109. Ruo Nan Likes Double-Teamed—AYO?!
Shang Bu Li had always remained composed and proud. He once had ordinary features, neither ugly nor beautiful, not tall or short, and not fat or skinny. Shang Yan Fei’s number-one General was once unassuming and mediocre. However, he was bold and ambitious. Although bullied in the clan, Bu Li remained soft-spoken and kept his head low. He tried several methods to get stronger—which he hid from others, unwilling to attract anyone’s attention.
Yet, fate had other plans.
Bu Li expressly recalled it was around the time when Shang Yan Fei’s and Doctor Su Shou’s spat intensified. Even the rumors of a failed pregnancy spread within the clan’s inner circle. Not that any of it mattered to Bu Li. He focused on himself, indifferent to the talented Clan Leader, who made an effort to spread his bloodline as much as he could.
Bu Li was merely a Rank 2 Gu Master at the time.
However, his efforts and nature didn’t go unnoticed. While Bu Li always dreaded someone’s attention ruining his goals, the opposite occurred.
He DID attract attention, but it became integral to his deepened foundation.
After all, Shang Bu Li earned an inheritance!
As it turns out, Shang Bu Li and several other mortal Gu Masters had a distant Immortal Relative who was about to enter a period of long seclusion. Centuries of meditation and cultivation should be a blink of an eye for these myths—thought Bu Li, among a few lucky others.
According to Shang Yan Fei, the Legendary Immortal Relative wished his bloodline to prosper and displayed kindness to his most distant kin by sharing an invaluable inheritance—Cold Fire Dual Pillars!
Shang Bu Li recalled how he instantly retreated into his residence, not accepting anyone’s invitation to explore the Inheritance’s mystery fully. Like others, the flames in Shang Bu Li’s heart settled once he felt convinced the Inheritance was only of the mortal variety and not an immortal kind. The inheritance expressly stated how pondering on the Ice and Fire Paths would eventually hint to the inheritor about an Immortal’s ascension, not that Shang Bu Li was anywhere near close to the matter.
But he was different compared to other Inheritors.
There were seven of them.
Among them, three were elites of the previous generations, only emerging from their residences to accept the inheritance. Meanwhile, the remaining three were Rank 3 and 4 elites of the current generations, who had their respective fortunes and decided against changing their cultivation paths abruptly.
That left Shang Bu Li alone, who was willing to practice the domineering inheritance.
Though terrific, several intricate details riddled the inheritance. One wrong step would spell Bu Li’s doom.
It was a challenge to balance two opposing paths in one body. After all, a Gu Master’s Aperture can house different types of Gu without conflicts. However, the same wasn’t true for the body.
It was the same dilemma Lo Jik faced. Using varied Body Refinement Gu, he could expand his Strength Path foundation by going all in or becoming mediocre in several different paths. Lo Jik chose the former option for now but also desired to expand his means through the technique Chen Jiu offered in exchange for his assistance.
As for Shang Bu Li, he persevered and eventually refined the mentioned Gu Worms to balance the Fire and Ice Path upon his body, enhancing both and becoming the strongest General under Shang Yan Fei. His battle prowess was no lower than that of Yi Huo and Tie Ba Xiu. He surpassed them in favorable circumstances and could clash with Rank 5 experts like Wu Lan Shan.
Unsuspecting of the truth, the ‘Two-Faced’ Shang Bu Li managed the Shang Clan’s Slave Trading business as he always maintained a Legendary Gu Immortal’s sight.
“Hmm, Bu Li’s advancement is steady.”
Unknown to Shang Bu Li, he wasn’t lucky. Those beyond Shang Yan Fei knew that a peculiar figure chose Bu Li.
Resting upon the distant cloud, hidden from plain sight, Shang Mi Zhu smoked a tender, green pipe as if freshly carved from a young shoot. He looked appealing with wavy brown hair, delicate skin, watery round eyes, and surprisingly appealing pink lips. His posture was languid as thin robes sparsely draped his body, making him look like a fickle philanderer.
Shang Mi Zhu was Shang Clan’s most recent addition to the Supreme Elders, a young and talented Rank 6 Gu Immortal who cultivated Enchantment Path and possessed enigmatic Wisdom Path capabilities. Due to his experience in Wisdom Path through enchantment, he overlooked the task of extracting the method held by Su Shou, now Chen Jiu, once different methods against her soul failed.
The thought of Chen Jiu made Mi Zhu suck in a breath of cold air. Whatever happened between Chen Jiu and Yan Fei wasn’t a mystery. The Immortals knew about Yan Fei’s deception, the Blood Shadow Gu, and the resulting fallout between the couple. However, everyone, including Shang Clan’s First Supreme Elder, failed to understand and decrypt the method on Chen Jiu’s soul, and the Killer Move used to wipe her and Yan Fei’s memories.
After all, the Shang Clan’s Immortals could never recover where the Blessed Land was that Shang Yan Fei accidentally entered or what it looked like despite knowing everything that transpired inside. This method was beyond the current generation, forcing the Immortals to admit defeat.
Yet, why would the Immortals let ‘threats’ like Shang Yan Fei or Chen Jiu live once realizing their souls and memories had been tampered with by someone enigmatic?
The answer was simple—because the third party let Shang Yan Fei leave alongside Chen Jiu. Was it due to fear of the Shang Clan’s investigation? Any fool would laugh at such an arrogant thought. The Immortals couldn’t break the defensive mechanism around Chen Jiu’s soul or recover the lost memories. How could the mysterious Immortal be afraid of the Shang Clan’s investigation?
No.
It was a quiet and gentle reminder to the Shang Clan that the culprit did not fear their methods.
—A reminder of the Super Clan’s helplessness.
So, the Shang Clan changed its tactic. The Immortals were all capable and talented individuals who rose above countless competitors. Instead of antagonizing the mysterious force outright, the Shang Clan’s First Supreme Elder appointed Shang Mi Zhu to study Chen Jiu and discover her secrets using his Enchantment Path Mastery as a foundation.
Shang Mi Zhu did not disappoint.
In a few years, he created a pale imitation of the technique. Forcing the latter wasn’t an option since Chen Jiu had some initiative over her soul and could instantly destroy herself if pushed further into the corner.
What would the Shang Clan do then?
Chen Jiu’s method was most likely an Immortal Inheritance. Mastering it could bolster the Shang Clan by several times!
Alas, they knew about it all too late once the conflict between the couple erupted.
Before that, the couple had been smart enough to keep their experiences a secret, no matter how mysterious they may be.
Furthermore, Shang Mi Zhu was peculiarly critical of Little Fei Fei.
The Rank 6 Gu Immortal was Shang Yan Fei’s distant Granduncle.
‘Tsk, tsk, of all the beauties you chose to antagonize, you selected Su Shou,’ Shang Mi Zhu stretched his arms.
‘Sigh, I felt becoming an Immortal would change things. However, an Immortal’s cultivation is even more stringent than a Mortal Gu Master. Oh, how I long to cherish a few beauties…’
He puckered his lips. Shang Mi Zhu had a reputation for ill-origin. He’d used his Enchantment Path to guide many beauties—wives, mothers, and sisters alike—into his chambers to discuss cultivation for days.
Mi Zhu’s seductive claws had stretched even to his own as he killed his abusive father in his late teens before becoming responsible for his mother’s needs. Shang Yan Fei’s womanizing reputation was almost adorable compared to Mi Zhu.
Becoming an Immortal did not curb those desires. However, Mi Zhu knew how to prioritize goals. He couldn’t have ascended without focusing on his cultivation.
‘I’ll earn a lot of resources and even an Immortal Gu once I successfully emulate that method,’ Mi Zhu felt slightly overwhelmed. As a Junior, he needed to contribute tremendously to earn his first Immortal Gu, aside from the one he refined during his ascension. Alas, the Immortal Gu in his aperture was the core in helping him deduce Chen Jiu’s inheritance, but he had weak battle prowess.
‘Heh, I’ll probably add Su Shou to my harem once I succeed.’
Why would he care about Shang Yan Fei?
He was merely a mortal.
Truthfully, Shang Mi Zhu envied Yan Fei because the latter was a mortal with TWO assured Immortal Gu should he successfully ascend!
Rank 6 Blood Palm and Blood Shadow Gu!
Mi Zhu soon organized his thoughts.
‘Everything is in order. I should prepare for my Earthly Calamity.’
Meanwhile, a tall and lanky purple-haired middle-aged man stood in another corner of the Outer City.
He looked around before smiling.
‘It’s been a long time since I returned to the Shang Clan. Ah, the nostalgia… sigh, it really is just a Giant Mall occupying an entire mountain.’
<<<>>>
The Jia Clan’s competition was a mess as things escalated after a night of strange disaster.
Someone assassinated Rank 5 Flaming Beard Keng!
The entire Mae Da Mountain was in an uproar!
Needless to say, Jia Gui was furious and quickly pointed fingers at his eldest brother, who denied the accusations. However, it was their fortune that two well-known figures from the Tie Clan were present inside the clan.
However, the circumstances became complicated once one realized the facade Tie Ruo Nan and Fang Zheng had to maintain.
So, the atmosphere in the discussion hall was cold and uninviting. Only three members outside the Jia Clan attended the meeting alongside Jia Fu’s and Jia Gui’s factions—Lord Desolate, Tie Ruo Nan, and Fang Zheng.
The trio held a delicate position.
Why?
Jia Gui began a secret campaign against Jia Fu by smearing Lord Desolate as the assassin behind Flaming Beard Keng’s death. Of course, Jia Gui was right on the mark. However, nobody possessed any evidence.
Meanwhile, Fang Zheng could have never imagined Flaming Beard Keng’s assassination, or he wouldn’t have chosen to stain his reputation for his plans. Alas, Wisdom Path wasn’t infallible, and these were things outside Fang Zheng’s control. Of course, to oppose and strike back, Jia Fu’s side began a secretive smear campaign against Fang Zheng. After all, they had Tie Ruo Nan, who witnessed Fang Zheng’s shamelessness as the latter unscrupulously entered the competition. Thus, Tie Ruo Nan felt reluctant and complicated about the whole thing.
She did not care about the Jia Clan’s Succession.
Tie Ruo Nan thirsted for revenge!
However, allying with Fang Zheng was beneficial for her goals.
Needless to say, Jia Fu and Jia Gui were scared of offending these Rank 5 Masters and chose to attack each other’s side secretly as they investigated Flaming Beard Keng’s mysterious death.
They dispersed after another round of discussions once they realized the futility of investigating the matter. According to Fang Zheng, the assassin had been too clean. Jia Gui felt bitter at such a loss since he had to offer Flaming Beard a rare Fire Path Gu, all remaining in Lord Desolate’s loving custody.
Once free from the meeting, Lord Desolate traveled to his room before securing the formation around it and closing his eyes.
After a few breaths, Lord Desolate retrieved a strange, dark-purple moth from his aperture. Meanwhile, the scene inside his aperture was something else.
He once experienced his Aperture’s aptitude rise from 98% to 99%. However, the current view suggested an aptitude of 98%!
What happened?
Lord Desolate stared at the Rank 5 Gu Worm resembling a purple moth—One More Day Gu.
Aside from the Convert Time Gu, it was another core of Drifting Keng’s Time Path Inheritance that Lord Desolate refined after plundering Flaming Beard Keng’s corpse and retrieving a crucial Gu.
There were two reasons why Lord Desolate desired the Rank 5 One More Day Gu.
First, it was one of those extremely rare Gu Worms that were almost effortless to refine—like the Rank 5 Blood River Python or Lo Jik’s Rank 5 Heaven and Earth Before My Eyes. Lord Desolate succeeded the first time in the refinement, attaining this Gu Worm.
Second, it was a Time Path Healing Gu with a miraculous effect. How did Drifting Keng survive his seemingly fatal injuries enough to create a sophisticated Inheritance Site?
It was due to the Rank 5 One More Day Gu.
This Gu Worm fused its use and nurturing at once, allowing a Gu Master’s body to revert to its previous condition by days based on… the aptitude the Gu Worm consumed.
For instance, Drifting Keng activated this Gu Worm daily, consuming 1% of his aptitude to revert his body’s condition a day before he received his injuries. However, this ‘healing’ was temporary. Instead of achieving a healthy body, the Rank 5 One More Day Gu forced the body to experience a trip upstream of the River of Time, and as time passed, the injuries reappeared on Drifting Keng’s body. Ordinarily, others would use this chance to find a healer. However, Drifting Keng couldn’t show his face lest others chased him, their hearts blazing with greed due to Flaming Beard’s Bounty.
So, Drifting Keng survived another 73 days to create his Inheritance before he exhausted his aptitude and passed away.
His Rank 5 One More Day Gu also perished due to starvation.
However, Lord Desolate carelessly used this Gu Worm a few days ago, sacrificing 1% of his aptitude.
But he wasn’t anxious or frustrated.
‘Amazing!’ He sighed in admiration. ‘I was a Blood Path Demonic Overlord in my previous life and rarely touched the Time Path. It’s a mystery and is nothing to scoff at. The Space and Time Paths were one of the first paths to exist since the Immemorial Era. I wonder what boons lay with the Space Path.’
Although he had such thoughts, Lord Desolate wasn’t eager to explore things ceaselessly until ascending to the Immortal Ranks.
‘I can already feel my aptitude recovering. According to my knowledge, I can now continuously use the One More Day Gu to revert my body by a day. Although I have the Desolate Ancient Moon Physique, my Aperture has yet to recover. I learned in my previous life that the same Gu Worm cannot be used on the Gu Master with the Ten Extreme Physiques to reduce their aptitude and extend their fated self-explosion. In my case, I already used the One More Day Gu. Theoretically, it shouldn’t work again. But I’m currently not a true possessor of Extreme Physique due to my lacking aptitude.’
Lord Desolate’s dry lips curled as the One More Day Gu glimmered, consuming 1% of Lord Desolate’s aptitude.
97%!
Lord Desolate almost threw his head back and laughed loudly!
Why did he change his plans after realizing Gu Yue Zie Qi’s truth and the Gu Worm he accidentally refined?
Because of the Rank 5 One More Day Gu!
It was the perfect counter to the Extreme Physique’s dilemma!
Indeed, there were no impossible circumstances in the Gu World.
‘Now, I need to steadily observe the formation deep within the Jia Clan and uncover that inheritance!’
A flicker of greed and wild ambition glittered Lord Desolate’s gaze.
<<<>>>
“What?” Fang Zheng frowned after hearing a piece of troubling news from Tie Ruo Nan. She sighed softly, calmly handing him the letter Gu Worm.
“I just received the summons,” she replied as Fang Zheng read through the letter. To sum it up, the Tie Clan wished for Tie Ruo Nan to meet with the group of elites prepared for the Three King’s Inheritance under Tie Ba Xiu’s lead after the sudden demise of the previous four elders. It was a massive loss, and the Tie Clan needed to recover its glory at any cost!
The Tie Clan Leader even hoped Gu Yue Fang Zheng could assist them. But how could Fang Zheng give up his plans for vengeance?
“Man proposes, and heaven disposes…” he muttered, feeling a profound interconnection between fate and humanity’s sense of control. Fang Zheng had planned for the Jia Clan’s competition the second he adopted the Wisdom Path Inheritance. He could not leave. However, Fang Zheng also understood how the Tie Clan’s summon was an act of suppressing Tie Ruo Nan after her recent crusade against a few corrupt but influential elders.
Besides all that, the mutated Tree Spirit also felt emotional. Fate was mysterious, and a Wisdom Path Gu Master couldn’t effortlessly predict the future. How could he have known about Flaming Beard Keng’s disappearance and Bai Ning Bing’s action in San Cha, which created such tremendous waves that their ripples impacted his deductions?
Bai Ning Bing…
Gu Yue Lo Jik…
Those familiar names brought a wave of complicated feelings within Fang Zheng. He wondered where Fang Yuan was—or if his Elder Twin was alive.
Although Fang Zheng now knew his Elder Twin was the most likely suspect behind Jia Jin Sheng’s disappearance…
It was probably due to the inheritance that let Fang Yuan surpass others. Could Fang Zheng honestly blame his Elder Twin?
Furthermore, after Tie Ruo Nan shed light on his adoptive parent’s traitorous actions, Fang Zheng had only begun getting close to Fang Yuan.
Guilt riddled his mutated heart. Others manipulated him, and Fang Zheng was naive enough to forget Fang Yuan’s kindness since their early years to suppress the latter out of envy he nourished in his heart.
“I’ve done so much wrong in my life,” he whispered as he shook his head. “I hoped one thing to go right.”
Tie Ruo Nan’s expression grew complex, too.
Both were once walking the shining path of righteousness. Its radiance and brilliance blinded both to the shadows around them.
Only after losing their sources of light did the duo realize the murky world around them, filled with marsh and blade-like leaves. A smelly stench of deceit saturated their surrounding air as they searched for something pure in their pursuit of revenge!
Fang Zheng and Tie Ruo Nan once abhorred crimes committed upon innocent individuals…
But when they looked at their reflections, they witnessed the remnants of their aggressive actions against other innocents.
The radiance disappeared, revealing a grey world filled with wonder and discovery. Yet dangerous swamps leading to dark depths surrounded them. A single misstep, and they might lose themselves in it.
“You will have to leave,” Fang Zheng sighed. “We’ll rendezvous after fulfilling our objectives.”
Tie Ruo Nan hesitated before questioning, “And what about Lo Jik? He expressed his desire to avenge the Gu Yue Clan. Should we recruit him?”
“Can you?” Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes. “Bai Ning Bing is his partner. Lo Jik also killed many people since he climbed San Cha Mountain, simultaneously offending the Wu Clan. Not to mention, your primary target is Bai Ning Bing. You are going to San Cha Mountain as his enemy.”
Tie Ruo Nan’s expression turned heavy.
Fang Zheng’s assessment was correct.
But what could she do?
Lo Jik was one of the rare few who were crazy enough to publicly state his desire for revenge against one of the Ten Ancient Sects, not to mention that Lo Jik’s and Fang Zheng’s inheritance stemmed from the same mountain. She knew how terrifying Fang Zheng’s Wisdom Path Inheritance was. Lo Jik’s Strength Path methods had also created several waves, and many speculated that he had been holding back!
Wisdom and Strength!
Initially, Ren Zu used strength to overcome his predicaments before using his wisdom to outsmart them.
Having both would result in even more terrifying results!
But their world had no limits on conflicts. The Little Giant King and the Frost Devil had thoroughly offended the Wu and Tie Clans. Allying with them would mark Tie Ruo Nan as her home clan’s enemy.
The stubborn woman clenched her fists as a cold look soon appeared in her eyes.
“I once desired equality among all living beings—to mortals to enjoy the same status as Gu Masters and live a life unfettered by fears of death and pain at a Gu Master’s whims.”
She exhaled, surprising Fang Zheng.
“And I desire revenge.”
A keen intent laced her biting words as her thick brows trimmed near the end like sharp swords tilted up as she adopted an almost desperate frown. Words nearly failed her, yet she squeezed out with a resolute snarl.
“The Tie Clan wouldn’t help me achieve either.”
She leveled her gaze with Fang Zheng, regaining her composure. “But can you cooperate with him? For vengeance?”
It was Fang Zheng’s turn to appear hesitant and ponderous.
***
Alternate Title: Shang Bu Li’s Origin; Hidden; The Truth Behind The Scenes; An Immortal’s Attention; Yan Fei’s Fucboi Granduncle; The Dao of Harem Is Strong In Reverend Insanity; Brother Chose His Mother; Classic Ash Ketchum Strategy; Shang Mi Zhu’s a Menace; A Talented Enchanter; The Task To Uncover Chen Jiu’s Secrets; The Mysterious Third Party; Curbing The Shang Clan With One Move; A Cautious Display of Might; The Irate Couple; Yan Fei Has Much To Learn; Bro’s Too Late; The Postponed Competition; Desolate’s Glee; Utter Luck; Rise, Luck; Everyone’s Flying Like Verdant Sun; Ominous Gains; One More Day; The Perfect Counter To Extreme Physiques; Talents Like Stars In The Night Sky; Time Path OP FR; Fang Yuan In An Alternate Timeline With Strength Path: Bruh… FR; Another Otherworldy; Giant Mall; Man Proposes And Heaven Disposes; Fang Zheng Accidentally Touched The Mysteries of the World; Inspiration Exists In Failures; The Resolute Ruo Nan; The Young Demons; Either Peaceful Revenge Or Troubling Hypocrisy
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