, entering the competition in Jia Gui’s name. I can use his blood to refine the Rank 5 One More Day Gu to temporarily deal with the consequences of my aptitude peaking at 100%. Tie Ruo Nan’s and Fang Zheng’s addition was a surprise. Was it because of the butterfly effect? Fang Zheng wasn’t even supposed to be amongst the living.’
Lord Desolate quietly left his room and stood under the brilliant moonlight. His calm disposition merged with the greenery in his courtyard as he experienced the cold winds rustling his robes and white hair.
‘According to my memories, Divine Thief would soon join the Jia Clan Competition under a fake identity. I was worried the butterfly effect may somehow already have him here. However, I didn’t notice him. Exploring Jia Clan’s vault might become challenging once he arrives.’
Lord Desolate’s expression turned resolute.
He had extorted several precious Gu Worms from Jia Fu and had already prepared for his plan.
‘In my previous life, Divine Thief would infiltrate the Tie, Jia, Shang, Wu, and many other clans. He was a talented figure who became an Immortal during the Chaotic War of the Great Era. He even became a headache for the Ten Ancient Sects until Feng Jiu Ge personally struck. Furthermore, Feng Jiu Ge was talented enough to understand Divine Thief’s methods, broadcasting it to the world and creating unprecedented pressure on the mysterious Theft Path.’
Lord Desolate frowned.
‘But that wasn’t a selfless move from Feng Jiu Ge. The mysterious Lords of the Heavenly Court must have ordered him to do so to strike fear into the other four regions. Alas, Feng Jiu Ge died soon after, perishing inside Lang Ya Blessed Land.’
Due to the information Feng Jiu Ge broadcasted during his previous life, Lord Desolate knew many things, including a method to infiltrate clans like the Tie Clan.
‘Still,’ Lord Desolate’s heart grew calm. ‘Feng Jiu Ge did not manage to kill Divine Thief. The latter’s attainment in escape is nothing to scoff at.’ Cold killing intent bloomed in Lord Desolate’s gaze. ‘I would have tried snatching Lu Zuan Feng’s methods. But he likely learned his skills from his master, the Rank 7 Old Man Yue Xia. Attacking him means offending an Immortal. Even before that, I was not confident about capturing Lu Zuan Feng. Regardless, I shall stick to my plan.’
‘Divine Thief’s infiltration into the Jia Clan exposed a mysterious inheritance. That was the actual cause behind the Jia Clan’s extermination. Some Immortals were definitely involved in the mysterious inheritance pointing at the Time Path. Old Clan Leader Jia also secretly cultivated the Time Path. I would have aimed for San Cha Mountain’s immortal treasure if it wasn’t for my encounter with Gu Yue Zie Qi.’
Lord Desolate organized his thoughts before disappearing, leaving a visible fluctuation of rippling water surface.
He moved past the residence, beelining towards Jia Gui’s territory. Lord Desolate soon stopped and noticed visible ripples around his body. It was from the effect of Time Path Investigation Gu—Rank 4 Future Caution.
Future Caution was a series of Gu starting from Rank 3. When used by a Gu Master, it would create formless ripples around the user to caution them about getting caught by anyone’s sight should they continue traveling the same path. For instance, Lord Desolate realized that a Rank 2 Leaf Eye Gu melded into the bushes, acting as an ordinary leaf not far from his position. Indeed, the Rank 4 Future Caution also worked on Sight-Type Gu Worms. Of course, it wouldn’t notice the impact of a Rank 5 Gu Worm.
But Lord Desolate was prepared. Rank 4 Future Caution was merely the first of his defense.
He retrieved a crystal sphere from his Aperture. It was another Rank 4 Gu Worm.
Rank 4 Backtrack!
Similar to Future Caution, Backtrack started from Rank 3. As for its use…
Lord Desolate injected his essence into the Crystal Sphere, and colors bloomed inside the once-glassy orb. Figures moved within the orb, which soon displayed the exact scene Lord Desolate had looked through from the crystal ball.
First, Lord Desolate witnessed a Gu Master implanting a Gu inside the ground. The crystal-clear image allowed Lord Desolate to identify the Gu Worm as the Rank 2 Tremor Alarm Gu.
Then, he observed a female Gu Master using the Rank 2 Leaf Eye Gu. Surprisingly, it was the evening before. Not it was afternoon. As such, Lord Desolate began moving. He looked through the orb in different directions and identified several Investigative methods left behind. Of course, he expertly avoided every scouting Gu Master.
The Rank 4 Backtrack Gu displayed the movements of other organisms in reverse time!
Of course, it wasn’t infallible.
Lord Desolate neared the competitor’s residence and frowned. The Backtrack Gu suddenly displayed a green, shadowy figure. It couldn’t produce a clear image as the blurred figure waved his arm and planted Rank 4 Wooden Scout Gu.
As expected, Rank 4 Backtrack Gu couldn’t identify someone with a Rank 5 cultivation or Rank 5 Gu Worms.
‘Fang Zheng…’ Lord Desolate thought before gazing at the surrounding trees.
The Rank 4 Wooden Scout Gu were similar to limited clones. Fang Zheng could view the surroundings through the trees if they experienced an external phenomenon. These trees also became more sensitive.
‘Fang Zheng is like a Beast Emperor that attracts Wood Path Gu Worms. How outstanding would his circumstance become if he regains his aperture?’ Lord Desolate’s gaze flashed as he avoided the trees and successfully infiltrated the residence.
Backtrack Gu was extremely rare. However, the Rank 5 Gu became popular during the Chaotic War 500 Years later, so many researched its recipe to make its refinement more feasible. Lord Desolate possessed a recipe for Rank 3-5 Backtrack Gu that utilized relatively less uncommon materials.
Moving through the rooms, Desolate soon identified Rank 5 Middle Stage Old Flaming Beard Keng’s room.
Desolate momentarily repressed his exhale before setting several Gu Worms. Most were Rank 2, with a few being Rank 3 and 4. Then, Desolate retrieved a few other Gu. First was a familiar deep-purple, yellow-spotted caterpillar—Rank 4 Rewind Gu. Second was the Rank 5 Surging River. And the third was the Rank 5 Convert Time Gu.
Lord Desolate wasn’t the one who developed this formation.
A late Rank 4 Gu Master, Drifting Keng, developed this formation, earning massive victories over a few Rank 5 Gu Masters and shocking the Southern Border a century ago. Only the legends of the Three Kings surpassed his reputation.
Still Time River.
The formation brightened, releasing formless captivity into the room as Lord Desolate patiently waited.
Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into an hour.
Confident in the results, Lord Desolate entered the room.
Nothing felt out of the ordinary.
Only…
Lord Desolate noticed a corpse with bleeding orifices seated cross-legged on a cultivation mat with a peaceful expression. It was an eerie and ominous sight that would have everyone’s heart chilled with fear and horror.
‘Still Time River’ was a Rank 5 formation that sealed the flow of time for every living organism within a restricted area. It had three-fold effects—Still, Time, and River.
As the name suggested, the ‘Still’ effect restricted living being’s ability to experience time. They would enter an unmoved state, caught into a realm forcefully void of time.
Meanwhile, the second effect—Time, introduced contradiction to the first effect using Rank 3 Accumulation Gu. Ordinarily, pausing someone’s time was good enough to kill or capture others. However, Drifting Keng had little hope of advancing to Rank 5. To tackle opponents of Rank 5 Cultivation, Drifting Keng devised a way of accumulating what the individuals stopped in time would experience. Why? Because many Rank 5 Gu Masters possess Gu Worms that passively increase their defenses. Ordinary Rank 4 Gu Worms couldn’t scratch them. Once Drifting Keng attacked them, he had to kill his opponents, or they would recover and exterminate his clan! So, the second effect reintroduced time into the target’s system but collected what they would ordinarily experience—all their biological functions.
The third effect—River, sealed the deal. Once the Gu Master deactivated the formation, the accumulated time—the stored biological functions the body should have experienced—rushed through the target like a surging river. Rank 5 Surging River amplified the effects! Ordinarily, the Rank 5 Surging River created a massive jet of river out of nothing, crushing the enemy! However, using the Rank 5 Convert Time modified its use into a makeshift River of Time, amplifying the effects of the backlash!
Needless to say, the target’s body couldn’t handle an hour of biological function—further amplified by Rank 5 Gu—in a mere second. Their brains would cease to think, their hearts would implode, and their veins would tear apart!
In a way, it was a swift and peaceful death.
Old Flaming Beard Keng was an ugly man with yellow teeth, patches of facial hair, and oddly twisted wrinkles. However, he appeared gentle and peaceful as a corpse.
Still, Lord Desolate didn’t lose his wariness and observed the Rank 5 Gu Master’s corpse to ensure there weren’t any booby traps.
‘In my previous life, Drifting Keng’s inheritor was a righteous and somewhat inept individual who was accomplished in Time Path but not the ways of men. He publicly killed Old Flaming Beard Keng during the competition and used his body to refine a Gu. It was a demonic act. So, several Clans used it as an excuse to chase after Drifting Keng’s inheritor because they desired his inheritance.’
‘Heh, even before that… Drifting Keng was a pitiful fellow. Unlike his Elder Brother, he didn’t have the aptitude to become Rank 5. However, Old Flaming Beard still envied his younger sibling’s talent. But that is fine. I could only get this inheritance due to Flaming Beard’s greed.’
Lord Desolate later stored Old Flaming Beard Keng’s body to refine the One More Day Gu. Staying here for more than necessary was ill-advised.
Since assassinating Old Flaming Beard Keng was merely the start of his night, Lord Desolate soon returned to Jia Fu’s territory and infiltrated the depths of Jia Clan’s Ancestral Pavilion.
Every Clan in the Southern Border possessed an Ancestral Pavilion used by an active Clan Leader as their residence. Every Ancestral Pavilion housed the Clan’s treasury and sometimes the Spirit Spring.
Lord Desolate wasn’t interested in these two—momentarily.
He prioritized discovering the entrance of the mysterious inheritance that was the cause of Jia Clan’s rise.
Sneaking down the well-developed cave, Lord Desolate ignored the heavily guarded treasury and moved further. He moved along a complicated path based on his memory before reaching a dead-end. Of course, Jia Clan secured its underground entrances using the Rank 4 Diamond Earth Gu, preventing others from effortlessly digging into their base and catching them off-guard.
However, Lord Desolate smiled.
Rank 5 Surging River.
Rank 5 Convert Time.
Rank 4 Rewind.
Killer Move—Surging Rewind.
Jia Fu would have coughed a mouthful of blood had he witnessed Lord Desolate use the Gu he provided to nullify the effects of the Rank 4 Diamond Earth Gu. Again, Convert Time was a miraculous Gu that converted the effects of a Water Path Gu into a Time Path Gu! It was the core of Drifting Keng’s inheritance—the essential Gu in dual cultivating Water and Time Paths!
A formless river impacted the dead end, washing away the effects of Diamond Earth before turning soft and damp.
Nodding, Lord Desolate stopped the Killer Move and snapped his fingers. He activated the ordinary consumable Rank 3 Silent Room and Absorb Tremors Gu Worms before waving his hand.
*Whoosh*
The Rank 5 Surging River displayed its tremendous might as vapors condensed into a mighty, ceaseless river that tore into the cave’s dead end. The Rank 3 Silent Room and Absorb Tremors Gu Worm dealt with the deafening crashing nose alongside the grand quakes as Lord Desolate soon revealed an old and ancient path!
The extended path was already wet due to the effects of the Surging River, as puddles formed over the old dents in the passage. Water dripped from the ceiling as Lord Desolate couldn’t help but sniff the staleness emanating.
After confirming nobody followed him, Lord Desolate sealed the passage with the consumable Rank 2 Air Tight Gu. That would hold back the stale scent for three days.
Lord Desolate calmly stepped inside. Turning around, he used another consumable Gu—Rank 3 Illusive Earth Wall.
With his preparations complete, he could temporarily venture inside the Inheritance site before returning to the surface.
‘Old Leader Jia rose to Rank 5 due to this inheritance. I will eventually snatch the remaining Gu from Jia Fu and the Jia Clan’s treasure. However, there was more. Divine Thief later discovered another secretive entrance into the inheritance. But unaware of its nature, he somehow attracted Gu Immortal’s attention. The pitiful Jia Clan was razed by the greedy Immortals as Lu Zuan Feng barely escaped with his life.’
Lord Desolate’s gaze glimmered.
He speculated on the nature of the treasure for days before realizing a few hints. So, he prepared accordingly. He didn’t revoke his existence from the competition to maintain a backup should something go wrong. Also, Lord Desolate might need to change his plan after discovering the mysterious treasure.
His figure disappeared into the darkness.
<<<>>>
“Gu Yue Lo Jik!”
A proud voice called out the Little Giant King’s name as Ning Bing and Lo Jik emerged from their caves. Their expressions changed once they saw the red-haired Gu Master possessing Rank 4 Peak Stage cultivation.
Who else could it be but Blazing Inferno Yi Huo?
“Elder Yi,” Lo Jik greeted with a friendly smile as Bai Ning Bing merely nodded with an aloof expression. Lo Jik’s life would have been significantly calmer if only Bai Ning Bing had been ACTUALLY aloof inside dark caves and behind closed doors.
“Hmm,” Yi Huo nodded with an indifferent expression. He glanced at the duo until Lo Jik chuckled.
“Please join us inside. I hope our temporary residence doesn’t offend you.”
“Nonsense,” Yi Huo spoke with a hint of a smile. “We’re all living in similar caves and caverns.” He followed the duo’s lead and entered the cave. Affirming his reputation for being a no-nonsense individual, Yi Huo cut to the chase.
“I am here on Clan Leader Shang’s specific orders aside for competing for the Three Kings’ Inheritance,” Yi Huo stared at Lo Jik. “Are the rumors true? Did you receive Rank 2 Polished Steel Gu Worm’s recipe in King Xin’s inheritance?”
Lo Jik instantly displayed an uncomfortable expression as Yi Huo continued. “Rest assured. You are Shang Clan’s Honored Guest. Clan Leader Shang will reward you immensely for your contribution. After all, you should know who the Polished Steel Gu would be the most helpful to.”
Lo Jik sighed after a few moments of silence.
“It’s just a rumor, Elder Yi. Many individuals sent letters. However, someone with malicious intent must have spread the rumors.”
Yi Huo laughed arrogantly, not believing Lo Jik.
“Fire doesn’t spread without a spark, Little Giant King. Both of your achievements have been exemplary since you left the Clan. However, you thoroughly offended the Wu Clan. Be it vengeance or greed, they would target you. I won’t lie. After this matter concludes, Clan Leader Shang promised to bestow the Shang Surname upon me. I won’t be an external elder but a true Elder incorporated within the Shang Clan.”
Lo Jik’s and Ning Bing’s eyelids jumped with surprise.
Pleased, Yi Huo continued. “I can promise you the Clan’s protection based on your contribution. Also, you two can become core members of the clan, having all the wealth at your fingertips instead of resorting to schemes and battles for every bit of profit. As for the Polished Steel Gu recipe… Lord Clan Leader promised to reward you two Rank 4 Gold Relic Gu.”
Acting was a fantastic skill to learn and become fluent in since Lo Jik displayed appropriate greed to reveal that even if he didn’t have the recipe, he had something of a similar nature that could help Shang Xin Ci’s aptitude.
However, Yi Huo had revealed many things.
Lo Jik and Ning Bing didn’t expect Yi Huo to take such a firm stance in recruiting the duo.
After some words, Lo Jik spoke thoughtfully.
“I assure you I don’t possess the Polished Steel Gu recipe. As for other matters… we would like to explore the Three Kings’ Inheritance before deciding anything.”
Yi Huo felt displeased. Lo Jik wished to keep his options open and maintain his freedom instead of becoming Shang Clan’s lapdog. Of course, he would enter the clan as a second choice if he had nothing better to do. As a former lone force, Yi Huo understood such a mentality but disagreed with it.
Still, Yi Huo couldn’t force the duo and antagonize them—not after facing an assassination attempt last night. Yi Huo’s first order of business was to locate that bastard!
“What an idiot,” Bai Ning Bing sneered condescendingly once Yi Huo left. “He thinks everyone should bend over Shang Yan Fei just because he did.”
Lo Jik’s expression momentarily darkened. He was the one who attacked Yi Huo. Of course, he was initially intent on killing the man. However, further thought revealed Lo Jik would have acted like an idiot. His objective was to antagonize the Super Clans by inducing losses and forcing them to invest more after losing so much already.
The clans wouldn’t have sent more forces if they didn’t feel they had already spent their crucial forces. It was Wu Shen Tong for the Wu Clan and Yi Chong for the Yi Clan. Bai Ning Bing was working on the remaining three Tie Elders. Meanwhile, it would have been Shang Bu Li for the Shang Clan.
Killing Yi Huo would have been the same as discouraging the Shang Clan from sending more forces because Yi Huo was an external elder and didn’t hold much political weight compared to others. The other ancestral Rank 5 Elders possessing the same weight at Shang Yan Fei would have discouraged the latter from sending reinforcement until the Supreme Elders commanded otherwise.
Of course, Shang Bu Li’s death would enrage the clan, and they would want to recuperate their losses by avenging the former and devouring the Three Kings’ Inheritance.
But Yi Huo revealed something else.
Shang Yan Fei was thinking about making Yi Huo—Shang Huo! This meant that Shang Yan Fei valued Yi Huo as much as the other elders did. Of course, it also meant Yi Huo was probably under Yan Fei’s Blood Shadow Gu Worm’s effect. So, Yan Fei didn’t worry about bestowing the Shang surname on the Blazing Inferno.
Lo Jik made an incorrect decision without this crucial clue!
Still, to avoid leaving clues, Lo Jik used the arrow formed from Yin-Yang Panda to attack Yi Huo’s team. Nobody knew about Lo Jik’s Yin-Yang Panda Strength Beast Phantom.
‘No point in feeling regrets. I’ll stick to the plan and isolate Yi Huo. Without any supporting elites, he would need more reinforcements from the Clan when Yi Clan’s forces arrive.’
“How’s your aperture?” Lo Jik glanced at Bai Ning Bing as the latter scoffed.
“I’ll warn you when I reach 99%.”
“Hmm,” Lo Jik nodded.
Even though the Rank 4 Primeval Essence had a more nurturing effect on Bai Ning Bing’s aperture, it still took considerable time to recover one’s aptitude instead of recovering the aperture’s wall under the Stone Aperture Gu.
The issue was refining the Rank 5 Frost Profound Zombie Gu. Lo Jik couldn’t ensure a massive success rate despite his experiences and attainment…
Unless he found the Preservation Gu first…
It would be a qualitative change for his Refinement Path set!
The San Cha Mountain eventually became relatively calm since many Demonic Path experts stopped being overbearing when they heard of Yi Huo’s arrival. Everyone waited for the Inheritance’s opening, excited to witness how Yi Huo dealt with the Kong-Long alliance.
And the three pillars of light emerged after another 20 days!
***
Alternate Title: Yi Huo’s Arrival; Interception; Assassination Attempt; The Yin-Yang Arrow; Lord Desolate’s Motive; Amazing Time Path; Incredible Resourcefulness; The Mysterious Fang Zheng; Backtrack; Miraculous Convert Time; The Key To Dual Cultivate Time and Water Path; Sneaky Lord Desolate; The Future Narration; Jia Clan’s Hidden Depths; The Mysterious Inheritance; Assassinating Rank 5 Target; The Still Time River Formation; Using Jia Fu’s Treasure To Loot The Jia Clan; Prepared Desolate; Surging Rewind; 99% Aperture; Yi Huo’s Arrival; Inviting Blazing Inferno; Yi Huo’s Motives; Lacking Crucial Clues; Fatal Rumors; The Inheritance Re-Opens
Join the discord through the link in the synopsis.
Read 60 chapters ahead @ Patron and Subscribe Star (Links in the synopsis.)
Support the Fanfic through comments, likes, reviews and such (if the published site allows it.)