110. Fatherly Act
*Gulp*
Rays of gentle moonlight slipped through the snow-capped trees as San Cha Mountain experienced its umpteenth snowfall as another year passed. It had been a few weeks since the Yi Clan’s arrival, and the Inheritance had reopened once more. However, Bai Ning Bing and Lo Jik didn’t precisely share each other’s excitement—or indignance—since the Yi Clan’s elites hunted several prolific Demonic Entities as vengeance for the fallen Yi Chong. The entire mountain had turned into a battlefield. Only the Yi Clan showed enthusiasm in hunting the weaker Demonic Gu Masters with outrageous crimes to their names but wisely stated clear from those in the Rank 4 realm.
Ultimately, everyone wanted to enjoy the Inheritance benefits, and the Yi Clan’s elites risked a desperate Rank 4 Gu Master’s attack, leading to losses. Even if everyone considered Yi Huo the strongest Gu Master, no one else from the Shang Clan could help him manage things. The Shang Clan’s reinforcement was still two months away! So, the Yi Clan soon began to rage tribulations upon the weaker Rank 3 Lone and Demonic Gu Masters, forcing a few capable ones to bend the knee and join their clan and bolstering their clutch over the mountain!
Despite losing to Yi Huo, Yi Jun Hie was a capable elder who snatched the momentum and turned things in his favor.
Yi Huo could only witness all of it with a bitter heart. Not only did Yi Jun Hie expose the former’s trump card, but he also raised contributions for the Yi Clan by accepting capable Lone forces with little to no public crimes.
Yet, the rays of gentle and soothing moonlight—indifferent to mortal troubles—illuminated an almost heavenly figure perched atop a frozen boulder. Those white strands seemingly glowed, and the set of frosty blue and unblemished white on his pale figure exuded immortal beauty. The figure sipped from the jade-green gourd, enjoying the refreshing mountain spring travel through his throat and settling on his empty stomach. He melded with the snow-capped nature, appearing to be more of a picturesque scene than a mortal.
He was Bai Ning Bing.
‘My Aperture already advanced to 92% aptitude from 91%. The recovery speed would increase once my cultivation rises further. I’m almost about to advance, too.’
He worked his jaw before sipping another mouthful from his gourd. Despite everything, Bai Ning Bing didn’t panic.
He possessed the Rank 4 Yin Yang Rotation Gu and could use the Yin Rotation Gu to revert to his female form and reduce his aptitude by yet another 10%. Also, he had made decent progress in collecting the materials for the Rank 5 Frost Profound Zombie these past two months. However, the convenience of snatching the required Gu and accessing a well-developed market had its cost.
First, Lo Jik claimed a cut through every item Bai Ning Bing snatched and exchanged for the materials he needed.
Bai Ning Bing had no issues since Lo Jik introduced him to this ‘mysterious’ network.
Second, Bai Ning Bing had to pay a fee every time he prepared to snatch another Gu Master’s Gu Worm because he needed to borrow another’s expertise.
Bai Ning Bing would already be scheming to undercut Lo Jik had they experienced things differently. However, emotions weren’t lost on the Frost Devil, and even if no tribulation could make him confess, the white-haired fiend held immense gratitude once Lo Jik offered him the Rank 4 Yin Yang Rotation Gu.
It gave Bai Ning Bing control over his matters, which was more valuable than anything. It opened another avenue for their relationship, which evolved from Bai Ning Bing being dependent on Lo Jik’s mood to freely interact with the man. They still entered into arguments and bantered, sometimes heating things up. Yet, the underlying freedom to enter those arguments was a sublime sensation for Bai Ning Bing, who’s always felt pressed under fate’s thumb and arrangements.
What’s more?
Their cave was rid of the disease known as the slut.
Wait?
What was her name again?
Hu something?
Hu Shit’Er?
Bai Ning Bing didn’t care enough.
The youth spent the weeks researching the Gu plundered from the Tie Clan Elders, alongside continuously planning and scheming to snatch the necessary materials for the Rank 5 Frost Profound Zombie.
“Are you ready?”
A gloomy voice broke the picturesque peace as the arrival didn’t bother suppressing the noise of his boots scrunching into the snowy ground. Bai Ning Bing tilted back, leveling his gaze with…
Li Xian!
Disregarding others, even Bai Ning Bing was shaken when he realized Lo Jik’s and Li Xian’s fallout had only been a display. Furthermore, the duo had some mysterious relationship, and Lo Jik persuaded the latter to offer his assistance for Bai Ning Bing’s task. Of course, Bai Ning Bing had to pay an appropriate price.
Once Bai Ning Bing selected a target, he would contact Li Xian to use ‘his’ Rank 4 Invisibility Gu to hunt others. Bai Ning Bing would do everything as Li Xian would merely follow him while using the rare Rank 4 Gu on them to conceal their tracks. However, he would leave Bai Ning Bing for the worse the second they experienced unfortunate circumstances. Also, Li Xian would get 50% of the plundered amount. And from the remaining amount, including the Gu necessary for Bai Ning Bing, Lo Jik would receive the cut of 20%.
It was shameless!
Lo Jik did nothing and still earned loads!
However, Bai Ning Bing would have been more predatory in Lo Jik’s shoes.
Bai Ning Bing also realized that Li Xian must have been behind the previous assassinations… or Lo Jik, who might have arranged a similar agreement with Li Xian.
Ordinarily, Bai Ning Bing’s conclusions would have struck the mark.
But Lo Jik was indeed laced with mysteries despite shining throughout the mountain.
Enslaving Li Xian was one of his best decisions ever.
The duo soon struck another Rank 3 Gu Master before dividing the loot. Bai Ning Bing also sold his share before ordering a few materials from Li Xian.
The Frost Devil was a few materials short before collecting the first set of materials after constant hunts.
<<<>>>
Li Xian’s residence had turned into Lo Jik’s private ‘lab’ as the man sat in the center of a cave surrounded by a pool of murky black liquid. The black liquid was viscous and had a strange scent—blood.
It was the Rank 3 Black Blood Gu Worm’s ability to create this pool of black blood!
Li Xian had uncovered information about another instance of a Blood Path Gu Master appearing in the Southern Borders—going by the name of Fairy Blood Rot, who possessed a few Blood Path Gu of the rare variety, hinting at her fortuitous encounter. Lo Jik used Li Xian’s network to purchase the Black Blood Gu and inquire about the Blood Connection Gu. Unfortunately, Fairy Blood Rot did not possess the latter but was enthusiastic about the trade.
Why?
Because the recipes Lo Jik chose to sell were lucrative for any Blood Path Gu Master! He had two complete Blood Path Inheritances.
The first came from the Rank 5 Crazed Blood Monk, who innovated and expanded upon the few Blood Path inheritances he obtained. The second was none other than Blood Sea Ancestor’s True Inheritance!
The Gu Worms recipe he offered was the Rank 3 Blood Pool Gu and the Rank 2 Bleeding Eye Gu.
The Rank 3 Blood Pool Gu created a resourceful blood pond to feed other Blood Path Gu. Meanwhile, the Bleeding Eye Gu had a peculiar use.
When used, the Rank 2 Gu would cause the host Gu Masters to cry tears of blood. It was a self-harming Amplification Gu Worm that enhanced the effects of other Blood Gu!
{A/N: Basically, Elden Ring self-harm buff routine.}
However, Li Xian only offered the Rank 2 Bleeding Eye Gu recipe, convincing the isolated Fairy Blood Rot to sell her Black Blood Gu.
Yet, Lo Jik required another Blood Connection Gu for his use but didn’t have enough materials.
Unlike other paths, Lo Jik hadn’t walked the Blood Path or delved into its mysteries using the Dreamer Gu due to Gu World’s suppression. He already had a lot on his plate and didn’t desire the risks associated with the Blood Path.
However, his intention of eventually digesting those two Blood Path Inheritances was entirely obvious.
As for Black Blood and Blood Connection…
‘It’s the only way.’
Lo Jik stared at the calm pool of black liquid.
He might not have the desired Blood Path attainment to change a few things as he ‘felt,’ but he had two complete inheritances filled to the brim with eldritch knowledge on several forms of imaginable horror.
He flicked his wrists, casually tossing some black seeds around him.
The seeds sank within the viscous liquid before suddenly bursting apart, growing into tender black shoots. The heart-shaped red leaves soon rose from the rapidly evolving plants. The leaves broke from the branches and fell into the black liquid before dispersing into red fragments like glimmering stones shining from a lake’s depths.
Lo Jik quietly watched the black plants grow. They continuously absorbed the Black Blood Gu, creating more heart-shaped leaves that fell into the liquid before fragmenting.
The Corrupt Heart Leaves Shoots soon devoured the Rank 3 Black Blood Gu. Usually, the Gu would corrode an individual’s blood from within, excruciatingly killing the enemy. However, the same Rank 3 Gu was an immense source of nutrition for these plants commonly found in regions of intense conflict with pools of poisonous blood.
Lo Jik was left surrounded by a bed of sand-like glimmering red fragments. These shards boasted a glassy texture.
He leaned forward to brush his fingers through the sand and felt its sharpness. Due to his outstanding foundation in body refinement, it couldn’t even break Lo Jik’s skin.
‘It should work.’
Lo Jik felt confident.
He was trying something new… bewildering, even.
Yet, he wasn’t ordinary. He boasted master-level attainment in a surprisingly large number of paths! He might have no Blood Path attainment. However, all paths were interlinked at every level!
Usually, Lo Jik would need a Grandmaster-Level Attainment to emulate such a function, but possessing master-level attainment in several paths seemed to work—especially the Poison Path. Blood Path and the Poison Path often share a few similarities, most commonly seen in several corrosion-type Gu Worms.
Besides, the Little Giant King also possessed a complete guide on the Killer Move and Gu Refinement Recipes.
As such, he calmly used several other methods to transform the glassy, blood-colored sand into a crystalline bed.
The blood-red crystal bed was extraordinarily reflective and smooth.
Lo Jik’s expression was already pale as he had his left wrist cut, with a geyser of blood flowing onto the reflective surface—instantly absorbed.
Anyone who saw Lo Jik would reveal terrified expressions, especially fellow Blood Path Gu Masters.
After all, experts would immediately realize Lo Jik was performing a Killer Move. But how could he achieve that without the necessary Gu Worms?
The answer struck Lo Jik a few weeks ago as he prepared for the worst-case scenario—the lack of Black Blood and Blood Connection Gu Worms.
His attainments weren’t for a show. He got to work the second he felt the inspiration.
He was a Refinement and Rule Path Master. These two paths boasted a grand link with the Great Dao because every Gu Master had to refine the Gu, and the Rule Path dealt with the very nature of the Dao!
Even beyond that, Lo Jik was a Transformation Path Master. What was the Refinement of Gu, if not its ‘transformation’ from one state to another?
Take it a step further; Lo Jik happened to be a Human Path Master. The Human Path might not be as developed as others or bless him with its inheritances. However, he was a human.
What stopped HIM from becoming a material?
What was a human if not a Gu Material in the grand scheme of things?
Did the Blood Path not usher the Gu World into an era of carnage due to its simplistic refinement process involving human blood?
So, Lo Jik formed a bold plan.
He would replace the remaining materials and perform a Killer Move without refining the appropriate Gu Worms.
Since he intended to leave, Lo Jik couldn’t risk any association—and he left a significant connection!
Back in the Shang Clan, Lo Jik and Bai Lin had a few more rounds of entertaining matches that relieved and pleased them. As usual, Lo Jik intended for the Bai Clan to be his first backup. Being a Clan Leader’s spouse wasn’t an entirely distasteful idea. So, Lo Jik firmed that decision by deploying a seed in Bai Lin’s snatch. However, Chen Jiu soon wrapped him into another ploy, forcing Lo Jik to make swift plans for his departure to the Central Continent.
Since his act potentially offended the Clan’s Immortals, Lo Jik wished to cut all the connections that could lead to him.
The only remaining connection to Lo Jik’s blood was… his child.
Marriage…
Children…
Lo Jik had achieved concepts he never imagined in his previous life.
The image of his ‘last’ resurfaced in his mind—that back embossed with gold shielding him. That back soon corroded into a mass of mangled flesh that contorted into a woman’s feature peacefully lying on the ground.
Gu Yue Mo Yan…
Then that corpse shrank, appearing ghastly with countless bite marks that sucked everything from her body—
Shen Cui…
Then…
Everything disappeared as the reflective screen flashed, announcing Lo Jik’s success!
His blood continued to quench the Blood Mirror as streams of bloody light, and shadows danced on the surface, soon condensing into a living image of an infant. The infant’s features appeared dull, rustic, and monochromatic through the bloody screen, yet Lo Jik smiled when he observed the headful of lush hair and the baby’s healthy body.
A pair of loving arms wrapped the child. Lo Jik knew the woman even if the screen didn’t show her face.
Bai Lin…
Gu Yue Lo Jik was a father…
Well, it was a matter of time. Lo Jik desired another Golden Achievement from Bai Lin and chose to impregnate her. It also acted as a connection between him and the Bai Clan. Yet, Lo Jik had to terminate the same connection.
He stared at his son for another minute, indifferent to the Blood Loss since he had other Gu Worms healing him.
While somewhat satisfied, Lo Jik couldn’t admit he felt an instant connection. However, he knew there was something. Perhaps he’d grow to care, nay, wholeheartedly love another being had he stayed with his child.
But Lo Jik didn’t have such luxuries.
‘I’m sorry, dear,’ Lo Jik smiled. He wasn’t entirely willing to hurt his son. Yet, he knew it would be more than a pinch for his firstborn.
‘It will secure your life. My enemies will remain mine and won’t glance in your direction.’
Lo Jik’s gaze grew chilling as he instantly used the Rank 2 consumable Blood Shatter Gu on the stream of blood flowing from his wrist.
*Fizzle*
*Crack*
Two distinct sounds echoed as the red light suddenly followed Lo Jik’s blood and entered the mirror. Instantly, Lo Jik’s blood near the mirror stopped getting absorbed as it sizzled like boiling water. Meanwhile, the bloody mirror cracked as the relayed image disappeared!
The last thing Lo Jik saw was his child’s face pinching with sudden discomfort.
The cracks continued expanding until the mirror shattered into its previous sand-like state.
*Puff*
Blood suddenly tore out of Lo Jik’s chest, surprising him. After all, it wasn’t painful.
So, he glanced at his torso with a frown before sighing.
‘It’s not a backlash… but an effect. Two months was too little time to modify the Killer Move. I could do so because of my several attainments. But even I could not foresee such a twist. Of course, things would have been different if I boasted a master-level attainment in Blood Path.’
Lo Jik began healing as he felt mentally exhausted.
Whether he wished to admit it or not, his emotions were a mess. However, Lo Jik was callous enough to realize he couldn’t feel attached to anyone… no matter how distant the decision made him feel with the emotions that surged for brief but rare moments during his darkest moments.
‘Huff…’
Lo Jik exhaled, sweeping away all the confusion. A collected smile graced his lips.
‘All that mattered was to cut our connection.’
He began cleaning the cave as a flicker of doubt still wormed its way into his heart.
‘Right?’
***
Alternate Title: Another Year; San Cha’s Snow; The Unfettered Moon; Resolute; Sharp Intent; Bai Ning Bing’s Progress; The Arrangement; Hunting; Accepting a Share; Free Banters; New Sensations; New Losses; Using Li Xian’s Entire Potential; The Best Decision?; The Way of Dao; Using Oneself For Material; A New Way of Growth; The Kid; A Father; Hurting to Care; Decisions and Consequences; The Discomfort; Disconnected; Unfettered Gu Yue; Moving Forward; The Black Blood Gu; Elden Ring Buff Routine Goes Crazy
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